CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Cain’s not your mate, is he?”

Ally froze at Shaya’s words. It hadn’t been a question; it had been a sure statement. Sitting on the rug of Ally’s living area with Willow, Ally peered up at Shaya, who was lounging on the sofa. “How did you find out?”

“I’ve suspected it for a while now. See, Nick didn’t claim me straightaway. The sexual cravings nearly drove me insane, and it was physically painful for him to resist the urge to mate. Even from day one, you never seemed to be suffering from any of that. Still, I wondered if the reason the mating urge hadn’t come into place for you and Cain was that he’s just not capable of any kind of connection. But if nothing else, you should have lamented that you’d never have your true mate. Believing Nick would never claim me made me feel dead inside. You never gave any indication that you were hurting.”

“Derren assumed Cain was my mate, and I didn’t correct him,” Ally confessed. “I figured I’d be less likely to be targeted by members of your pack if people thought Cain was my mate.”

There was no judgment on Shaya’s face. “Understandable. Does Derren know the truth now?”

“No.” Ally flinched as Willow whacked her leg with a rattle—apparently the pup didn’t feel that Ally was paying her enough attention.

Shaya chuckled at Willow’s antics before continuing. “You should tell him. You don’t need to keep up the pretense now. The entire pack accepts you. They’ll protect you with their lives after all you’ve done for us.”

“I’ve tried to tell him.” Ally pressed a button on the baby’s wolf toy, making it howl. Willow chuckled in delight. “He cuts me off whenever I even mention Cain.”

“That’s probably because he’s so possessive and determined to keep you.”

“Yeah. I figured that. That’s something I never saw coming.” She hadn’t thought he would ever feel that way about her. Although it had spooked her, it didn’t scared her to the extent that she wanted to end the relationship. Self-preservation dictated that she leave him, but an ache built in her chest whenever she envisioned doing so. Her wolf went batshit crazy at the idea of leaving.

“How do you feel about it?” asked Shaya.

“Torn. A big part of me wants to see where things can go, but there’s the problem that I don’t know how he feels. I know he wants me to be with him, I know he’s possessive. But he’s never given me any indication that he cares for me.”

Ever since his “I want everything from you and will get it” declaration a few weeks ago, he’d been focused on Ally so intensely and overwhelmingly that it was enough to unbalance her. But it was also a little heady having someone’s complete attention on her. Still, being “obsessed” with her and caring for her were two different things.

Shaya snorted softly. “It’s obvious that he cares for you. Derren’s possessive of you to an extent that I didn’t think he was capable of. He never stops touching you, is super protective of you. And he told Nick weeks ago that he intends to convince you to become part of our pack permanently—which I fully support, by the way. Derren’s not reckless or impulsive. He thinks things through. If he’s made this choice to keep you, then he’s one hundred percent sure he means to imprint with you.”

Derren hadn’t mentioned imprinting to Ally, but for their relationship to be permanent they would need to eventually imprint on each other. Sure, there were shifter couples that didn’t go down the imprinting route. But such a relationship never lasted, because their inner wolves would only be satisfied with total commitment on every level—physically, sexually, and emotionally. If they didn’t get it, their wolves would sooner or later withdraw from the weak relationship and fight their human side for more.

Shaya crossed one leg over the other. “How do you feel about Derren?”

“Look, I’m a very self-aware person. I know I have plenty of flaws. I know I’m not very forthcoming when it comes to feelings or my past. I have constant nightmares and prefer sleeping outside in my hammock. I cook when I’m stressed—even if I’m not hungry or it’s three o’clock in the morning. Being a Seer, feeling people’s emotions all the time, means I sometimes get struck by a sensory overload, and so I’ll have my days when I need space, time, and privacy.

“Derren is a very dominant, forceful, intrusive male who thinks my business is his and who is determined to have his own way all the time. But even though he pushes me to tell him things, he never pushes too hard—he shares with me so that I’ll share with him. Even though he doesn’t like any distance between us, he lets me have my space and privacy when I need it. And even though he very rarely gets a peaceful night’s sleep because of me, he never complains or sleeps anywhere but beside me. How can I not care about the fucker?”

Shaya smiled. “It annoys you that he’s dug deep and made a place for himself in your life, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, because I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t think I even had the ability to let someone get that close to me again. Not after what happened with Zeke. But Derren wormed his way in.”

“Derren can be sneaky and subtle in working to get what he wants.”

Ally handed Willow one of her plush bears. “When Zeke set me aside, it stung even though I respected his mating. I think the worst part of it was that the rest of the pack set me aside too. I lost everything all at once. But I know that if Derren set me aside, it would hurt me more than all of that did. I don’t think I’d recover.”

“Aw, sweetie, you don’t see it, do you?” Shaya came to sit next to Ally on the rug. “Derren’s typically a hard person to understand. I’m not sure that anyone other than Nick and you can claim to really know him. But I do know that trusting others is something Derren finds extremely difficult to do. Trust is a lot more important to him than any other feelings. And he trusts you. That’s huge for him. You’ve become important to him. Important enough that he’s chosen you over his true mate. Don’t run from that. Hold tight to it.”

Shaya’s advice stayed with Ally all day. And as Ally ate her evening meal she had to admit, even if only to herself, that she couldn’t run from this thing she had with Derren. She didn’t even want to. She cared too much for this person who trusted, respected, protected—though she didn’t need it—and accepted her despite all her faults.

Walking away from him, pissing all over what they had, would not only hurt both of them but make her a coward. She’d never been a coward. Just because he might not care for her now didn’t mean he couldn’t grow to feel that way, did it?

“Where are you, baby?”

Pulled out of her thoughts by Derren’s voice, Ally blinked at him. “Woolgathering.”

His expression called her a liar. “Ready to leave?”

She blinked. “Already?” They hadn’t had dessert yet.

“Yes, already.”

Figuring he must want to talk about something without an audience, she rose from her seat. Having said their good-byes, they walked out into the warm evening. Without breaking stride he gripped her wrist, twirled her to face him, and yanked her against his body—forcing her to walk backward. “What’s wrong?” she asked. He seemed surprised by the question.

“Nothing at all.”

Ally slipped her arms under his and grabbed the back of his shoulders. “Then why did you want to get me out of there so fast?”

“I’ve hardly seen you today. I wanted to be alone with you. And I was close to hitting Bracken for flirting with you.” Of course Derren knew that the enforcer would never poach. Unlike Dominic, he didn’t take the flirting too far. But it was still irritating at times. “I don’t share.”

“Really? But you’re not in the least bit possessive,” she mocked.

“Such a little smart-ass.”

A very un-Ally-like squeal left her as he abruptly slung her over his shoulder. “Hey! Put me down!”

Derren spanked her ass before giving it a firm squeeze. “No.”

“Stop spanking my ass!”

“It’s my ass. You should know that by now.” He’d bitten and marked it enough times.

“I mean it!” It was impossible to sound firm and outraged when she was laughing. She smacked his own ass, but he didn’t seem to care. “Derren, put me down!”

“I don’t want to.” Hearing a familiar chime, he dug his cell out of his pocket. “Shush, baby, while I take this call.” Seeing “Unknown Number” flashing on the screen, Derren frowned. “Hello.”

“Derren, it’s me.”

Derren halted abruptly. Cain. Not a voice Derren wanted to hear. His good humor literally fled his body, and his wolf snarled—as far as the animal was concerned, Cain was a rival. “Hey.” The word came out guttural.

“I heard your pack’s still having trouble.” Danger dripped from every syllable.

Putting Ally on her feet, Derren met her knowing gaze—her shifter hearing had obviously picked up Cain’s voice. “We know who the culprit is. It’s only a matter of time before we have them.”

“Good. How’s my Ally?”

His wolf’s ears flattened as a loud growl rumbled out of him. The animal did not at all like Cain’s use of the word “my.” Derren didn’t like it much either. “Fine.”

“Is she close?”

Close? She couldn’t get much closer. “Yeah.”

“Put her on.”

Without a word, Derren held out the phone.

Taking it, Ally tucked her hair behind her ear. “Hello.”

“How are you, sweetheart?”

A low but fierce growl built in Derren’s chest at the endearment. His wolf curled back his upper lip, his anger almost palpable as his vicious temper threatened to take over.

Ally swallowed hard. “Good.”

“Have the Collingwood wolves bothered you since you left their pack?”

“No. No, they’ve left me alone.” Ally ignored the way Derren’s brows lifted at the lie.

“How are things at the Mercury Pack? Is Derren taking good care of you?”

That was one way to put it. “I don’t need protecting.”

Cain laughed. “How did I know you’d say that? I can’t talk long, sweetheart. But I’ll be out of here very soon. Then we’ll talk more.”

“Okay.”

“Put Derren back on.”

Retrieving the cell, Derren gritted out, “Yeah?” With jealousy riding him, it took all of his control not to tell his friend to fuck off.

“She’s lying to me,” growled Cain. “The Collingwood fuckers have been bothering her.”

“Yes,” Derren confirmed, watching her wince at Cain’s words.

“Don’t let any of them harm her.”

“I won’t.” Derren would kill them before he allowed that to happen. Not for Cain, but to protect Ally.

“I’m trusting you with her, Derren. Don’t let me down.” The line went dead.

Let him down? Derren was pretty sure he’d let Cain down themoment he first thrust his tongue inside her mouth. Didn’t matterto him, though. It should, he knew that. But Derrenneededher in away that probably should have freaked him out. But he’d accepted it.

Ally cleared her throat and offered Derren a weak smile.Well, thatwas awkward. Of course, it wouldn’t have been awkward if Derren weren’t under the impression that Cain was her mate. Trying to keep her body language casual, she proceeded toward the lodge. His words almost made her trip over her own feet.

“Why hasn’t Cain claimed you?” There was affection in Cain’s tone as he spoke of and to her. It was obvious to Derren that the guy cared a lot for her—or, at least, as much as a sociopath was capable of caring for someone. She was a female that any male would be proud to have as his mate. Why the fuck would Cain decide against claiming her?

Ally flinched as flickers of jealousy, indignation, uncertainty, and possessiveness lashed at her, making her break out in a cold sweat. Derren might look the image of composure, but his emotions were in turmoil. All right, truth time.

She inhaled deeply as she spun to face him. “You want to talk about Cain? Good. Because I can finally make you hear what I’ve been trying to tell you all this time.” Her next words tumbled out in a rush. “He’s not my mate. When I first got here, I didn’t feel safe—everyone but Shaya seemed to hate me. I figured I’d be safer if I didn’t correct your assumption that I was Cain’s mate. So go on, yell at me for not correcting you in the beginning.”

She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the betrayal and hurt that would surely glimmer from his dark gaze. The flickers of his emotions suddenly cut off . . . it wasn’t like he was numb, but as if he were so shocked that his emotions were on hold.

Peeking out of one eye, she found him staring at her, his expression completely blank. His eyes, though . . . they weren’t so blank. There was something in them that told her to run. Not out of fear. No, she wasn’t scared. But the primal instinct to run was there nonetheless, and her wolf was backing it up. Like the animal wanted Ally to challenge him, to make him work for . . . something.

Never one to ignore her wolf, Ally took off.

Thank God she was fast, because he gave chase. She rocketed through the trees, ignoring how the branches that fluttered with the breeze abraded the skin of her cheeks and her bare arms. Wildlife scrambled as it sensed two predators coming.

Ally knew Derren was gaining on her, knew he’d catch her soon. But it still seemed important to not make it easy for him, though she didn’t understand why. She just knew that—

Motherfucker. A body clamped around her, taking her to the ground but rolling to cushion her fall. Derren positioned her flat on her back on the grass as his body pinned her in place. This time, she could sense his emotions. They didn’t hurt her, theylappedat her—which was just weird, despite being a welcome change. The possessiveness was still there, and much more strongly than before. There was also determination, surety, surprise, and greed.

His dark-velvet eyes glittered down at her, filled with purpose and resolve. “You’re not his,” Derren rumbled. “Never were.”

He bit her. Just leaned down and sank his teeth into the crook of her neck, making Ally gasp in shock and pleasure. At the same time, his hand snaked under her T-shirt and closed around her breast; it was a hold so possessive, she reflexively growled in warning despite how good it felt. He released a growl of his own, rebelliously gripping her tighter.

He licked over his mark before returning his gaze, now glinting with satisfaction, to hers. “I should have seen it. The truth of who you are to me was right in fucking front of me, but I didn’t see it.”

Ally shook her head a little. “What are you talking about?”

“You know. You’re my mate, Ally.” He went nose to nose with her. “And you’re about to get claimed.”

She shoved him hard, but he didn’t move . . . except to nip punishingly at her earlobe. “Wait, hold on a minute.”

“Are you going to deny it?” His eyes blazed down at her with fury. “Try. Fucking try.”

She opened her mouth, ready to do just that. But she found that she couldn’t. Something deep inside her wouldn’t allow her to repudiate him. It made no sense. “We’d have known before now.”

“Not while I believed you were meant for Cain.” The moment she’d told him that Cain wasn’t her mate, a knowing had hit Derren so hard his entire equilibrium had faltered. It was as if now that the truth was clear, the mating frequency was no longer jammed. Just as sure as he knew he needed food to survive, he knew she was his mate.

At first, he’d felt too shocked to emotionally process her words. Then she’d ran from him, snapping him out of his daze as she triggered every primal instinct he had to take what belonged to him and only him.

With confusion etched in every line of her face, she looked so vulnerable right then that his chest ached. “It’s true, Ally. Part of you already knows it. You were meant for me.” He saw the smallest glimmer of hope in her eyes, and he realized she wasn’t fighting this because he wasn’t what she wanted. She was battling it because she feared being wrong; she’d stopped trusting her own judgment. “Stop looking at the world through guarded glasses for just one minute, baby. Listen to your instincts. Don’t think, Ally. Feel.”

Ally might have tried once more to refute his belief, but her wolf was riding her so hard to claim him that it had to mean something, right? So she pushed aside her distrust in herself and the world around her . . . and there was the truth. That was when the mating urge kicked in—fast, furious, and leaving no room for thought.

Startling the shit out of Derren, she reared up and bit him. Not lightly, not even seductively. Her teeth abruptly pierced the skin, making it sting and throb and bleed. Then she sucked hard, and he realized something: she wasn’t just biting him, she was claiming him. “Fuck.”

His control splintered. Using his claws, he slashed away her clothes, baring every inch of the body that belonged tohim. He cupped her pussy, sliding one finger through her slick folds. “Already wet for me. Know why? Because your body knows it’s mine.”

It was instinctive for Ally and her wolf to snarl, to challenge his dominance. “No one owns me.” She’d never admit it aloud, but the weight of his solid, powerful body on hers was somehow a turn-on. His face was a mask of utter determination, and his eyes were aflame with a savage need that thrilled her wolf. A claiming between true mates was reported to be wild, merciless, explosive, and no-holds-barred. Ally knew from just the look on his face that this one would be no exception.

“Wrong. I own every part of you.” Hissing through his teeth as her claws raked down his back in warning, he drove two fingers inside her.

Ally gasped, curling her legs around him and grinding against his cock through his jeans. His mouth was hot on hers. Greedy. Consuming. She clawed off his T-shirt and skimmed her hands over his warm, defined chest; he grunted as the tips of her claws pricked his abs. Her need for him was a raw, blistering ache that was made all the worse by the fierce and violent urge to take, own, and claim. “Fuck me,” she rasped against his mouth.

Derren wanted to be in her so badly he could taste it. Her delicious scent was now spiced with her arousal and twining around him, tempting and torturing him. In the confines of his jeans, his hard cock throbbed painfully. But he shook his head. “I’m not done with you yet.”

“Then make me come.”

“No.”

Ally and her wolf stilled. “What?”

“You can come when you admit that you’re mine.”

The words were a taunt, a challenge, and a demand all rolled into one—and they pissed her off. She repeatedly punched at his chest. “Motherfucking piece of fucked-up shit!” In seconds, he had her wrists clasped above her head in one hand; his free hand was still finger-fucking her, and his rhythm hadn’t even slightly faltered. “Let me fucking go!”

Ignoring that order, he drew her nipple into his mouth. Determined to torture her with pleasure, he sucked hard the way she liked it while plunging his fingers faster and deeper. She twisted and arched beneath him, alternating between moaning and cursing him.

When her pussy began to flutter around his fingers, he sent her a warning glance. “Don’t come.” Defiance flashed in her eyes, and he knew she didn’t plan to fight her climax. He withdrew his fingers, which made her growl a string of profanities at him. He brought his face close to hers, pinning her gaze. “I warned you.”

That rumble coated in dominance made her pussy quiver. “You’re being a bastard!”

Call him crazy, but he fully approved that she was making him battle for dominance and the right to claim her. His wolf loved her strength, loved the fight in her. “Give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want. That’s how this will work, baby.”

As the asshole blew over both nipples, they tightened painfully. “I’m going to gut you.”

“No, you’re going to get ruthlessly fucked.” He sank his fingers inside her again. “But there’s a little something you have to do for me first.” He sucked at a patch of skin on her neck. “This is where I’m going to mark you.” His teeth nipped her skin, teasing her with what he’d soon give her.

She moaned as he licked over the imprint of his teeth. The warmth of his breath, the weight of his body, the graze of his chest against her tight nipples, and the feel of his fingers pumping inside her—it was all too much. Her release began to creep up on her again, and she did her best to hide it, but the irritating fucker sensed it.

“Say it, Ally. Say it or you don’t get to come.” He pulled out his fingers when she didn’t speak. Of course, the luscious legs that were wrapped around his body then began to kick the shit out of him. So he bucked his hips, sharply grinding his cock against her clit. The move was enough to make her still with a gasp. “You know you’re mine, Ally. You know it. All you have to do is say it. Is that so hard?” She squeezed her eyes shut and her mouth set in a grim line. Apparently his little Seer did in fact find it too hard to yield.

Derren sucked his fingers clean, groaning as her taste burst on his tongue. “Don’t you want my cock in you? Don’t you want me to give us what we both want?” No response. Releasing her wrists, he got to his knees and ripped open his fly. Her eyelids flipped open. Ah, that got her attention. She tilted her hips, offering herself. He fit the head of his cock in her opening, but he didn’t push inside. “If you’re not mine, I’m not yours.” He smiled at her growl. “The claiming mark on my neck—it means nothing.”

That pissed her wolf motherfucking off. Admittedly, Ally was just as infuriated by that comment. The bastard was hers. “You’re such a fucking asshole.” She was about to rear up and bite his shoulder punishingly, but he leaned forward and collared her throat, pinning her lower body to the ground. It didn’t hurt, but his hold was firm and sure. That assertive display of dominance made her wolf settle rather than bristle.

“The only way I belong to you is if you belong to me.” Derren fed her an inch of his cock but then quickly pulled out. “And you do. You’re meant for me. Aren’t you?”

Ally licked her lips and nodded once. It galled her to yield, but he’d outlasted her, earned the right to claim her.

“Good girl. But I need to hear you say the words. Tell me.”

Awkward, demanding fucker.“I’m meant for you.” Her back bowed as he slammed home, burying himself balls deep in her. He groaned as her pussy contracted around him, holding him there. Then he was punching his cock in and out of her. The muscles in his back bunched and flexed beneath her hands. His thrusts were so deep, rough, and hard that they hurt. But she didn’t care; she wanted this, wanted to feel his vicious, frenzied need to claim her. She burned hotter and hotter, wound tighter and tighter.

His hand flexed around her throat. “This body and this sweet little pussy belongs to me. Always has, always will. Do you understand?” The claws pricking his back dug deep enough to break the skin, and he snarled in the back of his throat.“Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she hissed.

“That’s good.” Releasing her throat, he threw her legs over his shoulders and powered into her. “All. Mine.” Tangling his fingers in her hair, he snatched her head to the side and sank his teeth down hard into her neck, sucking, marking, and claiming. Her body bowed and then locked in place as a scream tore out of her throat and her pussy clutched and milked him. He slammed into her once, twice, three times, and then exploded deep inside her—marking her with his come just as he’d marked her with his teeth.

Then the world seemed to fucking tilt as pain sliced through his head only to be quickly replaced by warm, fuzzy feelings he wasn’t interested in, because there was one other thing he could feel: Ally. He could feel her inside him, outside him; she lived in him now just as he lived in her. As expected, their bond wasn’t fully formed yet. It took emotional “steps” to make that happen. But their link was still strong and distinct.

He rolled onto his back, taking her with him, watching the series of emotions that played across her face—emotions he could also feel through their bond. She was content, sated, and satisfied . . . and a little annoyed. “What is it?”

“We’re so fucking stupid.”

He chuckled, knowing what she meant. “We didn’t have a hope in hell of sensing the truth any sooner.”

He was right, Ally knew. They had both been too messed up by other things to sense it. The mating bond was . . . comforting. The brief pain had been quickly smoothed away by the tranquility and peace that had both calmed and gratified Ally and her wolf. And Derren . . . it felt like he was part of her, like he both filled and surrounded her.

Best of all, she could sense something she’d worried over for some time. “You care about me.”

“Of course I care about you.” Derren circled her claiming mark with his finger, loving to look at it and know she was irrevocably his. “I already made that clear weeks ago when I told you I was keeping you.”

She frowned, sitting up to straddle him; his hands curved around her hips. “No, you didn’t.”

“Yes, I did.”

“No, you said I was your obsession. That’s not ‘caring.’”

“I also said you were mine. I don’t claim things or people, Ally. I’m protective of what’s important to me. But I’m not a possessive person.” He traced her hip bones with his thumbs. “But if you really need me to say the words, fine, I care about you.” He knew the smile that curved his mouth was smug. “And you care for me.” He could feel it.

Sensing an element of surprise mingled in with all that masculine satisfaction, Ally cocked her head. “You thought I didn’t?”

“I thought it would take a lot of work on my part before you did. It was bad enough that I was a shit to you in the beginning. Add in that I’m pretty much an asshole, have an underdeveloped conscience, and I’m fucked up in too many ways to count, and I’m not exactly easy to care for.”

“You’re not an asshole”—she smiled—“all the time.” His mock scowl made her smile widen. “It’s true that you’re an awful cook, have little room for error in your world, can be somewhat judgmental, and are a little too serious. But you’re also extremely supportive, your word is as good as gold, and you own your shit to the extent that you actually verbally admit you’re wrong—do you know how rare that is for a dominant male wolf?”

Sitting upright, he pressed a kiss to his claiming mark. In his opinion, he didn’t deserve her glossy view of him. He was a selfish, aggressive bastard with a serious amount of baggage. But it didn’t change anything; she was his mate, and he was keeping her. Would have kept her even if she hadn’t been his true mate. “I know you find it hard to settle in places, baby. But you belong with me, which means you belong here. Now that I’ve marked and claimed you, you can’t leave.”

That commanding tone never failed to make her bristle. “Well, I could. But I won’t leave, because I don’t want to.”

“Have you always had such a serious issue with authority?”

“Let’s get something straight right now.” She pointed hard at him. “You’re Beta male here, yes. But you’re not my Beta. You’re my mate.” He couldn’t be both at once. Their relationship would never be peaceful if he tried.

Gratified by the latter fact, he smiled. “It’s cute when you get all assertive.” She’d make a perfect Beta female with her strength, dependability, and way of inspiring loyalty in people.

“Do you think the pack will be as shocked as we are?”

“I don’t know. We’ll find out tomorrow morning. For tonight, I want to be alone with my mate.” He lifted her and poised her above his cock. “Ride me.”

“Ooh, I like this plan.”