Chapter 45

The cabin we stayed in was beautiful. All of Alek’s settlement was well maintained and gorgeous. I was sitting on the steps overlooking a small pond that was centered in the settlement. My hands wrapped around a warm mug of coffee as I enjoyed the warm sun. It was looking like it would a warmish day.

A few young pups fished in the pond in front of me. Although I doubted, they’d ever catch anything. The pond was too small to stock with fish, but I’m sure it kept them busy for hours at a time trying to catch something. Two of the pups suddenly tackled each other and wrestled in the mud, while their mother raced to get them separated.

A smile formed on my lips as I thought about how one day I may sit and watch pups that my mates and I had created. I’d always wanted a family and kids. The dream would have to wait though, until things were settled more. I couldn’t try to raise a family while saving the world. One trial at a time.

While the saving the world front was calm, I focused my attention on Alek and his secret. I’d tossed and turned all night trying to see if there was something I’d missed, but I couldn’t think of anything. Finally, not wanting to wake the men who laid next to me, I got up and made myself a cup of coffee.

A set of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. A quick look over my shoulder I saw it was Rune. I smiled at him as he sat down beside me. Taking a sip of my coffee I studied him for a moment.

He looked well rested and ready to try and capture the rogue. His previous wounds from a few months ago didn’t even leave a scar on him, his skin smooth and unmarred. He leaned back on his elbow and studied me with the same regard.

“A penny for your thoughts?” He asked, concern filling his big eyes.

“I think Alex is hiding something.” I blurted, cursing myself for being so blunt.

Rune’s eyebrows flew to his hair line as a few creases formed on his forehead. His lips turned down into a frown and he stared at the tie that held my sweater together. He looked as though he was sorting his thoughts.

“Why do you think that?” He leaned closer to me, grabbing the tail of the tie in one of his hands.

“When we were introduced a flash of recognition at me, or my name crossed his face. He’s also asked questions that seemed odd and seems to value my input more than he probably should. He seems familiar with me, which is a little unsettling because I’ve never met the guy.” I ramble.

“If you’re uncomfortable we’ll leave.” His hand froze while holding onto my sweater’s tie.

“I don’t think he means any harm. I think he knows something, something about me, and he’s hiding it. I can’t imagine what it would be, but something’s there.” I smiled at him, trying to show him that I wasn’t that uncomfortable here.

It touched me that he and the others would just leave because I didn’t like where we were without asking questions. We were still working out the wrinkles in our relationship, but they’d proved their loyalty and love repeatedly. Even stubborn Sten.

“I think we should tell the others and get their input on the subject. We don’t make decisions individually, but I’m sure they’ll be as curious as we are.” Rune smiled softly at me.

He started to play with the tie of my sweater again. I wondered if he knew that with one simple tug, I’d be on display for him. One simple tug and any thoughts of Alek and his secrets would be gone, and I’d be obsessed with my mate.

Grabbing my hand, he pulled me into the cabin and to the bedroom. He moved so fast I was barely able to get my now empty mug on the island that separated the living room from the kitchen. A fleeting concern for where the others were crossed my mind but was soon forgotten as Rune pulled me into the bedroom and shut the door with my body between his and the hard wood.

“Tell me, angel, what had your scent change so quickly from you to pure desire?” Rune purred in my ear.

“My sweater.” I whispered.

“You’re sweater? That’s an odd thing to be aroused about. Or was it that I could open it with a quick jerk of my wrist, like this?” He asked, tugging the tie that kept my sweater wrapped.

A gasp left my lips, my body frozen as I watched the knot come undone and my sweat fall apart. My gaze moved to Rune’s face as I watched his eyes turn from brown almost gold as his wolf pushed forward. His eyes betrayed his need. His chest moved quickly as he panted, trying to keep his control.

Wanting to try something, I reached out my magic to him. I watched as the connection formed, and then desire and need consumed raced toward me down it. It consumed me as I struggled with his need as it combined with mine. Rune bit down on his lower lip, pulling it into his mouth as his heavy gaze took in my naked torso.

He reached out and gently slid my sweater down over my shoulder, then repeated the action with my other side. My cheeks heated as his hungry eyes took in their fill of me. One of his hands cradled my breast and I moaned as his thumb flicked over my nipple. I arched my back, pressing into his touch, as he continued to torture my hardened nipple.

His other hand drifted down over my flat stomach. He pushed his hand into my pants where his fingers found my slick core. Rune’s hands were hot on my skin as he slowly teased my sensitive bundle of nerves with his talented fingers. Pushing me past what I thought I could take before I demanded he take me then and there. Suddenly, he sunk a finger into me, and I moaned against his shoulder as I collapsed into him. It only took a few strokes to push me over the edge.

Before I’d come down from my orgasm, he picked me up and carried me to the bed, laying me down and pulling my pants off. Then he settled between my legs as his length pressed against me. He grinned at me before claiming my lips and pressing into me, pulling a groan from each of us. He rolled his hips against me, and I wrapped my legs around him.

It wasn’t long before I was meeting his thrusts, both of our movements becoming uncoordinated and frenzied. No sense of rhythm or pace with just the sound of pleasure and skin meeting skin filled the room. Pressure bloomed in my core and then we were toppling over the edge and falling together. He slowed his movements and continued to work me through the decline of my orgasm before collapsing on the bed and pulling us to our sides facing each other.

We laid there in silence for a few moments before the door opened, and I scented my other mates. I heard water running and then Rune was taking a cloth from Erik’s hand. He cleaned us both up and moved us, so we were under the covers.

My mates sat the bed around with grim expressions. Any post-sex bliss evaporated as I took them in.

“What’s wrong?” I blurted, sitting up straight.

“It’s probably nothing, but we’ve all noticed the same thing the last two days and wanted to see what you thought. I think Alek is hiding something from us. Sten hasn’t been able to get a read on him at all, and normally he’ll forget about his walls after we’ve been together for a while. This trip he’s kept them up the whole time. He’s also asking us a lot of questions, about you.” Frode put a warm hand on my thigh.

I looked to Rune, who was looking at me. He stayed silent. He’d wanted me to talk to the others about my concerns, but it seemed they’d beat me to it. Looking back to my three other mates who were staring at me I nodded.

“I agree. I thought I saw a hint of recognition in his eyes when we were introduced, but he didn’t give anything away. Then he’s made it a point to ask me questions that should have been directed more toward you. I don’t get the feeling that he’s doing something bad, or that he means to do any harm, but there’s a secret. A secret that I think involves me.” I look at each of my mates’ face as I tell them my suspicions, but like proper leaders their faces doesn’t give them away.

I reach for my magic, but all I feel is love and concern, with a hint of sympathy. Why sympathy? I stay quiet while I wait for them to respond.

“I think that we still have a day or two before we leave. That gives us time to try to figure it out. Get dressed you two, we’re going to go spend some time visiting the kind settlement leader and the others. We’ll see if we can get any information.” Frode smiled as he stood and left the room, Erik and Sten following.

I don’t think being direct was the best approach, but maybe with some charm and relaxation we could get some information, or a hint at what Alek was hiding. A mixture of excitement and dread swirled in my belly. I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to know about this secret, especially with the confirmation that it probably involved me.