Nita's Redemption, page 7
Abe shook his head. “I would never do that to the two of you or Nita. There is no way that we would be complete without the four of us. That doesn’t mean I want to kiss you, or touch you, Tank. However, I can feel the pull that is between the three of you. That same pull that links Nita and I is just as strong. For me to claim her without the two of you there claiming her would be an abomination to our mating.”
Tank let out a deep breath of relief. There was something trying to poison him and his relationship with the twins before they completed the mating. He took a step back, his inner beast searching for what was causing the turmoil roiling in him. “I know that, fuck,” he cursed.
“Shit, this isn’t good, brothers. We need to see Jaklyn and have her do a cleansing thing on us and see if she can tell if we’ve been tainted by those women and their voodoo shit.” Link held up his hands when Tank opened his mouth to deny anything could infect them.
Abe nodded his head. “That’s a good idea, but if they could’ve gotten to us, then what about Nita?”
They all stared toward her home, watching as lights were slowing going off as their female prepared for bed. Tank rubbed at his chest, hating the thought that someone or something could’ve infiltrated him. “Abe, do you feel any different? When you were with her and... licking her, did you have any odd sensations?”
Tank was proud he could say the words without wanting to rip Abe’s head off. Tank stared at him and then his brother, both of them watching Abe to see how he’d answer Tank’s question. Abe took a deep breath, pausing for a long moment while Tank kept his senses open.
As the seconds ticked by, Tank was sure the male would say nothing, making his beast twitchy.
“You know I didn’t, but then with everything you’ve said and the pull toward Nita that’s been a constant, there was something different once we left the restaurant. I don’t know how to put it into words. My wolf had a slight disconnect to Link. I thought it was normal for us since we’d found our female. I was sure that once we mated we would make a full circle. Now, in hindsight, I know that feeling wasn’t natural. Fuck me running. If those females could implant such a subtle command that me and my beast didn’t recognize it, we all need to be scrubbed.” Abe rubbed his hands over his face. His heart rate increased.
Tank gripped his shoulder, shocked when Abe’s beast growled at him. Tank lifted his hands, showing Abe he meant to harm. Although he wasn’t scared of Abe or anyone for that matter, there was a line he didn’t want to cross, which was getting into it with his best friends and brothers by another mother. “We cool, Abe?” Tank didn’t take his eyes off of Abe though, seeing the bright blue flash like his wolf is ready to burst out of the other male.
“I’m good. Fucking hell,” Abe whispered, bending over with his hands on his knees breathing like he’d run a 10k marathon.
Link inhaled a loud breath, drawing Tank’s attention. “I just linked with Jaklyn and her men. They’ll be here shortly. They said they thought something was off when we were in their home. Of course, they have been scouring the pack for answers since we left and fixing shit as they did.”
Tank smiled at that. The Ravens were immortal demi-gods who thought they were better than, well, better than just about everyone. Not that Tank didn’t kind of agree. Hell, they were created by Zeus and his Gods and Goddesses. Their purpose was to help Zeus get rid of his old man, the dickhead god Cronus. After which, the twelve Ravens were no longer needed up on Olympus, so they were sent here to Earth and told to have a good life and find a female to complete them. Easy peasy. Not. Jaklyn was fated to two of the Ravens, so now their pack, via her, had some new friends and even some pretty cool upgrades thanks to Zeus popping in and out. Tank would even go so far as to say he liked most of the Ravens and the demoness females. What he didn’t like was the connection to the underworld and all the demon bullshit. Somehow the bastards from Hell had found them before the Ravens, so in his mind, it was obviously their fate to find one another. Besides Nita was most definitely a gift he and his brothers were blessed to have.
“Would you please quit thinking so hard? You’re seriously giving me a migraine,” Link said with a grin spreading across his face.
Instead of answering, Tank scratched the side of his nose with his middle finger. Seconds later, the air stirred, heralding the arrival of Jaklyn and her Ravens, Colt, and Gray. The two males were huge, both standing at six-foot-eight inches, respectively. While Colt has dark blond hair with lighter blond streaks throughout, which definitely didn’t come from a bottle, Gray had black hair with eyes that were more hazel until he shifted. When both males shifted into a wolf, they like Jaklyn, had alpha blue eyes. How their pack had so many fucking alpha males and females was a mystery, but they did, and as crazy as it seemed, their pack prospered. Maybe it was because of the Ravens being non-human or some shit. Tank didn’t know, and frankly, he didn’t give two-shits as long as there wasn’t an uprising or constant fighting amongst the males or females.
“Hmm, I sense it now,” Gray murmured.
Tank tensed, not liking whatever the male was going to say.
LINK TRIED TO KEEP steady, but he watched Tank freeze and was aware his packmate and best friend was having a hard time controlling his beast. While Tank didn’t seem to realize the animal was close to the surface, Link had seen Tank’s brown eyes flashing to blue several times while they were sitting and talking, plus his muscles were bunching and rolling as if the male was fighting to keep his human shape. When he’d tried to talk to him through their pack’s pathway, he came to a wall. His first instinct had been to share with his twin, but he’d pulled back from doing so fearing it would cause a battle that neither would win.
“What is it you sense?” Link asked, moving a little in front of Tank, drawing attention to himself. Tank wasn’t quite as in control as he thought.
Colt tilted his head to his side, drawing Jaklyn between him and Gray. The move was subtle, but Link didn’t miss the possessive way both males acted or the fact neither were as relaxed as they normally were.
“Well, it’s like this. The three of you normally have a very cheerful orange aura. Even your female has the same, only her orange is slightly brighter. I assumed this darker orange had something to do with the four of you preparing to mate, but now I see that it’s more of a tainted affect. Not to worry, though. I believe we can cleanse you, no problemo. Right, Gray?” Colt waved his hand in front of Jaklyn toward the other male.
Gray took a moment to speak, his eyes brightening to that of his wolf. Link appreciated the male and his patience. There was a glow surrounding the trio. Tank gave a low growl, followed by Abe. Link took a step, placing himself solidly between the two and placed a hand on each of their shoulders, even though he knew fully that their beasts were closer to the surface than ever before.
“Um, what’s going on?”
They all jolted at the husky voice to the right, shocked that nobody had noticed Nita’s presence before she was literally next to them.
“Hello, Nita. It seems that the four of you picked up a little bug that needs to be cleansed. My mates had been taking care of three others. We’d planned to come and visit you all and take care of that nasty business as well. With your mates' blessing, of course. However, we can take care of all of you at once if you all agree?” Jaklyn asked, staring at Nita then at Link and the others.
Nita nodded. “I felt as if there was something not right... inside me. I was heading to the clearing by the river that soothes me. You know the one where the moon shines down the brightest on clear nights?”
“Yes, I know where you’re referring. I believe it’s the Goddess of the Moon blessing all of us who she claims as her own, when we go there to get strengthened. I first thought it was strange that Selene the Goddess who created us shifters, and Selena, the daughter of Zeus, was kinda part of the human world and in a weird twist part of our lives as well. Or maybe it was always meant to be, especially since Selena resembles what we’ve been told our Goddess looks like. Either way, I am grateful for all the blessings we’ve been given, and even the not so great things I had to go through in order to find my happiness.” Jaklyn pulled Gray down for a kiss then did the same with Colt.
Link turned away, his eyes snared by Nita’s heated orbs. Fuck, his entire frame vibrated with the need to claim her. He cleared his throat, using all his strength to tear his gaze away from the most gorgeous female ever created.
“Yeah, so how about that cleansing shit? Do we need to form a circle around a firepit or what?” Link would dance around naked if it got whatever foreign body out of him.
“Nope, y’all are good to go now.” Gray chuckled a real happy sort of laugh, which earned him a side-eye glance from Nita.
“What do you mean, we’re all good to go? I felt nothing?” Nita looked down at her arms, shaking them and grunting in the cutest way.
“Did you feel it when the taint was put on you?” Jaklyn asked.
Link tilted his head to the side, taking a moment to think. “No, I didn’t, but I feel lighter now, if that helps. Shit, if those females have that kind of power, how can we protect ourselves and the rest of the pack? It’s not like we can ban everyone from going into town, or what if, Goddess forbid, they can send that shit over the air or something?”
His gut twisted at the implications of havoc that could be wrought if their powers were vast enough to do what they did by merely speaking to them or slightly touching. He tried to think back to see if they’d been touched or if it was through thought alone. His mind wasn’t able to come up with a clear picture where all of them were touched, but it’s possible that if they touched one, then that was enough to get to all of them.
“Calm down, Link. We’ve thought of that, so when we were cleansing the four of you, we followed the taint and could figure out a way to counteract any future attempts. Now with that being said, of course, they could come at you or us another way, which we would then come up with a plan to eradicate them. Right now, we need level heads, and we need everyone to stay within the protection of our lands. Yes, it sucks, but without knowing the enemy, we cannot foresee what all they can and can’t do. That means, for the safety of all, it’s best to be on the side of caution. Jaklyn has contacted your father as he’s the alpha, and he agrees. I believe you should be getting an order from Brock.”
No sooner had Gray said the words when the order was issued from Tank’s father Brock. Link and Abe respected the older male as he was their best friend’s father and a good male, but he was also a fair alpha. He was also strong enough to hold the title of alpha, taking it from Seamus years ago. For that alone, Link would follow him without question.
“There are some rumblings throughout the pack that Jaklyn and us need to go see about. You four cool?” Colt asked, eyeing all four of us individually before going back to Tank. Link wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad.
He opened their private path, ‘You guys good?’
‘I’m good,’ Abe said.
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Pissed that we had something piggyback on us, but I think I know how to sense if it happens again.’ Link pushed the images into their minds.
‘I’m sorry my... whatever they are, could do this to us,’ Nita whispered, grateful to be included in the private link with her males.
The three of them moved to surround her. ‘Mi dušo, this is not your responsibility. If any of us is to blame, it is us three for not protecting you properly.’ Link was aware his words would get her back up, much like a spitting cat. He’d much rather face an angry Nita than a regretful one.
“He’s correct, srećo. Now before you unleash your anger on us, can we all agree that we are happy to be cleared of the taint and maybe we can all go visit the Goddess’s healing spot?” Tank asked, reaching for Nita’s hand.
Nita’s smile came slowly as she allowed Tank to take her hand. “I do like the way you each have snuck in sweet little nicknames. Yes, I’ve noticed. Abe called me his beautiful rose earlier, while Link just called me his sweetheart, and Tank called me his heart. I wonder if the three of you will still think I’m this sweet and kind once we are bound for all time, and you see I’m more feral than docile?”
Link watched as she released Tank and skipped ahead of them, her smile wide and infectious. Their female had no clue how much they were looking forward to her wild side and exactly how feral the three of them were as well. Oh yeah, she had no clue just how crazy they were. He could see the same need glowing in the other two males’ eyes as they watched Nita skip away. Between one breath and the next, she shifted into the most glorious wolf he’d ever seen. Her coat was dark as night, similar to his only she was much shinier, almost blue black, and smaller. Damn she was fast.
Thanks to the Gods, he and the others shifted without having to remove their clothes, not as smooth and fast as Nita had done, but they were all off like a shot, chasing after her as besotting males. Abe and Tank were right beside him, their wolves as eager as his to catch up to Nita’s.
They made it to the meadow next to the river in minutes, surprisingly since it always took at least ten or fifteen minutes to get from their home to the river. His mind went a little blank at the vision of their mate standing on the edge of the cliff that overlooked the water below. The way the moon shone down on her like a spotlight was breathtaking. To him, she appeared as if lit up by the moon Goddess herself. “Beautiful, mi dušo,” he breathed.
When he’d shifted from wolf to man, he wasn’t sure but was happy he’d had the presence of mind to ensure he had clothes on. Not that he was ashamed of his naked form, but he didn’t want Nita to come face-to-face with his dick in such a sacred place the first time they came there together.
“Dude, your inner voice is fucking loud as hell. By the way, I’m glad your schlong wasn’t out for all and sundry to see either.” Abe elbowed him in the side. He had shifted and was wearing the same clothes he’d had on earlier. Tank, on the other hand, was still in wolf form, sniffing the entire area.
Link watched the other male for a second, then he and his brother walked to where Nita stood still in her wolven form. They each took up a post on either side of her, like sentinels ready to battle to the death anyone or anything that dared harm a hair on her gorgeous frame. His hand automatically went to the top of her head, giving her a loving pet while his brother ran his down her back. They both shared the feel through the bond the three of them had, including Tank and one day Nita would become part of their circle.
The fur beneath his fingers shifted slightly, drawing his gaze, and then he pulled his hand away as fur was replaced by glorious hair. Their female didn’t stand upright, clearly choosing to stay kneeling along the edge, her thoughts appearing jumbled. Link hated she wasn’t open to them.
“What can we do to ease your fears, dušo?” he asked, wishing there was some magic wand that would make everything easy.
Nita looked over her shoulder, smiling up at him. “Nothing worth having comes easy. I remember my mama saying that I needed to be brave and bold, and one day, I would be the first in our family to be a legend. I’m not sure I want to be a legend, but I do my best to be brave. What’s being bold actually mean? If you think about it, the definition can change for every situation. For me to be bold, does that mean to dress outlandishly, or talk crazy, or what? I don’t want to draw attention to myself or our family, our pack. I wonder if she wanted to expose shifters when she said that?”
Link heard her shuttering breath, and it broke his heart to hear her hurting over something the female, who should’ve loved Nita above all else, said things that made his female sad. He sat next to her, doing his best not to move too fast and scare her away.
“We can’t worry about other beings thoughts or intentions, especially those that we can’t change or question. The best we can do is not repeat their mistakes.” His hands flexed on his thighs, itching to reach for her.
Nita reached over, grabbing his right hand in hers, twining their fingers together. Link wanted to howl his pleasure. Movement behind him kept him from doing anything rash, reminding him that Abe and Tank were there and wanting the same thing as him. While Abe made a spot on her other side for himself, Tank was still in his wolven form acting as their protector.
Chapter Six
NITA REACHED FOR ABE’S hand with her right one, keeping hold of Link’s with her left. She loved feeling connected to two of her mates. Now she needed the stubborn one pacing behind them to take a seat and shift to human so he could join them and enjoy just being in the moment. She could tell them they were safe, but with what had happened with the voodoo bitches, Nita was sure none of them would let down their guards too much. However, they should all feel reassured since Gray and Colt had worked their magic. Heck, she knew for a fact there was no way she’d miss a taint like before.
“Tank, please shift and join us?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at the enormous wolf. Goddess, he really was big and glorious in his wolven form. All three of her males were. She’d never told them about the time she’d seen Abe and Link combine into their monster beast, or when Tank shifted into the Dire Wolf, which was what her wolf actually was thanks to Seamus and his dealings. Zeus was aware, but she wasn’t sure if the others actually knew all of her abilities or if they just thought she could shift into other beings. There was no doubt she freaked a lot of the others out and rightfully so. However, the Ravens weren’t scared of her, and neither were the Gods or her friends who were ex demon females, but they still counted.
“Why is your heartbeat erratic?” Tank asked, kneeling behind her.
She bit her lip, working to calm herself down. She concentrated on taking deep, even breaths and letting them out slowly. “I don’t want you guys to fear me,” she admitted.
