Evermore Page 4

  “I’m...” Homer wasn’t certain of the words. Overwhelmed? Stunned? Relieved? Proud to be a member of exactly the kind of pack he thought he’d joined? “I’m not certain exactly what we should do. The part of me which spent the whole of my life fighting wants to go storming in there and tear them all to shreds.”

  Dougal nodded. “But...”

  “Not smart thinking. She got away. He hasn’t found her. Why stir up trouble? Maybe he’s not even looking.” His wolf wanted to tear and destroy until his mate was safe. “The best way to keep her safe, in that case, is to do nothing. Keep her here, keep her shielded by pack. Only I’m not the kind of werewolf who can stick his head in the sand and wait to see if anything is going to get better.”

  “No you’re not.” Robbie nodded. “That’s why I picked you for our unit.”

  “Why didn’t you pick me?” Dougal yawned, no venom in his question. “I was out there fighting. I could have gone rogue unit and kicked ass with you guys.”

  Robbie shook his head. “Mom and Dad couldn’t have handled another fake death. They thought Auggie and I were dead. They’ll never really forgive me for it and I don’t blame them. You had to be okay.”

  “I fought dragons every day on the front line. I had just as much chance of dying as you did.”

  “Live or die, it had to be real. Besides, maybe I didn’t want to look at your pretty face every day.”

  “Okay.” Homer stood up. He appreciated being part of the family but it was going to take him some time to get used to the banter. “I want to know. I want to find out if he’s looking. I’m still building a foundation of trust with her. It’s not time for me to leave. After the baby is born, when I know she’s well, I’ll take a few weeks and go under cover. Then we’ll know.”

  Robbie nodded. “Sounds like a plan. And speaking of your mate, you need to court her.”

  “I’m working on it.”

  Dougal laughed before he got up and walked back in the house. “Wouldn’t want to be you, Homer.”

  Homer needed answers. “What’s going on?”

  Robbie stood. “We do things the right way here or we don’t do them at all. Your mate has no father to make sure she is being treated correctly. I am going to stand for her as Alpha of her pack. You are going to do things the right way, Homer. She says yes or she says no but she says.”

  “I would never do anything differently. I would never...”

  His Alpha put his hand on his shoulder and Homer’s indignation cooled. “I know. I had to say it. You have roughly eight weeks before she’s too tired to do anything but baby care. Make the most of it.”

  Homer had really had enough bonding with the Owens.

  ****

  His mate was awake when he got home, which surprised him. Considering the medicine she still had to take, and the two orgasms, he’d expected not to hear from her until morning. She sat on his couch, her legs pulled to her chest, or as close to it as she could get considering her large pregnant baby.

  He smelled her distress the second he entered the house. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.” She shook her head. “Please don’t trouble yourself about me.”

  Homer shook his head and walked until he stood directly in front of her. “You know I can’t let that alone. If you really didn’t want me to know you were upset, you’d have stayed in your room. I think you do want me to help. What’s going on?” Sweet woman, you’ve been through so much, let me help you.

  “My wolf won’t cool down. She’s been mostly dormant since I got pregnant, only giving me a hard time during full moons. Tonight feels like the moon should be full in the sky. Only it’s not and she wants out. I have to fight her. It’s painful.”

  “I see.” Homer nodded. And he suspected he did. He was probably responsible for waking her wolf. Camille had never experienced pleasure from sex before. Her wolf had paid attention. It was time to get Camille’s other half to go back to sleep. The baby needed Mommy not to shift.

  Camille gave him a small smile. “I’m out here because I guess yes, I wanted you to know, and also because I felt like I might crawl through the walls of the bedroom if I stayed in there much longer.”

  Homer knelt on the floor in front of her. Without asking he took her hand. “Look at me.”

  “I’m finding it hard to look anywhere very long.” She shook her head.

  “Camille.” He hated to order but her health came first. Using some of the power he kept stored inside, he pressed his point. “Look me in the eyes.”

  She lifted her head. He wasn’t her Alpha but he was her mate. She would listen when it came to keeping her safe and keeping her healthy. Other than that, he’d do what she wanted, always.

  His wolf came into eyes. If he needed to, he could shift in a moment’s notice. Right then, he didn’t think he’d have to. He let the canine out only enough to show Camille’s wolf he was there. And he was in charge.

  Go back to sleep.

  Her wolf energy pressed against his. She wanted out. He could feel how uncomfortable she was and it made goosebumps appear on his skin. He ignored the angst. She wanted to come out, meet him, play wolf-to-wolf.

  The baby. He sent an image to his wolf. She needed to know if she does this, there will be no baby. And her female will be in pain.

  Some of the pressure hitting him relaxed. Yes, Camille’s wolf only needed to be reminded what she was being restrained for. Everyone wanted the baby. Go back to sleep. As soon as it is safe, we’ll let you out. We’ll have a lifetime together.

  Camille let out a loud sigh. “Oh thank you.” Her head sagged and she leaned it against his shoulder. “I...I...can’t...”

  “I know.” He scooped her into his arms. Carrying her soothed his soul. “It’s all going to be okay.”

  Her only response was a sigh as she slipped into slumber, shielded in his arms. The wait to find out if she was in danger was going to make him nuts. Yet it remained the best plan. He would have to handle his own frustration and find the strength to hold back his need to eliminate any and all threats immediately.

  He set her down on the bed, careful not to jar her. Robbie’s warning resonated in his soul. There would be a baby soon, a baby he wanted, but he or she would need their mother’s attention. He had to soak it in while he could. Show her as fast as he was able how loved she would be by him.

  ****

  Camille found him on the porch the next morning. Did her mate ever sleep? She stepped over the threshold and sat next to him, letting her soul drink in his warmth. Funny how the last day changed things for her. The pleasure he’d given her triggered a crack in the wall she’d built around her heart to survive and the way he calmed her wolf cemented his place for her.

  She’d known Homer was her mate, she finally had a better understanding of what being mated to Homer would mean.

  “Hi.” She rubbed her forehead against his nose and he brought his nose to her hair to breathe her in. She loved how he scented her. It made her feel...squishy.

  Homer laced their fingers together. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

  “I slept like I haven’t in so long. I’m so happy to get off the medicine today. I feel much better and it’ll be nice not to need to nap so much. I’d like to do things, see this place more than the little bit I’ve been able to manage.” Before her pregnancy she’d been a really active wolf. The baby made her groggy and the medicine pushed her over the ravine into exhaustion. Tired was, however, better than dead.

  A piece of his blond hair fell over his eyes and she pushed it back. “Am I allowed to say I’ve kind of liked having you all to myself these weeks?”

  A female could drown in the easy waves his words breathed into her. “You can say whatever you want to me, Homer. You make me feel alive when I was pretty much dead.”

  He growled his response, his mouth pressing to hers in a claiming which left her no doubt about his feelings on her near death. When he inched back, he panted like he’d run for miles. �
��What if I had arrived ten minutes later?”

  She didn’t know what she would have said. The flapping of wings caught her attention and she froze. Homer glanced away, looking up at the sky. “Another near dead one. That’s four today.”

  “Is that typical?” She didn’t want to be afraid. Camille wished she could go for nonchalant. He’d told her they were safe, explained what would happen and she’d witnessed the mechanics of the dragon take down firsthand. Yet, every nerve ending in her body stood on alert the second she saw the scaly green beast. Those monsters wrecked their entire world.

  “No.” Homer pulled her against him. “Not dangerous but, yes, weird. There does seem to be an influx of them for some reason. They’re not for you to worry about. I won’t let them near you. You’re mine.”

  Two wolves leaped to the sky and like the day before the dragon hit the ground, taken out before it got anywhere near the houses. The pack protected the perimeter.

  “If I were not here, would you be out there taking it down?”

  Homer shook his head. “I’m not on border patrol. I’ve taken down my fair share of those nightmares. Some days I lost count. I was never able to relax, ever.”

  Camille wanted to know everything about her male. First she needed to show him she understood what he needed. “Come inside.”

  “Do you need something?” He stood.

  “You. In the bedroom with me. I want to complete the act.” Even saying the words made her anxiety pick up. He’d made her feel so good the day before. The best she could do was grin and bear it. At the end of the day, doing so would give them a true mating.

  Homer let out a loud breath. “Camille. Not yet.”

  She took a moment to digest his rejection. “You’re saying no?”

  “I can feel you don’t want to yet. Last night, our Alpha let me know he stands for you in the stead of your father. You can go to him and he’ll make sure I treat you correctly. You should never feel like you have to do something with me you’re not wanting to do.”

  “I...” She threw her arms around him. Why was she going about everything so completely wrong? “I don’t need Robbie. You’re not making me feel anything. Frankly, I can’t imagine ever wanting it. The whole act was so awful. But, you’re different. What we have together, the way life feels with you at my side, I want to be able to get through it for you.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Thank you for your truth. Here’s what I know. There will come a time when you will want me inside of you, when the idea won’t only not make you nervous, you’ll crave our joining. Until then, we do this slowly. There’s no time limit. Even if you have the baby and then don’t want to for years, that’s fine. I’m here. I found you. You’re mine. I’m keeping you. End of story. We’ll get to know one another.”

  She leaned back. “You can’t be for real. I have to have dreamed you.”

  “If this was the days before the war, things would have gone differently. I’d have come to your pack for some reason or we’d meet somewhere else. I’d have gone to your father. Told him I was the son of an Alpha. Presumably, I would have had a job, a role in the pack worthy of you. I’d have asked permission to court you. We’d be out in public a lot, sneaking intimate moments when we wanted. I’d probably be trying to get away with having you more than I should.”

  She liked the picture he painted. “I thought you said I’d have had lovers, males to teach me pleasure.”

  “You would have. They were meaningless. Courting is serious business.” He cupped her face. “When you were ready, you’d tell me.” He moved until he spoke just above her lips. “Then we’d be forever.”

  “I want to be that girl. The one who wouldn’t have been afraid of what happened next.” Homer deserved a mate who could be everything he needed.

  He shook his head. “She’d be perfect for that version of me. You’re getting the real thing. The male who saw more wickedness and delivered more death than he ever imagined possible. I am dead to my people and frankly glad to be. I want you, I need the survivor by my side. The female who will land on her feet because she knows she has to.”

  The sound in the distance drew her attention again. “Another one?”

  “This is getting ridiculous.” He stepped away. “I’m going to go see what’s happening. I won’t have you terrified all day. You have one more day on the medicine. Rest. Eat. I’ll be back after I see if I can assist with getting rid of these pests.”

  Camille really did try to do what he suggested. Resting. Eating. The hours dragged on and he hadn’t returned. There was no need for alarm. She hadn’t seen a beast since he’d left. Only she wasn’t tired and she was bored.

  Walking out of the house should be something he’d be okay with. She hadn’t been told she had to stay in his house. As Homer’s mate, she could venture around the pack. She didn’t even want to go far, only around the housing area.

  Kicking a stone, she hummed to herself looking at the various homes where members of the pack lived. Some of them were in better repair than others, a few were completely abandoned. Robbie must plan on having more members join. Or maybe he’d not yet managed to knock down the ones he wanted to be rid of.

  Homer’s words about decorating came back. She had a knack for color, had always known what would look good and where. Maybe she could offer to help make the pack look beautiful again. Would that be something they even wanted?

  A sound caught her attention and she turned to the side. For a second, she was stunned. Just to the left, completely oblivious to her arrival, were two wolves. They were both half naked, pressed to the side of a rundown building. The female had her head thrown back as the male drove in and out of her.

  Camille scurried to the side. Out of their viewing range, she knew she should hurry on her way. Only she couldn’t move. Watching the two figures writhe in pleasure made her feel funny inside. He pressed his cock in and out of her and, with each movement, the woman seemed to get more excited.

  Her moans got louder and louder. As she watched, Camille got wetter inside. What would it be like to be so open, to be touched, to be so owned by Homer?

  Any second the couple would scent her. Maybe they didn’t care, they were having sex out in the open. Still, she didn’t want to get caught watching. She wanted to go home and touch herself, wanted to pretend they were Homer’s hands inside of her instead of her own. She could picture the scene.

  He could press his cock into her and it wouldn’t cause her pain. The pressure which had made her explode by his fingers and tongue would be much more intense.

  She nearly lost her footing thinking about it. As quietly as she could, she scurried back to her house. Instead of going to her own bedroom, she made her way to his. He’d like to come home and find her there. Naked and waiting.

  Camille reached around her belly—some day after she’d had the baby this act would be simpler—and she explored. He had found her sensitive spot and she wanted to know it, too. With her pointer finger she explored, touching, stroking and getting to know her body in a way she’d never wanted to before.

  Finally, she was writhing from her own touch even as she pictured Homer above her making her experience the pleasure she brought to herself.

  “Homer.” She called out his name. His sweet face, his beautiful, silky hair, the way he made her feel safe and supported. The love he’d pushed into her when he calmed her wolf. “Oh, Homer, yes.”

  She shuddered as she came. It wasn’t the same as when he’d brought her to completion but it still felt really damn good.

  Satisfied, she sat back on the bed and let her body relax. All she needed was for Homer to come back. Then she could tell him she was ready. She’d seen how it could be between them, what the physical would look like. Camille wanted it.

  Her eyes got heavy. Last day on the medication. She let herself drift. Sleep was easy, the same as it had been the night before. Camille didn’t even dream. Nothing chased her, nothing made her afraid. She was warm, safe, and l
oved.

  When her eyes finally opened, she knew a lot of time had passed. The sun didn’t shine through the window. Her joints felt stiff like she’d not moved them in too long.

  She got out of bed and walked down the hallway, sniffing as she went. Homer’s scent was all over the house but no immediate aroma to tell her he’d come back at all.

  Just for good measure, she called out. “Homer?”

  No reply met her query. He wasn’t there and he’d not returned at all. Camille had lived as long as she had by relying on her gut. Her instincts weren’t always right, she should have run from Derek Dresden the second she scented him, and yet Homer named her a survivor. She was still here and kicking.

  Her gut was telling her something was wrong.

  Dread settled into her stomach. She’d go out on the porch and wait. Two more hours. Then she’d go to find out what had happened.

  Nothing could have happened to Homer. She couldn’t stand the thought.

  Chapter Four

  Homer tugged at his chains. The caves where they held him captive leaked water and a torturous drip pounded down on his leg in the same spot, over and over again. In a circle, equally immobile as he was, several of his pack mates were in various states of distress. Finn hadn’t awakened from being knocked on the head—not a good sign. Tatum groaned, gripping his stomach and periodically spitting out blood while Joe remained stoic, staring straight ahead, he hadn’t spoken in hours.

  As for himself, Homer was mostly pissed. He’d been whacked, knocked down, taken by surprise, and all of it from inbred cowards who roamed the hills outside of his Alpha’s pack lands. This was not how Homer was going out, this was not how he was leaving Camille.

  When he thought of her, his heart hurt. He’d promised her protection and he’d delivered none. He knew Robbie and the others would keep her safe. But he wasn’t ready to leave her. Not even close.

  He pulled on his restraints and Joe turned to look at him. “You’re only going to make yourself exhausted and you’ll never get out.”