《Wolf or Love》


 CHAPTER 1

    A nice smell was perceived , pondered Danica Hart. She was sure it didn¡¯t belong in her bed though. Her head was deep in thoughts. The smell was actually a person¡¯s scent  a most luscious scent and Lavender nt. Danica did not bring in any strange guys into the pack house, even if they did smell ambrosial. Slightly, she looked at the space beside her and was able to confirm her suspicion that the mystery male was long gone. She then looked at her rm clock along with her bedside table. And these sheets beneath her, she suddenly realized were not hers.


    Her eyes widened in response to not only the luxury around her, but also the realisation that she was inside what looked to be a freaking earthhole. ¡°A cave?¡± She thought, Hell, no. The walls were all perfectly smooth. The floors were covered with an expensive taupe rug that felt attractively soft.  bed. Notfortable enough but she was enjoying this freaky little scenario.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    What was thest thing she remembered doing? Her brain was foggy but she could recall heading to the inte caf¨¦ at around noon. She sure didn¡¯t remember getting there. It was like there was a gap in her memory. Danica lifted the air around her into her system, filtering through the various scents.  At least she could be sure that she wasn¡¯t in the hands of that dick alpha, Cody , who didn¡¯t give a crap that she didn¡¯t want to be imed by him. For that matter, her father didn¡¯t give a crap either; he was too busy trying to build an ally with the other pack and if that meant using his daughter to get it, he happily would. She wished she could say that it was just because he was so desperate for an ally. But no, her dad already had plenty of alliances with other packs. He simply didn¡¯t have time for his only child because, as atent, she was a blow to his pride, an aberration in his bloodline. He hated her because, as he had seen to her conception, she was his weakness. She put his ¡®greatness¡¯ into question for the rest of the pack. Or so he thought.


    Spotting a set of white curtains, she flicked the counterpane aside and rose from the bed. Dizziness momentarily rushed over her and she swayed back. Jesus, what was with her? Staggering to the curtains with slow ungraceful movements, she parted them to reveal a window that was unfortunately locked. Rather than morning, it was more like the evening time.


    Did that mean she hadn¡¯t spent the night here and had only been here a few hours? Or did it mean she had just had one hell of a sleep?


    What. The. Fuck?


    If this was all a joke she didn¡¯t get it. Smoothing out the misery of her existence that couldn¡¯t seem to decide what shade of blonde it wanted to be, she headed for the door on nervous legs.


    She pulled on the door handle but, to her horror and frustration, the door was locked. Locked? ¡°Hello!¡± she called out as she knocked loudly.


    No response. ¡°Helloooooooooo!¡± Still nothing .


    So, to sum up, she was in a strange ce around strange shifters and she was being confined? Well now her wolf was pissed. Being confined was enough to anger and disturb any shifter. ¡°Helloooo! This is your captive speaking! Open the goddamn door!¡±


    A chuckle prefaced the turning of a key and then the door slowly swung open. Danica found herself face to face ¨C well, face to chest ¨C with what could only be described as a living breathing mountain. Another wolf.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. Good.¡±


    ¡°And just which dwarf might you be?¡± No it wasn¡¯t a good time to make jokes but she was a bitch of sarcasm and when she was pissed off the sarcasm took on a life of its own.


    His smirk widened. ¡°The Alpha wants to speak to you.¡±


    ¡°And your Alpha is¡­?¡±


    He winked. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Rolling her eyes at his cocky swagger, Danica followed him through a tunnel which took them deeper into the mountain. Seeing the asional turn off, she realized that it was actually awork of tunnels like some kind of giant insect colony.


    ¡°Man, tell me where I am?¡±


    ¡°All will be revealed shortly,¡± he said in a drawing manner.


    ¡°How about how I got here?¡± she asked furiously


    ¡°The Alpha will exin everything to you.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t contain her grumbling stomach, but it seemed to amuse him.


    Soon they came to arge ck door, which Mountain Man held open while she passed through. In the centre of therge space was a long oak dining table around which a small number of male wolf shifters lingered. All heads turned as she entered and the crowd split, giving her a view of who sat at the table. Her jaw almost hit the floor.


    Motherfucker. Gio Wright.


    Now she knew for a fact that she hadn¡¯te here willingly. Even if she had been on a night out and gotten inebriated, no amount of alcohol would have distracted her from the fact that this guy was a psycho. He was kind of like the ck Mamba snake; fiercely aggressive, had a bad reputation, and was respected, admired, and feared all at the same time. That had a lot to do with the rumor that he had challenged and almost killed a mature Alpha male at the delicate age of thirteen. A mature Alpha male who had also been his father.


    If what Danica had heard was correct, Gio had been banished rather than earning the position of Alpha male. The act had caused a divide in the pack and those who hadn¡¯t agreed with the decision had left with him.


    Together they had formed their own pack with Gio as Alpha male and earned their own territory through battles with other packs. So far this particr Alpha was undefeated¡­which was probably because his wolf tended to turn wild during battles. And here she was with him. She couldn¡¯t help but get the feeling that the universe wasughing behind her back.


    He frowned harshly and the sharpness in his blue eyes seemed to only add to it. His t-shirt didn¡¯t hide his broad shoulders, defined upper body or abs. Ripped, that was what he was. Ordinarily, Danica didn¡¯t much like the hignder look, but she found that she couldn¡¯t help admiring that physique. In addition, both her body and her wolf helplessly reacted to the power that was practically buzzing around him; he wore authority like a second skin. His hard prating stare was heating her blood rather than confronting her. His eyes had taken on a zed, hungry look that both thrilled and startled her. It made her wolf growl in excitement. The primal lust that gripped her was so intense it almost hurt.


    In any case, no way would her inconvenient attraction to him inspire her to react to him as her body and her wolf wanted ¨C and as many other females often did, if his reputation as a rake had any substance. Her father was also the dark, rugged, brooding, dangerous type and he was a pain in the padded ass. Betraying nothing about her appreciation of him as a male, Danica simply returned his full-on alpha stare with one of her own. Oh her wolf may betent, but she was still an alpha wolf.


    Gio regarded the female before him curiously. He had been told that she wastent. Add in that she was a tiny little thing, away from her pack and in hispany, and surely you would have yourself a swift deer. But there was no fear in her expression as he would have expected. Instead, she was royally pissed. Apparently he had be so used to the scent of fear that he now found himself a little thrown. He also found that he was bing painfully hard as a raw basic hunger rushed through him, beating at his self-control. She wasn¡¯t beautiful in that oh so obvious in-your-face way, but in a natural, understated way. Although she was slender she had mouth-watering curves that had all sorts of fantasies ying around in his head. It was her mouth that had most of his attention though; it was carnal and made a guy think impure thoughts.


    A mouth that was currently set into a hard line,municating how furious she was. Still the smell of fear hadn¡¯t spread through the air. Maybe she just didn¡¯t recognise him.


    ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±


    Danica rolled her eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just skip to the part where you tell me how the hell I got here and why exactly I¡¯m here at all, Wright?¡±


    Everyone around her felt unrxed and an ufortable quietness fell upon the room. Obviously they were all waiting for the guy to explode. Yeah? Well she had had enough of intimidating, dominating males. Had had enough of boyfriends who seemed to think that her beingtent meant she had to be submissive and meek. Had had enough of her father trying to force her to mate with a skeezy alpha for his own sly reasons. Had had enough of said skeezy alpha who was so determined to mate with her that he had cornered and bitten her without her permission, believing he had marked her as his.


    And now the psycho boy here had obviously kidnapped her. Forgive her if she had reached her limit!


    Gio smiled inwardly at her silence. He had been told enough times that he had an intimidating presence. All his life, even before earning his reputation, people had been tired of him and it had kind of irritated him. His grandmother med his seemingly permanent scowl as well as the dominant vibes that surrounded him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit,¡± he invited, showing her to the seat opposite him. His strong attraction to her would be a good thing if she agreed to his deal.

 CHAPTER 2

    ¡°My Beta and my Head Enforcer brought you here a few hours ago.¡± He said.


    ¡°What? Why? And how did they even get me to go with them?¡±


    ¡°They drugged you.¡±


    Danica stared in wonder. He was too disrespectful and impenitent for her liking.


    ¡°They did what?¡±


    ¡°At the caf¨¦. After you left and the drowsiness kicked in as you were walking home, Duda and Chris took you and brought you to me.¡±


    ¡°If it makes you feel any better,¡± began Mountain Man, ¡°you still fought me and Chris like a wildcat before you went away with the fairies to dreand.¡± He lifted his t-shirt to show her a set of w marks that spanned his chest. Her marks, she realized. Although she wastent, she could partially shift. She also realized that Mountain Man was amused rather than angry.


    ¡°Wildcat is an understatement. No one ever marks our Beta,¡± a tall, olive-skinned wolf told her who she presumed was Chris ¨C her other kidnapper. With his athletic build and dark hair, he was more her type. Unfortunately her wolf was growling her disagreement; she rather liked psycho boy.


    Gio¡¯s inward smile surfaced. She would be perfect for what he had in mind. In order to know for sure, he needed to tell some sweet little lies first and feel her out, find out if his suspicions about her supposed mating were true.


    ¡°Cody Coleman¡±


    Her wolf growled inside her head at the name. ¡°What about him?¡±


    ¡°He has something I want. Something that he owes me.¡±


    ¡°Ah, and now you believe you have something he wants and that there¡¯s going to be some sort of trade going on.¡± It was just her luck that she would get stuck in the middle of alpha games.


    ¡°You¡¯re not so much insurance as you are a little reminder that he owes me and I¡¯m not a patient man.¡±


    And she wasn¡¯t a patient woman. Nor was she partial to being drugged and kidnapped. But did anyone give a shit? No. It could be that she wastent or just that she was small, but people tended to judge her as being delicate, scared and submissive. ¡°Look, maybe in your culture it¡¯s perfectly fine to drug and abduct a person, but it sure as shit isn¡¯t eptable in mine.¡±


    ¡°As soon as Cody arrives, you can leave.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t exactly fantastic news. A part of her wanted to rant and rave, but what good would it do? She would only end up being confined in that damn bedroom again and that would drive her and her wolf crazy. Also, she was a believer that it was best to have your enemy in sight.


    ¡°Have you called him yet?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon,¡± he lied. In truth, he hadn¡¯t contacted Cody and he had no intention of doing.


    ¡°Well then, can the captive get a coffee or what?¡± she asked no one in particr.


    Aside from psycho boy, Duda and Chris, there were four other males in the room; a broad frowner with a low haircut, a handsome blonde with light skin, a tall wolf with dark curls and a clown-wide smile, and a muscr guy with w mark scars across one cheek. It urred to her that she could justbel them Grumpy, Blondie, Smiley and Musculy.


    Other than Duda ¨C who seemed strangely fascinated with her for having managed to w him ¨C none of the wolves looked at all pleased about her presence. She guessed that they weren¡¯t a fan of her dad. Not many were.


    Even the wolf who was wearing a huge smile looked intrigued as opposed to friendly, and she had the feeling that his smile was permanently there. Or maybe he was imagining what it would feel like to rip out her throat and hand it to her asshole of a father. With his arrogance, underhandedness and ¡®I own the world and can do whatever the hell I want¡¯ attitude, her dad was as good at collecting enemies as he was at gathering alliances. Even those who allied themselves with him only did so because of how influential he was ¨C it was all just politics.


    In response to her question, Gio nodded to a smiling Donny who switched on the coffee machine and took a mug from the cupboard. Gio tilted his head as he considered her. ¡°You know, you¡¯re not what I¡¯d expected.¡±


    ¡°Is that right?¡± she said showing no emotions.


    ¡°Coleman usually likes foolishs and submissives.¡± Blonde as she was, she didn¡¯t have that floozie look about her. There was no missing the sharp, keen mind behind those brown eyes. ¡°Funny how a person¡¯s true mate can be the opposite of what they go for.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my true mate.¡± It came out faster than she had wanted it to.


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t found your true mate yet, why would you mate with someone else? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t got plenty of time to find him. You can¡¯t be much older than twenty-two, twenty-three¡±


    ¡°My mate¡¯s dead. He died when we were kids.¡±


    ¡°Well then that¡¯s something you and I have inmon. I also lost my mate a long time ago before I was able to im her.¡±


    Hart took in his solemn expression and felt a pang of sympathy for him. The loss of a mate wasn¡¯t something anyone could understand unless they had experienced that kind of pain themselves. ¡°Sorry.¡± she said


    He simply shrugged a little. ¡°Hmm, now you and Cody as a couple make even less sense. If you¡¯re not true mates, then that means he¡¯s chosen someone who is fiery tempered. It really must be love.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± Danica said and added Love? Yeah, right. The reason Cody was so determined to fuck her was simply because she hadn¡¯t responded to his charm and apparently his ego couldn¡¯t handle the blow. As for why he wanted to take her as his mate¡­The only thing she could figure was that he wanted an alliance with her dad.


    ¡°When¡¯s the mating ceremony scheduled for?¡± asked Gio.


    Oh there would be no mating ceremony. Cody was keen to get it over with because her dad had insisted on there being one before he would hand her overpletely ¨C only so he had an excuse to have a get-together with all his alliances and look the big man. No way would she bind herself to someone she didn¡¯t care for or even like. Then there was the matter of Cody being a control freak; she had picked that up from his interactions with his enforcers, all of whom were intimidated by him. She didn¡¯t believe they were scared of him in a physical sense. It was as though he had some sort of hold over them, like he held their secrets in the palm of his hand or something like that. Also, if the rumors were right, Cody got his kicks from inflicting pain on women. Considering he had forced his mark on her in the middle of a night club, she had no problem believing that. She had expected him to strike her after she practically crushed his balls with her hand in retaliation, but when he could finally stand and had finished panting, he merely smiled. It was a creepy smile that swore revenge, but he hadn¡¯t stopped her from walking away. Apparently he was biding his time.


    To escape the mating, her first stop had been her dad. As he wanted the alliance, she wasn¡¯t getting any help from that corner. Her next stop should be her Alpha, but as her dad was the Alpha, that avenue was closed to her. She could try leaving the pack but that wouldn¡¯t improve her situation. As a lone wolf without any protection, pack, or territory she would be easy pickings, and Cody Coleman would undoubtedly be the picker.


    The only other person she had was her uncle ¨C her deceased mother¡¯s youngest brother ¨C who she hadn¡¯t seen since he mated into another pack ten years ago. Her n was to ask him to approach his Alpha with the idea of epting her into his pack, but she wasn¡¯t optimistic. Although she was a healer, she was alsotent and she couldn¡¯t imagine any Alpha being particrly interested in taking in atent wolf. The question was, even if the Alpha did take her in, would he be prepared to challenge Cody?


    She thought about telling Gio that she liked Cody even less than he did, but sometimes it was a case of ¡®better the devil you know¡¯ ¨C and this particr devil was possibly worse than Cody. Instead of answering his question, she got herselffy on the seat, crossing her legs , and sipped the coffee that Smiley had ced in front of her.


    ¡°Does your silence mean you haven¡¯t set a date yet


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t I answer? That¡¯s probably because it¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    He felt his mouth fell into a smile. ¡°You must be looking forward to soon bing an Alpha Female of a pack.¡±


    Something about his tone had her frowning.


    ¡°Are power hungry females the only type you¡¯ve known?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°Isn¡¯t it what every female wolf dreams of?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, and I¡¯m filled up over with excitement at my uing position.¡±


    Strangely he found that he liked her sarcastic streak. ¡°I thought you were a healer.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Typically they have gentle natures.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I fall t there.¡±


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re quite a powerful healer.¡±


    She was. There were three different types of healers. Some worked on an emotional level, neutralising or healing emotional wounds. Others drew the aches and pains into themselves, acting more as a sedative and ensuring a speedy recovery. Then there those like Danica who could heal the actual wounds within minutes, guaranteeing a recovery.


    ¡°Do you always sit in odd positions?¡±


    ¡°Just be thankful I¡¯m not sitting on your countertop. That¡¯s where I usually sit when I¡¯m in the kitchen.¡± Maybe because it reminded her of all the times her mom had sat her there while they baked together, maybe not.


    ¡°What about in the bedroom?¡± he asked with what he knew was a wicked, suggestive grin. ¡°Do you get in odd positions in there too?¡±


    ¡°Depends if the male can seed in pinning me down.¡±


    ¡°Ah, of course. You¡¯re an alpha.¡± And alphas, whether they were leaders of their own pack or just alpha by nature, didn¡¯t surrender without the male proving their dominance. Just the idea of fighting to have Danica submit to him had his cock pulsating and his balls aching. He knew she¡¯d fight him like a wildcat.


    ¡°Do you have any cookies or something to go with this coffee?¡±


    Donny ced a pack of his cookies beside her mug and she immediately dug into them.


    Images of those lips around his cock shed through his mind, making his wolf growl inside his head. Then his entire body held up as she sucked the dribbles of coffee from the tips of her fingers. Well fuck. What made the whole thing even more of a turn-on was that she clearly had no idea she was being watched by every male in the room.


    What Gio found even more difficult to understand was why Danica would want Cody as a mate. Yeah he knew females tended to like Cody and his charming ways that hid his coldness, but Miss Hart seemed like someone who would snort at sweet words and oppose being with someone who wanted to control her. It didn¡¯t make sense. They didn¡¯t make sense. That was why he was thinking that maybe his suspicions about their supposed mating had truth in them.

 CHAPTER 3

    Danica jerked back . ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Why would you cover it with make-up?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Your mark. A female wears her male¡¯s mark with pride, you¡¯re covering yours.


    ¡± Did he force his mark on you?¡±


    Danica was pretty much speechless.


    I don¡¯t know what your problem is ¨C though I¡¯d imagine it¡¯s difficult to spell even for your psychiatrist ¨C but no matter what¡¯s going on between you and Cody, it doesn¡¯t give you the right to know anything about what¡¯s going on between me and Cody.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not, but I still want an answer,¡± he said gently in a calm voice.


    ¡°Did he im you against your will?¡±


    ¡°Do I seem like the kind of person who would allow something like that?¡± She Said irritably


    ¡°I have no doubt that you¡¯re trying to find a way out of mating with him if it¡¯s not what you want, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve found one.


    Now, ¡°did he im you against your will?¡±


    ¡°What does it matter to you?¡±


    Gio took that as a yes. ¡°Does your father know?¡±


    She spoke quickly, hoping that if she just satisfied his curiosity he¡¯d back off. ¡°My dad¡¯s a proud man whose only child is atent daughter. He sees an alliance with a wolf as powerful as Cody to be the best thing that¡¯s evere out of my existence.¡±


    ¡°Your mother?¡±


    ¡°Died when I was nine.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have other rtives who¡¯ll help?¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Not only was he poking at a very raw wound, but her body was reacting to him in a way that unsettled her. There had to be something wrong with her if she was attracted to a psycho. But, strangely, she didn¡¯t feel in danger with him.


    ¡°What if I said I could help you?¡±


    Her heart almost stopped. ¡°Why would you do that? How could you even do that?¡±


    ¡°You could join my pack.¡±


    Okay well that was unexpected. ¡°What could you possibly gain from that?¡± she asked, immediately suspicious.


    ¡°A healer.¡±


    Yeah, sure. ¡°There¡¯s more.¡±


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s more. I have a proposition for you. I believe that we can help each other out.


    ¡°What¡¯s this proposition of yours?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard all about how I supposedly beat the hell out of my own father when I was much younger . Well it¡¯s true. I did. And for very good reasons, none of which are important right now. I won the right to be Alpha, but my dad, my uncle and many other males banded together to banish me. I was just a juvenile; I couldn¡¯t take them all on. So I left, along with some from the pack who disagreed with what had happened. We formed our own pack.


    ¡°Then we then got ourselves some territory and we¡¯ve been content enough here. I was never interested in getting involved with any political bullshit or making alliances, so we always kept pretty much to ourselves. Unfortunately, that¡¯se back to bite me right on the ass.¡± Since he was Beta, my uncle has now taken over as Alpha, but apparently that¡¯s not enough for him. He has applied to the council for his pack and mine to be united as one again with him as Alpha. Personally I think it¡¯s because he wants our territory, but it¡¯s probably to piss me off too.


    It was clear to Wright by the expression on Danica¡¯s face that although she was listening with good intent she didn¡¯t have a clue where he was going with this. ¡°Of course I¡¯m going to oppose his request, which means he¡¯ll then have to back down or officially challenge me. I know him well enough to know he will not back down. . There¡¯ll be a battle between the packs ¨C one that I have absolutely no problem with. But I know my father had plenty of alliances and all of those will now be my uncle¡¯s. Naturally he¡¯s going to ask for aid from those alliances and we¡¯ll be outnumbered.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear things are pretty shitty, but I really don¡¯t see what I can do ¨C unless you¡¯re interested in a sarcasticment ¨C and I don¡¯t see what any of this has to do with Cody.¡±


    ¡°I need alliances, Danica. Your dad collects them like they¡¯re coupons. If I had an alliance with him, I would have a link to his alliances and then I¡¯ll have plenty of wolves to call on for this battle. Maybe it will make my uncle hesitate, maybe it won¡¯t.


    Alliances, alliances, alliances. ¡°So, you¡¯re asking me to reject a guy who wants nothing more than an alliance with my dad, all in favor of a guy with exactly the same motive?¡± She said loudly


    ¡°You could probably arrange an alliance without using me, so why not just contact him?¡±


    It is a hard thing to do. Mr. Hart was cunning and ruthless , seeing how much Gio needed him he could probably do that by demanding some of his territory or by insisting he owed him a ¡®favor¡¯. Being indebted to an Alpha like him was never a good thing. Alliances formed through a mating, on the other hand, were more bnced.


    He murmured silenty.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She asked.


    ¡°With me, it doesn¡¯t have to be permanent.¡± And he¡¯d never hurt her, unlike Cody.


    Confused, Danica shook her head. ¡°Wolves mate for life.¡±


    . ¡°Of course we have to make everyone believe this is the real deal and that we¡¯ve mated for life, but all I need is for you to remain with me as my mate until the battle is over.¡±


    ¡°Well then you don¡¯t necessarily need me to mate with you. You just need me to act as though I¡¯m mated to you.¡± She added.


    He shook his head. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t work because I¡¯d need to mark you. The second I do, you¡¯ll be ssed as my mate. It will be a real mating. Her inner wolf would really want it it growled in her .


    ¡°Look, even if I wanted to take you up on your offer, I couldn¡¯t. My dad and Cody have signed contracts and my dad¡¯s ted at the idea of having an alliance with Cody. He won¡¯t stop it.¡±


    He had thought as much. ¡°Unless you make him believe that we¡¯re true mates.¡±


    Her tone was t as she spoke. ¡°I told you, my mate is dead. Everyone in the pack knows I lost him.¡±


    ¡°Many times shifters have mistaken a close childhood friend as their future mate. You¡¯ll just need people to believe that was the case with you.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do that to Zan, I couldn¡¯t shit on his memory like that. I won¡¯t shit on his memory like that.¡± ¡°When I informed my pack a few weeks ago of my n to mate, I also informed them that my true mate died a long time ago.


    That¡¯s all they need to know.¡±


    ¡°They will y along that we¡¯re true mates if it helps us keep our territory and stops my uncle from taking over the pack.¡± Unfortunately, not all of them were supportive of a Hart being in their pack, but telling her that wouldn¡¯t be a wise move. A part of Danica wondered what she was hesitating for. She wanted to get away from Cody didn¡¯t she? Well here was her chance. But it wasn¡¯t as simple as that, was it? No, because her chance came in the form of another big bad Alpha who had a price for his help. Hell, two wolves suddenly wanted to mate her ¨C two alpha wolves ¨C yet neither actually cared even a tiny bit about her. She was a means to an end. ¡°Even if I did agree to this deal, I don¡¯t see how we could fake a mating bond. It¡¯s an extremely intimate thing. Mates are all touchy-feely, they don¡¯t spend a minute apart, they smell of each other, they wear each other¡¯s mark and they have some kind of link that helps them sense each other¡¯s mood. How in the hell could we ever fake a metaphysical connection like that?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll only need to fake it when anyone outside my pack is around and that won¡¯t be often. Knowing that your freedom from Cody depends on this should help you dramatically with your acting skills.¡±


    The man has an answer for everything, grumbled Danica inwardly.


    Could she do this? Could she pull this off? It wasn¡¯t in her nature to have fear from anything challenging, no matter how much danger or risk it involved. Maybe it was a lot to do with hertency.


    However, she supposed that when it came down to it, the question of most importance was:


    Was she truly prepared to do what it took to remove herself from Cody¡¯s reach? Returning her gaze to Gio, she sighed again and then nodded she agreed to his deal.


    He gave her a crooked smile. ¡°Right decision.¡±. ¡°You can¡¯t tell anyone about this Danica, Not even your best friend. Especially when there¡¯s a risk that someone will consider you safer with Cody.¡±


    Unfortunately he was right. Her two best friends, Rick and Suza, were pretty protective of her and they seemed to find Codypletely charming. They didn¡¯t see the coldness behind his smile. They would do everything they could to discourage her from mating with psycho boy here, and if that didn¡¯t work they would most definitely go gossip.


    Even if she had been utterly convinced that they would be supportive, she wouldn¡¯t have told them.


    Not liking her silence, he said, ¡°I mean it, Danica, you have to keep your mouth shut about this. You don¡¯t tell a soul.¡± We¡¯ll see. So, can we shake hands on it?


    Danica sped his offered hand. ¡°Note this: If you try to hand me over to Cody when hees, I¡¯ll w your balls off.

 CHAPTER 4

    As Danica closed the front door behind her than a voice was loud,


    ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡±


    It was always a surprise when her dad Carrick Hart was seeking her presence.


    Usually Carrick was indifferent to Danica and could even go a whole day without talking to her. What was more surprising was that he seemed to believe she


    should be hanging around just in case he wanted to see her or to bestow some attention on her.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time for the evening meal.¡±


    Since when did he care if she missed a meal?N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Cody¡¯s going to be here soon. You have about two minutes to change.¡±


    Ah. ¡°Why would I change? And why wasn¡¯t I told he wasing?¡±


    You know, I still don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so set against him. I never would have thought you¡¯d have attracted an Alpha in a million years. Hell, a wolf shouldn¡¯t want to be bound to atent unless he had no choice.


    You should be grateful.¡±


    ¡°Grateful to be mated to someone I don¡¯t like, let alone care for?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll just have to grow to care about him, won¡¯t you,¡± he snapped. ¡°I want this alliance and you are not going to mess this up for me. Now get upstairs and change into something I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    She searched for his expression. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it matter to you at all that this will make me miserable? I know you must have heard the rumors about him and how he treats women. Does none of that matter to you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be good for you to mate with someone who has a firm hand. You could use the discipline. Maybe he can be the one who manages to teach you the meaning of respect.¡± Miss Danica couldn¡¯t help that her mouth fell open. She had thought that her dad was just ignoring the rumors, blinding himself to them to escape the


    guilt. In actual fact, he felt none. He was perfectly content with the idea of handing her over to someone who would beat her, and he wouldn¡¯t even be angry with Cody for doing it. You know, for the first time in my life I¡¯m actually d Mom¡¯s not around. If she¡¯d been here to hear this, it would have broken her heart.¡±


    He actuallyughed. ¡°You forget, Danica she died before it became clear you¡¯retent. She wouldn¡¯t have wanted anything more to do with you than i do¡±


    You disrespectful little bitch,¡± he gritted out as he raised his hand to p her.


    She didn¡¯t flinch ¡°Go on, do it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d really rather you didn¡¯t, Carrick,¡± said a voice from the doorway.


    They both turned to see Cody. ¡°When you signed that contract, you signed her over to me.¡±


    In other words, the only person who had the right to p her was him.


    ¡°Until the mating ceremony, I¡¯m still her Alpha, Cody. Remember that.¡±


    ¡°And as her mate, I¡¯d feel obliged to protect her if you were toy a hand on her.¡± He turned to Danica and smiled. ¡°Nice to see you again, beautiful.¡±


    Right now, her wolf¡¯s desire was to take a swipe at the smarmy bastard in front of her. When he leaned down to kiss her she turned her head away, but his mouth still


    managed to catch her ear. Carrick released a tired sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Everybody will be waiting for us.¡±


    As they made their way to the dining room, Cody attempted to hold her hand. She shot him a look that swore violence and curled her upper lip.


    His response was a smile. She kind of got the feeling that he liked seeing her being wild.


    Quickly the food was brought out and everyone was eating greedily while listening to Cody answer all Carrick¡¯s questions about his pack and the times he had been challenged in the past. Danica rolled her eyes as she saw how many of the females were staring in utter admiration at Cody, clinging to his every word. Even her best friend Suza for Christ¡¯s sake! The males were also staring at him, all pretty pissed with him for his effect on the females. She simply didn¡¯t understand how everyone could be so taken in by him. Yes, he was charming, had a warm smile and was very nice to look at, but there was something very wrong with his eyes.


    He sighed. ¡°Come on, Danica , you can¡¯t tell me you wouldn¡¯t like getting away from here for a while. You could see where you¡¯re going to be living, and meet some of the wolves from my pack. You¡¯ll soon be their Alpha


    female. Don¡¯t you want to get to know them?¡±


    No, not even a little bit. And she would never be their Alpha female. His hand slid around her neck; a gesture of ownership. With fast reflexes she jumped to her feet and kicked his chair out from under him. She looked down at him where he was t on the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever touch me like that! I don¡¯t belong to you, I¡¯ll never belong to you!¡± She was angry and pissed, so she stormed out of the room. It was only minutester when she heard footsteps approaching and his scent drifted toward her. He sighed as he took a few steps towards her. ¡°Danica , it really is time you stopped fighting me. I think we¡¯ve proven who the more dominant one is.¡±


    ¡°Oh you might want to know that your father and I have arranged the mating ceremony to take ce on the next full moon, which is a week from now. I would rather have a porcupine brutally shoved up into my rectum than mate with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already imed you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t ept that im.¡±


    ¡°Your father does.


    You need a nice submissive female who¡¯ll say and


    do what you tell her to and make all the right noises at the appropriate times.


    Me¡­I¡¯m just going to piss you off.


    You¡¯re right, Danica, I do like my females submissive. And that is exactly what you will be when we mate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll never mate with you. Never.¡±


    He smiled with arge grin. ¡°It¡¯s sad that you actually think you¡¯ll win this battle. ¡°It¡¯s sad that you even started this battle. Why would you want me


    when you know I don¡¯t want you? Why would you want me when you know I¡¯d fight you every step of the way?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t need to force you. You will crave my dominance and my direction. I¡¯m looking forward to you moving into my home. Then we can negin your training.¡±


    ¡°Sick, delusional and suicidal. That¡¯s what you are.¡±


    ¡°Suicidal?¡± He sounded surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯d kill you before I let you touch me.¡±


    ¡°You really would try to, wouldn¡¯t you? Even if it meant risking your own life.¡±


    ¡°If I mated with you I¡¯d be practically dead anyway,¡± she said with a loud tone. ¡°I¡¯ll remind you of this conversation in a year¡¯s time. It will be


    interesting to know what you make of it then.¡± With that, he went back into the house, leaving her stood there.


    Four more days until I met up with Gio , she reminded herself. In four days she could be free of her father.


    Moreover, there would be no way that sicko could get near her. After only one day of being spied on and followed wherever she went, Danica was more than pissed. She was a bomb waiting to blow up. It was decided that evening by Cody and Carrick that her whereabouts for the entire twenty-four hours of each day up until the mating ceremony would be


    monitored. If she was at home, one of her dad¡¯s men was to apany her around the property. If she left pack territory for any reason, she was to be tailed by two of his other men. Protection, they called it. Yeah, right. Wanting to get her uncle¡¯s address and contact the men made it hard for her to get to her dad¡¯s office. If Gio¡¯s n fell through, she was prepared to drive all the way to that address and beg her uncle¡¯s Alpha to give her sanctuary. Maybe if he liked her uncle a lot, he would take pity on her. It would be convincing him not to hand her over to Cody or her dad that would be the problem after that.


    Knowing that she would never be able toe back here no matter what happened, Danica packed and arranged arge bagplete with clothes, passport and a few objects with the n that she could stash it in her car ready for Friday night. Unlike the other wolves, she always drove to the club as she was constantly on call in case someone from her pack needed healing.


    She didn¡¯t have a lot of stuff, so it wasn¡¯t hard to go through it and only take the things she really liked or wanted. One thing she had learnt from her mom was the importance of saving money, so at least she had some to take with her. The problem was getting the bag to the car without her constantpanion seeing. She figured that her best chance of making Ben (the guard man) a little distracted was if she seemed the most boring person imaginable.


    After another two days Ben became less vignt and she found a moment to hide the bag in the trunk of the car. Then soon she was deep in thoughts concentrating on what she would do if Gio didn¡¯t appear at the club. She knew she was going to her uncle, but what she hadn¡¯t mastered was just how she would do that while being watched so closely by her dad¡¯s men. She figured that her best option would be to disappear in a crowd of people. If she could slip away from the club while her dad¡¯s enforcers were still inside the club, she might have a chance at getting away. She had to have a chance. She couldn¡¯t mate with that sicko.


    Finally Friday morning came. It had felt more like two weeks than four days. She had remembered what Gio had said about not doing anything out of the norm, but there was one thing she had to do before she left. Her usual visit to Zan¡¯s and her mom¡¯s graves were every other Sunday, but Ben didn¡¯t seem suspicious. Surprised, but not suspicious. She went to her mom¡¯s grave first and, as usual, spent a few minutes tidying it up by recing the decaying flowers with a fresh bunch. Silently, she apologised to her for this being thest time she would ever be able to visit and for not being able to have the kind of loving rtionship with her dad that she would have wanted. Her eyes filled with tears as she gave Zan¡¯s grave the same treatment as hermom¡¯s. She then sat in front of it as she silently spoke to him.


    ¡°Hey Zan, I don¡¯t know how much you guys up there know about what goes on down here, but there¡¯s been some really weird stuff going on.


    Remember I told youst time about that weird-psycho alpha my dad is trying to force me to mate with? Well, it turns out he¡¯s also a very sick son of a bitch and my dad doesn¡¯t even give a shit.


    There¡¯s this other alpha who¡¯s offered me a deal that would get me out of this, but it means I¡¯d have to mate with him. It wouldn¡¯t be a real mating, because all he wants is an alliance with my dad and it will only be temporary. The thing is¡­I need to make everyone believe that he¡¯s my true mate, which means I¡¯m going to be telling them that you never were. And I¡¯m so sorry for this, so fucking sorry, but I can¡¯t see any other way out. People say I must wish I¡¯d never found you if it meant you were going to die before we even had a chance to have the mating bond, but I don¡¯t wish that, you know. Never have. We might not have mated, but we did have a bond.


    I¡¯m so sorry, but this is thest time I¡¯ll be here. My dad¡¯s not going to let mee back after this, but you can bet your ass that I¡¯ll still be talking to you sometimes. I¡¯ll find a river just like we used to and I¡¯ll go sit there and talk to you. And you better listen, too, Zan Klint, because you always had a habit switching off when you thought I¡¯d been talking for too long.


    You¡¯ve probably switched off now. Okay, it¡¯s fair to say that I¡¯ve been saying a lot.¡±


    She stood, wiping the tears from her cheeks, as she said the words she always said just before leaving. Miss you, love you.


    Then, with a heavy heart, she turned away and began walking back to the pack house. And it hurt so bad knowing she¡¯d never be back.

 CHAPTER 5

    It was like there was this huge constriction around her chest that tightened with each step she took.


    ¡°He was a good kid,¡± stated Ben.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t hate you for mating with Cody, you know. He wouldn¡¯t want you living your life alone. And Cody is not a bad guy.¡±


    Deciding that arguing would only make Ben more likely to watch her more closely, she continued with her ¡®I¡¯m pissed but resigned¡¯ act.


    Knowing that she would never again see the graves of the two most important people to her, Danica would have spent the next few hours in a gloomy mood if it hadn¡¯t been for her dad¡¯s fantastic news. Cody was due to arrive the morning after tomorrow for another visit. That put her thoughts back in order like nothing else could have. Not only did it remind her why exactly she was doing this, but it helped her shove the guilt aside ¨C guilt which had been heightened by how her body and her wolf reacted to Gio Wright.


    It wasn¡¯t that she had never desired a guy before, but the desire had never been this intense before. If Danica had met him under different circumstances she would have most likely ran far and fast from that desire.


    As much as she had always told herself that she would one day mate, whenever she had gotten involved with a guy she had found herself involuntarily holding back. Although she craved safety, protection, and the type of connection that only mates had made her hate herself, because she felt as though she was betraying Zan.  A part of her knew that wasn¡¯t the case but it didn¡¯t change how she felt. If she ever particrly liked a guy, her instinct was to stay the hell away from him.


    Thereiny the problem with Gio¡­she wouldn¡¯t be able to stay clear of him. Not only because they needed to spend time together to pull off the true mate stuff, but because they would be mated. It wouldn¡¯t matter that what brought them together wasn¡¯t love or even a desire to be mated, the second he marked her and she epted him, they would be ssed as mates and their wolves would make it damn difficult for them to keep a physical distance.


    She was pretty sure she wouldn¡¯t need to work hard to keep an emotional gulf between them, because neither she nor Gio wanted to imprint on each other. Still, the idea of being around someone who could so easily prime her body with just a look was, to say the least, disconcerting. It didn¡¯t help that her wolf had such a big thing for him. Figuring it was important that Gio knew, she sent him a text message around midday to warn him about her dad having her followed. The whole


    iming might work out better if his men were aware that they might have to either distract or fight off two of her dad¡¯s men.


    It was eight ¨C thirty  when Suza and Rick finally came knocking on her bedroom door. Since they were kids they had all been best friends. Zan had been the leader of their little group and it had hit every one of them hard when he died. These two people had seen how badly Danica had dealt withZan¡¯s death. They would remember how Zan was so protective and possessive of her. As such, they would be the most difficult to convince that Gio was her true mate. Hell, she might not be able to convince them at all.


    She would feel a little guilty lying to them like that, betraying their friendship.


    It¡¯s to act well or mate with Cody.


    ¡°You ready to go?¡± asked Rick as he fiddled with the cor of his shirt.


    ¡°Yep,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Hey you look great,¡± remarked Suza in her usual giddy voice as she took in Danica¡¯s silk, sapphire blue dress and matching heels.


    Rick nodded his agreement. ¡°I¡¯m not sure Cody will like that you¡¯re going out looking like that without him around to keep other wolves away.¡±


    As they began walking down the stairs, he added, ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you put him on his ass at dinner the other night.¡±


    Suza shrugged. ¡°Looked to me like he kind of liked it. It¡¯s only what he should expect if he picks a dominant female.¡±


    ¡°Danica, I wanted to ask,¡± began Rick, ¡°do you seriously not want him, or is this some big thing that dominant females do? Do they make the malesreally work for it?¡±


    Deciding it was best not tounch into how much she detested Cody right before apparently stumbling upon her true mate, she bit her lip. ¡°It¡¯s our way of testing if the male¡¯s a worthy mate.¡± That wasn¡¯t a lie. Alpha females didn¡¯t submit without the male proving their dominance. It was just that, in this case, that didn¡¯t apply, because Roscoe had never been a consideration.¡±Oh I think he¡¯s definitely worthy,¡± said Suza with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯d do him.¡±


    Danica rolled her eyes, smiling. ¡°There aren¡¯t many people you wouldn¡¯t do.¡±


    Suza jiggled her head as she conceded that, making her short auburn tresses dance around. She talked a lot about other people she would do as Danica drove them to the shifter club in her Lamborghini. Rick then criticised each one of her choices purely to annoy her. Danicaughed when she was supposed to and spoke wherever necessary, but mainly she was concentrating on keeping herself and her wolf calm. How could she, though, when her nerves were shot?


    When Danica finally pulled up outside The PH her dad¡¯s men parked their own car two spaces behind. She prayed ¨C literally ¨C that they would follow her inside. If it came to her needing to resort to n B then she couldn¡¯t exactly sneak off in her car if they were outside watching over it. Relief swept over her when they began following at a discrete distance.


    A nervous sigh escaped Danica as she entered The PH. Although Some clubs allowed both humans and shifters to enter, this club was open only to shifters. Her wolf picked up on her anxiety, but didn¡¯t understand what was really happening. Confused and frustrated, her wolf was pacing within her, wing at her. In addition to that, as a creature with the most basic instincts, her wolf wanted to investigate some of the male scents and also hiss at some of the female scents. Yeah, her wolf could be a right bitch when she was all worked up.


    ¡°You okay?¡± asked Rick as he halted behind her. Great, he¡¯d sensed something was off.


    ¡°My wolf¡¯s not having a good day. She¡¯s practically wing at my insides in an effort to get out. Sometimes I think my beingtent is harder for her than it is for me.¡±Suza shot her a smile of sympathy. ¡°The feeling of being trapped must drive her wild.¡±


    Danica nodded. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go get a drink.¡± And try to stay near the bar so Gio could easily find her. She sidled through the incredibly tight crowd on her way to the bar. The incidental social touches soothed her wolf alittle.


    The owner of the club and Head Barman, Sam, looked up as they reached the bar. In greeting he nodded at her, Rick and Suza. ¡°What can I Get you all?¡±


    Vodka, maybe? ¡°The usual for me please, Sam.¡± Being constantly on call, she mostly stuck to Coca C when she went on a night out.


    Depressing, but a drunken healer wasn¡¯t a good one.


    As Rick ordered a beer and Suza ordered some weird cocktail, Danica discretely searched for her dad¡¯s men, Matt and Ben. They stood at the other end of the bar, chatting while still alert. At least there was a decent distance between them all. She had to resist the urge to scan for any sign of Gio.


    She, Rick, and Suza found some vacant stools by the bar and gotfortable as they drank and chatted. Although she was fully part of their conversation, it was always at the forefront of her mind that her life was about to change. She was about to enter a temporary mating with the wolf shifter equivalent of a wild wild lion and had a worryingly overwhelming effect on her body. To add to that, she would never be returning to her dad¡¯s pack and this could even be the veryst time she saw her two best friends.


    ¡°Thank God you¡¯re here! I need your help badly.¡±


    A curse flew out of Danica¡¯s mouth as she looked up to see Derek, one of her pack mates. She had run over everything in her head beforeing, but she hadn¡¯t once ounted for someone needing her for her healing skills right in the middle of her fake iming. Crap. As the pack healer, it wasn¡¯t


    like she could refuse to help and nor did she want to. ¡°It¡¯s Medu,¡± exined Ariel as she took Danica¡¯s hand, pulled her from the stool, and began to lead her through the tight throngs of people.


    Suza and Rick followed closely behind them. Thebination of the brushing of bodies against her and strange hands asionally fondling her as


    she went by further soothed Danica¡¯s wolf while simultaneously rousing her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± asked Danica.


    ¡°She¡¯s barely conscious. I guess she must have taken something, but Danica, you know Medu doesn¡¯t do drugs.¡±


    Ariel abruptly stopped. Not because they had reached Medu, but because there was such arge crowd of shifters huddled together that it was likeing up against a wall. Clearly there was a very powerful alpha male somewhere within that crowd who was being both protected and harassed.


    She wondered if it was Gio. A shudder rippled down her spine as she thought of what was toe ¨C if he found her, that was.


    Advancing further involved a lot of foot squashing and elbow shing, but eventually they stopped before a chair where Ariel¡¯s boyfriend, Marcus, stood as though on guard. He gave them all a nod in greeting. In the chair was Medu, slouched, pale, and limp.


    Ariel crouched before her and rubbed her forearm. ¡°Medu?¡±


    The small redhead opened her eyes slightly, but her expression was pretty vacant. Yep, she¡¯d been drugged alright. Ariel, worrying her lower lip, rose and turned to Danica. ¡°Can you help?¡± She knew that Danica didn¡¯t have to help anyone who had been dumbenough to drug themselves into a practically catatonic state, but she had to agree with Ariel. Medu wasn¡¯t the type of person who would do drugs.


    ¡°You think Sam will let us use his office? I can¡¯t heal her here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go ask him,¡± said Rick. Before she could say a word, his tall form has disappeared in the crowd.


    ¡°Do you think someone spiked her drink?¡± asked Suza.


    ¡°She was fine up until those hyenas were sniffing around her,¡± said Ariel in a panicky voice, twirling a blond curl around her finger.


    Marcus nodded. ¡°They looked like a bad bunch, so I chased them off.¡±


    Danica puffed. ¡°Sam¡¯s going to be so pissed off. Not only is someone using drugs in his establishment, but they¡¯re using them to spike people¡¯s drinks.¡±


    ¡°You not with Cody tonight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only a few days until the mating ceremony,¡± said Ariel. ¡°You must be pretty excited.¡±


    ¡°Hey it was really cool when you knocked him out of his chair,¡± said Marcus with a grin. Clearly Ariel had been one of the females staring at Cody, pissing Richie off.


    ¡°What had he done?¡±


    Danica ran a hand through her hair, hoping she didn¡¯t look as stressed out as she was feeling. ¡°You know how it is with alpha females and making sure their mates are worthy.¡± Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Danica swerved to find Rick. ¡°Sam said it was okay?¡±Rick nodded. ¡°He¡¯s waiting by the door with the key. He likes to keep it locked.¡±


    ¡°Come on then people, let¡¯s get Medu  moved.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Danica grabbed Medu¡¯s purse as Marcus and Rick each draped one of Medu¡¯s arms over their shoulders and lifted her from the chair. She didn¡¯t react other than to let out a low whiny moan. With Ariel and Suza on either side of her, Danica led the way to the office, making room through the crowds for the guys to carry Medu through without dropping her on her ass.

 CHAPTER 6

    Danica continued making her way to the office. Sam unlocked and held open the door, allowing them all to enter before then clearing off the surface. The guys then carefullyid Medu on top of it.


    Knowing the drill, Ariel opened the window and then stood against the far wall with Rick, Suza, Sam, and Marcus to give Danica some space.


    She ced her palm over Medu¡¯s forehead and, as quick as that, there are patches of luminous lights shining through Medu¡¯s skin, indicating where the most damage was done by the drug Medu had taken. The first light wasing from her stomach, making her baby pink dress give off a neon glow.


    The other was beneath her scalp, gleaming behind her brown hair.


    Danica bent over and opened Medu¡¯s mouth as if she would give her the kiss of her life. It wasn¡¯t quite far from the truth. She put her mouth toMedu¡¯s mouth and then inhaled deeply until she tasted the foulness she had been expecting. When she could breathe in no more, she lifted her head and turned toward the window before blowing all the foulness out of her lungs. It Escaped her mouth in a whoosh of what looked like ck particles and zoomed out of the window.


    She repeated the process over and over until Medu¡¯s stomach and scalp no longer glowed, indicating that all of what had been polluting her insides was gone. Danica Hart then stumbled backwards, breathless and a little weak. ¡°She should wake up soon.¡±


    Rick urged her onto Sam¡¯s leather office chair and ced a bottle of water into her hand.


    Suza shook her head. ¡°No matter how many times I see you do that it always amazes me.¡±


    So, you extracted the drug from her system?¡± asked Sam.


    ¡°No,¡± said Danica. ¡°I can¡¯t exin it well, but it¡¯s like I extract the badness.¡±


    ¡°Like¡­the bad effects of the drug or illness or injury?¡± Nodding, she replied, ¡°Kind of, yeah.¡±


    ¡°That was so cool,¡± gasped Ariel.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Meanwhile, three times Gio had strolled the length of the bar, searching for Danica.


    Where the hell was she? For a second, he wondered if she had backed out, but the thought had left his head as quickly as it came. Miss Danica Hart wasn¡¯t the type to wriggle out of a deal. He knew she had been in this exact spot not so long ago. Her scent still lingered and it was reasonably fresh. His wolf growled at the exotic smell, wanting to hunt her down. To hunt her down and mark her, iming her ashis.


    ¡°Her scent disappeared not far from here,¡± said Duda as he reappeared at his side. ¡°Looks like she went into the private office and she hasn¡¯te back out yet.¡±


    ¡°What would she be doing in the boss¡¯s private office?¡± If anythingsexual was going on, Gio would kill him. Surprised by the vehemence behind that thought, he double-blinked. The sight of his Beta and three men grinning told him that they knew what he¡¯d been thinking. They Had all warned him that because his wolf was so near to the surface his possessive streak would be hard to control. Know-it-all bastards.


    What they couldn¡¯t know was that his body reacted to Danica in a way that it never had to another female. He tried to think of it as a good thing; it would mean the sex would be amazing. But he didn¡¯t like that she seemed to have some sort of power over his body, not to mention his wolf. Already he was feeling possessive of her for God¡¯s sake.


    Intending to answer his own question of where she was, Gio began edging through the throngs of people toward the office. He was barely threefeet away when the door opened and Danica walked out looking pale and


    shaky. He knew that look. It was the same look his old pack healer had worn whenever she had used her gift. Concern ¨C rtively unfamiliar and unwee ¨C travelled through him, but then a smile split her lips at


    something her friend had said and a shaft of lust shot through his system.


    Seeing that she hadn¡¯t noticed him, he stayed where he was and waited for her to be near him. Once she was close, he deliberately bumped into her and watched in satisfaction as surprise and then lust shed in her eyes.


    Oh God, thought Danica as she saw the heated, determined expression on Gio¡¯s face. His enticing male scent surrounded her, blocking all else. Herwolf shot to alertness and growled her arousal. Danica held still as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. When his face returned to hers, his eyes had turned wolf and he was so unbelievably focused on her


    that they might as well have been the only two people in the club. She knew it was an act, but her body still reacted and her clit began to throb in time with her overactive pulse.


    Knowing what she was supposed to do, Danica ced her nose at the junction of his neck and shoulder and, just like he had done to her, took in his delicious scent on a long inhale. She didn¡¯t have to fake being drunk on it. As Danica returned her gaze to his, Gio¡¯s handsnded on her hips and he tugged her to him. Then he pretty much took her over. His mouth crushed hers as his tongue thrust forcefully into her mouth, sweeping against her own. The kiss was dominant and possessive as he took the response he wanted, demanding


    her submission. One hand cored her throat possessively as his other clutched her ass,


    branding it as his. She didn¡¯t realize she was grinding against him until he hoisted her up and curved her legs around his hips to better the friction. Helplessly she moaned her pleasure into his mouth, digging her nails into his back. If the growl that rumbled up his chest was anything to go by, he liked to be scratched.


    Gio couldn¡¯t believe how responsive Danica was. The whole iming might be an act, but he knew that her body¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t forced or exaggerated. She was like fire and he couldn¡¯t help but revel in it, in her taste,


    in her scent, in the feel of her skin, and in how her body seemed to conform perfectly to his. It shouldn¡¯t have been possible that a slender person could fit snugly against someone as broad and burly as he was, and yet she did. Thoselittle moans she was making were driving him insane and he wanted nothingmore than to flip up her dress and fuck her right there. Only his awareness


    that there was a nearby threat to their iming kept him from thrusting into her.


    Pulling his mouth from hers, Gio moved his hand from her throat totangle in her hair as he kissed and nibbled his way down her throat before settling in the juncture of her neck and shoulder. He scraped his teeth over the


    spot, letting her know what was toe. When he was sure her climax wasnear, he bit down hard, breaking the skin and tasting blood. Instantly she shattered, groaning and shuddering. He sucked strongly on the patch of skin he had bitten, being sure to leave a distinct mark that couldn¡¯t be considered as anything other than what it was. A im.


    As quick as that, a rush swept through Gio and he felt a sort of snap in his head simr to that which he¡¯d felt with each of his pack members when they blooded. Then he sensed her through the pack link, not her thoughts, but her fiery, spicy, sensual presence. It was done, she was his to protect as his mate and part of his pack. His wolf growled his approval, urging Gio to sweep her away to their territory away from the threat that her dad¡¯s men presented. He pulled back to admire his work and swiped his tongue over the mark, liking the look of it on Danica¡¯s skin and how she trembled in response. Danica knew her face was a mask of surprise and she knew everyone would mistake it for her shock at supposedly finding her mate. Her surprise, however, was genuine. She hadn¡¯t expected Gio to be able to pull that kind of response from her body, even with the effect he seemed to have on her.


    She had practically melted for him and he hadn¡¯t even really touched her. And when his teeth had sunk into her skin¡­it was as though an electric current had travelled through her, sparking her release to hit her. Not like when Cody had bitten her against her will; that had left her feeling vited and enraged.


    Her ever-present connection with her dad as Alpha had now disappeared and was reced with this new connection. Carrick¡¯s presence in her mind had always felt invasive because of his aversion to her; he was all ice and arrogance and deviousness. But Gio was so different; he was strength and danger and raw sexuality. His presence inside her was like an anchor to her wolf who was a little smug right now, since she was a big fan of psycho boy.


    ¡°Gio,¡± he said gruffly as he slid her down his body, as if introducing himself. It was prettymon that two wolves could mark each other before exchanging names, swept away by the urge to im.


    She smiled. ¡°Danica¡±


    Gio almost rolled his eyes when Duda said, ¡°Hey, congrattions, Alpha.¡±


    ¡°Oh. My. God,¡± said Suza, gazing at them wide-eyed.


    And so it begins, grumbled Danica inwardly, turning to see that many other pack had observed the iming and were staring. Every face was the picture of shock. Even Matt and Ben  who looked as though they had been trying to get passed Chris and Duda, were shock-still and gaping.


    ¡°Hand Danica over,¡± demanded Ben. The unsteadiness of his voice suggested he was aware of who Gio was. ¡°As her father¡¯s men , we are responsible for her.¡±


    Gii gripped her hip possessively and growled at him. ¡°Not anymore you¡¯re not.¡±


    Their eyes were dancing continually from him to Danica. They didn¡¯t look so determined to try to get to her now, she noticed. That could have hada lot to do with the scowl on Gio¡¯s face and the death threat in his eyes.


    Unless they were dumb, a shifter didn¡¯t dare attempt to separate mates, and asunbelievable as it may have seemed, that was indeed what she and Gio looked to be. Still Ben¡¯s and Matt¡¯s dedication to her dad meant that they couldn¡¯t just let her go on her merry way, especially since they all believed she would be mating Cody. Matt straightened to his full height. ¡°Release Danica or we will be forced to contact her Alpha.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s no longer her Alpha, you know that.¡±


    ¡°There doesn¡¯t have to be any trouble. Just let her go.¡±


    Instead Gio locked his arm around her waist and released a deep, rumbly, ¡®fuck off¡¯ growl that had everyone around them tensing. ¡°She¡¯s


    mine.¡±


    ¡°Danica,¡± said Suza in a pleasant voice, ¡°why don¡¯t youe over here and -¡± Gio¡¯s growl cut her off.


    ¡°She¡¯s not yours,¡± stated Rick through gritted teeth before fixing his gaze on Danica. ¡°You know he¡¯s not your mate, Danica. You¡¯re confused or something but you -¡±


    Abruptly Ben reached out to grab her arm and she gasped. Before she knew what was happening she was behind Gio whose hand was tightly


    wrapped around Ben¡¯s throat. Chris was restraining Matt to prevent him from interfering with Gio¡¯s men.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Touch. My. Mate.¡± Gio bit out each word.


    ¡°She¡¯s already mated,¡± Ben somehow managed to wheeze out. ¡°She¡¯smated to Cody Coleman.¡±


    ¡°If she¡¯d been mated, I couldn¡¯t have imed her ¨C you know that. And You just watched me im her.¡±


    ¡°Her dad won¡¯t allow it.¡±


    Gio smiled. ¡°It¡¯s already done. Now, here¡¯s what you¡¯re going to do.


    You¡¯re going to start by getting the fuck away from me and my mate. Then You¡¯re going to call your Alpha and tell him to inform Cody Coleman that he


    won¡¯t be touching her ever again. If your Alpha has a problem with any of that I¡¯ll be right here. But he should know in advance that she won¡¯t be leaving here with anyone but me.¡±


    The steel in his voice had Danica¡¯s wolf growling her approval.

 CHAPTER 7

    The dumb animal was impressed by his dominant disy, liked that he was shielding and protecting her. She wasn¡¯t even adverse to the idea of him


    squeezing Ben¡¯s throat a little tighter despite that the guy had lowered his eyes in a sign of submission. She could understand why Ben had. Gio had a certain intensity about him that made him always seem intimidating, but this was different. He was menacing, fierce, unyielding. Every word had been amand and rung with power and authority. It had Danica feeling a little


    flushed, if she was honest.


    ¡°Cody gets here on Sunday,¡± warned Ben. ¡°He¡¯lle for you.¡±


    Gioughed. ¡°Oh I certainly hope he does.¡± With that, he flung Ben away from him and signalled for Chris  to release Matt. He then turned his


    back on them,municating hisck of fear, and snaked his arm around Danica¡¯s waist to pull her tight against him. ¡°Time to look mesmerised by


    each other while we have a little chat,¡± he whispered in her ear.


    Wrapping her arms around his neck, she locked her gaze with his and fixed a smile on her face. His answering smile was devilish. ¡°My dad¡¯s going


    to shit a brick. He¡¯ll have felt my disconnection from the pack by now.¡±


    ¡°I think he¡¯s already on his way here. When the men first tried interfering, one of the males from your pack announced to a female that he


    was going to call him. Are you going to be okay watching what happens


    next? I don¡¯t want to battle with your father and risk the chance of an alliance, but there¡¯s a possibility that the confrontation will lead to a battle.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t expecting to be granted an alliance straight away, not when Carrick Hart was going to be pissed about having his daughter taken from him.


    ¡°He won¡¯t want the fight any more than you do. He¡¯ll know you¡¯re a more dominant wolf and that you¡¯ll most likely defeat him ¨C he won¡¯t want


    to chance looking weak in front of his pack in case it inspired one of them to challenge his position.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to openly im I¡¯m your true mate, Danica,¡± he reminded her gently as he breezed his thumb over his mark. ¡°Are you going


    to be able to do that?¡±


    It took a good deal of effort not to let the smile drop from her face.


    ¡°Yes. I know what has to be done.


    He brushed his lips against hers. ¡°Good girl. How¡¯s your wolf doing?


    Did she want you to fight me off when I marked you?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°She likes you.¡±


    Gio smiled crookedly. ¡°You say that like it makes her stupid.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s impressed by your level of dominance.¡±


    That surprised him. ¡°Not intimidated?¡±


    ¡°No. She thinks you¡¯re strong enough to take her on, she doesn¡¯t like weaklings. It¡¯s your scent she likes most.¡±


    His wolf really liked hers. Gio inhaled deeply, taking that exotic scent into his lungs. ¡°My wolf¡¯s riding me hard. He wants toplete the


    iming.¡± Grinding against her, he spoke into her ear, ¡°And I need to be inside your hot little body.¡±


    It was true that the mating technically wouldn¡¯t beplete without them consummating it, but as it wasn¡¯t a mating in the truest sense Danica had


    figured that the drive to have sex wouldn¡¯t be as strong. Instead, her wolf and her body were craving thatpleteness.


    Gio slipped his hand under her dress and boldly cupped her. ¡°This is where I¡¯ll be very, very soon, Danica,¡± he promised ¨C more like threatened.


    ¡°Inside you, filling you with my cum, and making you scream.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve met guys like you before. They talk the talk but, well¡­talking doesn¡¯t exactly get people to orgasm, does it?¡±


    Trey smiled wickedly. ¡°When I fuck you Danica ¨C and make no mistake about it, baby, I will fuck you ¨C the only talking you¡¯ll be doing is begging


    me to let you cum. And don¡¯t doubt that I¡¯ll make you cum. Not just the once. You¡¯ll cum over and over again, until I decide you¡¯ve had enough.


    Until I decide that I¡¯ve had enough.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s all very fascinating, but you¡¯re forgetting one very important thing.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    You want my submission, you¡¯re going to have to battle for it.¡±


    And he sure as shit liked the thought of Danica, his mate, submitting to him. The idea of having to fight for and earn the right to her submission¡­


    Fuck. ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to the uing battle.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And just so you know in advance, big boy, I never beg.¡± All alphas had a big thing for begging, especially when it came to their mates, and Danica  needed him to know that it wouldn¡¯t be happening. ¡°Don¡¯t take that as a challenge, because It¡¯s just something I never do.¡±


    Gio didn¡¯t have to ask to understand why. It was because that would mean she hadpletely surrendered, given herplete submission, and


    Danica wasn¡¯t prepared to do that for anyone. Gio found that he respected Danica Hart, and that wasn¡¯t something he could say for a lot of


    people.


    Danica, do you think we could just talk alone for a second?¡±


    Danica guessed that Suza thought she might think more clearly if she was away from Gio. She had been about to respond when Marcus tapped Suza on the shoulder.


    ¡°Getting in between mates isn¡¯t a good idea,¡± he told Suza.


    ¡°Especially when they¡¯ve only just imed each other.¡±


    ¡°But they can¡¯t be¡± She stopped mid-sentence and Danica knew why.


    Her dad had arrived. As soon as Carrick Hart saw  her from far away he walked hurriedly with a furious look towards her, clenching his fists. His eyes darted from her to Gio. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Then he saw the mark on her neck and his eyes bulged.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found my mate,¡± she dered in a steady voice.


    ¡°Your mate?¡± he repeated tonelessly. ¡°What the hell are you talking about, girl?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not happy for me, Sweet Daddy? Why am I not surprised?¡±


    Carrick fixed his re on Gio Wright. ¡°Let go of my daughter.¡± There was a slight tremor to his voice that betrayed his nervousness.


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your game here? We all know she isn¡¯t your mate. What would you want with her, with atent?¡±


    ¡°Careful,¡± said Gio in a deceptively patient voice, not liking the derogatory way he had spoken of Danica.


    ¡°What the hell happened?¡±


    It looked like true mates finding each other.¡±


    Relief washed over Danica as she saw many of the wolves around them nodding their agreement with Marcus.


    ¡°No!¡± insisted Mr Carrick Hart. He pointed hard at her. ¡°You¡¯re doing this just to annoy me, you little bitch!¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± snapped Gio as he advanced a step toward Carrick. ¡°Be very, very careful. Paper thin fucking ice.¡± Danica  almost shivered. The words had been delivered in such a lethal, authoritative tone that her dad had actually resisted the urge to snap back at him. ¡°The decision was taken out of anyone¡¯s hands by nature itself, Dad.¡±


    ¡°Nature? If you¡¯re talking about your rebellious nature, then yeah, nature is what caused this. You¡¯re doing it to get out of mating with Cody.


    We both know that Zan was your true mate.¡±


    ¡°I thought so too, but as unbelievable as it might seem, I was wrong.¡±


    God, it hurt to say that.


    ¡°No. I remember the way you were when he died. You wouldn¡¯t talk, barely ate, never left the house. You were like that for over six months.¡±


    ¡°That was probably a lot to do with me having lost my mom in the very same ident.¡±


    He went to take a step toward her but Gio¡¯s growl halted his advance.


    He snarled at Gio. ¡°Even if the kid wasn¡¯t her true mate it makes no difference, she¡¯s already mated! She¡¯s mated to Cody Coleman.¡±


    ¡°As I said to your men, if that had been true, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to im her.¡±


    ¡°Well I think you¡¯ll find Cody will disagree with you on that. And so do I. She¡¯sing home with me.¡± He signalled to Ben and Matt to grab


    her.


    ¡°Try it,¡± bit out Gio, his face like thunder and his eyes shing with anger. ¡°I can guarantee you won¡¯t like what happens.¡± Wisely, the men didn¡¯t try it.


    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Carrick growled at Ben and Matt.


    Matt shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s like Marcus said. We saw what happened, it sure looked like true mates ¨C


    Carrick shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m missing here.¡±


    Danica used his own words against him. ¡°With your view of the world, I would have thought you¡¯d have found this easy enough to ept. ording


    to you, a wolf wouldn¡¯t want atent for a mate unless he had no choice in the matter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± said Carrick with a snicker. ¡°I don¡¯t even know why Cody wants you, why anyone would.¡±


    Since he¡¯d marked Danica Hart, his wolf regarded her as his. His to protect, tofort, to shelter, to


    possess. And Gio agreed.


    ¡°She¡¯s my daughter ¡±


    ¡°And she¡¯s my mate. She¡¯s mine. No one keeps her from me. No one insults her. And no one  and I mean no one  talks to her the way you just did, understand me?¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what it is you really want,¡± said Carrick in a loud tone. ¡°You just that desperate for a pack healer that you¡¯d tie yourself to atent?¡±


    He¡¯s using you, Danica. When you realize that for yourself, don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be wee back in my pack.¡±


    She gave him a sad smile. ¡°I stopped being wee the day you


    realized I wastent. But then, you always were an ass, weren¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°Is that what this is? Revenge? You know how bad I want that alliance.¡±


    She released a bored sigh. ¡°Gio, just leave him.¡± after he held Carrick by his neck and pinning him to the wall. But Gio didn¡¯t. He seemed to be having too much fun watching her dad struggle to breathe.


    ¡°Come on, he¡¯s a waste of skin and fur.¡±


    After a deep, calming breath, Gio ever so slowly released him and stepped back. ¡°This is what the situation is, Mr. Carrick Hart, Danica is my mate, she is now part of my pack, and Cody Coleman will not touch her ever again. If he has any kind of issue with that, he is free toe to my territory.


    He held his hand out to Danica. ¡°Come on, baby.¡±


    Shooting her dad a withering look, Danica took Gio¡¯s hand and he pulled her against him. His warmth seeped into her body and calmed her wolf


    even despite the tension. As she looked at her best friends Suza and Rick and saw the concern and horror on their faces she felt a stab of guilt.


    It¡¯s this or being Cody¡¯s little sex ve! a voice in her head reminded her.


    Mouthing ¡®bye¡¯ at Suza and Rick, she allowed Gio to lead her out of the club

 CHAPTER 8

    After a short drive over a rocky trail, they finally arrived at Ls. She found it amazing that


    even with lighting from some of the windows it didn¡¯t stand out at all. It was one of those things that unless you were looking for it, you¡¯d probably


    miss it. ¡°Who did all this?¡±


    ¡°Apparently the ancestors of thest pack started it yonks ago. It¡¯s been added to and modernised over the years. We did a lot of improvements to it


    ourselves.¡±


    ¡°There are actually hotels in ces like Dubai that are luxurious cave dwellings just like this,¡± Duda told her as he drove through an opening in the


    bottom of the mountain which Danica soon realized was actually a concealed parking lot.


    As she hopped out of the Lexus , she noticed Chris parking her Lamborghini a few spaces away. His sulky expression as he got out of the car was


    the same one he had worn when Gio ordered him to drive it here for her. ¡°I need to get my bag out of the trunk,¡± she told Gio as she took a step toward


    her car.


    ¡°Chris will get it.¡±


    The Head Guard froze and a muscle ticked in his jaw. Begrudgingly he retrieved her bag and Danica couldn¡¯t help smirking at his petnt


    behavior. The ass shook his head when she went to take the bag from him and stormed past her.


    They came to arge door that appeared to be at the centre of the other entrances. Then they were going through an indoor maze of tunnels that took them deep into the mountain. Danica was pretty sure she would get lost if left to wander anywhere alone. Eventually they came to a ck door that led to the same kitchen she had sat in only a few days ago.


    Realized that she had been pretty much dismissed as unimportant right now, Danica hopped onto the  counter and grabbed herself a peach from the fruit bowl. Munching happily on it, she listened as all five male wolves sat around the table discussing strategies for when his uncle made his challenge. They were so cool about it that anyone would think they were referring to a y station game or something as opposed to an actual life or


    death situation. There was even a kind of child-like excitement there.


    Rolling her eyes, she dug out her cell phone from her purse and read the dozens of text messages she had received from several members of the


    pack. All were asking if the rumor that she had mated Gio Wright was true. Suza and Rick had sent several, both expressing concern about hisThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    reputation and trying to convince her that she was wrong about him being her true mate. She knew she would have to respond to them soon, but right now she was feeling too raw.


    Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, she looked up from her cell to find several pairs of eyes focused on her. Surprised, she pulled her finger from her mouth having sucked off the peach juice. ¡°What?¡±


    Gio cleared his throat. ¡°Nothing.¡± Not liking even the thought of the other males ogling her, he shot them all a cautioning look. Of course he couldn¡¯t me them. She was so damn sensual.


    ¡°By the way,¡± said Duda, grinning from ear to ear, ¡°wee to the pack, Danica.¡±


    ¡°Why were your dad¡¯s enforcers following you around?¡± asked Gio.


    ¡°When Cody came to visit I wasn¡¯t very nice and they considered me a flight risk. The mating ceremony was supposed to take ce in a few


    days.¡±


    ¡°Do you think her dad will keep fighting this?¡± asked Andrew. Gio shook his head. ¡°He might be pissed off and wish things had happened differently, but it¡¯s like Danica said. He¡¯ll be worried I¡¯ll defeat him and make him look weak to the rest of his pack. He recognised that my wolf


    was more dominant than his.¡±


    ¡°And the alliance? Do you think we have any chance of getting it?¡±


    Gio looked at her. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say yes,¡± she said. ¡°I saw the look on his face when you asked if an alliance with you wouldn¡¯t have meant anything to him. It gave him something to think about.¡±


    Duda tilted his head at her. ¡°He¡¯ll switch loyalties that easily from Cody to Gio?


    ¡°As long as he gets an alliance with a powerful alpha out of this, he¡¯ll be content. Give it a few weeks for him to finish sulking and he¡¯ll make


    contact, wanting us to meet up. I¡¯ll put money on it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re that confident?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s that fickle.¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll know for sure on Sunday,¡± said Gio. ¡°If hees along with Cody, he¡¯s stating that he allies himself with him, no matter the oue.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Cody  wille as soon as he realizes you¡¯ve mated Danica?¡± asked Duda


    ¡°Yep. What time¡¯s he due to arrive on Sunday?¡±  Gio asked her.


    ¡°Early in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Lindy¡¯s not due back ¡¯til after lunch. She¡¯ll be disappointed she missed the confrontation.¡±


    ¡°Actually she called earlier to say she¡¯d be arriving in the morning,¡±


    Andrew informed him.


    ¡°Lindy?¡± Danica  was d that none of the possessiveness and jealousy had leaked into her voice. Her wolf snapped to alertness, wondering at the mystery female.


    ¡°Grandmother,¡± exined Gio.


    Danica didn¡¯t like the way he was grinning. It said he was aware of her wolf¡¯s immediate response to him having said another female¡¯s name with


    such familiarity. She shot him what she knew was a petnt scowl. Heughed silently.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t go out much,¡± said Duda, ¡°but asionally she goes to stay with her sister who mated into another pack. I think she might be hoping to try and secure an alliance between that pack and ours. It could have been


    done a long time ago but Gio was never interested in making them until now.¡±


    ¡°Does the Alpha of that pack have many alliances?¡±


    ¡°Not really, but it would be more than what we have now.¡±


    ¡°Then I guess it¡¯s a good thing my dad¡¯s so fickle.¡± Sighing, she smoothly slid off the countertop. ¡°Where¡¯s my bag?¡±


    ¡°Gio¡¯s room,¡± Chris told her, his tone unweing. ¡°It¡¯s the same room you woke up inst time you were here.¡±


    Duda gestured with his hands as he spoke. ¡°Just take a left at the end of this tunnel. You then need to take your second left after that. Then go straight until youe to a junction and take a right.¡±


    When her eyes flicked to his, Gio thought he might have seen hesitation there. ¡°Go anywhere else and I¡¯ll just hunt you down and drag you


    to bed.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Easy there.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re Alpha of a ce like this. I have no


    intention of hiding from you. You¡¯re mistaking me for one of your submissive Jane¡¯s. That¡¯s not to say there won¡¯t be some struggling involved


    if you expect to get in that bed with me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be following you there in about twenty-minutes. We¡¯ll let the strugglingmence then. But, what with your wolf riding you so hard toplete the mating, I can¡¯t see you struggling that much.¡±


    The sound of Duda¡¯s throatyugh followed her out of the kitchen.


    Damn if psycho boy hadn¡¯t been right about her wolf¡¯s eagerness though. It wasn¡¯t just that her wolf craved the feeling of his body possessing


    hers. The drive to consummate the iming also had a lot to do with her wolf being anxious that the mating was iplete. Being back inside Gio¡¯s


    bedroom where his scent was overbearing made her wolf a little less restless, but still she didn¡¯t like being separated from her male. Not while the mating was half-finished.


    Opening the door at the opposite side of the room, she found herself in the most amazing luxurious bathroom. She very much liked the look of the bathroom. It was so humungous you needed to climb a few steps before you could get into it.


    Unfortunately she didn¡¯t have time for a leisurely soak, so corner shower it was.


    A thought struck Danica as she entered the shower¡­It was well known that mates found it ufortable to be apart for the first few months. Would that apply to her and Gio or would they be spared that because they weren¡¯t true mates? She suspected that, in any case, things would always be more trying for her and Gio due to how both their wolves constantly reached for the surface.


    If it was going to be really ufortable then that could prove a problem. Although she hadn¡¯t known Gio for very long, she had picked up that he wasn¡¯t a touchy-feely person. For shifters, touch was a need. It was as basic as eating and breathing. But Gio didn¡¯t seem to experience that


    craving, or had conditioned himself to ignore it somehow. Yes, he had slid his hands all over her at the club, but that had been for the purpose of their ¡®true mate¡¯ act.  He always seemed to sit apart or stand apart from the others. If this continued while they were mated, it would be damn hard for their wolves.


    As she stepped out of the corner shower she wrapped a thick blue and green towel around herself and went back into the bedroom, all the while ignoring the way her stomach was clenching at the mere thought of having Gio inside


    her. Not Gio as her mate, but Gio as the man who had an overwhelming effect on her body merely by looking at her.


    It was no wonder that he had always reeled in females with little effort.


    Not that there would be any more reeling. A split secondter she realized just how much possessiveness had been in that one thought, and she had to roll her eyes.


    Hearing a low growl, Danica slowly turned her head. Closing the bedroom door was Gio, staring at her with such heat in his eyes that she sucked in a breath.


    ¡°You have tattoos,¡± he all but growled. Gio had never really thought of them as sexual but the sight of them on Danica¡¯s body had his cock throbbing. He couldn¡¯t decide which he liked best, the anklet or the howling wolf on her shoulder.


    She grinned wickedly. ¡°So I do.¡±


    ¡°Lose the towel,¡± he ordered. Not many people would dare to ignore an order from him, but of course Danica Hart  did. ¡°Lose the towel,¡± he repeated. But she only smiled.


    ¡°Honestly, does that usually work?¡± She could understand if it did.


    Hell, that imcable, upromising tone had very nearly worked on her.


    She was just so damned horny and her wolf craved his possession, but even her wolf knew he had to prove he was worthy of her surrender.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re an alpha, Danica, but I think you might be forgetting that so am I. Believe me when I say that I will have your submission.¡±


    ¡°Unleash the beast if you want. I¡¯ll try not tough, I promise.¡±


    His wolf stretched within him, ready and content to catch and subdue his little mate. ¡°Don¡¯t make me chase you, baby. Don¡¯t make me have to


    spank that ass.¡± Not that that would be such a bad thing. ¡°Come. Here. Abruptly he dived at her but she swiftly and skilfully dodged him.


    ¡°You want this, Danica.¡± He grinned as her gaze zoomed in on his hands as he unsnapped the buttons of his fly. His painfully hard cock sprang out and she licked her bottom lip. He groaned then shoved down his jeans and


    stepped out of them. ¡°I can smell your arousal,¡± he added as he unbuttoned his shirt and had her backing up toward the bed.


    ¡°I can sense how hard your wolf¡¯s riding you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re denying me what¡¯s mine. That hot little body is mine now.¡±

 CHAPTER 9

    ¡°You really believe that? Ah, bless your little heart.¡± His long arm shot out and his hand snagged the end of the towel, whipping it away.


    As his gaze caressed her naked body and took in all that wless creamy skin, Gio actually felt like he¡¯d been thwarted. Although she was slender, she wasn¡¯t skinny or fragile looking. She was lithe and sinuous with gently and perfectly curved hips, shapely toned legs, and a gorgeous set of


    breasts. He¡¯d always gone for voluptuous women, but it became clear to him now that he had seriously underestimated the appeal of small breasts. Danica¡¯s were high, plump, and perfectly rounded, calling his name. His mouth


    watered as he caught sight of herpletely bald pussy. ¡°Mine.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, big boy.¡±


    He leapt across the bed and grabbed her arm but she expertly twisted out of his hold and backed away. ¡°You can keep running from me but it won¡¯t change anything.¡±


    ¡°I belong to no one but myself.


    ¡°That mark right there ¨C my mark ¨C says different.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your mate,¡± she allowed, ¡°but I don¡¯t belong to you or anyone else. Well, actually, if you want to get technical about it, I¡¯m not actually your mate yet,¡± she added with a smile.


    ¡°Oh you will be very soon, baby, once I shove my cock inside you.¡± He charged at her with renewed vigour, catching her just as she turned, and


    crammed her against the wall, her back to his chest.


    Danica struggled and twisted but his body was like a cage around her.


    ¡°Move you son of a -¡± Then abruptly he plunged a long finger inside her, addressing that aching emptiness, and she practically liquefied against the wall, moaning.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby, be still for me.¡± He kept his thrusts shallow and leisurely, licking his iming mark and liking her answering tremor. ¡°Feel good?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I guess.¡±


    He had to smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright, huh?¡± She cried out as he plunged another finger inside her. ¡°You¡¯re so tight,¡± he groaned. ¡°Tight. Hot. Wet.


    Mine.¡±


    ¡°Wrong.¡±


    ¡°Well, baby, while I¡¯m finger-fucking you against this wall and you¡¯re moaning like crazy it sure feels like I own you.¡±


    ¡°Never in a million years, asshole,¡± she growled.


    ¡°Asshole¡­Now you¡¯re just giving me ideas.¡± He withdrew his fingers and moved one to the puckered hole at the back, circling it teasingly. ¡°One day, I¡¯m going to fuck this gorgeous ass.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m curious, do you retreat into your fantasy world often?¡± Catching him off-guard, she sharply jammed her elbow into his ribs, making him jerk back just enough for her to duck out under his arm. Sometimes it was good to be small and slim.


    To her frustration she had only gotten a few steps when a strong arm looped around her and he tackled her to the ground. Then she was flipped


    onto her back and Gio¡¯s mouth closed over her nipple and sucked hard. ¡°Oh God,¡± she breathed. Moaning, she cradled his head and scrunched his hair in her hands. Each tug on her nipple sent sparks of pleasure shooting to her clit, making her writhe and squirm beneath him.


    It was official that Gio had been mistaken to overlook small breasts or maybe it was just that this was his mate that had him unable to release the taut nipple. As he moulded and squeezed her other breast he groaned at how perfectly it fit in his hand. His wolf was growling, urging Gio to take her, to make sure she knew who she belonged to.


    Abruptly he meshed his lips with hers, forcing his tongue inside to glide against her own. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you now,¡± he rumbled. ¡°I¡¯m going


    to fuck this body that now belongs to me. Mine,¡± he growled, punctuating it with a bite to her lower lip.


    As Danica met his gaze she saw hunger, anticipation and determination, and there was something else ¨C possessiveness. ¡°No.¡± She dealt him a harsh blow to the chest which had him jerking into an upright position. Quickly she


    flipped to her stomach and was almost fully on her feet when he gripped her by the hips and yanked her down onto hisp. He growled something that


    sounded like ¡®Got you¡¯ and then impaled her on his cock. The pleasure/pain of it had her back arching as she cried out. Gio groaned as her inner muscles mped down on him. ¡°Take all of


    it, Danica,¡± he demanded through his teeth. He slowly lifted her until only the head of his cock was inside her and then mmed her down onto him. ¡°All of it.¡± He raised her again, enjoying the feel of her juices coating his cock, and then he impaled her to the core, seating himself to the balls. ¡°Oh fuck yeah.¡±


    His wolf howled inside his head, loving that he was finally inside Danica, filling her, stretching her. She was so tight and hot around him that he was


    close toing already. As he gave her a moment to adjust to his invasion, he nibbled at her spine and then pulled her back against his chest so he could graze his teeth over his iming mark. ¡°You okay?¡±


    Okay? She was absolutely freaking amazing. The pressure of his size stretching her stung and burned, but it was a delicious pain and she was


    revelling in it. She gasped as he suddenly lifted her again. The movement was slow, forcing her to feel every inch of him dragging against her sensitive inner walls. Something between a moan and a whimper escaped her throat.


    ¡°Shhhh,¡± he soothed. ¡°Such a good girl taking all of my cock,¡± he praised as he once again slowly impaled her on him. Twice more he did it,


    loving her drawn-out moans and the way she squirmed restlessly. ¡°Are you going to tell me no again?¡± She shook her head, moaning. This time he lifted her fully off him, then rose to his feet and propped her up on her hands and


    knees on the bed. ¡°I need it hard and fast, Danica. Can you take it?¡±


    ¡°Do it.¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡± Gripping her hips, he rammed into her so hard she fell forward so that she was resting on her elbows. That was even better.


    Danica cried out as he began mercilessly pounding into her with deep, dazing strokes that were zapping her with bliss. Nothing should feel this good, she was sure of it. It had definitely never felt this good before, but she¡¯d known it would be this way and it had scared her. Now, though, as he tunnelled in and out of her reaching depths that had until now been untouched, there was no fear, only sheer and utter carnal bliss.


    As Gio gazed down at all that creamy skin of her back, that unmarked creamy skin, he had the urge to bend down and sink his teeth into wherever


    he could reach. He closed his eyes against the impulse. He wouldn¡¯t mark her again, he told himself. He¡¯d fuck her and ensure she knew that she was his, but he wouldn¡¯t mark her again. Twice already he had marked her when the


    one iming bite was all they needed. He didn¡¯t need to possessively mark her up with ws and teeth to leave his brand all over her the way his wolf wanted him to. The way Gio the man wanted to.


    ¡°Do you like that? Does it feel good having my cock inside you?¡± Her response was a feverish moan that was a clear yes. ¡°That¡¯s a very good thing because I¡¯m going to be in here often. Taking what¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°Not yours,¡± she growled.


    His next thrust was extra hard ¨C a warning, a punishment. ¡°Keep growling at me, keep telling me you¡¯re not mine, I dare you.¡±


    She growled when she felt the sh of ws along the flesh of her lower back ¨C these were deeper, would mark. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare brand me,


    you son of a bitch.¡± She gasped as a hand came down sharply on her ass and then his hand knotted in her hair and he dragged her up so her back was arched against his chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll mark you wherever I want.


    Again Gio spanked her ass hard. ¡°Let¡¯s try that again, shall we. Whose mate are you, Miss Danica Hart? Who do you belong to?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your mate, but I don¡¯t belong to you!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to get away. Not until I¡¯ve pumped every bit of my cum inside you. Now, who do you fucking belong to?¡±


    She said in a gentle tone of moan , You.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, baby.


    Just like that, even though she hated what he¡¯d done, a wickedly powerful orgasm crashed into Danica and she screamed her release.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Gio exploded inside her with a loud moan,


    Goddammit.

 CHAPTER 10

    Yeah it could be said that they had engaged in a sexual marathon. Gio was insatiable and had


    impressive stamina, even for a shifter. A few minutester she was dressed and heading through the damnwork of tunnels. The familiar ck door that led to the kitchen wouldn¡¯t be too hard to find; she could just follow the scents of meat and eggs and hot toasted bread.


    The plumpdy who had been pouring coffee for the others then approached her. ¡°You must be Danica,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m Michey. I cook,


    clean and say ¡®shit¡¯ a lot.¡± She gestured at the dining table where croissants, toasted bread, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans, sausages, tters of cold meat, various fruits, and cereals were allid out. ¡°The wolf over there with the sses and the goatee who¡¯s the epitome of geeky, that¡¯s my mate Jeremy. A cousin of Gio¡¯s dad Gary was also sitted. The guy next to him is Richard. And the very pretty  female opposite him  is Richard¡¯s mate, Lucy.¡±


    ¡°Stop mooning over my mate¡¯s legs, Michey,¡± groused Richard yfully before shovelling half a croissant in his mouth.


    ¡°You¡¯re like a little doll,¡± said Lucy, smiling at Danica. She was the only one other than Michey who had a smile for her. ¡°No one would ever think


    you had such a smart, awesome mouth.


    Coffee, tea, or Apple juice?¡± asked Michey while Danica took one of the empty tes and piled bacon, scrambled eggs and toasted bread on it.


    ¡°Coffee.¡± te in hand, she parked her ass back on the counter. At Michey¡¯s amused but questioning look, she shrugged. ¡°I always sit on the counter. A little quirk of mine.¡±


    Michey¡¯s gaze skimmed over her, taking in the various marks of possession that decorated her flesh. ¡°Well, short of having ¡®Property of Gio Wright¡¯ tattooed on your forehead, he couldn¡¯t have made it any clearer that he considered you his, could he?¡±


    Very true. In addition to those marks that Gio had left while they consummated the iming, there were those that he had made during the second, third and fourth rounds that followed through the night. There was a bite at the hollow of her throat, another on her inner wrist, a third one on the


    swell of her breast, and also w marks on both upper arms ¨C and they were only the ones that weren¡¯t hidden beneath her ck t-shirt, navy jeans, and ck leather knee boots.


    Maybe it would be fair to say that if she hadn¡¯t fought him so hard on the issue of belonging to him then she wouldn¡¯t be in this state. Yeah, but that only applied to the first time. After that, she had conceded belonging to him as his mate, although she had snarled at him with every concession.


    ¡°Can I, um, ask,¡± began Jeremy, ¡°is it true that you¡¯re, um,tent?¡± At her nod he added, ¡°Do you still feel your wolf or is she buried deep?¡± Michey quickly interrupted. ¡°You should know that Jeremy is one of the most curious people to have ever walked the face of the Earth. Whereas he¡¯s


    great withputers and anything technical, he¡¯s not an expert with human emotion. It wouldn¡¯t ur to him that he might offend you by bringing it


    up.¡± She shot him a reprimanding re.


    Danica shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s fine. No, my wolf¡¯s not buried, she¡¯s very much aware and very much a pain in the ass.¡± Jeremy seemed about to ask her


    something else, but a sharp look from Michey had him returning his attention to his meal.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be nice having some more femalepany,¡± said Lucy.


    ¡°We¡¯re way too outnumbered by the males.¡±


    Danica arched her brow. ¡°There aren¡¯t many women?¡±


    ¡°No¡± added Lucy.


    Need a Hart? Now that¡¯s a joke.¡± The deep voice belonged to a male who, though nowhere near as good-looking or muscr as Gio, bore a


    few simrities to him. He had the same strong nose and chin, the same eyes, the same height. Whereas Gio¡¯s dark scowl somehow looked


    good on him, it made this guy look creepy. She only had to look at his posture and the sh of bitterness in his eyes to know the guy had a chip on his shoulder. She had to wonder just what that chip was all about. He took a seat beside Lucy and then red at Danica. ¡°We don¡¯t need a Hart, and we don¡¯t need atent.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your approval,¡± retorted Danica. ¡°So fuck off.¡± That seemed to surprise him, but she wasn¡¯t under the illusion that it would shut


    him up. Michey sighed. She didn¡¯t appear any happier by his presence than Danica was. ¡°That¡¯s Max, Gary¡¯s son, so he¡¯s sort of Gio¡¯s cousin.¡± She mouthed,


    ¡®And an asshole¡¯.


    His nostrils red as he looked at Danica. ¡°If you think we¡¯re all going to bow down to a Hart then think again.¡±


    Danica smiled at Michey. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great when just your very existence infuriates someone? You¡¯ve got to love that kind of power.¡±


    The sound of very merry whistling was soon followed by the entrance of Donny and Andrew. One look at the marks on her body and that clown grin took over Donny¡¯s face. Andrew simply snickered.


    ¡°Hey little sister.¡± Andrew ruffled Michey¡¯s hair, earning himself a scowl and a smack on the shoulder.


    ¡°Go, sit, eat, don¡¯t bother me,¡± she grumbled. Chuckling, he took a seat at the table and practically attacked the te piled with slices of cold meat.


    ¡°Here,¡± said Michey as she handed Donny a goody bag. ¡°See youter.¡±


    Donny opened it and sighed happily. ¡°Is it wrong that I¡¯d sell my soul for your cooking? If you weren¡¯t already mated I¡¯d snap you up.¡±


    Michey rolled her eyes but a blush stained her cheeks. Danica couldn¡¯t me her , the guy was seriously hot. Hell, all the enforcers were. ¡°He¡¯s


    guarding the gate today so he only has time to pop in and out,¡± she exined to Danica after he had left the room. Danica  looked up as Duda entered and went straight to the jug of coffee.


    He poured some into a Bart Simpson mug, inhaled the aroma deeply, and then took a sip. It was only then that he turned to everyone, apparently now


    equipped to interact with others as he had caffeine in his system. The instant he saw her he almost choked on his drink. She would have said she didn¡¯t look that bad, but she did.


    ¡°Now I know why you kept yelling at him for biting you.¡± At her raised brow, he exined while grinning wickedly, ¡°As Beta, my room¡¯s next to the


    Alpha¡¯s. How does he look?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see for yourself, won¡¯t you.¡± In truth, she hadn¡¯t marked Gio.


    Her wolf had wanted her to, and had desperately tried to surface in response to Danica¡¯s resistance. But no chance was Danica going to encourage his wolf¡¯s sense of possessiveness by marking him back, not when this was temporary.


    Also, it would be easier on her wolf when they separated if she hadn¡¯t branded him. It would be easier on Danica too. Gio hadn¡¯t questioned her


    about it or urged her to mark him so she could conclude from that that he was on the same wavelength.


    Duda took another swig of his coffee. ¡°I said that Gio, although he¡¯s not usually possessive , would mark you up properly. The others, including Gio,  thought he would be able to rein it in because you aren¡¯t true mates. I have to say that I¡¯m kind of enjoying that I was right.¡±


    ¡°Your life is that sad?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t get it. Gio never marks his women. He¡¯s always teased us whenever we¡¯ve gotten even the slightest bit possessive with our partners. I¡¯m just enjoying how the tables have turned.¡±


    ¡°To be fair,¡± said Andrew, pausing in the demolishing of his cereal, ¡°it¡¯s a little different since he mated her.¡±


    Duda looked about to say something but was distracted by the entrance of Hudson, Ray, Chris and Gio. Hudson acknowledged her with a grunt,


    Ray with a teeny nod, and Chris with a fierce scowl.


    ¡°Yes it is a fabulous morning and yes I did have an amazing sleep, thank you,¡± she said to them sweetly.


    Just for the hell of it, Gio delivered a sharp nip to her bottom lip before taking a seat at the table with the others. Inwardly he frowned at this strange primal urge that he had to be close to her and touch her. Naturally he ignored it, but his irritation remained. Gio hadn¡¯t hungered for touch for a long time and he didn¡¯t like the idea that that might be changing.


    He hadn¡¯t been too pleased when he woke up to find himself alone.


    He¡¯d originally hoped to taste her this morning since oral sex had been out of the questionst night while she was battling his dominance so hard. He hadn¡¯t been able to pin her down to taste her and he certainly hadn¡¯t been interested in risking sliding his dick between those snapping teeth. Damn if their battles for dominance hadn¡¯t been the hottest thing ever though.


    Duda leaned back in his seat, smiling at Gio. ¡°So¡­howe you didn¡¯t mark her?¡±


    Lowughs filled the room but Gio just ignored them. Okay he¡¯d probably gone a little too far, but he simply liked the look of his mark on Danica¡¯s flesh. Once he¡¯d gotten past that annoyance with himself for his urge to do it, he hadn¡¯t held himself back.


    ¡°Poor girl looks like she had a fight with a vampire. Oh and you, Danica, damn you can curse. What did she call you at one point, Gio? Oh that was it.


    A motherfucking ass-licking sod of a cock-sucking goddamn bitch.¡± Michey and Lucyughed.


    ¡°I¡¯m an expressive person,¡± she said with an innocent shrug.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°I especially liked the part when she threatened to slice your cock off in your sleep if you didn¡¯t stop spanking her. So where did she mark you?¡±

 CHAPTER 11

    Gio knew the question was rhetorical. Females tended to mark their males around the groin and obviously Duda figured that was the case with Danica. Rather than correct him, he allowed him to think that. He wasn¡¯t sure why she hadn¡¯t marked him. Oh she¡¯d nipped him and scratched him a few times through the night, but it had only ever been in retaliation and it was never deep enough to even draw blood, let alone mark.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    His wolf didn¡¯t like it, and Gio was pretty sure that her wolf wouldn¡¯t be too pleased about it either. Maybe she would do it when the battles for dominance had eased, he mused. He didn¡¯t bother asking himself why he even gave a shit. This mating stuff fucked with the brain.


    ¡°How does it feel to have a female who won¡¯t bow down to you?¡±


    Duda¡¯s grin was roguish.


    Gio returned the grin. ¡°It makes life interesting.¡± Very interesting.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how you can fuck a Hart,¡± snarled Max.


    An unnerving growl filled the sudden silence and Danica¡¯s wolf began pacing and releasing a growl of her own as if to back up her mate.


    Gio¡¯s entire focus was on a fidgety Max. ¡°Don¡¯t. Insult. Danica.


    Again.¡± Just likest night, the very idea of anyone insulting her made his blood boil.


    Keeping his head bowed, Max rose from his seat and stalked out of the kitchen. Gary gave Gio an apologetic smile and then followed after his son.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Danica said to Michey who was taking Max¡¯s now vacant seat, ¡°he is an asshole.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be leaving here in a couple of hours to head to the meeting with the Mediator,¡± Gio told her. ¡°In the meantime I¡¯ll be in my office, but there¡¯ll be plenty of people around if you need anything.¡±


    Yeah, all of whom are hoping I die a painful death very soon. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have pictured you as the type to have an office.¡±


    ¡°I have investments in a number of different businesses and I like to keep an eye on them. Feel free to move around or whatever.¡±


    ¡°I will go for a run.¡±


    The eagerness in her voice surprised him. ¡°You still have that need even though you¡¯retent?¡±


    ¡°My wolf gets restless and ufortable if I don¡¯t. She still craves that feeling of being free, the kind thates from running with other wolves.¡± Although these wolves were only temporarily her pack, her wolf wasn¡¯t affected by that.


    Gio couldn¡¯t imagine how difficult it would be to betent. He wasn¡¯t sure who would have gone crazy first, him or his wolf. The fact that Danica was not only sane, but free of bitterness and hatefulness demonstrated just how strong a person she was.


    As he sat sipping the remainder of his coffee, he watched her chewing on a piece of bacon. Such a simple sight and yet he couldn¡¯t move his eyes


    from her. There was such an effortless sensuality to her movements. Each one was graceful, almost fluid. The way she chewed her food and licked that carnal mouth had his cock so hard he could probably hammer nails with it.


    Duda¡¯s eyes were helplessly glued to her, something which Gio wasn¡¯t pleased about, but couldn¡¯t me him for. Even his enforcers seemed


    to begrudgingly admire her innate grace. She really was the most sensual creature he had ever seen. The fact that she was totally without vanity andpletely oblivious to how provocative she was only increased her attraction. She was truly nothing like any of the women he had been with in


    the past.


    ¡°Gio?!¡±


    Definitely nothing like the female who was currently heading toward the kitchen. Once, he had fucked the woman once and yet ever since that night four years ago Theresa had acted as though she had rights to him. He¡¯d kind of hoped that she would have moved on by now, but apparently the universe thought it would be more fun this way.


    ¡°An ex?¡± Danica was surprised at just how much the idea annoyed her. For her to be an ex, there would¡¯ve been some kind of rtionship to begin with.¡±


    ¡°In other words, she¡¯s someone you used to fuck?¡±


    ¡°I like to think of her as more of a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Gio, is it true?¡± demanded Theresa as she stomped inside with Cindy at her side. Instantly Theresa¡¯s nostrils red as she took in the other scents in the room. Her head whipped round to face Danica. Gio watched as Danica smiled warmly at her, but there was something dark in that smile, something that warned Theresa to be very careful.


    Danica cocked her head at the females. Theresa¡¯s focus quickly returned to him. ¡°You mated her? You actually mated her?¡±


    ¡°Why are you so surprised? I told each of you about my n at ourst pack meeting.¡±


    ¡°Yeah but I never thought you¡¯d really do it! She¡¯s a Hart. And I just¡­I thought that you and I would mate.¡±


    Several snorts snatched Gio¡¯s attention. He watched as Duda, his enforcers, Michey and Lucy all exchanged nces that said Theresa was


    obviously delusional.


    Theresa nted her hands on her hips. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me?¡±


    Gio held his hand out invitingly to Danica. Smiling, she crossed the room and let him pull her onto hisp. ¡°Danica, Theresa. Theresa, Danica.¡±


    ¡°Oh I¡¯m just Theresa to you now?¡±


    She was only ever just Theresa to him. Of course he had known that she was hoping he¡¯d mate her and she would have the position of Alpha female.


    He hadn¡¯t known that she thought she had a chance.


    Danica rolled her eyes. ¡°I suppose this is the part where you enlighten me about how you¡¯re his ex , perhaps even the love of his life and then I¡¯m


    supposed to feel insanely jealous. Sorry, but it¡¯s just too early in the morning for me to muster that kind of response. Maybe you should try againter.¡±


    Though that wasn¡¯t to say that Danica wasn¡¯t tempted to p her purely for having touched Gio as idiotic as that was.


    ¡°Seriously, Gio, you can¡¯t honestly have mated her. She¡¯s not even your type. I mean she¡¯s thin. And mouthy. And small. Even her boobs are on


    the small side.¡±


    ¡°I have nice feet.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not his type!¡±


    ¡°You mean because I can read and write?¡±


    Theresa flushed and stamped her foot. ¡°Gio? Gio?¡±


    Finally he spared the whining woman a nce. He¡¯d only been halflistening to the conversation as he¡¯d been too busy nuzzling Danica¡¯s neck,


    breathing in her exotic scent. As he licked over his iming mark, a tremor ran through her.


    Danica gave him a sideways nce. ¡°Gio, you really shouldn¡¯t do that unless you want me to jump you while we have an audience.¡± The ass licked it again.


    ¡°Hello!¡± barked Theresa, waving. She was a picture of jealousy.


    ¡°Oh sorry, did you say something?¡± asked Danica innocently.


    The ringing of Gio¡¯s cell phone cut off whatever Theresa had been about to say. Seeing that the caller was Hudson, he brought both him and Danica to their feet. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a minute.¡± With onest lick to his mark, he released her, relishing the flush on her cheeks, and left the room to take the call in private.


    As if Theresa wasn¡¯t staring at her with utter hatred in her eyes and obviously nning her murder, Danica leaned against the counter as she tackled herst slice of bacon.


    ¡°I feel sorry for Gio being stuck with you, even if it¡¯s only for a few months. Seriously, Duda, what was he thinking of mating a Hart?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have liked her no matter who she was and we all know why.¡±


    ¡°Ohe on, Duda, if what I¡¯ve heard is right then she¡¯stent for God¡¯s sake.¡± Taryn sighed. ¡°You know, I really wish people would stop talking about mytency like it¡¯s the seconding of Christ. I¡¯m not the onlytent shifter.¡±


    Theresa gave her a pitying look. ¡°You have to admit that atent couldn¡¯t manage being an Alpha Female.¡±


    ¡°I suppose you would do a much better job.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I would. Even if this mating was real, it wouldn¡¯t havested long. Once Gio and his wolf began to realize just how weak their mate is, their interest in you would have swiftly dwindled. They¡¯d have gone looking for a female wolf who canplement them and their strength. And when


    that happened, I¡¯d have been waiting.¡±


    Gio was just ending the call when the sound of a loud crash hit his ears and had him cursing in surprise. He raced into the kitchen and stared,


    confounded, at the vision before him. Theresa was very ungracefully dislocated out on the floor after obviously having smacked her head against the wall, if the trail of blood was anything to go by. Everyone at the table had risen from their seat and was staring down at her, wide-eyed. And Danica well she was leaning against the counter calmly biting into a slice of bacon as if there wasn¡¯t a woman moaning and bleeding all over the floor.


    ¡°What the hell happened?¡± he demanded. Danica¡¯s expression was perfectly serene when she peered up at him.


    ¡°She fell.¡±


    The sound of muffledughter had his attention returning to the table to find Duda, Michey , Lucy, Richard and Jeremy chuckling so hard they were


    shaking. Although the others were silent, none of them, not even Cindy, had been able to hold back an amused grin.


    Danica sighed. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go on that run now. Michey, that breakfast was excellent.¡± She then made her way around a moaning Theresa, pointedly ignoring her. ¡°Close your mouth, Gio or you¡¯ll catch flies.¡±


    Still totally bemused and also a little horny as a result of her alpha vibes pulsating around her, Gio stared after her as she pranced out of the room humming a tune he didn¡¯t recognise.


    ¡°Danica¡¯s one mean bitch,¡± said Duda approvingly.


    ¡°Gio, look what she did to me!¡± whined Theresa.


    He didn¡¯t want to. ¡°Duda, Chris, youing?¡± Both rose from the table and thanked Michey before following him out of the room. ¡°What was all that about anyway?¡±


    ¡°Just Theresa being her usual irritating self,¡± replied Duda. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen the way Danica picked her up and slung her at the wall. It was awesome.¡±


    Chris nodded his agreement, albeit reluctantly. ¡°That female¡¯s freakishly strong for her size.¡±


    Oh Gio already knew that from their battlesst night. His lips curved into a smile as he imagined battling with her all over again tonight.

 CHAPTER 12

    Three hourster Danica was in the doorway of the living area, gaping.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    A wander around had confirmed that not one inch of the ce was anything but spectacr. There were four floors and each one of them featured dozens of luxurious bedrooms, a small kitchen, and aundry room. On the fourth floor where Gio, Duda and the enforcers slept was  in addition to aundry room, a pool room, a game room, an office, the huge amazing kitchen and arge living area. The blend of modern and antique furnishings was a feature throughout the entire ce, never once shing. She was nothing short of awed and had found something to gasp at in each and every room. But this room , whoa. The audio-visual system was state of the art, the decorative swirly carvings on the main wall were amazing, the many armchairs all lookedfy enough to sleep on, but it was the item in the center of the living area that had her attention. Is it a bed? Is it a sofa? The freaking thing looked more like a giant cushion.


    There had been a sectional sofa in her pack house too, but it wasn¡¯t anything like this. The ck leather was clearly top quality and it could


    fortably seat at least eighteen people. One end was a gorgeous chaise lounge while the other end had a recliner. It was so big and bulky that not


    only did her ass sink into it, but her feet didn¡¯t even touch the floor. It totally dwarfed her. Suddenly she felt like one of the Borrowers.


    Oh she could get used to this luxury. She wasn¡¯t a materialistic person, never had been, and she totally agreed that money didn¡¯t bring you happiness. Still, she¡¯d rather be depressed wearing Prada than dirty rags.


    ¡°Comfy?¡±


    Danica looked at the doorway to see Chris there, scowling. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d think you resented me beingfortable.¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not convinced your dad will give us an alliance, which means we¡¯ll have brought all this trouble on ourselves and not even get


    what the pack needs out of this mating.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should¡¯ve thought of that before you kidnapped me, huh?¡±


    ¡°Believe me, if I could have talked Gio out of this, I would¡¯ve, but I respect Gio and I follow his orders.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nice. You can leave now. I promise your opinion will be noted.¡±


    A muscle ticked in his jaw ¨C something which seemed to be a habit with him whenever she was around. ¡°There¡¯s nothing about not wanting Carrick Hart¡¯s daughter in my house or around my pack. They say the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, don¡¯t they.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I have a suggestion, why not put a condom over your head  if you¡¯re going to act like aplete dick then it makes sense to dress like


    one.¡± His mouth actually twitched at that, but Danica just sighed and retrieved the remote control from the round pine coffee table. Switching on the T. V., she sought out the sports channels.


    Chris came to stand beside the sofa. ¡°You watch football?¡±


    ¡°I missed the match between Manchester City and Liverpoolst night. I just want to watch the repeat so you can watch whatever you like.¡±


    Frowning, Chris gingerly sat beside her. Well this was a surprise.


    On leaving his office, Gio had followed the trail of Danica¡¯s delicious scent to track her down. Considering how Chris had been treating her up until this point, thest thing Gio would have expected was to find the pair of themughing and joking while watching the football match on T. V. Her response to Theresa would have shown the pack that she wasn¡¯t an easy target or someone


    who took any shit, but he hadn¡¯t thought it would be enough to win anyone¡¯s respect just yet. Clearly he had been wrong. He should have been d about that. It was a good thing for her to have Chris as an ally. Strangely, Gio found himself wanting to punch his Head Enforcer for putting that smile on her face. His wolf , well, he wanted to gut him.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡±


    She looked up at him, frowning at the strain in his voice. ¡°Sure.¡± Her frown deepened when instead of walking on ahead of her with Ray and Hudson he waited for her to reach his side. She noticed that Duda was smiling the kind of smile that said he knew something she didn¡¯t. Well whatever.


    Gio remained at her side all the way to the car and even sat with her in the backseat which, for some reason, had Duda¡¯s smile widening.


    Her wolf enjoyed having her mate so close, and enjoyed having his scent all over her. Unfortunately, just as Danica had feared, it was proving to be ufortable for her wolf when they parted for too long. She wouldn¡¯t have


    thought that five hours counted as ¡®long¡¯, but her wolf had been restless and on edge until the moment he entered the living area. His presence made her automatically feel safe, reassured, and rxed.


    ¡°Has your father been in touch with you yet?¡± Trey asked her.


    ¡°No. He¡¯ll be too busy sulking.¡±


    ¡°You know there¡¯s a chance he¡¯ll turn up tomorrow with Cody Coleman, don¡¯t you.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± She doubted he would, but there was still a chance.


    ¡°And you know what will happen if he tries to take you, don¡¯t you.¡±


    She wondered if he even realized that the hand of the arm he¡¯d hooked around her headrest was now ying with her hair. ¡°Even if hees, it¡¯ll


    only Cody who¡¯ll challenge you.¡±


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right. I want that alliance with your father, but there¡¯s no chance I¡¯ll be able to hold back my wolf if he tries to take you.¡±


    The heavy dose of possessiveness in his voice had her lips twitching.


    What made it more amusing was that she could see how much the unfamiliar sense of possessiveness irritated him. ¡°I did try to warn you that it wouldn¡¯t matter to your wolf that we aren¡¯t true mates.¡±


    He shot her a re. ¡°Smart ass.¡±


    He snorted and faced forward again, resisting the urge to nibble on her bottom lip. And the urge to kiss her. And the urge to lick over his mark. His


    Wolf, on the other hand, liked all three of those ideas and was growling his encouragement at Gio. His wolf had missed her. He brooded and fretted


    when he wasn¡¯t around her, pushing at Gio to go hunt her down. Whenever he was around her, his wolf wanted to lick every inch of her and roll around in her scent. It was dumb and it was pathetic and it made Gio want to kick his wolf¡¯s ass.


    Eventually they arrived at a restaurant in the next territory that Danica knew belonged to the wolf pack that the Mediator was part of. She also knew


    they wouldn¡¯t be having the meeting inside the restaurant, but within the wooded area behind it a ce where many shifters hade to blows in


    the past when Mediation meetings hadn¡¯t gone so well. Hopefully this wouldn¡¯t be one of those times.


    Seeing the tension in Gio¡¯s shoulders as he opened her car door and the way he very reluctantly stepped aside, she smiled. ¡°Your wolf doesn¡¯t want me to go, does he? He doesn¡¯t want me being around the naughty wolf.¡±


    The poor guy was in totally unfamiliar territory with all this protectiveness and possessiveness.


    He narrowed his eyes on her. ¡°I¡¯m d you find this amusing.¡±


    Knowing what would ease his wolf, she did what she hadn¡¯t yet seen anyone do. She invaded Gio¡¯s personal space, sliding her arms around his


    waist. Oh it could be said that she had been up in his personal space plenty of times while he fucked her senseless, but sexual touching and social touching were two very different things, two very different needs. And it seemed like Gio had conditioned himself to ignore thetter need. He stiffened for a few seconds and then his arms went around her, surprising her. Little by little the


    tension in him eased as he allowed his wolf to take sce in her closeness and her scent. ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± he grumbled. In keeping with their true mate act, he took her small hand in his and kept her close as they followed the narrow pebbly path that ran through the wooded area. Although he had been assured that there would be enough security to guarantee that his uncle


    couldn¡¯t make an abrupt attack, Gio still listened intently as they walked. His hearing picked up nothing other than the scurrying of the small forest


    animals, the even breathing of each of his pack, and the crunch of fallen dead leaves and sticks beneath their feet. The path stopped at a clearing and there, at a long wooden table, sat his uncle Kevin, three males from Kevin¡¯s pack, and a tall dark guy who he guessed was the Mediator. Standing either side of the table were six tall,


    bulky males who were clearly some members of the security team. His wolf tensed and growled at Kevinl¡¯s scent, offended by it. The memories of the


    The day Gio attacked his father pped him hard. He could remember his father¡¯s sneers, snarls and the harsh words that had inevitably robbed Gio of


    all control. Even now he couldn¡¯t regret what he¡¯d done and he doubted that he ever would.


    Forcing away the dark feelings attempting to swamp him, he tightened his hold on Danica¡¯s hand as they strolled over to the table. Everyone stood as they reached it, and Gio watched as Kevin¡¯s eyes zoomed in on Danica and the marks covering her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s all sit, shall we,¡± suggested the Mediator as he took the head seat. Gio sat with Danica and Duda on either side of him while Chris, Hudson


    and Ray stood behind them.


    The evil uncle was not at all what Danica had been expecting. It was hard to believe he was actually rted to Gio. There was no resemnce


    there at all except for the strong nose. His squinty eyes,zy posture, perfectly parted dark hair, and sly smile all gave off the impression of a smarmy, cunning bastard. She couldn¡¯t help feeling satisfied that her presence had thrown him.

 CHAPTER 13

    ¡°Afternoon, everyone,¡± said the Mediator, rubbing his prominent jaw.


    ¡°My name is Harry Justin and I¡¯ve been appointed by the council to act as Mediator in this dispute. My role is to guide this discussion and aid you in


    exploring your issues in the hope that an agreement can be reached. Note that both parties are free to leave at any point and that a decision will not be made in your absence. Before we go any further, could each party please introduce


    themselves, starting with the Applicant.¡±


    ¡°Kevin Joe, Alpha of the Tefy Pack,¡± the smarmy ass drawled with a self-satisfied smirk. ¡°On my right is my Beta and on my left is my Head Enforcer. At my back are some of my enforcers.¡±


    Harry nodded then looked at Gio. ¡°Now if the Respondent could also introduce himself and the wolves with him.¡±


    ¡°Gio Wright, Alpha of the Ferux Pack. Behind me you¡¯ll see my Head Enforcer and two of my enforcers. On my left is my Beta and on my


    right¡± he stroked a hand through her hair ¡°is my mate, Danica.¡± He knew the smile he shot his uncle wasn¡¯t a pleasant one.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Harry. ¡°Now I¡¯ll ask you both, beginning with the Applicant, to outline the issue as you see it. I ask you not to interrupt each


    other.¡±


    Kevin straightened in his seat. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Gio. You look well. Can I ask how the rest of the pack are doing?¡±


    ¡°You can, but I won¡¯t answer.¡±


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve mated. A beautiful female.¡±


    ¡°Well we¡¯re not here to exchange pleasantries so cut the shit.¡±


    After a sigh, he fixed a concerned look on his face. ¡°It is regrettable that our pack divided the way it did. It never sat well with any of us. I, inparticr, worried for your safety and that of those who left with you.¡±


    Gio heard a snort behind him and thought it might have been Ray.


    He was tempted to snort himself.


    ¡°A great many of us have carried that guilt. But you know your father , I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but it is a fact that my brother was too damn stubborn for his own good. He refused to lift the banishment no matter how hard we appealed to him. As unfortunate as his passing is, it has also given us an opportunity to introduce changes and progressions. And we wish to wee you back into the pack. With me as Alpha, of course.¡±


    Harry arched a brow at Gio. ¡°As the Respondent, what is your stance?¡±


    He began massaging Danica¡¯s nape, drawing strength from her closeness to keep his wolf calm. ¡°You always did talk shit, Kevin. I prefer bare facts. Shall I share some with you? A bare fact is that you were right at my father¡¯s side when he banished me, encouraging his decision. Another is that if you had really wanted to overrule the banishment you could have, as Beta, applied to the council. A third is that you couldn¡¯t care if I live or die, your motivation to unite the pack is not regret or concern. So what the fuck is it?¡±


    Danica noted that the Mediator didn¡¯t look in the least bit surprised that Gio wasn¡¯t interested in a civil discussion. He could probably see through Kevin¡¯s act just as easily as they could.


    ¡°I don¡¯t me you for this anger, Gio,¡± said Kevin.


    ¡°But why not let it go and unite the packs once again?¡±


    ¡°Why not just tell me what this is really all about? Is it my territory that you want? Is it to erge the pack? Is it just to be a pain in my ass?¡±


    Where the idea came from she wasn¡¯t sure, but an idea suddenly urred to Danica. ¡°Maybe he has a perverse wish to see you bow down to him.¡± All eyes darted to her and then to Kevin.


    Duda pursed his lips. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s all four.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me that neither you nor your wolf has missed your homnd,¡± said Kevin. ¡°Surely you¡¯ve dreamed ofing home many times.¡±


    Gio blew out a breath and shook his head. ¡°Did I ever wish to return to a ce where people who were supposed to care for me had been so eager to sling me out? No, no I didn¡¯t at all. The whole prodigal son thing isn¡¯t for me.¡±


    ¡°So you have no inclination to unite your pack with Kevin¡¯s?¡± asked Harry.


    ¡°None whatsoever,¡± replied Gio.


    Kevin¡¯s expression turned dark and bitter. ¡°Don¡¯t make this be a battle. It¡¯s not one you can win.¡±


    ¡°Did I introduce my mate properly? I don¡¯t think I did, did I? Danica, meet Kevin Joe. Uncle, meet Danica Hart¡± He grinned inwardly at the flicker of unease that crossed Kevin¡¯s face.


    ¡°Danica Hart,¡± repeated Dean, smiling at her. ¡°You once healed a friend of mine, Cesar James, his nose had been broken. You were also the


    person who broke it.¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°He deserved it.¡± Oh and he really had.


    ¡°If your reputation¡¯s anything to go by, that wasn¡¯t your first broken nose.¡± At her unrepentant shrug, he asked, amused, ¡°You don¡¯t think that perhaps you have anger management issues?¡±


    ¡°Punching people is managing my anger.¡±


    Strangely not liking the yful banter going on between his mate and the Mediator, Gio tangled a hand in her hair , a shifter gesture of ownership.


    ¡°Are you going to do the wise thing and drop this?¡± he asked Kevin.


    ¡°The wise thing would be for you to sign an agreement now that says our packs are now one and I rule as Alpha.¡±


    Danica couldn¡¯t stop the snort from popping out.


    ¡°I take it this means no agreement can be reached,¡± said Harry quickly, obviously wanting to stop the conversation from bing any more


    argumentative than it already was. ¡°Kevin, do you wish to pursue this further or are you willing to withdraw your application?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not backing down.¡±


    Gio leaned forward in his seat. ¡°Then I ept your challenge.¡±


    Harry Justin sighed. ¡°You know the drill. Ten weeks. Teen weeks must pass before either of you can act on that challenge. Hopefully you can bothe to an amicable agreement within that time.¡±


    ¡°How many times does that actually happen?¡± she asked Harry, curious.


    ¡°More often than you might think. About forty-five percent of the time disputes are nothing but impulsive challenges that neither side particr


    cares to follow through once their tempers have eased. Without that ten week cooling off period there would be many pointless battles and


    many pointless deaths. So maybe it wasn¡¯t such a bad idea to cate the humans by forming a council.¡±


    Kevin snarled. ¡°Unless within that time my nephew agrees to unite the pack, my challenge will be followed through. Those wolves are mine. And


    I¡¯ll very much enjoy taking those caves of yours. Maybe I¡¯ll even take your mate as mine.¡±


    Trey¡¯s menacing growl had everyone jerking. Feeling him tense as if to spring, she squeezed his hand hard enough to cause pain ¨C a sharp pain that would cut through the anger fogging his thoughts. She curled her upper lip at


    Kevin. ¡°Call me shallow, but I do prefer good looking guys. And you¡­well it seems like the best part of you dried up on your mom¡¯s thigh.¡± She


    probably shouldn¡¯t have found it so amusing that he didn¡¯t seem to be breathing, but, well, it was a bitch thing.


    Harry quickly said, ¡°Meeting over. Gio, I¡¯m going to ask you and your wolves to leave first.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean first?¡± gripped Kevin.


    ¡°In the interest of preventing confrontations from urring, the protocol is to keep ten minutes between the time that each party leaves.¡±


    Eager to be away from Kevin before his wolf surfaced, Gio stood upright, pulling Danica to her feet. ¡°Let¡¯s go, baby.¡± Surprising him, she leaned against his arm, offering him support that he hadn¡¯t known he needed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you soon, Kevin,¡± he growled, his eyes shing wolf. The temptation to tear off his limbs and rip out his throat for trying toy im to


    what was his was riding  hard. Satisfied by Kevin¡¯s nervous expression, he nodded and stalked back to the luxurious car he came with.


    Once back on pack territory, Gio closed himself in his office, needing that privacy to fight off the memories haunting him and the grey cloud that


    seemed to be hanging over him. Yeah he was a brooder. It wasn¡¯t the memory of his dad severely wounded that haunted him. Nor was it the


    memory of how many suddenly turned against him just like that. It was a memory of something far worse, something that he shouldn¡¯t be able to shove to the back of his mind to only haunt him from time to time. But he wasn¡¯t a person who ¡®felt¡¯ the way everybody else did. He knew instincts, he knew urges, he knew logic, but ¡®feelings¡¯¡­not so much.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was cold, just that he¡¯d closed himself off a long time ago as what he now knew was a defence mechanism. It was most likely a bad thing and strongly linked to his underdeveloped conscience, but it was also


    one of the things that had made it possible for him to take on the responsibilities of Alpha at thirteen and get his pack through that difficult time of the banishment.


    As usual, Duda never left him to brood in peace for long. A knock on the office door half an hourter was followed immediately by Duda¡¯s entrance. He was the only wolf who didn¡¯t wait for permission to enter, and he was the only one who could get away with it. ¡°Are you done?¡±


    ¡°Is Lindy back yet?¡±


    ¡°Got back about ten minutes ago. She¡¯s in the kitchen packing away boxes of some weird herbal tea. Um, I think you might want to know that on my way here I saw Danica going to refill her coffee mug.¡±


    Gio groaned. ¡°Shit. Tell me they¡¯re not alone.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Who do you think will start cursing first?¡±


    Sighing, Gio strolled out of his office rushing down to the kitchen to rescue his mate from his rather antisocial, borderline psychotic grandmother.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡±

 CHAPTER 14

    Danica almostughed at the growling old woman sitting at the table.


    The second Danica had entered the kitchen Lindy had begun hovering around as Danica refilled her mug and then perched herself on the counter, dipping mini cookies in her coffee. Going by how nosy Lindy appeared to be, Danica had been expecting her to ply her with dozens of personal questions. Instead, she had sat in total silence as she watched Danica¡¯s every move, scowling the


    entire time.


    Rather than irritated, Danica found herself amused.


    Danica gave a slight shrug. ¡°I guess it¡¯s a good thing that I don¡¯t give a shit.¡±


    A dramatic gasp of outrage escaped from Lindy. ¡°How dare you speak to me like that! You will watch yournguage in my presence.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°This mating for a deal wouldn¡¯t have happened in my day. I told him he didn¡¯t need a mate to build alliances Kevin won¡¯t go through with his challenge. But did Gio listen to me? Noooo. And now look what we¡¯ve ended up with. All his life I warned him about power hungry females, but has he listened to me? Noooo. He¡¯s not only gone and brought one home, but he¡¯s mated with her. Well you just remember that you won¡¯t be here for long. And don¡¯t expect me to treat you as Alpha female. You¡¯re nothing as far as I¡¯m concerned. Just some cling on slut who wants a position she never would have had if she hadn¡¯t made a deal with my grandson.¡±


    Danica cocked her head at the old woman. ¡°So¡­the dead do contact us.¡±


    Lindy growled and pointed at her. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your sort before.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Common. Disrespectful. A hussy ¡±


    ¡°How did you know I was a hussy?¡± It was a strain not tough as the woman became more and more irritated by Danica¡¯sck of reaction to her


    taunts. Lindy had nothing on her own grandmother and as if that¡¯s not bad enough, you¡¯re blonde. That¡¯s all we need, isn¡¯t it. A bimbo.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. I really hope I don¡¯t sound condescending. That means talking down to someone  but, you know, you really shouldn¡¯t believe everything you think.¡±


    Another growl. ¡°My grandson doesn¡¯t need a hussy.¡±


    ¡°Well he must want one.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll want you out of here as soon as he sees what you¡¯re really like.


    He¡¯ll sling you out. Yeah, and he won¡¯t be gentle about it.¡±


    ¡°Oh I do love a rough touch,¡± said Danica dreamily.


    ¡°Think you¡¯re funny, do you? Think you¡¯re smart?¡±


    ¡°You want to know what I think? Okay. I think you¡¯ve been behaving as mistress of the ce because of your Gio¡¯s grandmother. You look at me and you see a threat to your lovely little world and you don¡¯t like it. Well I¡¯ll tell you something, Lindy. If you think I¡¯ll be scared away by a sour crone who¡¯s so old she dreams in ck and white then you¡¯re in for a massive disappointment. I made a deal with Gio, and I¡¯ll be here until I¡¯ve lived up to my half of it. In the meantime, feel free to keep up the insults and the intimidation techniques , all I ask is that if at any point it seems like I care please tell me because I really don¡¯t want you getting the wrong impression.¡±


    Lindy, her face purple, pped her hand down hard on the table.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. Out. I want you out. Now.¡± When Danica just stared at her Lindy growled out, ¡°I. Want. You. Out.¡±


    Danica held up her index finger. ¡°Just give me a second. Attempting to give a fuck¡­Attempting harder to give a fuck¡­Sorry, there was an error.


    Fuck not given.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Both women looked up as Gio and Duda walked in and skidded to a halt. Danica found her mouth curving at their nervous looks. Obviously they had guessed Lindy would be like this. Danica¡¯s wolf settled a little as she picked up her mate¡¯s scent. ¡°Aww, Gio, you didn¡¯t tell me your grandmother was such a kind, delightful soul.¡±


    Gio was surprised by Danica¡¯s smile. Clearly she was holding up just fine against Lindy.


    ¡°You really want this trollop as a mate?¡±


    ¡°Watch it, Lindy,¡± Gio cautioned in a low voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to be polite to her. She¡¯s nothing but a hussy!¡±


    ¡°You sure like to repeat yourself, don¡¯t you, woman,¡± said Danica with an air of boredom.


    ¡°I want her gone!¡±


    He folded his arms across his chest, trying hard to prevent a grin from surfacing. If Lindy was looking so flustered and annoyed then she was obviously losing at the confrontation she had undoubtedly begun for no other reason than she didn¡¯t like females around him. ¡°That won¡¯t be happening.¡±


    ¡°I refuse to ept her as part of my pack!¡±


    ¡°Why is that exactly?¡±


    ¡°You should hear the way she¡¯s been talking to me. Disrespectful is an understatement! Worse, she¡¯s a hussy! She won¡¯t be faithful to you. She¡¯ll be all over your enforcers, spreading herself around them like butter on toast.¡±


    ¡°It really is disconcerting just how well you¡¯ve read me, Lindy,¡± said Danica.


    With a growl that had all eyes widening, Lindy stood. ¡°I said I want her gone!¡± She focused on Danica then. ¡°I want you gone!¡±


    Danica gave her a mock frown. ¡°Now really, Lindy, anger is such an ugly thing.¡±


    Turning to Gio, she ranted, ¡°Have you heard the way she talks to me?


    She has no respect! She¡¯s rude! She¡¯s -¡±


    ¡°Staying exactly where she is,¡± finished Gio firmly, hearing his wolf growl his agreement. Gio wasn¡¯t a grandson talking to his grandmother now.


    He was the Alpha talking to a pack member.


    ¡°But she¡¯s not your true mate and she¡¯s not good enough for you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware that she¡¯s not my true mate, it has nothing to do with why she¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not good enough for you!¡±


    He had a moment when he considered pulling his hair out. ¡°You don¡¯t even know her so how could you know anything about her or whether or not


    she¡¯s good enough for me?¡±


    ¡°Is it true that she¡¯stent? You picked atent for an Alpha female?¡±


    Gio was ready to snap at Lindy for making such ament when alpha waves suddenly reached out and hit them all with the force of a sledgehammer. The vibes clotted the air, smothering him while at the same time invigorating him. He turned to Danica to see her ring at Lindy, and realized she was letting his grandmother see exactly how powerful an alpha


    her wolf was. Obviously she¡¯d had enough of being insulted. He couldn¡¯t me her. Unfortunately for him and probably for Duda  too her dominant disy went straight to his cock, hardening it painfully.


    ¡°Danica?¡± he said softly. She looked at him, smiling, and suddenly the waves eased. ¡°You okay?¡±


    Nodding, Danica slid from the counter and did a very feline stretch. ¡°I think I should leave the room though. I can feel those hussy urgesing on


    me already. Probably best if I go before I leap on you or Duda¡±.


    Gio looked at his gaping grandmother who had obviously not expected such a demonstration of power from little Danica. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to go through this again,¡± he said in a grave tone, knowing how tenacious Lindy could be. ¡°She¡¯s my mate. ept it. And if you want her to treat you with respect then remember it works both ways.¡±


    Danica sighed. ¡°No, she¡¯s right. My behavior has been truly uneptable. ept my apologies. I know I really should have more respect for the dead.¡± With a grin and a wink, she then strutted out of the kitchen. Her grin widened as she heard an outraged gasp burst out of the old woman.


    ¡°Hey you did good,¡± praised Duda, chuckling. ¡°Didn¡¯t cry or anything.¡±


    ¡°Something tells me I¡¯ll have to put up with that every, Hey!¡± She gaped at Gio as he snatched the mug from her hand and gave it to Duda.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Baby, you got me hard as a rock after that disy of dominance in there. If I¡¯m not inside you in the next five minutes, I¡¯ll lose it.¡±


    ¡°Oh hell no!¡±


    Locking his arms around her, Gio carried her through the tunnels, ignoring her kicks and the string of profanities she hurled at him. Once in the


    bedroom, he dumped her on the bed. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to fuck you and make you cum so hard you can¡¯t breathe. Deal with it.¡±

 CHAPTER 15

    A thick talented finger was stroking in and out of her while sharp teeth nibbled on the back of her shoulder. The thrusts were shallow, leisurely,


    teasing. She squirmed and tried impaling herself further but the finger withdrew a warning. She moaned her frustration. A low, wicked chuckle


    was her response and then two fingers plunged inside her and her next moan was of sheer bliss.


    Ordinarily Danica wasn¡¯t a huge fan of finger-fucking, but these fingers were extremely clever, hitting all the right nerves with unerring uracy as if they knew just how to y her body. If they would only pick up speed.


    Oh, and then they did. The teeth stopped grazing her shoulder as that hot mouth drifted to her ear and a tongue swirled inside the shell.


    ¡°Come for me, Danica.¡± The whisper was hoarse and filled with authority. ¡°I want to feel youe all over my fingers.¡±


    That was when she woke up and became very aware that she hadn¡¯t been dreaming at all. Instantly she stiffened, but obviously knowing she¡¯d fight him, Gio slipped an arm beneath her and locked it tight around her, pinning her arms against her body. ¡°You tricky fucking bastard,¡± she rasped, struggling against his grip and the sensations. But his grip only tightened as he kept her right where he wanted her and pumped his fingers hard and deep, demanding her orgasm.


    ¡°Cum. Now.¡± He bit down hard on the back of her shoulder.


    Her traitorous body gave him what he wanted. An orgasm washed over her and her muscles clutched his fingers as she came with a loud cry. Then in one decisive movement he raised her leg, tucked it into the crook of his elbow and drove into her. Oh she hated him.


    Gio groaned as her muscles contracted around his cock. ¡°Fuck, Danica.¡± She melted against him for a second and then went back to struggling. Well of course she did. In this particr battle for dominance he had basically cheated by seducing her in her sleep, but she just felt so damn good around him that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to care.


    He thought it odd that his appetite for her body hadn¡¯t began to dull yet.


    He only had to smell her scent or hear her voice for him to be immediately hard. Unlike Andrew and Ray, Gio wasn¡¯t the type to have so


    little control over his libido or his body. But where Danica was concerned, it was a whole different matter. He couldn¡¯t even me it on the mating. This primitive hunger had hit him the second he saw her and didn¡¯t seem to be going anywhere.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby, fight it,¡± he urged. The little wildcat did. Even though his cock was pistoning away in her pussy, even though her groans told him that she loved it, she still thrashed and fought to be free. Fought his dominance. If he hadn¡¯t been as strong as he was, she¡¯d have twisted out of


    his hold by now and most likely have snapped his neck. Those iling hands were wing at whatever skin they could reach. It was a real good


    thing her arms were trapped.


    ¡°Cock-sucking son of a goddamn dick-faced bitch!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the bitch, baby. My little bitch. And I¡¯ll fuck my little bitch whenever I want.¡± He knew she was fighting her orgasm, but he also knew by the way her inner muscles were fluttering around his cock that she wouldn¡¯tst much longer. Surprising him, she turned her head and snapped her teeth, grazing his face ever so slightly. Growling, he locked his teeth onto her nape and pounded harder. Secondster she screamed and her pussy spasmed around him, triggering his own orgasm. ¡°Fuck!¡±


    When she finally stopped panting Danica gave him a sideways nce as she muttered, ¡°Bastard.¡±


    Heughed before bringing the fingers he had fucked her with to his mouth. He hummed appreciatively as he sucked them clean. ¡°I could be addicted to your taste.¡± He wasn¡¯t lying. Her taste was just like her; spicy and seductive.


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± drawled Danica with a snort. ¡°You think it¡¯s best if you get a regr dose so the addiction stays under control.¡±


    Again he wasughing. This female had a wit and an attitude that he could appreciate. He reluctantly withdrew from her body and then, unable to resist, he lightly pped that pretty little ass before jumping out of bed.


    It wasn¡¯t until he was in the bathroom that Danica finally forced herself into an upright position. She shook her head in sheer disbelief at how someone could be so energetic first thing in the morning. Eventually she not so gracefully rose from the bed and stretched her arms above her head. She


    would bet she looked very much like a contented cat. Well an orgasm was always a good way to start the day. At that very moment the sound of a cell phone ringing met her ears.


    ¡°Gio, phone!¡±


    In seconds he was out of the shower and answering the call. As she saw his eyes sh wolf and his body stiffen, she cursed. She knew exactly what that meant. There went her hope of Cody  just letting the issue go or, in the event that that failed, him simply leaping to his death.


    Instantly questions began swirling around her mind. What if he¡¯d brought hoards of wolves with him? What if Gio got hurt? What if the others got hurt? She couldn¡¯t exactly heal any of them if Cody spirited her away and wouldn¡¯t that be a fate worse than death.


    ¡°That was Hudson. Cody Coleman¡¯s here. He¡¯s not going to take you,¡± he assured her as they both frantically began to dress, sensing her anxiety through the pack link. Within few seconds they were at the main entrance to the caves where many of the pack were already waiting.


    ¡°Did Cody tell you he¡¯s brought quite a few wolves with him?¡± asked Duda in the same tone that someone might ask what time it was. Men.


    Gio turned to her. ¡°I want you to wait here and ¡±


    ¡°Oh hell no! This mess is mine and you expect me to sit here twiddling my thumbs, relishing the feeling of my own safety?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re staying.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°I believe you were warned before you even mated me not to bark at me unless you¡¯re happy to be ignored.¡±


    ¡°Danica,¡± he drawled in an impatient tone, ¡°I am your mate -¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m stubborn. If you want absolute obedience, get a Labrador. I¡¯m not quite the delicate flower people tend to take me for. Now let¡¯s go.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Right then, Gio wanted nothing more than to spank her ass. He didn¡¯t want her anywhere near that male who coveted her. Both he and his wolf


    wanted to know that she was safe, but Gio knew by the look on her face that she would simply ignore him and follow him outside no matter what he said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to interfere, understand? There will probably be a wolf against wolf battle. You stay out of it.¡± He knew that once he was in wolf


    form and engaged in a battle there was a good chance that he would go wild.


    Danica was honestly starting to feel sorry for him. He obviously thought he had some sort of authority over her and she believed it would be a while before it became apparent to him that the female he had taken as his mate did her own thing. ¡°Again I feel I must remind you that I don¡¯t do well with orders, but I have no wish to interfere so the point is mute as the result will be the same.¡±


    Resisting the urge to shake her, he huffed and turned away only to find that some of the others were watching the exchange with amusement. He


    didn¡¯t me them. Here was this dainty little female giving him shit and even managing to get her own way.


    Lindy growled. ¡°You just had to bring her here, didn¡¯t you. Gio, you don¡¯t need her, there¡¯s no way Kevin will go through with this challenge.


    Just hand her over and be done with it.¡±


    ¡°Can we not hand her over instead?¡± asked Danica.


    Was it wrong that she was seriously considering it?


    ¡°The hussy¡¯s not worth fighting over. If he wants her, let him have her.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s mine. No one takes her.¡± Gio nodded at the males around him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Danica, stay at the rear.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°To the outside world I¡¯m Alpha female here, Gio,¡± she reminded him as she slipped on her light denim jacket that matched her jeans. ¡°The Alpha


    pair always presents a united front when there¡¯s a confrontation. I¡¯m not saying that if he challenges you I won¡¯t step back, but I won¡¯t be shoved at


    the rear.¡±


    The steel in her voice aroused his wolf just as much as it pissed him off. Gio was feeling pretty much the same. ¡°Danica, you can¡¯t expect me or


    my wolf to be okay with you being in such easy reach of. Coleman Cody, of being in that kind of danger.¡±


    Smiling sweetly, she cupped his chin. ¡°I won¡¯t be in danger. You¡¯ll protect me.¡±.

 CHAPTER 16

    Despite everything that was going on right now, he actually wanted to smile at her impishness. The other males were ducking their heads to hide


    theirs. ¡°Fine, we present a united front, but only because the mating wouldn¡¯t look real if we didn¡¯t.¡± He thought that was a pretty good way to save face, but one or two of the males snorted. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Nearing the gate, they caught sight of several vehicles parked by the security post while arge number of shifters stood tall beside them. A


    normallyposed Cody Coleman was scowling with rage, flexing his fists at his sides.


    ¡°Oh good Lord,¡± she said, snorting at the sheer ridiculousness of the number of wolves he had brought with him. Fifty against seven? Yeah, very


    brave. It was a clear attempt at intimidation but Danica knew it hadn¡¯t had the desired effect. Why Cody had thought that Gio  someone who was


    practically the personification of intimidation would be rattled was anyone¡¯s guess.


    When Gio came to a halt ten feet away from the intruders, Hudson came to join the wall that the Ferux wolves had made. Cody¡¯s gaze settled on her and anger shed across his face, most likely in response to Gio¡¯s marks.


    ¡°Never had you down as someone who yed games, Danica. As you can see, game¡¯s over. Get in the ride while I have a talk with  Mr. Gio Wright.¡±


    Danica almostughed. ¡°You sound as though you honestly believe I will.¡±


    ¡°Come now and we can avoid all this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather lie under a horse suffering from diarrhoea with my mouth open wide.¡±


    ¡°You know what will happen if you persist with this. People are going to get hurt, namely Gio. Do you really want that on your conscience?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t get to turn this on me. If anyone gets hurt today it¡¯s because you refuse to let go of something that was never yours to begin with.¡± She would bet money that if she had been within reach, Cody would have pped her for that.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be looking at Danica , look at me.¡± Gio¡¯s tone demanded attention. ¡°I¡¯m the one you should be worried about.¡±


    ¡°You must have a death wish, Wright,¡± said Cody. ¡°It¡¯s the only reason I can think of that would exin why you would kidnap my mate.¡±


    ¡°Kidnap your mate,¡± repeated Gio with a smile. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find that Danica¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°She wears my mark.¡±


    ¡°Not a mark, a wound one that I very nicely covered with a mark of my own.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s mine,¡± snarled Cody.


    Growls of disagreement rumbled out of the throats of the nine males around her. Danica couldn¡¯t help but notice that, by contrast, although Cody had arge crew, they didn¡¯t appear to be standing with him. There was no one nking him or eyeing up the rest of Gio¡¯s pack, picking an opponent they wanted for if it turned into an out and out fight. They were simply just there.


    ¡°Here¡¯s how it is, Cody. Danica is my mate, I¡¯ve imed her, and I will kill anyone who tries to take her from me. If you can ept that, you can live and you can leave here peacefully. If you can¡¯t, well, you must want to die.¡±


    ¡°Then it looks like we battle it out.¡±


    Danica gaped. ¡°You have got to be kidding me. Why would you bother?


    You can¡¯t tell me you¡¯re that obsessed with the idea of breaking my spirit until I¡¯m some kind of ve.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°That¡¯s what he had nned?¡± Gio¡¯s wolf leapt for control, wanting to gut him.


    Cody shrugged. ¡°What male wouldn¡¯t want to be able to turn a dominant female like Danica into a gorgeously submissive ve?¡±


    ¡°Well they would be the sane males,¡± said Danica.


    ¡°Stand back, baby,¡± ordered Gio as he removed his t-shirt and then tackled the fly of his jeans. ¡°You heard him. He wants to battle it out.¡±


    She might have tried to calm the atmosphere if she hadn¡¯t known from experience that when two dominant male wolves agreed to battle, it meant the situation was passed help. She had the strange urge to kiss Gio, but knew he didn¡¯t need to look weak right now.


    ¡°To the death,¡± Gio said to Cody in a calm but icy tone. ¡°We battle to the death.¡± Having heard what Cody Coleman  intended for Danica, Gio¡¯s wolf


    wasn¡¯t going to be happy until he¡¯d tore out his throat. There was no way Gio would stop him from going wild.


    Cody, now naked, nodded. ¡°To the death.¡± Suddenly bones were popping and his body was altering and then, mere secondster, he was a


    rge sandy snarling wolf.


    But Gio wasrger and much bigger, Danica soon found out as she watched him shift into a seven foot long and approximately thirty six inch high gorgeous wolf. He looked just as intimidating and overawing in wolf form with his powerful build, his heavily muscled neck, and his robust limbs. His


    hackles were raised, his angry eyes were drilling into Cody, his ears were upright, and his lips were curled back, exposing fangs and gums. The growl


    emitting from him sounded more like a boat motor.


    Abruptly the sandy wolf sprang from his crouched position and rushed forward at the grey wolf,ing up short just to snap his teeth together. The wolf didn¡¯t move a muscle, just stood lookingrge and fearsome, making a clear point that he was the more dominant animal in this situation.


    The sandy wolf reversed slowly only to once again rush forward aggressively and snap at the other.


    Apparently the wolf had then decided that the other had had his chance to back down and he wasn¡¯t going to stand still any longer. Growling,


    he began circling the sandy wolf, who then copied the move so that they were circling each other. Maybe because he was stupid or maybe because he was just suicidal, the sandy wolf growled at Danica. That was when her mate went wild.


    The wolf lunged at the other wolf and they came together in a sh of ws and teeth. As shifters had superior speed and strength, it was like watching a recording in fast-forward motion. There was growling, there was body mming, there was scratching, there was biting, and there were


    side swipes as each wolf fought to pin the other to the ground.


    Danica flinched when Gio¡¯s wolf bit down hard on the other¡¯s hind leg, making him yelp loudly. The yelping faded to whimpering until the wolf yanked hard with his powerful jaws, snapping the sandy wolf¡¯s leg.


    Damn, that had to hurt. When the injured wolf tried scooping himself off the floor, the other wolf mmed into him and knocked him onto his back. Then, in a typical wolf shifter killing move, the wolf shed open his opponent¡¯s midsection with his ws and simultaneously closed his jaws around his throat. With one sharp yank, he¡¯d torn out his challenger¡¯s throat.


    As much as it had seemed like forever before it was over, it couldn¡¯t have taken more than a minute for the wild wolf to have overpowered the


    sandy wolf. Overpowered was a mild word. Hell, the wolf had the other¡¯s lifeless body by the throat, shaking it like a rag doll while growling loudly.


    Several more minutes went by and the wolf continuing to attack the carcass, showing no signs of tiring or calming or any willingness to part


    with it. It was clear that he wasn¡¯ting out of his wild state any time soon.


    ¡°One of us is going to have to do something,¡± said Danica.


    Duda shrugged. ¡°When he gets like this, you just have to leave him to tire himself out.¡±


    Andrew nodded. ¡°At least he hasn¡¯t charged at any of us this time.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s injured, I need to heal him and I can¡¯t while he¡¯s in wolf form.¡± She was going to regret this, she knew she was. ¡°Let me see if I can


    calm him down.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, now hang on a minute,¡± began Duda, palms out to ward her off. ¡°Danica, you can see the state he¡¯s in, right? That¡¯s not Gio. He¡¯s buried


    way down deep, very much aware of what¡¯s going on, but with no way of taking control for as long as his wolf is wild. If you go near him, he¡¯ll see you as a threat and he¡¯ll attack you just as he would anyone else.¡±

 CHAPTER 17

    She rolled her eyes, implying he was being dramatic. In actuality, he was dead on. ¡°He won¡¯t hurt me. I know it¡¯s not Gio, I know his wolf is in control, but his wolf considers me his mate just as Gio does.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s got a point,¡± said Andrew, sighing. ¡°She¡¯s the person he¡¯s least likely to hurt. He usually shows signs of calming by now.¡±


    ¡°His mate was threatened. That¡¯s why he¡¯s like this.¡± Donny gestured at him, as anxious and fidgety as the others. Whenever an Alpha was unstable it leaked out into the pack link.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just stand here.¡± When Duda again blocked her path she growled. ¡°Move out of my way.¡±


    ¡°Danica,e on, I¡¯m Beta he¡¯ll kill me if something happens to you.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m temporarily Alpha female, which means I outrank you, but even if I wasn¡¯t Alpha, I¡¯d still expect you to move the hell out of my way.


    So do it.¡±


    ¡°What if he hurts you? It¡¯ll distress him to know he¡¯s harmed his mate.


    Have you thought about that?¡±


    She huffed impatiently. ¡°He won¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sure about that?¡±


    Of course not. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. Now move.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Finally he did, signalling for the others to give her some space, but without going too far. Very slowly she took a few steps toward the wolf. She


    knew there was no point in calling Gio¡¯s name and appealing for him toe back. The wolf wouldn¡¯t respond to the name, wouldn¡¯t understand the


    words. The only way that Gio could ovee his wolf was if his wolf came down from his wild state. And that wasn¡¯t going to happen until she got him


    away from that carcass. The smell of the blood would only be making him worse.


    As she couldn¡¯t exactly go over there and snatch away his prize, she decided her best bet might be to distract him from it. As an idea formed in her


    mind, she removed her denim jacket and balled it up. Hoping like hell this worked and didn¡¯t just act like a red g to a bull, she gently threw the jacket so that itnded to the side of the carcass. Instantly the wild wolf dived on the jacket as though it was a rabbit or a hare. Picking it up with his jaws, he shook it just like he had the carcass.


    And then he seemed to pause and his growling eased a little as if he recognised the scent on the jacket. Hopefully he recognised it as the scent of


    his mate and not another threat.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she called in a soothing voice. His head whipped around to face her and he snarled while at the same time standing over the carcass and ttening his ears outwardly, warning her away from his prize. There was no logic or rationality in those eyes. ¡°Now that¡¯s not very nice,¡± she said in the same gentling tone. She knew he wouldn¡¯t understand her, that the words would be indistinguishable, but her hope was that he might recognise her voice and find it calming.


    His head extended toward her and his nostrils red, scenting the air.


    He let loose a low whine, and she had the feeling that he acknowledged who she was but wasn¡¯t sure how to calm himself.


    Feeling reassured by him recognising her, she moved another step toward him but then halted; she wanted him toe to her so that he was


    away from the dead wolf. Easier said than done, of course. ¡°Come on, big guy, you don¡¯t want to y with that nasty carcass. If you can hear what¡¯s going on, Gio, then let me just tell you that you¡¯ll be buying me a new jacket. This one¡¯s now covered in foam, fur and blood.¡±


    Chris took a step toward her. ¡°Danica¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she ordered, but the wolf had already seen the male approaching his mate and he wasn¡¯t too pleased about it. With her jacket still


    in his mouth, he began to advance on Chris who very smartly froze.


    She sang. ¡°Hey, remember me.¡±


    The wolf¡¯s gaze darted from her to the carcass to Chris repeatedly.


    Clearly he was torn on whether he wanted to continue ying with his new toy, go see his mate, or attack the male who dared talk to her.


    Knowing she was about to make herself vulnerable to attack but not sure what else to do, Danica squatted and tapped the ground with her fingers.


    ¡°Come here,e on.¡± He took one tentative step toward her, but then nced back at his carcass. ¡°Seriously you don¡¯t want to keep that. Come on.¡± Again she tapped the ground, knowing he could feel the vibrations through it.


    Flicking a disgruntled look at Chris, the wolf slowly took a few steps toward her before halting to whine at the carcass.


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll get you another toy. Get your furry ass over here.¡± Still at a sluggish pace, he covered thosest remaining steps between them and


    dropped the jacket at her feet. ¡°Hey there.¡± The wolf rubbed his cheek along hers and buried his nose behind her ear to inhale her scent. Then he took to happily licking along her jaw. ¡°Ew.¡±


    She now considered it a good thing that the foam and blood from his mouth had transferred to her jacket. Rather the jacket than her face. She winced when she saw that he was injured in several ces. It was nothing fatal or even anything that would cause him much pain, but the healer in her wanted it fixed.


    Allowing the wolf to continue rubbing himself against her, she turned her head toward the mass of wolves that Cody had brought along, all of whom were still waiting. Not even one of them appeared to have moved a muscle. Keeping her tone light so as not to startle the animal, she asked, ¡°So which one of you considers yourself Alpha now, because I¡¯m pretty sure you all had this sorted before you got here?¡±


    They gave her ¡®I¡¯m not sure what you mean¡¯ looks.


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t y dumb. Not one of you looks even the slightest bit bothered that your Alpha is dead. I really don¡¯t care one way or another how


    you feel about it. I just want to know who I should be talking to when I ask if we should be expecting retaliation over this.¡± The challenge was fought


    fairly, but it wouldn¡¯t be the first time that someone who was sour about the loss decided to take revenge.


    The three males at the front of the mass nced at each other and then the one in the center stepped forward, identifying himself as the Alpha.


    ¡°There¡¯ll be no retaliation. We didn¡¯t agree with himing here to try to separate mates, but he was set on having you.¡±


    ¡°And you were following orders. Nothing wrong with that, just like there¡¯s nothing wrong with you not being prepared to die for an ill cause.¡±


    The wolf, apparently not liking that he didn¡¯t have her full attention, nipped her chin. She rubbed her cheek against his reassuringly and then turned back to the new Alpha. ¡°Now that Cody¡¯s gone and there¡¯s no animosity between the packs, I don¡¯t see a reason why there can¡¯t be an alliance.¡±


    The new Alpha¡¯s expression was a mixture of shock and eagerness.


    ¡°An alliance would be eptable,¡± he said coolly, seemingly trying to hide his excitement and look theposed Alpha.


    ¡°We can¡¯t exactly discuss it properly now for obvious reasons,¡± she said, flicking a look at the Alpha male of her pack who was still very much in


    wolf form. ¡°We¡¯ll call it a temporary verbal contract, one that will expire in thirty days if you don¡¯t contact us toy out the details with Gio.¡±


    Looking apprehensively at the grey wolf, the Alpha said, ¡°You¡¯ll be there too, right?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let him eat you. Once we¡¯re inside, you can take Cody¡¯s body.¡± At the Alpha¡¯s surprised look, she said, ¡°We¡¯re not trophy killers here.¡± His nodmunicated respect.


    With that, she slowly stood and began to walk toward the caves, signalling for the rest of the pack to keep a fair distance away so that Gio didn¡¯t feel threatened and turn wild again. She didn¡¯t have to encourage him to follow her. He remained at her side, halfpanion half-guard the entire time.


    Once they had passed through the main entrance of Ls, she went to the living area and sat down on therge rug. The wolf sat between her legs, closing his eyes as she ran her fingers through his fur.


    ¡°Gio, I need you toe back now or I can¡¯t heal you. I don¡¯t want to hear any macho shit about Alphas not needing healing. If you expect to have


    sex ever again, you won¡¯t fight me on this.¡±


    It was something like thirty five secondster when the change began and suddenly Gio was back in his human form. Instantly he flopped to his back, breathing hard.


    ¡°Someone get him a bottle of water,¡± she called out as the living area filled with people.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± he wheezed.


    ¡°Sure you are¡± His wounds actually weren¡¯t that bad, but they were ugly and would most likely scar if she didn¡¯t heal them.


    Lindy appeared, growling. ¡°Now if you¡¯d have just handed her over, Gio, you¡¯d be fine.¡±


    ¡°Not now, Wicked Witch of the East,¡± groused Danica.


    ¡°Here.¡± Michey ced a bottle of water beside Danica.


    She offered Giothe bottle but he shook his head. ¡°Hey, you still have some blood on your mouth and I¡¯m not going near said mouth to heal you until you¡¯ve washed your face at the very least.¡±

 CHAPTER 18

    ¡°Why would you need to go near his mouth to heal him?¡± asked Jeremy in that curious tone of his.


    Turning to see that Andrew was the one standing closest to the window, she asked, ¡°Andrew, would you open that for me?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°So I can gaze lovingly at the sun. Will you just open it?¡±


    Grunting, he did as she asked while Gio finally drank down some water and wiped his face.


    ¡°Now be still.¡± She was pretty sure he only did it out of curiosity. Danica ced her hand on his forehead and watched as several patches of his skin suddenly illuminated where there were scratches and bites. She heard a few gasps, a ¡®Whoa¡¯ and a ¡®Holy shit¡¯ing from behind her, but ignored them.


    Leaning down, she ced her mouth at Gio¡¯s and inhaled deeply, taking the foulness from him and then blowing it out of her mouth through the window. She repeated the move over and over until, finally, thest luminous patch faded. ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯re done.¡± With that, she allowed herself to flop backwards onto her back much as Gio had five minutes ago. She almostughed as she opened her eyes to see several faces all peering down at her. Then suddenly she was snatched from the rug and was being cradled against Gio¡¯s chest.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that, you look worse than I did.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, you ungrateful asshole. I just need some water and maybe some sort of sugary food.¡±


    ¡°You got it,¡± said Michey as she dashed out of the room.


    ¡°You do know that was awesome, right?¡± Duda¡¯s grin was almost as wide as Donny¡¯s clown grin.


    ¡°More unnatural,¡± muttered Lindy.


    ¡°Did you just use the word awesome?¡± Ray asked Duda, chuckling.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Come on, she totally calmed a wild wolf and at the same time negotiated an alliance before then doing some weird healing stuff. That¡¯s some seriously cool shit.¡±


    Gio strangely felt a twinge of pride for her, though he still wanted to spank her ass for going near his wolf while he was wild. ¡°My wolf could have hurt you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. me Duda, he told me I should go for it.¡±


    Duda spluttered. ¡°That¡¯s not ¨C I didn¡¯t ¨C She -¡±


    ¡°You should see your face.¡± Her chuckle was interrupted by a cough. Her throat always felt a little hoarse after she used her healing gift. At that moment Michey handed her a bottle of water and an energy bar. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Never again are you allowed to use that gift,¡± stated Gio firmly, not liking how pale she was. His wolf wasn¡¯t happy about it either.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a goof. Of course I¡¯m going to use it. I wouldn¡¯t be much of a healer if I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You look like a corpse.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Just plonk me on that monstrosity of a sofa and let me have a twenty minute nap and I¡¯ll be just as lively as I was before.¡± She wouldn¡¯t have even needed the nap if Gio hadn¡¯t had so many bruises and wounds. ¡°Just a little power nap and I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Gio couldn¡¯t help smiling at the way she curled up on the bulky sofa in a position that was sofy for her five minutester. She looked even tinier than usual, but still not fragile. There was too much steel in her for that.


    ¡°Hudson  just called,¡± Chris informed him. ¡°They¡¯ve gone.¡±


    Gio nodded and then watched in surprise as some of his pack gathered around her. Duda, Michey and Jeremy sat on her left while Lucy , Donny and


    Richard sat on her right. Andrew, Ray and Chris then all sat on the floor with the back of their heads resting against her legs. It was a gesture of support,fort and eptance as well as an indication that they intended to guard her as she slept. She had earned the respect of each of them in the short time that she had been here.


    A strange pang struck his chest , unfamiliar and unnerving. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. I¡¯ll be back in a few minutes.¡± They nodded but were focused on Danica who had gone out like a light. He and his wolf wereforted by the knowledge that they would stay with her while Gio removed the streaks of blood and the lingering scent of the dead wolf from his body. The dead wolf who was now no longer a threat to his mate or their mating.


    It was as Gio was showering that he thought back to how he had felt when, forced to be nothing but an observer, he saw Danica tentatively trying to


    gain his wolf¡¯s attention. The anger, the frustration and the anxiety rushed back. There had been something else in that cocktail of emotions. Fear. Gio had actually felt fear.


    It wasn¡¯t that he hadn¡¯t experienced that emotion before. Of course he had. Having an underdeveloped conscience and an explosive temper didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t know fear. What was bothering him right now was that he had


    felt such fear for Danica, had feared she would be seriously hurt and feared she would be taken from him just like that  and at his own hands. He couldn¡¯t even say it was his wolf¡¯s fear. His wolf had been going through his own shit right then. No, that had been all Gio.


    It had to have been a direct consequence of the natural crazy possessiveness and crazy protectiveness that came with mating. It was obviously age old instincts pushing to the forefront, taking over. Gio understood that the mating would be temporary, but his instincts to protect his mate were obviously going to override his thoughts. Obviously. Just like his instinct to mark his mate and make her submit to him had overridden his true indifference to those things.


    Yeah, that was all it was, all it could be. Obviously. That didn¡¯t improve his mood any because there was another issue that was bothering him. Danica shouldn¡¯t have been able to calm his wolf. When a wolf shifter went into wild mode they behaved a lot like a rabid animal. They attacked senselessly, they felt no emotional attachments, they lost all sense of reason and logic. And yet her scent and voice had reached his wolf even through that fog.


    Gio had felt how quickly his wolf had recognised her as his mate, how quickly he had switched from wanting to kill to wanting to protect. The only reason his wolf had been reluctant to leave the carcass was because he still hadn¡¯t been stable enough to understand that the sandy wolf was dead and no longer a danger to Danica. If his wolf was this attached to Danica now, what would he be like in three months? What would happen when she left? Gio¡¯s wolf growled his objection, confirming Gio¡¯s suspicion that his eventual separation from her could be more problematic and ufortable than he had anticipated even


    though they hadn¡¯t imprinted. Unlike with true mates, a rtionship between imprinted mates could wither over time. For an unhappy imprinted couple it wasn¡¯t simple for them to shake hands and go their separate ways because of the metaphysical bond that existed between them. The pain of that kind of separation was on a


    psychic level just as much as a physical one.


    For most wolves, it meant constant migraines, a lingering sense of emptiness, and slipping in and out of depressive states for a few years, if not


    longer. Some wolves even retreated within their human halfpletely, unable to function without their mate. The worst case scenario for any wolf


    separated from their mate was that they turned rogue, remaining in wolf form and turningpletely wild, attacking anyone they came into contact with like his mother had.


    After had being  banished, his mom who had been a submissive wolf had for the first time in her life rebelled against his dad¡¯s authority.


    When he refused to reconsider his banishment, she had left with Gio and the others, believing that she would cope with the separation because her bond with his father had been through imprinting as opposed to them being true mates. However the separation had proven too difficult for her, most likely because she had been a submissive wolf. Within six months she had turned rogue¡­and Gio had been the one to kill her.


    There was no way that he was prepared to go through something like that again. As long as he and Danica didn¡¯t imprint, there was no risk of either of them suffering any of those effects when they separated, but it was obvious that his wolf was already bing attached to her. And that


    spooked the hell out of Gio. So instead of going straight to Danica to check on her like he wanted to, he shut himself in his office. Another thing that spooked him was the knowledge that if she hadn¡¯t


    been with him in that Mediation meeting, if she hadn¡¯t kept him calm with her touch, he would have most definitely lost it and went for Kevin¡¯s throat. Never had he been able to truly rely on another person. Never had there been someone for him to draw strength from. But that had been okay because he hadn¡¯t wanted to need anyone. He hadn¡¯t been the type of kid who craved physical affection which had been a damn good thing since he¡¯d never gotten it. He had always prided himself on not having that weakness of needing anyone or anything. Having a mate, having a connection that came with mating, was fucking with that. Not that he believed for even one minute that the mating connection could override the way he functioned and had always


    functioned, but he didn¡¯t have any interest in encouraging the cravings for his mate by feeding them. Maybe if he distanced himself from her, spent little time with her, didn¡¯t touch her, it would ease the matter and ease his wolf¡¯s attachment to


    her. He needed to ignore these urges; he had to be with her, to touch her, to mark her entire body, to ensure his scent was all over her.

 CHAPTER 19

    Those urges had nothing to do with Danica as a person and everything to do with the fact that she was who he had mated. If she had been someone else, things would still have been the same.


    Would they really though? a voice in his head questioned, a part of him who thought he was talking out of his ass.


    Of course it would. That wasn¡¯t to say that he didn¡¯t like Danica. He did.


    And he respected her which said a lot. And yeah, okay, there was that weird thing between them, that primal hunger. And she made himugh, and she was refreshing because she wasn¡¯t afraid of him or to speak her mind in front of him, and she;


    Dammit, no! No, the attraction was mostly just due to their mating. It was just his instincts driving him, not his regard for Danica. Gio wasn¡¯t at the mercy of those instincts or his wolf. He had a mind of his own and that mind was going to rule how he behaved from here on out.


    Unless the situation required him to touch her, like when they were posing as mates, he would resist doing so. Probably be best not to have sex with her again given that he could never resist the urge to mark her whenever he was inside her, but he couldn¡¯t guarantee that sex wouldn¡¯t happen because if she made advances he very much doubted he¡¯d be able to ignore them.


    To satisfy his overprotectiveness he would allocate her a bodyguard. No his wolf wouldn¡¯t like her spendingrge amounts of time with another


    male, but his wolf would just have to deal with it because Gio was going to get a handle on this situation and he was going to start now.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Danica  jerked awake at the sound ofughing. Three heads that had been leaning against her legs swerved around.


    ¡°Oh sorry,¡± said Chris, ¡°it¡¯s just that this episode of Friends is hrious.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all hrious,¡± she mumbled as she sat upright. Andrew and Chris each scooted over a little so that she had room to stretch her legs out.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± asked a voice to her right as a finger trailed down her cheek.


    She looked up to see Michey. ¡°Fine, thanks.¡± It was only then that she realized that they were all gathered around her. She understood what this meant. Not only had they been offering herfort, they epted her as a member of the pack. Temporary member of the pack, she reminded herself.


    ¡°You look better,¡± said Chris.


    ¡°How long was I out?¡± she asked no one in particr as she stretched her arms which were a little stiff from her position.


    ¡°About an hour,¡± replied Dante.


    ¡°You should have woken me, I didn¡¯t need to sleep that long.¡±


    Chris, who was rubbing his jaw against her knee, asked, ¡°Do you always need sleep after you use your gift?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I was just tired because Gio had so many injuries, even though they weren¡¯t serious and that bad . Where is he anyway?¡±


    Duda suddenly seemed a little ufortable. ¡°He went to have a shower and um¡­he¡¯s probably making some calls or something in his


    office.¡±


    In other words, he hadn¡¯t reappeared to check on her. Why should he though?


    ¡°You need anything?¡± asked Michey. ¡°Coffee or something?¡±


    Danica waved her hand. ¡°I can get it, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± they all said in unison before Michey rushed from the room.


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not an invalid.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± agreed Lucy, ¡°but you¡¯re our Alpha female which means we look out for you.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you know it¡¯s only temporary, you don¡¯t need to take things so far.¡±


    ¡°Then let us just do it temporarily.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else you want?¡± asked Michey as she handed her a huge mug of coffee.


    Danica took the mug gratefully and sipped from it. ¡°Actually, I was wondering if any of you have aputer I could use once I¡¯ve had a shower.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± said Jeremy. ¡°It¡¯s in my room.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing that they were all ready to object to her moving just yet, she held up her hand. ¡°I said I¡¯m fine. As much as I appreciate the


    concern, I¡¯m going to need you all to stop fussing.¡± Wearing petnt expressions, they gave her space to rise and leave. A shower and a change of clothester she was in Jeremy¡¯s bedroom. It


    was smaller than Gio¡¯s and had quite a geeky feel to it. He led her to hisputer corner and introduced her to his amazingly hi tech contraption. He had almost every program she could think of, thousands of games, ess to all


    kinds of confidential shit and a mind that worked just as fast as that piece of technology. She didn¡¯t know whether to be impressed or freaked out. ¡°So, in short, you¡¯re a hacker. I can just about manage e-mailing.¡±


    ¡°Hacking¡¯s not as hard as you might think. It¡¯s pretty much like sex; you want to get in and out leaving little trace of you ever having been there.


    So, what do you need?¡±


    ¡°I just need ess to the inte. I¡¯ve probably been disconnected from my old pack web so I¡¯ll need to join yours.¡±


    ¡°Your what?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a pack web?¡± Danica was surprised considering he seemed to have everything else.


    He shook his head. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s kind of like a socialwork but it¡¯s exclusive to whoever is in your pack.¡± ¡°A little like Facebook and Twitter.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, only it¡¯s not so much to encourage social interaction as it is to showcase your pack. Let me show you.¡±


    After typing in the http address, Danica took them to the homepage of USA Pack Webs. Entering her name and password, she was then immediately


    transferred to a visual of what was termed the Dark Moon pack web; her old pack.


    It was a little like looking at an image of the sr system, only instead of the sun being in the center it was a photo of the Alpha, her dad. And instead ofs being dotted around the eight surrounding circles of the sun, individual photos of each pack member were randomly dotted around the circles. Her own photo was set aside as if free floating in space. Oh yeah she¡¯d been disconnected alright.


    ¡°Because we¡¯re not part of the pack, we don¡¯t have ess to this web which means we can¡¯t see the public blog and add to it, but watch this.¡±


    Using the mouse, she moved the arrow to point on one of the photos and instantly the photo erged and a little personal information on that pack


    member came up; it was like looking at a baseball card, only it was referred to as an information card.


    Jeremy read it aloud. ¡°Full Name: Mingan Ashina. Gender: Female.


    Age: Twenty one. Status: Unmated. Rank: Subordinate. Challenges: Six


    Challenges Won: Four.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all you can know unless you were to gain permission from the Alpha to browse through the pack web.¡± He turned to look at her. ¡°Every pack has one?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Not every pack. They¡¯re a good thing to have, because not only is it a good way for all pack members to socially interact no


    matter where they are, but it means that other packs can get a vague idea of how powerful yours is. Look at this.¡± Danica pointed the cursor at  and


    instantly a photo popped up with a small amount of personal information underneath.


    Again Jeremy read it aloud. ¡°Full Name: Carrick Hart. Gender: Male. . Status: Mate Deceased. Rank: Pack Alpha. Challenges: Twelve. Challenges Won: Twelve. Number of Alliances: Forty six. Total Number of Wolves: Thirty two.¡± He seemed lost in thought for a moment before turning his attention back to Danica. ¡°So we could create our own web?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°Easy. You just need to sign up first to USA Pack Webs.


    You know, this would be a good way to form alliances. Other Alphas now have a way of getting in touch with Gio without risking turning up only to


    get their head chewed off.¡±


    ¡°How could they contact him?¡±


    ¡°See the option on the top right of the information card, Send Message. The same option is on everybody¡¯s information card. Speaking of which, let me just check to see if I have any.¡± She double-clicked on her own card and saw a notice that she had forty nine messages.


    ¡°Forty nine ?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll just be people wanting to know if the mating¡¯s real and all that.


    All I¡¯m interested in is whether Suza and Rick have been in touch.¡± It turned out that they had both been in touch. Again they both expressed


    concerned about her safety and tried convincing her that she was wrong about Gio being her true mate, asking to meet up with her so they could all talk. ¡°I think that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m going to have to do.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Meet up with them. They¡¯re not buying that the mating is real. If they hear it from my mouth, if I can convince them that I¡¯m fine and Gio doesn¡¯t


    intend to hurt me, then maybe they¡¯ll ept it. They¡¯re both tenacious bastards, they won¡¯t let this go.¡±


    Jeremy sighed. ¡°I doubt Gio will let you leave the property.¡±


    Let her leave? Snort. She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms.


    ¡°Actually I was thinking that if they see me here in this setting it might be more believable for them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably right there. Okay, you got time to help me with this before you go ask Gio?¡±


    ¡°Sure¡±

 CHAPTER 20

    Gio looked up from an old photograph of his dead mother when he heard the knock on his office door. ¡°Come in.¡± As he expected, Chris strolled


    inside. He had also anticipated Duda tagging along since he was a nosy bastard. Both wolves took the seats in front of Gio¡¯s thick desk. Shoving


    the photo underneath the slip of papers beside it, he focused his attention on Chris.


    ¡°I¡¯m electing you as Danica¡¯s personal bodyguard.¡± The Head Enforcer nodded agreeably, which sort of stunned Gio. ¡°You know what this means, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll need to pull you away from your usual duties because your main priority will be Danica¡¯s safety.¡±


    ¡°Someone else will be Head Enforcer, I know,¡± said Chris with a nod.


    ¡°I was sort of expecting a protest.¡±


    Chris shrugged. ¡°I considered it an honor when I was made Head Enforcer and I enjoy that position, but it will be just as much an honor to be my Alpha female¡¯s bodyguard. Besides, Danica¡¯s interesting to be around,¡± he  added with a smile.


    Gio arched his brow. ¡°I hope that¡¯s all you find her to be.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it going to be a bad idea for you to have someone else looking out for her?¡± Duda asked rhetorically.


    ¡°Why would it be?¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Because it¡¯s your job as her mate to be her protector and it willtle your protective instincts, not to mention your wolf if you ignore


    that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not ignoring it. I¡¯m assigning someone to watch over her which means I¡¯m addressing the issue of her safety. Protective instinct covered.¡±


    Gio had kept his tone cool, but the way Duda narrowed his eyes told him that he was seeing more than Gio wanted him to.


    ¡°Speaking of Danica, you might want toe see what her and Jeremy set up.¡±


    ¡°Set up?¡±


    ¡°On theputer. Come see.¡±


    Minutester many of the pack were crowded into Jeremy¡¯s bedroom as he showed them their pack web and exined everything about how it worked and how it would benefit the pack. He then showed the others how to use it and introduced them to the public blog for their pack.


    ¡°Well, what do you think?¡± asked Jeremy.


    ¡°This was your idea?¡± Gio asked Danica, impressed.


    ¡°And Jeremy¡¯s. It was a joint project.¡±


    ¡°I had no idea other packs had this kind of stuff,¡± said Duda, sounding a little awed. ¡°How long ago did your dad set his web up?¡±


    Danica  jiggled her head as she thought about it. ¡°Four years ago, maybe?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good,¡± said Gio, ¡°really good.¡±


    Chris draped an arm over her shoulders. ¡°Guess who¡¯s been assigned to you as your bodyguard?¡±


    ¡°I need a bodyguard?¡±


    ¡°No, but most Alphas have them. In reality, bodyguards are more like hovering ves.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re happy to be a hovering ve?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to be your hovering ve.¡±


    At this moment Gio was very much regretting having made Chris her bodyguard. He didn¡¯t like Chris¡¯ flirtatiousness, didn¡¯t like how easily Danica


    had taken to the other male¡¯s touch. He wanted to grab Danica and pull her to him, wanted to lick over his mark to remind her she was imed. imed by Gio.


    Jeremy¡¯s voice broke into his thoughts. ¡°I checked to see if Kevin had set one up, but he hasn¡¯t. Shame. We could have gotten an idea of who has


    what position within the pack nowadays.¡±


    ¡°Oh by the way,¡± began Danica as she went to stand directly in front of  Gio. ¡°Remember the female who kept trying to get me to walk away from you while we were in the club?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied, hiding how content he was that she was away from Chris. It was a struggle not to touch her, but he wouldn¡¯t let those instincts rule


    him. ¡°Her name¡¯s Suza, she¡¯s my best friend. Well, her and Rick.¡±


    ¡°Rick?¡±


    Rolling her eyes at the amount of jealousy coating that one word, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m going to need to meet up with them. They¡¯re not buying that


    this mating¡¯s real, they need to hear it from me, face to face.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll meet up with them somewhere public¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, you can¡¯t be there when we talk.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean I can¡¯t be there?¡± He had meant to sound affronted but it came out petnt.


    ¡°Not the whole time anyway. They¡¯re worried about me, they think you might be hurting me or that you¡¯re forcing me to stay. It¡¯s why they¡¯re so


    desperate to speak to me alone. I want to see if I can get them toe here, to see that I¡¯m alive and fine and that you and I are ¡®happily¡¯ mated.¡±


    He folded his arms across his chest to stop himself from reaching out to her. ¡°Why exactly weren¡¯t they so worried when Cody forced his im on you?¡±


    ¡°That was different. Unlike you, Cody wrapped his meanness up in charm and managed to fool a lot of people with it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying I have no charm?¡±


    She gave him a bright, mocking smile. ¡°Why of course you have charm, you practically ooze it. Ego better now?¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Call them, invite them toe here sometime this week.¡±


    ¡°The weekend would be better because they work through the week.


    I¡¯m thinking about Saturday morning.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    The way he so abruptly left the room had Danica frowning. It was as though the guy was desperate to get away from her or something. It wasn¡¯t untilter that evening when she found herself lying in bed very alone that she began to think about it a little more. Gio had been different with her since the confrontation with Cody that morning. Or, more urately, he had been indifferent. There had been. no more heated looks, no more whispered promises, no more licking the marks on her neck, no more taking the odd moment to inhale her scent. But it wasn¡¯t just that. He was barely speaking to her. And now here she was alone because he had ¡®things to do¡¯ in his office.


    Well it seemed like the very sexual male from the past two days had retreated, or had retreated from her at least. It urred to her then that maybe it had only been his wolf¡¯s insecurity in the mating that had been behind his fevered urge to be inside her and mark her. Maybe now that the threat of


    Cody was gone and his wolf was more settled Gio would no longer have that urge. Hell, maybe without the mating urges he would never have wanted her at all. The idea of that shouldn¡¯t have sparked a dull ache in her chest and it shouldn¡¯t have made her have the sudden desire to cuddle herself. Yet it did.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    But what had she expected? Gio was a big guy with a lot of pride and probably didn¡¯t have a thing for tiny females who would challenge his dominance. Her body wasn¡¯t exactly model material and then there was the fact that she wastent. He acted as though it didn¡¯t bother him, but it was likely that in truth he saw thetency as a weakness and it made her very unattractive to him. A noise prated her thoughts and she realized that someone had entered the room. The scent flowed over her, stroking her senses and stirring her wolf who was anxious for some contact with her mate. But Danica hadn¡¯t begged for scraps from her dad¡¯s table and she wouldn¡¯t be begging for scraps from Gio¡¯s table either. So she remained on her side facing the wall, faking sleep, ignoring her wolf¡¯s growling protests.


    Gio took one look at Danica¡¯s still form and sighed in relief. She was asleep. He hadn¡¯t woken her. He had been fighting his wolf he¡¯d been fighting himself  for hours on the subject of going to Danica of getting insome physical contact, social or sexual. He was literally starving for it. Had he known that mating would be this bad with all its urges, instincts, and needs, he probably wouldn¡¯t have mated at all. After quietly using the bathroom and stripping down to his boxers, he slipped beneath the covers and resisted the desire to snuggle into her. Instead, he rolled to his side so that his back was to hers and there was enough space between them in therge bed to fit another person. His wolf growled at that idea, but Gio ignored him and ignored his instincts. And he closed his eyes,pletely obvious to the fact that the eyes of the women behind him had opened and had a haunted look in them at the realization that she was now of no interest to a wolf she was bound to.

 CHAPTER 21

    Just as she had each morning over the past week, Danica was  on the kitchen counter sipping her coffee while engaged in a staring contest with dear old Lindy. It was practically ritualistic for them to partake in a battle of wills whenever they were in the same room. Each and every time, Danica would leave the room smiling while Lindy was purple in the face and. growling. Once Lindy had realized that she wasn¡¯t going to scare Danica off,


    she had taken to simply insulting her and generally being difficult. In truth, Danica found the whole thing just as entertaining as everyone else did. As usual, they were all eating quietly as they waited for the verbal spar to begin.


    ¡°What are you looking at, hussy?¡± Lindy finally spat.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t figured that out yet.¡±


    Huffing, Lindy drank down more of her green herbal tea. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not gettingfortable, you won¡¯t be here for much longer.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ve said. Repeatedly.¡±


    ¡°You might have some of the others fooled, but I see you for what you are.¡±


    ¡°Is that right?¡±


    ¡°I warned my boys all about females like you.¡±


    ¡°Ohe on, your imagination was never this good.¡± Hand over her heart, she said with fake misery, ¡°My daughter is probably turning in her grave now. You¡¯ve got tattoos for God¡¯s sake!¡± AOriginal from N?velDrama.Org.


    cruel smirk suddenly curved her lips. ¡°I suppose I shouldn¡¯t have expected much better, what with your wolf basically being disabled. What does it feel like to betent? To know your wolf will forever be trapped?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. What does it feel like to be so old that your birth certificate is in Roman numerals?¡± The smirk quickly fell from the crone¡¯s face and Danica smiled.


    Entering the kitchen, Gio wasn¡¯t surprised to find his mate and grandmother ring at each other. Neither even spared him a nce. Given that Danica  seemed cheery while Lindy looked like she was chewing a wasp, Gio could guess who was on top of the situation. His grandmother was


    doing her best to intimidate Danica, however his little mate was holding her own, making it clear that she didn¡¯t take any shit from anyone, especially one who was ¡®old and senile¡¯.


    His wolf didn¡¯t like that Danica¡¯s attention hadn¡¯t immediately shot to him and, before Gio knew it, he¡¯d yanked gently on her hair to make her look at him. Restraining himself from nipping her lower lip, he simply gave her a nod. A growl of approval built in his chest as he saw that she was wearing a ck tight fitting t-shirt that showed off some of his marks that were fading, he then noticed. His wolf growled angrily inside his head.


    ¡°Morning son,e sit down and get something to eat.¡± Lindy¡¯s voice was now sugary-sweet.


    ¡°How long before your friends get here?¡± he asked Danica as he took his seat.


    ¡°They should be here any minute now. Remember what you promised.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you some time to talk with them alone,¡± he assured her, though it wouldtle his wolf to know there was a strange male wolf around


    her. He told himself it wouldn¡¯t bother Gio the man so much, and if his wolf could have snorted, he would have. ¡°At some point I¡¯lle over there so we can act the mated couple, totally devoted to one another andpletely smitten and all that.¡±


    Again Danica was struck by the feeling of how unfair it was that she would never have that, especially that she would never have it with Zan. And now here she was again about tomit the ultimate sphemy and im that the one person created for her had never been her true mate at all. God, this sucked big time.


    At least she and Gio were exchanging a few words. asionally he wouldn¡¯t speak to her at all. Or there were the times when she would enter a room and he would immediately leave it. He spent most of his time cooped up in his office. She knew he had to keep an eye on his investments, he actually had a pretty good head for business but surely he didn¡¯t need to spend that much time in there. Making the whole thing even more annoying was that Theresa had picked up on the huge divide between them and tried clinging onto him as much as she could  just as she was doing right now at the table. The only thing preventing Danica from reacting was that Gio was growling, warning the female away from him. Still, it pissed her off to no end, but damn if she would let either of them know that.


    ¡°Morning,¡± drawled Chris as he strolled into the room. He y-punched her shoulder before joining the others at the table.


    ¡°Ass,¡± she snapped, smiling.


    Gio knew he shouldn¡¯t have the urge to growl at his ex-Head Enforcer.


    It was just a y punch; it wasn¡¯t sexual, it hadn¡¯t hurt her, and it had only been the briefest touch. But Gio was honestly considering stabbing the wolf with his fork. It might not have annoyed him so much if Chris wasn¡¯t always touching her. The guy had taken his role as ¡®bodyguard¡¯ a little too literally. Gio couldn¡¯t understand how he hadn¡¯t noticed before the way Chris looked at her. Mixed in with admiration and respect was a deep longing. And Gio didn¡¯t like it one bit. His wolf was urging him to take a swipe at his enforcer and warn him off. Perversely, Gio the man liked that others wanted what was his, and that gave him strength against his wolf¡¯s drive to separate her from the other male. Also, Gio knew that no matter how much Chris might want Danica,  he would never encroach;  he was too good a guy for that. Nheless, his wolf wasn¡¯t particrly interested in whether or not Chris was a good guy, he didn¡¯t


    want him around Danica so much. Gio inhaled deeply, reminding himself that he was in control not his wolf, not those primal instincts. The smile on Duda¡¯s face said he knew what inner struggle Gio had been going through. The ringing of his cell phone distracted him from thoughts of flicking scrambled egg at his Beta. ¡°That was Max,¡± he announced on ending the call. ¡°They¡¯re here. He just let them through the gate. Should only be a minute before their car pulls up outside.¡±


    Danica hopped down from the counter and stretched. ¡°Time for Scene One: The Alpha Pair¡¯s Wee. Make it good, Gio. These guys won¡¯t be easy to convince.¡±


    ¡°I noticed that at the club.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t be trying to separate the two of you like they did that night,¡± stated Duda.


    Hearing the fierceness in his tone and watching the way his bodynguage became confrontational, Danica pointed hard at him. ¡°You are not going to spend the next few hours trying to intimidate them. They¡¯re already scared half to death by Gio.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to tell me they won¡¯t try to convince you to leave with them?¡±


    ¡°Of course they will.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope our luck stretches that far,¡± muttered Theresa. Cindy and Max chuckled. Everyone else ignored them.


    ¡°They won¡¯t dare ask you to leave if a few of us are sitting with you,¡± said Duda.


    Danica shook her head. ¡°Not a chance, You all stay the hell away and give us some privacy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll only be until Gioes over.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not having any of you hovering around us like parental supervisors. Not even Chris ,  Chris frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m your bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not a threat to me.¡± As all three males opened their mouths to say something she held up her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. Now let¡¯s do


    this.¡±


    Seeing the resolve in her expression, Gio sighed and took her soft hand in hisrge one as they walked together to the main door.


    Donny was holding it open, watching with his usual grin as their visitors hesitantly exited the car and, with a slow nervous stride, made their way up


    the stairs.


    Gio locked his arms around Danica¡¯s waist, keeping her back against his chest, and allowed himself the luxury of burying his face in her neck to drown in that scent that could so easily make his cock hard. He shouldn¡¯t have been surprised when he woke up that morning and found himself curled around her with his face nestled in the crook of her neck, takingfort in the exotic smell of his mate as he slept. At some point in his sleep he had covered that huge space between them and fed the hunger that he had ignored for the past week. Then he had snuck out of bed before she realized. Had she not been such a deep sleeper, he would never have gotten away with it. As Suza and Rick finally came to stand in front of them, shuffling from foot to foot andpletely avoiding eye contact with Gio, Danica had to refrain from groaning. She knew he had an intimidating presence, but she didn¡¯t think he was that bad. Okay, maybe he was. ¡°Thanks foring.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been weird not seeing you every day,¡± said Suza.


    Danica discreetly pinched Gio¡¯s arm, urging him to do his part. Flinching a little, he said, ¡°Wee.  have a few things to do, but Danica will take you down to theke, won¡¯t you, baby?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±

 CHAPTER 22

    Four days ago Lindy hade to himining that Danica had taken their deckchairs and barbeque from storage and set them up near the


    ke as an area where she could go and rx. A few minutester Danica was sitting by theke at the table trying her best not tough at the way Suza and Rick were ncing around nervously as if they were expecting Gio to jump out and pounce on them.


    ¡°They¡¯re all very protective,¡± noted Rick, referring to the pack. And wasn¡¯t that an understatement. It wasughable the way the males were hanging around trying to look as though they weren¡¯t in fact there to keep an eye on her and ensure she wasn¡¯t kidnapped. Like that would ever happen. Donny and Andrew werezing in theke as if it wasn¡¯t a chilly day, Chris sat against a nearby tree reading a book that was upside down, and Duda


    and Hudson were cleaning a barbeque that was already spick and span. All were asionally sneaking covert looks at Danica and her friends, or at least they thought they were being subtle anyway. Apparently she should have better defined ¡®the hell away¡¯ because they didn¡¯t appear to have gotten the idea.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she agreed.


    ¡°Which means you must have proven your worth as an Alpha Female, so I¡¯m guessing that tale about you calming a wild Gio was true.¡±


    The emphasis on the word ¡®wild¡¯  irritated Danica. ¡°He hasn¡¯t hurt me and he¡¯s not going to.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Danica, have you seen yourself in a mirror? You¡¯re covered in marks.¡±


    Most of which were fading, thankfully. ¡°Someone that possessive isn¡¯t bnced.¡±


    ¡°I know Gio¡¯s a few fries short of a happy meal,  but it doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯ll hurt me.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure of that? His wolf goes wild for God¡¯s sake.¡±


    ¡°But even being wild he doesn¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    ¡°And you expect us to believe that¡¯s because he¡¯s your true mate, right?¡± Rick snickered. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can believe that.¡±


    Suza appealed to her with a look. ¡°Danica, we watched you, at nine years old, slip into a state of depression. It was like being around a zombie.


    You existed but you didn¡¯t live. It was all just mechanical. And we understood why you had just lost the other half of your soul. It was a shock that you even survived it, no one thought you would. I mean, I know you two hadn¡¯t mated but you had still formed a connection and you were so young.¡±


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t urred to you that maybe the reason I lived was because that connection  solid and true though it was just wasn¡¯t the connection between true mates? That maybe the reason I reacted so badly was because I¡¯d just lost my best friend and my mom in the same ident?¡±


    Rick lowered his voice as he spoke. ¡°Look, if your dad¡¯s right and you did this to get away from Cody¡­well he¡¯s dead now. You don¡¯t have to keep this up. God, you could havee to me, I¡¯d have mated you. I still will if it¡¯s what you want.¡±


    Danica smiled. ¡°Rick, that¡¯s sweet and all, but do you really think I¡¯d ask you to enter a permanent mating with someone you thought of as nothing


    but a friend ¨C an annoying friend at that ¨C ending any chance of you having a life with your true mate?¡±


    He shrugged, suddenly seeming ufortable. His voice was even quieter when he spoke again. ¡°Who says I see you as nothing but a friend?


    Maybe I just hadn¡¯t acted on what I felt because it would have felt like I was betraying Zan.¡±


    Danica rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah. Right.¡±


    ¡°So you hadn¡¯t wanted to mate with Cody?¡± asked Suza.


    ¡°Not particrly, no. I thought he was kind of vain and overly flirtatious ¨C you know how stuff like that annoys me. I don¡¯t know how my dad or anyone else can im that me mating with Gio ¨C someone who had been a stranger to me before that day  has anything to do with that. Maybe if I had the power of mind control and could hypnotise him to believe and im that I was his true mate, then yeah sure.¡±


    ¡°Obviously you guys believe you¡¯re true mates, I saw for myself what happened,¡± said Suza. ¡°But isn¡¯t it possible that it was just a really strong case of lust at first sight? ¡®Cause, you know, I¡¯ve been there ¨C it¡¯s powerful.¡±


    A loud, sharp, metallic ¡®tock¡¯ sound had Danica looking up. She smiled at her rtively new friend who was perched on a branch high in the tree to


    she left. ¡°Hey, big guy. Come on down here.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, Danica please don¡¯t,¡± whined Suza. But it was toote. The huge glossy ck raven was already on the table.


    Caleb frowned. ¡°What is it with you and birds? Why do they always like you?¡±


    Danica shrugged one shoulder. ¡°Isn¡¯t he gorgeous?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like crows,¡± whined Suza, leaning back in her seat.


    ¡°It¡¯s a raven.¡±


    ¡°Well then I don¡¯t like ravens.¡±


    ¡°How can you not like them? They¡¯re so intelligent and beautiful. Look at the way his feathers shine a kind of metallic violet in the light.¡± He made a series of guttural croaks that had Shaya flinching.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t ravens an omen of death and disease?¡±


    Danica rolled her eyes at the nervousness in her friend¡¯s voice. ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Suza, it¡¯s only a bird.¡±


    ¡°And a scavenger, did you forget that part? Wait, does it only have one leg? And hang on, did it just bark?¡±


    Danica chuckled. ¡°Ravens can imitate a whole variety sounds, even a human voice.¡± As if to back her up, he made a series of gurgling and croaking noises followed by another bark.


    ¡°Ravens only have one mate too, you know,¡± she said as she watched him returned to the tree.


    Rick sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say, Danica  there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll believe Zan wasn¡¯t your true mate.¡±


    Of course he wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Just because I¡¯m mated now doesn¡¯t mean Zan means anything less to me than he did before. That bond we had doesn¡¯t mean any less because he once filled a ce inside me. It¡¯s not that Gio¡¯s reced him, because Gio has his own ce.¡± Not one word of that had been a lie. Now that she¡¯d mated with Gio, he did have his own ce. He just wasn¡¯t filling it. Suza ran her hand through her hair, sighing. ¡°I want you to have this, Danica, I really do want you to have this. I¡¯m just worried that somewhere along the way you¡¯ll think, ¡®Hey, I was wrong, he¡¯s not my true mate at all¡¯. Then you¡¯ll have lost two mates. Where would that leave you? I don¡¯t want to ever again see you in that state. And, well¡­For God¡¯s sake, Danica, how can you not be petrified of him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a walking time bomb, Danica, he¡¯s -¡±


    Danica held up her hand. ¡°Look, Rick , if you¡¯re here to try to turn me against my own mate then you might as well save your breath to blow up


    your doll.


    Grinning, he shook his head and took the hand that Danica had held up.


    ¡°I want to say I¡¯m happy for you but¡­well I¡¯d be lying. I don¡¯t want you mated to a psycho. Just swear to me that you¡¯re happy here. At the end of the day, that¡¯s all that really matters.¡±


    In some ways, Danica was happy. These people  with the exception of Lindy, Max, Gary, Theresa and Cindy ¨C didn¡¯t treat her like she was inferior


    just because she wastent. She didn¡¯t feel like an outsider or someone who needed to be constantly on the defensive. The atmosphere here was the total opposite of the one she had grown up in and she found it refreshing. She had be close friends with Lucy as she spent a lot of her time


    helping her with her graphic design business. She was a great person to be around as she entertained Danica non-stop with her little entricities and her habit of saying whatever the hell she thought. Danica  wouldn¡¯t have thought that someone like that could be so suited to the very sensitive Richard, and yet Lucy was.

 CHAPTER 23

    When she wasn¡¯t with Lucy she was often with Michey who was helping her improve her cooking skills, or sometimes Jeremy who was teaching


    her how to hack. Chris was of course often there, but as her friend just as much as her bodyguard. He was very easy to be around, he wasn¡¯tplicated, he didn¡¯t brood, and he didn¡¯t blow hot and cold. Gio could learn a few things from him. She also found that she got along pretty well with Donny, which kind of surprised her because ordinarily she tired of flirtatious people. And Donny


    was extremely flirtatious. When he turned the full force of his huge impish grin on you there was no holding back a blush. Maybe it was because he gave some fantastic shoulder massages that the flirtatiousness didn¡¯t bother her¡­?


    Very possible.


    She hadn¡¯t realized that he and Andrew scratched each other¡¯s itch from time to time until she stumbled upon them having some fun at theke. Damn that had been hot and it had taken all her self-control to leave rather than stay and watch. Apparently they had known she was there as  Andrewter teased her about it and still continued to do so on asion. Andrew was a tease in general. He seemed to get his kicks from making people blush or feel ufortable, but as he targeted Theresa and Max a lot, Danica was totally fine with it. Although Hudson didn¡¯t talk much and mostlymunicated through grunts, Danica rather liked him. Unlike everyone else, she spoke to him as though she actually expected him to respond until eventually he began to talk to her a little. She wasn¡¯t surprised to find that Hudson was quite intelligent, even more so than Jeremy. He was very big brotherly with her, as opposed to Ray who often asked her what color her underwear was and tried to look down her shirt a lot. He was the worst perv ever and constantly hit her with dirty chat up lines which he didn¡¯t need to use  just one look at him had females drooling. He seemed to just enjoy being a perv, and yet it was


    impossible not to like him. Duda was another person who was impossible to dislike, but behind hisidback ¡®I don¡¯t take life seriously attitude¡¯ was an astute, diplomatic, extremely observant person.


    Gio¡¯s withdrawal from her, however, tainted her otherwise happy state. She knew it was a good thing that they didn¡¯t spend much time together. She knew it was best that she didn¡¯t find herself happy here when she had every intention of leaving. Still, it stung because she got the feeling


    that Gio¡¯s withdrawal had nothing to do with that and everything to do with the simple fact that he didn¡¯t desire her. Seriously, who would want to be lying in the same bed each night with someone who purposely left enough room between them to fit an elephant?


    Worse, she couldn¡¯t argue with the fact that she did still belong to him in a sense. Who would want to belong to someone who didn¡¯t want them?. She was considering moving into one of the guest rooms, but she suspected that if she increased the distance between them it would only make her wolf worse. Her wolf was restless and miserable enough after going a week with only minimum contact with her mate. What Danica was thankful


    for was that she and her wolf were in perfect ord on one thing ¨C there would be no begging her mate for more no matter how bad things were.


    Danica consoled herself with the reminder that this would all be over in just over ten weeks and then, with any luck, she might be able to switch to the pack her uncle belonged to. She had been delighted when she discovered that her uncle¡¯s pack was signed up to the USA Pack Webs. She had sent him a nice friendly message, asking how he was doing and stuff ¨C of course not mentioning that she and Gio weren¡¯t true mates. Only when Kevin¡¯s challenge was over would she let the information loose. Her hope was that she might first be able to sort an alliance between Gio and her uncle¡¯s Alpha. Not only would this benefit Gio, but it might increase her chances of the Alpha agreeing to let her join his pack at ater date.


    Danica was snapped out of her thoughts as Rick abruptly dropped her hand and his gaze was drawn to something over her shoulder. She turned to see Gio strolling toward her looking as sexy and intimidating as always.


    Time for Scene Two: Looking Lovey-Dovey. She hadn¡¯t expected that it would be so hard emotionally to fake intimacy with a person, but it felt so weird and ufortable because it wasn¡¯t real. On the plus side, some physical contact with him would calm her wolf a little.


    Gio grabbed the chair beside Danica, turned it to face her and then sat before lifting her from her own seat and cing her on hisp, straddling him. He couldn¡¯t help marvelling over how well she fit there and at the same time being annoyed about it. His cock wasn¡¯t annoyed, it was quickly rising to attention ¨C especially as she was wearing those ¡®bend me over and fuck me now¡¯ knee boots. ¡°Hey.¡± After skimming his nose along the crook of her neck to again take her scent deep into him, he gave her a lingering kiss. He¡¯d. missed her taste. ¡°How¡¯s my girl doing?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± She almost purred as he ran his hands up and down her back. Her wolf waszing, content, within her. It didn¡¯t matter to her wolf that the entire thing was an act. All that mattered was that she was having physical contact with her mate.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Unable to resist, Gio licked over his mark and smiled as she quivered.


    ¡°I know you wanted some time with your friends, but I don¡¯t like it when you¡¯re out of my sight for too long.¡± It was a pain in the ass that that was the


    truth. Although he spent little time with her, he would still seek her out several times a day usually every few hours  just to check on her.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, I missed you.¡± She brushed her lips against his and then gestured to her edgy looking friends. ¡°And Suza and Rick don¡¯t mind.¡±


    He gave them a simple nod of acknowledgement which they returned with shaky smiles. His attention quickly returned to Danica as he drank in the sight of her in a way that he usually only did when no one was watching.


    ¡°Have you noticed my surveince team?¡±


    Gio smiled. ¡°I noticed. I approve.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet you do,¡± she grumbled.


    He shrugged unrepentantly as he spoke against those luscious lips. ¡°I like knowing you¡¯re safe.¡±


    ¡°And yet you haven¡¯t thrown out your inherently evil grandmother.¡±


    Chuckling, he shaped her waist with his hands. ¡°I know she¡¯s being a little difficult right now, but she¡¯s one of those people who grow on you.¡±


    ¡°No, she¡¯s one of those people who are like Slinkies.¡±


    ¡°Slinkies?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Basically useless, but they make you smile when you push them down the stairs.¡±


    Heughed before nibbling and sucking on her earlobe. ¡°She¡¯lle round.¡±


    A shiver wracked Danica¡¯s body as he grazed his teeth over his mark.


    ¡°Gio, you can¡¯t do that in public. It has an embarrassing effect.¡± His totally wickedugh made her nervous. Of course the bastard nipped at her mark. Deciding some retaliation wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing, she very slightly grinded against his very hard cock ¨C he might not particrly desire her, but his body would still react to his mate¡¯s scent. He groaned against her neck. Gio knew he could leave now. They had done enough touchy-feely stuff and she probably still had things to talk about with her friends. In fact, he should leave, her friends were anxious and ufortable when he was around as though they expected him to lunge at them or something. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to break the contact with Danica. Instead, hezed back into his seat and pulled her forward so that she was draped across his chest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, you carry on talking. I won¡¯t even be listening, I¡¯m too distracted by your scent.¡± Another truth.


    As he looked over her shoulder he saw that Chris was looking at them with envy in his expression, envy that he wasn¡¯t bothering to conceal. Holding Chris¡¯ gaze, Gio knotted a hand in Danica¡¯s hair ¨C a gesture of possessiveness, a reminder that she was his. Chris lowered his eyes and continuing staring at his book. Did he know it was upside down?


    ¡°How¡¯s my dad?¡± Danica asked Suza, groaning as Gio began gently massaging her back.


    ¡°Feel good, baby?¡± he asked. She nodded against his chest.


    ¡°Alternating from being angry with you to wondering if just maybe this mating could be more beneficial than the one with Cody would have been,¡±


    Suza replied to Danica¡¯s question, her expression studious as she observed Danica and Gio together.


    ¡°Thought as much,¡± grumbled Danica  before then groaning again.


    ¡°Gio, your hands are magical.

 CHAPTER 24

    ¡°You already knew that.¡± He groaned again as her body shook against his chest as sheughed, sending all kinds of interesting vibrations through


    him and his very hard cock. Hebed his fingers through her hair. ¡°I love the way it has all those different shades of blonde in it and even a little bit of red.¡± Another truth.


    ¡°It annoys me. It can¡¯t seem to decide what color it wants to be.¡±


    ¡°It has me curious.¡±


    She lifted her head, resting her chin on his chest. ¡°About?¡±


    In a voice too low for anyone else to hear, he said, ¡°Well as much as I like you bald down there, I wouldn¡¯t mind knowing if the color of the carpet


    matches the curtains.¡±


    She pped his chest. ¡°Gio!¡±


    ¡°Oh look,¡± snickered a familiar, annoying, witchy voice. Lindy. ¡°Not only is she lounging all over you like a slut, but she¡¯s shing her underwear


    to all and sundry.¡±


    ncing back, Danica saw that the top of her redcy thong had ridden above her jeans. ¡°Do you like it? I quite like your blouse, Lindy. Wouldn¡¯tOriginal from N?velDrama.Org.


    you like to slip into something morefortable, though? Perhaps aa?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone ever tell you sarcasm¡¯s the lowest form of wit?¡± Lindy turned to Suza and Rick. ¡°Do us all a favor and take this hussy with you when you leave.¡±


    Danica sighed. ¡°How about we y fetch with a twist, Lindy, I¡¯ll throw the ball for you, but just don¡¯te back. What do you think?¡±


    Huffing, the old woman marched off. Danica smiled at a chuckling Gio beforeying her head back on his chest, facing Suza and Rick. She


    wondered what their odd expressions meant. She finally found out an hourter as she walked them to Suza¡¯s car.


    ¡°I told you that what really matters is that you¡¯re happy,¡± said Rick.


    ¡°And it seems like you are.¡±


    ¡°Is that your way of saying that I have your blessing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still having trouble getting my head around him being your true mate but well you act like true mates and he obviously adores you. That¡¯s enough for me. I have to admit I¡¯m kind of jealous that everyone around us seems to have mated.¡±


    She patted his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure your own true mate is somewhere just waiting for you to find her, and I¡¯m sure she¡¯s the next model


    up from the intable one you already have.¡±


    ¡°Bitch,¡± he said affectionately.


    Suza had her palm pressed against her forehead, looking stressed and confused. ¡°I don¡¯t know how anyone can not be terrified of that wolf but his true mate wouldn¡¯t be, mates never fear each other. And clearly you don¡¯t so. Look, just promise me that if you suddenly think you¡¯ve made a mistake


    or he ever hurts you, you call me and you get out of here.¡±


    Danica smiled. ¡°Aw, Suza, if he ever hurt me he¡¯d be dead before I made that call.¡±


    A grin spread across Suza¡¯s  face. ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡±


    It hadn¡¯t been a surprise to discover that Gio had disappeared into his office before the car had even moved out of sight, acting time was over. She turned to Chris who had been waiting a few feet behind her. ¡°Hey, fancy going out somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± He sounded a little suspicious.


    ¡°I¡¯ve gone ten whole days without pizza and that¡¯s just not right.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°Pizza definitely sounds good. Let me just tell Duda we¡¯ll. be out for a while.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t realized just how much she had missed her Lamborghini until she was driving it en-route to town five minutester. Chris, apparently not content enough with being her bodyguard, had wanted to y chauffeur too,


    but she easily got her way because he was smart enough to know that she wouldn¡¯t give in.


    ¡°Did your friends buy the act?¡± asked Chris  about fifteen minutes into the journey.


    She shrugged. ¡°They¡¯ve epted it, but I don¡¯t think anything will everpletely convince them.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t think you and Gio fit?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not so much that. They saw how close Zan and I were, and then they watched me deal with his death pretty badly. For me to suddenly im


    that Zan was nothing but my best friend¡­¡± She let the sentence trail, knowing he¡¯d see her point. ¡°I think if it had been anyone other than Gio, I might have had more luck with getting them to ept it.¡±


    ¡°Gio¡¯s not your type?¡±


    ¡°I meant because he¡¯s psychotic. Although it¡¯s true that I¡¯ve never been with a guy built like a hignder before, but I don¡¯t really have a type either like someone or I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°And you like Gio.¡±


    ¡°To an extent,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Theresa made it clear that I¡¯m not his type.¡±


    ¡°Gio¡¯s always gone for, what do you females call them, hourss figures or something like that?¡±


    Noticing he hadn¡¯t sounded so fond of them, she prodded, ¡°You¡¯re not such a fan?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say no to one. Plenty of times Gio and I have shared one of his women -¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°- but I prefer my women to be more¡­athletic, I guess. And I have a thing for blondes.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, please don¡¯t say that line ¨C that was the first thing Cody ever said to me. Makes me shiver even now.¡±


    His words were both consoling and sympathetic. ¡°It has to have pissed you off that you had two guys wanting to mate with you but neither really wanted you for you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll make a good mate anyway.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°My natural reaction is to hold back from people, especially guys. It¡¯s something I honestly can¡¯t control. When Zan and my mom died, I had this


    big hole and it¡¯s as if when I taped it up, I did it too tight. I don¡¯t know if I could ever really make myselfpletely vulnerable to another person again. And when you mate with someone, really mate with someone, there can¡¯t be protective walls.¡±


    Chris¡¯ smile was a little sad. ¡°The right wolf will hammer them down.¡±


    ¡°It might take more than a hammer. Anyway, let¡¯s talk about something more interesting. What¡¯s this thing about you and Gio sharing women?¡±


    M¨¦nages weren¡¯t exactly unusual among shifters, but she wouldn¡¯t have had Gio down for someone who shared.


    ¡°Before you, Gio¡¯s never been possessive with women. Plenty of times we¡¯ve shared. The invite was always open to Duda, but he just likes to watch with Donny, Andrew, Hudson, and Ray.¡±


    ¡°They watch?¡± she chuckled, not finding it difficult to believe, especially since many shifters had voyeuristic tendencies.


    ¡°Oh yeah, if Gio¡¯s feeling in a good mood he doesn¡¯t mind. You ever participated in a m¨¦nage?¡±


    She snorted. It was hard enough making things work out with one guy, let alone two. ¡°Having a sex life isn¡¯t as easy for an alpha female as you


    might think.¡±


    ¡°In what way?¡±


    ¡°Guys say they like a woman who¡¯ll take charge in the bedroom but most of the time they¡¯re talking out of their ass.¡± Finally they pulled up in the


    parking lot of the pizza ce and Danica couldn¡¯t stop a joyous smile from taking over her face. She really had missed the taste of pepperoni pizza. She gestured to the pizza delivery guy who was exiting the restaurant with a pile of boxes. ¡°I¡¯ve just never worked out why they put pizza in a square box.¡±


    Intending to seem as though he was only leaving his office to refill his coffee mug, Gio left the room and began walking toward the kitchen, wanting to discreetly check on Danica. Two things quickly became apparent. One, it was a lot quieter than usual. Two, although Danica¡¯s scent was everywhere he turned, it was faint¡­as if it was simply what lingered in the air.


    In the kitchen Duda, Lindy, Donny, Andrew, Michey, Lucy, Theresa and Cindy sat at the table,ughing and joking. It looked as though Theresa and Cindy were having a separate conversation, unsurprisingly. They had made themselves pretty unpopr with their refusal to ept Danica. After refilling. his mug Gio asked, ensuring his voice was casual, ¡°Where¡¯s Danica?¡±


    ¡°Out,¡± replied Duda.


    ¡°On another run with Chris?¡± Although she wastent, she was just as fast as any shifter.


    ¡°No, she went into town.¡±


    Gio had to have heard wrong. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°She went into town.¡±


    Dumping his mug on the counter, uncaring of the scolding hot coffee that had sshed onto his fingers, he demanded, ¡°Where? With who?¡±


    ¡°She and Chris went for pizza,¡± said Lindy, her voice full of implications.

 CHAPTER 25

    Theresa dived on that. ¡°He¡¯s a very attentive bodyguard, isn¡¯t he? You have to admit, they look real cute together. Right, Cindy?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, real cute.¡±


    ¡°Shut it,¡± snapped Gio, surprising most people in the room.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t tell you she was going out?¡± asked Donny.


    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t,¡± Gio managed to grit out, pissed off that she had ventured out without a word and jealous that she had asked Chris to go with her rather than him. He switched his attention back to Duda. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop her from going?¡±


    ¡°Why would I have stopped my Alpha female from leaving pack territory? And how exactly would you have expected me to stop Danica from doing that or anything else?¡±


    ¡°When did she leave?¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Gio, what¡¯s the problem?¡± But Duda knew exactly what the problem was, he always saw too much. As the sound ofughinging from outside the caves met their ears, Donny nodded. ¡°That¡¯s probably them now.¡±


    Gio stalked toward the main door, clenching his fists. Almost yanking the damn thing off, he opened it to find Danica and Chris practically stumbling up the stairs as theyughed so hard at something they were keeled over. The sight of them looking so happy andfortable with each other sent another surge of jealousy rushing through him. Eventually they looked up and saw him. He could guess that his. expression was thunderous because Chris immediately lowered his eyes. Danica, on the other hand, presented him with a smile.


    ¡°Well hello,¡± said Danica brightly as she went right on past the ass she had mated with and strode into Ls.


    ¡°What the hell did you think you were doing leaving pack territory without telling me!¡± he bellowed as he followed behind her. Slowly she


    turned and appraised him from head to toe. Not with fear or even. apprehension, but like someone would scrutinise a bug.


    ¡°Did you forget to take your pills again?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in my office believing you¡¯re safe, and you¡¯ve been in town hanging out with Chris!¡±


    ¡°Yes and we had a lovely time, thanks.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d have said you wanted to go somewhere I¡¯d have taken you!


    Why sneak off?¡± When instead of answering him she just stared nkly, he persisted, ¡°Danica?¡±


    ¡°Oh sorry, I was just busy picturing a gag in your mouth.¡±


    ¡°This is serious! The new Alpha of Cody¡¯s pack hasn¡¯t been here to finalise an alliance which means there¡¯s still a possibility of retaliation over


    his death. Then there¡¯s the fact that although your dad might note here and challenge me, you can bet your little ass he¡¯ll take you given half the


    chance.¡±


    ¡°Did the UFOs tell you that when you removed your foil hat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not being paranoid!¡±


    Danica snickered. ¡°What you¡¯re being is an overprotective asshole who didn¡¯t like it that his mate didn¡¯t say ¡®pretty, pretty please, Master¡¯ before leaving pack territory.¡± Fed up with him, she retreated to the living area and, sighing, plonked herself onto the reclining corner of the sectional sofa. ¡°I am so stuffed.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t want a coffee then?¡± said Michey with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m not that stuffed.


    One by one, people began to pile in. Other than Gio who stood near the door, arms folded, snarling.


    ¡°Been out all afternoon with another male,¡± drawled Lindy. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you she was a hussy, Gio?¡±


    ¡°Hey there, Mistress of the Dark Arts, how are you?¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯d known you guys were going for pizza I¡¯d have asked to go along,¡± said Richard.


    Danica smiled. ¡°Not to tease you or anything, but it was absolutely gorgeous. Deep Pan base, extra cheese, pepperoni -¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s not fair.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± began Ray, wearing that impish smile that meant he was about to deliver another of his cheesy lines, ¡°I¡¯m a lot like Domino¡¯s Pizza, if you don¡¯te in thirty minutes, the next one¡¯s free.¡± Everyone groaned, trying to hold back smiles.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± said Michey as she handed Danica  a mug of coffee.


    ¡°Oh you¡¯re a gem.¡± She sighed dreamily as Donny leaned over the back of the sofa and began massaging her shoulders.


    ¡°I take it this is what everyone means about it being ufortable when newly made mates are separated for a while?¡± prodded Andrew.


    Danica sighed inwardly when she saw that Gio hadn¡¯t moved from the doorway or dropped his scowl. He looked unbelievably pissed, but he also


    looked a little lonely. As much as he had annoyed the hell out of her, Danica had the urge to soothe him. Extending her hand, she said, ¡°Come on,


    Wright.¡± He looked at her hand, looked at her face and then stormed off. With a sigh, she dropped her hand and shrugged. But she wasn¡¯t as aloof about it as she appeared to be. Would it really have been that horrible to sit with her for a while, to spend a teeny weeny amount of time with her and his pack?


    Apparently yes it would have. And apparently she hadn¡¯t yed the aloof female as well as she thought. ¡°How many times in your head have you killed him?¡± asked Michey when they were alone in the kitchen preparing dinner.


    Danica sighed. ¡°Honestly? Too many to count. I¡¯ve even dug the grave and hid the body.¡±


    ¡°You know, I can¡¯t understand why he¡¯s acting so shitty. I know he was never overly attentive or anything, but it was obvious he liked having you around and then all of a sudden he turned indifferent. At first I thought you guys had just had a fight or something.¡±


    ¡°No. It was after I calmed his wolf. In fact, no, he was okay right up until I had that nap after healing him. When I woke up he was all weird and he¡¯s been that way ever since.¡±


    ¡°Do you think maybe he just doesn¡¯t want to look weak in front of the others by being all affectionate and shit? You know guys can be weird like that, and he¡¯s the Alpha, so there¡¯s that pressure there to look as though he has no weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°But if it was that, he¡¯d be okay when other people aren¡¯t around.¡±


    ¡°You guys aren¡¯t fucking?¡±


    Danica shook her head. ¡°Not since the morning before Cody¡¯s visit and subsequent demise. If it was just sex he was being weird about, I¡¯d have thought he might be getting it elsewhere. Theresa isn¡¯t exactly shy about her eagerness to have him. But he barely speaks to me, even when we¡¯re alone, so there¡¯s a bigger issue at y here. I just don¡¯t know what it is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t want you,¡± Michey insisted. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the way he looks at you. It¡¯s not just with lust either. That¡¯s what makes this shit all


    the more confusing.¡±


    ¡°If he wanted me he wouldn¡¯t hold back. It¡¯s not in Gio¡¯s nature to hold back when he wants something.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey, we¡¯ll find out what¡¯s going on in that weird head of his eventually.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have killed and buried him for real by then.¡± She frowned as the sudden sounds of cursing and raised voices drifted into the room. Both females immediately stopped what they were doing and headed through the tunnels to find out what the fuss was all about. Arriving at the main junction,


    Danica  saw many of the pack had gathered and were looking as defensive as they were confused while Donny and Andrew appeared to be interrogating them. Seeing her there, everyone fell silent and a chill ran down her spine.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Donny went to speak but then swallowed hard and looked at Andrew as if hoping he would answer.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Follow us,¡± said Donny as he and Andrew made their way out the main door and down the flights of stairs. On reaching the bottom, they led her intoN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    the concealed parking lot where she stopped dead. She couldn¡¯t see what the problem was, but she knew what Gio, Duda, Chris, Hudson and Ray were gathered around. She shrugged her way through them and gasped. The doors and windows of her car were covered in red spray paint. Worse, the red paint very clearly said ¡®Go Home Hart Slut¡¯.


    ¡°Who. Did. This?¡± Her voice was dead, toneless.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± replied Gio, his own voice thick with anger. His mate¡¯s car. Someone had dared to do this to his mate¡¯s property. His wolf wanted to surface so that he could hunt them down. ¡°Almost every pack member¡¯s scent is in this lot because everyone uses it. If we had gotten to it when the paint was still wet then maybe the culprit¡¯s scent would be heavier in the air than the rest but¡­¡±


    An arm curled supportively around her and she turned her head to see Chris  looking down at her wearing a sympathetic expression. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Chris assured her. ¡°We will find out who did it somehow. In the meantime, someone will clean it.¡±

 CHAPTER 26

    She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± they all objected at once.


    ¡°It¡¯s my car.¡± Hers, it was her baby¡­and someone had vandalized it. Sure it was only a little paint, but dammit that wasn¡¯t the point. Her shifter territorial nature made it even harder for her to keep calm. Rage was coursing through her, making her grind her teeth and ball her hands into tight little fists. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill them.¡±


    ¡°Get in line,¡± said Hudson.


    Chris took one of her fists and uncurled it. ¡°Come on,e inside.¡±


    ¡°Go,¡± said Gio, ¡°we¡¯ll take care of this. Go inside.¡± He knew he¡¯d probably sounded a little sharp with her, but he didn¡¯t like seeing another male¡¯s arm around her. In fact, he wanted to snap it off.


    She sighed. ¡°I -¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Her wolf calmed a little when he came close, but he didn¡¯t touch her just like Danica knew he wouldn¡¯t even though she needed it, even though he would feel that she needed it. ¡°It¡¯s my car,¡± she repeated, knowing that it didn¡¯t really have any bearing on the matter of who cleaned it. She was


    simply pissed off to think right.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to see this. Whoever did this did it to upset you, don¡¯t give them what they want.¡±


    ¡°Says the world¡¯s worst brooder,¡± she couldn¡¯t help muttering through clenched teeth.


    ¡°Danica, we¡¯ll take care of it.¡± He raised his hand to touch her face, but then he dropped it again. More than anything he wanted tofort and calm her with his touch, and that was exactly why he didn¡¯t. ¡°Go,¡± he urged softly.


    Relenting, she allowed Chris to lead her inside, but she didn¡¯t go into the living area to rx the way everybody was advising her to. No, she went


    straight back to the kitchen and over to the onions to continue dicing them. Michey opened her mouth as though to object, but a warning look from Danica kept her quiet. Danica didn¡¯t want to rx, didn¡¯t want to talk, didn¡¯t want to be alone with her thoughts and her anger, she just wanted a distraction. The entire time that she and Michey had been working on the evening meal, Donny and Andrew had been speaking to every member of the pack trying to establish each person¡¯s whereabouts over the past few hours. Richard, Jeremy and Gary were the only ones who didn¡¯t have alibis for their story, Donny informed her as they ate the evening meal. Of course everyone was straining to listen to their conversation and she got the feeling that that was the whole idea, that the guys were closely monitoring the expressions of the others as Donny told her everything they knew. Danica still wasn¡¯t convinced that Theresa didn¡¯t have something to do with it, but apparently Max and Cindy


    stated that she had been with them the whole time. She wouldn¡¯t put it past Max and Cindy to lie for her though. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that in spite of how Gio had to sense how much her wolf was cravingfort from her mate, he barely spoke to her through the evening meal, let alone touched her. Nor was it a surprise that she went to bed alone or that he didn¡¯ty beside her when he finally did join her. But it still burned. Not just in a physical sense, but in an emotional sense. She hated herself for that. Her and him, in fact. Instead of the burning easing over the next few days as she resigned herself to the way her mating with Gio was going to be, it only worsened. It wasn¡¯t just because of her wolf¡¯s hunger for contact with her mate. Danica the woman wanted Gio the man which made absolutely no sense given that they


    barely interacted or touched. But when they did interact and they did touch¡­ Ah, hell.


    None of this was good. Not a damn thing about this mating; other than her having escaped Cody  was good, but she wouldn¡¯t back out on a deal.


    That wasn¡¯t who Danica was. It wasn¡¯t like she had anywhere to go even if she did leave. Her uncle still hadn¡¯t gotten back to her, if he even intended to. And so the burning stayed and worsened as more days and nights passed with absolutely no change. Sure there had been moments where she had been tempted to just jump on him and be done with it, but she didn¡¯t


    want scraps and neither did her wolf. It was extremely annoying that Gio didn¡¯t appear to be going through the same struggle but she ignored that annoyance, she ignored her urges, she


    ignored her wolf¡¯s pining and she continued on as usual. But then one really shitty day came a few weekster and she was seriously at risk of exploding with it all¡­the anniversary of her deceased mother¡¯s birthday.


    Gio jumped to his feet as the door to his office suddenly burst open. Thinking that there must be some sort of emergency  and feeling a spike of


    fear that something might have happened to Danica, he walked around the desk toward where Duda, Donny and Andrew stood, scowling. His wolf had snapped to alertness and was pacing within him.


    ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± demanded Donny.


    Surprised by not only the question but Donny¡¯s insubordinate behaviour, Gio frowned. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Danica. What did you do to her?¡±


    His wolf went still. ¡°What about Danica?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been holed up in here all morning so you wouldn¡¯t be aware that she¡¯s got the personality of a zombie right now. We can barely get any conversation out of her. She¡¯s not even responding to Lindy¡¯s taunts;  just looks through her like she¡¯s not even there. That¡¯s not Danica.¡±


    No, it wasn¡¯t and he had the sudden urge to go see her and find out what was wrong. Instead, he simply shrugged. ¡°She seemed kind of quiet


    earlier but other than that¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Well now she¡¯s really quiet. As in mute. That¡¯s when she¡¯s not telling us to get out of her way while she cleans every room.¡±


    ¡°Cleaning?¡±


    You know the way women do that fast forward cleaning when they¡¯re pissed off.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that,¡± said Andrew, looking more worried than agitated. ¡°It¡¯s like, I don¡¯t know¡­like one wrong word would break her. I¡¯m not sure ifN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    she¡¯s angry or just trying to distract herself from something.¡±


    ¡°What did you do to her?¡± repeated Donny. ¡°What did you say to her?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s what he hasn¡¯t done or said,¡± said Duda as he folded his arms across his broad chest.


    Gio red at him. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t talk to her, Gio. In fact, you don¡¯t bother with her at all.


    You imed her, brought her here, solidified the mating, and then handed her safety over to Chris. Look, I get that this is only supposed to be a temporary thing and so there¡¯s no need for you both to build a bond, but it¡¯s more than that Gio. You purposely avoid her. You never touch her don¡¯t try to tell me that¡¯s not driving your wolf crazy. And unless my hearing¡¯s suddenly gone to shit, you¡¯re not sleeping with her either.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± snapped Gio.


    Duda held up a cating hand. ¡°With all due respect, this is our business because you¡¯re our Alpha male and, whether it¡¯s temporary or not,


    she¡¯s our Alpha female. Your rtionship affects the rest of the pack. And we like her, we respect her, it¡¯s in our nature to protect our females. Right now, there¡¯s something wrong with Danica and you need to do something.¡±


    ¡°You know, I hear you all whining but look who¡¯s not here. Danica. If she had a problem with me, I¡¯d know about it. If her wolf was riding her too hard she¡¯d havee to me whether she wanted to or not.¡±


    Dudaughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Is that what you think?


    She¡¯s not like the women you¡¯re used to, Gio. She¡¯s an alpha. Her wolf¡¯s probably going just as crazy as yours is, but neither Danica nor her wolf will evere to you begging for some attention. Not ever.¡±


    ¡°Maybe this isn¡¯t about you,¡± said Andrew, ¡°maybe it¡¯s something else eating at her, we don¡¯t know. We¡¯re worried about her and thought you might have some luck reaching her.¡±


    The urge to find her was fierce now, but again Gio shrugged. ¡°She could be just having a rough day¡±


    ¡°Christ, Gio,¡± interrupted Duda. ¡°She was there for you when you were in a bad state. She reached you while your wolf was wild, and you¡¯re going to ignore this?¡± He waved his hand dismissively at Gio and headed for the door. ¡°Forget it. Hide some more, whatever.¡±


    Looking both disappointed and disgusted, the three males walked out of his office and left Gio alone with his thoughts, thoughts that revolved around Danica. He had noticed that she seemed off her odd mood had unnerved his wolf and had him wing at Gio, wanting to get to her. But, as always, Gio had acted against his wolf¡¯s wishes and his own instincts and simply shrugged off his concern. He wanted to do the same thing again now, but one thing was stopping him; as he had reached out through the pack link to sense her emotions, he¡¯d hit a wall. She had somehow erected a big enough barrier around her that her own mate couldn¡¯t reach her. A person didn¡¯t do that unless a strong emotion was eating at them and they were trying desperately to hold themselves together. With a determined stride he strolled out of the office and made his way to the living area where the majority of the noise wasing from. The fact that her scent was stronger the closer he got told him that that was where she was.

 CHAPTER 27

    He entered the room. And stopped dead in his tracks. Across the room was Danica bncing on one of the dining chairs as she used a feather duster to tackle non-existent cobwebs. But it wasn¡¯t Danica. Danica was life and fire and sensuality and adorable sarcasm. She was not quiet or expressionless or withdrawn or robotic.


    Most of the pack, even Lindy, were gathered in the room on the sofa facing the T. V., but all eyes were fixed on Danica. And all, even Lindy, appeared concerned. So concerned that they only spared him a brief nce before turning their attention back to her. Slowly he covered the space between them until he was beside the chair she was bnced on. She didn¡¯t look at him. But she wasn¡¯t ignoring him, he quickly realized. She was simply elsewhere in her mind. ¡°Danica?¡± he said softly. ¡°Danica baby¡­you okay?¡± She double-blinked as if snapping out of a daze and then peered down at him. ¡°Everything okay?¡± he asked again, really not liking the vacant look on her face. Danica nodded. ¡°Fine.¡± Why, of all the times, did he want to speak to her now ¨C now when thest person she needed to be around was him? The answer instantly came to her: Because someone had sent for him ¨C if they


    hadn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered with her. She went back to her dusting and Gio realized he had just been dismissed. ¡°Come on, baby,e down from there.¡± No response. ¡°I think we can safely say there isn¡¯t a speck of dust left up there.¡± Nothing. Not even a sarcasticment. His wolf was pacing again, not liking that she was obviously hurting. ¡°How about you get down and we¡¯ll go get a cup of coffee.¡±


    Danica wanted to hit him. Why was he talking to her like she was an insane person having an episode? A better question would be why won¡¯t he


    just leave? And, as it happened, there was actually plenty of dust up here.


    ¡°Danica, how -¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to do in your office?¡±


    Gio winced. He deserved that, he knew he did. ¡°I¡¯m not moving from this spot until you tell me what¡¯s wrong, baby,¡± he told her gently.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said as she hopped down from the chair. ¡°That means you¡¯ll be a long way away from me because I¡¯m about to leave the room.¡±


    She picked up the chair and carried it through the tunnel toward the kitchen, deliberately ignoring Gio who was trailing behind her. Chris wasn¡¯t far


    behind him. She returned the chair to the dining table and put the duster back in the cupboard before going to the sink to wash her hands. Noticing there were a few mugs and dishes on the counter, she stacked them into the sink and filled it with hot soapy water.


    ¡°What is it, baby? Tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    That was now the fourth time he had called her ¡®baby¡¯. Cheeky bastard. If he thought he could block out her existence but then expect her to still


    confide in him he was seriously mistaken. Danica would have told him that, but she didn¡¯t want to argue with him, she just wanted him to go back to his hidey hole and leave her to grieve her mother in peace. Danica knew that her method of grieving wasn¡¯t normal, that shutting off from the world around you while your body went on autopilot and you disappeared in your thoughts and memories was not good. It was the same state she had slipped into when her mom and Zan were in the ident. Although she had eventually dug her way out of it, she always tended to retreat whenever it was the anniversary of their death or either of their birthdays. It was just how she coped. The only way she could cope without screaming. But having Gio around her , someone who frustrated and annoyed the hell out of her and had her wolf all messed up, was threatening the stability of her seemingly indifferent state. All that frustration and annoyance that she had been shoving aside was at risk of bursting out of her. If that happened, she would break. She couldn¡¯t afford to do that.


    ¡°Come on, leave those ande sit with me.¡±


    Ignoring him in the hope that he would go away, Danica continued scrubbing the dishes.


    ¡°Danica, you can¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not upset about something.¡±


    Realising he was closer now, she warned in a low voice, ¡°Back off, Gio.¡±


    ¡°Back off?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You want me to back off?¡± It was one thing when Gio assumed she just didn¡¯t want to talk about whatever it was that was bugging her, but it was


    another thing altogether for her to want to freeze him out. ¡°Yes, I want you to leave me alone. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard. You do it easily enough any other time.¡±


    ¡°Is that what this is about? You¡¯re mad at me for not spending time with you?¡±


    A short humorlessugh escaped her. ¡°Yes because the world revolves around you.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, just back off.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t back off. Not until you tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    Deep breaths, she told herself. And those deep breaths actually worked. The tension didn¡¯t leave her body, but it eased a little. Until hands wrapped


    around her middle as arge body pressed against her back and, making it even worse, he whispered into her ear ¡®What¡¯s wrong, baby?¡¯


    There was that word again! Something inside her snapped. Abruptly she spun, sshing water everywhere. Shocked, Gio jumped back out of the


    way. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to back off? I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s what I said.¡±


    He held his hands up in a calming gesture. ¡°Danica!¡±


    ¡°Just stay away from me. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking you to do. It¡¯s something you do every single fucking day so why on this one day that I really need a little alone time am I suddenly of interest to you?!¡±


    ¡°I just want to know what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s tough shit, psycho boy, because I don¡¯t want to talk to you!¡± Seeing that people were starting to gather was only making her worse.


    She suddenly felt like a cornered animal, like everyone was taking up her breathing space. Growling, she wiped her hands on the hand towel and then stalked toward the door. The crowd quickly parted, apparently not daring to intervene.


    ¡°Where¡¯re you going?¡±


    ¡°Away from you!¡±


    Gio jogged down the tunnel after her. ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t get to shut me out like this. You¡¯re my mate.¡±


    She pivoted on the spot. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± he asked softly but in a very dangerous tone.


    ¡°We don¡¯t count as mates if you only act like it when it suits you. But, hey, don¡¯t get me wrong ¨C if putting on act for other people is as far as it goes


    for you, then that¡¯s fine. But don¡¯t you dare throw that ¡®you¡¯re my mate¡¯ shit at me when I won¡¯t do what you want!¡±


    He knew she was right, but the denial was automatic. ¡°You are my mate, Danica.¡±


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Danica, will you stop walking away from me.¡± Gio honestly wasn¡¯t sure what happened¡­He¡¯d reached out and ced his hand


    on her shoulder and then next thing he knew he was t on his back on the ground and Danica was snarling down at him. Damn the woman knew some good moves.


    ¡°Back. Off,¡± she growled. She looked up at the others who were slowly edging toward them, their expressions unsure. ¡°All of you back off! I want to


    be alone!¡± Then she was striding out the main door, down the mountain, across the small open field and into the forest. Many times she had gone on a leisurely walk or a run through here with


    Chris, but never had she gone as far as she intended to go today. Plenty of times she had heard the sound of the river in the distance, had known it was there and known that one day she would really need to go there for some alone time.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    The Water Kids ¨C that was what her mom and Zan¡¯s mom had called. them. Some kids liked fields, some kids liked swing parks, and she and Zan had liked rivers. No, they¡¯d loved rivers. Loved the sounds, loved the surrounding wildlife, loved paddling in the shallow water and bncing on old tree branches that crossed the expanse of the river. There was something calming about them, she thought. Right now, she needed to calm the hell down.

 CHAPTER 28

    On eventually reaching the river she found a bolder to perch herself on and took a deep, cleansing, calming breath. Again and again she filled her lungs with the fresh crispy forest air, letting it rx her. The familiar smells of wet earth and pine made her wolf ease a little within her. It was amazing how a ce could rx you even as a barrage of sad memories hit you, mused Danica


    A familiar guttural ¡®tock¡¯ sound snagged her attention and made her look to the tree beside her. ¡°Hey CJ,¡± she said around the frog in her throat.


    Why the bird followed her around sometime she had no idea, but that had been another thing that she and Zan used to marvel at together ¨C the way


    birds were so at ease with her, almost attracted to her.


    Hey Zan. I know that I shouldn¡¯t alwayse to you whenever I need to talk to someone, that I should actually try confiding in people who are alive¡­but they¡¯d be able to tell me to shut up. And in truth, you¡¯re all I have. As much as I really like these people here ¨C with the exception of a few, including the evil and very senile version of Yoda ¨C I still don¡¯t feel like I can really talk to them. Not even to say ¡®hey I miss my mom¡¯. Actually, no, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t feel like I can talk to them, it¡¯s that I don¡¯t want to start opening up to them and getting toofortable here. Snort. Not that there¡¯s really much chance of me gettingfortable with psycho boy around. You know, I used to look at mated couples and I¡¯d think how amazing it must be, that once you mated you¡¯d never feel alone ever again because that person would be a part of you. I mean, I know that my mating with Gio


    doesn¡¯t count in an emotional sense, but I still didn¡¯t expect this feeling of being¡­trapped. I¡¯m bound to someone who won¡¯t even touch me socially, who deliberately avoids me ¨C unless I want to be left alone, apparently I¡¯m


    interesting to him then ¨C and who has my wolf enthralled. And how is it that he¡¯s able to get my wolf so enthralled with him anyway? That shouldn¡¯t be possible. She¡¯s such a traitor sometimes. It¡¯s freaking shit, the lot of it. I should be able to turn around to the person I¡¯m mated to, even if it¡¯s only temporary, and say ¡®you know what, it¡¯s my mom¡¯s birthday today and I miss her¡¯, but I don¡¯t even feel like I can talk to him like that. See, you really are all I have.


    A noise in the distance pulled her from her conversation with Zan. So she hadn¡¯t been left alone after all, and they apparently thought she wouldn¡¯t realize this. Oh the bastards.


    So this was what Danica had been feeling like, mused Gio. as he sat at the kitchen table tapping his fingers on the surface. It hadn¡¯t urred to him that by establishing a distance between them it could actually be a bad thing, that it could actually hurt her. But the way Danica had froze him out, walked away from him, pulled away from his touch¡­it hurt. She was his mate. No, not of the soul or heart, but she was still his mate and she had ordered him away from her. She had rejected hisfort. Generally he wasn¡¯t a guy who offeredfort, but this was his mate. And


    she didn¡¯t want him. A part of him knew that it shouldn¡¯t hurt this much, but he didn¡¯t want to think on that or he would have to address the question of why it hurt like this. What bothered him more than any of that was that she was clearly


    nursing some sort of emotional ache. One strong enough to make her withdraw from everyone and everything around her. His strong Danica was close to breaking and he couldn¡¯t do a damn thing about it. That sense of helplessness was eating at both him and his wolf, increasing his need to find


    her and soothe her. Suddenly Tao appeared, panting. ¡°Gio, we got a problem.¡±


    Instantly he was on his feet. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Danica. I can¡¯t find her.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t find her?¡±


    ¡°I did what you said, I stayed a good distance away but was close enough to hear if there was a problem. Maybe she heard me and got pissed off that someone had followed her, I don¡¯t know, but I can¡¯t find her.¡±


    ¡°Shit.¡± So arge party of them searched. Searched every single inch of the forest, checked every tree, even the river. But there was no sign of her. It was obvious she had stopped at the river for a while, but then she seemed to have done a runner while covering her tracks. And damn if she wasn¡¯t good at covering her tracks.


    With each minute Gio became more concerned and his wolf grew more restless, understanding that his mate was hurting and missing. For a split second, Gio. had wondered if she¡¯d done something stupid while so emotional, but the thought left his head instantly. Danica would never take the coward¡¯s way out of anything.


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Duda as they came to a halt outside the forest. ¡°Let¡¯s put ourselves in Danica¡¯s shoes. She wanted to be alone. Nothing more than that,


    right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, so she came out here,¡± said Andrew.


    ¡°But we wouldn¡¯t let her be. And I doubt that while she was in that foul mood she was too pleased about her simple wish being ignored like that.¡±


    ¡°Definitely not,¡± agreed Donny, ¡°but she didn¡¯te and verbally kick our asses and that doesn¡¯t sound like her.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth pointing out that she wasn¡¯t at all herself,¡± said Ray with a shrug.


    ¡°But she will have been utterly pissed and insulted by the idea that we thought we could still follow her and think she wouldn¡¯t know,¡± said Chris.


    ¡°Do you think maybe she¡¯s been teaching us a little lesson about how not stupid she is?¡± asked Hudson.


    It fell into ce suddenly. Gio smiled. ¡°Something like that. She¡¯s been leading us on a merry chase. I know where she is.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s expressions begged ¡®Where?¡¯


    ¡°She¡¯s back inside the caves. I¡¯ll put money on it. She¡¯ll have known that if she made it look as though she was missing, we¡¯de out searching


    for her.¡±


    ¡°Leaving the caves empty apart from a few,¡± said Hudson.


    ¡°And giving her what she wanted,¡± finished Gio, ¡°the simple chance to be alone.¡± It was a brilliant n, he had to admit it. She had totally yed


    them, and yed them well.


    ¡°Shit,¡± cursed Andrew. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯ve been out here for hours and she¡¯s been in the house all along. You¡¯re sure?¡±


    ¡°It sounds like something she¡¯d do,¡± said Donny.


    It turned out that it was exactly what she¡¯d done, although at first Gio had wondered if he¡¯d been wrong as she hadn¡¯t been in the kitchen or living area or in their bedroom. If he hadn¡¯t picked up her scent in the second floor tunnels, he might have ended up back on that merry chase.


    Following her scent, he soon found himself outside one of the guest bedrooms ¨C not that they ever had guests. There were no soundsing from. inside, but he was certain that she was in there. Slowly and quietly he turned the doorknob and opened the door. His chest tightened at the sight before him. Danica was curled up on the bed, asleep, with dried tears on her red cheeks. She was cuddling something, he noticed a few secondster.. As he carefully closed the door and crept closer he realized that it was a shoebox. One that she had had for a while if the bad state of the cardboard was anything to go by. Curious, he sat beside her and gently took the brown box from between her now limp arms. As he removed the lid, his chest tightened again. Inside were nothing more than inconsequential little things like a bag of marbles, arge shiny stone, a stic engagement-type ring, a miniature plush bear, and some homemade Christmas cards and birthda cards and other bits and pieces. But these little things meant everything to Danica  because they had obviously either belonged to her true mate or been given to her by him. Spotting a little velvet book he flipped it open and realized it was actually a photo album. Even as a little girl Danica¡¯s hair had had all those different shades running through it. She looked just as fiery and energetic. The kid who Gio guessed was Zan had clearly been besotted with her. On every picture he was standing protectively close to her, hugging her or


    holding her hand. Gio wasn¡¯t proud of the twinge of jealousy he felt at how the little kid had been more or less born with rights to her. Inside the final two photo sleeves were smallminated cards. One had a picture of the kid on, along with his date of birth and the date he had died with a small sort of ¡®rest in peace¡¯ type message. On the other was a picture of a woman who looked uncannily like Taryn. Her mom, he quickly realized, noting that the date of her death matched the date of the kid¡¯s. And then something else registered in his brain. Her mother¡¯s birthday¡­it would have been today. Well shit. He bowed his head and squeezed his eyes shut as it dawned on him. She had been grieving her mom today, had been probably screaming inside as the agony tormented her, but instead ofing to him ¨C her mate ¨C for any kind offort or even to just confide in him or cry on his shoulder, she had retreated within herself.


    Because she hadn¡¯t felt like she coulde to him, had probably thought that he wouldn¡¯t want her to. Then when he, like a bastard, refused to give her the space she needed, she had finally soughtfort. The fact that the only ce she thought she could find it was from a shoebox filled with memories of her dead true mate was like a blow to Gio¡¯s gut. A blow he deserved. Guilt knifed through him as he thought on how much of a prick he had been to Danica. Duda was right. Although this mating was temporary it didn¡¯t mean that Gio should be able to just cast her aside. She had be his responsibility the second he imed her, but all he¡¯d done was try to escape that responsibility just because he got a little spooked by his wolf and some primal instincts.

 CHAPTER 29

    He had frozen her out just as she had done to him today. The feelings of rejection, anger and destion he had experienced earlier were things that she had obviously been suffering with all this time. In total silence.


    Shit, she hadn¡¯t deserved that, hadn¡¯t deserved his cold shoulder, especially when she was being so loyal to their deal. It was a wonder that she hadn¡¯t left; it wasn¡¯t as if she couldn¡¯t have snuck off. It was clear by the way she had led them on a merry chase and covered her tracks so well that she had the ability to at least try to make a run for it. It wasn¡¯t as though fear of him kept her here. She hadn¡¯t once expressed any fear of him, not even when his wolf had gone feral. Although Cody was dead and she didn¡¯t need Gio anymore, she had stayed to fulfil her end of the deal. Even though he¡¯d been a total ass. Even though his


    grandmother constantly strove to make her feel unwee. Even though it meant having to lie to her friends and repeatedly im that her true mate had been nothing but a good friend. One thing was for sure, she was a better person than he would ever be. She was someone that any male would be proud to have as their mate, temporary or not. He wished she was his true mate even though that made him an absolute bastard where his actual true mate was concerned. But she had just been a baby. A tiny screaming baby who had been dumped in his arms while her mom rooted through her handbag for keys. The second she hadnded in his arms she had stopped wailing and looked up at him. The next thing he knew, her mom was pping excitedly saying stuff like ¡®instant connection¡¯ and ¡®true mate¡¯.


    Instead of being happy, he¡¯d been scared. At  thirteen years old, it had felt too damn weird to him to be told he had a strong bond to a tiny little


    baby. It had even made him feel a little ill. The fact that he hadn¡¯t felt the tug of the bond made the whole thing worse, reminding him just how closed off he actually was. So he had stayed away from her and kept totally quiet about it. Her mom had promised to give him time to get used to the idea before telling anyone. But then two monthster she¡¯d fell asleep in her cradle and hadn¡¯t woken up.


    Unlike Danica, he¡¯d never had a chance to know his true mate. The only picture he had of her was the one in his mind, and that image was of a little


    baby with the same baby features that most babies had. He had been disloyal to that little girl from the second he found her. He didn¡¯t have anything at all that had once belonged to her, didn¡¯t even have any memories of her. Danica, on the other hand¡­she had kept her true mate¡¯s memory alive as best she could. But for Gio and for the deal she had made with him, she hapublically renounced that kid who she¡¯d adored and who had obviously adored her in return. And Gio had trampled all over her and her feelings, being as neglectful to her as he had been of his true mate. Well enough of that shit. The mating might be temporary but for as long as this female was here she was his to respect and care for and protect, especially to protect from him and his asshole ways. It was the least she deserved, but more than that, it was what he wanted. He knew that even if by some miracle he was to mate someone permanently in the future, this temporary mating he had with would probably be the closest he would ever get to having a true mate, because she was everything he would have wanted and he doubted he would ever meet anyone like her.


    cing the shoebox on the floor, Gio carefullyy down behind her and locked his arm around her waist as he curled his body around hers. His wolf released a rumbly growl of contentedness, but right now  Gio wasn¡¯t doing this to appease his wolf or feed a hunger. He was doing it because Gio the man wanted to hold her. If it hadn¡¯t been for the hunger pang in her stomach, Danica probably wouldn¡¯t have woken. Not while she was sofortable and warm and rxed. And certainly not while her wolf was so at ease having Gio snuggling up to her. Wait, what? Instantly her eyes shot open and she tensed.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe how many times I¡¯ve woke up to find myself curled around you like this.¡±


    She would have told him to fuck off and give her the breathing room she had asked for ¨C no, demanded ¨C but there was something different about his voice. The gruffness she had gotten used to was gone. There was a new softness to his tone, a tenderness she hadn¡¯t heard before. Both of which she had to be imagining along with the hand that was affectionately fondling her


    hair.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about your mom.¡±


    She stiffened even more. ¡°You went through the shoebox.¡± Through her very personal things. She was just getting ready to snap at him for it when


    he surprised her by brushing her hair aside so he could kiss along her neck.


    Damn if her neck wasn¡¯t hypersensitive.


    ¡°You look a lot like her.¡± He kissed his way up the curve of her neck and grazed his teeth over her ear before sucking the lobe into his mouth, eliciting a gasp from her. ¡°I love how responsive you are.¡±


    ¡°Okay this is where you exin to me what the hell you¡¯re doing.¡± She had meant to sound abrupt and firm but the words hade out kind ofThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    breathy. ¡°I asked to be alone.¡±


    ¡°And I don¡¯t me you. I wouldn¡¯t want to be around me either.¡±


    Wanting her soft and rxed so that she didn¡¯t bolt before he had a chance to talk to her and just because he liked to taste and touch her skin he


    continue to kiss her neck and ear while at the same time snaking his fingers beneath her sweater to caress her stomach. ¡°You have the softest skin.¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯m really confused. What is this? Your idea offorting me?¡±


    She didn¡¯t want him touching her because he felt sorry for her. In fact, she didn¡¯t want him touching her at all, or at least that was what she told herself.


    ¡°This is me saying I realize I¡¯ve been a prick and. it¡¯s going to stop.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    As he swiped his tongue over his mark she shuddered, deeply satisfying. both him and his wolf. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have kept my distance from you the way I did. I shouldn¡¯t have frozen you out.¡±


    ¡°No you¡¯ve been doing the right thing by trying to keep a distance. We don¡¯t want to imprint.¡± It was getting hard to follow the conversation now that his touch was bing less gentle and more seductive.


    ¡°Just because we don¡¯t want to imprint on each other doesn¡¯t mean I should be delegating you to someone else like you¡¯re a duty. There is a halfway measure between keeping a distance and imprinting.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Fun.¡± He slid his hand over her jeans and rubbed against her clit, relishing her moan. ¡°We can have that, can¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°I take it by fun, you mean sex.¡± Surprising her, he flipped her around to face him and cupped her face. His expression was serious.


    ¡°I¡¯m not just talking about that. I¡¯m talking about us spending time with each other the same way people who are in a casual rtionship do.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s brought all this on?¡±


    Unable to resist those lips, he leaned forward and nipped at them.


    ¡°When you froze me out earlier, it hurt, but I realized I deserved it. I got to thinking about the way I¡¯ve been acting, and the way I haven¡¯t been acting. Like I told you that first night, I imed you and you¡¯re my mate whether this is short-term or not. It¡¯s time I started treating you like it.¡± He licked his tongue along the seam of her mouth, tempting her to open for him. The little witch didn¡¯t. Obviously his exnation wasn¡¯t good enough. ¡°I¡¯m not much good at verbal apologies, baby, but I am good at oral ones.¡±


    ¡°Oral ones?¡± His meaning became clear as he gently pushed her onto her back and began sliding down her body. She gripped him by the head,


    keeping him still ¨C which happened to ce his mouth level with her breasts and so he grazed one the nipples poking through her sweater with his teeth.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    ¡°I need to apologise. It¡¯s really very important.¡±


    She wouldn¡¯tugh, she wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Look, as much as it would be nicer if we could actually interact, that doesn¡¯t mean that sex has to enter the


    equation.¡±


    He stiffened. ¡°Are you saying you don¡¯t want me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saying I don¡¯t want someone who doesn¡¯t want me.¡±


    ¡°Where the hell did you get the idea that I don¡¯t want you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not your type, don¡¯t even dare lie and say that I am.¡±


    ¡°I admit you¡¯re not the type I¡¯ve gone for in the past, but I¡¯ve realized it¡¯s been a mistake to overlook slender blondes with heart-shaped asses and breasts like these.¡± Leaning up on his elbows, he bunched up her sweater and cupped her bra-d breasts. ¡°See how perfectly they fit in my hands.¡±

 CHAPTER 30

    He sounded awfully pleased about that, enthralled by the idea. ¡°Gio, I-¡±


    ¡°Just this once, baby, don¡¯t fight me. I¡¯m not saying submit,¡± he added quickly before she snapped his neck, ¡°I¡¯m just asking you to lie back and let me make you cum. This isn¡¯t forey, this is me wanting to make you feel good. Me apologising.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want anything in return?¡± she asked, doubt clear in her voice.


    He shook his head. ¡°No sexual favors for me, no fucking. Just me making you cum. In a way, I¡¯m sort of being your ve right now. You might want to make the most of that because it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Was he really suppressing his need to dominate ¨C a need she knew was intense? Was he really seriously offering to make this all about her? It wasn¡¯t sympathy driving him, she could see that. He was genuinely contrite and genuinely wanted to simply give her pleasure with no demands attached.


    ¡°Then get to it,¡± she said with a smile.


    Returning her smile, Gio tackled the front sp of her bra and brushed both cups aside so that they framed those breasts he¡¯d missed. Hetched onto her nipple and sucked hard, making her gasp and moan. At the same time he shaped her ribs, the t of her stomach and her hips with his hands.


    God, he loved her body, loved the way hisrge hands could span her waist. She fit his body in a way that no woman ever had. It still amazed him


    that the difference in their size didn¡¯t make things awkward. Instead, it was as though her slender form had a perfect groove against his body for her to fit into, and that only increased his possessiveness. When he transferred his attention to her other breast and closed his mouth over her neglected nipple, Danica moaned again and clutched his head to her. She knew that her grip on his head had to be causing him some pain,


    but she couldn¡¯t quite let go of him. The pleasure was building the friction within her, and he was the only anchor she had to keep her from going


    mindless. A part of her thought she¡¯d given in too easily to him, that she should have told him to go shove his apology up his ass. But one thing she knew about Gio was that, like all alphas, he had a lot of pride, and one thing that was hard for him to do was admit he was wrong. Not only had he done that, but he had apologised. And now he was reaffirming that apology in the only way a highly sexual being who was in unfamiliar territory knew how. Releasing the taut bud with a pop, he told her, ¡°I¡¯m going to taste you now.¡± Gio could smell the mouth-watering scent of her arousal from where he was ¨C enticing him and luring him. He began to nip and suck and kiss his way down her body. He couldn¡¯t hold back a growl as he saw that most of his marks hadpletely faded. The only one that would never fade was his iming mark, and Gio told himself and his wolf that that was enough. Ignoring the urge to rece his marks, he tackled the buttons of her jeans and peeled both them and her ckcy thong from her body. Then he settled himself between the V of her thighs, inhaling deeply to take that feminine scent inside him. Satisfaction flooded him at how wet her pussy was. Gently pulling her glistening slippery folds apart, he bent his head and swept his tongue between them. And groaned. Fuck. Her spicy, seductive taste burst on his tongue, urging him to feast on her. So he did.


    Danica writhed and moaned as he worked her into a frenzy using long sensual licks. His tongue constantly teased her opening, but never delved


    inside. It was torture and it was pleasure and it was goddamn unfair.


    Frustrated, she was helplessly squirming and arching. If he was hoping she would beg, he was in for a disappointment. She had warned him in the beginning that she never begged, not for anyone. But she couldn¡¯t take anymore teasing, she couldn¡¯t. She tried escaping his hold, but his hands tightened on her thighs, ws digging warningly into her skin, and he growled. The rumble sent vibrations shooting up her core and through her body, sizzling all the way to her extremities. She was ready to smack him over the head when she suddenly felt thesh of a tongue to her clit. Then his tongue was swirling around it as a finger speared inside her and she groaned, melting into the mattress. He growled again, this one was approving. Gio knew that Danica wouldn¡¯tst much longer, that she really needed to cum, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to part with her taste. It was like an aphrodisiac to him because it was creamy and zesty and his. For as long as she was mated to him every part of her was his, this pussy that he loved the feel of around his cock was his, and he needed to hear her say it. Abruptly he shoved another finger inside her, making her cry out and buck. ¡°Who does this pussy belong to?¡± he gritted out as he curved his fingers inside her while pressing his thumb on her clit so that his hand was mped around her. Eyes zed with lust met his.


    ¡°Shut the fuck up, Gio, and make me cum.¡±


    He thrust his fingers deep and again she bucked and cried out. ¡°Whose is it, Danica?¡±


    ¡°As I¡¯m the one who cleans it, waxes it, keeps it tidy and has it medically checked, I¡¯d say it¡¯s mine. But you can borrow it if you like.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t hold back a smile. ¡°If you want to cum you better be careful, baby, or I might just stop.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. You¡¯veid the foundations. My vibrator will take care of the rest.¡±


    ¡°No fake cocks. This¡± ¨C a thrust of his fingers ¨C ¡°is mine. The only cock that goes inside here is mine. Nothing else, no one else. Say it.¡±


    ¡°I would,¡± she rasped, ¡°but I don¡¯t believe in telling lies.¡±


    ¡°I mean it, Danica. Nothing and no one goes inside you except me.¡± He flicked her clit with his tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t share what¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s a lie because I¡¯ve heard that you and Chris  have double teamed some of your girlfriends in the past.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    It surprised him that Chris had told her. ¡°That was different.¡± He suckled gently on her clit, smiling at how close she was to cumming. He wouldn¡¯t let her until he¡¯d heard what he wanted to hear. Needed to hear.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± she breathed.


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t consider them mine. I didn¡¯t mark them as mine. And if you don¡¯t tell me right now that this hot little pussy here is mine, I¡¯ll keep you hanging like this.¡±


    ¡°You motherfucking ass-licking son of a goddamn cock-sucking bitch!¡±


    It took effort not tough. ¡°All the teasing will be over the second you tell me what I want to hear.¡± Instead she shook her head, growling. He rose to his knees and gripped his cock through his jeans with his free hand. ¡°See this, baby? This is yours. I¡¯ll give you as much cock as you want whenever you want. It¡¯s yours. And this¡± ¨C he plunged his fingers hard inside her ¨C ¡°is all mine. No other cock except mine. Say it.¡±


    Again she growled, wing his pectorals enough to tear his t-shirt but not enough to draw blood. ¡°Just make me cum you miserable bastard!¡±


    He shed his ws in a diagonal line from her breast to her hip.


    ¡°Fucking say it.¡±


    Danica kicked at him but he didn¡¯t remove his hand, only cupped her harder. She could see by the tight line of his lips that he wasn¡¯t going to drop this. ¡°No other cock except yours, there I said it!¡±


    ¡°And why is that, Danica? Why does nothing or no one go inside this tight pussy except me?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s yours,¡± she growled.


    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡± In one quick movement he withdrew his fingers, gripped her ass, curled her hips and stabbed his tongue inside her. Her back


    arched as she gave a loud cry. Her fingers threaded through his hair, tugging painfully, but he didn¡¯t give a shit. Not while her taste was in his mouth and her perfect ass was in his hands and she was making those goddamn noises. He continued fucking her relentlessly with his tongue and then, when he sensed her orgasm was close, he pulled her ass cheeks apart and plunged one wet finger into her ass. She screamed as her release hit and, unable to help himself, Gio moved his mouth to her inner thigh and bit down hard, sucking and licking and marking. Quickly he realized that he hadn¡¯t bitten her to cate his wolf, he¡¯d done it because Gio the man wanted to mark her.

 CHAPTER 31

    Danica was still panting and vibrating with aftershocks when Gio kissed his way up her body andy down beside her, gathering her against


    him. Although his eyes had darkened with lust he wasn¡¯t making any moves on her. In fact, he seemed pretty content to just y with her hair. As much as she appreciated his selflessness, a part of her wanted him to be a little selfish right about now because she really wanted his cock inside her.


    ¡°Tell me about your mom.¡±


    There went her arousal. When she hesitated answering he gave her a reprimanding look. He didn¡¯t want to be frozen out again. ¡°She was¡­this is going to sound mean. She was dizzy.¡±


    ¡°Dizzy?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Wherever she went she¡¯d leave something behind. The worst part was she wouldn¡¯t even realize she¡¯d left anything until someone asked her if it was hers. Common sense was something shecked but it was one of the things that everyone loved about her because she could always make themugh. Oddly enough, though, she was good with money. You¡¯d have thought that her dopiness would have interfered with her money management skills, but no, she was great with numbers.¡±


    ¡°You two were close?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°I think one of the reasons she doted on me so much was that I was her only child. Her and my dad tried for more, but for whatever reason, she never got pregnant again. I knew she felt guilty about that, like she¡¯d let my dad down.¡±


    ¡°Was your dad just as doting until he realized you weretent?¡±


    ¡°No. As a female, I was already a disappointment to him.¡±


    Gio made a derogative snort. ¡°That guy really is an asshole.¡± He gentled his voice as he asked, ¡°How did she die?¡±


    Again she hesitated and again he gave her that look. ¡°My mom and Zan¡¯s mom were close friends. Every Sunday they¡¯d go to the market in town and take me and Zan with them. On this one day I couldn¡¯t go because I was in the basement -¡±


    ¡°The basement?¡± There was something in the sound of her voice that had his hackles rising.


    ¡°It was my dad¡¯s version of a punishment.¡±


    ¡°He used to confine you?¡± Hell that would be bad for any kid but for a shifter¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s all part of that ¡®him being an asshole¡¯ thing. Gio held her tightly to him and kissed her hair. ¡°It¡¯s weird just how simr our situation is.¡±


    Danica pulled back to meet his gaze. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Both of us lost our mom and true mate. Both of us were lumbered with assholes for fathers. Both of us have to deal with bold inner wolves.¡±


    ¡°How did they die?¡± When he just stared at her she growled. ¡°Wait, I¡¯m supposed toy it all out but you get to remain a closed book? I don¡¯t think so, Wright. Get talking.¡±


    Not wanting to, but knowing she was right, he sighed and nodded.


    ¡°There weren¡¯t just the sixteen of us when I left the pack. My mom came. The separation from my dad¡­She wasn¡¯t strong enough to deal with it and


    she turned rogue. Then I killed her. She¡¯d attacked Donny¡­¡± When he paused mid sentence and Danica saw the pain in his eyes she couldn¡¯t help but stroke his chest and snuggled closer. He shot her one of those macho ¡®I don¡¯t needfort¡¯ looks. ¡°I¡¯m not sympathising with you, I¡¯m just cold.¡±


    ¡°As for my true mate¡­Her name was Louve.¡± That was the first time he¡¯d spoken her name for a very long time. ¡°She was two months old when she died in her sleep.¡±


    Danica¡¯s heart clenched at the idea. ¡°You said when we first met that you hadn¡¯t acknowledged her?¡±


    ¡°I was thirteen, she was a baby¡­it felt weird and I acted like a dumb shit. Then when I heard she was dead¡­Let¡¯s just say I didn¡¯t take it too well


    and I made a mess of my room. My dad put two and two together and teased me about it.¡±


    ¡°Teased you?¡± Rage and protectiveness surged through her, making her wish the bastard was alive so she could kick his ass.


    ¡°He thought the whole thing was funny because something had finally gotten an emotional reaction from me, he wanted me to cry. See, I¡¯d never cried no matter what he did to me, and he hated that. I¡¯d always stay stoic and take every punch, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted. Even as he


    teased me about Louve I couldn¡¯t cry, it¡¯s just not in me to do that I guess.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, he was an asshole. So am I right in thinking that it was the teasing that made you lose it and beat him up so bad you almost killed him?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯d put up with his shit for years, but everyone has a limit, and that day he found mine and pushed it. I¡¯m not sorry. Not even now that


    He¡¯s dead. If he was here right now I¡¯d do it all over again, and I¡¯d enjoy it.¡±


    He wanted her to know who he was, what he was capable of. He wanted to know if she could handle it. She didn¡¯t disappoint him. ¡°And I¡¯d be cheering you on.¡±


    Sliding his hand to her nape, he brought her face to his and kissed her hungrily,shing her tongue with his and nibbling on her lips. The urge to


    plunge inside her and take her over was eating at him. Making it worse was that the scent of her arousal still voured the air. Shit he deserved a


    goddamn award for his restraint. The sound of her stomach rumbling had Danica chuckling into Gio¡¯s


    mouth. ¡°I need feeding.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten,¡± he said with a wicked smirk. He tapped her bare ass lightly. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you some food.¡±


    Five minutester Danica  was fully clothed again and epting a piggyback ride from Gio who rushed her into the kitchen. The entire pack was there other than Richard who was on guard duty. All were smiling with the exception of Lindy, Max, Theresa, and Cindy. Danica could only assume they. had overheard her and Gio having some quality time together, or had guessed by the sight of his shed t-shirt which he had purposely left on. There was someone else who wasn¡¯t smiling, she suddenly realized. Chris¡¯ expression was carefully nk. Before she had the chance to wonder. on that, Michey came and handed Danica ¨C who was sat on the counter with Gio standing beside her ¨C a te on which a few slices of pineapples (her favorite)  sat, and also a candy bar just because she was an angel. ¡°It¡¯s good to have you back.¡±


    She took the te gratefully. Michey always took care of her. Then she topped it off by handing her a mug of coffee. ¡°I think I love you.¡±


    ¡°So the hussy¡¯s back, is she?¡± sneered Lindy, ring at Danica like she was a giant turd.


    Danica only smiled. ¡°Is there no way you could just pull your bottom lip over your head and swallow?¡±


    Duda¡¯s drink sprayed out of his mouth as he went into a fit of. coughing.


    ¡°I¡¯d have shoved this piece of pineapple in your mouth if I didn¡¯t like it so much.¡± Danica saw Ray biting his bottom lip and just knew he was doing his best to bite back a dirty chat up line. Perv.


    ¡°While you and Danica were, um, busy,¡± said Jeremy to Gio, ¡°I checked our pack web for messages. Turns out there¡¯s a lot of alphas interested in discussing an alliance with you, Gio. The new alpha of Cody¡¯s pack included.¡± Danicaughed. ¡°I had a feeling he might get in touch through the pack web. He seemed too terrified of Gio toe back here.¡±


    ¡°There was someone else too.¡± He looked at Danica then. ¡°Your dad.


    Only he wants to set up a meeting to discuss it in person. Any idea why?¡±


    ¡°There are different levels to an alliance. Most simply want the association with that pack, want to build the number of associations to look impressive.¡±


    ¡°A little like people on socialworks wanting to have a massive friends list?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Others want an assurance that if they ever need to call on the pack in an emergency for back-up of some kind, they¡¯ll get it. Then there are


    some who are a lot like people who enjoy boasting about all the important or influential people they know ¨C like to drop names into conversations and


    im that that person is a close acquaintance in order to look impressive to others.¡±


    Gio folded his arms across his chest. ¡°So, basically, your dad wants to be able to throw my name around to deter others from fucking with him, and maybe even call on me for protection?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°Cheeky bastard. A basic alliance, sure. But the right to use me on a protective level? Hell no.¡± After the way he¡¯d treated Danica, the man was lucky to still be breathing.

 CHAPTER 32

    ¡°The whole point of mating with me was to get an alliance with my dad. You can¡¯t let the fact that he¡¯s an asshole get in the way here of your big


    n.¡±


    Yeah, but Gio couldn¡¯t agree to this alliance without feeling as though he was being disloyal to his mate. God knew he¡¯d hurt her enough already.


    ¡°Jeremy said a number of other alphas are willing to discuss an alliance. Maybe I won¡¯t need your dad.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never needed him, you¡¯ve never needed this mating,¡± stated Max.


    ¡°Too right,¡± said Theresa, crossing her arms over her chest, entuating her cleavage. ¡°She has no ce here.¡±


    ¡°No Hart will ever have a ce here.¡±


    Danica shook her head. ¡°This stuff is getting real old.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Cindy?¡± pressed Theresa, ignoring Danica.


    Cindy gulped and nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve no ce here.¡±


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you listen to us, Gio?¡± Max sounded genuinely confused.


    ¡°Kevin will never go through with this challenge , you have to know that.¡±


    ¡°Son, why not just calm down,¡± said Gary.


    ¡°Are you telling me that you support her being here? Support having a Hart around?¡±


    Gary sighed. ¡°No, I don¡¯t support it, and I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll get anything out of her being here. Nheless, we don¡¯t question our Alpha,


    you know that.¡±


    Sharply, Max stood and stalked out of the room. Theresa and Cindy followed closely behind him.


    ¡°Theirck of support isn¡¯t exactly a shock,¡± said Duda, shrugging as if their input meant jack shit.


    Gio nodded his agreement then stood between Danica¡¯s swinging legs and pulled her flush against him. ¡°You¡¯re sure you¡¯ll be okay with me meeting up with your dad to sort an alliance?¡±


    ¡°Do you honestly think I¡¯d keep my mouth shut if I wasn¡¯t?¡±


    He smiled. ¡°Good point. Alright, Jeremy, set a meeting up for this weekend at somewhere that¡¯s neutral territory.¡±


    ¡°You do know I¡¯ming, right?¡± said Danica. Seeing that he was about to argue she ced her index finger over his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you want to start ranting just as long as you understand I¡¯ll be ignoring every word and I fully intend to be there. Any Alpha pair would go together to a meeting with another Alpha, you know that.¡±


    He nipped her finger, making her snatch it back and scowl. ¡°This isn¡¯t just any Alpha. This is the asshole who was aplete and utter bastard to


    you throughout your entire life.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯d want to be in the same room with him ever again after the way he just tossed you aside because of thetency,¡± said Hudson, clearly in protective mode.


    Taking in the sympathetic faces, Danica sighed. ¡°I take it this means you all know about my rtionship, orck thereof  with my dad.¡± Jeremy pointed at Donny. ¡°It was him who told us all.¡±


    ¡°Only because you were all talking about her like she was Hart¡¯s golden girl. His treatment was far from golden.¡±


    ¡°Which is why I don¡¯t want you near him,¡± Gio said to Danica. His wolf was in full agreement.


    She smiled sweetly and scraped her nails lightly down the column of his throat. ¡°As cute as that is, it doesn¡¯t make an ounce of difference.¡±


    Again he wanted to argue with her, wanted to protect her from harm. just as his wolf did, but now that Gio hade to know more about Danica, he understood that how he handled this now would be very important. Throughout her entire life, people had seen it as their right to undermine herN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    and disrespect her. If the male she had mated did that, it would hurt her deeply. Even his wolf understood that part of his job as protector was to


    protect her emotionally ¨C something he hadn¡¯t been doing very well so far. So, groaning, he nodded and didn¡¯t let it show that her beaming smile had any effect on him.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re starting to understand that I have a will of iron.¡± Seeing Ray¡¯s face scrunched up in agony, indicating that it was obviously killing him to hold back, she sighed tiredly. ¡°Whatever the dirty line is, get it out of your system now.¡±


    Ray shrugged innocently. ¡°It was just that you said you liked oranges. It got me wondering¡­If I was an orange, would you spit or swallow my seed?¡± Some chuckled, some groaned, and Gio scowled at him.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I got a better one. If your left leg is Thanksgiving, and your right leg is Christmas, can I visit you between the holidays?¡± More people chuckled than groaned at him this time. Gio, of course, growled.


    ¡°Where do you hear these lines?¡±


    ¡°Some I¡¯ve heard from other guys. Some I¡¯ve read on the inte or heard on T. V.¡±


    Gio red at him. ¡°Well you can stop using them on my mate.¡±


    Ray gave him an apologetic look that couldn¡¯t have been more false. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, she¡¯s like a dictionary ¨C she brings meaning into my life.¡± This time everyone groaned. ¡°Ohe on, that wasn¡¯t that bad.¡±


    The next few hours went as usual for the pack of an evening ¨C they ate together in the kitchen, they watched T. V. together, Danica and Lindy exchanged more insults. But there were two major differences. One, Gio stayed with Danica as opposed to closing himself in his office. Two, for some unknown reason, Chris didn¡¯t appear to be talking to her. It wasn¡¯t until just before she was ready to head to her room that she managed to catch a moment alone with Chris in the living area. ¡°Would you like to tell me why you won¡¯t even look at me?¡±


    As if she hadn¡¯t spoken, he rose from his seat on the sofa and started to leave the room.


    She jumped up and ced herself in front of him. ¡°Oh no, there¡¯ll be no walking away. You tell me what it is I¡¯ve done.¡±


    Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair. She didn¡¯t think he was going to answer but then he abruptly snapped, ¡°You shut me out, Danica.¡± Gentling his tone, he continued. ¡°I thought we were close. Close friends, I mean. And you totally shut me out. What¡¯s worse is that the person you opened up to is the one person who didn¡¯t deserve to have you confide in him like that.¡±


    She could understand why he might feel a little hurt. They had be good friends. Her wolf wasn¡¯t so understanding about his tone and was


    growling inside Danica¡¯s head. ¡°Today is my deceased mom¡¯s birthday.¡± His mouth dropped open. ¡°I actually hadn¡¯t told Gio. He found my box of memories and realized for himself.¡±


    ¡°But he was still the person who brought you out of that daze. Him. Or do you just like being eaten out so much?¡±


    Hands on her hips she invaded his personal space. ¡°Who do you think you are speaking to me that way?


    He stepped back and raised his hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯d let him use you. All he¡¯s done since the beginning is brush you off and now that he¡¯s decided he¡¯ll treat you like a mate you¡¯re just going to give in to him just like that? You deserve better than that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making him sound cruel, Chris. He was trying to avoid imprinting -¡±


    ¡°Yeah I know but I still think you deserve better. I¡¯d never have hurt you like that, Danica. Never.¡±


    As the meaning of his words registered it was her mouth that dropped open as her hands slipped down from her hips.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯d never poach ¨C that¡¯s not who I am. Maybe once the battle¡¯s over and you¡¯re leaving¡± ¨C he paused, shrugging ¨C


    ¡°maybe you¡¯ll think more about me then.¡±


    This time she didn¡¯t try to stop him from leaving the room. She didn¡¯t do anything, just stood there frozen with shock. Should she have known this


    was how Chris felt? Sure she¡¯d noticed he was always around her a lot but he was her bodyguard, he was supposed to be. And yeah, okay, he touched her a lot, but Donny gave her shoulders a massage every single day and there was nothing going on there. Why did it have to mean something if a guy was friendly? Couldn¡¯t


    tonic friendships between a male and a female exist anymore? This was so shit.


    The sound of soft footsteps had her turning to see Duda entering the room. His expression was sympathetic.


    ¡°You heard that.¡± He nodded. There was no surprise on his face. ¡°You already knew.¡± He nodded again.


    ¡°Everybody knows.¡± Another nod. ¡°Even Gio?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if he knows that Chris is prepared to leave the pack with you, but he knows Chris wants you.¡±


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t caused any bad feelings between them, has it?¡± She¡¯d leave before she came between two close friends. Her wolf growled at the idea of her leaving, but Danica ignored her.


    ¡°No. Like Chris said, he¡¯d never poach and Gio knows that.¡± He cocked his head and pursed his lips. ¡°Would Chris have a chance with you if you left here?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®if I left here¡¯ about it, Duda. Gio only wants this to be short-term, you know that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that. I¡¯ve seen Gio with women. Never has he ever treated any of them the way he treats you.¡± She snickered. ¡°What, you mean totally shoving them aside?¡±


    ¡°As much as Gio¡¯s tough, we¡¯re all scared of something. And he¡¯s terrified of imprinting, Danica. He saw first-hand what happens when a wolf turns rogue, he had to kill that wolf. For as long as you don¡¯t imprint on each other there¡¯s no chance of that happening to either of you if you separate.¡±


    She noticed he had again used the word ¡®if¡¯ but she didn¡¯tment.


    ¡°When he made that deal with you, he hadn¡¯t considered that he might juste to like you in more than a physical sense. You brought out things in him that he wasn¡¯t prepared for and it knocked him for a loop.¡±

 CHAPTER 33

    She shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s just his wolf, Duda. Just his mating instincts. It¡¯s not Gio.¡±


    ¡°He knew in advance that his wolf would be possessive, he knew his instincts would ride him hard ¨C he¡¯d been ready for all that. He hadn¡¯t been


    ready for how it would be if he himself felt those same things.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± The denial was automatic. Automatic because she¡¯de to the conclusion a long time ago that she could only ever rely on


    herself, that she would never have that total eptance that came from a mate. She was defiant, sarcastic, snappy, contrary, stubborn and strong-willed. not an attractivebination for male wolves in her opinion. When she¡¯d lost Zan she¡¯d also lost that one chance of being cared for exactly as she was,tency and all. Besides this was Gio they were talking about for God¡¯s sake! ¡°There¡¯s no danger of us imprinting.¡±


    ¡°I agree. There¡¯s something a lot bigger than that going on here.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something you both need to figure out on your own, but I¡¯m not convinced either of you are ready to ept it yet.¡±


    Not liking that smug, all-knowing look on his face, she pushed passed him and jogged to her room. In under a minute she was stripped of her clothes and stood under the soothing hot spray of the shower. There was no denying that this day had been one of the strangest of her life. On the plus


    side, at least it wasn¡¯t possible that it could get any stranger. But she didn¡¯t want to think on anything. Not her mom, not Zan, not Chris¡¯ confession, not


    Duda¡¯s dumb theory. All she wanted was to just forget about it all, just for a little while. She would decide what to do about Chris tomorrow, she really would, but right now she just needed to rx. Finished in his office and ready to head to his room, Gio swung the office door open and frowned at the sight of Duda stood there with his hand ready to knock.


    ¡°Hey,¡± said his Beta, dropping his hand. ¡°I¡¯m just passing on a message from Jeremy. The meeting with Mr. Carrick Hart is scheduled for next Saturday morning at Euphoria Meals, 10 A. M.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t sound all that excited.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t?¡± asked Gio, hoping to sound aloof, as he stepped out of the office and closed the door behind him. In truth, the idea of making any kind


    of agreement with Carrick Hart irritated both him and his wolf. Duda sighed, rubbing his nape. ¡°I don¡¯t like it either. Danica might say it doesn¡¯t bother her, but it¡¯s got to piss her off a little.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s always known I wanted the alliance, she¡¯s never forgotten why she¡¯s here,¡± said Gio a little defensively.


    ¡°Yeah. Would have been a lot easier using her like this if she was an evil heifer though.¡± As Gio shrugged passed him Duda added, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect her to be in a great mood when you see her.¡±


    Gio swerved. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Chris  just dropped a bomb on her.¡±


    He didn¡¯t have to say anything more for Gio to understand. ¡°I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d tell her. Little motherfucker.¡±


    ¡°Gio,e on, he¡¯s just overheard her screaming from an orgasm you were giving her and he feels like you¡¯re treating her like a toy you can pick


    up when you feel like.¡±


    ¡°A toy? She¡¯s my mate.¡± He would admit he¡¯d been an ass to her, but never had he thought of her as a toy, never had he disrespected her in his


    thoughts like that.


    ¡°I know that. Chris would never trespass on your territory and if you had mated with Danica for life then I doubt he would have said a word. Not that


    I¡¯m making excuses for him. I¡¯m not. It was a totally uncool thing to do, especially on a day when she¡¯s feeling so raw.¡±


    ¡°She hadn¡¯t known, had she?¡±


    Duda shook his head. ¡°She seemed a little worried that it might cause trouble between you and him, but I made sure she knew that wouldn¡¯t happen. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to keep him as her bodyguard though.¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t need one. She has me.¡± Gio was surprised his voice sounded human considering that he was fighting his wolf from surfacing. His


    wolf wanted to hunt down the male who not only coveted his mate but had made it damn clear that he wanted her.


    Duda grinned. ¡°I like that answer.¡±


    Gio gave him a small nod and turned to leave, but then he spoke again.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else. Telling you probably isn¡¯t a good thing, but keeping it from you would be worse ¨C you¡¯re my Alpha, and my friend. And I¡¯d hate to see you throw something away without first realising how important it is to you.¡±


    ¡°Duda, English.¡±


    ¡°Well, Chris basically indicated that if she was agreeable, he¡¯d leave the pack with her when this was over and mate with her.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡± he growled. His wolf bucked and wed at Gio, wanting to get out and rid the world of this male. Chris had to be having suicidal thoughts ¨C that was all Gio could conclude from that. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him.¡±


    In a blink, Duda was directly in front of him, blocking his path. ¡°No, no, no ¨C Gio, man, just listen. I know Chris crossed a boundary by suggesting that to her while she¡¯s still mated to you, but he wasn¡¯t thinking right. He was jealous and hurt.¡±


    None of that meant jack shit to Gio or his wolf. Shoving his Beta aside, he stalked down the hallway in pursuit of his prey.


    ¡°If you go kick Chris¡¯ ass now, Danica will leave.¡±


    His wolf snapped to attention at that and Gio  halted in his tracks. No other words would have gotten through to him. His wolf didn¡¯t understand all the details around this matter, but he did understand cause and effect. If Gio acted on his anger and hurt Chris, his mate would leave.


    ¡°She won¡¯t stick around even one hour longer if she thinks she¡¯sing between the two of you. I know you can¡¯t just switch off the anger but, man, you got to choose which is more important ¨C venting that anger, or making sure Danica stays.¡±


    He was right. Gio knew he was right. But he was also right about something else. Gio couldn¡¯t just switch off the anger just like that.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Duda¡­¡± The word was guttural.


    ¡°She¡¯ll leave, Chris. You touch Chris, she¡¯ll leave right now.¡±. And Chris might leave with her. ¡°What did she say when he told her?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t give her a chance to say anything, just left the room. You can¡¯t really me him for feeling that way about her.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t. But what he did crossed a line.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and imagine how that¡¯s made her feel. She thought Chris was her friend and she¡¯s already had enough going on in her head today. Go to her,


    make sure she¡¯s okay. Chris¡¯ suffering enough just by having to see you guys together.¡± When Gio continued to hesitate, Duda sighed. ¡°Chris or Danica¡±.


    Decide.¡±

 CHAPTER 34

    It was as she was rinsing the conditioner from her hair that Danica felt a chill on her back followed by the presence of a warm muscr body behind


    her. Gio¡¯s scent swirled around her,forting both her and her wolf. Without saying a word, he took the soapy sponge from the shelf, tipped her


    head forward, and washed every inch of her back. Then he moved onto her arms, her ass, her legs. Never was his touch anything but gentle. Then he


    turned her to face him and washed the front of her body in much the same way. At no point was his touch seductive, but somehow she was as turned on as all hell by the time he¡¯d reached her thighs.


    Abruptly Danica knotted her hands in his hair and tugged his head down as she mashed her lips to his. He didn¡¯t require any coaxing. Groaning, he


    plunged his tongue into her mouth and made the kiss his own. There was nothing gentle about it, the selflessness of earlier days had gone. He took, he dominated, he devoured, he conquered. She had never felt so taken in her entire life and he was only kissing her. Gio honestly hadn¡¯t joined her in the shower with the intention of seducing her. Not today when her head was full with all kinds of crap. All he¡¯d meant was to offer her some kind offort, to make sure she didn¡¯t


    feel alone, to ensure that she knew she wasn¡¯t alone. Any other day he might have had a little willpower, but not today, not when his own mind was all messed up. The second she¡¯d joined her lips to his, all his good intentions left him. All his pent-up arousal escaped into the kiss, into the way that he clutched her to him, into his groans and growls. The flirty scent of her arousal washed


    over him, luring him and urging him to taste her.


    His entire body clenched as one of her hands trailed down his body and her soft fingers curled around him. She swiped her thumb over the head,


    smearing the drop of pre-cum as she did. He sucked in a breath as she then began to pump. Her grip was just how he liked it, firm and sure. Every wicked stroke intensified his need for her, his need to taste and fuck his mate, the same mate who was sneakily attempting to dominate him, to control the situation. His wolf approved of her attempt, of her feistiness, but just like Gio he wasn¡¯t going to allow her to have the control.


    A shudder ran through Danica as a powerful fist tangled in her hair and snatched her head back before sharp teeth raked down her throat. The move was dominant and possessive and much approved of by her wolf who quivered at each demonstration of his strength. Her back arched and her breasts pushed out, pressing her hard nipples against his chest and making her


    inhale sharply.


    Looming over her, Gio seized her gaze. ¡°I need your taste in my mouth, Danica.¡± He really did need it. Needed his senses to be full of her, his mate. His mate who was there with him, not Chris or anyone else, but him. He watched as defiance shed on her face and she growled. Gio gripped her wrists, backed her into the tiled wall and pinned her there with his body, keeping her hands high above her head. His rebellious little mate struggled just like he knew she would. ¡°Yeah, baby, fight me. Fight me all you want but you¡¯re not going to get dominance here.¡±


    Gio wasing to understand a few things about Danica. He was learning that her problem with submitting went a lot deeper than her just being an alpha female. She didn¡¯t want another person to have any power over her, didn¡¯t want to be vulnerable to them or else they could hurt her the


    way everyone else had. The only two people who had ever protected her in any way had been the same two people who were taken from her when she was just a kid. She hadn¡¯t been safe in a very long time. Hell, her own dad hadn¡¯t even protected her. Gio¡¯s theory was that if he could get her to understand that he wouldn¡¯t abuse any power she ever gave him over her then just maybe she


    wouldn¡¯t fight him so hard. Oh she¡¯d still be fiery and obstinate and spit strings of profanities at him, but she might just be more epting of his


    dominance.


    ¡°Move you piece of shit!¡± she growled as she squirmed wildly, snapping her teeth at him. She met his gaze boldly and unflinchingly, trying to stare him down.


    ¡°Keep fighting, baby. Shall I tell you what¡¯s going to happen when you stop? Shall I tell you how I¡¯m going to reward you when you submit?¡± His


    voice low and calm, he spoke at a slow and steady pace. ¡°I¡¯m going to carry you to the counter and sit you on the edge. Then I¡¯m going to tell you to spread your legs. And you will. You will because you know how good it will feel when I taste you and fuck you with my tongue. Would you like to know what¡¯s going to happen after that?¡±


    No, Danica didn¡¯t want to know because she could feel his sensual voice full of temptation beginning to weave a smell around her and she didn¡¯t trust


    herself not to sumb to his wicked promises. His tone was deep,manding, controlled and dominant, much like that of a hypnotist. And it


    was making her wet. Her body was such a traitor sometimes. Although she was still writhing she had stopped snapping those teeth. Even better, Gio knew he had her full attention. ¡°I¡¯m going to slowly sink my cock into you, fill you up, and then I¡¯m going to fuck you raw.¡± Moving his mouth to her ear, he spoke in the same low, calm voice. ¡°It¡¯ll feel so good, Danica. It¡¯s okay to submit to me, because I¡¯ll respect that submission. I won¡¯t hurt you. You¡¯re safe with me.¡± Instantly she froze and he guessed he¡¯d surprised her. ¡°You know that. You can feel it. Your wolf knows it.¡±


    Okay so it turned out that it was actually possible for something to shock Danica more than anything else that had happened today. The amount of


    assurance in those few words ¡®You¡¯re safe with me¡¯ told her that Gio was fully aware of just how much her resistance to submitting was fuelled by self protection. He was right, she did believe she was safe with him just as her wolf did. She was confident that he would never physically hurt her. It gave her a thrill to know that this strong, powerful male could easily hurt her but he didn¡¯t.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be a submissive wolf, baby, that¡¯s not what this is about. You¡¯re an alpha female, I acknowledge that and I respect it. But I need you to respect that I¡¯m an alpha male. A very dominant alpha male who. wants you to submit to him ¨C not be submissive, just submit to him in this.¡±


    Again he had surprised Danica. He didn¡¯t want to change her, wasn¡¯t disregarding her own strength the way others had before him. Instead of making their battle for dominance all about physical strength and proving his will was stronger, he was promising to give her what she¡¯d missed from her


    life since it became apparent that she wastent ¨C respect and protection. She knew he couldn¡¯t offer her the one other thing she was missing, just in old someone to care about her ¨C but he could give her those other things if she would trust her safety to him. And with that acknowledgement of who she was and what she needed, he had just earned hers and her wolf¡¯s submission in a whole other way. For a moment Chris¡¯ words came back to her, his implication that by giving in to Gio she was allowing him to use her. They were already using


    each other in a sense though, weren¡¯t they? Their mating was based on a mutually beneficial deal. Would it really be such a huge thing to include sex


    in the mix? Sex that just happened to be the best she¡¯d ever had. Was it really so bad that she wanted to lose herself in Gio for a little while? Not lose herself in the mating and forget it wasn¡¯t real, no, never that. She just wanted to enjoy this mating bond that she might never have again.


    Gio felt as the rigidness slowly began to leave her body, but he sensed that her defences weren¡¯t down yet. ¡°You can do this, baby, I know you can.


    I know you¡¯re strong enough to let me lead here.¡± She swallowed hard and her jaw lost its tenseness. Almost there. ¡°It¡¯s okay, baby. You¡¯re safe, I swear. It¡¯s okay.¡± When she inhaled deeply and the spark of defiance left her eyes, triumph shot through him and his wolf. ¡°That¡¯s a good girl. My good girl.¡±


    So damn turned on it wasn¡¯t even funny, Gio ravished that carnal mouth, drinking her in. Having this strong alpha female submit to him like that sent a ravenous hunger like nothing he had ever known before sting through his system. And not just any strong female, but Danica. Surely it was wrong that even though Danica was imprisoned between him and the wall and could barely move she was so unbelievably close to climaxing. His imcable voice that oozed supreme confidence hadn¡¯t helped and now she was writhing and whimpering as she ground against him. Suddenly he cupped her ass and hoisted her up, urging her to curl her legs around him. Keeping her pinned to the wall, he rubbed his cock against her clit, making her groan into his mouth.


    ¡°Is this what you need?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not enough. Want you inside.¡±


    ¡°Not yet, baby. You can have my cock a littleter.¡±


    Not liking the teasing expression on his face she kicked her legs wildly, trying to escape his hold. He only pinned her more firmly against the wall.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°You said it was mine. You said I could have it whenever I wanted it.¡±


    ¡°And you can. Just as soon as I¡¯ve tasted you I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡± He turned off the spray, carried her out of the shower and slid her


    down his body to stand on the mat. Then he curled a towel around her and began to rub her dry before then drying himself, never once moving his gaze from hers. Gripping her by her waist, he lifted her and ced her on the counter near the basin before uncurling the towel.

 CHAPTER 35

    ¡°Spread your legs and lean back, baby. I want to see how wet you are.¡± Unsurprisingly, she stared at him uncertainly, not finding it easy to totally submit. ¡°Danica,¡± he growled, ¡°spread your legs and lean back.¡± Still staring hard at him, she slowly did as he¡¯d asked. ¡°Very good.¡± He swallowed at the sight of her pink, swollen, glistening folds. Her scent urged him closer like a


    ma, luring him to glut himself on her, to take what was his. Hands abruptly slid under her thighs to cup her ass and cock her hips as his mouth closed over her clit. Danica cried out and thrashed as he suckled hard and pleasure rushed through her like a scorching hot wind. She practically melted when his tongue swiped through her folds and circled her clit before flicking it with the tip of his tongue. He was merciless in his assault. He licked, nibbled, sucked, and bit, wringing moans and whimpers from her. He groaned and growled against her flesh, intensifying the pleasure until it was too much and she tried to wriggle free. ¡°No more.¡± Growling, he grazed her inner thigh warningly with his ws, making it clear that he wasn¡¯t willing to part with her taste yet. Bastard. Then he nestled his tongue inside her, swirling and stabbing and sending sparks of agonising bliss zinging through her. With each thrust of his tongue the friction built within her, threatening to shatter her. She wanted him to stop. She wanted him to keep going. Then a finger drove inside her as he bit down gently on her clit and she virtually imploded, moaning and shuddering. When Danica was able to lift her head and open her eyes it was to see him staring at her, licking her juices from his bottom lip. ¡°You¡¯re a teasing bastard.¡± Her voice was coarse. Wearing a very boyish smile, he gently but firmly cored her throat with his hand and urged her upright. Then his lips ravaged hers as his tongue drove into her mouth, forcing her to taste herself.


    ¡°Now I have the taste of you on my tongue, I want the feel of that tight pussy around my cock. Do you want me inside you?¡± She nodded. ¡°Tell me. I


    want to hear you say it.¡±


    Hadn¡¯t he made her wait long enough? Asshole. ¡°I want you,¡± she said sharply and begrudgingly. ¡°Now do it.¡±


    Gio pulled her to the edge of the counter and angled her just how he wanted her. Then he locked his hands onto her hips and began to work his cock inside her. He groaned as her muscles tightened around him, trying to drag him deeper. His wolf wanted him to ram into her, to fuck her hard and fill her with his cum, but Gio simply eased himself slowly inside, controlled and smooth. He stopped after only feeding her a few inches. Her lust-dazed eyes mmed to his. ¡°Do you like that? Shall I give you more?¡± She nodded.


    ¡°I want the words, Danica.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you promised to fuck me raw.¡±


    ¡°My little bitch is getting impatient, is she?¡± he asked with a smile.


    ¡°Then tell me, do you want more?¡±


    ¡°Yes dammit,¡± she growled.


    He gave her another couple of inches then stilled again. ¡°More?¡±


    Danica wanted to wipe that superior look from his face. Even her wolf didn¡¯t like it. ¡°If you want someone who¡¯ll make all the right noises and say


    all the right words when you tell her to then go find someone else!¡±


    Gio nipped her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else, baby. I just want to hear my Danica telling me she wants me. Shall I tell you how much I want to fuck


    this hot little body? How I¡¯ve wanted to fuck you since the second I saw you?


    That¡¯s right, baby, I wanted you before we mated. What I want to do right now is make youe so hard you scream.¡± At a sluggish pace he withdrew


    and then slowly sank back in, but he didn¡¯t go any deeper than before. She. moaned irritably. ¡°If you want more, all you have to do is say so. Come on,


    give me the words, baby. Give me what I want.¡±


    After a lengthy pause she said, ¡°I want more.¡± Abruptly he mmed into her, forcing her to take all of him, and she very nearly screamed. The


    sensation of his size stretching her was incredible. It was pleasure, it was pain, and nothing had ever felt better.


    ¡°So tight,¡± he groaned. ¡°God, that feels so fucking good.¡± As he waited for her body to adjust, he ravished her lips, knotting his tongue with hers over and over. ¡°I love your mouth. One of these days, I¡¯m going to have those lips of yours wrapped around my cock while I fuck your mouth.¡±


    ¡°No way, asshole.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s another thing I¡¯ll be doing very soon. Fucking your sweet little ass.¡±


    Hearing the impatience in her tone, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, baby, I¡¯ll give you the hard fuck you want. Even if you didn¡¯t want it, I¡¯d make you take it.¡± He reared back and then began ruthlessly pounding into her at a furious pace. Her head dropped back and those husky sounds he loved began


    pouring out of her. A growl rumbled up Gio¡¯s chest as her ws pressed into the flesh of his back. She wasn¡¯t breaking the skin though, wasn¡¯t marking him. He knew that she wanted to leave her mark on him ¨C she was clenching her jaw against the urge to bite him just as he had done that first night. Unlike her, he had no interest in holding back. He liked seeing his brand on her body and liked knowing that others would see it.


    Gio leaned forward and bit down hard at the juncture of her neck, groaning as her muscles tightened around him just as they always did when


    he marked her. Unable to help himself he swooped down and took a nipple into his mouth, sucking hard and then biting down to leave another mark.. Her head snapped up as she growled. ¡°Stop branding me!¡±


    He smiled. ¡°Why would I want to do that, baby?¡± Without warning he dragged her from the counter, keeping her legs wrapped around his waist, and


    mmed her back against the wall. Then he plunged a finger into her ass and


    she cried out. ¡°That¡¯s where I¡¯m going to be soon, Danica,¡± he promised as he continued fucking her feverishly.


    ¡°No,¡± she bit out, ignoring the carnal bliss of the double assault to her body.


    ¡°Oh yeah your ass is going to squeeze me so tight, just like this sweet little pussy I¡¯m fucking.¡±


    She kicked and scratched even as she groaned and whimpered.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby, scratch me. Mark me. Your wolf needs it, doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    The traitorous bitch did, but Danica was resolute that she might scratch him, but she wouldn¡¯t break the skin, wouldn¡¯t mark him. She wasn¡¯t going to make the eventual separation more difficult for her wolf. It appeared that he, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t interested in exercising any restraint. He bit her earlobe, her throat, her shoulder, and the hollow beneath her ear. The worst part about it was that it had her groaning every time. At this point she was making noises that were somewhere between moans and sobs.


    ¡°Louder, Danica. I want every person in these caves to know that I¡¯m fucking you right now. I want them to know that I own you.¡± When defiance


    again shed on her face he thrust the finger in her ass hard. ¡°Don¡¯t you tell me no. You belong to me.¡±


    ¡°Then you belong to me!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, baby, I do.¡± Sensing she was close, Gio reached a hand between them and parted her folds, exposing her clit to the feverish motion of


    his pelvis as he repeatedly hammered into her. ¡°Let me hear you scream, Danica,¡± he demanded, ¡°let them all hear you scream. Now!¡± He locked his


    teeth over his mark and plunged a second finger into her ass. She jolted and screamed as her climax tore through her, making her muscles close down on his cock and milk him as he forcefully exploded inside her. ¡°Fuuuuuuck!¡±


    This female was going to kill him. Not sure how much longer his legs would hold him but not wanting to leave her body just yet, Gio turned and slid down the wall until his ass met the floor with a thump. She copsed across his chest, panting and quivering with the aftershocks. ¡°It¡¯s not normal toe that hard.¡± He hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d said that aloud until she spoke.


    ¡°I was just thinking the same thing.¡±


    Obviously it was only due to their partially developed mating link and the temporary connection between their wolves. Ignoring that part of him that insisted what was between them was more than that, he let his head fall back


    against the wall. He grinned as his cock began hardening inside her. This was going to be a long night, he had weeks to make up for.

 CHAPTER 36

    Danica wasn¡¯t oblivious to the looks she was getting from the people in the diner. As this was a ce where powerful alphas tended to congregate


    the kind who sawtency as a weakness,  the door had never been open to her. It was kind of like a school situation where only the popr kids got to hang out in a particr crowd. That wasn¡¯t why people kept looking at her though. It was because she was sitting next to a hulking great Alpha male who was known for being a violent bastard but was toying with her hair with the lightest touch as she ate her breakfast. The same hulking great Alpha Male who had a tendency to turn wild in his wolf form. Their expressions ranged from curious to awed, probably due to the


    rumor that she had calmed him when he was feral or maybe just due to the fact that she was sitting with the local psychotic shifter. Of course they were. quick to look away if Gio shot them a scowl, but he seemed to like the idea that other males might want her. Weird bastard.


    Smiling at the sight of his tiny mate practically attacking a te of scrambled eggs, toast, tomatoes and baked beans, Gio massaged her nape. ¡°Enjoying that, baby?¡± Apparently too engrossed to give him any attention, she simply nodded.. He hadn¡¯t ordered anything for himself other than coffee as he wasn¡¯t particrly hungry at the time, but the smell of meat so close was too much to resist. He took a slice of bacon from her te and dipped it in her egg before taking a chunk from it. She froze then slowly swerved her head to face him, snarling. He knew why. He¡¯d learned early that his mate was territorial over her food, but needling her was always fun. Surprising him, she abruptly leaned forward and snatched the bacon from his hand with her teeth, making


    him think of a chameleon catching a fly with its tongue. His chuckle quickly died as the door of the diner opened and a familiar scent reached his nose. Danica looked up to see Carrick Hart walking toward them nked by Matt and Ben. All three looked rtively nervous even though the meeting had been set up by Gio through Jeremy. As Gio was convinced that forming an alliance with her father would upset her, he had earlier that morning offered to cancel the meeting. However, she had encouraged him to go. It seemed dumb for him to have mated with her for this alliance only to then refuse to even meet with her father to discuss the issue. As she always did when Carrick


    was around, her wolf flexed her ws and growled,  although she recognised this wolf as her father, she didn¡¯t like him.


    As Carrick stopped before their table it was Gio¡¯s cue to stand, but he didn¡¯t,  something that was ack of respect and made it clear that he didn¡¯t trust Carrick. The old Alpha had the option of leaving, refusing to sit with someone who would show disrespect, or he could sit down and attempt to earn that respect. Gio guessed that Carrick would want an alliance too much to just walk out. He was right.


    The three wolves joined their table, sliding onto the bench opposite theirs, with Carrick in the middle. The old man folded his arms across his


    broad chest. He was in good shape for his age, Gio thought. But both of them knew Gio could take him easy. Carrick¡¯s gaze finally flicked to Danica who, apparently uninterested in waiting for her own father to acknowledge her, was focused on her half finished meal. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll remember Ben and Matt so I don¡¯t need to introduce them. A few of my other enforcers are outside.¡±


    Gio heard the ¡®I¡¯m not defenceless¡¯ warning within that sentence. ¡°If you look behind me, you should see my Beta and a few of my own enforcers.¡± He heard as  Duda said ¡®Hi there¡¯. He imagined that Chris, Ray and Hudson would be giving Carrick looks that said they hoped he gave them a reason to pounce on him. Each one of them despised the old Alpha for his treatment of Danica.


    Carrick exhaled heavily. ¡°It¡¯s fair to say we got off on the wrong foot.¡±


    ¡°Are you referring to how you tried to take my mate from me?¡± Gio¡¯s wolf growled at the memory.


    ¡°I had every reason to believe that she wasn¡¯t your true mate. Considering that she¡¯s my daughter, taking her with me wouldn¡¯t exactly have been kidnapping her.¡±


    ¡°Your daughter, huh? Biologically, maybe. In practice, not so much.¡±


    Again Carrick¡¯s gaze darted briefly to an otherwise upied Danica. ¡°I heard about what happened with Cody.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was all very sad.¡±


    ¡°I also heard that you went wildl and that Danica managed to calm you down and bring you back from that.¡± Carrick¡¯s gaze focused solely on her and. he seemed to be looking at her through new eyes. Almost done with her meal, she was eating what was left of her toast. Damn she ate fast and it always brought a smile from Gio. Not right now, though, because she was being ogled by her father¡¯s enforcer who didn¡¯t think Gio would notice.


    Yeah he knew she was a very sensual creature and sometimes it gave him a kick to know that others wanted what was his, but not when those


    males were obviously daydreaming about that fantasy mouth of hers. ¡°If you keep staring at my mate I¡¯ll rip your fucking throat out.¡± Ben doubleblinked then quickly lowered his eyes. That didn¡¯t cate Gio or his wolf. As if Danica sensed that, she rubbed her jaw against his shoulder and briefly patted his thigh. He calmed slightly at the bodily contact and, needing more, he resumed massaging her nape.


    Carrick frowned, watching them closely.


    ¡°It was wise that you didn¡¯te along with Cody. I¡¯ll tear anyone apart who tries to take her from me, I don¡¯t give a shit who they are or how many alliances they have.¡± The look on Carrick¡¯s face said he believed him.


    So he should. Gio decided not to think on the fact that it was more than his wolf¡¯s possessiveness and his mating instincts that drove him to make that very truthful statement.


    Sighing happily now that she had demolished her meal, Danica leaned back in her seat and rubbed her bloated stomach. ¡°I¡¯m stuffed.¡±


    ¡°Not too stuffed for coffee, right?¡± said Gio.


    ¡°Never too stuffed for coffee.¡± She reached out and gripped her cup, only then meeting her dad¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well hello Daddy Dearest.¡±


    ¡°Nice of you to finally acknowledge me.¡±


    ¡°Really? I wasn¡¯t aware you¡¯d give a shit.¡±


    Puffing up his chest a little, Carrick said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk alliances.¡±


    Gio held up a hand. ¡°Firstly, let me be clear on a few things. I might agree to an alliance with you, but I¡¯ll never like you. You judged Danica¡¯s worth on whether she could shift, something that has to do with her gics. Instead of protecting her as you should have, you threw her literally to the wolves and she spent her life fighting off assholes. You were even prepared to force her into a mating, at which point I would have lost her. So,


    yeah, we can talk alliances, but I wouldn¡¯t bother continuing this discussion if you¡¯re hoping for my permission to use me as protection.¡±


    Carrick narrowed his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t have your support in the event of a challenge being made against my pack by another alpha?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. But, see, Danica¡¯s told me all about how you like to name-drop.¡± When Carrick¡¯s gaze moved to her she gave him the sweetest


    smile. ¡°If there are incidences when you need to call on your alliances for back-up, well that¡¯s one thing. What I won¡¯t have is you throwing my name


    at people whenever you feel threatened. Understand?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to restrict the alliance to such a degree, I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s any point to this conversation.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Recognising that Carrick was calling his bluff, Gio smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t y games with me, Hart. You want this alliance more than I do. If you don¡¯t like my terms, feel free to go.¡±


    ¡°You have very few alliances. You would benefit more than from this than I would.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t benefit more from this than you, I just said I didn¡¯t want it as much as you do. As my history shows, collecting alliances has never been a particr interest of mine.¡±


    ¡°Until now.¡±


    ¡°Until Danica. Things change when you mate.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they do,¡± he allowed. ¡°I have a condition of my own. I want to be able to call on Danica whenever I need a healer.¡±


    Uh-oh, thought Danica as she felt Gio¡¯s body tense.


    Both incredulous and irate, Gio leaned forward. Whatever the males saw on his face made them lean back. ¡°You honestly think I¡¯ll agree to you


    using her the way you have been all these years?¡± Carrick had spoken about her like she was an object or tool that he would like to pick up when he felt like ¨C of course, that was how he had always seen her and treated her. A growl built in the back of Gio¡¯s throat and sent vibrations down his chest.


    Carrick swallowed hard in a nervous movement. ¡°She¡¯s a powerful healer.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s also a person. My mate. No one uses Danica like that. Not anymore.¡±


    The appearance of a tall brte halted the conversation. Gio heard Danica groaned and guessed this wasn¡¯t a friend of hers. He couldn¡¯t help noticing that everything about the female appeared to be false.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± she said respectfully to Carrick with a nod by way of greeting.


    Ben cleared his throat. ¡°We¡¯re a little busy here¡±


    She waved her hand. ¡°That¡¯s fine, I was justing to say hi.¡± Then her eyesnded on Danica and she smirked evilly. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you must be lost to be in this ce.¡±


    Danica smiled though it wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°Hating me won¡¯t make you pretty.¡±

 CHAPTER 37

    Anyone else might have been very careful how they spoke to the mate of someone like Gio Wright, but one thing Elsa always loved to do was make herself look the big strong female in front of big bad alphas. Well there were plenty of those in this ce, and for some reason this woman still hadn¡¯t realized that Danica wasn¡¯t quite the easy target that Elsa thought she was. ¡°I see your nose healed a little crooked. Shame that.¡±


    ¡°You broke her nose, baby?¡± Although Gio really didn¡¯t like that this female was confronting his mate, he knew not to interfere. To do that would be to undermine her own ability to take care of herself.


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t let me pass and then she called me a freak, what was I supposed to do? Yeah, okay, I suppose I could¡¯ve just ignored her, but there


    wouldn¡¯t have been any fun in that.¡±


    Elsa snickered. ¡°You only hurt me because I didn¡¯t fight back,¡± she stated loudly, drawing the attention of everyone within the diner as they


    recognised her confrontational posture. ¡°It would be like picking on a disabled person, and I was raised not to do that.¡±


    Danica nced around at all the onlookers and sighed. ¡°So you¡¯ve decided to schedule some time to make a spectacle of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Honey, the person who should be embarrassed here is you. You¡¯re nothing but vapour to people like us. It¡¯sughable that you even walked through the door.¡±


    ¡°You know, Elsa, you¡¯re like an STD: No one wants you, everybody hates you, and you¡¯re a reminder of the devastating consequences of not


    using protection during sex.¡±


    Elsa¡¯s over-tanned face flushed. ¡°Very funny aren¡¯t you, little freak.¡±


    ¡°As it happens, I have my moments.¡±


    ¡°Want to know what¡¯s even funnier?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°The idea of you as an Alpha Female of a pack. I honestly don¡¯t think I¡¯ve heard anything as ridiculous as atent running a pack. Except maybe for this rumor of you calming a wild wolf. We all know that was a nice little story you spread just to make others think your own strength matched that of your mate ¨C if he even is your mate, which I¡¯m not buying at all.¡±


    A growl escaped Danica which had Elsa jumping in surprise. ¡°Frankly I couldn¡¯t give a shit what you think, but disputing my im to Gio ¨C that I won¡¯t tolerate.¡± Her wolf was in full agreement.


    ¡°Won¡¯t tolerate?¡± said Elsa, sounding amused. ¡°What¡¯re you going to do? Insult me to death?¡±


    ¡°Too slow a method. Challenge me to a woman to woman fight,


    Elsa, I dare you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re asking,tent. How about I give you a taste of what you¡¯re dealing with.¡± She flung her alpha vibes at Danica,


    intending for them to oppress and intimidate her. Instead of lowering her gaze submissively, Danica retaliated by clotting the air with her own.


    As Danica¡¯s alpha vibes smothered them all like humidity in summertime, Gio realized something. That night when she had hit his grandmother with them, she had held back. All she¡¯d been doing was giving Lindy a small demonstration of her strength just to shut the woman up. This


    demonstration here and now was different. She was unleashing the full force of her wolf¡¯s alpha strength on Elsa, making it perfectly clear that although she couldn¡¯t shift, her dominance, strength, speed, and power exceeded that


    of Elsa¡¯s. In a woman-to-woman fight, Elsa would be overpowered within seconds. Shit if Gio wasn¡¯t hard as a rock right now at her disy of dominance.


    ¡°Come on, Elsa, challenge me,¡± urged Danica. ¡°You¡¯ve always liked an audience. Shall I kick your ass in front of one?¡± The terribly fake female


    let loose a low whine as she ducked her head, averting her gaze as a gesture of submission. ¡°No? Then it might be best if you back the fuck off and scarper, don¡¯t you think?¡± Danica¡¯s wolf was extremely disappointed when Elsa did exactly that.


    Gio kissed her temple and ran his hand through her hair, hoping to calm her wolf.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t throw her at the wall like you did Theresa.¡±


    Reining in her alpha vibes, she smiled at Gio. ¡°Elsa isn¡¯t one of your mistakes so she gets to walk away without a cracked skull.¡±


    ¡°How did I miss it?¡± asked Carrick.


    Danica arched a brow. ¡°You mean the fact that the female you¡¯ve been sleeping with is about as smart as your toenail?¡±


    He cast an annoyed look in Elsa¡¯s direction, obviously unhappy about her making their sex lifemon knowledge. ¡°How did I miss how strong your wolf is? Or I suppose a better question would be¡­why did you hide it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hide it, I just didn¡¯t care to show you.¡± He seemed genuinely confused that she hadn¡¯t wanted to impress him. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in having the approval of people I don¡¯t respect. And I¡¯ll never beg for scraps from anyone¡¯s table. You just never got that.¡±


    For the first time ever, there was an element of respect in Carrick¡¯s eyes as he regarded her. ¡°But you¡¯re not going to fight this alliance?¡±


    ¡°This here and now isn¡¯t about making friends or building bridges. This is politics, pure and simple. Us being rted by blood has no relevance


    because, as unfortunate as it is, there¡¯s just no emotional bond there.¡± It was a sad, simple truth delivered with a shrug. It hurt more than she would ever admit or ever let him see.


    ¡°I underestimated you quite a bit, it seems. Both of you suit well. You make a good Alpha pair.¡± After a heavy sigh he asked irritably, ¡°Okay, Wright, what exactly are you willing to agree to?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, if there¡¯s a situation that requires you to call on your alliances then you¡¯ll have my support. In other words, I don¡¯t mind being part


    of a solution to your problems, but I won¡¯t have you doing your namedropping thing and using me as a deterrent to the beginning of any problems.


    And there¡¯ll be no using Danica.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°Out of curiosity, if you didn¡¯t consider me such an awful protectorwhere Danica¡¯s concerned¡­?¡±


    ¡°Then we wouldn¡¯t even be having this conversation. My allegiance would be automatic and have no limits.¡± And Gio sincerely meant that.


    Maybe it was petty of Danica to be enjoying that, for just once in her life, her dad was regretting his treatment of her. Not because he cared about


    her, true, but because it had cost him in a political sense ¨C something more important to Carrick Hart than anything else. ¡°How¡¯s that Karma tasting,


    Daddy Dearest? A little sour, I¡¯ll bet.¡±


    Carrick simple gave her an impatient look. ¡°I¡¯ll agree to your terms,¡± he said to Gio, albeit a little begrudgingly.


    Gio looked at Danica. ¡°All of that okay with you, baby?¡± He knew he¡¯d surprised her by asking for her input, but she didn¡¯t let it show on her face.


    ¡°Onest thing,¡± she said to Carrick. ¡°Because of your attitude toward me growing up, a lot of people saw it as their right to target me just for fun. Don¡¯t think that if, like Elsa, they decide to do it again I¡¯ll back down just because of the alliance. They shouldn¡¯t challenge me unless they¡¯re damn


    positive they can take me. I¡¯m an Alpha female of a pack, which means any attack on me is an attack on the pack and I won¡¯t ignore one.¡±


    Carrick gave her a sharp nod. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the pack understands this.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± After draining thest of the coffee from her cup, Danica said,


    ¡°Shall we go then, Gio?¡±


    ¡°Sure, baby.¡± They all rose and then Gio took the hand that Carrick extended and shook it once. ¡°Until we next meet¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh wait.¡± He gave Ben a subtle signal and the enforcer then dug a bulging sports bag from under the table and handed it to Danica. She didn¡¯t take it, just raised a brow at Carrick hoping for an exnation. ¡°You know what your mother was like for saving money. She began a fund for you to be


    given to you when you mated to give you a kick start. Obviously there would have been more in it had she not died.¡±


    Tentatively she took the bag. ¡°There¡¯s money in here?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five thousand dors.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five thousand dors,¡± she echoed quietly, more than a little stunned. It struck her that he could have just kept the money for himself,


    knowing she¡¯d be none the wiser.


    ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± It sure wasn¡¯t because he cared for her.


    ¡°I¡¯d never ignore the wishes of my mate.¡±


    ¡°Come on, baby.¡± Giving a slight nod to Carrick, Gio draped his arm over her shoulder and kept her close to him as they walked side by side her from the diner with Duda and his enforcers trailing behind them.

 CHAPTER 38

    Gio kept her just as close when they slid into the backseat of the car, sensing that she was feeling a little off-kilter due to the bag that she was staring at as if it was a ticking bomb. He gave her thefort she needed and would probably never have asked for, running the tips of his fingers along her bare upper arm and rubbing his jaw along her temple.


    ¡°Well, does it feel good to finally have the alliance you¡¯ve been wanting so badly?¡± she asked, forcing her gaze away from the bag. She wouldn¡¯t have thought being given a gift from her mom would have made her feel anything but incredibly happy, but this particr gift had had a purpose.


    Her mom had been starting a fund for her so that when Danica and Zan were ready to begin their life together they would have some money to help them along. And that was why Danica was as unreasonable as it might be feeling guilty for taking it. Her mom hadn¡¯t scrimped and saved thisrge amount of money to help Danica along with a fake mating while she dered to all who¡¯d listen that Zan hadn¡¯t been her true mate. The woman had been a hopeless romantic and wouldn¡¯t have seen Danica¡¯s mating with Gio as resourceful. She would have viewed a mating based around a deal that brought mutual benefit to both parties as a mockery of what mating was all about. She would have been right.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gio answered carefully, hearing a difference in her tone that told him she¡¯d withdrawn a little. His wolf growled, not liking it any more than Gio did. He nuzzled her hair and cuddled her closer. She didn¡¯t resist him, but she didn¡¯t melt into him either. He nipped the tip of her ear. She jolted and scowled at him. ¡°Don¡¯t freeze me out,¡± he insisted in a low, calm voice.


    She sighed. ¡°It feels like I¡¯ve epted it under false pretences. Hell, I have.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. Your mom may have intended to give it to you and your true mate, but I don¡¯t think she¡¯d begrudge you having it just because you¡¯d mated with someone else.¡±


    ¡°Of course she wouldn¡¯t have¡­if the mating had been real.¡±


    ¡°This is real, Danica,¡± he growled.


    ¡°Yeah I know. I mean if we¡¯d mated with the intention of actually staying together, if we had feelings for each other. Now that¡¯s something she


    would have understood because she was all about love and romance and all that stuff. Not this, though. She wouldn¡¯t have understood this. She would have mated with Cody before renouncing her true mate.¡±


    ¡°The fact that you didn¡¯t doesn¡¯t make you a coward, Danica,¡± he firmly stated, knowing that was where her thoughts had taken her. ¡°Like you said, she was one of those romantic people. You¡¯re more of a practical thinker, like me. Practical thinkers aren¡¯t so much into self sacrifices, they prefer solutions. And you¡¯re not someone who¡¯s prepared to wait around with the


    belief that life will hand you a solution, you go looking for one.¡± She smiled a little, but still looked troubled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to spend it. You don¡¯t even have to open the bag. Put it away with your shoebox. She¡¯d be happy enough about that, right?¡± Her smile widened then and he felt a pang in his chest.


    Nodding, she finally rxed into him, pleasing both him and his wolf. As with all those other chest pangs he¡¯d been feeling recently around her, he


    automatically ignored it.


    ¡°Ahe on, Danica, don¡¯t get all glum on us,¡± pleaded Ray. ¡°I tell you what, why don¡¯t youe here and let me give you a great big hug, you can sit on myp, and we¡¯ll talk about the first thing that pops up.¡±


    Ignoring Gio¡¯s growl, the gorgeous blonde pervert added, ¡°I¡¯ll even let you rub my lucky scrotum. Ow!¡± He still had the nerve to chuckle when Gio


    smacked him over the head. When they returned to pack territory they found everyone waiting in


    the living area for news of how the meeting went. ¡°Well?¡± prodded Andrew.


    ¡°We got the alliance.¡± Gio winced at the loud celebratory noises.


    ¡°I checked the pack web earlier,¡± said Jeremy. ¡°You¡¯ve got more Alphas requesting basic alliances. It really was a great idea to set up a pack web.¡±


    ¡°Yep, which means if it wasn¡¯t for Danica, we probably wouldn¡¯t have any of those alliances,¡± said Donny. He grinned as she flopped into the


    recliner and wiggled her shoulders, hinting for him to give her the usual massage. As always, he obliged her.


    Lindy snorted. ¡°I still say you don¡¯t need them. Or the hussy.¡±


    Danica looked at her with mock pity. ¡°Isn¡¯t it time for your nap yet, Old Mother Hubbard?¡±


    ¡°Listen to her. She¡¯s never shown me any respect from day one. Allmon and no manners.¡±


    ¡°I just thought it was important that you feltfortable around me.¡±


    ¡°Gio, you¡¯re going to be theughing stock of all the other packs having atent as an Alpha female. Can¡¯t you see that? I¡¯ll bet she can, but


    she¡¯s got it good here so she¡¯ll drag this out as long as she can. Won¡¯t you?¡±


    Danica simply smiled. ¡°I¡¯d tell you to stop having a hissy fit and act your age, but then you¡¯d die so¡­Actually maybe I should just -¡±


    ¡°Oh yes make your smart remarks now, but it won¡¯t be long until it¡¯s time for you to go and then Gio will mate with a real Alpha female. One who¡¯s notmon and sarcastic, or disrespectful and slutty.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you have to admit I keep life interesting.¡± Danica thought she had hidden pretty well just how Lindy¡¯sst statement had stung. It was only the truth, though. Danica would leave, Gio probably would mate again, and the female he mated with for real would most likely be better suited to be an Alpha female. And what would Danica be doing? Trying her hardest to find a


    pack who would take in amon, disrespectful, sarcastic,tent female.


    Hoping against hope that her uncle might have replied to her message, she excused herself and went up to Jeremy¡¯s room to check her messages on the pack web. Apparently her hoping paid off. Smiling, she skipped down the stairs and re-entered the living room. ¡°Hey, guess what, my uncle¡¯s been in touch through the pack web.¡±


    Gio frowned. ¡°Uncle?¡±


    ¡°The one whose pack I was nning to seek refuge at if all else failed.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Right.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s invited us to a mating ceremony that¡¯s taking ce for someone in his pack a few weeks from now.¡± That was a hell of a lot more than Danica


    had hoped for. She¡¯d thought it might take a few web conversations before her uncle would be interested in them meeting up. An invite to a mating ceremony had definitely been unexpected.


    ¡°Wait, start again, how does he know about us? Had he just noticed you on the pack web?¡±


    ¡°Oh no I got in touch with him.¡±


    Gio did a double take. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°It seemed like a good idea to get to know him before I ask his Alpha to take me in when our deal¡¯s over. Maybe if my uncle and I somehow bond I¡¯ll have more of a chance.¡± The way Gio¡¯s eyes had seemed to ice-over and his face had darkened to a purplish shade had her frowning. ¡°Why are you looking at me like I strolled into your house on your birthday and shit on all the gifts?¡±


    ¡°Oh I don¡¯t know maybe because no one¡¯s supposed to know that we¡¯re not true mates.¡±


    Danica¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°You think I told him? You think I went back on our deal and told him all about it?¡± A deathly silence filled the room


    because everyone knew that questioning Danica¡¯s integrity was a very bad thing.


    ¡°Awkward,¡± muttered Ray.


    ¡°Seriously, you think I would actually do that?¡±


    No, actually, Gio didn¡¯t think she¡¯d do something like that, but he tended to say stupid shit when he was pissed off, and hearing that she had been in touch with her uncle when he knew she was hoping to join the guy¡¯s pack had made his blood boil. It shouldn¡¯t have made his blood boil because it shouldn¡¯t bother him that she would soon be leaving his pack, yet it did. ¡°It just seemed unlikely that you¡¯d try to fool him if you¡¯re nning toter ask him for a ce in his pack. You think he¡¯ll actually take you in when he realizes you lied to him right to his face about us?¡±


    ¡°No¡± she spat in a goofy voice. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m nning to say to him what I¡¯ll say to everyone else ¨C that I was wrong about us and that


    Zan had actually been my true mate after all. Sure it¡¯s going to make me seem a little nutty that I could mix up something like that, but it¡¯s a better fate than a life with Cody ever would have been. I figured that this might be good for you too, that maybe you could get an alliance with my uncle¡¯s


    Alpha out of this. He must be at least willing to consider it or he wouldn¡¯t have given my uncle permission to invite us to this mating ceremony. I¡¯ve told him to expect us.¡±


    Everything in Gio rebelled against the idea of Danica going to that ceremony, of her building a bond with her uncle so she could leave. He knew


    she needed to leave his pack eventually. Logic even told him that the sooner she left the better because their separation would be harder the longer that they were in the mating. But logic wasn¡¯t ruling just then. It was being overshadowed by a tangle of intense emotions that Gio didn¡¯t understand, but all of which drove him to do one thing; try to stop her from going to meet the other pack.


    ¡°Look, Danica, I¡¯m going to have a lot of stuff going on in the next couple of weeks. I can¡¯t shove it all aside just to go to some mating ceremony


    of people I don¡¯t even know.¡±


    She stared at him for a minute. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take Duda or Donny with me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think it would look both weird and. disrespectful that I. didn¡¯t go with you?¡±


    ¡°Of course it would. I¡¯m still going.¡±


    ¡°Danica, listen -¡±


    She took a step toward him. ¡°No you listen, Wright. We made a deal and I will live up to my part of it. At the end of this, you¡¯ll walk away with tons of alliances. Me? I¡¯ll have nothing because I walked away from everything for this deal we made.

 CHAPTER 39

    I need to have somewhere to go because I¡¯m not going to live the lone wolf lifestyle. My best bet is to get a ce in my uncle¡¯s pack even if it¡¯s only temporary, at least it¡¯ll be something. If you don¡¯t want toe with me to this ceremony and maybe try and get yourself an alliance out of this then fine. But I will be going in the hope of increasing my odds of getting a ce in that pack because the alternative is taking a chance being out there on my own and that¡¯s not eptable to me.¡±


    He could tell her the truth of why he didn¡¯t want her to go to the ceremony, he could, but now wasn¡¯t the time or the ce. Alright that was in


    fact an excuse but it was an excuse he was sticking to. Rather than piss her off any further, he went to her and tugged her to him. ¡°I didn¡¯t think of it that way. If you want us to go, we¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± she drawled, suspicion dripping from the word.


    ¡°Really.¡±


    A nod. ¡°Okay.¡± She squealed as he suddenly scooped her up and began strolling out of the room. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±


    ¡°No more talking. Really need to fuck.¡±


    And he really did need it. He needed to be buried deep inside her body, needed to be swimming in her scent, and he needed the taste of her in his


    mouth. Only then would he be able to calm himself and his wolf. The thought of being separated from his mate had sent his wolf pacing and growling, fighting for supremacy. It hadtled Gio¡¯s mating instincts, ying on his protectiveness and possessiveness until all he wanted was to pin her down and bite her, remind her that she belonged to him. As for Gio the man¡­equal measures of infuriation and angst had shot through his blood, making anxiety curdle in his stomach. He told himself that if he hadn¡¯t mated with her, there would be no such anxiety whatsoever, that


    the separation wouldn¡¯t particrly bother him. In truth, he wasn¡¯t so sure that the man in him was still detached from the mating, or even if he ever had been. Now this was one of the things Danica would really miss about Ls, she thought with a smile as she sank into the luxurious bath. There was a brief stinging sensation as the hot water made contact with the fresh scratches and bites now coating her body, but it passed pretty quickly. Damn the bastard for branding her so thoroughly! How in the hell was she supposed to move on after this mating when his marks were all over her, serving as constant reminders of him? Maybe that was what he wanted  to make sure that she wouldn¡¯t be able to forget him. He might not particrly care about her, but the possessiveness that came with the mating was probably messing with his mind.


    She had no intention of telling him that he didn¡¯t need to brand her sopletely to ensure that she remembered him. As much as it pissed her off, she couldn¡¯t change that she sort of, well¡­she really liked him. A voice in her mind insisted that was an understatement, but Danica ignored it. She didn¡¯t understand how she could like him so much. The guy could be so tactless and impatient, so remote and unapproachable. He was unbnced. He had shittymunication skills. He thought apologies went in the form of oral sex, and he could brood with the best of them.


    And yet, she truly liked the guy. Naturally, her wolf was very pleased about that.


    Well enough thinking about him. All she wanted to do right now was rx and soothe those aches that always came with the rough fuckings he


    gave her. She had a strong feeling that her manly mate wasn¡¯t going to be too happy about the smell of dettol that now filled his bathroom thanks to the


    soap Lucy had given her. Just the thought of that made her smile ¨C simply pleasures and all that stuff. So rxed that she was beginning to wonder if she had entered subspace, the little tapping sounds were just background noise to her at first.


    Soon, though, they prated her daze, pissing her off. The noises reminded her of when Suza used to throw stones at her window at night when they were teenagers, hoping to get her attention. She tried real hard to ignore the incessant tapping. After a short while, though, they began to grate on her nerves.


    ¡°Gio?¡± she called out, hoping to have him check out the noise.


    ¡°Anyone?¡± Nothing, which meant she was going to have to see what the fuck it was herself. Fabulous.


    Muttering curses, she stepped out of the bath, wrapped a white fluffy towel around her, and made her way into the bedroom. As she had suspected,


    something seemed to be tapping against the window. Still muttering curses, she stalked over to the window and pulled aside the curtain. And jerked back.


    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Oh no, that wasn¡¯t what she thought it was. It couldn¡¯t be.


    It just couldn¡¯t be.


    Having sensed her rm and anxiety through the pack link, Gio came dashing into the room. ¡°What is it? What¡¯s wrong?¡± And then he saw it.


    Slowly he went to her. ¡°Is that¡­is that the raven you always talk to?¡±


    Grinding her jaw, she nodded, close to tears at the sight of the beautiful bird now dead. Not just dead, but hanging upside down by some kind of string as his beak repeatedly tapped against the window as his body blew with the wind. ¡°I heard the tapping.¡±


    ¡°Baby,e here.¡± Not giving her a choice, he pulled her to him and enfolded her in his arms.


    ¡°Somebody did that,¡± she said through her teeth as shock and rage flooded her veins.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said, working to keep his voice soft or else his rage might feed her own.


    ¡°Somebody killed him and then hung him there, like that, for me to find.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Duda as he, Chris, Donny and Andrew came dashing into the room after obviously having sensed their Alphas¡¯ rm.


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    ¡°Is it dead?¡± asked Andrew. ¡°Why would someone ¨C Shit, Danica, is that your crow?¡±


    Donny supportively squeezed her shoulder as he passed to get up close to the window. ¡°Looks like someone snapped its neck.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell would do something like that?¡± Duda shook his head, sickened.


    ¡°Maybe the same person who vandalised her car,¡± suggested Chris.


    ¡°Maybe not, but it wouldn¡¯t surprise me.¡±


    Leaving Gio¡¯s arms, Danica demanded, ¡°Out. Everyone out. Now!¡±


    Duda nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go¡­get him down.¡± He gestured to the enforcers to follow him out of the room. Casting her sympathetic smiles, they reluctantly did so.


    ¡°Baby, what¡¯re you doing?¡± Gio asked as he watched her snatch clothes out of the wardrobe in a rush. She didn¡¯t answer. Just began pulling


    on her red Dior sweater and tight fitting jeans. ¡°Danica -¡±


    ¡°Someone did that to hurt me. They went to the trouble of hunting him down, catching him, killing him, and creeping around outside our cave to


    hang him upside down like that where I¡¯d find him. I want to know who the sicko is ass, and I want to kick his ass.¡± Having now slipped on her knee high


    boots, she headed for the door. Understanding her need to retaliate but not liking her hurting so bad, he dashed after her and wrapped both arms around her front, bringing her to a halt. Nuzzling her neck, he rocked her from side to side. ¡°Let me deal with. this, baby. I promise you, as soon as I find out who¡¯s responsible, they¡¯re all


    yours.¡±


    Her voice came out t. ¡°Let go of me, Gio.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Come on, you¡¯re upset and in shock. Let me deal with this for you.¡±


    She could sense that he was just as infuriated as she was yet he was containing it all in the hope of easing her anger and hurt. It was sweet, but


    there was just no way anything could soothe her right now. ¡°Let go.¡±


    Dabbing a soft kiss to her neck, he slowly released her. Before he could say anything she was marching through the tunnels. He stayed at her heels as, to his surprise, she headed outside and down the flights of stairs.


    ¡°Stay back,¡± she told him as they reached the bottom. Seeing that she was close to snapping, he stopped still and held up his hands in a white g gesture. He had thought she intended to head to the river as she had thest time she was upset. Instead she paced a short distance away from him and looked up at the crowd that had gathered at the mouth of the caves.


    ¡°So which one of you was it, huh?¡± she shouted, enraged beyond belief.


    ¡°Which one of you was it?!¡± No answer. They each looked from one to the other but didn¡¯t move from where they were. ¡°You have a problem with me


    thene down here! Come on! You and me, let¡¯s go!¡± Still, nobody moved. Pacing back and forth, she continued to shout. ¡°I¡¯mtent, remember! I can¡¯t possibly win! You think killing a bird, a small creature that couldn¡¯t even fight back is brave? It¡¯s sick and it¡¯s cowardly! If it¡¯s me you want then get


    the fuck down here! I dare you! No, I challenge you!¡± Still, not one person moved from where they were. ¡°COME ON!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, baby,¡± said Gio softly when no one spoke or reacted in any way. ¡°You know they won¡¯te. Whoever it is knows they can¡¯t take you.


    Come here. It¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡±


    Slowly he closed the distance between them and pulled her into the cradle of his shoulder. ¡°Shh, let¡¯s go inside. The coward¡¯s not going to own


    up to it.¡±


    ¡°When I find out who it is, there¡¯s a good chance I¡¯ll kill him.¡±


    ¡°I know, baby. And I¡¯ll be cheering you on,¡± he said, using the supportive words she had once given him.

 CHAPTER 40

    Danica¡¯s uncle and his mate were a lot warmer toward her than Gio had been expecting. They seemed pleased to see her and they were happy and relieved to know that she was away from Carrick. If her uncle had anything to do with it, she would definitely be wee here if she asked to join the pack. In fact, the damn Alpha would probably be just as weing. He had been staring at Danica for most of the evening and it was beginning to seriously piss Gio off. Had she not made Gio promise to ¡®behave¡¯ seen as he was apparently intimidating enough, he would have threatened to gut the ogling bastard. Even his promise to her wouldn¡¯t have stopped him if the


    Alpha hadn¡¯t been so careful not to cross any lines. It was only then, as he sat lounging on one of the reclined deckchairs, sipping beer and watching her y with some of the pups that Gio realized he had secretly hoped that they were all assholes who didn¡¯t care to know her. Without anyone to turn to, she could have been persuaded to stay with him a little longer even after the battle with his uncle. Although he still had just over a month left with her, it didn¡¯t seem enough.


    For the past few weeks he had tried convincing himself that it wasn¡¯t the man in him that wanted to prolong her stay, it was just his wolf or his


    mating instincts or maybe a mixture of both. Only a moron would continue to deny the truth, and Gio was a lot of things, but he¡¯d like to think a moron


    wasn¡¯t one of them. The truth was that this wasn¡¯t about their wolves, this was about Gio and Danica. And Gio wanted Danica to stay a little longer. Of course he hadn¡¯t told her that. He wouldn¡¯t tell her because naturally the question she would ask would be ¡®For how long?¡¯ Unless his answer was going to be ¡®permanently¡¯, there was no reason for her to stay longer because


    it would only make their separation worse. Where was the sense in that?


    There was none. Yet even as he acknowledged that, he couldn¡¯t change that he wanted more time with her. How could he not? Who wouldn¡¯t want more time with a woman who was so sensual and gorgeous? The quirkiness she had brought to his pack and his life was something he wouldn¡¯t have originally thought he¡¯d want, but he knew that when it was gone he would miss it. Just as he would miss their bedroom battles. She was so responsive, so challenging, and so damn


    receptive to everything they did. Each morning he would wake Danica by gorging himself on her taste, and each night he would bury his cock deep


    inside her and fuck them both to sleep. Then he¡¯d wake up some time through the night and fuck her again. What guy in his right mind wouldn¡¯t want more of that?


    He grinned as his little vixen suddenly looked up and met his gaze. He didn¡¯t get his usual e get me¡¯ smile, it was more of a ¡®please rescue me¡¯


    expression which was a lot to do with the crowd of kids still hovering around her. With all her energy and sparkle she was like some sort of kid


    ma. He might have gone to her that was all it would have took to make the pups scarper if the Alpha, Mike, hadn¡¯t chosen that moment to sit on the deckchair beside him.


    ¡°I think you might end up with a houseful of pups.¡±


    Gio winced inwardly at the feel of one of them damn chest pangs. Ignoring it, he forced out a response. ¡°You might be right.¡±


    ¡°You know, you¡¯re very intense with Danica. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve moved your eyes from her for more than a few seconds since you got here.¡±


    ¡°Neither have you.¡±


    Mike smiled unrepentantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she spent the entire time we spoke talking about you and your pack. Apparently she has even developed a


    fondness for your grandmother, though she says she would still like to gag the senile old crone.¡±


    Gio was pretty sure that both women actually liked each other. Neither would ever admit it because they enjoyed the battle of wills they engaged in


    too much.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been very selective in who I form alliances with.¡±


    Gio grunted. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I asked you for one.¡± All he really wanted was to punch the arrogant asshole for ogling Danica. His wolf liked that idea.


    Mike only smiled. ¡°The rumors about you are¡­ worrying.¡±


    ¡°Then why invite us here?¡±


    ¡°Her uncle wasn¡¯t convinced that you¡¯re true mates. He believes her true mate died when they were pups. James was worried that she had gotten herself into something dangerous and was looking for a way out.¡±


    ¡°Is that a fact?¡± Gio bit out. ¡°Well hear me when I say this. Danica¡¯s my mate, she¡¯s mine, and I¡¯ll kill her interfering bastard of an uncle if he tries to take her from me. So either get out of our business or ask us to leave. Either one will please me just fine.¡±


    The weird prick smiled again. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I agreed with him. If I hadn¡¯t seen you interact with Danica the way you have tonight, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d have been interested in forming an alliance between our packs.¡± Most likely in response to Gio¡¯s questioning look, he added, ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t


    realize just how different you are with Danica than anyone else. And she you. You¡¯re both much calmer when you¡¯re together. It¡¯s the way of it with mates. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve no intention of interfering in spite of her uncle¡¯s concerns, and it¡¯s also why I believe you¡¯re not quite the rabid shifter everyone makes you out to be.¡±


    ¡°Hey Mike,¡± purred a husky voice that promised sex. Both males looked up to see a curvy dark skinned female standing before them wearing¡­practically nothing. Once upon a time she might have interested Gio. Right now she did nothing at all for him. He never would have thought he would have described breasts as too big, but they were. Not like Danica¡¯s that fit just right in his hands like they were made just for him.


    ¡°Is it time for the ceremony to start?¡± asked Mike.


    ¡°Almost.¡± Her eyes focused on Gio and she grinned wickedly. ¡°I¡¯m Danie. And you are?¡±


    ¡°Mated,¡± snapped another female voice. ¡°So move your ass very far away.¡±


    A smile curved Gio¡¯s mouth at the sight of Danica approaching, sneering and emitting a sexy low growl. He loved seeing her in possessive mode. He didn¡¯t me Danie for her fast departure. Even he wouldn¡¯t be interested in fucking with Danica right now. He¡¯d happily fuck her though,


    especially while she was wearing that little ck dress that clung to her like a second skin.


    ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯m sorry for upsetting one of your wolves, but lying¡¯s a sin,¡± Danica told Mike who just smiled. Damn if the guy wasn¡¯t hot with his short


    silky butterscotch hair, sensual mouth and that set of piercing dusky brown eyes. Still, she preferred the dark, broody psycho beside him. ¡°Hey Gio.¡±


    Gio gave her a lopsided smirk as he appraised her for like the hundredth time. ¡°Come here.¡±


    She cocked her head. ¡°If I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll chase you, catch you and spank you in front of everybody.¡±


    ¡°Was that supposed to be a deterrent?¡±


    Mike now forgotten, Gio reached out and snatched her arm, pulling her on top of him. He licked her lips and she immediately opened up for him, flicking his tongue lightly with her own and conjuring images in his mind of her flicking her tongue along the head of his cock. Her sly grin told him she¡¯d known exactly what she was doing. ¡°Careful,¡± he warned.


    ¡°Where would be the fun in that?¡±


    Quietly, he replied, ¡°You¡¯re right. Fun would be if I forced you to get down on your knees and then shoved my cock in your mouth.¡±


    ¡°You could try, but I¡¯d just bite it off. Maybe I¡¯d heal it, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    He chuckled, running his hands along her back. ¡°Such a snippy little bitch, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I am, yes.¡±


    ¡°Wrong. You¡¯re my snippy little bitch.¡± Brushing her hair from her face he frowned. ¡°You look tired.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. I didn¡¯t get much sleep.¡±


    He heard the implication in her voice. ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°You never are,¡± she grumbled, still smiling. ¡°So what have you been doing all the way over here while I was practically attacked by a swarm of


    pups?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy enjoying myself watching some gorgeous female.¡±


    ¡°Oh is that so? You¡¯ll have to describe this female to me so I can go kick her ass.¡±


    Coring her throat with his hand, he guided her head backwards and slid his hand away so he could kiss and nibble at her neck. ¡°You can¡¯t miss


    her. She has all different shades of blonde in her hair.¡±


    ¡°Poor girl.¡±


    ¡°And the cutest ass¡± he tapped it lightly  ¡°and a hot little body¡± he smoothed the palm of his hand up and down her spine  ¡°and a very sharp tongue. Oh and she has a wicked mouth that was made to take my cock.¡±


    ¡°Stop kissing my very sensitive neck so I can think straight and respond with a sarcasticment.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let him know that, in truth, she had thought about it several times. Had wondered what it would feel like to take him in her mouth, how he would taste. But and maybe she was alone in this  that one sexual act felt like an extremely submissive one. She was working on letting him lead in bed, but she wasn¡¯t sure she was ready to get on her knees before him and do what seemed like the ultimate surrender.

 CHAPTER 41

    It wasn¡¯t that she had never done it before. It was just that whenever she had done it in the past it had been while she was the dominant figure in


    the rtionship.  Giving a guy a blowjob when she was supposed to be mostly submissive seemed like something else altogether, in which case it surprised her that she was even considering it. Just as it surprised her that as much as the wolves in Mike¡¯s pack were great and as much as she could see herself being happy here if they epted her, that didn¡¯t make her feel as relieved


    and excited as it should. No, because she would miss Gio and his pack. She really had thought she was being careful not to getfortable in the pack, knowing that her stay would be a short one. But with them being so warm and fun with the exception of a few  and seeing her as more than a


    healer who was rather inconvenientlytent, it was damn hard to keep an emotional distance from these people and the situation itself.


    If she was honest with herself  which she really didn¡¯t want to be she had also stupidly gotten a little toofortable in her temporary mating with Gio. His heavy masculinity bounced off the impression of a hard individual, but she hade to see that there was more to him than that. Sure


    he could be aggressive, sullen and psychotic, but he had demonstrated that he could also be attentive, reassuring, gentle, and even indulgent or at least he could be with her. Not to mention how his sexual appetites matched her own. Without realising it, she had somehow fallen a little into the fantasy of their mating even though she had resisted the urge to mark him. How shitty was


    that.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost midnight,¡± announced Mike as he stood. ¡°Ceremony¡¯s about to start.¡±


    Danica frowned when she noticed how Gio was scowling at the Alpha. Sure Gio was pretty antisocial with ny nine percent of the poption  she was working on that with him  but when he scowled at someone like that it usually meant they had pissed him off. Having made a mental note to ask Gio about itter, she rose to her feet and pulled him with her to join the loose circle that the pack had made around the mated pair in the clearing. She snuggled back into Gio as he pressed against her back and locked his arms around her. As always, she never felt squashed or suffocated by his huge body. He made her feel safe and protected. At exactly midnight Mike began to speak the ritual words that called to


    the full moon to bless the mating. She had been a witness at several of these ceremonies in the past and the intensity of the sacred event never failed to amaze her. Although the ritual words didn¡¯t hold any particr power and the ceremony was a case of the mates demonstrating to each other just howmitted they were and wanting to celebrate that, the whole thing still gave her goose bumps and stirred her wolf. What affected Danica most, however, was witnessing the session of


    intense emotions that flittered across the mated pair¡¯s faces. To be loved, adored and worshipped like that by the person you loved in turn had to be the most amazing thing in the world. And it was something she would never have. She only ever experienced the tiniest twinge of jealousy. It was


    impossible not to be happy for those people who had found it. For a moment she wondered what it would be like to have that with Gio but quickly


    dismissed the dumb thought.


    ¡°What do you think they¡¯ll do?¡± he whispered into her ear.


    She knew what he was asking. It was traditional that mates celebrated the ceremony by having sex, and whereas most preferred to do so in the


    privacy of their home after the party, there were some who gave in to their exhibitionistic urges and had sex beneath the full moon regardless of who


    may be there to watch. She whispered her response. ¡°Well, I only spoke to Sofia a couple of


    times but she seems pretty shy so I can¡¯t see her wanting to get down and dirty with her mate in front of everyone. Then again, it¡¯s the quiet ones you have to look out for.¡± Knowing how dominant and possessive his wolf was, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t have to ask what you¡¯d prefer.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d love the idea of everyone watching. You¡¯re quite the exhibitionist, even for a shifter.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Gio merely shrugged. ¡°We all have our kinks. Want to know what I think? I think you¡¯d like having people watch while I pin you down and fuck you.¡±


    Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she replied, ¡°Wishful thinking on your part, Gio.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d like people seeing what a good girl you are for me, how well you take my cock.¡± And he¡¯d love for others to see it. Not in this ce around all these strange wolves he didn¡¯t know or trust, but he couldn¡¯t resist teasing her with the idea.


    ¡°Careful, you¡¯re at risk of disappearing¡±


    ¡°So if I slipped my finger inside you right now, you wouldn¡¯t be wet?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± she lied easily.


    He inhaled deeply. ¡°I can smell your arousal, Danica. I can sense it. Just to be sure¡­¡±


    Feeling his hand discretely snaked behind her she hissed, ¡°Gio, don¡¯t you dare.¡±


    ¡°Shh, be still. Unless you want everyone to turn and watch. I don¡¯t mind.¡± He delved beneath her dress, slid her thong aside and slipped his


    finger inside her. He groaned as her muscles tightened around his finger.


    ¡°Nice and wet, just like I knew you¡¯d be.¡±


    ¡°Remove your hand right now.¡±


    ¡°This pussy is mine, remember. I get to y with it whenever I want.¡±


    ¡°You -¡±


    ¡°Shh,¡± he murmured again as he withdrew his finger and wrapped both arms around her middle again. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d let down my guard


    around all these strange wolves when you¡¯re mine to protect? Now, on the other hand, if we¡¯d been on our own territory surrounding by our own pack


    well then¡­¡± He let the sentence trail and smiled as he sensed her arousal spike. He knew she¡¯d never admit that the idea turned her on.


    ¡°And so,¡± said Mike, ¡°do you, Jesse, and you, Sofia, enter this mating with your body, mind, heart and soul?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± they said in unison.


    Mike then blessed the mating using a string of Greek words that Gio didn¡¯t have a hope of understanding. He couldn¡¯t help frowning as Sofia


    kissed her mate before then biting his unmarked shoulder, branding him for all to see. The one thing that his own little mate had never done though she¡¯d have every right considering how many damn times he had done it to her , was leave her brand on him. Although she had scratched him and nipped him plenty of times, she had never marked him. His wolf keenly felt the absence of that mark; he didn¡¯t understand why she hadn¡¯t branded him.


    Neither did Gio.


    He knew that she wanted to, knew that her wolf was pushing her to act on the basic urge to mark her male. Danica¡¯s resistance had to be pissing her wolf off and making her feel insecure in the mating. Yet, Danica was fighting her. Much like he¡¯d been fighting his own wolf from the beginning, he mused. So maybe he hadn¡¯t been the only one of them who had been battling


    emotions they didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°I was right,¡± whispered Danica, ¡°she¡¯s too shy to have an audience.


    Come on, let¡¯s eat, I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Shoving his thoughts aside, Gio allowed her to lead him to therge table beneath the canopy where a huge feast was set out. Although the


    ceremonies were considered to be sacred and solemn, the after-party was always jubnt and lively ¨C the general n being to dance, eat and get ridiculously drunk. Seen as neither he nor Danica were particrly good at dancing, they stuck to stuffing their faces with food and gulping down plenty of beer , though not too much considering Gio needed to drive them home.


    He really didn¡¯t want to like these people who would soon take Danica away from him or at least that was how he saw it but a part of him could admit that they seemed to be pretty okay people. If he was going to lose her to another pack then this was a fairly decent one for her to join. The only wolf he couldn¡¯t be too sure about was her uncle. The tall, bald guy had purposely avoided Gio the entire time they were there. Several times Danica had tried to introduce him, but James always managed to artfully dodge her. Gio didn¡¯t particrly care, though he didn¡¯t like that it was upsetting Danica. That meant that when the party ended at six in the morning and James finally approached him while Danica was saying goodbye to the pups, Gio really wasn¡¯t in the mood to take any shit. And of course James happened to have some shit to throw at him.


    ¡°You seem fond of my niece,¡± said James, squinting, as he crossed his arms over his chest in a very confrontational posture. ¡°And you¡¯re certainly possessive of her. Still, I¡¯m not buying the true mate thing. Nor am I buying that you¡¯ve mated with her because you care for her. Being fond of her and wanting her with you for life are two very different things. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m grateful that you got her away from her father who was a bastard to her. My issue is that I¡¯ve heard all about your reputation, Wright, and I promise you now if I find out you¡¯ve got my niece involved in anything dangerous you¡¯ll have me to deal with.¡±

 CHAPTER 42

    Resisting the urge to grip him by the throat, Gio took a threatening step toward him and cocked his head. It pleased his wolf when the other male backed up a little. ¡°You know what pisses me off most about what you just said? That you think you have the right to act the caring uncle now. Where


    were you when she was growing up? Like you just said, Carrick was always a bastard to her and yet you left her there with him believing that there would never be a true mate toe along and take her away. You didn¡¯t even keep in touch with her, did you? No. So don¡¯t think you get to stand here and be all high and mighty with me or that being my mate¡¯s uncle will save you. Danica might care about you, but I don¡¯t, and I sure as shit won¡¯t have anyone saying she¡¯s not my mate.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he conceded, surprising Gio, ¡°I wasn¡¯t there for her. I will be from here on out though. I want her to be happy. I want her to have


    the kind of mating you¡¯ve seen tonight and I¡¯m not sure you can give her that. I don¡¯t see how you¡¯ll bring anything to her life other than danger and


    trouble.¡±


    He was right of course and that onlytled Gio¡¯s agitated state. ¡°As Danica would say, if I wanted to hear from an ass, I¡¯d fart.¡±


    ¡°Gio,¡± said Danica cautiously as she approached and took in the tension, ¡°everything okay?¡± Slipping a slender arm between the two male bodies that were almost pressed together, she stroked Gio¡¯s chest.  ¡°Fine, baby,¡± he replied, using her closeness to calm him. ¡°I¡¯m just


    getting an idea of what it¡¯s like for you when you have to listen to my grandmother¡¯s shit.¡±


    Rolling her eyes and groaning, Danica looked at James. ¡°I really hope you haven¡¯t just done the man to man talk when you¡¯ve only been back in my life five minutes.¡±


    James sighed. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much what he just said. I just want you to be happy and -¡±


    ¡°Well I was until you put Gio in a bad mood.¡±


    ¡°I know you, Danica. Beneath that hard exterior you¡¯re not so different from your mom. You want kids andmitment and a happily ever after he can¡¯t give you that.¡±


    ¡°If I was pining for the pitter patter of tiny little feet, I¡¯d buy a kitten and put slippers on it. And what do you know about what Gio can or can¡¯t give me? You don¡¯t even know him.¡±


    ¡°I know this mating isn¡¯t real -¡±


    ¡°Watch what you say,¡± she snapped. Her wolf growled inside her head, just as incensed as she was by those words. A much louder growl wasingnfrom Gio.


    ¡°You deserve better, you can have better plenty of wolves would be happy to mate with you. Hell, there are wolves here who¡¯d be happy to mate


    with you.¡±


    Danica wasn¡¯t in the least bit surprised when Gio¡¯s eyes shed wolf and he made a move toward James. Quickly she ced herself in front of him


    and wrapped both arms tightly around his waist. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered. He halted but released a chilling growl.


    James was quieter as he said in a shaky voice, ¡°He¡¯s not good for you.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s how you feel then I guess we part here.¡±


    ¡°Danica -¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯re leaving.¡± Rubbing her chin on Gio¡¯s chest she said,Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Come on, Gio, let¡¯s go.¡± But his entire focus was on James.


    James tried again. ¡°Danica, I -¡±


    ¡°I said no. You insulted my mate. If you were anyone else, I¡¯d go for your throat. Now back off.¡±


    ¡°Let them be, James,¡± ordered Mike who was walking up behind them. He nodded respectfully at Danica and Gio.


    ¡°Thank you for inviting us, Mike, ¡± she said quietly. Pressing her body weight against Gio, she tried urging him to move. No effect, unsurprisingly.


    ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go home.¡± The word ¡®home¡¯ seemed to prate his ¡®Must kill James¡¯ haze because a little of the tension left his body and he gave her a very slight nod. When minutester he showed no signs of calming or bing less


    robotic, she was tempted to try to talk to him. However, she somehow sensed that, for whatever reason, Gio needed to be alone with his thoughts right now. Going with that instinct, she turned her focus to the view ahead and said nothing.


    Gio had thought that the further he got from that other pack the more he would calm. That just wasn¡¯t happening. Maybe it should have been James¡¯ im that Gio wasn¡¯t good for Danica that was agitating him. Or maybe his im that she wanted things that Gio couldn¡¯t give her. Or maybe


    even James¡¯ suggestion that she stay with his pack and mate with another wolf. But no. As much as all that had seriously pissed him off, it wasn¡¯t any of that that was responsible for his mood. What had him as annoyed as fuck right now was that Danica had defended him. No female other than his mother or Lindy had ever defended him. Not only had Danica done that, she had basically chosen him over her uncle. It pissed him off that it meant something to him when it shouldn¡¯t have. What annoyed him more was that he couldn¡¯t be sure if that had been real or she had just been sticking with their true mate act. He tried telling himself that it didn¡¯t matter. Tried telling himself that it wasn¡¯t relevant, but it goddamn was to him. He was sick of her doing things that touched him like that and then left him sitting there wondering if he was looking too deep into things or if she was having the same inner struggle as him.


    Like the way she snapped if anyone questioned their mating as she had with Elsa and her uncle. Was it because her sense of possessiveness now


    ran bone deep just as his did, or was it just her wolf? Like how she held back from marking him. Was that because she was already finding it hard to remain detached, or was it only her wolf finding it hard? And like how she had repeatedly tried so hard to help him form so many alliances when he had never asked that of her. Was it because she cared for him in some way and wanted to help him, or was it that she just wanted to help the pack as a whole?


    He didn¡¯t want to be going through this weird inner struggle on his own and, as idiotic as it was, he wanted her to care about him. Mostly because he


    was afraid that he just might care about her.


    And so his bad mood remained with him throughout the long journey home and was still there hourster while he was sat on one of the chairs by theke soaking up the midday sun. He knew Danica wouldn¡¯t let him brood in peace much longer so it wasn¡¯t a surprise when he heard footsteps. Unfortunately it turned out that those footsteps didn¡¯t belong to Danica.


    ¡°Hey,¡± called out Duda in his usual gruff voice.


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Yes I will have a seat, thank you, Alpha.¡±


    ¡°No one likes a smart ass.¡±


    He took the chair opposite Gio¡¯s and straddled it. ¡°I take it things didn¡¯t go well with her uncle.¡±


    Gio sighed. ¡°Actually, he was happy to see her. All of them were pretty hospitable.¡±


    ¡°Well I can understand why that might piss you off since  though you¡¯ll never admit it you don¡¯t want her to leave, and nor do you seem ready to face just why that might be. But I don¡¯t see why it would have Danica all irritated.¡±


    He chose to ignore the first half of what Duda had said. ¡°Her uncle didn¡¯t believe we were true mates, said the mating wasn¡¯t real.¡±


    Duda winced. ¡°Ooh, yeah, that¡¯ll do it. She might know this mating¡¯s temporary, but she sure doesn¡¯t like anyone saying it¡¯s not real.¡±


    ¡°He also said I was bad for her. Said I couldn¡¯t give her those things a woman wants. Then he suggested she stay there and mate with another wolf.¡±


    ¡°Prick.¡±


    After a pause, Gio said, ¡°She defended me, you know.¡±


    ¡°Of course she did. You¡¯re her mate. Mates don¡¯t stand for that shit.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Her wolf wouldn¡¯t want anyone insulting her mate, would she.¡±


    Duda snickered. ¡°You¡¯re one blind bastard.¡±


    ¡°Blind?¡±


    ¡°Or maybe just dumb.¡± Shaking his head, he looked away and sighed. When he looked at Gio again there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.


    ¡°Well¡­I don¡¯t see what you¡¯ve got to be pissed about. Her uncle¡¯s an ass, but he¡¯s right. You are bad for her. You can¡¯t give her the things a female


    wants because the mating¡¯s temporary. And, yeah, there¡¯s a good chance she¡¯ll go and mate with another wolf when she leaves.¡± When Gio growled


    warningly Duda¡¯s face took on a superior, smug, know it all look. ¡°You know, you could just ask her to stay for good.¡±


    At that moment, Gio hated him. Hated him for seeing far more than he should. Hated him for making Gio see exactly how much he wanted that


    which seriously scared the shit out of him. He hated his wolf too. Hated him for constantly fighting Gio over the idea of Danica leaving, for being so unreasonably possessive of her. He also hated Chris for wanting Danica, he hated the wolf she might one day mate with, and he hated her uncle for speaking the truth he¡¯d been trying to ignore. Mostly, he hated his fucking self for caring about a female who didn¡¯t even care enough to mark him.


    ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°The two of you are good together. You actuallyugh these days. You behave a lot like true mates do.¡±


    ¡°Look, Duda, I¡¯ll admit I like her, she¡¯s fun to have around and she knows what she¡¯s doing in the bedroom  but it wouldn¡¯t have mattered if I hadn¡¯t liked her or if she was someone else, we still would have mated and fucked. This is about a deal, that¡¯s all.¡± Gio was aware that he¡¯d sounded pretty harsh. He was also aware by the scent that suddenly vored the air that Danica had heard him.  Shit.

 CHAPTER 43

    Duda¡¯s re-entry brought him out of his thoughts.


    ¡°You have the phone?¡±


    His Beta nodded.


    ¡°The message is right there.¡±


    Gary spluttered.


    ¡°What do you mean the message is there? I didn¡¯t send him any message, dammit.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s right there in your Sent box,¡± said Ray.


    Gary snatched the phone, read the message and his face reddened.


    ¡°Then someone else must have sent it. I didn¡¯t.


    Why would I? Why would anyone even lie to you about Hudson wanting to talk to you?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you wanted Gio out of the way so you had a chance to snatch Danica. You would have known that he would feel her panic and help her¡­


    unless he was far enough away that he wouldn¡¯t reach her in time. Just what were you nning to do with her? Or to her?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t send that message!¡±


    ¡°If my dad says he didn¡¯t do it, then he didn¡¯t do it,¡± said Max as he stood beside him, folding his arms across his chest. ¡°I¡¯m not disputing that someone tried to pull you away from Danica,¡± he told Gio. ¡°But whoever it was used my dad¡¯s phone, most likely to implicate him and shift the me. It wasn¡¯t him.¡±


    Danica groaned. ¡°I can¡¯t deal with all this yelling.¡±


    ¡°Come on, baby.¡± Gio rose with her in his arms and carried her out of the room, through the tunnels and into their bedroom. He ced her gently on the bed andy down next to her.


    ¡°Now do you believe me?¡± She sighed when he didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say, someone grabbed me. If you don¡¯t want to face the fact that someone in your pack ¨C the people you¡¯ve grown up with ¨C could do that, then I can understand that. I really can. But it doesn¡¯t change that I¡¯m right. Like it or not, you have someone in your pack who would willingly hurt your mate, because I¡¯m not lying.¡±


    Angry with himself for hurting her, he stroked a hand through her hair.


    ¡°Hey I never thought you were lying, baby. Not that. Just that maybe you tripped.¡±


    ¡°Oh I tripped. With help.¡±


    Okay so there was being possessive, there was being crazily possessive, and there was this: being a total shit head. Danica groaned and pped her hands over her face. All she wanted was to go shopping with Lucy. It wasn¡¯t like she was nning to go shopping on a whole other continent or that she would be walking around naked the entire time. Gio, however, was totallyOriginal from N?velDrama.Org.


    opposed to the idea of her going without him.


    When attempting to bully her into taking him along hadn¡¯t worked, he had switched to trying to manipte her with a little reverse psychology.


    When that failed he introduced some seriously good bribes. As she had still refused, he was now trying his hand at emotional ckmail. Releasing her face she looked at her mate who sat at the kitchen table wearing a kicked puppy expression. ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Gio, I¡¯ll only be gone a few hours. I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll cope without me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I like being with you.¡±


    That should have sounded corny or pathetic, but it had managed to sound sweet and cutely protective. Oh he was so good at this. She had


    learned over the past few weeks that although Gio was mostly hard and antisocial, when he really wanted something he was more than capable of a


    little charm. He had a way of focusing totally on her in a manner that she would have expected to freak her out, but instead it made her feel adored and safe. What made it better for Danica was that he waspletely unashamed of how much he liked having her near him all the time. He didn¡¯t hold back except in a sexual sense in front of other people. Maybe that was why they didn¡¯t make fun of him for it. Maybe hisplete conviction that it was normal, reasonable, and his right to act that way rubbed off on others so that


    they too saw it as natural and expected. They didn¡¯t even poke fun at him when he agreed to let Danica take him ces he otherwise would never have bothered his ass with like the beach, the cinema, the bowling alley and even an ice-ring.


    ¡°You can be with me as much as you want when I get back.¡±


    ¡°Why is it you¡¯re so set on me not going?¡±


    Because it was his birthday in a few days and she wanted to get him a decent gift as a surprise, but he didn¡¯t have to know that. Just as he didn¡¯t have to know that they were all nning a surprise party or he would probably hide. ording to Duda, Gio didn¡¯t like to celebrate his birthday something about him not liking that kind of attention. Well that was just tough shit, it was time for him to stop being so serious.


    ¡°You already know that it was Lucy who organized the trip. How can I justify taking you along when she won¡¯t even let Richarde along? Besides, you hate shopping.¡±


    ¡°No I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re only visiting one store. There¡¯s going to be a lot of browsing around shoe stores and boutiques and going bag hunting in the


    mall. You wouldn¡¯tst five minutes in that jungle.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I wear clothes, I¡¯ve seen women¡¯s clothes, I¡¯m pretty sure I could cope in a mall.¡±


    ¡°Gio, let me cast your mind back to the time when as a punishment for being a bastard I took you to Victoria¡¯s Secret and tried on a load of lingerie


    for you but then never bought any.¡± His pained expression made her smile.


    ¡°You remember how you were sweating and huffing and puffing and asking how long before we could go home?¡±


    ¡°That was because you¡¯d just made me watch you model all kinds of kinky shit, got me hard as a rock, and then expected me to walk without


    being in agony.¡±


    ¡°No, Gio, that was before we even got into the store. You¡¯re not cut out for this sort of thing. Leave it to the experts.¡±


    Taking her by the wrist, Gio pulled her onto hisp to straddle him. It probably wasn¡¯t a good idea since that position sparked off some really dirty


    thoughts and quickly his cock began to harden. Then again, when was it ever limp when Danica was around? The fact that she soon wouldn¡¯t be around even if it would only be for a few hours  was enough to cause his surge of lust to wane and to perturb his wolf. When she was there he was content and rxed in a way he had never


    been before. She made himugh and gave him a feeling of being anchored, of having perfect bnce. When she wasn¡¯t there he missed her and didn¡¯t think about much but her anyway, so he didn¡¯t see the logic in her not being with him. It was really that simple to him. Of course he was aware of just how possessive and greedy he was


    being, but he also knew that Danica would never let him steamroll her. If she thought he was taking it too far, she would let him know about it in a way


    that would make him seriously hesitate doing it in future. Brushing his lips against hers, he asked, ¡°Is it really so bad that I just want to spend time with


    you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to work, Gio. Especially since I know that this isn¡¯t only about you wanting the pleasure of mypany.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll rephrase. Is it really so bad that I just want to spend time with you and have you in my sight at all times?¡±


    Danica sighed. As they were mates with an iplete bond, no it wasn¡¯t bad, it was normal. For wolves that hadn¡¯tpletely bonded, the


    possessiveness and protectiveness hit extreme levels because there was a lingering insecurity for both of them. Had it only been that, Danica could have easily waved away his behavior. The problem was she knew from their connection that he wasn¡¯t dishing out bullshit. He did like being with her, he did want to spend time her¡­and now he was kissing her neck.


    ¡°Gio -¡±


    ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± he prodded gently.


    ¡°No, but -¡±


    ¡°Is it really so awful that I like having you close so I can reach out and touch you whenever I want? y with your hair, feel your skin, taste your lips, inhale your scent. Is it really so awful?¡± He briefly paused kissing her neck to lick over his mark.


    ¡°Not awful,¡± she replied breathlessly, shuddering, ¡°but -¡±


    ¡°It makes perfect sense for me toe and ¨C ow! Son of a bitch!¡±


    Regaining her mentalposure, Danica jumped to her feet, frowning down at her mate who was rubbing the sensitive tip of his ear where she had


    bit him hard. ¡°That was for trying to manipte me again.¡±


    As Lucy and Richard entered and took in her frown and Gio¡¯s face creased in pain, Lucy arched a brow.  ¡°Have we walked in on a domestic argument?¡±


    ¡°Gio¡¯s just sulking because I¡¯m not taking him shopping.¡±


    Richard scratched his nape. ¡°You know what I don¡¯t get? How women can spend the majority of their lives in shopping malls but still say they have


    nothing to wear.¡±


    Lucy snorted. ¡°You know what I don¡¯t get? How men can spend the majority of their lives ying sports where they¡¯re being trampled on and


    listening to noisy mobs yet they¡¯re put off by shopping when it¡¯s no different.¡± Both males tilted their heads, conceding that.


    ¡°At least let me give you some -¡±


    Holding up her hand, she said, ¡°No, Gio, I have my own money.¡±


    He curled an arm around her waist and drew her close. ¡°But I know you don¡¯t want to touch that fund.¡±


    Combing her fingers through his hair, she smiled. ¡°Back then I didn¡¯t.


    Things were different then. Our mating was only about a deal.¡± She adored him for being so sensitive about it.

 CHAPTER 44

    Ordinarily Gio¡¯s trigger for waking was either a hunger pang in his stomach or a full dder. This morning, it was something else. As hey there with his eyes closed, he felt something nagging at him. Something was different, wrong, something that agitated his wolf and had him reaching for


    the surface, annoyed with his human side for not realizing the problem. Taking a deep breath, Gio scrubbed at his eyes. He hadn¡¯t had to open


    them to know what was disturbing his wolf. Danica¡¯s exotic scent had instantly shot up his nostrils, but it was too faint. Which meant that she


    wasn¡¯t there. As his lids flipped open, his eyes confirmed it. The rest of his senses told him she wasn¡¯t in the en-suite bathroom, which meant that she had woken before him and snuck out of the room. There had to have been sneaking and creeping involved or else he would have easily woken. Unlike Danica, he was a light sleeper.


    Never since the morning after the anniversary of her mom¡¯s birthday had Danica left the room before him. They always had a little y in the


    mornings before going for breakfast together. It seemed that she was establishing a distance between them, and apparently it wasn¡¯t just going to be an emotional one.


    Well fuck that!


    Yeah he had messed up. Yeah he had said shit he shouldn¡¯t have. And yeah he had hurt her. But he was still her mate and if she had just given him


    five minutes of her time she would know that he was sorry. Okay, maybe she would never have mated with him if it wasn¡¯t for their deal, but their mating had created a connection between them. It was a connection that wouldn¡¯t allow for distances something that he had discovered the hard way.


    So now his wolf was highly agitated and fighting for control of the situation. His wolf wanted to hunt her down and show her just what he thought of this distance she wanted. In fact, Gio didn¡¯t think that was such a bad idea at all.


    Within minutes he was washed, dressed and storming his way through the tunnels. He found the little witch in the kitchen sitting on the counter,


    nibbling on a slice of toast while reading a magazine. She didn¡¯t even look up as he entered. He noticed she was alone and wondered if the others had scarpered, suspecting this might happen. In three long strides he was in front of her, cing a hand on the counter either side of her to cage her in. Slowly she raised her head and


    arched a brow questioningly, as if she couldn¡¯t possibly imagine what his problem was.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t there when I woke up.¡± The words rumbled out of him.


    ¡°True. And?¡± Danica hadn¡¯t actually expected him to react so badly. She had considered that his wolf might feel cheated out of what had be his


    morning ritual and maybe she¡¯d end up with a nipped lip that seemed to be his favorite thing to do when she had annoyed him but it wasn¡¯t his wolf looking back at her. It was Gio. With his mouth a harsh line and his eyes smouldering, he looked incensed, determined, and pretty damn horny. Her traitorous body responded to that lust. There was something else there too¡­if she didn¡¯t know any better she¡¯d have thought it was hurt.


    ¡°I like making youe in the morning, hearing you moan, having your taste on my tongue. This morning, you weren¡¯t there.¡±


    ¡°Huh. Well my aim in life isn¡¯t to please you so¡­¡±


    He ced his face closer to hers. ¡°Spread your legs.¡± Her stomach clenched. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I want my morning taste of you. So spread your legs like a good girl.¡±


    ¡°Not a chance, asshole.¡±


    The fire in her eyes had his already hard cock aching painfully. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about assholes unless you want me to fuck yours. You know exactly what my problem is so stop ying dumb. You snuck out of my arms and out of our bed, snuck being the key word. Believe me when I tell you that it¡¯s in


    your best interests to not push me any further because I¡¯m seriously pissed off.¡±


    She cocked her head. ¡°Do I get extra points if I fake giving a shit?¡±


    Growling, Gio tangled his hand in her hair and mashed his lips to hers, thrusting his tongue inside and exploring her mouth. It was a hard, possessive, punishing kiss, but of course his little mate wasn¡¯t prepared to take that punishment. She bit his tongue and pulled away.


    ¡°Go force your will on someone who¡¯ll bow down at the wonder that is you.¡±


    Out of patience, Gio gripped her ass and tugged her to the edge of the counter as he boldly cupped her and leaned forward to lick over his mark. As


    always, she shuddered. ¡°That¡¯s it, baby, rx for me. That¡¯s my good girl.¡±


    He unsnapped the top button of her jeans and went for her zip. Shocking him


    toplete stillness, a slice of toast was pped onto his face.


    Before he could react, Danica had slipped off the counter, ducked under his arm and was running out the door. Bitch. Amusement and anger warred


    within him for supremacy. He chased after her through the tunnels, out the main door, down the narrow flights of stairs and into the forest. He was


    stunned by just how much distance she had been able to ce between them.


    Christ, she was fast. And so unbelievably agile.


    Knowing she was nearing a pond and would soon need to turn left, Gio detoured through the trees and came at her from the front, springing in


    front of her. She froze and smirked smugly, further inciting his wolf. He was insisting that Gio take her, take her now. Liking that idea, Gio stripped off his clothes, holding her gaze the entire time.


    Helpless to the effect the naked body of her mate had on her, Danica licked her lips as she ran her gaze along Gio. He was so gloriously male. His


    form seemed designed to seduce, seemed created especially to deliver raw, carnal pleasure. And Danica was eager for it. Eager to feel that long, thick shaft tunneling in and out of her. A wave of savage need had her stomach clenching and her body quivering. Afraid that she would end up giving him exactly what that hard on said he wanted, she backed away. His cautioning


    growl made her halt.


    ¡°Is this your new thing, Danica, putting space between us?¡± He shook his head, ¡°It won¡¯t work. We¡¯re mates.¡±


    ¡°Wrong. We might have mated, but we didn¡¯t do it because we chose each other and wanted to have that bond. We came together for a deal. That makes it an arrangement, not a mating.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t much care what you want to call it, Danica. The point is that because I¡¯ve imed you we have a connection you can¡¯t ignore, that neither


    of us can ignore.¡±


    ¡°And this connection means I¡¯m supposed to give you whatever you want?¡± She snorted derisively.


    ¡°Well fuck you.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re upset with me, baby, but did you give me a chance to apologize? Or did you try to freeze me out again?¡±


    It startled her that he sounded genuinely hurt by that. In fact, he looked it too. ¡°Who said I was upset?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not upset then prove it. Come here so I can give you what both of us want. I can smell your arousal, Danica.¡± He fisted his cock. ¡°You


    want this.¡±


    He was right, the bastard. She couldn¡¯t help being annoyed with her body , it didn¡¯t care that he had hurt her. No, it was responding to him as it always did like the goddamn hussy Lindy described! Even now as she was considering a good ce to bury his body she couldn¡¯t move her eyes from the sight of him stroking himself. Not trusting that she could keep resisting him, she snarled and sprung


    upwards, grabbing onto the branch above her head. She hauled herself up and stood perfectly bnced. He didn¡¯t look impressed.


    ¡°Get your pretty little ass down here now and I might not spank it.¡±


    She snorted. ¡°You say that as if you think I¡¯d let you spank me.¡±


    ¡°Now, Danica,¡± he drawled.


    Instead she shot him a challenging look. As she expected, he began climbing his way up the tree, reaching for her. She sprang to the next tree,


    then swung from that tree to the next, and the next, and the next before finally jumping to the ground and dashing away. She could hear him hot on her heels but she didn¡¯t once look back.


    Momentster a set of powerful arms locked around her and tackled her to the ground. At thest second he spun, taking the brunt of the fall,N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    before then rolling her onto her stomach.


    ¡°Caught. Trapped. And soon to be mounted.¡±


    Danica struggled. ¡°Oh I don¡¯t think so!¡± He grunted as she reared back and mmed her elbow into his ribs. Although she managed to scramble


    from beneath him, he grabbed her feet and dragged her back to him.


    ¡°Tricky little bitch,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°My tricky little bitch.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    He draped himself over her and ced his mouth at her ear. ¡°Oh yes, baby, your ass is definitely mine. And if you keep struggling I swear I¡¯ll fuck


    it.¡±


    Instantly she stilled, but then as she felt his arrogant smile at her neck a surge of anger hit her. She sank her hand into the soil and hurled a handful of it at his face. He coughed and spat, cursing. As the pressure of his body left her, she managed to crawl from beneath him and was almost on her feet when he again mped his arms around her and pinned her to the ground.


    Harder than he¡¯d ever been in his life, Gio tore her jeans from her body and then gripped her arms and locked them behind her back, trapping them there with one hand. He curled his other arm around her waist and pulled her ass in the air. ¡°God, you¡¯ve no idea how hot you look right now.


    Totally submissive.¡± Without any preamble, he plunged two fingers inside her. ¡°You¡¯re so wet for me. See, baby, your body knows it belongs to me.¡±

 CHAPTER 45

    Danica decided it was very possible that Gio could fuck her into unconsciousness. He was pounding into her at a frenzied pace, like fucking her was thest thing he would do before he died. Pinned as she was, all she could do was take everything he had to give. It should have infuriated her that


    his huge powerful body was like a cage around her, leaving her unable to move. But, strangely, she found that she kind of liked it. It was sheer male domination, but it wasn¡¯t threatening or painful. Her wolf approved of her male¡¯s dominance, believed him to be worthy of her surrender. The pleasure had swept Danica under and she couldn¡¯t even find it in herself to care that she was still hurt by his words or that her heart was a mess. Her body was winding tighter and tighter, making her moan and groan and whimper.


    A voice inside Gio whispered that he was being too rough, but he was too far gone to heed it. Lust had consumed his blood. She had consumed his


    blood. Every sound she made had his body burning hotter and hotter, had him heading closer and closer to his climax. He could already feel the telling tingle in his spine but no way would hee until she had found her own release.


    Just then a hint of a familiar scent drifted to him and he almost smiled. Chris was obviously on a run in his wolf form and had wandered close. Gio


    removed his teeth from her nape and whispered in Danica¡¯s ear loud enough for only her to hear. ¡°You know Chris is out there, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m d he¡¯s watching. I want him to see my cock thrusting in and out of you, owning you. I want him to remember that it¡¯s me who fucks you, not him, not anyone else.¡±


    ¡°No one owns me,¡± Danica somehow managed to growl even as she was still moaning and whimpering. She flexed the hands he had pinned behind her back, wing his stomach in retaliation. ¡°I swear to God I¡¯m going to rip your spine out of your ass,¡± she panted. ¡°As soon as I can move, I¡¯m going to do it.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    He chuckled and licked his mark, liking the shudder that ran through her. Movement in his peripheral vision snatched his attention and he looked to see Chris again. Most likely sensing that Gio¡¯s wolf saw him as intruding and wanted to attack, Chris turned and trotted away.


    Only when he was satisfied the other wolf was a fair distance away did Gio return his focus to Danica, nuzzling her hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what I said, baby. I was in a shitty mood. I took it out on Duda.¡± Just like that, all the emotional torment that she had pushed aside came flooding back. She swallowed hard. ¡°Like I said, it wasn¡¯t anything I didn¡¯t already know, you only said the truth.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± He withdrew, gently flipped her over, and then slid back inside.


    They both groaned. He kept his thrusts slow and sensual as he spoke. ¡°I just say stupid things when I¡¯m pissed. I didn¡¯t mean any of it.¡±


    ¡°Then why say it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not good with this stuff, baby. Things weren¡¯t supposed to be like this, it was only supposed to be about a deal.¡±


    He sounded so lost and confused that it prickled at Danica¡¯s protective instincts and, before she


    thought better of it, she was curling her arms around his neck.


    ¡°When Duda talked about you staying and I realized how much I wanted you to it spooked the hell out of me and stupid shit startinging out of my mouth.¡±


    She could understand him being spooked. The second she realized she cared for Gio, she¡¯d shit her pants.


    ¡°You know what I want, Danica,¡± he growled as


    leaned over her, curling his hips as he increased the pace of his pounding.


    ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    Danica knew what he meant, but she mped her mouth shut and shook her head.


    His eyes shed wolf. ¡°Bite me, mark me, now.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    He tangled both hands in her hair and tugged hard. ¡°Do it, Danica. Put your fucking brand on me.¡±


    She writhed beneath him, growling, ¡°Fuck you!¡±


    He gentled his voice a little and pinned her gaze with his. ¡°Why fight


    it? Why?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t real,¡± she almost sobbed.


    ¡°Wrong, baby. This is as real as it gets.¡±


    ¡°I told you I won¡¯t always cate your wolf!¡±


    ¡°He needs it, baby. I want it. I need it.¡±


    Danica shook her head again, knowing he couldn¡¯t realize what he was asking, couldn¡¯t realize what might happen. Nor could he realize that she was


    fighting herself just as much as she was fighting him. ¡°It¡¯ll never fade!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want it to. I want to look in the mirror and see it there. I want everyone else to see it there.¡±


    ¡°You want me to mark you so another female can cover it with hers?


    Fuck that!¡±


    He arched a brow tauntingly. ¡°You don¡¯t like the idea of another female marking me? Then leave your brand there, warn them off, show them who I belong to.¡±


    ¡°It might start the imprinting! You don¡¯t want that!¡± It surprised her that his expression suddenly softened.


    ¡°You¡¯re not listening to anything I¡¯m saying, baby. I¡¯m not giving you up. Even if we don¡¯t imprint I¡¯m not giving you up, I can¡¯t. If another man touches you I¡¯ll kill him. I will. I¡¯ll rip his fucking throat out and I won¡¯t even care. You¡¯re mine, Danica, and you¡¯re not going anywhere. I need you here with me, and I need your brand on me. Do it, Danica! Give it to me!¡±


    Whining in defeat Danica lifted her head and sank her teeth into the juncture of his neck and shoulder.


    It took everything Gio had to stop froming there and then. ¡°Fuck, yeah. More!¡±


    She raked her ws down his back just like she and her wolf had wanted to from the beginning.


    ¡°Again, Danica!¡± This time she bit down onto his shoulder but she didn¡¯t release him and he loved the possessiveness of that act. Pounding into


    her even harder he demanded, ¡°Come for me, Danica.¡± He mped his teeth over his iming mark and she screamed around the flesh of his shoulder as her climax tore into her. That together with her muscles closing around his cock had him erupting inside her once again.


    And that was when it happened. Danica released his shoulder with a gasp as her entire body clenched. A bond was developing between them alright. A true mate bond.


    Should she really be so surprised? Wasn¡¯t this what her wolf and her body had hinted at all along? There had been plenty of signs. Like the way her wolf reacted to Gio¡¯s scent, hell, she¡¯d even been calm when he kidnapped her and constantly craved hispany and touch. Like the way her body had from the very beginning reacted rather enthusiastically to him.


    Like the way she had somehow been positive that he would never hurt her for God¡¯s sake, the psycho actually made her feel safe. He was going to be so smug about this. ¡°You know this is more than imprinting, don¡¯t you?¡± he said softly.


    She nodded. ¡°Are you scared?¡± she asked quietly, dreading the answer.


    Gio shook his head . ¡°No.¡± He wanted her bound to him in every possible way.


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    Not wanting to lie and thinking he would probably sense it if she did, she nodded again.


    He stroked her hair gently. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ve just imed someone who doesn¡¯t care for me.¡±


    ¡°Feel what I feel.¡± answered Gio.


    Closing her eyes, Danica found their connection instantly. She didn¡¯t feel it in her head as she had thought mates did, she felt it everywhere, felt Gio everywhere. She knew that he was genuinely happy that they had bonded, knew that he had been serious when he said he wouldn¡¯t have let her leave no matter what. This was about Gio and Danica, the man and the woman. When she opened her eyes it was to see him looking at her with confusion in his eyes.


    ¡°You think you love me,¡± he practically whispered.


    He hated that he couldn¡¯t say it back, knowing it would hurt her. Stroking her hair again he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what that is, baby.¡± Danica¡¯s heart literally ached for him. He was telling the truth, he didn¡¯t know what it was. He had never had any real examples of love in his life, and he was convinced from the things he had done and was capable of doing that he wouldn¡¯t be able to feel an emotion like that. He¡¯d only been a child when


    he¡¯d closed himself off. A child who didn¡¯t want his dad¡¯s words or treatment to be able to hurt him anymore. Closing himself off so early like that had


    stunted his development and he was, in a way, emotionally immature.


    ¡°Love is giving someone the power topletely destroy you, and hoping that they won¡¯t.¡±


    Gio framed her face with his hands, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip.


    ¡°I¡¯d never purposely hurt you. Never. I¡¯m a man which means I¡¯ll fuck up. Regrly. I¡¯m not good with words, I spout crap when I¡¯m angry, and I¡¯m about as romantic as a pebble. But¡­See, I¡¯m not good with words.


    All I can say is you¡¯re important to me in a way I can¡¯t exin or understand. More important to me than anything else.¡±


    And Danica could work with that because he did care for her, and that was more than she would have hoped for. ¡°Same here.¡±


    Gently he brought her face to his and ravished her mouth, gliding his tongue against hers and drinking her in into him. ¡°My wolf¡¯s feeling pretty


    smug about this.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°So is mine. Think the rest of the pack will be okay about it?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go find out.¡±

 CHAPTER 46

    ¡°Did it ever ur to you that I¡¯m not too small and you¡¯re just ridiculously big?¡±


    Zipping his fly he shrugged. ¡°You like how big I am.¡± Of course, as usual, he was referring to the bulge in his jeans. She snorted. ¡°It¡¯s a wonder that thing even fits inside me.¡±


    ¡°Thing?¡± He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. ¡°Of course it fits. It belongs there.¡± Swatting her ass, he added, ¡°Nowe on.¡±


    Strolling through the tunnels toward the living area they passed Lindy. As she took in Danica¡¯s appearance she huffed. ¡°Hussy.¡±


    ¡°Prude,¡± Danica shot back without breaking stride as she and Gio walked hand in hand into the living area. Richard, Jeremy, Michey, Lucy, Andrew, Donny and Duda all looked up, saw their clothes orck thereof and grinned.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve kissed, bitten, and made up?¡± asked Duda. ¡°Get the entire pack together,¡± ordered Gio. ¡°We¡¯ll be back in a few minutes.¡±


    Exactly ten minutester both Danica and Gio were back in the living area, washed and dressed in fresh clothes. Danica was surprised at how nervous she was about the pack¡¯s reaction. She knew that most of them liked her and respected her and even viewed her as their Alpha female to an extent.


    However, this would no longer be a temporary thing, they would now have to ept her as their true Alpha female,tency and all. She hadn¡¯t had to care before about what they thought of her, but now it mattered. She was certain that Max, Theresa, Hope and Lindy wouldn¡¯t be pleased


    about it and she suspected that Chris might not be so happy either. Even though he was reasonably friendly, he didn¡¯t spend time with her the way he


    used to and envy wafted from him whenever she and Gio were together around him. He could very well decide that he wasn¡¯t going to stick around


    and watch she and Gio be mated.


    Danica was quite sure that the others would be okay with her staying. Gary she couldn¡¯t be too sure about because he didn¡¯t talk much, but she


    suspected that if Chris threatened to leave and some of the others got upset then Gary would want her gone which wasn¡¯t going to happen no matter what any of them thought. God, this was nerve-wracking.


    Sensing no feeling ¨C Danica¡¯s anxiety, Gio took her hand and tugged her closer to his side. ¡°You should all know that Danica is now officially your


    Alpha female.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re staying?¡± asked Donny, leaning forward in his seat, wide eyed. Jeremy frowned at Danica¡¯s nod. ¡°What about imprinting?¡±


    Gio smiled crookedly. ¡°We haven¡¯t imprinted. We¡¯ve bonded.¡± As he¡¯d expected, Duda smiled smugly.


    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re true mates?¡± asked Andrew. Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t look all that shocked. ¡°Well that exins a lot.¡±


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s all we need,¡± griped Lindy. ¡°A midget with a sharp sarcastic tongue for an Alpha.¡±


    Chris puffed, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Well that was thest thing I¡¯d have expected. After what Gio saidst night, I thought you¡¯d have


    headed for the hills.¡± He flinched when Duda jammed his elbow into his ribs.


    ¡°We all knew he hadn¡¯t really meant what he said,¡± Duda growled at Chris.


    ¡°Tell me this is a joke!¡± demanded Theresa.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Gio, she¡¯stent,¡± said Max, red in the face. ¡°And a Hart.¡±


    ¡°Your point being what exactly?¡± asked Ray.


    ¡°I¡¯m not bowing down to a Hart!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not bowing down to atent!¡± Theresa practically screeched.


    ¡°Well I¡¯m happy for you guys,¡± said Donny, grinning.


    ¡°Me too,¡± said Hudson.


    Ray winked. ¡°And me.¡±


    Michey did a little jump. ¡°Oh my God, this is great!¡± Most of the others nodded their agreement, smiling.


    ¡°How can you all ept her as your Alpha?¡± demanded Max, his gaze drilling into everyone.


    Danica sighed. ¡°Max, if you¡¯re going to act like an asshole then go do it somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°I have the right to have an opinion!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I still have the right to think you¡¯re a stupid prick.¡±


    Panting like a raging bull, Max shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t support this.¡±


    He stalked out of the room and was followed closely by Theresa and Hope , although Hope seemed to be leaving just because Theresa was.


    Duda sank back into the chair with his hands sped behind his head, looking kind of smug. ¡°I said at the start that you two would imprint. When I


    saw you covered in bites I made the others a bet that you¡¯d end up staying here. Unfortunately no one bet against me so then we just made bets on how soon imprinting would start. I was closest.¡±


    ¡°I was furthest,¡± admitted Andrew. ¡°I thought you would need to leave before Gio snapped out of his state of denial.¡±


    ¡°But it didn¡¯t take long for me to see there was more to it than that. I¡¯ve been wondering how long it¡¯d take for you to realize that you¡¯re true mates.¡±


    Gio searched all their faces. ¡°I take it this means none of you are opposed to this. Not that it¡¯ll make any difference, but I¡¯d prefer it if you were all good with it.¡±


    Duda stood and then dropped to one knee, head bowed. Donny copied the move. Then Hudson, Andrew, Ray, Michey, Lucy, Richard, Jeremy, Chris, and finally Gary.


    ¡°No, guys, please don¡¯t,¡± said Danica. But they remained where they were like white knights and it freaked her out. ¡°Come on, get up.¡± She nudged Gio. ¡°Tell them to get up.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re acknowledging us as their Alpha pair, offering us their loyalty.¡±


    ¡°Well they can be loyal standing up.¡±


    Gio turned to his grandmother who looked like a sulking child.


    ¡°Lindy?¡±


    ¡°This sort of thing wouldn¡¯t have happened in my day,¡± said Lindy.


    ¡°When I met your grandfather we were both virgins. You can¡¯t tell me she was one.¡±


    Danica smiled. ¡°Well of course you were. It was expected back in 1480.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s not natural how much¡­um¡­intimate rtions you have. We might be shifters but we¡¯re not animals. It¡¯s disgusting.¡±


    Gio groaned. ¡°How about we skip the insults and just get to the point.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting down on one knee,¡± she spat.


    ¡°But you ept this, we have your loyalty as your Alpha pair?¡± he pressed.


    She gave him a tiny nod then hissed at Danica. ¡°But she¡¯s still a hussy.


    And just you remember, hussy, he¡¯s my grandson.¡± With that, she marched out of the room mumbling abouttent wolves, sarcastic females and men


    who were led around by their penises.


    ¡°Right,¡± began Gio as he picked Danica up, wrapping her legs around his waist, ¡°then we¡¯ll see you guyster because we have some celebratory


    sex to do.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve just done the deed twice outside!¡± she reminded him.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m always good to go again when ites to you, baby.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll only ever be me from now on, got that?¡±


    ¡°Same goes for you. I told you, there¡¯ll be no other cocks inside you but mine.¡±


    ¡°d we understand each other.¡±


    Finally in the bedroom he literally dumped her on the bed and then tackled his fly. ¡°I have a feeling the sex will be even better now that we¡¯re partially bonded. Let¡¯s find out.¡±


    It turned out that it was even better. Gio had felt her pleasure, sensed as it rose, which had then intensified and amplified his own until he came soN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    hard he almost passed out. What made it even better was that he not only knew but could feel that it was more than sex for her, could feel how much she cared for him.


    He¡¯d never thought of himself as a lovable person, and yet this amazing female actually loved him. She didn¡¯t say it aloud for the same reason that


    she never begged, she feared beingpletely vulnerable to him. Simrly, he feared beingpletely vulnerable to her. He suspected that for as long as that fear existed for both of them, the bond wouldn¡¯t beplete. At one time he would have thought that wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing if their rtionship fucked up and they separated it would be easier for both of them if they weren¡¯tpletely tied to one another. But he had no ns to ever let this female leave him, and he wanted all of her even as he feared giving her the same. Yeah that was bad and if he¡¯d had a fully developed conscience then maybe he would have felt crap about it. Or maybe he would always be unapologetically selfish where Danica was concerned. As he looked at her then lying beside him shuddering, panting and totally naked, he figured that yeah he would. Later that evening, they all decided to go for a run as a pack. Well, all


    except for Lindy, Max, Theresa and Hope who were still sulking. Danica smiled at the feeling of the cool night air on her face as she apanied the wolves as they loped through the woods, enjoying the sense of belonging and closeness that could onlye from running with the pack.

 CHAPTER 47

    The one thing Danica had always known would be annoying about being mated was that having such an intense connection to someone meant there


    were no secrets. Not that Danica had any huge dark secrets or anything, but there were little itty bitty ones that she would have preferred to keep to herself. Like this for example ¨C Danica had toe to love waking up with Gio¡¯s big body practically cocooning her. It made her feel safe, sheltered, secure. It also made her feel a little dumb and feeble. She was an Alpha for God¡¯s sake and yet she loved being cuddled and protected. It felt like a weakness. If Gio woke up now and tapped into what she was feeling, he would know that. By God, if he teased her about it she¡¯d kick his balls so hard they ended up in his throat. It was still hard getting her head around the fact that they were true mates. In fact, it wasn¡¯t so much that. It was just the way everything seemed


    to have happened at once; realizing she loved him, hearing he cared about her, and then suddenly discovering that what she¡¯d grown up believing was bullshit and that she and Gio were true mates ¨C all in the space of twenty four hours.


    And now she was mated. Now she had that deep connection to someone that she had always dreamt of having ¨C that every shifter dreamt of


    having. Casting a shadow over that, however, was the heavy sensation that was saddling her chest. Guilt. Guilt that she could be so happy to be wrong


    about Zan.


    She had sensed that Gio wasn¡¯t experiencing that guilt. Finding out


    that Danica was his true mate had brought him nothing but masculine


    satisfaction and a sense of peace. She knew what she needed to do if she was


    to have that same peace, and she nned to do it after breakfast. The feel of


    him nuzzling her hair broke into her thoughts.


    ¡°Hey baby,¡± he greeted in a sleep-croaky voice. Without having to


    look, Gio had known she was awake. Just like he had known she enjoyed his


    body crowding her but would never admit it. Just like he had known she was


    feeling slightly guilty. ¡°Do you wish I wasn¡¯t your mate?¡± It startled him just


    how much it would pain him if she said yes.


    Danica shook her head. ¡°No. Look deeper, behind the guilt. I¡¯m happy


    about it, about you. Really, I am.¡±


    He rxed a little when he sensed it was the truth. ¡°Then why the


    guilt?¡± It wasn¡¯t an emotion he¡¯d had an awful lot of experience with and it


    had never made much sense to him even when he did. It seemed dumb thatN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    you could feel a rush of happiness but that a negative emotion would be


    attached to it. Wasn¡¯t happiness supposed to be just that, happiness?


    ¡°When I think about it, I¡¯m not sure I know how to think about Zan without having guilt ruling me. Guilt that I should have been in that car and


    died in the ident with him and our mom¡¯s, but didn¡¯t. Guilt that I survived losing him when most people expected me not to. Guilt that I wasn¡¯t


    spending every single day grieving him. Guilt that I could be attracted to other guys and still want to mate with somebody someday. Hell, when I lost


    my virginity I cried the whole time.¡± She twisted in Gio¡¯s arms so that she was facing him. ¡°And now I find out that this person had never been my true


    mate at all, and a part of me thinks I should bementing that. But I don¡¯t. I can¡¯t. It makes me feel guilty that I¡¯m d I was wrong.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°I get what you mean, but I can¡¯t say I feel the same. I don¡¯t feel any guilt whatsoever to know that Louve wasn¡¯t my true mate. If that makes me a bad person, well, that¡¯s because I am a bad person.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not a bad person. You¡¯re just an ass.¡± She smiled when he chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m hurting you with the guilt thing. I don¡¯t mean to.¡±


    He ran his fingers through her hair. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can make it up to me.¡±


    When he rolled Danica onto her back and began sliding down her body she knew exactly what his intention was ¨C the same intention he had every


    single morning. This was Gio¡¯s version of breakfast. Being the kind, generous mate that she was, shey still and let him feast. It always felt so good when he tasted her, but it was so much more


    amazing having him do it while the mating bond was partially formed. She could feel that although it gave him a bone deep satisfaction that she


    belonged to him, he wasn¡¯t just trying to answer his possessive urges by carrying her taste in his mouth. He waspletely engrossed. Thebination of her taste, the moans she made, and the knowledge that he was pleasuring his mate all had him totally gripped. As usual, when she came in his mouth he didn¡¯t let a single drop of it go to waste. Then he swatted her ass and, whistling, strolled into the en-suite bathroom. Cocky bastard. Rather than waiting for him as she always did, she quickly dressed and made her way to the kitchen. Yesterday most people had seemed epting enough of their mating, but she couldn¡¯t help wondering if their eptance and offers of loyalty were for Gio¡¯s benefit. As such, she wanted to go alone. for breakfast this morning to see if their attitudes were different while he


    wasn¡¯t around. That n pretty much flopped, since the only person in the kitchen was Michey. The second she saw Danica a beaming smile took over her face.


    ¡°So¡­you¡¯re true mates after all,¡± she drawled, handing Danica a mug of coffee. ¡°I¡¯m so thrilled. I must say, you look just as shocked this morning as you did yesterday.¡±


    As usual, Danica settled on the counter. ¡°Yeah. I knew I¡¯de to care for him, but I didn¡¯t expect him to feel the same. I certainly didn¡¯t expect all this.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s cared about you from the beginning. He¡¯s just not good with showing he cares.¡±


    ¡°Well, he never had many examples of it.¡± She hated that he¡¯d had such an awful childhood.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. His mom¡­she was a good person, but she wasn¡¯t affectionate. It wasn¡¯t part of who she was, like Lindy. Kids¡­they need hugs, kisses, praise and words of love. She never gave him that. His dad gave him pretty much the opposite.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no wonder he doesn¡¯t know what love is.¡±


    Most likely in response to Danica¡¯s sudden frown, Michey asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± At Michey¡¯s ¡®tell me now¡¯ expression, she sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­I can¡¯t help feeling a little hurt that he doesn¡¯t care about me as much as I do him. I know it should be enough to be mated to someone I love even if they don¡¯t love me back ¨C especially when I¡¯d never thought I¡¯d have the mating bond at all. But the idea of spending my life with someone I love who doesn¡¯t feel the same¡­. I¡¯m worried it¡¯ll eat away at me over time.¡±


    ¡°Of course it hurts. You want to be the center of his everything just like he¡¯s the center of yours. But, honey, I¡¯m pretty sure you already are. He cares about you about as much as he¡¯s capable of doing. It¡¯s up to you to show him what love is, to wrap him up in it until hees to recognize it and feel it himself.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s possible. Gio¡­he¡¯s so guarded. Hell, we both are. I¡¯m not sure that the mating bond will ever be fullyplete.¡± Michey gave her a gentle smile. ¡°You know what the answer is, don¡¯t you? Chocte. It¡¯s always the answer, no matter the question.¡±


    Danica¡¯s chuckle died as Theresa entered the room wearing what might as well have been a tissue. Clearly the female was set on continuing to unt herself in front of Gio. ¡°He¡¯s not here yet.¡±


    Scowling, Theresa took a seat at the table and, naturally, the tissue rode up her thighs to the point of indecency. ¡°I¡¯ll bet you¡¯re feeling very smug.


    Well, be as smug as you want, but I have to say I feel kind of sorry for you if you think this is over. He¡¯s still not yours. The mating bond is only in the


    early stages. The link can be quite easily broken.¡±


    ¡°So can your nose. Don¡¯t test me, Theresa. Right now I don¡¯t have the patience required to deal with people whose IQ levelnds on the right side


    of the decimal point. Gio didn¡¯t want to mate with you before I was here, and even if I left he still wouldn¡¯t want you as his mate.¡±


    ¡°Oh he wanted me just fine all those times he had me in his bed. Just think¡­Those silk sheets you sleep on at night ¨C he fucked me on those.¡±


    Michey snorted. ¡°Oh have some pride, Theresa. It happened all of one time and that was years ago in your room! If it¡¯s really that important to you to be some guy¡¯s Alpha female then go seduce one at a club or something.¡±


    ¡°Gio¡¯s mine! This pack is mine!¡± Her eyes shed wolf as her attention turned back to Danica. ¡°You¡¯ll never be epted here as Alpha female. Never. You might have gotten most of them to pledge their loyalty to you, but you¡¯re na?ve if you think they all meant it.¡±


    ¡°Amen,¡± muttered a witchy voice.


    Danica returned Lindy¡¯s re. ¡°Hey¡± Still alive? Hmm.


    Guess those voodoo dolls don¡¯t work after all.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, make your jokes, hussy.¡±


    ¡°Who said I was joking?¡±


    A cruel smirk yed around the edges of Theresa¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll bet it hurts knowing you¡¯ll never run together with Gio in your wolf form.¡±


    It did, actually, but Danica wouldn¡¯t let her see that her hit had met its target. ¡°You know, I can¡¯t understand why you¡¯d spoil such gorgeous blonde


    hair by dying your roots ck.¡± Theresa¡¯s smirk died and was reced by a snarl. She probably would have said more if Gio, Duda and Chris hadn¡¯t then entered the kitchen. Duda and Chris both greeted Danica with smiles and respectful nods of the head.

 CHAPTER 48

    ¡°Hey, why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± Gio asked against her lips as he stepped between her legs. He heard Theresa ¨C a mostly naked Theresa, his


    peripheral vision informed him ¨C call his name, but he didn¡¯t pay her any attention, he wasn¡¯t stupid.


    ¡°I needed caffeine.¡± Danica gratefully epted the te of food Michey handed her. Gio frowned when Michey didn¡¯t present him with a te of his


    own.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to start running round after her just because she¡¯s officially your Alpha female,¡± Lindy told Michey.


    Gio groaned. The woman never let up.


    Unable to resist needling her, Danica said, ¡°You know, Lindy, you and I will get on a whole lot better once you ept that I¡¯m a goddess.¡±


    At that moment Donny entered and, obviously having heard herment, bowed to her.          ¡°Oh beautiful goddess, how may I serve thee?¡± Gio pped him lightly over the head.


    ¡°A goddess? Hmph. I gave you my loyalty because I¡¯d never do anything to upset my grandson, but I¡¯ll never see you as my Alpha female.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Watch me pretend to care.¡± In actuality, she could demand Lindy¡¯splete submission and even punish her for her disrespect, but Danica wasn¡¯t interested in being one of those Alphas who were so damn strict that they basically prevented the members from having a mind of their own. She didn¡¯t want the loyalty of her pack out of fear, but out of respect. If a few members weren¡¯t prepared to give her that, then fine, whatever. Besides, she was so used to her rtionship with Lindy being like this that it


    would feel kind of weird if it was any different. And it was way too much fun to battle with her.


    By the time Danica had downed her breakfast and morning coffee, Gio had gone to his office as usual to check his e-mails and whatever else he did in there. Taking advantage of his absence, Danica went outside onto the small clearing and then made her way into the forest, headed for the river. She hadn¡¯t been there since the anniversary of her mom¡¯s birthday and nor had she felt a need to. Until now.


    On finallying to the river she sat on the same bolder as she had on the previous visit, again enjoying the fresh crispy air and the various


    forting smells. She wasn¡¯t sure how long she sat there trying to pluck up the courage to speak, to find the right words. Finally she took a deep breath, swallowed hard and straightened her posture.


    Hey Zan. God, where do I start? Last time I was pretty miserable, huh. Remember I told you all about how the Alpha I¡¯d mated with was basically ignoring my existence? His name¡¯s Gio ¨C I don¡¯t think I ever told you that. Well things are kind of totally the opposite now. We¡¯ve, um, well we¡¯ve sort of¡­We sort of discovered that¡­ It turns out we¡¯re true mates. I bit him yesterday and the bond clicked into ce. I feel awful for saying this, but¡­well I¡¯m happy about it. I¡¯m so sorry if that makes you hate me, but I¡¯d rather not lie to you.


    You don¡¯t mean any less to me than you did before. It¡¯s like I said to Suza ¨C you have your own space inside me, and now so does Gio. And now


    he¡¯s filling it. And¡­and I love him. I¡¯d like to think you can be happy for me, that you wouldn¡¯t want me being alone. I know I¡¯d feel that way if the


    positions were reversed ¨C although I admit I¡¯m petty enough that I¡¯d have been a little jealous. But I wouldn¡¯t have wanted you to be lonely or to never find someone who cared for you. And that¡¯s what I have. Not love, no I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll ever have that so I¡¯m not even sure our mating bond will ever be fully formed. But I¡¯m actually happy. I hope you can be d for me. With tears clouding her vision, she rose and smiled. Love you, miss you.


    Although her heart felt as heavy as it usually did after talking to Zan, she wasn¡¯t filled with that old sense of hopelessness or gued by a feeling


    of loneliness. Yes she missed Zan, there was no way she couldn¡¯t, but now she knew that it wasn¡¯t because he had been her mate, but because of what close friends they had been. Now she had something good to go to back to, someone who had gotten rid of that emptiness she had once felt. Someone she loved. Her mate. She had taken approximately ten steps when she realized she was no longer alone. Looking to her right she saw a very familiar whopping big grey wolf. ¡°Hey there.¡± She knew that although the wolf would have picked up on her surface emotions, he wouldn¡¯t quite understand what her pain


    meant or what she had been doing by the river, but there was a strong possibility that Gio did.


    She walked to the wolf and squatted beside him. He rubbed his jaw against hers and licked her ear. ¡°I had to exin to him, Gio,¡± she said, knowing he would hear her. ¡°And I needed to find that peace. You get it, right?¡± For a split second the wolf¡¯s eyes shed Gio¡¯s artic blue, and she knew he was letting her know he had heard. Smiling she shook his muzzle and pushed him away for her. ¡°Fancy a race?¡± Then she was gone. She and the wolf yed for something like an hour; tagging and chasing each other, wrestling, mock fighting, and ambushing one another. Although he didn¡¯t hold back with those teeth or ws, he didn¡¯t once draw blood. Finally they copsed near theke beside Gio¡¯s discarded clothes, panting and huddled together. She hadn¡¯t at all meant to doze off, but it wasn¡¯t a great surprise that she had.


    She woke to the telling sound of popping and snapping. Opening her eyes, she saw Gio beside her in his human form once again. His sharp eyes


    were glinting with a light-heartedness she had never seen there before. His usual scowl had all but disappeared and he wore a beaming smile.


    Knowing she was wondering at his uncharacteristic cheeriness, he exined. ¡°I never really made time for ying and fooling around. I


    became Alpha when I was just a teenager, remember. Had to grow up pretty quickly. There wasn¡¯t really fun or quirkiness in my life until you got here.¡± He clipped her hair behind her ear and kissed her lightly before sucking her bottom lip into his mouth.


    ¡°So you never really went out and had fun with the guys?¡±


    ¡°Not really. There I was suddenly responsible for all these wolves and I wasn¡¯t in a great frame of mind after everything that had happened.¡± He


    exhaled heavily. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in control of my emotions. Hell, I didn¡¯t even know what the emotions were. There we were with no territory, no home, no money. I knew I needed to gain control fast or I¡¯d never keep the pack alive.¡±


    ¡°So you bottled it all up,¡± she said in a whisper. ¡°Turned yourself into a robot.¡±


    ¡°I guess I did. It wasn¡¯t hard to rein it all in. I¡¯d always been good at that.¡±


    It tugged at her heart to know that he had basically missed out on his youth. Teenage years were about personal growth and fun and finding your identity. Gio had missed all that, and that was just uneptable to Danica.


    ¡°Well now that I¡¯m around, you¡¯ll be expected to have fun asionally ¨C know that right now.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°We have plenty of fun.¡± He grinned wickedly and licked over his mark while his hand cupped her breast.


    ¡°Not that kind of fun,¡± she said a little breathlessly as he sucked and nibbled her neck. ¡°But we¡¯ll do lots of that, too.¡± And they did do lots of that.


    In fact, they spent the next hour doing plenty of it.


    ¡°Have I ever told you that you have an epic ass?¡± she said, thanking God for the creation of Levis, as she watched him walk ahead of her toward


    the caves.


    Heughed. ¡°The epic ass belongs to you, baby. I should know, I¡¯ve bitten it often enough.¡± She snickered. ¡°Where on my body haven¡¯t you bitten?¡± Again heughed. ¡°If I think of a ce, I¡¯ll correct the oversight.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll retaliate.¡±


    ¡°Oh I really hope you do.¡±


    ¡°Great. How about now in your office?¡±


    ¡°Baby, does the word ¡®nympho¡¯ mean anything to you?¡± At that second, the cell phone in his jeans¡¯ pocket beeped. ¡°It¡¯s a text from Gary,¡± he told her. ¡°Apparently Hudson¡¯s been trying to call me from the security shack and hasn¡¯t been able to get through.¡±


    ¡°Is the signal crap?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to be. I¡¯ll go see Hudson, find out what he wants.¡± He smacked a hard kiss on her lips. ¡°See you at dinner, if not before.¡±


    She released a dreamy sigh at the sight of his butt as he walked away at a leisurely pace. It was odd to see him do that ¨C usually he was always marching or running, too intense to be in any way rxed. With his new found sense of peace, however, that had changed. Not his personality, no, that hadn¡¯t changed. He would always be intense and menacing, and much too serious.


    But she loved him anyway.

 CHAPTER 49

    Someone who was also going to ensure that he learned how to have ¡®fun¡¯, whether he liked it or not. She would bet he had never set foot in a bowling alley or a cinema. Well he would soon. And he would grumble the entire journey there, yes, she knew that.


    Shit! Abruptly she felt a sharp tug on her ankle and suddenly she lost her footing, hit the ground hard, and struck the right side of her forehead on


    the stone step. Motherfucker. Then it was as if she was floating as spots began to dance before her eyes and there was a deafening, high pitched


    ringing in her ears. Everything was suddenly so distant and foggy, and it felt as though she was falling into a dream. She might havepletely fallen into it right that second if there hadn¡¯t been a sensation of two hands grabbing her ankles from behind and beginning to drag her down the stairs.


    She wanted to fight that against that unseen force, she wanted to gain some purchase with her hands, but it was as if her body was disconnected


    from her somehow, like her limbs weren¡¯t there at all. Her vision had gone blurry, everything seemed to be spinning, and she felt as though she was


    slipping away. Distantly she realized that there was a voice shouting something ¨C her name? Abruptly her ankles were released and there was the sound of footsteps running away from her. There was more shouting and she recognised the voice. Gio, it was Gio. She tried calling his name but although her mouth formed the word, no sound came out at all. The shouting was nearer now, but she couldn¡¯t focus on the words, couldn¡¯t make out what they were ¨C she was slipping away again. Her wolf was howling, panicky and scared, and urging Danica to fight that dreamy state. She tried, she really, really did, but things just became foggier and foggier. Then the ckness. came.


    Gio reached Danica just before her body turned limp. He¡¯d felt it the second she¡¯d hit her head, felt just a hint of the pain, and he¡¯d sensed it as the


    dizziness rushed over her and almost took her under. Instinctively he had rocketed through the forest and took the steps three at a time to get to her. Panic had speared him as he called her name over and over but received no response.


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Duda as he rushed over with the enforcers, apparently having sensed his anxiety and Danica¡¯s pain through the pack link.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Looks like she fell, hit her head, and passed out.¡±


    ¡°Is she breathing?¡± asked Donny.


    Gio ced an ear to her lips. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s breathing.¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s blocking her airway?¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    He swept his finger into her mouth and shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Good. Everyone move so he can take her inside.¡±


    Duda winced. ¡°Going by that bump on her head, she smacked the ground damn hard.¡±


    Chris pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. ¡°But did she pass out, hit the ground then bump her head, or did the crack to the head cause her to pass out?¡±


    Gio shrugged. ¡°How the hell would I know? I wasn¡¯t here.¡± He¡¯d walked off toward the security shack and left her to make her way back to the caves by herself. The rational part of his brain told him that it wouldn¡¯t have made any difference if he had been there. If she was going to fall then she


    was going to fall and that was that. But all he could think was that his mate was hurt and he hadn¡¯t been with her. At the door of the living area was a frantic Michey. ¡°Lay her down and use something to elevate her legs so they¡¯re above the level of her heart. It¡¯ll help restore blood flow to the brain.¡±


    With Chris¡¯ help, Gio carefully ced her on her back on the rug and then gently rested her legs on the sofa. Ignoring Ray¡¯s suggestion that he p her to wake her up, Gio stroked a hand through her hair, willing her to wake. His wolf was growling and pacing, just as anxious and fretful as Gio was. If she had been anyone else he would said it was only a bump, calm the fuck down. But this was his mate, and bumps and ck outs were just


    uneptable where she was concerned.


    Quickly Michey came into the room with a bottle of spring water. ¡°Dab some of that onto her lips.¡± Then she handed him an ice pack. ¡°And ce that over that ugly bump on her head.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s bruising already,¡±mented Andrew. ¡°She¡¯s gonna be pissed, walking round with that egg on her head.¡±


    ¡°Is she alright?¡± asked Lindy. She shrugged when all eyes widened and focused on her. ¡°Not that I care. I¡¯m just wondering.¡±


    ¡°Hi there gorgeous, you¡¯re awake,¡± crooned Donny. Instantly everyone crowded around the sofa.


    Too distracted by the realization that Danica hade round, Gio didn¡¯t even shoot his enforcer a scowl for using an endearment with his mate.


    ¡°Hey, baby, you okay? You scared twenty years off my life.¡±


    Damn that light was bright. Danica groaned as sharp, icy pains began shooting rhythmically through her head. Oh God, she wasn¡¯t going to throw up, was she? She sure felt like it. Confused and dazed, she peered around her to see the entire pack hovering.


    Michey pushed her way through the enforcers. ¡°How¡¯re you feeling?¡±


    Carefully, Gio scooped her up and held her against his chest. Begrudgingly he allowed the stubborn woman to take over holding the ice


    pack to her head. ¡°You really fucking scared me.¡±


    ¡°Do you feel dizzy, honey? Disorientated?¡± asked Michey, biting her lower lip.


    Was she kidding? ¡°I cked out, of course I do.¡±


    ¡°What about headaches. Do you have one? These are all signs of concussion.¡±


    ¡°A headache?¡± Gio pointed to the bump on her head. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Michey rolled her eyes. ¡°Alright, fine. Keep that ice pack on that bump.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you heal it?¡± asked Andrew.


    Danica shook her head. ¡°Healers can¡¯t heal themselves.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± said Michey. ¡°I know a remedy that¡¯ll clear that right up.


    Ice, egg whites, and chocte.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I told you, chocte is the answer, no matter the question.¡±


    Ray frowned. ¡°I thought that was sex.¡±


    Duda bumped Michey aside, startling a hmph sound from her. She kicked him in the shin and then left the room ¨C presumably heading to the


    kitchen to mix up her weird concoction. Duda didn¡¯t even flinch at the kick.


    ¡°So what happened? Did you fall?¡±


    She frowned. Now that the haze had begun to clear, a very important detail struck her. ¡°Someone¡­¡±


    ¡°Someone what?¡± pressed Gio, breezing his thumb along her jaw.


    ¡°It felt like someone grabbed my ankle.¡±


    ¡°There was no one there when I got there.¡±


    ¡°Someone grabbed my ankle,¡± she said with more conviction. ¡°They grabbed it, and they pulled it to make me fall. Then I was being dragged down the steps.¡± She lifted her hands and stared at the burning abrasions on her palms. If the same burning and tinglinging from her elbows and


    knees were anything to go by, she had simr abrasions there.


    ¡°That¡¯s probably just from when you ced your hands out to break your fall.¡±


    Duda took a closer look and shook his head. ¡°No, those are scrapes¡­ You can see where the skin was peeling like her hands were dragging along


    the floor.¡±


    ¡°Okay, well maybe she slipped down a few steps.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t slip.¡±


    Not liking what this could mean, Gio shook his head. He didn¡¯t want to believe it. ¡°Baby¡­No one here would hurt you.¡±


    Her brow arched. ¡°Oh really?¡±


    ¡°Spray painting your car is one thing -¡±


    ¡°What about LJ?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°The raven. Someone killed him and hung him upside down outside my window. That someone is not bnced.¡±


    Duda winced. ¡°Yeah, that was some sick shit.¡±


    He kissed the uninjured side of her forehead and scanned the room for Jeremy, intending to tell him to go ask Michey to make Danica a coffee. That


    was when he noticed Hudson. ¡°Hudson, what¡¯re doing over here? Have you left the gate unguarded?¡±


    He frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not on guard duty this morning.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Chris is the one on duty,¡± Andrew informed him.


    Gio¡¯s frown now matched Hudson¡¯s. ¡°Gary said you¡¯ve been trying to call me from the security shack.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t tried calling you at all.¡±


    An uneasy feeling came over Gio. ¡°Where¡¯s Gary?¡± Looking confused and defensive, the guy stepped forward. ¡°Why did you say Hudson


    wanted to talk to me?¡±


    Gary double-blinked. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I haven¡¯t spoken to you all morning.¡±


    ¡°But you sent a message to my cell phone.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Where is it?¡± demanded Duda. ¡°Where¡¯s your cell?¡±


    Gary dug his hand into his empty pockets and shrugged. ¡°I must have left it in my room or in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s convenient.¡± Duda marched out of the room with Donny and Andrew on his heels.


    Gio switched his attention back to Danica. Suspicion was written all over her face. ¡°They pledged their loyalty to you,¡± he reminded her, or


    maybe himself.


    ¡°Not all of them.¡±


    She was right, and he knew Theresa and Max disliked her enough to hurt her, he just didn¡¯t believe for one minute that they had the guts to do it. Not only would they be very much aware that there was a strong chance Danica would kick their ass, but they would then be branded traitors and exiled. Theresa and Max didn¡¯t have the nerve to take that kind of risk ¨C which was partly why they acted so big and bad. As for Cindy¡­he suspected that the only reason she hadn¡¯t offered her loyalty to Danica was because she was following Theresa¡¯s lead, just like always.

 CHAPTER 50

    Duda¡¯s re-entry brought him out of his thoughts.


    ¡°You have the phone?¡±


    His Beta nodded.


    ¡°The message is right there.¡±


    Gary spluttered.


    ¡°What do you mean the message is there? I didn¡¯t send him any message, dammit.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s right there in your Sent box,¡± said Ray.


    Gary snatched the phone, read the message and his face reddened.


    ¡°Then someone else must have sent it. I didn¡¯t.


    Why would I? Why would anyone even lie to you about Hudson wanting to talk to you?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you wanted Gio out of the way so you had a chance to snatch Danica. You would have known that he would feel her panic and help her¡­


    unless he was far enough away that he wouldn¡¯t reach her in time. Just what were you nning to do with her? Or to her?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t send that message!¡±


    ¡°If my dad says he didn¡¯t do it, then he didn¡¯t do it,¡± said Max as he stood beside him, folding his arms across his chest. ¡°I¡¯m not disputing that someone tried to pull you away from Danica,¡± he told Gio. ¡°But whoever it was used my dad¡¯s phone, most likely to implicate him and shift the me. It wasn¡¯t him.¡±


    Danica groaned. ¡°I can¡¯t deal with all this yelling.¡±


    ¡°Come on, baby.¡± Gio rose with her in his arms and carried her out of the room, through the tunnels and into their bedroom. He ced her gently on the bed andy down next to her.


    ¡°Now do you believe me?¡± She sighed when he didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say, someone grabbed me. If you don¡¯t want to face the fact that someone in your pack ¨C the people you¡¯ve grown up with ¨C could do that, then I can understand that. I really can. But it doesn¡¯t change that I¡¯m right. Like it or not, you have someone in your pack who would willingly hurt your mate, because I¡¯m not lying.¡±


    Angry with himself for hurting her, he stroked a hand through her hair.


    ¡°Hey I never thought you were lying, baby. Not that. Just that maybe you tripped.¡±


    ¡°Oh I tripped. With help.¡±


    Okay so there was being possessive, there was being crazily possessive, and there was this: being a total shit head. Danica groaned and pped her hands over her face. All she wanted was to go shopping with Lucy. It wasn¡¯t like she was nning to go shopping on a whole other continent or that she would be walking around naked the entire time. Gio, however, was totally


    opposed to the idea of her going without him.


    When attempting to bully her into taking him along hadn¡¯t worked, he had switched to trying to manipte her with a little reverse psychology.


    When that failed he introduced some seriously good bribes. As she had still refused, he was now trying his hand at emotional ckmail. Releasing her face she looked at her mate who sat at the kitchen table wearing a kicked puppy expression. ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Gio, I¡¯ll only be gone a few hours. I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll cope without me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I like being with you.¡±


    That should have sounded corny or pathetic, but it had managed to sound sweet and cutely protective. Oh he was so good at this. She had


    learned over the past few weeks that although Gio was mostly hard and antisocial, when he really wanted something he was more than capable of a


    little charm. He had a way of focusing totally on her in a manner that she would have expected to freak her out, but instead it made her feel adored and safe. What made it better for Danica was that he waspletely unashamed of how much he liked having her near him all the time. He didn¡¯t hold back except in a sexual sense in front of other people. Maybe that was why they didn¡¯t make fun of him for it. Maybe hisplete conviction that it was normal, reasonable, and his right to act that way rubbed off on others so that


    they too saw it as natural and expected. They didn¡¯t even poke fun at him when he agreed to let Danica take him ces he otherwise would never have bothered his ass with like the beach, the cinema, the bowling alley and even an ice-ring.


    ¡°You can be with me as much as you want when I get back.¡±


    ¡°Why is it you¡¯re so set on me not going?¡±


    Because it was his birthday in a few days and she wanted to get him a decent gift as a surprise, but he didn¡¯t have to know that. Just as he didn¡¯t have to know that they were all nning a surprise party or he would probably hide. ording to Duda, Gio didn¡¯t like to celebrate his birthday something about him not liking that kind of attention. Well that was just tough shit, it was time for him to stop being so serious.


    ¡°You already know that it was Lucy who organized the trip. How can I justify taking you along when she won¡¯t even let Richarde along? Besides, you hate shopping.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°No I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re only visiting one store. There¡¯s going to be a lot of browsing around shoe stores and boutiques and going bag hunting in the


    mall. You wouldn¡¯tst five minutes in that jungle.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I wear clothes, I¡¯ve seen women¡¯s clothes, I¡¯m pretty sure I could cope in a mall.¡±


    ¡°Gio, let me cast your mind back to the time when as a punishment for being a bastard I took you to Victoria¡¯s Secret and tried on a load of lingerie


    for you but then never bought any.¡± His pained expression made her smile.


    ¡°You remember how you were sweating and huffing and puffing and asking how long before we could go home?¡±


    ¡°That was because you¡¯d just made me watch you model all kinds of kinky shit, got me hard as a rock, and then expected me to walk without


    being in agony.¡±


    ¡°No, Gio, that was before we even got into the store. You¡¯re not cut out for this sort of thing. Leave it to the experts.¡±


    Taking her by the wrist, Gio pulled her onto hisp to straddle him. It probably wasn¡¯t a good idea since that position sparked off some really dirty


    thoughts and quickly his cock began to harden. Then again, when was it ever limp when Danica was around? The fact that she soon wouldn¡¯t be around even if it would only be for a few hours  was enough to cause his surge of lust to wane and to perturb his wolf. When she was there he was content and rxed in a way he had never


    been before. She made himugh and gave him a feeling of being anchored, of having perfect bnce. When she wasn¡¯t there he missed her and didn¡¯t think about much but her anyway, so he didn¡¯t see the logic in her not being with him. It was really that simple to him. Of course he was aware of just how possessive and greedy he was


    being, but he also knew that Danica would never let him steamroll her. If she thought he was taking it too far, she would let him know about it in a way


    that would make him seriously hesitate doing it in future. Brushing his lips against hers, he asked, ¡°Is it really so bad that I just want to spend time with


    you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to work, Gio. Especially since I know that this isn¡¯t only about you wanting the pleasure of mypany.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll rephrase. Is it really so bad that I just want to spend time with you and have you in my sight at all times?¡±


    Danica sighed. As they were mates with an iplete bond, no it wasn¡¯t bad, it was normal. For wolves that hadn¡¯tpletely bonded, the


    possessiveness and protectiveness hit extreme levels because there was a lingering insecurity for both of them. Had it only been that, Danica could have easily waved away his behavior. The problem was she knew from their connection that he wasn¡¯t dishing out bullshit. He did like being with her, he did want to spend time her¡­and now he was kissing her neck.


    ¡°Gio -¡±


    ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± he prodded gently.


    ¡°No, but -¡±


    ¡°Is it really so awful that I like having you close so I can reach out and touch you whenever I want? y with your hair, feel your skin, taste your lips, inhale your scent. Is it really so awful?¡± He briefly paused kissing her neck to lick over his mark.


    ¡°Not awful,¡± she replied breathlessly, shuddering, ¡°but -¡±


    ¡°It makes perfect sense for me toe and ¨C ow! Son of a bitch!¡±


    Regaining her mentalposure, Danica jumped to her feet, frowning down at her mate who was rubbing the sensitive tip of his ear where she had


    bit him hard. ¡°That was for trying to manipte me again.¡±


    As Lucy and Richard entered and took in her frown and Gio¡¯s face creased in pain, Lucy arched a brow.  ¡°Have we walked in on a domestic argument?¡±


    ¡°Gio¡¯s just sulking because I¡¯m not taking him shopping.¡±


    Richard scratched his nape. ¡°You know what I don¡¯t get? How women can spend the majority of their lives in shopping malls but still say they have


    nothing to wear.¡±


    Lucy snorted. ¡°You know what I don¡¯t get? How men can spend the majority of their lives ying sports where they¡¯re being trampled on and


    listening to noisy mobs yet they¡¯re put off by shopping when it¡¯s no different.¡± Both males tilted their heads, conceding that.


    ¡°At least let me give you some -¡±


    Holding up her hand, she said, ¡°No, Gio, I have my own money.¡±


    He curled an arm around her waist and drew her close. ¡°But I know you don¡¯t want to touch that fund.¡±


    Combing her fingers through his hair, she smiled. ¡°Back then I didn¡¯t.


    Things were different then. Our mating was only about a deal.¡± She adored him for being so sensitive about it.

 CHAPTER 51

    Jeremy walked in and looked from her to Gio. ¡°You asked her yet?¡±.


    ¡°I nearly forgot. James sent me a message over the pack web.¡± He smiled at her low growl. ¡°It wasn¡¯t to dish out more insults. He was apologizing for his ¡®despicable behavior¡¯ at the mating ceremony. He wants toe visit and


    apologize in person.¡±


    Danica huffed. ¡°I hope you told him you¡¯d rather cram your cock in the ass of a bear with inmed haemorrhoids than ever be in hispany again.¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°I figured I¡¯d talk to you about it. He¡¯s a prick, but he¡¯s still your uncle. I want you to have people from your family in your life.¡±


    ¡°No you don¡¯t.¡± She could feel that what he really wanted was to be the only person she ever needed, wanted to be everything to her. However, as he thought that he should want her to have family in her life he had made the suggestion. ¡°Yeah he¡¯s my uncle, but you¡¯re my mate and he insulted you.


    Badly. So he can go ride a donkey naked through the desert with snapping turtles attached to his nipples for all I care. Anyway, you¡¯re my family. You and the pack.¡±


    An intense pang struck Gio¡¯s chest. He tightened his arm around her, barely resisting the urge to take her upstairs and bury himself deep inside her


    body. Not so he could take her hard and fast, but soft and slow.


    ¡°You might feel that way about your uncle now while you¡¯re still angry with him,¡± said Lucy, ¡°but you might regret itter if you don¡¯t at least give


    him a chance.¡±


    Danica cursed, hating that Lucy was right. She would feel like she had let down her mom if she didn¡¯t give the woman¡¯s baby brother one more


    shot. Sighing, she nodded. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give him a chance.¡±


    ¡°He asked in the message if he coulde tomorrow afternoon. That too soon?¡±


    Gio shook his head. Danica just shrugged.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll confirm the arrangements.¡±


    ¡°What arrangement?¡± asked Ray as he strolled into the room.


    ¡°Danica¡¯s uncle James ising to visit tomorrow afternoon,¡± exined Gio. ¡°Apparently he wants to apologize.¡±


    What in that sentence sparked Ray to think of a chat up line, she had no idea, but she could tell by the smirk on his face that one wasing.


    She shook her head at him. ¡°No, no more!¡±


    He frowned. ¡°Ohe on, it¡¯s a good one. I suppose it must make you feel ufortable since you¡¯re obviously attracted to me.¡± She snorted.


    ¡°You¡¯re denying it? Okay then, fine, let¡¯s settle this once and for all. Smile if you want to sleep with me.¡±


    She tried her hardest to hold back a smile, she really, really did, but there was no way of doing it.¡± Of course heughed, smug as all shit. She


    growled. ¡°You¡¯re a pain in the ass.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, honey, we¡¯ll use more lubricant next time.¡± He flinched when Gio smacked him over the head.


    ncing at the clock on the wall, Danica saw it was time to go. Having guzzled down thest of her coffee she gave Gio a kiss on his very inactive


    lips that were stuck in a sulky pout. ¡°A few hours and I¡¯ll be back.¡± The ass followed her and Lucy to the main door wearing that kicked puppy look. It


    was clearly onest ditch attempt at making her feel bad. Of course it didn¡¯t work because she didn¡¯t want him there when she bought him a gift. So she smiled, waved and left. Well it had been worth a shot, thought Gio, sighing, as he watched


    Danica¡¯s car leave pack territory in spite of his efforts ¨C or ploys ¨C to make her take him with her. His wolf wasn¡¯t happy about it and was snarling his disapproval. As he turned to go back inside he noticed Chris stood not far away, staring in the direction Danica had headed. He didn¡¯t look at her with the same coveting look that he used to wear, as if he hade to ept that she was unobtainable. He now looked at her the way the others did. Like she was truly his Alpha female ¨C someone that although he revered, respected, prized, trusted and looked to when in need of something, he regarded her as being of senior rank and his co-leader. However, there was something that was still irritating Gio and he thought it was about time that he addressed it.


    Slowly Gio strode toward him, noticing how Chris stiffened as he sensed his approach, but he didn¡¯t look at him. A month ago Gio¡¯s irritation would have been due to Chris¡¯s attraction to Danica, but even though he still wanted to kick the shit out of Chris for it, his main problem with Chris now was


    that he was still distant with Danica and it troubled her. She had never said this aloud but she didn¡¯t need to, not now that they were partly bonded. Gio didn¡¯t want anything making her feel ufortable in her own home, her own pack. Also, he was pretty sure that the slight longing that could still be seen in Chris¡¯s gaze when he looked at her wasn¡¯t for her as a mate, but for the friendship they had once had. Finally he came to stand before Chris, but the wolf kept his gaze ahead.


    ¡°So when are you going to pull your head out of your ass and stop moping?¡±


    Chris looked at him curiously, obviously surprised that Gio would even bring it up. Until now, they had never spoken of it. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯ve


    never punched me.¡±


    Gio shrugged. ¡°I thought about it. A lot. You¡¯ve made things awkward for Danica. She feels like she lost her friend and that she¡¯se between us. It didn¡¯t need to be that way.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a lucky bastard, you know.¡±


    ¡°I know. Fix the mess, Chris.¡± He went to leave, but Chris spoke again.


    ¡°Wait, why are you asking me to sort things out with her? It¡¯s got to be easier for your wolf this way. You should be thrilled that I¡¯m hardly around


    her.¡±


    ¡°Why would I be thrilled about anything that hurts her? Fix it, Chris.


    And soon.¡± At that he turned away and went inside. Danica hadn¡¯t been lying when she said that she and Lucy would be visiting dozens of stores. Lucy was the type who was easily drawn in by something in the disy window. She had practically raided the clothes stores, hunting down dresses, shoes and essories. Danica bought a few items, but only casual wear ¨C mostly she was just recing the things that Gio had torn from her body like the dirty bastard he was. Once they had picked up a few birthday gifts for Gio, they went for a light lunch which left them with only one ce left to go¡­. Maleficent Stores.


    Danica had decided to buy a kinky outfit to wear on the night of Gio¡¯s birthday, even though there was a good chance he would tear it from her body, and she had convinced Lucy to do the same for Richard. The girls had had plenty ofughs browsing the store and choosing an outfit. Lucy


    selected a blue print slip while Danica picked a sparkly ckce flyaway babydoll.


    Finally, after four and a half hours of shopping, the girls were ready to go. It was as Danica was closing the trunk of the car after cing the bags


    inside that she suddenly felt two unfamiliar presences at her back. Male wolf shifters.


    Before she could react she was abruptly grabbed by the hair and swung around before a hand then wrapped around her neck and mmed her back


    into the brick wall that was behind her car. Distantly she heard Lucy shout in rm from the passenger seat, but Danica knew that, as a submissive wolf, she wouldn¡¯t exit the car. Thank God. Danica didn¡¯t intend to let the two bulky


    shitheads hurt her and it would be a lot harder to defend both her and Lucy than it would be to take care of herself. What she wanted to do was scream Let me go you son of a bitch, but she knew from experience that letting an attacker think she was scared and that they were in control was often the best tactic. Resisting her wolf¡¯s desire


    to w at the hand around her neck, she asked,


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The dark wolf with the deep brown eye appraised her slowly.


    ¡°They weren¡¯t lying when they said you were pretty, were they.¡±


    ¡°They were right about that ass too.¡± The other wolf flicked his hair from his face before offering her a slimy grin. ¡°A very fine ass.¡±


    Fine eye nodded. ¡°They also said you were a mad bitch.¡±


    ¡°And that you were alwayste.¡±


    Both Fine eye and Danica looked at the other wolf, baffled. ¡°Alwayste?¡± she said.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°They said she wastent,¡± snapped Fine eye.


    The other wolf straightened and shrugged. ¡°Right. I knew that.¡±.

 CHAPTER 52

    Danica rolled her eyes. Great, she was being assailed by Dumb and Dumber.  ¡°Is there any chance either of you could tell me why I¡¯m being pinned against a wall?¡±


    Fine eye puffed up. Maybe he thought it made him look impressive or intimidating. ¡°We have a message for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah?¡±


    ¡°From Kevin. Tell your mate that his uncle feels it would be in your best interest if he agrees to unite the packs. He only has seven days left before the twelve weeks are up, so if he¡¯s wise he¡¯ll give in to Kevin¡¯s request quickly.¡±


    Anger rushed through her veins and her wolf began pacing and flexing her ws. ¡°Kevin,¡± she growled with an involuntary snap of the teeth that


    had both wolves jerking in surprise. ¡°If Gio doesn¡¯t¡­?¡±


    ¡°Next time what we do to you will be much worse than what we¡¯re about to do. In other words, we might not let you live next time. We may even have some fun with your little friend there after we¡¯re done here.¡±


    ¡°Oh. And what is it you think you¡¯re going to do to me now?¡±


    Jake smirked. ¡°I¡¯m thinking that I¡¯d like to fuck that mouth of yours.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I was raised to never put small objects in my mouth or I might choke.¡±


    Fine eye burst outughing. ¡°She got you there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking I¡¯m not your type either,¡± she said to Fine eye. ¡°What with me not being intable and all.¡±


    ¡°Cheeky bitch. You should watch how you talk to us, little girl. There¡¯s pain and there¡¯s pain.¡±


    ¡°You do know that you¡¯re signing your death warrant, don¡¯t you? Gio will kill you.¡± And Kevin had to know that¡­which meant this was probably


    a trap to enrage Gio. Having grown up with Carrick as a father, she knew all about alpha games and she could spot one a mile away. It was pretty damn possible that Kevin was thinking that if he could make Gio go against protocol and attempt to attack him before the twelve weeks were up, Kevin could appeal to the council to agree to his request. Fuck. That.


    With one of the hands dangled at her side she abruptly struck Fine eye in the throat with the web of her hand. He made a choking sound and instantly released her, backing away slightly as he struggled for breath. She then followed that up with a sharp kick to his groin that had him falling to his knees.


    ¡°Shit,¡± cursed Jake in surprise before his hand then shot out and shackled her wrist as he tried to pull her to him. Knowing that the weakest point of his hold was where his fingers and thumb met, Danica twisted her wrist so the thumb-side of her forearm was at that weak point and yanked herself free. Before he made to grab her again she delivered a head butt to his nose that had him stumbling backwards as blood poured from his nostrils. Wanting him down on the floor with Fine eye she quickly grabbed his testicles, squeezed, twisted them sharply, and then jerked so hard she was surprised they didn¡¯te off in her hand. He fell to his knees with one hand cupping his nose and the other cupping his balls. Both peered up at her wearing looks of total astonishment which satisfied her wolf. ¡°Yeah I see you had low expectations of me. It happens a lot.¡±


    ¡°You broke my nose and nearly ripped off my ballsack you crazy bitch!¡±


    ¡°Crazy bitch? Oh no, honey, I¡¯m an angel, I swear. The horns are only there to hold up the halo. But, all the same, I think it¡¯s best that you don¡¯t


    e at me again until you¡¯ve at least learned how to wipe your ass.¡±


    Fine eye spat what she suspected was supposed to be an insult but it was garbled ¨C whether because of the pain from the throat strike or the groin kick, or maybe both.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s chat. You can thank Uncle Kevin for getting in touch and inform him that he shouldn¡¯t expect his little plot to work. You know, I¡¯m curious, why would you let him use you as bait?¡±


    The wolves exchanged a confused nce that had Danica groaning.


    ¡°I can only assume that Kevin is just as dumb as you to not only think his little plot would work, but to send two guys who¡¯d be out of their depth in


    a puddle. Now, if I were you, I¡¯d get out of here as quick as I could. I¡¯ve no doubt that my friend called her boyfriend who will have told Gio what¡¯s going on so he¡¯s most likely on his way here.¡± They hadn¡¯t even been smart enough to think of that. She was kind of insulted that Kevin thought these


    two were a match for her.


    ¡°You¡¯re letting us go?¡± said Jake.


    She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d be ying into Kevin¡¯s hands if I didn¡¯t. Besides, it would be like handing over two mentally handicapped kids to a sociopath.


    But before you go, you can help me out with one thing¡­How did you guys know where to find me? I know I wasn¡¯t being followed, I¡¯d have sensed you long ago.¡± Unless of course they were good at what they did.


    Fine eyes¡¯ face instantly closed down. Apparently she wasn¡¯t getting any information from that corner. Jake, on the other hand, shrugged like the answer was simple. ¡°Kevin¡¯s informant from your pack told him you¡¯d be ¨C Ow!¡± He scowled at Fine eye, rubbing the spot on his head where Fine eye had hit him. ¡°Hey, what did you do that for?¡±


    ¡°You just don¡¯t know when to shut up. Idiot.¡±


    Their arguing faded into the background as the implications of what Jake had said finally settled into her brain. Sure she¡¯d known she wasn¡¯t


    liked by everyone in the pack, and she¡¯d known that one of them hated her enough to vandalise her property, kill her bird, and even cause her to have a bad fall. But for them to be an informant for Kevin, for them to betray Gio sopletely¡­She was surprised by just how much it hurt.


    Turning her attention back to the idiots at her feet, she gestured with her hand as she ordered, ¡°Go, get out of here.¡± She watched as they hobbled


    away, constantly casting her suspicious nces. Her wolf growled her disappointment, wanting to rip out both their throats for daring to touch her.


    Only when Danica saw them drive off in a transit van did she get into her own car. Lucy was trembling and panting. ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°You fought them,¡± said Lucy, wide-eyed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you fought them. I was expecting you to trick them and get away, not to -¡±


    ¡°Did you call anyone?¡±


    Lucy double-blinked, shaking her head as if to clear it. ¡°Um. Yeah.


    Richard.¡±


    ¡°Which means Gio and some of the pack will probably be on their way here.¡±


    ¡°Why did you let those two guys go?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Danica nced at her face in the mirror of the sun visor and cursed. As she¡¯d suspected, there was a small cut on her forehead from when she¡¯d butted Jake. This was going to make Gio¡¯s reaction so much worse. Jamming the keys in the ignition she threw the car into gear and reversed


    from the parking space. ¡°Call Richard. Tell him we¡¯re making our way back.¡±


    Nodding, a still shaky Lucy fished her cell from her pocket. ¡°Richard, it¡¯s me, we¡¯re ¨C No she¡¯s fine. She, well she kicked their asses. We¡¯re just on our


    way back to ¨C No they, um, got away. Danica can exin ¨C Really, I swear, she¡¯s fine.¡± Danica and Lucy both winced as they heard Gio yelling in the background. ¡°Danica, Gio wants to talk to you. I¡¯m going to put him on speakerphone.¡±


    ¡°Danica, tell me you¡¯re okay, baby,¡± he demanded through his teeth.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, really, we¡¯re -¡±


    ¡°What the hell happened? Where¡¯re the bastards? Did they touch you,


    Danica? Tell me they didn¡¯t touch you. I swear to God I¡¯ll -¡±


    Knowing what he meant by ¡®touch¡¯, she quickly assured him, ¡°No, they didn¡¯t touch me.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell were they?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­we¡¯ll talk about that when I get home.¡± She knew for a fact that if she mentioned Kevin, the guys would drive straight to his territory, ying


    into his hands. ¡°We¡¯re about ten minutes from Ls. Where are you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, five minutes away from the mall maybe.¡±


    She had thought about asking him to turn back and she¡¯d meet him at home, but hearing how frantic he sounded she knew that the sooner he saw her safe and unharmed the better. ¡°Then we¡¯ll probablye across each other soon enough. We¡¯ll keep a look out for you.¡±

 CHAPTER 53

    Approximately three minutester the two cars were parking on the side of the road. She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to switch off the engine before the door was quickly yanked open and she was practically snatched from her seat. The second Gio had her in his arms with her limbs all curled around him, the constricting sensation in his chest began to ebb slightly. She was safe. She was there. She was okay.


    When Richard had burst into his office and told him about Lucy¡¯s call, Gio was pretty sure his heart had stopped for a moment. Fear for Danica¡¯s


    safety had instantly sted through him, galvanising him into action at the same timepletely fucking up his thought processes. His wolf had howled inside his head, fought for supremacy with such strength that Gio had been wincing in pain. Had the other males of his pack not been there to keep him calm, he might have shifted right there in the car as he drove like a man possessed. Gio buried his face in the crook of her neck and swam in her exotic scent¡­and that was when he smelt the scent of the other male. Danica gasped as Gio pulled back and she saw his eyes sh wolf.


    ¡°Gio -¡±


    ¡°I can smell him on you.¡± Gio trailed his finger over her neck. ¡°He had his hand here.¡± His gazended on the tiny wound on her forehead and a long chilling growl spilt from his throat. ¡°He hurt you.¡±


    She framed his face with her hands, capturing his gaze. ¡°No, I got that teensy little cut when I headbutted him and broke his nose. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°What the hell happened?¡± asked Duda as he hurried to their side with the enforcers on his heels. Ignoring them in favor of keeping her mate calm, she lightly dabbed a kiss on Gio¡¯s lips then one on each cheek and another on his lips. ¡°I¡¯m


    okay.¡± With each soft kiss the tension ruling his body began to lessen, but only ever so slightly. He was nowhere near calm and it wouldn¡¯t take much


    for him to leap to an irrational state. ¡°Can we talk about this on the way home?¡± She tried to sound a little vulnerable and shaken in the hope that it


    might shift him from needing revenge to needing tofort her. Richard not at all aware of her n, suddenly approached and said, ¡°Lucy¡¯s just told me they said something about Kevin. That true?¡±


    Fan fricking tastic. Just like that, Gio¡¯s body stiffened and his arms fell to his sides, making her slide down his body. He stepped away, panting and growling. ¡°My uncle?¡±


    Danica shot Richard an annoyed re. Looking nervous, he took Lucy by the arm and led her to Danica¡¯s car, a good thing since she didn¡¯t want


    to mention the informant in front of anyone other than Gio, Duda and the enforcers. It wasn¡¯t that she suspected Lucy or Richard, but she wasn¡¯t sure she could trust them not to panic or to keep quiet about it. She returned her focus to Gio. ¡°It was just a pathetic attempt at making you agree to unite the packs.¡±


    ¡°So he set that up. He ordered them to hurt you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t sense them following you,¡± said Duda.


    Anger shed across her face and Gio tensed. ¡°What? Tell me.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°Apparently¡­someone from our pack told Kevin where I¡¯d be.¡± She winced as his face turned purple. Then he was then striding purposely toward his car. No prizes for guessing where he was going. She dashed after him and then leapt onto his back, locking her arms around his neck and her legs around his middle. ¡°Gio, no, listen to me. You can¡¯t go after him, it¡¯s what he wants.¡± He continued onwards as if she wasn¡¯t even there,pletely undeterred by her weight ¨C though it was fair to say she didn¡¯t weigh that much. Deserting her n to cate him, she took on


    another approach. She kicked her legs madly and bit his ear. ¡°Gio, don¡¯t do this! For God¡¯s sake, will you just listen!¡±


    Gio halted abruptly and shifted her so that she was once again wrapped around his front. He held her gaze as he growled, ¡°Don¡¯t, Danica.


    Don¡¯t ask me to ignore this. You¡¯re my mate and he sent two wolves after you. It doesn¡¯t matter that you kicked their asses, he wanted you beaten ¨C


    maybe even worse. To add to that, he has one of my own wolves betraying me, betraying you.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know it¡¯s bad but -¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always known who and what I am. You¡¯ve always known what I¡¯m capable of. Don¡¯t ask me to ignore what he did to you, don¡¯t ask me


    to be something I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m doing. I know you want to shred the bastard into tiny pieces , you¡¯re not alone there. All I¡¯m asking you to do is put a pin in it. Just dy it for a while. You have to see that it¡¯s a trap.¡±


    ¡°A trap?¡± asked Hudson.


    ¡°No shifter would dare harm another shifter¡¯s mate unless he was hoping to die a long, painful death. He will have known that Gio would react ten times worse and most likely go wild. He¡¯s probably getting desperate now ¨C the twelve weeks are almost up. If he could get you to go against council protocol and attack within the next seven days¡­¡± She didn¡¯t need to say more, knowing he would see her point.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± said Chris after a minute. The other males nodded. Other than Gio.


    Danica dabbed another kiss on Gio¡¯s lips. ¡°He thinks he¡¯s got you all figured out. But he hasn¡¯t. You might be the wolf shifter version of the ck


    Mamba snake and have homicidal urges from time to time, but you¡¯re also smart. Smart enough to know that if you go to him now and react like he


    wants, you¡¯re giving him power over you. Smart enough to know that the important thing now is to figure out who his informant is before they feed


    him more information.¡±


    Andrew stepped forward. ¡°She¡¯s right, Gio. I say we let Kevin sweat. He¡¯ll know he¡¯s not going to get away with it. Leave him to sit and wonder


    what you¡¯ll do and when you¡¯re going to do it.¡±


    Gio snickered. ¡°And what if he goes after her again? Huh? What if I put a fucking pin in it and then he sends more wolves after her in the meantime? He¡¯d most likely send an evenrger number the next time just to be sure she got the beating he ordered.¡±


    Growling, Danica gripped his head and turned it sharply so that she could stare into his eyes. ¡°You listen to me, psycho boy. You might be happy to give your uncle the satisfaction of falling into his trap but I¡¯m not. Here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen. We¡¯re all going to calm down and drive back to


    Ls and you¡¯re not going to give me any shit about it or so help me God I¡¯ll beat you so bad you¡¯ll have to put toothpaste in your ass to brush your teeth!¡±


    There was a moment of quiet before some of the guys chuckled and others just smiled.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s having caffeine withdrawal,¡± said Duda. Gio sighed in frustration. Why did she have to be right? All he wanted was revenge. Was that really that bad? He didn¡¯t think so. Nor did his wolf.


    But, as Danica had pointed out, that was what his uncle was counting on. Well, if Gio was going to do something totally out of character and dy his


    revenge, then there was going to have to be a few changes round here. He pinned his little mate with a look. ¡°No more telling me to stay behind. If you


    leave pack territory, I¡¯m right there with you.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Not liking his tone but recognising how hard it was for him to back down, Danica nodded. ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°And if hees after you again don¡¯t expect me to y the waiting game any longer.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, Wright. Now let¡¯s go home.¡± Apparently not willing to part with her just yet, he ordered Chris to drive her car home while he pulled Danica on hisp in the backseat of the car. He didn¡¯t say a word during the entire journey, not even to contribute to the ¡®We hate Kevin¡¯ chat that


    Duda, Andrew and Donny began. She could tell that the guys were eager to discuss who the informant might be, but they knew their Alpha well enough to know that he needed time to calm the hell down before having any discussion.


    Knowing how much he liked it, Danica snuggled into his arms and melted against his chest, but not even that or her feather-light kisses to his neck or her soft petting to his chest was able to ease the tension from his body. His rigid body barely moved other than to run his hand gently through her hair. When they arrived home he did what he always did when things didn¡¯t go his way ¨C brooded. And Danica did what she always when did he brooded ¨C left him to get on with it alone. After stashing Gio¡¯s gifts in the bedroom and hanging up her new


    clothes, she took the groceries she¡¯d bought to the kitchen and helped Michey with getting started on dinner ¨C chicken nuggets. It wasn¡¯t exactly a surprise when Gio didn¡¯t appear for dinner. When he sulked, he did it good.


    Lindy was thest to take a seat at the table and her grim expression had Danica smiling. ¡°I bet you wish Kevin¡¯s wolves had given me a good beating.¡±


    Lindy harrumphed. ¡°There¡¯s no such luck.¡± After swallowing a mouthful, she whispered ¨C loudly and very much for Danica¡¯s benefit ¨C to Richard, ¡°Does this taste funny to you?¡± How he managed to keep his expression neutral, Danica wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got noints,¡± he replied before shovelling a chunk of chicken nuggets in his mouth.

 CHAPTER 54

    ¡°Dinner seems to always have a funny taste when she helps.¡±


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s just the poison, Lindy,¡±  said Danica.


    The old woman made a face but, of course, continued to eat the meal like she hadn¡¯t eaten in a week.


    ¡°How much longer do you think the brooding will go on for?¡± asked Ray.


    Andrew shrugged. ¡°Maybe a day or so.¡±


    ¡°Give the guy a break,¡± chastised Duda, ¡°he got a scare.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re not hurt or anything?¡± asked Max,


    sounding awkward.


    ¡°Other than the gash on your head, I mean.¡±


    Danica shook her head, wondering at his sudden concern. Or apparent concern.


    ¡°You should have seen the way she took those guys out,¡± said Lucy, still a little shaken but refusing to admit it. ¡°It was absolutely awesome.¡±


    ¡°Well if she hadn¡¯t gone out all day shopping for herself none of it would¡¯ve happened.¡±


    Lindy gave Danica a withering look. ¡°That would never have happened in my day. No. The women stayed at home and took care of their mate. If I did go out, my man came with me.¡±


    Danica just smiled. ¡°Well I suppose it was better that you didn¡¯t venture out alone in case a croc got hold of you, huh.¡± The muffledughsing


    from some of the pack had Lindy growling.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never know what he sees in you. Theresa¡¯s so much prettier.¡± Moreughing from some of the pack as it was well known that Lindy disliked Theresa even more than she did Danica. Even Theresa herself looked surprised.


    ¡°Such beautiful long hair. Not like yours.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of hair, your moustache needs a trim.¡±


    That shut Lindy up and the conversation turned to lighter, general things, but although Danica chatted away to the others, it was forever on her


    mind that Gio was outside somewhere, hungry, pissed, and unable to calm himself. She knew this because she could feel it through their mating link, but she could also feel that he wanted to be alone. So she didn¡¯t do what she wanted to do and track him down and force some food down his throat.


    Instead she watched some T. V. with the others, hoping that Gio might turn up at some point. Unfortunately, it had been a pointless hope.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    She rose from her seat on the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m heading to bed. Can¡¯t stay awake any longer. Goodnight.¡± She had only taken two steps toward the door


    when Ray called her name. She turned and raised a brow questioningly. He motioned with one finger for her to go to where he was on the end of the


    chaise. Rolling her eyes, she walked over and sighed.


    He smiled. ¡°I just made youe with one finger. Imagine what I could do with my whole hand.¡± Everyone groaned.


    ¡°What? That was a good one.¡±


    Shaking her head and chuckling, Danica left the room and made her way through the tunnels when Chris suddenly caught up with her.


    ¡°Um, Danica, I just wondered if we could talk for a minute. Here, alone.¡±


    Surprised that he had gone out of his way to speak to her when usually he only did if she asked him a question, she shrugged. ¡°Sure. What¡¯s up?¡±


    For a minute he didn¡¯t say anything; just fidgeted and ran a hand through his hair and repeatedly cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he finally burst out. ¡°You¡¯ve no idea how sorry I am.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°Maybe if I hadn¡¯t been such an idiot I still would¡¯ve been your bodyguard and then I¡¯d have been there today and -¡±


    ¡°No, Chris, don¡¯t do that. Don¡¯t even think like that. The second I officially became the Alpha female of the pack I would have insisted on not having a bodyguard. I know some Alpha pairs have them, but Gio doesn¡¯t and it would have made me look weak to have a bodyguard when he didn¡¯t.¡±


    He nodded a little. ¡°I¡¯m still sorry. I¡¯ve been an ass and I know it.


    Look, I¡¯d really like it if we could be friends again. I get that you¡¯re with Gio. I look at you both now and¡­you make sense ¨C if that makes sense.


    You suit each other. The jealousy¡­it isn¡¯t there anymore. You¡¯re my Alpha female and I respect that. And I¡¯d really like it if we could go back to being friends.¡±


    Pleasantly shocked, she smiled. ¡°I¡¯d like that. Goodnight.¡±


    Feeling a little lighter, she made her way to her room. Once she had taken a quick shower, being sure to wash away the scents of the strange


    males, she threw on one of Gio¡¯s old t-shirts and hopped into bed. She had nned toy awake so that they could talk when he finally joined her, but she must have nodded off at some point because she abruptly woke some timeter to the feel of a light touch on the tiny wound on her forehead. Opening her eyes she saw Gio sitting beside her, his back against the headboard and his legs crossed at the ankles. ¡°Hey there, Sweetheart,¡± she said in a voice gone husky from sleep.


    ¡°Sorry. Didn¡¯t mean to wake you.¡±


    If she hadn¡¯t been able to feel it through their link, the deep crease between his eyebrows would have told her that he was still pretty pissed.


    ¡°You know I was right, Gio,¡± she said in a low voice. He turned his head away and sighed. ¡°I know. It doesn¡¯t mean I have to like it.¡±


    ¡°And stop torturing yourself about not having been there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your mate, Danica. It¡¯s my job to protect you.¡±


    ¡°I was the one who insisted you didn¡¯te with me.¡±


    ¡°Something that won¡¯t be happening again,¡± he reminded her. She drew circles on his bicep with her fingertip as she asked, ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re done now?¡±


    ¡°With what?¡±


    ¡°Sulking.¡±


    One brow lifted. ¡°Sulking?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± She climbed onto hisp and straddled him. ¡°Sulking because you can¡¯t go kill the sly wolf.¡±


    ¡°He ordered an attack on you, Danica. He wanted the shit knocked out of you.¡± If he knew Kevin like he thought he did, then the asshole would have ordered that she be sexually assaulted and then beaten almost to death assurance that Gio woulde for him. The drive to do just that was still


    hounding both him and his wolf. Moreover, he had the painful knowledge that someone within his pack had betrayed them. She massaged his shoulders and brushed his nose with hers. ¡°Kevin didn¡¯t get what he wanted though. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    The way she had said it as though that made everything okay had Gio shaking his head incredulously. She thought that what he¡¯d been doing all this time was pouting about not getting his revenge and torturing himself about not having protected her. If she had looked deeper she would have seen what was tormenting him most, would have known that the terror he had experienced earlier on hearing she was being attacked was still coursing through his veins. He had envisioned all kinds of fucked up scenarios as he had drove like


    a crazy person to get to her, had imagined finally arriving only to find her dead. Her strong personality always made her seem inches taller than what she was. In reality, she was just a tiny little thing. So easily breakable. He could snap her neck right now with minimal effort ¨C and those wolves who tried to attack her could have done the same even if they hadn¡¯t meant to.


    Gio took her face in his hands, fighting to keep his touch gentle while anger and fear was still stabbing at him. ¡°You just don¡¯t get it, do you? You


    have no idea how important you are to me. I need you to be okay, Danica. I can¡¯t be without you, you have to be here and okay or I won¡¯t be able to


    fucking function.¡±


    Danica doubted he could have known how much those words meant to her, especially when she knew just how hard he found it to articte himself


    like that. Even now he looked as though he wasn¡¯t sure if what he¡¯d said had made any sense. She could feel his need to assure himself that she was with him, safe and alive, in the most basic way ¨C by possessing her body. He was restraining himself though because he didn¡¯t trust that he wouldn¡¯t hurt her while his blood was still boiling. Well then she¡¯d provide him with that assurance that he needed if he wasn¡¯t going to take it for himself. Leaning forward, Danica licked along the seam of his lips, wanting admission, as she raked her ws down his chest ¨C not enough to tear his tshirt, but enough that it sent a shudder through him. ¡°Kiss me.¡± Sliding one hand to her nape he gave her what she wanted, possessing her mouth, owning it. She ground herself against his cock and he groaned into her mouth, but then he tore his lips away.


    ¡°Baby, not tonight.¡± Shit he deserved a medal for holding back. Knowing that she was naked beneath his old t-shirt was killing him. He could


    smell her arousal, knew she was wet and primed for him. ¡°My head¡¯s not in a good ce.¡±


    ¡°Shh -¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m too wound up -¡±


    ¡°I said shh.¡± She took his arms and draped them over the headboard.


    ¡°Keep them there.¡±


    There as an edge of dominance to her tone that he hadn¡¯t heard before. It intrigued his wolf. Gio narrowed his eyes and went to question her, but


    she raised a brow and shook her head. Then, surprising the hell out of him, she tore the t-shirt he was wearing right down the middle. He might have made ament about it if she hadn¡¯t then swirled her tongue in the hollow of his throat and sucked at the patch of skin the way he liked.


    She explored his chest with her lips and tongue, asionally using teeth. He loved those little bites she did, loved that she had the urge to leave


    marks of possession on his body. He hadn¡¯t realized his eyes had drifted shut until she tackled the buttons of his fly and his lids flipped open. ¡°Danica¡­¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to shush?¡± she said, sitting up again and straddling his thighs. She was pretty sure he would have snapped at her for thatment if she hadn¡¯t curled her hand around the base of his cock. She stroked upwards and ran her thumb over the silky head, sweeping up the


    pearl of pree there. Holding his eyes, she brought her thumb to her mouth and sucked it clean, smiling as he groaned. Gio¡¯s entire body clenched as she began working her soft little hand


    up and down his length, her eyes never leaving his. ¡°Danica, I¡¯m not in the mood to be teased.¡±


    ¡°Are you in the mood to be sucked off?¡± She smiled inwardly as shock stiffened his body while his dick jerked in her hand. ¡°Because that¡¯s what I


    have every intention of doing.¡± Leaning forward she asked against his lips in a wickedly submissive tone, ¡°Can I? Can I suck your cock? Please?¡±

 CHAPTER 55

    WARNING!!! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EROTIC CONTENTS


    ¡°You¡¯re a witch.¡±


    For so long he¡¯d dreamt of this, but he wasn¡¯t sure that now was the time. ¡°Be certain you want to do this, Danica. I¡¯m not in control, baby. I¡¯m not going to be able to keep my hands up here and just let you y.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m certain.¡±


    He bit her bottom lip hard. ¡°Then suck that cock until I tell you to stop.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± said Danica in a mockingly submissive tone, but he still growled in approval. Again she kissed and nipped his chest as she crawled


    backwards until she was settled between the invitation of his slightly spread thighs. He hissed as she ran her tongue along his cock from base to tip,pping up the drop of pree from the slit. Several times she licked his length,thing it and teasing him in the process until he bucked slightly,


    hinting for more. Smiling, she swirled her tongue around the head and took him into her mouth.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Gio shuddered and groaned as she sucked hard on the head of hisncock, flicking the sensitive part underneath with the tip of her tongue. Then she took more of him, swallowing, and the feel of her throat constricting around him had him groaning again. ¡°Oh yeah, suck it. Like that, baby, yes.


    Take more. Fuuuuck.¡± Each time she took him deeper, sucking so hard her cheeks hollowed. Then she was doing some wicked thing with her tongue, swirling it around his cock before grazing him with her teeth.


    Better than all of that, Gio could feel that she was enjoying pleasuring him like this. Knowing that, he couldn¡¯t stay still any longer. He tangled a hand in her hair and began pumping his hips, fucking her mouth, but she didn¡¯t fight him. Instead she began ying with his balls and making these moaning sounds in the back of her throat that were eating at what little control he had. So many times he¡¯d imagined this, imagined her deep throating him


    and then swallowing his cum, but right now that desire toe in her mouth was being overruled by the need to have here apart around his cock. Another need was eating at him. The need to take, to dominate, to remind her that she belonged to him. Both needs were so violent that he was scared he¡¯d hurt her. Even now his hold on her hair had to be causing her some pain, but although he stopped fucking her mouth he couldn¡¯t make himself totally release her.


    ¡°Danica, tell me I¡¯m hurting you, tell me you need me to stay in control.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I like it when you¡¯re out of control.¡±


    ¡°Not like this, baby, you don¡¯t want me like this. Tell me to ease off.¡±


    ¡°Why would I do that? I don¡¯t want you being someone you¡¯re not.¡±


    With that, hisst thread of control snapped and lust hazed his brain. He tightened his grip on her hair, yanked her upright and then plunged a


    finger inside her. Her muscles gripped it tight and moisture swamped his finger. ¡°So wet. I think my little bitch got off on sucking my cock. Did you,


    baby?¡± She only nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t hear you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Gio withdrew his finger and sucking it clean, groaning at her taste. He roughly dragged her to him and gathered up the t-shirt she was wearing and pushed it up and over her head. Then he was shaping her body with his hands, thumbing her taut nipples and pinching them hard. She jerked as he then stabbed two fingers inside her and flicked her clit with his thumb. A hint. of the pleasure she was feeling reached him through their bond. Snaking his free hand around her throat in a possessive grip, he growled harshly, ¡°Who was this pussy made for, Danica? Huh? Tell me who.¡±


    Instinctively Danica went to fight his dominance, but the look in his eyes stopped her. It wasn¡¯t just the determined, demanding glint there, but the


    lingering anxiety she had sensed earlier. Danica knew that when you had an alpha for a mate there were times when to push and times when to submit.


    Right now, Gio needed thetter. Something had happened today that had left him feeling helpless, left him feeling out of control. She needed to give


    that control back to him, even if it meant squashing her instincts to fight him.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to do when his dominant vibes were clogging the air and quashing her own, impressing her wolf. As Gio felt the defiance leave her body and watched her go slightly ck in his hold he groaned. There was nothing sexier to him or his wolf than Danica submitting to him. ¡°Tell me who,¡± he repeated.


    ¡°You,¡± she finally replied in a moan as he thrust his fingers deeper.


    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl. One day, I¡¯m going to fuck you in front of the guys so they can see what a good girl you are for me.¡±


    ¡°No way.¡± She ignored that the idea excited her, not wanting to acknowledge that apparently she had an exhibitionist streak that ran that deep. ¡°That¡¯s where I draw the line.¡±


    He withdrew his fingers and pped her clit with his cock. ¡°There are no lines, baby. You belong to me. I own this body. I can do whatever I want with it. I can use it however I want. And I intend to fuck this gorgeous body for the guys to see. But right now, I want you to ride me.¡± He positioned his cock at her entrance and she ced her hands on his shoulders as she began to slowly sink down onto him.


    ¡°You like that, baby?


    You like my cock filling you and stretching you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She bore down harder, wanting thosest few inches.


    ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s it, take all of it.¡±


    Finally he was buried balls deep inside her and he groaned as her muscles tightened around him. As she took a minute to adjust, he licked and raked his teeth over his mark until she was moaning and squirming. With the hand coring her neck, Gio slowly guided her body upwards, loving how she didn¡¯t fight him but gave himplete control.


    Then, just as slowly, he impaled her on him again. He knew his Danica, knew how she loved it hard, so he teasingly kept the movements agonizingly slow and gentle as he impaled her on him over and over. Soon enough she was squirming again.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, baby?


    You want more?¡± She nodded.


    ¡°Then take it.¡±


    So wound up with the need toe, Danica didn¡¯t hesitate; she began riding him hard and fast like a woman possessed, oddly liking the frictioning from the feel of the denim of his jeans against her ass. There was just something about fucking a guy when you were totally naked and they were


    still partially dressed that got Danica going. She probably shouldn¡¯t have enjoyed the way he was gripping her throat, but she did. It was possessive


    and dominant and a reminder of how much stronger he was, how easily he could hurt her, but that he never would. Sparks of bliss were shooting through Gio¡¯s body with each of her downward thrusts. He had to wonder if she¡¯d taken horse riding lessons growing up because, shit, she had some strength in those thighs and abs. He


    tugged her face closer and closed his mouth over hers, kissing her with a desperate hunger that matched her pace. He swallowed every moan, groan and whimper she made, eager for more. Knowing what she liked, he used his free hand to tweak and pluck at her hard nipples and to mold and squeeze those breasts that were bouncing as she rode him, drawing his gaze.


    ¡°Gio, I need toe.¡±


    ¡°No. You don¡¯t get toe until I say.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t ready to leave her body yet. ¡°Do you have any idea how hot it was having you suck my cock, how long I¡¯ve imagined you doing that? Since the day I had you drugged and brought here. You¡¯ve been mine since that day, Danica. You always will be.


    Do you hear me?¡± She nodded. ¡°Nothing can ever happen to you, nothing, understand?¡± He¡¯d never get through it if he lost her. Never.


    The anxiety in his voice tugged at her heart. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine. Fine.


    Here. Yours.¡±


    A growl escaped his lips. ¡°Always mine. Say it.¡±


    ¡°Always yours.¡±


    ¡°Louder.¡±


    ¡°Always yours!¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡± With the hand sping her throat he urged her to go faster as he began punching his hips up to meet her downward thrusts. ¡°Bite me.¡±


    He groaned and shuddered as she bit his chest, sucking and branding him. ¡°I love it when you mark me.¡± He moved his hand from her throat to her hair and snatched her head back as he began punching his hips harder. ¡°Come. Now.¡± He sank his teeth into her neck and slipped his thumb between them to circle her clit. Just like that, she shattered.


    An intensely powerful orgasm ripped through Danica, wrenching a scream from her lungs. Her muscles closed around his cock and he punched into her one final time, growling her name, as his own release hit and his cock pulsed deep inside her. Totally replete, she copsed against him,


    gasping for breath. He held her close as the aftershocks racked their bodies ¨C it was a hold so tight that it was almost desperate. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,


    Gio,¡± she assured him softly.


    He grunted. ¡°You say that as if you have a choice.¡±


    ¡°Ass,¡± she chuckled.


    ¡°I mean it, Danica. I won¡¯t ever let you leave. I¡¯ll never give you up. I¡¯ll never let anyone take you from me.¡±


    She lifted her head and smiled at him. ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m nning on staying.¡±

 CHAPTER 56

    The sight of her warm, reassuring smile triggered another of those strange pangs in his chest. Gio meshed his lips to hers, indulging in a long thorough tasting of her mouth. Then, content, he nuzzled her neck and breathed in deep. And froze.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You smell different.¡±


    ¡°What? How?¡±


    ¡°Our scents. They¡¯ve mixed.¡± A smug grin spread across his face. ¡°It¡¯s the mating bond. It¡¯s advancing.¡± That meant that whatever it was they were doing, they were doing it right. It also meant that any shifter who picked up her scent would know she was a mated female before even seeing her mark or marks. Although she rolled her eyes at his self satisfaction he could feel that she, too, was d about it and liked the knowledge that it would be instantly clear to everyone that he was taken. He also felt her concern that maybe this


    was the most they would have, that the bond would never beplete because they might never feel they could be totally naked to each other. What caused him the most unease was that beneath all that was her fear that he might nevere to feel for her what she felt for him, that she would forever be in a mating with someone who couldn¡¯t love her. It made Gio want to kick his own ass. He wondered if she had been able to sense just how much he wished he could give her those words she wanted. It amazed him how there could be so much power in three little words. To him, they didn¡¯t have any true meaning or hold the same power because they had never been part of his vocabry. It wouldn¡¯t have been any different than someone reciting an unfamiliar phrase and expecting him to not only repeat it but to also understand what it meant. His mom had been a good mother, but she hadn¡¯t been what anyone might call tender or ¡®loving¡¯. His dad had been far from it. Even Lindy, the person who had yed the most part in his upbringing, had never used those words though he believed she cared for him.


    Gio knew though that even if he had heard it every day of his life there was still a possibility he couldn¡¯t have repeated it to Danica. Considering the things he had done in his life and how fucked up his conscience was, it was possible that ¡®love¡¯ wasn¡¯t something a person like him could feel, that it was reserved for good people like Danica. It made him wish that he was a better person. There was no denying that Danica deserved a better mate. Even with that in mind, though, he couldn¡¯t give her up. Wouldn¡¯t.


    He hadn¡¯t thought of his life as something that was dark or empty until she came here and suddenly lit it up and filled it. Even when he had been doing his level best to avoid her he had been simultaneously drinking in her presence in his life. It pained both him and his wolf that he couldn¡¯t give her, his mate , what she needed. What he did know was that if it was possible for someone like him to experience an emotion so strong, then Gio would feel it for Danica. ¡°So¡­who do we think the informant is?¡±


    Everyone at the patio table looked at Duda, but no one answered him. No one wanted to actually face the fact that one of their own had betrayed them. Gio had secretly arranged for he, Danica, Duda, and his enforcers to meet at theke this morning to discuss the issue in private. As sad as it was,


    he felt that these were the only members of his pack he could truly trust. Well, them and Lindy. However, he didn¡¯t trust Lindy to keep the issue of the informant to herself. She would most likely begin confronting and interrogating everyone, and he didn¡¯t want the informant to know that they


    were aware of his betrayal yet. Danica very much doubted that Kevin¡¯s two thugs would own up to him that they¡¯d told her about the informant, so if


    Gio yed dumb they might just get to the bottom of the matter before anything else happened.


    ¡°Personally, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a stretch to conclude that it¡¯s the same person who vandalized Danica¡¯s car, killed the bird, and left her with that bump a few weeks back.¡± Chris shrugged.


    ¡°Then we need to look at people who aren¡¯t particrly happy about her being here,¡± said Andrew around a mouth of chewing gum.


    ¡°Most of us weren¡¯t happy at the beginning, including me,¡± admitted Ray before offering her an apologetic smile ¨C a smile that quickly turned impish, warning her of what was toe.


    ¡°Of course I love you now. If I had a star for every time you brightened my day, I¡¯d have a gxy in my hand.¡±


    As usual, some groaned, some chuckled, and Gio hit him.


    Danica shook her head. ¡°You just can¡¯t help yourself, can you?¡± Ray winked.


    ¡°Getting back to the shitty subject at hand¡­The obvious suspects would be Theresa and Cindy,¡± said Gio, massaging Danica¡¯s nape. ¡°Although I


    think Cindy would have only been involved if Theresa was.¡±


    Chris cocked his head. ¡°What about Max? He¡¯s sure pissed about her being here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get why he¡¯s so hateful about it though,¡± said Danica. ¡°I mean, I know he doesn¡¯t like me, but if he is responsible for all this then it seems a


    bit of an overreaction to disliking me.¡±


    ¡°Max¡¯s always been hateful. He has issues. Mommy issues.¡±


    ¡°Care to borate?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    It was Donny who exined. ¡°His mom was human. She wasn¡¯t Gary¡¯s true mate. Apparently Gary found his true mate but she was already


    shacked up with another guy. He got involved with this human female not telling her he was a shifter. When she realized what Gary was and that their


    son was half shifter, she freaked and deserted them both. Max had only been a toddler at the time.¡±


    Danica couldn¡¯t help feeling a pang of sympathy for both Max and Gary. ¡°There¡¯s always the senile old crone,¡± she said with a smile.


    ¡°Lindy might call you every name under the blue moon, baby, but I know for sure she likes you in her own way,¡± Gio assured her.


    She snorted. ¡°If you say so. Maybe it¡¯s not about someone liking or disliking me.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, if we¡¯re assuming that the informant has been in contact with Kevin from the beginning, we have to assume that they told him our mating was all about a deal so that you had plenty of alliances. Kevin wouldn¡¯t have liked that, so he would have wanted me out of the equation. A good way to do that would be by trying make me feel unwee, damaging my car, killing my raven.¡±


    Donny nodded a few times. ¡°If you think about it, it wasn¡¯t until you both discovered that you were true mates that anyone tried to actually hurt you.¡±


    ¡°It would make sense for him to want you hurt, as is evident fromst night,¡± said Hudson. ¡°A shifter whose mate is hurting isn¡¯t in the best frame of


    mind, and it would make you, Gio, more easily provoked into breaking the agreement of a twelve week gap between anyone making good on the


    challenge from Kevin.¡±


    Gio wanted to punch something. The betrayal cut deeper than he would have thought possible. Apparently he wasn¡¯t as guarded as he¡¯d always thought himself to be, or maybe his mating with Danica had changed that. ¡°Why would someone help Kevin? What could they possibly gain from


    it? If they weren¡¯t happy here and wanted to join his pack, they could have left. I wouldn¡¯t have stopped them. What they¡¯ve done is punishable by


    death.¡±


    ¡°Then the question is,¡± began Andrew, ¡°who would be prepared to take that risk?¡±


    After a long silence, Gio sighed and got to his feet. ¡°I need to go for a run. My wolf¡¯s restless and pissed, and I can¡¯t think straight when he¡¯s fighting for supremacy so hard.¡±


    Chris shrugged. ¡°Then let¡¯s all go for a run together.¡±


    Gio held out his hand to Danica. ¡°Come on, baby.¡±


    Many days a week she and Gio would go y in the forest while he was in wolf form and theny near theke while she read the newspaper, all


    the while running her fingers through his coarse fur. asionally some of the pack would join in on their y in their wolf forms and then copse


    beside her and Gio, enjoying the close contact with their Alpha pair. Danica wouldn¡¯t have thought such a thing could be peaceful. She was drained, dirty, and currently had seven wolves all pressed against her. But always there was that sense of peace, belonging, and family. She could only assume that the wolves felt it too as they always seemed content to justze there, all sprawled out with their eyes closed and their breathing even. So


    when each and every one of them suddenly jerked upright and went on the. alert, Danica knew something had to be wrong. She thought of the male wolves who had attacked her the day before,


    wondering if they would be dumb enough to try to creep around their territory to finish the job they had barely begun. There was no question that


    they would be dumb enough, but the wolves didn¡¯t dart off in various directions to hunt down any intruders as she would have thought. They remained there, crowding her, protecting her.


    A howl in the distance received an immediate response from the wolves around her ¨C it was a familiar howl. Max, she thought. The wolves all seemed to rx slightly, as if the possibility of ¡®danger¡¯ no longer worried them, but they didn¡¯t seem happy, and Gio was emitting a low growl.


    Before Danica could think on it any further, there was the sound of a car approaching. She went to stand, attempting to see who the car belonged to,


    but Gio growled and licked her jaw and she got the distinct impression that he wanted her to remain where she was. Soon there were footsteps and the sound of Lindy speaking ever so sweetly. Voices responded just as pleasantly familiar voices that made everything make perfect sense.


    A minuteter, three male wolf shifters appeared with Lindy. Instantly Gio was on his feet, his attention solely on the male in front, but he didn¡¯t


    move from Danica¡¯s side. Danica groaned and shot Lindy, who was smirking mischievously, an


    usatory look. ¡°You knew he was in his wolf form. It didn¡¯t bother you that he might have attacked my uncle?¡± Danica had forgotten all about their visit.


    Lindy huffed. ¡°After the things he said to my grandson, no. I hope Gio rips out his throat.¡± She snarled at James, Mike, and another male wolf ¨C all of whom were staring at the old woman in amazement as she made the transformation from gracious, weing host to an agent of Evil. Oh she knew how to y the frail, saintly old woman.

 CHAPTER 57

    Danica sat up and wrapped her arms around the neck of a growling Gio who clearly remembered James and was in an overly crazy protective state


    after her being attacked. Her own wolf wasn¡¯t too happy to see him either.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Gio,¡± she whispered into the wolf¡¯s ear, knowing Gio would be aware of what was happening and would hear her. ¡°I need you toe back to me


    now.¡± Unfortunately, Gio wasn¡¯t in any rush to retreat and let his human half have control. Had she recalled arranging her uncle¡¯s visit, she would


    have postponed it for another time. It¡¯s toote now.


    Looking up at James, she said, ¡°If you could all just take a seat over there at the oak table we¡¯ll be over in a sec.¡± Turning to the six wolves around


    her , she ordered, ¡°Change.¡± Not looking all that happy about it, they shifted back to their human forms and not moving their gazes from their visitors  each retrieved their own pair of jeans and t-shirt from the ones that were scattered around. Duda then brought over Gio¡¯s clothes and handed them to her. Focusing back on Gio, she whispered, ¡°Come on, Gio. Come back.¡±


    Secondster the change began and Gio was sat in front of her, his gaze still drilling into her uncle. She handed him his clothes and, without a word, he stood and pulled them on. Obviously sensing the precariousness of the situation, each of the visitors had their heads lowered slightly,municating that they had no intention of challenging him, that they were no threat.


    Once Gio was dressed he held his hand out to Danica and gently pulled her to her feet. He kissed her softly, letting her touch and closeness reassure his wolf. Never had his wolf liked strange wolves around his mate ¨C hell, he¡¯d never liked any males around her ¨C but as their mating bond hadn¡¯t fully clicked into ce, his wolf was even worse. The fact that she had been attacked yesterday and that one of the males here had once wanted to take her from him worsened his mood.


    ¡°Okay?¡± she asked,bing her fingers through his hair. He nodded and nipped at her mouth. ¡°Just stay close.¡± If his wolf felt confident that Danica was nearby, safe and protected, they might just get through this without him going for James¡¯s throat. As Gio and Danica approached the oak table, the visitors lifted their heads to reveal nervous expressions. Gio gave them a nod of greeting and took a seat opposite them, pulling Danica onto hisp who snuggled into him the way he liked. Duda and Chris took a seat either side of him and Danica. He knew without looking that both their gazes were on a gulping James.


    Mike broke the silence. ¡°Thank you for granting us permission to visit.


    You already know James. This¡± ¨C he gestured to the wolf on his right who was stroking his face ¨C ¡°is my bodyguard, Asher. I asked my Beta and my enforcers to remain in the car.¡± Well that had been wise of him. If Mike had arrived at theke surrounded by arge number of strange wolves,


    Gio would have pounced on them without a doubt.


    Gio nodded curtly. ¡°On my left is Chris, my Head Enforcer. On my right is Duda, my Beta. Behind us are Andrew, Donny, Ray, and Hudson.


    And you¡¯ve met my grandmother, Lindy.¡±


    Mike smiled. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s, um, charming. She has good reason to be unhappy to see us.¡±


    James cleared his throat. ¡°Yes. I realize I was very rude at the mating ceremony. And, well, I made judgements about you based on what I¡¯d heard


    from others. It¡¯s simply that -¡±


    ¡°No,¡± interrupted Danica. ¡°There are no excuses. An apology we can work with. Excuses ¨C hell, no.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    Hearing her again defend him caused another pang in Gio¡¯s chest. Massaging her nape, he said, ¡°That¡¯s not to say you weren¡¯t right about me.


    I¡¯m not a good person. If I thought someone deserved it, I¡¯d kill them without blinking and I¡¯d think nothing of it. I am, by my own admission, a hard, selfish, ruthless bastard. There¡¯s only one person in this world who¡¯s guaranteed toe to no harm from me, and that¡¯s Danica.¡±


    After a moment of silence, James nodded once.


    ¡°Ray,¡± drawled Danica in her sweetest voice. ¡°Is there any chance you could go ask Michey to fix us all some coffees?¡±


    With the offer of hospitality, the visitors seemed to visibly rx and James exhaled a sigh of relief ¨C probably relieved that he was still alive. ¡°How¡¯ve you been, Danica?¡±


    ¡°Fine, thanks,¡± she practically purred. She loved it when Gio kneaded her nape, even though she knew he was mainly doing it just to takefort


    in touching her. Her wolf was just as contented. ¡°How¡¯re the pups?¡±


    ¡°Still little beasts. They wanted toe and see you but well¡­¡±


    But well he wasn¡¯t sure if things would be amicable or if Mike would be scooping him from the floor with a spoon. ¡°Next time, make sure you bring them.¡±


    James smiled a little as he asked, hopefully, ¡°There¡¯ll be a next time?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t give an inch, does she,¡± he said to Gio.


    Gio smiled down at his mate. ¡°I kind of like that about her.¡±


    Lindy hmphed, hands on hips. ¡°Duda, shove over son.¡±


    Grinning in amusement, Duda shuffled along to the next chair so that she could take his. Her posture was both regal and confrontational.


    Mike folded his arms across his chest, but not in a manner that was confrontational. ¡°Well, I hope ¨C in spite of what happened ¨C you enjoyed the mating ceremony.¡±


    ¡°It was real nice,¡± said Danica. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I went to one.¡±


    ¡°You and Gio haven¡¯t had one?¡± asked James, surprised.


    Not liking this subject because she knew full well that Gio wouldn¡¯t want one, she simply gave her uncle a bored look and a dismissive wave of


    the hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re not one of those girls who dreamed about it all your life?


    Wow, my Naomi already has hers nned and she hasn¡¯t even found her mate yet. Not to mention she¡¯s only seven.¡±


    ¡°What about you, Gio?¡± said James. ¡°Don¡¯t you want a mating ceremony?¡±


    Being the least romantic person alive, Gio hadn¡¯t even thought about it before now. He¡¯d never even wondered if Danica would want something like


    that ¨C which she did. And she didn¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t sense any more than that so he wasn¡¯t sure what was behind her indecision, but it was something they would definitely be discussing in private. He just shrugged. ¡°If Danica wants one, we¡¯ll have one. If she doesn¡¯t, we won¡¯t.¡±


    Mike tutted. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be giving your mate her own way all the time.¡±


    ¡°Yes he does,¡± stated Danica.


    Lindy huffed at Danica. ¡°In my day mates weren¡¯t allowed to live together until after the mating ceremony.¡±


    ¡°In your day a guy named Noah was building an Ark.¡±


    ¡°And they had more self-control than to fornicate twenty three hours of every day.¡± She didn¡¯t enunciate the word ¡®fornicate¡¯ properly as though she thought even talking about it was immoral and would get her sent straight to hell.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing depraved about sex. Of course with a little creativity, some toys and a whole lot of dirty talk, you can change that.¡±


    Gioughed into Danica¡¯s hair as he saw the horrified look on his grandmother¡¯s face. God, he really did love his mate¡¯s spunk. Lindy looked at


    him expectantly, obviously wanting him to berate Danica for talking to her about ¨C heaven forbid ¨C ¡®intimate rtions¡¯. Although shifters were easy about sex, Lindy had always been, as his mate often called her, a prude. It was obvious, however, that the real reason she was berating Danica was because she got a kick from it, and that was why


    Gio would never interfere on Lindy¡¯s behalf. Well, that and the fact that he liked sex with Danica too much to risk angering her. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be using that word in front of your own uncle,¡± chastised Lindy. Danica yed dumb. ¡°What? Oh you mean sex? Well I suppose there are other terms I could use. Gio likes to call it ¡®Journey in Cloud nine.


    ¡°Enough, enough, enough,¡± insisted Lindy, but she was barely heard over theughter that spread around the table.


    ¡°So sorry, my halo slipped for a second there.¡±


    Conversation seemed to flow a lot easier after that. However, even though the atmosphere became more rxed, Gio still had to concentrate


    hard on keeping his wolf suppressed. Although James had apologised, that didn¡¯t matter to his wolf. Nor had he been satisfied by James¡¯s submissive behaviour. His wolf didn¡¯t want his submission, he wanted James to challenge him so he could attack and rip his throat out. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t have been as overprotective and prickly if Danica hadn¡¯t been attacked only yesterday, or maybe he would always be that way where his mate was concerned.

 CHAPTER 58

    Sensing that Gio¡¯s wolf was far from at ease, Danica snuggled deeper into Gio¡¯s arms and began to softly pat his chest, scratching him lightly with her nails through his t-shirt. A growl of contentment rumbled up his chest and he curled his arm tight around her. They sat that way for the next few hours, chatting andughing with everyone. James and Danica even did a little reminiscing, talking about her mom and sharing some of the many stories that perfectly demonstrated just how dizzy the woman had actually been. Even Lindy hadughed. It was because the atmosphere was so cheery and rxed that Danica sensed the change the second it happened.


    ¡°What is it?¡±  she asked Gio who was speaking to Max ¨C who was on guard duty ¨C on his cell.


    ¡°What?¡± he snapped into the cell. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Flipping his cell closed, he stood upright and then ced her on the chair.


    ¡°Stay here, Danica.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡±


    ¡°Baby, just stay here for me.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say please, but Danica heard it in his tone. If he was so wary about a situation that he was pleading with her as opposed to barking at her, it couldn¡¯t be good. She nodded once and he kissed her quickly before disappearing into the forest. Duda and the enforcers followed him.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Lindy.


    ¡°No idea.¡±


    Mike¡¯s Alpha instincts kicked in and he straightened in his seat.


    ¡°Maybe James, Asher and I should go see if -¡±


    ¡°No, when Gio¡¯s wolf goes on high alert he sees anyone outside his pack as intruders ¨C he¡¯ll just think of your behavior as interference.¡±


    Lindy huffed. ¡°So, what, we just sit here while there¡¯s obviously trouble going on?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Danica stood and pointed hard at the others. ¡°Stay here.¡±


    Of course they didn¡¯t, and she wasn¡¯t exactly in a position to preach at them. Taking the same route Gio had, she traipsed through the forest toward


    the front gate. As she stepped out of the trees near the security shack, two things made her halt. One, there was a group of approximately ten people ¨Call wolf shifters, her nose told her ¨C standing near the front gate. Two, although the gate had been opened to allow them through, Gio and the guys had formed a protective wall in front of the shack ¨C a warning that they weren¡¯t to move any further. Despite there only being eight of them, it was a pretty impressive and intimidating disy, and it was working. The eyes of every stranger moved to Danica, scrutinising her intently. There was nothing confrontational in their posture or manner, but that didn¡¯t ease her tension.


    ¡°Who are these people?¡±


    Gio replied without turning his head, not wanting to move his gaze from the wolves in front of him. He wasn¡¯t one little bit surprised that Danica had disobeyed his order. It wasn¡¯t in her nature to sit around twiddling her thumbs when there was trouble, just as it wasn¡¯t in his nature either.


    ¡°These are some of the wolves from my old pack.¡±


    He felt her confusion, knew she was wondering why he wouldn¡¯t be at least a little d to see them. Simple: he didn¡¯t trust anyone from his old pack around her right now.


    For all Gio knew, in spite of what they said, they were in league with Kevin. Even his wolf who recognised their scents wasn¡¯tfortable with their presence at all. When Danica came to stand beside him he lifted his arm to create a barrier, wanting her to remain slightly behind him.


    ¡°Apparently they¡¯re here to see you.¡±


    Danica frowned, both at his words and how he seemed to be shielding her. Only the fact that she could sense his distrust and apprehension kept her from stepping around his arm. It wouldn¡¯t be a good idea to distract him if he truly had good reason to be suspicious.


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°This is your mate?¡± asked a tall male ¨C who Danica thought had a slight resemnce to Ray in an extremely deep voice. She had to roll her eyes at the surprise in his tone. Okay, so she was small and Gio was big ¨C it wasn¡¯t that odd a match.


    Gio responded with a curt nod.


    ¡°But¡­I thought healers couldn¡¯t heal themselves.¡±


    Disliking that he wasn¡¯t addressing her directly as though she didn¡¯t count, Danica answered, ¡°They can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You look¡­fine.¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    Gio exined.  ¡°It would seem that Jefferson overheard Kevin talking to the wolves who attempted to attack youst night. Everyone you see here knows Kevin ordered it done. What they don¡¯t know is that the wolves were lying their asses off when they assured Kevin that you were in a bad physical state.¡±


    ¡°So the guys who interfered in the attack stopped it before it even started,¡± presumed Jefferson.


    Danica frowned. ¡°What guys?¡±. A smile curved Gio¡¯s mouth. ¡°The ones who supposedly stumbled upon you being attacked and kicked the wolves¡¯ asses.¡± Sheughed. ¡°I can¡¯t say I me them for that sweet little lie.¡±  Jefferson¡¯s brows pulled together.


    ¡°Then who was responsible for their injuries?¡±


    ¡°Oh that would be Danica,¡± replied Duda, his pride in his Alpha female clear in his voice and his grin. The other males wore simr smiles of pride.


    A curvaceous peroxide dark female who Danica noticed was eyeing up Gio like he was a snack snickered.


    ¡°She did it?


    Her?¡±  Her voice rang with scepticism.


    Danica felt a spike of anger. ¡°Her is standing right here and is Alpha female of this pack. I¡¯m also very, very close to wiping the floor with your face for ogling my mate. Would you like that?¡±


    Gio doubted that he would ever find it any less amusing to watch the shock on people¡¯s faces when his little mate let her bitchy attitudee out


    to y. Quickly the blonde averted her gaze and edged closer to Jefferson. Each of the wolves of Gio¡¯s old pack once again appraised his mate, seeing not the delicate tiny female she appeared at first nce to be, but the tough, strong, powerful alpha that she truly was.


    ¡°Well, well, well¡­This is quite a turn out.¡± Lindy came to stand beside Danica, her arms folded and her expression judgemental and suspicious. James, Mike, and Asher were now behind them.


    ¡°Shame none of you bothered to visit us sooner. Like fifteen years ago when a teenage boy was banished instead of being given his ce as Alpha.¡±


    Some of the wolves did look a little shamefaced, but not enough to satisfy Danica.


    A male who was basically an ancient version of Richard stepped forward, staring at Lindy adoringly ¨C Danica smiled, brows raised, as the old woman blushed. ¡°You look well, Lindy. We just wanted you all to know that it wasn¡¯t the pack as a unit acting against you or your mate, Gio. Not all of us agree with Kevin¡¯s challenge. Of course we¡¯d love for the pack to again be whole, but not for it to happen like this.


    ¡°A roundish, greying woman spoke in a catory tone. ¡°We may not have been much help to you all those years ago, but we wouldn¡¯t wish you harm.¡± Her gaze settled on Ray. ¡°I certainly wouldn¡¯t want anything for my nephew other than happiness.¡±


    The other wolves here, including Andrew¡¯s parents who were staring at their son with glittering eyes, nodded in agreement. Gio was surprised to see


    them given that they had been loud supporters of his banishment ¨C an attitude that had backfired when their son left along with him. Even with their


    seemingly harmless behavior, however, neither he nor his wolf was happy about them being around Danica.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve seen that she¡¯s alive and well. Now you can go.¡±


    Duda¡¯s older brother, Brian, who was ironically much smaller than Duda spoke up then. ¡°I was sort of hoping I could talk to my bro, you know.


    It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    ¡°Whose fault is that?¡± said Duda, sounding deceptively aloof. Gio looked at Brian incredulously. ¡°You don¡¯t honestly think I¡¯d allow


    anyone from the Tefy Pack near Danica after what happened yesterday, do you?¡±


    ¡°Gio,e on man, you can¡¯t think we¡¯d hurt your mate.¡±


    ¡°I take it that brown headed female you¡¯re holding is your mate?¡±


    Brian nodded. ¡°Yeah. We mated a few months ago.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Then you should have a pretty good idea of how I¡¯m feeling right about now.¡±


    ¡°None of the wolves you see here would hurt her, Gio,¡± vowed Jefferson.


    ¡°I won¡¯t take chances where my mate¡¯s concerned. Her safety is my first priority, and right now my intention is to be more vignt than ever.


    Fortunately Kevin had greatly underestimated Danica and she was unharmed despite his efforts. If there¡¯s a next time, he won¡¯t underestimate her, and I don¡¯t intend for there to be a next time.¡±


    ¡°Gio?¡±


    It was spoken in a low, gentle, appealing tone by a very thin, dark, middle-aged woman who was gazing at him in a motherly way, surprising Danica.


    ¡°I can understand you being a little surprised by us showing up like this, but you know that I¡¯d never do anything that would hurt you or


    yours. You trust that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    It was clear to Danica that the woman was very much expecting the answer to be ¡®yes¡¯ and she wondered why.

 CHAPTER 59

    Gio narrowed his eyes at the woman. The affectionate way Bethany was looking at him was making him ufortable. ¡°No. The only people in this world I trust to never betray me are those you see standing with me here. If any of you take offence to my not weing you all into my home with open arms, I don¡¯t much care. I¡¯m extremely protective of what¡¯s mine, but I won¡¯t let Kevin trick me into losing control and attacking him for going after Danica, you might want to pass that on.¡±


    Jefferson seemed to think on that for a moment and then nodded. ¡°Going by the fact that you didn¡¯t lose control¡­Does this mean you¡¯re not as, um¡­ impulsive¡­as you once were?¡±


    Gio had to smile. Impulsive wasn¡¯t the right word, but he knew what Jefferson was getting at. He went with the truth. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t mean that at all.


    It just means that Danica keeps me calm.¡±


    ¡°Why did you do it, Gio?¡± Andrew¡¯s dad¡¯s tone was soft, not condemning.


    ¡°Why did you almost kill your father, your Alpha?¡±


    Gio simply shrugged, not willing to exin himself to any of them.


    ¡°Because he deserved it. Deserved it so much that I¡¯d do it again if he was alive.¡± Oddly, that seemed to be a good enough answer for Tyler.


    Roselyn, Andrew¡¯s mom, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t so satisfied. ¡°You owe us more than that. You owe us an exnation as to why we missed our son growing up.¡±


    Oh she did not just say that! Without conscious thought Danica sprung forward, growling. If Gio hadn¡¯t looped on arm around her and pulled her


    back against him she would have been on that bitch ¨C who had wisely backed up ¨C in a blink. ¡°Gio doesn¡¯t owe you anything. In fact, you owe him an


    exnation ¨C an exnation as to why you didn¡¯t give a thirteen year old boy a chance to tell you what his asshole of a dad did. And don¡¯t tell me that you all weren¡¯t aware he¡¯d been an asshole. Didn¡¯t it ever ur to you that Gio could¡¯ve easily finished off the job? He didn¡¯t though, did he? No. But your tiny little brain didn¡¯t even consider that. If you missed that time with Andrew, it was your own goddamn fault. Smiling at the almost wild protectiveness in her manner, Gio kissed his mark and rubbed his cheek against hers. He wasn¡¯t the only one smiling. Yes she had been offensive, and threatening, but wolves respected that kind of strength. And no one much liked Roselyn anyway.


    ¡°I¡¯m prepared to go to the council and tell them what I overheard Kevin saying,¡± offered Jefferson.


    Gio shook his head. ¡°I¡¯d much rather you didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Smirks that were identical to Gio¡¯s surfaced on the face of each of his pack. It was Chris who exined. ¡°We deal with things our own way.¡±


    Nothing more needed to be said for anybody to understand. ¡°If what you say about being concerned for Danica¡¯s welfare is true, then I thank you foring.¡± Understanding they had been effectively dismissed, the wolves all as


    one turned and made their way back to their vehicles ¨C with the exception of one female who began to slowly and cautiously approach Gio.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± asked Danica in a whisper.


    He sighed.


    ¡°Bethany. Louve¡¯s mom.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Well that would certainly exin the motherly behavior.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you two a few minutes alone.¡±


    Surprised, he turned her to face him.  ¡°Baby, you don¡¯t have to do that. There¡¯s nothing for me to say to her now that I know Louve was never my


    mate.¡±


    ¡°But she doesn¡¯t know that, does she? If you don¡¯t want to tell her, then don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You would be okay with me letting her believe you¡¯re not who you are to me?¡±


    She sighed.  ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t like it, but that woman has already been hrough a lot. She probably sees you as herst link to her daughter. Someone else who saw her in the special way that she did.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t. Not even when I thought we were mates.¡± He released a long breath. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell her the truth. It¡¯s the right thing to do, for


    everyone.¡±


    Duda called, ¡°Gio, Bethany¡¯s asking to talk to you.¡±


    Gio turned his head to see that Chris and Duda stood in front of her, blocking her ess to their Alpha pair. Danica nipped his chin. ¡°Go on. I¡¯ll wait back. I¡¯ll have youba coffee waiting on the table. Of course you understand that Michey will have


    made it, but the thought is all mine.¡±


    He smiled and bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯ll just be a few minutes.¡± It wasn¡¯t until she was heading back through the forest ¨C having rounded up the others like sheep and shoved them ahead of her, including her uncle, Mike and Asher ¨C that he went to where Bethany was waiting. He signalled with an incline of his head for Duda and Chris to give them a moment alone.


    ¡°Thank you for speaking with me,¡± said Bethany, swallowing hard. ¡°Gio, I ¨C I just¡­I¡¯m d you¡¯re¡­happy. I always worried about you, wondered if you would survive the banishment. Your mate is very protective of you. You obviously care for each other. I didn¡¯t expect to ever see you imprint.¡± If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, she wasn¡¯t happy about it at all despite what she imed. It urred to him that she might feel as though he had betrayed her daughter¡¯s memory in some way. Damn, she wasn¡¯t going to like what he had


    to say. He took a deep breath. ¡°We didn¡¯t imprint.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not mates?¡±


    ¡°Oh we¡¯re mates. True mates.¡±


    Frowning, Bethany shook her head. ¡°No, that¡­that can¡¯t be. Louve was your true mate.¡±


    ¡°Bethany -¡±


    ¡°I saw the way she looked up at you that day ¨C so adoringly, so focused on you. She used to cry all the time with those colic pains but she calmed


    down as soon as you held her.¡±


    ¡°And you mistook that for a true mate bond. I¡¯m sorry if that¡¯s not what you want to hear, but I¡¯m not going to lie to you.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    She shook her head again. ¡°You reacted so badly to her death. What you did¡­That was grief -¡±


    ¡°That was me attacking my father for teasing me about her having died.¡±


    ¡°He did that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself that I was someone who deserved your daughter and lost control in a moment of despair, that I¡¯m just terribly misunderstood. When I heard she was dead, I felt guilty and angry with myself, but it could never have touched me the way it touched you. We weren¡¯t mates, Bethany.¡±


    The hopeful gleam didn¡¯t leave her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t ept that. Maybe once all this is over with Kevin you coulde with me to visit her grave and -¡±


    He held up his hand. ¡°Bethany, I get that you might wish you could have someone to sit there and grieve with you for your daughter, who saw her as special and who you can share stories with, but¡­I can¡¯t be that someone.¡±


    ¡°Maybe if I showed you some of her pictures -¡±


    ¡°Bethany, you¡¯re not listening to me.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re wrong.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Danica is my true mate.¡± He didn¡¯t like the way she snarled at Danica¡¯s name and nor did his wolf. ¡°Don¡¯t you do that. I get that you¡¯re upset, but Danica¡¯s my mate and I won¡¯t have you disrespect her in any way, just as you wouldn¡¯t with your mate.¡± The stiffness left her spine and she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that was disrespectful. She seems like quite a character.¡±


    ¡°She is.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re happy with her? She cares for you?¡±


    He nodded.  ¡°Even though I¡¯m about as emotional as a broomstick, even though I¡¯m not giving her what she needs. She doesn¡¯t judge me for being the way I am. She¡¯s so different from me it¡¯s not even funny. Danica¡¯s it for me.¡±


    Bethany¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Then I¡¯m happy for you. I won¡¯t lie and say I¡¯m d Louve wasn¡¯t your true mate, but that¡¯s because I selfishly wish I had some sort of connection left to her. What you have is what¡¯s best for you, and that¡¯s what I should be thinking about, not me.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯re okay?¡±


    She nodded, a half smile now on her face. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± She bowed her head respectfully. ¡°Take care, Gio. I really am d you¡¯re happy.¡± With that, she strolled over to the waiting vehicles and hopped into the backseat of one. Then the cars were beeping in goodbye and driving off.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if at least one of them can¡¯t resist taunting Kevin over his failed attack on Danica,¡± said Duda as he and Chris came to


    stand beside Gio.


    ¡°Hearing Danica wasn¡¯t hurt and you¡¯re onto his little tricks will make him unbelievably pissed,¡± said Chris.


    Gio nodded, sighing. ¡°It¡¯s a satisfying thought.¡± But he couldn¡¯t smile about it like Duda and Chris were. Although he was pleased to know that not


    all of his old pack was against him, the overriding issue for him was that there was still a threat to his mate walking the earth. That was uneptable


    to him and his wolf. He wondered if Danica had any real idea of just how difficult it was for him to simply sit back and then go after Kevin in his own time. The need to avenge pecked at him constantly, demanding he go dish out his own personal brand of justice. The whole thing was making him restless, giving him that nagging feeling like the kind he got when there was something he¡¯d forgotten to do. Only this time he knew exactly what he needed to do, and it went


    totally against his very nature to ignore it.

 CHAPTER 60

    Now that their cars were no longer in sight, Gio headed back to the caves. Duda sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve got a feeling that James will want to know everything


    that¡¯s going on ¨C he¡¯ll be pissed to hear his niece was attacked.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Mike will be willing to join us for the battle?¡± Chris asked Gio.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out.¡± As Gio was making his way to the kitchen, he heard the words ¡®hussy¡¯, ¡®disrespectful¡¯ and mon¡¯ ¨C clearly Lindy was taking a pop at Danica again. Then he heard his mate¡¯s voice.


    ¡°No need to take it out on me that you¡¯re so wrinkled you have to screw your hat on.¡±


    And just like that, he was smiling.


    ¡°Do you see what I have to put up with? She¡¯s always talking to me like this,¡± said Lindy, outraged ¨C presumably talking to James, Mike and


    Asher.


    ¡°You know, I hear that bathing nightly in the blood of virgins is scientifically proven to reduce the effects of old age. Maybe you should try it.¡±


    Entering the kitchen, Gio went straight to where Danica was perched on the counter and insinuated himself between her swinging legs. He took her mouth in a searing kiss that he hoped told her everything he didn¡¯t know how to say. Near her, surrounded by her scent, he could breathe better. It was odd how this tiny little female could anchor him the way she did. She really was the only thing keeping him rational right now and he wondered if she knew it, felt the weight of that responsibility. Maybe she did, and maybe she felt how close he was to the edge, because she gave him what he hadn¡¯t even known he needed until then. She wrapped all her limbs around him and just held him to her. Gio was smiling as he made his way to the kitchen four morningster. Waking up to the feel of his mate¡¯s plush lips around his cock could do that to a guy. Entering the room, he found a sight that made him halt. Gritting his teeth, he tore his eyes away and nced at the people around him. Every member of his pack was there, though none of them had acknowledged his entrance. Each were upied with either eating, staring into their coffee mug, or toying with their cell phone¡­as if there wasn¡¯t a small pile of gifts


    in the center of the table. The pack knew better than to mark his birthday in any way, shape or


    form ¨C Gio wasn¡¯t the celebratory type and he didn¡¯t like being fussed over. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t understand why other people would want to mark their own special asions, it was just that Gio didn¡¯t like that whole ¡®center of attention¡¯ thing. His pack knew that. There was only one member


    who would ignore that and force ¡®fun¡¯ on him. He zoomed in on his little mate who was sitting on the counter as usual, dipping mini cookies in her coffee. Slowly he approached her, but she didn¡¯t look up until he snatched the mug from her hand.


    ¡°Hey!¡± whined Danica, not even slightly surprised by Gio¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°What¡¯s all that about?¡± He gestured with his thumb at the table behind him.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked innocently. ¡°Oh you mean the gifts.¡±


    ¡°Oh I mean the gifts.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s like this: it¡¯s your birthday, people get gifts on their birthday, and we¡¯re all nice, kind people who wanted to buy you something.¡±


    Gio copied her innocent shrug. ¡°It¡¯s like that, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and you¡¯re very wee.¡± If she hadn¡¯t been sure that it would have been taking things too far for Gio, they would all have sang ¡®happy


    birthday¡¯ as he walked in.


    ¡°If people told you that my birthday was today, then they¡¯ll have also told you that I don¡¯t like to celebrate it. So why exactly have you ignored


    that?¡±


    ¡°Let me ask you something. If it had been my birthday, would you have ignored it?¡±


    ¡°If you had wanted me to then yes, I would¡¯ve,¡± he lied.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not going to make a habit of talking out of your ass because liars go to hell.¡± Gripping him by the shirt, she pulled him to stand between her legs. ¡°Come on, Gio, it¡¯s only a few gifts and then a fun day out.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    She followed after him as he stalked out the room. Once in the tunnel she leapt onto his back. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I took pity on you? There¡¯re no banners or balloons and nobody sang anything.¡± His response was a Hudson like grunt. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to see what I bought for you? Aren¡¯t you just a


    little curious?¡±


    He was, but he couldn¡¯t let her know that. She¡¯d pounce on that weakness and use it against him.


    ¡°How about we make a deal,¡± she proposed as they neared his office which she knew he had every intention of locking himself in.


    ¡°No deals, Danica.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± she said as she slid down his back exhaling a heavy sigh. ¡°It means I went to Maleficent Stores for nothing.¡± She watched in


    satisfaction as he stopped still with his hand on the doorknob.


    ¡°Maleficent Stores?¡± he repeated without turning.


    ¡°Yeah, but never mind.¡± She went to return to the kitchen, but then he spoke.


    ¡°Out of curiosity¡­¡±


    She twirled to see that he was still facing the office door. ¡°Well, I bought this kinky little babydoll, all ckce like the one I tried on that time when I was tormenting you.¡±


    He cleared his throat. ¡°ckce?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± She took a few steps toward the kitchen, knowing what wasing next.


    ¡°What was this deal you had in mind?¡± he called after her as he finally turned. He was well aware that she had yed him, but only an idiot wouldThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    miss out on this. She faced him and shrugged. ¡°I was just going to propose that if you try to enjoy yourself and celebrate your birthday with us, thenter ¨C for one whole hour ¨C I¡¯ll let you do whatever you want to me. I¡¯ll be kind of like your sex toy.¡±


    His cock jerked and quickly began to harden.


    ¡°Anything I want?¡±


    The look in his eyes told her that she was going to regret this, but Danica was determined to make him learn to enjoy himself a little and she wasn¡¯t


    above using sexual bribes to do it. ¡°Anything you want.¡±


    He approached her slowly, his eyes narrowed.


    ¡°You sure you can live up to your half of the bargain, Danica? You can¡¯t make a guy a promise like that and expect him to go easy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never gone easy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Danica, don¡¯t make this deal unless you can stick to it.¡±


    ¡°I think I can handle whatever you¡¯ve got in mind, Gio.¡±


    ¡°Well we¡¯ll find out soon, won¡¯t we?¡±


    Smiling triumphantly, she took his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t forget you¡¯ve got to live up to your part of the deal first.¡±


    Reluctantly Gio allowed her to lead him back into the kitchen and over to the table. She nodded at the gifts, but he didn¡¯t select one. He felt a contrary mix of stupid for what he was about to do, curious at what the gifts actually were, and horny about the devilish deal he had just made. Rolling her eyes, Danica picked up one of the small gift wrapped boxes and handed it to him. He stared at it for a full minute before making a tear in the wrapping, but then he stopped. Oddly enough, it wasn¡¯t because he still felt dumb, but because the anticipation was getting to him and he worried that he might actually enjoy the next few minutes. Like a big kid. ckce babydoll, ckce babydoll, he chanted to himself. And then he tore off the wrapping. To his total surprise, he got some weird kind of rush. Before he knew it he¡¯d torn the paper from each and every one ¨C and even felt a tiny bit


    disappointed to find that there was no more. He hadn¡¯t even minded opening the cards. It was kind of fun reading all the jokes in them. The gifts were


    actually pretty decent ¨C especially the beer. Oh and the sex toys for him to use on Danica were definitely wee. She hadn¡¯t seemed particrly happy with Ray for buying those.


    Gio had been surprised that not only had she bought him a designer shirt a Louis Vuitton  and a new cell phone, but she had bought him a voucher for a Ferrari Driving Experience.


    ¡°With an experienced instructor you can go on a range of circuits driving a Ferrari at all kinds of ridiculous speeds that will have me panicking


    for you,¡± she exined.


    It freaked Gio out that this female knew him better than he knew himself. He wouldn¡¯t have thought that such an experience would have appealed to him, but as he held the voucher in his hands, he felt a buzz of excitement. Leaning down, he nipped her bottom lip. It wasn¡¯t what anyone would call a proper thank you, but her self satisfied smile indicated that she knew he was happy with the gifts.

 CHAPTER 61

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you insisted on all this,¡± griped Lindy. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want to celebrate his birthday he shouldn¡¯t have to.¡± Seeing that Danica was staring at her, she growled, ¡°What, hussy?¡±


    Danica shook her head as if to clear it. ¡°Sorry, I was just imagining you wearing a shock cor while I held the remote.¡±


    ¡°Oh there she goes again giving me attitude.¡±


    ¡°Not giving it, returning it.¡±


    Knowing this could go on for a while if he didn¡¯t distract them, Gio pulled Danica against him. He whispered into her ear, ¡°Now for a preview of


    the ckce babydoll¡­¡±


    She shook her head, whispering, ¡°Oh no, not ¡¯tilter. Fun time first.¡±


    Fun, thought Gio a few hourster as he gazed up in disbelief. It was true he didn¡¯t know much about it, but he was pretty sure now that his and Danica¡¯s ideas of fun were going to be very different. ¡°I¡¯m not going on that thing.¡±


    Danica gaped as she heard the nervousness in his tone. ¡°Gio, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me. It¡¯s a rollercoaster.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a deathtrap, that¡¯s what it is.¡± And how she could say ¡®rollercoaster¡¯ in the same tone that someone might use for the word ¡®kitten¡¯ was beyond Gio¡¯s understanding.


    ¡°I think we might have finally found something that can shake our Alpha up,¡± said Duda.


    Gio scowled, running his gaze along his smirking enforcers. ¡°I¡¯m not scared of going on it, I¡¯m just not convinced it¡¯s safe.¡±


    Donny nodded, fighting fruitlessly to keep a straight face. ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting you go on that thing either,¡± Gio told Danica.


    She snorted. ¡°Just when I thought you might have realized you can¡¯t control me, you try it again.¡± She took his wrist and led him a little further


    through the fairground entrance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sweetheart, that big bad ride¡¯s forter. We¡¯ll prep you first.¡±


    ¡°Prep me?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take you on some other stuff first. Once all that adrenaline¡¯s pumping through your system you¡¯ll be gearing to get on that ride.¡±


    He snorted. ¡°No amount of adrenaline will have me feeling suicidal.¡±


    In truth, he wasn¡¯t keen on going on any of the rides. He hadn¡¯t even wanted toe, but she had insisted he would love it and she had been so


    excited that it was kind of contagious. Others from the pack had been easily infected and before long Gio found himself being pulled into the backseat of


    his car to sit with his mate as she led him to his death, it seemed. Gio curled his arm around her and kept her close as they walked through the crowds, passed tents, stalls and side-shows. The tantalising smells of cotton candy, popcorn, fries, hotdogs, burgers, onions and donuts drifted through the night air, making him feel suddenly hungry. Everywhere bright colored lights were zing, shing and sparkling crazily. Screams,ughter, and a discordant mix of music came from every direction, irritating his wolf.


    ¡°You¡¯ll like this.¡±


    Gio followed Danica¡¯s gaze but couldn¡¯t see the ride itself due to the crowds. He arched a brow at therge colorful sign above it.


    ¡°What the hell are Bumper Cars?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t figure that out by yourself?¡±


    He smiled at how his tiny little mate was able to push passed the throngs of people like she was as big as¡­well, him. Then she was pointing to a roofed metal rectangr track on which several small electric cars surrounded by rubber bumpers and topped withrge poles were dashing around and hurtling into each other.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to crash into the others¡­on purpose?¡±


    Although his tone said he didn¡¯t see the logic in the ride, Danica could feel that he was intrigued. It was kind of cute seeing her serious, intense mate


    like this. Usually he was always so sure of himself andpletely confident no matter his surroundings. A fairground, however, wasn¡¯t a ce where anyone could easily maintain a serious air. People were helplessly drawn into


    the fun, even if it was just tough at other people making idiots out of themselves. She had known that Gio would be a little out of his element here


    because this wasn¡¯t the kind of atmosphere he was used to.


    ¡°You¡¯re a boy.


    Boys like to crash things. You¡¯ll like it.¡±


    ¡°Danica -¡±


    She held a hand up to halt his argument. ¡°See ¨C your totalck of enthusiasm just proves you need to learn to let go a little. You would have learned to during adolescence if you hadn¡¯t spent most of that time running a pack. Time to make up for that. Don¡¯t you realize that you missed a crucial


    part of your development as a person?¡±


    He frowned. ¡°I turned out all right.¡±


    ¡°Erections don¡¯t equal personal growth, Gio.¡±


    Hudson¡¯sugh didn¡¯t wash down well with Gio, especially since he was generally a grunter.


    Not wanting to admit that it did look kind of fun, Gio simply shrugged and gave a long suffering sigh as he allowed her to drag him with her to join


    the queue. Bouncing like little kids, Duda and his enforcers followed behind them, deciding who they were going to pair with on the ride. Gio shouldn¡¯t have been surprised when Danica took a separate car than him and shot him one of her e get me¡¯ smiles. Oh he chased after her alright, but then the sneaky little wildcat spun around and rammed right into the front of his car,ughing. And Gio found himselfughing along


    with her. The guys repeatedly came at him and Danica as a group, and it amazed him how even while in a car that was no smaller in size than the


    others, she still found a way to wriggle out whenever she was surrounded.


    ¡°You liked it,¡± said Danica smugly when the ride ended and she made her way to him.


    He jiggled his head and locked his arm around her.


    ¡°It was alright.¡±


    Danica chuckled and y-punched his chest.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what else we can find that¡¯s ¡®alright¡¯.¡±


    Gio groaned and huffed, but inside he was actually a little eager to try something else. Of course his little mate had sensed that and pounced on it, dragging him on rides such as the Hurricane, the Pirate Ship, the Log Flume, the Ghost Train, the Ferris Wheel, the Orbiter, the Gravitron, and the Waltzer. Okay, the term ¡®dragging him¡¯ was a little misleading. All she had


    really had to do was point in the general direction of the ride and he was there. She had been right ¨C the adrenaline rush had him prepared to ride just


    about anything¡­except for the deathtrap.


    What Gio hadn¡¯t been able to understand was how he hade to be addicted to trying to win prizes on the side stalls when it was obvious they were set up in a way that made it practically impossible to win. Most of the prizes were crap too, so logic should tell him not to waste his money or time, but he¡¯d been drawn to them like pigs to shit. It hadn¡¯t been just him. The guys too had tried their luck repeatedly at ones like Coconut Shy, Hoo, Cork Shooting, Tin Can Alley, Donkey Derby, and Ball in the Basket. Danica had ended up with two bags full of cuddly toys in various sizes and colors, and arge soft tiger which was almost as big as her. As Donny had found that highly amusing ¨C or been the only one dumb enough to show that he found it highly amusing ¨C Danica had elected him as the one who would carry it.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± announced Ray.


    All with hotdogs in hand, they each followed Ray  as he dashed over to arge tent within which there were two mechanical rodeo bulls covered in piebald nkets that had a piece of ck leather for a saddle stitched into them.


    ¡°Come on, Danica ¨C you and me.¡± Ray  smirked cockily. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I already know I can hang on longest, I just want to watch you ride that thing.¡±


    Gio pped the dirty pervert over the head.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    ¡°Only be serious if you¡¯re happy to be beat by a girl,¡± warned Danica.


    She and Suza would y that for hours when they were kids. Still both females held records that beat anyone else¡¯s within Carrick¡¯s pack.


    Ray grinned impishly. ¡°I like it when the person I¡¯m up against actually thinks they¡¯ll win. It¡¯s more fun that way.¡±


    Sighing, Danica handed her hotdog to Gio for safekeeping. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to humiliate yourself, I don¡¯t see why I shouldn¡¯t help you out with that.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, this will be a sight to see,¡± drawled Donny,ughing wickedly. Andrew nodded his agreement,ughing along with him. Knowing exactly what Donny meant by that, Gio pped both him and Andrew over the head.


    ¡°What was that for?¡±ined Andrew. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡± Gio¡¯s heart was in his throat the entire time he watched her being spun about and bounced and bucked, but he stillughed


    and cheered her on. And still got as horny as all hell watching the way her body moved in sync with the bull as she maintained her bnce, giving him a lot of dirty ideas to add to the many he already had.

 CHAPTER 62

    Eventually a cursing Ray fell to the soft mat, scowling andughing at the same time. He didn¡¯t even bother to get up, just remained t on his back. ¡°I only fell because I got distracted by your breasts. Could you tell them to stop looking at my eyes?¡±


    ¡°Idiot,¡± she chuckled as she offered him her hand to pull him up. ¡°I¡¯ve got a better idea. I¡¯ll stay here and you can sit on my face while I eat my way to your heart.¡±


    She groaned. ¡°These dirty lines are getting worse. It¡¯s good for you that you¡¯re pretty.¡± Heughed.


    ¡°You were awesome on that thing,¡± Duda told her as she past. Hudson grunted his agreement.


    ¡°You can ride me like that anytime,¡± Gio whispered into her ear when she was back at his side.


    Sheughed and gave him a mysterious smile, dly letting him enfold her with his arms. ¡°How¡¯s the birthday boy?¡±


    He smirked, cupping her ass. ¡°Hard as a rock imagining all the things I¡¯m going to do to youter.¡±


    Watching as his smirk turned mischievous, she narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°And what would those things be?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out tonight. You know what being my sex toy means, don¡¯t you? It means you can¡¯t fight me. For that entire hour, you have to do exactly as I say.¡±


    Yes she knew that. She also knew it would absolutely kill her. ¡°It¡¯s my gift to you. See, birthdays can be fun.¡±


    His smirk widened. ¡°Oh it¡¯ll be fun, baby, I can promise you that.¡± He already knew exactly what he was going to do to her and just how much she


    would be tempted to fight him. Hell, the evening couldn¡¯te soon enough. Not liking that he was trying to make her nervous, she decided the


    teasing should go both ways. ¡°Oh my God, oh my God,¡± she rasped into his ear. Pulling back, she smiled. ¡°Sorry, I was just practicing.¡± He pinched her ass.


    ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± asked Hudson before taking a sip of his soft drink.


    Chris smiled. ¡°We have to go in the Funhouse.¡±


    So they did, and Gio could admit it was kind of fun. Then they strolled through the House of Mirrors, which he thought was the craziest and possibly also the dumbest thing ever. But he was too hyped up to give a shit that he had just wasted minutes out of his life looking at contortions of his own reflection ¨C something he could do at home just by getting drunk. Engrossed in the act of sharing cotton candy with Danica ¨C the worst


    sharer ever ¨C and asionally licking some from her lips, Gio hadn¡¯t realized they were so close to the deathtrap until Duda spoke.


    ¡°Well, Gio, you up for this or what?¡±


    Peering up, up, up and taking in all the steep drops, sharp curves and stomach churning loops, Gio shook his head hell no. It looked even more


    hazardous and rickety up-close. Not to mention the creaky ¡®I¡¯m going to snap any moment¡¯ noisesing from it. ¡°I¡¯ll just stay here and hold the tiger and the bags.¡±


    ¡°Ohe on,¡± implored Donny.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± said Danica, ¡°Come on.¡±


    Gio gave her a pointed look. ¡°You¡¯re not going on it either.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll love it, I promise.¡±


    He snorted. ¡°No, I won¡¯t, because I¡¯ll be dead.¡±


    She pressed herself against him and instantly his arms went around her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡±


    ¡°Liars go to hell, remember.¡±


    ¡°Baby, look at that thing. It looks like there¡¯s only one screw holding the damn thing together.¡±


    She tugged on his t-shirt as if it would somehow help her get through to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s supposed to look like that ¨C dangerous, exciting, thrilling.¡±


    ¡°If almost dying gives you a thrill, I¡¯ll beat you bloody and rush you to the hospital.¡±


    Frustrated, Danica pped his chest. ¡°Buck up, Gio. It¡¯s just a ride. People go on it every day. People have been riding it tonight for hours.¡±


    ¡°Maybe if we were in Disneyworld then yeah, I¡¯d feel confident that it was all put together right.¡±


    ¡°Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has crashed something like three times, you know,¡± interjected Andrew, earning a scowl from Gio.


    She tugged on Gio¡¯s upper arm. ¡°Come on, Voice of Doom and Gloom, let¡¯s go. You¡¯ll love it, I swear.¡±


    No he wouldn¡¯t love it at all and Gio was resolved that he wasn¡¯t going on that thing. Until she tugged his head down to hers and whined,


    ¡®Please?¡¯ She even pouted her bottom lip. The transformation reminded him of when Puss ¡®n¡¯ Boots from the Shrek movies went from trained killer to helpless kitten. And, just for good measure, she grinded against his cock which was still semi-hard from having watched her on the rodeo bull.


    ¡°You¡¯re dangerous.¡±


    Wearing a self-satisfied smile, she kissed him smack on the lips. ¡°I knew you¡¯d do me proud.¡±


    ¡°Oh I¡¯ll do you alright. As soon as we get home.¡±


    After a twenty minute wait ¨C which gave him plenty of time to debate his decision and work himself up even more ¨C he was taking a seat beside Danica and reluctantly tugging down the padded bars to fit securely against his shoulders before connecting the thin little strap from between his legs to the bars. He pulled, testing the fit. And found that there was a nice big life-threatening gap. ¡°This


    is loose.¡±


    Danica rolled her eyes and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be or you¡¯d suffocate. Look, mine¡¯s the same.¡± When his eyes widened, she realized that was probably the worst thing she could have said. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± The attendant gave the bars a


    pull and, satisfied, continued on to check the others. ¡°See, fine.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ll just rx, you¡¯ll enjoy it. Really, you don¡¯t need to be -¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared,¡± he snapped.


    ¡°Gio, I understand that Macho Man Law means you absolutely have to deny it but -¡±


    ¡°Danica, you -¡±


    Abruptly the ride came to life. She smiled reassuringly while patting his hand. ¡°Just rx.¡±


    Rx? If there wasn¡¯t so much damn noise Gio would have informed her that she was dead either way. If the ride didn¡¯t kill her, he would just for staying on the damn thing when her tiny body could easily slip out. Okay, maybe it couldn¡¯t easily slip out, but stranger things had happened. Like the fact that he was even on this ride at all. Gio nced at Danica to find that, like the rest of the pack who were all paired up in the rows in front of them, she had her hands in the air as they slowly chugged up the steep hill. She was even ncing down at the view below and then admiring the stars as if she was just on a bus or something.


    Gio didn¡¯t do either. When he wasn¡¯t checking on Danica he was keeping his gaze focused straight ahead. Growling, he focused his gaze on the seats ahead of him. He wasn¡¯t sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing when they finally reached the peak. The silence that suddenly hung over them as they paused there didn¡¯t help his nerves at all. And then they were falling. No, they were plummeting toward the ground and the cool night air was rushing up, stealing his breath. At thest moment they sharply swerved and then they were caught up in a series of twists, turns, loops and bumps and they were being jerked, shoved,


    squashed and jostled. Then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Danicaughed and pped along with the others and then turned to


    Gio. He was, well, white. At least he wasn¡¯t green. He looked at her then and although his scowl was there his eyes were alight with the same lightheartedness she had seen whenever they yed in the forest. ¡°See, I told you that you¡¯d love it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still going to spank your ass.¡±

 CHAPTER 63

    The little witch was stalling. Gio smiled to himself. Fifteen minutes ago she had told him to get naked on the bed and wait for her, and then she had disappeared into the bathroom. Well he was naked, and he was waiting, and he was so hard it hurt ¨C he had been since the moment she told him she had a kinky piece of lingerie from Maleficent Stores. The only time his cock had given him a brief reprieve was when he went on that damn deathtrap. Now it was time for her to live up to her end of the bargain, and he had a


    feeling his mate was regretting having made it in the first ce. He could feel that she was nervous. She should be ¨C he had plenty in mind for her tonight. Now he would introduce her to his ideas of fun. Or, at least, he would if she would juste out of the damn bathroom. ¡°Ready yet, baby?¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± she replied from behind the door.


    Smiling, he asked, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of backing out of our deal, are you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she snapped.


    ¡°Then get your ass in here.¡± After a good thirty seconds the lock clicked open and she stepped into the room. His jaw hit the floor. ¡°Holy shit.¡±


    Her gorgeous breasts were spilling out of satin cups that were held in ce by spaghetti straps and had a loose fitting skirt that fell to her upper thigh, barely hiding the matchingcy ck thong. Even better, the skirt split down the center, shing him a strip of the velvety skin of her stomach. His wolf growled, wanting Gio to ce her on her hands and knees and then fuck her


    until neither of them could move. He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. His voice was taut with lust. ¡°Come here.¡± When she hesitated, he arched a brow and said sternly,


    ¡°You¡¯re my toy for the next hour, remember. You have to do as I say.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Damn caveman bastard. Anticipation, excitement, curiosity, and nervousness raged through Danica as she went to stand between his legs. For a long moment he didn¡¯t touch her, just caressed her entire body from head to toe with his gaze. The hunger in his eyes sent a bolt of heat through her. As if she wasn¡¯t hot enough just looking at him sitting there in his birthday suit! God the man had one hell of a body. He was all muscle and power with a raw sexuality emitting from him that captivated her wolf. Oh yeah it was a body that promised gratification ¨C something he had already delivered plenty of times.


    ¡°Mine. All mine.¡± His expression dared her to deny it, but she didn¡¯t.


    He wondered just how long the good behavior wouldst. ¡°Hands behind your back.¡± To his surprise, she immediately obeyed. ¡°Very good. Keep them there.¡± He slid his hands through the split in the skirt and shaped her waist, enjoying the feel of her soft skin beneath his fingers. Snaking his hands further around, he dipped them to cup her ass while licking along the swell of her breasts. He loved her ass ¨C it was firm and pert and fit just right in his hands, much like the breasts he was staring at.


    ¡°I think I¡¯d like better ess to these.¡± He slipped his hands into the satin cups and scooped out her


    breasts. Perfect.


    A moan slipped out of Danica as he curled his tongue around one of her nipples. He sucked, bit, licked and grazed it with his teeth before moving on to the other. Goosebumps broke over her skin when he pulled back and blew on both wet buds until they tightened painfully. Needing his mouth on them again to take away the ache, she swayed forward slightly and arched into him. The piece of shit spanked her ass instead.


    ¡°Spread your legs a little for me. Good girl.¡± Without any preamble he slipped a finger inside her and groaned when her muscles gripped it tight and moisture greeted it. He slowly thrust his finger in and out of her, watching her face the entire time and the range of responses that yed across it ¨C


    pleasure, need, frustration, restlessness. ¡°Do you like that?¡± He frowned at her nod. ¡°Give me the words, baby.¡±


    ¡°Yes I like it.¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡± Rewardingly, he drew a nipple into his mouth while circling her clit with the thumb of the hand that was finger fucking her. Then he inserted another finger and gave her more of thosezy thrusts that never failed to drive her crazy ¨C and that was the whole idea. He needed that nervous tension gone from her body, needed her mindless and so driven by the need toe that she wouldn¡¯t balk at those desires she pretended she


    didn¡¯t have. So he continued with the leisurely thrusts, asionally curving to find her sweet spot but then slowing almost to a halt whenever she came close to climaxing.


    Motherfucking son of a goddamn cock-sucking bitch! For the eighth time now he had refused to let here. Danica considered breaking his  nose¡­but that would mean she would need to take the time to heal him and it would only prolong things. As he well knew, she wasn¡¯t much into soft, slow and savouring every minute. Right now, all she wanted was her mate to fuck her senseless. Was that really too much to ask? At this point she was shaking with want and frustration, and the word ¡®please¡¯ was actually on the edge of


    her tongue. Hell if she would say it though. She gasped as hetched onto her nipple again, sucking hard and sending a zing of bliss to her clit. She didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d moved her hands and threaded them through his hair until he pulled back and gave her a warning look. Growling her annoyance, she sped her hands behind her.


    She almost sobbed when, for the ninth time, he brought her to the edge but didn¡¯t allow her to topple over. It was official ¨C he was evil.


    ¡°Would you like to know what¡¯s going to happen next, baby? Some of the pack areing in. They¡¯ll be here any minute now.¡± Just as he¡¯d


    expected, she froze. He gave her a particrly hard thrust with his fingers and pressed his thumb down on her clit, wrenching a moan from her. ¡°None of them are going to fuck you. I can¡¯t have that. But they are going to watch, and they are going to touch you. They¡¯re going to watch me take you and wish it was them fucking you, but they¡¯ll know they can¡¯t have you like that because you¡¯re mine.¡±


    Oh the devious bastard. He¡¯d purposely set out to get her into a desperate, mindless state where she wouldn¡¯t care about anything other than him letting here ¨C and it had worked! She was going to kill him, really, she was. Tomorrow. After he¡¯d made here half a dozen times. Then she¡¯d kill him.


    ¡°You¡¯d like that, wouldn¡¯t you, baby? You might not like that you want it, but you do.¡±


    The part of her still in denial about her exhibitionist streak was saying a resounding ¡®no¡¯, but that voice was buried below her overwhelming need toe and also beneath the intrigued part of her that wanted to explore this kink she had. She¡¯d be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t attracted to the guys or


    that she didn¡¯t care for them, but this just didn¡¯t seem like Gio. ¡°Why would you let other guys touch me? I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°These aren¡¯t ¡®other guys¡¯, baby. These are people who left their own pack when they were just teenagers, who ced their faith in me, and who¡¯ve been loyal to me. They¡¯re even prepared to enter a battle with me knowing that they may very well die. Others might have left the sinking ship, but not these guys. In a few days, it¡¯s possible that we¡¯ll be burying some of them,


    but they¡¯re prepared to stay and fight to protect you. That means more to me than anything else they¡¯ve ever done. We could have this one night together. I know how much they care about you, and I know how much you care about them. But if you don¡¯t want this, I¡¯ll tell them they can only watch. It¡¯s up to you, baby.¡±


    The knock at the door made her jump.


    ¡°What do you think, baby? Shall we let them join in our fun?¡± Again he curved his fingers to target her sweet spot, making his thrusts cajoling. ¡°Shall


    we?¡± Swallowing hard, she nodded.


    He bit her lip. ¡°You¡¯re nodding again. Give me the words.¡± ¡°Yes, let them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡±


    Danica gasped as the fingers of his free hand abruptly tunneled into her hair and his tongue drove into her mouth, stroking her own. As always, his kiss took her over and he greedily drank her into himself. All she could do was kiss him back and cling to him ¨C the only solid thing in her world just then.

 CHAPTER 64

    Finally he pulled back and then called out,


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    All with a bottle of beer in hand and wearing boyish expressions, Duda, Chris, Donny, Andrew, Ray and Hudson entered the room. Danica might


    haveughed at how giddy they looked if she wasn¡¯t so out of it.


    ¡°I am loving that thing she¡¯s wearing,¡± remarked Ray. Freaking perv.


    ¡°The thong¡¯s even better.¡± Chris¡¯s grin was clear in his voice.


    Duda gave her a wicked smile. ¡°That is one amazing body.¡± Hudson grunted his agreement.


    Gio returned the smile. ¡°Yes, it is. The most gorgeous breasts, the sweetest ass, and the most fuckable mouth I ever saw.¡±


    ¡°Definitely a mouth made for sucking,¡± stated Donny. Andrew nodded, swallowing hard.


    ¡°Damn, Gio, you¡¯ve got to let me taste one of those nipples.¡±


    Gio shook his head at Ray. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing very clear first. Danica is mine. This body is mine. Every inch of it belongs to me.¡± He twirled the fingers that were inside her, feeling her knees buckle slightly. ¡°All mine.


    I¡¯m going to let you all touch her this one time, but never again after that. And no one fucks her ¨C not her pussy, not her ass. I¡¯m the only who takes her


    there. Understand?¡±


    They all nodded.


    ¡°And you, Danica. Do you understand that?¡± She nodded. ¡°Tell me. Whose body is this?¡±


    ¡°Yours.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl. Now, I have a job for you to do. On your knees, Danica. Keep those hands behind your back. Very good. Now everyone¡¯s


    going to watch while you suck me off, baby. You want them to, don¡¯t you?


    Because you know every one of them will be wishing it was their cock in your mouth.¡±


    That did not revive her engines. Not one little bit. Danica ran her tongue along the length of his cock from base to tip andthed the head, making him


    groan. Holding his gaze, she licked the drop of pree from the slit. He tapped her cheek lightly with his cock. ¡°Open up.¡± He groaned when she finally took him into her mouth. ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s it, you know how I like it.¡± The sight of her down there with her lips wrapped him and her breasts spilling out of her babydoll had him close toing already. He wasn¡¯t going tost long.


    ¡°You¡¯re one lucky bastard, Gio,¡± said Andrew.


    Gio smirked. ¡°I do feel very lucky right now.¡±


    Feeling his climax fast approaching, he roughly speared his fingers into her hair and began to guide her movements, urging her to suck faster. He tugged on her hair to the point of pain, knowing she liked it, feeling she liked it. ¡°I¡¯m going toe, Danica.


    Get ready. I want you to swallow it all.¡± So did his wolf ¨C he wanted to mark his female, his mate, in this primitive way as he had been craving to for


    months. A loud guttural groan escaped him as his orgasm hit and jets ofe shot down her throat. It had felt so good he was surprised he hadn¡¯t passed out, especially since he¡¯d been waiting toe all damn day. He pulled her to her feet and gently skimmed his thumb along her jawline. ¡°Very good. Now I think you deserve a reward. What do you think, boys?¡±


    There was a ¡°Definitely¡± and an ¡°Oh yes¡± and a ¡°Please God¡±.


    If the reward involveding, Danica was game. His dark, hooded gaze ensnared her as he spoke again, his voice ringing with dominance and power


    in a way that never failed to make her shiver. Her wolf loved it.


    ¡°I want you to go andy back on the bed with your legs spread. Can you do that for me?¡±


    Did bears shit in the woods? Instantly Danica mbered onto the bed and did as he asked. One or two of the guys cursed when she spread her legs. She might have blushed if her need toe hadn¡¯t overridden her inhibitions.


    ¡°Shit, look at how wet she is,¡± uttered Duda.


    Gio loomed over her. ¡°Did you like sucking my cock, baby?¡± When she only nodded, he arched his brow. ¡°I can¡¯t hear you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Groaning, Ray turned to Gio. ¡°Let me taste her, Gio. I want to know what she tastes like.¡±


    Gio nodded once and stepped back. Without missing a beat, Ray dropped to his knees and buried his face between her legs. Danica bucked in surprise, groaning. Ray tormented her with his


    tongue, alternating between nibbling on her clit, swiping his tongue through her folds, and circling her entrance with that tongue ¨C never delving inside. Instead of providing her with some measure of relief, it was only seeding


    in working her into a frenzy.


    ¡°Does she taste good?¡± asked Chris, his voice hoarse.


    Ray didn¡¯t even lift his head as he answered.


    ¡°Better than anything I¡¯ve ever tasted.¡±


    ¡°Do you like having Ray eat you out, Danica?


    She¡¯s not answering me, Gio.¡±


    ¡°Donny asked you a question, baby.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I like it,¡± she breathed, resisting the urge to bark at them all for treating her like¡­well, a toy. Dammit, why did she make that deal? ¡°I need


    toe.¡±


    ¡°Are you done tasting her yet, Ray?¡± When he shook his head, Gio gave her a shrug. ¡°He¡¯s not done yet baby. You¡¯ll just have to wait.¡±


    She kicked out at Ray and swiped her ws at her asshole of a mate. ¡°Goddammit Gio!¡±


    He pinned her with a look. ¡°Are you going to keep still or do I have to ask two of the guys to pin you down?¡±


    She stiffened. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Of course I would. As a matter of fact, I like the idea of you unable to move while we use you in every way we want.¡±


    Seeing the questions in Hudson and Chris¡¯ eyes as they climbed on the bed, Gio nodded. Both bent over her and each drew a nipple into their mouth. She cursed in surprise and Ray chuckled, sending vibrations through her clit, which he was teasingly flicking with the t of his tongue. Then he was nibbling, licking, and stabbing her with that talented tongue, and she was moaning, whimpering and crying out, unable to keep quiet. Damn he knew his way around the kitchen. She wasn¡¯t doing too good against the overload of sensations and she could feel her climax just out of reach. ¡°I really, really need toe.¡±


    ¡°Good, because I¡¯m ready to let you. Ray.¡± Instantly Ray drove two fingers inside her and fucked her hard with them as he suckled on her clit ¨C that was all it took. Her thighs squeezed his head as she came, screaming. He continued to deliver teasing licks to her clit, helping her ride out her orgasm, until finally she slumped onto the mattress. He held her gaze as he offered his fingers to Duda who sucked them clean, groaning. Well shit.


    The sex crazed look on her face almost had Gioing again. ¡°Step back, Ray. I think my little bitch is ready to take my cock.¡± Gio knelt on the bed and pulled her legs up straight against his chest. ¡°Come on, baby, let¡¯s show them how well you take me.¡± Holding her eyes, he rammed his


    cock inside her and began roughly pounding into her, knowing it was what she craved.


    ¡°Yeah, Gio, give it to her,¡± urged Duda who was fisting his cock.


    ¡°Shit,¡± said Hudson, lifting his head from her breast to watch Gio hammer into her. ¡°Is she tight?¡±


    ¡°Deliciously tight.¡± Danica didn¡¯t seem to have liked Hudson pausing in the activity because she grabbed his head and shoved it back to her breast, making Hudson chuckle. ¡°Tight, wet, hot, and all mine. Aren¡¯t you, baby? You were made for me. The reason you exist is to take my cock inside you. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Danica nodded, once again suppressing her reflex to challenge him. She could feel an orgasm ready to tear through her and thest thing she wanted


    was for him to stop. God it was going to be a big monster one. Then abruptly he slowed his pace and made his thrusts shallow. Urgh! She¡¯d done everything he told her to do! She hadn¡¯t onceined! She hadn¡¯t spat any profanities at him ¨C well, not aloud anyway. Yet here he was taking the fucking piss. ¡°Gio¡­¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer me, baby. You know I don¡¯t like it when you just nod. I¡¯ll say it again. The reason you exist is to take my cock inside you, isn¡¯t


    that right?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Now fuck me!¡±


    ¡°Shall I fuck you hard?¡± He mmed into her.


    ¡°Like that?¡± She nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t hear you, Danica.¡±


    ¡°Yes fuck me hard!¡± Then he was hammering into her again and she was almost sobbing with the pleasure/pain of it, sping at the bed-sheet so


    hard she wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she tore it. Not that she could bring herself to care about that or anything other than the fevered pounding that Gio was subjecting her to, oh and the hand that was ying with her clit ¨C Duda knew some good tricks. She bucked as she felt her climax crashing toward her. Again Gio stopped just as she was about toe. Motherfucker.


    Gio wasn¡¯t surprised when her upper body sprung up and she wed his chest. ¡°Andrew, Donny.¡± Without hesitation each of them gripped one of


    her hands and pinned them to the bed. She struggled and threatened them and their livelihood, but Gio only hissed. ¡°Now that wasn¡¯t very nice. Do you want to get fucked or not?¡±


    What she wanted was to bite his cock off and beat him over the head with it. Tomorrow, she¡¯d do that tomorrow. ¡°Yes,¡± she growled.


    ¡°Theny back, don¡¯t move, shut the fuck up, and take it.¡± At that Gio began pounding into her at a frenzied pace that had her back arching and more husky cries escaping her throat. Hudson bit down hard on her nipple, causing her to gasp and making her muscles tighten around him. Shit. God, he loved being inside her, loved seeing that spark of defiance in her eyes, and he loved feeling here apart around him. But he wasn¡¯t ready to let here just yet. He abruptly stopped and pulled out of herpletely.

 CHAPTER 65

    ¡°I think she needs something to fill that dirty mouth up. Donny.¡±


    Wearing the most boyish grin, Donny took out his cock with his free hand ¨C still pinning her down with the other. ¡°I want that pretty mouth around


    my cock, Danica. Open.¡±


    She growled and gave him a defiant look. They were all acting way too cocky for her liking. Then suddenly a mouth mped around her clit and she


    looked down to see that Chris and Gio had swapped ces. Chris abruptly lifted her hips and sank his tongue inside her. Taking advantage of her gaspof surprise, Donny surged into her mouth. Andrew obviously knew him well enough to know what Donny wanted because he used his own free hand to hold her head still while Donny fucked her mouth. And he really did fuck her mouth. Used it in a way that only Gio had ever done.


    ¡°By the way, Donny, don¡¯te in her mouth.¡±


    ¡°Aw, Gio, that¡¯s evil,¡± groaned Donny.


    ¡°Evil would be for me to take that mouth back right now. Danica doesn¡¯t swallow anyone¡¯s cum but mine.¡±


    When Andrew chuckled Donny turned on his best friend and scowled at him. ¡°You can swallow it then.¡± Just imagining that had Danica groaning.


    ¡°Shit, she just groaned around my cock. Someone swap ces with Andrew so he can suck me off or I¡¯ll end uping in her mouth.¡±


    No sooner had Donny withdrew from her mouth and Andrew had released her hand than Chris was there twisting her head and driving his own


    cock into her mouth while pinning her down. He fucked her mouth in hard wild digs. Seriously, she should not like being used like this, and yet she did. And she¡¯d thought Gio was weird! Upping her arousal was the feel and sounds of Donny¡¯ groans around her nipple ¨C she knew Andrew was deepOriginal from N?velDrama.Org.


    throating him and she wanted to see badly!


    As if Chris had read her mind, he pulled his cock out of her mouth and turned her head. Wow. Andrew was on his knees with the entire length of


    Donny¡¯ cock in his mouth ¨C and it wasn¡¯t a small cock. She¡¯d always thought that watching two guys together was hot, but these two looked that


    much hotter together. That probably had a lot to do with how close they were.


    Oh and how seriously gorgeous they both were, of course. It wasn¡¯t long before Chris swerved her head back to face him and lunged into her mouth.


    ¡°Do you like having all these hands and mouths on you, Danica?¡± asked Gio. ¡°Hudson¡¯s tongue in your pussy, Donny¡¯ mouth on your nipple, Ray¡¯s teeth on your other nipple, Duda¡¯s fingers on your clit, Chris¡¯ cock in your mouth ¨C do you like it, baby?¡±


    All she could do was moan, which had Chris cursing.


    ¡°Are you ready for me to fuck you and make youe so hard you scream?¡±


    Again she moaned, and again Chris cursed before withdrawing his cock. Then Hudson¡¯s mouth disappeared and Gio was mming his cock into her, forcing every inch into her body and burying himself to the hilt in one stroke. He didn¡¯t give her a minute to adjust. No, he just fucked her, took her, owned her, used her. She writhed beneath him, practically sobbing with all the sensations riding her body. Then suddenly Donny bent and plunged his tongue between her lips and teeth. His kiss was different than Gio¡¯s was, but not bad different. Gio totally overwhelmed her mouth, devastated it. Donny¡¯s kiss was more coaxing although just as intense.


    ¡°Does it feel good when he fucks you hard like that?¡± asked Andrew as he stood, presumably having made Donnye. The wistfulness Andrew¡¯s voice had Danica smiling inwardly.


    Wanting to tease him for pinning her down earlier ¨C she refused to ept that she kind of liked it ¨C she groaned, ¡°Yes, it feels so good. You¡¯re wishing it was you he was fucking, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Shit, Danica.¡±


    Gioughed. ¡°Sorry, Andrew, I don¡¯t swing that way. I do, however, have a fascination with Danica¡¯s ass.¡± Using one arm to pin both her legs


    against his chest, he abruptly drove one finger into her ass. She cried out and bucked.


    ¡°She¡¯s gonnae, Gio. Let me touch her clit, let me set her off.¡±  Gio nodded at Ray who then began drumming two fingers on her clit. Her muscles tightened around Gio again and he groaned. ¡°Let me feel youe all over my cock.¡± Secondster she exploded around him, screaming. Feeling her pleasure as well as his own had himing so hard he saw spots.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Nodding at Chris and Donny, he signalled for them to release her hands. Once the guys had all moved from the bed, Gio copsed beside her.


    Breathing in her scent and kissing her neck softly, he asked, ¡°You okay, baby?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± That was all she could manage right now as shey there, panting,cking the strength to even keep her eyes open.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think you can go asleep. I¡¯m not done with this body yet.¡± Hepped at his mark. ¡°While you recuperate, I¡¯m just going to y with these rosy nipples here. And Andrew and Donny are going to taste you now ¨C they haven¡¯t had their turn yet, have they.¡± He tweaked, plucked, bit, and sucked


    her nipples, loving how she moaned and squirmed. asionally he peered down to see Donny and Andrew licking her and stabbing her with their tongues, surprised at how hot he found it to see his enforcers tasting his mate.


    ¡°I have to kiss that mouth, Gio,¡± groaned Ray as squatted near her head. He tangled a hand in her hair and turned her face to his before driving


    his tongue into her mouth.


    ¡°You know what¡¯sing next, don¡¯t you?¡± The words had rumbled out of Gio as anticipation rushed through him. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck this sweet


    ass.¡±


    ¡°Hell, no. I don¡¯t want to know what a stuffed turkey feels like.¡± Or what it would feel like if it was alive at the time it was being stuffed anyhow.


    Her wolf didn¡¯t quite agree. Hussy


    ¡°Now, now, Danica, you said I could do whatever I want to you tonight.


    And I want my cock in your ass.¡± She could pretend she didn¡¯t want this all she liked, but he could feel that she was intrigued, and he knew that she liked it whenever he finger fucked her ass. Having indicated to Donny and Andrew to move, he flipped her onto her stomach and kissed his way down her spine.


    ¡°You can either be good, or I¡¯ll have Ray and Hudson pin you down.¡±


    ¡°Why not me?¡± asked Duda, sounding petnt.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re going to be fucking her mouth while I take her ass.¡±


    The wicked grin on his Beta¡¯s face almost had himughing.


    Danica started to struggle, intending to scamper. ¡°You can stay awayfrom my ass.¡±


    ¡°Ray, Hudson.¡±


    She gasped in outrage as suddenly she was ttened to the bed and her wrists were pinned down by powerful hands. ¡°Get off me!¡±


    Gio pulled her ass in the air and spanked both cheeks hard, loving the look of his handprints on her ass. ¡°Be still.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll slice me in half!¡± The guys chuckled, which just made her more pissed.


    ¡°I¡¯m your mate, Danica. Your body was made to take mine ¨C anywhere I want.¡±


    She pulled against the hold Ray and Hudson had on her, but their grips were secure. Ray she would have expected this from since he was such a freaking pervert. But Hudson, the most protective of the bunch ¨C she would never have imagined him pinning her down so that psycho boy back


    there could ream her ass! She red at Hudson hard. ¡°Don¡¯t think you won¡¯t pay for this tomorrow¡±


    Draping himself over her, Gio tangled a hand in her hair and snatched her head back. ¡°This is what¡¯s going to happen, Danica. I¡¯m going to fingerfuck your ass to get you ready for me. And you¡¯ll like it, whether you want to or not, you¡¯ll like it, you won¡¯t be able to help it. Then I¡¯m going to sink my cock into your ass and you¡¯ll love it, baby, and you¡¯ll want more. And I¡¯ll give you more. I¡¯ll give it to you hard and fast the way you¡¯ll want it. And you¡¯lle screaming, I can promise you that.¡± Using his and her cumbined, Gio lubricated her ass with one finger, thrusting it in and out of her in a rhythm he found kind of hypnotic. If the spellbound expressions on the guys¡¯ faces were anything to go by, he wasn¡¯t the only one. When he added another finger she jolted at the impact ¨C not because it hurt, but because she was so tense. ¡°Shh, baby, I won¡¯t hurt you, you know I¡¯d never hurt you.¡± As if those words eased her anxiety, she rxed just a little. He continued readying her with two fingers, and soon she was groaning and writhing, trying to counter his thrusts. ¡°That¡¯s it. You like that?¡± She only nodded but he didn¡¯t call her on it this time. Hell, he was too fascinated with the sight of his fingers moving in and out of her ass to care. When he added a third finger and she groaned in pleasure rather than pain, he knew she was ready.


    Thank God. ¡°Baby, I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± He slowly withdrew his fingers and then pressed his cock into her ass. ¡°Shh, rx, let me in.¡±


    Releasing a long breath, she let the stiffness leave her body. He gave her back a soothing rub. ¡°Good girl. Now push out as I push in.¡± Ignoring the urge to ram himself inside her, he fed her an inch of his cock at a time, careful not to hurt her. ¡°Oh baby you have no idea how hot it is watching my cock


    disappear in your ass. Good, Danica. Take more.¡± Finally he was fully sheathed. ¡°Fuck, that feels incredible.¡±


    He was right, it did ¨C which surprised the hell out of Danica, who had never felt so full in her life. Sure it hurt, but it was a good hurt. The bite of


    pain only intensified the pleasure. He¡¯d been right ¨C her body amodated him, was made to amodate him wherever he wanted to take her. If only he would move¡­


    ¡°Ready, baby?¡± Taking her moan as a yes, he slowly withdrew until only the head of his cock was inside, and then he slowly sank back in. A whimper escaped her. ¡°I think she¡¯s going to be good,¡± he told Ray and Hudson. ¡°Let go.¡± Looking extremely disappointed, they did.

 CHAPTER 66

    Danica¡¯s back again. ¡°Now, baby, it¡¯s time for you to suck Duda¡¯s cock.¡±


    She should have been tired at this point, Danica thought. Surely she would be. And surely she wouldn¡¯t want to suck another cock after already taking care of Gio, Donny, and Chris. Instead, she was licking her lips at the sight of Duda¡¯s cock as he knelt on the bed before her. Clearly Lindy was


    right ¨C she was a hussy.


    ¡°Open up, Danica,¡± said Duda, rubbing the head of his cock against her mouth. ¡°I want those lips of yours wrapped around my cock.¡± The second she


    opened her mouth he surged forward. ¡°Suck me deep, honey. That¡¯s it. Those lips were created for this.¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± agreed Donny.


    Once Gio had given her a few more slow thrusts, she began to squirm restlessly. ¡°You want more? You want it harder?¡± She nodded. ¡°Danica?¡±


    She turned her head and met his gaze. ¡°Yes I want it harder.¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡±


    Looking like a sulky kid, Duda gripped her head and turned it back to face him so she could keep sucking him off. Gio gave her what she wanted, rearing back and then plunging back inside. He made his thrusts hard but not hard enough to make here. When Duda gave him a look that said he was close toing, Gio knotted a hand into her hair and urged her upright, keeping her back arched like a bow. ¡°Look, baby. Look at them all stroking their cocks.¡±


    His words had her eyes flipping open in surprise. Shit, he hadn¡¯t been kidding. Each of them stood there fisting and pumping their cock. Well, other


    than Andrew ¨C he was now being sucked off by Donny who was stroking his own cock at the same time.


    ¡°They¡¯re imagining it¡¯s them fucking your ass. But they can¡¯t have your ass or your pussy, can they?¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No,¡± she rasped.


    ¡°Tell them. Tell them they can¡¯t ever fuck you.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t ever fuck me.¡±


    Using his grip on her hair, he wrenched her head back so he could hold her gaze. ¡°And why can¡¯t they, baby?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m yours.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re my all mine. My little bitch. My good girl. My mate. Now bend over, baby, so they can alle all over you.¡± And then he was plunging hard, deep, and fast into her ass, knowing she wanted it, knowing she loved it. Loved it so much she was rearing back to meet his thrusts. ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. Make yourselfe.¡± Without hesitation, she slid her hand between her legs and found her clit. ¡°Scream my name for me when youe. That¡¯s right.¡± Thebination of feeling how violent her own orgasm was and hearing her scream his name quickly triggered his own orgasm. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± He watched as his Beta and his enforcers sprayed their cum over her back, panting and shuddering just as much as he was.


    ¡°That was the hottest fucking thing I ever saw,¡± stated Ray hoarsely.


    Well if the world¡¯s worst pervert hadn¡¯t seen anything hotter than that, it must have been pretty damn hot, mused Danica with a smile as her eyes


    drifted shut.


    ¡°Stay there, baby, while we clean you up.¡±


    If he thought she was going to object, he was crazy. She couldn¡¯t have moved if her life depended on it. Many hands carefully cleaned and massaged her ¨C the movements soothing, rxing, and reverent. Each of the guys then


    whispered brief but sincere thanks in her ear, which was followed by either a kiss on the cheek or a kiss to her hair. Depleted, she managed to lift one hand and wave it once. They chuckled ¨C apparently they found her fatigued state funny. Asses.


    Well shit. Danica plonked herself on the bathroom stool as utter shock overcame her entire being. Her breaths starteding in short shallow pants


    and a slight tremor ran through her body. A cocktail of emotions swished through her, around her, over her, and she couldn¡¯t make any sense of them. A part of her wanted Gio, wanted his arms around herforting her, but she knew that if she tried to stand her legs wouldn¡¯t support her. She also knew that there was a very good chance thatfort wasn¡¯t what she would get. It was her full dder that had woken her early and made her slip out of Gio¡¯s secure hold. As she had  stumbled her way into the bathroom still half asleep, she had found herself frowning as she became aware that something wasn¡¯t quite right. Nothing that set off any rm bells, nothing


    that was making her wolf agitated or apprehensive. On the contrary, her wolf was extremely content, though maybe a little more on the alert than usual.


    Still, something was different and it was pissing her off enough that Danica began to snap out of her drowsy state. And then she understood; her scent. It had changed again. For a second she¡¯d wondered if it was something to do with the bonding, but an age old instinct surfaced and told her exactly why it was different. Pregnant. She was pregnant. Just how the hell had that happened? Okay, sure, she knew how, but she had been taking her pills on time, she hadn¡¯t missed a single one. The contraceptive pills designed for shifters were a lot stronger than those used by humans and they were 99. 9% fool proof. Yeah she realized that wasn¡¯t a guarantee, but no one expects to be in the 0. 1% do they?


    No wonder her wolf was so content. Now that the fog had cleared, Danica found that she herself was¡­happy. She had always wanted pups of her


    own, though she¡¯d never dared hope too strongly that it would ever happen. How could she not be happy to know that growing inside her was a little


    person who was half her and half the person she loved? Now Gio, on the other hand¡­there was no telling how he would react.

 CHAPTER 67

    In a few months he had gone from wanting jack shit in terms of rtionships to being partially bonded ¨C that was a lot for someone like him. He might not feel ready yet. Hell, given Gio¡¯s nature, there was a chance he hadn¡¯t pictured ever having any kids. Not that Danica would have agreed to


    never have any, but she would have agreed to give him time. It would hurt to find out he didn¡¯t want this baby, but that could very well be the case and she knew she had to prepare herself for that ¨C mostly so that she could refrain from wing his eyes out. It was amazing just how protective she was of this unborn life already.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how long she had sat there nning what she would say and panicking as the right words wouldn¡¯te when she heard Gio call out her name. Shit. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in a sec.¡± Apparently that wasn¡¯t good enough for him as he then rose from the bed and began unsteadily making his way to the bathroom.


    ¡°Danica, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Great, so he had sensed her panic. ¡°Nothing I¡¯m fine.¡± The door swung open and, frowning at her, he stepped inside. Then he halted abruptly as his


    frown deepened and his nostrils red. A few secondster his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. There was no mistaking the smell of a pregnant wolf. She gave him a cautious, wobbly smile. ¡°Hi.¡±


    Although Gio had never had a way with words, he had never found himself knocked enough to be speechless. Until now. When he had sensed her anxiety, he had thought that maybe she¡¯d had a nightmare or was worrying herself stupid about the challenge taking ce tomorrow. The distinctive change to her scent had hit him immediately as he entered the room, but not harder than his understanding of what that meant. The sight of his little mate huddled on the stool as if bracing herself for a fierce impact made something in his chest tighten. His reaction, she was bracing herself for his reaction. Her emotions were all over the ce, but her primary emotion was happiness. She was happy. Scared and shocked, but happy. And she feared he wouldn¡¯t feel the same. His wolf bucked at the reigns, wanting to be near her, to protect her, to hold her. Wanting the same and knowing he needed to say something, Gio went to her and squatted in front of the stool. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant.¡± Oh hell, he was getting worse with words if all he could do was state the obvious.


    ¡°Yeah. Pregnant. I¡¯ve been taking my pills but¡­¡± She let the sentence trail, shrugging.


    ¡°I¡­I have no idea what to say, baby.¡±


    She smiled a little at his apologetic expression. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to say anything. I just need to know if you¡¯re okay with this. I can¡¯t sense anything from you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably because I¡¯m numb.¡± Her small smile fell and Gio wanted to kick himself. ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean¡­¡± He sighed. ¡°Baby, I don¡¯t know


    what I mean.¡± This here and now showed just how much of an unfeeling bastard he was. He was supposed to be over the fucking moon, wasn¡¯t he?


    Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be one of the top moments of his life? Here was his mate telling him she was pregnant. Pregnant. His mate was pregnant. She was having a baby. His baby. His son or his daughter¡­And then the surreal quality of the situation cleared and it actually sank in that, shit, Danica was pregnant with his baby. Slowly he raised his hand and ced it on her stomach. A fierce sense of protectiveness surged through him, stealing his breath. Her half smile returned, but it was forced and shaky. Even as she had a fragile look about her, there was pure steel there. She was ready to kick his ass if he said anything negative. He leaned forward and closed his mouth over hers, kissing her greedily, and suddenly became aware that, hey, he was happy about this.


    No, more than happy. He was¡­kind of excited. He rested his forehead against hers as he spoke. ¡°If someone had told me a few months back that I¡¯d


    soon be mated with a baby on the way, I¡¯d haveughed my fucking head off.


    You changed everything, Danica.¡±


    She knew he didn¡¯t mean it in a bad way. Still, she couldn¡¯t resist teasing him. ¡°Me? This is all me, is it?¡±


    ¡°All you. You¡¯ve made me want things I never would have expected to want. Things I didn¡¯t think were on the cards for me.¡± He massaged her stomach gently. ¡°Like him.¡±


    She arched a brow. ¡°Him? It could be a ¡®her¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to be very good at the dad thing. You know that, right?¡±


    Danica pinned him with a look as she cradled his face in her hands.


    ¡°You will be. I know you will be.¡±


    ¡°Baby, I don¡¯t know anything about being a dad ¨C mine was an asshole.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Just do everything your dad didn¡¯t do.¡±


    There was actually logic in that, he thought. He could work with logic. His gaze was drawn again to her t stomach. So slender. She was so slender and so damn small. He didn¡¯t see how she could carry a baby inside that body and not snap in half with the strain. Sensing his fear that she might be hurt, Danica kissed him softly. ¡°I¡¯ll beN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    fine.¡±


    ¡°Nothing can happen to you, Danica,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°Nothing will. I¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    He scrutinised her face as he asked in a low voice, ¡°How does it feel?


    To know you hold my sanity in your hands?¡± If he lost her, if she left his life, his sanity would go right along with her. She smiled, brushing her nose against his. ¡°Gio, whatever makes you think that you¡¯re sane now?¡±


    He chuckled, shaking his head. He nipped her bottom lip then sucked it into his mouth, liking the way her eyes red with lust. She was so responsive it was enough to drive him crazy. He kissed her softly, denying her his tongue just to tease her. ¡°You better be okay, baby, or I swear I¡¯ll


    blister your ass with the palm of my hand.¡±


    ¡°Likest night?¡± Her eyes widened as something urred to her. ¡°Oh shit.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe our baby was conceived in front of the guys.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Something tells me they¡¯ll be pleased about that.¡±


    ¡°What about everyone else? How do you think they¡¯ll feel about the pregnancy?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out.¡±


    When half an hourter they stepped, hand in hand, into the kitchen, they were granted their usual brief nods and smiles. Then everyone¡¯s nostrils red, the chatter stopped, and all eyes zoomed in on Danica. She knew the pregnancy was an extremely significant thing. For some reason no one had yet been able to exin, wolf shifters couldn¡¯t produce their own offspring unless either their Alpha pair or their Beta pair had done so. Nature had really funny ways, in her opinion. Now that Danica was pregnant, it meant that it was possible for Michey and Jeremy or Lucy and Richard to begin their own families, which was probably a lot to do with why all four of those looked absolutely ecstatic. Duda was the first to react. He jumped to his feet and strolled over to


    p Gio on the back. ¡°Congrattions.¡± He quickly kissed her cheek and artfully dodged Gio¡¯s subsequent clout. ¡°With his gene pool, he¡¯ll be a


    powerful Alpha.¡± Suddenly they were surrounded by most of the pack, and Lucy and Michey were squealing excitedly.


    Chris raised his hand. ¡°I im bodyguard duty!¡±


    Hudson grunted. ¡°Damn little shit, I was going to do that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be an uncle,¡± said Ray excitedly. ¡°If it¡¯s a boy, I¡¯ll teach him all he needs to know about reeling in women.¡±


    Andrew snorted. ¡°You mean you¡¯ll teach him those dirty lines you¡¯re always subjecting us to.¡± He gave Danica a quick hug and said,


    ¡°Congrattions, honey.¡±

 CHAPTER 68

    ¡°Speaking of dirty chat up lines,¡± drawled Ray as he turned to Danica, wearing that all too familiar wicked grin. When she shook her head, warning him to keep it to himself, he sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. I love your hair, your eyes, and your smile. Hell, I love every bone in your body. Want to add one more?¡± As usual, Gio hit him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about James, Danica.¡± Donny patted her stomach gently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach the little guy in there the art of flirting so that he never has to use those lines.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach him how to throw a ball,¡± dered Duda. ¡°And how to drive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nice and all,¡± said Hudson, ¡°but you know I¡¯m going to be his favorite uncle, right?¡±


    ¡°Um, hello,¡± said Danica. ¡°The baby could be a ¡®her¡¯, you know.¡± They all gave her sympathetic looks as if they pitied her for even thinking something they perceived to be dumb. She might have scowled at them if, to Danica¡¯s astonishment, the old crone hadn¡¯t suddenly approached wearing a genuine smile. Just like that, Gio, Duda, and the enforcers formed a wall in


    front of her. Oh dear God, was she going to have to put up with this overprotectiveness for the entire five months of the pregnancy? It certainly looked like it.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt her.¡±


    Nobody moved to let her pass.


    ¡°She and I might not always see eye to eye, but that¡¯s my greatgrandchild in there.¡±


    Their expressions said that wasn¡¯t relevant.


    Sighing, Danica hopped up onto the counter behind her. Immediately Gio spun to face her. ¡°Be careful jumping around like that.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Danica double blinked. ¡°Oh my God, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me.


    Chill, Wright . Michey, I need one of your magical coffees.¡±


    ¡°No, no coffee,¡± said Michey. ¡°Caffeine¡¯s not good for you during pregnancy.¡± As Michey then rambled on about all the other things Danica


    wouldn¡¯t be able to drink or eat, she felt her mood plummet.


    ¡°You look tired, baby. Want me to take you back to bed?¡±


    She looked at him in sheer disbelief. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. None of you get to treat me like an invalid ¨C let¡¯s just clear that up right now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s great to have some good news for a change,¡± said Gary with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been around any pups.¡± He turned to Max. ¡°Well, son, aren¡¯t you going to congratte our Alphas?¡±


    Max said nothing. Just sat next to an equally mute Cindy looking kind of¡­defeated.


    ¡°She¡¯s pregnant?¡± hissed Theresa. ¡°Oh. Great. Not only are we stuck with her, but we¡¯ve got Hart blood polluting our pack!¡±


    ¡°Theresa,¡± growled Gio, more protective of Danica than ever before.


    ¡°Twelve weeks you said she¡¯d be here! Twelve weeks! Then you try telling us she¡¯s your true mate! I¡¯ve waited for you to see the truth, waited for you to see that you¡¯re wrong and she¡¯s just fooling you so she can be Alpha fe -¡±


    ¡°You know, Theresa,¡± began Danica, interrupting her mid rant, ¡°you¡¯re behaving like a drug crazed bitch. Seriously, pursuing you¡¯re mated Alpha is insane and suicidal. It really is time to get off the ¡®Theresa Gets Whatever She Wants¡¯ ne and ept the facts. I am Gio¡¯s mate, I am Alpha female here, and you don¡¯t have a prayer of changing that. We¡¯ve got enough things to worry about so stop with your tantrum or I¡¯ll have to do what I like to call making my point in a way that no


    one can misinterpret. Others might refer to it as breaking your fucking nose.¡±


    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be so bad,¡± said Michey, sounding hopeful. Theresa refused to drop the matter. ¡°Gio, how can you not see her for what she really is? Everything was fine here until she came along.¡±


    Reminding himself that hitting females wasn¡¯t a good thing, Gio released his frustration with a long exhale. ¡°Well if you¡¯re so unhappy, feel free to leave. In fact, you¡¯re more than wee to leave with Kevin tomorrow after the challenge. If there¡¯s anything left of him. I can¡¯t guarantee there will be.¡±


    ¡°M-maybe I will l-leave,¡± she replied, seeming to be truly shocked that Gio would choose Danica over her. Why? ¡°Maybe Cindy and I w-will start


    our own p-pack.¡±


    ¡°I never said anything about Cindy. If she wants to leave, she can¡­but it won¡¯t be because you bullied her into it.¡±


    Predictably, Theresa stormed out of the room wearing the scowl from hell. For once, Cindy didn¡¯t follow her, making her loyalties clear. Max, too,


    remained where he was. Danica spent the next few hours being fussed over by almost the entire


    pack. She was nicely ced on the reclining end of the humungous sofa with a mug of hot milk and a pack of cookies while Donny massaged her shoulders and Ray massaged her feet, then she was thinking it was good to be a pregnant Alpha.


    Then Gio had to go and mess it up. ¡°I want you to stay here while I go to meet Carrick about the challenge.¡± They had notified her father yesterday


    via the pack web about the challenge and arranged a meeting for this morning.


    She sat up straight in the recliner. ¡°Oh hell no!¡±


    ¡°Baby, don¡¯t fight me on this. You know it¡¯s a good idea for you to remain home where you¡¯ll be protected.¡±


    ¡°Alpha pairs deal with issues together, they go to meetings together.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s different now. You need to be careful, you¡¯re having our baby.¡±God, it was weird saying that, but not in a bad way, which made it even weirder.


    ¡°Oh please, you¡¯d have said the same damn thing if I hadn¡¯t been pregnant. You don¡¯t get to use our baby as an excuse to keep me cooped up here. We both know that¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    He tilted his head, conceding that. ¡°Okay. So I would have said the same thing no matter what. It¡¯s only because I want you safe. I don¡¯t like you


    being near your father, even if he does seem to have a new found respect for you.¡± She just stared at him,pletely unmoved. ¡°Danica, you¡¯ve got no idea just how protective and possessive my wolf is feeling right now. He¡¯s not going to cope well with you being around strangers, and he¡¯s really not going to like you being around a wolf who has repeatedly hurt you.¡±


    ¡°So now your wolf is getting the me?¡±


    ¡°Danica,¡± he groaned. ¡°Your father isn¡¯t going to be the only Alpha male there. He¡¯s also bringing along ten very powerful Alphas from his collection of alliances. Ten wolves I don¡¯t know or trust. Then there¡¯ll also be whatever enforcers or bodyguards they each decide to bring along. That¡¯s a lot of strange wolves. Is it really so unreasonable to ask you to stay here where you¡¯ll be away from them? Is it really so unreasonable to want you to stay away from any possible danger?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, just continued to stare at him nkly. ¡°Danica, are you even listening to me?¡±


    ¡°I pretended to, so let that be enough.¡±


    ¡°He has a point though, Danica,¡± said Chris.


    She raised an eyebrow at the traitor. ¡°If I want your opinion, I¡¯ll kick it out of you, okay?¡±


    When Chris went to speak again, Duda put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. ¡°You should know by now that when she¡¯s smiling like that


    it¡¯s not a good sign and best to leave her alone.¡±


    Suddenly Michey appeared and ced a ss in her hand. ¡°Here, drink this. You need plenty of nutrients and lots of folic acid in your diet so -¡±


    Danica grimaced. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± ¡°Fruit juice.¡±


    ¡°Really? Strange. Because it looks like vomit.¡±


    ¡°Michey, will you tell her it¡¯s best to stay behind,¡± said Gio. ¡°It¡¯s not a good idea for her to be going to stressful meetings while she¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    Danica poked him in the chest. ¡°Oh no, Wright , you don¡¯t get to drag Michey into this. I am going to this meeting.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me have to lock you in our room.¡± He was expecting an outburst. What he got was a smile. Duda was right, it only meant bad things


    when she smiled like that.


    ¡°Try it if you feel you must. But just remember this: I know where you sleep, I know where the grater is, and I know it¡¯ll cause you a hell of alot of pain if it makes contact with your cock. Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t do it. I know I can heal you afterwards so my conscience won¡¯t interfere.¡± Her smile widened when he emitted a low growl. He was still growling twenty minutester when they left for the meeting. Danica probably shouldn¡¯t have found it so amusing, but she did ¨C much like a smiling Duda who seemed to find humor in every dispute his Alpha¡¯s had. As Gio was in overprotective mode, he had wanted to bring all six enforcers so they had taken his gold, nine seater, GMC Yukon XL. When fifteen minutester his mood hadn¡¯t improved, she finally snapped. ¡°Will you stop with the growling! If you really must brood then do it quietly.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t brooding, baby, this is me so unbelievably pissed I¡¯m considering just taking my chances with the grater and having Duda drive you back home.¡±


    ¡°Duda knows better than that.¡±


    The Beta winced. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d kind of like to keep my foreskin.¡±


    Gio sighed at her. ¡°Pain in my ass.¡±


    ¡°Pain in your cock if you try sending me home.¡±


    And so the growling continued.

 CHAPTER 69

    Finally they arrived at the diner and, much likest time, Gio received many wary looks. To her surprise, so did Danica. Clearly the Elsa incident


    was still fresh in everybody¡¯s minds. She picked up Carrick¡¯s scent almost immediately. Sitting at a long table surrounded by ten of his powerful alliances, he looked exactly like the big man he wanted to look. Scattered around the diner were enforcers and bodyguards ready to protect their


    Alpha¡¯s at the slightest hint of danger. Gio subtly directed his own enforcers to do the same, other than Chris who came along with him, Danica and Duda to the table. All the Alpha¡¯s stood, and all looked pretty insulted that Gio was keeping his Beta and Head Enforcer so close ¨C it was considered a sign that he distrusted them. But then their eyes went to Danica and she guessed that they had scented her condition and, thus, the reason for Gio¡¯s cautiousness. She was proven right when her father spoke.


    ¡°Gio, Danica. Congrattions.¡± Strangely enough, he sounded like he meant it. All the Alpha¡¯s followed suit, congratting them both and inviting


    them to sit opposite Carrick.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± said Danica while Gio gave them a nod. Duda and Chris stood directly behind their seat, alert and wearing ¡®don¡¯t dare try anything¡¯ expressions. She hid a smile at the apprehension wafting from the wolves at the table. These might be very powerful Alphas, but they were still


    intimidated by Gio. Carrick introduced each of the Alpha wolves, though it hadn¡¯t been necessary. Gio knew who each and every one of them was, just as he knew that each and every one of them had had problems with his father¡¯s pack in the past. Much like Carrick, his father had been good at making enemies. It was little wonder then that they were there, prepared to listen and possibly be


    present for the battle.


    ¡°Could you tell us what exactly the trouble is that you have with the Tefy pack?¡± asked Carrick.


    Massaging Danica¡¯s nape the entire time, Gio exined about his banishment, his father¡¯s death, and his uncle¡¯s challenge. ¡°My hope was that he would back down at some point before the twelve weeks were up. Instead, as ¡®encouragement¡¯ for me to give him what he wants, he ordered an attack on Danica -¡±


    ¡°An attack on you?¡± If Danica hadn¡¯t known better, she might have thought Carrick actually cared.


    ¡°- which very much backfired, leaving her unharmed.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°It was most likely a trap,¡± said one of the Alpha¡¯s , a very muscr blue headed guy with a british ent Danica couldn¡¯t ce. She didn¡¯t bother to hide her smug ¡®told you so¡¯ smile from Gio, petty though it was.


    ¡°Yes, and that was the only thing that kept me from reacting.¡±


    ¡°This happened while you were pregnant?¡± asked another of the Alphas.


    ¡°If it had, he¡¯d be dead right now and we wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation,¡± replied Danica.


    Damn right, thought Gio. ¡°The challenge takes ce tomorrow. My uncle won¡¯t keep this as a battle between two Alpha¡¯s ¨C he¡¯s too much of a


    coward for that. He has many alliances, so I¡¯m expecting arge number of wolves to appear with him. Mike Axton, the Alpha of the White w Pack, has already offered his support.¡±


    ¡°White w Pack,¡± repeated Carrick. He looked at Danica. ¡°Your uncle James mated into that pack, right?¡±


    She nodded and smiled. ¡°He sends his love.¡± Carrick rolled his eyes.


    A roundish, grim looking wolf looked at Gio curiously. ¡°Mike¡¯s a powerful Alpha, but his pack isn¡¯t muchrger than yours.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± said Gio. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m low on numbers, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°If you win tomorrow, what do you intend to do with who is left of the


    Tefy Pack and their territory?¡± asked Carrick.


    ¡°Let me make it clear that when I win tomorrow, I  don¡¯t intend to make any wolves outcasts or distribute the territory amongst others. I know a lot about being out there with no protection or territory and I have no wish to ce others in the same situation. Whoever is left of the pack will be permitted to keep their territory and choose a new Alpha providing they swear their allegiance to me. They¡¯ll be expected to do the same for any packs who back me, but that is the most I can offer in terms of reward for anyone¡¯s backing. So, in other words, if that and a chance to settle some scores with Kevin isn¡¯t enough for any of you, it¡¯s important you say so now.¡±


    ¡°So, all in all, we have the support of only one other pack?¡± asked Richardter that day over dinner, sounding both panicky and beaten.


    ¡°Two,¡± corrected Duda. ¡°Mike Dolph also gave us his support, remember.¡±


    Danica watched from her position on the countess the faces of those at the table all melted into ones of despair. Seeing that she had gasp, paused in eating her meal, Gio and Michey, who stood either side of her, scowled at her until she jammed a chunk of steak in her mouth. Max gave Gio an usatory look. ¡°You said that mating with Danica


    would give us the alliances we need to get through this challenge.¡±


    ¡°And you said Kevin would never follow it through,¡± Ray pointed out.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it would all be for nothing?¡±


    Danica didn¡¯t even see Gio move. One moment he was at her side, the next moment he was mping his hand around Max¡¯s throat and snatching him from his seat.


    ¡°All for nothing, huh?¡± Gio growled. ¡°That¡¯s my mate you¡¯re talking about. My mate who is pregnant with my child. My mate who is also your


    Alpha female.¡±


    ¡°Gio, I know he crossed a line, but¡­he can¡¯t breathe.¡± Gary tried appealing to Gio with a look, but it was useless.


    ¡°There¡¯s only so far you can push someone, Max, and you¡¯ve pushed me too hard, too far, too many times. One more shove from you will be all it takes for me to lose it.¡± The fear wafting from his cousin satisfied both Gio and his wolf enough so that they were prepared to release him. Max flopped back


    into his seat, coughing and trying to gasp in air. Gio returned to Danica¡¯s side and she kissed him lightly, easing his tension slightly.


    ¡°What time are Carrick and Mike eaching with their enforcers?¡± asked Lucy.


    ¡°They¡¯ve agreed to arrive here at noon. I¡¯ve no idea what time Kevin will appear, but I don¡¯t think it will be any earlier than then.¡±


    ¡°We might not have only Carrick and Mike,¡± said Jeremy. ¡°You¡¯ve had a lot of messages over the pack web, Gio. It seems that word¡¯s gotten round


    about the challenge. Apparently Kevin has earned himself a number of enemies over the years and they¡¯re all offering to be present tomorrow to stand at your side.¡±


    ¡°Standing at his side as in actively getting involved in the battle, or as in literally just standing there like lemons?¡± asked Michey.


    ¡°The term means that they¡¯ll be present and act as back up if things go to shit,¡± Danica exined. ¡°Unless Gio looks like he¡¯s losing, they won¡¯t get


    involved.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re more or less just people who want to watch like nosy bastards so they can go and tell everyone about how they were there,¡± said Andrew.


    Hudson grunted his agreement.


    An unexpected yawn escaped Danica and she allowed her head to drop onto Gio¡¯s shoulder as she closed her eyes.


    ¡°Tired, baby? Come on, let¡¯s get you to bed, you need sleep.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I¡¯m just checking my eyelids for holes. It could take a while.¡± He chuckled and scooped her up, cradling her against his chest. ¡°Bed.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get tired more easily over the first month of your pregnancy,¡±


    Michey told her. ¡°It¡¯s totally normal.¡±


    Having said their goodnights, Gio carried her to their bedroom, liking that she didn¡¯t fight him and allowed him to carry her. Once inside he carefullyid her on the bed and peeled away her jeans before then removing her long sleeved t-shirt. ¡°What¡¯s with the glum look on your face, baby?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? Take your pick. There¡¯s the fact that you¡¯ll be in a battle tomorrow. There¡¯s the horrible knowledge that we have a traitor in our pack. Oh and there¡¯s the little matter of me being hidden away tomorrow instead of being part of the battle.¡±


    He sighed and draped himself over her, kissing her neck softly, wanting to rx her. ¡°Baby, you can¡¯t be upset with me for asking you to stay clear of a battle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d endanger our baby like that. I just worry something will happen to you. Any of you. It¡¯s worse knowing I¡¯m a healer and I can help but won¡¯t be there to help.¡±


    ¡°I can understand how you¡¯re feeling. I¡¯d be going ape shit crazy now if I knew you were going to be near any danger and didn¡¯t even have me with


    you. But I need you to stay here, inside. Nothing can happen to you or the baby, Danica, it just can¡¯t, I¡¯d never get through it.¡±


    ¡°Nothing can happen to you either, so make damn sure youe back to me.¡± She fused her mouth to his, kissing him hard. He tangled a hand in her hair and tugged, reminding her who the more dominant was, and then he took over the kiss. His tongue plundered her mouth just as she wanted his cock to plunder her body, but for some reason he was holding himself back. He was so tense it was like he was bracing himself for some kind of impact. She arched against him and felt the very hard proof of his arousal. His entire body stiffened and he looked like he wanted to jump off the bed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    His eyes danced to her stomach and then back to her face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡± She groaned. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re holding back? Gio, you won¡¯t hurt me or the baby by fucking me.¡± He didn¡¯t look convinced. She sighed dramatically. ¡°I suppose I could just get my old vibrator out or -¡°

 CHAPTER 70

    The ringing of Gio¡¯s cell phone had everyone in the kitchen stiffening, particrly Danica who was sitting on the counter with her legs wrapped around his waist. Without releasing her gaze, he dug it out of his pocket and answered. ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Hudson informed him.


    Gio wasn¡¯t surprised that they had arrived at 11 A. M. The only reason he had told the packst night that he was expecting Kevin around noon was because Gio didn¡¯t want the informant telling Kevin he¡¯d be ready for the bastard. ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°Ray says there¡¯s something like one hundred and seventy out there, but it¡¯s likely that some of them are just there to stand at his side.¡±


    ¡°What about the three packs that offered toe and stand at our side, are they here?¡±


    ¡°Arrived an hour ago just before Carrick and Mike. Everyone¡¯s waiting just inside the gate.¡± They had arranged for their allies to arrive early, suspecting Kevin would make an attack in the morning in the belief that he would be catching Gio unawares.


    ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t let Kevin and his crew through the gate until I get there.¡± ¡°Sure.¡±


    Gio ended the call and handed his cell over to Danica. ¡°I¡¯ll lose it in the battle if I take it with me out there.¡±


    She tightened her legs around him, wishing she could just hold him there and ask the others to face Kevin. Yes that was selfish and unfair, but


    she couldn¡¯t help wanting that and she wasn¡¯t going to apologize for it. This was her mate, the other half of her soul, the father of her child. If she had the right to be selfish about anything, it was him.


    ¡°I have to go, baby,¡± he told her softly.


    She nodded sadly. ¡°I know. Be careful. You have toe back to me.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯ll be a lot of blood on my hands by the end of this battle. You know that, right?¡±


    She pressed her forehead to his. ¡°Do you honestly think I¡¯d judge you for protecting your family, your pack, your territory? Kevin obviously wants to die. Assist him.¡±


    Damn this woman got to him. Never had she judged him ¨C not for being who he was, not for what he could and couldn¡¯t feel, and not for


    anything he¡¯d done or was capable of doing. He kissed her hard and deep, urging her into him, taking strength from her in a way that he had never been able to do with another person. Breaking the kiss, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and took her scent deep inside him, let it flow over him and center both him and his wolf. He hated to leave her, especially right now. Every primal instinct he had told him to stay at her side and be her constant protector, but there was no choice. He couldn¡¯t tell the other males of his pack to face the danger alone ¨C that wasn¡¯t who he was and it wasn¡¯t what an Alpha did.


    ¡°I need you to promise me something,¡± he said as he locked his gaze with hers. ¡°I need you to promise me that no matter what you feel over our


    link, no matter what you think is happening, you stay here. You don¡¯t try to reach me, you don¡¯t take a chance out there just so you can heal me. You stay here with Michey, Lucy, Lindy, Cindy, Gary, and Theresa. You focus on keeping yourself safe and our baby safe. Promise me.¡± He wasn¡¯t surprised when she gave him a look that could kill. A lesser man would have cowered. ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± she said through her teeth. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t want anything to happen to the baby, but by asking me to make this promise you¡¯re asking me to choose between you both, and I can¡¯t do that.¡±


    He cupped her face with his hands as he insisted, ¡°Yes you can and you will. I¡¯m not asking you to choose, I¡¯m asking you to keep yourself and the


    baby safe.¡±


    She blinked back tears. Her wolf whined inside her head. ¡°If you died, I wouldn¡¯t survive it anyway.¡±


    ¡°Yes you would. You¡¯re so goddamn strong, you could get through anything.¡± It made him proud to have her. For the first time, he was actually d that the mating bond was only partially developed as it meant that she had a better chance of surviving the bond being broken. Not that he nned on dying today, but there was always a possibility. ¡°I have to go.¡±


    Reluctantly she uncurled her limbs from around him. ¡°I love you, even though you¡¯re being an unfair prick.¡± He chuckled, but the sound didn¡¯t hide the anger he felt with himself for not being able to give her those words. Knowing what was going through his head, she gave him a cautioning


    look. ¡°I don¡¯t need words, I just need you toe back.¡±


    ¡°I n on it.¡± Having kissed her onest time, he turned to see Michey and Lucy both crying as they had a private moment with their own mates


    while Max and Gary hugged each other tightly. Although Richard, Jeremy, and Max weren¡¯t enforcers and only ever worked as security guards for the gate, Gio couldn¡¯t afford to leave them behind. He needed all the wolves he could get, especially since they needed Gary to stay behind ¨C they wanted the females to have at least one male with them. Duda had expressed concern about taking Max along with them since he was one of their suspects, but somehow Gio just couldn¡¯t see the informant being him. They would find out soon enough ¨C if it was Max, he would join with Kevin when they reached the gate. As Duda, Chris, Donny and Andrew were saying their goodbyes to Danica, Lindy came and hugged Gio tight. ¡°Take care, son. Rip the bastard apart.¡±


    ¡°Always so bloodthirsty,¡± he said with a smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s alright.¡±


    He narrowed his eyes at her, still smiling. ¡°Since when do you care about Danica¡¯s welfare?¡±


    ¡°Since I heard she was pregnant.¡± At his skeptical look, she shrugged.


    ¡°Alright, I like her just a bit. She reminds me of me.¡± She thumped him in the arm when heughed. ¡°She does. She¡¯s got spirit.¡±


    ¡°Yep, she has plenty of that.¡± He gave Danica onest look ¨C in it was a warning to do as he¡¯d asked, a reminder that she was too important for him to


    lose, and a goodbye. He then looked up at the others. ¡°Everyone ready?¡±


    Nodding, Duda, Chris, Donny, Andrew, Jeremy, Richard, and Max followed behind Gio as he left the room. No one said a word as they exited the caves and descended the many steps of the mountain. As they entered the woods, Gio gestured for Duda toe close.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask me to make sure she¡¯s okay if anything happens to you,¡± said Duda quietly. ¡°But we will win this, Gio.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°But if we don¡¯t, if you feel me die through the pack link, you leave the battle and you go to the caves ¨C you take her where Kevin can¡¯t reach her.¡±


    Duda swallowed hard. ¡°You have my word on that, although I don¡¯t know if she¡¯d survive the bond being broken.¡±


    ¡°She would. Danica could survive anything. Besides, it¡¯s only partially developed. And another thing ¨C I¡¯d be lying if I said I hope she mates with


    someone else so she¡¯s not alone, I¡¯m too much of a bastard to be that noble, but if she does you make sure that kid knows who its dad was.¡± Satisfied by Duda¡¯s nod, Gio said no more as they progressed through the forest. His wolf was pacing inside him, all worked up by the adrenalin circting through Gio¡¯s system. He hadn¡¯t wanted to leave Danica¡¯s side, but he did


    understand that there was a nearby threat and that this threat needed to be eradicated.


    It was odd to think that only a few months ago the most important thing to Gio had been his pack, his territory, and protecting both. He never would


    have thought anything could be more important than that, never would have expected that anyone could be important to him. Now he had other things to fight for ¨C his mate, his unborn child, their future. The woman had turned his life upside fucking down, turned him inside fucking out, and yet he wouldn¡¯t have it any other way. It amazed him that he¡¯d thought he was content before she came into his life. In reality, he hadn¡¯t known the meaning of the word. With Danica he was content. She anchored him and made him happy in a way that nothing and no one had ever done before. He didn¡¯t want to lose that, refused to lose that. Duda was right; they would win this, because no other ending was eptable.


    Finally the forest thinned and they stepped out onto the clearing, bringing them within twenty six  feet of the main gate. Although Hudson had told


    him just how many wolves Kevin had brought along, Gio was still rocked by the intimidating sight it made. Had he been normal enough to respond


    appropriately to fear, he might have been tempted to stop the battle before it started. Not to save himself, but the others who might get hurt. He¡¯d soon find out if it was a good thing or a bad thing that he wasn¡¯t normal.

 CHAPTER 71

    Gathered on the fringe of the woods were Mike and a number of males from his pack, including his Beta, Ashley, and bodyguard, Asher ¨C both of


    whom Gio recognized from their visit to his home. Not far from them was Carrick with several from his pack, including his bodyguard, Hales, and two of his enforcers, Ben and Matt. They all gave him a brief respectful nod before resuming scowling at Kevin and his followers. The wolf shifters ¨C there were approximately sixty five ¨C that hade to stand at Gio¡¯s side and serve as back up were all grouped together near the security shack. They didn¡¯t look so eager to be there. Gio guessed it was because they hadn¡¯t expected him to be so outnumbered, cing them in a position where they would in fact have to provide back-up.


    He stalked toward the closed gate with Duda and Chris nking him, nking his expression the way he had done as a child whenever his father


    and uncle decided to torment him for their own entertainment ¨C being stoic had always agitated the hell out of both of them. Gio stopped as he came to stand directly where Kevin stood on the opposite side of the gate. His wolf growled inside his head, affronted by this male¡¯s scent and reaching for the surface with his eagerness to get to him. Looking as smug as all shit, Kevin grinned at him. ¡°Time¡¯s up. You really should have just given in to me at the beginning, Gio. I¡¯ll tell you


    what, since you¡¯re my nephew and all, I¡¯ll give you onest chance to yield to me.¡±


    Gio couldn¡¯t help that his mouth twitched into a smile, especially since Duda and Chris were chuckling.


    ¡°You can¡¯t honestly mean to ept my challenge.¡±


    ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Look around you.¡± He gestured to his numerous supporters. ¡°seventy against one hundred and ny. I think it¡¯s safe to say that you¡¯re outnumbered.¡±


    ¡°If that bothers you so much, let¡¯s keep this as a one-to-one battle.


    Let¡¯s take care of this Alpha to Alpha.¡±


    Kevin¡¯s fear didn¡¯t show on his face, but it could be heard in his voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Gio ¨C we both know your enforcers would attack me after I¡¯d killed you. They have no honor.¡±


    Duda and Chris growled at the insult and gave Kevin looks that promised he¡¯d pay for that. But Kevin was Gio¡¯s.


    ¡°You can¡¯t win this, nephew. You never had any chance of winning it. Not even mating with the daughter of an influential wolf could help you out


    with this. I¡¯m looking forward to bing better acquainted with her, even if she istent.¡±


    A growl trickled from Gio¡¯s mouth. His wolf wanted to sink his jaws into this male¡¯s throat and feel his blood gush into his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m pissed enough with you as it is, Uncle. If I were you, I¡¯d be very careful about pushing me even further.¡±


    Kevinughed, but there was a nervous tremor to it. ¡°Onest chance. Give in to my requests, and we can avoid this battle.¡±


    As Gio backed away from the gate with Duda and Chris, his uncle smiled ¨C obviously believing Gio was backing down. Snort. Like that would ever happen. ¡°Hudson, open the gate.¡± The smile immediately fell from Kevin¡¯s face and was reced by a dark scowl. As the gate creaked open slowly, more wolves stepped out of the trees


    ¨C some from behind Gio, some from his left side, and some from his right, until there were approximately one hundred and nu wolves standing with him. It didn¡¯t make the numbers strictly even, but it was pretty damn close. He noticed Campbell was grinning like a kid in a toy store. The other nine Alphas that Gio had met at the diner only yesterday looked just as eager and


    bloodthirsty. Kevin¡¯s eyes widened and he swallowed hard. His face was a question mark.


    Gio cocked his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t really think I¡¯d reveal to the entire pack just how many wolves were joining me when I knew you had an informant who could tell you, did you?¡± Kevin¡¯s eyes widened even more, though Gio wouldn¡¯t have thought it was possible until then. ¡°Oh yes I


    know all about that.¡± Finally the gate was fully open. ¡°Know this: it doesn¡¯t matter how many wolves you have protecting you, Kevin. I will get to you and I will kill you.¡±


    Red in the face, Kevin howled. Taking that as a signal to attack, his supporters instantly shifted into their wolf forms and began galloping through


    the gate. Gio¡¯s own allies followed his lead as he ran and leapt, rapidly shifting midway through the leap into his wolf form, and mped his jaws


    closed around one of his enemy¡¯s throats.


    ¡°It¡¯s started,¡± Danica told Lindy, Gary, and Hope. Michey and Lucy, who were on either side of her, already knew through their link with their own mates. Echoes of Gio¡¯s anger and rage reached her through their bond, along with his determination and focus. Even though she knew just how strong and powerful he was, she was so damn scared for him and so damn pissed off that she couldn¡¯t be there. Of course she knew it was best that she wasn¡¯t, but the idea that he could at some point be hurt and she wouldn¡¯t be there to heal him was haunting her, mocking her healing gift. Lucy, who was fidgeting crazily with worry, rubbed a hand over her face. ¡°God, this is nerve wracking.¡±


    Michey¡¯s smile was weak. ¡°They¡¯re going to be fine.¡± Shakily, she added, ¡°They have to be.¡±


    At Danica¡¯s wince, everyone looked at her. ¡°Gio¡¯s gone wild¡±


    ¡°In this instance, it¡¯s a good thing,¡± said Lindy.


    Michey grabbed the ss beside Danica that was filled with another weird concoction of hers. ¡°Here, drink the rest of this.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Danica shook her head and ced a hand to her stomach. ¡°I couldn¡¯t eat or drink a single thing right now, I feel too nauseous.¡±


    ¡°So do I,¡± mumbled Lucy.


    ¡°It¡¯s the nerves,¡± Lindy told them. ¡°Where¡¯s Theresa?¡±


    ¡°In her room,¡± replied Cindy. ¡°She¡¯s refusing toe out and she won¡¯t let me in. She says I¡¯ve betrayed her because I¡¯ve chosen to give my


    loyalty to Gio and Danica. To be honest, I always thought Theresa would do that too after a little while. I¡¯ve never seen her so worked up before.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should go see her,¡± suggested Gary with an understanding smile. ¡°Theresa acts tough, but she must be worried. No one should be alone right now.¡± Cindy nodded and left the room.


    ¡°How long do you think it will go on for?¡± Michey asked Danica.


    It was Gary who answered. ¡°Could be thirty minutes, could be sixty minutes. It depends whether or not Kevin¡¯s winning. If he¡¯s not, some of his allies might leave. It¡¯s unnerving to think that some of them might have already gotten past our own wolves and are on their way to the caves.¡±


    Lucy made a low whining sound. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that.¡±


    ¡°We have to be prepared for it happening. There are only few of us out there. Kevin will have brought at least a hundred, if not more.¡±


    Of course Danica knew there were more than just sixty on their side, and she might have said as much ¨C after all, if the informant was sitting in this


    very room with her, there wasn¡¯t anything they could tell Kevin that he didn¡¯t already know at this point ¨C but then her vision blurred a little, startling


    her.


    ¡°Danica, you okay?¡±


    Triple blinking to clear away the haze, she looked to Michey. ¡°Yeah, bfine. Just feel kind of woozy. You don¡¯t think it¡¯s Gio, do you? You don¡¯t think he¡¯s hurt and -¡±


    ¡°Calm down, use your link.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, she felt for Gio and found him immediately. His ass had gone totally wild. Despite a few twinges of pain, he wasn¡¯t seriously


    hurt. She exhaled a sigh of relief. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°The pregnancy will have you feeling a little off bnce at first. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Gary gestured to the half empty ss. ¡°Michey is right, you should drink some more of that¡­whatever it is. You need the nutrients.¡±


    Danica shook her head, grimacing. ¡°No, I don¡¯t feel good.¡±


    Lucy flinched and moaned. ¡°Some asshole just chomped on Richard¡¯s hind leg. He¡¯s okay though, thank God. Hudson helped get the other wolf off of


    him.¡±


    Michey gave her a sympathetic smile. ¡°Jeremy¡¯s received some pretty decent scratches and bites, but he¡¯s not tiring or in any real pain. God, I hate


    this shit.¡±


    ¡°I need to walk around. Not outside,¡± Lucy quickly assured them, shifting from foot to foot in restless, nervous movements. ¡°Just through the tunnels. Standing still is killing me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. Coming, Danica?¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Michey, but I feel too woozy, I need to sit.¡±


    ¡°I can stay with you if you want.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine, she¡¯s got me and Gary,¡± said Lindy, waving Michey and Lucy out of the room. She turned back to Danica, frowning. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so


    much about him.¡± It was chastising rather thanforting. ¡°God knows he¡¯s been through enough battles and he¡¯s alwayse back, alive and well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to stop me from worrying.¡± Nothing would stop her from worrying short of Gio standing before her.


    ¡°Kevin¡¯s nothing but a little fart anyway. That¡¯s why he¡¯s brought so many with him , he knows he¡¯d never win a one to one challenge with Gio.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think he wants the packs united so badly?¡±


    Lindy huffed. ¡°Kevin¡¯s problem is that although he was born an alpha, he was a weak one ¨C too weak to be a Pack Alpha. His little brother, George ¨C


    Gio¡¯s father ¨C on the other hand, was very strong. He was also a horrible bastard. Kevin spent his life walking in George¡¯s shadow, overlooked. But that


    didn¡¯t stop him from lodging himself so far up George¡¯s ass that he ended up being made Beta. Then Gio was born and even as a little boy you could tell he was a powerful alpha. Both George and Kevin saw him as a threat and treated him very badly.¡±


    Danica couldn¡¯t help that her upper lip curled in anger. ¡°Yeah, I heard a little about that.¡±


    ¡°When Gio almost killed his father, Kevin was ordered by George to beat him, punish him. But Kevin wouldn¡¯t ¨C he knew he couldn¡¯t. That was


    why talk of banishing him started. My guess is no one in the pack forgot Kevin¡¯s fear of a thirteen year old boy and so he¡¯s not being respected or


    obeyed as Alpha.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense. If he had been, half of his pack wouldn¡¯t have turned up here to check on my welfare.¡±


    Lindy nodded. ¡°Unless he shows his pack that he can overpower Gio and fix the divide in the pack, he¡¯ll be challenged soon enough and lose his position.¡±

 CHAPTER 72

    Lindy said more but Danica couldn¡¯t make any sense of the words as her hearing suddenly went weird, like she was underwater or something. Secondster it returned to normal, but then her vision went blurry again.


    ¡°Danica, Danica, you alright?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure who asked and she didn¡¯t care as the sudden urge to vomit had her ready to dash for the nearest bathroom. But she didn¡¯t make it.


    She hadn¡¯t even gotten halfway out of the room when she doubled over with pain and projectile vomited all over the kitchen floor. Then again. And again.


    And again. Then she flopped onto her side, panting, moaning and sweating. Worse, she was way beyond woozy and close to passing out. She felt Gary pick her up.


    ¡°Go get Michey,¡± he told Lindy. ¡°I¡¯ll take her to lie down in her room.¡±


    She retched again, but this time nothing came out. She doubted there was anything left in her stomach, especially since she¡¯d hardly eaten anything that morning. The feeling she now had wasn¡¯t all that different from when she had hit her head. It was a little like she was weightless, like a dream state was creeping up on her. Her vision alternated from being fuzzy around the edges to being totally blurred. Her head seemed so unbelievably heavy and she felt sort of detached from her body. This could not be good for the baby.


    Fear shot through her as she wondered if this somehow meant she was losing the baby.


    Shit, that sun was bright.


    Wait, what? It urred to her then that, hey, she was outside. And she should not be. ¡°Where are we going?¡± she slurred. Her body jolted crazily


    and she realized they were descending the steps of the mountain face.


    ¡°Sorry, Danica, but this is just the way it has to be.¡±


    His voice was sharp, clipped, and cold. This was not the Gary she knew.


    ¡°It¡¯s you. You¡¯re the informant.¡±


    He peered down at her, clearly surprised. ¡°So you knew. Doesn¡¯t matter now. All that matters is getting you to Kevin quickly.¡± ¡°What did you do to me?¡± she moaned as a spasm wracked her


    stomach.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a drug to make you sleep. I slipped it in that weird juice. I¡¯ve no idea how you can drink that stuff Michey makes.¡±


    Another retch. Still no vomit.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure why it¡¯s making you sick.¡± Not that he sounded concerned.


    ¡°Why, Gary? Why help Kevin?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about him. Gio, however¡­now that¡¯s a different matter.¡± The degree of anger and loathing in his voice was unsettling.


    ¡°If you were unhappy here, you could¡¯ve left.¡±


    ¡°No, I couldn¡¯t have. Not without Max, and he¡¯ll never leave. I know you don¡¯t think much of my son, but he¡¯s a good man. He is. A lot of people


    look down on him because his mom was human and he¡¯s not as strong an alpha as the others ¨C a little like they did with Kevin. But he has good


    principles, has honor, he¡¯s a loyal wolf. That¡¯s why he wanted to leave with Gio when he was banished.¡±


    ¡°You could have stayed behind.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°No. And not just because of Max, no. I couldn¡¯t have let her go alone.¡±


    ¡°Who? Lindy?¡±


    He looked at her like she was insane. ¡°Kerr.¡±


    The name tickled her memory. ¡°Gio¡¯s mom?¡±


    ¡°You must¡¯ve heard how I found my true mate but she was already in love with another man. Oh yes, Gio¡¯s mom. By the time I met her, she and


    George had imprinted on one another. I hadn¡¯t told anyone because I knew George would have exiled me to keep me away from her. I hated seeing them together, hated it, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to leave her life. So I became good friends with her and let that be enough. I know she felt the pull between us. She never even came close to acting on it though. She was a loyal woman.


    Then Gio was banished and, for once, she stood up to that bastard George and she left him. There was my chance. My chance to have her as I should have done. And I would¡¯ve done¡­ but Gio killed her.¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    ¡°She turned rogue,¡± she reminded him.


    ¡°If I¡¯d have been there when she slipped into that state I could¡¯ve pulled her back from it. I could¡¯ve.¡± No he couldn¡¯t have ¨C a wolf gone rogue was beyond all help. ¡°But he executed her. Snapped her neck like she was a twig. I wanted to kill him, but just like George and Kevin, I knew I couldn¡¯t


    take him.¡±


    Her head swam again but she fought the pull of sleep. ¡°Why stay?¡±


    ¡°So one day I could make sure he knew the pain that I went through. The pain of losing a mate.¡±


    Oh fuck. It suddenly hit her just how dangerous her situation was. She¡¯d thought that maybe Kevin wanted to use her as coteral ¨C a kind of ¡®give me what I want, Gio, and your mate goes free¡¯ scenario. But this¡­well hell.


    ¡°It made the whole thing even better when I realized you were true mates. You should thank Kevin, really. If it wasn¡¯t for him telling me to hold


    off, I would have killed you at some point. The car and the raven¡­that was just for fun, just something to keep me going.¡±


    What a weird, sick bastard. ¡°That day on the stairs?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d made an arrangement with Kevin. His goons were waiting not far out of pack territory. The n was for me to hand you over to them so they could give you a beating as a warning. And, well, that n went to shit. As did the one for you to be attacked while you were in town with Lucy.


    Unfortunately for you, your luck has run out, little one. It¡¯s really nothing personal, Danica. I like you. You¡¯re strong, you have a good heart, but this is


    the way it has to be.¡±


    ¡°You think Kerr would want this? Gio¡¯s her son. Kevin will kill him.¡± ¡°Very true. Lindy was right ¨C all Kevin wants is for everyone to see him overpower Gio. He knows he can¡¯t do it. Gio¡¯s too strong. But there¡¯s one thing that will weaken him ¨C the death of his mate. At the very moment your bond is severed he¡¯ll lose all strength. It won¡¯tst more than a minute, but it will be long enough for Kevin to have this chance and end this once and for all. So you see, Kevin gets what he wants, and I get what I want.¡±


    Hoping he might have a conscience she could appeal to, she asked,


    ¡°You¡¯re happy to hand over a pregnant female to be murdered?¡±


    Nothing. Not an ounce of guilt or regret to be seen in his expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s just the way it has to be,¡± he said for the third time.


    ¡°You could take me back,¡± she slurred, desperate now. ¡°I promise you won¡¯t be punished. Don¡¯t punish this baby for something Gio did.¡± Not that


    she med Gio at all, but if it made the psycho release her she¡¯d say whatever he wanted to hear.


    He chuckled but it was humorless. ¡°Honey, Gio will tear me apart and you know it. Even if you could guarantee me that protection, my answer would be no. You have a mate, Danica. Let me ask you¡­if someone killed him, took him from you, could you ever forgive them? Ever forget it? I¡¯ve


    waited too long for this. He took my mate from me, and now I¡¯m going to take his from him.¡±


    He might have said more, she wasn¡¯t sure, because at that moment she lost the strength to stay conscious any longer, and the ckness swamped her.


    The grey wolf was just finishing a kill when the awareness struck him and prated the fog in his mind. Mate. She was close. She shouldn¡¯t be


    close. The same instinct that told him she was nearby was also able to guide him to where she was. Quickly he galloped through the trees, intent on reaching her. He skidded to a halt when he saw her. She smelled like him and sickness and drugs and anxiety. Mixed in with all that was the scent of the male that held her ¨C ¡®uncle¡¯.

 CHAPTER 73

    The grey wolf threw back his head and howled, garnering the attention of every wolf around him. No other male should touch her. No one was allowed to hurt her. She was his. She belonged to him. The life in her womb belonged to him. They were both his to protect, to care for, to shelter. The


    only thing stopping the wolf from acting on his raging anger and going for the uncle¡¯s throat was that his ws were pressed threateningly against her stomach ¨C the grey wolf understood the threat, understood cause and effect. Although the man¡¯s words made no sense, he also understood what he wanted. He wanted Gio. So the wolf drew back, though he remained closer to the surface than ever before. Gio rose to his feet, panting and raging. The sight of Danica, pale andid, held with her back against Kevin¡¯s chest had his blood boiling and something in his chest tightening. She was unconscious, had clearly been drugged. Seeing Kevin¡¯s ws ced threateningly against the ce where his baby was growing made it even more difficult for Gio to remain where he was. Every cell in his body urged him to pounce on Kevin. ¡°Release her.¡±


    The words were barely distinguishable.


    Kevin gave him a callous smile. ¡°Now that¡¯s not going to happen, my dear nephew. How strange it is to see something finally pull emotions from you. George would be devastated he¡¯d missed this. Not as devastated as you¡¯ll be when you watch her die, but still.¡±


    A part of Gio¡¯s brain registered that all had gone quiet and that his pack was gathering close. Another part of his brain noted that many of


    Kevin¡¯s supporters had been in and that Gio¡¯s side was winning the battle, but his only care was for the limp woman in Kevin¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Release.  Her.¡±


    The bastard didn¡¯t. ¡°If you want me, I¡¯m right here. I won¡¯t even fight you.¡±


    Kevinughed. ¡°It¡¯s tempting. After all, the only thing I really want is for the others to see me take you down. But, well, I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t believe you would truly allow that. Plus, to let her live would be to break my half of the bargain with our cousin, Gary.¡± The very male then stepped out of the trees on Kevin¡¯s left. His expression was cold, cruel.


    ¡°Dad?¡± Max choked out. ¡°Dad, what¡¯re you doing?¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    ¡°He has to know what it¡¯s like, son.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?¡±


    ¡°He has to know how it felt for me when he killed Kerr. What it was like to lose her.¡±


    The truth hit Gio like a p. ¡°She was your mate?¡±


    ¡°And you took her from me.¡±


    Max shook his head, his eyes dancing from Gary to Danica. ¡°Dad, tell me you didn¡¯t hand her over to Kevin.¡±


    ¡°Like I said, he has to know what it¡¯s like.¡±


    ¡°How could you do this?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve your loyalty, son, he never has. Kevin has agreed to make you one of his enforcers when this is over.¡±


    Pale, wide-eyed, and clearly devastated, Max shook his head again and stumbled backwards. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve done this.¡±


    ¡°Son -¡±


    ¡°No,¡± snapped Max. ¡°I¡¯m no longer your son.¡±


    Gio honestly couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. Although he¡¯d never been able to work out what kind of motivation one of his pack could


    have had to betray him, he never would have expected this. Any of this. It didn¡¯t matter what the motivation was though, it never had. The result would always have been the same. ¡°You¡¯re dead,¡± he told Gary.


    ¡°No, Gio, that would be your mate,¡± said Kevin with a smile. ¡°Oh, and your unborn child.¡±


    His mate, his child. He had thought that if any of them would die today, it would be Gio. He hadforted himself with the knowledge that at least


    Danica and his child would live. Duda would have ensured that. But now Gio saw that he didn¡¯t have the luxury of knowing that they would survive his


    death, because Kevin intended to kill them first. He wanted Gio to watch them die, to feel his bond with Danica die, to see the life drain out of the only person he had ever loved. A jolt went through him at the realization he just had. He loved her.


    Of course he fucking loved her!


    And not just because she was his mate, but because of the person she was. Her inner strength, her spirit, her sensuality, her big heart, her loyalty, her tenaciousness, her bravery, hell, even her damn sarcastic streak ¨C it all came together to make a package that called to him and made it impossible for him to feel anything but love for her. The realization didn¡¯t even scare


    him as it once would have done. So now that the thread of fear had been removed from the knot of emotions inside him, the rest of the knot unraveled


    and fell away. And those mental walls went right along with them. Abruptly there was a bang in his chest and a strange sensation in his head as though his brain had hupped or something. Then he could feel Danica¡¯s heartbeat as if it was his own, feel her inside of him like she was burrowed under his skin. But she was, wasn¡¯t she? Because she was the other half of his soul. He understood immediately what had happened. Their bond had snapped fully into being. He felt as her pulse rate improved and she struggled to a conscious state. He realized then that his strength was bolstering her own through their bond. He also realized that Kevin was still talking, totally unaware of what was happening. Funny that ¨C how such a significant, life-changing urrence could happen yet go unnoticed by every person around them. It was a very good thing in this case.


    ¡°¡­and I bet you¡¯ve never felt so helpless before in your entire life, have you, Gio?¡±


    No, he hadn¡¯t. And Kevin was going to die for that. Die for daring to touch her at all. Gio¡¯s heart practically jumped when he watched Danica¡¯s eyes flutter open. A few secondster they widened and ¨C quick as fucking lightening ¨C she had one of the hands that were pinned behind her back positioned at Kevin¡¯s crotch with her ws ced threateningly around his balls. Obviously having felt the prick of ws on his naked skin, Kevin froze instantly. Gio shot him a falsely sympathetic look. Clearly his uncle had forgotten thattent shifters who were alphas could partially shift, lengthening their ws and canines.¡±Let go of me, fucker, or I¡¯ll dig my ws into your crown jewels and rip them off ¨C I don¡¯t give a shit.¡±


    Danica meant every word.


    The threat to the life of her unborn child had rage pumping through her body, a rage that was beyond the scales of normal ¨C her insides burned, her heart was working overtime, her skin felt too tight for her body, her fangs had lengthened, and her entire being itched to hurt him. The primitive urge to protect had adrenaline coursing through her, preparing for anything, preparing her to do anything. Dimly she recognized that her bond with Gio was cemented, that he was alive and rtively unharmed, but the red hot fury sting through her was so overwhelming that it left no room for her to feel anything else right now. The only thought she had in her head was that if her and her unborn child were about to leave this world then this asshole¡¯s balls were going with


    them. Her wolf smelt his fear, loved it. She wanted this threat to her and her pup dead. Wanted it with such desperation that she was warring with Danica for control, pushing and struggling and twisting for freedom much like someone trapped under a frozenke. The force with which she beat at Danica¡¯s skin was actually painful. So painful that it was weakening Danica.


    Not physically, though. Physically, she was still strong and steady. But mentally, she was weakening¡­kind of like she was fading. Her wolf


    relentlessly continued her assault, wanting her stupid human half to step aside and let her deal with this. Then Danica weakened that little bit more as a particrly hard shove fractured thatyer of iced water. That was all it took ¨C her wolf smashed her way out.

 CHAPTER 74

    Utter shock rushed over Gio as the scene yed out before him. Kevin¡¯s hold on Danica broke as, with a speed that only an extremely experienced shifter should have been able to  achieve, she shifted into a white wolf. She was absolutely beautiful. As a female, her muzzle and forehead were narrower and her neck was thinner than that of males. Her limbs had smoother fur, giving her a more graceful look. All that gorgeous fur looked so unbelievably soft that he couldn¡¯t wait tob his fingers through it just as he often did with Danica¡¯s hair. To his surprise, the she-wolf didn¡¯t take a moment to marvel at finally being free. Oh no, she was only interested in Kevin ¨C who was apparently


    too stupefied to move. She was on him in a blink, leaping up and snapping her teeth into his¡­nose¡­as she knocked him down. Damn, she was just like Danica ¨C went straight for the nose. No longer paralyzed by shock, it seemed, Kevin began to take his wolf form. Snapping back into action ¨C Gio shouldn¡¯t be surprised that the crazy


    bitch was challenging a male wolf ¨C he shifted shape and gave his wolf control again.


    The grey wolf rushed at the ck wolf that had now flipped over and was growling at his mate. Protectiveness surged through him, serving as an


    energy boost. She was not to be touched or harmed or threatened. He had to protect her ¨C her and his unborn pup. He barreled into the ck wolf sending him sprawling across the forest floor away from the she-wolf. The ck wolf righted himself quickly, his chest heaving, and faced


    the other. The grey wolf could sense that his opponent was less dominant and less powerful. It wouldn¡¯t bring him any mercy from the grey wolf though ¨C not when he had threatened his mate, not when his scent triggered memories of cruelty and pain being inflicted on a young Gio.


    Hackles raised, ears upright, and lips curled back, they circled each other ¨C never moving their eyes from the other. Many other wolves observed, but none of them moved, nor did any battle between themselves. All stood still and quiet as all understood that the oue of this battle now rested on which of the two Alpha males won the challenge. Suddenly the grey wolf rushed at his challenger and knocked him onto his side. Growling, he bit down hard on the ck wolf¡¯s shoulder, drawing first blood. In retaliation, the ck wolf swiped his ws at the other, aimingN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    for his muzzle. The grey wolf was able to dodge the move and then mped his jaws around the offending leg. The ck wolf yelped ¨C the sound satisfying his attacker and psyching the observing wolves. He raised his head just enough to bite down hard on the grey wolf¡¯s ear. The surprise of it made the grey wolf jerk away while releasing a loud high-pitched bark. Taking advantage of that, the other quickly stood and swiped his paw at the grey wolf. His w managed to sh his shoulder, and the scent of the grey wolf¡¯s blood vored the air and had the challenger growling with satisfaction. Growling with rage, the grey wolf leapt at the other wolf. He wrapped his forepaws around his challenger¡¯s neck and, calling on every ounce of his strength, wrestled him to the ground. Just as the grey wolf wanted, the other was now t on his back in a vulnerable position that exposed his belly. The ck wolf didn¡¯t offer his submission, but continued to growl and snap his


    teeth, knowing that any offers of submission would be ignored. In one fluid move, the grey wolf straddled over his challenger, using his forepaws to pin down his shoulders as his back paws shed open ck wolf¡¯s belly. The yelps of pain and the overwhelming scents of fear, blood


    and defeat that wafted from his challenger didn¡¯t cate the grey wolf or give him any sense of satisfaction. Only one thing would give him that.


    He mped his jaws around the ck¡¯s wolf throat, biting down hard into fur and flesh. Blood gushed into his mouth, warm and tasting of victory. It tasted better than the blood of the sandy wolf who had once coveted his mate, and it even tasted better than the blood of the male who had sired him. With a loud growl, the grey wolf twisted his head sharply, ripping out hisnchallenger¡¯s throat. Only then did satisfaction fill him.


    The beautiful white she-wolf approved of the act. Her mate ¨C strong, dominant, powerful ¨C had defeated the challenger, had eliminated the threat


    to them and their pack. Slowly she walked to him, pleased at finally being free and being able to have fur-to-fur contact with her mate as she had


    hungered to do from the second she picked up his scent. She had known he was her mate from the beginning, had always been annoyed with her human side for not recognizing this, for not recognizing the importance of this male to her life and her soul. Apparently sensing her approach, he turned. The dominant, confident Alpha held his tail up high and his ears erect as he covered the short distance between them. She kept her ears down and fur t as she licked and nipped at his muzzle in greeting. He pushed at her nose and rubbed his cheek against hers, returning her greeting ¨C a greeting that had been long awaited but not been


    possible until now. Then they were licking each other¡¯s faces and cing their noses behind the other¡¯s ears to inhale each other¡¯s scent. A number of wolves suddenly approached, trooping together around their Alpha pair, seeking contact. Pack, the she-wolf knew. They joined her in licking their Alpha¡¯s injuries, giving him the respect and thanks he was due for protecting them. A ck wolf with a white undercoat ¨C Beta ¨C threw back his head and released a loud, long howl. The melodic sound rang throughout the forest and mountains, and was answered far and wide as other wolves ¨C both shifters and full-bloods ¨C joined the pack in celebrating their


    victory.

 CHAPTER 75

    Three weekster


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny,¡± said Danica as she returned to Rick¡¯s side.


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s not funny.¡±


    She scowled at Rick. He might have been more convincing if he wasn¡¯t grinning. Come on, surely it was unreasonable to need to pee so often; eight times in a one hour period was just ridiculous! She wouldn¡¯t mind so much if she was actually downing several mugs of coffee a day like she


    usually would, but now that she was pregnant, coffee wasn¡¯t allowed. How humans went through this for a whole nine months she¡¯d never know. Hell, whales , elephant and some sharks were pregnant for more than neen months. Seriously, what was up with that?


    Nervous and fidgety, she straightened the silky, slim-fitting, knee length dress for like the nh time. She wasn¡¯t a fan of dresses and only ever wore them when she was attending a special asion such as a mating ceremony. As this was her own mating ceremony, she couldn¡¯t exactly wear jeans and a t-shirt. She had wanted to have the ceremony before her belly got too big with the pregnancy. She had no desire to be waddling like a penguin down the ¡®aisle¡¯.


    Lindy had been outraged to hear that Danica was wearing white as apparently she was too much of a hussy for that. Although the woman had softened slightly to Danica, it was only very slightly and she still took utter joy in insulting Danica and being difficult. But then, Danica took utter joy in


    returning Lindy¡¯s insults with some of her own so that worked out okay. Danica would have had the ceremony sooner, but she felt that it was better for everyone to have time to emotionally and physically recover from the battle. No one had let her heal them because she was pregnant ¨C which


    was both unreasonable and dramatic since it didn¡¯t make any difference at all to her gift. Although there was still a lingering sadness about how they had been betrayed by one of their own, everyone was by now simply relieved and happy about them having won the challenge.


    Max, on the other hand, had been devastated and ashamed. No matter how often they had assured him that he wasn¡¯t responsible for his father¡¯s


    actions, Max hadn¡¯t been able to even make eye contact with either Gio or Danica. A few days after his father¡¯s public execution ¨C as was tradition for


    traitors ¨C and the ceremony that been held to honor the few who had died in the battle, Max had decided to join with who was left of Kevin¡¯s pack.


    Duda¡¯s older brother, Ross, had been elected as their new Alpha and had agreed to ept Theresa as well as Max. Well good luck to him with that. There had been talk about some of Ross¡¯ pack now joining Danica and Gio¡¯s, but so far nothing had been officially decided. It would be just her luck that she had gotten rid of Theresa only to end up with a group of females that were far worse. The universe did seem to enjoy ying jokes on her.


    ¡°Ready?¡± asked Rick.


    Danica released a long, calming breath. ¡°Ready. Thank you for doing this.¡± Although Carrick was ¨C surprise, surprise ¨C attending the ceremony, she


    hadn¡¯t wanted him to do the giving away thing. In her opinion, he¡¯d more or less given her away a long time ago. Rick, on the other hand, had been angood friend to her since childhood and had been there for her over the years whenever she needed someone. It had seemed more appropriate for him to do it. Plus, it had put to rest all the arguments that had been going on between


    Duda, James, and the enforcers as they fought over who should give her away.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me.¡±


    ¡°I know you didn¡¯t want me to mate with Gio.¡±


    Rick sighed and jiggled his head. ¡°Of course I wish your mate wasn¡¯t mentally unstable, but I¡¯ve seen him with you, I¡¯ve seen how much he cares for you. That¡¯s good enough for me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t still feel like I¡¯m betraying Zan, even though he was never my true mate?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I never thought you were betraying him, just that you were wrong about Gio. Now I see that it was me who was wrong, and I¡¯m happy for you. How can I not be happy for my best friend?¡±


    Touched, Danica went to hug him but he shook his head fiercely. ¡°If your mate smells my scent all over you, he¡¯ll kill me.¡±


    Rolling her eyes, she took the hand he offered her and allowed him to escort her out of the caves, down the mountain steps, and through the trees


    that led to theke. As it was the ce where she and Gio spent most of their quality time together, it seemed rather fitting that the ceremony take ce there. Rick halted as the forest began to thin out and then howled. A harmony of howls responded, giving Danica goosebumps. Rick held his arm


    out and, taking another deep breath, she looped her arm through his as they walked through thest of the trees until they entered the clearing near theke. The entire pack was there, plus Suza, Carrick, Ben, Matt, Asher, James and his mate. They had all formed a huge circle, and Danica knew that in the center would be Gio and Mike. Any Alpha could perform a mating ceremony, and Mike had kindly offered to do it for them. When they reached the slight opening in the circle of people that was between Suza and Michey, Danica entered the circle, leaving Rick to fill the space. A smile surfaced on her face the second she looked at Gio. He was wearing¡­hell she didn¡¯t know what he was wearing. She couldn¡¯t move her gaze from his ¨C the intense mix of heat, possessiveness and adoration in his


    eyes made her inhale sharply. She didn¡¯t remember moving her legs but secondster she was standing before him, hearing Mike¡¯s words and answering when required to, but all her focus was taken up by her mate. Gio¡¯s entire body clenched at the sight of Danica. She looked so beautiful in that figure-hugging dress that he nned to tear from her body as soon as possible. Another one of those chest pangs struck him, but now he knew what they meant. Now he knew that he didn¡¯t just care for her, he loved her. He hadn¡¯t been able to work up the courage to tell her, to say the words. He knew what she¡¯d meant now when she told him that love was giving someone the power to destroy you and hoping that they didn¡¯t. She had that power. She could break him, end him. It scared him, and he knew that the moment he gave her those words and admitted that she had that power, he would be utterly defenseless. Maybe other people wouldn¡¯t fear that, but it had always been important to Gio that he was never vulnerable to another person. So he was shitting his pants.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    As the other wolves repeated the ritual words and appealed to the power of the full moon to bless the mating, Danica soaked up the lust that was pouring from Gio and feeding her own. Knowing that the ceremonial words were almost at an end, her anticipation levels rocketed. Feeling hypersensitive, she ran her hands along her dress ¨C something she was pretty sure was going to be utterly destroyed in the next five minutes.


    Finally Mike said the final words, and this was the part where she should demurely step forward and kiss her mate before allowing him to once again bite her for all to witness. Instead, she let a wicked smile curve her lips¡­and then she dashed toward the woods, shifting as she ran.


    Fuck. Instantly Gio removed his shirt and pants, intending to shift into his wolf form. Thest thing he would have expected was for Danica to want


    toplete their mating with a chase and have him mount her for all to see ¨C she was still new to that aspect of being a wolf. A part of his brain noted that many of the guests wereughing in surprise and also removing their clothes, clearly intending to follow. All he gave a shit about was tracking Danica. The grey wolf didn¡¯t need to use his mate¡¯s scent to find her. Their bond told him which direction she had taken, enabling him to find her much faster. He was nearing a clearing when a ball of white fur suddenly barreled into him. His mate had managed to ambush him. The she-wolf stuck her rear in the air in a pounce position, inviting him to y. The grey wolf was happy to do that. They ran together, keeping their bodies close and enjoying the contact. Then, finally, he mounted her, aware that other wolves were watching ¨C some were also mounting their mates, others were simply observers. The grey wolf had no care, however, for what the others were doing. He was only interested in taking pleasure from his mate, releasing his semen inside her.

 CHAPTER 76

    ¡°Hussy, did you help with making all this?¡± Lindy asked from her seat at the long table on which the feast was spread out under the huge outdoor roof top. ¡°A lot of the food has got a real funny aftertaste.¡±


    ¡°That weird taste is just from the shit you¡¯re always talking,¡± replied Danica who was sitting on Gio¡¯sp directly opposite the old dragon.


    Lindy gasped. ¡°I hope yournguage will improve when the baby¡¯s born. I don¡¯t want my grandchild going round cursing like that or being sarcastic.¡±


    Danica sighed dreamily. ¡°I really wish I¡¯d known you when you were alive. I bet you weren¡¯t so sour, prudish and senile back then.¡±


    ¡°Gio, you can¡¯t let her talk to me like that! This rudeness is uncalled for.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to help you,¡± sang Danica. ¡°He likes sex too much to interfere.¡±


    ¡°There she goes again with thatnguage. You shouldn¡¯t talk like that in front of your elders, and you especially shouldn¡¯t mention it in the presence of your own father and uncle.¡±


    Carrick did look as though talk of sex was making him a little ufortable, but ¨C petty though it might be ¨C Danica was fine with that. She cocked her head at Lindy. ¡°So let me get this right: I can¡¯t mention sex, but Ray can deliver sleazy chat up line after sleazy chat up line, and that¡¯s okay?¡±


    Ray pouted. ¡°Aw,e on, Danica, smile. It¡¯s the second best thing you can do with your lips.¡±


    Danica pped her arms. ¡°I give up.¡±


    Gio threw thest of his cake at him, growling. Ray, of course, justughed.


    ¡°It was a very nice ceremony,¡± dered James obviously hoping to change the subject.


    ¡°It was,¡± agreed Danica. ¡°Thanks again Mike for performing it for us.¡±


    ¡°No problem. I was happy to do it.¡± For like the tenmillionth time, his gaze wandered to Suza who, for like the ten millionth time, met his gaze and


    blushed. Rick had also noticed and had been teasing her all night long about it, hence why she¡¯d bitch pped him at one point. Not many people were capable of making Suza blush ¨C she was just so flirtatious and bubbly ¨C so it would be interesting to see if anything happened between her and Mike.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that you had a mating ceremony,¡± Chris said to Gio.


    ¡°There isn¡¯t a romantic bone in your body.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I admit it ¨C the likelihood of me ever having one is slimmer than slim.¡±


    ¡°Same here,¡± said Andrew. Hudson grunted, agreeing with him.


    Gio hissed . ¡°You say that now, but it¡¯ll be different when you meet your mate. They have a way of always getting what they want.¡± He gave Danica a


    mock scowl. She smiled brightly.


    Duda snorted. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying I wouldn¡¯t have a ceremony. You know me, I love parties and if there¡¯s an excuse to throw one, I¡¯ll do it. But if


    you¡¯re insinuating that anyone could have me wrapped around their little finger, you¡¯re damn wrong.¡±


    Donny turned to Ray. ¡°With all your lines, they¡¯ll be wrapped around your little finger,¡± he said sarcastically. ¡°There¡¯s no way a woman could possibly resist your charm.¡± Ray smiled. ¡°Or my dick. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t get it out. I don¡¯t want you all to get intimidated. And in the interest of health and safety, I think it¡¯s better that he¡¯s not unleashed.¡±


    Danica gaped when Lindyughed. Laughed! ¡°Excuse me a sec,¡± said Danica, standing up, ¡°I need to pee again.¡± Seeing that Donny and Andrew were trying to hideughs, she smacked them both over the head as she passed the


    table.


    ¡°Hey, wait, I¡¯lle with you,¡± called Suza. ¡°So how are you feeling?¡± she asked as they walked, gesturing to Danica¡¯s belly.


    ¡°Fine, just irritated by the constant need to pee. How are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good. Speaking of pee, I swear I almost peed in my pants earlier. Isn¡¯t Ray hrious! I haven¡¯tughed that hard in a long time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he is. And very cute. So is Mike.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t start trying to y matchmaker.¡±


    ¡°Would I do that?¡± Danica asked with mock innocence. Suza snorted.


    After a quick journey to her en-suite bathroom to answer the call of nature, they both descended the steps of the mountain. To Danica¡¯splete surprise, Carrick was waiting for her at the bottom.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just go back to the party and wait there,¡± announced Suza, her expression confused. Danica faced her father and raised a brow questioningly. For a few seconds, he just looked at her. Then, having cleared his throat, he finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make excuses for any of my behavior toward you, but I will tell you that a big part of it was that you looked so much like your mom that it made recovering from her death that


    much harder. I know that¡¯s not an excuse, and like I said, I¡¯m not going to make any. Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Her frown deepened. ¡°It¡¯s just that you sound, well, normal. I¡¯m not sure whether that means we need to increase your medication or mine.¡±


    He rolled his eyes. ¡°Anyway, as I was saying, a decent father would have been there for you after your mom¡¯s death. Maybe another father wouldn¡¯t have shoved you aside on discovering that you weretent, or maybe he would¡¯ve done exactly as I did. But I lied when I said that her mom would have turned her back on you. She never would have done that.¡±


    ¡°I know. You¡¯d also be lying if you said that we¡¯d still be having this conversation if I hadn¡¯t managed to ovee mytency.¡±


    ¡°Maybe. It¡¯s not something that anyone has ever done before, as far as we¡¯re aware. Your strength has made me see you in a different light, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°I know you didn¡¯t do it for me, but I¡¯m thankful that you helped with the battle ¨C if we hadn¡¯t had the numbers we needed, many of us could be dead right now, including Gio and our child.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t do it for you. But, still¡­I¡¯m d none of you are dead. And I¡¯m d you have found your true mate. I know from what I had with your mom that¡¯s it¡¯s something that can¡¯t be equaled.¡±


    ¡°Everything okay, baby?¡± asked Gio as he stepped out of the trees. She¡¯d known he was approaching and had sensed his concern for her through their bond. Clearly he¡¯d felt the awkwardness she was feeling as she spoke with Carrick. ¡°Yes, fine.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    He held his hand out to her, looking at Carrick spectively. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back to the party.¡±


    ¡°Ben, Matt, and I are leaving now. They¡¯re waiting for me by the car.¡±


    Danica pouted. ¡°So soon? But I haven¡¯t had a chance to poison your beer yet.¡±


    Rolling his eyes and sighing, Carrick gave both her and Gio a nod before disappearing through the trees, heading for his car. She took Gio¡¯s hand and let him lead her back to the party. Just like


    the time they went to a mating ceremony at Mike¡¯s territory, Danica and Gio didn¡¯t bother dancing with the others. They saw little point in embarrassing


    themselves in front of their guests by revealing just how little rhythm they had. As Danica wasn¡¯t allowed to drink any alcohol, Gio was sweet enough to refrain from having any himself to be supportive. Who would have thought to the psycho hignder could be so sweet?


    Feeling Danica¡¯s head lean on his shoulder, Gio smiled. ¡°Tired?¡±


    Naturally she denied it and sat upright again. Every day she was usually wiped out by the time she¡¯d finished dinner and went for a nap. Today had been especially tiring for her and she obviously needed sleep. He stood and lifted her from her seat, curling her legs around him. ¡°Come on, you need to lie down for a little while.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Stop fussing, I just wanted to lean on you and have some contact with my mate. God forgive me.¡±


    If she hadn¡¯t yawned, he might have believed her. ¡°Shut up,¡± he said gently when she went to object.


    ¡°How many times do you have to be told, hussy? Listen to your body ¨C if it tells you that you need to sleep, then sleep.¡±


    Danica smiled at her. ¡°Thanks for reminding me how important it is that I take care of myself, Lindy. I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯d do if you weren¡¯t around.


    Although it¡¯s fun thinking about it.¡±


    Before the argument could be heated, Gio carried her out of the clearing, inside the caves, and then into their bedroom. Having ced her


    carefully on the bed, hey beside her and pulled her flush against his body.  She made him whole both inside and out, and he couldn¡¯t understand how he¡¯d functioned without her before she came into his life.


    ¡°Gio? You know the baby might betent, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Hearing how small her voice was, he kissed her reassuringly. ¡°Yes, I know that, but it won¡¯t matter to me if the baby istent. Obviously I¡¯d like it


    if that wasn¡¯t the case, but I¡¯m not going to turn my back on him if it is.¡±


    She snorted. ¡°It could be a ¡®her¡¯, you know.¡± Although she also had the feeling it was a ¡®he¡¯.


    Gio smiled.

 CHAPTER 77

    ¡°You do know that the whole shiftermunity is terrified of you now, don¡¯t you? What you did is unheard of ¨C notent has ever shifted before.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it would have happened if my wolf hadn¡¯t been so frantic because the baby was in danger.¡±


    ¡°Your wolf is gorgeous, slender and graceful. My wolf loves running with her, especially since he hadn¡¯t thought he ever would.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he likes to mount her a lot too,¡± she grumbled, not that her wolf minded so much. ¡°He¡¯s just as horny as you are.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the nympho in this mating.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one who has a thing for fucking people in the ass.¡±


    He groaned. ¡°Just remembering that makes me hard. I will be doing that again soon.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Gio.¡±


    ¡°You loved it, and you know you did.¡± He tensed when she grinded herself against his erection. ¡°You need to sleep.¡±


    ¡°No, I need you inside me.¡±


    ¡°Danica.¡±


    ¡°Gio.¡±


    ¡°You need sleep.¡± But even as he said that, he wasn¡¯t stopping her from reaching down and unbuttoning his fly. He cursed and closed his eyes as she began working her soft hand up and down his length. She kept her pace slow, no doubt just to tease him the way he always teased her, but still each wicked stroke pulled him under her spell. Groaning in defeat, he lifted her leg and


    curled it over his hip. He rocked his erection against her clit and groaned again. ¡°You drive me fucking crazy, do you know that?¡± It came out


    sounding like aint. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he inhaled her scent, letting it


    settle into his lungs and tease him. She smelled of exotic fruits, of him, of pregnancy, and of home. He took her mouth with a slow sensuality, seducing her lips and tongue. A crushing sense of ownership assailed him, driving him to possess her and overwhelm his senses with her. ¡°I need your taste in my mouth.¡± He peeled her t-shirt from her body and removed her bra before


    rolling her onto her back. Danica moaned as he yed her body like the master he was ¨C molding


    her breasts with his hands, sucking and biting her nipples until she was writhing beneath him, and then he was journeying down her body but pausing now and then to nip and suck at little patches of skin. He knew exactly what she liked and he gave it to her, but what increased the raw ache in her body more than any of that was the mix of possessiveness and adoration zing


    from his eyes. Once Gio had finally removed her jeans and thong, he took a minute to just look at herying there, his to take and possess. At some point in the past few months he had licked, kissed, or bit every inch of her body. He knew it better than even she did. Every curve, every indent, every slope, and every hollow was etched into his brain. He had every markmitted to memory,


    whether it be birthmark, freckle, scar, or the brands he¡¯d left on her body ¨C he could find every one of them with his eyes closed. A gasp flew out of Danica as he cocked her hips and suckled hard on her clit. There were no teasing licks this time, no making her wait. He swirled his tongue around her clit, flicked it repeatedly, and then sank his tongue inside her. Holding her still, he unrelentingly fucked her with that clever tongue. His soft growls heightened the pleasure until she just couldn¡¯t take anymore.


    ¡°Gio, stop.¡± He didn¡¯t. She threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged. He snarled in the back of his throat and that just made the whole thing worse.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    He froze at that one word. He doubted any other word would have reached him ¨C he¡¯d been too absorbed by her taste, hadn¡¯t been able to get


    enough of it. She¡¯d begged him. She¡¯d actually begged him. He peered up at her face, expecting to see shock in her eyes or for her to give him a smart-assment that assured him she was taking the piss. Instead, her expression was totally open, totally exposed; everything she felt was right there in her lust dazed eyes for him to see. It rocked him like nothing else could have. He


    knelt between her legs and gripped her hips, positioning his cock at her entrance. ¡°Say it again.¡± He half-expected her to tell him to fuck off, but she


    didn¡¯t. ¡°Please.¡±


    There went his self-control. He mmed himself home, groaning as her muscles mped around his cock, and then he took her hard and rough.


    Hearing her beg, knowing that she¡¯dpletely surrendered to him, had him well and truly lost. She¡¯d broken down thatst wall, had let him in, was epting that every part of her belonged to him. That wasn¡¯t a one-way street; this female totally owned him, would have done even if she hadn¡¯t been his true mate. Feeling the telling tingle in his spine, he draped himself over her. ¡°You


    know what I want, baby.¡± She raised her head and bit down hard on his shoulder, sucking and licking. ¡°Fuck. Scream my name for me, Danica. Do it,


    I need it.¡±


    As he mped his teeth over his iming mark, Danica¡¯s back arched with the explosion of pure bliss that ripped through her body. His name escaped her mouth in a scream so loud it hurt her ears. She heard him growl/groan her own name as his own release hit and his cock pulsed deep


    inside her. Panting and quivering with aftershocks, they stayed there like that with him draped over her and his face buried in the crook of her neck.


    Thankfully the big lug had been careful not to ce all his weight on her because she wouldn¡¯t have had the energy to shove him off.


    ¡°I love you, baby.¡±


    His words had her eyes snapping open. Had she not been able to feel it was the truth through their bond, she might not have believed him so easily.


    Curling all her limbs around him, she whispered into his ear, ¡°And I love you.¡± The shudder that ran through him told her just how much that affected


    him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t realize what I felt before,¡± he said softly into her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I kept my walls up with you.¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    He pulled back to look at her face. ¡°No, it¡¯s not. You¡¯re my mate and I didn¡¯t let you in.¡±


    ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t, Gio. You didn¡¯t know how to let someone in. I don¡¯t me you for that. Hell, I had my own defenses up for long enough.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but you didn¡¯t have walls up so high that you didn¡¯t even see how much you cared for your own mate.¡± A wicked smile took over his face.


    ¡°But now that all our defenses are down¡­it makes me wonder just how often I can get you to beg for me.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, that was just a one off.¡±


    ¡°Oh no. You let me behind those walls of yours, gave yourselfpletely to me, and I¡¯m not giving you back. You¡¯re all mine.¡±


    ¡°That works both ways, Gio,¡± she snapped, ¡°you belong to me too.¡±


    He smirked, enjoying the possessiveness in her tone. ¡°Only ever you, baby.¡±


    ¡°Great. Prove it. Do me again.¡±


    Unbelievable. ¡°For the sixth time, you need sleep.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to listen to what my pregnant body tells me, remember. It¡¯s telling me it wants to y¡±


    He released a long suffering sigh. ¡°See ¨C you¡¯re a just one hell of a woman¡±


    THE END.


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