Alpha Wolf (The Westervelt Wolves Book 5) Read online

  Gently, but with a firmer grasp, she stroked him several times amazed as he got even bigger in her grip. Michael didn’t hold all the power in this act. No, it wasn’t just going to be him slamming in and out of her until she lost her mind from the pain. No, this beginning, the touching and the fondling that they engaged in, it let them both show each other that they could be trusted with their most sensitive areas.

  Clearly, Michael would not have told her he could be injured on his cock if he intended to cause her any pain. He’d given her the means to retaliate. Michael moaned and closed his eyes again.

  “That’s right, sweetheart, that’s just the right amount of pressure. A little more of that and then I’m going to need you to stop.”

  She didn’t really want to stop. This was fun. Her mouth went dry as she watched her hand once again travel the length of him. His response to her was instantaneous as his hips came off the bed for a split second.

  “Why do I have to stop?”

  “If you don’t, then I’m going to come in your hand.”

  The idea had merit. What must that be like to hold that much control that he would ejaculate outside of her body?

  Looking at it now, Michael’s cock seemed sort of beautiful. Like the rest of him, it was hard and controlled, but just like Michael’s insides—and the white underbelly she’d glanced when he’d fought Cole—he had a sensitive side that could be easily hurt.

  Gods, she never wanted to hurt this man.

  Michael pulled her hand away. “Sorry, sweetheart, he’ll just have to wait for more of your exploration another day. I have something I want to do.”

  Travelling down the length of her body, Michael moved his head down to her private area. She wasn’t used to anyone being near her pussy and she tried to shut her legs.

  “You got to examine me, now I’m going to examine you.”

  “Michael, I…”

  She never got to finish that thought as Michael licked her hot core. Instead, she gasped, her hips moving slightly off the bed.

  “Do you know how good you taste? Can you imagine it?”

  His tongue went deep inside of her, finding a sensitive spot she hadn’t known was there.

  “What have we here? I think I just found my favorite part of your body—except for your amber eyes, of course.”

  Then he went back to what he had been doing and—oh gods—what that was. His tongue stroked in and out of her, stopping to caress that magic spot he’d found over and over again. Then finally, he inserted two fingers inside of her. A pressure she’d never felt before clenched inside of her and she tried to breathe.

  But it was hard. Closing her eyes, she grabbed the bed with her hands, hoping to brace herself, to get some semblance of control back. It was no use.

  “Don’t hold back. Come for me. Let me watch you explode.”

  With one last lazy swirl of his finger on her sweet spot, she exploded into a million pieces. Colors formed before her eyes and for a second she might swear she was above her body staring down.

  Michael’s tongue continued to lap at her and she became aware that liquid had expelled from her vagina.

  “Um…” She tried to speak. It was tough as she panted to form coherent thoughts.

  “You’re so gorgeous, Scarlett. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

  His voice held such raw emotion, such passion that she stared at him in awe. “What you did to deserve me?”

  The very idea that he thought he was somehow unworthy of her…

  It was preposterous.

  Before she could speak again, he was kissing her, softly, gently on the mouth. She could taste herself on him and the naughtiness of it thrilled her. In between kisses, he murmured nonsensical words, telling her things she couldn’t follow, but the way he spoke made her heart flutter. Michael believed in eternity, he believed that the joining they were about to make would bring them together, not just for now, but for always, in the life that happened when you left this planet.

  She believed him. She, Scarlett Knoll, who had never imagined any truly good thing could ever happen to her knew he spoke the truth. Which was why, she wrapped her legs around his waist and braced herself—happily, willingly—for his cock to enter her.

  She wanted it. If it hurt, she didn’t care. If it was something she had to endure every night for the rest of her life—she would. Because it was for Michael. Her Michael.

  Keeping his gaze on hers, he entered her. She waited for the pain, for the assault. Nothing.

  The only thing she felt was full, as if she’d waited for this. She’d been somehow empty and now she wasn’t anymore. Then he started to move.

  Now she could feel him. Michael moved in such a way that the side of his cock brushed up against her sensitive area that had made her orgasm so completely before. How did he do that?

  Gods, she didn’t care. She closed her eyes. Wow.

  This was better. She wasn’t sure how that was possible. Truly, when she’d come on Michael’s tongue she’d thought that was the ultimate experience. This, however, had already topped it.

  Scarlett could feel the pressure building inside of her again.

  “Gods, Scarlett, I want to make this last. I want to make it so good, but I’m not sure I can. I’m so hard and you are, sweet heavens, you are so tight.” Michael panted. “Can you feel that? Can you feel how you milk my cock like that? Oh gods, your sweet little pussy.”

  His words were almost as stimulating as what he did inside of her. She wasn’t going to make it. She wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen. Nor did she have the mental capacity to really figure it out. Maybe it would be just like before, maybe not.

  In and out, they moved together forming a rhythm, a primitive dance that was just their two bodies joined, experiencing each other. How could she have been afraid of this?

  Michael was everything. She knew now that in the same way he’d never let anyone harm her when they were out of the bedroom, he wouldn’t let anything but pleasure touch her in the bed too.

  Soon, she couldn’t breathe. Her knees buckled as he lifted her up by the ass pulling her even closer beneath him. He arched against her, giving her sensitive nub a full-on assault.

  “Michael.” She screamed his name as she came, this time not sure she’d ever make it back into her own body, dying a million deaths in the most pleasure she could possibly endure.

  Seconds later, from a distance, she heard Michael shout her name. All she could do was breathe and hold onto him. Her eyes glued shut, she realized she sobbed and it was okay, because it was a true release. She’d come undone and what was left of her was better, stronger, more “Scarlett” than she’d ever been before.

  Michael whispered in her ear. “Open your eyes.”

  She wasn’t sure she could, but she liked doing what Michael told her to do. It felt right, it was always safe.

  When she did, she gasped. Between their bodies floated the most amazing colors she’d ever seen. She could see them coming and going, out of her body and into Michael’s, and the reverse was true as well. Michael had all the colors of the rainbow leaving him and entering her.

  As they touched her, she realized what was happening. First it was red and she sucked in her breath. The red was Michael’s strength, his resolve, the part of him that always knew how to move forward and which direction he needed to walk. The next was blue, it was his kindness, his heart, his sense of right and wrong. Mixed with the red she knew it would never falter, even when he had to do things that made him uncomfortable.

  There were less forthright parts of Michael. They were no less beautiful. He was insecure of his value, he had a strong sense of failure even when he had not been at fault. He loved family, valued them above everything else. That included her now. She was the first and foremost importance in his life.

  And for the first time, Scarlett could see herself as he saw her. He’d said it but she hadn’t understood—or perhaps she simply hadn’t believed—that she was a g
ift to him. The one thing in his life he’d thought never to have, but would hold onto with both hands to keep. Always loving her, always needing her, making her his whole universe.

  Dear gods, she would carry Michael inside of her for all the days of her life now. And if she died, she would take parts of him with her. That’s why he would follow immediately. She carried half of his soul as he now carried half of hers.

  Neither of them had ever really been whole without the other. Now they could simply not exist apart.

  And it was a beautiful gift.

  “Oh, Michael.” She wrapped her arms around him and held on, knowing that he would never let her go. The tears she cried were, for the first time, nothing but happiness.

  Chapter 9

  MICHAEL felt as if he could reach out and touch Scarlett’s soul. Her kindness had come into his soul first. That was no surprise. She was a woman who had graciously forgiven each and every person who had, at one time, abused her in some way. How was that even possible? Michael was certain he couldn’t do it.

  Yet, as he now carried part of Scarlett inside of him, he could sense it. That level of forgiveness was an actual possibility for her. She was also capable, smart, funny and giving. Oh gods, she was so much more. He could hardly keep up with all the parts of Scarlett he was given.

  He opened his mouth to speak, to tell her how fantastic she was when his wolf interrupted. Up until now, he’d been silent.

  This isn’t over, Michael. This is our chance. I have to go and get her.

  Michael’s head swam. He was exhausted, beat up, he’d just had incredible sex and now his wolf made no sense. What?

  I have to go and get Scarlett’s wolf.

  She doesn’t have one. She’s latent, remember?

  His wolf shook his head. No, she has one. She’s just buried in there, terrified.

  Michael tried to grasp what he was being told.

  She has a wolf?

  Exactly.

  And you can go and get her? Isn’t that something Tristan does?

  His wolf paused. Well usually, yes. I have no interest in these types of things, but we’ll never get another chance like this one again. If Tristan does it, he’ll have to call on pack magic and put her through the shift over and over again. We can spare her some pain this way.

  Michael grabbed her cheeks in his hands. “Scarlett, you have a wolf. It’s in there. My wolf is going to go get it.”

  Her eyes were huge, all amber light staring back at him. She swallowed. “Are you sure?”

  He nodded. “It’s going to hurt. The first shift into wolf hurts like hell and then the shift back is painful as well. After that, it never hurts again. Then it’s heaven.”

  “I’ve wanted a wolf my whole life.” She sniffed and fresh tears came to her eyes. “Whatever I have to go through, I’ll do it. Can you really make this happen?”

  He looked at his wolf. Go get her.

  In his mind’s eye he could see it. His wolf garnered energy, the same white light they used for all their shifts, and he pushed it forward. The power surrounded Scarlett. Bathed in the magnificence of the experience, she looked ethereal and Michael gasped at the sight.

  Scarlett shrieked, grabbing his hand and he knew the pain started. It had been one hundred and ninety-three years since his first shift and he still hadn’t forgotten what that was like. The ripping of all of his muscles, the way his bones had cracked and reformed.

  Agony was the only word he could use to describe the scream that came from Scarlett’s mouth.

  The hand he held changed became more paw than hand and he let it go. Finally, as she bellowed in horror, her human body was gone and in its place stood a small black wolf.

  For a second, Michael couldn’t move. He stared feeling dumbfounded at the tiny black animal that blinked back at him. She was totally black, just like he was, except she didn’t have his white spots. Her eyes, turned wolf, were still amber. If he had to guess, she was no more than fifty pounds in size.

  Reaching out with a hand, that shook, he petted the top of her head and she whimpered.

  “I know. It hurts.” He exhaled a breath he hadn’t known he held. “You’re beautiful. You’re such a beautiful wolf.”

  “I don’t know what to do, Michael.” He could hear her voice in his head and he wondered if she was conscious of the fact that she’d spoken to him telepathically. Her wolf whimpered and lay down on the floor.

  Michael scooted over until he climbed off the bed and sat down next to her. She placed her head in his lap.

  “You don’t have to do anything for a few minutes. We’ll just stay like this and then you’ll shift back and all the pain of the experience will be done.”

  Her wolf sighed and closed her eyes. Scarlett’s wolf body shook beneath his hands. Wow, she was skittish.

  His own wolf spoke to him. She’s not an Alpha wolf, not at all. She’s watched Scarlett go through hell and she’s terrified of being out in the world.

  The door to the room banged open and Seamus stood in front of it. With him were at least five other wolves and Michael could smell more approaching.

  “It’s okay. We just brought out Scarlett’s wolf.”

  Seamus’ eyes got wide and he stroked his goatee. “She has a wolf?”

  “She does.”

  Scarlett cried and whined, burying her head deeper in his lap. Finally, she jumped up on the bed and burrowed down beneath the covers. He could feel the bed shake behind him as she quivered in fear.

  “Please make them leave. I’m terrified of them.”

  Michael raised an eyebrow at that.” You know not one of them would hurt you. If they ever tried, I would rip them to pieces.”

  It might have been his imagination, but he thought he felt the bed’s vibrations lessen.

  “Yes, yes you would and you’re our mate.”

  “I am.”

  Michael looked at the shifters who looked as surprised as he had felt earlier. “Can you guys give us a minute, please?”

  Seamus nodded and after a second moved out into the hall, closing the door behind him.

  Michael knew what had to be done. He’d done it before with some of the Beta wolves that were timid. There was no place for timidity in the pack, not while they were at war with his father. Honestly, not before then, either. Just because you were Beta did not mean you had to be afraid. If anything, the fact that a large number of Alpha shifters wanted nothing more than to protect you all day long made most Betas feel safer.

  Scarlett had never experienced this sensation. Even if they were improving drastically by the minute, the ones who should have guarded her had abused her. This had driven her little wolf farther and farther inside of her until she hadn’t known she was there at all.

  No, there was no wasting time with this issue. He had to take control.

  Calling the shift onto himself, he waited until he was in his wolf form. In this case, Michael didn’t have to be in control. His animal side knew just what to do. Jumping up on the bed, he pulled the cover off Scarlett by using his teeth. She looked up at him, her head down, until she averted her eyes.

  Michael moved forward and nudged her with his head. She whimpered. No, that would not do. He pushed at her again. This time she lifted her eyes. He could feel her wanting to speak to him telepathically but he blocked her voice.

  This had to be animal to animal.

  Michael bumped at her stomach forcing her to stand up. Jumping off the bed, he motioned with his head for her to follow. This time she did. He lay down on the floor and she put herself next to him.

  She panted loudly and he could tell her heart rate increased. Nuzzling her, he put his head on top of her spine keeping her down. Little-by-little, moment-by-moment, pressed against his warmth she calmed. The panting decreased, her tongue went back inside her mouth and her pupils became less dilated.

  “Scarlett?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was smooth. She didn’t sound worked up anymore.

  “Anytime yo
u feel tense, you come to me. It’s that simple. Things will get better. You’ll get used to your wolf, she’ll get used to you. The shift won’t be odd anymore. Until then, think of me as your personal safety net.”

  “Okay.” She really did sound good, which was nice to hear. That meant he had been able to calm her with his presence.

  “Now it’s time to shift back.”

  “Does it hurt as much as becoming the wolf did?”

  He wished he could tell her it didn’t. “Just this time. Next time it will be like breathing or sneezing. It’ll just be something you do.”

  Calling the shift onto himself, he pushed his magic onto her, forcing the white light to come and change her back. If she’d done this with Tristan, his voice alone would do it. Michael was her mate, but not her supreme Alpha; Michael had to work a little harder to make it happen.

  She collapsed onto the floor, back in her human form. “That really, really hurt.”

  “I know.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

  She was silent for a few moments before she looked at him wide-eyed. “I have a wolf inside of me.”

  He smiled as he pulled her into his arms. “How does it feel?”

  “Really right.” When she grinned, it was with tears in her eyes. “You can’t know. I’ve wanted this my whole life. I could never go live with the humans. Everyone always asked me why I didn’t. I tried it. Oh gods, I just wanted to be around other wolves even knowing I wasn’t really one.”

  “You did know.” Michael was sure of it. Standing, he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed where he set her down gently. “It’s why you knew you needed to be with pack.”

  “Why didn’t she come before?”

  “I don’t know.” He walked into the bathroom to get a warm washcloth. “Why don’t you ask her?”

  “Ask her?”

  Turning on the water, he ran the cloth underneath it until it was warm and then shut the faucet off. Ringing the rag out, he walked back into the room. “Yes, ask her. She does talk, right?”