A Cursed Embrace

Emme addressed one of Liam’s wolves. “You can have one of mine, too,” she said softly. “Out of everyone, you worked the hardest, no matter how tired you were.”

Liam agreed. “She’s right, Nehemiah. You showed tremendous heart and a great deal of skill.”

The wolf smiled shyly at Emme and took a flag. “Thanks. You did good, too.”

Koda put his arm around Shayna and addressed the remaining students. “Those who have flags, you earned a ride and your privileges. Everyone else, start running. I’ll meet you at the Den.” He kissed Shayna. “I’ll see you back home, baby.”

Shayna joined us as we collectively angled toward the path. I couldn’t help noticing she lacked a skip to her step, and the sadness that dulled Koda’s irises when she left his arms.

“That exercise went well,” Gemini said. “It tested their endurance and the skills they learned this past term. I’m impressed that the majority didn’t allow their beasts to dominate. That tells me they’ll maintain their focus in battle.”

Aric nodded. “Everything worked out better than I imagined. Hell, they did amazing considering they didn’t know what to expect from our girls.” Aric smiled at me. “Celia, maybe we can incorporate your evasive techniques for our graduates next year. You gave everyone a great chase.”

Aric said a few more things, but I was still stuck on the “next year” comment. Maybe I wasn’t his mate. But he’d introduced me to his pack and he’d refused to let me go.

I just prayed the year he anticipated wouldn’t be our last.

CHAPTER 20

I woke up at ten in the morning to an empty bed scattered with pillows and twisted sheets spilling over the sides. The gentle scrape behind the closed bathroom door told me Aric was shaving the beard he’d grown during his past week away from me. I found my discarded shirt and replaced the panties he’d torn off with his teeth. I’d missed him so much. His deep insatiable kisses and our multitude of romps throughout the night confirmed he’d missed me, too.

The blistering July sun brightened the room as I spread the drapes and opened the blinds. I thought to make the bed, but the tap of Aric’s razor against the white ceramic sink beckoned me to my wolf. His absence had left me restless and unable to sleep. And it wasn’t just because I desired him next to me. I feared what he hunted because of what, and how easily, it could kill.

A trail of bodies had led Aric and neighboring were packs as far out as Utah. Maybe I should have felt a sense of relief that the attacks had left the Tahoe region. My tigress warned against it. A demon lord and his vampires lurked somewhere out there. He and his legions continued to stalk, continued to feast. The escalating reports of missing men and women verified as much and promised more death.

I opened the double doors and stepped through, unable to stop the smile my Aric’s presence brought me. He was home. At least for the moment. And, more important, he and his Warriors remained safe. So I put aside my reservations and fears and continued toward him.

He grinned when he saw me. “Good morning, beautiful.”

My hair was mussed from our antics and my eyes puffy from lack of sleep. Still, I appreciated him believing so. I stepped behind him and hugged his waist. Aric’s clean, strong scent at the start of the day was at its most addicting. I kissed along the slope of his spine, making him groan. “Good morning, wolf.”

My hands wanted to play. Instead I sashayed to the other sink, adding a little more sway to my naturally exaggerated catwalk. Aric leaned back and locked on to my backside. And that’s how he stayed while I brushed my teeth. “I’m going to shower after I finish shaving. Want to join me, baby?”

I rinsed my mouth and pushed out my butt just a little more, swinging it slightly. “Sure, if you want me to.”

Aric stopped his razor midstroke. “Well, you know what they say, ‘Save water—shower with a werewolf.’”

“Mmm. Yes, your kind is all about saving the environment.”

“Damn straight.”

I laughed as I dried my hands. Aric lathered his jaw and made quick work with his razor. He scowled at his cell phone when it rang. “Could you tell me who’s calling, sweetness?”

I flipped his iPhone over and read the out-of-state number on the screen. Aric wiped his hands and took it out of my hand. He answered with a big, affectionate grin lifting the edges of his mouth. “Hey there, pretty lady.”

Pretty lady?

A female responded in a playful voice. “Hello, handsome.” She paused. “You were supposed to call when you got back to your place. I was worried.”

I stood there with my jaw inches from the russet tiles. What the hell?

Aric winked my way. “I got distracted.”

“I’m sure you did, but that’s no reason to forget about me,” she teased.

“How could I ever forget about you?”

I stormed into the bedroom, completely pissed off and ready to set everything Aric owned on fire.

So I’m not the only one. None of this was real. I’m just another one of his freaking playthings. Damn it. DAMN IT!

I opened the window and knocked the screen out, ready to throw Aric’s crap on the lawn in true Diary-of- a-Psycho-and-Scorned-Latina-who-can-change-into-a-tigress-and-beat-your-ass fashion, when he strolled in and sat on the bed. He did a double take upon catching my tigress eyes blinking back at him and my fangs ready to tear flesh. I thought I saw understanding fill and soften his expression, until the bastard grinned—grinned.

He reached out, trying to grab me. I smacked his hand hard, breaking a few of his fingers. “Ouch!” he mumbled, before laughing. His fingers realigned almost immediately, making me want to break them again, along with a few other body parts.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” the hussy asked.

Aric spoke through his increasing chuckles. “Hold on a second.” He held the phone out to me. “Celia, my mother is on the phone. Would you like to say hello?”

“Your mother?” I asked in a small voice.

Aric lurched off the bed and shoved the phone into my hand. He snickered and brought it to my ear when I gawked at it like an idiot.

“He-hello?” I dissolved my fangs, though they weren’t the cause of my stutter.

“Oh, Celia!” Her voice was warm, and her thrill at speaking to me as clear as if she stood before me. “It’s so nice to finally talk with you. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you from Aric.”

You have? I covered the phone. “Does she know we’re living together?” I whispered just above a breath.

Aric tugged off his boxers, not bothering to keep his voice quiet. “That’s not all she knows about us, hot stuff.” He danced his eyebrows at me.

I reeled away from him, ignoring his come-hither physique, and tried my best to start a half-intelligent conversation with his mother. Aric, of course, just had to seek revenge for his broken fingers. He pushed me onto the bed and held me with one hand, while the other wandered under my shirt.

“I’m looking forward to meeting you, dear. Would you and Aric like to fly out to Colorado and spend Thanksgiving with me?”

I couldn’t answer. My free hand was busy trying unsuccessfully to push Aric off me.

Aric’s teeth latched onto my nipple. “I think my mother just asked you something, Celia,” he muttered through tiny nibbles.

“Um, I don’t know.” That was me, goddess of wit, charm, and self-control.

Aric yanked off my panties and took in my flushed skin. “Sure, Mom. We’ll fly out for the holiday.”

I don’t think Aric’s gruff voice registered with Mama Connor. She continued in that same lovely pitch. “Of