Climbing the Ladder (5 page)

Mesa chuffed, so happy, deep in his bones. He started touching, his hands sliding down

her back.

Curvy and smooth, her hip fit perfectly in his hand. It was no wonder that Kody had

chosen her, found her for them. Kody was so hot up against his side, that clever mouth working Sammy’s skin.

Kody slid down, licking their skin as he went—Mesa’s ribs, Sammy’s waist. Mesa

stroked Kody’s cheek, his lips moving down Sammy’s throat. When Kody’s hot lips wrapped

around his fingers, sucking as if they were his cock, his body jerked, his cock pressing against Sammy’s belly. She was fine, beautiful, soft where he and Kody were hard.

Sammy arched, her hard, swollen nipples too close to his lips to ignore. Mesa leaned in,

pulled one in, sucking firmly. Need slammed against him, made him pull harder. God, they made

his head swim. Made him pant.

Kody’s fingers wrapped around his cock, pulled him so that his prick slipped against wet,

hot folds. Oh. Oh, fuck. He pushed a little, easing up.

“I…” She blinked at him. “But I don’t know you. How can I want you?”

“We’re together.” He smiled for her, pushing home. Oh. Oh, hot. Wet. Slick. His eyes

rolled, and her soft little moan slid over his skin. “Sweet lady. Kody. So sweet.”

“She’s perfect.” Kody pressed behind her, hands cupping her breasts, thumbs rubbing the

nipples. “Oh, God. Mates.”

Mesa felt her pleasure, felt the tight walls of her cunt squeeze his cock as Kody touched

her. He put one hand on Kody’s body, needing all three of them grounded, right there. Then he

started to move.

He could hear Kody’s cry, echoing through him, inside him. Sammy’s head lifted, eyes

huge. “What was that?”

“That was us, honey. That was us. Our Kody is so fucking smart.”

“Us? Oh…” Her words faded as Kody’s hand slipped between them, fingers moving to

touch where they were connected, to work that little bundle of nerves that made a woman crazed.

“Yeah.” Mesa’s head fell back, his hips rolling. He could just explode. Sammy wasn’t

passive at all. She rode him as if he were a prize pony, body sliding on his cock, taking him deep, over and over. Mesa gritted his teeth, his hand groping down along Kody’s body. They needed to be together on this.

“Mates.” Kody’s cock was wet-tipped, hot, sliding on his palm.

“Your mates, baby.” This was the next step in his Alpha trials, and he figured he was

passing with flying colors.

“Yes.” Kody buried his face in the curve of Sammy’s neck, mouth open, teeth scraping

her skin.

He bit off a growl. Kody and Sammy had been together a while. He needed to let Kody

have some ground. Some. Kody’s eyes met his, intense arousal hitting him square in the base of his spine. He jerked, pulling Kody to him for a toothy kiss. He could only give so much rope.

“Oh, fuck. So hot.” Sammy cried out, arching above them, his cock almost slipping free.

Kody pushed her down, slamming them together, and he damned near lost it.

Mates. His mates.

Yours
. Kody’s voice echoed inside his head.

Mesa pulled Sammy down, adding his bite to the one Kody had almost left. Her flavor hit

him like a drug, and he bit harder, her wild cry splitting the air.

He moved faster and faster, pushing into her. His balls drew up, his cock aching. Kody

moaned, rubbing against him, against her, the scent of need the only thing in the air.

“Come on, baby. Come on.”

“Yes. Us. All of us.” Kody’s growl split the air even as Sammy jerked, body rippling

around him.

Mesa howled when he came, his body trying to shift, trying to let the wolf claim what

was his. Kody was shaking, face changing, muzzle growing.

Yes.
He howled again, pulling back, his hands still on their skin.

Sammy was staring, looking between them, eyes wild and terrified. He held her, looking

into her eyes, willing her to understand. Willing Kody to get into her head. A soft howl sounded, Sammy calling for help, and Kody came closer, singing to her, to him, calling to them. Mesa

shuddered, trying to hold on long enough to help her. This was so not his strong suit.

Kody was fully wolf now, licking her face, scenting her. Sammy was yelping, body

fighting to change.

“Come on.” He growled it more than said it, but there was Command in it, plain and

simple.

Sammy jerked away from them, hands curled into claws, screaming in terror as she

changed.

He barked out an order to Kody. They couldn’t lose her, even if she ran. They had to

keep her with them.

Kody circled her, lapping at her face as her muzzle grew. Their mate.

Their girl.

She was unbearably beautiful—gray and strong, small but muscled. Kody was more wolf

now than Mesa had ever seen him be, pale and lean and lovely but so male, almost glowing with

power, and it made him proud, all the way to the tip of his tail. Kody nosed their girl to her feet, licking her chin, her face. Trembling and as shaky as a newborn, Sammy stood, panting

furiously.

Making soothing noises, Mesa licked her, too. He put a shoulder against her ribs, helping

her get used to four legs.

Mates. Sweet girl. We have you.

She barked once, sharply, and Mesa wanted to howl with victory, so proud of his Kody

that he couldn’t bear it. He nudged them out the flap of the tent, knowing she would run with

them now, not away from them. As a wolf, at least.

Sammy headed out, tentative, nostrils flaring.

It had to be overwhelming. Mesa couldn’t remember not having his senses, his wolf.

It was Kody that was murmuring, growling, singing, calling to him. To her. Rejoicing.

His Kody was rejoicing. It made him bark his joy, to know that Kody was happy he was there,

that he hadn’t ruined Kody’s life.

Kody pounced him, licked his muzzle, then bounced back to Sammy, eager and playful.

She growled, obviously surprised by Kody’s movement, teeth bared, backed away, so

Kody dropped his head, submissive, that song sounding again.

Mesa went to her, though, standing high above her shoulder as he forced her to stop, his

teeth closing on the back of her neck. Her scream was wild, fierce, her teeth snapping at the air as she fought him.

No. No, he was the Alpha. It had to work that way. He snapped at her, pushing her.

He could hear Kody, trying to ease her, trying to help, but she struggled, shoulders

heaving under him. Mesa got her to the ground, trying not to bite down too hard. He put his chest ridge on her, pressing. She went down, she had to, whining and barking the entire way. Kody

danced, crooning softly, worried. There. There, now he could praise her, let her know how

beautiful she was. He shook her ruff a tiny bit, making a play noise.

Her scent filled his nose, rich and female. Right. She whimpered softly, her fear evident,

but Kody relaxed and a sense of ease and well being poured over him.

Licking her whiskers, he let her up. She just had to know the food chain.

She scrambled away from him, from Kody, her hackles raised. Then her nostrils flared,

her attention caught by something in the trees.

Mesa tipped his head up, testing the air.

Squirrel. Such a good nose on his girl. How had she never known, or changed?

Nudging her, he pushed her toward the scent. Hunt. They should hunt. She snapped at

him, then sniffed, caught by her nose, heading straight for the trees. Kody chuffed, tongue

lolling, before taking off after her. Mesa checked for danger before following. Kody didn’t

interfere with the hunt, didn’t help, but Sammy didn’t need help. At all.

She tracked the squirrels to the roots of the tree, paws scrabbling furiously.

Kody nuzzled her, and Mesa could hear the words in his head.
Yes. Good hunt.

Sammy stopped, stared at Kody, then she nudged him with her head, rubbing him.

Mesa pushed up, not between them, but imposing his presence. His sweet Beta backed

away, but his girl, her eyes snapped, teeth bared. If he could have rolled his eyes, he would have.

Damn it, why was this hard? He bit her ear, just hard enough to sting. Her yelp was furious, but it was Kody’s laughter he heard.

He wanted to bite Kody, too, but for different reasons. Mesa whirled, running, calling for

his mates. Kody nudged her, called to her, gave her that bushy tail to follow.

He would hunt now, give Sammy something to see, something to understand. He’d share

his kill with them.

Maybe.

If Kody would stop crashing through the damned leaves.

Mesa dove to the right, pushing through underbrush. He startled out two birds and a

rabbit. Kody went for the rabbit, but Sammy leapt, body twisting as her sharp teeth snapped

down on a bird. Good girl. Good girl. She had to offer him some. He’d let Kody show her.

She shook the bird hard, feathers flying. Kody came padding up with the rabbit in his

jaws, offering it to him easily, tail wagging.

Snapping it out of Kody’s jaws, he took his share, then gave it back. Good. Hot.

Then Kody took the rabbit to Sammy, nudging it over to her. Sammy chirruped softly,

backed away. Kody nudged the rabbit closer, vocalizing happily.

Mesa willed her to cooperate.
Come on, girl, you can do it.

Her nose wrinkled, her head tilted, and she dropped the bird in front of Kody, who

danced uncomfortably.

He barked, issuing her an order.

She met his eyes, challenging, and barked back.

Mesa let his lips slide back over his teeth, growling low. No more challenges. Not today.

Kody rumbled softly, brought him the bird, took her the squirrel, waves of peace pouring

from their Beta. That was his job, Mesa knew, but it still made him want to bite something. He snapped his teeth before tearing the bird in half.

Kody watched them eat, dancing restlessly, paws bouncing on the dried leaves.

He gave Kody the rest of the bird, licking the soft muzzle. Sweet boy.

Kody ate happily, then came to him, grooming him, the song of praise and pleasure like a

drug.

Mesa could have curled up right there, nose to tail with his Beta, but Sammy was still

staring, vibrating. So he called to her. She took a step forward, ears swiveling, nostrils flaring.

She wanted to come, wanted to be praised and scented, made pack. Mesa called to her again, a

song of happiness, of need. He let Kody call to her, too. Carefully, softly, she called back,

coming closer, one step at a time. She was lovely—pale and well-formed, limber. Lovely.

He stretched his neck out, blowing out a breath, letting her scent him. Feel him. She

stretched out, hind quarters up, not bowing to him, but obviously intrigued, interested. He

breathed out again, giving her something to sniff, a reason to come closer.

Soon she was there, nose-to-nose with him, breathing him in, vocalizing her fear, her

interest. So brave, so lovely. His Kody had done so well. Mesa slid forward one step, his muzzle sliding along hers. Soft. Sweet.

She was still, shivering, sniffing hard, but Kody eased down beside them, watching and

relaxed, and she let him scent her again. Mesa moved closer, just a tiny bit. She had to accept him, but he was willing to ease into it. Soft little sounds left her, his lady trying to communicate.

She would learn. Her instincts were fantastic. Damned near perfect.

Sammy began to relax, began to lean into him, panting, so he vocalized, low and easy, his

tail thumping when she nuzzled him, took a deep breath. Better.
Sweet lady.

Kody rolled over, showed his white belly, paws in the air.

Fucking A. Mesa showed her how to nuzzle, how to accept Kody’s gift. Sweet wolf.

She buried her muzzle in Kody’s fur, breathing deep, posture relaxing even more.

Mesa lay down with them, pushing in, protecting them from the undefended side of the

clearing. That was his job. Kody rumbled happily, nose pushing into his fur as his mate breathed deep. Happiness poured over him.

They would rest. Help Sammy start to understand her wolf.

And when they changed back, well, they would start arguing about going home. Mesa

had no doubt that would be entertaining.

Kody woke up to whimpers, his lady’s paws scrabbling at the leaves. Dreaming. She was

dreaming. He crawled over, vocalizing, pouring himself into her dream, into her heart. My Lady.

Her mind was dark, frightening, and her dream-self turned, snapping at him, and he

bowed. She stopped moving, whining, staring at him with scared eyes. Her tail was curled over

her back, not a happy thing, not a submissive one, either.

Poor baby, so brave. He let himself be proud of her, let her feel it, let her hear him. Her

head dipped, her sides heaving. Her dream self was trying to breathe.

He stepped forward, admiring her pale fur, her long tail. She snapped at him again, but

this time there was no heat behind it.

He chuffed softly.
Sammy. My beautiful girl.

She whimpered, backed away from him, and a wave of betrayal poured from her, made

him cry out, in both worlds.

Mesa was up at that, hackles raised, growling and looking around the clearing, as he

stood, shaken. Kody hadn’t betrayed her. He hadn’t. He loved her. He’d been waiting for Mesa,

yes, but to share her, not to leave her.

Sammy whined again, both in her sleep and as her dream-girl. She couldn’t believe him.

He looked to Mesa, to Sammy, growling softly. Kody loved them both.

Mesa sighed, coming to nuzzle his ear, one big paw landing on Sammy’s side.