Dusti knew the people in the town of Howl would be curious about her, and she had to admit she wasn’t immune to the feeling either. She peered at every face they passed and noticed how closely they studied her. Drantos clutched her hand tighter. She lifted her chin to give him a worried glance.
“Are they all VampLycans? The whole town?”
“At night, yes, with a few Lycans thrown in. During the day like now, not always. There’s a main highway just a few miles away. There’s a sign that leads people here but not a lot of them come. Tourists visit but we refused to build a motel. We want to keep humans from staying too long.”
“Why allow them at all?”
He brought her to a brief halt. “A lot of travelers need food and fuel in this remote area, and that earns us a little income. It also makes humans less suspicious of us. We’re just a boring, isolated place to them. We even have an auto repair shop for the unfortunate ones who break down. We do keep an apartment above the shop for the occasional overnight customer. There’s a guard posted to make certain they don’t wander too far. We can’t allow them to roam freely and possibly see one of us when it isn’t a good time.”
Transformed into beast-looking creatures, she thought, translating his meaning regarding what they didn’t want a human to see. “Are they going to be worried about me walking around?”
“No. Word has spread that you’re my mate. There’s no reason to fear anyone. This is your clan.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have come into town so soon. Your dad might have been wrong.”
“You need clothing and shoes. While we don’t have much to offer here from our small store, it could take a week or two for your stuff to arrive from California; and the same for any packages to arrive from online orders. They don’t even deliver them this far out. We have to drive to another town to pick up mail. That’s how we mainly buy things in this remote area of Alaska.”
“Wow. You don’t even get mail here?”
“Nope. We won’t allow a post office to be set up in our territory. Mail is federally regulated. That means scrutiny we don’t welcome. Post offices are run by humans and we don’t wish for any to live in our town. It’s just easier if another town handles mail, and for us to send some of our men to go pick it up.”
“I see. “ She wiggled her toes in the three pairs of socks he’d made her wear to protect her feet from the ground. “I’m okay though. I don’t want you blowing a lot of money on me. It’s not as if I’m going to be outside much. I won’t be very popular around her. It’s probably better if I stay indoors.”
“Don’t think that way. Now, you need shoes, and my clothes practically tent you.” A grin flashed when his gaze lowered to her breasts. “Although I wouldn’t complain if you remained naked.”
She grinned. “As tempting as that is, your family tends to drop in announced. Lead on. Just don’t leave me alone.”
He started to walk again, keeping her hand inside his, and they entered a small tourist shop. The woman behind the counter smiled until her gaze lowered to Dusti. The twenty-something-looking woman frowned at that point.
“Drantos.” The woman inclined her head; her silky, short black hair brushed her tan shoulders revealed by a tank top. “It is good you have returned.”
“Peva, this is my mate, Dusti. She needs some temporary clothing and shoes.”
“Of course.”
“Drantos?”
Dusti turned to gawk at the six-foot-four guy with shaggy dark brown hair down to his broad shoulders who’d somehow managed to sneak up without a sound. His piercing brown gaze trained on Drantos. She guessed this had to be the guy who ran the auto shop, when she noticed engine grease smeared over his metal band T-shirt, the front of his faded jeans, and down both of his bared, muscular arms.
“What is it?” Drantos released her to address the tall man.
“We need to speak privately for a second.” He ignored everyone else. “I got a phone call. Can you step outside?”
“Yeah.” Drantos forced a smile at Dusti. “Go find shoes and some clothes. Don’t worry about the price and get enough to last you a few days. I’ll be right back.” He strode out of the store.
“So you are the human causing so much talk in the clan.”
Dusti turned to face the woman behind the counter. A little fear inched up her spine at the unhappy expression on Peva’s features. “My father was one. I’ve been told my mother was a VampLycan.”
“Drantos deserves to have a strong mate. That isn’t you.”
Shock held Dusti silent until her temper flared to life. “I take it you’re attracted to him? Too bad. I’m his mate.”
“That’s not true. He’s like family and I already have a mate. From what I hear, you rejected Drantos.” The woman moved around the counter but kept her distance. “You will make him appear weak to the clan.” She pointed to the back of the shop. “There are shoes and clothing over there. I even carry underclothes. Get them and get out. Drantos can pay up later. I hope you make his home life a happy one since he’s giving up so much for you.”
Dusti hesitated. “What does that mean?”
Anger burned in Peva’s glare. “He’s the first son of our clan leader. That means he’s expected to breed strong children to ensure our future. To take a weak mate is the equivalent of shirking his responsibilities to the clan. The men will lose respect for him. That’s a big deal. Do you have any idea how many women turn mating age and travel here in an attempt to get him to taste them, to see if they’re his mate? It devastated every female he turned down, and they came from strong families with good bloodlines. Their fathers were enforcers. He’s probably the most desired male in our clan, hell, in any of them. The men envied him—until you came along. Now they will pity him. They can be assholes. He’ll ignore it but it will make life hard on Drantos.”
She let that information sink in. Drantos had lost respect? That bothered her a lot. “I don’t know how to fix this. It’s not my fault my father was human. What do you expect me to do? I love him.”
“I see.” Peva’s anger seemed to drain somewhat. “I’m glad to hear that, at least.”
“Do you have any advice to help us with this mess or would you rather just try to make me feel worse?” Dusti edged closer to the clothes rack in the shop.
“Do you really care?”
Anger burned. “He’s my mate. I deeply love him,” Dusti ground out. “You could give me advice if you’re truly his friend, since I know so little about your ways.”
The woman appraised her. “You need to show the clan that you are worthy to be his mate. If you truly care about him, you try hard to fit in and make people like you. They might be willing to overlook your bloodlines.”
“Do you want to share some suggestions? I’m not a mind reader.”
Peva took a deep breath. “Be respectful to him at all times, especially publicly. Relationships work differently with VampLycans. You never contradict him in front of others. Do that at home, in private. You’re allowed to argue with your mate as much as you wish behind closed doors. Men like a woman with spirit and he’ll encourage that. Rumors are circulating that he had to plead with you to be his mate. “
“He didn’t beg me to come home with him.”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. That’s what everyone believes. You need to fix that immediately before the rumors spread to other clans.”
“Fine.” Dusti spun around and quickly found things in her size. She got an armload of clothing, picked out a pair of canvas slip-ons, and then turned. “Do you need to add this up?”
“I see what you’ve taken.” Peva held out a bag.
Dusti put all the things into it. “Thank you.”
“Make him happy. That is all I want. We grew up together. He’s been as close to a brother as I have after my own died.”
“I’ll do my best,” she promised, before stepping out into the sunshine.
Drantos and the taller guy stood ten feet away whispering but they noticed her immediately. She paused until Drantos motioned her over. The big man ignored her still as if she didn’t exist. He didn’t glance at her once.
“Thank you,” Drantos said.
“Not a problem. Let me know if you need anything.” The guy disappeared down an alley next to the store.
“What was that about?”
Drantos took her burden from her then cradled her against his chest with one arm. “We’ll discuss it later. Do you want to put on the shoes now?”
“Not really. I’d just like to go home.”
He offered his hand. “Are you okay? You appear a little irritated.”
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t seem convinced but he tugged her toward the walkway. “We’ll be home soon.”
She noticed a group of five couples heading toward them on the sidewalk. Dusti bit her lip and then released it. “Are those your clan people ahead of us in that group?”
“Yes.”
Now is my chance, she thought, mustering up her courage when the group drew closer. She jerked on Drantos’s hand to bring him to a halt. He turned to peer at her with a questioning gaze. Dusti took a deep breath, her heart racing, and she made sure she spoke loudly.
“Thank you for allowing me to be your mate, Drantos. I mean it. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
She rushed on, ignoring his shocked expression and the fact that the couples had stopped to gawk. “I don’t deserve you. I’ve been so unworthy. But I swear I’ll make it up to you every day.”
His jaw clenched and his gaze lifted over her head. Understanding dawned, quickly followed by amusement. His lips twitched. “You’ll show the clan that you’re more than worthy of being mine. They just need to see how courageous and strong you are, as I have.”
She winked at him subtly. “You’re the best. I love you.”
He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss on her knuckles, and then started to move down the sidewalk as he lowered it. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
She couldn’t resist glancing at the VampLycans when they passed them. All ten of them appeared openly stunned and she resisted the grin that threatened to curve her lips. She hoped that little display of them as a couple dispelled any gossip about Drantos having to talk her into being with him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said softly, once they’d cleared the town and reached the path to his cabin.
She opened her mouth to tell him she’d done it because she cared about him.
“But I appreciate it.”
Dusti understood. “I’d do anything for you.”
“My friend I spoke to heard from Kraven. He didn’t want to risk reaching out to me on the phone in case your grandfather tapped the lines to trace the call. He and Bat are somewhere safe. He knew we’d be worried.”
Tears filled Dusti’s eyes. “Thank you. When are they coming back? When will I see Bat again?”
“They will return as soon as Decker is caught and brought to justice. She’ll be safe once he’s no longer a threat.”
“Where are they?”
“He didn’t pass along that information.”
“Did Kraven mention to your friend if he’d told her yet that he wants Bat to be his mate?”
“He didn’t mention Kraven sounded in pain, so I assume not.”
Dusti chuckled. “Yeah. I almost feel sorry for your brother.” Her humor faded as quickly as it surfaced. “I don’t see how that can work out between them, to be honest.”
Drantos paused to gaze down at her with his beautiful eyes. “Love is the most important thing of all. He’ll love her.”
“She has her career that she’s suffered a lot for. It’s everything to her.”
“That’s not true. She loves you, and you matter more than anything to her. I saw that in her eyes every time she looked at you.”
“I’ve never tried to step in the way of her career. She just reached her ultimate goal. The law firm is considering making her a partner. She’d have to give it all up to be with him, wouldn’t she? You said VampLycans can’t stand living in cities. Her entire life is in Los Angeles.”
“Let’s go home. We can’t do anything for them but be here when they return.” He started to move again.
Dusti worried. She knew Kraven would do his best to protect her sister and that Bat wasn’t a slouch at watching her own back. But she really couldn’t see how their relationship could work out. Bat would fight Kraven every step of the way and have a major meltdown when he explained everything she’d have to give up to be with him. That was if her sister even allowed him to get that close to her. She’d sworn off ever loving a man again after having her heart broken.
Please don’t ever leave me. I couldn’t live without you, sweetheart.
Her heart melted when she glanced up at Drantos. “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
He jerked to halt in front of their cabin, his dark blue eyes widening.
“What?”
“You heard me?”
“I’m not deaf. I’m not going to leave. I love you. I’m not as hung up on my old life as Bat is.”
A grin curved his lips, reminding her how handsome he was. “I didn’t say that aloud. I thought it. You’ve picked up my thoughts. You can hear me.” He closed his mouth. Tell me you love me again.
Shock tore through her. He hadn’t spoken that last part but she’d heard it as if he had. His voice had been that loud and clear.
Drantos lowered to his knees in front of her. “The bond is in place! We’re officially mated.”
Can you hear me? She tried to think toward him, carefully attempting to project each word without moving her own lips.
A deep rumble of a laugh answered her before his thoughts did. Yes, I can.
Oh shit, he can hear everything I think? I’m so going to be in a world of trouble the next time I get mad at him.
“No, Dusti. Only the things you project will come through the bond. If you’re mad, I will hear your thoughts unless you shield them. You’ll learn. I won’t invade your privacy.”
“But just a few minutes ago we couldn’t do this.”
“The bond just snaps into place. We’ve been sharing sex and blood. Our emotions are involved. My blood and yours have started to take hold in each other. This is a true mating.”
Her gaze lowered to the front of his jeans. “So that means you can’t get it up for other women now?”
“That’s the first thing you think about?” He shook his head, looking amused, and rose back up to his feet. “Yes, that’s what it means.”
“What else is going to change?”
He released her hand to open the cabin door, pausing long enough for her to enter first. He threw her new clothes onto the table just inside the entry, used his boot to slam the door closed, and grabbed her before she could do more than gasp. He nearly ran with her toward their bedroom.
“What are you doing?”
He dropped her on the bed. Her body bounced once on the soft mattress and she gaped at Drantos while he tore at his clothes. He nearly fell over when he bent to tear off his boots. She laughed and lifted up on her elbows to watch him. The amusement left when his gaze met hers as he straightened. His eyes glowed.
“Don’t do that hypnosis shit on me.”
He shook his head. “I can’t anymore. You’re my mate. It wouldn’t work. I’m just not hiding my desire for you any longer. You know what I am, Dusti. My eyes turn this way when I’m extremely horny.”
“Why would you try to keep that a secret?”
“I wanted your feelings for me to build and I thought that might be easier for you if I wasn’t constantly reminding you how different we are. We’re compatible in all the ways that matter.”
It was kind of sweet and she understood why he’d think that way. “I see.”
She lowered her gaze down his incredibly sexy, muscular body until she paused at the sight of his rigid cock straining straight out toward her. Her body instantly responded. Her nipples beaded and between her thighs, she felt moisture dampen the sweats she’d borrowed from him.
“Open your mind to me.” He bent over to reach for the waist of the sweats, tugged them down her body, and tore off all three layers of socks from her feet. “You’re going to love this part of being mates. At least I think we both are. I’ve heard enough about it to always envy the idea of being able to link with someone else.”
Dusti sat up and tore the shirt over her head. She met his gaze and took a deep breath, blew it out, and nodded. She wasn’t sure how to do it but she mentally pushed toward him with her thoughts.
Is this what you mean?
Yes! His knee made the bed dip.
“What…” Her mouth closed and she tried to think her words again. What were you talking about?
Open your thighs wide for me and keep your mind open.
Okay. She nodded. Her heart raced but she spread her thighs. I wish you’d tell me what we’re doing.
Drantos flattened onto his stomach on the bed, his hands slid under her ass, and he jerked her hips closer to his mouth. His eyes seemed to glow more, turning a neon-blue that entranced her. You’re so beautiful. God, I love you. You smell so hot, so good, and your taste is addictive. Stay open to me. His face dipped, his thumbs spreading her sex lips open, and his tongue traced her clit.
Pleasure shot through Dusti—but it wasn’t just from him teasing her clit. Confusion struck her for an instant as she licked her lips. A hunger gripped her; a wonderful flavor filled her senses, as if she’d just eaten something fantastic. Her passion amplified until her elbows supporting her upper weight gave way. She fell flat on the bed, crying out when her sex seemed to throb as if it had a heartbeat.
“Oh my God,” she moaned. “We’re connected, aren’t we? I’m feeling what you do.”
He growled against her clit, the vibrations of rapture on her sensitive nerve endings heightening her desire, and her vaginal walls clenched hard. The pounding in her sex seemed to rush to her ears, her body writhed under his mouth, and her fingers clawed the bedding just to hold on to something.
Drantos tore his mouth away from her clit, climbed up her body, and her eyes opened. She knew how desperately he wanted inside her, how much he hurt, and even how tight his balls had drawn up with pure need to fuck her. His cock filled with blood until the skin seemed ready to burst from the pressure. She spread her thighs wider to help him ease inside her. She nearly drowned in the strong emotions of his need and her own. He wasn’t thinking words anymore but she understood.
The second the crown of his cock brushed her slick pussy, they both groaned again. She knew how hot she felt to him, how the scent of her arousal filled his nose, and how it made him ache more to feel the tight sheath of her body wrap around his.
Mine. Home. My everything.
Dusti nodded frantically and her hands released the comforter to grab him instead. She could feel her nails sinking into his shoulders as if they were digging into her own. Pleasure at the slight bite of pain had her back arching and her legs wrapping around the back of his thighs. She could feel her heels sliding against him.
He hesitated and she knew he worried that the sensations would overwhelm her. He didn’t want to rush things, to make her feel too much, too fast.
Fuck me, she demanded. I need you and I’m okay.
I love you so much, Dusti. He pressed forward and she cried out loudly at the sensation of warm, slick flesh parting for his throbbing cock. It was amazing, how it felt for both of them as he stretched her, her muscles clenched tight around every inch of his cock while he pressed deeper.
He moved, fucking her fast and furious, out of control. And Dusti wanted him to be. Their bodies moved together, her bucking under him frantically while he pounded into her, and rapture gripped them both. Every throb of his cock, every twitch of her pussy around his swelling cock made her spin higher out of control. The ecstasy became a living thing between them that locked them together.
She gasped when the first tinges of her climax started and he roared out above her. She screamed as his semen started to shoot from the tip of his shaft. She not only felt it deep inside her womb, but also felt it from his prospective, flooding into her. Her mind blew from the intensity of his release coupled with her own. A white haze of delight drowned her until she eventually surfaced and realized they lay slumped together, panting hard on the bed.
Drantos had collapsed on top of her but just enough to the side not to crush her under his heavier weight. Her eyes opened and a grin spread across her face. She could feel each little pulse of his cock and how he softened just slightly, easing some of the pressure inside her.
That was so cool!
Drantos chuckled and lifted his head. She knew he wanted to groan when he forced his limbs to support more of his weight, that he’d have been content to remain sprawled on top of his mate until he caught his breath enough to take her again, but he wanted to see her face. He thought she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen and looking into her eyes made him believe he gazed into heaven. She had become his life, his entire world, and he loved her with his very soul.
“I know,” he whispered. “You feel the same way about me. We’re mates.”
“I’m so happy you came into my life.”
Tears blinded them both and Drantos laughed. “Damn. You’re going to make me cry too. I just found a down side to this.”
She laughed with him. “Good thing I think sensitive men are hot.”
“I’m relieved to know that.” His lips lowered to brush across her mouth.
Dusti moaned. Again? Really? So soon? Desire flared through them both.
I’m not human.
I love VampLycans now.
Drantos chuckled against her lips. I love you, Dusti.
“This is going to work out.”
“We’ll make certain of it.”
Dusti wasn’t really sure how she’d fit into his clan but didn’t want to share that with him. Drantos brushed another kiss over her lips. “You’re projecting. I don’t mean to overhear your thoughts but it’s going to be fine.”
“It’s just such an unfamiliar way to live. Your rules and world are so different from mine.”
“They will become yours. You are VampLycan, Dusti. You were just denied the knowledge of your heritage.”
She felt anger come through their bond. “It pisses you off?”
“I would have found you so much sooner if you’d been raised in the clans.”
“I would have lived with Decker’s if my mother had stayed, or she would have been forced to mate with Aveoth.” She shivered a little, remembering the fierce and intense warrior. “He could have been my father. How scary is that? Imagine having to face him at every holiday get-together. Talk about a nightmare in-law.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to have children with her.”
“Why?”
“Gargoyles hate Vampires to a level that is extreme. We’re half Vampire but even we’re not fond of the full-bloods. GarLycans tend to avoid mating with us half-breeds because we carry Vampire blood. Even a drop is too much.”
“But he was addicted to the bloodline. I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either but it would be an affront to his clan if he had children with any Vampire blood running in their veins. It’s acceptable in his culture for him to take her as a lover but nothing more. He would have either had to dump her to take a mate or found a GarLycan willing to breed his children without the bond mate.”
“That’s so weird and messed up. What about the woman he took as a lover? She’d just have to turn a blind eye to him screwing someone else to have a baby?”
“Yes.”
“That’s so wrong.”
“I agree but that’s how they live.”
“What if he wanted to mate his lover?”
“He’d have a hell of a fight on his hands to stay in control of his clan if she had any Vampire blood in her veins. They’d want him to step down. They don’t always mate the mother of their children. It’s not a requirement, but a VampLycan would be offensive to his clan if he bonded to her. It would give her status that none of them would wish her to have.”
“That’s so confusing. They’re like friends to VampLycans, right?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it for me.”
“They are willing to join forces with us but we’re not considered totally equal.”
“No wonder my mom took off to avoid that kind of fate. I just wish she’d told us the truth.”
“So do I.”
“I keep thinking about Decker. Where is he, and will Bat and Kraven be safe from him?”
“Aveoth is now aware of what his plans were. Decker no longer holds the advantage and the GarLycan leader knows Bat already has a mate. Your sister is going to be fine. Decker wants her alive, so he wouldn’t hurt her if he’s able to find them. Worst case, he’d turn her over to Aveoth and he’d just send her to us. He knows she has a mate and he’s got honor. It’s Kraven I’m more concerned about. He’d never allow her to be taken without forfeiting his life first.”
“I just wish we could help them.”
“Kraven is more than capable of surviving and staying under the radar. He’ll return when he feels it’s safe to bring his mate home. Have some faith. I do.” He caressed her skin. “Let me distract you from your worrying.”
She smiled. “I love you touching me.”
“I love everything about you.”