Hidden Destiny (Redwood Pack) (26 page)

“And you’re helping him with what he doesn’t know. It isn’t like you have nothing to do.” She was making sure of that.

“You don’t have to try and make me feel better, baby. I’m okay with what happened. We’re both alive, and Corbin is dead. I don’t need anything else right now.” He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck. She shuddered beneath him, angling her head so he would have more access. Her wolf ached for her, ached for what they were lacking.

Four weeks had passed, and they
still
hadn’t bonded.

She’d been healing all this time, unable to do more than breathe and sleep because the wounds had been that bad. Even though she’d been down for only a couple hours after being bit by two Alphas, that had been different. The near-death was almost always healed quickly because of the change that was occurring within the newly transformed wolf.

Hannah had rushed to her side almost as soon as she’d blacked out. The Healer had used all she could but hadn’t been able to Heal her fully. Lexi was fine with that since she’d been alive to feel the pain at least.

She and North agreed that because the moon goddess had put her energy within Lexi’s body, it had taken a toll. Yes, they’d hurt the demon, but Lexi knew it also hurt her in the process. She still had no idea why the moon goddess had chosen her at that time and place to help, maybe the goddess hadn’t been able to do so until right then. That meant though, that they had no idea if the goddess would be able to help again in the future.

The demon wasn’t dead.

Far from it.

Nothing could be done for North though, and it hurt her to think about.

Once the Redwoods and Talons had killed the other Central wolves, they’d cleaned up the bodies, tended their wounded, and tried not to celebrate the death of the wolf that had taken so much from them.

It didn’t seem fair to celebrate when so many had died before and when the demon was still alive, ready to fight again.

Yes, the wards and Lexi had hurt Caym, but she knew that hadn’t been enough.

Their fight wasn’t over, no, far from it.

They’d done all they could with the power they had. Now it was time to find another way…a way Lexi wasn’t sure of.

The Talons had left saying they’d be back to help in the war. She had a feeling a bond had been struck, and there would be a future with them…if the Redwoods had a future to begin with. That, though, was another story.

Now she was healed, and her wolf wanted their mate.

She lifted her hips, cradling his cock, and North froze above her.

“Lexi,” he rasped out. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She tugged on his hair to bring him closer. Her mouth trailed along his temple so he would be able to feel her lips move as she spoke. “You’ll only hurt me if we don’t complete the bond. Come on, my mate, it’s time.”

He growled then rose slightly above her. “If you’re sure.”

She growled back then reached down toward his cock, moving him so he brushed against her entrance. “I’m already wet for you. Make love to me. Mark me. Mate with me. Please, my North.”

He filled her slowly, oh, so slowly, and she sighed. She’s missed the way he felt inside her, so full, so right. He put both forearms to her sides so that they could tangle their fingers together then pulled out of her. She moaned at the loss of contact, and then he pushed back in, just as slowly.

His gaze met hers. Even if he couldn’t see a thing, she could still see the beauty of him and his love for her. He made love to her, soft, sweet, and oh so gentle.

This wasn’t about scorching heat and passion—no, that would come later. This was about love, mating, and everything they’d been denied for so long.

Her hips met his with each thrust on a slow roll, and he grinned down at her. They both panted as they rose up, their climaxes almost there. She turned her head to the side, inviting, and then whispered his name.

Taking his cue, he bit down on her shoulder, his fangs sliding in smoothly. It was an exotic pain, sharp, yet erotic as he marked her. He pulled away, blood dripping from his mouth then turned his head so she could do the same to him. He tasted of sweet wine and brandy, a delicious combination that set her off, her body coming around his cock.

His seed filled her, and she felt the snap of the bond settling into place.

She looked at him, at the glow that surrounded them, and felt him through their bond.

“I don’t need to see you to know you are beautiful, my Lexi,” North rasped out, awe lacing his tone. “I can
feel
you in my heart.”

She sniffed, tears running down her cheeks, and lifted her head so she could steal his lips in a kiss.

“This is it, North Jamenson. This is our destiny. Our forever.”

He smiled down at her. “You’re my forever. You’re my everything.”

As he was to her.

For eternity.

Caym ran a hand down his face, the rigid scars from that wolf-bitch’s claws pressing against his palm. She’d surprised him, that wolf. Oh, he’d liked the fire in her eyes when she’d attacked him and then thrown him into the wards.

If he’d cared just a little bit more, he’d have liked to see how long it took to extinguish the fire before he eventually killed her.

Now, though, that didn’t fit into his plans. Maybe if he had time when he killed the Redwoods, one by one, he’d play with her a bit.

She seemed like she’d enjoy it as he sliced ribbons into her flesh.

The sounds of Takeo drums filled the air, and he looked at the Pack circle, bored. They were celebrating the rise of a new Alpha as their old one had died so…tragically.

Caym had been smart to blood bond with Corbin—not that he knew how to be anything else but smart. When he’d first come to the Centrals and had found Hector lacking, Caym had decided to make Corbin is prey. They’d blood bonded as a rite of passage and tradition. For Corbin, it had been so he could have demon powers. Or at least that’s what Caym had told him. That stupid fool. Corbin had received nothing from the deal but a good orgasm while Caym now had control of the entire Central Pack as Alpha.

Oh no, he’d planned for the eventual fall of both Hector and Corbin and had known that one day he would stand as Alpha for a group of wolves he was slowly killing.

It didn’t matter.

They would die, as would the other wolves.

Then he would rule what was left.

The sound of the drums beat faster, and wolves fought against each other in dominance battles, blood spilling over the soil, enriching the battle. He inhaled the coppery scent, letting it linger over him.

He’d planned since the day he’d come all those years ago, and now everything was coming to fruition. Yes, the Redwoods had gotten in some punches, but now they were licking their wounds.

He’d taken limbs, sight, pride, and innocence, and soon he’d take their lives.

The Centrals were prepared for battle, and the Redwoods were scrambling for a resolution that would never come. This is what he savored, what he desired above all else. They stood by their decisions to stay light and pure, and it would kill them. He’d plucked out those who would fall to him and go dark, but the rest stood strong on a path that would eventually lead to the death of what they held most dear.

He would see their blood running in rivers through their precious land, and he’d rejoice. He was a demon, not something to be trifled with. Corbin’s loss meant nothing to him but the end of a dalliance that had done nothing but bore him. The Central wolves were so far gone in their downfall they didn’t care that a blood-bonded demon and not a wolf now stood in the position of their Alpha. They didn’t care that the goddess hadn’t seen fit to reveal the Beta and the Heir. They didn’t have the other positions and that meant the goddess was giving up on the Centrals. At least that’s what Caym thought anyway. The lack of real connection to the goddess was good though, which meant Caym didn’t have another in competition for the loyalty of the Pack.

It didn’t matter, as the Centrals would soon die and Caym would remain strong.

He was Alpha.

He was a god.

He was the savior.

He was eternity.

He would not fail.

Coming Next in the Redwood Pack world:

Jasper and Willow find their peace in a novella that visits them one last time: A Beta’s Haven, coming Feb 14
th
, 2014.

Then the Redwood Pack Princess and the wolf that just might save them all get their story in the final installment of the Redwood Pack:

Fighting Fate, coming June 2014

Thank you so much for reading
Hidden Destiny
! It seems like forever ago that I started the Redwood Pack book and now we’re at book 6 in the series. North and Lexi were a blast to write even when it pained me to put them through what I did. I do hope if you liked this story, that you would please leave a review. Not only does a review spread the word to other readers, they let us authors know if you’d like to see more stories like this from us. I love hearing from readers and talking to them when I can. If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
; follow me on twitter at
@CarrieAnnRyan
, or like my
Facebook page
. I also have a
Facebook Fan Club
where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.

What’s next in my Redwood Pack world? Next month (Feb 2014), I’m releasing my next after the HEA novella called
A Beta’s Haven
. In it we get to see a glimpse into Jasper and Willow’s life since we saw them fall in love in
A Taste for a Mate
. Not everything is sunshine and roses once an author says The End in a book and I’m so excited for you guys to see a little more about Jasper and Willow. The next—and last—full length book in the Redwood Pack series is
Fighting Fate
. While it does come out in June, I am just now starting to write it. I can already tell you that Cailin and Logan’s story is the hardest I’ve had to write. It doesn’t help that I don’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

You don’t have to worry though because this year I also have 2 more Redwood Pack novellas, and then in 2015, we will see the start of a brand new series, The Talon Pack. We’re going 30 years into the future and not letting go of the Redwoods. You’ll see them again, only this time, you get to meet a whole new batch of Alpha wolves.

Thank you so much for going on this journey with me and I do hope you loved North and Lexi’s story as much I did. Without you readers, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thank you again for reading and I do hope to see you again.

Carrie Ann

USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

www.CarrieAnnRyan.com

Now Available:

Redwood Pack Series:

An Alpha’s Path

A Taste for a Mate

Trinity Bound

A Night Away

Enforcer’s Redemption

Blurred Expectations

Forgiveness

Shattered Emotions

Hidden Destiny

Holiday, Montana Series:

Charmed Spirits

Santa’s Executive

Finding Abigail

Her Lucky Love

Dreams of Ivory

Dante’s Circle Series:

Dust of My Wings

Her Warriors’ Three Wishes

An Unlucky Moon

Ever After

Montgomery Ink:

Ink Inspired

Coming Soon:

Redwood Pack

A Beta’s Haven

Fighting Fate

Loving the Omega

Dark Fates

Dante’s Circle:

Tangled Innocence

Fierce Enchantment

Montgomery Ink:

Ink Reunited

Delicate Ink

From USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Dante’s Circle Series

Did you enjoy this selection? Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?

Chapter One

The fiery depths of hell were a cool afterthought compared to the torment of what lay before him. Hunter Brooks ducked the punch aimed at his head and rolled to the ground, coming up on his feet a few yards away. He never let his gaze leave his opponent, even as he moved his arm to stop a kick to the neck.

The low roll of thunder in the distance set his wolf on edge, but he tamped it down. The rain would come eventually, and Hunter wanted to make sure he was done with this before then. The circle was already a mud pit, the wet sludge clinging to his torn jeans—he didn’t want to deal with more of that.