A Promise of Amber

TREELAND PACK TALES 2:

A PROMISE OF AMBER

Evanne Lorraine

www.loose-id.com

Treeland Pack Tales 2: A Promise of Amber Copyright © October 2011 by Evanne Lorraine All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

eISBN 978-1-61118-548-5 Editor: Antonia Pearce Cover Artist: Marci Gass Printed in the United States of America

Published by Loose Id LLC PO Box 809 San Francisco CA 94104-0809 www.loose-id.com This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id LLC’s e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

**** DISCLAIMER: Please do not try any new sexual practice, especially those that might be found in our BDSM/fetish titles without the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Neither Loose Id LLC nor its authors will be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.

Chapter One “Oh no you don’t, sir.” Amber darted in and scooped up the fluffy gray Alpha pup half a second before his sharp teeth latched on to the worn bunny foot that dangled temptingly through the crib’s slats. Maddy’s favorite stuffed animal was much too threadbare to survive an attack. Lex, a very definite sir, squirmed and tried to bite her arm. Laughing, she distracted him with a teething bone and set him near where the young Gamma male carefully placed another bright blue block on his multicolored construction project. With a little luck Lex would be intrigued enough by Jay’s building to shift to human form—making him much more manageable. But Lex flattened to his belly, secured his chilled bone with a possessive paw, and gnawed energetically while keeping one dark eye on Jay’s block work. Confident the young males were behaving for the moment, she crossed the nursery to check on Maddy. The three pups were as different as their mothers, but they were already securely pack, drawing comfort and strength from each other in a way she envied. Three cribs lined the west wall where a mural depicted a meadow scene of an Alpha keeping watch from the highest knoll over a flock of peaceful grazing sheep. Serene white clouds seemed to drift in the sunny blue sky. A bumblebee made loop de loops, and a wild rose, complete with ladybug, spilled over a split-rail fence. Amber’s fae side appreciated the colorful wall, which almost made up for the underground nursery’s lack of windows while her werewolf side would have been content in a dark den with rock walls and an earthen floor. A rueful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Small wonder she never quite fit in anywhere. There was no pleasing both halves. Maddy had kicked off her light cover and Amber tucked it back over her bare feet. The tiny Beta pup slept on in human form, blissfully unaware of Lex’s attempted theft of her beloved Wabby. In a dream of suckling, the small female’s cherubic lips pursed.

2

Evanne Lorraine

Just watching her made Amber’s heart swell with a tender yearning for pups of her own. In turn, that longing made her thoughts circle back to Hunter. Now with her first heat expected within days, their arranged mating drew frighteningly close. Try as she would, she couldn’t bring a clear image of him to mind. The last time she’d seen him had been when he’d attended her fifth birthday party. A typical young pup, she’d been too excited to pay attention to anything other than her father’s stern warning not to let her fae magic glitter. She wondered how Hunter felt about the long-ago promise he’d made to accept her as his mate. Was she an obligation, a political choice? She wrinkled her nose at her own wistful yearning. Of course she was a duty. How could she be anything else when he didn’t know her? Nigel, her father, always said it was an excellent match. He hadn’t said, considering your heritage. Still that was what he’d meant. Her Psi side read feelings easier than text and picked up his unspoken message loud and clear. Amber was half fae—notoriously mercurial creatures. Her other half was werewolf—a Psi known for acting on intuition and emotion rather than logic. Despite her quixotic genetic mix, she had a strong practical streak. For all her foolish dreams of a tender lover, she didn’t think for one moment that true romantic love would miraculously blossom from the arranged mating. What she hoped was that Hunter would be warm, kind, and forgiving. Even those modest wishes were laughably optimistic. Alpha leaders were predictably fair, firm, and dominant. Warm, kind, and forgiving weren’t typical traits of the few pack leaders she’d met. Her father certainly showed none of those noble characteristics. In fact, she wasn’t entirely certain he was fair. After all, she couldn’t help being fae and therefore wicked by pack standards. Although he only punished her for breaking rules, as long as she breathed, she fractured half a dozen pack laws. Where was the fairness in punishing her for being herself? She wondered who he really wanted to hurt when he lashed out at her. With her history, sooner or later she would mess up; then Hunter would learn about her fae blood. Once that happened, unless he was an unusually tolerant Alpha, she would need forgiving for being half fae and for the deceit. The packs and the fae had an uneasy truce. While open hostilities ended decades ago, their mutual loathing and distrust remained. The only common ground between the two races was an agreement to avoid human attention.

A Promise of Amber

3

If she’d had a choice, she would’ve simply told him about her background and let him reject her privately. But nothing in pack politics was ever that simple. Explaining her heritage meant revealing her mother’s rape by one of the fae males. A proud Alpha, her father chose not to kill her at birth. Instead he claimed her as his daughter. She grew up with constant warnings that telling anyone of her heritage would blacken her mother’s reputation, shame him, and ruin her. Fading memories of her mother’s love were Amber’s greatest treasure. She’d promised to keep the truth of her conception secret. Now she had no choice except to honor her parents’ pledge—a promise of Amber to be Hunter’s sanctioned mate. For the umpteenth time that morning, her gaze found the nursery’s clock, which seemed to have slowed to a courting porcupine’s deliberate pace. Twenty-five after four—her stomach fluttered with nervousness. Hunter would be meeting with her father in an hour. There wouldn’t be any time to change her clothes. She rubbed at the grease spot on her best coral tee. The stain darkened the silk knit over her left breast where part of Jay’s lunch had briefly rested. Rubbing had no effect on the mark. She smoothed the top with a sigh. Would it be worse to anger her father by appearing with an obvious flaw or to use her forbidden talents to remove the spot? Although alone with the pups, she scanned the nursery before shifting to her glittery fae form to risk a bit of her wild magic. Stain removal was much trickier than simply disguising it. The only way to maintain the glamour would be to stay in fae form, and she certainly couldn’t meet Hunter that way. So either she lived with the blotch or she erased the stain. Emboldened by a successful transition to her fae form, she concentrated on the unsightly spot. The skin underneath the tee tingled and heated. For a few seconds, she held her breath in fear the delicate fabric would burst into flames, but the warmth gradually dissipated. She breathed a sigh of relief when the spot vanished with no weird side effects. She shifted back to human form with no one the wiser. Her fae magic worked erratically. One more reason using her fae talents was forbidden. Most of the time, she tried to obey her father’s rules. Even when she followed every pack law to the smallest detail, she still didn’t fit in with the other pack females. Her punishments had grown

4

Evanne Lorraine

more frequent and her obedience felt more and more pointless while the exciting fae magic grew more tempting. Now that Amber was as ready as possible for the meeting, each passing minute with no sign of Jenny—the relief nursery worker—made her edgier. Though not superpunctual, she’d never been this overdue for shift change. Arriving late to the meeting would make a poor first impression on her future mate. She gave herself a mental shake, Hunter was Treeland’s pack Alpha and would understand better than anyone why she’d put pack responsibilities ahead of her personal desires. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to check with the gate to find out if Jenny had come through. She pressed the intercom and keyed in the front sentry. “Hi, Tim, have you seen—” A boom echoed through the speaker. The sound so loud she winced and jumped back from the intercom. An explosion—real or magic? Before she’d made sense of the shocking noise, her pack connection with Tim, an awareness of his energy that was part of a typical Psi’s inner universe, blinked and darkened. A sob clogged her throat, making it hard to catch her breath, but there was no time to mourn the loss of a pack brother. Automatically, her gaze sought the pups. Jay’s lower lip trembled, Lex’s hackles rose, and Maddy’s face screwed into a pre-howling pucker. Call forgotten, she crossed to Maddy, picked her up, and cuddled her close. She gathered Jay, bundling him in the same arm that held the small Beta, and whispered, “Please change, Lex.” A second boom shook the nursery walls. More inner pack connections winked out. She staggered from the loss of so many brothers and sisters. Her father’s steady beacon of energy faltered. Then another section of the bright spots that represented each pack member’s spirit in her mind’s eye wavered and vanished. The entire Seaview pack had left for the eternal life in the shade. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she gave a silent howl for all the mind-numbing deaths. A stiff-legged Lex stood focused on the door to the nursery, growling. Amber grabbed a blanket from the crib and braced herself to swaddle the determined pup. She had to get all three of her precious charges to safety. Finally Lex shifted, pointed at her, and said, “Pwetty shine.”

A Promise of Amber

5

“Yes, sweetness,” she agreed as she scooped him up, wishing she could control the wild fae magic triggered by her shock and grief. Goddess knew the pups needed more protection than either her wolf or human form could give them. Cuddling her charges close, she used her elbow to shove aside the crib and press the ladybug on the colorful mural. Then she waited for the section of wall that concealed the exit to roll back far enough for her to slip through. “Hang on.” The gap finally widened enough. She tightened her hold on the pups and darted into the tunnel, pausing only to slap the lever on the other side to seal the door behind them. A metallic squeak protested the strain as the mechanism ground to a halt, shivered, and then reversed direction. Another boom brought a sprinkle of rock dust from the ceiling. She hunched over the pups to protect them from the falling debris, prayed the escape tunnel held together, and ran.

6

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Two Four enforcers—even in human form—all of them good-sized males, plus Hunter, cramped the biggest SUV he’d been able to rent at the airport. At least the air-conditioning worked. It kept them fairly cool—a major factor for hot-blooded werewolves. The scenery was spectacular, and the detour was improving his rotten mood. Hunter directed Tru, his second and the sole Gamma in the group, “Take the old coast road.” “No problem, Alpha,” Tru responded cheerfully, moving the rig smoothly through the heavy freeway traffic. Tru handled all his responsibilities with the same casual confidence. A typical übersmart Gamma, he fit in anywhere, got things done, and provided solutions rather than problems. Though Tru was young to be the second in command of a large pack, Hunter had never regretted his choice. Most males were Alphas, strong, dominant, and powerful. By their nature serving rather than leading rubbed their fur the wrong way. Packs needed strong leadership and that didn’t come from committees. Usually Hunter enjoyed the challenge of leading other Alphas. The wolfman wouldn’t settle for less. As civilized as Hunter acted, he didn’t kid himself about his own character. His inner wolf ruled; his human skin was a necessary vehicle for surviving in a world where werewolves were a small minority. Adding a half hour to the trip was worth the extra time when the minutes passed on a twilight cruise along the coastline. “Tell us about your mate, Alpha.” A chorus of agreement from the Alphas in the backseat echoed Tru’s request. Hunter stared at the passing scenery, deciding what he wanted to say. “Not much to tell.” “Have you bonded with her?” Ward asked. “No, she hasn’t had her first heat yet. Doubt I’d bond anyway.”

A Promise of Amber

7

Tru slanted him a glance, then eased up on the gas to let a sports car pass. “Why not?” “Been through lots of heats. Never happened,” Hunter said gruffly and added, “Better for the pack if the Alpha stays detached.” He believed what he’d said yet secretly wondered if he was too cold, too dominant to ever have a real connection with a female. Bonding had happened for Daniel, who was more Alpha than Hunter would ever be—evidence anything was possible. But about as likely as hell getting frosty. Hunter dismissed the subject. Ben cleared his throat. “Daniel’s bonded to Scarlet, and he seems to keep it together.” Damn perceptive enforcers—stubborn as pups with a bone. “Yeah, but he’s really old,” Hunter countered. The enforcers laughed at his joke. Like all adult werewolves, Daniel looked like he was in his thirties, but the male was two centuries older than Hunter, who’d been born April 3, 1837. “He probably thought bonding would never happen to him either,” Tru said mildly. Hunter ignored his second’s not so subtle hint. He was nothing like Daniel, and Amber sure as hell wasn’t anything like Scarlet, his best friend’s mate. “Scarlet and Daniel are two halves of the same coin. They were fated.” Wanting to put an end to the bonding talk, Hunter shut off the air, then rolled down his window. He leaned out and caught the first hint of the ocean’s scent, a blend of salt, algae, and millions of sea creatures that smelled like nothing else even to his human nose. Soon he heard the tide. The dull pounding signaled the rhythmic roar and retreat of the ocean’s assault on the shore. Finally he saw the constantly changing waves stretching to the horizon. The lowering sun changed the usual gray, green, and blue to deep purples and iridescent pink and orange. A rocky coast edged the expanse of water. An occasional scrubby pine clung to stony cliffs with a kind of bare-knuckled beauty of a survivor in a harsh world. The only thing Hunter liked better than watching the ocean was playing in it. For a second he pictured racing the tide with Amber. The image blurred, because he had no idea what she looked like. Guilt only made him edgier. It was much safer to look forward to running on the narrow strip of beach and enjoying the cold saltwater spray by himself. Females liked him, or more honestly they liked being with the pack Alpha—Amber wouldn’t be a problem.

8

Evanne Lorraine

What if he was wrong? Self-doubt wasn’t usual for him or any Alpha leader, but this was new territory. Maybe he should plan on a day for playing on the beach with her. Did she like the ocean? Another cold blast of honesty made him wince. He didn’t have a clue about what she liked or didn’t like. He should’ve made more of an effort to get to know her, written, called, messaged, texted, something. The last time he’d been to Seaview had been three years ago. On an impulse he’d detoured after a West Coast council meeting. Nigel, Seaview’s Alpha, hadn’t attended the conference, which gave Hunter a valid reason for making an impromptu visit. He’d hoped to spend time with Amber. Nothing went right. When Hunter arrived at Seaview, he found Nigel had been injured in a freak hunt accident. Plainly uncomfortable, his host had been curt, explaining Amber was away visiting her grandparents. After a few hours, Hunter left. He hadn’t been back until today—a grave lapse. He should’ve found time to visit more than once in the past twenty years. True, the years had slipped by quickly. Equally true, he’d been busy. Yet he’d made time to keep in touch with Nigel through quarterly phone calls. Ignoring his future mate for such a chunk of time was unforgivably rude and not very smart. For a male who prided himself on his ability to work well with lots of different personalities, his total courtship failure was a big helping of humble pie. If the female took after her Alpha father, she’d make him grovel for slighting her. A thought that had him biting back a grin. What if she took after her mother? He scrubbed a hand over his face, because he was right back to square one. He had no idea what kind of werewolf Amber’s mother had been; he’d never gotten to know the female. She’d died while Amber was still a pup, having been in poor health since giving birth. The high mortality rate among pregnant and birthing females was a terrifying reality for bonded males. None of their scientists had found a cure. The vulnerability of their females was something no alpha liked to think about, let alone discuss. One more reason their pups were so damn rare. An acrid smell of smoke scraped his nose and interrupted his gloomy thoughts. “GPS says three hundred feet on the right.” Tru coughed. “Damn, what’s burning?” Ben leaned forward from the backseat. “Look at the smoke.”

A Promise of Amber

9

The black fumes rose above the direction of the compound, lining Hunter’s belly with dread. From the highway all he could see was brick fence that ran the length of grounds, trees and shrubs, and patches of rolling lawn. Seconds later, he caught sight of the smoldering shell of the gatehouse. The bombed-out building erased any doubt, announcing Seaview had been recently attacked. Or that the pack was still under siege. Hunter’s muscles tightened under the load of guilt and regret for having chosen to take the long way to Seaview, but he kept his voice even. “Don’t pull in. Keep driving. We’ll check out Nigel’s house—if it looks good, we’ll park there and enter the pack’s grounds from the back. No point in pulling up to the front door if whoever did this is still around. Better for us and worse for them if we give them the surprise of their short, miserable lives.” The mission-style fortress Nigel called home looked fine to Hunter, as long as he didn’t focus on the smoke drifting toward them from the green velvet of the back lawn. After Tru parked, the enforcers fell into a loose guard formation with Hunter at the center. Adrenaline flooded his system as they cleared the house. Seaview’s handsome brick headquarters had been marred by broken windows and a door that hung askew. A dozen visible fires smoldered. Soot soiled the cloudless summer afternoon. Choking smoke blended with the grass, trees, and clean ocean air. A gut-roiling smell of burning flesh scoured his nose—the sickening odor worsened by traces of oily clay—the signature stink of goblins. Hunter blew a breath through his nose to try to clear the stench. “Don’t trust your eyes. The little goblin bastards are gonna be invisible. Stick close—pairs or better. Ben, you and Ward check the Seaview garage. If it’s clear, look for flares, flashlights, saltwater canisters, and road salt. Grab anything you find. The rest of us will check Nigel’s place. We’ll meet back here in five. Go.” “What’s up with the supply list, sir?” Conrad asked. “Bright light disorients them, usually enough to make them visible. Salt wounds them. We fight in pairs. One to wield the light. The other handles the saltwater spray—if we have it. Loose salt if that’s all we can find. Get enough of it on a goblin and he dies.”

10

Evanne Lorraine

Tru knocked the entry keypad off Nigel’s garage, yanked a couple of wires, and activated the automatic opener. “If we can’t see them, how can we fight them?” “The oily clay you smell—that’s the stench of goblins. Your nose will let you know when they’re close. Hit them with the light to make them visible, throw the salt, and keep it coming until they’re black smears on the ground.” Hunter sniffed cautiously before he ducked under the slowly rising bay door. Nigel’s garage was as orderly as the grounds. Hunter crossed to the neatly organized shelving and scored a box of road salt and two saltwater canisters. From the corner of his vision he watched as Conrad popped the trunk on a sedan and scooped out half a dozen road flares and Tru scooted back out of an immaculate truck with a heavy-duty flashlight. Well under the five-minute deadline, they were back, waiting behind pack headquarters. Ward and Ben loped out of the garage, carrying flares and flashlights but no salt. Hunter repeated the drill for dealing with goblins for the benefit of the two other enforcers, passing one of their canisters to Ben and offering a box of salt to each of his soldiers. “There’s no time to test the canisters. Take some of the rock salt and put it in your pants’ pockets. There’s not enough to kill a goblin, but you can hurt one—maybe enough to bind him. Ben, Ward, recon the front.” Hunter angled his head toward his second. “We’ll secure the back.” He handed the spare canister to Conrad. “Take point.” What the hell had happened to piss off the fae enough for them to sanction a goblin attack? Or had the arrogant fae finally lost control of their favorite assassins? Hunter’s thoughts raced with lots of questions and few answers. The only thing he was sure about was Nigel’s pack was in a world of trouble. After Conrad reappeared and circled his head with a level hand, the signal that the entry was clear, Tru and Hunter entered the building. The smells got worse. Crumpled on a bench near the door, a fallen soldier sat in his own filth. His useless sidearm hung loose in his open hand. Hunter felt for a pulse. Nothing. They moved on, clearing each room as they went, avoiding disturbing any potential evidence, and checking each body for signs of life. It killed him to leave the dead exposed, but this was a crime scene, and he knew better than to move anything before he was certain he controlled the grounds.

A Promise of Amber

11

The guard slumped across the doorway to Nigel’s office grunted when Hunter felt his throat. Bloodshot eyes opened, and the male wheezed. “Alpha needs help.” Following the direction of his focus, Hunter spotted Nigel sprawled halfway under the conference table. Another dead soldier, probably his second, a broken spotlight, and an empty saltwater canister with its salt-clogged nozzle told their own horror story. Black sticky patches— typical goblin residue—polluted the tile floor. Nigel had been the only pack member prepared for this kind of fight, and he’d been overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The inevitability of the disaster—no pack was prepared for a goblin attack—didn’t lessen the horror. Even the arrogant fae were unwilling to loosen their hold on the goblins, because once allowed freedom the monsters were damn hard to control. At Hunter’s silent command, Conrad moved in, taking charge of the wounded sentry. Hunter crossed to where Nigel lay. A grimace twisted the older male’s handsome features. Intestines spilled from his belly; dark red blood oozed from multiple slash wounds. More of his life’s fluid flecked the Alpha’s lips. “After Amber and the pups. Nursery. Downstairs.” “Easy, pal.” Hunter drew on his strength as pack Alpha, willing calm into Nigel. His old friend’s eyes flickered. “Too late. Promise you’ll protect Amber.” “I promise.” As soon as the pledge left Hunter’s lips, Nigel’s spirit passed into the shade. The loss of the Alpha clenched Hunter’s gut like he’d been the one raked by goblin claws. Fresh snow, the odor of great sadness, rolled off his body, literally chilling the air. There was no time for his questions or to honor the dead—even vengeance had to wait. He had to protect the living. The door to downstairs stood ajar, the oak smeared with the oily black resin and drying werewolf blood. Hunter’s stomach lurched at the likely fate of the young female and helpless pups, and he swallowed back rising bile. “Tru, check out the nursery. Nigel would have installed an escape tunnel leading to a safe room. Use your nose and find Amber and the pups.” “Shouldn’t you—” “No. She wouldn’t know me from a hell hound. Go, damn it,” Hunter snapped. His impulsive second raced for the stairs. Hunter silently cursed himself for barking at the male, who’d done nothing wrong. Worse than yapping at Tru, Hunter had sent his second alone into danger.

12

Evanne Lorraine

Before he had a chance to correct his mistake by ordering Conrad to provide Tru with backup, sirens wailed a warning that the invasion of human first responders was imminent. Ward and Ben staggered into the room. A battered, deceptively small goblin soldier was dragged by thick dark fur on his nape between the enforcers. Ben had used his belt to bind the monster’s sickly pink hands, rendering his lethal black claws useless. Distracted and still pissed at himself for sending Tru to face dangers that were Hunter’s responsibility, he barked again, this time at Conrad, “Go. Cover Tru’s back.” Turning to his other two enforcers, he clamped down on his temper and locked with the goblin’s big eyes. The monster couldn’t see anything with the bright lights blinding him, but he seemed to glare straight at him. Hunter growled with new frustration. “Get him out of sight and secured. There should be a holding cell downstairs. Keep him alive. I want answers.” “Gotcha, sir.” Ward bobbed his head. “Help me sit up,” the wounded sentry huffed as he struggled to push himself upright. Once the guard was breathing more comfortably, Hunter asked, “Any more survivors?” “Dead. They’re all dead.” Coughs racked him while Hunter supported his upper body and prayed that the guard was wrong. The hiss of water extinguishing fire obscured the sound of the approaching firefighters. But the smell of man sweat announced their arrival. He watched a team of three men approach, dressed in full firefighting gear and already dusky with soot. One man lifted his hard hat, tucked it under a jacketed arm, and swiped at the sweat dripping into his eyes. “What happened here?” Hunter assessed the group and replied evenly, “Your guess is better than mine. This man needs help. I hope one of you is an EMT.” In response to his mildly expressed wish, a pair of medics pushed a gurney through the group and knelt to assess the wounded guard. Thank the goddess for easily influenced humans. “I had an appointment to meet Nigel Wharton.” Hunter gestured at the wreckage of furniture and dead bodies around them. “This is what I found when I arrived.”

A Promise of Amber

13

“Looks like someone bombed the hell out of this place. What kind of business is this Wharton in?” the same firefighter asked calmly. “Construction and development.” “Uh-huh, looks like the competition plays rough.” He shot Hunter a hard look. “That your line of work?” “I’m more on the cleanup end of things.” Hunter slid around the truth, liking this human firefighter more than he’d expected to, especially under the grim circumstances. “Me too.” Conrad entered the room, then hesitated as he eyed the firefighters. “Any more survivors?” Hunter asked Conrad, then sent a strong mental nudge for the humans to leave. “No, sir.” The firefighter winced as if he had a headache. He probably did. Hunter’s mental suggestions often had that effect. “Guess we don’t need to check.” Hunter spread his hands in a suit-yourself gesture. “Better not leave. The sheriff’s on the way.” The firefighter rubbed the back of his neck before he resettled his hard hat in place. “We’ll be here.” Hunter assured him. “Let’s go. Nothing more for us to do here.” Once the humans had cleared the area, he pulled Conrad into the privacy of Nigel’s office. “Where’s Tru?” A small muscle in the enforcer’s cheek twitched, and he stared at the floor. “I don’t know. Followed his scent through the nursery to the entrance for an escape tunnel. I had to stop. The bombs must’ve weakened the structure. Door’s jammed, sir.” Hunter nodded his understanding of news he hadn’t wanted to hear. He hoped like hell Tru, the pups, and Amber had made it to the safe room while he worried about the soundness of the supposedly bombproof shelter. “Find Ward and Ben. Seal off the nursery. Get that blasted access door open.” Another approaching siren screamed. The sheriff.

14

Evanne Lorraine

In the remaining minute or two of privacy, Hunter’s thoughts turned to Daniel. His old friend was filling in for him as the acting pack Alpha at Treeland. Until Daniel had bonded with Scarlet, he’d been so damaged that he could barely tolerate another male in his territory. Now with his spirit guide gift restored, the Alpha handled the pack leadership with strength and ease Hunter couldn’t equal. Not that he’d admit that ego-crushing fact anywhere except his own head. Hunter dialed Daniel’s cell. His friend needed to know what had happened here to protect the Treeland pack. “Yeah?” “Ran into a real clusterfuck at Seaview.” Daniel’s interest level perked up with a healthy snarl. “What kind of cluster are we talkin’?” “The goblin kind.” “Survivors?” “Too damn few—one so far.” Hunter scrubbed his face again. It didn’t help. “You want me to come down?” “No way, pal. The slaughter here might be the opening sally in a new war with the fae. Seems likely, since their favorite assassins hit right before twilight.” Hunter didn’t say, Heat’s coming, and Scarlet needs you in Treeland. He couldn’t help thinking about the annual hours of frantic need that every fertile female went through during October’s full moon. This would be Amber’s first heat, if she’d survived. A vise of fear squeezed his heart. “So they tunneled in and nobody noticed?” “That’s my guess—I haven’t had a chance to check it out.” Hunter blew out a breath of frustration. “It’s pretty clear Seaview didn’t have any warning.” Daniel growled. “I read you loud and clear. Foul little bastards. Thank the goddess we can smell them. I’ll round up saltwater canisters, bring our troops up to speed, and start sentries standing post 24-7. How ’bout I send you some extra soldiers?” “Thanks, but not yet. Give me a few hours to figure out what we’re facing on this end.” Daniel lowered his voice to a rasp. “Amber?”

A Promise of Amber

15

“Don’t know.” Hunter cleared his throat. “Ah hell, pal, I wouldn’t even recognize her.” He felt a pang of yearning for the kind of deep connection his old friend found. Scarlet, Daniel’s mate, had been as dramatically transformed by their bond. She’d gone from being a skittish dormant unable to shift to serving as the pack’s Omega—the rarest type of werewolf—capable of healing the most grievous wounds and soothing the cruelest pain. “Sorry, bud.” Daniel’s gruff understanding came through the phone as clear as if his friend was squeezing Hunter’s shoulder in support. “Yeah, me too.” After closing the phone and slipping it back into his pocket, he kicked himself again for having taken the coast road—if they’d come directly from the airport, then maybe… Intellectually he knew he might not have made any difference at all, but his gut said he’d failed a friend and let Nigel die. That he couldn’t ID Amber shamed him. If she survived this massacre, then he would treat her with all the respect and attention his future mate deserved. He grimaced at his own sick cycle of insane protectiveness followed by failure, guilt, and self-recrimination—reload and repeat for nonstop pack Alpha fun. Before he had a chance to get too maudlin, the sheriff entered the room and introduced himself. “Paul Stockard.” His eyes were shards of blue ice. “My mate teaches here.” He swallowed. “My daughter is in the nursery, sir.” Hunter wanted to howl with the Alpha, but that wouldn’t help either of them or his pup. He cupped the back of the big male’s neck with one hand. “My enforcers are checking right now. There’s nothing you can do, except get in the way. There are going to be survivors, and they’ll need everything we can give them.” A petite brunette, leading a group of middle school males, dashed across the room, flung herself at Paul, and hugged him fiercely. “I smelled the smoke and that awful goblin stench.” Her voice caught. “Where’s Maddy?” Paul hugged her tighter. “They’re checking right now, honey.” Her hazel eyes glazed over, and her mouth tightened into a white line. Then she shook off the terror, dropped her lashes, and tilted her neck to Hunter. “I’m Dawn, sir.” She turned back to

16

Evanne Lorraine

the five young males huddled by the entrance. When she started to speak, her voice caught again, and she paused for a second. “Come, meet your Alpha.” The group shuffled forward. If they’d been wearing fur, their tails would’ve been dragging. Hunter met each pair of eyes, matching names with scents and faces as Dawn introduced her students. Letting each young male feel the measure of his strength and hope, Hunter moved through the group. Gradually shoulders straightened, chins lifted, and they became a pack again instead of wild, frightened dogs. Once the young males had settled, Hunter stepped aside so Paul could organize them into work details. The pack had suffered a terrible blow. But there was work to do, and activity would help ease their loss and give them purpose. Catching sight of Conrad’s grim face at the top of the stairs to the lower level, Hunter crossed to his enforcer. “Report.” “Once we got the jammed door working, we followed Tru’s scent into the nursery’s escape exit. Then we hit a wall of rock. The route’s been blocked by a cave-in, probably more than one. The goblins are still tunneling overhead, sir.” Hunter bit off the vicious curse on the edge of his tongue. Instead of yelling, he called Tru’s cell and prayed his second answered.

A Promise of Amber

17

Chapter Three Minutes after clearing the first bend in the escape tunnel, Truman heard a creak from somewhere behind him. The noise quickly expanded into the crunch and crash of wood splintering and bolts tearing loose. A light sprinkle of rock dust was followed by the thunder of major dirt and rock crashing. The goblins were destroying the tunnel. He swallowed to clear his keen ears and glanced over his shoulder. There was nothing to see except a cloud of dust moving his way. He hoped Conrad hadn’t been caught in either cavein and thanked the goddess the tunnel ahead was still clear. A buzz from his jeans pocket signaled an incoming call. He answered without bothering to check the number. “Tru.” “You’re safe.” “Yes, Alpha. The tunnel isn’t doing so hot.” He eyed a crack in the ceiling and kept moving. “Did Conrad make it back okay?” “Yeah.” For a few seconds, the escape route was eerily silent. Then something above him rolled to a shuddering stop, spraying him with more pebbles. The sound of claws finding purchase and goblin feet scurrying jolted him. He lowered his voice. “I’ve got company, sir.” “Use your light,” his usually unflappable Alpha snapped. “Negative, sir. No visual. Can’t even smell them. They’re digging overhead.” “Watch your ass,” Hunter growled. “Call when you’ve found Amber and the pups.” As Truman tucked away the phone, another trace of the Psi he’d been following taunted his nose with her sweet feminine scent. He sprinted. When that wasn’t fast enough, he reached deeper for an extra burst of blurring speed.

18

Evanne Lorraine

Around the next bend, he ran out of tunnel. He skidded to a stop, panting. The wall of rock in front of him looked natural but made no sense. Where was the safe room? He sniffed carefully, catching a hint of the sweet-tart female he’d been trailing. There was something about her scent he couldn’t place. He shook off the distraction. No matter how hot she smelled, she hadn’t melted into the rocks. There had to be a way in—it was just hidden. He patted the uneven stone surface, searching for a switch or a lever. No joy. Maybe if he shifted, then his enhanced werewolf sense of smell would solve the mystery of the concealed door. But the place was crawling with humans—what if the firefighters broke through ahead of the pack? Unlikely as that was, he didn’t want to take the chance. A full-grown male werewolf, three times as large as the biggest wild wolf, was damn hard to explain away. With no immediate danger, he’d save shifting as a last resort if he couldn’t figure out another way inside. He sat on the floor in front of the wall and ran his fingers through his hair while he stared at the barrier. After a few minutes he smartened up, stood, and closed his eyes. Letting his nose guide him, he moved closer to the rocks. His hand cupped the right rock, and he started to twist the cleverly hidden knob when the stone jerked. He let go and jumped back in time to avoid being dragged by a half ton of heavy metal. The world’s most beautiful female stood in the entrance. His heart sped up, then stuttered and sank. Lousy timing pretty much summed up his day. First he’d driven too slow, caught up in the rugged beauty of the coastline, or they might have been here in time to prevent the slaughter. Then he’d raced off before Hunter had finished giving orders. Now the female of his dreams turned out to be his Alpha’s promised mate. He gaped at her, as unsubtle as a pup who still stumbled over his own oversize paws. Sheer perfection would do that to a male. The combination of her delicate bones, blonde hair, and ripe curves more than lived up to the promises her sweet smell had made him. Big, dark brown eyes shiny with pain met his stare. That and her fresh-snow odor of sadness made him feel like even more of an animal for forgetting she’d just lost most of her pack and was probably still in shock. Her long, thick lashes lowered—a natural submissive’s response to a more powerful male’s dominance. Her automatic reaction wasn’t one he usually—try ever—evoked. That made

A Promise of Amber

19

her effect on him headier. Only the smell of her grief kept him from sniffing and licking her in places he had no business even imagining. She placed a finger to her perfect pink lips in the universal sign for quiet and mouthed, The pups are sleeping, sir. Truman nodded, grateful for an excuse not to talk. Slightly famous for his smooth patter with females, right this moment he didn’t have a coherent word to say. His tongue felt thick, dry, and hot. In fact, he was decidedly hotter all over than his normal one hundred and seven degrees. Fluffing his loose Hawaiian shirt, he hoped to hide the instant erection straining the front of his cowboy-tight jeans. She kept her eyes lowered and whispered, “Is it safe to go upstairs, sir?” “Afraid we’re stuck for a while. There’s been a couple of cave-ins,” he croaked. When her face paled further at his news flash, he limbered up his tongue and raced on to reassure her. “Hey, we’re in the safest place around. My pack brothers will dig us out before you have time to get bored with me.” Another scramble of feet jerked her attention to the ceiling. “Goblins,” he growled. She seemed to shrink at his mention of the oily little monsters but gave him a small nod of understanding and crossed to the open door. Following the sensual sway of lush hips under a thin skirt, he made the effort to keep his mouth closed. He was already hard enough to crush rock and felt like a complete beast. Make that more of a beast than usual. Though he was young for the job, he was an enforcer and Hunter’s second. An honor he’d fought for and won fairly. If nothing else did, then his pack rank made him a male of worth. Like every other Treeland enforcer, he held himself to a strict standard of honor. Hitting on the newly bereaved was definitely not part of the good-guy code. She stopped, turned, and still swayed. A sharp urge to bang his head on the wall hit him as he realized the sway wasn’t about being seductive. She was unsteady on her feet, and her chin quivered as if she fought back tears—confirmation of his brilliant deduction.

20

Evanne Lorraine

That put a blue ribbon on him in the who’s-the-sickest-animal-around contest. Here she was about to pass out from shock and grief, and he was still thinking about how much he’d like to be skin to skin with her. What she needed was what mattered. That would be his strength, comfort, and protection. Definitely not any hot and dirty action. Another scurry of goblins overhead gave him fresh priorities. “More…goblins, sir?” “Company we don’t want.” He ushered her firmly into the safety of the reinforced bunker, keeping a hand on her back just in case she fainted. He found the switch to seal them inside and flipped it. “What can I do to help?” “Could you give me a hug, sir?” Her impossibly thick lashes lifted, and her big brown eyes shone with enchanting glints of gold as she anxiously searched his face. Everything about her said Psi, extra sensitive, and recently bruised to hell; handle with care. Yet here she was looking to him for kindness and a little simple comfort. Not exactly the ultracool, ultrafun, and ultrasmart Gamma guy’s specialty. For her, he’d sure as hell try. Then she angled her neck, a gesture of respect due a more powerful male. Natch, that cranked his chain. Ah fuck. A hug just might kill him, or erode the last of his self-control, but he opened his arms wide. The world’s most beautiful female moved into his embrace like she belonged there. She snuggled against his heat, fitting him perfectly. Too perfectly. He angled his hips away to keep his erection out of the comfort equation. Everything about her felt wonderful, amazing, and way too cool, literally. Goddess save him for a fool, she really was in shock. He tightened his hold and willed his body heat into her chilled skin. When that didn’t do the trick, he gently chafed her arms and back. Then he took off his shirt and settled the bright tropical print over her slender shoulders. The sleeves covered her elbows, and the bottom edge almost brushed her knees. Dwarfed by his shirt, she looked too young to be legal. He pulled her closer and used his greater size to curve his heat around her. “Blankets?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.

A Promise of Amber

21

“The pups needed them, sir.” She spoke so softly that he had to lean closer. So close that each word puffed against his ear. “Let’s get you snuggled up with the pups then.” His voice had deepened with a roughness he didn’t recognize. Keeping her tucked into his side nice and tight, he moved them through the entryway into the main room. Designed to house at least fifty adults plus a half dozen young, the huge bunker felt cavernous. Casting a professional eye over the accommodations, he took in the low lighting, cork floor, and clean air. He made a mental note to check on supplies, especially the armory, for spotlights and salt canisters. In here, Amber and the pups should be safe from anything, but Hunter needed every weapon available. A fluffy mound of blankets topped with a multicolored circle of fur drew his attention. The pups were so small and fragile. His heart squeezed in response. The instant fierce need to protect them jolted him. Their presence disturbed one of the young. One dark eye glittered, and a miniature lip curled in a snarl. An Alpha. Tru held a sober expression at the small male’s challenge. “Friend,” the female he wanted to claim said firmly, and the little Alpha sank back into the circle of warmth with a last warning glare. The Psi shivered in his hold but kept her voice low and firm. “I’m Amber, sir.” Right, Hunter’s promised mate. How had he forgotten so fast? The smart move was to step away now. Then keep a nice respectable distance between them. The safe room was big, but two or three miles would be better. Except that she was still dangerously chilled, and she needed his warmth. Back to his heat and chafe duties. Hunter’s mate. He silently repeated his new mantra. Holding her close, he rubbed her arms and back with his free hand. He kept his touch as clinical as possible as he worked to improve her circulation. Hunter’s mate. His wolf growled in disagreement. Mine. In spite of his honorable intentions, he didn’t loosen his hold on her even when her trembling eased. Each breath he took was rich with her intoxicating smell and made his wolf more possessive. Each beat of his heart pumped more of her pheromones through his system. Each passing second he was more lost for her.

22

Evanne Lorraine

The full moon would happen in a few days. Her hormone levels would rise along with the orb. He understood way too clearly what that entailed. Soon he’d be helpless to resist the one special female the goddess had designed for him. The drive to protect her, to care for her already flooded his system. His heart twisted with the reminder that under a veneer of civilization, he was a beast—a creature of instinct. Adding to his misery, as a Psi, she would be picking up on every lowlife impulse that flickered across his dirty mind. Werewolf nature had definite advantages—strength, speed, long life for openers—but it could be a real bitch. Bonding to the wrong female was about as bad as it got. Truman felt like a giant fist had grabbed his heart and tightened. His situation was headed one direction—from bad to worse. The only thing preventing him from bonding to his Alpha’s mate was her pheromones. When her heat got a little nearer, her scent markers would push him into bonding. A werewolf phenomenon that made the human concept of lifetime commitment look like a casual one-nighter. His own feelings were a nonissue. “Hopeless” summed up his situation. The goddess had designed a fertile female to be irresistible to a suitable male. Typically, bonding affected the male first, making him fiercely protective, devoted to the female’s well-being, and incapable of being aroused by any other female from first bonding for the rest of his long, long life. While the male was going through this chemical and emotional change, the bitch might, or might not, bond with the poor sap. In the goddess’s wisdom, the process had been coded into their DNA to protect the more helpless females during pregnancy, birth, and nursing. The only possible escape was distance and plenty of it. Right, like that was going work when he was Hunter’s second. His position in the pack wasn’t just a matter of rank or power. He was loyal to Hunter, obeyed him, and would’ve rather died than cause his Alpha a second of pain. Fighting the goddess’s will was as pointless as defying gravity. There wasn’t a single damn thing he could do to change his destiny. He was screwed, and not in a good way. The only thing that would be even worse than joining the ranks of the permanently miserable, mated lone wolves would be if Amber were attracted to him. Because then Hunter would have to challenge him. His own death would be a relief for Truman, but having to kill him would seriously wound his Alpha, because Hunter protected the pack ferociously—especially his enforcers.

A Promise of Amber

23

The power trip of being pack leader ruined too many Alphas. Hunter was rock solid and definitely one of the good guys. Tru was lucky to be part of a well-run pack. Luckier to serve as Hunter’s second. He reached for his cell, uncomfortably aware he was late calling to update Hunter with the news that Amber and the pups were safe.

Amber’s teeth had quit chattering, but the fresh snow of sadness stayed wrapped around her so tightly she wondered if she’d ever feel truly warm again. Dear goddess, she missed the comforting presence of the pack in her head. There were so few members left, and only the pups, who desperately needed her strength and heat, were close enough to help anchor her. There were no pack members to reassure her with a friendly hug or simply offer the comfort of letting her lean against a strong furry body. Goblins were the alien monsters of every pup’s nightmares. She’d never seen a real one, although she’d heard plenty of stories about the horrid smelly creatures. They looked like huge moles with emo cartoon eyes, fearsome claws, and magic powers. Living deep underground, they were expert tunnel builders, and hypersensitive to light. Memories from the tales of the last war with fae, which were still told on hunt nights, echoed through the dark recesses of her mind. Then more frightening thoughts tumbled into her head. Goblins were tightly controlled by fae royalty. Why would the fae attack Seaview? Guilt from last summer’s forbidden excursion washed through her mind. She’d slipped away from the pack grounds during a hunt night when she knew her father would be too involved to notice her absence. A local winery hosted a series of outdoor concerts. All summer she’d resisted the strains of seductive music that called to her fae blood. On that late August night she’d weakened. She’d been so careful, never joining in the dancing. Watching and yearning from her concealed perch high in an ancient oak. No one could’ve seen her. But the magic ones still could’ve sensed her. The wild fae blood in her veins mocked her innocent intentions. Too afraid to voice her fears, she pushed the guilty memory back into the shadows of her mind, closed her eyes, and snuggled into the male’s warmth. When she felt braver, she inhaled and sorted through the complex medley of his scent notes. He had the most amazing aroma, a delicious combination of spice, safety, and sex.

24

Evanne Lorraine

She took in more of his fragrance and barely controlled an urge to lick him, just to see if he tasted as delightful as he smelled. Mated couples licked where they pleased. At least they did in wolf form. No one had ever specifically said don’t lick the attractive unmated males, not even the one who’s pledged to you, although she’d certainly never seen a female do such a thing. Painfully aware that her instincts, unless she was wearing fur, weren’t safe guidelines for proper werewolf behavior, she refrained from licking, nibbling, or rubbing. Instead she tried to tune into her Psi side to pick up cues from what he was feeling. A satisfying rush of lust blended with protectiveness flooded from the male. His reaction was better than she’d dared to hope. Some space and time to regain her composure and remember her manners would’ve been a smart choice. His desire gave her extra reassurance that she was welcome in his arms. This was good, because she couldn’t seem to pry herself away from his side. Even if she’d wanted to leave, and she definitely didn’t want to, leaving was impossible. Unable to stop, she burrowed her nose deeper into his delicious and very solid shoulder. Perhaps the goddess had granted her secret wish for a mate who would cherish her. He seemed much younger than she’d expected Hunter to be, but adult werewolves looked the same for centuries. So her estimate of his age could certainly be off by a decade or two. The male wasn’t anywhere near as stern or bossy as her father, but then Alpha wolves came in lots of different styles and degrees of dominance. A really strong Alpha might well come across as quiet and mild, because he didn’t need to posture—real power had nothing to prove. He was lusting for her; she couldn’t be wrong about that. The scent wafting from his body was another big clue that boosted her confidence. He was strong, powerful, and he wanted her. He had to be Hunter. Nothing else made sense. Her heart beat faster as she absorbed more of his wonderful fragrance. With a prayer for courage, she peeked at his handsome face through her lashes. “This isn’t how I imagined we would meet, sir.” As if her words had been coated with a vampire’s natural ice, his feelings shut down. The hard body pressing along her side stiffened with tension—not a good sign. She just didn’t know how she had offended him. Automatically she crouched and tilted her neck, offering him the submission he deserved and would rightly demand.

A Promise of Amber

25

This too was wrong, because he carefully removed his arms and took a half step away from her. His strong features were frozen into a polite mask, but there was no mistaking his rejection. If she had any doubt about his reaction, the sudden feeling of loathing coming from him—strong enough to make her want to cringe—settled the matter. He hated her. Somehow he’d sensed her fae wrongness even if he didn’t fully realize what she was. Why had she expected anything different? “I’m Truman, one of Hunter’s enforcers.” “Nice to meet you, sir.” The words tumbled out in automatic politeness, sounding every bit as empty and hollow as she felt. He wasn’t Hunter. He was Truman, a soldier. This was good news. So why didn’t she feel relieved? She wrapped her arms around her waist to ward off a new layer of cold from his obvious disgust with her. He’d been attracted to her. As bad as she was at reading wolf signs, she couldn’t have misread him by that much. That he no longer wanted to be attracted to her was even plainer. Lust definitely wasn’t the same thing as caring. She couldn’t blame him for not liking her. No doubt his wolf sensed her fae side and reacted with loathing without ever consciously knowing why he felt the way he did. It was a reaction she should’ve been used to by now. His disgust still felt like a vise around her heart. By voicing her foolish hope that he was Hunter, she’d made everything worse. She longed to escape his frosty gaze and give both of them a chance to recover some composure, but there was nowhere for her to go. Even something as simple as stepping outside into the unstable tunnel was out of the question, because the pups would be frightened if they woke up and found themselves alone with a stranger. “Do you have a security camera on the entrance?” His gaze was aimed over her head. She seized the chance to study him. His dark hair was long and fell forward to brush heavy eyebrows that matched the thick lashes framing his dark eyes. He was easily a foot taller than she was and powerfully built. Even knowing he was impossible, a forbidden male, she couldn’t resist another whiff. Dear goddess, he smelled wonderful. She forced herself to look away and to swallow her sigh of longing.

26

Evanne Lorraine

“Right this way, sir.” Relieved to have any distraction, she led him to the display of the video surveillance trained on the tunnel approaching the safe room and then stepped aside to give him access to the equipment. “Thanks.” His gaze narrowed at her. “You don’t have to sir me. I’m no Alpha. Call me Tru. Everyone does.” A whiff of snow from the male startled her. Why was he sad? She bobbed her head and darted a peek at him, trying to gauge his mood, but he’d already locked on the small screen. “I’ll keep watch. You might as well get some rest.” With nowhere to go and nowhere to hide, Amber did the next best thing. She stepped away from him and for good measure turned her back before she undressed as quickly as her shaky fingers could manage, folded her clothes, and shifted to wolf form, putting an end to the need for any more awkward conversation. As soon as she settled into her fur, she felt better, warmer, and safer from her unpredictable fae magic. Curling herself close to the sleeping pups gradually brought her temperature high enough to stop the shivering. So finally, she dozed. When she woke she found a fresh bowl of water and another with canned meat broken into easy-to-chew chunks waiting for the little ones. After taking a few careful sips, she nosed the blanket tighter around the still-sleeping pups and sniffed the air quietly, seeking Tru. Although she caught traces of his scent, she couldn’t pinpoint his location. His absence shouldn’t have bothered her, but it did. Silently she padded to where she’d seen him last. He stood and stretched, giving her a great view of his human form before he saw her. “I was coming to wake you. Mind shifting and taking over the viewer while I grab a shower?” Since clothes didn’t survive shifting, most werewolves weren’t modest. Normally, Amber wasn’t all that body shy either, except for right now. She edged away from him and padded toward where she’d left her clothes. “Fine, you shower first,” he called after her with no trace of irritation in his voice.

A Promise of Amber

27

Out of his line of sight, she shifted, gathered her clothes, and darted into the bathroom. She filled one of a row of washbasins with cold water and hand soap and pushed her bra and panties under the bubbles. Leaving her underwear to soak, she raced through a three-minute shower, shook off, and then applied a towel. Still damp, she tugged on yesterday’s clothes over bare skin. A better solution than either risking the use of her fae magic or wearing wet undies. She finger-combed her hair, let the water out of the sink, rinsed and squeezed dry her pink lace underwear. Since there was nowhere better, she hung them over one of the shower doors to finish drying. The small bits of intimate fabric looked fragile and very vulnerable alone in the gym-sized bathroom. After checking on the sleeping pups, she found the pantry and brewed two cups of coffee. She stood silently watching Tru for a few seconds, letting herself stare. Like most male werewolves he was gorgeous, big, and powerfully built. Unlike most males he was tolerant, flexible, and remarkably even-tempered. He even teased. When he noticed her waiting, he grinned, revealing a crooked incisor that made his smile even more endearing. “That for me?” “Yes.” She lowered her gaze and offered him the mug of coffee. He leaned back in the swivel chair and sipped, showing no sign of impatience. “Ready to take over?” She nodded, scooting back enough to allow him to pass. Because she couldn’t look away, she watched as his muscles rippled and he uncoiled, stood, stretched again—popping his back— and picked up his mug. “See you in five.” His cheerful words lingered as she stared at the security monitor. Vivid images of him in the shower flickered through her mind’s eye, and the seductive memory of his special fragrance raised her temperature. Fortunately the nearness of the pups squelched her insane impulse to act on an attraction she knew was wrong. More than wrong—forbidden. Yes, he was gorgeous and kind and decent. But if she followed through on her wild urges, she would put him in the awful position of having to choose between embarrassing her with rejection or betraying his Alpha.

28

Evanne Lorraine

Of course, he would reject her. Probably. He should, because the alternative was unthinkable. She wasn’t going to risk his handsome neck by tempting him just because she longed for the comfort she’d found in yesterday’s too-brief embrace. Encroaching on a pack Alpha’s mate—even a promised mate—was major violation of pack law. Hunter would challenge any male who’d violated his pledged mate. With females so rare, it wouldn’t matter that she’d begun the seduction. Tru would bear the blame and the punishment. As the Alpha leader Hunter drew strength from the entire pack. A fight with him wouldn’t be a contest. The challenge match would be Tru’s death sentence. She shuddered with terror at the thought, a bit stunned by how deeply she cared, but that had always been her way. She’d loved rarely but impulsively and with every bit of her heart. A low buzz caught her ear, and she whirled toward the bathroom. The door opened. At the same time Tru pressed a cell phone to his ear, ending the buzzing. His gaze locked with hers as he talked. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll bring them right out.” He listened for a moment more before saying, “Later.” His pack must have cleared the cave-in. They would be able to leave. A feeling of regret pinched her chest at the same time relief lightened the tension she’d carried in her stiff neck and shoulders. Tru watched her intently. “We need to get the pups out of here.” “The pups?” Though she didn’t understand his discomfort, she picked up his urgency, and her voice wavered like she was nine hundred instead of nearly twenty-five. “My pack brothers got a length of PVC worked through the rubble. The pipe is only big enough to evacuate the pups. We need to hurry while the exit is still stable.” “Still stable?” The words echoed ominously in her head after they’d left her throat. He cupped her shoulder with surprising strength and tenderness. “It’s their best chance.” For a moment, she let herself ease into his strength. Instinctively, she believed him. She trusted him. Her hands still shook as she picked up Lex. Truman scooped up Jay and Maddy, who immediately began to whimper. Amber retrieved her stuffed bunny. The Beta pup quieted as she locked her tiny teeth on Wabby’s soft middle.

A Promise of Amber

29

Tru hooked a yellow canister on his waistband and handed her a spotlight. “Can you manage him and the light?” “I think so.” “Show me.” He waited patiently for her to comply with one arm full of pups and the other loose, ready to wield the salt spray. After demonstrating her spotlight skill, she made herself meet his gaze. “Has the tunnel already been compromised, or are you being cautious?” “Cautious.” She sensed the truth in Tru’s response. Tension stiffened the fine muscles in her neck and shoulders anyway. Releasing the shelter’s heavy door took Tru a fraction of a second. Then he waited, watching her with that burning intensity while she rushed past him, tightly clutching Lex. Holding both of his charges in one arm, he moved in front of her. The sound of goblin feet scrambling overhead propelled her faster down the long stretch of tunnel to the ceiling high wall of rubble. A ridiculously fragile-looking black pipe of corrugated plastic poked out, barely visible, near the top of the rocks. She glanced at Tru, looking for the same kind of absolute security Maddy drew from her bunny. The craziest part of that was when he nodded at her, just a jerk of his dimpled chin, she felt instantly better, braver, and more certain this was the right thing to do. She gripped the spotlight awkwardly under her arm. With a quick kiss between Lex’s ears, she boosted him into the pipe.

30

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Four The last man out, Hunter dropped clear of the rubble and mopped the sweat from his forehead with the tail of his filthy polo shirt. “Are they all right?” Tears streamed down Dawn’s pretty face as she cuddled Maddy and the two males. “Yes, Alpha, thank the goddess.” Hunter had passed the pups so fast, he’d caught nothing except a tang of fear from the young ones. Hearing the Beta’s heartfelt relief eased the knot of concern in his gut. Respite quickly blended with an odd pang of envy as he watched Paul gently helping his mate to her feet. He pushed the errant flash of jealousy aside. Bonding wasn’t something he craved. If the incomprehensible goddess wanted him bonded, then she’d make it happen in her own sweet time. Not a thing he could do to influence fate. The small Alpha pup took advantage of Dawn’s loosened grip to make a break for freedom, darting toward the nursery, but he wasn’t fast enough to make it past Hunter. “Hold on, pal.” The small pup nipped at his hand. Hunter pinned him securely. The little Alpha howled. “I know just how you feel, son. I came this close to losing both of my females.” Paul knelt by the small Alpha pup, the older male’s craggy face rumpled in sympathy as he talked. After a respectful look at Hunter for permission, he picked up the brokenhearted pup and rocked him. “Jay’s folks are gone too. They fought hard, just like your parents, son.” The mournful howl ceased, and the pup stared at Jay’s quivering lower jaw. Picking up on the sheriff’s thinking, Hunter carefully removed the other young male from Dawn’s arms and tucked him next to the small Alpha in Paul’s arms. Sure enough, the pups grumbled and settled into a tight ball with Lex’s head over Jay’s. Werewolf young were so rare that a blood sibling was almost unknown. But pups of the pack born in the same year formed their own bond.

A Promise of Amber

31

Dawn’s quiet throat clearing brought Hunter’s attention back to the petite Beta. She tilted her neck politely before speaking. “Don’t you worry about the pups. We’ll care for the males like our own, sir.” “Not worried about it. All of you need to stick close. The goblins are still tunneling, and the pack is still in danger.” Excusing himself, he pulled Conrad aside. “Set up a command center in Nigel’s home office. I want video surveillance back online as fast as you can manage it.” Caught in crisis mode, Hunter had neglected to question the one source of information he had available—the captured goblin. He swallowed another curse at himself and summoned Ward with a pointed look. “Alpha.” Ward lowered his eyes in respect. “Where is the prisoner?” “Holding cell. Do you know the way, sir?” “Show me.” Ward moved quickly, leading the way to a series of secure rooms at the other end of the lower level. The prisoner had been manacled properly in iron, which bound all but the rare fae capable of molding iron to his will. The metal restraints weakened the monsters, stealing their strength and their magic. The goblin’s fur looked dull and patchy, his overlarge black eyes blank, and his pinkish hands and feet pale. Hunter didn’t make the mistake of assuming he was harmless. “Why did you attack Seaview?” Aside from a nervous flick of his long whiskers, the creature didn’t respond. Hunter continued to ask questions both with and without the glare of a spotlight. A few salt peltings had no effect on the goblin’s tongue. When sprayed the monster flinched, and his fur thinned, showing angry burns, but the little bastard maintained stoic silence. Briefly Hunter wondered if the captive was mute or hearing impaired. He dismissed both possibilities. Either condition would have kept him out of the raiding party. No wiser, but much more frustrated, he left the cell and returned to the blocked tunnel. “What can I do to help?” Paul stepped forward.

32

Evanne Lorraine

Hunter shook off the sweat still rolling down his back. “Do you have a contact for the local vampire enclave?” “Yes, sir I believe so. Mistress Ariadne runs the Medalia enclave. Her information should be in Alpha’s office.” “Good. Get me her number. While you’re at it, gather the contact list for Seaview’s civilians. We need to warn them.” “I’ll check, but don’t hold your breath.” “There’s gotta be a list.” Hunter forced patience into his firm words. Paul shook his head stubbornly. “Nigel ran a strictly military operation—drills, challenge matches, mock battles. If Dawn weren’t too damn softhearted to abandon her students, I wouldn’t be hanging around either. We’re it for civilians, aside from Nigel’s servants, and they’re a little creepy, if you read me.” Now Hunter had a new pile of questions, but they’d have to wait. He had a hunch he wouldn’t like the answers anyway. Military, his ass. Every other word out of Nigel’s mouth had been a bunch of crazy Alpha isolationist bullshit. But goddess in the everlasting shade, he’d never suspected how far Nigel had taken his paranoia. The muscles around Hunter’s mouth tightened. “I’ll ask Dawn. She might have a couple of phone numbers.” Paul tilted his neck. “Okay. When you’re done give Conrad a hand with the communication links.” While I call the local head of the bloodsuckers and give her a heads-up on what’s happening, because we need their help. Goddess save them all. Hunter never thought he’d see the day when a pack needed charity from vampires. But even werewolves had limits, and knowing them was part of his job description. Fighting a goblin invasion with three enforcers, the sheriff, and him, while protecting five teenage males, three vulnerable pups, and one female, plus excavating an escape route faster than the loathsome goblins could collapse their work wasn’t going to happen without reinforcements. His own pack was too far away to help. Besides, Treeland had enough to do protecting their own young. He needed saltwater canisters, portable heavy-duty spotlights, and a hell of lot more soldiers. Vampires weren’t his favorite monsters, but they were unparalleled fighters.

A Promise of Amber

33

The sheriff tilted his neck and offered him a cell phone. “I’ve already selected the Medalia enclave number for you. When you’re ready to talk, press Send.” “Ariadne?” Paul nodded. “How did you get this number?” The feminine voice that answered his call was low, cultured, and frosty as a penguin’s balls. He answered with a guess. “Nigel Wharton’s address book.” “Put him on.” “Not possible. He’s dead.” The silence stretched. Finally she spoke. “Did you challenge him?” Hunter swallowed a painful knot of anger at her insult. “No. Nigel was my friend. He died fighting goblins.” “I see.” She paused again. “Perhaps we should start over. I’m Mistress Ariadne. You are?” “Hunter Dunlop, Treeland Pack Alpha.” “You are Nigel’s friend and pledged to his daughter, yes?” “Yes.” “What can I do for you, Alpha?” Hunter swallowed again, reminding himself he couldn’t afford pride. “I need saltwater canisters, spotlights, and soldiers to deal with a goblin infestation.” “That is an extravagant favor for a very new friend to ask.” Damn vampires never did anything without extracting a price, and there was only one commodity they were interested in from a werewolf. He scrubbed a hand over his filthy face, smearing the dirt and sweat until he probably looked as bad as one of the human firefighters. “There are many werewolf bodies ripe with blood to compensate your troops. I ask that your fighters treat our dead with respect.” “A most generous offer, one I am pleased to accept.” The call ended.

34

Evanne Lorraine

Thank the goddess he was able to handle negotiations with the notoriously fastidious vampires on the phone. Covered in dust, dripping with sweat, and still wearing the goblin’s slash marks, he would have been at a serious disadvantage in person. Before his feeling of relief had ebbed, an elegant female wearing an immaculate white linen suit over a pink blouse materialized an arm’s length from where he stood. She tilted a long graceful neck. There was no indication she’d intended the exposure of her throat as a gesture of respect. More likely she was studying him as if he were an alien life-form. “Mistress Ariadne, I presume?” Aware of how much his disheveled appearance hurt his credibility with the elegant vampire, he drew sufficient strength and calm from his pack to withstand her scrutiny without shuddering under her icy regard. She nodded and finished her thorough examination before speaking. “I prefer to be present when any of my warriors are at risk.” “As you wish.” “Always.” She snapped her fingers, and a dozen vampires filed into the tunnel and lined up behind her. Each male was armed with either a canister or a spotlight. What his new ally lacked in warmth—which was any—she sure as hell offset in efficiency. “I suggest we organize teams of five. One of your soldiers to sniff out the enemy, two of my light holders, and two canister wielders. Does this arrangement meet with your approval?” “Yes.” He wanted to snarl to assert his leadership, but her crisp words made sense. “Excellent. May I also suggest we begin by locating the goblins’ tunnel entrances? Once we’ve found their access points, we can flood them with salt water.” “A fine plan, but how do you propose to fill the goblin passages with salt water?” Ariadne lifted one elegant eyebrow in mild censure at his doubt. “I took the liberty of arranging for a water truck and filling its reservoir with a suitably strong saline solution.” “Fast even for a vampire.” A hint of pleased pink glowed on her cheekbones. “There have been certain signs of unrest. Since my enclave handles the local water services, keeping a truck on standby seemed prudent.”

A Promise of Amber

35

This vampire was different—not nearly as icy as he’d thought. He grinned in open admiration. “Ben, take the first team to the guard shack. See if you can sniff out the oily bastards’ point of entry.” Remembering the need for protocol with these touchy allies, he turned back to Ariadne. “With your permission?” She beckoned four of her warriors forward and angled her chin toward Ben. “Follow him. Trudy is waiting by the gatehouse in the water truck. You know what to do.” Once the rest of their combined forces had been assigned, he led the vampire to Nigel’s office where Paul and Conrad had restored communications. Indicating a seat with a wave of his hand, he offered her a cold bottle of water. Without air-conditioning, he was cooking in the heat. He forced himself to drink slowly as she sipped from her bottle. He’d expected her to refuse the drink. The average bloodsucker didn’t need to breathe, eat, or drink anything—other than blood. Watching Ariadne, Hunter noticed she breathed, blinked, and had a pulse. A living vampire. He’d heard of born bloodsuckers—the ruling class of vampire society, but he had never met one. The longstanding truce between werewolves and vampires was based on the one thing they agreed on—a mutual need to stay off the humans’ radar. The pact kept them from sniping at each other, but it sure as hell didn’t guarantee the bloodsucker as his allies against the fae. “Why are you doing this for us?” “Werewolf blood is a great favorite among my people.” She spoke coolly. “Not yours?” “No, it is not my personal favorite.” When she glanced away he glimpsed the tips of delicate fangs. He’d never seen a female’s before, and he found them erotic as hell. If he hadn’t been a pack Alpha, he might’ve risked a bite. Nah, he wouldn’t have been able to trust her not to inject him with one of her venoms. Maybe with the right ball gag. The visual distracted him for a couple of seconds. What were the chances Mistress Ariadne wanted to submit to his bonds? Slim to none, and if she demanded his submission, biting her

36

Evanne Lorraine

pretty head off was a surefire method for making new enemies out of wary friends. Damn, he needed to get his head in the game, not fall under the bloodsucker’s thrall. “What is?” He raised an eyebrow, hoping like hell that she wasn’t able to read minds; rumor was some of them could. She took a breath, and let it out, scenting the office air. There was none of the cold metal typical of vampires. Instead a faint trace of lavender lingered. The light smell was a big improvement over the oily clay stench of goblins. “Demon.” She met his eyes briefly. He knew there was more to her reasons for siding with the pack against the fae, and he needed a clear picture of the playing field more than he needed fresh meat. “Are the demons involved?” “With goblins?” Hunter shrugged. “No, they loathe the fae in every form. My people have honored the truce until now; however, the fae started a war by attacking Seaview. We intend to be on the side of victory.” Flattering, but an obvious lie. If the prissy fae decided to dirty their glittering hands, then the werewolves had already lost the war, unless the demons were ready to side with them. They were one of few races scarier and more powerful than the fae. Abruptly, he decided it was time for another visit to the captured goblin. Maybe the vampire could persuade the monster to spill his secrets or vice versa.

**** After a disappointing interview with the stubborn goblin, Ariadne excused herself to confer with her soldiers. Hunter and Ben got back to work on building an escape route for Truman and Amber while Ward hauled out the rocks they cleared and passed in supplies. After two and half hours, they had a smooth rhythm going, rotating positions every half hour. Nearly five feet of new tunnel was done, and they were picking up speed. The construction required balancing their natural strength with caution. As long as there weren’t any more major rock falls, they’d finish the narrow passage in another four hours. Under

A Promise of Amber

37

normal circumstances fifteen feet through loose rock could’ve been handled by a crew of teenage males. With goblins scurrying overhead and the constant threat of fresh cave-ins, he wasn’t willing to risk anyone other than his soldiers. Hunter started to back out, exchanging places with Ward, when something crashed through the roof. Loose rocks tumbled from above, pinning Ben under a broken support beam and burying the saltwater canister. Dropping his hammer, Hunter grabbed the spotlight and flicked the lamp to dazzling life. A now visible goblin warrior turned toward him. The goblin shrieked as his permanently dilated eyes were seared by the glare. Even though Hunter had temporarily blinded the monster, his razor claws earned healthy respect. Hunter sought something to use as a weapon before the little bastard realized Ben was defenseless and started ripping him apart. Balancing the light against the wall, he felt for his hammer. His fingers closed around the handle, and he hurled the tool with satisfying accuracy, smashing the goblin’s pointy snout to a gushing mound of pulp. Furry forelegs covered the goblin’s wound, and Hunter dived for the canister. As fast as he was, goblin claws raked his side before he could aim the canister and blast the monster with a stream of salt water. Piteous shrieks pierced his keen ears as the monster dissolved. He braced the weight of the beam with his back and carefully extracted Ben. A low moan from the enforcer gave Hunter hope. Then Ward was there, covering the oily goblin resin with a towel and picking up Ben’s feet. Hunter cradled his head and shoulders. Carefully they carried the wounded enforcer from the ruined tunnel. By the time they sat Ben on the stable floor, sweat dripped off Hunter more from fury than the effort of hauling his enforcer. He’d only killed one of the cursed goblins. How many more of the little bastards were left? He snorted silently. One was too damn many. Two meant they were breeding; goblins reproduced like rabbits. Too bad they tasted worse than they smelled. Angry at himself for repeating Nigel’s mistake by not reinforcing the new tunnel with iron rebar, he fought for calm. He stripped off his sopping polo and twisted it, wringing out most of

38

Evanne Lorraine

the sweat. Conrad passed him a bottle of water, and he forced himself to take sips. “No more shortcuts. The escape route has to have iron supports.” Paul joined them. “I can help organize materials. Several pack members work in the construction industry.” “Appreciate it.” Hunter gave him a nod of approval.

A Promise of Amber

39

Chapter Five Being alone with Amber made Tru itchy in ways he didn’t trust himself to think about. Her sweet citrus scent had a touch of something exhilarating, which he still hadn’t placed. The smell ramped up his already roaring libido. Now they were isolated. He felt like a smoldering match tossed into a parched August forest—instant wildfire waiting to happen. Shifting wouldn’t help. He’d already seen her exquisite wolf, which was every bit as irresistible as her human form. Plus his wolf wasn’t into self-denial. Looking for help to keep himself in line, he dialed Hunter before the heavy shelter door had completely sealed. The call went straight to voice mail. “Pups okay, Alpha?” He ended his abrupt message, stuffed the phone into his shirt pocket, hooked his thumbs through his belt loops, and scanned the room for a distraction—any distraction. Since he still hadn’t checked on any of the supplies other than weapons, he started opening the light oak doors at random. “Are they all right?” Amber sat on the floor, smoothing and folding the blankets the pups had used. Her legs were folded under her in one of those graceful positions only females managed. Her eyes stayed lowered. Because he wanted to stare, Tru forced himself to turn away from the temptation of her nonstop curves. Too bad he couldn’t avoid smelling her sweet fragrance. Unhappy with himself, he spoke gruffly. “Call went to voice mail.” “Tell me about him.” The softness of her words made it almost a question. Her request dropped a load of bricks on his chest, and his heart sank under the extra thousand pounds of jealousy. “Hunter?” “Yes.” She paused, then added an irresistible, “Please?”

40

Evanne Lorraine

Well, shit, color him shallow and awkward. He abandoned the linen closet he’d just opened in favor of a visit to the fridge. Grabbing a liter of water, he angled his head toward her and cleared some of the bullfrog out of his throat. “You want something?” “Water, please.” He snagged a second bottle, then moved close enough to hand it to her before stepping back and settling himself out of his arm’s reach from her on the cork floor. Not far enough for safety, but he wasn’t sure what kind of distance that would take—a continent or two might work. “What do you want to know?” A graceful shrug of her slender shoulders made the neckline of her thin top gap enough to call attention to an impossibly delicate collarbone. She’d finished with the blankets and toyed with the water bottle cap. Watching the nervous action as her delicate fingers twisted the top off and screwed it back on drove his mind straight to the gutter—a short trip. There was simply no safe place to rest his eyes on the female. Irritated by his lack of control, he growled, “He’s tough, fair, and brave as hell.” He raked an unsteady hand through his hair, thinking about the kinds of things Amber would soon know about Hunter, things Tru didn’t want her to know about any male… Shit, he was one sick puppy. He took a drink and tried again. “I’ve only been an enforcer in his pack for a few years, since I finished my last tour in the Middle East. You’ll get to know him a whole lot better than I do.” “Perhaps, but I don’t know anything about him now.” Her voice was pitched so softly that he had to lean closer to catch her words. He snapped his head back to a safer zone—in some other reality. This one didn’t come with enough room to stop wanting Amber. “What do you mean?” This time her eyes flashed with those pretty gold sparks, and her tone matched his—sharp enough to cut. “Exactly what I said. He came to my naming ceremony. Surely you can understand why I don’t remember the occasion. After all, I was only a week old.” “That’s the only time you’ve heard from him?” He tried to keep his tone even, but shock at Hunter’s neglect leaked into the words.

A Promise of Amber

41

“No, he came for my birthday party when I was five, or so I’ve been told.” She rubbed her temples. “I remember my friends, Tom and Lou and Cher. I remember we played Skin the Bunny and Run, Wolf, Run, but I don’t remember anything about Hunter. I doubt he joined a pack of preschoolers for games.” Holy bear shit. Now he understood how she’d mistaken him for Hunter. “Alpha hasn’t been around since you were five?” She shook her head. “Called?” His question received another negative shake. Her blonde hair swung in a shiny arc, and he stared—hypnotized by its glossy ripple. The stuff probably felt as soft as rainwater. He tore his mind away from cataloging the rest of her flawless features and forced his mind to stay on the relationship between Hunter and Amber that he’d assumed existed. The full spectrum of modern communications available to his Alpha scrolled in Tru’s head. He clamped his jaw, ending his pointless interrogation. Okay, so Hunter hadn’t been Mr. Attentive. So what? His Alpha’s courtship, or lack of it, was sure as hell none of Tru’s business. He swallowed back the next couple of remarks that came to mind and settled for the lame but true. “He’s definitely one of the good guys.” No point in adding that he was a badass Alpha and the females thought he was hot as hell. Amber had enough problems without tossing his evil urges into the mix. Someday, when he wasn’t fighting an urge to jump her lovely, too-long-neglected bones, he’d work on figuring out why he was so screwed up that he was turned on by his Alpha’s promised mate. She was so out of his league she might as well have forbidden tattooed on her forehead. A tear splashed on her top, making a wet spot just above her left breast—an entirely braless and completely perfect breast. A perfect breast that was only one of a twin set, and both had taut little nipples poking holes in his self-control. “Don’t cry,” he begged as he snaked his arm around her soft shoulders. He had a hundred good reasons to touch her. She’d lost most of her pack, and now she didn’t have the pups to cuddle. Werewolves were badass, but they were still pack animals, and they needed closeness with others of their own kind. Without enough contact they became touch starved and a little

42

Evanne Lorraine

crazy. Usually males were more at risk, but a sensitive Psi, like Amber, needed the stability of a strong pack connection even more than the average bitch. She wriggled closer and burrowed into his chest. “You’re so easy to be with. Why couldn’t you have been Hunter?” The whispered question and the silent tears raining from her eyes tugged at his heart. Since he had no answers for either one of them, he just tightened his hold and tucked her head under his chin, making his neck vulnerable to her teeth, and letting another piece of his heart slip into her smooth, pale hands. He welcomed her soft curves into the shelter of his body. With her on his lap, there was no way to avoid her sweet-tart scent and no way for her to miss the effect she had on him. As seconds ticked by, her only response was the slowing of her silent sobs. At last her breathing became slow and even. She slept. A looming disaster scenario ran through his head: full moon coming, check; fertile female on his lap, check; Alpha’s promised mate, check, check, and fucking check. As far as he could tell, she was beyond innocent. Any way he played out the probabilities, he died. Worse, he died with regrets. The important question was which regrets. Letting Hunter down or never claiming Amber? Hours ticked by, measured by the cadence of her heartbeat before a burst of rational thinking gave him the answer. Maybe it would kill him a little faster, but he’d go with whatever she wanted. He tightened his shoulders, feeling better for having made his choice. It was definitely the way to go. At least he’d die as a male of worth. She snuggled against him, warm, soft, and perfect. Instantly his focus locked on her. Long dark lashes lifted, and slumberous brown eyes glinted with shards of gold as she stared at his mouth. He angled his head and edged closer in superslow motion, giving her plenty of time and a whole bunch of choices if she wanted to pull away from him. When he was still a breath away from kissing those incredible lips, she stretched up and closed the gap. Hot silk masquerading as regular female lips brushed his mouth, shooting electric thrills through his whole body. He opened his mouth to taste her, and the tip of an irresistibly sweet tongue traced the borders of his smile.

A Promise of Amber

43

Holding still for her exploration was the hardest thing he’d ever done and the most worthwhile. She climbed closer, pressing her breasts against his chest. The hardened tips burned him right through his absolutely useless shirt. She broke the kiss, trailing moist nips down his jaw and neck. Without Amber pulling back, her slim fingers moved between them. Lost in the wonders of her soft mouth on his neck, he hadn’t registered what she was doing until she parted his shirt. She lifted her mouth from his throat and leaned back. A sigh accompanied her smooth hands as they tentatively skimmed his chest. The light caress made his muscles tense. Soon he’d gone rock hard everywhere. Caught in the erotic spell she’d woven, he stared at her full breasts and beaded nipples clearly outlined under her thin top. Then she was back, brushing her soft, soft lips over his and pressing those perfect breasts against his bare chest. Primal satisfaction roared in his veins as their lips locked in a kiss that took him straight from soft and sweet to pure carnal desperation at the speed of a hawk diving for prey. The regrets he’d debated never reentered his mind, because he hadn’t even died, and he was already in paradise.

44

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Six Amber rubbed tentatively against Tru’s chest, enraptured by the feel of his springy hair against her palms, and wondered what had happened to her. She’d never been so bold with a male of worth—with any male. Something was changing inside her and had been for weeks. Her wild magic actually worked more often than not. She’d begun to yearn for pups of her own and long for intimacy—a precursor to her coming heat? If so, then the urges would grow even stronger. Scary thought. Whatever the reason for her strange feelings, she didn’t want to stop touching Tru, but she didn’t want him to die for her love. No, love couldn’t be right, she didn’t really know him. This was sweet-hot lust with a male of worth that she could fall in love with so easily. The kind of male she would choose if she were free. “I want you.” The words slipped from her lips soft and low. “I’m yours, Honey Butt.” The pet name surprised a throaty laugh from her. The laughter trailed off when she remembered what she needed to say to him. “I don’t want you punished for whatever happens between us.” He shook his head, dismissing her concern. “Doesn’t matter. I’m yours. Take me, please.” Oh, dear goddess, how she wanted him, right now before heat stole her sanity and erased her choices and turned her into a mindless slut. “I’m promised to Hunter. If he learns we made love, you will die.” “No, you’re wrong. Your father is dead. You don’t even know Alpha. There’s no reason to honor a meaningless pledge. We’ll tell him—” Amber put her fingers to his lips. “The promise was given by my parents, and I am bound to honor it. Only if he releases me can I even think about what might be possible for us.”

A Promise of Amber

45

Much as I want to. Grasping her wrist, he lowered her arm. “You’re wrong. Let me explain it to him. Hunter will understand and step aside.” He was wrong. She knew how proud Alphas were. Hunter would kill Tru for the violation of pack law. Tru dropped her wrist and folded his arms in front of his impressive chest. Arguing with him wouldn’t change his closed mind. She wouldn’t risk his life, not even for the wild yearning inside her. Fear for him rippled through her, chilling her hot blood. The loss of what might have been made her eyes well with foolish tears. She blinked hard, forced herself to take calm, slow breaths, and stepped away from him. “Then there will be nothing to tell him, because nothing will happen between us.” Tru’s face fell, and his arms dropped to his sides. “He’ll know I want you whether or not I tell him.” Amber searched his eyes anxiously. “Hunter reads your thoughts?” She’d heard of such things, but she’d never considered that danger. He shook his head. “No, but he reads faces and bodies too well.” Hope sparked back to stubborn life, fueled by hormones and wishful thinking. She moved closer, reaching out to him. He stayed still, inviting her touch, and she knew that she’d won. For a moment she considered turning away, leaving him with his lonely honor and stubborn loyalty to a selfish Alpha who cared only for his pack. Still she couldn’t walk away from the chance to experience true pleasure. Pleasure she chose. “He would not kill you for wanting me.” Not even her father would have punished one of his enforcers for simple lust. She found his dark nipples with trembling fingers and teased them with pinches and tweaks until they hardened into tight little points like hers. Her play pulled deep, satisfying masculine groans from Tru. Although he’d never given her explicit permission to take such liberties, he made no move to stop her. While she marveled at his hard, hairy body, she inhaled his stirring scent, which had a tiny bit in common with her favorite cookie dough, yet so much better. The individual notes—a Gamma’s typical nutmeg, his own vanilla, and a seductive underlayer of sexy musk—melded

46

Evanne Lorraine

into an already familiar blend that whispered Tru and made her chest constrict and her heart beat faster while her body wavered between tightening with tension and melting into his heat. In spite of the disturbing side effects, his scent, his warmth, and his touch all helped fill the hollow place inside her from losing so many pack members at once. Pressed as closed as she could get to him still wasn’t enough. Perhaps being close to her first heat made her feel this way. She didn’t care. For the first time, intimacy was her choice, and she wanted—needed—more. She nipped at one of his hardened nipples, and he caught her chin. “Watch out, Honey Butt. Turnabout is fair play in mating games.” Mating games? Rather than slowing her, his provocative words set off a new round of excitement that made her bolder. She traced the bulge straining the front of his jeans with inquisitive fingers that tingled on contact. He captured her hands, pinning them behind her back, and staked his claim on her mouth with a scorching kiss. She wanted Tru. The heady thought that he could be hers whispered like a forbidden lover in her mind. Everything about him, including his honorable reluctance, called to her, sending a new electric arousal simmering in her blood. The sensation was a tiny bit like what she’d felt before the late-summer concert when the call of music and dancing had set her fae magic surging until she just couldn’t stay home obediently. Now temptation sang again. Unexpected desire simmered to life inside her, blooming bigger and brighter with each breath. This time Tru, a male of worth, had summoned the music that called to her very essence. Her father wasn’t around to stop her from doing what she wanted. She wanted Tru with a wild yearning that kept growing until he filled her senses. Her world. Her wolf stirred and growled possessively. Mine. Fae magic raced through her veins, chortling with sensual delight. For the first time she felt strong—integrated. New molten heat raced through her body—surging and pooling in her lips, in her breasts, and between her legs until she trembled with need. His natural, clean musk grew denser with notes of erotic lust, an assurance that he wanted her. Even better, his passion had nothing to do with obligations, politics, or punishment. Officially she belonged to Hunter, but when she really thought about the pledge between them, she knew he wouldn’t want her. A mixed-blood werewolf was unsuitable for any Alpha

A Promise of Amber

47

male, let alone a pack leader. Her father’s death freed her in more than one way. There was no longer any reason to hide the truth of her fae heritage from Hunter. There was no way his mating pledge would survive that revelation. Life was short and precious. She refused to turn away from the promise of rapture she found in Tru’s embrace. She kissed him, slipped between his lips, and slid her tongue along his. Before her next breath, he deepened the kiss, taking the intimacy to a new level—stronger, deeper, and hotter. He teased her hungry mouth in a game of chase and retreat. His agile tongue was smooth, slippery, and sweet with the addictive blend of cookie dough and passion. The tingling in her body spread and intensified until it became an exquisite torture. She straddled his legs and wriggled closer, instinctively seeking more contact. The ridge of his erection fit snuggly into the needy ache of her channel. He swallowed her surprised cry of delight while holding her firmly and let her rock against his arousal. When she tried to move her skirt out of the way, he caught both her wrists in one large hand, easily controlling her. She was his willing captive—at his mercy with her legs spread wide across his lap. He broke the kiss to nip at her ear and then down the side of her neck. Without thinking, she tilted her head to expose her jugular to him in surrender. He growled. “Don’t move.” The strength of his hold, his words, his scent, everything about him fed her feral excitement. Her channel grew slippery with the evidence of her need. She tensed, muscles quivering, balanced on the edge of something wonderful. Tru’s free hand slipped under her top to tease the undersides of breasts that felt tender and twice as heavy as usual. Already knotted nipples tightened further, and the sweet pain pulled a whimper from her lips. His thumb grazed one rigid tip, and another cry escaped her. “I’ll make it better.” He lowered his mouth over the achy nipple. Right through the thin silk of her top, he suckled her like a pup. While the sight of a nursing bitch had never struck her as erotic, this sensation sizzled from her suddenly too-tight scalp all the way to her curling toes, roasting all the best places in

48

Evanne Lorraine

between. A gush of fresh cream poured from her sex, and another moan seemed to start in her needy core, rising until the plaintive sound spilled from her lips. Frantic for more, she rocked against the ridge of his erection and arched closer to the miracle of his mouth. He tugged her top out of his way and went back to work on her bare breast. His touch riveted her focus, and her sheath contracted with each pull of his mouth. Too soon he abandoned her nipple. Placing damp openmouthed kisses down her stomach, he stopped to nip the tender skin at her navel and gently bite her hip bones. He skimmed lower, nuzzling the seam of her channel apart. On instinct she leaned back. He lifted his head before he freed her wrists. “Place your hands on floor, palms down, and don’t move.” She might have sassed or at least teased him, except at his command all the moisture vanished from her mouth. The unexpected reaction left her as dry as a storm tide line beach on a clear day. Speech was impossible. A flicker of motion caught her attention, and she stared as Tru undid the top button of his jeans. Although he moved a step away, one hard look from his dark eyes kept her pinned in place, awaiting his pleasure. In response to his last unspoken command, she held her position, but her gaze dropped to the package of cock and balls that the dark denim had cupped so enticingly. He carefully lowered the zipper. The tight fabric slowly parted, revealing bare skin. A picture of his shorts or briefs drying in the shower next to her panties and bra flashed into her mind’s eye and teased her lips into a smile. “Ah, Honey Butt, it makes me happy that I please you.” She looked up into dark eyes glowing with dangerous joy and stifled her irreverent giggle. He certainly didn’t need to know the missing underwear had amused her, because of course she was pleased with him. Tru was utterly male, mouthwateringly delicious, completely awesome perfection, and he wanted to please her.

A Promise of Amber

49

He kept his gaze locked with hers while he peeled down the jeans and kicked them aside. Helping her to her feet, he carefully tugged her top up and off and then undid her skirt and let it drift to the floor. For a long moment he stared at her. His intense gaze heated her insides. The new heat wave added to her tingling excitement and spread through every portion of her body. Then he held out a hand. She laid her hand on his open palm. A new thrill of sensual pleasure just from his rough fingers capturing hers in an unbreakable clasp washed through her. “Come here.” His voice had deepened to a rough growl of male hunger that pulled her forward as much as the gentle tug of his powerful arm. He always seemed to hit the perfect balance between firm and tender. Tru’s honor and concern for her had gradually won her trust. His skillful caresses and reassuring scent had built her arousal. Despite his strength, he’d never once triggered her old fears. In fact he handled her so confidently—so expertly—she eagerly followed his orders. “So beautiful.” He gathered her closer with one arm around her waist until she had to look down to avoid losing herself in the heat of his eyes. His erection rested on her belly; the vulnerable tiny slit on his crown held a single perfect drop of precum like a pearl clinging to the cleft of a ripe plum. An urge to lick made her formerly dry mouth water to taste him. Tru brushed her swollen breasts with a feathery caress of work-roughened knuckles. Her eyes closed, she bit back a whimper. A jolt of pleasure flew from her taut nipples to her center. Feminine muscles rippled from the reverberation of electric sensation. Then he fastened his mouth over one aching nipple, her thighs eased apart, and a cry of need escaped. The same knuckles Tru had used to tease her breasts now drifted down her ribs, along her hip bone, and feathered the seam of her nether lips. She whimpered, helpless against the unbearable sweetness, and clutched at his shoulders. “Easy. I’ve got you,” he crooned to her in his gravelly voice that stroked over her heated flesh like another pair of hands, and then fastened his lips over the other nipple while he continued to tease the slippery seam of her pussy. He alternated sucking, so strongly that it hollowed his cheeks, with tender nips on the sensitized tips of her breasts.

50

Evanne Lorraine

She twitched and jerked in the strength of his hold. Everything inside her—especially her sex—tightened in anticipation. While he continued to drive her wild with skillful caresses, he showed no sign of the desperate urgency gripping her. If it hadn’t been for the addictive scent of his lust swirling around her like a special form of Tru magic, she would’ve believed him calm. Tru’s grip on her waist loosened and moved lower. His lips left her breasts, trailing soft wet kisses down her midsection. At the curve of her belly he paused to nibble her navel before he dropped a series of nips down to the tender juncture of thigh and hip. Using just the tip of his tongue, he traced the line to the cushion of her sex. Her thighs parted further and trembled like leaves in an autumn storm. Her channel heated and plumped until she knew something vital would explode from the relentless arousal. Yet all she wanted was more. More of his kisses. More of his caresses. And a lot more of his wicked tongue rolling over her clit. He obliged her silent wish by a nuzzle of her slick folds, then licking and nibbling. Her hips bucked against his face of their own volition. Pausing only long enough to tighten his grip, his strong hands held her immobile for more of his unbearably wonderful tongue-lashing. Soon the worrisome tension made her thrash against his hold and whimper for relief. Every muscle in her body quivered impossibly tighter. A flash brighter than lightning blinded her, and the inner tension snapped, propelling her into an endless fall. The same rush of exhilaration as a perfectly executed cliff dive seized her breath as she sliced through the surface of disbelief and plunged into an ocean of ecstasy. Awareness of her surroundings returned in the lazy, slow-motion way of underwater swimming. Gradually the edges of her vision sharpened back to reality; she drew in deep breaths laden with Tru’s delicious scent. The fragrance seemed stronger, spicier, and darker with lust or maybe something more. He was stretched out on top of her. His forehead pressed against hers, chest to breast, and hip to hip. His erection branded her stomach. She stayed utterly still, completely, deliciously satisfied, her limbs still weighted from the miracle of her shattering orgasm. Her curves and softness cradled him with loving perfection fitting against all his sharp hollows and hard planes. She gloried in the feeling of oneness—

A Promise of Amber

51

rightness. His bigger, stronger body caged her in a way that made her feel female, delicate, and cherished. A tiny voice of doubt nibbled at the edges of her bliss. She hadn’t told Tru about her fae heritage. Although the way he touched her soul when she’d shattered in his embrace, he must feel their rightness. They belonged together. The musky scent of his arousal filled her nose. He wanted her just as much as she craved his touch. She had nothing to fear, and there was no reason not to tell him the truth. “Tru…” Levering himself off her using one arm caused a distracting ripple of his bicep and pecs. Then he parted her legs with a muscled thigh and positioned the head of his cock at the entrance to her core. Fresh hot cream spilled, easing his way. All thoughts of confessing her mixed blood vanished in her rising excitement along with her good intentions. She bit her lip and tensed to endure the pain of penetration. When he lowered himself closer to her needy body, the ridged crown of his erection nudged into the slick opening to her pussy. By moving so slowly, he allowed her feminine muscles to stretch. The pain she’d feared never happened. After long moments of his excruciatingly careful progress, she wriggled impatiently against him. He adjusted his pressure and surged into her heated core in a single powerful stroke that sheathed him completely. He filled her to capacity and beyond, right to the edge of a delicious new ache. The coarse fur on his chest chafed her tender nipples to exquisite sensitivity. Reaching between them, Tru used his rough thumb, circling the borders of her clit. Her excitement gathered like a thunderstorm in the heart of her sex. Muscles she’d thought spent for the day, perhaps the week, shivered with fresh erotic need. Each stroke of his thick shaft dragged the wonderful curved ridge of his crown over an inner mass of nerve endings. Since she was still exquisitely sensitized from her last climax, the coil of sweet wild need plunged her toward another release. With very little warning, her sheath spasmed around his thick shaft, and she screamed his name. He kept stroking, holding her awareness even in the midst of violent ecstasy shaking apart her very bones until she was swept along as he plunged them deeper into rapture.

52

Evanne Lorraine

His shout seemed to come from inside her throat while the hot bursts from his release flooded her channel. The vital essence of him pulsed against the mouth of her womb. For a few moments he sank onto her body, anchoring her. She welcomed the weight of a satisfied male she already thought of as hers. Even better than his physical presence, his energy glowed to life in her mind. Although he wasn’t truly bonded to her, her Psi sense recognized him as pack. An irritating chirping noise interrupted her thoughts, and Tru rolled to his back. She started to move away, but he caught her, lifted her easily, and cradled her on his chest before reaching for his cell. He thumbed through the messages. “Ah shit.” In a single smooth motion, he stood up, still holding her. He carefully placed her on her feet and began to gather their scattered clothes. The quick grin he shot her never reached his eyes. “Time to get dressed. We’ve got company coming.” As she tugged on her skirt and top, she opened her mouth to tell him about her fae blood and then closed it again. There was no way she could explain her mixed heritage quickly. Guilt for not telling him the truth earlier, and nervous fear about how he would react when she finally did tell him, turned her quick breathing to shallow pants. The smooth whir of the shelter’s secured door opening barely registered over the pounding of her panicked heart. Tru stepped around her, putting her behind him to face the threat to their sanctuary. Although she knew goblins couldn’t have operated the door’s release switch, fear clamped around her chest. Where was the spotlight? She saw the dull gleam of its clear face and raced to grab the protection. Barefoot and rumpled, she switched on the light and aimed it at the widening crack, ready to defend her den and her mate. A large male’s forearm shielded his eyes from the glare. “Turn off that damn light.” Amber looked at Tru for direction. His mouth was a grim line, but he nodded. “Do it.” Although she wasn’t entirely certain that obedience was her smartest choice, she followed her lover’s order. The big male wasn’t alone. His left arm was wrapped protectively around an elegant female. A vampire. Her wild fae magic surged to the surface at this new threat.

A Promise of Amber

53

The elegant bloodsucker murmured to the male. “No wonder the fae want her. She’s one of them.” Like all werewolves, Amber’s hearing was exceptionally keen. Every word the vampire uttered had been as clear as a shout to her…and to Tru. Tru turned toward her. Regret slowed his movements in her mind’s eye until he seemed to move through quicksand. For a moment, his dark eyes glinted with shards of pain. The small sign of injury was quickly replaced by an unreadable stony gaze. Had she imagined his hurt? Then he walked away from her without a backward glance, crossing to where the intruders waited. He exposed his neck to the larger male and said, “Alpha.” Why had she thought for even a moment that Tru was different or that he would accept her as she was? Why had she risked her tender heart by sharing herself with him so intimately? Now Hunter would know, and he would be even angrier. She knew all too well how an Alpha’s wrath felt. She could endure whatever Hunter did to her. Even though Tru had clearly rejected her, she couldn’t bear the thought of him being punished because of her. Miserable guilt tightened the small muscles in her neck and shoulders. She forced herself to stare directly at the compelling Alpha. Ignoring the vampire on his arm, she thought of Tru and of the pups she loved. Lex, Ben, and Maddy were worth far more than her feelings or her life. She stood straighter, kicked up her chin, and spoke clearly. “I have the solution. Give me to the goblins so they’ll leave the pack in peace.” “They’d kill you.” Tru’s horrified words had obviously slipped out of his sinfully tempting mouth without permission. For a heartbeat she grasped at the pathetic hope that he cared about her fate. Then she came to her senses. Although he sounded as if he’d regret her death, he didn’t meet her gaze. Instead he kept his attention where a loyal enforcer’s focus belonged—on Hunter. Before the Alpha responded, Amber lifted her chin and spoke again. “My death doesn’t matter. The pu—the pack will be safe.” Hunter shook his head. His voice was deep, firm, and filled with the kind of automatic authority that made her want to cower. “Forget about it. The goblins are dead. You and the pack are safe enough for now.”

54

Evanne Lorraine

When had she ever been safe in the pack? How many years had she wasted hoping Hunter would rescue her from Seaview and claim her as his honored mate? Even foolish dreams died hard. She swallowed a bitter laugh that threatened to erupt, but she didn’t drop her gaze. Hunter was the quintessential Alpha—tall, dark, and intensely dangerous. He wasn’t loud; he didn’t loom or threaten. Even dusty and a little grimy around the edges, he looked gorgeous. Dressed simply in rich casual—his custom-tailored khaki cotton slacks draped comfortably over lean hips and clung to powerful thighs; a black polo shirt bloused over the trousers’ waistband threaded with a thin black belt. He didn’t need any trappings of power to proclaim his status. He dominated the vast room. If he wanted her, then she had only two choices: submit or die. “Close the door, Tru.” The Alpha continued to meet her rude stare while his enforcer followed his order. A sudden surge of her fae magic made it impossible for her to read Hunter, which added to another layer of uncertainty to her nervousness. Her heat was coming; she knew the signs and had both dreaded and hoped for them for years. Now all her official welcome to sexual maturity meant was that Hunter would claim her as his mate. Not because he wanted her, rather because of his stupid Alpha male pride and an ancient, meaningless pledge. Tru had made it abundantly clear she had no future with him. All she could see stretching ahead was a lifetime of misery filled with punishments for being what she couldn’t change. If she was very, very lucky it would be a barren future. For as much as she’d longed for a pup of her own, she would not subject a precious young one to the kind of cold and violent rearing she’d endured. Worse than any torture he could devise was the bitter knowledge that Tru, the pups she loved, and the entire pack, would always be at risk because of her. “Perhaps she’s better off with her own kind,” the vampire said softly. Hunter shook his head while he kept his gaze trained on Amber. “I gave Nigel my word that I’d protect her. She’s wolf dominant. How long do you think she’d last with the fae?” “Another sacred pledge, Alpha? How very convenient for the bitch.” The bloodsucker continued to hang on Hunter’s arm.

A Promise of Amber

55

Perhaps she was impaired and unable to stand on her own. Amber made a vicious, irrationally jealous, wish that the bloodsucker’s imagined medical issues ruined her exquisite beauty. Fat, juicy chance of that happening. Vampires only came in two varieties—stunningly handsome and mind-numbingly gorgeous. Amber’s sulk gradually disappeared as she replayed the conversation in her head. At first she caught only traces of accent she couldn’t place, and then the actual sense of what Hunter had said hit. Wolf dominant? She’d never considered which side of her mixed heritage ruled. Why would she, when she’d grown up with daily reminders of the evils of her fae blood? Slowly, her wild magic subsided, and she turned Hunter’s words over and over in her mind. Finally she concluded he might be right. She’d been born in pup form, had shifted easily almost from birth, and she felt best, safest, in fur—fairly conclusive evidence. The shelter’s door parted, and the vampire left without a word. For a moment hope lightened her leaden heart. Maybe there was a role for her in the pack. The faint possibility wasn’t enough to change her life. She still presented an unacceptable threat to the group’s security. She tossed out her useless pride and begged the Alpha. “Please give me to the fae. You can’t put one member above the pack’s safety. Think of the pups, the young, the mixed-blood members. Seaview has already lost its soldiers. If you won’t protect the pack, then who will?” “Quiet,” Hunter snapped. He strode closer until he stood no more than a breath away. “I am the Pack Alpha. I protect the pups, the young—the whole pack. Their safety is not your concern. The only thing you need to worry about is serving me. You are mine. You do not have the right to sacrifice yourself. You live or die at my command. I say you live.” She parted her lips to protest his ridiculous orders. Before she’d uttered a word, he grasped the back of her neck and covered her mouth in a punishing kiss that drew blood. The kiss had nothing in common with the sweet-hot caresses of lips and tongues she’d shared with Tru. This wasn’t a caress. It was an Alpha’s mark of ownership. As much as she wanted to resist, she couldn’t. Power rolled off him. Strength she’d never felt from any male scoured the will to resist from her mind in the same way cool rain effortlessly

56

Evanne Lorraine

clears the sultry air. His taste filled her with buttery leather, spicy sandalwood, the strength of a coming storm, and the deep clean musk of a frighteningly strong lust. Unmistakable desire surged through her body in response to his raw demand. Her nipples furled into rigid points, and her channel gushed with fresh cream. There was no way she could hide her arousal from his keen wolf nose. The only thing that gave her comfort was that he was just as powerfully affected, and there wasn’t a chance he could hide his huge erection. She read his emotions well enough to be certain that he wasn’t even a tiny bit happy about wanting her. Yet he wanted her. A lot. Welcome to the club, Alpha.

A Promise of Amber

57

Chapter Seven Hunter wanted to howl with frustration. Smelling Amber and Tru’s sex and having the little Psi bitch try to manage him was enough to handle. Then he had to go and kiss her. Amber and Ariadne were both blondes. That was where any similarity between the females began and ended. The vampire was all cool elegance. A trace of lavender wafted from her ice white suit, and her dainty fangs whispered seductive danger. In contrast, even when Amber’s fae magic had settled back to nothing but shards of gold glittering in her pretty brown eyes, the little Psi was smokin’ hot. Her signature smell made his mouth water to lick every inch of her. As if her natural fragrance wasn’t enough temptation for him to handle, a riot of pale curls tumbled over her slight shoulders, begging for his touch. She had a delicate bone structure that seemed too fragile to house the hot temper and the hotter passion rolling off her in waves. Nothing about her inspired him to match wits or play chase. All he wanted to do was hammer into her small body until he’d removed every doubt in her mind that she belonged to him. That kind of out-of-control compulsion was a brand-new experience for him and the wolfman. His reaction to Amber made him edgier than a goblin skirting a salt marsh. A pack leader couldn’t afford a distraction like her. Everyone’s safety depended on him staying focused. His instant lust response to the mixed-blood bitch was bad enough, especially with the scent of the sex she’d shared with Tru hanging thick in the air. His loss of control got a whole lot worse after the kiss. A slick move that he’d made with about as much careful thought as a juicy rabbit gave before jumping from the toasty frying pan into the white-hot coals of the campfire. Hunter was hot enough to toast his own ass. He was way past old enough to know better. Should’ve guessed Amber would taste even better than she smelled. On his tongue, her addictive mix of champagne, orange, and a honeyed sweetness intensified. The blood welling from her cut lip swirled a tang of iron and copper into her sweet essence and made him greedy for more. He compounded his mistake when he’d lapped at her mouth to heal the small wound he’d made.

58

Evanne Lorraine

One choice move after another. Nice of him to patch up the mark he’d given her. Extra points since he’d wanted to cut his own mouth and drip enough of his blood into the cut to make the nick a permanent scar. Instead he’d healed her and driven himself a whole lot crazier with new urges to sink back into the sweet intoxication of her mouth and never leave. Like the greenest pack male, Hunter gave in to temptation. Long seconds slipped past with him lost in the intoxication of her kiss. Not even tasting Tru’s spicy flavor on her silken tongue slowed his rush to disaster. Nipping and licking in turn, he deliberately crowded her. The harder he pushed her, the stronger the smell of her arousal and her need to submit to his strength grew. Surprisingly, she fought hard against her natural desire. His dominance demanded her surrender, and he couldn’t have backed off her any more than he could have sworn off breathing. When he pressed her harder, she finally quit resisting and struggling against his strength. Before he had a chance to be ashamed of bullying her, she melted—molding against him, around him. Too late he caught on that her softening wasn’t about submission. Yielding to his strength was a smart, strategic ploy. He was the one captured, because he couldn’t get enough of her softness. By the time he sensed the trap, he had to draw power from the pack to pull back from her much too effective snare of seduction. When he tore himself away from the spell of her kiss, the fresh snow of her hurt feelings and the confusion in her eyes said he’d read her wrong. Again. She hadn’t been deliberately trying to enchant him. Unused to making mistakes, he hardened his resolve against her. A lack of intent didn’t lessen the disaster of his loss of control. On the contrary, her innocence made her a whole lot more dangerous. He understood exactly how perilous his situation was, yet every instinct he possessed roared at him to tuck her in against him nice and tight and rub small circles of comfort on her slender back. What would’ve happened if she’d actually been trying to trap him? His hide twitched at the thought. One kiss with Amber, and he was in a world of trouble. What he really wanted was another kiss and another, and he already knew precisely where those kisses would lead. He forced his attention away from her swollen lips, wishing he had a way to keep out her drugging scent.

A Promise of Amber

59

Willing his features to reflect nothing of his inner turmoil, he scanned the room and locked on Tru. A hard-on to match his own strained the front of his second’s jeans. Color spots flared on the tops of his ears, and from the set of his jaw, he was grinding his molars. Hunter didn’t need any Alpha mojo to read Tru’s sitch. The male wanted Amber as much as he did. Maybe more. Since he’d already been inside her slick heat. Strangely the idea of sharing her with Tru didn’t make Hunter foaming-at-the-mouth rabid. Maybe because Tru had always held a special place in his heart, the idea of commanding him and Amber—claiming both of them and then denying or granting them pleasure held an intense sensual appeal for Hunter. A session of rough sex would give him some badly needed relief, and that would be a damn fine thing for his weakened restraint. “The vampire left.” Amber deliberately wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as if his taste had polluted her. Hunter didn’t let her small act of defiance get under his pelt. Her attitude was easy to ignore with the musk of her excitement and the intoxicating tang of her fear still teasing his keen snout. Her combination of desire, uncertainty, and rebellion hardened his cock and tugged on the wolfman’s dominant heart. She stood straighter, met his stare, and tried her damnedest to act like she wasn’t panting for breath. But he saw her rapid pulse at the same time he caught another whiff of her fear. Too late he remembered she was a Psi before she was anything else. The delicate little bitch was supersensitive to emotion and probably picking up way too much of his reactions. Schooling his features wouldn’t cut it with a Psi. He needed to control his emotional responses, or else claiming Amber would turn into a real horror fest. The female cringed and edged away from him. Hell, he’d done it again. When he moved closer to reassure her, she cowered. She threw up an arm to shield her head. The reaction was sickeningly typical of a pup beaten too hard and too often. The wisp of fear widened into a tangy panic that poured off her. What the fuck? He cupped her nape—holding her firmly in place and using his power to will calm into her. “I’m not going to hit you.”

60

Evanne Lorraine

A brown eye peeked at him from under ridiculously thick lashes, still frightened, but listening—weighing the truth of his words. “You were angry. Father…” Hunter kept his grip on her neck firm and gentle and locked away his own murderous thoughts about that controlling bastard, Nigel. “Your father isn’t here. It’s just you and me.” “And Tru.” Her voice was low but firm. The corner of Hunter’s mouth quirked, because he was crazily turned on that she was brave enough to voice her desire. His second had the kind of teen idol-looks that put most females in a welcoming mood. He glanced at the younger male. “Yeah, and Tru. Come on over here, pal. I think teaching Amber about how our pack works is going take a team effort.” Amber’s neck and shoulders stiffened under his clasp. Maintaining his hold, he patiently kneaded the taut muscles in her neck. When she finally eased under his ministrations, he turned toward Tru. “You haven’t been scaring her with stories about your big bad Alpha?” The color on the tops of Tru’s ears deepened. “No, sir.” “Good.” Hunter kept his tone even and a nice tight leash on his own doubts. Amber had been through a lot in the space of few hours. If he’d had a choice, he would’ve given her time to get used to him before forcing her to accept him. There were many reasons he couldn’t risk delaying their mating. The Seaview pack needed strengthening immediately, and she was the key. He let the natural passion that flowed though him in response to the hint of her first heat deepen his voice, then tossed in plenty of Alpha compulsion. “I regret not being able to give you the kind of courtship a female of worth deserves. It is necessary for us to mate as soon as possible. I’ve already made the announcement, and the pack is expecting us in a few hours. The mating ceremony will be held tonight.” “Tonight? You can’t be serious.” She looked at Tru, silently begging him with wide frightened eyes to save her. Her fear damn near cracked Hunter’s resolve. But he couldn’t change or delay his decision. The hunter’s moon was almost full, which would bring on her heat. Claiming her as his mate would keep her suffering to a minimum. Besides, Seaview had a shitload of serious problems,

A Promise of Amber

61

and he needed to address all of them. He was their pack Alpha, at least for now. Worrying came with the territory. He was almost afraid to face Tru. What the hell was he going to do if his loyal second challenged him for Amber? Would he even have a choice? Already his control was strained from resisting the siren scent of her feminine need. Over the decades, he’d enjoyed romps with a willing bitch or hundred. He’d never bonded. During the past hundred and thirty-five years, he’d been exposed to dozens of unmated fertile bitches, mounted them, and never had a single problem resisting the compulsion to bond. The long history of carefree experience had made him confident that he was immune to the mating bond that drove other males to sacrifice anything, including their sanity, for a female. Now he felt Amber’s pull, and he feared surrender was only a matter of time and probably not nearly enough of that. Irrational compelling urges: to protect her from all other males, except Tru, a need to bury himself inside her over and over until neither one of them could walk and, goddess willing, she carried his young, flowed through his veins and pulsed through every cell in his body with each new breath he drew. Reality smashed into his arrogant belief in his immunity to fertile females. Doubts about his ability to withstand the lure of her fragrance seeped in and eroded his confidence at the time he most needed every bit of power and the easy sureness of control that he seldom questioned. The goddess could be a first-class bitch. Looking at Tru required an act of will. Hunter forced himself to relax. If he began questioning every choice he made, then he’d already lost a critical edge in the coming battle for Amber’s heart. A battle he had to win. Without a strong pack, she would be thrown to the fae. When those cold monsters discovered her werewolf blood, she’d be ripped apart as a tasty abomination. Even without the mating pledge or his formal promise to protect her, she was pack, and he would die to keep her safe. Erotic hunger etched every one of Tru’s straining muscles as he stared at the little Psi. But he hadn’t moved. His enforcer waited for Hunter’s command even when waiting killed him. Tru was a damned fine second and a male of worth.

62

Evanne Lorraine

Abruptly he decided to let him off the hook. Sharing Amber was a solution that pleased the wolfman, who wanted to nail anything that belonged to him. His second could be a huge asset in convincing Amber to trust Hunter, but the male was young and clearly infatuated with her himself. He had no heart for making Tru suffer for no better reason than to make things a little easier for himself, especially not when he could prevent that pain. Hunter’s voice came out deeper than usual, roughened by desire and regret. “I know how much you want Amber. I won’t ask you to act as my witness at the ceremony.” Tru met his eyes for a second, then focused respectfully on the cork floor as he spoke gruffly. “Forget about it. I’d be insulted if you ask anyone else.” “You’re sure?” Tru nodded. “Yeah, I am. Doesn’t change what the goddess has willed.” A good whuff of the male’s fragrance zapped straight through Hunter’s defenses. He felt the pinch under his breastbone. An unreasonable hurt of betrayal and a sharp bite of jealousy coated his words. “You want her that much?” The younger male lowered his dark lashes and tipped his head to expose his neck as custom demanded. “With respect, sir, so do you.” Hell, Tru was right. No wonder Hunter felt so fucking crazy. No fool like an old fool. For a few seconds his thoughts traveled back to Daniel’s mating ceremony last fall and his old friend’s touching adoration of Scarlet. If it could happen to Daniel… His faith in his own natural resistance wavered. There was no guaranteed safety in age or wisdom or experience. He had to be very careful. To make things even more wonderful, Amber had shown no sign of being committed to either one of them. With her fae powers still hanging in the winds of fate as a massive wild card, there was no guarantee they could force her cooperation, even if he’d been willing to try. He’d done a lot of things he hadn’t liked for the sake of the pack, but the thought of terrorizing Amber, especially given her suspected history of abuse, made him sick. Winning a female’s favor wasn’t something Hunter had ever needed to do. Tru had zero practice charming bitches. Fighting them off, sure, no problem. They were both experts.

A Promise of Amber

63

Now he needed to come up to speed on the fine art of seduction. He needed to erase her fear, win her trust, and set her on fire with passion. Anytime in the next couple minutes would work fine. No pressure. Hunter hoped like hell that it wasn’t too late for him and the wolfman to learn a couple of new tricks.

64

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Eight Lust was so thick inside the bland industrial shelter that the potent musk was the only thing Tru smelled. He had to get out of here before the craving for Amber put him on his belly, begging for mercy. Her being fae should have slowed down his arousal, but his hormones seemed to have missed the change of species memo. He cleared his throat and worked to sound casual. “Should I get started on the ceremony arrangements? That’s part of the witness’s deal, right?” Hunter turned and stared. The Alpha’s focus bore straight through to his hungry soul with enough heat to burn a bare patch on Tru’s hide. Then his scorching look settled on Tru’s erection and lingered before Hunter said, “No.” A simple bob of Tru’s chin worked to acknowledge his Alpha’s answer. The bob action had the added benefit of eliminating the need for speech, which saved him from the humiliation of squeaking like an adolescent. Hunter had that effect on him sometimes. His Alpha had never noticed Tru’s hard-on before. But then they’d never both been sexually charged by Amber. The little Psi changed everything. Oddly, his Alpha’s direct assessment swelled Tru’s already straining cock. By now OneEye probably had permanent zipper marks etched across his bald head. His shaft had risen in hopes of serving Amber a second time. Still a damn exciting prospect, though a huge enormous freakin’ gigantic bunch less than likely. Plainly that was the only reason he was stiff enough to stun beavers. He didn’t kid himself about why he was turned on to the max. What was weird was that Hunter hadn’t shut him down cold. Nothing new about Alpha being a bud, as much as any pack leader could be, except with Tru lost for Amber, then he should resent Hunter’s claim. Envy, yeah, sure, plenty of that, but he wasn’t resenting Alpha, and that was beyond weird.

A Promise of Amber

65

Hunter was every bit as gone for her as Tru, but the stubborn Alpha wouldn’t admit she had him panting. The whole situation made Tru want to shift, sit back on his haunches, and scratch behind his ear with his hind leg. Life was so much simpler as a wolf. He was yanked back to reality by the heat shimmering off Amber. The fragrance of her arousal was unmistakable in spite of the fists pinned to her tightly clenched thighs. A clear sign she was less than thrilled about the sexual attraction simmering between the three of them. At least Tru hoped he was going to be part of the three-way action. Right, that is about as probable as hell having an ice storm. He stood at attention. Waiting for his Alpha’s orders, knowing full well that no matter what Hunter decided, Tru was fucked and not in a fun way. “Round up all the lights and salt canisters. Stack anything we can’t carry. I’ll send a detail to pick up the excess.” Hunter gave him the plain dismissal Tru had dreaded, delayed by a chore anyone could have done. He swallowed the lump of disappointment clogging his throat, and it slid into his belly like a load of stones. Since Alpha wasn’t looking in his direction, Tru didn’t bother to bob his head before he got busy organizing the shelter’s weapons. He heard the quiet sound of Amber dropping to her knees, heard the rasp of Hunter’s zipper opening, and Tru squeezed his eyes closed. His puppyish act did nothing to dull his keen hearing. It sure as hell didn’t plug his finely tuned nose. Amber’s fear nipped at his nasal passages. Good sense smoked down the same trail his self-preservation instincts had already blazed. Bonded males weren’t rational about their females’ safety and comfort. Though not technically bonded, plainly Tru wasn’t going to be the first exception to the insanely protective rule. Eyes snapped wide open, he spun toward his Alpha. Hunter had kicked off his shoes and pants and stood naked except for his shirt. Below the hem of the black knit, his rosy cock stood at attention, framed by the dark thatch of pubic fur and a pair of legendary balls. Slowly, Hunter angled his head enough to lock eyes with Tru. “You have a better plan?”

66

Evanne Lorraine

He moved forward like a puppet on a string, grasped the edge of his Alpha’s clean polo, and skimmed it up and off his wide shoulders. The move added Hunter’s sharply defined pecs and chiseled abs to the view. “Dear goddess, what happened?” Amber gasped. Tru followed the direction of her gaze to four red welts marring the Alpha’s bronzed side. “Goblin scratch. It’s nothing.” Hunter met her worried stare calmly. Since he knew Alpha was a fast healer, Tru wasn’t worried. Gently he nudged Amber toward Hunter. “I’m right here with you, Honey Butt.” “On your knees,” Hunter instructed Amber. Tru guided her to the floor. “I’ll talk you through it. Alpha’s great at giving pointers. You’ll be fine. Remember there’s no such thing as bad sex.” Tru had never been on the delivery end of oral sex, but he sure as hell knew what felt good, and that was every single lick and suck. So how tricky could it be to give a good blowjob? The rich blend of leather, sandalwood, and power mixed with the clean musk of Hunter’s arousal tugged Amber closer. Tru rubbed her back, letting her feel his support. As he watched, a crystal drop of precum seeped from the slit of Hunter’s engorged crown. His plan to give her tips on technique vanished as the evidence of Hunter’s excitement disappeared under the steady lapping of her pink tongue. “Bring me the chair from the viewing station. I want to be comfortable.” Tru rushed to obey Hunter’s order. When he returned there was still no taint of fear in her sweet scent, and his heart swelled with relief and pride. The squeak of casters rolling stopped. Without breaking their connection, Hunter eased into the seat. Amber tilted her head to compensate for the new angle, and more of Hunter’s erection disappeared between her lush lips. Tru could imagine the exquisite sensation of her silken mouth teasing his sensitive shaft. The plump head had to be pressed against the silky softness at the back of her throat. He groaned with arousal. Hunter’s strong fingers speared through her hair, then cupped her head gently, holding her firmly in place while he fucked her sweet mouth. While Alpha took control and Tru watched, his own cock throbbed with a burning need.

A Promise of Amber

67

“Swallow.” The hoarse command arrived as Hunter jerked against her face, exploding. Her throat worked as she obeyed, swallowing Alpha’s cum. Hunter’s release slowed. He let go of Amber’s head with a possessive caress and a final affectionate tug on her hair. Tru almost creamed his jeans from seeing the tender gesture. Forcing deep calming breaths, he thought about the oily clay stench of goblins to keep his own climax from exploding. Even after Hunter’s lengthy release, his massive cock never completely softened. The blowjob only blunted the edge of Alpha’s desire. Now Tru watched as Alpha’s shaft lengthened and thickened back to full readiness. For a second, Hunter met Tru’s eyes, letting warm approval show before he cut his gaze to Amber and patted his thigh. “Your turn, sübe.” Tru wavered on a tightrope of tension between pleasure at his Alpha’s approval and concern for Amber. Officially she belonged to Hunter. For that matter, so did he. But reality meant nothing to his wolf. Inhaling, Tru sorted through the thick musky layer of off-the-chain sex he and Hunter were throwing off for the subtler notes of Amber’s fragrance. From reading her scent notes, he tried to gauge how well she was handling Alpha’s dominance. An acrid thread of her fear still nipped his nasal passages. The need to protect her flooded his system—a primal response. Challenging Hunter was suicidal, but Tru’s inner beast didn’t care about consequences. He tried to clear the gravel out of his throat before he spoke. “Don’t do this, Alpha. She’s too scared.” “I know,” Hunter said calmly. He pulled on his slacks, stood, tucked in his package, and then pulled up the zipper. He left the waistband undone. After he’d finished he sat and caught Amber’s wrist, tugging her closer. “What scares you most, sübe? Are you really afraid of me or Tru or yourself?” Amber froze to statuelike stillness. Even her fragrance tamped down to nothing. Tru held his breath and waited for her answer. “Me.” When she spoke her voice was small and flat, and a wisp of fear twisted with pain as it wafted past Tru’s twitching sniffer.

68

Evanne Lorraine

Hunter stilled, a sign Tru knew well was a warning, but Alpha spoke evenly. “What are you afraid you’ll do?” Her voice shrank further. “Hurt you.” “I’m pretty tough, sübe.” Keeping her gaze on the unremarkable floor, she said, “I hurt Father.” Tru was sure the old bastard deserved worse than whatever Amber had done. But he kept that thought parked between his ears where it belonged. “What did he do before you hurt him?” Hunter asked. Complex notes of anger, pain, and sadness swirled around the dangerously calm Alpha. She kept her gaze on the floor and shook her head. “It was always my fault. I was bad, and he punished me. When I lost control, I—I was worse. He shackled me in the holding cell.” Too shocked to stay silent, Tru interrupted. “At headquarters?” “The one at the house. He did it so I wouldn’t hurt anyone with my fae magic.” Hunter scowled. “How long did he keep you chained?” Another slight shrug of Amber’s small shoulders evaded the question. “How long?” Hunter growled. “Days, sometimes weeks, until I stopped glittering.” Her neck curved lower. “He said it was to protect me, because of the way the pack, especially his enforcers, felt about the fae. I think he was scared of the fae finding out about me. I know he was a proud male and I made him very angry, but shackles are so very cold… I-I lost my temper.” The pain any wolf suffered from being locked up was bad enough, but to shackle a fae? She was lucky to be sane. Tru couldn’t keep quiet. Outrage leaked into his words. “Didn’t anybody wonder where you were?” “Visiting.” She bunched her skirt in her small fists, then caught herself and smoothed the creased material. “Visiting my maternal grandparents. We’re very close.” She laughed too high and sharp. “Close enough that I don’t remember ever meeting them.” Smoky anger rolled off Hunter. “When I came to see you three years ago, Nigel told me you were staying with your grandparents.”

A Promise of Amber

69

Amber lifted her head. The naked hope in her eyes was plain enough for Tru to read. Hunter was angry about her father’s punishments, so maybe he really did care. Tru cared. In fact he was sickened over the thought of how much being confined would have hurt a sensitive Psi while fae were wounded by any contact with metal. How could her father have shackled her? “You came to see me?” Amber asked, not meeting Hunter’s eyes. “I should have come more often.” “You couldn’t have known,” she said softly. Hunter growled again. “I sure as hell should’ve known. There’s nothing I can do about the past. We’re starting over right here, right now.” “We?” She asked softly. “The three of us.” Hunter said firmly. Tru nodded, trying to keep from choking on his own tongue. “You’re not going to hurt us, and we won’t let you be hurt. You’ve got to trust that between the two of us we can handle whatever happens. Lose the clothes, sübe.” Drawing in a sharp breath, Tru got a good whiff of Amber. No tang of fear, but a blast of anger. He glanced at her and had to swallow to ease his suddenly dry throat. Her entire body glittered with the same golden sparks he’d seen in her eyes—a visual manifestation of her fae heritage lit her from within. The effect was beautiful and scary as hell. Dazzled, he looked away. Immediately his head angled back toward her. Unable to keep from staring at her display of magic, he watched in fascinated dread as the arms of Hunter’s chair writhed into leather restraints and bound him securely. Tru’s breath caught, because he expected Hunter to snap her ties. “Let’s try something different.” Hunter spoke as calmly as if him getting bound to a chair was no big deal. “Please take off Tru’s clothes, slowly.” “Of course.” Amber flitted over to where he waited for her—apparently okay with following that particular Alpha order. Tru let out the stale air he’d held and drew in a fresh breath. He wasn’t entirely sure her feet touched the floor on the short trip to his side. He whispered, “Binding Hunter was impressive. I didn’t know you could transform matter.”

70

Evanne Lorraine

“I can’t always. My magic is untrained, unpredictable, wild. It’s supposed to improve with…sexual maturity.” “You mean you didn’t know you could do that?” He tried to keep the shock out of his tone. Then he quit worrying about concealing his reactions. No matter how he tried to hide his feelings, with her Psi talent working, she’d see right through to his wolf core. “I was trying for handcuffs.” She wrinkled her perfect nose. “Wow.” His heart pounded faster, and he strained closer, aching for her touch. His cock seemed to have developed a separate heartbeat. He ran his fingers through his hair, maybe looking for his missing cool. Her wild magic—the danger bound up with her powers—obviously did it for him like honey drew bears. A sensible wolf would’ve run for cover. Not him. “Could Hunter have been hurt?” he croaked. Amber finished unbuttoning his shirt and stepped behind him with a cryptic murmur. “Werewolves are tough.” Since fae magic blocked her normal scent markers, he craned his neck, seeking a clue to her intentions from her expressive face. He caught her visible swallow, which didn’t tell him much and nothing good. “Besides, Hunter said you two could handle whatever happens.” “Damn right.” Hunter growled, rubbing his wrists where the marks from the ties were already fading. Tru stared at the shredded ties dangling from the chair, worrying about Amber’s reaction to Hunter’s breaking free of her restraints. “Don’t move,” Amber warned Tru. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” Ah, Honey Butt, exactly. Please don’t get hurt, and don’t hurt Hunter. ’Cause no matter what he thinks, he’s a badass Alpha—not invulnerable. Her words didn’t compel him in the same way Hunter’s orders always did, but considering she wielded awesome powers that she didn’t completely control and she was busy undressing him, obedience seemed like Tru’s smartest choice.

A Promise of Amber

71

Small soft hands tugged his shirt collar down his back, trapping his arms. If he’d wanted to free himself, the fabric was too weak to hold him. A natural reluctance to ruin his favorite shirt was the only reason he let her bind him. Right. Nothing to do with the fact he’d slit his own belly and use his intestines as restraints if that was what she wanted. Hunter stared at Amber like she was a juicy roast and he hadn’t eaten in a week. Then he moved his attention. Scanning Tru from his feet up, he lingered on his crotch and then moved on until he met his eyes with a hot-enough-to-burn stare. Intimidation? No real point. He couldn’t have left if he’d wanted to, and if the glance was an extra heat infusion, then Alpha was wasting power. Tru was already too damn close to spontaneous combustion. Apparently unaware of the imminent fire hazard, Amber knelt in front of Tru and untied his laces. After loosening the ties, she grasped the back of his shoe. Automatically he raised his foot. She removed it and waited for him to find his balance and change feet. Feeling more like a well-trained circus performer than a badass werewolf enforcer, he cooperated. For some reason, being barefoot made him feel vulnerable. He stretched out a hand to help her rise and tried to ignore the nip of excitement that left him tingling long after she’d let go. Again she stepped behind him. Her fae magic dissipated, and her natural seductive fragrance promised him rapture beyond his fantasies. Impossibly smooth fingers wriggled under the waistband of his jeans as she began working on the top button. Every so often she slipped, brushing his swollen cock. Her too light touches made him shiver with the need for firmer caresses and set off fresh wildfires of passion in his blood. With each slip of her fingers, his cock jerked with hope. He shot a guilty look at Hunter— half afraid he would put a stop to the game and half hoping that he wouldn’t stop her. Getting down and dirty in fur with an audience had never been a problem. Now they were all wearing skin, and that changed everything, except how desperately he wanted Amber. Werewolves weren’t men who shifted during a full moon. They were a separate species—beasts, who lived by an ancient code of strength and pack loyalty. Hunter dominated the pack by speed, strength, and crafty intelligence that had nothing to do with human smarts. Every wolf in the group bared his belly or offered his neck to the Alpha.

72

Evanne Lorraine

As pack leader Hunter commanded Tru’s loyalty. Hunter, the male, was his friend, and the Alpha he’d die for, except now Amber came first. In a couple of heartbeats, Tru’s life had changed irrevocably. His commitment to her was instinctive—absolute—ahead of pack loyalty and even ahead of his obedience to Hunter. He’d heard about the mating bond, but he hadn’t really understood what that meant until some inner switch coded into his DNA had caught a whiff of Amber and locked his entire being on to the one female that the goddess meant for him. Now Tru couldn’t help worry making love to Amber would haunt him the rest of his life with the memory of what he’d be missing. If he’d never known how sweet she tasted, how perfect she felt under him, maybe… But then he realized memories were a nonissue. No torture could be worse than being bound to Amber and yet never being her sanctioned mate.

A Promise of Amber

73

Chapter Nine Just thinking about the coming ritual and everything the ceremony entailed made it hard for Amber to breathe. She’d finally placed Hunter’s accent—it was German. His ancestry did not reassure her. Once she was his mate—his possession—everything would change. She wanted to believe he was different, but she wasn’t optimistic enough to believe he cared about anything beyond her ability to provide him with a pup. What if she gave birth to a fae-dominant youngling instead? Would her life expectancy and, more importantly, that of the babe, be measured in hours? Her father had taught her an Alpha’s loyalty always stayed with his soldiers. A painfully keen awareness of Hunter’s power and his priorities made her perversely eager to seize this rare chance to play with the males and test the limits of her magic. This kind of indulgence was all too unlikely to be repeated. At least not until her next heat approached. What were the odds the three of them would live that long? Between challenge matches from other Alphas, the always present threat from goblins, fae, demons, and vampires, a pack leader had a short life expectancy. The average Alpha never died of natural causes, and there was nothing average about Hunter, which made the likelihood of him meeting a violent end even greater. Yesterday’s goblin attack had killed all but one of Seaview’s soldiers. The beautiful males in front of her, close enough for her to reach out and touch, were as mortal as any of those warriors. She tucked the gloomy thoughts away. Life was short and precious. For the moment, her hormones held the males in her spell far more than her fledgling fae magic. During the brief hours the goddess granted her with Hunter and Tru, she planned to enjoy as many of her fantasies as possible. Before she’d acted on this plan, Hunter said, “He’s aching for you, sübe.” For the first time she caught the significance of his endearment. Hunter thought she was sweet? No doubt he’d found the vampire bitch dangerous and desirable. Of course, he hadn’t touched the bloodsucker. He was all Alpha and too rigidly honorable. Her eyes narrowed at

74

Evanne Lorraine

Hunter’s blatant manipulation. Temper flared hotter in her veins, and this time the painful lessons from her past did nothing to dampen her surge of anger. Her wild magic obeyed her wishes. That alone made this the ideal time to take the initiative away from the arrogant Alpha. Reckless with the fae power singing inside her, she aimed her will at the leather chair where Hunter sprawled, taking up far more than his share of the shelter’s space. Sturdy strips of leather formed from the chair’s arms and twisted around his arms into new wrist restraints. A slightly different angle and the seat cushion produced four longer straps. She used her mind to direct two pairs of straps to bind his ankles—one on either side of the chair’s base. Pausing just long enough to test that the leather straps weren’t cutting off his circulation, she stepped back and admired her work. The new bindings forced his powerful thighs wide. With a single well-directed thought, she sent his pants into the ether. The neat trick exposed the beauty and potency of his huge shaft and vulnerable sac. His thick erection strummed against his abdominal muscles and wept for her, sending her intentions in a new direction. As easily as she’d trapped the powerful Alpha, she erased his bindings and propelled him to his feet. Each successful use of her magic boosted her confidence. Slightly giddy from the new reliability of her fae talents, she settled herself tailor fashion in the chair he’d just vacated. She encouraged Hunter with a shooing motion. “I want to watch the two of you.” Tru’s quick intake of breath revealed his nervousness, but she wasn’t concerned. As her fae power settled within her, the more familiar Psi talent surfaced, allowing her to read both males’ emotions effortlessly. They were excited, not frightened or repulsed. She wasn’t pushing either of them to do anything humiliating. Giving them an opportunity to show off was closer to the truth. She smothered a poignant sigh of regret that they would never really be hers. Unwilling to let future problems spoil her enjoyment of the naughty present moment, she arranged her legs more comfortably to watch the show. “Remove the rest of Tru’s clothes.” The Alpha tugged off the shirt she’d left binding Tru’s arms. “Anything else?” “Pants too, slowly,” she directed Hunter, keeping her gaze locked on Tru.

A Promise of Amber

75

Once Tru was as naked as Hunter, she forced herself to lean back. The two males held her completely rapt. Hunter was a bit larger, and his musculature was actually much more sharply defined than it appeared when he was covered. She’d already known how wonderful Tru looked naked, but she wasn’t tired of the scenery. Both men were beautiful, strong, and very aroused. Losing control and falling for either of them would be all too easy. Hunter muscled Tru aside, forcing her to focus on him. To her surprise, Tru didn’t offer his throat to Hunter or even drop his gaze. While the Alpha radiated dominance, the Gamma looked at her for direction. What a smart male. “Show me how much you want me.” Amber hadn’t planned the bold words, but they sounded right. When those wonderful erections thickened and lengthened and the musk of the males’ arousal grew stronger, she knew she’d chosen well. This was exactly what she wanted. Hunter accepted her challenge and stroked his shaft with rough, slow strokes. The heat from his gaze seared her skin. Palming his erection, Tru stared at her with the same kind of bonemelting intensity. What would it be like to be taken by both of them? The thought came out of nowhere and took on life in her head. Her channel responded with a fresh gush of arousal. Two beard-roughened jaws clenched against the need for her. Two powerful bodies flexed and rippled as they displayed their hard cocks. Their desire and hers thickened the very air, so raw with primal passion that she couldn’t catch her breath. As Amber leaned closer to their enticing equipment, her lips buzzed with the memory of the Alpha’s hard kiss. She was so caught up in staring at them that her desire grew and bloomed unnoticed until she felt the slick, hot cream of want between her legs and wriggled to relieve the needy ache in her pussy. Hunter grabbed his erection again. He stroked himself so roughly that Amber swallowed a whimper of shocked hunger. Through the thin fabric of her top, she tentatively pinched one of her tightened nipples. Tru moaned appreciatively, palmed his thick shaft, and begged her, “Don’t stop.” Watching him—watching both of them, smelling their lust, and feeling their urgency— made the tips of Amber’s breasts pucker into even harder points of need and her core grow

76

Evanne Lorraine

hotter, wetter, achier. Too engrossed in the feast for her senses, she ignored Tru’s plea. Her hands drifted to her lap where they lay open and as empty as her channel. When Hunter leaned forward aggressively, the stubble on his jaw scraped her hardened nipples through the thin fabric of her tee. His teasing felt too good for her to object. Over the top of the Alpha’s head, she saw Tru’s midsection ripple on a gasp while Hunter blazed a trail of nips and licks from her breasts to collarbone and back to her rigid nipples. Capturing a taut nipple between his lips, he suckled her right through the silk. A frisson of wild sensation sizzled through her and intensified the need for more. She arched into his mouth. The exposed plum-colored crown of his shaft was round and shiny with clear precum. She inhaled the clean musk and fresh sweat of their combined lust. The carnal scent deepened, permeating every portion of her needy body and adding urgency to her arousal. The males were ravenous, devouring her with their eyes, stealing greedy licks and touches she hadn’t specifically allowed but couldn’t resist. It was impossible to tell who wanted who most. A fever of need burned her, and their scorching glances fed the blaze. Tru looked straight at her and cupped his thick, hard cock. “It’s all yours, Honey Butt.” His endearment gave her hope that he’d forgiven her for being fae, for not telling him about her mixed blood, and for restraining his Alpha. Or else it was just sex sport loosening his tongue. Either way, he’d won. She softened toward him, charmed. Why couldn’t Hunter be as easy for her to love? No, that wasn’t right. She couldn’t love Tru. Couldn’t love either of them. She fought to regain control too late. The fortress around her heart had already been stormed and captured. A blind wolf could see how much Tru respected and cared about his Alpha. Equally obvious to her Psi senses was that Hunter cared about Tru differently—more than what he felt for the rest of the pack members. His protective instinct was stronger with Tru, and with her. She couldn’t resist loving Tru. Goddess help all of them. Falling for the Gamma when she was pledged to Hunter guaranteed broken hearts. “Join us, sübe.” Hunter’s demand tugged on her passion like an invisible leash. When he gave her a direct order, resistance was as impossible as not falling in love with his rough combination of need and strength. She took her time untangling her legs. She moved even slower taking off her clothes, reluctant to shed that layer of thin protection. No matter how

A Promise of Amber

77

much she dallied, two easy-off garments allowed slight delay. Clad in nothing except for a defensive glitter of fae magic, she stood only a few steps away from the glory of possession. Both males stared at her with hungry eyes. Although she scanned each of them carefully, there was no sign of anger from either male. Relief at their acceptance of sharing, at least for the moment, eased the last knots of tension in her neck and shoulders and pumped another blast of sizzling desire into her hot blood. “You are so fucking beautiful,” Tru blurted. A startled laugh escaped her throat at his painful sincerity and because he was even less sure of himself than she was, which made her all the more tender toward him. Besides, he was part of her pack now. His energy glowed strong and bright in her mind. Hunter held out a huge palm. “He’s right.” She smelled the truth in his words. Although something was different, because his admiration was more banked—guarded. With a kick of her chin, she assumed confidence she didn’t feel and laid her hand in his. To let him know she’d noticed his restraint, she added a tart, “Thank you, sir.” His nostrils flared with a quick intake of passion-laden breath that almost made her forgive him. Then he bowed and pressed a fleeting kiss against her dimpled knuckles. The courtly gesture caught her off guard, and she flushed from the tingling awareness in that too-brief touch of Hunter’s lips. Disconcerted, she fumbled for something to say. Her mind stayed blank. She shivered from the confusing swirl of fear of the unknown and erotic tension. “Shhh, I’ve got your back,” Tru whispered. He wrapped an arm around her waist and snuggled her close to his powerful body. Any thoughts that might have formed melted away in the searing heat of his body. His hand cupped her hips, steadying her with his strength. His pecs cushioned her shoulders. The root of his erection wedged into the top of her butt cleft, his shaft rested along her spine, and the soft sac of his balls pressed her ass, giving her the comfort of his presence—his desire. The safety of Tru’s embrace caused her fae magic to quiet again, and her natural Psi talent homed in on Hunter. Alpha strength and dominance washed over her. If she’d been even a tiny

78

Evanne Lorraine

bit less sensitive, that was all she would have noticed. Her Psi connection made her aware of the chinks in Hunter’s armor. She picked up a faint trace of fear, a deeply buried layer of jealousy, and his hunger to be loved as a male of worth in his own right. Not just because he was the pack Alpha. Once his vulnerabilities lay exposed, she followed his cracks to the deep hole of loneliness he hid from everyone. His weak spots caught her tender heart in ways his strength never would. When Hunter moved nearer, erasing the gap between them, her core temperature rose to sauna level. Along with the increase in her body heat came a surprising ease with the dominant male. The feeling slipped under her defenses and tucked around her as if in between the males she’d finally found a place where she belonged. Framing her face with one hand, Hunter held her gently in willing captivity while he lightly teased her mouth with his. The gentle kiss was a continent away from the first raw kiss they’d shared, but no less devastating. The gentle touch of the Alpha’s impossibly soft lips feathered against hers in sharp contrast with the prickly bristles of his beard, which rubbed, abraded, and startled her with a longing for more of the tender scrapes on her breasts and between her legs. While Hunter seduced her lips and surrounded her with heat, Tru was a hot solid wall she leaned upon as the Gamma nibbled the side of her neck, cupped her hips possessively, and cuddled her bottom against the solid weight of his shaft. Although they had been rough with themselves, they were tender—almost reverent— caressing her. With her body pressed between the two males and a storm of sensation pulsing through newly discovered erogenous zones, she closed her eyes and let her awareness narrow to a sensory world of lovers’ sounds, scents, and sensations. Hunter kissed her as if he had eternity to explore her mouth. His erection cradled between her hip bones spilled hot drops of his excitement against the hyperaware skin of her navel. A slow sensuous trickle moved down her belly. Liquid evidence of his need scorched closer to her mound. Better than the tears of his precum, or even the heady scent of his lust, was the intense protectiveness coming off him in waves. Her Psi side wrapped the safe feeling around her battered heart like a healing blanket.

A Promise of Amber

79

As long as he didn’t demand her obedience, each touch earned Hunter a bit more trust until she felt almost as safe with him as she did Tru. At last he relinquished possession of her mouth, and a sigh of contentment slipped from her lips at the hunger in his gaze. Her sigh was swallowed by fire as he caught her mouth again. This time his kiss was charged with sheer sex. A new level of understanding seeped into her. Hunter didn’t need to coddle her, because she didn’t fear him. There was no mercy asked for or given between them. He took possession of her mouth as if it was his to plunder. Instinctively, she ceded to his demand. Pinned between the males, she couldn’t evade the carnal onslaught of her senses, and she wouldn’t have missed a single second of their erotic hunger. A softer feminine musk from her desire blended into the potent mix of male lust until she breathed passion. Hunter’s internal storm of emotion made her tears well in sympathy for his pain. He wanted so much, but his Alpha code wouldn’t let him beg or even ask. She sensed Tru’s understanding and compassion even before he said, “Let both of us serve you, sir.” Before she’d thought too hard about what she was going to do, she touched Hunter’s shoulder, drawing his attention, and then dropped her gaze respectfully. “Please, sir.” Peeking through her lashes, she saw his jaw clench. Finally he nodded—a regal assent before he loosened his iron grip. She bowed and kept her eyes lowered. “Tell us how to please you, sir.” Silence stretched for so long, she feared that he wasn’t going to answer. At last, he cleared his throat and growled at Tru, “Prepare her ass.” Again she felt Tru’s response, exactly matching the nervous excitement pumping through her veins as he scrambled to obey Hunter’s command then bowed again. “What shall I use?” “Oil, any good cooking oil, will do.” Suppressing a nervous giggle, she watched Tru hurry toward the kitchen. Then she used the short time he was gone to unroll a mattress and cover it with a clean blanket. From her viewpoint, kneeling in front of Hunter, he looked like a young bronzed god, waiting to be served.

80

Evanne Lorraine

At Tru’s first gentle touch, she leaned forward, kept her face toward Hunter, and gave Tru access to her bottom. He drizzled oil on the seam between her rear cheeks, then stopped. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him look to Hunter. For approval? The Alpha’s attention was locked on her bottom. She turned back, trying to glimpse Tru’s nails. Her own were closely trimmed to avoid scratching the pups when they wore fragile human skin. But then she wasn’t a fragile pup. She was a full-grown woman more than capable of healing almost any injury; besides the males were experienced, careful, and tender. Slippery with cooking oil, her puckered anus tightened further as Tru used his thumb to circle the entrance. He worked slowly, taking care to keep the pressure light, teasing her opening while rubbing sympathetic circles on the underside of her rear cheeks. Now and then he used his free hand to lightly graze the swollen folds of her pussy, keeping her arousal high, but never enough giving her a release. Hunter moved so smoothly that if she hadn’t been watching him from the edge of her vision, she would have been startled to find him surrounding her. “Push back against him,” he commanded her. Then Hunter guided Tru’s hand as her back passage eased, and his thumb slipped inside the small portal. Hunter’s thumb joined Tru’s, carefully turning, stretching, and stroking. Rich sensations of dark need sparked to life. Arching into them with a groan of pleasure, she whimpered, “More.” “Soon,” Hunter promised in a throaty growl. Gently easing out of Hunter’s way, Tru slid out of her oil-slicked passage and left for the bathroom. He returned smelling fresh, carrying a basin of soapy water with hand towels tucked under both arms, and pausing in the doorway. His cheeks had color spots that matched his reddened ears. While Hunter eased his thick erection into her slippery back channel, she pushed back against the invasion, which made his penetration both worse and better and incredibly arousing. The Alpha’s muscles rippled and strained as he penetrated her passage, groaning in carnal bliss. Her sex softened and fluttered, her breasts tightened, and her Psi senses purred from the overload of sensual excitement.

A Promise of Amber

81

“Come for me,” Hunter growled. Amber was already so close that she almost did. She watched Tru’s arousal lengthen and thicken as he stared at them, inhaled the lust-thickened air, and grasped his huge shaft. With his fist wrapped around his heavy erection, he timed his strokes to Hunter’s. She both saw and felt each plunge. Their powerful synchronized thrusts grew shorter and more erratic until they shuddered. Hunter roared and bit her shoulder. The sudden nip of pain sent her tumbling into ecstasy along with the males. The last thing she heard was Tru’s growl of satisfaction. Eventually they all stilled to small aftershocks of pleasures. The delicious smell of their climaxes flooded her nose and heated already very hot blood. Tentatively she reached for her fae magic and relaxed when it gathered effortlessly. She used just a tiny spark of the force to warm the damp towels. Briefly she wondered why the gift was suddenly so cooperative, then shrugged off the change as a side effect of her coming heat. Hunter withdrew, and she was fully occupied as she knelt to clean his shaft and sac. She tended to him so gently and thoroughly that his mighty cock grew stiff as an oak’s trunk. He lightly teased her nipples while Tru knelt and watched. His dark eyes grew hotter and darker, as did the taut tips of her breasts. After she was through cleaning Hunter, she set aside the used towels, leaned back on her heels, and waited for his orders. “Take care of Tru,” he growled. A deep bow earned her an additional grunt of his approval. Lovingly she serviced Tru exactly as she had Hunter, careful to show no preference for the delicious Gamma. Her preference for Tru had actually grown slightly less while her attachment to Hunter grew stronger than she’d believed possible. Using a warm damp towel, she wiped away Tru’s sticky seed from his hard belly and chiseled chest. Tru snagged a fresh moistened towel from the pile and tenderly ministered to her backside. When he finished, he leaned over and kissed the fading marks where Hunter had gripped her hip.

82

Evanne Lorraine

Emboldened by his gentleness and a flare of musky desire, she forgot her determination to stay submissive and curled her fingers around the silken skin of his thickening shaft, and inhaled the intoxication of his arousal. A flash of Alpha energy flared in her mind. Then something warm and liquid slid between her rear cheeks, and she glanced back.

A Promise of Amber

83

Chapter Ten Hunter kneaded the twin globes of Amber’s full bottom, reveling in the feel of her amazingly soft skin in his hands until she stiffened under his touch. He knew damn well his massage was skillful, except not to Amber. Maybe she was still tender. Gentling his touch, he glanced at her for a reaction and caught her looking at his second. A knot of regret and envy threatened to choke Hunter, but he swallowed hard, pushing down his emotions before she picked up on what he was feeling. He wasn’t about to let her know how much her preference for Tru hurt. Without looking up from his task, he reassured her mildly, “I’m preparing the way for Tru.” Once again he hadn’t controlled himself well enough to fool the little Psi. She picked up on the pain he’d worked so damn hard to keep out of his voice. The pity in her eyes burned the raggedy edges of his Alpha pride. Her intolerable sympathy made him hide his pathetic feelings behind a stronger wall of dominance. He dug in to soft skin covering her round little ass harder than he’d meant to—much harder than he should. Hard enough to leave accusing rosy marks on her soft creamy butt. Hard enough to bruise her delicate skin. Somehow even that wasn’t enough to keep him from making it worse. “Maybe what you really want is for me to prove what a beast I am by loosening up your tight ass again.” “As you wish, sir.” She held her position, her tone even, and her eyes submissively down, waiting for him to decide. Hunter couldn’t forget her first unguarded reaction. The deep freeze. He released her ass and moved away. Shamed by the cruel marks he’d left behind, he lashed out again. “Bullshit. Don’t try to humor me. I can smell a lie a mile away.” “He really can.” Tru backed him up, like a loyal second, but his voice broke, and the freshsnow smell of his sadness shamed Hunter again. Amber remained perfectly still.

84

Evanne Lorraine

Technically he hadn’t asked a question, but her lack of response still grated on his last nerve. Forcing himself to take a couple of calming breaths, mentally he kicked his own ass for losing control. The little Psi got to him faster than anyone. Her ability to read him like a book while he had to guess what she was thinking did nothing to sooth his edgy temper. A sigh of frustration built in his chest. Fuck it. The air escaped his throat like a pup’s whimper, and his eyes squeezed shut. A solid wall of muscle leaned into his back. Hunter opened his eyes, knowing Tru had crouched next to him in a mute offer of support. He rubbed his chin on the top of the Gamma’s head. The gesture gave him comfort. Amber edged closer. Which was when Hunter grasped a basic truth: the three of them needed each other. But there was no way a threesome could work with the pack. Maybe if he weren’t pack leader… No point in even starting down that road. His role as Alpha wasn’t something he could change. Since Amber was part fae, her best chance for survival was with a strong pack. The hard reality was Tru couldn’t give her that, and Hunter could. This fact didn’t give Hunter comfort or satisfaction. His pack role made their mating triangle more impossible. The goddess didn’t give a male any choice about whether or not he wanted to bond. Another reality he understood in theory and always hated. If he hadn’t been bound by honor to Amber, then he would’ve walked away from her and let Tru claim her and figured out some way to make the mated couple safe. At least he liked to think he had enough worth to make that choice—the right choice. Bonding with her would steal his honor along with his ability to choose. He shuddered at the thought. If he bonded with Amber, and bonding seemed more a matter of when than if, his nature wouldn’t let him walk away from his mate. His wishes, Tru’s wishes, even her wishes were irrelevant to the imperative of the mating bond. Tru was convinced he would bond to Amber as well. Not much scared Hunter, but that did. No matter how he tried, Hunter couldn’t see a scenario where he and his second both survived, and that scared the thrill of mating right out of him.

A Promise of Amber

85

Thank the goddess for small mercies—so far he had no urge to kill Tru, nor had his second attacked him. They couldn’t both bond to her no matter what Tru thought. Even if, by some miracle, his tolerance of the other male continued, Amber would choose one of them. If they’d both bonded, then the loser died. Once mated, a male couldn’t stay sane if he was deprived of the female the goddess had designed for him alone. There was the key—alone. If Hunter claimed her as his bonded mate, forcing Tru out, then the male would turn rogue, be hunted down and destroyed. Hunter shut down his worst-case thinking, because it wasn’t happening. Two males had never bonded to the same female. Tru was scary smart, but he was wrong about this. Through decades of fucking females, even during their heats, Hunter had never bonded. He was not going to bond with Amber. But the strength of his attraction said Tru was right. “You do still scare me a little. Although I know you’re trying not to,” Amber said so softly that it took Hunter a couple of seconds to register the sense of her words. She hadn’t told him anything he didn’t already know. Her admission of fear still stung his bruised pride almost as much as his own bad behavior. He willed calm into his tone. “Can you trust me for the next hour?” “Why an hour, sir?” she asked. Tru’s face echoed the question. “The ceremony begins at eight. Thought you’d want at least a half hour to get ready.” Amber flinched. She controlled the reaction fast enough that if he hadn’t been paying close attention, he would’ve missed it. The little Psi had a core of toughness. Good. Maybe her fae blood would actually help. If he was lucky, she might be strong enough to survive the hard choices ahead. “After the ceremony, I’ll take off. Make it easier.” Tru stared blankly at a spot over Hunter’s right shoulder. Easier for who? Then Amber begged Tru. “Please stay.” Tru pulled her close. “Don’t ask me. You know I can’t refuse you.”

86

Evanne Lorraine

“I want you to stay.” She turned to Hunter. “May he stay, sir?” He bobbed his head like a stupid pigeon going after crumbs. Saying no to Amber wasn’t something he wanted to do. Taking things nice and slow for a change, Hunter stood, offered Amber a hand, and pulled her carefully to her feet. Tru followed her up, one possessive paw on her smooth, round hip. Hunter went with his instincts. Moving in close enough to feel her silky warmth, he reached around her—caged her by clutching Tru’s broad shoulder. Then Hunter captured the little Psi’s sensuous mouth in a kiss that blistered his soul. While they kissed, seductive arousal rolled off all three of them, especially Amber. Judging by her rich, erotic fragrance, Hunter believed she was ready for him to mount her. The heady smell had his heart pounding like he’d been chasing rabbits and his cock hard enough to break a bear’s heart. When he released her lips, she met his eyes without flinching. A thread of her fear pinched his nose. This time he stayed out of his own head enough to hold on to his Alpha control. Scaring her was the last thing he wanted to do. Getting mad at her for a reaction she couldn’t control wasn’t the answer. His seething rage at Nigel for torturing his own daughter wasn’t doing her any good either, because Psis only picked up emotion, not what caused the feeling. If Hunter allowed himself to get angry, he’d only terrify the one female he wanted to protect and cherish. Alpha dominance held a whole lot of appeal for most females. When it came to Amber, his basic instincts worked against him. What he could do was dial back the force of his demands. The big question was would that be enough to win her trust? He drew calming strength from his second and eased her trembling by infusing her with some of his mood-altering Alpha energy. The sharp tang of her old terror kept nipping at his keen nose. Using his power to soothe her fears had failed. Tru wrapped his arms around her waist, and Hunter stroked her shoulders and arms with slow, gentle pets. “Tell me what you need to feel safe.” “I know Tru trusts you, and in my head I believe you’re a male of worth, but no matter what I tell myself, you’re still Alpha.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Still every time I smell your dominance, the fear rises. It’s nothing you’ve done and certainly not the respect and submission you deserve. I’m so sorry, sir.”

A Promise of Amber

87

She was breaking his heart. “How ’bout I make it safe for you?” “Tell her how, Alpha.” Tru nudged him. Hunter’s voice deepened into tar-pit territory. “I give you my word that I will never touch you unless Tru is with us, until you ask to be alone with me.” What the fuck had he said? He needed to erase her fear, not scare himself. “That’s very generous.” Amber scanned his face, her eyes wide with doubt. “Are you certain, sir?” Hell no. But the decision felt right. “Absolutely.” “Thank you, Alpha.” Tru squeezed Hunter’s shoulder. At least one of them was happy. She deserved better. She deserved Tru. Hunter suppressed a sigh and tamped his envy. He would’ve died before letting her know he was jealous. Amber snuggled between them. This time, she seemed to gather confidence from the calming energy he willed into her. Nuzzling the side of her neck, Hunter bit lightly and lapped at the smooth, soft skin over her jugular. Her delicate flavor strengthened the aphrodisiac of her scent. The delicious taste made him a whole lot harder. He ignored his own swelling lust and concentrated on making this good for her. Whatever it took. She sighed and angled her chin to give him better access to her throat. Her gesture of respect and submission made the wolfman stretch and growl, mine. By melting closer, she’d tacitly agreed to his terms and his claim. Her legs eased apart, flooding his nostrils with the scent of her delicious honey and Tru’s cum. He lapped a damp trail to her breasts. Each breath drew more of her irresistible blend deep inside. Following the delicious scent, he moved lower and slowed to suck and tug on her beaded nipples. Needy moans from Amber pulled his awareness, and he followed it down the velvety soft curve of her belly to a nest of damp blonde curls. The plump outer lips of her pussy had parted. A shy blush of rosy folds glistening with silken cream demanded exploration. He licked her clean and kept going. One more pass over the swollen bud of her clit, one last swirl around the mouth of her sex, then he’d quit. But each taste fueled a hunger for more of her sweetness, and he kept lapping.

88

Evanne Lorraine

She dissolved on his tongue, screaming his name as she gushed an ecstatic release. The taste of glory slid down the back of his throat. With a final lap of her pussy, he moved his face out of the way long enough to hitch one of her legs over his hip and notch the head of his cock in the hot honey coating her snug entrance. Tru was right with him. The Gamma used his thumbs to work the oil Hunter had applied deeper into her back passage. This time Hunter appreciated his second’s help. More so when she bucked against Hunter’s hard cock and whimpered. Her other leg curved around Hunter’s hip, and her heels dug into his ass, urging him deeper while giving Tru plenty of access. The clasp of the wet velvet heat around his shaft sent electric thrills to the base of his spine and tightened his balls. As she came apart, pulsing around him, her whimper became a moan, and the moan became a cry. “Hunter.” The sweet spasms of her sheath squeezed his hard cock so tenderly that his old wolf heart tumbled into her keeping. For a couple of heartbeats, he held still while the aftershocks of her second release milked his erection in an excruciatingly sensual caress. His urge to stroke fast and hard warred with his need to bring her to climax over and over again. The need to please her won, and he held on to his control by rapidly fraying strands. Barely moving, he set a slow and steady pace that made him burn. Tru’s cock slid along the sensitized underside of Hunter’s shaft until the ridge of the Gamma’s crown rasped past Hunter’s cockhead. Their erections rubbed together, separated by the thin walls of Amber’s delicate channels. With their cocks filling her front and back passages, the fit was even sweeter. Tighter. Hotter. Both of them growled in unison. Her soft body tightened between them. “Ooooh, I can’t… Please, sir.” Hunter wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted, but he gave her everything he had—stroking hard and fast into the tight, wet glove of her sheath. Tru picked up his pace to match Hunter’s. As he pumped into her, rasping against Tru’s cock with every thrust, Hunter’s climax rolled up his shaft. He exploded in pure liquid fire that spurted in long blissful blasts of cum.

A Promise of Amber

89

Long after he’d thought himself spent, the oddly tender pulsing of Tru’s release and the strong milking action of Amber’s sex squeezed another release from his cock, and the last hope of staying unbonded from his heart. She owned him, body and soul. Goddess help her.

90

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Eleven Much of the long walk from the shelter back to the nursery passed in silence. Because of the cave-ins, most of the distance was covered in single file. For safety Hunter led, Amber followed, and Tru covered the rear. Amber had insisted on helping, so all three of them lugged canisters and spotlights. Even after they’d stripped the shelter of its weapons, the Seaview arsenal held a pathetic rating. Hating their vulnerability, Tru stayed sharp and hoped the goblins didn’t stage a second attack while the pack was so weak. As they neared the nursery, he caught a flash of Amber’s glitter and turned to catch her new magic show. “No,” Hunter snapped at her, then softened his harsh tone. “Your magic carries a signature. The pack is hurting. Extra fae attention wouldn’t help.” Her cheeks grew pink, and she notched her chin up in defiance. “Sorry, sir. I thought you might want clothes.” The Alpha’s steps slowed, and he aimed a hot look at Amber but spoke calmly. “Clothes would be good. Whatever you want me to wear for the ceremony is fine.” “Very kind of you, sir.” Tru mentally cringed at her polite murmur, half expecting Hunter to find himself dressed in ruffles or worse. A dark gray summer-weight suit draped the Alpha’s body as if it had been woven with him in mind, which was close enough to the truth. The subtle dark red microcheck dress shirt was a great touch. The trendy check was more like something Tru might’ve picked out for himself than anything Hunter would’ve chosen. His Alpha was more a standard white-shirt kind of guy on those rare occasions that he wore a suit. The solid red tie wasn’t exactly Hunter’s style either, but it was sharp. “Thanks.” Hunter’s response lacked enthusiasm.

A Promise of Amber

91

Naturally, Amber caught his flat tone and zinged back a frosty, “Of course, sir.” Tru wanted to elbow him, because Hunter never understood when to back off. He proved Tru’s assessment correct once again, by looking right at Amber and asking, “Aren’t you going to change your clothes?” “Yes, when we arrive at the house, if sir allows.” This time her tone fell below frosty, straight to subzero storm warning. In contrast, her cheeks flared a darker pink. Sex with Amber had been amazing, but it hadn’t done a damn thing to improve Tru’s normally quick mind. Her presence seemed to take up most of his normally quick brain’s functions. Not to put too fine a point on it, she’d turned him into a werewolf lust monster fulltime. Finding even a shred of his sharp Gamma wits was a losing battle. Before he’d come up with anything close to the right words to ease the rising tension between Amber and Hunter, they’d already cleared the last narrow path through the rubble and approached the nursery. From the darkened tunnel, Tru saw Ben and Ward before the enforcers noticed them. Armed with a single heavy-duty spotlight and one bright yellow salt spray canister between them, the pair kept watch. They enforcers stood back to back. The grim soldiers looked out of place in the cheery room. Since Ben was facing the escape exit, he spotted them first. His face lit up like a full moon. “Alpha!” The enforcer’s voice rose a full octave to damn near pup whine range, as he exposed his throat, and grinned so hard his handsome features distorted into a stretched caricature of himself. Ward turned enough to catch a glimpse of Hunter from the corner of his vision and tilted his neck respectfully. “Welcome back, sir.” “Thanks, good to be back. Any luck with our prisoner?” Ward stiffened. “The oily little bastard died, sir.” “No great loss. Are you ready to button up this building?” Hunter asked gruffly. “Yes, sir.” Ward’s eyes darted an appreciative glance at Amber that made Tru want to growl. “Where is everyone, sir?” she asked Hunter.

92

Evanne Lorraine

“Your house, I imagine.” Ward nodded. “Easier to secure.” Hunter handed off Amber’s spotlights and the canisters he’d been packing to Ben, keeping one set for his own use. Placing his free palm in the center of her back, he steered her upstairs. Ward took point jogging ahead of the couple. After Tru took his share of Ben’s weapons load, the two of them trudged along behind the rest of the party. Bringing up the rear didn’t bother Tru. A little distance might help clear his muddled thinking. He needed to get his head back on the job. Before anything else, he was still an enforcer and Hunter’s second, and he’d been doing a piss-poor job. Ben juggled his load of weapons to show Tru his thumb and forefinger in an almost closed pincer gesture. “I came this close to being goblin fodder.” “What happened?” “Goblin broke through the tunnel roof and knocked me out. Alpha nailed the little monster.” So that was where Hunter’s goblin scratches had come from. “Lucky.” Ben nodded. “You got that right.” When the distance between the two of them and the rest of the party widened enough to ensure privacy, Ben angled his head toward Amber. “Pretty.” She was amazingly beautiful and perfect in every possible way—not merely pretty. Tru allowed himself a grunt that any Alpha would’ve been proud to claim and kept the rest of his thoughts about Hunter’s mate in his fucked-up head where they belonged. Even with his Alpha’s recent promise to include Tru during mating, he had no rights, no pack standing, and no claim on Amber. Normally Tru wasn’t given to brooding about what he couldn’t control, but his blood told him bonding with her was only a matter of time. That upped the ante for any male. He sure as hell was no exception to the goddess’s rules. Since there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about his tenuous unofficial mate status, he focused on the logistics of security. “What kind of coverage for the grounds have we got going? “You won’t believe me.” Ben’s eyes sparked with mischief. “Bloodsuckers are patrolling the perimeter of the property until dawn.” Tru gave him another grunt. “How about civilians?”

A Promise of Amber

93

Plainly deflated by Tru’s matter-of-fact response, Ben adjusted his attitude and continued more seriously. “Hunkered down, is my guess. Haven’t heard from them.” “No one?” “Zip, zero, nada.” “Weird.” “Completely. I keep thinking about the kind of influx an attack at Treeland would’ve brought on, and here…nothing. Seaview’s a smaller pack, I get that. Still, makes you wonder what kind of screwed-up operation their Alpha ran.” Tru didn’t comment on Nigel’s shortcomings. He had a nasty feeling they’d only seen the first ugly layer of that mess. “So who’s here?” “One soldier, mauled pretty bad, healing, but he’s out of action for a week or more, and the local sheriff, Paul, an Alpha and a real male of worth. He already stepped up and took a leave of absence from his job. Dawn, she’s the sheriff’s mate, cute little Beta. She teaches middle school. Five of her students: all male, three full bloods and two mixed, and the three pups. The young were all orphaned by the massacre, except the female pup. She’s Paul and Dawn’s daughter. Oh yeah, there’re a couple of mixed-blood servants that kept their heads down in the Alpha’s house during the attack. That’s it.” Ben opened the back door of the fire-damaged building with an elbow and held it for Tru. Holy bear shit. How was he supposed to defend the huge compound with four enforcers, counting him, plus one Alpha and five middle school youngsters? Tru understood why Hunter had played so nice with the bloodsucker. No matter how he felt, sucking up to the vampires was a matter of pack survival. Hunter and Amber rounded the corner of the Alpha’s mission-style house. The couple left Tru’s line of sight in the time Tru spent securing the damaged headquarters. After the lock snicked, he turned the knob to test that the exit was secured. For the Seaview pack to survive, they would need soldiers. Maybe he could stay here—if Amber and Hunter left for Treeland, then maybe Tru wouldn’t bond. Separation might work. Sure, his heart would shatter. Though a broken heart might heal, a broken mating bond never would. Tru tucked that thought away and paid attention to the structure he needed to defend.

94

Evanne Lorraine

A butler, who might’ve been young when the house was first built, opened the heavy front doors. Ward and Conrad were right behind the old guy. Each of the other enforcers took an armload of the arsenal he and Ben had toted. As he followed the other soldiers into the dwelling, Tru took in the sights. The front doors were solid, easy to secure. The entry to the house was fancy old woodwork, ancient tile, and three-story coved ceiling. A little gilt, a couple of cherubs, and some stained glass, and it could’ve graced a cathedral. Through an archway and two steps down put him in a great room that merited the name from a size standpoint. A grand piano centered on the long wall to their right. There was plenty of room for the rest of the orchestra around the piano. Though the guy working the keys seemed to handle solo fine, he’d already attracted a groupie. A slender female with a blonde, fancy piledhigh-on-her-head style job and wearing a fluffy pink dress that went clear to the floor but didn’t have much of a back. Probably the vampire mistress from the shelter. Hunter stood an arm’s length away on her right. Plush beige carpet muffled their steps during their march across the room to the first pair of French doors, which led to a terrace and let in moonlight. The glass entry was fine and good as long as they didn’t let in a goblin raiding party looking to even the score. Tru clamped his jaw to keep from howling at the setup. What kind of lamebrain Alpha designed a prime gathering spot with four entrances and no security? “You cover these doors.” Tru pointed the first set out to Ben. “No problem.” Ben stashed his weapons, grabbed one of the hyena-butt-ugly overstuffed chairs clinging to the wall, and parked his butt facing the glass doors. “I’m Paul.” An older Alpha held out a work-roughened paw. “As soon as I check on my mate, I’ll organize the youngsters to secure the entrances.” “Appreciate it, sir. Where’s your mate?” “Helping Amber dress,” Paul called over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs in an easy double-step lope. Before Tru had time to do more than recount access points and heads, Paul reappeared. The older Alpha assessed him with shrewd eyes. “Where does the opening to the right of the fireplace lead?” Tru asked.

A Promise of Amber

95

“Kitchen, backstairs.” Paul said. “Back door?” “Yeah. Secured.” Tru grunted. “Good.” “Where do you want us?” Tru handed Paul a pile of spotlights. “We’ll pair up one of your young males with each of the three enforcers. That leaves one for you and one for me. There’re enough of us to station at each access point. I hope like hell none of us sees action.” “Shouldn’t be a problem with the vampires handling the perimeter. They’re good.” Paul gave him a grim smile and polite small tilt of his neck before he got busy handing out lights. Good to know. Tru ambled closer to the French doors, downwind from the piano. “Excuse me, sir. Alpha Paul said I should stick on your six.” The young male held a deep bow while his attention stayed glued to the carpet. Tru assessed the knobby wrists and knees on the backup Paul had sent him. When the youngster filled, out he’d be a whopper. “Know what he was talking about, son?” The young male shook his head. “What’s your name?” “Ulric, sir.” “Don’t have to bow and sir me, Ulric. I’m no Alpha.” Tru held out a hand. Ulric slowly straightened, then gave him a firm handshake. “Take these.” Tru gave him the spotlight and canister. The youngster accepted the weapons like they were holy relics. “Yes, s—Uh what should I call you?” “Tru.” “Yes, Tru.” “Better. Who’s the piano player?” The youngster shrugged shoulders as knobby as his wrists. “Dunno.”

96

Evanne Lorraine

“Okay. Now here’s the deal with covering my six—think of the room like the face of a watch.” When Ulric looked even blanker, Tru held out his wrist and tapped the face. “Not a digital. You with me so far?” “Yes, s—Tru.” “Good. Straight ahead of me is my twelve; right behind me is my six. Making sense now?” “I watch your back.” “Exactly. You glue your butt to mine, but facing the other way. You see anything scary you holler. Got it?” Ulric took his assigned position. “Got it.” “Excellent. Let’s go get acquainted.” Track lighting brightened the other long wall and lit a dizzy assortment of who’s who in American art, including a Johns’ flag Tru would’ve given his left nut to own. Below the paintings a quartet of dark green sofas crouched like bored sentries. More of the ugly overstuffed chairs scattered in twos and threes on both sides of a walk-in fireplace. In a room designed to hold a couple of hundred pack members, the sparse decor left an awful lot of bareness. The furnishings must have been chosen for status or maybe investment. Nothing looked comfortable. Nothing went together. Nothing made sense. The remnants of the decimated pack sure as hell didn’t fill the empty spaces. He compared the odd collection of furniture and art surrounding him with Hunter’s place where the living area glowed under skylights that let in sunshine or moon glow without compromising security, which was state of the art. The floors were cork, soft underfoot, and great traction when traveling on four legs. The pieces on display were Hunter’s favorites— Native American or Northwest landscapes by local artists. Furniture was built tough with simple lines that accommodated wolf or human equally well. Entertainment came from the media room, where a flat-screen TV took up most of one wall. An awesome sound system handled the tunes. No TV for old Nigel. No sound system either. Within thirty feet of the piano, a sudden chill raised the fine hairs on the back of Tru’s neck.

A Promise of Amber

97

Far stranger than anything about the decor was the spicy chocolate smell of fire demon that wafted by Tru’s nasal passages a couple of seconds behind the private warning from his nape. He zeroed in on the menace. The enemy maintained a glamour that probably fooled humans, but he radiated power like a nuclear reactor, so the visual did nothing to reassure Tru how nice and normal the fiend was. Seeing the female vampire cozied up next to the demon didn’t help. The demon continued to play as he talked. Hunter listened to the pair like they were old friends. Which made them allies. Maybe. Amber was nowhere to be seen. Understandable with her mating ceremony coming up fast. She’d be busy on the impossible job of making herself more beautiful. Still Tru longed for a whiff of her sweet scent rather than the sickening chocolate of the damn demon. Hunter caught his attention and waved him over. “Keep your eye on the archway,” he reminded Ulric. They moved smoothly; Ulric stayed tight. Tru divided his attention between the various openings, especially the one that led to the kitchen and backstairs that he hadn’t checked, while he crossed to where his Alpha stood talking. “Lutec Raison, my second, Truman Caswell.” Then Hunter tipped his head toward the bloodsucker, who had none of their usual cold metal odor. “You remember Mistress Ariadne.” “Sir, Mistress.” Tru lowered his chin in the minimum politeness and didn’t introduce Ulric. He’d been hoping for a shower and a change of clothes. Not that he had anything in his duffel bag in the same class as the demon’s suit. The fit and material whispered obscenely expensive. Considering the company Hunter entertained, there was no way Tru was going to leave his Alpha’s back unprotected. “Lutec’s handling the legal formalities of the mating,” Hunter said. “You’re ordained?” Tru regretted the tactless tone of his question instantly. The demon stopped playing and stood. Tru got a closer look at the fiend’s excellent threads. Even taller than Hunter with shoulders a yard wide, he probably had to have his T-shirts custom made. What choice did he have?

98

Evanne Lorraine

Then Lutec’s good-natured laughter rumbled through the great room, gently rattling the artwork and sparse furnishings. “No, I’m a judge.” Mentally shrugging, Tru decided the fiend’s amusement beat the stuffing out of an offended demon. Tru didn’t get the joke, but whatever it was must’ve been funny, because even the vampire mistress smiled, keeping her lips tight to avoid a fang flash. Ulric poked him with a knobby elbow and whispered, “Wow. She glitters.” “Makeup,” Tru lied before he’d swiveled enough to check out Amber’s magic show. A light dusting of sparkles, which could’ve been worse, clung to Amber’s neck, shoulders, and the rounded tops of her perfect breasts. She floated through the archway wearing a slinky red number that might’ve been couture, or magic spun. Wherever the dress came from, on her it made everything else, including the demon and the vampire, fade to dull and unimportant background scenery. Watching her reminded Tru how underdressed he was for the occasion, and the tops of his ears burned. As she glided past him, he felt her body heat, which meant she was seriously scorching. Then their eyes met, and she winked at him. Clearly, his Honey Butt had mischief in mind. He held his breath, but there was still only the light glow of glitter. He swallowed a sigh of relief and dismissed the wicked wink. Cautiously letting out the stale air he’d been holding, he felt a warm breeze ruffle his clothes. When he smoothed his shirt, he touched a silky T-shirt where the colorful Hawaiian print had been. Intending to hook his thumb in the belt loop of his jeans to keep everything casual, he found smooth buttery soft leather pants had replaced the denim. No belt loops. The black-on-black threads were strictly badass. Since everyone was gawking at Amber, his own wardrobe upgrade went completely unnoticed, except by him. If he hadn’t already belonged to his Honey Butt heart and soul, he would’ve fallen hard right then. Hunter captured Amber’s arm and tucked her against his side. “Amber, this is Lutec. He’s handling the paperwork for us.” “Thank you, sir.” Amber’s lashes prudently lowered. “My pleasure,” the demon purred.

A Promise of Amber

99

Hunter added, “Mistress Ariadne and Tru are witnessing for us.” “Very kind of you.” Amber, stretched up on her tiptoes, clutched Hunter’s shoulder for balance, raised her chin closer to his ear, and lowered her voice. “Where are we going to hold the sanctioned mating ceremony, sir?” “Here,” Hunter said flatly. “I thought a simple civil record of mating best.” He dropped his arm, took a step away from her, and paused before asking, “Do you want to change into something…else?” “This was my mother’s sanctioned mating gown.” She kept her chin high, but Tru saw her pretty brown eyes were shiny with unshed tears. Hunter had to have seen the same thing, because he looked away before she did. For the first time, Tru felt sorry for his Alpha.

100

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Twelve Amber sensed Dawn slipping into the cavernous room. Blinking back tears of humiliation, she darted a glance over her shoulder and connected with the dainty Beta. Dawn’s smile of encouragement acted as a spur of courage. She could do this. No matter how much Hunter’s tactless behavior stung, she was not going to abandon her pack. Although she knew all too well that a half blood wasn’t a desirable mate for any Alpha, let alone a pack leader, Seaview only had two breeding bitches, and Dawn was taken. Besides, Hunter had given his pledge. He was arrogant, bossy, frequently unreasonable, and way too Alpha for her liking, but she seriously doubted he’d go back on his word. Neither would she. She straightened her knotted shoulders, took a deep breath, let it out slow, and tugged on Hunter’s sleeve. When he turned toward her, she met his eyes and forced herself to hold his dark gaze. “Is there something I need to swear to or a place I need to sign, sir?” Hunter didn’t bother to answer. Instead he turned away, refusing to even look at her. Aiming his attention on the demon, he cocked one eyebrow. “You have the license?” His cold lack of interest rubbed salt in the wound to her already raw pride. She’d thought he was truly different. How could she have been so stupid as to mistake sex for caring? Obviously claiming sex didn’t necessarily involve love. That was just a sick joke her hopes and dreams had conjured. All this ceremony meant was formalizing the fact he was stuck with her. Back in the shelter, she must’ve started to believe the classic feminine logic that mating equaled love. Unless she’d believed, at least a tiny bit, in the possibility of real love growing between them, then she wouldn’t be so hurt now. Alphas were arbitrary, cold, and indifferent to everyone and everything except their pack standing. These were facts that she’d had proven to her over and over. To her shame she’d believed Hunter was different. All that had happened was that he’d reminded her of his true nature. She wouldn’t forget again. Nor would she make the mistake of trusting him again. To

A Promise of Amber

101

mask her disappointment, she let her anger flare. She’d prefer that he thought her as badtempered as a wounded badger than to let him know how deeply she was wounded. “Your signatures on the license are the only legal requirement.” An expression of bland curiosity decorated Lutec’s handsome face while his attention moved from Amber to Hunter. “Don’t you wolf types do a collar thing?” Amber didn’t wait for Hunter to offer explanations. She spoke directly to Lutec, keeping her gaze politely and safely averted. “Exactly where do I need to sign, sir?” The demon pulled a folded sheet of paper from an inside pocket, smoothed it out on the piano’s surface, and uncapped a pen before she had to ask for one. Silently, he used the nib to point to where she should sign. A new round of hot tears blurred her vision, and her skin felt hotter than usual, too tight, and hypersensitive. What was wrong with her? She never cried. She blinked furiously and scrawled her name with shaky fingers. Carefully she placed the pen atop the license and then turned to Hunter. “If you’ll excuse me a moment, sir?” Through the tears still threatening to worsen her humiliation, she saw Hunter’s mouth tighten into a grim line. His energy flared in her mind. She didn’t need any special Psi talent to tell that the Alpha wasn’t happy with her. Oh well, she wasn’t happy with him either. She’d upheld her pack’s honor by mating the Alpha. Now that she belonged to him, he could beat her or chain her as often as he liked. The torture would probably start soon. Not that it would do him a bit of good. Werewolves were tough—even Psis with fae blood were well-nigh indestructible. She would survive whatever punishments he gave her. She might even strike back, but she would never love him. Why couldn’t Tru have been her promised mate? Without waiting for Hunter’s permission, she hurried for the backstairs. The rash choice to flee would add another infraction to a growing list of her sins. One more didn’t matter. Not compared with staying to endure the pitying glances of what was left of the pack. To avoid causing an even bigger scene, she didn’t pick up her skirt and sprint for the exit. She should have, because within six steps Hunter caught her. His big callused hand firmly gripped her nape. Fury rolled off him in smoky waves. He drew a deep breath, no doubt fighting for control. He wouldn’t hit her until they were out of

102

Evanne Lorraine

sight. Even then he’d be careful to leave no sign of torture, unless he sent her to visit distant relatives again, although no one would voice an objection. The Alpha’s word was pack law. Despite her best effort to stay calm, she shivered from shaming fear and old memories. A small muscle in his cheek twitched. No doubt the tic formed from grinding his molars in frustration. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Amber didn’t bother saying he already had. His grip on her neck stayed gentle. “You’re still afraid of me. Why?” When she didn’t respond he added notes of his Alpha power, deepening his voice and making it all but impossible to resist his order. “Talk to me.” Keeping quiet took more effort than she would’ve believed. Hunter’s strength demanded obedience, and in spite of everything, she wanted to submit. More humiliating, her sensitive Psi bitch responded to his dominance with unmistakable, overwhelming desire. Clearly she’d lost her mind, and that scared her more than anything this new Alpha might do. Afraid to speak, she shook her head. “Talk.” His voice deepened further until the notes throbbed between her legs like a vibrator set on instant orgasm. She desperately wanted to obey, proving she was insane. Rather than waiting for her to respond, Hunter dropped his hand dropped to the small of her back. He steered her out of the great room so fast the breeze should have cooled her. It didn’t. Although the broad palm against her spine actually felt oddly cool. “Can’t think.” The words slipped from her dry lips without permission as he guided her up the stairs. “Heat will do that.” She stared at his mouth, mesmerized by the movement of his sensual lips, but the sounds he’d uttered made little sense. Shutting up and kissing her might help. She licked her lips and tried to draw enough breath to beg. When she inhaled, the words she’d planned to say scattered. Hunter’s usual intoxicating fragrance had intensified by a factor of ten. Bonding scent. Her inner Psi bitch growled, whimpered, and circled restlessly, her human nipples tightened, and her already wet core gushed for him.

A Promise of Amber

103

“Bedroom?” Her breathy voice made it a hopeful question. “Damn straight.” At least that was what she thought he said. She dropped her gaze, not in submission, although she was more than ready to show him her belly and the slick flesh between her legs. She was so frantic for the hard length of his shaft that she didn’t trust herself to look at him. The wild need gripped her with white-hot bands. She wrapped her arms around her waist and curled over from the pain. A whimper escaped. Hunter gathered her as if she weighed no more than a pup and loped up the last few steps. He was going to claim her. She couldn’t stop him. Goddess help her, she didn’t want to. He was a strong Alpha, and her Psi instincts screamed for him to father her young. Although her heart longed for Tru, every other fiber of her being cried out for Hunter. Despite the agony of heat, tears welled for Tru, blurring her sliver of vision. Mating with Hunter was a betrayal of her love for the male who already owned her heart. Worse, if Hunter and she had sex without Tru, then Hunter would be breaking his vow to include Tru. Clamping her jaw to keep from crying out at the agony gripping her belly, she prayed to the goddess for mercy, not for herself. For the two males of worth. Both of them would suffer from the broken promise. As if in answer to her prayer, she suddenly knew what to do. Somehow she managed to say, “I’m asking to be alone with you. It’s what I want—what I need, sir.” His pace faltered, and Amber held her breath; then he stepped into a room, and the door latched behind them. A quick glance around told her that he’d chosen a guest suite. Not as nice as those in the west wing, but the best of those on this end of the house. Before she could suggest moving to better quarters, another wave of pain wrenched her core. The fresh wave of torment built quicker and lasted longer. She didn’t know how much more she could endure. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit down on her lip to keep silent. The metallic tang of her own blood washed her tongue. After the ordeal abated, she panted for breath. “Ah sübe, you’re killing me. I can smell your pain.” “Better now, sir.”

104

Evanne Lorraine

“Okay, how ’bout I fix it permanently?” Hunter growled. Years of experience had taught her that Alphas weren’t honorable—not when they were alone with a vulnerable female. Yet she wanted to believe Hunter was different. He’d never lashed out at her in anger, even when she’d provoked him. Was her heat making her lose her mind and her will to choose her own fate? Or was Hunter truly a male of worth? Her wolf trusted him, and her Psi instincts had always been reliable. In the end, she had no choice, because the twisting torture began once more. Hunter was there tugging down her zipper, tracing her spine with nibbling kisses that leeched away a layer of agony and eased the sharpest edge of heat’s torture with his Alpha power. When the dress pooled around her ankles, revealing the classic black lace lingerie she’d chosen, a thong and a traditional corset laced with red satin ribbon, his breath rasped across her exposed bottom. He leaned closer; the heavy length of his arousal brushed her butt while he began undoing the lacing’s knot. His natural seductive scent was lush with bonding notes. The addictive fragrance tugged on her feminine need entirely apart from the heat racing through her veins. If she had been even slightly less desperate, then she would’ve reveled in his response to her heat. As it was, she needed him so desperately, every arrogant, hard, demanding inch of him. All she did was urge him to move faster before the pain stole her voice once more. “Please hurry, sir.”

Hurrying was the last thing Hunter wanted to do. He wanted to inhale her incredible fragrance and savor every silken inch of her. Traces of pain and fear in her scent infused him with a ferocious need to erase her bad feelings and replace them with erotic bliss. When the hunter’s moon waxed full each October, in every pack around the globe, every fertile werewolf bitch came into season. Every one of those females needed continuous mating for the next forty-eight hours. A male’s sperm, coating her core, was the only thing that relieved the torment of a bitch in heat. The cure was temporary. Since males outnumbered females ten to one, finding a male to service a female wasn’t a problem. Preventing the unmated males from killing each other for the privilege was a perpetual challenge. Protecting the unmated females or those separated from their mates required vigilance and stout lockdown facilities.

A Promise of Amber

105

During this annual fertility period, as pack leader, Hunter had more pressing responsibilities than covering one or more of the willing females. Actually willing wasn’t the right word. A bitch in heat wasn’t just willing; she was beyond desperate. Decades of staying in control must’ve taken a bigger toll on him than he’d realized, or else bonding was more powerful than he’d imagined, because his iron control was a thing of the past. Saying no to Amber wasn’t an option. The best way to teach her to trust him, and the only way to relieve the suffering of her heat, was full body contact and lots of it. Given the intensity of her need, he didn’t bother to remove the pretty black corset. Once he’d loosened the red ribbon enough for her to breathe easier, he forced himself to step away and growled, “On the bed.” She scrambled to obey. A fresh wave of feral hunger to claim her roared through his veins as if he’d never mounted her. “Spread your legs.” Damp black lace covered her pussy. The evidence of her need excited him impossibly more. While the small thong hid what he craved, the scrap of material didn’t cover the intoxicating scent of her arousal. Proof she wanted him as bad as he wanted her. Frightening lust, and something else he didn’t want to think about, wrapped around his balls and squeezed. Her passion was a force beyond gravity. Nothing else existed for him while her desperate need for sex pulled him closer. Since Hunter had stripped to his skin, he reeked with a new musky odor stronger than arousal. The rich notes of bonding flooded his mouth. His cum would be dense with the same flavor. The potent changes came with a fierce need to protect Amber and a primal desire to mate with her as often and as long as possible. There was no mistaking the smell or the taste of bonding. The clues had been there from the first time he smelled her, giving him plenty of warning, but he hadn’t believed it would happen to him. Then the ramifications of the biological change hit with a mule kick of oh-shit right to the gut. After his initial two-second reaction, he remembered that Amber picked up on every nuance of his emotions. He used his Alpha power to clamp down the reaction that would hurt her.

106

Evanne Lorraine

His response to Amber had been off the chain from the first, so bonding shouldn’t have been a shocker, but it was. He was plenty old enough to know that no male was immune to the goddess’s laws. When he thought about it for a couple seconds, bonding was a very predictable reinforcement of his total commitment to his mate. Taking care of Amber ranked ahead of breathing on his do-it list. More than that, he wanted to make her happy. Her well-being was more important than anything—even pack—and that rocked his world. Wasn’t that a first-class bitch? When had he turned into such a mushy sap? Probably right around the time the goddess decided to bond him to a mixed-blood Psi. Amber’s big brown eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. Ah fuck, he’d done it again. “Don’t cry, sübe. I want to be here. I just never expected to get so lucky.” She blinked back the tears. “Me either, sir.” Was she being sarcastic? She’d spoken too softly for him to pick up nuances. Watching her with the same kind of concentration he usually reserved for prey or threats, he still couldn’t read her feelings. She read him as clear as the phase of the moon, while only her scent gave him a hint of what was happening in that gorgeous head. The feral call of her heat filled Hunter’s keen nose and brought the wolfman closer to the surface, which didn’t help. He growled possessively and bit the side of her neck. She arched, tilted her butt, and gave him another eyeful of the damp black lace covering what he longed to taste. He still wanted to make love to her, slow and careful—licking every delectable inch of her gorgeous body. That dream would wait until her heat had run its course. Goddess alone knew how Amber might interpret his disappointment. He caught her chin. “Look at me.” Her eyes searched his warily. “Yes, sir?” “I want to make love to you for days. But you’re in heat, and the only thing that helps is fucking. So for the next forty-eight hours, I’m your sex slave.” Her dominant Alpha slave. His cock jerked in approval, eager to serve. He skimmed the fragrant scrap of lace that had been nestled between lips of her pussy and the cheeks of her ass down her long slender legs.

A Promise of Amber

107

When he turned her over, the partially undone ribbon woven down the back of her corset begged for his lips, teeth, and tongue, tempting him again to take plenty of time with her unlacing. But the bit of satin couldn’t complete with the smell of her need. The fiery odor of her pain kept him on task. He bit through the knot and loosened the binding garment more, enough for her to draw a decent breath. After turning her in order to read her expressions, he lifted and angled her hips for better access. His cockhead locked into the mouth of her pussy. Carefully he pushed into her swollen sheath. After only a few deliberately measured strokes—driving a bit deeper with each thrust— Amber’s whimper of desire feathered against his sharp ears and brought him dangerously close to coming. Not a surprise, since his control had begun unraveling with the first stroke. This wasn’t like any sex he’d ever had. The incredibly tight silky clasp of her channel squeezed his aching shaft a hundred times better than anything else he had ever felt. A rough groan of bliss grated through his clenched teeth. Once his cock was buried balls-deep inside her pussy, he stopped and breathed through the erotic torture of her wet velvet massage. He tucked the lace cups holding her perfect breasts out of the way. The exposed hard pink nipples tightened more as he gently teased and tugged the pouting tips. She whimpered again. Soft, sexy sounds of want, and her sheath contracted around him more strongly. Hunter stroked into her incredibly smooth clasp with hard, deep, grinding jerks of his hips. “Okay, sübe?” “More, sir,” she begged in raspy whisper. Her sweet submission made the wolfman roar. Hunter stroked into her full tilt. After half a dozen brutal thrusts, he growled at Amber, “Come for me. Now.” Writhing against him, she obeyed. His own climax rolled up from the base of his spine with embarrassing speed. If it hadn’t been for her screaming orgasm pulling him into ecstasy right along with her, he might’ve actually blushed. Or he would have if all the spare blood in his veins hadn’t been busy keeping his cock hard even while he flooded her pussy with his hot cum. He’d started out nice and careful, but when she’d asked for more, he’d lost it and mounted her like a seasoned bitch, not a sensitive Psi in her first heat. Some sex slave.

108

Evanne Lorraine

She arched beneath him, and he soothed her with a correcting nip on her nose. “Stay still, sübe. I’ve got what you need.” “Thank you, sir.” Her hips tilted helpfully. His next stroke went deeper, nudging the mouth of her womb—the scent of her need driving him hard. In his heart, he wanted her in fur with her chest on the ground and her ass arched high for the wolfman to penetrate her. But taking her in wolf form risked pregnancy. This was Amber’s first heat, which made conception slightly less likely and much more dangerous. Mindful of her youth and the unacceptable threat to her health, he wouldn’t claim her in fur this year. As much as the idea of his pup filling her belly swelled his dominant heart, the thought of losing her in a high-risk pregnancy shriveled his balls. Human form was the only way he was fucking her this year. But there was no reason he couldn’t mount her wolf-style, except it was damn hard to leave the snug fit of her silken channel. Forcing himself to withdraw, he flipped her over and pulled her hips toward him. Without him giving her a single order, Amber flattened her chest on the firm mattress, kept her thighs apart, and tilted her ass high. An invitation he couldn’t ignore. He plunged into her with one hard thrust. When she whimpered, he ground to a halt. He knew he’d been too rough and hated himself for hurting her. Ah fuck, he was an animal that belonged in a cage. He could punish himself later. Right now he needed to take care of his mate. He held himself still. Then he pulled back, prepared to withdraw completely. “Easy, sübe. I’ll fix it.” “Please don’t stop, sir.” Her words came out between sexy pants. He almost slobbered in gratitude as he slid back in to paradise. On impulse, he leaned over her back and nipped the tender point where her neck met her shoulder. “Tell me what you want.” “More. Sir.” Oh yeah, that was what he and the wolfman wanted to hear. He gripped her hips to keep from pounding her into the headboard and nailed her like a hawk dropping on a mouse. Right now she needed an animal. He had that part covered. “I’m going to fuck you raw. Then lick you better and do it all over again.”

A Promise of Amber

109

Her pussy spasmed, milking his cock as she came, screaming his name. The lusty yell still echoed in his ears when his balls tightened and his release rolled up his shaft like a geyser spouting. Long blasts of his cum shot deep into her pussy. To avoid crushing her, he hooked an arm around her waist and rolled them over so she was cuddled against his chest. From somewhere he found the energy to carefully arrange her so that her lush breasts pressed against his chest. Her incredibly soft belly lay against his hard stomach. One silken thigh draped over his hip bone. Within minutes his cock stretched, thickened, and hardened back into throbbing need. “I need you too, sir.” She spoke softly, but her fatigue was easy for him to hear. He wanted to suckle her breasts, lick her pussy until she screamed, and fuck her sixty-nine different ways. Schemes of how he could keep her to himself flickered through his head. But then how could he protect her when he was busy fucking her until they were both spent and boneless from ecstasy? He hated the answer, but he knew the truth was he couldn’t. He was a pack leader. The pack gave him strength. He needed that strength to protect Amber. No choice. Bonding rearranged his priorities in ways he had never expected. The need to protect her and care for her overrode even his desire to mate. Until her heat surged again. Then easing her pain was his only job. Judging from the last couple of rounds, every time he mounted her, the connection between them strengthened, at least on his end. Now she was as much a part of him as his thick fur, big paws, and dominant heart. At least his head still worked. His ability to assess himself and the situation remained the same. He was still Alpha, still fair, tough, a wicked fighter, and dominant as hell. Too bad he sucked at tact, charm, and romance, because those were the skills he needed to win his tender Psi’s love. If he failed to capture Amber’s heart, he was in a world of misery for what was left of his drastically shortened life expectancy. The big downside wasn’t his death. If his dying served her, then he’d pass into the shade without regrets. Amber needed a strong pack to keep her safe from the fae. No ego involved, he knew that he was absolutely her best shot for staying alive. The idea

110

Evanne Lorraine

of leaving Amber unprotected filled him with cold terror. He couldn’t allow it. The only way to prevent that unnatural disaster was to make her fall in love with him. Okay, not an easy job. So what? An Alpha didn’t back down from a tough assignment. Hunter had never failed at anything in his life, and he sure as fuck wasn’t starting with Amber. He needed to explain so many things to her. He’d seen the pain in her expression when he’d told her a civil ceremony was best. Once they were safe in Treeland, he’d make sure they had a real sanctioned mating ceremony complete with every fluffy bit of female nonsense she wanted. He should have told her about his intentions way before this, but decades of dominance hadn’t included discussing decisions. Werewolf packs weren’t democracies. The pack Alpha’s word was law. She writhed again as a fresh wave of heat gripped her. “Please, sir.” Normally her begging would have thrilled him. Now her suffering was like goblin claws shredding his heart. There was no time for long explanations. Just as well; pretty speeches and romantic gestures weren’t his strength. An Alpha dominated, fucked, and killed. Thank the goddess she needed two out of his three best skills. Keeping his attention on her with the kind of total focus he used for reading another male in a challenge match narrowed his world down to the rhythm of her breaths, the tempo of her pulse, and the melody of her scent—a song of Amber. Carefully, he lapped at the tender lips of her soft channel, soothing the slight soreness. She’d heal fast enough without his help, but he welcomed the chance to take care of her. He spread the sweet cream of her desire around the sensitive entrance to her pussy before licking and gently nibbling at her clit. More honey flooded her channel as she melted under his tongue. A scream of pleasure caressed his ears. He lifted his head and moved close enough to whisper in her ear. Soothing her with his hands and growling his erotic intentions, he kept his complete focus on Amber. When she was ready, he cradled her hips, canting them for maximum penetration, and slowly eased his hard cock into the tight clasp of her satin cunt. The fluttering of her aftershocks stroked his shaft in an unbearably wonderful massage. “I need your seed, sir.” Her voice was raspy from screaming. Nothing had ever sounded as irresistibly erotic. With three short strokes a release tightened his balls and roared through his cock, spurting against the mouth of her womb.

A Promise of Amber

111

During the lull between the last surge of her heat and the next, he glanced at the clock. They’d already been locked in here for damn near twenty-four hours. Shocked at how many hours had passed, he wondered where the hell had his sense of time gone. Then a pounding, besides his heart, caught his attention. He lifted his head. Someone was knocking on the door—really hammering the thick wood. What the fuck? When he yanked the door open to deal with the interruption, the answer hit him hard via a killer left uppercut.

112

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Thirteen Tru quivered with blind fury. He drew in ragged breaths. Ready to shift for a challenge match, the logical next step after he’d punched his very naked Alpha. Especially when said Alpha had been busy claiming his legally sanctioned mate. Plainly Tru had a death wish, but he wasn’t dying until he got in a few vicious rips. Instead of shifting, fighting back, or even yelling at him, Hunter sagged against the wall and rubbed his chin. “Come on, shift. Try and kill me.” Tru growled. Beyond caring about the consequences, he was past ready to die. Death was way better than a miserable lifetime of patrolling the halls while Hunter made love to Amber. Hunter stared at him in eerie silence, not even raising a paw to defend himself. There was no reason for him to speak. The air was thick with sex. Then Tru inhaled a sniffer full of Hunter’s rich bonding scent, and Tru’s heart pinched with the utter hopelessness of his situation. His Alpha forgot his promise to include Tru. Bonding focused Hunter on Amber in the same exclusive way any male of worth with a mate in heat would shut out everything and everyone else. The very sad reality was that Hunter hadn’t deliberately broken his word. He simply hadn’t given a thought to Tru. This was normal, even understandable at this stage. The male was damn lucky to remember his own name, let alone worry about anything he’d promised Tru, but it still hurt, and it still sucked. Tru’s shoulders rounded in despair. It was hard for him to stay angry with Hunter when the male had no control over his actions. If Hunter didn’t fight back, then he couldn’t attack. Unless his Alpha defended himself, there was no way Tru could hurt, let alone kill, the male—not even for Amber.

A Promise of Amber

113

“You lied. You broke your fucking word.” Tru had intended to snarl the insult, but his voice cracked, and hot tears threatened to expose his soft underbelly. “Hunter kept his promise not to touch me without you. I asked to be alone with him.” Amber’s voice dropped as she repeated the key phrase. “I asked.” “You’re in heat.” Tru brushed off her defense of Hunter. His blood refused to blame her. Hell, he couldn’t blame anyone. She met his angry glare without blinking. “I asked him, Tru.” Her pretty brown eyes held none of the dangerous fae glitter, just shards of agony. Sweet goddess in the shade, here she was suffering the torment of heat while he yammered on about Alpha’s broken promise and his hurt feelings. What a pathetic excuse for male of worth I make. Way to impress her. Hunter clasped the back of Tru’s neck. “Stay.” Right, Alpha didn’t have to ask him twice. But the choice was Amber’s. Tru closed the door, then leaned his forehead against the solid wood—fighting for control. After he’d buried his own need nice and deep, he slowly turned and searched Amber’s beautiful face for permission or rejection. She gave him a small smile and held open her arms. No need to beg me, Honey Butt. She’d already offered him way more mercy than he deserved. He stepped into her embrace and captured her mouth in a kiss that went from tender to wildly ravenous in a heartbeat. When he finally lifted his head from the wonder of her lips, guilt made him dart a glance at Hunter. His Alpha watched him with raw hunger for his mate in his dark eyes. Touching Amber might get Tru killed, but not touching her was death too—it just took a little longer. Still he waited for some sign from his Alpha. The only thing Hunter said was, “S’kay—absolutely your turn.” An illicit thrill sizzled through Tru’s veins at Hunter’s permission. Both Amber and Hunter were already naked, so why was he still wearing the cutoffs he’d put on to prowl the halls? Before he’d fumbled to remove the shorts, Amber’s slim fingers were already there, busy unbuttoning the waistband. His cock swelled impossibly harder, making her task that much more

114

Evanne Lorraine

difficult. At the first tremble of her slender fingers, he yanked off the stupid cutoffs. The damn button clinked as it bounced on the worn oak floor and rolled under the bed. Her need filled his senses and pulled a deeper odor from his body. Bonding scent? Holy bear shit. He’d never heard of two males bonding with the same female, but the phenomenon was pretty damn unmistakable. Everything—the attraction, the tenderness, the desire—he’d felt for Amber up until a couple of seconds ago felt like a pup’s crush compared to the utter commitment surging through his veins. In some other reality he would have made it to the bed and made love to her with the care and tenderness she deserved. But when she hooked one long leg over his hip, he filled his hands with the perfection of her smooth butt and boosted her straight onto his achingly hard cock. With nothing to brace against, he simply stood, buried balls-deep in the slick heat of her sex. She wriggled against him. Every muscle in his oversize body rippled with sensual tension and a weak attempt at restraint. If he got any more excited, he was going to faint or explode, and he didn’t care. Then Hunter gripped his hips, anchoring him with a thick shaft resting along the taut seam of Tru’s ass. A little beyond pack friendly, but it didn’t freak him out, because he needed Hunter’s help to claim Amber. With the Alpha’s strength backing Tru’s play, he flexed his hips and stroked deeper into the silken clasp of paradise. Tightening her core around his shaft when he thrust and easing as he pulled back, she matched his moves with the uncanny synchronicity of a dream lover. Or a mate. “Yeah, I had an oh-shit reaction too.” Hunter’s deep voice answered Tru’s unspoken thought. “Looks like we’re überspecial—first double bonding in the history of the packs.” Alpha’s mind-reading act might have shaken Tru, except Amber nipped his neck. Her slick channel became a wet velvet clamp milking his cock. Then he was way too busy shooting stars out his shaft to worry about anything or to hold up his end of the weird conversation. When he regained his senses, his arms were locked tight, holding Amber close and safe, but his knees weakened and wobbled. Before he fell, Hunter caught him—keeping him stable.

A Promise of Amber

115

If anyone had asked, Tru would have sworn that after that kind of massive climax, he was done for an hour if not the rest of the night. Not now. Bonding did amazing things for a male’s recovery time. At her first whimper, his cock jerked back ready to rock and roll like he hadn’t just blasted her like Old Faithful. She arched in his embrace. “Tru?” At the sound of his name on her lips, Hunter was eclipsed to nonexistence. “Right here, Honey Butt.” “I need you,” she whispered. Tru’s voice deepened to a rough growl. “You’ve got me. Use me.” Against his ear, Hunter spoke almost silently, “Easy to forget everything else when your mate needs you to take care of her.” A prickle of guilt washed over Tru, heating his ears. Right. I might’ve been just a little bit harsh judging Alpha. “Both of you, please, sir.” Amber moaned. “I’m your sex slave, sübe.” Hunter chuckled and moved to massage Amber’s perfect butt before he got serious about working some lube into her rear entry. Since when was Alpha anyone’s slave? Then Tru got it. She was in heat, and they were both bonded males. What she wanted she got—including slaves. Watching Hunter prep her ass made Tru’s erection grow even longer and thicker, or maybe it was that Hunter’s wicked fingers made her snug fit even tighter around his cock. Still sensitized from his recent climax, Tru fought to keep from blasting Amber’s channel with another climax. He almost lost it when Hunter’s heavy shaft, separated from his erection by the thin wall of her silken sheath, rubbed past his crown. Setting a slow and steady pace—one guaranteed to drive both Amber and him insane— Hunter stroked into her rear passage. In turn, Tru matched the tempo as he thrust in counterpoint, filling the perfect clasp of Amber’s slick pussy.

116

Evanne Lorraine

Was he crazy to tolerate sharing his mate? He honestly didn’t know; turning down this kind of exquisite bliss seemed more insane. He gave up trying to sort out the sexy nips and licks of amazing sensation and just clamped his teeth to keep from whining in ecstasy. His release tore out of his shaft with zero warning, and he would have hung his tail in shame, except that Amber soared with him, making sexy little whimpering sounds and giving him the best cock massage of his life. His eyes rolled back, and his world faded to black.

As Amber regained awareness, she burrowed her nose in Tru’s hard chest, taking comfort from his warmth, and breathed in his bonding scent, a darker, sexier version of his usual delicious fragrance. Although his heart beat slow and steady, her awareness of his energy abruptly wavered. She tilted her head to scan his face. His eyes closed, and his breathing seemed too fast and shallow. She patted his lean cheek anxiously. “Tru?” When he didn’t respond, she unhooked her trembling legs from his hips and automatically looked to Hunter for help. The powerful Alpha still held both her and Tru safe, which was all that kept Tru from falling. Hunter’s deep voice softened. “What’s wrong, pal?” Tru’s sinfully long dark lashes fluttered, blinked, and then stayed open. “Sorry, I guess I passed out for a second.” “Could’ve happened to anyone,” Hunter said gruffly. “Hot in here.” Then the Alpha actually grinned at Tru. “Heat makes amazing sex even more intense.” Mentally she rolled her eyes. Of course heat made mating intense. In unison, the males turned their gazes on her, and Amber’s cheeks warmed. Why should their stares cause her to blush? As soon as the next wave of heat hit, she would be begging them for sex. Hunter interrupted her thoughts with a practical demand. “Bring me a couple of damp washcloths and a towel.” Alpha dominance wasn’t a lifestyle choice or something Hunter decided to try. Command was part of his DNA, and no matter how hard Amber tried to be brave, each time he gave her an

A Promise of Amber

117

order, she quivered. Although she wished it didn’t, the old echoes of her father’s orders, and what happened if she failed to please him, still held the power to scare her. Despite the frisson of fear, she didn’t hesitate or question Hunter’s order. His tone was enough to compel her to instant obedience. A touch of healthy respect quickened her steps as she hurried to do his bidding. Although she trusted Hunter to honor his commitments, she still wasn’t certain how he treated his obligations, and she was painfully aware that she was one of his pack—a responsibility—not his choice for a mate. Although he was literally bound to her, that didn’t make her the mate of his heart. The split second of involuntary dread she’d experienced with Hunter’s last command was a huge improvement over the kind of terror he’d evoked only a few hours ago. But she’d still been frightened. Worse than her skittishness, which she was overcoming, she knew that Hunter would have smelled her fear. Every time she was afraid, his protectiveness—the other side of his dominance—kicked in, and he flinched as if she’d slapped him. She hated hurting him, but she couldn’t stop an involuntary response. With heat torturing her, she couldn’t even leave his side for more than a few minutes. Since he’d bonded to her, he couldn’t leave either. Of course bonded couples weren’t permanently joined at the hip, except for these forty-eight hours of fertility. Once heat passed, certainly they would be able to tolerate being apart. A little distance and a little time to process all the changes should help. Perhaps they would find a place of comfort between his dominance and her fear. She hoped. After washing and patting her tender parts dry, she stacked the clean linens into two piles, one damp and one dry, then balanced the wet washcloths on her right palm and the dry towels on her left before returning to the bedroom. At first sight of the gorgeous aroused males, images of just how fused her hips had been with Hunter’s and with Tru’s flickered unbidden through her mind’s eye, adding the sting of fresh color to her already warm cheeks. Along with the flush, a low ache in her core warned her that the next round of heat was coming. Of course the males smelled her need as soon as she became aware of emptiness in her channel. Hunter and Tru were both so attuned to her that it was entirely possible they’d noticed

118

Evanne Lorraine

the surge in her arousal before she had. The kind of total concentration they focused on her was more than a little unnerving. In a decade or two, she might grow used to it. Hunter stood with his arms crossed in front of his massive chest. His legs were spread shoulder width apart. He seemed entirely comfortable in his skin. And why not? He was breathtaking, especially with the tree trunk of an erection jutting from the thatch of fur between his hip bones. Equally at ease in his own fine body, Tru lay on the bed, hands stacked behind his head, ankles crossed. The picture of a totally relaxed male. Aside from an impressive hard-on. Her cheeks burned as both handsome heads swiveled toward her, subtly sniffing. Mutely she offered Hunter the clean linens. “Give the towel to Tru to hold.” The Gamma rolled off the bed and plucked the folded square from her palm, saving her from the extra bother. Neither male took his eyes off of her or even blinked. She lifted her chin, telling herself to enjoy the intensity while it lasted. Her gaze darted to the clock radio on the nightstand. She tried to calculate exactly how many hours of heat remained. Although she was already sore, she knew the answer. Not enough. “Clean my cock,” Hunter growled. Amber knelt and gently washed Hunter’s hard shaft with warm, soapy water, inhaling the aphrodisiac of his bonding fragrance and the heady scent of clean male musk that lingered densest at the base of his erection, in his thick pelt of pubic hair, and wafting from the potent sac that hung between his legs. When she finished cleaning and drying his erection, a new drop of precum glistened at the edge of the tender slit in his crown. On instinct she leaned in and lapped up the liquid pearl. Hunter groaned and cupped her head—urging her closer. Another lick to probe the slit; then she ran the tip of her tongue under the rim to explore that voluptuous edge. The vein on the underside begged for nibbling kisses, and she was lost in the erotic discovery of the softest possible skin stretched over the rock hardness of his shaft. “Forget the towel. I’m liking wet a whole bunch.”

A Promise of Amber

119

She took Hunter’s words of encouragement as permission and sucked the smooth helmet into her mouth, then hummed with satisfaction at his flavor and the sensation. All that potent masculine power slid along her tongue, pressed the soft palate at the back of her throat, and teased her taste buds with his delicious essence. He tipped her chin and carefully thrust deeper. Craving more of his heady flavor, she sucked harder. Time stopped while she worshipped him with her mouth, and then hot spurts of his cum coated her throat. She swallowed and couldn’t believe she’d been so bold or so foolish. His taste was addictive. Each moment she spent with Hunter and Tru, she cared more deeply about them. And that scared her more than Hunter’s dominance or Tru’s courageous vulnerability. She wished that she had a fraction of the Alpha’s confidence or the Gamma’s bravery. She didn’t have those wonderful traits, so falling in love with the males was insane. She couldn’t take that kind of chance—couldn’t love either one of them. Certainly she couldn’t fall in love with both of them. Her father had been right. She was half fae—a freak that no male of worth would ever love. How could she have forgotten? Yet they had both bonded with her, which should have been impossible. “What’s wrong?” Hunter growled. His deep gravelly voice added fresh fuel to the old fears eroding the barely there layer of new confidence. Amber edged closer to the door. “She’s afraid.” Tru took a step closer. Amber wanted to agree with him, but Hunter gripped her nape, and panic closed her throat. “Easy, sübe.” The Alpha’s words puffed against her finely tuned ears, and she froze, unable to think, unable to run, unable to even breathe. Then a strong arm wrapped around her and pulled her tight against a hard male body. He rubbed small circles on her tense shoulders and stiff neck while he crooned reassurance. “Easy. I’ve got you now. You’re safe.” Stale air whooshed out of her lungs, and she dragged in a breath of air laden with reassuring male bonding scent. She closed her eyes and snuggled closer. “Thank you, Tru.”

120

Evanne Lorraine

The comforting circles slowed, but they didn’t stop. From somewhere behind her, Tru said wistfully, “I didn’t do anything.” She turned and tilted her head back far enough to meet Hunter’s dark eyes for half a second before she had to drop her gaze. “I’m very sorry, sir.” A flash of regret touched her before he regained control of his emotions and became the unreadable Alpha. Even though she’d hurt his feelings, he didn’t let go of her, and he didn’t stop his comforting petting. “Your body trusts me. It’s your head that gets in the way. Heat erases your fear, because it erases your thoughts. When you aren’t scared to death, you want to submit to me. “ “Yes, sir.” She stared at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. “Heat doesn’t last forever.” “No, sir.” Hunter angled his neck toward his second. “Ideas, Tru?” “Thinking about it, Alpha.” “Good.” Amber sensed the smile that lightened Hunter’s tone and peeked up at him through her lashes. Like most werewolves—especially Alphas—Hunter was amazingly beautiful, but when he smiled he was dazzling. “Close your eyes, sübe. It helps.” She obeyed. To her surprise, not seeing did help. “Words aren’t going to make her feel safe enough.” Tru moved closer. “Holding her seems to work. With your permission?” Uncertainty about what they were going to do made Amber tense. Hunter’s arm tightened on her waist as he spoke to Tru. “Take it slow and easy, pal.” Tru inched closer until she was pressed between both hard bodies. A wave of need washed over her, and there was no more room for fear. “Better,” Hunter growled. “She needs—”

A Promise of Amber

121

Hunter didn’t give Tru a chance to finish. “I’ve got what she needs.” Strong hands lifted her—positioning her for Hunter’s broad cock. Slowly she sank onto that solid shaft until her throbbing clit rubbed against his fur-covered pubis. With an intuitive mastery, Hunter ground against the swollen lips of her pussy, driving her close to ecstasy. Then the cheeks of her bottom parted, and the tip of Tru’s tongue touched the nerve-rich entrance to her back channel. The dual assault set off a light show of shooting stars as she shattered in a soul-shaking orgasm. The journey into rapture seemed endless. Perhaps it truly was. She’d lost all sense of time, especially while the agony of heat disappeared entirely while gentle aftershocks of bliss fluttered through her core. Slowly, her awareness returned to a better-than-imagined reality where she was squeezed between two massive chests, bracketed by two sets of lean hips, and impaled by two hard cocks. Rough groans accompanied dual releases. Hot blasts of cum flooded both her front and back channels. She was so sensitized that the gushes set off another amazing orgasm that left her utterly, happily, and completely spent. Hunter nuzzled her neck. “As I was saying, heat doesn’t last forever.” She swallowed a groan of her own, because he was such a single-minded Alpha that he picked up their conversation exactly where he’d stopped. Barely listening, she stared at his sensual mouth while he talked. He paused, frowning at her. “Is the pain back?” “No, I’m fine, sir.” Tru stroked her sides from armpit to hip. “She sure is.” Ignoring Tru’s contribution, Hunter continued. “Being sandwiched between us is the safest place for you.” His gaze, his voice, everything about him compelled her to complete honesty. Something she’d worked hard to avoid for as long as she could remember. Now words tumbled out of her mouth uncensored. “It’s wonderful, sir.” “Then why were you staring at me?”

122

Evanne Lorraine

“You’re beautiful—even more so when you smile, sir.” She leaned back pushing against Tru, which was like pushing against a smooth, slightly padded, very warm rock wall. Hunter’s lips slowly curved into a breath-stealing grin. “I want you like this—naked, legs spread, and open to both of us forever.” Disconcerted, Amber averted her eyes. He caught her chin. “Look at me. Read me.” Reading Hunter wasn’t that simple. His Alpha power shielded his emotions with a powerful calm she couldn’t penetrate. When she stared into his dark eyes, they were warm with humor and genuine affection. She wanted to share something equally honest with him. Again the words that fell from lips weren’t the ones she would have chosen. “I don’t like to be shackled, sir.” The warmth vanished from his gaze. “I’d love for you to wear my collar, but I would never shackle you. I will kill anyone who hurts you.” “Now you are scaring me, sir.” She gave him a small smile to let him know she was trying to make a joke. “Little females who tease their Alpha get punished.” Tru warned with a growl and a playful nip on her earlobe. The words—punished, shackles—reverberated in her mind. Heat blocked her fae magic, leaving her alone and defenseless with two powerful males. Her own rising need for mating didn’t help. Not even Tru’s teasing stopped her trembling. “Clean everyone, Tru.” Hunter’s eyes glittered dangerously and never left hers as his second carried out his Alpha’s command with gentle thoroughness. “Tru’s right.” Hunter’s deep voice rumbled through her. Oddly her quivering eased with the sound of his dominance and the wicked gleam in his eyes. “Lack of respect, repeated offenses—you need a spanking.” Spanking? He had to be kidding. She tried to laugh, but an ineffective squeak was all that came out of her throat.

A Promise of Amber

123

Chapter Fourteen If he lived to be a thousand, Hunter would never forget the outraged confusion of Amber’s expression. She wasn’t scared—an improvement. He sat on the bed, his feet comfortably apart and planted on the scarred oak floor. “Come here and assume the position.” Inching closer, she obeyed, because she couldn’t refuse his direct command. Her eyes were lowered and her neck tilted. Keeping his face deliberately blank, he inhaled and tamped down his relief that no trace of fear marred her sweet scent. When she was close enough, he captured both wrists in one hand and carefully guided her into the position. The undersides of her full breasts rested against the outside of his right thigh, and the silky pelt covering her mound pressed into the top of his left thigh. Her ass fit his hand as if she’d been made for him. The flesh of her bottom was round, smooth, and available. He palmed the smooth cheeks with a possessive growl to remind her that she belonged to him. She sighed, relaxing under his hand. “Come here, Tru.” Hunter petted her ass while he waited until his second had crossed to his side. “She needs something to ground her.” He paused to move her legs farther apart. “Let her suck your cock during her punishment.” Before she had a chance to object, Tru stepped up and asked, “All right, Honey Butt?” His soft question seemed to settle her. She clutched Tru’s hips and bobbed her head before stretching her lips around his hard shaft. Jealousy for her eagerness for Tru eroded Hunter’s control. He slapped the firm globe of her butt, using enough force to sting. His handprint reddened the pale skin.

124

Evanne Lorraine

A jerk and a muffled whimper slowed him. Then she arched into his hand—confirmation that she wanted this correction. Punishment could be cruel, or it could be an affirmation of caring. Giving her the firm assurance she needed was his job. In quick succession, he gave her four more slaps. Her thighs closed even as she lifted her ass to meet his open palm. He growled at her, “Spread your legs.” The slender thighs she’d clenched together parted at his order. Taking his time, he molded the fiery flesh of her butt, both soothing and arousing. Already harder than a badger’s head, he slid first one finger, then two into the clasp of her sopping pussy, teasing both of them. An involuntary growl escaped him. “Mine.” “Hell yeah, Alpha,” Tru agreed. As he withdrew his fingers from the clasp of her hot sheath, she tightened and moaned around the erection deep in her throat. Hunter’s cock ached to fill her empty core, but he wasn’t done demonstrating the pleasure of a good spanking. He kneaded the tender cheeks of her butt and enjoyed her wriggling, right up until he delivered a sound slap on her sore ass along with a new order. “Stay still.” More of her honey flowed, wetting his thigh as he swatted her backside again. Writhing again earned her two more swats. Trying to lessen her need, she pressed her thighs together again. “Keep them open. I like to smell my pussy.” They both knew he could smell her fine with her legs closed, but she obeyed. Her nostrils flared, and she sucked hard enough to hollow her cheeks on Tru’s cock. The musky smell of her arousal swirled with traces of the peppery smell of pain as another wave of heat surged inside her delicate body. “Let go of him now. We need to take care of you, sübe.” Tru eased out of her mouth. His thick shaft glistened with her saliva. His attention locked on Amber as he helped her to her feet. She leaned into Tru, accepting his support without a murmur of protest. The easy affection between them rasped against Hunter’s jealous possessiveness. He had their obedience, but he wanted more. He wanted what she shared with Tru. He wanted her love. This weakness shamed him. So he cloaked his vulnerability in the fierce

A Promise of Amber

125

dominance that came so easy. Growing sterner and more distant as Tru steadied a shaky Amber with an arm at her waist. He narrowed his eyes and firmed his lip while the Gamma lowered her carefully until her knees touched the bedcovers on either side of Hunter’s hips. Okay, so she didn’t love him like she loved Tru. But she needed him, and he was so lost for her that he’d take whatever scraps she was willing to give. Damn hot scraps. The wolfman growled, and his shameless cock pushed into her soft channel. “More, sir.” Sexy pants added urgency to her request and reminded him what she needed—his cum bathing her core. Like well-trained soldiers, his balls tightened. A release gathered and raced from the base of his cock. “Get ready, Tru. She’s going to need a double shot.” The words grated from his throat half a second before the wild pulsing of his climax stole his breath. But even the perfection of release didn’t erase his awareness of Amber. Her quick pants, the frantic tattoo of her heart pulsing against his, and the exquisite joy of her sob of relief only etched her deeper into his soul. His arms felt like they’d been encased in wet cement sleeves as he lifted her slight body and traded places with Tru. Carefully he lowered her onto the male’s proud erection. Hunter made himself settle her on Tru’s lap, but he couldn’t pry his arms from her rib cage. On impulse he leaned over and nipped the tender side of her neck and wound up sucking hard enough to leave his mark on her pale skin. “Please, sir.” “You don’t need to sir me, Honey Butt.” While Hunter watched she melted into Tru, soft cries of bliss slapping Hunter’s ears and pinching his chest with envy as she ground against the other male, finding release from the torture of heat. Hunter was too old to change. He would never be as easygoing as his second. He would always demand submission from Amber. But he wanted her to love him anyway. His hands stayed loose at his sides. He wouldn’t attack, because he didn’t really want to hurt Tru, and he couldn’t bear to hurt Amber. Yet the smell of them mating was killing him. Bonding continued to ramp up his possessiveness; he wasn’t sure that he could handle sharing Amber.

126

Evanne Lorraine

Then her fragrance changed—a subtle difference told him that her heat had ended. He automatically checked the bedside clock for confirmation and then gently lifted Amber from Tru. Cuddling her against his chest, he turned to his second. “Start the shower; then get her food and water.”

“I’m on it.” Tru disappeared into the bathroom. He stepped into his cutoffs, tugged them on, and fastened them on his way to the kitchen. Halfway down the stairs, voices floated up, slowing his steps. An unfamiliar male spoke in a harsh whisper. “You’re too late. Heat’s ending. The mated pairs will be ravenous. You’ve got to get out of here.” A second voice whined softly. “I paid you good money.” “Didn’t I tell you twelve hours after the hunter’s moonrise?” “Last night was cloudy. Couldn’t see the stupid moon.” “You’re a day and half late.” The first voice grew colder. “I can’t leave without her.” Tru crept along, moving closer to the outside wall and placing each footfall to avoid the squeak of the old wood that strained under his solid two hundred and fifty pounds, which made him a lightweight by muscle-dense werewolf standards. “Save me from fools and goblins. I have half a mind to let you get yourself killed. Make no mistake—if you’re stupid enough to bother the new Alpha with his mate, you’ll be dead before you can open your yap to whine to him about what your master wants.” The second voice rose a register in alarm. “I smell a werewolf.” “Fool.” A creak of a hinge warned Tru his quarry was escaping. He took the last four steps in a leap. The back door was sealed shut and the area deserted. He unlocked the metal door and prowled outside, but the night air held no trace of a goblin’s oily stench. He kept going until he caught up with a pair of patrolling vampire warriors. Staying politely downwind of the bloodsuckers, he called, “See anything out of place in the last five minutes?”

A Promise of Amber

127

“Just you,” the taller of the two males said with a smirk. “Thanks.” Tru bit back a smartass reply and reversed course for the house. “Anytime.” Tru shook his head. Why was he depending on bloodsuckers, who couldn’t smell a fart in a bag full of assholes, to protect the pack? As he neared the kitchen door, something bit into the toughed skin on the ball of his left foot. He scowled at the piece of gleaming pale talon embedded in his sole. Plainly, Seaview still had a fae problem. The spot where the evil claw pierced his skin already stung like a whole nest of hornets had attacked his foot by the time he limped into the shiny kitchen. “May I be of assistance, sir?” Tru recognized the butler from the other night as he gave in to a nauseating dizziness and sat down on the cool tile. “Towel. Don’t want to bleed on the floor.” The clear words in his head came out of his mouth in a garbled growl. Unperturbed by his snarling, the butler reappeared with a basin, clean cloths, a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, gauze, and a roll of tape. Again Tru tried to talk, to tell him the first aid supplies weren’t necessary. Werewolves healed fast. His unintelligible mutters were interrupted when he had to bite his lip to keep from whimpering as the hydrogen peroxide foamed in the really small gash that hurt way more than it should. Fae scratches were never fun, but this pain was off the charts. “If I may say so, sir, you’re more susceptible because of your recent…activity.” The man cleared his throat delicately. “You’re dehydrated and in need of nourishment.” “Fae.” Tru finally managed to spit out a single clear word. The butler’s craggy features flapped in what might have been concern. “Indeed.” He finished wrapping Tru’s foot with a final strip of tape. Tru lurched upright. The butler pushed him back to the floor. Even dehydrated and undernourished didn’t explain that feat. “Allow me to bring you a drink, sir.” Right, like he had a choice. Tru was as a weak as a nursing pup and about as useless.

128

Evanne Lorraine

Superbutler was back in a half second with an icy liter of water laced with electrolytes. Tru guzzled half of it, took a breath, and downed the rest. “More.” By the third bottle, his head was clearing. Damn, Alpha had sent him for food and drink. He scanned the gleaming stainless steel kitchen equipment and spotted an old-school wall clock ticking away on the sparkling white wall. He’d already been gone a half an hour. Hunter and Amber would be done with their shower. Time to get his butt moving. This time he shoved himself upright without mishap. The butler appeared and hovered anxiously. “May I be of assistance, sir?” “Yeah, I need food. Meat and plenty of that fancy water for the Alpha and his mate.” The man’s folds rearranged into a brief smile. “Excellent, sir.” Tru took a tentative step, and his knees held. Before he’d gotten to the steep stairs, the butler was back. Taking Tru’s elbow and toting a picnic basket suitable for safari provisions, the old guy steered him to the second floor like this was perfectly normal. When they reached the guest room, he turned to ask the butler to wait while he made sure Amber was decent, but the man had already vanished. Only the bandage on his left foot and the enormous hamper offered proof that he hadn’t dreamed the whole encounter. He opened the door and reached for the hamper. The container weighed a couple of tons, so he shoved it like a stalled car across the threshold. Amber had her long legs folded under her on the bed. Hunter leaned against the bathroom doorway. Both of them wore bland expressions. Heat was definitely over. He wanted to cry, but he kicked the door shut and opened the hamper. His mouth stretched into a grin he hoped looked natural. “Check out the munchies.” Hunter crossed to join in admiring the bounty, pulled out a bottle of water, and trotted over to where Amber waited. He twisted off the cap and held it to her lips. “Drink.” She must’ve gulped, because Hunter said, “Slowly, sübe.” If Tru hadn’t been starving, he would have left then. The tenderness in Hunter’s voice was something he’d never heard, and it twisted something ugly in his gut. He grabbed a turkey leg and gnawed, chewed, and swallowed. He could’ve been eating shit.

A Promise of Amber

129

Hunter joined him, selecting choice tidbits and arranging them carefully on a plate. The Alpha worked silently with intense concentration. The turkey bone added valuable minerals and crunch, so Tru ground it to manageable chunks with his strong teeth and swallowed those too. His belly still rumbled, so he crammed down a couple of pounds of rare beef, topped it off with half a dozen deviled eggs and a wedge of chocolate cake. He actually tasted the decadent dessert. The crumbs melted on his tongue— rich and sweet. Not as sweet as Amber. Nothing was. As soon as Hunter and Amber were completely absorbed in feeding each other, Tru slipped out of the room. Best to leave while he still could. He couldn’t share their mating bed forever. Time for him to do his job. He needed to check on the vampire patrol and organize the pack’s resources to cover any gaps. The white gauze on his foot reminded him that he’d forgotten to tell Hunter about the weird conversation or the piece of fae that had scratched him. Alpha had been a little distracted—he’d never even noticed the bandage. Tru shook off the flash of bitter self-pity. He’d been part of claiming Amber, and he wouldn’t have missed that experience for anything. Naturally, he missed the aftermath of cuddling, the stroking, the closeness. Right. None of that was helping. He was tired—hell, everyone was tired. More reason not to get sloppy.

Amber must have dozed, because she woke up disoriented and feeling that something important was missing. Since Hunter had changed the sheets, which she was willing to bet was a first for him, the bed was fresh and comfortable. His big furry body acted like a giant heating pad, so she was warm. She wasn’t hungry or thirsty. Yet she needed something. Tru. Moving carefully, so she didn’t disturb Hunter, she untangled her limbs from his and eased off the bed. She waited a long moment, watching his chest rise and fall, listening to the soft snores from his handsome snout, and admiring his wolf form. In fur his Alpha dominance was obvious even sleeping. He was the biggest werewolf she’d ever seen. His glossy dark coat had faint traces of gray under his muzzle and along his spine. A midnight eye gleamed through a narrow slip in his eyelids. She froze, certain that he’d order her back to bed. His gaze flickered, and his paws twitched—even with one eye open, her Alpha slept and dreamed.

130

Evanne Lorraine

Her lips curved into what was probably a goofy smile. She loved every stubborn Alpha hair on his dominant body. He was hers in a very special way. His energy was a strong steady glow in her mind, and she wanted to keep him safe even in his dreams. But she needed to protect Tru just as much. Torn between the two males, she frowned. If they wouldn’t stay together, then she would divide her time between them. Although she hated leaving either of them alone. Tru’s spark twinkled in her mind’s eye. She shifted to wolf form and silently slipped out of the guest suite. Following her keen nose and the map of energy in her head, she found what had to be his room at the shabby end of the long hallway. Guest quarters in the east wing were shabbier than those with a western view, and the farther from the stairs, the worse the amenities. The seldom-used last two rooms shared a common bathroom and linen closet. With so many better accommodations available, Tru had picked the worst. Clearly he wanted to be as far as possible from Hunter and her. Tru had bonded to her the same way Hunter had, and she wasn’t about to let him isolate himself from her. Intuitively, she knew that she needed both males and they needed each other. Somehow she had to make them understand the only way their mating could work was as a triad. She glanced back the way she’d come, already missing Hunter. When he woke he’d have no trouble tracking her—even after the shower they’d shared, his scent was all over her. Knowing Hunter, he’d follow her trail without needing any extra clues. The lever handle depressed with a swipe of her paw, the door swung open, and she padded silently inside the small room he’d chosen. At a nudge from her shoulder, the door clicked shut. Her night vision was excellent. Even in the near total dark she picked out Tru, in wolfform, sprawled across a king-size mattress. The poor excuse for a bed lay on a floor that needed replacing even more than it needed cleaning. She hadn’t been this far down the east wing in years. The passage of time hadn’t improved the quarters. She wrinkled her nose at mildew spores and ancient dust. A chrome and torn yellow vinyl kitchen chair sat in the far corner. A cardboard box, more gray than brown, rested next to a chair sagging under the weight of a hanging light fixture. The wiring harness spilled along the floor. A bare lightbulb decorated the ceiling. A duffel bag, discarded cutoffs, a saltwater canister, and a spotlight littered the most direct route between the door and bed.

A Promise of Amber

131

The sheets and covers had been pulled from the mattress and twisted into a snarled nest damp from sweat. As she watched, he shuddered, whimpered, and then opened a glazed eye. Tru was as handsome and dark as Hunter with none of the traces of gray that softened the Alpha’s midnight pelt. The Gamma was leaner and less intimidating too. His hackles rose, and his eyes flashed golden, contradicting her last thought and reminding her that gentle Tru was also a dangerous werewolf enforcer—fast, strong, and lethal to anything that threatened the pack. She padded closer and tilted her head to expose her neck with a quiet whuff of respect and a request for permission to come nearer. When he settled back down, resting his head between his front paws, she leaped onto the mattress, sniffed him thoroughly, and then nosed him aside to make a place for herself in the bunched-up covers. After circling several times, she scratched the blanket into a satisfactory pile of fluff. Finally she tucked her snout into her tail—settling in for the rest of the night. Tru curled his big body around her, but she could tell he wasn’t sleeping. He probably missed Hunter too. Why had Tru left her and Hunter? The three of them belonged together. She sighed and burrowed her nose under the shredded wool. When she finally drifted off to sleep, the nightmare she’d had much too often came back as awful as ever…

**** The drive to the pack’s private beach was fine. The pups—happy to be out of the nursery—stayed strapped safely in their car seats. Clear skies and sun-kissed sand greeted them when they left the car. Everyone shed their sandals. She gathered all the tossed shoes in her beach bag, racing after her charges and grinning. The pups splashed in the ebbing tide and pawed the wet sand for fast-burrowing clams. A huge wave came out of nowhere, loomed overhead, and then crashed like a tumbling skyscraper down on her and the pups. When she struggled upright on the fast slipping sand, gasping for air, the chilly salt water encircled her waist, and the pups were gone. She couldn’t swim. No werewolf could. Their bodies were too dense, and they sank like cement pilings, even in the buoyant ocean. If she’d been pure fae, then she could’ve dived in after the pups. Frantically scanning the murky water for small bodies, she waded out to her chest. She never saw the second wave coming. Dimly, she registered the roar of the surf. When she

132

Evanne Lorraine

looked up at the wall of water, terror tangled her legs in seaweed. She lost her footing, went under, inhaled salt water, and came up coughing. Then a new wave curled far above her head. It was already too late to wade for the receding shore. She tried to gather her fae magic. As usual, it failed. The powerful tide swept her down like any other piece of flotsam—pulling her faster and deeper until she couldn’t tell which way was up and she couldn’t breathe. Her lungs burned, and tiny bubbles, the last of her air, escaped from her cold lips…

**** She woke with a jolt, shivering and gasping for air. Even snuggled in next to Tru, she couldn’t get warm enough. Although she knew it had been a dream, the burning need for air, her magic failing, and the loss of the pups still haunted her. It had all felt so real. Restless, she stood and circled three times before settling back down to stare into the dark. The too familiar nightmare clung to her like the horrid seaweed. She tried again to go back to sleep, but her eyes popped open. She couldn’t stand to revisit the terror. Shaken by the reappearance of the old dream, she burrowed closer to Tru and reminded herself that she’d changed since meeting Tru and Hunter. Now her magic worked reliably. Her gaze fell on the faint gleam of the metal door handle. Impulsively, she focused her fae talent on the hardware and heard the satisfactory click of the lock. Good. She wasn’t helpless anymore. Finally Amber slipped back into sleep, determined that if the nightmare returned, she would vanquish the tide, survive, and save the pups.

A Promise of Amber

133

Chapter Fifteen Even dead tired, Hunter slept lightly. When he stirred to that gray world between full alertness and sleep, the sheets were still warm and smelled like Amber. He listened hard, expecting to hear her in the bathroom. Her sweet fragrance lingered, but fear raised the fine hairs on his neck and snapped him awake. The only heartbeat in the scruffy bedroom was his, and a sick dread settled in his belly. He shook off the feeling, as he leaped out of bed, and tracked her. The uneasiness in his belly grew heavier and coiled like a lead snake. Had she been taken from him or lured out the room? How the hell had he slept through his mate leaving? With the fae so damn near, anything was possible. Intent on Amber’s trail, he picked up speed until he was loping down the hall. His upper lip curled in a silent snarl. He skidded to an undignified stop, almost slamming into a communal bathroom door. This section of the wing smelled bad. Mold, dirt, and stale urine insulted his tender snout. None of those smells covered Amber’s intoxicating scent. The absence of her fear didn’t soothe him. There was too high a probability she was unconscious. Even a fragile Psi werewolf could do serious damage. The fae weren’t stupid. Drugging her made logistic sense. But goddess save the bastards if she was hurt. An impatient paw swipe at the lever had no effect. He hit it again, hard enough to rattle the hardware, but the lever didn’t give. He backed up on the slippery floor and rammed his shoulder into the door. Three hundred pounds of solid muscle and bad temper splintered the ancient door. Through the lens of his fear, Hunter searched the room and locked on the worn mattress taking up most of the space. On the bed, two furry bodies curled around each other. He recognized his second and his mate. She was fine. Amber lifted her dainty snout from a nest of shredded covers, cocked her head, and lolled her tongue at him.

134

Evanne Lorraine

Then Tru cracked an eye and bounced over her. He quickly exposed his neck and averted his eyes in respect. A wave of relief that she was safe washed through Hunter, leaving him nauseated and dizzy from the adrenaline overload. He thought about shifting to human form so he could chew their cute asses to pulp for scaring him. But why bother? They’d locked him out of their squalid love nest. There was no point in yelling or begging. She’d left him for Tru after he’d claimed her—after he’d given her his heart. Anger and pain combined to make him a lethal threat. He ground his molars to keep from snarling. There was no chance he would stay in control. Afraid that if he stayed, he might really hurt them, especially his sensitive Psi mate, he wheeled around and blindly reversed his route. He passed the bedroom he’d shared with Amber and Tru without slowing. He’d thought he couldn’t get more bonded, but each step he took away from Amber was harder. He loved her so much it terrified him, and he’d never told her. Had he thought not telling her would make him less vulnerable? If so, then he’d been wrong. Hunter hated being wrong, he hated being vulnerable, and he hated being in second place in Amber’s heart. More than he hated any of these things, he hated having no control over any of them or himself. There was no way to reverse the mating bond or to fall out of love with Amber. He couldn’t live without her, and he didn’t know how to share her. The only thing he could do to protect her from his instincts was to leave and find a way to make their triangle work. His mood didn’t improve rapidly. On his second lap around the grounds, he still avoided the patrols. Staying clear of the bloodsuckers was easier with each circuit of the outer trail. The pearly gray of predawn lit the eastern sky, and the vampires were leaving, which made sense. The average bloodsucker had a severe sun allergy. By the fifth lap, Hunter had the grounds to himself. The sun was a sullen yellow haze rising past a small grove of pine trees on the eastern edge of the pack grounds. He still wanted to kill something—a goblin, a rabbit, or even a squirrel. As long as it ran and he got to chase and pounce and thrash it to death, it would help. Figured there was no game to be had on Seaview’s manicured property. Nigel had been such a control freak that he probably hired exterminators to get rid of anything as untidy as rodents. Hunter was surprised by the young male.

A Promise of Amber

135

He looked about ten or eleven, too young to wander around by himself. But he could’ve been a small twelve-year-old, or even a scrawny thirteen, which was better, but still too young. Long red hair hid half his face, making it harder to judge his age. Wearing fairly clean olive drab cargo shorts, a faded tee, and flips-flops, he scuffed along the packed dirt trail that followed the property line, whistling a tuneless ditty and dragging a stick behind him. A cyclone fence, six feet high, and the dense shrubbery surrounding the grounds discouraged trespassers but didn’t absolutely prevent them. Hard for Hunter to understand, but he believed what Paul had told him. Nigel hadn’t bothered to communicate with the werewolf civilians under his protection. Aside from a few members serving in clerical functions, enforcers, their mates, and their trainees were the only ones to frequent Seaview headquarters. Even monthly hunts were restricted. Rebuilding a pack that would include all the members was one more job Hunter needed to take care of in his spare time. From Hunter’s position on the outside circuit, he was concealed by plantings and upwind of the youngster. Hunter couldn’t catch his scent. A civilian pup was the most likely explanation, but he could be human. Even if this kid’s parents didn’t know about the goblin attack, this was a dangerous world. Hunter’s muzzle curled. They shouldn’t have let a youngster out at the crack of dawn. Pup or human, Hunter couldn’t leave a youngster at risk. He angled away from the perimeter trail to intercept. If the boy was human, then he was going freak out at his first sight of the wolfman. Hunter’s naked human form wouldn’t be that much of an improvement. Besides, since there’d been nothing for him to kill, he needed to do a lot more running before he was ready to wear skin. Werewolf speed closed the distance between them in a few seconds. Hunter was close enough to count the kid’s freckles, and he still couldn’t smell him. He snorted to clear his snout and inhaled. Then he felt a prick, like a hornet’s sting. His powerful body shuddered to a stop. He sank to the ground, unable to move. The boy squatted beside him and reached out with his child’s hand as if to pet. At the tip of each of grubby finger a pearly talon extended. The forefinger claw on his right hand had a jagged edge. Casually the boy swiped Hunter’s snout.

136

Evanne Lorraine

The pain made Hunter’s eyes water. He didn’t need to worry about crying out. His paralysis was so complete that he couldn’t even blink. Involuntary functions worked fine—he breathed, his heart still beat, and he bled. Sweet-sharp copper-scented drops welled from the gash on his snout and fell. His blood was immediately absorbed by the parched hard-packed dirt trail. The boy, clearly not human, not werewolf, and not even young, licked the blood from his claw. A bead of red escaped from his mouth and rolled down his freckled chin. Catching it with a flick of a dark tongue, he watched Hunter with ancient eyes but the same kind of detached fascination a certain kind of child uses to study a fly after pulling off one of its wings. Hunter had seen that look many times, right before a soldier prepared to take another man’s life. “Mustn’t kill.” He chided himself. “Father wants you alive. He says bait needs to breathe to be good.” He licked another drop of Hunter’s blood from his claw and eyed the oozing slash hungrily. “I’d come for your blood, but father says the half-blood bitch will only come for you if you’re functioning.” They planned to use him as bait to capture Amber. Hunter’s hide crawled with revulsion at the thought of her in these monsters’ clutches. The creature’s innocent appearance no longer masked his power or his evil. His father would be worse. A whiff of cognac invaded Hunter’s wounded nose, the signature fragrance of fae males. Most fae were capable of assuming whatever form they pleased. The magic monsters lived underground and guarded their secrets well. Hunter knew very little about them. Maybe they didn’t know much about werewolves. Fae ignorance and a good miracle were his only hope. Vampires weren’t the only monsters with a fondness for werewolf blood. An Alpha’s blood was a sought-after delicacy. The stronger the Alpha, the more potent and highly prized his blood. His heart sank as he realized he had no way to protect his mate. Even his blood wasn’t enough to distract the creature from luring Amber. The child distorted—blurring and reforming. The process was slow and clearly painful, but not agonizing enough to eliminate the threat. When the transformation was complete, his true form solidified. The result was a scary combination of saber-toothed tiger and giant scorpion that poured liquor over its armorlike carapace back and ratty fur belly. The monster was nine feet from head to ass with eight striped legs angled like a puppet’s to support the massive torso. As

A Promise of Amber

137

the fae watched Hunter with his baleful yellow tiger eyes above pincer jaws, his narrow segmented tail curved over his spine. The barbed end was wet with venom. Hunter was helpless. He couldn’t move, and he was at the mercy of a creature without a conscience. Bad didn’t begin to cover it. A clawed forearm pinched Hunter’s ruff, lifted him like a pup, and carried him another seventy feet from the house and from the pack. The creature’s shadow blackened the ground beneath him. He came to full stop, dropped Hunter in the center of the dark shadow, and then the ground parted. Hunter tumbled into a bottomless void.

After picking up Hunter’s scent, Amber raced ahead of Tru. A few hundred yards farther down the perimeter path, she slowed and circled—sniffing frantically and whimpering. It looked like she’d lost Hunter’s trail; Tru didn’t hurry. He wasn’t worried about finding his Alpha’s spoor again. But he thought giving Hunter some time to cool down before they caught up with him was a damn fine idea. Plainly his Alpha wanted to blow off a little steam. Tru had plenty of experience with Hunter’s temper. Leaving him alone while he worked off his anger and regained control was the way to go. For reasons only another Psi would understand, Amber was desperate to find Hunter, and Tru couldn’t bear to disappoint Amber. So here he was, tail tucked between his legs from the bad vibes roiling off the ground, following his Honey Butt and searching for Hunter’s trail. Finally Tru picked up his scent and ran. He passed Amber, and she ran as close to his tail as she could get. With her pushing him, he tracked much faster than was smart. Then he found a drop of Hunter’s blood and skidded to stop, raising a cloud of dust on the dry ground. There was more than a single drop. Tru’s gut knotted with fear. An Alpha bled same as any werewolf, but Hunter would never have left his blood on the ground unless he had no choice. Werewolf blood drew way too much undesirable attention. Tru inhaled a trace of very old cognac—a male fae. Foreboding lowered his head, flattened his ears, and curled his upper lip in a fierce growl of warning for Amber to stay. Damn, he knew running off after his mate was a mistake. They weren’t strong enough to deal with fae. He needed the pack. Especially the other enforcers.

138

Evanne Lorraine

Amber must’ve caught Hunter’s scent again, because she flat-out ignored a second warning growl and sprinted down the path. If he hesitated, he would lose her too. Scared and furious with her for disobeying a direct order, Tru chased his mate. While he ran he prayed they lived long enough for him to watch Hunter give her the spanking she deserved. Twenty-odd yards farther down the trail, she whined to a stop and pawed at the dirt. Tru circled her position three times. This time she was right. Hunter’s trail ended right there on a patch of cracked earth. Then she gracefully shifted to her human form, glittering with dangerous fae magic. “Come on, Tru. Shift. Hunter’s hurt. We have to help him.” He sat back on his haunches and shook his head. What they needed to do was go back to the house and get reinforcements—serious reinforcements. “Fine. I’ll go by myself.” She wriggled slender fingers at the crack in the dirt, and the gap widened into a black pit. Damn, the crazy female was going to get them both killed. But he couldn’t let her go alone. Tru growled and shifted to human. “Could I have some clothes? A weapon or three would make me feel a whole lot better.” Before he had time to whine about anything else, tough camouflage pants, heavy-gauge black tees, and sturdy hiking boots covered both of them. The covert military look was great on her. But then Amber made any outfit look sexy as hell, and she was even more irresistible naked. This was exactly why he wanted her dressed. No sense tempting the fae. “What kind of weapon did you have in mind?” Good question. What kind of fae were they going to be facing? Rocket launcher sounded good to him as an all-purpose defense system, but it would be a bear to reload. He countered her question with one of his own. “What kind will kill the most fae?” Amber flinched, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “A magic one.” He cocked an eyebrow and waited. Then he waited some more while she closed her eyes and concentrated for several seconds. At last, her brow puckered, and her empty hands shaped the air into a long column. The air darkened and smoldered. Slowly a handle appeared, and metal firmed at its head. Almost as long

A Promise of Amber

139

as Amber was tall, the smooth ironwood shaft, inlaid with still smoking runes, had a silver, spiked business end and leaped into his hand with a comforting surety. “Your morningstar, sir.” Tru’s voice dropped to a reverent whisper. “You’re amazing.” “No, I’m not. I didn’t make it.” “Then where’d it come from?” He hefted the solid weight. “The goddess, I guess. I’m not sure. I asked for a weapon to defeat the fae.” He peered at the designs ringing the silver top, and his heart accelerated. “Is that what I think it is?” Amber squinted at the design. “I’m horrible at translating the ancient language. This looks like an inscription, or perhaps a warning—Caswell’s stick. Or perhaps Caswell’s staff. I’m not certain.” She turned toward Tru, careful not to actually touch any part of the awesome weapon. “Does that mean anything to you?” “Wolfgang Caswell, the hero of the last fae war, was my great-great sire.” “A good sign then.” Tru nodded soberly, thinking they needed all the help they could get. He’d heard the legends of Caswell’s stick since he was a pup. He hoped it worked half as well as the weapon always did in the old tales. “How does it work?” She didn’t answer instantly. Her eyes closed, and her head bowed for a few moments. Tru used the time to practice with the weapon. “It answers only to you. No one else can wield it. The spikes of the morningstar are said to drain the magic from any creature it touches.” Amber shuddered. Tru spun it like a baton, thrilled by its balance. His doubts fled, and he grinned. “Excellent.” “Shall we?” Amber kept her tone light and gestured to the gaping hole in the earth’s surface. Tru eyed the chasm. “Will it suck us right to fae central?” “I don’t know. But they have Hunter, so I’m going to find out.” If she hesitated, she’d lose her courage. So she didn’t wait for Tru to respond. She stepped into the void.

140

Evanne Lorraine

The descent was so rapid that her hair streamed straight up from her head as she fell faster and even faster. Inky blackness disguised the depth of the pit and hid any hint of what lay at the bottom. Would she be plunged into an icy underground lake? Had her repeating nightmare actually been a foretelling? Panic chilled her blood. And then, almost imperceptibly, she slowed. At first she was afraid to trust her senses. When her hair settled on her back, she breathed easier. Soon she landed softly on fresh lawn. In another time and place, she would have kissed the grass. A thick mist rose from the damp ground, and a stone wall, stretching as far as she could into the distance, blocked their way. An illusion or a vast fortress? She peered closer. The patch of deeper shadows might be a door. She edged closer and made out steps leading to an entrance. Tru settled an arm’s length away, flexed his knees, surveyed the area, and winked at her. “I see a door. Knock first? Or knock it down?” “Let’s see if it’s unlocked,” Amber whispered. Tru prowled toward the entrance. The dark wood and heavy hardware of the creepy door had welcome to the dungeon written all over it. Amber’s stomach felt as if it was trying to climb back to the surface with or without her, but she dashed after Tru. The handle turned easily at his touch, and the heavy wood swung open soundlessly. Her heart was pounding so hard that she was certain every monster within miles would hear it. Tru reached behind him, caught her hand, and squeezed her cold fingers. “We can’t leave Hunter here alone.” His soft reminder caused her to blush with shame. What a coward she was. Cowering from the fae when Hunter was suffering horrors she didn’t want to imagine. She squared her shoulders and matched her pace to Tru’s. No cobwebs, rats, or even dust marred the functional slate floor. The unlit entryway seemed to be well used or perhaps kept clean by fae magic. Without lighting, for all she could tell, the walls might have been slate too. Amber brushed the surface, surprised by ordinary drywall. The passageway was two stories high and wide enough for half a dozen males to walk abreast, or one very large fae. She’d heard plenty of tales she hoped were wild exaggerations.

A Promise of Amber

141

At the first turn they ran into a problem. The ogre that blocked their path was lit by hovering glow lamps. The eerie lights were fae magic in action. Every bit as ugly as ogres were described in the stories told at hunts, he was also enormous—easily twelve feet high and half again as wide. His bald head angled forward, so there had to be a neck under the huge bullfrog chin that covered the space between his jaw and shoulders. He shaded protruding eyes, peering into the shadows that still concealed them. “Who’s there?” Tru bounded into the light and whacked the ogre’s stomach with his great-great sire’s staff. In a slow-motion tumble, the ogre spilled to the floor. He trembled for a few seconds before he quaked violently and disintegrated. Perhaps magic was the only thing that had held him together, because after another moment, all that was left of the enormous monster were a few inches of mossy green dust. “It really worked.” Tru looked at the morningstar with wonder and then walked through the still settling monster residue. Amber followed Tru’s steps, grateful for his slower pace and for her sturdy boots. The passageway angled several times, with occasional steps leading down. The air seemed to grow colder and thicker as they descended. Dank rock replaced both the drywall and slate. Amber decided her first impression had been correct. They were in a fae dungeon. Every few yards she inhaled deeply, hoping to catch Hunter’s scent. So far all she’d smelled was algae, lichen, and oily traces of goblin. She tugged on Tru’s shirt. He slowed enough for her to stretch close to his ear and whisper a warning. “I smell goblin.” “Me too, Honey Butt.” As they ventured deeper into the stronghold, soon the sound of marching feet carried around the next turn in the long corridor. Tru flattened himself along the damp wall, and she followed his example. Their dark clothes blended into the shadows, as did Tru’s dark hair and bronzed skin. Realizing her blonde hair and fair skin acted like a beacon, Amber smeared some of the slime from the rocks behind her over her hair, face, and hands. She held her breath as a pair of goblin sentries walked past them without reacting to their presence. One of them said, “What’s that stench?”

142

Evanne Lorraine

Tru hit him on his shoulder. Before the first goblin sank, Tru clubbed the second soldier. The guards were eliminated in seconds—tap, tap, and boom. The goblins fell, but they didn’t disintegrate. “Damn, I was hoping for more dust.” “Perhaps they’re not pure magic,” Amber murmured. “Makes sense.” Tru gave each sentry another hard crack on the head. Amber tried to hide a wince at the heavy blows from his staff. Goblins didn’t merit her sympathy, but she still cringed at the sound of bone crushing. “Don’t want them waking up anytime soon.” Tru dragged the bodies to an alcove and stacked them neatly. “Come on. We need to move before their friends come looking for these guys.” A guttural yell split the air at the same time a lump of black fur latched on to Tru’s back. His morningstar dropped in the scuffle and rolled into the shadows. In the dimly lit passage, Amber saw another of the oily creatures dart and swipe at Tru’s front, trying to blind him. When she moved to help him, two more goblins appeared and used their outstretched claws to edge her farther away from where her mate fought for his life. What she needed was a high-powered spotlight and a canister of salt water. What she had was fae magic of her own—enough? Despite the approaching threat, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Her power rose with an audible snap as more magic than she’d ever called poured into her until she crackled with raw energy and glowed. She shone so brightly that the goblins shielded their light-sensitive eyes. Her glitter illuminated white crystal crusts clinging to the dank rock walls. Grabbing a handful she pelted the monster on Tru’s back. He shrieked with pain and dislodged his claws. Freed of his tormenters, Tru grabbed his staff and laid into the monsters. When their enemies were dead, he sank to the floor, bleeding heavily. She rushed to him and began licking his wounds closed. Tru actually seemed to see her for the first time since she’d smeared her face. “What’d you do to yourself?” “I want to blend in better.” “Going to need more than a little slime for that.” Knowing she must look a mess, she still smiled at Tru’s pretty flattery.

A Promise of Amber

143

He held out a hand. “Don’t worry about me. I heal fast. Let’s find Hunter and get the hell out of here.” Amber placed her hand in his. After only a few steps, Tru slowed again. Amber watched him anxiously. His mouth stretched into a feral grin that revealed lots of gleaming white teeth. “I smell Hunter and something seriously rotten.” Without warning, Hunter’s pain exploded inside her. The bright spark of his life force flickered in her mind. She squeezed words past the lump of emotion closing her throat. “They’re killing him.” Tru sprinted down the passageway so fast that if he hadn’t been dragging her with him, then she would have been left with the dead goblins. As they drew closer, the slightly muted stink of fetid flesh and the eye-watering cognac fumes almost eclipsed Hunter’s familiar scent, but the fiery smell of his pain seeped under another ominous dungeon door. Tru’s face tightened into grim lines. Almost silently he mouthed, Stay right behind me. Even though he couldn’t see her, Amber bobbed her head in ardent agreement. She pushed back the empathetic pain and her terror to keep them from paralyzing her. Gathering her magic, she moved close enough to guard Tru’s back. Her lips tightened in fierce determination. Goddess help anyone who hurt either of her mates, because she would show them no mercy. Tru pressed the lever. The heavy door opened without a sound. They stepped into Hunter’s nightmare.

144

Evanne Lorraine

Chapter Sixteen Hunter was chained to rings bolted into a rough beam that ran the length of the room’s ceiling. His four legs bore his full weight and had to be near breaking. His head and tail were oddly stiff as if they’d been frozen at an unnatural angle. Too many wounds to count oozed his life’s blood. Amber bit her lip to hold back the howl of rage welling in her throat. Between them and Hunter was a twenty-foot stretch of rough rock floor and an ugly beast. For a second, she thought they were facing a two-headed monster. Then the huge bodies parted slowly. Two beasts. The largest of the pair of fiends was as big as the ogre, but the bulk of his mass was horizontal and stretched over eight right-angled legs—crablike claws hung from oddly narrow shoulders. The second creature was nearly as big as the first. Both had flexible tails that ended in wicked-looking barbs. Twin armored heads, with hooded cat eyes and lateral pincer mouths, which dripped with the Alpha’s flesh and blood, swiveled toward the entrance. By unspoken agreement, the monsters divided their focus between Tru and Amber. A startling falsetto from the bigger fae broke the silence. “The mixed-blood abomination must die.” Amber really hoped he wasn’t a relative. “To get to her, you’ll have to come through me,” Tru snarled. The second creature waved a dismissive claw at Tru and his staff. “Careful of the wolf bitch. The goddess is strong in her.” “Time to die.” The larger screeched and charged straight at Tru. Her mate needed her help fighting the enemies that blocked them from Hunter. Brushing aside the Gamma’s order to stay behind him, she moved to Tru’s left to give him room to wield the morningstar.

A Promise of Amber

145

Tru didn’t protest her failure to follow orders. He was too busy feinting at the closest set of foreclaws. In an eerily synchronized attack, both lethal tails arched and darted for him. Their lethargy had vanished, and the monstrous beasts darted and struck with frightening speed. Ducking under the smaller fiend’s barbed tail slash, Tru smashed the other monster’s stinger with his staff. The barb retracted into a gelatinous tip. The beast’s tail twitched, and another shriek of agony assaulted her ears. This time the enemy didn’t fall from the staff’s blow. Amber watched with horror as the fleshy end of the monster’s tail firmed and a new barb slid out—dripping fresh poison. Tru parried the wicked stinger, angling for a solid hit. With his tail arched to strike, the smaller fiend crept toward Tru’s unprotected back. There was no time for her to even draw a breath for courage. Amber closed her eyes and visualized white-hot fire narrowed to the width of a pencil. She aimed the lethal beam at the dripping barb of the smaller monster’s tail. Her magic-fueled laser stayed locked on the attacking fae’s exposed stinger. The fae’s frantic contortions didn’t lessen the burn. A soul-curdling shriek of pain tore from his vicious beak while his venomous stinger smoked and then crumbled into sooty chunks. The concentrated fire continued to burn. One by one, his tail segments dropped onto his writhing back and fell to the smooth rock floor in charred sections. By the time the creature fell, the sickening odor of putrid, burned flesh invaded her nose, and her stomach roiled. In a backlash from the amount of magic drawn, agony stabbed behind her forehead and quickly settled into a ball of misery over her right eye. Blinking to clear a stream of tears, she locked on Tru. He thrust the magic staff and took out one of the fiend’s eyes. The last beast standing roared in pain and outrage. Slashing out with his disarmed but still powerful tail, he knocked Tru to the floor. Morningstar rolled away from Tru’s limp fingers. Her magic gathered in answering fury, and she hurled another laser blast at the monster’s remaining eye. He staggered, lost his footing, and rolled onto his armored back, exposing his unprotected belly. Gagging from the fumes, she grimly held on to the power and burned him again and again. He screamed for a long time.

146

Evanne Lorraine

When both of the fae monsters were dead, she hurried to release Hunter. Settling him carefully on the ground, she was reassured by his steady heartbeat and already healing wounds. A groan pulled her gaze to Tru. He pushed to his knees before retching. Truth be told, the smell was so awful she wanted to join him. She turned back to Hunter, grateful all three of them had survived, but nervous about the hazards still ahead when they tried to leave the fae stronghold.

When he first became aware of anything, Hunter was sure he was dreaming. Maybe he’d passed on and was in the shade. If he was dead, then he’d a lost a few centuries, because he smelled Amber’s sweetness. “You’re safe. Please wake up.” Hunter understood her words. Amber’s soft hand squeezed his paw tenderly, and he tried to open his eyes for her. Every cell in his much-too-big body hurt, and even whimpering took more strength than he had to give. His mate’s sweet scent faded as blackness called and the wolfman took full control once more. Hunter lost any sense of time passing as he drifted in the half-conscious realm between waking and dreaming. Willing to bear the searing pain to breathe Amber’s sweet smell, feel her soft touch, and hear musical voice. He caught a whiff of Tru’s familiar scent laced with sadness and wanted to reassure his second, but nothing worked, and every portion of him hurt like hell. “Any change?” Tru asked, sounding damn near as tired and discouraged as Hunter felt. Amber’s sadness filtered into Hunter’s nose. “Not yet.” “I need to take report.” Tru’s voice caught and he cleared his throat. “I miss him.” “He’s going to be fine.” Amber spoke with complete certainty. “Alive is good enough for me. Be back as soon as I can, Honey Butt.” Tru didn’t leave. Using simple deduction, Hunter figured out that Tru was kissing Amber. The kiss wasn’t passionate, but the tender exchange of comfort and unconditional love made him long to be an active partner in the mating bond the three of them shared. After Tru finally left another female entered the room.

A Promise of Amber

147

“He’s still suffering. Is there anything I can do?” Amber gently stroked the top of his muzzle. Her touch eased him. Figured his sensitive little Psi would zero in on the one place that didn’t hurt like hell. “You’re doing it, child. The only reason he’s still here is because he wants to be with you.” Hunter recognized her voice, but it had been a while since he’d heard it, and he couldn’t match her cool fragrance or calm tone with a name. What on the goddess’s green earth had happened to him? His mouth felt as parched as an August meadow, he had more aches than he wanted to count, and he was so weak he couldn’t lift his eyelids. “Please, try again, Gracie. He still hasn’t moved at all.” A few seconds later, the traveling Omega settled against his right side. Her touch and her soothing fragrance eased his aching joints and dulled the worst of his agony. Amber nuzzled his neck and licked his sore nose. Not the same miracle of healing as the Omega’s touch, but her touch made sappy tears pool in his eyes. Gracie had been right about one thing. Amber’s love was the only reason he kept breathing. The next time Hunter was aware, his consciousness arrived with a jolt and the full memory of every horrible detail of the fae’s torture. Only his eyelids moved. More time passed. He had no way of tracking how many hours vanished between reality, dreams, and a pain-fogged in-between place. Then he was able to twitch his ears. Gracie slept beside him for hours—using her Omega’s healing gift to leech the fae poison from his system. At last his werewolf constitution kicked in and began healing the last of his wounds. The first time he rolled to his side, he panted for breath afterward like he’d been chasing a whole warren of rabbits. His weakness was depressing as hell, and he didn’t want to shift. He didn’t want to listen either, but neither he nor the wolfman could resist Amber’s voice. “Any better?” Tru asked. Hunter yawned, closed his eyes, and settled back for another nap. “Did you see that?” Amber’s voice rose with excitement. “The yawn?” “Of course the yawn. He hasn’t done it before.” “Cool.”

148

Evanne Lorraine

Fucking amazing. He breathed, twitched his ears, slept, and now he yawned. Amber placed a soft kiss on his nose. “Gracie was wrong. He’s getting better.” The Omega thought I wouldn’t recover? “Alpha’s strong, but he’s been a wolf for almost a month now, Honey Butt.” Tru didn’t think he was going to make it either. The Gamma was smart, and Gracie knew her stuff. But this time they were wrong. He was stronger. He eased his weight from one side to the other without panting or gritting his teeth against the pain. Definitely better. What was he missing? “Hunter is still here—I feel him.” At least Amber believed in him. “She’s right.” He shifted, which hurt more than he wanted to think about, opened his eyes, and managed to croak words from his dry throat. Then he paused and added the ones that really needed to be said. “Love you, sübe.” Amber gave him a watery smile, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Making her cry hurt worse than his damn injuries. “Don’t cry.” His voice sounded like a rusty gate. “Happy tears.” She swiped them away. She had dark circles under her pretty eyes, her hair was tangled mess, and she’d lost weight she didn’t have to spare. She was still the most gorgeous female he’d ever seen. “You eat, then rest,” he grumbled at her. Her smile firmed and slowly widened. “Yes, sir.” Then she added, “You too, sir, because I love you, and I never want to lose you.” Amber’s magic words made his heart swell. He wanted to cuddle and protect her, but he was still too weak to keep away fleas, let alone anything more dangerous. He made himself look at Tru. “Thanks for taking care of…everything.” “What’s a second for?” “Don’t downplay this.” Amber spoke sharply. Hunter wasn’t sure whether she meant him or Tru. “Both of you.” Okay, she’d cleared that up.

A Promise of Amber

149

“The three of us belong together, and neither one of you is going to make me choose between you. Is that clear?” Hunter helped himself to a drink of water without spilling more than a few drops. It helped. “You’re giving orders?” She dropped her gaze. “Yes, sir. In this one instance I am. I love you, and I love Tru. I need both of you in my life.” She didn’t add and you need both of us, but he got her message loud and clear. Damn, she was right. Tru waited patiently for him to respond. As weak as Hunter was, Tru could win a challenge match using only three paws. Instead he’d rescued him from the fae, guarded Amber, and handled Hunter’s job. Tru was a smart male of worth and loyal. If he could share Amber, then Hunter was sure as hell going to manage the same trick. There’d never been a sanctioned tri-mating, but then Hunter had never heard of two males bonding to the same female either. Maybe there was a way for the three of them to be together. “Give us five minutes alone, sübe.” After the door clicked behind her, Hunter swallowed another sip of water and looked around. The room was airy, sunny, and smelled fresh. “This isn’t the guest suite where we were.” Tru cleared his throat. “No, this is Amber’s room. It’s a little smaller than the master suite, but I thought it was nicer.” Hunter nodded, found the movement made him dizzy, and held his head still. “You thought right, pal.” The silence stretched between them and grew thicker. Finally Hunter cleared his throat and chose his words carefully. “If we request a sanctioned tri-mating and Bradant, the Sardar Alpha of all Alphas refuses, then we’re fucked.” Tru bobbed his head, keeping his focus on the floor. “I get that, but this is what Amber wants.” “Okay, then that’s what we do. Tell Bradant you’re Seaview’s acting Alpha.” “Will do.” “If he turns us down, then we’re renegades,” Hunter grumbled.

150

Evanne Lorraine

“Right, sir. I’m on it.” “Then round up something for me to eat.” “Sure thing, sir.” Fresh meat—and lots of it—actually sounded good. He stared pointedly at Tru. “Call Bradant first, then food.” “Welcome back, Alpha.” His second’s eyes looked suspiciously shiny. Hunter didn’t waste breath commenting on Tru’s soft side. He was saving all his strength for kissing Amber.

Tru raced down the stairs, taking pleasure in the cloudy day suddenly made brighter by hope. The friendly smells of new paint, roasting meat, and a growing number of pack members added to his new and improved mood. Since word of Nigel’s death and their defeat of the fae lords, each day brought a few more civilians willing to work, to serve, and to be part of the pack. At the bottom of the stairs, Ward guarded the front entrance. The enforcer sat at the newly installed security station with his feet propped on a built-in desk. He looked relaxed. Yet his eyes never stopped moving from one display to another. The video feeds ran in real time, constantly panning and allowing one enforcer to watch over Seaview’s grounds. “Everything good?” Ward kept his attention riveted to the displays. “Peachy. I’m losing my edge. Nothing happens around here. Once word got out that you and Amber kicked the fae’s ass, who’s going to be stupid enough to mess with our pack?” “Let’s hope it stays that way.” “Never does, boss.” For another couple of minutes a comfortable silence lasted while Tru and Ward watched a bulldozer level the ground where the old headquarters had been. “Nice place to make a fresh start,” Ward said. “You’re right.” Tru patted the big enforcer’s shoulder, ready to move on to the great room. Before he’d left the entry, he smelled Ward’s tension. Tru did a three-sixty. “What’s up?”

A Promise of Amber

151

“Civilians—young ones.” More orphans. The pack had already grown by three young females, whose parents had been killed in the goblin massacre. “Buzz the kitchen and warn Anna that Alpha is awake, hungry, and mention the pack is growing again.” Then Tru opened the front door. “Welcome to the Seaview Pack.” Eight males ranging from five or six to early teens eyed him warily. The leader, a lanky teen, swiped the hair from his eyes. “Is the Alpha really dead?” “Nigel is dead.” Tru confirmed. “Swear?” Tru narrowed his eyes. “Your nose not working, pup?” The youngster took a step back. “Not well enough to be sure if you’re telling the truth, sir,” “Fair enough. I swear Nigel is dead. Hunter is the pack’s Alpha leader now.” One of smaller males asked, “Did he kill the fae lords?” “No, that was Amber, his mate.” Tru bit back a grin at their widened eyes. “I helped a little.” “Wow.” Tru nodded agreement. “Come on in. I’m heading for the kitchen. Anyone else hungry?” The young males trailed after him, sidling past a stern-faced Ward. Nigel’s grand piano had been moved to the west corner, where a youngster sat diligently practicing scales. A teenage Beta sat a few feet away, keeping an eye on the pianist and a pair of pups building a block castle. A tiny female watched their progress while she rubbed the side of her face with a tattered stuffed bunny. Amber would’ve called the toy well loved. Behind him, the males kept together taking in the sights. Half-wall planters emerged from the alcoves that had replaced the French doors. The greenery divided the vast space into multipurpose rooms. Where there had been beige carpet, paw-friendly cork cushioned his steps. Tru hadn’t hesitated in firing Nigel’s servants, except for the latent werewolf butler. The male had proven himself a first-rate general contractor. Tru hadn’t hesitated making needed changes to the mansion, but he’d held off on authorizing a new house for the pack leader. It was

152

Evanne Lorraine

possible that Hunter would want to continue living here, and Amber was sure to have an opinion. Where they stayed didn’t matter to him, just as long as he lived there too. Tru found Dawn and her students working in the dining room and stuck his head in the doorway. “Found you some new students. All right if they have something to eat before you put them to work? “ “Please.” She turned to the young males behind him with a warm smile. “I’m Dawn, and I specialize in teaching badass young werewolves. I’ll come find you in half an hour.” After Tru introduced them to Anna, the cook, he herded them into the breakfast nook. “Alpha is tough but fair. Right now he’s recovering from a little run-in with fae lords. The rest of his enforcers are on duty. If you forget to respect yourselves or the pack, then those enforcers will be happy to hold a remedial pup manners class. Any questions?” The silence was sweet. Tru asked each male for his name and rubbed each one’s head with rough affection. When he left, Anna was wheeling in a meal cart. On his way to the office to make his phone call to the Sardar in relative privacy, he passed Dawn’s class again and waited to catch her eye. “Can I borrow Ulric for a few minutes?” “Certainly. We’re past time for a break anyway. See you all back here in fifteen minutes.” The pretty Beta watched the young males scramble out of the room, jostling for position as they scrambled for the back door. Dawn asked, “How’s Alpha doing?” “Better. Ready for real food. That’s why I want Ulric’s help. We’re talking megahamper.” She beamed up at him. “I’ve been praying for him.” “Thanks.” Tru turned to Ulric. “Could you ask Anna to get started on packing up an Alpha-sized dinner?” The youngster darted off, then slowed enough to toss back an enthusiastic, “No problem.” “Amber wants a sanctioned tri-mating.” The words tumbled out of Tru’s mouth before he’d decided to say anything. Dawn took his announcement in stride. “What else would work when you’ve both bonded to her? I’ve never heard of a male of worth being refused a sanctioned mating when the goddess

A Promise of Amber

153

has bound him to a female. Why would a tri-mating be treated differently?” She shrugged, lively eyes twinkling with laughter. “At least that’s what I think. The Sardar is very wise—much wiser than me.” “Right. Guess I better make a call.” She laughed and patted his arm. “Everything will work out. Trust in the goddess.” When Tru entered the kitchen a few minutes later, Ulric was putting away the last of a dinner fit for a hungry werewolf, or three, judging by the crammed hamper. A young Beta female was helping Anna, the new cook, at a recently installed center island. She noticed him watching her and ducked her head shyly. “I’m Tru, Alpha’s second. Thank you for preparing his dinner.” “All that is for one male?” the young Beta asked with startled wide eyes. Anna elbowed her sharply, and the young Beta quickly lowered her gaze and exposed her neck. “I’m sorry, sir. Please excuse my rudeness. I meant no disrespect.” “What’s your name?” “Laura, sir.” “Don’t have to sir me, Laura. I’m no Alpha, and you’re right—that’s a lot of food. Hunter has a good appetite. He also shares.” Tru grinned. After Ulric fastened the lid, Tru gripped the front handle and asked, “Ready?” “Sure thing, boss.” Tru could have muscled the hamper up the west wing stairs by himself without breaking into a pant. But working together was part of building a strong pack, and food delivery was as good as any other task for teaching that lesson. In a few years, Ulric would be showing some new pup the same set of tricks. Once the hamper was safely delivered, Tru thanked Ulric and closed the door. Hunter took a tray, laden with five ribs of rare prime beef, sliced off a generous mouthful, and asked, “Did you get a hold of the Sardar?” “Sure did, Alpha.” “Well, what did Bradant say?” “He’ll consider the request.”

154

Evanne Lorraine

“Huh.” Hunter grunted. “At least he didn’t say no.” Amber helped herself to a slice of Hunter’s roast. “He might,” Hunter growled. Tru chewed, swallowed, and shrugged, not concerned as long as they were together. “Then we’ll be renegades.”

**** A few weeks later, Amber angled her neck to see the back of her mother’s gown in the oval floor mirror. “Hold still,” Dawn cautioned. “I don’t want to stick you.” “The blood wouldn’t show.” “True, but your mates would definitely smell it.” The Beta backstitched to anchor the final tuck in the dress’s waist. Her wry comment startled a laugh out of Amber. “You are so right. And the poor dears are already as edgy as cats.” “I’ve never seen so many civilians. The great room is standing room only. Naturally everyone wants to meet the Sardar, but they’re dying for a glimpse of the infamous Psi who captured two handsome males.” Dawn grinned wickedly. Amber pressed a hand against her nervous stomach. “Oh thanks. Now those butterflies in my belly are practicing martial arts.” “Seriously, although this is the first sanctioned tri-mating, I doubt it’ll be the last. It really is the perfect solution with so many males and so few females.” Dawn snipped the last thread tail and put away her sewing supplies. “Showtime.” Amber took a deep breath, and then let it out to a measured eight count. “Let’s go.” She descended the west stairs slowly, because the high, high heels she had on made decorum her only safe choice. If not for the shoes, then she would’ve raced to Hunter and Tru. And she would’ve missed the wonderful, subtle smells of eager hope and new pack bonds that wafted through the crowded room. From beside her mates, one pair of dark eyes burned hotter than the others. For a moment, she met his gaze, felt the power of his overwhelming dominance, and knew he was the Sardar.

A Promise of Amber

155

The butterflies in her stomach settled to gentle flutters, the crowd blurred, and her steps were certain as she moved to where her mates waited. All she saw were the heated gazes of her males, all she heard was the steady beat of their hearts, and all she smelled was their love. “Who bears witness for these males on their mating eve?” the cleric asked. The Sardar stepped forward. “I bear witness for Hunter and Truman, males of honor, worthy of their fur.” Dawn bore witness for Amber. And then, standing between her mates, Amber spoke her vows and bowed her head to accept their collar. The simple gold chain settled against her skin weightlessly. At the apex hung a charm—the classic symbol for the planet Venus held between two symbols for the planet Mars. “Now I have something better than a promise of Amber. You are my sanctioned mate—the missing half of my soul.” Hunter leaned in to capture her mouth in a kiss that stole her ability to form thoughts. When he released her, Tru didn’t wait for her to recover. He kissed her with so much tenderness and passion she grew light-headed. He whispered, “We aren’t staying for the rest of the party.” “Wave to the pack, sübe.” She obeyed Hunter’s highhanded order without a murmur, but she let her fae magic glitter just so her mates remembered that submission was her choice.

Loose Id Titles by Evanne Lorraine Camille’s Capture

The TREELAND PACK TALES Series A Taste of Scarlet A Promise of Amber

Evanne Lorraine When I’m not writing dangerously sexy stories, I’m gardening, walking the dog, or sleeping. Or, if it’s too cold and wet to garden, then I’m scouring the house, reading good books, or watching movies. For more about Evanne, visit her Web site at http://evannelorraine.com.