Page 54 of Winning the Wolf

My words sent him over the edge as he pounded into me a couple more times. His shuddering sent me over the precipice and I shouted as tiny sparkles of electric pulses exploded from where I gripped his length. His heavy breath was loud in my ears as the orgasm fell and we were left entwined and panting.

My body simmered with satisfaction as he lifted his head and kissed my neck. The sheen of perspiration that covered his forehead made me smile. I liked making my new man sweat for me.

"Is that a smile of happiness?" he murmured.

His arms still shook, while my arms were stronger. Wait, that meant I'd drained him in our love making.

"Yes." Trying to hide my fear, I stroked a finger down his cheek. "Very much so."

"Good," he replied, slumping down and resting his head on my shoulder. "Because there's plenty more to come."

As his breath grew heavy, I watched the rise and fall of his chest. The sex had been mind-blowing but he was a strong alpha wolf, he should still be able to run several laps. The spell really was taking it out of him. My heart thundered and I made up my mind. Now that I'd found my man, I couldn't lose him. There was no way I would let him die for me. I had to take control.

"Let me be clear," he puffed as he collapsed beside me, "I'm not going after Jeremy to avenge my father."

Pushing up onto my elbow, I looked down at him, sprawled on the rug with an arm resting over his forehead. The glory of him made me smile. The alpha was all mine. I was a very lucky girl.

"Really? But he killed your parents." Taking his hand, I squeezed it. "What other reason have you got to go after him?"

"You," he whispered, leaning up to place his hand on the back of my neck. "No one comes after my mate." Kissing my nose, he looked into my eyes. "I'm doing it for you."

Chapter Fifteen

My footsteps were silent as I slipped into Nyla's room. She was sitting on the bed, staring at the floor. Her expression was taunt, her eyes wild with worry. She was petrified.

I'd come to confirm my suspicion and one look had done that. My sister always had plenty of bravado, since the day we were born. I'd been the quieter one and she'd always been the hyper ambitious loud one.

"You can't do this," I declared, kneeling on the floor and grasping her hands in mine.

She blinked several times, her eyes slowly focusing on me. The pain that reflected in them made me lean forward to wrap my arms around her. She went still for a brief moment, frozen and afraid of my touch.

"Oh, Nyla," I whispered, "what would Chris make of all this?"

Her shoulders slumped and her head buried in my neck as the tears came. Big wrenching sobs vibrated through her, the sound of sadness almost a wail. I held her tight as my own silent tears trickled down my face. She'd already lost her mum and her brother... and no doubt, she'd lose me, too.

I couldn't fool myself into believing that Jeremy would even bring his witch to the meeting, let alone unlink Killick and I. The bastard had already proved he wasn't honourable. He would no doubt kill Nyla the instant he saw her. I couldn't let her take that risk.

"The plan will work." Her hiccuped sentence made me smile. We'd always had an uncanny ability to read each other's mind.

Moving back, I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and wiped the tears from my face. We'd been through a lot, my twin and I. It was my turn to protect her. Yes, she'd be heart broken, but at least she'd be alive. There was no point in us both dying.

"You don't have to go," I said, standing up and going to the window.

Killick stood near his men as they trained, talking to Caleb. Their daily routine was to run two laps of the lake, then do a round on the outdoor fitness equipment on the right hand side of the grounds. Killick had refused to join them, aware that his strenuous activity would drain my energy even quicker.

"I have to do this," Nyla said, coming to join me. "To make up for being so stupid and careless. Also, Jeremy has just replied to tell me to meet him now."

Looking at her, I frowned. "Firstly, you do know that psycho manipulated you, right? You're so desperate for love, you'd date a dog if he winked at you, let alone a powerful man who has a crazy vendetta against Killick."

"Hey!" she muttered, nudging me with her elbow. "It's not fair to compare a dog to Jeremy, they're cute." Sighing, she rested her head sideways, leaning on my shoulder. "You're right, though. I never realised how damaged I was until I sat alone in that hut, trying not to look at Miranda's still form. Being so close to death made me think about Chris. I don't want his legacy to be his suicide. I don't want my trauma to take me down the same path."

Tears prickled my eyes and I sucked in a shaky breath. All three of the siblings had been through hell, and yet, we were still here, still fighting. I had to do the same. I wasn't going to let Jeremy take me or my twin sister. "I don't want that either, but whatever happens, you must promise to live life. We agreed to stick together, no matter what." Turning to her, I took one of her hands in mine. "That's why you can't go."

"Anyway," Nyla said, turning back to the window and pointing, "since when did you bag yourself an alpha mate?"

Clearing my throat, I steadied my quivering nerves. "The mating games. I was forced to play them, even though you were still missing. "Are you angry that it's him?"

Nyla hadn't been as resentful as I had towards Killick when he'd cut us out after Chris' death, but she'd always joined in with my moaning. She'd shut down even more than I had, so I'd always assumed she really hated him.

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