Voracious (6 page)

Chapter Ten

The storm waged war outside, tiny pieces of ice slamming against the glass like bullets from Mother Nature. It had been three days since Dalia’s intimate encounter with Alric and Sam. It had been three days where she had felt cherished and loved, where she had only known pleasure and safety. How she longed to stay right here, letting Sam and Alric cocoon her, but she knew that wasn’t possible.

Clay would be coming soon. Dalia could feel it.

Sam and Alric had wanted to venture out to get help from their pack, but she insisted they wait the storm out, because it was far too dangerous.

Telling them they could die before they even reached the foot of the mountain and got help seemed to put some perspective into them. What would be the point of trying to get help if they died in the process?

She could leave, ensure they were safe if Clay came after her, but she couldn’t risk the baby, not in this storm. She’d barely been alive when she’d gotten to their cabin.

The wind howled outside, and Dalia placed her hand on the glass, feeling the iciness of the storm seep into her body. The weather continued its destructive path through the area, covering everything in a blanket of white. There had to be numerous feet of snow already on the ground. The blizzard had only relented for a few hours at a time, and each time it returned with a vengeance.

A fire roared in the hearth, and the smell of garlic and rosemary filled the cabin. Sam and Alric insisted on cooking her dinner, insisted on taking care of her. With her they were so attentive, so thorough.

It was hard not to just let go and accept all of this, and to not let anything come between them.

But that wasn’t her reality.

She turned her attention toward the two males that had changed her so much and in such a short time. Alric stood over the stove stirring the sauce while Sam washed the vegetables for the salad at the sink. Just watching the two of them, so masculine and virile, do something so domestic brought a smile to her face and warmth to her chest. As if they both sensed her gaze, they faced her. Alric had a bit of sauce on his chin, and Dalia couldn’t help but laugh. Sam wiped his hands on his apron, and looked at Alric.

“Something funny?” Alric stood there with one eyebrow raised. Sam had his hands on his hips and scowled at her, but she didn’t miss how his lips twitched in suppressed amusement.

“No.” She feigned a serious expression and stood. Dalia moved into the kitchen and stopped a few feet from them. She raised a brow. “There’s nothing funny about you two cooking.” She couldn’t stop from smiling then.

They looked at each other again.

“No, baby girl?” Sam smirked.

“Of course not. You wearing an apron
isn’t
funny as hell.” God, when was the last time she’d felt so light?

Never.

Sam stared at the apron then back at her.

“And Alric has sauce on his chin.” She reached out and wiped the sauce off with her finger. She brought it to her mouth and sucked it off. The flavor was heady, and mixed with the masculinity that was all Alric.

When she stared into both of their faces she no longer saw the hint of humor reflected back. Now they both held heated expressions that had nothing to do with dinner or the topic they were just discussing.

Their expressions were those of carnal hunger.

For her.

“You two are insatiable.” Her throat tightened as her desire rose.

“We’re only insatiable for you, baby. And of course each other.” Sam smirked, which was just a lift at the corner of his mouth. “But it’ll only ever be us, baby.”

It was so sexy, and she instantly became wet.

Alric walked around the counter and buried his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. Sam moved behind her, lifted her hair from her neck, and kissed her nape. Being sandwiched between them had her feeling wholly feminine and instantly aroused.

“Don’t worry, baby.” Alric’s warm breath tickled her flesh, and she shivered in their arms. She could feel both of their erections pressing against her belly and lower back. “We’ll make sure to feed our mate before we ravish her.”

“Suddenly I’m not hungry.” Her statement was a breathy moan. She heard them chuckle and felt the vibrations throughout her whole body. They may have not known each other for very long, but whatever connected them was strong and undeniable.

How could she question something that felt so right?

Before they could respond something loud and heavy slammed against the front door. She instantly felt Alric and Sam tense. They placed their bodies in front of hers, and the temperature in the air dropped.

Whoever or whatever was on the other side of that wood was dangerous enough that Alric and Sam felt the need to shield her.

Had Clay found her already? If so hell had just come to this cabin.

Chapter Eleven

Alric moved toward the door while Sam stayed with Dalia. He kept his body in front of her, one of his arms behind him so he gripped her waist. She held onto him, her heart pounding as she watched Alric move closer and closer toward the door.

She hated being afraid, hated that her life had been reduced to this shit.

This was the day she’d feared, the day she had been dreading. Was it Clay on the other side? Or maybe one of his men that was like a lapdog, waiting for orders?

Sam sensed her unease and gripped her tighter. She wanted to bury her face against him, wish away all the horrible things that could be on the other side of the door, but she couldn’t force herself to do that.

Before he opened the door Alric stopped and looked at them. Silent communication passed between them. He turned, gripped the handle and opened it. The blast of snow and wind that entered the house took her breath away, but Sam blocked her from the onslaught.

She looked over Sam’s arm and saw a figure cloaked in black standing on the other side, his head bent low and a hood covering his face. His arm was propped in the frame, seeming to hold him up. A second passed. Then the stranger lifted his head and stared at Alric, then at and Sam, and finally at her.

He held their gazes for so long she found herself glancing away, the awkwardness and an uncomfortable feeling settling deep in her belly. She had never seen him before, but there was something haunting about the way he stared at her.

Sam and Alric must have sensed it, too, because Sam pushed her behind his broad back even more.

“Please, I ask for refuge from the storm.” His voice was deep and sent a chill down her spine.

And before anyone could say anything the man came inside. The door was shut to stem off the onslaught of the storm, but she kept her focus on the man.

The room immediately warmed, but the tension and silence were deafening.

“What’s your name?” Alric asked in a hard tone.

“I’m sorry to intrude, but I was hunting before the storm came through. It caught me off guard. I have been hiking for the last hour before I finally saw the lights from your cabin.”

Dalia felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

“I ask for a short reprieve in your home if you allow it. Just until the storm eases up again.” He pushed his hood down. His hair was dark and fell to his shoulders. A jagged scar ran from his eyebrow to his chin. He was a wolf, that much was clear by the smell of him, but there was an underlying odor that tickled her nose.

Alric glanced over at them, and Sam’s grip tightened on her for a moment before he turned around and started leading her toward the back bedroom. When the door of the room the three of them shared was shut, Sam turned and looked at her.

“We want you to stay in here until that wolf leaves. Just to be on the safe side.” Sam ran a hand over his short hair and sighed. “The storm should let up soon, and then he’s out. Until then Alric and I would feel more comfortable if you weren’t around him since he is unknown to us.”

That was fine with her. The stink of his inner wolf had been strong. “I didn’t like the feeling he gave me anyway.”

“I know, baby. We felt there was something off about him, but the storm is fierce right now and sending him out there would mean his death.” Sam sounded strong, powerful. “But we are watching him. We won’t let anyone hurt you, least of all a drifter.”

The sound of Alric’s deep voice penetrated the walls, but she couldn’t hear what he said.

“I’ll bring you in some dinner.”

Dalia smelled of both Sam and Alric. It was a comforting aroma that had her smiling. The room they shared was large, with dark wood and masculine colors. The bed was big and easily fitted the three of them, especially when there were bouts of late night sex. Even thinking about them had her aroused. It was a constant ache inside her that would not be sated.

The door opened a moment later, and Alric walked in. “Sam and I are taking turns staying out there with him.” He held a tray with a plate of food on it for her. He set it on the dresser and sat down beside her on the bed.

“If I didn’t know any better I’d think you guys are trying to fatten me up.”

Alric took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth. “You need to keep a healthy weight, especially for the baby.”

Her gaze dropped to her belly, and she covered it with her free hand again, rubbing it in small circles. “How do you two feel about me carrying another male’s child?”

She really hadn’t meant to ask the question, but as of late that was all she had thought about. Alric held her gaze, not saying anything for so long that she started to grow uneasy with what his answer was going to be.

“Dalia,” he glanced down then lifted his eyes back to her. “I won’t lie and say Sam and I are pleased that you carry another wolf’s young.”

Her heart plummeted to the ground, and she fought back her tears.

“Oh, no, sweetheart. Please, you misunderstand what I’m saying.” He brushed a tear away that she hadn’t realized had slipped free. “The fact that a bastard raped you and the child growing inside you is the result infuriates us.”

His words had her speechless. “You barely know me, but you love me and my baby.”

The sigh that came from him seemed loud in the room. “You’re ours, Dalia. Our animals know that they have found their mate, and the emotions are hard and strong. There is no denying that we love you, because you are ours.” He placed a hand on her belly. “And this baby is ours.” His smile was soft. “When I realized Sam was my mate I loved him right from the beginning. There was no other for me after that.”

Her heart jumped at the words.

“And as soon as we saw you we knew you were ours. We loved you from the very beginning, Dalia,” Alric said again. “I won’t say this isn’t happening fast, because it is, but when you find something that you know without a doubt is meant to be yours forever, the rest just falls into place.”

The sincerity of their words cut right into her heart. She felt an undeniable connection with the two of them, but was it love? She had never known the emotion and didn’t know if what she felt was that. Just the thought of them not with her left a hole in her heart.

Did love cause that kind of pain?

“It’s okay, Dalia. We aren’t going anywhere. What we have is something that doesn’t happen every day. Sammy and I have an infinite amount of patience and know that when you are ready you will feel just as strongly as we do for you.” He kissed her hand again and stood. “You need to eat before the food gets cold, though.” He smiled—all straight white teeth.

She felt his gaze on her. Alric watched her, his expression soft. “Aren’t you going to eat, too?” she asked.

“Once I know you’ve had your fill I will. There is plenty so don’t worry.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb, and she felt her flesh heat.

Since first meeting them Dalia had felt like Alric was the more aggressive male of the two. Whereas Sam seemed to be more compassionate and in tune with his gentler side, Alric’s alpha male roared through from the very beginning. But right now he seemed so soft toward her, so attentive to her needs.

Would she ever get used to being treated like this?

Chapter Twelve

Something had woken Dalia up, but as she lay in the dark she couldn’t hear anything. The feeling of dread crept inside her until she felt on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. She reached out, searching for Sam. After dinner Alric had switched places with him. They had lain on the bed together, his big arms wrapped around her. One of them was always with her, and she hadn’t felt more love than she did when she was with them.

She hadn’t seen the wolf shifter again, the one who had said his name was Jackson Holler of the Holler pack. They hadn’t heard of his pack before, but that didn’t mean anything. There were so many shifter packs in Colorado and the surrounding states that keeping up with all of them was impossible.

She was alone in bed now.

Dalia slipped from the bed then grabbed a robe and donned it, covering herself even though she wore a bra and panties. She listened again, wondering what had woken her but still heard nothing. A sense of dread and foreboding washed through her. She knew that feeling all too well. She’d been living with t her entire life.

The only sound that penetrated the darkness was the sound of her beating heart as it pounded through her ears. Something wasn’t right. Dalia didn’t need to have her acute shifter senses to know that. She made her way toward the door and opened it. The first thing she noticed was the frigid temperature in the living room. It pierced through her robe. She gripped the lapels together and peered around the doorframe.

The front door was open, and a light sprinkling of snow blew in through the opening.

The firelight cast shadows throughout the room. She rounded the corner and stopped, her heart jumping to her throat. Someone sat in front of the fire, and a tingle of dread raced up her spine. The light cast shadows, but she didn’t need to see him to know who it was. As if he sensed her presence he stood and turned around.

The expression on Clay’s face was one of concealed amusement, but then he glanced up and down her body and that look was replaced with raw fury.

“I see you wasted no time being another wolf’s whore. Or should I say
two
wolves, little bitch.”

The sound of his voice was like a bullet to her heart. Fear instantly slammed into her, and she shook. Where were Alric and Sam? Were they okay?

A wicked breeze blew through the doorway, and she shook harder. She looked around the room frantically, praying to the heavens that Clay and his followers hadn’t hurt them. The room had been destroyed. There were several pieces of furniture knocked over, pictures askew on the wall, and broken glass on the floor.

How the hell hadn’t she heard any of this?

Dalia searched her surroundings frantically again, needing to make sure Alric and Sam were safe. But as the moments ticked by more fear filled her that they weren’t.

“Oh, come on, you sweet little thing, you know better than that. I wouldn’t outright kill them.” Clay took a step toward her and she wanted to flee, but fear, and a bit of strength rooted her to the spot. “I want them to watch what I’m going to do to you. It’s been a long time coming, Dalia, especially since you thought you could run from me and take my heir.” He took another step and another and another until he was right before her.

She covered her belly protectively and swallowed. She stared at the cold, hard expression on Clay’s face.

“I thought about waking you, but you looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to ruin it. I mean, you aren’t going to get any more peaceful rests once I take you back with me. You do realize, because of your mistakes, you will be made an example of. I can’t have my pack thinking I let my mate run wild, fucking whomever she feels like.” He lifted his hand.

She flinched away. “You don’t own me.”

He chuckled after she spoke.

He grabbed her chin between his fingers and tilted her head up. “You stupid bitch. I do own you, every part of you.” His voice rose.

“Please, Clay.” She hated begging. “Don’t hurt Sam and Alric. They were only helping me.”

His laugh was deep and sinister. “So, on a first name basis? I guess you’d want to be if you let them inside of you.” He snarled. “If them fucking you is considered helping you out, than I’ve been doing that since you were given to me.” He leaned down until his lips were close to hers.

Clay didn’t move or speak for long seconds, and then he grinned wider and pulled back.

“Nathan. Joshua. Bring in the fuckers who took my mate from me.” Clay inhaled deeply then scowled harder. “You fucking reek of them, Dalia. You stink of their seed.” He shoved her away so hard she stumbled backward and fell on her ass. She scrambled backward, but movement to her right had her looking and watching in horror as two of Clay’s followers dragged in Alric and Sam to the center of the room, both males unconscious.

A sob tore from her, and she covered her mouth with one hand and reached out to them with the other.

“You see, Dalia.” Clay held his hand out, and she followed the movement, seeing the man that had deceived them walk in. “When Jackson came across this cabin he was going to wait the storm out, but you can’t imagine his surprise at seeing the female I had asked him to track standing right before him.”

Her mouth was drier than dirt. The revelation was too much, and although she had known there was something wrong with Jackson when she had first seen him, she hadn’t thought he had been connected to Clay. Or maybe she had and she just hadn’t wanted to admit it?

Clay crouched down in front of her, his face mere inches from her own. “When you give me my heir and I’ve had my fill of you, I’m going to make you pay.”

Sick dread swirled around her and she thought she would pass out, but she forced herself to stay conscious. “How—” Her voice cracked, and she couldn’t finish her sentence.

“How did I get your two lovers away from you and in the state they’re in right now?” He
tsked
at her and walked over to Alric and Sam. She couldn’t see them very well from her position, but she could smell the blood in the air. She hoped they were okay.

“You don’t have to do this, Clay. I’m sorry I left. I’ll go with you now and do as you say. Just leave them alone.”

Clay pulled a cigarette out of his pack and lit it. He inhaled deeply and kept his gaze on hers the whole time. “I have to give these fuckers credit though. They put up one hell of a fight, but they were no match for ten wolves from my pack.”

Dalia closed her eyes. She could only imagine what they’d done.

“That motherfucker.” Clay pointed to Alric, and she moved closer. “You should have seen how crazy he went when we showed up.” Clay laughed, which caused the rest of them to do the same. “The other one came out after we had his buddy tied up. He was about to shift, but when I threatened to kill his friend and then do unspeakable acts to you, he did what I said.” Clay inhaled again, held the smoke in, and then smiled.

She hated him.

“I’m surprised you slept through the whole thing. They must have really fucked you good.” A disgusted expression covered Clay’s face. “Enough talk about what a fucking slut you’ve become. When this asshole saw how bad Joshua had fucked up his friend’s face, he also went crazy.”

Joshua started laughing and gave a kick to Alric then Sam.

Dalia cried harder, feeling rage burn within her. Thank God she could see the rise and fall of their chests.

“As you can see we have the situation under control.”

“You’re a monster.” The words spilt from her mouth before she could censor them. She expected Clay to become furious with her backtalk, but he just stared at the other men and chuckled.

“I see being around these two has given you loose lips.” He flicked ash from his cigarette and gestured her forward. “Come here, sweet thing.”

She hated his pet name for her, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. She knew from experience that to deny Clay anything would just earn her a lot of pain, and if she wanted to get out of this alive she had to play along.

When she was standing beside him he nodded toward a few of his men. They grabbed Sam and Alric under their arms and tossed them onto the couch. Their hands were bound, and now that she saw their faces she cried harder. They were bloody and bruised. All she wanted to do was lash out at Clay for the pain he’d inflicted on the males she had grown to love.

Yes, she loved them.

“Joshua, wake those boys up. I want them to see what they will be missing when I take Dalia away.”