Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(23)

Holden grinned, his lips wet from her *. “I need a condom,” he grunted. “Most mated pairs don’t need them, but we’re taking this slow.”

She rolled her eyes, even as her heart panged. “You’re between my legs and just made me come with your mouth. That’s not that slow.”

“We’re taking other things slow, siren.” With that, he lifted off the bed and reached for a condom in the nightstand. He slowly rolled it on his length then positioned himself at her entrance. She lay beneath him, her eyes widening as he slowly pushed forward. “Tell me if it’s too much.”

She shook her head, unable to speak as he slowly filled her. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breath. He wasn’t just big, he was hers. The part of her that she didn’t know, the part that she knew would one day be her wolf yearned for this—knew it was their future.

The other part of her knew things would never be the same. The brand might have started her choices in this new life, but this was the step that told her she’d made her choice. She wanted Holden. She wanted this life how it was and how she would make it hers.

He lowered his body so he rested on his forearms on either side of her head. “Ariel,” he whispered. “Mine.”

She reached up and cupped his face before lifting her hips, allowing him to slide fully in. They both moaned in unison. “Move.”

He grinned then kissed her. Hard. Before she could take a breath, he moved. With each thrust, she swore he grew bigger, filling her until she wasn’t sure she could fit anymore in. She wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him deeper.

“Fuck, Ariel. I’m going to come.” He kept moving, but put his hand between them, playing with her clit. “Come for me, mate. Come for me.”

She met his gaze and came, her cunt tightening on Holden’s cock. He let out a growl then came with her, filling the condom. She could feel him pulsate within her and knew one day she’d want him without the condom so he should have him bare.

He lowered his forehead to hers, breathing heavily. He didn’t speak, and she didn’t need him to. He’d pushed away the thoughts she’d feared and brought forth more she knew she’d have to deal with. This was her mate, her man, and her future if she let him be.

And yet, right then, all she wanted to do was think of the man in her arms and nothing else. All of that would come, and soon. But for now, she had Holden cradling her like she was precious to him.

Nothing else mattered.




There came a time for a woman to face her fears and try to be an adult. This was that time. Yet Ariel had no idea what she was doing. Today wasn’t about her and Holden or even about how she would deal with whatever came with the SAU.

Instead, today came from another threat…or rather problem.

The Pack.

She’d been inside the den for almost a week, waiting for her body to fully heal and for Holden’s tattoo artist, Gibson, to finish up the Pack ink on her forearm. She’d yet to leave the house as Holden had wanted her out of prying eyes from the guards, who had been prowling around under the guise of searching for a dead body.

Ariel’s dead body.

So instead of trying to come to terms with her new life and integrating with the people who had protected her without even knowing her, she’d been forced to hide from them. She might have grown closer to Holden and given him her body, but she hadn’t been able to do anything else.

As it was, she’d only met a few of the wolves in Holden’s inner circle, but no one else. Even though the den was isolated to the point that they weren’t allowed outside the walls, they had their own structure and daily routines. They farmed on the small plots of land they had near the edges of the den as well as held normal day-to-day jobs that they’d made themselves. Apparently the SAU didn’t provide for much so Holden and the rest of them had found a way to make what they had and what they could make work for them.

Of course, it would have been nice if Ariel could have seen any of this firsthand. Instead, she’d been told by Holden and a reluctant Soren as she asked question after question about her new home. She had a feeling her hiding out from the others wouldn’t put her on their good side. They’d already risked their livelihood because of her mere existence, and now, she hadn’t even had a chance to say thank you or learn their names.

Today, however, she would get that chance.

Holden had felt it safe enough for her to venture out of his home and into the community. Well, he’d felt that after she’d begged and yelled a bit, but it got the point across.

They might be mates—a point she wasn’t a hundred percent on board with until she had more time to process—but he wouldn’t be allowed to walk all over her.

He’d have to learn that eventually.

Hopefully.

The Pack worked as a unit with each member contributing in some way. The dominants watched the borders for signs of threats and did other things Ariel wasn’t sure about. She had a feeling those runners and soldiers did more than Holden said they did, but she didn’t want to question him. Not yet. The walls might be solid and the humans might try to keep them inside, but Ariel knew these men and women wouldn’t take captivity lying down. In fact, from the way some of them talked, she felt as if some of them had seen the outside world.

However, that wasn’t her business. Yet.