Chapter Sixteen
Nyx
We're sitting in Lex's living room, pouring over our latest findings.
Alpha Daxton needed to get home to Luna Grace and the kids after we spent all day discussing Ophelia's journals and the information I uncovered about the map. The four of us decided to keep going through, digging further into information and trying to put together a plan.
The deadline is looming, and with each passing day, we're one step closer to facing Orson. There's no time to rest.
Ophelia's journals are so detailed that we need all the help we can get to read them.
After we moved past the map information, a lot of her entries talked about more negotiations and the treaty, outlining how they traveled to various territories and created allies.
Eventually we hit the timeline where it went to shit, the war escalating to dangerous heights. It pained me to read that Ophelia nearly lost one of her mates. Somehow, he managed to survive with the help of witches, and it made me think of Lydiana.
It's weird to think that witches hate us so much. I get it though—we're the polar opposite to them. Wolves are territorial creatures, inhumane at times, while witches follow sacred beliefs and claim to be divine servants.
Goddess—It's people like Alpha Orson that gives wolves a bad reputation. I don't blame them for hating us. Look at what he's doing. Still, we're not all bad.
"I've re-read the same sentence four times," I groan, placing the journal down. "I think it's time for a break."
Lex stretches, cracking his knuckles. "You've been going for hours, Red. Rest that brain."
"Only for five minutes," I smile. "Then we can keep going. I just need to stretch my legs."
Maverick cocks an eyebrow. "If you dare mutter the wordrunI'll tie you down to the coffee table myself."
"The only running I feel like doing is if you were chasing me," I joke.
His eyes narrow, darkening slightly. "Don't tempt me. I'd love nothing more than to hunt you down."
My stomach clenches. "Too bad there isn't enough space in these guest houses."
Cade glances around. "I reckon you could give it a pretty good shot. We would even give you a head start."
I laugh, though my mind is starting to drift elsewhere. "Like hide and seek or something?"
"Or something," Maverick agrees, putting his journal down.
The three of them look at me hungrily, and suddenly, I'm not feeling quite as exhausted anymore. We face off for a few seconds before I quickly stand, taking off out of the room and down the hallway.
I hear their footsteps immediately giving chase, and I head straight for the bedroom on instinct. It's the room I'm mostfamiliar with, and if I can get there before them, I can lock the door.
Crap. That might be a bit dangerous. Surely they wouldn't break the door down, right? That would be one hell of an awkward conversation with Alpha Daxton.
I sprint through the house toward the room, laughing to myself. I'm fast, and the chances of them catching me with a head start is small.
As I reach the bedroom door, I get ready to hastily grab the handle but before I can touch it, strong arms wrap themselves around me.
"You're fast," Maverick murmurs in my ear from behind. "But I'm quicker than you are."
Before I can respond, his lips are on my neck, my whole body going limp immediately. My head drops back onto his shoulder, tilting to give him better access.
I can almost visualize the moment he sinks his teeth into my neck, marking me again like he's trying to make a statement—that he should have done it sooner.
My moan seems to set him off, his hand snaking around the front of my body to my chest. Palm covering my breast, he squeezes gently, moving to tug my hardening nipple through my shirt.
I push my ass back into his erection, earning a growl from him. Maverick drops his hand, dipping it under the waistband of my shorts and into my underwear. Fingers dance along my pelvic bone before gliding lower, disappearing into my heat. As he strokes my clit, my knees start to buckle, and for a moment, I forget we aren't alone.
