Beauty in Winter Read online

He interrupts me. “You belong to him now. Don’t you remember the contract you signed?” he reminds me, tsking at my inability to grasp the situation.

  “Whatever, sue me,” I tell him, coming to my feet. Part of me wants to run, and part of me has a deep desire to make sure the wolf is okay. Something is pulling me to him. The feeling settles deep inside me, as if he’s mine to take care of.

  Mr. Blackden moves fast. Faster than a human should be able to, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me through the giant castle. The wolf growls, and I look back as he attempts to come to his feet, clearly drugged and swaying. He must have shot him with some kind of tranquilizer.

  “That should have put him down for hours,” Mr. Blackden says in disbelief. I try to jerk from his hold, but he pulls me through that house and up a set of stairs. “Seems even a tranq that’s made to put an elephant on his ass for a day won’t stop an alpha from coming for and protecting his mate.”

  “Mate? Alpha?” There’s too much for me to try to figure out here.

  “There will be time for that later. For now, I feel it’s best to put you away.”

  “Put me away?” I move to free myself again but get nowhere. He pulls open a set of double doors and pushes me inside, and I almost trip over my own feet.

  “Get comfortable,” he tells me, that smirk playing on his lips once again. I jump for the door, but it slams in my face and the lock clicks into place. I pull on the handles, but nothing happens. Growls fill the outside hallway, and a loud crash echoes through the room. Then I hear something trying to claw its way into the room.

  Chapter 4

  Reid

  I can feel a pain in my chest as I watch her take a step away from me.

  MATE.

  My wolf roars, and my alpha blood pumps hard and fast. But it’s not enough to push the poison from me. I look down to see my hands have become paws. My body has changed, and I’m not fully shifted. More animal than man.

  MATE.

  My wolf beats down on me again to get up and claim what’s mine. It’s so foreign to have him inside my head; I’ve never been able to fully feel him before. I always knew my inner beast was right under the surface, but I’d never been able to grab onto him or bond to him in a way that all shifters are able to when they reach maturity. This is the first time in my life that I truly feel whole, like I was meant to be. And it’s all because of her.

  I push through the fog in my brain and watch as Ron takes her away from me. He said he was going to make sure she didn’t leave, but my brain isn’t working right. I can’t think straight. Right now, I’ve got uncontrollable urges that must be sated.

  MATE.

  The word rolls through my body like the reverberations of a drum. I can’t be stopped. Rising, I take a step and feel the weight of my wolf’s body. It’s part of me, an extension of who I am, yet it’s all new. It’s like taking steps for the first time, only right now I’m half drugged.

  I make my way up the stairs, tracking her scent, the one that I know is mine. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before, and my mouth is watering to taste it. It’s sweet and rich, like warm syrup. I want it dripping down my chin and over my chest, coating me with her.

  The muscles in my back tighten as I catch a little fear mixed in with her fragrance, and I bare my teeth. How dare anyone frighten what belongs to me. My one true love.

  It’s insane that it’s happening so fast. One moment I thought I was cursed forever, unable to shift, never to find a mate, never to have my own young. Now, within seconds, this beauty shows up on my doorstep, and all that is now possible. She has given me a gift unlike any I could have dared to dream of, and I will spend my life protecting her.

  By the time I catch up to them the drugs are completely out of my system. I watch as Ron puts her into my room and closes the door, locking it. Before I can think about what I’m doing, I’m on him. I push him down on the ground, pressing my paws into his shoulders and pinning him down. Immediately he turns his head to the side, baring his neck and showing submission. He’s clearly showing me that I’m the dominant wolf and he isn’t going to challenge me for her.

  “Calm down, Reid,” he whispers, but I can’t be bothered. I need to get to mine.

  I push him down a little harder this time, and he grunts, then nods in understanding. He knows to get out and stay gone.

  I turn toward the door and claw at it. I’m still in wolf form, and I don’t know how to change back. It’s all happening so fast. Normally there are pack elders nearby to help us change back when it first happens. But I’m alpha, and this is so much later in life that I don’t know what will make me shift back to my human form. Right now all I can do is follow my instincts. And they are telling me that once I get to my mate, all will be fine.

  Giving up using my claws, I lower my shoulder and break through the door.

  Once I’m inside, I look straight to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My heartbeat thuds slowly as I finally calm. Being near her has made everything in me slow down. I have the sudden urge to lie gently at her feet, so I follow that instinct.

  I pad over to her slowly so that I don’t scare her, making sure all of my motions are slow and intentional.

  “Hi, um, I’m Fiona Lamb,” she says nervously with a little wave. “Please don’t eat me.”

  When I reach her feet I bow my head. I wait for what feels like hours, thinking she won’t touch me. The pain in my chest grows as I wonder if she will reject me just as my own mother did. But she is my mate, and I will never love another beyond her, so I wait.

  When I feel her delicate fingers in my fur, a rumble sounds in my chest, and warmth spreads through me.

  “Who are you?” she whispers.

  I lay my body down at her feet, on my side, letting her see that I’m no threat to her. She watches me, and without any hesitation, she kneels down beside me and rubs her hand along my body.

  For a long time we stay this way, her petting me and me lying very still, soaking up the affection and attention my wolf has spent years without. I want to roll around and smother her with the same kind of love, but I have to remain calm. My wolf aches for this, and I want to give him all that I can.

  Closing my eyes, I can feel the calm radiate through me, and colors start to form. Then a soft light pushes in, and suddenly it’s not her fingers on my fur anymore, but on my skin. I had always heard the first shift back after becoming your wolf was very painful, but with Fiona’s touch I didn’t feel a thing.

  Her hand stills just as she reaches my hip, as if she’s caught herself. Slowly I open my eyes and lock them with hers. Sitting up, I inhale, and it’s all there. Her desire, her warmth, her need. She’s ripe for the taking, and she belongs to me.

  “I am yours,” I say, answering her question from before. “And you are mine.”

  Chapter 5

  Fiona

  I stare into the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen. My mind isn’t able to process what’s really happening, but something about this man, this beast, is drawing me to him. He doesn’t look completely human. His features are sharper, and I can see the animal within him still. He’s handsome in a wild kind of way. He’s different, and I feel something shift deep inside me. An attraction takes hold like I’ve never felt before. I should be running from the room, screaming, asking what’s happening, but for some reason I’m not. He needs me. The thought floats through my head.

  His eyes are a little unsure, but they stare into mine, and I can see a deep need there. I lean forward. Something pulls me to him, a longing like I’ve never felt. I don’t try to stop it. I let my body take over. Before I know it, my lips connect with his.

  His hands sink into my hair, holding me close, a growl leaving his body and entering mine. I think the kiss will be as fierce as his transformation, but it’s soft and sweet. His tongue lazily explores my mouth as if he’s savoring my taste. He doesn’t want to rush it. It’s almost tentative, like he’s not sure how to kiss me.

  I deepen
it, wanting more of him and allowing all of my desire to pour into it. I want to be connected with him in every way possible. And as soon as the thought enters my mind, I’m flat on my back with his weight on top of me. I gasp, looking up at him. His eyes flash a yellow gold before turning back to their deep, dark brown.

  My whole body feels like it’s on fire. One kiss isn’t enough. “More,” I whisper, begging him for something that I can’t explain.

  He growls into my mouth, and the sound runs through my whole body.

  “Mine,” I hear him say as he pulls away his mouth from mine and moves to my neck. My hands go to his head, running my fingers through his hair, needing to touch him as he devours my body. I let my eyes fall closed as I push everything out of my mind, just feeling what’s happening in this moment. I don’t want to think about anything else. It’s been so long that I can’t remember the last time I felt anything good. But I know I’ve never anything as good as this.

  My eyes fly open as I hear the ripping of material, the cool air caressing my skin. I gasp, looking down and seeing that I’m naked.

  “Mine,” he growls again.

  “Yours,” I confirm, the word slipping easily past my lips.

  There is a force unlike anything I can explain binding us together. It’s deep and pure, and we are meant to be. He’s my other half. I am his. I know it deep down inside me. I don’t know why or how, but I am. My soul has belonged to him since the beginning of time, and now we are meeting anew.

  His chest rumbles as he moves down my body, kissing and licking every part of me he can. Time stands still as he parts my legs. He takes a deep breath, breathing me into him. I feel my legs fall open a little more as his rumbles vibrate my skin.

  “Mine?” This time it comes out as a question. There’s so much longing and need in his words, I can’t deny him. Not that I’d ever want to.

  “Yours,” I confirm once again.

  I gasp as his mouth covers my pussy. The sensation is indescribable. My back comes off the bed as I arch, wanting to be closer to him.

  A growl leaves him, and it sends shockwaves through my body. The feeling of it rippling through me is exquisite torture. Every muscle in my body is held tight as he pleasures me.

  He buries his face between my legs. I cry out, wanting more of him. His massive hands grip both my thighs, pulling them farther apart. His fingers dig into me as he spreads me wider for his mouth. I wonder if they will leave marks tomorrow. The sensation is rough but delicious.

  He sucks my clit into his mouth, and I moan, feeling myself get closer and closer to orgasm.

  It’s happening so fast it’s almost embarrassing. My hips start to move in time with his tongue, and I try to push into him as I reach my peak. He snarls against me as he grips my hips with callused hands, holding me in place as the pleasure spikes and sends me over the edge.

  He forces my body into a paradise of desire. I go lax in his arms, but he keeps kissing and trying to devour me. I feel the edge of his teeth graze along my lower lips, and though I should tremble, all I do is yearn for more.

  But then I feel his teeth sink into me. I should scream out in pain, but there is none. There is only warm pleasure as another orgasm rolls over me, this one impossibly stronger than the last.

  It makes me forget any reasonable thought I’ve ever had. The only thing I can do is feel.

  I run my fingers through the hair of a man I don’t even know. But while I know nothing, not even his name, I know that he’s mine.

  I glance down at him and watch as his mouth pulls into a grin. It’s wicked and doesn’t look like it’s something he does often. But I love it.

  “You saved me,” he says. His voice is deep and still holds an edge of a growl to it.

  I don’t respond. I’m unsure of what to say. He rises from the bed, and it’s then I realize that he’s completely naked. He licks his lips, trying to get more of my taste into his mouth, and watching him do that is making me ache for him again.

  “You’re my everything. I’ll—” He stops abruptly when he glances at the mirror next to the bed, and the smile drops from his face. He marches over toward it, taking a closer look. His eyes narrow on himself before he brings his fist up and smashes the mirror.

  The sound echoes through in the room, and I scream out in surprise as the pieces of glass fall to the floor.

  Then he storms from the room.

  Chapter 6

  Reid

  By the time I find something to clean up the glass with and come back to the room Fiona is gone. I can sense it the second I open the door. Panic forms in my chest, but I feel my wolf inside me stirring. I relax, knowing that he’s finally here with me fully, and I’m sure that together we’ll find her.

  Closing my eyes, I raise my nose and follow the direction of her scent. I run down the hall and stairs, but instead of going out the front door, I turn at the staircase. I make my way back through the castle and into the west wing.

  When I get there, I see the door is ajar and Fiona is standing in the middle of the library with a sheet wrapped around her, looking at the books.

  “Please don’t run from me,” I say in a low voice.

  She turns to me with concern in her eyes. “I was scared, but I didn’t want to leave. I was just going to give you some space.” She refocuses on the painting on the wall. “Is that you? Reid Gold?”

  I nod. The painting is from when I was younger, before the curse struck, when my features were more human than beast. “I had hoped when the curse was lifted that I would turn human again when I found my mate.” I lower my head, ashamed that I’m not the mate she needs me to be.

  Who could love a beast like this? How could I expect my mate to desire me this way?

  “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was angry that I was still so hideous. I didn’t want to frighten you, and I did anyway. I apologize.”

  I hear her approach slowly, and I watch as she uses one hand to hold the sheet around her and the other to reach up and touch my face.

  “You’re beautiful to me,” her soft voice soothes.

  I lean into her touch, desperate for it.

  “I don’t want you to change into something else. I want you exactly like this.”

  I scoop her up in my arms and carry her over to the dark blue chaise lounge. It’s big enough to fit two of me, and I lay her on it before I slowly peel away the sheet.

  The rumble in my chest grows when I see her naked body laid out before me. I inhale, and I can smell that she’s in season. Her body is ripe. My cock throbs with need, my dominant alpha wolf pushing to the edge.

  “If you want the beast, then I’ll give it to you.”

  I grip her hips and flip her onto her stomach. She moans as I spread her legs and pull her ass up in the air.

  “You’ve got my mark, and now you’ll have my seed.”

  Looking down, I see my cock dripping pearls of cum onto her ass. It’s long and thick, ready to fill her. I use the head to spread my moisture around, wanting as much of my scent on her as possible.

  “Show me you want me,” I growl.

  I watch as her little hand sneaks between her legs and plays with her pussy. The slight moan she makes nearly has me spilling down her thighs. Then she spreads her lips open, showing me her entrance. She leans back, rubbing it on the tip of my cock.

  The sight drives me insane, and I can’t wait any longer.

  Grabbing my cock at the base, I push into her wet warmth and feel her tight heat wrap around all twelve inches. In one full thrust, she envelops me, and I can feel my seed rising out of my cock to fill her. She lets out a little gasp.

  I reach around and put my hand on her lower belly as I feel the warmth of my cum spread into her womb, numbing any pain she may have felt and binding us together as only mates can be bound. Unbreakable.

  “I love you,” I whisper as my mouth trails along her shoulder and kisses her neck. “You’re mine forever, Fiona.”

  My wave of pleasure triggers her own
, and I feel her climax around my cock. Her pussy tightens around me, and her body tenses and then relaxes. Then she does it again, crying out as a second wave of pleasure hits her.

  “It’s the mating heat. It’s bearing down on us, forcing us to breed.”

  I start to move as I feel myself start to cum inside her again. I thrust in and out as cum covers my cock and drips out of her pussy.

  “We’ll be like this for days, unable to sate the need that pulls at us.” I run my hand up her stomach and to her breasts, taking one in my hand and pinching the nipple. “Will you take all that I have to give, my beauty? Will you ease the ache that grows with every second?”

  Another wave of pleasure hits her, and she’s unable to answer as she cries out my name.

  “Once you’re bred it will lessen, but until then your body will yearn just as mine does. And I will make sure you have my cock or my mouth to relieve it.”

  I sit back, pulling her against me so that she’s sitting on my lap. We’re in the library, but there is a large window in front of us through which we can watch the snow come down.

  Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her to me as I push in and out, feeling her body tighten and relax as the peaks of desire overtake her. I bury my nose in her hair, smelling her scent, and rubbing mine against hers.

  Our love-making turns more desperate. Her fingers dig into the sheets and mine into her thighs as I hold her tighter and thrust harder.

  “More, Reid. I need more,” she whimpers, and my body does as she commands.

  As I fill her again with my seed, the warmth spreads between us and runs down her thighs. She breathes a sigh of contentment when I release into her, like she’s burning and my cum is her aloe.

  I reach down and smear it into skin, wanting every drop on her. Our bodies are slick against one another, but the alpha wolf in me isn’t finished. Not even close.