Page 78 of Claimed

Maddox’s wolf’s head presses into my neck and I nuzzle him back. Each of my mates comes over to do the same, filling me with happiness. I haven’t seen their wolves in a while, and I love this part of them.

“Ready, little mate?” Maddox asks through the bond.

I forgot I’d be able to speak with them in my wolf form, and I let a yip break free as I answer back, “Yes!”

He leads the way, and I’m nudged into position in the middle of the pack as we run across our backyard and into the forest.

Feeling the earth beneath my paws eases tension I didn’t know I was holding. Of course, I’ve spent a lot of time like this in the past few months, but it’s different now.

This time, I’m not stuck like this. I can shift whenever I want. And not only can I speak to them through the bond, but I can feel Maddox and Bain’s emotions.

I can’t wait to seal all my bonds. I know they’re making me wait because they want to be safe, but my body tells me I’m ready.

Chase nips at my leg, and when I glance at him running beside me, he speaks through the bond, “Bet you can’t catch me.”

“What do I get if I win?” I ask, even though I know I’m going to try and win regardless. My speed was something I used to be proud of, and something I hope I can build up again.

“What do you want?”

“Your knot,” I tell him and watch as he misses a step and almost takes a tumble.

He regains his footing and catches back up to me, his eyes narrowing as he growls, “Deal.”

Then he takes off, pushing past Maddox, and I chase after him. I can feel the others speeding up with me, trying to keep pace as I follow Chase around trees and bushes, over logs, and under fallen trees.

When I get close, seeing he’s only a few paces ahead, I grit my teeth and push myself, but suddenly I’m tackled from the side. I end up on my back as a large black wolf lies over me, his teeth around my neck.

“Caught you,” Gage says through the bond.

Heat pools in my belly, loving Gage’s dominant alpha energy. My body goes limp, apparently more than happy to submit to him.

“I guess this means Gage wins,” Chase says through the bond as he steps into my view. “What’s his prize?”

Gage releases my throat from his grasp, taking a moment to lick it before he responds. “I believe someone spoke of a knot.”

I shift back to human, not even consciously making the decision to do so before I realize I’ve done it. I sit up and Gage shifts. I stare at his naked body kneeling in front of me for two seconds before his hands reach for me, pulling my naked body against his as he kisses me hard.

My hands roam his muscular back as I moan, trying to move my legs so I can feel his hard length between them.

Suddenly, I’m pulled away from him and he growls. I pant heavily, trying to figure out what happened and find Bain in his human form at my back, holding me against him, with a naked Maddox standing between Gage and me.

“Move,” Gage grits out, his eyes practically feral as they look past Maddox and bore into me. I feel myself growing wet, desperate for him as Maddox moves, blocking us from each other's view.

“Maddox,” Gage growls in warning. “What are you doing?”

“Sorry. I’m not trying to keep you from bonding, I promise. Just not out here. It’s not safe.”

“You four are here to watch over us,” Gage grits out as if he’s in pain.

“I know, but something is telling me it’s not safe. We need to go back.” He shifts slightly, letting me see Gage again, and I watch the anger turn to worry as his shoulders lower, and he glances around, as if he might spot a danger around us.

“Really?”

“Yes,” Maddox says firmly, brokering no room for arguments.

Gage’s eyes find mine, and he slowly steps around Maddox and grips my chin, angling my face up to his as he tells me, “To be continued, my little omega.” He presses a soft kiss to my lips before asking. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, alpha,” I say breathily. I’m not sure why I call him that, but when I see the fire in his blue eyes, I know I want to call him that more often.