Claiming His Need (9 page)

Sex. The word rolled off his tongue seductively, making my skin tingle in anticipation. Licking my lips, I ran my hands down my stomach to rest on my hipbones.

“What are these ways?” My voice came out husky and warm, even to my own ears.

“Are you asking for my assistance?” Gates slid his hands up the screen as his eyes bored into mine.

“No. Just curious, really.” I grinned as he dropped his head against the screen. “Why? What are you offering me?”

Gates lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine once more in a stare so intense, I could practically feel it like a weight against my chest. “When you’re past the point of curiosity and need relief, I’ll show you.”

“Tease.”
 

“Right back at you.”

I giggled, knowing he was right. “Goodnight, my mate. Thank you for respecting the rules and allowing me a hint of modesty as I made myself comfortable in this big bed.”

Gates chuckled and stepped away from the screen. “It was my pleasure, princess. Sweet dreams.”

The familiar rumble of engines roaring through the still, morning air startled me awake. I jumped to my feet with a snarl, instantly alert and ready to protect my new mate, but the sound was too far away to be an immediate danger. Though it was coming closer.

I stretched out the kinks in my back from sleeping on the hard balcony floor and then peeked inside. Kaija lay curled in a ball under her blanket, still sound asleep. Which was good. Yesterday had been traumatic for her, and rest would help her mind settle. She needed time to heal. And with her coming into heat…fuck. I sniffed, the warm scent teasing me and making my morning wood even more pronounced. Sweet, feisty, gorgeous beyond reason, and smelling like sex? She couldn’t have been more perfect.

I watched her sleep for a moment before scanning the room to be sure nothing had changed while I’d rested. I knew Pup would be in the hall on the other side of her suite doors, so I wasn’t overly worried about anyone coming in that way. The balcony and patio door were the weak points in her net of protection. I would have preferred if she’d slept in a room internal to the house, one without windows and with only one door. I could protect her better then. She could hole up in our cozy den, and I could keep myself between her and the door. Safe.
 

But I had a feeling Kaija would hate that. She wasn’t meant to be hidden away; she was too bright for the dark.
 

The pack shifters were making themselves known, going about their daily life in camp. I could see three of Wariksen’s guards from my perch and knew he’d assigned more for the perimeter of the house. Feeling confident that Kaija was safe for the moment, I whistled to Pup to let him know I was leaving. He responded as expected from inside the house. My Breed brother would guard her for me; of this, I had no doubt.
 

With only a single backward glance at my resting mate, I hopped over the balcony railing and raced for the front of the house. I hoped the short run would burn off some of my frustration. Kaija was naked and in heat, I was hard and desperate to feel her underneath me, and there was nothing I could do to quell the ache that had settled between my hips. Fucking nomads and their shitty fucking timing.
 

Sandman was on the porch when I reached the front of the house, no lingering signs of the bump he took to the head the day before. I leapt over the railing and hurried to his side. Rex soon joined us, coming from inside. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, no cloak this time. He would have fit right in with our Breed crew if he’d been wearing the leather vest Sandman and I sported. The thought of him in Breed colors struck me hard. He’d be an asset to our team.

Other than a few grunts of greeting, there was no discussion between us. There was none needed. People were coming, and we would protect the entrance to the house until we knew if they were friends or foes. We formed a blockade to the front door and stood guard, the three of us ready to meet our visitors.

Within a matter of minutes, four motorcycles turned onto the wooded drive of the pack camp. Smiling from the lead position, Ray-Bans in place and arms up to reach his ape-hangers, Half Trac glided onto the asphalt patch running along the side of the house and leading to the garage. When he turned off his engine, he didn’t stand up. He just sat on his bike, facing me. Waiting me out.
 

I returned his stare, unwavering and stoic. There was no way I’d let Half Trac win a contest. Even one like this that was for fun. I’d known him too long to back down from one of his games.

Finally, after several uncomfortable minutes of silence between his group and ours, he grinned.

“Jesus, man. When Shadow called, I thought for sure I’d be coming up here to light your pyre because that karma bitch finally caught up to you.” He swung his leg over his bike and crossed the distance between us. “I sure as shit didn’t think I’d be coming to help you with a case that involved your
fated
mate
.”

“Karma’s got nothing on me, my friend.” I stepped forward when he reached the porch.

Half Trac didn’t falter as he approached me. As soon as he stepped within striking distance, he gripped my forearm with one hand and pulled me into a back-slapping hug.
 

“How are you, brother?” I asked as I backed out of his hold.

“I just spent twelve hours in the saddle, fucker. My ass hurts, my legs ache, and I need to take a piss. But fuck me, let’s chat about this whole mate thing.”

I laughed and nodded, pulling Half Trac off to the side of the porch for some relative privacy.

“So it’s true? You found your mate in the shifter Kaija Wariksen?”

I ran a hand through my hair, fighting to hold back the grin I felt spreading across my face. “Yeah, it’s true.”

“Damn, man. Fate doesn’t fuck around. Not only is she a Wariksen, so I can assume she’s blond and gorgeous like the rest of them, but she’s also an Omega?” He whistled low. “You are one lucky SOB.”

“I’m not feeling so lucky right now, man.” I shook my head and settled a hip against the railing. “These nomads are after my mate, and they’re using a Breed brother, a leader, to bargain for her life. I don’t know what to do to get Magnus back while keeping Kaija safe.”

Half Trac glanced at the two men behind me. “Magnus is not the biggest piece in this puzzle, not by a long shot. We have much to talk about, old friend. How’s about we head inside? I’d bet Uuna has a pot of coffee on for the boys, and I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed to take a piss.”

We were halfway to the front door when Rex asked, “What about them?”

The “them” he referred to were the three wolves with Half Trac. A team of Cleaners. Feral Breed members but without the loyalty or respect for the club the rest of us had and without a den designation rocker on their back. More nomad than the rest of us, Cleaners danced on a razor-thin line between feral and man-eater and helped the Breed with the more delicate missions. They had a high level of skill for body disposal, hostage retrieval, and were armed with creative ways to kill the people who needed killing. They also refused to listen to anyone but Blaze.
 

Half Trac turned and looked at Rex before indicating the Cleaners with a tilt of his head. “They’re not exactly house-trained.”

Rex raised his eyebrows and glanced at me. I shook my head, fighting the sense of unease the new additions to our team brought on before leading Half Trac through the door. Rex followed, leaving Sandman outside to babysit the Cleaners.

“Dear, sweet Uuna.” Half Trac raced across the kitchen to wrap the smiling Alpha female in his arms. “It’s so good to see you. You’re looking even younger than the last time I had the pleasure of your company. How is that possible?”

Kaija’s mom smiled. “Always with the compliments. I see you’re still trying to charm your way through life, Seamus.”

Half Trac—or Seamus, apparently—gave me a glare over Uuna’s shoulder. Real names were rarely shared among the club. Some of the guys within a den would probably know a member’s given name, but that information was kept secret. Once a man made it past hanger-on status, he was known as Pup. He kept that name until he’d earned his full patch or been kicked out. Patched members always went by road names. It was a sign of disrespect to use a member’s given name after they’d earned their cut. I wouldn’t be using the Seamus moniker anytime soon.

Cups of coffee in hand, our group moved through the house toward the porch. Half Trac and Uuna led the way, with Rex and me bringing up the rear.
 

“So, you’re mated to my sister.”

I stopped mid-step and regarded the shifter. I knew this conversation was coming, but with the mission the day before and Kaija misinterpreting my delay in finalizing our mating, I hadn’t yet had time to address her brothers as I knew needed to be done.
 

I looked Rex in the eye and stated simply, “Yes.”

He stared at me for a long moment, not speaking or moving. And then he nodded once.
 

“You’ll do.”

I frowned as he walked past me.
I’d do…for what?
 

With a huff, I hurried after him. “That wasn’t quite the answer I was expecting.”

Rex shrugged. “It’s fate, man. What do I get to say about it? When I met my Lanie this past winter, nothing and no one would have kept me from her. And trust me, fucking bad energies tried their damndest. But I got the girl in the end, and I’d kill anyone who tried to get between us.” He glanced at me with a smirk on his lips. “You’re old enough to know how fucked-up some of the traditions in packs are, you’re smart enough to argue with my father without getting clobbered, and you’re strong enough to keep her safe. Welcome to the family. Don’t piss off my mom.”

I choked on my coffee and sputtered. “Thanks, I think.”

We’d just turned from the hallway into the main foyer when the Cleaners whooped from outside. Rex paused and looked toward the door.

“You think they can help us?” he asked on a whisper.
 

I shrugged. “Maybe. Though Cleaners represent a whole different kind of danger. They’re not exactly known for their manners.”

Rex snorted. “Kaija will be more than happy to teach them a few, I’m sure.”

I was stepping onto the porch when I heard the voice of the woman in question. Kaija stood at the bottom of the porch stairs, surrounded by the three Cleaners. The situation appeared to be no more than a simple conversation, but then Kaija jerked back as one of the men yanked on a lock of her hair.
 

My shift was instant and unstoppable. I dug my claws into the wood decking of the porch as I raced for my mate, my mind a haze of hate and blood and need to protect what was mine.

“Gates!” Half Trac jumped in front of me, wrapping his arms around my throat and throwing his weight against me. I fought his hold, biting and clawing any part of him I could reach in my desperation to reach my mate. We tumbled to the wood floor in a mass of fighting, snarling flesh. I arched and rolled and snapped, grunting when Half Trac’s legs wrapped around my hips and pinned me down.

Suddenly, Alpha Wariksen stood in front of me, a glare in his eyes. “You will stop now, son.”

For the first time in nearly three hundred years, I’d been Alpha-ordered. The force behind the words pushed past my mindless rage. I didn’t want to obey him, but I knew I needed to in order to quell the fury flooding my system. With defeat souring my mind, I stopped fighting and lay still on the porch.
 

Rex had Kaija off to the side of the steps. He’d placed himself between her and the fucker who’d dared to touch her. Knowing she was safe helped me calm the rage within, and with only a minimal pause, I was able to shift to my human form.

As soon as Half Trac released me, I jumped up and stalked to the Cleaner who’d dared to lay a finger on my mate. My fist met his jaw as soon as my feet met dirt.

“Touch her again, and I swear to you, I will bleed you dry slowly.”

The fucker smirked as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Big talk from a neutered dog.”

With a roar, I lunged, but once again, Half Trac held me back.
 

“Easy now.”

I growled and struggled against the man’s hold but to no avail. I was too filled with rage to fight smart, and Half Trac knew it. We were a pretty even match when fighting, but my single-minded desire to protect Kaija gave him a distinct advantage over me at that moment.

The Cleaner laughed as he watched my struggle. “Can’t even get away from the master’s pet, can you, mutt?”
 

He stepped into my personal space, his nose mere millimeters from mine. “You think you’re wolf enough to handle that bitch? She stands here practically in heat, reeking of want, and yet you do nothing. I can’t even smell you on all that creamy skin she’s hiding.”
 

I growled and glared, ready to kill the motherfucker for his disrespect. He just licked his lips.

“I’d be more than happy to ease that heat for her.” He grabbed his crotch crassly as he took a step back. “I’ve got more than enough to settle the little bitch’s problems since you can’t seem to find your nuts.”

Half Trac’s arms tightened as I once again lunged for the filthy beast.
 

“You come near her, and I’ll make sure you never walk again.”

“Gentlemen, I do believe it’s time to stop.” Wariksen stepped off the porch, his arms crossed and a deep scowl on his face. “Might I suggest a fifteen minute cool-down period before we begin the planning? There is the problem of a missing Breed member and a crew of wolves coming after my daughter.”

I glared at the Cleaner for another few seconds before nodding. The Alpha was right—there were bigger problems at issue than one handsy near-nomad with a filthy mouth. Besides, the camp was spread over a lot of land with plenty of woods and clearings to disappear into. I’d get my revenge on the fucker soon enough.

Resigned to being patient in my plans for revenge, I turned toward Kaija to make sure I hadn’t scared her. Her wide eyes were focused well south of my face, a becoming, pink blush high on her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell in a quicker rhythm than standing warranted, and the smell of her heat dripped through the air like warm honey. My mate must have liked seeing my protective side. And my naked body.