Fire Wolf

Wolfsblood: Fire Wolf Marteeka Karland All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2012 Marteeka Karland

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Editor: Katriena Knights

Cover Artist: Marteeka Karland

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Wolfsblood: Fire Wolf Marteeka Karland

With a sensual seduction, Logan will capture Soli’s body… and her heart. Running for her life to escape the Lionsblood following her so tenaciously, Soli knows more than just her freedom is at stake. Lionsblood are the mortal enemy of her kind, the Wolfsblood. If he catches her, she has no doubt death would be a preferable fate. Logan knows the second he scents the little fire wolf she’s his mate. Convincing a Wolfsblood to mate with a Lionsblood, though, will be a tall order. Fortunately, Logan is up to the task. With a sensual seduction and one tiny bet, he will capture his mate’s body and her heart.

Chapter One Snow blanketed the landscape like a white veil. Nothing marred the flat expanse of the valley other than a few sparse glaciers. A Fire Wolf’s vivid orange and red pelt should have been clearly visible in all that blue and ice white, but somehow, Soli eluded her pursuer’s acute eyesight. She knew she had because the Lionsblood, though following her closely, had yet to use the full speed of his species. She wasn’t at all sure how much longer her luck would hold out either. Soli had used every trick she knew to shake the big male to no avail. He was an expert hunter. She was certain he could smell her fear and track her by that alone. If he did, she’d have to fight him knowing there was no way she could win against his much bigger, more heavily muscled body and keen fighting skills. Heart pounding, senses on high alert, Soli burrowed as deep into the snow-filled crevasses as she could, trying to disturb the surface as little as possible. Leaving the safety of the snow tunnels was a desperate risk, but one she would have to take. She stuck her nose out the small opening and inhaled deeply, scenting the air once more to get a feel for how much ground the Lionsblood had gained on her. She took a deep, calming breath. Before she left her only cover, she had to have her wits about her. Running headlong into an ice field in a panic would get her killed just as easily as getting caught by the Lionsblood following her. He was a few hundred meters behind her and closing fast. If she couldn’t gain ground in the ice fields, she was as good as caught. With a speed born of desperation, Soli burst from her snow tunnel and into the open. The ice field was littered with traps, but she skimmed lightly over each hidden crevasse as if they were in plain sight. If she misstepped and fell through the ice, the fall would be hundreds, if not thousands, of meters. A roar of triumph vibrated the very ground as she sped over the smooth terrain. The Lionsblood would be on her in a matter of seconds.

Soli leapt from ice wall to ice wall, zig-zagging in an attempt to throw off the male. He was most assuredly stronger and likely just as agile as she was, but she was smaller and lighter. If she could keep to the thinner sheets of ice, he would have to go around and away from her to keep from sacrificing sure footing. It was a huge gamble, but the only option available to her. As she skimmed over the ice, her weight barely registering on the dangerous ground, she heard a sliver of noise like water running over ice and knew she was in trouble. Three more strides and the noise stopped. This was so dangerous. Everything in her rebelled at her continued push forward, but it was either this or take her chances with the Lionsblood. Somehow, Soli was certain the ice caverns would be far more forgiving than the male getting so close to her now. She could hear his great paws on the ice and snow, pounding the ground in a relentless chase. Still, she wove in and out of the maze of ice traps, skirting as close as she could to the thin sheets of ice without actually stepping into a cavern. Just as she could see the end of the ice field, the huge glacier looming before her where she’d have solid footing and plenty of crevasses to slip into, the spidering cracks she’d heard before began again, much louder this time. She’d ventured too far onto the thinner ice over the worst part of the ice field. Soli ducked her head and ran as fast as her legs would carry her in her fire wolf form. No more than half a dozen steps later, the ice gave way. Soli let out a yelp of surprise and fear, her front paws scrabbling for purchase on the practically nonexistent footing of the ice. It gave way beneath her, but a large hand closed over her paw, hauling her back to the surface as the male gave a huge leap, clearing the remaining distance to the safety of the glacier. “Don’t shift,” he growled. “You’re safer in your Wolfsblood form until we get deep inside the glacier.” His tone brooked no argument. Soli tried to scramble out of his impossibly strong arms, but he held her fast, squeezing until she was afraid her ribs would crack under the pressure. “You’ve fought me enough for one day, little wolf. It’s best you don’t push me further.”

Soli’s body quivered, her sides heaving as he sped toward the shelter of the glacier, the enormity of her situation sinking in. The Lionsblood were mortal enemies of the Wolfsblood. Better she’d fallen to her death and been done with it. Whatever this Lionsblood had in mind for her couldn’t be good. If he’d gone to this much trouble, her death was certain to be slow and painful. Her mother had always told her cats liked to play with their food. Soli knew she was about to get firsthand knowledge of that statement, and it terrified her. Her captor was very large. Having half-shifted on the run, he was naked. Had he not been what he was, Soli would have admired the perfection of his body. Heavy muscles bunched under his skin in great masses, veins following the lines of his arms and playing across his chest. He was likely a good head and shoulders taller than she was in her human form and twice as wide. Still, he moved with a speed and grace Soli would never have thought possible of one his size. Tawny hair liberally covered most of his body, and the dark mane on his head spilled over his shoulders and down his back. In his half shifted form, he would have the advantage of being protected from the elements while still holding her captive. Despite his size and prowess as a hunter, what frightened her the most were his eyes. Twin slanted orbs of gold and green held menace and death in their depths. He would use her, take what he wanted, then kill her without remorse. The look in his eyes said he’d killed on many occasions and would again. He would likely not even remember her after he finished with her. The fear of certain death gave Soli new strength. She dug her hind legs into his side and bit down on the arm holding her tightly against his side as he ran. She raked at him with her claws, digging deep furrows into his flank, her body twisting in an effort to escape his steely grip. The Lionsblood didn’t even grunt -- instead he shifted his grip on her so her back legs were away from his body, his arm under her front legs and around her ribcage. He held her so tightly she had to fight just to breathe. When he entered the small opening in the glacier, he closed both arms around her, making his body as small as possible and protecting her from the walls of the ice

cave. He could have just as easily cracked her skull to stop her thrashing, but instead, he’d wrapped his body around hers, leaving himself vulnerable to her attack if she chose to try and harm him again. Once inside, he didn’t slow his pace, only cradled her close to his body as he ducked and dodged the falls of low-hanging ice on his way through the maze of tunnels. Soli was puzzled at his behavior. She knew he wasn’t a weak man -- he obviously could handle anything she threw at him -- yet he still left himself open to her. Was he so powerful he didn’t care what she did to him? If that were true, Soli was in far more trouble than she’d feared. She knew she should fight. Every instinct in her demanded she fight this man for her very life. Yet, if she got away from him, what then? There were so many twists and turns in the glacier maze she’d never find her way back outside. Even if she did, it was close to sunset. If she were caught outside during the night when the surface temperature plummeted, she’d be no better off than she was now. Despair clawed in her gut. It seemed no matter what action she chose, death followed. At the moment, however, she didn’t have much choice other than to allow the Lionsblood to have her. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the wounds she made, nor did he seemed inclined to let her down. She’d simply bide her time and bolt at the first opportunity. She just had to wait him out.

Chapter Two The damned little hell-wolf would probably eat him alive. Logan had been so stunned when he’d scented the Wolfsblood he’d nearly fallen into an ice trap. He’d wanted her. It was rare that Lionsblood mated so completely outside their species, but it wasn’t unheard of. Xander, a close cousin, had recently mated a Wolfsblood. Once Logan had spotted the little fire wolf, however, there was no question she was his. The only problem now was getting her to see it. At the moment, she was too scared to see what was in front of her. Her fear almost masked the delicate, wild scent of beautiful woman, but it was enough for him to recognize he had to claim her. And keep her. He took her deep into the earth. This glacier intersected a cave that traveled deeper than any Logan knew of. Most of the caves, including the Mammoths Shiffley and the others protected, housed human colonies. As far as Logan knew, the glacier was the only way in or out of his home. Still, he sealed the entrance to his sleeping chambers. There was no way anyone could get in or out unless he allowed it. A steel door clanged loudly into place with the palm lock at his touch. And he was locked in a closed-in space with a vicious fire wolf. He grinned. Nothing in his life had ever been easy. Why he expected his taking a mate to be any different was beyond him. Looking at her lush, red fur, he wondered what she would look like in her human form. It would be difficult, but he was looking forward to the challenge. She cowered in one corner of the dwelling, watching him intently. Or at least it looked like she was cowering. In reality, Logan knew she merely watched and waited, wanting him to make the first move. She was in unfamiliar territory and wouldn’t attack until she had a better idea what she was facing. “You can shift, you know. It’s perfectly safe here.” He held open a robe for her to step into. He wouldn’t hand it to her -- he wanted her close to him. He’d deliberately

put himself in a vulnerable position, with his arms away from his body, to put her at ease. At first, Logan thought she might refuse. She crouched, unmoving, her delicate nose flaring just the slightest bit as she scented the air. No doubt she was looking for a clue to his intentions. Logan didn’t move, waiting patiently for her decision. With slow, deliberate movements, his little fire wolf moved toward him, crouched as if waiting to spring at him. He simply stood there with the robe open, waiting for her. When she reached him, she shifted. Had Logan been a lesser man, he might have embarrassed himself by coming at the sight of her. Xander’s mate had been exotically black-skinned with snow-white hair. This woman was everything her species implied. Her skin reminded him of the sun when it set in a fiery display in the western sky. Reds, yellows and oranges played across her gleaming skin, her hair a midnight black, contrasting sharply with her flesh. As it was, he was naked, and the evidence of his reaction to her was painfully obvious for her to see. She snatched the robe from him, gliding away from him a few steps before slipping into it. The thing was miles too big for her, being made for him, but Logan found he rather liked the implication. It was much like a woman donning a man’s shirt after a night of passion filled sex. The thought made his cock jump. No other woman had ever affected him so easily. He’d known he had his hands full when her scent had beckoned to him, but he hadn’t expected this. That, and she was still looking at him with those fiery, orange-red eyes. Sun above, he was a goner! “I won’t just roll over and let you fuck me, if that’s what you’re thinking.” She lifted her chin to look him boldly in the eyes. Most men usually avoided doing so. She was definitely a hell-wolf. In a world where no one dared cross a Lionsblood, let alone a Lionsblood/Vampire hybrid with his reputation, she was standing her ground, not backing down an inch. “I didn’t expect you to.” His voice was husky from lack of use, and he had to resist the urge to clear his throat. Logan wasn’t in the presence of others all that much. When he was, he didn’t converse. He and his cousins had been close as youths and he

kept in touch, but he never stayed long in anyone’s company. Until now. He had no desire to leave or to let her leave. Not ever. She snorted. “That’s not what my nose tells me. You reek of male lust.” She spat the words, an accusation. Fury was almost palpable in the small cavern. It rolled off her in waves. Logan couldn’t help the small, mocking smile. “I’m sure I do. You’re an exotically beautiful woman. I may be half Lionsblood, but I’m not so much an animal I’d force myself on you.” His smile widened, knowing he probably looked every inch the predator he was. “I much prefer seduction to force. The results are so much better for both parties.” Logan could tell she was trying hard not to give anything away, but her scent told him all he needed to know. Heat flooded through her body, and he scented a rush of her feminine cream. His dick got hard just knowing he turned her on. Logan didn’t try to hide his erection from her. He stood before her proud and unashamed, letting her see what the sight of her exotic and uniquely colored body and her arousal did to him. She lifted her chin stubbornly. “You won’t take me willingly. You’ll have to fight for everything you do.” He merely raised an eyebrow. “Now, that’s a challenge I’m willing to take.” He stalked toward her. Logan circled around her position, not making an overt move toward her, but his intent was all too obvious. He meant it to be that way. He wanted her. He knew she wanted him. The only obstacle was her stubbornness, and that was easily disarmed. “Don’t the Wolfsblood live by a code the same as the Lionsblood?” Wariness crossed her features, but she held her ground. She was in a too-large robe in her human form, and she still crouched in a fighting stance like she had every intention of fighting him to the death. It wasn’t a fight Logan would have accepted if he’d really meant to hurt her. He honestly wasn’t all that certain he’d come out the victor. She might be small, but he sensed a will of steel beneath her delicate exterior. She was perfectly capable of protecting herself. He could see it in her eyes and the way she moved.

“You know we do. Only the Vampires live without a code of honor.” There was pride in her voice, as if he’d insulted her. “In that case, you owe me for saving your life. You would have fallen to your death had I not grabbed you. For that, I demand use of your body for one night.” He watched her go from outrage, to shock, to something between fear and a lust so deep it rivaled his own. She didn’t want to be physically attracted to him, but the pull of a mate was too strong in a Wolfsblood for her to ignore it. Comprehension washed over her, and she narrowed her eyes, sniffing delicately. “I refuse to take a mate.” Her voice was low, almost deadly. Logan could just imagine the fight he’d have if he had tried to force her compliance as most of his species and hers usually did. “I’m not asking you to take me as a mate, little hell-wolf. I’m simply requesting you let me use your body for a night. You have my word. If at anytime you don’t completely enjoy anything I do, all you have to do is say so and I’ll stop. I give you my word as a Lionsblood.” “I scent Vampire in you, too.” She sounded accusing, as if she were afraid that part of him wasn’t as trustworthy as his Lionsblood half. “In truth, I’m both. But I live by my word.” He shrugged, not wanting to reveal too much of himself just yet, but knowing he had to give her something if he expected to take so much from her. “There were times in my life when honor was all I had. It kept me from turning rogue and becoming the same as the monsters I hunted daily.” She seemed to mull it over. He could see the debate going on in her mind as each expression crossed her face. Logan had to smile. She was such an innocent, this one. He’d have to be careful, and careful wasn’t something he was sure he could manage. “OK,” she finally said. Her chin was up, but her voice shook slightly. “I’ll trust your word as a Lionsblood.” When Logan grinned and reached for her, she took a step back. “But I swear to you, if you don’t keep your word, I’ll cut out your balls and stuff them down your throat.”

Chapter Three What the blue fuck was she doing? Soli knew better -- knew better! By giving in to him, she was opening herself up to him, showing him her belly as it were. But goddammit, the man was seriously hot! Yes, she was leery of him, but she couldn’t summon the necessary urgency to run. The only urgency she felt was the one between her legs. How the hell had she gone from fear to lust in the blink of an eye? She eyed him up and down. He was damned big, dwarfing her smaller frame. Muscles bunched under his skin with every movement. His hair was a mixture of browns, blacks, and reds. He looked much like the name of his race implied. Lionsblood. In spite of her better judgment, Soli longed to run her hands over his skin, through his hair. A wave of possessiveness swept through her almost as strong as the sudden lust. Soli had never been an indecisive woman. When she saw something she wanted, she went after it. As much as she knew she was playing with fire, she wanted this man. Wanted to sample what he had to offer. The promise of pleasure gleamed in his eyes, and Soli was helpless to resist. With a little shrug of her shoulders, the robe fell to the ground in a pool at her feet. He grunted his approval and held out his hand to her, clearly expecting her to take it. That rubbed her the wrong way, but she might have imagined the implied command. She inhaled deeply, trying to catch a sense of what he was feeling. He was definitely an Alpha. There was the tangy spice of lust, but also a musky need for him to dominate. Soli had no idea what that entailed, but it surprised her that she was eager to find out. When she took his hand, the Lionsblood pulled her tight against his body, looking into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity. Lust and possession glimmered in the depths of his amber eyes just before he dipped his head to hers and claimed her lips. Soli was immediately consumed with heat. Hunger for him swamped her as if she were starving. Perhaps she was. There was something about him she knew she’d never

find anywhere else or ever get enough of. She found herself clinging to him, kissing him back with the same intensity as he kissed her. With a soft growl, the Lionsblood picked her up and laid her on the bed, following her down. He stretched his body over hers, dominating her smaller frame. His weight pinned her as he continued to kiss her. His teeth tugged and nipped at her lips, coaxing her to open for him when she might have pulled back because of his control over her movements. Soli should have known better. She’d tempted the devil, and he was burning her alive. “Mmmmm.” His deep rumble reverberated through her, making her insides quiver. “You smell of feminine sex.” He inhaled deeply, his nose in her neck and hair. “I’ll have your name, woman.” Soli hesitated a moment. Names had power. If she could keep this impersonal, she’d have a better chance of walking away from him, no matter how much pleasure he gave her. Without a warning, his hand came down on one cheek of her ass in a hard, stinging slap. “Your name,” he growled again. “Soli,” she breathed. The small spanking made her body ache even more with need. This was bizarre and perverse. She bowed to no man, yet she craved more of his rough handling. It seemed to fit not only this Lionsblood, but her as well. “I’m Logan. When you scream in pleasure, it will be me you think of, my name you call out. Only me. Do you understand?” Automatically, Soli chafed. “You’d never know if I didn’t.” Again, he smacked her buttocks, the sting doing things to her insides that, frankly, frightened her more than anything else ever had in her life. “I would know!” He bit out each word, pulling back to look at her. The stark possession in his eyes left no room for doubt. He meant what he said. “This is between us. You will give yourself fully to me this one night unless I fail to give you pleasure. I will accept nothing less.”

Soli wanted to be angry at his demands. She wanted to tell him she hadn’t liked that he struck her and use that as an excuse to call a halt to his madness. Feeling helpless, all she managed to do was nod her consent. What had she gotten herself into? The Lionsblood acknowledged her acquiescence with a soft grunt before dipping his head to her breast. When he took one ripe nipple into his mouth, Soli inhaled sharply. His tongue rasped over the sensitive peak, his teeth tugging to create an exquisite pain to mingle with the pleasure. Soli never thought it was possible to crave both the sensations, but she found the pleasant sensations were so mingled with the rest she couldn’t separate them. He kissed and nipped his way down her body, leaving stinging love bites as he went. Soli squirmed, unable to decide if she liked what he was doing or not. OK, that wasn’t entirely true. She loved what he was doing, but knowing she was so in over her head made her wary. She couldn’t completely relax and enjoy the experience. Hanging on to her control by a thread, she knew Logan would smell her desire no matter how hard she tried to hold back from him. There was something about this particular Lionsblood she trusted. If he said he’d let her go after one night of passion, he would. Her only worry was that she would forever crave him, that she’d never be able to rid her body of his possession. Or her heart. He continued to tease and torment her body, ensuring she was ready for him when most men would simply have taken what they felt was owed them. That simple fact more than anything else chipped away at any barriers she had against him. She was so fucked. When Logan reached her mound, Soli couldn’t stop her little whimper. Whether from need or protest, she didn’t know, but she tried to close her legs, knowing once he claimed her, there would be no going back for her. He’d go on his way and take a little piece of her with him. One sharp slap to her outer thigh made her cry out. “You promised me one night of your body, Soli. Are you going back on your word?” The gruff quality to his voice frightened her almost as much as her reaction to him. Strangely, she wasn’t afraid of him so much as what he represented to her. He was

her enemy. Lionsblood and Wolfsblood had always been enemies. Yet with the first touch of his hand, his lips, she’d been his. Hell, she’d been his the moment she’d laid eyes on him. The possession shining in his own eyes had stolen her heart, impossible as it sounded. Something primal, primitive, inside him called to her and she was helpless to resist. Mutely, she shook her head and allowed him to push her legs apart once again. Never taking his eyes from her, Logan slowly lowered himself to her mound and swiped through her folds with the flat of his tongue. Soli screamed. Her belly clenched and bunched, making her cunt spasm with need. What was he doing to her? She couldn’t seem to get a hold on her wayward body. Everything he did seemed destined to make her lose her mind in favor of the intense pleasure swamping her. Soli’s head spun as she lost herself to the mind-numbing sensations Logan created within her. She knew she needed to control her breathing, but she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Logan’s expert tongue seemed to brand her wherever he touched, sending heat spiraling through her being. Finally, knowing she was fighting a losing battle, Soli let herself go. She tunneled her fingers in his thick mane of hair and simply hung on for dear life. Logan knew the moment Soli gave herself over to him. He began his assault on her in earnest then, delving his tongue inside her cunt, burying his fingers deep inside her when he shifted to flick her clit. He wanted her on the edge of madness when he claimed her. It was the only chance he had of binding her to him. Claiming her body. Claiming her heart. Wolfsblood or not, she was his and he wouldn’t give her up without a fight. She writhed beneath him, clawing his back and arms, bucking against his mouth. Logan reveled in her response. She was losing herself in him exactly the way he wanted. Beautifully, her skin erupted in a sheen of sweat, making her skin glow like it was on fire. He loved the exotic colors decorating her body. They were everything hot and alive the world they lived in wasn’t. Just like the woman herself.

Knowing he couldn’t last much longer, Logan moved over her, settling his hips in the cradle of hers. Her eyes were tightly shut, an expression of exquisite pain on her face. Logan paused a moment to make certain she was OK. When he stilled, her eyes flew open. “Why are you stopping? Did I tell you to stop?” She gripped his arms harder, sliding one hand down to his ass and pulling him to her. “Don’t stop!” Logan chuckled, but was more relieved than he wanted to admit. Hooking one of her long, slender legs over his arm, Logan thrust into her. Soli was incredibly tight and slick. Logan had to breathe his way through the overwhelming pleasure as her muscles clenched around him. The woman would be the death of him, but he couldn’t find it in him to care. All he wanted to do was give her such pleasure as she’d never known. Angling his body so that he made contact with her clit, Logan began a long, hard rhythm. Her body shuddered with each thrust of his, making her small, pert breasts bounce with every movement. Logan couldn’t do anything other than lower his head and taste one dark red nipple. She arched into him, gripping his buttocks with her hands, digging her fingers deep. Almost convulsively, she squeezed his ass, pulling him to her as if she couldn’t get enough. Logan certainly hoped that was the case because he knew he’d never get enough of her, no matter how long they were together. Knowing she was on the verge of an orgasm, knowing he couldn’t possibly last much longer, Logan slipped his hand between their bodies and found her clit. Immediately, her body seized and clenched. She screamed as she thrashed underneath him, milking his body, squeezing him until he thought she’d squeeze the life right out of his dick. He followed her into orgasmic bliss, emptying himself deep inside her body where she would forever be branded his. Triumph and elation swept through him. No Wolfsblood would allow that unless she recognized her partner as her mate. Her mind might be a little slow in following her heart, but she knew. Logan could work with that knowledge. The sensations tearing through his body seemed to last an eternity. Her body, too, seemed to milk his forever. Logan welcomed it, knew Soli did too, even if she

wouldn’t admit it. Later. He’d sort it out with her later. Right now, all he wanted to do was enfold her in his arms and sleep for a month. When she offered no resistance, he rolled them over so he lay on his back, Soli pillowed on his shoulder. Logan held her close. It felt right. Perfect. She sighed and snuggled deeper against his body and wrapped her arms around him. Logan sighed, a happy smile plastered across his face. Oh, she would still run from him. That was a given. But the chase was half the fun. Especially when he knew he was bound to catch her, and oh, the fun he’d have punishing her. He had a feeling she’d enjoy it even more than he would.

Chapter Four Soli awoke through sheer force of will. She was completely worn out, and sore in places she didn’t even know she had. Logan had taken her body more thoroughly than any man she’d ever been with. Hell, in that moment, she wasn’t sure she could remember what it was like to have another man touch her. All she could seem to remember was Logan. Not good. Not good at all. She glanced up at the man -- no, Lionsblood. She had to remember that -- whose arms surrounded her in a protective cocoon. In sleep, she could almost forget what he was. Almost. Even with his features relaxed, he still had the look of a predator. The thought made her shiver, and not in all bad ways. The damned man had taken her to heights of pleasure she’d never known existed. Quite frankly, it scared the hell out of her. There was no way she could accept his claim on her. He was her enemy. The Lionsblood had always been enemies of the Wolfsblood. They vied for the same position in the food chain. That always made for very unfriendly relations. And now he expected her to just roll over and accept him? OK, so she’d actually done just that. He’d made a bargain with her and she’d lost. Sweet Sun, had she lost! Use of her body in return for him saving her life. She snorted. He’d done much more than simply use her body. He’d staked a claim on her, and Soli was certain she’d never get him to relinquish his hold on her. She waited patiently, keeping her breathing even. The last thing she wanted to do was wake him. He’d start touching and kissing her again, and she’d be forever lost, unable to think of anything other than his wicked fingers and tongue and teeth… Grinding her teeth in frustration, Soli managed to slip from his grip without disturbing his sleep. Standing there naked, she shook all over. She didn’t fear him. No man who gave a woman that much pleasure could physically harm her. She feared

herself. Much more of his “use” of her body, and she’d beg him to stay with her, and that was simply unacceptable. Shifting as she went, Soli left the Lionsblood to his sleep. She’d find her own way though the damned maze of caverns and back to her home. Or at least to the surface where she could make a run for it. It took her only minutes to realize if she continued she’d be hopelessly lost. She didn’t want Logan to be able to track her, but, realistically, he probably had her scent so far inside him he could find her no matter what she did. Sighing, knowing she had little other choice, Soli lifted her forepaw and bit down, tearing a gash in her foot. Blood seeped from the wound, but not so heavily she had to worry about blood loss. She simply wanted to keep track of where she had been so she didn’t get turned around. Soli loped off, trying to put as much distance between her and Logan as she could. He’d realize she was gone soon, and with the blood trail she was leaving, her only hope was to outrun him. It wasn’t long before the ground changed from the glacier ice to frozen mud and rock. She was in an underground tunnel of sorts. With any luck, this would lead her to one of the many hubs that joined the network of caverns. There would be others there, and she could blend in. Disappear. Who the fuck was she kidding? Her coloring alone would stand out in a sea of humans and other creatures. No one other than Wolfsblood had such unique colorings, depending on the species of Wolfsblood. She was a fire wolf. No matter what form she took, her red, orange, and yellow coloring would draw the eye as nothing else could. She sighed. Maybe she could steal clothing and cover herself. It was really the only hope she had. Heart pounding in her chest, lungs burning from exertion, Soli ran as if the hounds of hell were after her. She scented the air as an afterthought, searching more for Logan’s pursuit than any other threat. Which was probably why she ran straight into a flock of Hawksblood.

There were four of the vicious birdmen. All of them had the sharp, angular features of their species with large, dark feathers woven in their hair. On anyone else, the feathers would have looked ridiculous. On the Hawksblood, it looked that much more mysterious. Two of them were perched high on the rock wall, looking down on Soli with obvious interest. Soli wasn’t sure what kind of interest, but it unnerved her no matter their intention. The other two sat around a small fire, a spit turning slowly over the flame. Soli tried not to notice the roasting meat, afraid of what she’d see. If it were a humanoid, she’d probably vomit. Hawksblood, like most of the bird species, would eat any meat they could obtain. At least, that was what she’d heard. They were a secretive lot, preferring to keep to themselves. One of the men tending the spit stood, a slow rippling of muscle that made Soli gulp in fear. And to think she’d been wary of her Lionsblood. This was a man who’d kill her in a heartbeat and not bat an eyelash. “You are far from home, little sister.” His voice was rich and deep. Not at all what she’d imagined. “Perhaps you would join us?” He merely raised an eyebrow, but Soli imagined she saw glee and triumph in his eyes. She had to look like easy prey for them. Hell, with four of them around, she was easy prey. What the fuck had she been thinking, running away without knowing where she was going? It was a stupid mistake Soli hoped she lived to remember. “Not so far,” she replied, hoping she sounded nonchalant, as if she weren’t concerned in the least. “I merely strayed from the hunting party because I smelled your dinner and wanted to bring report of who had dared enter our territory.” The moment the lie left her lips, she knew it was a mistake. The Hawksblood snorted, rolling his eyes. “Right,” he scoffed. “I’ll wager you’re all alone. And in our territory. Do you have any idea what we are, little sister?” Soli lifted her chin. She would not be mocked. “You might be creatures of legend, but I’m not fool enough not to believe my own eyes and nose. You’re Hawksblood.”

He nodded slowly, moving toward her. “And we don’t take kindly to Wolfsblood invading our territory.”

*** Logan knew the moment Soli woke. He had lain there and listened to her breathe. He could almost hear the conflict in her mind, the struggle with herself as she tried to figure out what to do. That she’d run wasn’t in question. She had to. Logan knew and accepted that fact. She needed some time to sort things out, to come to terms with her own feelings. When she’d slipped from his arms, it took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to restrain her. Soli needed to run. Logan knew that. If he wanted to keep her, he had to let her go. Just not too far. When she shifted and left his dwelling, Logan did the same, careful to keep as far away from her as he could and still keep track of her. Unfortunately, by the time he scented the Hawksblood, it was too late to get to her before she ran straight into them. Logan scented no imminent danger to Soli, which was strange considering the Hawksblood were rumored to be as vicious as the Lionsblood or Vampire. There were four of them. All male. All waiting patiently as the most dominant of them spoke with Soli. “We don’t take kindly to Wolfsblood invading our territory.” Even though Logan wasn’t getting any hostile vibes from the man, he wasn’t taking any chances. Leaping from the shadows, he went straight for the leader, flinging his massive, Lionsblood body straight at the birdman. The Hawksblood merely stepped aside, placing himself between Logan and Soli in an almost protective gesture. “Wolfsblood,” the birdman snapped. “This is our territory, as well you know.” Logan snarled and screamed, ready to battle for Soli. He’d never encountered Hawksblood before so he wasn’t certain what to expect. To have them stand between him and his chosen mate surprised him. Most creatures of the frozen earth respected such territorial claims. To ignore them tended to get people killed.

Again, Logan launched himself at the Hawksblood. The other man tried to sidestep, but was just that fraction of a second too late. Logan landed a solid hit to the Hawksblood’s shoulder, knocking him away from Soli. “Stay away from her!” Logan snarled. “If you harm one hair on her head, I’ll rip out your pretty feathers and feed them to you!” Logan knew he looked like a crazed being, but he didn’t care. Fear and an overwhelming need to drive this man away from Soli consumed him. The Hawksblood screamed, much like his namesake, fury etched on his angular features. He would have struck back, bringing the fight back to Logan, but his companion stopped him. “Back off, Griffon,” the other Hawksblood urged, pulling his friend aside and away from Soli. “His scent is all over the woman.” Griffon raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. Wolfsblood and Lionsblood? Mating?” Logan shifted halfway, his frame still impressive if slightly smaller than his full Lionsblood form. “She is. And you will allow us unobstructed passage or I will see to it you never leave this place.” Griffon lifted his head. “We have no quarrel with you, Lionsblood. Take your mate and be gone from here.” With those parting words, all four men shifted to their Hawksblood form and flew straight up through the high-domed cavern. Logan wanted to grab Soli and run for it, but he knew better. She would be mad as hell he’d come after her and strong-arming her would only make things worse. She looked at him, tempered fury blazing in her eyes as she shifted to her human form. “I suppose I deserve this after leaving you a clear blood trail to find.” “Sweetheart, I could find you by the mere scent of you.” He tried to keep his voice gentle, but in partial Lionsblood form it came out raspy and gruff nonetheless. “How long were you following me?” “From the second you woke.” That surprised her. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. “And you let me leave?”

He shifted to his human form then, risking the raging hard on he knew would follow soon. He wanted her to look into his eyes and know he was telling the truth. “You needed to leave. To hold you against your will would have only pushed you farther away from me.” “And now,” she pressed. “What about now. Will you simply let me leave if I want?” He sighed, running his hand through his shaggy hair. “If that is your wish. I won’t pretend I won’t follow you. Look out for you. But if you truly want nothing more to do with me, I’ll follow you from a distance.” He stepped close to her, not touching, but close enough she could feel his breath fan her cheek when he spoke. “But I doubt I’ll ever have enough self control to let another man have you. It would kill me, Soli. You’re my mate. I knew it from the moment I scented you in the ice fields. Sure, I could fight it. Might even be happy with another, someone of my own kind. But I’d never have what we shared. Never feel that intense passion and connection we have already. And it will only grow stronger, Soli. Only grow stronger.” The last was barely above a whisper, his lips feathering over hers in the slightest of caresses. Soli trembled beneath his touch. The chemistry between them definitely worked in Logan’s favor. Sun help him, he’d use that knowledge as best he could to hold her to him. She smiled. “You know how you affect me.” Had he not known it was impossible, Logan would have sworn Soli could read his mind. “I won’t apologize for using that to keep you. I need every advantage I can get.” He met her gaze, not wanting her to think he hid anything from her. Huffing in exasperation, though Logan saw the slight smile on her face, Soli grabbed his hand and started back the way she came. “Fine. I’ll give you another night. We’ll just take it one day at a time and see what happens.” Without warning, she stopped and whirled to face him, her finger right under his nose. “But if I decide you’re not worth my time, I’m leaving and you will not follow me.”

Logan grinned, but said nothing. Instead, he swung her into his arms and headed back to another lair he had fashioned over the years. It was more of a permanent home than the first lair he’d taken her to. Once there, Logan would set about showing her how happy he could make her, how much pleasure he would give her over a lifetime. If he lost her, it would be his own doing. That, he could live with.

Chapter Five Soli knew she must be out of her mind. Why in the world she was doing this was beyond her imagination. She could have left. Forced him to at least leave her alone, but his willingness to let her go had completely disarmed her. She hadn’t been expecting him to let her choose. In her experience, when men wanted something and had all the power to take it, they usually did. Now, they were even deeper into the glacier. The cavern looked to be meticulously carved, not naturally made. She could see love and caring etched in every line on the wall. A mixture of what looked like rock and ice, Soli had to wonder if it was entirely stable. She was about to voice her concern when Logan lit several candles along the walls and the “ice” glimmered and sparkled. Soli gasped as, all around her, the cavern seemed to fill with a trillion stars. The little twinkling dots winked at her as if in laughter. “What is this place?” she asked in awe. Approaching one wall, she passed her finger over one sparkling gem. “Diamonds?” She looked at him then. No way she could be in a cave full of diamonds! He grinned. “I started out to mine them, but, while carving my way to this place, I realized the diamonds were as much a part of the beauty around me as the ice. I couldn’t mine them for money.” She made her way around the large room, admiring not only the shimmering walls, but the obviously hand-carved furniture as well. When she made her way to the large bed with its thick coverlet, she turned to face him. “It’s beautiful, Logan.” “As are you,” he said, his voice deep. Seductive. Soli ducked her head, letting her hair fall around her face. She wasn’t ready for him to see how much his words pleased her. She didn’t even know the man, yet he touched her on a level far deeper than anyone had in her life.

“You’re just saying that because you’re trying to stay in my good graces.” He caught her arm and pulled her against his larger, harder frame. Tilting her chin up as he caressed her face, Logan stared intently into her eyes. His vivid green eyes seemed to trap her, ensnare her in a web of sensuality she had no hope of escaping. “I’m saying it because it’s true, Soli. You. Are. So beautiful…” His voice held reverence, mesmerizing warmth. Soli knew she should be wary but it just wasn’t in her to resist him. Strangely, she found she didn’t want to. His body was so warm and protective. He’d been nothing but gentle -- except when she hadn’t wanted him to be. What would it hurt to stay with him a while? “You know I’ll leave if I decide I don’t like it here. Right?” He smiled at her. “Then I’ll just have to do everything in my power to make sure I make you happy.” His mouth closed the scant inches separating them, claiming hers in a gentle yet all-consuming kiss. Soli sighed and melted into him. This was where she wanted to be. If things changed later, so be it. Such was life. Right now, though, all she wanted to do was feel. Logan’s body provided the solace she needed, and she was willing to give him a chance. Logan lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Carrying her to the bed, he continued to kiss her. Her cheek, her chin, her neck… and lower. As he lay her down, his mouth closed over one breast. Soli whimpered, wrapping her arms around his head and threading her fingers through his hair to hold him to her. Her breasts tingled where he touched and teased with teeth and tongue. One hand found her other breast and he squeezed, tugging her nipple with the perfect amount of pressure. Where he’d taken her the last time with a fevered intensity, he took his time now. He made a thorough job of loving her until Soli thought she might die from the sensations he created. He continued to trail his lips down her body, nipping and scraping his teeth and nails over her skin. Before he got to her smooth mound, Soli was squirming. He knew what she wanted. Why wouldn’t he give it to her?

Logan licked all around her cunt, never touching her lips or clit. Soli tried to force him to her, but he merely batted her hands away and continued to suck and nip at her outer lips and thighs. Soli knew he had marked her. All over her skin, she knew there were little love bites. The stinging tingles of his brands still gave off a sweet ache that seemed to go straight to her clit. “Sun take you!” She screamed her frustration, pounding his shoulder with her fist. “Why won’t you… oh!” Chuckling, Logan dove straight in, burying his face against her sex. Soli lasted all of about two seconds before her mind fogged over and all she could do was feel. Higher and higher he pushed her, holding her over the brink of one hellacious orgasm but never allowing her to fall. She couldn’t seem to stop herself from writhing beneath him, straining for her orgasm yet never able to reach it. Just when she thought she couldn’t take another second of the delicious torment, Logan pulled away from her to crawl over her. He pulled her leg over his hip, and she followed with the other one, hooking her ankles together at the small of his back. Without further preamble, Logan surged forward, pausing only a moment before taking up a relentless, driving rhythm. His gaze locked with hers as he took her body with his. Soli didn’t want to look into those piercing green eyes, but she couldn’t seem to look away. Logan silently insisted she be connected with him in every way possible when she came. Soli was helpless to do anything else. It took only seconds. One moment her body was winding tighter and tighter with suppressed passion, the next, she was exploding in a million sparkling fragments, screaming and writhing in his arms. She clung to him, her only anchor in a sea of sensual chaos. Soli fell back to earth, still clinging to Logan as he continued to surge into her. His harsh growls and snarls signaled his own impending release, and she gripped him tightly with her arms and legs as well as with her inner muscles. There was no doubt she wanted this man. She might not offer the information to him right away, but she would not deny it to herself. She was his. As he was hers.

Logan’s body stiffened. He threw back his head and roared, his body buried deeply inside hers. His seed was hot, bathing her insides with welcoming heat. When he collapsed on top of Soli, breathing hard, she still clutched him to her, stroking his silky hair, smiling as she did so. He tried to roll off her, but she would have none of it. She kept her legs wrapped around him, not letting him roll them over. “Sweetheart,” he gasped as he still fought for breath, “I don’t want to crush you.” She giggled, the sound startling her. She never giggled. “You won’t. I love feeling your big body on top of mine. I love your weight pinning me down.” He raised his head, looking at her as if she’d lost her mind. When she lifted her chin, exposing her neck to him, his eyes darkened with heat and growing lust. “Now, that has possibilities.” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you serious or teasing me, little hell-wolf?” Soli grinned unashamedly at him. “I suppose that’s something you’ll need to find out.” It was a challenge Soli knew Logan would never be able to pass up.

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