I’m walking ahead of them when Cree decides it’s time to take back control and steps in front of me while his asshole of a Beta stays behind, ensuring I didn’t run off again. Like I would get far, they found me once. They could do it again.
We walk further, and the other pack members come into view. They are hovering over something. I can’t tell what, but I hurry behind Cree to find out.
Cree’s arm comes out in front of me as I approach, and I stop. “No, you shouldn’t see this,” he says, his face full of remorse.
Is it Jay? Is he dead? Or dying, and Cree doesn’t want me to see it. Why does he care about my feelings? Or that it could be my best friend, who he was going to kill, anyway. Unless he wasn’t going to kill him, it was only to trick me into giving him what he wants. Oh, this man is scandalous. He made no sense. One minute he is so affectionate. The next, he is a ruthless killer. He’s bipolar, and I thought teens are so up and down. I’d rather take my chances back at Blackfoot high. At least there, I knew where I stand.
My stubbornness once again takes over, and I shove his hand away. “Don’t tell me what to do!” I argue. I’m not letting anyone control me. Not even an Alpha.
Instantly I regret my decision, thinking I should have listened.
I stare, shocked, as I look down at the forest floor. Jay had me believing Sway was already dead, but he was right in front of me, bloody and bruised. An open wound pours thick red liquid out of his abdomen. My brother’s eyes glance up, meeting mine. They are full of pain, and for once in my life, I see my star football player of a brother, terrified that he is alone. I’ve never seen him like this. People always surrounded him, but no one is there for you on your deathbed, no matter how popular you are.
I force myself not to think I will likely lose him and rush to his side, gripping his hand in mine.” Sway, I’m here,” I whisper, squeezing his hand to comfort him.
“Kari,” Sway says faintly. Tears slip from my eyes. Sway hasn’t called me Kari in a long time. We were too busy hating each other to remember all the good times growing up.
“Yeah, it’s me. I’ve got you,” I promise, pulling Sway into my lap. I place my hand on his wound even though I know it’s too late to save him, but I do it because I hope the spirits will help us in our time of need.
Why would Jay lie to me? Why did he make me think my brother was dead? Maybe there was confusion with another person. It was complete chaos.
“What happened, Sway?” I question, hoping he had the strength to answer.
The pack stands around us. The look on the packs’ faces says it all. They know he’s dying. It’s like a light bulb comes on in my head. I remember some things from the campfire stories. They can save Sway, but Cree will have to turn my brother into one of them.
I lay Sway down gently and hurry over to Cree. I grip both his biceps, which distracts my concentration. Focus! Your brother is what’s important right now.
“Change him,” I say, desperate, thinking I’ve found a way to save my sibling and possibly my last living relative.
Cree stares at me for a moment before he answers. “Do you know what that means for him? If you did, you wouldn’t ask me to do that.”
“Cree, he may be the only family I have left.” My heart breaks with the words leaving my lips. My eyes stay connected with his while my hands trail down to his hands. I grasp them in mine. “Please, Cree,” I plead in a whisper.
Sia steps beside us. “You call him Alpha Cree!” she sneers.
“Oh, shut it, wolf bitch!” I growl. The Beta, who I still do not know if he even has a name, grabs Sia when she tries to come after me, but I really don’t give two shits what she’s going to do. I only care about Sway. My focus is back on Cree. “Help him,” I beg again.
Cree’s eyes show he wants to do anything to make me happy. “Fine, but I can’t do it. A female wolf has to. Once the bite takes place, they are mates. It means the she-wolf claims him with her mark,” Cree explains, and his gaze goes to Sia, the only female wolf.
My heart sank deep into the pit of my belly. Shit! Can I really put Sway through this? He will have to deal with Sia for the rest of his life, and so will I. No choice for Sway to fall in love with someone on his own. But, if he’s alive, I don’t care. Maybe the bite will make him want her too.
“Do it,” I blurt.
Cree turns to Sia and gives her a nod. She’s hesitant. I’m sure Sia wants to find her mate or hope that Cree doesn’t so she can be with him. But I really don’t care what she wants. She can get killed tomorrow, and I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. Okay, that’s harsh, but I dislike her a lot, and I don’t know if it’s because she threw cold water in my face or wants Cree. I don’t want to admit it, but I feel jealous when it comes to Cree. Maybe I have my first crush. I shrug it off and compose myself.
“Alpha, I don’t think this is a good idea. Is the boy worth saving?” Sia asks.
Cree growls. “DO IT!” He orders, his tone deep and husky.
Sia falls back on the forest floor, startled by Cree’s aggressive demeanor, then hurries to her feet, going straight to Sway and kneeling next to him. She glances between all of us before looking down at Sway. “This will hurt,” Sia whispers to Sway, then leans in. Large canines extract from her gums, and she sinks them into his neck.
Sway screams out in pain.
I cover my ears. The sound of his pain makes my heartache. My gut twists and turns, making me nauseous. I want to take his pain away. He will be a werewolf now, but he will still be alive.
My usual overthinking comes into play. What if it changes Sway completely? What if he’s not my brother anymore? Will he even know who I am? Shit, did I make a mistake? Maybe he’s better off dead. My rib cage is taking quite the beating from my heart. Sweat beads down my forehead, and my hands tremble. Suddenly the air is thick I can feel my throat closing. I double over, gasping for air.
Cree notices my mental breakdown and grabs me in his arms, walking us away from the others. He carries me through the woods bridal style, and I slump my head against his chest, taking in the calm of his heartbeat. It’s fast yet smooth. Our skin touches, making friction as he walks. It warms me, soothing every ache my mind and body feel. I imagine his hands slowly caressing my curvy frame. Each touch feels like hot coals. It’s a pleasurable pain. I envision his lips trailing soft kisses across my neck, down my collarbone until he reaches my breast. Then my mind goes from PG13 straight to porn-hub in seconds.
My panties stick to my skin from my wetness. I just want friction down there. My core throbs as I think about taking every inch of Cree’s massive cock inside me. A moan escapes my lips that I didn’t intend to. Cree stops mid-walk.
“What are you thinking about? Your arousal is causing my wolf to race around in my head, panting like a psycho. You need to control it, or I won’t be able to control myself,” He advises.
What if I don’t want him to control it? What if I want him to take me right now, right here on this dirty ass ground? Now, I don’t care about mud or ruining my clothes. I so badly just want to give in to my inner sex demon. My body may say one thing, but my mature brain says another, and it must be the rational one. I don’t want my first time to be like this with a man I barely know only because of an attraction. But these feelings I’m having toward him petrify me. It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever felt in my life. Am I ready to let an Alpha have me? Hell no! But my pussy sure is.
I force myself to stop my thoughts. “Nothing. No clue what you’re talking about,” I lie, blowing it off.
And even though I’m not looking at Cree’s face, I Know he rolls his eyes when he chuckles under his breath. It was more of a-Ha, I caught you having sex daydreams about me kind of laugh.
My brother is being marked by bitch right now, and again I’m being selfish thinking about having sex. He will turn into a werewolf, and I’m fantasying about one. What the fuck?! Way to go, Sakari. I scold myself for having stupid feelings for the dumb wolfman. I’ve known him for about two seconds, and my cunt craves his cock. For a fucking virgin, I feel like a total sex dream whore. I’m literally fucking him in my mind. Am I not a mind virgin anymore since my thoughts are now tainted?
My thoughts rush away when Cree stops. I glance up at him and search for his expression. He’s serious, concentrating like he’s listening for something in the woods.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, and he looks down at me.
“I need you to stay here,” Cree orders, putting me down and placing me behind a tree. “Don’t come out no matter what you hear,” He adds with seriousness.
I only nod, letting him go, but as soon as we separate our bodies, the urge to run after him surges through me. No, stay put. I order myself.
Cree runs off towards the others but not before glancing back at me, giving me a longing gaze, then continuing. Are they under attack? Was my brother in trouble? I can’t just sit here if he needs me. From behind the tree, I creep and took off running.
I don’t get far when icy hands cover my mouth and rip me away at the speed of light.