The Beta's Heart (Wilde Creek Book 8) Read online

  He raised a brow. “What were you waiting for?”

  She took a drink of tea and said, “Nothing, really, I guess I was just nervous about approaching you out of the blue and telling you I dreamed about you. I don’t know much about wolf shifters, so I had no idea if you’d know we were mates or if it might be one-sided on my part.”

  “Are you still nervous?”

  “No.”

  “Good. I’m glad you finally came to visit.”

  “I wish I hadn’t waited so long.”

  “I do, too, but I’m not sorry we’re together now. I do have one thing to ask, though.”

  “Oh?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Would you be my mate?”

  She smiled brightly. “Of course!”

  He leaned over and kissed her, tasting the herbal tea on her lips. “We kind of skipped over things last night because I needed to shift. Even though we both knew we were mates when we met, I still wanted to be a gentleman and ask.”

  “You’re sweet.”

  He finished the scone, which was amazing, and the tea, which he enjoyed even more knowing Kismet had made the blend herself. They set their mugs on a side table next to the box of scones. “What do you want to do now, sweetheart?”

  “What do wolves usually do when they meet their truemate?”

  His wolf sat up in his mind with an interested growl. “It depends. There’s no timeline or rules for becoming mates. Whatever we do is what’s right for us.”

  “Are you being cautious for a reason?” she asked, tilting her head and narrowing her gaze.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean are you still trying to be a gentleman? Because I’d like you to be honest with me.”

  He hadn’t even realized he was being overly cautious. She wasn’t a wolf, and he wasn’t sure what was normal for fairies.

  “You said fairies don’t have truemates.”

  “Right.”

  “So, you date and fall in love and then get married?”

  “Sure.”

  “Well, wolves get married too, but the dating doesn’t happen with truemates. When a wolf finds his truemate, all he can think about is securing the mating.”

  Her emerald gaze darkened, and the subtly sweet scent of her arousal filled the air. “Secure the mating?”

  He cupped her neck and rubbed his thumb over her pulse. “A good, hard fuck and a mating mark, right here. Then everyone who sees you will know you’re mine.”

  She inhaled sharply and bit her bottom lip. “I want that, too. But I also want something else.”

  “Anything.”

  “In the olden days, the first time a fae couple came together, they anointed each other with special oil in a bath.”

  He kissed her gently, his heart pounding in anticipation. “If that’s what you want,” he said as he nipped her lower lip, “then I want it, too. I want everything.”

  She slipped from the bed and pulled her top off. Her breasts were tipped with rosy, tight nipples. She slid her hands down her sides slowly and pushed her leggings and panties off. Her pussy was bare, and his mouth watered at the idea of tasting her, of making her come on his tongue, until she screamed his name in pleasure.

  “I love when your eyes do that,” she murmured.

  “What?”

  “Change color.”

  “It’s my wolf. You’re just so damn sexy.”

  She offered him her hand and he took it, moving off the bed and following her into the bathroom.

  “This is the first day of the rest of our lives, Ren,” she said. “Are you happy?”

  “When we’re officially mated, I’ll be over the moon, trust me. You’re everything I ever wanted in a mate, and so much more I didn’t even know existed. You’re mine, Kismet. All mine.”

  Chapter 4

  Kismet exhaled shakily and lifted her hand, illuminating the bathroom. Ren let out a surprised gasp and she smiled internally, knowing how beautiful the bathroom was. One of her favorite things to do was take a bath, and she’d created the bathroom as her own private oasis. Ren was the first male to be with her in the bathroom, and she was glad she’d never shared it with anyone but him.

  She led him to the sunken tub and twisted the knobs to fill it, adjusting the temperature until it was just right. Tropical plants covered the walls and ceiling around the tub, and hanging candles lent a soft glow to the room. She took two glass jars from a wicker cabinet and handed one to him.

  “These contain the…I guess you’d call it the mating oil of my people. It was considered lucky for a new couple to anoint each other.”

  “Why did your people stop doing them?”

  “I’m not sure. I guess some traditions don’t make it in the modern world for one reason or another. I always thought it was a neat and romantic idea, and when I dreamed of you and thought I might meet you some day, I secured the oil in hopes that you’d be willing to do this with me.”

  “I’d do anything for you, Kismet. We’re truemates. You’re the part of my heart I didn’t know was missing until I met you.”

  Her heart swelled at his sweet words. “Do what I do.”

  She took off the cork stopper and tossed it aside. Then she tipped the jar onto her fingers and coated the tips. When he’d done the same thing, she touched her index finger to his throat and stroked an oiled line down to his shoulder, then she used her middle finger to draw a line over his heart, and finally with her ring and pinky fingers, she marked two lines across his abdomen.

  With each mark that he made on her skin, her body heated, her arousal blooming inside her like a living thing. She linked the fingers of her free hand with his, and then dumped the contents of her jar into the water. When he’d emptied his jar, and the sweet and floral scents rose in the air with the steam from the water, she said, “Be mine, Ren.”

  “Forever,” he promised.

  They set the jars down on the floor. She stepped down into the water and he joined her. The tub was waist-high on him in the center where it was deepest, with carved seats around the perimeter. He cupped her face and lowered his head, brushing his lips over hers. She opened her mouth and groaned when his tongue touched hers. Her skin prickled and her stomach twisted as he trailed his fingers down her throat, across her shoulders, and down to her breasts. He rubbed her nipples with his fingers, tugging them gently. She gripped his shoulders and rose onto her toes as he swept his fingers down her body. One hand moved to her back and drew her close, and the other slipped between her thighs. He cupped her pussy and growled in his throat, one finger curling to slowly press inside her.

  His erection bobbed against her stomach and she let go of the hold on one shoulder and reached for him, circling his length with her hand. He throbbed in her hold, and he groaned as she stroked him slowly from root to tip. When she stroked him a second time, he pushed a second finger into her and she gasped, her head falling back as he rubbed his fingers against her inner walls.

  He cradled the back of her head and kissed her throat, rubbing the heel of his hand against her clit as his fingers moved inside her. She felt the scrape of his fangs against her throat and closed her eyes, waiting for the sting of his bite, but he kissed her instead and fingered her harder.

  She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “I’m not going to mark you yet, sweetheart.” His voice was low and gruff as he drew her to the edge of pleasure. The climax thundered down on her, tingles racing up her spine and her wings pressing against her back to be let free. He sat and pulled her onto his cock, burying himself to the hilt as the water splashed around them. She shouted his name as her body clutched his rhythmically, his thumb rubbing a swift beat on her clit.

  Her nails dug into his shoulders as they moved together, her pleasure mounting a second time. His eyes glowed bright amber and she’d never seen anything sexier than that, his fangs gleaming from his parted lips and a steady growl in his throat.

  He lifted her from him and turned her away from him, planting her hands on the edge
of the tub and shoving her hair off to one side. He thrust into her, gripping her hips tightly as he moved.

  “Touch yourself, Kismet,” he said, the statement a request and an order twined together. “Take me with you.”

  She reached for her clit, rubbing her sensitive bud in time to his swift strokes into her. She closed her eyes and let herself go into the sensations. Nothing had ever felt as good as Ren inside her, and she knew she’d never get enough of him.

  Her stomach twisted as pleasure poured over her and she cried out as she came. He roared as he followed her into bliss, his cock thickening inside her as the heat of his come filled her. He struck, burying his fangs in the side of her neck. The action took her by surprise, but she liked the oddly pleasurable sting. She let out a moan as her skin erupted in goosebumps.

  He lifted from her slowly and she caught the metallic scent of blood before he licked the mark he’d made. It soothed the sting some, and then he kissed it gently and pulled her against him as he sat back down in the tub. Her legs fell to the sides of his and she rested her head on his shoulder. He cuddled her close with a deep and satisfied sigh.

  “I didn’t hurt you when I marked you, did I?” he asked.

  “Not really.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I scraped my tongue and wiped my blood on the mark. It makes it scar permanently and helps it to heal faster. I was planning to be careful and take it slow, but you felt too damn good.”

  She smiled. “I loved every second.”

  “I feel really connected to you, Kismet. I don’t know if it’s just the marking or the oils we used, but I feel like we’ve known each other forever.”

  She hummed. “I was thinking the same thing. Maybe it’s a combination of the two.”

  “Well, whatever it is, we well and truly belong to each other, and I couldn’t be happier.”

  “Me, too.”

  * * *

  Kismet woke slowly, listening to the steady beat of Ren’s heart as she rested her head on his chest. She’d slept soundly, thanks to her mate’s good loving, and judging by the sunlight streaming through the windows, it was well into the morning.

  “Morning,” Ren said, his voice rough edged with sleep.

  She lifted her head and smiled at him. “Good morning.”

  “Not just good, great.”

  He smiled sweetly at her, his eyes hinting at the passion they’d enjoyed during the night. “Absolutely.”

  “Do you know what time it is?” he asked.

  She rolled to her other side and reached for her cell on the side table. “Just after ten.”

  “Time is the same here as in my home, right?” He sat up, reclining on his elbows.

  “Yes.”

  “I never asked, but where are we exactly?”

  She set her phone down and turned to face him. “It’s a different realm that exists within yours. We call where we are the fae realm, and where you are is the mortal realm.”

  “Sounds very science-fictiony.”

  She laughed. “I guess it is. Fae can live anywhere, but most stay in this realm. We have our own laws and government, but if we’re in the mortal realm we abide by their laws. Faes live in colonies, which you could think of as a human city. There are leaders over each colony, and they report to the courts, which handle any issues our people have. The military is like your police and keep the peace.”

  “Can anyone get to this realm, or just fae?”

  “Just fae, although I have heard rumors of powerful witches in the past who could open portals, but that was hundreds of years ago. To come here, a person must be able to open a portal, and only fae can accomplish that.”

  He looked thoughtful for a moment. “What are we going to do about living arrangements?”

  “I don’t know. What do you think?”

  “I like it here, but I have responsibilities to the pack.”

  She clicked her tongue in thought. “I don’t mind being in the mortal realm. Can I even be part of your pack, though? I got the impression from your alphas that creatures other than wolves aren’t really welcome.”

  “They’re welcome, but just not officially pack members. We call them unofficial members. It’s almost always because a wolf mates with a non-wolf. Only wolves can hold a rank within the pack, but there are positions that aren’t ranked where non-shifters can be.”

  “Like Lucian the berserker?”

  He nodded. “The pack used to be entirely exclusive to wolves, but Acksel has relaxed some of the rules because Brynn is human.”

  “What position are you in the pack?”

  “Second, also known as the beta. I’m Acksel’s right hand, so I’m there for whatever he needs. Below me is Sam, the theto. He’s in charge of the protectors, who are the wolves that are pack guards.”

  She hummed. “You’re the go-between for Acksel and the pack members?”

  “Among other things.”

  “Do you like it?”

  “Yeah. I fought my way up from an omega as a teenager to become beta. Acksel’s a good alpha, he’s fair and protective of the pack.”

  “Could you be alpha?”

  “If I wanted, which I don’t really. Alphas carry a lot of responsibility. I’d have to fight Acksel to take the position, and if I lost, I’d be exiled and not allowed to return to Wilde Creek under threat of death.”

  “Gracious!”

  “Pack life can be harsh.”

  “Are we mated?” she asked.

  His brows rose, and a low growl stuttered in his chest. “Of course.”

  “I mean in the eyes of the pack.”

  The growl cut off abruptly. “No. You’re wearing my marks and we made love, so we’re mated in the basic sense. But the pack won’t recognize our mating officially until we go before the alphas and commit to each other. We do that sort of thing on the full moons. There’s a short ceremony, and the alphas will give their approval for the mating and the pack will welcome you as an honorary member.”

  Her stomach took that moment to growl and she smiled. “Are you hungry, too?”

  “Of course. I had an insatiable fairy in bed with me last night. I’m positively starving.”

  Her smile widened as she grinned. She had felt insatiable last night. It didn’t hurt that her mate was sexy as hell. “I can fix you something to eat.”

  “Would you mind if we headed back to Wilde Creek? I left my truck at the alphas’ home, and my clothes in the woods. I need to check in, and then we can go eat at Luna’s. It’s a diner in town. If that’s okay.”

  “Sure, sounds good to me.”

  He stood and looked down at his naked body, all muscled and tanned and just begging to be explored. “I don’t suppose you could take us right to where I left my clothes?”

  “Sure. In the dream I had about you, it was at that tree that was struck by lightning, so I can take us right to it.”

  “Unless someone picked up my clothes, but I kind of doubt anyone would.”

  She cleaned up and dressed quickly in a pair of leggings and a tunic, slipping on a pair of ballet flats and pulling her long hair up into a ponytail.

  “Can you open a portal to anywhere?” he asked as he followed her outside and down into the yard.

  “Pretty much as long as I know where it is. I wasn’t sure where Acksel and Brynn’s house was the first time I went there, so I looked up their address on GPS and got my bearings that way.”

  “Do you have to be outside?” he asked.

  “No, I just prefer it. You can think of it as part of my nature abilities and enjoying being outside.”

  She thought about the tree, picturing it in her mind, and then she opened a portal. Through the opening, they could see the woods and the tree that had been split.

  “Your power is awesome,” he said, kissing her cheek.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  They walked through together, and she closed the portal. He found his clothes and dressed, pulling his cell from his pocket. “Battery�
�s dead, but that’s okay. We can knock on the alphas’ door, so they know I’m fine.”

  She took his offered hand and they began to walk to the house. “Do you think they were worried about you?”

  “I don’t know. Lucian, Mia, and Sam were with me when I noticed you, and they saw me walk into the woods to you. If anyone asked where I was, they might have assumed I was with you.”

  “I would have given you my phone if I’d even thought of it.”

  He laughed. “Sweetheart, it never occurred to me either. The last thing on my mind was checking in with anyone.”

  They walked into the backyard of the house, and Brynn stood from one of the chairs with a mug in hand. “Good morning! I was wondering where you went off to, Ren.”

  “Morning, Alpha Brynn,” Ren said. “Kismet is my truemate. I went home with her the night of the full moon.”

  “Oh, wow!” Brynn said, as the sliding back door opened and Acksel stepped out. “Did you hear, Acksel?”

  “That’s great news, congratulations to you both. Did you really dream about Ren because you’re mates?”

  “I guess so,” Kismet said. She and Ren walked onto the porch.

  Brynn hugged Kismet and said, “This is awesome news! I wanted to tell you that the flower bundle you gave me has worked. I’ve had nothing but sweet dreams since you gave it to me.”

  When she went to the alphas’ home for the first time to give them the book with the berserker oathing ceremony, she’d picked some favorite flowers from her garden and tied them with a ribbon. She’d told Brynn to hang them from her headboard to encourage good dreams.

  “I’m so glad it worked.”

  “Can you two come in for a visit?” Acksel asked.

  “Actually,” Ren said, “we’re hungry so I was going to take her to Luna’s, then head to my place to clean up. We can come back later today.”