The Respect

BRAX

I ran so fast, my paws hitting the soft ground as I ran around the perimeter of our city, my claws hitting the edge of the water that lapped at the edges.

It had been an entire week since I’d been able to shift, the healing taking way too long, but I knew that was because Cain had to save enough magic for Spitfire and the baby, so I wasn’t complaining.

But it had been rough.

My tongue hung outside my mouth as I grinned, pushing my refreshed body farther, the wind pushing back my coat as I barreled past the gates and into the city.

I raced through the streets and straight up to the mansion, taking the steps two at a time before rushing in, desperate to find Lorelai and the other alphas.

I figured they were probably fucking, their restraint as minimal as mine, but I couldn’t blame them. They were taking advantage of the fact that her pregnancy had made her even more insatiable.

If I hadn’t been bedridden for the week, I would be inside her too. Even then, she had paid me a little visit the night before last, letting me fuck her mouth for the release I was desperate for.

I’d still been pinned down by the wound in my shoulder, but now there was just a pretty scar that turned my Spitfire on even more, the wetness between her thighs the sweetest scent I could have while unable to taste it.

I shifted in the lobby and grabbed some pants from one of the guards there, panting and grinning like an idiot. Time to get inside my girl and show her what she had been missing.

I was still grinning, my body sweating with the strain I’d just run out of it, when a hand caught mine.

I snarled and spun at the touch, about to wrap my hand around the throat of whoever had touched me.

The element of surprise was rarely a thing anyone managed to get over on me, but the arrow in my shoulder had made me a little more jumpy and a little more pissy.

I stopped my grip from closing in as I faced Spitfire grinning at me. She grabbed my hand and hid behind me, laughing as she looked to the top of the stairs, where my brothers leaned over the railing, glaring at her, smirks on their lips.

She hid behind me, using me as a shield, and I knew she had done something to tease them, bait them into chasing her.

“I don’t know what she did, but I’m just putting it out there, I’ll kill for her.”

I declared my side, and Kai edged toward the top of the stairs. Derik smirked, following him as I backed me and Spitfire up. She laughed as they glared.

“And what did you do, Spitfire? Playing ‘poke the shifter until he bites’?” I chuckled, and she laughed breathily in my ear.

“I’ll tell you, but only if you don’t let them catch me.” She grinned evasively.

I knew I was going to regret it, but I smirked, gripped her hand in mine, and ran with her. She laughed and looked over her shoulder at Kai and Derik, who were walking faster.

They’d catch us for sure, but I was going to have fun with her first.

~“What’d she do?”~ I asked in our link.

~“She gave us an ultimatum,”~ Derik grumbled.

~“If we catch her, she stays in her room like a good little human while Derik discusses war tactics with the council and you and I attend a meeting with the vamps at Tabby’s. If we don’t, she’s coming with us,”~ Kai explained, and I slowed my steps.

She huffed and bumped into me. I caught her and pressed her into the wall.

“They told you,” she breathed, realization spreading over her face.

I nodded and leaned in, kissing along her jaw, teasing her lips with mine.

“Sorry, Spitfire. I don’t want you in danger any more than they do,” I admitted, then stepped back as Kai and Derik rounded on us.

“It’s for your own safety, beautiful. The vamps are going to be quite shocked that you are carrying our heir and that you are already showing.

“It’s also neutral territory, and I wouldn’t be surprised if humans show up. Technically they are allowed,” Derik gritted out, and she shrugged.

“I want to go. I have my magic, I’ll have two out of three of you there with me, and honestly, I think Tabitha would feed any one of them to Ruby if they tried to harm this child. I’ll take my chances.”

She shook her head, and I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t want her in harm’s way, but she was right, and I liked having her close when we were there.

It soothed the darkness that tried to break me being back there, especially after spending a week trusting Cain to heal me, his body over mine, pinning me down, just like he had all those years ago.

I shuddered, and her eyes met mine, softening a little before she turned on the other two.

“I’m going. I need to know all the things you are about to discuss there.”

She stayed as stubborn as ever. It got me all kinds of hot watching her defy everything, the fire in her eyes making it hard not to take her right there against the wall.

“Little Human,” Kai said dangerously, stepping slightly closer, “get your tight little ass upstairs and back in our room or I am going to turn it red beneath my palm. Do you understand?”

Her eyes went wide, and her scent changed. I chuckled as Kai’s words turned her on. He growled under his breath as Derik went to grab her. She shoved away from him.

“Nope, that was interference. Catch me if you can.” She grinned before tearing off down the hall with a deep laugh.

I shook my head, watching after her as the other two growled in frustration.

“Stubborn fucking thing,” Kai muttered, and Derik sighed, running a hand through his hair before he smirked.

“We’ll deal with her after. She’ll be pissed, but we’ve got to go handle this, and she has to stay safe,” he said, and I frowned.

“What are you going to do?” I wondered, and he looked over his shoulder.

“I am going to go to my meeting with the council and you two are going to go to Tabitha’s. I’ll put Anetta on catching Lori duty.” He grinned.

It was a good plan in theory, but she was definitely going to be pissed.

Kai laughed and was already spinning on his heel, heading toward the exit. I sighed and shook my head; I hadn’t even been back a day and I was about to piss off Spitfire already.

“Easy for you two, you haven’t got blue balls,” I gritted out, the need to be inside her scratching at my skin and my cock.

“Work first, play later,” Derik said sternly, and I scoffed.

“That has only ever been your thing, but for the sake of her staying here safe, I’ll do it your way. This time.” I smirked and he nodded, giving me a grateful smile and disappearing up the stairs.

I followed Kai back out of the mansion. We climbed into the waiting carriage, and it started taking us toward Tabby’s.

We’d only just left the city border when my shadows swirled inside me, something tugging at them until my body filled with the familiar scent of Spitfire.

My shadows perked up, and I reached for her. She was right there as I filled her body with them. She sighed, and whatever magic she had been using to hide herself in the carriage disappeared.

Kai snarled as she appeared on the seat, her coat on, a grin on her face.

“I knew you’d leave without me, assholes,” she said, smacking Kai’s arm before standing up and taking her coat off.

I sucked in a breath as she lifted her skirts and climbed on my lap, her lips finding mine. I groaned against her, loving the way she felt against me after so long of being stuck on that bed.

I broke from the kiss and looked over her smiling face, then down to the bump, evidence of the life she grew for us. It had gotten rounder every day, and I ran my hands over it.

She wasn’t wearing a corset. Her dress white with little emeralds on the top neckline and along her breasts that were held up by the wrapping of the dress there.

It flowed over her bump, almost sheer and easy for me to feel her skin through. She sighed and leaned down to find my lips again.

“Spitfire,” I breathed, holding her against me as I met her kiss, “you’re meant to be at home.”

“No. I wasn’t caught, so I’m exactly where I’m meant to be,” she said, covering my mouth with hers again, her tongue stroking against mine.

I growled in agreement, reaching for the strings on my pants as she shoved her dress out of the way, her fingers teasing herself, getting ready for me like she knew I was urgent for her.

“Lorelai,” Kai snapped. I hadn’t heard him call her that in a long time.

She swung her head to the side to glare at him over her shoulder. “What?”

“It’s too dangerous for you to come with us,” he bit back, and she sneered, her lip lifting in answer before she turned her back on him and kissed me fiercely.

I was obviously taking too long to get myself out because she reached between us, freeing my cock then lifting her hips and sinking onto me.

Her gasp filled the carriage as I groaned at the feeling of being inside her. She dug her nails into the top of my shoulder, her thumb pressing on the scar there as she moaned, riding my cock like a woman possessed.

I met her hips, fucking her right back, ignoring Kai’s glare on me. He was too stubborn to join us, but he was heated, his eyes watching every slide she made up and down my cock.

I gripped her ass tightly, my mouth kissing over her breasts, pulling the wrapped fabric down to tug a nipple beneath my teeth. Her pussy clamped down on me and she cried out, riding me faster.

My stomach tightened with heat and pleasure as she took what she needed from me and gave my body what it had been craving.

“Hurry up, we’re almost there,” Kai snapped after what felt like only seconds after I had gotten inside her.

She moaned, palming her tits as I fucked her harder. She bounced on my lap, riding with me to the finish line before she threw her head back and her nails scratched at my skin.

My mouth latched on her exposed throat, my canines grazing her there. She trembled as I teased her, nodding slightly.

“Please, Brax,” she begged, and that was all I needed.

I went to bite her when Kai growled and put his hand in the way. I reared back, ready to fight him for possession of my girl, when he flashed his canines back at me.

“Not her neck. We’re about to walk into a meeting with the vamps; if they see that, they’ll frenzy,” he snarled, and I froze.

Fuck, he was right. I hadn’t been thinking. I took a deep breath, and she yanked her dress farther down. She pointed to the side of the swell of her breast.

“Here. Don’t stop,” she breathed, and rode me harder until I fell forward, my mouth salivating as it wrapped around her breast.

She cried out, orgasming instantly as I bit her, my toxin filling her body as her release did. I came with her, the intensity too much, needing to fill her up with my cum as well.

I bore her down on my cock, sinking as deep as I could go until she was panting hard, stilling on me and falling against my chest.

“I needed that as much as you did,” she breathed as I slowly retracted my bite.

I had missed the feeling of her flesh on my teeth, cumming in her pussy. I leaned my head back against the seat as Kai pulled her off me. He kissed along her neck, and she smirked.

I tucked myself back into my pants as he did her up, securing her breasts back in her dress. She let him, her body spent and fluid.

“You’ve had your fun, Little Human. Time to get serious. You wanted to come, now remember what we’re walking into,” Kai warned, and she took a deep breath, sitting up on his lap and nodding.

She looked down at her dress, smoothing it over as I sorted my own clothes out. Kai chucked a shirt at me.

“Wear this,” he said, and I nodded in thanks, putting on the linen just as the carriage came to a stop.

We were all silent as we got out of the carriage and moved through the swamp, Kai carrying Lori as usual.

I hesitated as we walked onto Tabby’s porch. I tensed immediately, and Lorelai’s hand went to mine.

I smoothed my thumb over her skin and followed her and Kai into the house, annoyed when I saw the vamps already seated there with their tea, politely waiting, a smirk on Silas’s face.

His chin raised a little, his nostrils flaring, his eyes going over Lorelai like he knew exactly what she had just done. He let out a small sneer before standing.

“You call a meeting with us and then are late to said meeting? Disrespectful. Where is Derik? He is the only one I wish to speak with,” Silas muttered, but just as he finished his sentence, Lori’s hand left mine and she ran into the arms of one of the vamps.

I snarled, stepping forward, but Kai stopped me, holding me back as the vamp wrapped his arms back around her.

“Lucas,” she breathed, and he smiled tightly.

“Hey, sister. Nice to see you again,” he said, and I went rigid.

I had forgotten about the brother. I still hated the fucker. I didn’t trust his face, despite it being so close a clone to my Spitfire’s.

He let her go, then looked between them at her stomach. That had both Kai and I taking a step forward.

“You are carrying a wolf,” he breathed, shocked as he turned to Silas.

Silas didn’t look surprised. “I assumed that would happen the second I learned of the link.

“A connection like that would have only been allowed if the witches had a plan. This made the most sense.” He shrugged and sank back into his seat, crossing one leg over the other.

Pretentious prick.

I looked over my shoulder, holding in the sneer as Tabitha brushed past and grabbed her tea, sitting down to mediate. She grabbed Lori’s hand and pulled her back.

“Sit, dear, on this side.” She smiled, and Lorelai gave one last look to her brother before taking a seat next to Kai, who was rigid.

I wasn’t sitting. I did have to drink the stupid tea though. I grabbed a cup off the table and took a sip, placing it back down.

Cain appeared then, leaning against the kitchen bench, his arms crossed. I had to begrudgingly give him respect for saving my life, and for everything he had done and was doing for Lori.

It managed to keep the nightmares that lurked in my mind at bay.

Silas tsked impatiently. “Speak, savage. I assume your brother has disrespected me enough not to appear.”

Kai glared. So did I.

“He’s meeting with our own council. We’re here to discuss what has just happened,” Kai said.

“I assumed,” Silas replied, still seeming way too bored with it all.

I frowned and let my shadows taste what was happening.

I could feel them, but vampires were hard to read. They were dead, and their blood magic always made them seem dark, even if they had other intentions.

I tried to get a read, but it wasn’t Silas who made me nervous, it was Lucas. He was fidgeting, he was clouded, being cagey in the way his eyes shifted.

I didn’t know whether that was because he was nervous about coming to his first vamp meeting or if he knew something that should make us all nervous.

I stepped closer to Lori just in case.

“The humans have unleashed Fractum,” Kai started, and Silas nodded.

“Yes.”

“The border was weak, and we are doing what we can on our side to keep it from collapsing.”

“Yes, I can sense that.” His eyes went to Lori, and a sneer pulled at his lips.

She frowned at that. “I thought you didn’t want the border down?” she asked, the untrust reaching her too.

“We don’t, and you seem to have that well in hand. Why are we here?” Silas snapped, his patience obviously reaching its end.

“We need to know how it has affected the vampires on your side of the border. How bad is it going to be if that border comes down?” Kai asked.

Silas’s grin grew creepy-wide across his face. His eyes went light with a red glow before he leaned forward.

“Our vamps are quite inconsolable. Their lusty little brains crave the humans they can scent on their tongues.

“Becoming a part of our races was one of the last mistakes I am sure the humans will make because mark my words, wolf, when that border comes down, the wolves will not be able to stop the vampire.

“They have been waiting years for the human blood that now haunts them, and I daresay that bloodlust is going to lead us into a war even bigger than the last.” Silas grinned.

I tensed. So did Kai. But Silas seemed completely at ease. It was Lucas that got to me though; he was all over the place, like he knew how he was meant to feel and was trying to hide what he really felt.

He was trying too hard to force the trust. I didn’t believe it. But it didn’t matter because what Silas had just predicted was exactly what we had been trying to avoid for years.

Now it was a very real threat.

“Well, that doesn’t matter because I’m not letting that border come down, and I am not letting your kind get to the humans.” Lori fought back, and Silas grinned again, sipping his tea with patient sips.

“You’re not going to have a choice, sweetheart. Eventually that monstrosity will leave your loins and you will simply be another befouled wolf with a hybrid mutt. Then bye-bye border.” He chuckled.

Lori stood up, reached across, and slapped him before any of us could do a thing to stop her. The crack against his cheek had everyone remaining still, the silence electric, the tension tangible.

Then Silas laughed dangerously, his eyes pinning her down, glowing red.

“Do that again, sweetheart, and I’ll consider it an attack. I’ll take down your alphas and claim all that sweet blood in your veins for myself,” he threatened darkly.

I couldn’t even move. If I did, I was pretty sure Silas would lose his tongue. Lori laughed back though, her husky voice just as threatening.

I fucking loved her.

“You won’t get a single fang beneath my skin before I rip them from your mouth,” she breathed, and he glared at her.

“Lorelai, careful,” Lucas whispered. He nodded to her seat. “Sit down,” he said quietly, like he was going to get in trouble for talking.

Maybe he was, and the chaos in him that I sensed was him trying not to be on his sister’s side?

I wasn’t convinced of that though; something felt off. Like they had met us to amuse themselves and had no intention of helping.

Lori looked at him, a pain in her eyes that killed me before she sat back down.

“We need to take this seriously, Silas. No more games. This affects both of us,” Kai said, breaking the tension and trying to play Derik, but Silas stood up with a death glare in his red eyes.

“Yes. Well, let’s take this seriously then, shall we?

“Last time we met, we were on the Summit, and I warned you of your actions and the consequences. I warned you that I would not help you, and I told you the vampires would not assist you.

“Unless you have changed your mind and are willing to hand me over your winter born, I suggest you figure out a way to control your wolves through winter and through Fractum,” Silas said, then stepped away from the table.

Kai stood up as Lucas followed Silas to the door.

“Silas,” Kai warned, and Silas shook his head.

“Pity, wolves. I have enjoyed this camaraderie we’ve had for the last decade or so, but I guess that time has come to an end.

“Enjoy your war with the humans. We’ll avenge you, of course, but by then I assume it’ll be too late.” He snickered before leaving with a dark laugh on his lips.

Lori rushed to Lucas before he could leave and hugged him again.

“Don’t disappear again. Write me,” she begged, and he smiled tightly, giving her a single nod that we all knew was a lie.

“See you, sister. Stay safe,” he said, and his eyes flicked to her stomach before he left after Silas.

I shuddered at the coldness that went with them, my shadows warring inside me, whispering things that made me think that despite the humans being at our doorstep, the vampires had foresight and had always been way too good at the long game.

I didn’t trust them, and Lucas being close to Lori made me even more sure that there was a reason Silas had helped her save her brother. I just had no proof.

Kai was currently losing his shit, throwing furniture, so he was going to be no help in talking to.

Spitfire went to him, soothing him, calming him down, and then apologizing to Tabby, excusing us.

I gave Tabby and Cain a grateful nod and left with Kai, who was dragging Lori into the carriage. I climbed in, unsurprised that Kai was taking liberties with her.

He needed her now, and I wasn’t going to interrupt them. I was too busy feeling the taste of Lucas and Silas my shadows had collected.

They were up to something, I knew it. I just couldn’t prove it. And even if I could, they hadn’t attacked, only the humans had, so we couldn’t do shit about it.