Chapter 17

Nova stood on the East Border, gazing out over the river. He’d heard howls about an hour back, but nothing since. For now, all was quiet. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling of unease that had washed over him? Something was brewing behind enemy lines. He could feel it, making it difficult for him to stay focused.

“Lost in thought, little brother?”

Startled, Nova turned. He fumbled to keep his water bottle in his hands, a gesture that never would have happened before. Usually his balance was impeccable and his reflexes were incomparable. Not anymore.

Nemoy stood in front of him, his hands nonchalantly tucked into the pockets of his jeans. His jet-black hair, whipped by the wind, flew around him, fanning out over the dark shoulders of his old jean jacket. Though he seemed amused to find Nova zoning out when he should have been vigilant, Nemoy’s eyes were tight with worry.

Nova instantly went on alert. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “What happened?”

Nemoy shook his head, allowing Nova to relax. “I’m pulling you off the border tonight.”

Nova bristled. Pulling him off the border? What the hell for? He couldn’t be serious. “No,” he declared, defiant. “I’m not going anywhere. The Valley Clan have been pushing us too hard as it is. I’m not just going to pull my guys off patrol because you think they’ll respect the treaty. They won’t. You know that as well I do. And honestly, I never thought you of all people could be so naïve; especially after everything you used to say about Father.” He was getting agitated now, and his temper was rising. “You can be angry with me all you want, Nemoy. But as my Alpha, you appointed me head of the Guard, and I am damn well going to do my duty. Unless, of course, you’re ordering me to abandon my post.” He raised a brow in challenge. “Are you ordering me to abandon my post? Sir?”

“Careful, Nova,” his brother whispered. He stood there, just staring at him. He didn’t even blink. Instead, he simply surveyed his younger brother with an expression that was as cool as it was unreadable. A flicker of power sped through the air, and Nova found himself facing a surge of guilt for daring to defy his Alpha in the first place.

“Are you done?” Nemoy wanted to know. His tone was calm and quiet, but just as powerful as if he’d yelled. Nova nodded, his lips clamped shut tight. “Good. Now shut the hell up.” Nova’s teeth ground together, but he remained quiet. “I’m not taking you off patrol, you idiot. I’m just reassigning you.”

“Reassigning me?”

Nemoy nodded gravely. “I went to Strathford tonight,” he admitted. Furious, Nova’s nostrils flared. “I wanted to see this girl for myself, now that she’s all grown up. Get the measure of her. To be honest, it’s a shame she’s only human. She’d make a fine wolf.”

“Yes,” Nova agreed, full of pride and defiance. “She would.”

“Anyway, as we were leaving the bar, Kal showed up,” hearing this made Nova tense up, “Calm down, calm down. She’s being taken care of. I have a small patrol with her now. She’s fine. But Kal does seem to be making this personal. He even went so far as to take Amara’s little sister out on a date tonight.”

Nemoy, sensing Nova’s anger, began trying to calm him “She’s fine, too. Relax. Still, I want her protected. I’ll take your post here. You go on over there, relieve the patrol, and make sure that girl’s okay.”

Nova blinked. He was sure he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had to have been imagining it. “Let me get this straight. You want me to abandon my patrol guarding a Pack border to go protect my human girlfriend? Is that right?”

Nemoy rolled his eyes. “Go. Now, before I change my mind. I’ll cover for you here.”

Nova didn’t have to be told twice. Within twenty minutes, he was cutting the engine to his truck in Amara’s driveway. The night was quiet. The only thing he could hear was the wind whipping through the trees. Yet, beneath the sound of nature was the conspicuous thump, thump, thump of a nervous heart.

“Come on out, Nate,” Nova called to his protégé. “It’s just me. You and the others head home, would you? Patrol’s over for the night.” When the boy just stood there, staring, Nova narrowed his eyes. “That’s an order, pup,” he told him, his voice hard. “Straight from your Alpha. Do as you’re told.” He waited until Nate disappeared.

Taking out his spare key, Nova let himself in to Amara’s house. He quietly shut the door behind him. Kal was still following her. Just the thought of it made his blood run cold. He couldn’t be with her every second. More, even if he could, there was no way she would let him. But his presence didn’t seem to be enough. Maybe now that Nemoy had met her, Nova could convince him to assign a patrol to her until Kal had been dealt with. Either that, or she was just going to have to deal with him being around a lot.

Nova padded down the hallway to Amara’s room and eased the door open. She lay on her back in the middle of the bed, the blankets spread across her hips. One thin stripe of skin was visible, showing off her flat, tanned stomach. Her shirt had ridden up while she slept. Her dark hair splayed out around her, covering the pillow around her head. God, she was beautiful.

His heart was pounding against his ribs. After so many years of waiting, Amara was finally his. And no one, not Kal, not Nemoy, not the fucking Earth itself, was going to take her away from him.

Stripping down, Nova crawled in next to her, draping his arm over her waist. He had never felt about anyone the way he felt about her. He was so head over heels in love with her, it was laughable. Content, Nova closed his eyes. Whatever the future might bring, of one thing he was completely certain.

His life, his heart, everything he had to give, was hers.

Amara stirred when Nova settled in beside her. She all but purred as his calloused fingers caressed her skin, arousing her. Each light, delicate touch, each dip along her hips, sent a thrill of pleasure across her skin. His hands played along the edge of her panty line. She let out a stifled breath and arched her hips to meet his touch. The chemistry between the two of them was electric.

Closing her eyes, she felt her breath catch in her throat as he slipped his fingers into the wet center of her. Pleasure exploded from within and she bit her lip, letting the sensation carry her along on a soft wave of pure ecstasy.

She was sure this was heaven. Never in her life had she been so terrified of and in love with the same man at one time.

And boy, was she scared.

For as long as she could remember, Amara had closed herself off. She hadn’t just learned to protect her body from outside forces, but her heart as well. She had relied on herself, and herself alone. And, for a time, that had been enough. But now there was Nova. And every day with him was like another day in paradise, even if they were simply lying on the couch, watching T.V. Now that he was part of her life, she couldn’t imagine living in a world without him.

But wolves weren’t meant to be with humans. It was Pack Law. She knew that. And Nova Lowery was nothing, if not loyal to the Pack. She knew that, too.

Still, she was determined to enjoy her time with him while she could.

Nova’s skilled fingers pushed her up and over the edge of orgasm again. She cried out, her fingers scrambling to grab the sheets. When she came down again, she flipped over, tugging back the covers as she moved. Amara situated herself between his legs and took him into her mouth. It thrilled her to feel his body go hard and rigid beneath her touch, to hear his sharp intake of breath as she sucked on his cock. Her tongue drew slow, sensual circles over the tip, drawing a small cry from Nova every time she sucked harder or cupped his balls.

It was one of life’s simple pleasures, to know that you could wield such power over a man without feeling the need to use it against him. On the contrary, she wanted to please him. She had no intention of stopping, what so ever, until she had him begging her to climb on top of him and take him inside her.

Amara felt him shudder beneath her lips. His long, lean muscles became taught under her fingers. And then, just when she thought he wasn’t going to last, he gripped her arms and tugged her forward, settling her on top of him. Amara spread her legs, enveloping the entire length of him with her hot, wet center.

Linking their fingers together above his head, they began to move. Her hips gyrated back and forth, massaging him with nothing but her womanhood. In their current position, he stroked the length of her, and each time he hit, pleasure and magic would sizzle over her skin. In no time at all, they were both ready and willing, each one waiting on permission from the other to take the plunge. With one last kiss, they locked eyes and dove into sweet oblivion together.