Projected Pleasure (15 page)

Movement from all sides erupted from every angle he could see.

Suddenly, Marley stopped, skidding to a stop. Fear consumed him while he watched his wife turn back into human form. The wolves began surrounding her and she just stood there.

“Oh, God, don’t do this, Marley! Let me help you. Please!”

Zachary screamed down at her.

To his shock, she looked right at him, even though he was sure she couldn’t see him. “I love you, Zachary,” she whispered.

“No!” Zachary’s whole body exploded with panic. He couldn’t let her hand herself over to them. He dove down trying to grab her, but without her being in projection his hand went right through her body.

“Jordan,” Marley said, stepping forward.

Zachary’s eyes darted up, and his heart stopped at the confirmation. Jordan walked toward them, smiling. His body was so much more built and bigger since the last time Zachary saw him. The length of his brown hair reached just past his ears, so different than its usually short appearance.

“I knew you’d come back to me,” Jordan said, walking up to her.

His hand caressed her face while he looked into her eyes. Zachary wished more than ever he could tear the traitor apart.

“I forgive you for what you did so long ago. Now we can pick up where we left off. I’ve missed you so much. You’ll see, Marley, everything’s going to be great just like I said before.”

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“Where’s my son?” Marley snapped, pulling her face away from his hand.

Jordan glared down at her, and Zachary knew this wasn’t going to be good. He seemed calm when he thought Marley had come willingly, but now he looked vicious and angry.

“
Our
son is safe. You’ll see him soon enough.”

“He is not your son! He’s Zachary’s son and always will be!” The sight of Marley screaming into Jordan’s face made Zachary’s breath cease.

The fist Jordan slammed across her cheek left Marley flying through the air. Bile and rage rose in Zachary’s throat. He watched as she lay on the ground not moving. The need to rip Jordan apart was uncontrollable. Zachary swung and grabbed at him and still nothing happened. The sound of Jordan’s laugh caught him off guard.

“Zachary, don’t tell me you seriously think you can hurt me while you’re in projection. Come on, I can sense you. I know you’re here.

Just so you know, if you bring your pack up against mine, you’ll lose.

With Marley and me sharing such a close connection to the same type of blood, I’m supreme. You’ll never beat me now.

“But, no worries,” he laughed. I’ll eventually tell your son about you when he’s older. After, of course, he gives me what I need for my pack. With the son Marley’s given you and the one she’s going to give me, we’ll dominate.

Anyway,” Jordan said, shaking his head, “He’ll know what a loyal and brave man his father was. I’ll tell him right before I kill him.

There’s no need for him once he’s mated and brings in a new line.”

Zachary couldn’t process the fury going through him. Taking one last look at Marley, he felt the snap that connected him back with his body. The need to destroy everything in his path rocked him. Jumping to his feet, Zachary swung the door open and headed down the hallway to the stairs.

He was going to enjoy killing Jordan. This time he would succeed.

Nothing would be left of him to be put back together. Zachary
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reached the bottom of the stairs where Cole waited for him. The look of concern radiated off of his friend’s face.

“What happened? I can’t feel Marley anymore. She’s hurt.”

“Jordan has her, but he knocked her unconscious. She wouldn’t play by his game, and he didn’t like what she had to say. They’re still in the woods. But they’re pretty deep back. Depending on how fast we go, we might be able to catch them.

“The man has lost his mind, Cole. He knew I was there, and he told me what he has planned. He wants a son and he’s determined to get one. We have to hurry. The moon gets fuller with every second we wait here.”

Cole tensed at his words. “The pack is all outside waiting. Some still haven’t arrived, but we have a good sixty wolves here. Did you happen to see how many Jordan had with him?”

Zachary shook his head trying to think back. He’d been so focused on Marley he hadn’t thought to take count. “I’m guessing around forty or so from what I saw. That’s not saying he doesn’t have more wherever he’s held up.”

“Let’s hurry. There’s no time to waste. She’s still out, but barely.”

The guys walked outside, and Zachary looked at the pack. “Thank you all for coming. The majority of you know Marley and Demetri well. For the ones who haven’t had the opportunity to meet my mate or your future leader, I promise you you’ve sorely missed out on two of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. You’re going to love them.

“As for Jordan, he lives. I saw him myself. He has taken my wife and my son. They’re still in the woods, but we have to hurry before they leave. There are a large number of them, and they’re all strong and prepared to fight. If you’re with me, then follow. If not, then you’re allowed to stay here however long you need. I don’t blame you for not wanting to risk your life.

“Josephine and Gary, I want you to stay here with Kylie and Aria.

I’m leaving you both in charge to make sure nothing happens to my
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sister or my niece. Now, for whoever’s with me, let’s go get my family. I do not want one single wolf to live. Is that clear!”

Howls echoed off of the large mansion. Zachary and Cole howled back and exploded into wolf form. Every single wolf rushed for the woods with the intensity of what the wolves in them craved—justice, blood, and the need to feel the meat tear between their razor sharp teeth.

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The sounds of yells began to push through the fuzziness in Marley’s head. She recalled Jordan and being hit. The image of her son’s bright eyes made her snap her own open. Demetri’s scent was still here. Now she just had to find him.

She pushed off of the dirt, wiping her hands on her jeans. Jordan noticed her standing and laughed, walking back toward her.

“Damn, you bounce back quickly. That hit would have killed a human. Good girl. I knew you would be fine. So, have you warmed up to my plan, or am I going to have to put you on your back again?

And, no, I’m not talking about hitting you. I’m talking about what we once experienced together so long ago.”

Jordan walked up to her, grabbing her behind the neck and pulling her body against his. “You remember don’t you, Marley? I bet you even dream about it sometimes, too, right?”

“You were a great lover, Jordan. I never said you weren’t. You just fell off the deep end at some point. Let Demetri go back to Zachary, and I’ll stay with you. I’ll give you your son.”

Fingers moved up from the back of her neck into her hair. With a sudden jerk, Jordan pulled her head back so she was looking right into his eyes. “Bargaining is for the weak, Marley. I won’t be given an ultimatum. You will have my son, and I will have Demetri, and that’s final.”

Feeling the rage build back up, she screamed at the top of her lungs for release of the overpowering energy pushing through her body. What felt like fire burned her eyes, making heat spill out of
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them while she glared at Jordan. For the briefest instant, she watched a worried expression shadow his face.

He’s afraid of me. He’s actually fucking scared. Good. He needs
to be.

Remembering the evil smile Jordan gave her a year ago, she duplicated it and watched his face tense angrily. “Your eyes glowing doesn’t scare me, Marley. You may be powerful, but you’re not strong enough to overtake me. If you even attempt it, you won’t be able to walk for a week.”

“Are you threatening me, Jordan? You know that’s not nice,”

Marley said, ripping his shirt open.

“You always were feisty. I loved that about you,” Jordan said, crushing his lips to hers.

It took everything Marley had to not to bite his tongue out. Her nails sunk into his back, pulling him closer. She would have to play the part if she wanted to get him out of a defensive mode.

“It’s a trap, Jordan. Don’t fall for her tricks.” A deep voice from behind them made her want to attack.

She turned to see a man who was almost as tall as Jordan—a good three inches over six feet. His hair was a light brown, and his eyes were as black as the darkest night. Marley suppressed a shutter as he raked his gaze over her body.

“You must be Demon. Josephine told me all about you.”

“Josephine!” they both yelled.

Marley smiled. “Oh, yes, you didn’t know? After she found out what you both had done, she joined our pack.” Marley turned to back to Jordan. “She said you always stood for three things, loyalty, honor, and truth. Does that ring a bell, Jordan? You know, she was devastated when she found out what you turned into. What you did.”

She was pushed back so fast she didn’t have time to brace herself for the connection she made against the tree. Stars danced before her eyes at the lightheadedness. She was tired of this already. Their pack had to be close, and she’d take out as many as she could before they
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were forced to kill her. Faith made her believe Zachary and Cole would rescue her son if she helped them out now. Marley found the wolf inside of her and morphed quicker than what anyone prepared for.

A growl poured out of her throat while she looked at Jordan.

Demon shifted into a red wolf and stalked toward her slowly.

So, you’re the red wolf,
Marley thought as she watched him begin to move past Jordan.

“Demon, don’t. She’s too close of a match to you,” he said quietly, studying her.

Oh, come on Demon, are you going to let your brother tell you
what to do? I thought you were the one who gave the orders. Don’t
wimp out now.

The red wolf started growling, and she couldn’t help but smile and bare her teeth. Oh yes, she wanted his blood, wanted to feel it flow inside of her mouth, fueling her strength.

Come on, Demon. You know you want to. Come to me. Show me
what a real man is capable of. Put me on my back and make me
submit to you.

“Demon!” Jordan yelled at him. “If you kill her, I’ll kill you myself. Don’t ruin everything we’ve work for.”

What you worked for!
Marley screamed at him.
It was your idea,
remember? You made him what he is, and here you are taking orders
from him. I thought you were tougher than that.
She laughed in her head.

I should have killed you when I had the chance, but no, Jordan
said you weren’t ready. You’re ready now though, aren’t you?”

Oh, I’m ready. Come and get me, Demon. Or are you too big of a
pussy to take me on?

Fuck you, Marley.

You wish, don’t you? But the only pussy you’re going to get is the
one that’s inside of you.

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She saw him lunge before he was probably aware of what he was doing. She met him in the air, tearing at his face with her teeth. This is what her wolf wanted, what it thrived for. The fight fueled everything inside of her. Instincts took over and the red of Demon’s fur grew closer.

A sharp pain exploded in Marley’s shoulder, but she didn’t stop snapping at him. She already tasted his blood. The rich, sweet flavor consumed every fiber of her being. It brought out a roaring beast that was intent on making itself known. She was an alpha, and she was about to prove that to them. Sinking her teeth into his throat, she tore the flesh out with one rip.

Jordan screaming broke through her clouded bloodlust only for a fraction of a second. She wanted more, needed to taste more blood and flesh. Seeing a wolf not far away, she attacked with a speed so fast the wolf never saw her coming.

More screaming erupted, and she watched as some wolves never moved while other ones rushed toward her. This was what she wanted. If she was going to go down, she wanted to be giving it everything she had.

* * * *

The sight of his brother getting his throat ripped out did nothing but excite Jordan. Demon tried to convince him Marley wasn’t anywhere near as strong as he made her out to be. Demetri was the only one he thought they needed. Well, he got to see firsthand just how powerful she really was. His only concern was the rest of his pack.

Sure, Marley could take them down easily, but if they ganged up on her, she wouldn’t be able to do much. This wasn’t how he expected things to go. Zachary would be here soon, and he had every intention of finally taking him out, but not here and not now.

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“Pack, you will not kill her! She is the foundation of our future!

Get her pinned and I will take care of her.”

Jordan looked over at the carrier he had Demetri in, nestled behind a thick tree. The child’s eyes held so much intelligence it was hard for Jordan to even look at him. All he saw was Zachary staring back at him with those eyes. An instant hate gripped him.

Marley slaughtered through his pack while he shifted into wolf form and rushed toward her. Hitting her full force, they slid across the ground. Viciously, she snapped at him. It took everything he had just to hold her down.

You will stop this and turn to human form right this minute, or I
order my pack to tear your son apart. Am I clear?

Marley turned human underneath him, crying hysterically. She let out a scream of frustration that sent chills down his spine. Jordan changed form still pinning her down. He studied her face while she began to breathe heavily. The moment her eyes connected with his he knew what was wrong. Her scent took over his senses, leaving him dizzy, but he couldn’t help but smile.

“I forgot these are your first kills. Tell me, Marley, sweetheart, how are you feeling?” Jordan pushed his cock against her pussy.