The Destined (erotic paranormal) (The Breeding Prophecy) (3 page)

“It would help,” she admitted with a small sniff. If only she wasn’t constantly ruled by the needs of her body. First, it was the Phase, then the Breeding Time, and now…mystical pregnancy. Was she ever going to catch a break? What was next? She shuddered to even speculate. She accepted the tray and immediately tore into the bacon. He watched with open approval at her ravenous appetite and she became self-conscious.
“Please don’t watch me eat. It’s weird,” she said, wiping her mouth and reaching for the orange juice. “It’s not like I don’t feel like a science project already.” He chuckled and the sound warmed her heart, even if she was still mad at him.
Why did he have to be so damn handsome? Maybe if he looked like a three-humped beast she’d have an easier time
forgetting about how badly she wanted to hump his brains out.
“Would you like to share with me?” she asked grudgingly.

His gaze darkened and she wondered if she’d made some clan mistake by her offer but instead he sat across from her and took a slice of bacon. However, before biting into it, he said in a solemn tone, “In our culture, when a man and woman share their meal, it is a symbol of their commitment to one another.”

“Oh.” She chewed and swallowed. “In my culture
, it’s a way of not being rude. I’m not ready to pick out towels or anything. I’m still pissed at you, remember?”

His look of disappointment pinched at her conscience. He was trying to be nice and she was throwing his attempts right back at him with a little zing for good measure. She drew a deep breath to apologize but he cut in brusquely before she could start.

“You would have me turn out a woman who has been a loyal clan member since the day she was born, after she saved both our lives, simply because you are jealous of our past together?”

Cassandra frowned. “Well, when you put it that way, I sound like a royal bitch.”

“How else should I put it?” he countered stiffly. “Is there something I’m missing? Perhaps leaving out a key piece of the puzzle?”

“She still loves you,” she blurted out, her eyes stinging. “And she’s bound and determined to get you back. I won’t live in a house where I feel threatened. Nor will I subject my babies to the threat she poses to their safety.”

He stood, his shoulders rigid. “Once again you imply that I cannot keep you safe. I would protect you and our pups with my
life
. Is that not enough?”

Her heart squeezed at the realization that he made no distinction between either pup, even knowing that one was not his, yet he claimed both. She wanted to cry and she wanted to kiss him at the same time but judging by the thunderous expression etched on the hard angles of his face…neither kisses nor tears were a good idea. “She’s dangerous,” she finally murmured. “Iona agrees that it’s not a good idea for Serra to be here.”

“Iona has never liked Serra. Her advice in that regard is suspect.”

“Oh come on. She’s the Seer, for crying out loud. You’re judgment is clouded when it comes to Serra and that in of itself is a red flag. Why are
you
so ready to defend Serra, yet toss me under the bus?”

“I am not tossing you under any vehicle, let alone a bus.”

“Stop being so literal,” Cassandra
said
in irritation, grumbling. “Here’s where going to public school might’ve done you a world of good. What I’m saying is, you need to start placing your faith in me, instead of constantly giving it to a woman from your past. Unless, that is, you really want her and not me. If that’s the case, I’m not going to stick around. Just give me the word and I’m gone. I can be a single mom just fine as long as you’re willing to pay child support.” She struggled to her feet in spite of his thunderous scowl. “And you can stop giving me that look because it doesn’t scare me or make me bite my tongue. I’m tired of everyone bossing me around or telling me how I should or shouldn’t feel, act or not act, be or not be, simply because I was
lucky
enough to get caught up in this mystical mayhem that’s currently
tossing me around from one calamity to the next and really
pissing me off!”
she shouted at the finish, too angry to notice that the
persistent
pain in her back hadn’t subsid
ed until a sharp wrenching pain
zinged
up her spine,
nearly driving her to her knees with agony. She fell forward but Tieran caught her before she went crashing to the floor.
“That h-hurts,” she managed to pant
as Tieran hoisted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing when in fact, she could probably accordion the spine of an eleph
ant if she chanced to straddle one.

“Where does it hurt?” Tieran asked, laying her gently on the bed, worry replacing his former frown.

“My lower back,” she groaned, rolling to her side and gesturing wildly. “Iona left a cream…it’s on the nightstand but I couldn’t reach the spot…”

Tieran wasted no time in grabbing the pot of cream and scooping a healthy dollop, then rais in the ongoing series.

Tieran’s touch, even done with therapeutic intent, did funny things to her resolve. “Tieran…?”

“Yes?”

“I miss you.” The rubbing motion stilled and she reluctantly glanced back at him, almost afraid of what she’d see in his expression. When he didn’t immediately respond she turned back and blinked away tears, grateful that her face wasn’t visible. “I feel better now. You don’t have to keep rubbing.”

“How long have you suffered this pain?”

She sighed. “Not long. Only since the battle. I think the combination of multiple transformations and the babies’ freakishly rapid growth have aggravated my sciatic nerve. Iona said it will pass as soon as I
give birth.” She suppressed a shudder. The birth. She wasn’t looking forward to that part, even if she was starting to look forward to meeting her babies. “Tieran…do breeding females give birth in the normal way?”

“Yes. But you are the only female who has been able to transform as the males do. I cannot say if you will be different in that aspect as well but I will ensure you have the best of care.”

She nodded and closed her eyes, saying, “I’m tired again,” so he wouldn’t see the tears threatening to ooze down her cheeks. For every step forward they took together, they tumbled two back. She felt the distance between them like a physical thing and not even their bond was enough to bridge the gap. Before, even when he was determined to keep his distance, Tieran couldn’t help himself around her. Now…he only touched her as a doctor would — efficient yet detached. She longed for the return of the wild beast who would rip apart anyone who stood between them. Maybe she wasn’t his True Mate. Maybe…
she was just his baby mama.

#

Tieran’s hands still tingled from the cream he’d spread on Cassandra and his blood was percolating at a fine clip for restraining himself to the task rather than slaking his pounding lust within her soft and rounded body, making for a fine recipe for a raging temper. in the ongoing series.

He’d been able to hold his desire in check by the thinnest of threads, reminding himself that she was in a delicate condition, far more important than satisfying his needs.

He detoured to the work-out room, needing to blow off some excess steam. He was pleased when he found the expansive room empty. Tieran went straight to the punching bag, and without bothering to wrap his knuckles, he began taking his sexual frustration out on the heavy bag.

Cassandra was like a drug in his system and he was desperate for a fix. Her belly was a beautiful, rounded well of life, squirming with his progeny. Her breasts had plumped even more than before until he could almost taste the honeyed skin against his tongue. Her dainty pink areolas had darkened with the pregnancy and he could make out their outline from the gauzy, thin material providing some semblance of coverage of her lush body, but did nothing to prevent his imagination from filling in the blanks.
Was it possible she became even more beautiful with the passing of each day? Was this the bonding that happened between mates? He could still smell her essence in the house, even though they hadn’t had sex since the forest floor, nearly a week ago. He ached to feel his cock sliding into her tight, wet sheath, stretching the slicked walls as he pushed himself deeper until he was seated to the hilt against her womanly flesh.
Good God, this wasn’t helping, he groaned, refocusing on the bag. He landed a vicious punch that would’ve shattered bone then countered with a roundhouse kick that would’ve caved in a chest.
He was in misery. Tieran caught the rocking bag and rested his forehead against the beaten leather. Sweat trickled down his back in rivulets and prayed to the Mother Goddess for strength and wisdom because at the moment, he felt as lost as a newborn pup. He pulled back and wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm, ready to begin again, but Serra walked in
. She grinned and for a second, he felt that familiar tug, but it was weak enough to push it away.

“Remember when we used to train together?” Serra asked, going to the tape and
quickly wrapping her knuckles.

“How could I forget? You bested me nearly
every
match until I was finally big enough to simply overpower you,” he answered with a reluctant smile. Serra had been one of the fiercest girls in the pack, destined to be a warrior. Or an Alpha’s Mate. Guilt tugged at him. He sensed Serra’s pain even though she fought to hide it from him. “Serra…”

“Let’s see if you’ve still got what it takes to best me,” she cut in with a bright, teasing% iad I was smile, going into a wide-legged stance. “And remember, no unfair advantages. As in
,
no transforming
.”

Tieran allowed a small grin. “I only did that once. But if I recall correctly, you grabbed my poor balls and twisted so hard I thought you’d neutered me.
That was punishment e
nough for taking the advantage.
”

“Well,” she smirked with knowing. “Your parts seemed to work just fine,
if I recall
.”

He conceded her point, yet tried to forget the times he and Serra had fucked like animals on this very gym floor. “
One match,” he offered.
“Standard rules apply.”

Serra laughed. “Have it your way,” she said right before attempting to sweep Tieran’s leg out from under him but Tieran was wise to her style of fighting and leapt out of the way. He countered with a quick jab at her midsection but she whirled and countered, catching him in the mouth with a sharp punch.
“Are you getting soft, Alpha?” she teased, bouncing away before he could rebound. “You used to be quicker.”

Tieran wiped away the blood welling on his lip and grinned. “And you used to hit harder.”

She returned the grin. “
Touché
.”

They sparred for a solid ten minutes before Tieran caught Serra with a  surprise kick to the stomach that sent her reeling to the floor, gasping to catch her breath. When she didn’t immediately rebound, he worried he’d actually hurt her and went to help her up, but she caught him with a swift kick to the jaw as she spun around and suddenly he was seeing stars while flat on his back. Serra wasted no time in straddling him, the heat of her core nestled perfectly against his groin. It took a full second to realize she’d won the match but his body reacted like an eager boy with his first conquest, hardening beneath her ready heat.  “It seems there
is
something between us you haven’t managed to forget,” she murmured triumphantly, grinding against him and sighing with pleasure as the hard-ridge of his cock rubbed against her clit.
She leaned down to catch his bottom lip between her teeth before sealing her mouth to his. In a flash, everything about Serra’s familiar weight on top of him felt wrong —
 
even repugnant.

He
bracketed her hips with both hands and lifted her off him, nearly tossing her free with a glower. “What are you doing?” he demanded in a harsh growl as he climbed to his feet. “I have bonded with Cassandra. What we had was child’s play compared to what I feel for Cassandra. Do not shame your clan in this way!”

She followed suit, her eyes flashing. “You are the one who has shamed our clan by refusing to do what is necessary to ensure the clan’s survival.”

“Watch your tongue.”

“If you were a real Alpha, you’d vow to kill the baby whose blood isn’t pure. The seed of Clan Janus germinates in the belly of your
mate
and yet, you allow it to live. If you were half the Alpha you pretend to be, you’d know this is an abomination. She has poisoned your mind, turned you from your beliefs. Do you need further proof that she is ruining this clan? We have survived and thrived because our Alphas always did what was right, no matter the cost. But this woman has managed to turn you into a soft, mewling kitten at the prospect of snuffing out one tiny life.”

“Silence.” The command echoed in the room, laced with danger. “You forget yourself.”

“No. You forget yourself. I am not some weak woman that you can order about. I was destined to be your mate. You know it to be true.
Deep inside you know what you have with Cassandra doesn’t feel right. When we were together, we were unstoppable. Just as destined mates should be. If you were truly bonded to Cassandra, you would not be here with me…you would be with her. No matter the circumstance.”