Wild Blood: The Trueborn Saga Book 1 Read online

  Chavez practically vibrates with anger over the insult as he snarls unintelligibly at Rett, who's unimpressed and continues speaking.

  "I also know he's too much of a coward to risk his own skin and do something himself when he can have some expendable lackey do his dirty work for him instead." Rett steps closer in measured and nonchalant steps. "Viktor Bravas may have sent you after a wild blood girl, but he really just sent you here to die."

  "You know nothing," Chavez seethes at Rett, spittle dripping from his fangs and his clawed hands clenching into fists.

  "Don't I?" Rett cocks his head and grins wickedly. "Why else would he use a wannabe werewolf dumbfuck like you?"

  At Rett's words, Chavez charges forward with a roar of rage. He comes at Rett with mouth gaping, and claws out to rend and tear our pack leader apart. His children all surge forward to go to his aid, even though they'll never make it in time. It ends up being a useless gesture.

  Rett calmly faces the demonborn, unafraid of the possibility of his own swiftly approaching death. He waits until the very last second, then ducks under Chavez flailing talons and biting teeth with an unbelievably fluid grace and pivots to the side. He reaches out with lightening quick speed to grab the demonborn's head in both hands, and violently wrenches the monster's neck sideways with a loud sickening crack. The beast's momentum sends him crashing to the ground in a limp heap at Rett's feet, his tongue lolling from his mouth as his evil red eyes wink out.

  Our Alpha stands over our enemy, a bestial harbinger of death and justice, even in human form, with eyes flaming silver and his teeth bared in a savage snarl of contempt. Then his eyes sweep over to me, where I'm still lying exhausted at Emmett's feet. The silver bleeds away to be replaced by very human warmth and concern.

  "Raven," he says softly as he rushes toward me. "Are you hurt, honey?"

  Emmett growls and hunches over me with his head down and teeth bared at his father's approach. His wolf is still feeling irrationally protective and on edge.

  "Easy, son," Rett says soothingly as he stops a few feet away, knowing better than to come any closer right now. "Your mate is safe now. We all are."

  Emmett relaxes somewhat at his father's reassuring words, then drops down next to me. He starts licking my shoulder where Chavez's claws pricked my skin and drew a small amount of blood. I breathe in Emmett's wild masculine scent and close my eyes as I bask in his ministrations, then shudder out a long cathartic sigh. I feel my mate's relief, feel his love for me and pride in how I handled myself tonight. It calms my still racing heart and scattered emotions, and finally sets my mind at ease.

  34

  RAVEN

  I let out a soft contented sigh as I awake enveloped in the potent and virile perfection that is my mate's scent. His furnace of a naked body is wrapped around mine, making me feel safe and warm and loved. I snuggle back into Emmett's embrace as we spoon in his big bed, and smile when he murmurs my name in his sleep and nuzzles his face against the back of my neck. I can feel his sleepy contentment and affection trickle into me through our mating bond. I hold it tight to my heart and just lie there basking in this precious moment as sleep threatens to take me under yet again.

  A phone starts ringing, jolting me out of my reverie. I open my eyes in the darkened loft bedroom and move away from Emmett to reach for it. He grumbles at the loss of contact with my body as I grab my new phone off the nightstand. I'm grateful that Dad brought it to me earlier today, even though I slept through his visit.

  I see my father's name on the screen, noting the fact that I've been mostly asleep for close to twenty-four hours, before answering it. Though it wasn't as hard on my body as my first shift, my hastened second shift, along with the terrifying encounter with Chavez, really took it out of me. After Emmett took me home with him last night, I crashed for the entire day, except for the few times that he woke me to eat or drink something.

  "Hi, Dad," I greet him with a smile as I roll onto my back. Emmett snuggles in close again with a possessive arm thrown across my waist.

  "Hey, baby girl," my father says with affection in his gruff voice. "Did I wake you up? Emmett said you were sleeping pretty hard when I stopped by earlier this afternoon."

  "No, I just woke up a few minutes ago," I tell him. I can hear his police radio chattering faintly in the background and know he's in his squad car. His shift started less than an hour ago.

  "How are you feeling?"

  "Good, " I reply as Emmett's hand drifts up to cup my right breast. "Really, really good."

  "Yeah, you do," Emmett mumbles quietly under his breath as he starts kneading my breast.

  His inhumanly sharp hearing can pick up even my father's part of the conversation. I grasp his distracting hand and move it back down to my waist. I try to ignore the tantalizing and warm press of his erection against my hip.

  "I just stopped by the hospital to check on Brett," Dad continues. "He's going to be fine."

  "That's good to hear," I say as Emmett's wayward hand starts drifting downward now. I snatch it up before he can get anywhere, and he growls softly in frustration, but keeps his hand on my belly this time.

  "He's sticking to his story too," Dad reassures me. "As far as everyone knows, Brett heard Chavez admit to killing Rowdy, then got assaulted and left for dead, before the piece of shit took off with his car. No one knows you or the pack were even there, baby girl. They found Brett's abandoned car at an old rest stop in the next county, and put out a BOLO on Chavez."

  "They'll never find him," Emmett chimes in loud enough for Dad to hear with calm certainty.

  After Rett killed that murderous bastard, we left Wyatt behind to wait for Scarlett and Cooper, so they could dispose of the body and that creepy black onyx bolo tie, and get rid of any other evidence too. They must have moved Brett's car.

  On the ride home, Emmett also explained what little he knew about Viktor Bravas, the name Rett mentioned while confronting Chavez. He sounds like a horrible, retched excuse for a human being for what he wanted to do to Emmett's mother and me. I'm grateful that Chavez is dead and gone, and only showed up in town because he was following me. Thank God he had no clue who Rett and his family were, or why they were here in Wolcott.

  I'd probably never know exactly where Chavez began tracking me before we moved to Wolcott. But I'm glad he didn't get a hold of me before I went through the change. I wouldn't have stood a chance against him before that and would have been snatched away for certain since Emmett wasn't there to protect me like the other two times demonborn came after me. I shudder at that thought, then can't help wondering if Bravas had anything to with them too. I'd never know the answer to that question either. Emmett hugs me tighter to soothe the anxiety he can feel through our bond.

  "I know," Dad says with obvious relief. "I talked with Rett already today." He sighs. "I still don't know how to wrap my head around all this insanity, or last night either."

  A stab of guilt pierces my heart over the position I put my father in. He risked his job with all the lies he told and the secrets he now had to keep to protect me and the pack. Emmett feels my guilt and takes my free hand to give it a comforting squeeze as he sends me a surge of affection. Luna, who's been asleep curled up near our feet on top of the comforter, senses my distress too and wriggles up the bed to rest her furry head on my hip with a soft whine.

  "I'm sorry about what you had to do, Dad," I say in a quiet and dejected tone. "I'm sorry about all of this."

  "Baby girl," Dad tells me warmly and reassuringly. "There's no need to apologize for anything. I love you, and I'd do anything for you. You're the most important thing in my life."

  "I...I love you too, Dad," I whisper as tears well in my eyes with my rising emotions.

  "I have to get back to work." Dad's voice is rough with emotion now too. He's the sweetest tough guy I know. "Will I see you tomorrow? Maybe we can have dinner together?"

  "Definitely," I reply, sucking in a fortifying breath before I continue with a grimace. "But
, um...I'm still getting used to everything, and I...I think I need to stay with Emmett for a while," I say uncertainly as I look at Emmett's gorgeous face. "I'm...I'm not sure when I'll be staying at home again."

  "Raven," Dad says with an indulgent inflection, "don't you already know? You are home. You're right where you belong." He laughs gently as I reel from his frank declaration for a moment. "I love you, and I'll see you tomorrow, baby girl."

  "Um...uh...I love you too," I stammer out. "Bye, Dad."

  "Bye, baby girl," he replies, then ends the call.

  I sigh, then reach over to set my phone back down on the nightstand. Emmett immediately takes the opportunity to press soft kisses to my bare back. He carefully skirts his kisses around the still healing puncture wounds from last night, even though they don't hurt that much anymore.

  "You do belong here, baby," he says as one of his hands joins in and glides across my hip in a sweet caress. I can feel his desire and need, and only part of it is physical. "Live here with me. I want to hold you every night, and wake up next to you every morning. I want to shift and run through the woods with you whenever I like."

  "But...but it's so soon," I say hesitantly. "We've only been together a matter of weeks. Are you sure?"

  He lifts his head, and I glance over my shoulder to see him giving me a pointed look.

  "Werewolves mate for life, and you're my forever, Rav," he says with stark conviction. "For me, there will never be anyone but you. Never." He presses more sweet kisses across my skin. "Of course, I'm sure. Can't you feel it, baby?"

  I do feel it. My God, I can feel it. His absolute certainty flows into me and quells any of the doubts I have. "Yes," I whisper, then bask in the joy I feel surging to life inside him and match it with my own happiness.

  Emmett briefly lifts his head to shoot poor Luna a stern look and a low growl. She whines and reaches out to lick his chin placatingly before wisely taking the hint and slipping off the bed. Then he gently nudges me to lie flat on my stomach, and continues lavishing me with attention as his lust engulfs me through our bond. His hands and lips and teeth move all over me, fanning the flames of my own desire higher and higher until I feel like I might die if I don't get him inside me soon.

  "Please, Emmett," I plead shamelessly as I unconsciously thrust my pelvis against the mattress. "Oh God, please."

  He moves on top of me and slides the underside of his cock against my ass with a slow tortuous roll of his hips. His lips brush my ear, and I shudder with want and need.

  "Please what, baby?" he asks in a rough voice that makes my sex throb.

  "Inside," I gasped out. "Inside me...please." I moan throatily as I push my ass up against Emmett's groin. "Please...now," I beg again as I grab handfuls of the sheets in my fists and writhe beneath him.

  He responds by lifting off of me to grab his pillow and urges me to raise my hips up, so he can put it under them. Then he's on top of me again, his hard chest pressing against my back with one forearm supporting most of his weight on the mattress next to me. He straddles my legs with his and reaches down to slip the head of his dick between my thighs. He nudges teasingly at my soaked entrance several times.

  "Is this what you want?" he growls roughly in my ear. He slips just the tip in, then maddening pulls it back out. "Do you want my dick?"

  I practically snarl in frustration. "Yes, goddamn it," I snap at him irritably. "Quit teasing me and fuck me alr-"

  Emmett thrusts in deeply and cuts me off, turning my words into a wail of blissful relief that has him groaning as he stills inside me. I can feel exactly how close he is to the edge already. It's a heady powerful feeling to be the one responsible for threatening his control.

  "Raven," he says breathlessly as he shudders above me. "Oh fuck, Raven...so tight, so good...too good." He closes his eyes and takes in a few more panting breaths as he fights down his release before finally and blessedly starting to move.

  Sweet pleasure shivers through me, half mine, half his, and it lights my body on fire. He thrusts into me again and again, the position we're in making him feel unbelievably huge. I feel a fast-approaching orgasm already rising up from my core. His teeth worry at the side of my neck as he growls fiercely with each press into my body. He reaches for my hands, still holding himself above me on his forearms, and laces our fingers together as he moves so perfectly inside me.

  "I want to crawl up inside of you, baby," he growls against my skin. "I can't get deep enough." He thrusts even deeper, making me see stars across my vision, and my release ignites from my core and floods us both with pleasure. "Oh fuck," he moans as my pussy clenches all around him.

  I cry out as shivering waves of bliss roll through me for several amazing moments until my release finally fades. Emmett lets out a low seductive laugh, and I feel his smug male satisfaction.

  "Again," he demands as he shifts his hips for his next thrust and unerringly finds my G-spot. I come again in an instant.

  This time I scream as my back arches and my toes curl. I'm vaguely aware of Emmett calling out my name as his release hits him and crashes into me. It heightens mine to stratospheric levels of mind-splintering ecstasy. It goes on and on, our pleasure feeding off each other for what feels like minutes on end. And as our lustful pleasure ebbs, it leaves behind a warm languid feeling of love to take its place that twines and coils around us, meshing our hearts ever closer together.

  When Emmett finally pulls his cock out, it's with slow and obvious reluctance as he slides off of me onto his side. I roll to face him and match his sated and tender smile with one of my own, then scoot closer until our foreheads touch. I place my palms on his chest as I relish the feel of his fingers sliding into my hair to cradle the back of my head in his big hands. His ice-blue eyes still burn with silver as he holds my gaze.

  His smile is radiant as he pulls my face closer and presses his lips to mine. His kiss is the sweetest gentlest one he's ever given me as his tongue sweeps into my mouth and owns me. I sigh and hum happily into it, tangling my tongue with his until we're both lightheaded and breathless before we pull away from each other.

  "I love you," he says gruffly, his eyes soft and earnest, and human once again.

  "I love you too," I whisper back with conviction.

  I close my eyes and breathe in his familiar and comforting scent, then feel my she-wolf react with a surge of wild and restless primal energy. Emmett's wolf responds in kind, and I open my eyes to see his gaze burning with silver again. I know mine must be flaring a cobalt blue as our wolves rise to the surface and weave in and around each other. I instinctively know what we both need now.

  When I turn away from him to climb off the bed, he wordlessly follows. I take his hand and lead him downstairs with Luna at our heels whining and whimpering in excitement. I take him straight to the door and open it, then drag him outside and across the lawn that separates his cabin from the forest behind it. The cool night breeze caresses our shamelessly nude bodies, and the soft grass tickles our bare feet as we walk toward the beckoning trees. I pull to a stop just at the tree line and give my she-wolf free rein over my body as Emmett does the same with his wolf.

  The shift is quicker and easier this time, still painful but manageable as I watch Emmett's body convulse and contort along with me. When I finally stand confidently on all four paws only a few moments behind my mate, he's already licking my muzzle and wagging his tail as he sidles up close to me. I see happiness glowing in his silver eyes. Luna hops and jumps in frantic circles around us, yipping in eager anticipation.

  Then side by side with our bodies touching shoulder to hip, we glide silently into the forest on our first hunt together just the two of us, with our Luna tagging along behind of course. It's the first of many yet to come with this man, this wolf. Because I know with absolute certainty in my heart and in my soul that Emmett is my forever.

  It's just like my dad said. I'm right where I belong.

  I am home.

  35

  VIKTOR


  "The building is clear, boss," Harlow tells me as she leans down to meet my eyes through the passenger window of the vehicle I'm sitting in. Her dulcet alto voice and youthful looks belie her actual age and the vicious killer she really is. The one I can clearly see in her arresting and eager blue eyes as they gleam in the darkness. A smirk lifts one corner of her lips. "Except for that greasy weasel."

  "Good," I say in a low growl as I pull the hood of my coat up.

  Harlow opens the nondescript SUV's door for me, so I can step out. Our feet crunch faintly across the gravel as I lead the way toward the abandoned auto shop for my clandestine meeting. If I didn't know that Harlow's loyalty was absolute, there's no way in hell I'd ever turn my back on her like this. She's that lethal.

  We reach the side door, and Harlow walks ahead of me as she finishes putting her long golden blond hair up into a ponytail that trails down her back. She hates it when her hair gets in the way while she's working. She opens the door for me, and I slip past her tall athletic frame into the darkened building.

  I open up my inner senses to the room and feel the single little spark of dark energy emanating from the man I'm here to meet. He's strong for a demonborn, but none of their weaker black magic is a match for mine, a trained and naturally gifted dark mage. They're basically only a step away from a full demonic possession. The demon controls most of the power not the man, who's merely a pawn to the whims of the monster riding him. They're only a minor threat to me even in their wolf-demon form.

  We cross the garage's grit covered floor past the abandoned car lifts toward the light that I can see across the huge space in what probably used to be an office. As we approach the already open door, Harlow enters first with me a step behind her. We find the man I'm here to meet halting his nervous pacing mid stride and eying Harlow with a wary gaze. She ignores him and goes to lean casually against one cinder-block wall with a nonchalance that I know is a facade.