When a Pack Dies (12 page)

“Leave the door open,” Ryan asked like he did every night. “ ‘Night, Fina. ‘Night, Cutler.”

“Good night, Ryan,” they said almost at the same time and left.

In the family room, Cutler stretched out on the big sectional.

“Hey! Sofa hog,” Fina grouched then headed for the kitchen. “Want something to drink?”

“No. I’m good,” Cutler answered absently. He picked up the remote, looked at it then tossed it back onto the coffee table. He dug his fingers into his eyes. “State Inspector’s coming by the station house next week.” He rolled his neck and stretched his arms overhead until a couple of his vertebrae popped.

“Is that unusual?” Fina asked as she poured ice and water into a glass.

“Routine,” Cutler answered curtly. “They send somebody every year.” His eyes tracked Fina as she walked back toward him. “There’s some running around to do before they get there. Make sure the filing is caught up and the evidence locker is tidy...that sort of thing. Thanks,” he added when he reached up and took the glass from her hand. Cutler drank about half of it before handing it back.

“You’re pushing your luck tonight, Sheriff,” Fina groused, looking at her half-empty glass. She took a drink then set it down on a coaster.

“Yeah? Wanna see what else I can push? Hmm?” Cutler taunted. He grabbed Fina’s waist, dug his fingers into her ribs until she laughed then pulled her down next to him.

Fina perched on the edge of the big sofa, her hip beside Cutler’s and lay her hand on the middle of his chest. The two of them looked at it for awhile—her small, pale hand riding the steady rise and fall of Cutler’s massive chest. After a time, Cutler reached up and combed his fingers through Fina’s heavy, reddish-brown hair.

“You’re beautiful,” he said quietly. “I don’t tell you that often enough.”

Fina blushed and looked away. Cutler brought her gaze back to his by laying his finger beneath her chin. He looked up at her thoughtfully. He wanted to mate with her so much the wanting had become need. He’d waited until she’d stopped bleeding and had given her another two weeks on top of that.

“Cutler...” Fina said hesitantly, “Y-you said awhile back that you wanted me for your mate. You
and
Nath did.”

He nodded, waiting for her to continue, and traced her jaw with the tips of his fingers.

“As much as I...appreciate your saying it, I know it was only to make me feel better. Like I could still be wanted...after...” Her voice trailed away self-consciously. “It was sweet and I love you for saying it, but I won’t hold you to it.”

“Come here.”

“Pardon?” Fina’s breath caught at the low rumble of command in Cutler’s voice. There was tenderness in it too and her brow furrowed at the dichotomy.

“I
said
,” Cutler said firmly. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled Fina’s small body on top of his. “Come. Here,” he repeated, saying it gently this time and arranged her limbs until she was stretched out on top of him. He kissed the tip of her nose and ran his big hands up and down her back. “My wolf has chosen you as its mate, Fina Whitesage,” Cutler said like he was explaining something to a child. “Our kind believe that there is one true lifemate for each of us and my wolf recognized you as that the second I walked into the café and smelled you.” Fina’s blue eyes were wide and startled and Cutler smiled at her tenderly. “Now it does not necessarily follow that the human part of me will love my mate.” Her expression dimmed and Cutler cupped her face in his hands. “But in this case I do, Fina. I love you.”

“Don’t do this to me, Cutler.” Fina squirmed, trying to get away, but his hands returned to her back and he held her easily.

“Do you think I’m lying?” he asked and his brows drew together. The light from the kitchen caught his shimmering, aqua eyes and emphasized the dark, luxuriant fringe of his lashes. “Delusional? Heartless? Cruel?”

“No of course not but—”

“But what, Fina?”

Fina placed her palms on Cutler’s thick shoulders. She should feel foolish, perched on him like an infant, but she didn’t. Cutler was big and powerful and his body supported hers effortlessly. She rose and fell with every breath he took and she could feel his hard body against every inch of hers and she liked it...liked it on a level that was unexplored and wonderful. Fina chose to deliberately ignore those feelings. “You’re an
Alpha
, Cutler,” she blurted out and now it was Fina’s turn to sound like she was explaining something to a child. “You’ve taken me in, sure, and I’m grateful—don’t ever think I’m not. But my pack is dead. I have no status, no standing. I’m a
stray
for crying out loud,” she barked into his face. “Alphas don’t mate with strays. That’s only one step above rogue and the distinctions are thin. Your pack will never accept me as top bitch.”

“Are you finished?” Cutler demanded hotly. He exhaled hard and his lip pulled back from his upper canines. “Jeez...you’re just about the most stubborn, idiotic woman I’ve ever met, Fina Whitesage,” Cutler exhaled again but this time he did it slowly, reigning in his anger. “I love you, Fina,” he said with stark finality. “Do you believe me?”

“Cutler, I—”

“Do you believe me?” he growled at her and his big hands eclipsed her slender shoulders.

“
Yes
,” Fina hissed in annoyance. “There—are you happy? You don’t have to go all Alpha on me you know.”

One corner of Cutler’s sensuous mouth quirked up. “It’ll do. For starters.” He ran his hands up and down Fina’s back again, liking the way her warmth bled through her soft, linen blouse. “I didn’t say it would be easy on you. There are members of my pack who will see you as an interloper. Women especially.”

“Oh and let me guess...the young unmated ones who’ve been chasing your tail for years.”

“Well...yes,” Cutler admitted with a shrug. “I’m older than you, Fina. I’ve been an Alpha for almost six years. I’ve dated,” he added dryly.

Fina laughed and tucked her face in beside Cutler’s thick neck, hiding the blush heating her cheeks. He hugged her to him and let his hands move over her waist, the curve of her hips, her jean-clad thighs. Laying his hand on the small of her back, he held her to him, making sure she felt the unmistakable swelling of his cock. She stiffened then squirmed uncomfortably but didn’t pull away. Instead she chewed on her lower lip.

Cutler took hold of her chin, tilted it up and kissed her gently. He tasted warm, male and salty. His tongue swept her lip when she stopped biting it. Like before, Cutler’s kiss was patient, sensual but most of all confident. He was a man who knew what he wanted, held it in his arms and entertained no refusal.

Knowing that, Fina was surprised when Cutler pulled back and looked up at her with those infuriatingly seductive, aqua eyes.

“If you tell me you don’t want this...you’re not ready for this I’ll stop,” Cutler explained quietly. His big hands moved over her back, warming her and that warmth slid straight down to her nether regions. “I want you, Fina Whitesage. I want you for my mate and I
will
mate with you. Whether tonight or sometime down the road. Give me a good reason, a reason that isn’t a lie or fear,” Cutler added quickly, “and I’ll stop.” He shifted and Fina felt his erection dig into then ease away from her thigh. “I won’t like it but I’ll stop.” Those full, sensuous lips of his curled up in a naughty smile that made Fina want to chain him to the sofa, shred his clothes and hump him like a mad dog. She figured he had that affect on women.

He leaned back and waited like he had all the time in the world.

Fina didn’t feel a need to fill the silence stretching between them with blathering. Instead she thought her situation through. She and Ryan were strays. They needed the security of a pack. Cutler had offered his. Cutler and Nath had offered more. It was immodest but Fina realized her value. The daughter of Alphas, she would birth strong, singular sons capable of leading a pack. Strong, beautiful daughters who would attract the finest, strongest males from other packs. In short she was a helluva addition to any gene pool.

Even though he was an outsider male, this pack accepted Ryan as one of theirs. He hadn’t been turned away and he wouldn’t be. By mating with this Alpha and trumping the deal by mating with his Beta as well, Fina would ensure her security and through her, Ryan’s. Not to mention the fact that the Powell brothers were hotter than hell and just being in the same room with one of them made her panties smoke.

Fina hid her grin as she gave in to the truth of that.

Her pack was dead. She’d fostered the only other survivor as if he were her own cub. Running had served a need in both of them but maybe it was time to stop.

Nodding quietly, Fina dipped her head and kissed the corners of Cutler’s mouth. A low rumble, more of a feeling than a sound moved from Cutler’s chest into hers and he tightened his hold on her. He lifted his chin, grinned and exposed his throat to her.

Blinking, aware of the vulnerability and honor he was granting her, Fina kissed the hard column of Cutler’s neck, carefully ran her tongue over the roughness of his beard stubble. She breathed in his scent. Both Fina and her wolf trembled. It was a fine, sensual shimmering that raised her hair, thrummed through her spine, womb and pussy. Fina’s toes actually curled inside her cotton socks. This prime, powerful male was hers to claim. He was offering his status, strength and protection. Only a fool would reject him and Fina was no fool.

With a deep rumble of pleasure, Cutler ran his hands over her ass then squeezed gently. Fina trembled and gasped when Cutler’s long fingers found the seam of her jeans and traveled back and forth between her legs languidly, pressing only hard enough to tease. “
Cutler
,” Fina breathed against his skin.

When she started to shake, Cutler shifted her weight, slid her body off his, stood and picked Fina up. He carried her to her bedroom. He could smell her burgeoning arousal but mostly he smelled resignation. It wasn’t what he’d hoped for but maybe it was all she was capable of giving right now.

“I won’t hurt you and I’ll never betray you, Fina,” he whispered into her hair before he set her on her feet. Cutler closed the door behind them. “Your wolf wants me.”

She blinked then nodded.

“You don’t trust me fully yet. Hell you probably don’t really trust anybody anymore.” He put his hands on her shoulders then slid them onto her chest. His fingers rested on the top button of her blouse. “I know what kind of man I am—how I’m going to treat you. You
will
trust me in time.” Although he spoke quietly, Cutler’s voice had that firm, confident undertone only Alphas really mastered. “Me
and
Nath,” he added and his thinning mouth begrudged the mention of his brother only a little. “What you feel for me now is lust and maybe gratitude. It’s nowhere near what I want but it’ll do for now.” His eyes shimmered palely in the moonlight and Cutler eased the first button on her blouse open then the one below that.

“Damn you’re beautiful,” he whispered as he eased her blouse off her shoulders. He tossed it onto the chair in the corner of her room then cupped the bottoms of her lace-covered breasts in his palms. Cutler stepped closer, growled quietly and brought his mouth down on her throat.

Fina shivered and it wasn’t entirely with pleasure. Cutler’s lips were warm, firm and smooth and they fastened on her in an open-mouthed kiss that made her breath catch. He was also twice her size, monstrously strong and could tear her throat out effortlessly. Harnessing her unease, Fina lay her palms on Cutler’s shoulders. She focused on the heat coming off his body, his patient, confident vibe. It felt good to be held—to be this close to another living being. Sensing Cutler’s need for her and his control of it, Fina relaxed and allowed herself to accept the pleasure he offered.

“Hmm,” he breathed against her skin and Fina felt his smile. Without asking, Fina unbuttoned Cutler’s shirt, pulled it free of his jeans and tossed it onto the chair with hers. She traced the thick muscles on his arms, enthralled by the warmth and smoothness of his skin. The dark curls on his chest teased the skin between her fingers. Cutler inhaled sharply when she ran the fleshy part of her thumbs across his nipples. He growled and scored her throat with the tips of his canines but his touch was so delicate that Fina only gasped before she leaned in closer.

When Fina’s breasts pressed into his palms, Cutler sighed with contentment. Fina was his. Maybe he hadn’t been able to claim her spirit fully—yet—but he’d be satisfied with her body in the meantime. He squeezed gently then stepped back to trail his fingers down her abdomen and unfasten the button of her jeans. In silence, they removed each other’s clothing until, naked, Cutler eased back the sheets on Fina’s bed, lay down and held out his hand.

Fina’s eyes flared and her wolf prowled the confines of her mind restlessly, licking its lips. Cutler naked was the most erotic thing she’d ever seen. His endlessly broad shoulders and thick chest shimmered in the moonlight. Long legs, powerful thighs and a thick, daunting cock standing straight up almost pulled Fina’s eyes out of their sockets. Suddenly her wolf wasn’t the only one licking its lips and Fina blushed when Cutler chuckled.

“I feel the same way about you,” he grinned and, propped up on one elbow, beckoned her forward with a subtle movement of his hand. She placed her palm in his and lay down beside him.

The smile he gave her was gentle yet very male when he cupped her mound. Inhaling sharply, Fina’s neck arched and her knee rose like it had a mind of its own. Cutler’s long, thick fingers slipped between her legs. He squeezed firmly, his fingertips pressing against the mouth of her core then he slid his hand away. Fina sharp rebuke died when he lifted his palm to his mouth and, his eyes never leaving hers, slowly and deliberately licked the taste of her from his hand.

Sexual need ratcheted her insides, twisting her as she watched. He made a quiet sound of disappointment when his hand was clean then wrapped it around her breast, the one farthest from him. The other he bent to, drew her nipple into his mouth and tongued it languidly.

“Sweet Jesus,” Fina sighed and gripped his head.