Phantom Warriors: Arctos (11 page)
Read Phantom Warriors: Arctos Online
Authors: Jordan Summers
“Are you sure you have to leave? Al ie asked.
Caitlin folded the last of her clothes. “Yeah,” she said quietly.
Al ie came around to her side of the bed. “I’m going to miss you.”
Caitlin choked. “I’l miss you, too.”
“Wil you at least visit?” Al ie asked.
Their gazes met. “I wil if I can,” Caitlin said, then picked up her suitcase and camera equipment.
“I don’t mind giving you a ride to the airport. I know you said that you don’t need one, but it would give us a little more time together,” Al ie said, snagging a tissue from the nightstand.
Caitlin smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but Arctos has taken care of the transportation arrangements.” The ship was cloaked right outside of town. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Caitlin wouldn’t have believed it.
Al ie rushed into her arms and hugged her tight. Caitlin hugged her back, taking care not to hurt her friend with her newfound strength.
“I’d better go,” she said. They were going to swing by her apartment in Virginia before they headed to Zaron.
Caitlin pul ed away, brushing at her tears.
This trip to Alaska had turned out to be more of an adventure than she ever imagined possible. Caitlin knew that she had her friend to thank for her newfound happiness. Had it not been for Al ie’s stunt, she’d have never met Arctos.
“Thank you for everything,” she said.
“You’re welcome.” Al ie gave her a watery smile as Caitlin stepped through the door.
“You take care of yourself,” she said.
“I wil .” One hand rested on the doorknob, while her other dabbed at tears. “Cat?”
Caitlin stopped to look back. “Yes?”
“Would it bother you if I dated Michael?” Al ie blurted.
“He kind of asked me out after we found you with the naked guy.”
Caitlin blinked, then threw her head back and laughed.
“Of course not. Go for it.”
“Good! Because I think he’s the one,” Al ie said.
Caitlin shook her head and smiled. Arctos appeared as if by magic at the bottom of the stairs of the apartment building. He stared at her, his warm brown eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Al ie could keep Michael. There was only one man for her and he wasn’t even from this planet.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she said. Caitlin took a deep breath and opened her heart for the first time. She thought it would hurt, but it didn’t. Love flowed through her, raining down upon his golden head.
Arctos smiled, letting her know without words that he was there to catch her. He’d always be there. For she was his true-mate. His life. His love. And he was hers.
AIDAN’S MATE
MOONLIGHT KIN BOOK ONE
COMING SOON
Aidan turned to the plump breast beside his face. He plopped the rosy nipple into his mouth and began to suck and nip at the sensitive nerve-endings. The tip beaded eagerly in response. Hunger engulfed him, al consuming, insatiable, and demanding. Aidan’s shadow-self rose to the surface to investigate.
He released her ample bosom, so he could view the woman lying beside him. Beautiful as only a female werewolf could be, her red hair flowed like fiery embers over her silken back. She was lush, pale, and most definitely ripe for the taking.
She nudged his massive shoulder with her nose, her yel ow-green eyes urging him to stake a claim. Tempted, he held himself in check, waiting to see what she would do.
The woman draped her long leg over his lap and swiveled her hips. As if Aidan needed further proof of her wil ingness,
her body flooded with pheromones,surrounding him—tantalizing.
He hardened as the urge to rut increased. Aidan felt his fangs lengthen and his bones begin to shift. The woman’s eyes shimmered in anticipation and she bared her throat. Aidan clamped his jaw shut, slicing his gums in the process. He swal owed the blood in disgust. It was too easy.
She
was too easy.
The woman whimpered in frustration.
Aidan growled.
The female-were lowered her eyes and scooted off his body. She moved a smal distance away until they were no longer touching. Aidan watched her from beneath hooded eyes. He would not al ow any were-woman to make demands of him. After al , he was alpha of this Moonlight Kin pack.
He rose out of the bed, his nakedness as comfortable as his favorite robe. Aidan glanced back. The woman immediately spread her thighs for him. He had no doubt she could slack his need, but then what?
Aidan couldn’t see himself mated to a female like that.
Where was the chal enge? Where was the hunt? It didn’t matter that the pack expected him to choose a woman. He knew his duties better than anyone. He just wasn’t in a hurry to settle.
It was then that Aidan realized the real problem. He was bored. Not even a wil ing female in heat interested him anymore. Nothing but his Chosen would satisfy his growing appetite. Unfortunately, he’d been unable to find her. And after years of searching, Aidan had reached the point that he was beginning to question her existence.
It’s not like she’ll walk up to the door and knock
. The wry thought humored his foul mood.
Stil , he knew he had to keep looking—or at least give the appearance of continuing the search. It was either that or have the neighboring packs show up on his doorstep.
So he wiled away the hours in the company of various female pack members, their warm bodies bringing release, but little comfort. He needed an heir, and wil ing or not the were-women had been unable to produce one. A sure sign they were not his Chosen.
That’s why he’d been so reluctant to bite any of them.
Restless, Aidan walked to the balcony off his master suite and shoved the French doors wide, al owing the darkness to embrace him.
The scent of pine trees surrounded him, their needles rustling in the warm summer breeze. The roses that grew in his garden perfumed the air. The night sounds were like music to his werewolf soul. He listened to the crickets sing, their chirping orchestrated to perfect syncopation.
In the distance he scented deer as they made their way through the woods, their silent hooves fal ing on the soft blanket of ferns below the green canopy.
He threw his head back and let out a mournful howl, strangely diminished by his human form. Creatures scurried for cover and the woods seemed to hold its coniferous breath.
Somewhere out there his Chosen waited, but tonight he’d have to settle for the wil ing female in his bed.
Bitter, Aidan returned to the woman. She eagerly parted her ample thighs. Without preamble, he mounted her. He worked her sex until she climaxed, then carelessly spil ed his seed. There were no soft words or gentle touches. No love or affection. This was duty, nothing more, nothing less.
She waited a moment to see if he’d ask her to stay.
Aidan didn’t. He wanted to be alone. He sent the woman back to her chambers in the east wing of his home that housed a portion of the pack, then wandered out onto the balcony.
“Where are you?” he muttered. The wind’s low moan was his only answer.
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