Blind Wolf Bluff: Shifter Romance (Vanguard Elite Book 3) Page 14

  “But I thought the bootcamp wolves were your pack?”

  Blain opened his mouth but nothing came out. She was right. They were his pack. They never discussed what would happen once they finished. Those who didn’t make the cut returned to their old packs. He didn’t have that option. He couldn’t imagine Ian and Clare not continuing as alphas once they were done. “Well, that’s complicated, but you’re right for the most part. If I had a choice, I’d choose to stay with my present alphas.”

  She hugged him tight. “Sometimes I envy your abilities, but I sure don’t care for how packs are run.”

  “I know. Nothing about pack life is easy.” He stroked her soft hair, pulling it free of its tie so the strands could blow in the wind. “Not even love.”

  She raised her face toward his. “But Blain—”

  “No, you can’t deny me my feelings. I love you, Special Agent Sonya Camp. I have since the first moment we touched hands.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Don’t expect me to give up on you. I take hunting very seriously and I’m a good tracker too.”

  No matter what happened in bootcamp, he’d find her once he was done. No doubt.

  She gripped the edges of the blanket around his shoulders and pulled him kissing close. “You’ve got me.” She pulled them off the trail and deeper into the woods.

  “Don’t think I’ll ever let you go.” He pushed her up against a tree trunk. “Once I made up my mind about something, there’s no changing it.”

  “What have you decided?” she asked, her voice quivering.

  “That you’re mine.” He undid her pants and pulled them to her knees. “Turn around.”

  “Are you sure we’re alone?” She did as he asked, though, and he loved her more for it.

  “Yes.” He ran his hands over her firm, round ass, pulling aside her panties and sliding his fingers through her folds. Wet. For him and only for him from now on. He kissed the back of her neck. “Do you want me to fuck you?”

  “Blain.” She arched her back, giving him better access to her pussy.

  “I want to hear you say it.” He rubbed her clit in little circles.

  “Fuck me.” She moaned, the sound traveling straight to his cock, making it even harder. She didn’t know what she did to him. Those little noises she made in her throat just before she came or the way she smelled when she was aroused.

  He unzipped his pants and let his cock free. The cold air didn’t have any mercy. He thrust it inside Sonya’s hot pussy, pressing her body against the tree. Hot, wet molten silk surround him as the icy wind picked up.

  She made a sharp noise. “Like that. Oh, yes.”

  His lips parted as she met his greedy thrusts. In. In. In. Oh fuck yeah. Even deeper.

  Sonya mumbled words of encouragement. Nothing specific he could remember except she wanted him. Now. Hard. Fast.

  He gripped her hips, moving his whole body with his thrusts as her pussy clenched around his shaft. He kissed her shoulder, her neck, her ear. His. All his. Forever. Nothing, nobody would separate them.

  She moaned his name, tossing her head back.

  He supported her weight as her legs gave away and she cried out his name again. Oh yes. He closed his eyes. He was so fucking close. Those secret muscles inside her pussy milked his cock until he came. He grabbed the tree for support or they both would have crashed to the ground. His head spun as his cock emptied inside of her. “Fuck,” he whispered in her hair, his cock still jerking.

  She melted in his arms. “Oh my God.” She leaned back against him, pulling his face toward hers and kissing him. “I love you too.”

  “I have to return to bootcamp no matter what.”

  “I’ve waited all my life for you. What’s a few more weeks?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Blain swung the axe and split another log. While his pack mates rested after a night filled with training, he passed his time with efforts to seek exhaustion. At this rate, they would have enough wood chopped for the next winter as well as this one.

  He had returned to the manor a few days ago and was met with welcomed cheer. They had continued working while he was gone, but no major tests had been given. Five bootcamp members had been sent home from the hand-to-hand combat challenges. Blain had brought home a suitcase filled with contraband junk food, from chocolate to dingdongs. All was eaten within minutes and the evidence burned in the fireplace before Pallas rose with the sunset.

  The vampire started them on basic martial arts and Blain still managed to beat his opponents.

  No matter how much he focused on work, he couldn’t escape the hollow feeling in his chest. He missed Sonya. He didn’t even have the luxury of calling her since Pallas had taken his cell phone away the first night.

  During the day, he could sneak into town and call her from a pay phone. What would he say? Hi, how are you? I just wanted to hear your voice. Are you still going to wait for me? Waiting a few weeks hadn’t sounded long, but now it seemed an eternity.

  The door to the manor opened and closed. Penny soft steps drew closer. “I made you some hot cocoa.”

  He stopped and took the offered drink. “Thanks.” It tasted good after his bitter thoughts.

  “Want to talk about what happened in Chicago?” He heard her pull her jacket tighter around her thin body. The weather had taken a serious turn for the worst. Heavy snow was in the forecast for tomorrow. It had Pallas dancing in glee. That meant bad things.

  “Ply with sweets before going for the jugular. It’s very hunter-ish of you.”

  “Omegas are still hunters. We’re just more subtle about it.”

  He took a deeper drink. “I don’t feel like talking.”

  “Well, I don’t have anything else to do tonight, so why don’t I tell you the story of how I lost my virginity?”

  He choked on the cocoa. Penny was like a little sister. “How about not?”

  She didn’t move as he emptied the cup. “His name was—”

  “Fine. Fine. What you want to know?” He handed her the empty cup and set another log to split.

  “What’s her name?”

  He paused. “Is it that obvious?” He hadn’t mentioned Sonya to anyone. It hurt too much to think about her, let alone talk.

  “You haven’t smiled since you’re welcome home party. Not cracked one bad joke or played a prank. Not even on Alistair.”

  “Sure I have.” He forced a grin on his face, hoping she’d be convinced and leave him alone with his misery.

  She rested her hands on his shoulder. “It’s okay to miss somebody.”

  “It’s weak.”

  “What’s weak is the inability to admit your true feelings to your pack. Let us in. We’re here for you.”

  He took a deep breath, letting the ice cold air fill his lungs. “Her name is Sonya. She’s the FBI agent that I was partnered with.”

  Penny squeezed his shoulder. “Does she like you too?”

  “She said she’d wait for me until bootcamp was done, but I’m not sure if I can wait.”

  Suddenly, she was under his axe and hugging him tight. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Blain laughed for the first time in days. “You are? Why?”

  She slapped his chest playfully. “Finding love is hard, but you’re a good hunter. I’m really not surprised you found it.”

  “You will too, Penny.”

  “I’m not looking for it. You have to want something to find it.”

  He set his axe aside. “Pen—”

  The door slammed open. “There’s a FBI agent in the foyer squaring off with Pallas,” Darrell announced. “You might want to intervene before she stakes him.”

  Blain hurried inside. Raised voices led him through the familiar manor and lounging shifters.

  “I don’t see why I can’t see him.”

  Sonya. She was here.

  His feet seemed to trip over every possible foot and corner in the manor as he hurried. He slid on the old rug on the foyer floor and skidded to a sto
p.

  “I didn’t call for you.” Pallas smelled furious. Blain would have to thank Darrell in private later for coming to get him. He didn’t want to get him in trouble by saying anything now.

  “Blain.” Sonya breathed his name.

  He pushed past the vampire and swung her into his arms. Their mouths met in a clash of teeth and tongues. She tasted sweeter than he remembered. He crushed her against his chest. How could he let her go now?

  A sharp pain rang through his skull as Pallas slapped the back of his head with his big, ham-fisted hand.

  He and Sonya bumped noses.

  “Ouch.” She rubbed the tip.

  “What’s your problem?” Blain shouted at the vampire who could tear him in half. “You hurt her.”

  “I sent you away for a few days and a stray follows you home. Can’t any of you keep your dicks in your pants for ten weeks?” There was a pause. “Put your hand down, Penny. Don’t be a smart ass.”

  Blain turned his back on Pallas. All his focus was on the source of his recent heartache. “What are you doing here?”

  “My director was very impressed with what we accomplished in Chicago.” She was almost bouncing on her tip toes. “He thinks there’s real promise with working with the packs to solve cases. I was sent here to offer you a job.”

  “As an agent?” Ian had been quietly standing by the door. “I thought you had to go to school to work for the FBI.”

  “It’s a consultant’s job. You’d be working under contract with a FBI liaison.” Her voice brightened. “Who would be me.”

  Butterflies beat in his chest. He couldn’t believe his ears. “We would work together?”

  “Partners.” She pulled him down for a tender kiss. “As mates.”

  “He can’t accept. Not yet, he still needs to finish bootcamp.” Pallas remained rooted right behind him. Displeasure sloughed off him in waves.

  “I understand,” responded Sonya. “I explained this but they’re not willing to wait. My director thinks this bootcamp is a waste of Blain’s talent and I agree. The world needs him.”

  Blain hung his head and closed his eyes. He’d never felt so torn. Pack or mate? He wanted both. He deserved both. If forced to choose, though, he’d pick Sonya. He could always find another pack.

  Ian cleared his throat. “I don’t think we should stand in Blain’s way.”

  “Nobody asked for your opinion,” Pallas snapped back.

  “Nobody had to. As his alpha, I have a right to voice mine.” Ian rested his hands on Blain’s and Sonya’s shoulders. “I bless this mating and Blain, as my best friend, you will always have a place in my pack. No matter where it is.”

  For a moment, Blain thought he would sag in relief. Tears burned behind his eyelids. It was exactly what he needed to hear.

  “Everybody out of the manor!” Pallas roared out his order so it carried throughout the building. Everybody was trained enough to follow it without question. Shifters streamed from the two upper floors down the staircase and outside. “Ian, if you could take the Agent with you and give me a private word with this numbskull.”

  Sonya tensed within Blain’s arms as if ready to pounce. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one with a protective streak.

  Blain set her hand within his alpha’s. “Go with him. I’ll be fine. Shifters have sensitive hearing. Clearing the manor is the only way we can have a private conversation.” If they whispered, which he doubted Pallas would be capable of doing.

  Her steps were hesitant as she followed Ian outside of the manor. Blain remained in the same spot, waiting for the vampire to speak his mind.

  “You signed a contract when you agreed to attend my bootcamp.” The vampire didn’t sound as angry as Blain would have thought.

  “Yes.” Everyone had to sign the contract.

  “Did you have anyone read it to you?”

  “No.” He hadn’t known anyone when he first arrived at the manor. If he’d asked, they would have thought him feeble.

  “My fault. I should’ve read it to you myself. To be honest, I didn’t think you would last through the first challenge. In the contract, it states that I keep the top students as a team to work for the Vanguards.”

  Blain raised an eyebrow but remain silent.

  The vampire stood close enough to whisper directly in his ear. “What if I told you I plan for you to be on this team?”

  “I’d be honored.” Blain’s heart hammered so hard in his chest he thought he would die. Two of his greatest desires were being offered to him but he could only have one.

  “If you leave, don’t think I’ll release you from your contract.”

  Blain jerked and twisted his face toward Pallas’. “What do you mean?” Could he be forced to stay? He’d fail the next challenge on purpose then and get sent home.

  “If you leave, and none of your pack mates can rise to replace you, then I expect you to return when needed for missions.”

  Blain blinked. Had he heard him right? “You mean I can work for the FBI, but when needed, I can work for the Vanguards as well?” It was too much to hope for.

  “Yes, but you cannot return to the bootcamp and disturb my students. They need to focus on their future, not yours.”

  A grin threatened to split Blain’s face in half. “It’s a deal.”

  “Are you sure this is what you desire? Because once you leave, there is no coming back.” The vampire sounded sad.

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  Pallas didn’t answer.

  Blain nodded. “I didn’t think so.” Because he never would have asked that question.

  He strode out of the manor. His pack had grown accustomed to brief farewells since so many of their pack mates had been already sent away in a similar fashion.

  Clare and Ian stood with Sonya by her car.

  Ian clasped his hand. “I meant what I said. You’ll always be welcome in my pack.”

  Clare pecked him on the cheek. “Our pack.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, and expect to see me again.” Grasping both of Sonya’s hands, Blain stood and savored the moment. “I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you. It’s like you complete something inside me and when we were apart it was torn away.”

  She flung herself against his body and hugged him tight. “I felt the same way. I guess you don’t have to be a shifter to find your mate.”

  He rubbed his nose against hers, savoring the feel of her body against his and her scent in his nose. “I’ll need to pack my bags.”

  “No time for that. Have them ship it to my apartment. We already have a case waiting for us at Yellowstone Park.” She released her hold on him and moved to the driver’s seat.

  He stayed where she left him.

  She opened the vehicle door and hesitated. “Is something wrong?”

  A huge grin spread across his face. He clapped his hands together. “Nope, nothing at all. Everything feels right.”

  She climbed inside. “Good. I’ll fill you in on the details as we drive to the airport.”

  It felt like a dream come true.

  Want to read where it all started? Read about Daedalus (Pallas’ vampire brother) in The Omegas, book one of the Vanguards series.

  Thank you for taking the time to read Blind Wolf Bluff. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated. Stay up to date with my new releases, giveaways, and news by joining my newsletter. As a thank you, a link to a free novel, Ravenous, will sent to you via email.

  Annie Nicholas.

  Not His Dragon

  Eoin Grant hasn’t encountered a female of his race in decades, and this crazy person’s scent declares her unmated. Fate set her in his path, and he won’t let this opportunity slip through his claws. No matter how wary she is of him. After all, how many chances does a dragon have at finding love? But fate can be a crueler mistress than his perfect mate. Of all things, she thinks she’s human.

&
nbsp; Business is taking off for Angie Weldon. She put her freakishly sharp nails to good use when she opened her back-scratching spa in downtown New Porter City. The local shifter community pounced on her skills and she’s knee-deep in shed fur. By the end of the year, if lucky, she could afford to move out of her crappy apartment.