“When I made the first pack, I made one pack,” Selene said, her eyes trailing over all those who remained. “Yet, as the centuries have passed, my sons and daughters have grown further and further apart. They have learned to scorn, hate, and fear each other. They search out power and wealth rather than the comfort and love of the pack song.” She leaned her head on Faron’s shoulder. “Again and again, we sent the moon blessed to you with words of comfort. They were each struck down before their power could be realized, before they could be taught to remove the hatred from the hearts of those who threaten our ways.”
“Like Gwyar,” I murmured.
“Yes, daughter.” Selene nodded. “I created the werewolves to be one pack, one people, yet you have never been more divided—and if you do not come together, you will be erased from this world.”
“How?” The word was a plea as I glanced at my packmates.
“Discovery,” Selene stated simply. “The world grows more diverse every day, every moment more visible, every secret more easily discovered. Eventually, the secret of the werewolf will be found. Humans have invaded almost every corner of this world, and there is only so much longer our kind can hide. If you are fighting yourselves at every turn, how will you have a chance against the humans or anything else that may come along?” Her silver eyes were serious as they looked across us all. “I made you one pack for love. Yet you divide yourselves with hate.” She bent down, letting Luna drift gently into my arms as though carried on a breeze. “My body does not belong on earth anymore. I belong in the stars with my mate. Luna will do well as my vessel here. Her powers are actualized, though, and like her they will grow over time. She will still need your love, Beta, and that of your pack, to reach her full potential.”
I cuddled the sleeping pup to my chest as my packmates nuzzled or licked her, ensuring themselves of her safety. “She’s one of ours,” I told Selene firmly. “She’ll be loved to pieces.”
Selene’s smile was wide as Faron pulled her to his chest. “I chose well with you, Penelope Miller. Your mother would be proud.” Faron tugged his mate up to him for a kiss before the pair disappeared in a shimmer of light and shadow.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Pixie
Warm lips pressed against my neck and I sighed, leaning back into Ian’s hold as I stared out my bedroom window to where Chann, Zev, and Shannon played on the lawn below with the pups.
“She’s alright, kitten,” Ian murmured into my ear, tracking my line of sight to the little blonde figure giggling on the grass among her packmates. I tugged Ian’s arms around me, snuggling into his chest, but I didn’t pull my eyes from the tableau below.
“It’s so surreal.” Ian kissed the top of my head, not pushing for more as I tried to search for the words I needed. “I mean, even as a human turned werewolf, this is surreal. A six-year-old demigoddess who can see hate and turn people into wolves? Yet you look at her right now and…” I waved a hand toward the window where she was doing somersaults with Owein, her blonde hair picking up pieces of grass, and shook my head.
“She’s special, kitten, just like you are. It’s why Selene chose you to protect her, and you did. Now you get to help her grow into her powers and teach her to protect herself.”
I shifted slightly so I could glance up at him. “If what Faron said is true, then we have time,” I reminded him. “They’ll wait and watch.”
“She’ll still need training,” Ian cautioned, kissing me lightly. “If we prepare her now, she won’t be at risk later.”
“I don’t want her to have to grow up too fast.” I sighed, looking back at the window. “She shouldn’t have had to see so much pain and hate in her life already. I can’t imagine knowing that so many people are filled with that kind of bitterness. It’s one thing to suspect it—I mean, I’m not exactly Ms. Sunshine... But, Ian, she’s just a pup. She should think there’s good in people, not have to wonder if they’re plotting murder.”
“Then we work on showing her the good parts of a pack. We love her and teach her and cherish her for exactly who she is. Then, when she has to face the rest of the world, she’ll know she can always turn back to us.”
I turned to loop my arms around his neck. “When did you get so smart, Mr. Cole?” I teased him, brushing my lips over his before I tugged on his tie.
He growled, pressing his fingers into my hips as he pulled me against him and walked us backwards into the room. “You want to play with me, kitten?” He might have been calling me kitten, but his words were nearly a purr as he towed me toward my bed. His chocolate eyes were warm as they met mine.
I shrugged a shoulder, peering up at him through my lashes as I bit my lip, hiding a smile. “Well, I don’t have anything better to do.”
“Oh no, kitten, I don’t think that will do at all.” His lips just barely brushed mine as he slipped out of his suit jacket and set it aside. “I think I’ll give you plenty of things to do. Strip for me, kitten. I want to see you bare.” I pulled my t-shirt over my head, tossing it heedlessly aside. A flick of my wrist unfastened the button on my skirt, and the fabric pooled to my feet. Ian hissed, his hand darting out to grab my chin and force my eyes to his. “Did one of the others take your panties, or did you decide not to wear them today?”
“I didn’t wear them,” I admitted, my voice already breathy.
Ian growled, pulling his tie from around his neck. “It seems we may have been neglecting our kitten,” Ian murmured, grabbing my wrists and binding them tightly with his tie before pushing me down onto the bed. “I’ll have to have a word with the others.” I should have been embarrassed, I knew I should be, but a different type of heat flushed my skin at that idea, and a whimper slipped past my lips. Slowly, Ian removed his suit, each button revealing another strip of copper skin and hard muscle as he peeled away his clothing, and I was already writhing and needy by the time he was down to his boxers.
“Ian,” I begged, “kiss me, please.”
“I will, kitten,” he promised, crawling up my body. He was hot and hard as he pressed his body against mine, and I arched into him, craving his heat. His hand fisted in my hair as his mouth took mine. He thrust his tongue into my mouth, sweeping against mine as he savored me with a groan before he paused to look into my eyes. “Pixie, if I do something you don’t like, you say stop at once, do you understand me? It will immediately cease.”
“Yeah.” I arched into him, trying to take his mouth again. The sharp smack of his hand against my thigh had me jolting in shock.
“Again, Pixie. What did I say?”
I blinked, trying to get my mind to focus, but the haze of lust was saturating me. I needed him and I needed him now. “If I don’t like it, I’ll say stop.” Another smack landed, and I moaned at the sting before realization dawned. “Yes, sir,” I whimpered.
“Good girl.” Ian’s mouth closed over mine again, his lips nearly bruising in their intensity. He slid his hands up my body, across my breasts, and down my arms to test the binds at my wrists before extending my arms fully over my head. “Keep them there, kitten. I’ll make them tighter if you don’t,” he warned. “I want you completely bound for me, do you understand?”