A Mate's Sacrifice: (Hot Paranormal Romance) (Ozark Mountain Shifters Book 2) Read online

Braeh suddenly felt sick. She’d taken a gamble, but maybe using Besh as a bargaining tool wasn’t such a great idea. She looked at Trager to find him glaring at her. Kerrigan’s face was contorted with worry. No need to look at Vesh. Their expressions told Braeh all she needed to know.

  She’d screwed up.

  Chapter Eight

  Vesh kept his hand on Braeh as they were led out to the parking lot. He wanted to strangle her for being so brazen. But damn, watching his mate stand up to the alpha was hot. If they weren’t in such deep shit, he’d push her up against the first available wall and kiss the hell out of her.

  His wolf was so on board with that idea.

  Outside, the three Ravendales stopped by Trager’s truck.

  “Blindfold them,” Cael ordered the others.

  “No way in hell,” Vesh countered.

  “If you want into the Ravendale camp, you’ll go blindfolded. I’m not revealing the location.”

  “We already know where your camp is.”

  Cael smiled evilly. “Do you now?”

  Well. Vesh thought he knew where their camp was. But really, he knew what land they claimed. Their community could be anywhere.

  “Lexar will drive all of you in the… whatever-the-hell that is.” He gestured to the beat down 4-Runner. “And Haze will take your bike. I’ll give you two cabins, while we figure out what to do about Jax. You’ll each have daily work, like all the other wolves, and when all this is over, you’ll swear allegiance to Ravendale or be on your way. That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”

  “We’ll take it,” Trager said quickly.

  Vesh glared at him. Idiot. Couldn’t he at least have thought about it for a minute?

  Trager glared back, pulling Kerrigan tightly against his side.

  Vesh held Braeh’s hand as their eyes were covered and they were guided into the back seat of the truck. The doors were slammed and her small body pressed against his larger one as someone else was pushed into the back seat.

  He could smell her anxiety. This was a lot for one day. She’d gone from a carefree visit with her sister, to on the run and at the mercy of a wolf stranger.

  Still, she was tough as leather. If he wasn’t so close and attuned to her scent, he wouldn’t know she was feeling anything but cool. Once again, he felt proud.

  Tough girl.

  As they bumped along the road, Vesh tried to ignore the sensation of her body against his. He wasn’t used to the way it felt. He was accustomed to a little more padding. What he hadn’t expected was to like it so much, to want to feel it more.

  He ground his teeth together and tried to push his wolf back.

  The rickety vehicle hit a sudden pothole, jarring everyone inside. Breah slammed against his ribs. He tightened the arm around her to steady her at the same time she grabbed his thigh. Her hand on his body, so close to his cock, made him go instantly hard.

  She must’ve known by the way he tensed because she muttered a hurried, “Sorry.”

  “Dayum, wolf, ever think of checking the shocks on this piece of shit?” Lexar griped.

  “Maybe. Once.” Trager’s voice came from the backseat, just on the other side of Braeh.

  Vesh fumed. Those sorry assholes put him next to Braeh when they could have easily put her sister in the back.

  Damn wolves.

  Without another thought, he lifted her, sliding her onto his lap and scooting farther toward the middle. She gasped at his hardness against her leg, but he couldn’t care if she felt it. He was just happy there was no chance her lithe body was bumping into Trager’s when they turned corners.

  He pulled her as tight against him a he could, and she let him. She didn’t resist or stiffen. Even though he tried to ignore the good feeling it gave him, her reaction made him feel ten feet tall.

  Her hand landed softly on his chest, and Vesh reached up to touch her cheek. Blindly, he grazed her neck instead, skating up her jaw. Bringing her face down to his, he pressed the tip of his nose against her skin and inhaled, drawing in a deep breath of her scent. It made his head spin. And the fact that he couldn’t see her to gauge her reaction made everything all the more erotic. He felt her pulse flutter against his lips as he brushed them along the length of her neck, an indicator that she was enjoying his attention.

  His breath caught in his throat when her hand slowly smoothed along his chest approaching his neck. Her skin touching his, delicately, exploring the intricate details of his jaw, sliding up to caress his cheek… it left him floundering.

  None of the women he’d been with had touched him this way. Carefully. Gently. Like he was valued. Was he? Did she think he was worth something?

  Vesh swallowed the lump in his throat.

  He realized he desperately wanted her to.

  Haunting memories flooded him.

  You’re nothing but a worthless bastard wolf.

  You’ll never be anything but a slave for me to whore out to those willing to pay the right price.

  You disgust me.

  You sicken me.

  Do you see the look on my face, child? It’s the look of a mother so sick of her young she’d pay to see you each dead, except your whore ways pay the bills, so I can’t even rid myself of you. One day, I’ll be free of you, free of this burden, and when that day comes, I hope you spend the rest of your life rotting and festering in whatever hellheap you land in.

  Vesh took a deep shuddering breath to remind himself where he was. With Braeh. His mate. Who touched him softly.

  Whether she actually valued him or not, she’d been kind to him, and it meant more than anyone could possibly know. Now, here, blindfolded, sharing these moments with her, he was just coming to realize how much her kindness meant to him.

  Desperate to feel something other than gratitude because she didn’t find him pathetic, he slid his hand underneath the back of her thin t-shirt. The instant his fingertips made contact with her soft skin, she broke out in chill bumps.

  “Yes,” he barely whispered against her ear.

  She responded by pressing her cheek into his. Every heavy breath could be felt rushing past his ear. He silently thanked the fates that Trager’s shitty ride was also a noisy one. Otherwise, the others might have heard Braeh’s panting.

  Wanting more from her, Vesh brought his other hand to the front, slowly moving up until he found her breast through her shirt. He palmed the smaller-than-he-was-used-to mound and decided it was rather perfect for his hand. Her breath rushed out as he squeezed slightly. His tongue darted out, tasting her skin, licking a path to her earlobe where he used his teeth to tease.

  She whimpered, her mouth to his ear, her hands in his hair.

  “Shh,” he warned. The road noises and blindfolds made it feel like they were the only ones around, but Vesh was aware of how alert wolves were. They had to be careful.

  The truck hit another bump in the road, causing Braeh to fall against his chest. He held her there when she would’ve sat up. Snaking his hand between them, he went under the front of her shirt this time, skimming her flat tummy and tweaking her hardened nipples through the fabric of her bra. Faster and harder, her breath came, hot against his neck.

  This slow, secret exploration of his mate made him feel more alive than he had in a very long time. He forgot about his past. He forgot about losing his pack. About the danger his sister was in. About Avan and Farrow’s betrayal. About the fact that he’d jumped ships, and was now on the other side of the fight. About how wrong he was for Braeh. How wrong she was for him. He forgot about everything except finding more parts of her to explore, about experiencing her body and its reaction to him. And his reaction to her.

  He dipped his fingers into the valley between her breasts, dragging his way back down her stomach, and teasing her belly button. He nuzzled her neck, running his nose along her collar bone, and nibbling his way back up to her jaw.

  The scent of her arousal smacked him in the face, making his cock throb. He ground it into her hip seeking an ounce of relief
.

  Wolf needed more, needed to taste her mouth.

  No. Not her mouth. He’d never stop if he kissed her.

  Instead, he latched onto the skin of her throat, sucking, memorizing her flavor. Braeh threw her head back, pulling his hair for more.

  A throat cleared loudly, once, twice, breaking through the fog of his lust. Braeh froze. Vesh released his mate’s neck.

  “Listen, man.” The driver’s voice drifted to the back seat. “You’re about to enter a pack full of males who don’t give a fuck whether or not she’s your mate. Without a mark, she’s unclaimed.” There was a pause while his words began to make sense. “You need to do something about her scent.”

  Fuck.

  “What are you talking about?” Kerrigan asked.

  “Not now, baby,” Trager said, his voice sounding strained.

  Shit.

  Vesh hadn’t even thought about the repercussions of arousing his mate in the presence of other wolves. Damn it, where was his mind. Fucking fuck.

  Braeh’s fingers clawed his shirt. “What is it?” she breathed. “What does he mean?” Her question was only loud enough for Vesh to hear.

  “We’ll finish this later, okay. But right now, I need you to think of something awful.”

  “What?”

  “Something repulsive. Anything.”

  “Are you for real?”

  “Hell yes. Do it. Now.” His voice was harsh as he straightened her clothes.

  “Like what?”

  “Don’t give a fuck. Whatever turns you off.”

  She was still for several seconds. “Okay, I’ve got it.”

  Moments passed and her luscious scent began to change, to smell less dark and seductive, and more natural.

  Curiosity got the best of him, and he had to know. “What is it?”

  “Asshole men,” she chirped. “Quickest turnoff ever.”

  He dipped his head to her ear again. “Is that a challenge, sugar?”

  Her huff of disapproval ghosted past his ear, and when she didn’t answer, he placed a soft kiss on her heated cheek.

  The truck stopped and the engine was cut.

  “We’re here,” Lexar announced.

  Vesh ripped off the damn blindfold to take a look around, but his eyes caught on Braeh. The sight of her with her eyes covered was maybe the hottest thing he’d ever seen. Visions of her in his bed, like this, blinded to him while he teased pleasure from her body, rolled through his mind. He wanted her like that.

  But that wasn’t where this was going with her. He wasn’t getting her in his bed or any other bed for that matter. They weren’t going to mate and live happily ever after as most of his kind did. No, that wasn’t in the cards for Vesh. When they eliminated Jax, he’d take over the Ozarka pack and try to right the wrongs the brutal alpha had done to their wolves. Being mated should make him stronger, but for Vesh, it just brought out all his issues. Memories he’d worked so hard to bury. Feelings he’d tried so hard to squelch. She made him weak.

  His wolf growled low, reminding him how strong the animal had become in the past thirty-six hours.

  Carefully, he untied her blindfold and she blinked at the dim light streaming in the windows. Doors opened and the others got out of the vehicle. Braeh glanced at Vesh, her eyes drifting to his lips.

  “You really are an asshole, you know?”

  He brushed his thumb across her pink cheek. “I know.”

  Vesh opened his door and eased her off his lap before stepping out. His bike was parked between some trees, and a small crowd had gathered around Cael. Questions were being thrown around like confetti. Vesh spotted Trager behind the SUV. He had Kerrigan pressed against the truck, kissing her like there was no tomorrow, his hips thrusting against her curves.

  Typical wolf response to scenting a ready female.

  Vesh would have to do better to keep Braeh’s arousal to himself in the future.

  “He’s Ozarka,” a deep voice bellowed. “The alpha’s successor. He shouldn’t be here.”

  Turning, Vesh saw mostly angry faces on the males who’d gathered, and interest on the females. A stunning redhead with perfectly ample hips and voluptuous breasts peeking from the top of her shirt, smiled seductively at him. He smiled back.

  “These four are temporarily granted asylum with us,” Cael announced, his dominance quieting the voices. “Kash, find jobs for them, okay? Everyone else, I expect them to be treated with respect, the same as you’d treat each other. Remember we aren’t barbarians. We are Ravendale.”

  The redhead batted her eyelashes and bit down on the tip of her forefinger, blatantly checking out Vesh’s goods. Her eyes on him set his wolf’s hackles, but Vesh was actually relieved. This was what he needed. Meaningless shit that kept him protected from reality.

  “Lexar will show you to your cabins.”

  “We need a third,” Vesh said, keeping his eyes on the redhead.

  “That wasn’t the deal. One cabin for each couple.”

  “We aren’t a couple,” Vesh added quickly. He broke to look at Braeh. Her brow was furrowed. She looked angry and hurt at the same time. But she’d said the same thing in Kerrigan’s apartment. They weren’t together.

  Vesh glanced at the frowning alpha, whose gaze went back and forth between him and Braeh. “Too bad. You get two cabins. You sort out who goes where.”

  Fine. He shot one last glance at the pouting redhead, and pulled his bag from where he’d stowed it on the back of his bike. He’d find her later.

  Lexar led them through the main part of camp, pointing out which buildings were which. Though the place was smaller than Ozarka, it was much larger than Vesh had ever anticipated. They had a good setup here. A solid community.

  They passed the meeting hall, a barn, and several smaller cabins. A playground and the small accompanying schoolhouse were much cheerier than the one at Ozarka. Larger too. Did Ravendale have more young?

  Snaking down a short path that cut away from the main thoroughfare, they came to a group of four small cabins.

  Lexar gave Trager a set of keys and pointed him toward one, then dropped another set into Braeh’s open palm. “Your cabin is the last on the left,” he said before shooting Vesh a glare. “If you have any trouble, or need anything,” he told her, “You come find me. Anything, you hear?”

  What was that in the wolf’s voice?

  Vesh narrowed his gaze on him. He stood too close to Braeh. Definitely invading her personal space bubble.

  “My cabin is just down that path, on the right.” His tone was smooth, nearly purring. And he leaned forward so he was even closer, grinning to show off a dimple that must really get the ladies swooning. “I’ll be around all night, so come. Anytime.”

  She nodded.

  Damn it all to fucking hell. The wolf wanted her. Of course he did, her arousal had permeated the small space in Trager’s vehicle. And now that Vesh had mentioned they weren’t together…

  The growl left his throat before he had a chance to think about the repercussions. He would tear the fucker’s head off. No one would touch Vesh’s mate except him.

  She. Was. His.

  Lexar’s furious gaze snapped to Vesh. “What’s this? I thought you’d found someone else to warm your lap.”

  “You thought wrong,” Vesh ground through his teeth.

  “Is that right? You don’t want to find Remy tonight?” The wolf finally backed away from Braeh, but stepped up to Vesh instead. “Because I saw you eye-fucking her. I figured your mate was fair game if you were so willing to fuck another woman under her nose. What kind of bond is that?” he said, disgust oozing from his voice.

  Vesh shook with anger, but the wolf wasn’t wrong. Their bond was weak. He was weak. But the truth was he didn’t want to bond with her. Bonding meant caring. Caring meant feeling. He didn’t want to feel.

  It was the one and only reason the redhead—Remy—was appealing to him when no other female should be.

  Braeh sighed. “You two go ahead
with your pissing contest. I’m going to get settled in.” With that, she hauled her suitcase into the cabin and slammed the door.

  “Listen to me, I know you’re a bad motherfucker. Tough-as-shit alpha-male. Hardened asshole of epic proportions, but listen to me. If you lose her… you lose your soul. You’ll never be the same. Trust me, I know. You don’t want to live like that, man. You need your mate. So whatever you’re running away from, whatever makes you think you’re better off without your intended, face it head on. Deal with it. Kick it around. Fuck that shit up until it doesn’t bother you anymore.”

  Vesh hated everything the wolf was saying. Mostly because he was right. Vesh knew he was right, but that didn’t make this any easier.

  “Mind your own business.” It was all he could manage with his throat raw from mixed emotions.

  Lexar laughed humorlessly. “I’ll tell you what, if I find out you’ve been with Remy, I’m taking what’s yours. How about that? I’d take care of her like you never could anyway.”

  Vesh’s wolf wouldn’t have it. Vesh wouldn’t have it. He seethed at the mere idea. His wolf readied to change. He’d kill. Maim. Whatever it took to protect what belonged to him. And she did belong to him whether he wanted to admit it or not. Whether she admitted it or not. None of it fucking mattered, she was his. And his alone.

  But before his wolf sprang forth, Lexar pushed past him to leave.

  “Someday, you’ll thank me for this,” he called over his shoulder before disappearing into the woods, leaving Vesh reeling with the urge to fight until he drew blood.

  Chapter Nine

  Ten minutes of pacing and a couple punches to the trunk of a tree calmed Vesh down enough so he wouldn’t scare Braeh when he entered the cabin. Or, at least that’s what he thought.

  Her suitcase lay open on the bed while she pulled items out and arranged them in piles. Vesh closed the door carefully, and prided himself on not slamming it.

  “Who won?” she asked, not looking at him.

  “What?” His voice came out gruff. He was still too revved up.

  “The pissing contest. Who won?”

  He stared down at his bleeding knuckles. “Me. I always win.” Of course, winning was open to interpretation.