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NeNe ran her leg up Coti’s bare thigh. Her multiple orgasms took her by surprise. She’d actually never had one before being with Coti, at least not with another person. The steady beat of his heart seemed to thump inside her where his cock was still deeply imbedded. “I think I could get used to this,” she murmured.

Coti chuckled. “Good, I plan to give you multiple Os, often. By the way, I’m glad I was your first.”

She groaned and buried her face against his chest. “That connection thing is going to be something I need to get used to. Upside? Bear seems more settled. I don’t feel her rattling around as much. Does that make sense?”

He lifted her chin with his finger, placing a sweet kiss on her lips before answering. “Yeah, it does. I was inside your memories. I saw what you went through when she was forced in you. Bear was pissed like you were. Now, she’s content, even though a wolf wasn’t her ideal mate, she likes us.”

“So, we can talk to each other through our minds no matter where we are?” She settled more comfortably on him, soaking in his peacefulness.

“Yes. I know Kellen can connect with anyone in the pack no matter the distance. From what I’ve heard, mates can as well. For us, it’ll be a learning curve. I could probably ask Jenna or the Cordells, but I really hate to bother them, right now.” He smoothed his hand down her back, stopping at the curve of her ass, squeezing gently.

“So, they’re really thousands of years old?” She shut her eyes when his fingers trailed between the cheeks of her ass. Goodness, they’d just made love, and she was already feeling her body heat up, wanting him again. A thought hit her. “Holy shit! What about you and I? I know you’re like old, but I’m human, or was. Will I become old and wrinkly while you stay hot as fuck?”

He boomed out a laugh, his dick jerking against her leg over his hardness. “Ah, armina, you’re so damn precious. To answer your question, now that you’ve turned, you’ll live a lot longer. I’m not sure on the length. With you taking my blood, you’re not only a shifter, but I can sense my vampire blood flowing in you as well. Since joining the Iron Wolves, I’ve kept that part of myself hidden from them, which if you were paying attention, Kellen is none too happy about. I’m going to have a come to alpha meeting with him soon.”

She looked into his sparkling green eyes, worry furrowing her brow. “Is that like a come to Jesus moment? Will he kick you out of the pack? Damn, am I part of his pack? Are there like some wacky rituals I have to go through to become one?” She tried to sit up, questions tumbling out as she imagined everything they’d have to do.

Coti pulled her on top of him, holding her down with both arms banded across her back. “NeNe, let me erase a few of your worries, and then no more questions. Look into my mind, search for any questions you might have. Love, you have all the knowledge you should ever want at your disposal within our link. Now, Kellen as the alpha, has a right to be pissed that a member of his pack, someone who’d pledged to him, has basically lied, albeit by omission, for years. So, yes, I may have to face his wrath. However, I’m not worried about getting you or I kicked out of the pack. If it came to that, then so be it. As for you being an Iron Wolf, you became one when I claimed you. There’s no crazy hoops you need to jump through in order to become one. Of course, Kellen still has to welcome you and create a bond that links you to him and the pack, but that’s only a formality.”

She opened the link between them, searching for the truth. Kellen was an alpha who didn’t fuck around. If he thought Coti, or she, posed a threat to the pack, he wouldn’t accept NeNe, nor would he hesitate to boot Coti out. “You hid what you were out of fear they’d shun you,” she said, knowing it was the truth. His own father had done just that.

His deep exhale lifted his chest, and her, up and down. “I’d never hurt anyone in my pack, even if they kicked me out.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. Heck, your own father is probably still living, which is a testament to that fact. My bear wants to rip my dad and brother to shreds and hunt yours down,” she snarled, instantly regretting her outburst when she saw Coti’s eyes flash red.

“I’ll take great pleasure in teaching both men in your family the error of their ways, my little warrior,” he promised.

NeNe maneuvered her legs over his sides, done with the talking about what could be, should be. “Let’s forget about our screwed-up families. There’s a much more pressing issue we need to deal with right now.”

“Hmm, and what would that be?”

Slowly, keeping her eyes locked on his, she kissed her way down his body, flicking her tongue over his flat male nipples. Coti didn’t hide his reactions from her, the link allowing her to feel his emotions. When she reached her destination, her mate gave full access, opening his legs, giving her room between them to kneel. Staring upward, she pressed a closed-mouth kiss to the tip of his cock, then licked over the head.

Coti moaned, gripping the sheets in both hands. “Damn, I love your mouth.”

Before he’d finished speaking, she took his cock deep, holding his balls in one hand while she pumped him with the other. Their eyes locked, her tongue rolled around the heavy vein underneath, and she felt him swell even further. The sexy moan he expelled made her groan, her lips tightening.

“Gonna come,” he warned.

Her hand moved faster, wanting to taste him.

Without warning, he pulled her off him, startling a gasp from her. “What’s wrong?”

“Want in you,” he growled.

One big hand fisted in her hair, bringing their lips crashing together. She reached between them, wrapped her hand around the base of his dick and guided it into her, sighing at the tight fit.

Their simultaneous moans filled the room. She’d never felt so full, so complete until Coti. Her pussy tightened around him, her body primed for a release from sucking him.

Coti gripped NeNe’s hips, pushing her up and down on his dick while she squeezed him like a vice. The undulations tugging at him made his balls draw up with every clench and release of her inner muscles. Never had he thought to find a woman made just for him. Goddess, her pussy was so tight, so wet and hot he was ready to blow.

He growled, the sound coming from deep within his chest, making her eyes brighten. Oh yes, his sexy mate was with him every step of the way. Her hands on his chest raked him with claws, drawing blood as she leveraged herself up, sitting straight so she could take him deeper, rolling her hips. “Growl for me again,” she ordered.

Fucking-A. Coti growled again, then growled even deeper, letting it draw out. The wicked smile on her face turned to pleasure. Using his hands, he helped slam her up and down on him. “God yes, don’t stop. Don’t stop, Coti.”

A damn horde of demons could rush in and he didn’t think he could stop. His wolf, vampire, and Coti himself had surrendered completely to their sexy little mate. Pushing her down harder, faster, he fucked her like an animal.

“Fuck, yes,” NeNe screamed.

He forgot everything except he and his mate, sweat trickling between them. The sound of their bodies slapping together, her breasts bouncing up and down, had him racing toward orgasm. “Come for me, NeNe.” The sexy symphony they made with their bodies coming together was the most erotic thing he’d ever heard. Her moans and gasps had his cock throbbing, his blood pulsing, his fangs dropping, making him harder than ever before.

He worked a finger between them, finding her clit, rubbing back and forth over the swollen nub. Her pussy contracted around him, holding him like a vise. Her throaty moan came from deep within, and he felt an answering one swell in him all the way to his balls.

Shoving upward faster, while pushing her down harder, had a pained sob of pleasure wrenching from NeNe. She swiveled her hips above him while he added a second finger to his ministrations to her clit.

The clenching around his dick, the clamp and release signaling her orgasm was his undoing. He lifted her higher, shoved her down harder, relentlessly taking her over and over. She rode him, beautiful in her wild abandon. Coti needed to seal their joining, his entire being wanted to taste her again.

Her eyes glowed, the bright green called to the primal part of him. In that moment, he knew he loved her. Not because of his wolf or his beast, but because he loved her, NeNe, the woman. His arms wrapped around her, hips still shuttling up and down, he brought her to him for a deep, soul-searing kiss. His mind opened, letting her see what she meant to him.

NeNe broke away from their kiss, flipping her hair to the side and offered her neck, the side he’d marked earlier. “I love you, Coti. Take what you want, what I want.”

As his teeth entered her flesh, the pussy surrounding him clenched, drawing him in deeper, locking him inside while he came. The clasp of her wet heat milked him, taking all that he was even as he drew her essence into him. His muscles clenched, holding onto NeNe’s body while he arched his body into hers, the welcoming heat too much, their come mixed, running between their bodies as he continued to release.

He licked his mark. Using his hand on her head, he guided her to his neck, wanting to feel her teeth in his. Remarkably, his dick jerked as he came some more. “Fuck, I’ve died and gone to the Goddess,” he swore.

Her dainty little tongue licked over him. Exhaustion pulled at her when he finally rolled her over, using his powers to cleanse them. The thought of leaving the evidence of their lovemaking inside her lasted about a minute, until common sense kicked in. She’d sleep better without being sticky, but damn if he hadn’t thought about it.

NeNe fell asleep with her head on his shoulder, her hand over his chest. The beating of their hearts was in sync. Tomorrow, they’d tackle the pack.

Coti came awake instantly, his mind opened while he searched for what had disturbed him. He reached for the security around his home, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. NeNe’s back was to him, goosebumps rose on her flesh from where he’d kicked off the blankets. He pulled the sheet over her, then kissed her shoulder before rolling out of bed quietly. After all she’d been through in the past weeks, she needed rest.

He tugged on a pair of jeans, then padded into his kitchen to grab some coffee. It took a few minutes to fill his cup. While he waited, he mentally knocked on Kellen’s mind, figuring he’d be polite this morning. His alpha didn’t make him wait long before responding.

“You’re up early, sunshine. I’m assuming you sealed the deal with your mate, finally?” Kellen sounded chipper.

Coti took a sip of his coffee, grinning at the word chipper coming from Kellen. “Yep. Never thought I’d have the pleasure,” he answered honestly.

“Denying who your wolf knows is your mate is hard as fuck. I let Laikyn go unclaimed almost too long.”

He could hear the anger in the other man’s tone even through the distance. “Yeah, I was a dumbass, too.”

Kellen growled like Coti knew he would. Calling your alpha a dumbass could be considered foolish, or even a wish for a beatdown. Coti wasn’t either, usually. “Boy, I’ll let you get by with that, this time. Now, when you coming in so we can have a meeting?”

“You realize I’m older than you by over a hundred years, yes?” As soon as he asked, he wished he could call the words back. Shit!

Kellen’s growl echoed through his head. “Pretty sure that’s gonna get covered in the sit down. Be here within an hour and bring your mate.”

It wasn’t a request. “We’ll see you then. Is the entire pack going to be there?”

“You and your mate are safe and will be under my roof,” Kellen promised.

“See you soon.” Coti cut the connection instead of waiting for Kellen to respond. He knew if Kellen said they’d be safe, they would be. Whether they’d continue to be part of the Iron Wolves was still to be seen. He rolled his shoulders and finished his coffee, running his hand through his hair as he thought of where he and NeNe would go. He had enough money they could literally travel for however long they chose, find a place and settle amongst humans if they wanted. But, her bear was going to need other shifters to keep her level. He wanted to be all she needed and would do everything in his powers to be that. However, he wasn’t a foolish pup. Some things a female needed, a newly turned shifter, he alone couldn’t provide. “Fuck,” he swore.

“That doesn’t sound too good,” NeNe said.

His head turned toward the hallway where she stood wearing one of his shirts. His mouth dried at the picture she made. He could see her tattoo peeking out from the bottom. “Come here.” He held his hand out, waiting. She came to him, her arms going around him like they’d done it hundreds of times. “No matter what happens, we’ll be fine. You know the history behind the phoenix?” At her nod, he continued. “Like the phoenix, you and I’ll rise, just as we’ve always done. Look at you, you’re the original phoenix to me. You rose from the ashes more beautiful than ever. You’re exactly the hope that can lift anyone. If someone would’ve asked me a year ago if beauty can come from a tragedy, I’d have said no. I’m not saying what happened to you is a tragedy, but it wasn’t how I wanted to bring you into my world. Fuck, I’m probably screwing this all up.” He took a deep breath, wondering how to explain.

She pressed her hand over his lips. “I get what you’re saying. Granted, I hated the how, but I love where I am now. So, you just spoke with Kellen, and he’s ready for this big powwow, right?”

He chuckled. “Pretty much. We don’t call it a powwow, at least not to his face,” he told her.

NeNe shrugged, the action made his shirt fall off one shoulder. If they had more time he’d strip her bare, right then, and there. “We need to get dressed and head there now.”

His little mate took a step back, her grin positively wicked as she reached down and lifted the top off. “I seem to have nothing to wear. Whatever shall I do?”

Coti growled. “You’re going to make us late, armina.”

“Have you heard of a quickie?”

He lifted her up by the waist, slamming his mouth down on hers while he willed his jeans away. In a swift move, he was buried balls deep inside, hoping they wouldn’t be too late to the meeting with Kellen.

Kellen sat in his large recliner, his fingers steepled while he waited for Coti and NeNe. Laikyn sat on the arm, her fingers sifting through his hair, petting him in a soothing motion. Goddess, he loved his mate. “They’re late,” he growled.

Laikyn laughed. “They’re a newly mated pair. How many times do you think we were late to things? Oh wait, I think we can safely say we lost count to the point we no longer gave a time.”

Several people laughed, while Kellen glared.

A knock on the door had everyone in the room quieting. “Enter,” Kellen said.

Coti walked in first, pulling NeNe in behind him. Kellen was unsure if he’d bring the bear with him or not. He tilted his head, his nostrils flaring. The fact he could only scent wolf and bear angering him all over again.

“How the fuck do you do it?” he asked.

His enforcers stood around the room, ready to take action should the need arise. If only they knew. The man was more of a threat than they realized. Coti shrugged but didn’t come further into the room. “You want to send some of these guys outside to wait?” Coti pinned Kellen with a hard stare.

Oh yeah, he was an alpha. Kellen tapped his fingers together. He’d never bring Laikyn into a room full of dominate shifters either. “Out, everyone but Xan and Lake.” He didn’t need backup to talk with Coti and his mate.

The wolves were exiting, but then NeNe grabbed one of the younger wolves by the back of the neck, shoving him up against the wall. Kellen got up, a snarl escaping. “What the fuck is going on?”

Coti held his hand up, freezing the other wolves except Xan and Lake. “Erik you better explain before my mate rips your throat out in front of Kellen. Trust me, I’ll have her back no matter what.”

Erik’s eyes widened as he looked at the other wolves who weren’t moving. “Alpha, kill them. Don’t let them get away with this.”

Kellen quirked a brow. Erik was new to the enforcers, a young pup he wasn’t sure would last in the role. “Why don’t one of you start explaining what the fuck is going on before I get fucking pissed.”

Laikyn touched his hand, their bond opening. “I heard a whisper of something, but I wasn’t focused on him at the time.”

“Me either,” he admitted. He could easily tap into the young pup’s mind but wanted to see what Coti and NeNe did next. Their actions moving forward would show him if they’d fit in with the pack, or not.

NeNe drug the kid toward Kellen, shoving him to the ground in front of him. “This kid has some crazy idea that you’re going to kill me. He also stinks of my brother, which tells me he has terrible taste in friends. You want to kill me, Kellen?”

Kellen stared down at NeNe, her green eyes flashed to brown, then red before settling back to green. His mate gripped his arm. The scent of her worry had him reaching out through their link to soothe her. “Easy, I’ve no wish to harm either of them.”

“She’s a whore, alpha,” Erik snarled, his wolf eyes tinged yellow.

He reached out a hand, touching Erik’s forehead, soothing the wolf. Instantly, he wanted to wretch at the filth filling him. As the alpha he felt his pack, yet Erik had deadened his link to Kellen with drugs, taking up with humans and other shifters who weren’t part of their pack. “Why?” he snarled.

Erik’s glassy eyes glared up at Kellen. “Being low man on the totem pole isn’t where I want to be. I’ll never be anything here except a bitch. I’m too good to be your bitch,” he spat, the liquid barely missing Kellen as Coti jerked the kid backward.

“How did you know?” he asked NeNe, ignoring Erik for the time being.

He listened to her and Coti explain about the evening before, narrowing his eyes as he thought of others in his pack feeling the same as Erik. He barreled through the kid’s mind, searching for answers. What he saw made his wolf rake at him. Erik had been the only one in their group who’d been sneaking off, giving the other pack information. “You little bastard. You told them about my young?” he said in a low tone.

Laikyn gasped, her hand going to her throat. “Oh Goddess, no.”

Finally, the kid began to understand the trouble he was in, the stench of his fear hitting Kellen. “Rowan and the others are watching them. All is well,” he promised her.

“Let me handle the punk,” Xan said coming to stand next to Kellen.

Kellen shook his head. “It is my duty, my right as alpha. Take him to one of the holding cells.” The fact they now had several pissed him the fuck off. Their world was changing, yet it didn’t seem like it was for the better.

Laikyn tugged at his shirt. “It’s for the better,” she murmured.

Looking into his mate’s eyes, seeing the love and acceptance there, he had to agree. “Coti, we need to talk still. You and NeNe have a seat. Release the others. Please,” he tacked on.

Xan laughed. “Can I record that last bit? I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say please before.”

When Laikyn opened her mouth to respond, Kellen pulled her in front of him. “Mon chaton, I suggest you keep that sassy mouth shut unless you want to find yourself over my lap counting.”

The sweet scent of his mate’s arousal filled his nostrils, making him groan. “Fucking hell. Why are we here again?”

Xan raised his hand to answer, but Kellen pointed one finger at him, silencing his best friend. Smart second, Kellen swore he wouldn’t be held responsible for what he did if Xan cracked a joke. Breezy was too young to be a widow. Xan chuckled as if he knew what Kellen was thinking, raising his middle finger to scratch the side of his nose, the fucker.