I scramble on my belly through the thicket, glad most of the prickly leaves no longer grow. He’s still searching, sniffing and padding back and forth above me. I sneak out under the cover of overgrown vines swallowing the dead brambles and double back.

It doesn’t take Caden long to figure me out. In no time, his paws pound in pursuit. I run as hard as I can. He still catches up, chasing me relentlessly. He won’t stop until he captures me.

My wolf scrambles up a hill. As she crests it, he slams into her.

We go down with a delighted warbling howl, welcoming the weight of his huge beast. She wants to rub her scent all over him. He’s hers. He belongs to her and she will claim him. Her want overflows, and her desire is mine.

Caden’s wolf purrs, the approval and praise making her melt. His mouth clamps on her neck, over the mating mark I bear, growling possessively. Mate.

One moment he’s his wolf pinning me to the moss and tufts of grass, the next his warm skin covers me. He hugs me while he scratches my belly, creating a fizzing rush of delight in my core.

“Shift,” he murmurs.

My body gives in to his wish, transforming from fur to flushed skin. His muscular thigh wedges between my legs and I writhe against it. He stretches over my back, hard cock nestled against me. I want it, aching to feel him inside me.

His lips coast down my spine, nipping my ass. My breath hitches and my knees scrabble on the ground for purchase, lifting while he spreads me open.

A hazy cry slips out at the first swipe of his tongue over my pussy. His fingers dig into my skin as his chest rattles with a gravelly sound that vibrates against me. I shudder, pressing my cheek to the cool grass with a whimper. He devours me, mouth and tongue bringing me to the brink.

“I’m—I’m going to come,” I stammer. “Oh Fates, please.”

He sucks on my clit, then works his tongue into me, a ravenous man starved for his favorite meal. My thighs tremble and a tug jerks in my core, unraveling me with an endless ripple of pleasure when I come.

Before I’ve caught my breath, he flips me over, crawling up my body in a sensual prowl while I’m still floating. My pussy throbs with need and I tangle my legs around him.

He lifts my hips, squeezing my ass as he enters me in a smooth thrust that leaves both of us tensing, our features contorted in bliss. I cling to him, the first to move my hips in a circle.

“Yes,” I murmur. “Fuck me.”

“I’m not going to fuck you, mate.”

He kisses me hard to silence my plea, snapping his hips. I gasp and he swallows it with a rumbling chuckle before bracing above me on his forearm.

“I’m going to own you, body and soul.”

My lashes flutter. He pulls back and slams into me, hitting me deep. My back bows. He sets a pace that ignites me. I’m unable to do more than hold on for dear life while he fucks me rough and fast, meeting a wild primal need I didn’t know I had until now.

“Don’t stop,” I beg frantically.

“That’s it, mate. Squeeze my cock with your sweet pussy,” he praises. “Mark me with your slick so everyone knows I’m yours. You’re going to come all over my cock for me, aren’t you?”

“Yes!”

“Such a good little mate for your alpha.”

He grabs a fistful of my hair, guiding my head back until my neck is bared for him. Demanding my submission. A hot sizzle scorches through me and I fall over the edge with a strangled cry. He licks the hollow of my throat, nipping and kissing his way to the mating mark.

“Mine,” he growls against it.

His cock pulses deep within me and he buries his face in the crook of my neck with a groan. “Fuck, I’m coming. I’m going to fill you, knot you until you feel it for days.”

“Yes,” I breathe.

We both pant, shivering in pleasure when the base of his cock grows. His knot feels amazing. The sensation of it swelling in me, stretching me to the brink, makes me feel drunk. It’s more incredible than the first time he knotted me.

It’s not painful, my body naturally welcoming him as it’s meant to. The pressure against my sensitive nerve endings is endless pleasure, the stimulation so intense every little move steals my breath.

My eyes widen, then close with a gasp of pleasure. Caden’s moving inside me, thrusting anew, yet not because his knot is locked in place.

“Are you⁠—?”

His smoky chuckle tickles my ear. “Do you like that? I want to fuck you some more. Can’t move, so I have to get creative.”

“You’re—mm—so good at using this to tease me.”

My teeth rake my lip. Focusing is a challenge when he has me unraveling by the second from his astral command over the bond. I search for it within me, caressing the connection.

“Fuck.” A breath tears from him. “You drive me insane. I love it.”

My laughter breaks off in a moan when he makes it feel like his mouth is on my nipples at the same time while his phantom cock pounds into me. I open my mind to him and let a fantasy unfold where he has me on my knees, fucking my mouth, picturing running my tongue over his knot.

A garbled curse flies out of him and his grip on me spasms. We come together, both of us shaking with it, clinging to each other.

Caden’s lips capture mine and I hum into it happily.

33CADEN

The days pass quickly, autumn creeping into early winter. The Pack Summit will be here in another couple of weeks.

Avery spends most nights in my bed. Occasionally we end up in hers when she works late until I distract her out of her clothes, enjoying bending her over her workbench.

Waking with her scent in my nose becomes one of my favorite parts of the day. It’s drowsy and smooth. It envelops me, luring me to her. I roll on top of her, trailing kisses down the valley between her tits, making my way lower to the crease of her thigh, seeking more of her soft, sleepy arousal.

She giggles, fingers threading in my hair. “Morning.”

I hum, rubbing my cheek on her stomach. “You smell incredible.” I grind my hips against the mattress, groaning. “Shit, you make me so hard in the mornings.”

Her laughter is so sexy. She stretches, then stills.

“Did you hear that?”

I didn’t. I’m too busy tracing patterns on her thigh with my tongue, getting closer to tasting her. I want her legs wrapped around my head while I enjoy feasting on her.

She nudges me. “Go check. Someone’s coming.”

With a ragged sigh, I drag myself from my mate, grabbing the first pair of shorts I find and adjust my dick so it’s not so obvious I could carve stone with it. I wait until she’s pulled one of my sweaters over her head before opening the door. Callie’s in the hall with Beatrix, their expressions matched in mischief. Lena hovers behind them with a book tucked under her arm.

Avery’s sisters have been staying here. Beatrix moved her things into the rooms I prepared for them next to Callie’s and Lena’s migrating all her books.

“Good morning,” I say slowly. “Need something?”

Callie puts on an innocent act. “We were just coming to see if you were awake. We’re going down to the dining hall for breakfast.”

Beatrix snorts, muttering, “And making sure they didn’t miss it.”

“Bea.” Avery nudges me aside, her cheeks pink.

“What? You missed it yesterday,” she points out with a giggle.

“And the day before that.” Callie feels my forehead. “Are you eating properly? Getting enough to drink? We’re starting to worry.”

I scrub my face. “Yes. We’re—wait, no. Never mind. I’m not discussing this with you.”

It’s Avery’s turn to snort. “Thanks for checking on us and reminding us to come up for air.”

“Are you coming with us?” Lena asks.

“Yes. Go on, buttercup. We’ll meet you downstairs,” Avery says.

Our sisters leave us be. Callie peeks back with a wink before they round the corner. I like having the Alpha’s lodge full of life with our family all in one place.