Chapter 3

Chapter Three

" T he easiest way to anger a god is by trying to step into their domain," I read the phrase out loud.

"Is it a riddle?" Fell frowns.

"No, it's an account." I skim over the words. "A previous Alpha overreached and tried to make himself into a god."

"Sounds like a case of being batshit crazy to me," Cadoc says.

"Yeah." I nod my agreement as I continue to read her account. "It's why the amulet was brought into play again. He tried to change his core magic."

"Magic? We're not witches," Bo says.

"No, but our transformation is born of magic, not biology." I grimace. "He experimented."

"On others?" The horror in Kirk's voice is nearly tangible.

I nod. "And himself. He underestimated how much the pack was dialed into its Alpha. It affected the entire group."

"That's a nightmare." Bo grimaces.

"My ancestor's journal mentioned how things took a turn after Alpha took the throne."

"Affect them, how, Ylva?" Kirk asks tersely.

"Spontaneous shifting, birth defects—Jesus. The rate of miscarriages rose."

"What the hell was he playing at?" Bo asks.

"According to my ancestor, ruling our pack wasn't enough for him. He wanted to unite all the wolves under one banner and take on the other supernatural races."

"To what end?" Cadoc mumbles.

I shake my head. "I don't speak power-hungry Alpha, so I can't answer that."

"What did he do to the pack members, Ylva?" Kirk asks.

I flip through the pages and bile threatens to creep up my throat and I shake my head.

"Let me see." Kirk holds out his hand.

I pause. "Dredging it all up won't change the past."

"Ylva." Kirk's jaw ticks, and I yield, handing him the book gingerly. "Fenrir's chains, he tested the power of the alpha command, gifted to all leaders of the pack," Kirk says.

"In what way?" Bo asks.

"He tapped into their magic and used it to strengthen them, increase their abilities, and push their boundaries."

"I don't like the sound of that," Fell says.

"You shouldn't. They were like toys to this man." Kirk shakes his head. "How is any of this possible?"

"I don't know, but it pissed off people in high places." I nod my head up toward the ceiling.

"Sounds like our Alpha has been reading this account and using it as a playbook."

"How did it end?" Fell asks.

"That remains to be seen," Kirk mumbles as he continues to flip through the pages.

Where are you? I cry out as the Alpha's voice explodes in my head.

"I think he found out we're gone," Bo says sarcastically.

You are to return at once. The command has me crawling in my skin. I grip the edge of the car bench and lean forward as my body demands I return to the Alpha's home.

"What do we do?" Fear rises and my voice cracks.

"We stay the course," Cadoc says gruffly as he clutches the wheel.

Now. The Alpha put more power behind his demand.

Cadoc hisses as he applies the brake.

"Fight it," Kirk says.

Cadoc grunts. "I'm trying."

"If we go back, he and the council will punish us," Bo whispers. "Trust me, you don't want to be on the receiving end of their displeasure."

"He's our Alpha. I can't ignore him." Cadoc engages the turn signal. The rage bombarding us from the pack link makes my head ring. Heart pounding, I struggle to draw in enough oxygen as my will is stolen from me.

"It feels like he's tearing at my soul." I whimper.

"Stop resisting," Fell says.

I shake my head. "We have to fight him. We're needed elsewhere, and nothing good will come from going back there unprepared."

Tears leak from my eyelids and trail down my face. Cadoc growls and Fell nuzzles my neck.

"Our mate is in pain." The deep voice leaving Fell's lips is one I've never heard before.

"Fell," I whisper.

"I'll take away the pain, little wolf," Fell promises.

A soothing balm coats the fire in my skull. I lean against him heavily. "How?" I feel him through our link. Warmth and adoration wash over me like sun rays. His scent grows stronger.

"No one hurts our mate." Bo's snarky voice sounds in my mind.

"What is this?" I ask.

"Our bond is strengthening and canceling out the Alpha's Pack bond." Kirk's wonder is almost childlike.

Cadoc?

"Give me a second, brat. My bonds to the Alpha were much stronger than yours." Hearing his voice out loud instead of in my head feels wrong. He struggles against the fealty he once swore to the Alpha and the vows he made to me.

The tug of war is painful. "Pull over." Fell's deep voice brokers no argument. Cadoc steers the car to the side of the road and turns off the engine.

Kirk leans across the console and removes the keys from the ignition as Cadoc continues to wrestle with his demons. Putting up a thick wall in his mind, he bars us from the mental war being waged.

He shouldn't be doing this alone.

Cadoc moans in pain and something in me snaps.

"No." I unbuckle my seatbelt and wiggle from my position between Fell and Bo.

"Princess—"

"No. He's our clan leader. My mate. He will not suffer alone while we watch." I climb between the front seats and grip his red face between my palms. "Look at me, Cad."

He forces his eyes open, and I see the well of pain and conflict in his cerulean gaze.

"You are mine." Surging forward, I bite down on the spot where I marked him. Crying out, he bucks up against me, and I bracket his big body with my legs. He shoves the seat back as far as it'll go. I grind against him, rolling my hips as I search for the flickering connection between us.

Our bond is weaker than the one he's had since he was born. I need to change that. "Look at me."

"So bossy, brat." Beads of sweat break out over his brow.

"I learned it from you. I need you to fight for me."

"Till my last breath." The sincerity in his voice and the honesty in his gaze melts me.

"You don't belong to the Alpha anymore. You're mine." I glance over at the men surrounding us. "Ours. This is your clan now." I nip his bottom lip, and his eyes dilate with desire. It's the first time I've initiated sexual contact.

"Claim him, sweet one," Kirk says softly.

"Is that what you want?" I cup the side of his face and run my thumb over the swollen bottom lip I abused.

"Yes." Cadoc grips my thighs tight, and I circle my hips. I can feel all four sets of eyes on me. Arching my back, I soak up their attention.

"Take him out, princess. Give his mind something else to focus on," Bo insists.

Scooting back on his lap, I feel the steering wheel dig into my back. I unbutton the top of his blue jeans and pull the zipper down over the hard bulge.

Folding the material back, I chuckle as his rigid length springs forth.

"Commando?"

Cadoc smirks and shrugs.

I wrap my hand around his base and squeeze, and all the men in the vehicle groan. I peer through my lowered lashes and meet Fell's gaze. Leaning forward, he adjusts himself. Stroking up, I twist my wrist and start a steady rhythm.

"Just like that, brat." Cadoc lifts his hip, thrusting into my hand. His lips part, and his eyes gloss over. The Alpha's voice grows fainter as lust floods our link.

"Faster, Ylva, don't tease," Fell says.

"I think he can handle waiting." I tighten my hold and Cadoc swears. I laugh, high off the power I wield.

Swiping my thumb over his tip, I gather the liquid spilling from his slit and use it as lube. Here with my mates, I feel sexy and captivating. They don't see my scars.

"I want you, Cadoc."

"Then take me, brat."

"Shit," Kirk swears.

"I want to watch you get off while I ride him." The words are out before I can think.

"Me?" Kirk asks raspy.

"All of you."

"Greedy, princess?"

"In need of proof that you're all mine." This is to strengthen our bond, not because I enjoy watching them get off at the same time.

My nipples strain against the linen dress as the sound of zippers lowering fills the car. I watch as they take out their cocks. Long, thick, and hard, they make my mouth water.

"Are you going to ride me, or admire us?" Cadoc asks huskily.

I yank my dress up. "Why not, both?" Lifting, I angle him toward me and guide him inside. His wide head stretches my slick entrance, and I whimper.

"So damn wet for us," he grunts as I slowly work him inside my tightness. "Squeezing me like a good girl." My walls twitch and clamp around him at his words. He chuckles. "You have to relax if you want me inside, brat."

"She likes it when you tell her how well her pussy is taking your cock, don't you, princess?" Bo asks.

"Yes."

"Fuck, he's splitting you wide open," Kirk grunts. His hand moves faster over his dick, and I watch as a pearly bead of liquid rolls down his length, contrasting with his brown skin. A fresh gush of cream helps me ease down further.

Cadoc's hands grip my hips, hard. "Your pussy is the best kind of torture. So hot and tight around me."

I grip his shoulders, bracing myself as I lift and lower, working him deep.

"That's it, take him," Fell says. I look up and meet his blown-out gaze. "You look so good, riding him. Give us a show."

Arching my back, I quicken my pace as our pleasure weaves like an intricate tapestry. The sound of our bodies coming together and their hands stroking and pumping is an aphrodisiac.

"That's it," Cadoc growls. "I'm going to paint your insides white, brat. Hold tight." He Carries me from the car. I cling to him, legs wrapped around his waist, and feet digging into his back to remain connected.

"Don't you dare come yet," Cadoc commands.

Shuddering, I pulse around him, hovering on the edge of completion.

He lowers us onto the hood.

"Are you ready for me?" Cadoc asks huskily.

"Yes. Do it." He darts forward, sinking his teeth into my neck as I contract around him, exploding as my body shakes. I scream as I feel the others reach their completion moments later.

So, that's what the mating bond feels like. I snicker at Fell's amusement. I don't know what the Volva did to him, but I see glimpses of the boy I once knew again.

Ten out of ten. Kirk's light-hearted answer makes me laugh.

Is this going to be every time? Bo asks.

Until we can control it better—possibly. Cadoc's voice is steady.

Are you okay now? I raise my head to meet his gaze, and he gives me a curt nod.

"Thanks to you."

I exhale, relieved. The Alpha's voice has become a low buzz in the back of my brain. I easily tune it out.

Together, our clan is more powerful than his brute strength. It feels right to share the same mental space with them. It's the first time we've all been present together in the bond, but it won't be the last.

Bo clears his throat. "I hate to ruin the moment, but we have a problem." He gestures to the wooded area surrounding us, and I tense when I notice the foliage moving in the distance.

Kirk helps me off Cadoc, who quickly zips up his pants. Senses trained; we prepare ourselves for an attack when we all catch the scent of deer.

Deflating, I slump back against Kirk's body and giggle.

"I think we'll survive the invasion," Cadoc says sarcastically as a herd passes by the vehicle.

Bo hisses. The sundial appears in his hand.

"As much as I enjoyed our break, duty calls," Bo says.

"I have Dude Wipes in the glove compartment," Cadoc says.

"Of course you do," Bo mutters.

We walk back to the car. "I like to be prepared." Cadoc shrugs.

"Alpha won't forget what we've done here," Fell says.

"No," I agree as I open the small door and hand out wipes. There's no shame here among us. I hand out the white squares and we clean off. Stashing them in a plastic bag we've used for garbage I return to my seat in the back seat. Bo and Fell sit to the left of me, and Kirk takes his place as navigator in the passenger seat.

After the way we connected, I feel at home . Home is a word so foreign I've forgotten its true meaning. No. I slam the thought on the sentimental drivel. This isn't that kind of relationship. Fooling myself into thinking otherwise is asking for pain. I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime.

"We're taking a detour." Cadoc pulls off the highway.

"Why?" I tense.

"Because we're going to get a lot of strange looks in these outfits. Besides we need supplies," Cadoc adds. He gestures to the tunic decorated with embroidery. I smooth my hand down the gauzy floral dress that made me feel every inch the bride.

"And where do you plan to get them this late at night?" Kirk asks.

"Walmart."

"Ugh." The disgusted sound spills from Bo's mouth, and we all laugh.

"Welcome to life as a commoner, Your Highness." I wink.