Shared for Love (Kagan Wolves) (14 page)

His earlier thought returned. He tilted his head and studied her through narrowed eyes. “How much do you know about wolf shifters, Agent Montgomery?”

She sighed. “Not much, I’m afraid. I did receive some basic training when I started working as an agent, but nothing in depth.”

“And they haven’t given you more because…?”

She ran her finger around the rim of her mug. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

He swept his gaze over her, then made a choice. “Well, I don’t have time to tell you everything, but I can share the one truth about shifters that will help you understand my dilemma.”

“And that is?”

“The role of alpha is only secured through death or transfer, and I can guarantee you Michael Tanner will never willingly pass on the role of alpha to me. That leaves death. His or mine.”

A considering expression passed over her face. Finally, she inclined her head. “Okay, but what about the hours between now and the full moon? We’ll arrest Michael, get what knowledge out of him we can, then you can have him back. Kill him. Whatever.”

The viciousness of her suggestion tore a chuckle from him, but the reality of his situation stopped him from allowing her idea to take root. “I can’t take the chance. The lives of my pack mates are at stake.”

“If we bring in agents and—”

“No. I claim exemption from human interference in this case.” He hated the idea of pulling the trump card guaranteed to shifters from the historic papers signed over a century ago, but he had no choice. Pack law had to rule. That insisted on death—Michael’s or Ethan’s in a formal challenge under the influence of the full moon.

“Are you making an official claim?”

Which stated that he, as a shifter, was above human law. The lawyer side of him scoffed at the idea. It was unethical. He was going to commit murder. Leave a female widowed and children fatherless.
It’s for the good of my pack, and I’ll do all I can for Michael’s family. He brought this on himself.

He ignored the uneasy feeling settling in his gut and nodded. “Yes, but I will hand over those shifters I suspect have been helping him. It’s the best I can do.”

Lip caught between her teeth, she stared at the small computer drive. “I want access to his computers, at least.”

“Done. You can look at any of my pack mate’s belongings. We have nothing to hide.”

She sighed. “I can’t say I’m happy about it, but I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“No. I’m afraid not. Neither do I.” Though he wished he did.

Close to a minute passed before her shoulders slumped. “All right, then. So…your brother”—she picked up the drive and curled her fingers around it—“how long has he been missing?”

“Twenty years.” He’d disappeared days after Mindy had died.

“You do realize he’s probably either dead or has gone feral by now, right?”

Feral.

The word landed hard in his gut. Shifters who embraced their animal side were labeled feral and considered a danger. They were either killed or caged for the rest of their lives.

Owen’s smiling face flashed across Ethan’s mind. Maturity hadn’t dimmed Owen’s boyish looks. His hazel eyes, which had always held a spark of humor, and his mop of unruly dark brown hair added to the image. It was the memory Ethan held close. The anger in Owen’s expression once he realized Ethan wasn’t his blood brother offered another side, one Ethan hoped Owen had embraced, even if it had left him feral. He’d still be alive. The pack could help him heal his broken mind. They couldn’t bring him back from death.

“My brother is strong, but I also have reason to believe he’s been kept alive as a deterrent to stop me from challenging our alpha. I was told if I do, an order will be carried out to end his life.”

She gave a small nod. “Okay, then. That’s good news, I guess. I’ll go through this and start pulling some strings. Hopefully, we’ll get a lead on him in a few weeks.”

“That’s not good enough. I need to know he’s safe by midnight tomorrow.”

“There’s no way I’ll find him in”—she glanced at the clock on the wall behind her—“thirty-three hours.”

“Then Owen will die.”

A murderous look on her face, she stood and planted her palms on the desk. “You’re asking the impossible. I can’t—”

He dug out a wrinkled picture of Owen, one of the few he had, and tossed it beside her lion mug. “Then his death can rest on both of us. I can’t wait to make sure he’s safe. Do you understand me?”

She inclined her head. “Absolutely. I understand. You’re a coward.”

“No. I’m just a male who’s forced to make the hard decisions for the good of his pack. I can’t risk my pack mates’ safety on the slim possibility I’ll be able to find my brother, a male who may or may not be alive. Just like I can’t risk their lives so you can interrogate Michael.” He snorted. “Yes, it sucks, and my failure will haunt me for the rest of my fucking life, but that makes me an alpha, not a coward. If you don’t understand the difference, you don’t know what a real coward is.”

“Sure I do, Mr. Lyons. The goddamn bastard who claims to be my true mate is one.”

And Ethan had to agree with her. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything for the human. If her shifter refused the gift he’d been given, there wasn’t a thing anyone could do change his mind.

Chapter Fifteen

Ethan scanned Hannah’s property before pulling into her garage. He’d taken a risk coming out to her place. Not because he worried about being seen by a Kagan pack member. He didn’t care if her family found out he’d been in her bed. Noah’s involvement in their life complicated things, however. Ethan was confident her family would come to accept their arrangement out of love for her. Noah had agreed. They’d want her happiness above all else.

What he didn’t want was for Mindy’s Aunt Nona to find out. Ethan had insisted the older woman would need to learn the truth. Noah couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not yet. For the time being, they’d agreed not to broadcast his connection to Ethan and Hannah, and that meant making sure the Kagan Pack protectors, who watched the main road leading into their territory, didn’t see Noah enter.

But if word got back to Nona? Well, Ethan figured it would save him the arguments.

The garage door rumbled and creaked, then clunked closed. He slipped from the driver’s seat, shoving his phone and keys in his pocket, and settled his gaze on where Hannah stood leaning against the doorjamb in a short black robe. Affection and lust burned in her eyes. He let the same flare in his, then turned his back on her and tugged the blanket off the male hiding in the backseat of his car.

A wicked grin spread across Noah’s face. “Hello, lover. Funny meeting you here.”

“Damn lucky, you mean. I need you.” Ethan fisted Noah’s shirt and yanked him from the car, kicking the door shut behind him. Noah let out an oomph Ethan swallowed on a hard kiss. He led the other male in a passionate melding of their mouths they hadn’t shared in months.

Noah linked his arms around Ethan’s chest, accepting his demands, and allowed Ethan to support him. The moment Noah arched into him, Ethan lost what little control he had. He pushed Noah against the car, caging him in with his legs locked on either side of Noah’s thighs, and devoured him as completely as Ethan had taken Hannah’s mouth the night before.

It felt good to hold the strong dominant in his arms, knowing Noah would let Ethan do anything he wanted to him, over and over, until Ethan was spent and too weak to move. He slid his hands under Noah’s shirt and dragged his fingers over his muscles. The dips and grooves of his perfect body set Ethan on fire.

His. The male was
his
.

Ethan broke their kiss and stared into the face of his lover, the one he’d neglected for too many months. Noah panted softly, and his wet, slightly swollen lips tempted Ethan to dip his head and taste Noah again, but Ethan only had a few moments before Hannah worked up the courage to approach them.

He slipped his hand to the back of Noah’s neck and bent close, holding him in place. “I love you. Don’t fucking forget that, no matter how much of a possessive, domineering asshole I might act toward you tonight. I need to be in charge. To show my wolf you’re mine too, and you’re not trying to steal Hannah. That you want to please her. Please me. You understand?”

Noah grabbed Ethan’s ass hard with one hand and skimmed the fingers of his other in a gentle caress over Ethan’s back. The two extremes tore a shaky breath from him. He dropped his head against Noah’s shoulder. Deep inhales filled Ethan’s lungs with Noah’s scent while the small licks of his lover’s tongue over Ethan’s throat skipped sparks of awareness down his spine.

“I want that, Ethan. Actually, I need the reminder that you desire me too. That you’re not just going to replace me.”

“No.” Ethan turned his head and nipped at Noah’s neck, biting hard enough to leave the imprint of his teeth on Noah’s skin. It was the most Ethan dared do in order to show Noah who he belonged to. Noah’s pleased sigh rewarded Ethan. “Never. Hannah’s a gift to both of us. We’ll treasure her, not use her as a substitute.”

Noah nodded and squeezed Ethan tight once more before dropping his arms. Ethan sensed why too. Hannah had taken a couple of steps into the garage but hadn’t closed the distance between them, probably unsure of her welcome. She still didn’t grasp the power she held over them, something Ethan planned to change before the night was over.

He stepped away from Noah and went to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her as deeply as he had Noah. She curled her fingers around Ethan’s neck and went limp in his embrace. He grinned against her lips and broke their kiss by swinging her into his arms. He carried her into the kitchen but paused near the table to steal another kiss from his female.

Noah stepped behind him and grabbed the waistband of Ethan’s sweats, brushing his knuckles against Ethan’s skin. The first low growl of his wolf echoed in his body, but not as aggressively as it had radiated within him yesterday. He tightened his control over the animal, demanding its obedience, but the effort left him tense.

He ground his teeth, annoyed by the primitive animal he housed. He had so little time to love Noah and Hannah before Ethan became alpha. He needed to make sure his wolf accepted their arrangement before then. They didn’t have the opportunity to work through their issues slowly.

Hannah ran her hands over his chest. “Ethan, kiss me again. I want your lips on mine.”

So did he, but it wouldn’t prove anything to his wolf. It already knew he desired her. “In a minute. I wasn’t done kissing Noah. I want more of his moans before I take yours.”

Noah stepped around them, not needing any direction as to where he was supposed to go. The knowledge that he understood what Ethan wanted pleased him. Noah slid his hands under Hannah’s body, placing his arms next to Ethan’s so their skin touched. Ethan’s wolf went silent. Either from the familiarity of Noah’s body or the presence of Hannah’s, Ethan couldn’t pinpoint the reason for its peace. He was glad, though. The slow swipe of Noah’s tongue along his bottom lip made Ethan’s mouth water.

“Well?” Noah cocked a brow. “Are you going to kiss me or not?”

“Come closer, and I will.”

Noah leaned over Hannah’s body. Eyes closed and mouth opened slightly, he looked inviting and eager. The small sign of submission only cranked up Ethan’s hungers.

He tilted his head and dragged his flattened tongue over Noah’s lips before slipping inside and claiming Noah’s mouth with deep strokes.

Hannah released a shuddering breath and squirmed in their arms. They both took a small step closer to each other, locking Hannah firmly between them, and continued to kiss, deeper and more sensually than they had in a long time.

For so many years, their encounters had been limited. Whenever they grabbed a chance to be together, lust had ruled. It simmered between them with Hannah in their arms, but there was more than desire fueling the dance of their tongues. Love passed between them. Hannah’s tentative caress on his jaw intensified it.

“Beautiful.”

Her single whispered word pulled Ethan’s attention to her and ended the sensual kiss with Noah, at least for the moment. Hannah’s dilated eyes matched the praise she’d given. She’d enjoyed the show.

“It was, but so are you.” Ethan bent and gave her another kiss, but she quickened the strokes, demanding more than the reverence he offered. He eased back and glanced at Noah before he gave in to her. “Your turn. Kiss her until you know she’ll do anything for us.”

Noah inclined his head, then glanced at Hannah. “You already will. Won’t you, love?”

Ethan slipped one hand free and pressed against the back of Noah’s head, urging him closer to Hannah. “I said kiss her, not talk to her.”

Noah’s soft chuckle reached Ethan’s ears before it became muffled by Hannah’s mouth. She’d stretched forward and kissed him, taking the choice out of his hands. Noah growled and took her from Ethan’s arms, then pushed her back against Ethan’s chest and ate at her mouth with barely leashed hunger. The sight pleased Ethan.

“Beautiful.” He repeated the praise Hannah had given.

Too caught up in the moment, neither of them responded to Ethan’s whispered word. He didn’t mind. It gave him a chance to watch them together. Ethan let his wolf feel what it did to him. How aroused it made him to see Noah lost in the moment.

Noah ran his hands over Hannah’s sides and yanked at the ties of her robe, tugging the knot free, but he didn’t part the material. He grasped her wrists and pulled them taut over her head. She gasped, the sound swallowed by Noah’s crazed kiss. He released her arms, but she didn’t drop them. She arched, pushing her shoulders into Ethan’s chest, and grabbed at his head, holding on tight while Noah kissed her.

“Fuck, yes.” Ethan closed his eyes and enjoyed the pinch of her nails in his scalp. “Kiss her harder. I want to hear her whimper for you.”

Noah kept loving her mouth, over and over, until she offered up the soft sound Ethan craved, but Hannah’s restless squirming demanded more. Ethan reached around her body and cupped her breasts, pinching and rolling her nipples. More moans rewarded him, but her quicker breaths spoke of how excited she’d grown from only their kiss.

Noah had given her the first orgasm she’d shared with them. Ethan wanted the second, and he wanted her to come apart around his dick. He might not be able to fuck her on his pack’s sacred grounds for fear of being discovered, but the Kagan’s ceremonial circle was close. Her pack spirit would bless them, guaranteeing they’d always be drawn to each other. He was certain of it.

She would know the depth of his commitment to her then. The significance of the act wouldn’t be lost on her. He would never experience the same passion in any other female’s arms as he would with her. She’d own him, maybe not literally, but she’d be the only woman who would be able to bring him to his knees and make him beg. Then again, he’d have the same rights. Damn if that didn’t appeal to him. He didn’t mind admitting it either.

He fisted Noah’s hair and tugged, forcing him to break the kiss, then waited for him to meet Ethan’s gaze. “She’s mine next.”

“Then I get to hold her while you lick her clit.”

“You see, lover, that’s not how this is going to work.” Ethan repeated the words Noah had given the night before. “I want her, and I’m taking her as is my right.”

“Your right?” Confusion pinched her brows.

He nodded, a slow dip of his head that left her gazing at him wide-eyed. “I’m going to make love to you for the first time on the ceremonial field in the way of an alpha. You understand what that means, don’t you? That your body will belong to me just as mine will be yours?”

“Yes.” Barely audible, the single word held excitement.

He grinned. “And after I’m done loving you, Noah will. He’s going to fuck you while I watch and fill you up too. When I said you’d belong to us, I meant it, even if it’s only symbolic. He will claim you every way I do, so if that’s not what you want, tell me now, and we’ll…”

They’d what? Anything else would cut Noah out of their life…out of their eternity. He was certain of it.

“I want him. I want you. Both of you, every way I can take you.” She turned in his arms and rested her palms against his chest. “But what are you talking about? You don’t have the right to make love to me on your pack’s sacred grounds or mine. You’re not from the alpha family. You were born to beta parents.”

He covered her hands. “Yes, I was raised by two wonderful, amazing beta shifters, but I was born by an emergency caesarian section performed on the old alpha’s mate the night Michael took over. I’m the last Jager male, and with you by my side, I’m going to reclaim my pack.”

She blinked a couple of times but didn’t say anything for a long moment. Finally, she whispered, “How did you find out?”

He sensed the danger looming ahead but couldn’t lie to her. She needed to understand everything. “My foster mother told me. I was more aggressive than my brother, Owen, and used to push him away from her whenever she gave him attention.”

He rubbed at the back of his neck. The exact memories had faded, but he hadn’t forgotten any of the times his brother had cried because of him. “I was more dominant and acted on it. I’m not proud of it, but I was only three or four at the time. I didn’t know any better. Once she explained why, I worked hard not to treat Owen differently. We aren’t animals, she’d said. We’re brothers, if only by love.”

Anger flashed across Hannah’s expression. She scrunched her nose and shoved him, catching him off guard. He stumbled into the counter at his back and grabbed on to the edge so as not to fall on his ass.

She stood there, his little warrior, with her fists curled at her sides and body vibrating. “Excuse me? You knew you were the old alpha’s son for what… Fifty years?”

He dipped his head. “About that, give or take a year.”

She took a step forward, then another until she invaded his personal space. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and tugged, forcing him to her eye level. “So you knew you were the rightful shifter to house your pack’s spirit and that you were strong enough to take it back from Michael. Am I following this correctly?”

He sighed. “Yes.”

“So why haven’t you? You’ve told me how unhappy you were with the way Michael ruled your pack. You’ve even questioned whether or not he’s the one responsible for the horrible accidents that have plagued your pack mates. So why have you let them suffer?”

Noah stepped next to her. “Aren’t you even a little bit happy that he didn’t challenge Michael? Had Ethan claimed his pack upon maturity, he would’ve taken a mate and had at least one kid with her by now.” He narrowed his eyes. “And you would’ve missed out on us.”

“Of course, I’m grateful for that.” She glanced from Noah to him, an imploring look in her eyes. “But I don’t understand how a dominant as strong as you are could just stand by and watch Michael
cleanse
your pack of members he deems unimportant. Explain it to me, Ethan. Please. Because it sounds damn selfish to me.”

“Selfish?” Noah spun her to face him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Ethan has done everything he could to help our pack. He’s invested nearly every dollar he’s earned and has been slipping money to our pack mates in need. He’s also been manipulating Michael so he doesn’t fly off the damn handle and punish someone whenever something goes wrong.”