Burning Danger: Dangerous Ties Book 3 - Paranormal Romance, page 7
Evander moved off to the side of me, laying down on his side to face me. His fingers fiddled mindlessly in my hair.
“What is it babe?”
His other hand stroked my cheek, “I'm just memorizing you.”
I turned into him, resting my head on his bare chest. Evander turned on his back. My fingers lightly traced his stomach, feeling the dips and muscles.
We laid there together for the longest time. I knew why he wanted to memorize my face. I wanted to do the same in case the chaos and uncertainty of tomorrow claimed us both, but if I began to think I've already lost before its even started, then I was already fucked. My dad used to tell me - it's never over until there's either surrender or death. I sure as hell wasn't going to surrender. And I planned on doing my best not to die.
Either way, I didn't want to think that way. I was going to defeat Diomedes. I was scared as fuck, but I was going to do it.
I closed my eyes, pushing all the bad thoughts from my head as I kissed the side of Evander’s stomach. “There's no need to memorize me,” I said after a moment.
The swishing of the pillow gave way to his nod. “I understand what you're saying. I love you. And together, we’ll set Quivleren to rights and start our pack.”
I smiled, moving to kissing his lips. Evander cupped my cheek, deepening the kiss. I pulled away before my big mouth told him that his pack already started. I’m surprised he hadn’t guessed already since I hadn’t drank alcohol in a long time.
If I said I was pregnant, it would change the entire plan we had. I would say something a few days after the battle. Putting that much pressure and worry on him would pull him out of his head. He had to be the alpha the wolves needed without his head being focused on me.
I knew damn well he would be fucking pissed but it was a chance I'd gladly take. We both needed our heads for this. We both needed to do what we had to do in order to make it back to each other.
Part of me felt entirely guilty. He deserved to know. And part of me felt, in that guilt, that knowing he had a pack starting, would give him more of a reason to fight. But I feared telling him would cause him to be reckless and make crazy decisions.
I bit my bottom lip and chewed on it. My heart was torn. I tried to listen to my gut instinct but it only growled at me. I took it as a sign to tell him.
Glancing up at him, his eyes were closed. I pursed my lips to the side, wondering if right now was a good time. I was always an honest person, bordering on being an asshole because I always had something mouthy to say. But this was different.
“What is it babe?” He asked, opening an eye and peeking a brow at me.
I swung a leg over and sat on his hips. His dick engorged, rising between my butt cheeks. I laughed as I ground my wet pussy on him.
“Round two?” He asked with a mischievous grin.
I grabbed him, inserting the tip at my entrance. “Say please.”
“Please,” he said, putting his hands on my shoulders and forcing me down on his cock.
I sighed, adjusting myself.
“Feel better?”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“Good. Now fuck me.”
I grinned, rocking my hips and closed my eyes. His cock inside of me made me want to scream with the bliss it made me feel.
“Yeah baby,” he encouraged.
I found my rhythm, not taking long for me to orgasm again. Evander set his hands on my hips, keeping the motion going as my breath hitched and my climax claimed me.
“You're so beautiful,” he said, leaning up and kissing me. “The sounds you make, make me so fucking hard.”
“So, fuck me harder,” I countered.
Evander had me flipped over quicker than I anticipated. He growled looming over me.
“Is that a challenge?”
I grinned, “After tomorrow it will be. Right now I need my legs.”
Evander chuckled, stroking in and out of me. On thrusting in, he did it hard, shoving me up the bed. I gasped, grabbing the bed sheets to help hold me still.
“You don't need your legs,” he countered, bending down to kiss me. “Not right now.”
I moaned. “At this rate our pack is gonna start sooner than you think.”
Evander leaned up, grabbing both my legs like before and holding me there as he slid in and out of me. “Fine with me. All I want is a family and life with you,” he said, building momentum. “Now, scream my name.”
My hands white knuckle gripped the sheets. I screamed his name. I screamed for him to fuck me as another climax found me. Evander did not relent his pace. My stomach fluttered as the climax finished and he kept going.
“Oh my god,” I whimpered.
Evander adjusted his hands, pulling me even deeper against him. “Scream my name again.”
I grinned, throwing my head back and yelling his name. Evander released inside of me, bending down to kiss me. I sighed at the final climax, my body trembling from it all.
“Alpha Zuri,” a female voice called from outside our tent. “Willow Coven requests your presence to go over penetrating the defenses.”
I giggled at the choice of words. I dropped the magical barrier a smidgeon to allow my voice to be heard.
“Be right out,” I replied.
I untangled myself from my mate, and stood to the side of the bed. I wiped myself off before getting back to the attire I carelessly shucked to the floor. I rummaged through my small bag, grabbing my toothbrush and paste to give my teeth a quick brushing. I hated the filmly feel on my teeth after a meal. I spit out the foamy build up, outside the tent door to the right. Tossing the items back in my bag, I grabbed my hair brush and braided my long blonde hair down the middle of my head.
Evander sat up, watching me with a dismal expression. I smiled softly in return, wondering if now was the time to tell him. My heart somersaulted at the thought. I didn't want to leave his presence on a sour note. I slipped on my hiking boots and began lacing them up.
“I love you,” he finally said as I tied my boot.
“I love you too.”
Evander rose from the air mattress, folding me in his arms. “Be careful out there.”
“I will be, if you promise me the same.”
“I do, and when we get back, I'll take you on a proper honeymoon.”
“Puppers, you still owe me a proper date.”
He smirked and I grinned at the cute dimple in his cheek. “We'll do it all, just the two of us,” he promised.
I bit my bottom lip. I threw my hands around him and kissed his neck. I dropped the magical barrier completely, only leaving Luell protectively contained. I kissed my way from his neck to his lips, cupping his face to hold him against me.
“Three of us,” I whispered.
The weight of telling him fell from my shoulders but worry now agitated my stomach. Evander scowled, looking all over me from head to toe. I strapped on my weapons, securing all in place as it was before. Evander hadn't taken his eyes from me and I grinned that it was taking him so long to process what I had said.
“I love you. See you soon,” I said to my naked, drop jawed, husband.
I backed out of the tent, leaving him to mull it all over. Turning around and rising to my puny height, I came face to face with a witch.
The lady smiled at me and bowed. “Alpha Zuri,” she said sweetly. “I'm Bethany. I'm here to escort you to Willow Coven.”
“Thank you, Bethany.”
She glanced over me then back into the tent and grinned. She waved her hands over me, her eyes widening and put a hand over her face to stifle a giggle. My brows knitted, wondering what witchy thing she was doing. All Bethany did was smile further.
“So the pack has started?”
I felt my cheeks heat. I descretly tried to smell myself wondering if I stunk of sweat snd sex. With the way Evander and I go at it, I was pretty damn certain I reeked of it. And I didn’t spray perfume on me because I didn’t want to leave a raspberry-vanilla trail of where I was. Maybe I should have tried to cover it and damn the consequences, I thought. I felt my body heat further from embarrassment. “As far as I can tell.”
Bethany took several steps toward me, nodding. “It has.”
Evander emerged, fully dressed in his denim jeans and gray shirt. “Three of us?” He asked again.
Bethany held up her hands as if excusing herself from whatever was gonna happen next. I wish I could do that, I mused. I spun on my heel to face my mate. His eyes got wide as he took me in and then narrowed on me.
“Three?” He repeated.
I swallowed, “I mean, we mate like bunnies.”
He gave me a discrediting look, his eyes pinching. He glanced over the top of me to the witch, wiggling a finger to beckon her to him.
“She,” he said pointedly, making a motion to me, “comes back alive.”
Bethany bowed and I assumed it was to hide a smirk. Evander turned back to me, scowling. He wrapped his arms around me and breathed me in. He squeezed me so tight I thought I was going to suffocate. His lips met mine aggressively, kissing me like it was the last one we would ever have.
“No foolish moves. No stupid ideas,” he said, hands on either side of my face. “We are both needed in this and it's the only reason I'm allowing you to fight otherwise I would have you on bedrest, locked in our bedroom, pampered, and catered to.”
I closed my eyes to not roll them and kissed him ardently. “I’ll be careful, if you don't make crazy idiot choices too.”
Evander smirked, kissing my forehead. “I promise.”
“I love you. See you tonight.”
“I love you too.”
I turned around, heading to Bethany. She looped my arm in hers and walked me in the direction of Willow Coven. I peeked over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of Evander. He stood by the tent, hands in his pockets. My heart constricted, feeling guilty about leaving him with the thoughts of our family beginning when in a few hours percolated so much uncertainty.
Whatever was going to happen, I would do all it took to make it back to him.
EVANDER
I watched her leave with the witch, feeling jitters crawl over my skin. My head still had difficulty wrapping around the fact I was going to be a father. Not to mention watching my mate leave with our child she carried to go plan with witches to fight here in a few hours. I frowned, wondering why I hadn't smelled it on her before. I could only distribute it to her being a zaglis.
I kept my hands in my jean pockets, so I wouldn't cross my arms over myself and walk around with a scowl. I didn't want the paranormal beings to see me hesitant or worried. They needed to see me brave and unrelenting.
I ran a hand over my face and pulled at the skin on the back of my neck. I didn't want her to leave now. I didn't want her to put herself in harm's way with the potential of dying. Now that I knew I was going to be a father, my mind was all sorts of blurry as to what I ought to do.
My lips pursed to the side, reflecting on her mannerisms when she told me. I knew she was hesitant, I recalled. She knew it would make me forget my head but at the same time, her loyalty and honesty prevented her from not telling me. I ran a hand over my face again. I was going to be a father.
“Hot damn,” I mumbled under my breath.
I was excited. Also absolutely terrified for the coming hours and war to finally wage. I glanced around me, watching the campfires wane as people settled down for a few restless hours of sleep. I couldn't though. Not now. Not with my mate gone.
“Hey Orlin,” I said, at my friend’s approach.
Orlin slapped a hand on my shoulder. “She'll be fine,” he soothed. “She's much too ornery for anything bad to happen.”
I smirked. Out of all the words, ornery isn't what I would use. “I know. I'm just worried.”
“It's the way of the alpha - worry for the pack, about the pack, and everything regarding the pack. I'm surprised alpha’s don't worry themselves into an early grave.”
“She's pregnant.”
Orlin’s face slackened. “Well shit.”
I felt relieved at having told someone about my mate’s condition. Selfishly, I wanted him to look after my mate but he has his own wife and child to get back to. I blew my lips, frustrated about all the cumulative things.
“Zuri’s strong,” Orlin assured. “I believe hell would spit her back out.”
I chuckled. “You're probably right. She beat Bertok’s sister in the ring.”
“To Five Strikes?”
I nodded. “Yeah. It was intense.”
Orlin’s eyes widened. “Damn… Yeah I wouldn't be too concerned about her. I would be more worried about you.”
“Why me?” I asked with a frown.
“Because you're gonna let the fact she is pregnant go to your head and turn you dumb. So, put it out of your mind now.”
I dipped my head. He was right. She needed me to keep my head and not make mistakes. She needed me to come back to her. I glanced at the moon waning to the west. It was a few hours from day break. The aroma of meals being cooked tickled my nose. I wasn't hungry. I don't think anyone would be with people rousing and getting themselves ready for battle.
I glanced again in the direction my mate went, feeling a sting in my heart at not being able to be near her. Orlin slapped a hand on my shoulder and turned me away. I smiled lopsidedly, grateful he forced me to turn away before I ran to her.
The wolf inside whined his lamentation at our mates departure. I felt it in my heart. It felt like my chest and body just dropped to my feet and I was walking over myself.
“It gets easier,” Orlin offered. “I’m pining for Resi, but I know I’m needed here to secure our world before I can head back to her. I know she’ll call for me should she need me.”
I could only nod. I felt sure Zuri would get a hold of me should she need me. Side by side, Orlin and I headed to where those attacking on the southside would gather. I pushed my way through the throngs of beings to where I heard Arthes speaking loudly. Bears and wolves huddled together over a map of the southside of OKimma, merging into small squads of ten to disperse and attack.
Wolves who saw me, stepped aside so I could pass through. I walked up to the map on top of a barrel where rocks dotted the maps. I assumed the rocks symbolized certain squads. I glanced to the left where Arthes was telling a man beside him something I couldn’t quite catch. I caught the eye of Queen Arthes who had her arm looped around a familiar face. I dipped my head to her, turning my attention back to the map. So far there were about ten of those rocks scattered at entry points.
“Thank you, Alpha Evander,” Arthes spoke diplomatically and my head snapped in her direction. “Had it not been for you, I wouldn’t have known about my son. We sent out men immediately to get him back, but it was your wife who, in destroying Lyvia, truly freed him,” Arthes said, bowing her head.
I smiled and bowed, feeling the pride in my wife swell in my chest. She was truly an incredible woman, putting others before herself with never a second thought to it, nor her safety.
“Thank you for the compliment, Queen Arthes,” I replied.
She dipped her head and smiled demurely at me. Arthes spun on her heeled shoes and withdrew from the group. Looking over at the men and women standing before me, both bear and wolf, their eyes pinched together with weapons in hand, I felt the battle beginning to rumble by the pricking of my skin. Some had black paint under their eyes to shield the sun glare from the oncoming sunrise. I spied pistols on hips, swords, knives and axes attached to peoples sides. In all, it gave me a sense of pride that beings kept apart would rally together and stand shoulder to shoulder as comrades to rid the world of evil.
I glanced at them all over, seeing some dressed in all black while most wore whatever they had on. Hardened faces with anxious eyes met mine. I squared my shoulders, pushing my mate from my mind like Orlin suggested I do. It was time to be the alpha I was born to be. And whether it killed me to not worry about my mate, I had to for them; just as I knew Zuri was doing it for me.
Barend came to stand beside me, arms crossed over his chest. He was taller than I last noticed and I figured it was because of his magical binding to my mate’s mother. Or maybe it was because I didn’t have him pinned on the ground like last time we met.
“Good to see you, friend,” Barend said, offering his hand.
I shook it. “Likewise. Glad you’re here.”
I stared at all the beings gathered, appreciating all who had turned up to fight. There were a lot more than I originally thought there would be. I was astounded. I knew our pack was large, roughly around three hundred wolves including the women and children residing within the stone walls. But with everyone here, it was truly impressive seeing everyone rally so profoundly.
“Get into your squads,” I bellowed. “If you don’t have a squad, stand by me.”
People began moving into respective groups. I stood on the barrel, turning around in a slow circle, trying to count all the squads but there were too many. I grinned slightly, proud at the numbers I was seeing. Every few minutes, new members were being added to the squads. My skin prickled with excitement like my entire body was vibrating. I was ready for this. Looking out at all the faces, I knew they were too.
We’re as prepared as we can be. We’re ready to make hell wish it never came to the surface, I thought, nodding to myself. I glanced in the direction my mate went, my heart swelling with pride for her. I wouldn’t allow myself to feel anything else but pride and admiration for her because if I felt anything else, my headspace would not be where we both needed it to be.
“I think we got this,” Barend whispered so only I could hear.
“Sure as shit hope so,” I replied. “Ready to move out?”
Barend nodded, giving me a half-assed grin. “Yeah, let’s fuck shit up.”
I leaped down, shaking his hand again, “Thanks for fighting alongside me.”
Barend took my hand, giving me a broad grin. “Bears and wolves were always friends. Never saw it any different.”
“Same, my friend.”
I clapped him on the shoulder, turning to face the large gathered crowd. People anxiously shifted from foot to foot, waiting to move out to the southside of OKimma. We were as ready as we could be and waiting wasn’t doing us any favors.
