Pack Captive (Moon Called Book 1), page 13
But Ryden was as worked up as I was, all the muscles in his body clenching as I slid my lips over him again.
His fingers had been trailing through my hair, but they tightened. I felt him harden and sucked deeply when he groaned.
Hot come burst into my mouth and I swallowed, licking his cock clean.
Who am I?
I felt dazed, but still hot and jittery with desire. All the old arguments played in my head: he tied you up, he stole you, he gave you no choice.
But I wanted him so badly I had no words for it.
All I knew was that he was going to be mine one day.
"Fuck, Ayla," he whispered, pushing my hair out of my face and cupping my cheeks. "I'm never letting you go."
I looked up at him, taking in the bright blue of his eyes, the flush across his cheekbones. The sweat that gleamed on his broad chest was just as attractive as it was an hour ago.
I still wanted to run my hands and tongue all over him.
But I remembered the bracelet, its weight. I was starting to forget it was there.
And once I forgot I was a prisoner...what then?
Would I blindly follow Ryden, forgetting who I was, obeying his every order and hungering for him?
Sex was not a fair trade for freedom, and I could follow Yasemin's lessons about being a protector of all wolves perfectly well while hating the position I'd been put in.
"Don't worry," I told him. My body still wanted him, but my mind was cooling. I pushed away from him, climbing off the bed. "I can't go anywhere, remember?"
I extended my leg, making sure the shackle was in plain sight.
And for a moment, Ryden looked guilty.
18
Ayla
The Lunar Circle, which had looked so big during the day, was packed with wolves by night, feeling tiny and cramped.
My palms were already sweating, and the ritual hadn't even started.
The night sky was the velvet black of a dark moon cycle, and the only light came from the torches that had been mounted on the circle of columns. The light played off the hard faces of the wolves, who were silent and arrayed around the circle by pack affiliation.
The Claws were to the left, stoic and grim. I had no doubt they were wondering if I was even up to the task.
The Warriors were on the right, Eryn at the forefront. He nodded to me, and I wondered if he knew my legs still felt rubbery from the afternoon's work.
Alpha Ryden and Calian were directly across the circle from us Callers. Ryden hadn't removed the shackle, and his eyes were shadowed as he watched me.
I'd been dressed in the ceremonial attire given to mating-age Callers, a golden dress that showed more than it covered, with heavy gold bracelets lacing up my arms.
Yasemin and Kadin were both more modest, lucky wolves.
There was definitely an ulterior motive to how revealing my clothes were—showing off a potential mate. They made no secret about the fact that they needed more Callers being born.
And with Kadin so young, I was the only one who could potentially fulfill that role.
I took a fortifying breath and looked up at the sky. Somewhere behind those wispy clouds and the few stars that winked at us, the moon was hiding its face.
I needed to rip enough power away from it to prove to these wolves that I could be of use to them.
In preparation for the upcoming ritual, Yasemin had filled a stone bowl with moon-blessed water. Now she moved throughout the Lunar Circle, chanting intonations as Kadin followed with the bowl.
Yasemin stopped in front of every wolf, dipping her fingers in the water and painting it over the lunar runes on their foreheads.
She'd told me this was to make them more receptive to the power I was to draw down. Like a conduit, the lingering remnants of the last moon cycle amplifying what came from the dark moon.
Once I'd imbued them with enough power, I was to run with the pack and keep the power flowing.
I tried not to think too hard about the fact that this was my only chance. Failure to draw enough power was simply not an option.
Yasemin finished the water markings with Ryden. I met Calian's dark eyes across the circle, then my gaze slid to Ryden against my will.
The memory of earlier brought a faint flush to my cheeks. I hoped if anyone noticed, they thought it was because I was scared shitless.
Ryden stared back at me as Yasemin painted over the runes on his forehead. The blue tattoos glimmered, dark against his skin.
I took my place at the top of the circle as Yasemin and Kadin brought the bowl back and refilled it with water.
A faint prickling ran over my skin, and I knew the time was almost right; although I couldn't see it, the moon was gliding into position over the sky, when it would be perfectly aligned with the lunar circle.
I just wanted to get it over with and prove that I could.
With what seemed like agonizing slowness, Kadin refilled the stone bowl to imbue the water again, and Yasemin went to the columns behind me. We each had our role to play in this ritual, taking on the aspects of maiden, mother, and crone.
As I drew the power down, Kadin would channel what she could into the water, and Yasemin would push the power down into the runes protecting Lykos, renewing its protections.
The prickling on my skin became a hum in my veins. I felt the power of the moon pulsing all the way down into my bones, shaking the marrow.
It was time.
I began the dance slowly, ensuring every movement was precise, as demanded by the dark moon.
During a full moon, a Caller could dance wildly, gripping raw power and shoving it into the warriors. Now I had to repeat the deliberate steps of earlier and pray it worked.
There was no music as I danced, but there didn't need to be.
The power itself was the music, and my relief was overshadowed by the electric feeling of it flowing into me.
I closed my eyes, pretending the other wolves weren't there, that the weight of their eyes wasn't on me. All I felt was the moon, the energy that coursed into me and the feeling of lightness as the power shone through my runes.
Spinning around the circle, I felt the first connection as I joined with wolves who weren't my original pack. It was like standing blind in a dark room and realizing without a doubt that someone else was in there with me.
My Caller marks had connected to the lunar runes of one of the Warriors. Another one soon joined it, and even with my eyes closed, I could sense the connection between us, the sparks of life on the other end of the power.
They kept flowing into my consciousness as I spun around the circle, dipping and rising, my hair flying with every step.
I knew Ryden when his marks joined with mine, and then Calian. They felt much closer than the others, almost like I could reach out and touch them through the power alone.
My feet were aching when the moon's power began to ebb, and with every step it became harder and harder to keep a grip on it.
It was moving out of alignment with the circle, and soon I'd have to open my eyes and see what I’d wrought.
A sheen of sweat covered my skin from the incessant dancing, and as the moon moved away, the prickling sensation faded, leaving nothing but the breeze to cool me down and whisper through the branches of the willows.
I ended the dance where I began, slowing to a halt and taking several measured breaths.
Then I realized it wasn't the willows making the sounds. They were murmurs, growing louder.
I opened my eyes and almost threw up a hand to protect my eyes from the brilliance.
Both Claws and Warriors muttered to themselves, looking at each other. Their lunar runes were lit so brightly the blue had vanished, replaced by the harsh glare of pure white light. Even the torches were drowned out by their brilliance.
I gaped at them, my gaze traveling around the circle and coming to rest on Ryden and Calian.
The Alpha and his Second stared back at me, with an emotion I couldn't quite place.
Calian tilted his head and said something to Ryden that was so low I couldn't make it out.
The Alpha nodded in response, and I finally realized what their emotion was.
Awe. Which, despite being overjoyed that I hadn't embarrassed myself and my ancestors, made me more than a little uncomfortable.
I was a nobody, from a valley no wolf had ever heard of, not something to be looked at like that.
I took a step back, closer to Yasemin, who felt like a safe harbor against what I was seeing. Even the Claws were shooting me glances that were a hell of a lot warmer than they'd been when I arrived.
I heard a soft laugh behind me, and her walking stick poked me in the back, herding me back towards the circle.
"I don't think so," Yasemin said, a wicked glint in her eye when I looked over my shoulder at her. "Your place is to run with the pack now."
"This must be a mistake," I said hoarsely, my throat suddenly dry.
How could I have done this? I'd never managed to tear this much power from a dark moon before.
"There is no mistake." Yasemin's voice was firm. "When a Caller is attuned with her pack, the flow of power becomes easier to manage. All this means is that you were meant to come to us."
I should've been absolutely gleeful that I'd managed this, but instead I was beginning to feel terrified, like I'd set a precedent I'd never be able to match again.
One of the Warrior wolves stepped forward, touching his runes.
"Not even Tyra managed this," he said. He directed it to Ryden, though he glanced at me when he said it.
I felt a brief flash of smug satisfaction. At least I'd managed to beat the mysterious Tyra at something.
Ryden gave me one of his smoldering once-overs, the kind of look that brought the flush back in full force.
I couldn't help but remember the way his arms had felt around me, sliding over my skin...
"Because she wasn't made for this pack. Ayla is. She's one of us now." His blue eyes went around the circle, landing on every wolf. His gaze hardened and lingered on the Claws, particularly Sorana, who looked mutinous. She was the only wolf who didn't seem happy. "And you will all treat her as such."
The Warriors nodded fervently, and Ryden raised a fist. "This dark moon will be unlike any other. This changes everything. We're no longer weak against Fenris, and our ancestors' power is with us."
"Claws." Calian stepped forward. "Warriors. Caller." He nodded to me respectfully, and I had the sense that something in him had shifted towards me. Like I'd finally, truly proven that I could be trusted. "Let's get out there and fucking ruin Fenris's night."
The wolves cheered, blasting howls into the night as they shifted.
Eyes flashed as the wolves paced, growling low in their throats.
"That's your cue." Yasemin gently nudged me with her elbow. "You run with the Alpha and his Second."
I looked out at the howling wolves, all of them ready for blood. Ryden towered over even the Claws, his eyes fixed on me like he was waiting for me.
This was the opportunity I'd been waiting for—a powerful pack to take on Fenris, to rip my pound of flesh out of him in retribution for my dead Warriors.
I shifted, feeling the freedom of four legs, my nose picking up the individual scents of the wolves as easily as if I'd looked at them.
I knew Ryden's scent perfectly by now, the clean spiciness of it filling my nose as I weaved through the pack to his side.
Calian's ears pointed upwards, the tips of his teeth shining. Are you ready?
For a moment I was shocked I could hear him, but then I remembered that the ritual had linked us.
I was truly no longer Pack Vesper's alone. They weren't just the pack, but my pack now.
I'm ready.
Let's run. Ryden's muscles bunched, and he shot forward, Calian at his side.
Within several paces I caught up, falling into an easy lope as the pack followed. We raced across the sky bridge, yips and howls echoing down into the city.
Through the Dawn Palace, past the wolves of Lykos, and through the gates...and from there, freedom.
19
Ayla
I wanted to take off running as fast as I could just for the hell of it, to stretch my legs and feel like I wasn't a prisoner anymore.
But it felt natural running next to Ryden and Calian. I sensed the undertone to their thoughts, the single-minded purpose in hunting for shadow wolves.
Still, I couldn't help but veer to the side a little, letting my paws splash through the edge of a stream, inhaling deeply and relishing the thick scent of night flowers and clean water.
It almost reminded me of home.
I felt the current of amusement winding through Ryden's thoughts, but he quickly turned back to business.
We leave the forest, he said to both of us. We need to use this power while we have it.
I drew closer to his side, our paws beating a drumming tattoo on the packed trails. Behind me, the rest of the pack's thoughts were becoming clear, and they had the same focus as Ryden.
This sense of freedom was nothing new to them; all they cared about was the fact that for once, they had the upper hand during a dark moon, and they craved violence.
As long as I was with them, channeling the power, I could give them that.
We tore over the trails, heading into deeper forest. Droplets of dew splashed off leaves and onto my coat, quickly soaking my dark fur.
It felt fucking incredible to become a wolf again. We weren't made to live in cities long-term, not without this kind of respite.
Calian raised his nose, his gallop slowing.
Ash from the west, he said, his thoughts quick and pointed. Shadow wolves. Several of them.
Good, Ryden growled, and as one, we turned towards the west, barreling through the undergrowth.
He sent commands to the rest of the pack as we ran.
The Claws split towards the north, to cut off the shadow wolves if they tried to enter Lykos that way; some of the Warriors moved south.
I realized we were running around Lykos, towards the broken section of the wall. Maybe that was where the shadow wolves usually tried to enter.
Yes, Calian thought in response to me. I realized I'd broadcasted my curiosity to the two of them.
I'd never felt this cohesive while running with a pack before. I could always hear my Warriors' thoughts, but they were nowhere near as strong and clear as Ryden and Calian's.
Even the Claws were still clear to me, although they were at least a mile away by now.
Because you were made for us, Ryden told me, drawing closer. His fur brushed mine for a brief moment. When you find the right pack, you are one.
I really need to stop telling you two everything I'm thinking, I told them dryly. With the Vesperan Warriors, I'd needed to push my thoughts towards them. It was like these two just plucked them out of my head.
I heard Calian's mental laugh as clear as a bell. You'll get the hang of it.
We fell silent as we ran towards the rear of the city, circling through the forest as we did it.
Several miles later, I caught what Calian's ultra-sensitive nose had picked up: a whiff of harsh ash on the wind. The scent of something rotten burning.
There's at least five. Calian sounded eager. Probably more waiting on the outskirts of the forest.
Let's give them what they came for. Ryden pushed harder, and I stopped focusing on my surroundings, concentrating entirely on keeping up with him.
The outer wall of Lykos came into view through the trees, and from this side, I could see why the shadow wolves would target this area. It was a definite weak point, the crumbling stones forming a hill leading towards the breach.
As we approached, I caught sight of one of them, a smoky wolf scrambling up the stones. They clattered under its paws, and its eyes flashed fire when it heard us crashing through the trees.
I fell back just a little, focusing on pushing my power into Ryden.
His lunar runes blazed, casting a white glow over the trees as he and Calian streaked towards the wolf.
Teeth flashed, and both the Alpha and Second fell on the shadow wolf, tearing it to pieces. Light blazed out of their runes, their eyes, even their claws.
The shadow wolf didn't stand a chance. They shredded it to pieces, and bits of ash flaked off its corpse and were carried away by the wind.
The Warriors who had run with us had turned towards the forest just outside the wall. I heard the sounds of fighting, branches cracking, high yips and howls.
They need us, I thought sharply.
I needed Ryden to come with me. It was my job to run at his side, so I couldn't just take off for the sake of feeding power to the Warriors.
He didn't need me to tell him twice, though. Ryden left the shadow wolf's body and raced towards the forest, plunging into the fray of wolves with his teeth bared.
I fed more power to them, dancing at the edges of the fight.
I didn't just want to be sidelined. That was what had gotten my own Warriors killed.
This time, I kept the power flowing, but dove in as a shadow wolf plunged out of the shadows, aiming for Calian's flank.
I hit it like a comet, burying my teeth in its side. Fur filled my mouth, but I bit down hard, feeling the give and snap of ribs under my teeth.
Its blood gushed out, filling my mouth with the same sickly bitterness all the shadow wolves possessed.
I resisted the urge to back away and spit, but my mental whine of distress must've been clear to Ryden.
The Alpha loomed up out of the fight, descending on the wolf I'd injured like an unstoppable landslide. He snarled, ripping into the creature and throwing it aside.
The shadow wolf hit the trunk of a tree with a hard crack, and fell to the ground, where he didn't move.
The voices of the Warriors rang through my head, cheering and congratulating on how easy it was to destroy these shadow wolves, when the Claws' voices cut through.
Incoming! One of them yelled, and within seconds Ryden had his pack organized again.
