Claimed by the Beasts: A Shifter Reverse Harem Romance Read online

  He closed his eyes as she took his testicles into her hand, rolling them between her fingers, squeezing until he thought he would explode. The moment she breathed across his cockhead, he allowed a slow breath to escape. “Yeah. Suck me, princess. Go ahead. Wrap your mouth around my dick.”

  She darted her tongue around in lazy circles before taking the entire tip into her mouth, sucking, the sound floating between them.

  A pain coursed through him, a stabbing that pierced his gut, even his heart. His breath stolen, he opened his eyes wide as a vision floated in front of him. A face. For the briefest of seconds, he was able to see the outline of a sensuous face. Blinking, he hissed and almost pushed her away.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing.” But he knew in his gut that a change was occurring, a profoundness that would alter the course of history. He was unable to push aside the visions even as she took his cock into her mouth, going down an inch at a time. He pressed his hand onto her head and turned his gaze toward the window. The lightning flashes were now going sideways, lighting up the entire sky. His breathing became ragged, his pulse skipping. Whatever was coming would soon make an appearance.

  “Mmm…” Candy licked down the underside of his shaft, dragging her tongue back and forth. Taking a testicle into her mouth, she sucked as she rolled the tip of her index finger around the other.

  The pressure was intense, pulling him away from the vision. He fisted her hair, keeping her in place, a low-slung rumble forming in his chest.

  Purring, she opened her mouth wide, rubbing his other ball across her lips as she stroked the base of his cock, twisting back and forth in slow motions.

  “Suck me. Just suck me.”

  Easing back, she allowed his testicle to pop out of her mouth, giggling as she dragged her tongue up his shaft, engulfing his dick. In one move, she slid her mouth all the way down until her lower lip rested on his balls.

  Wind raged outside the window, sheets of rain slapping the panes of glass. The house continued to rumble, unearthly vibrations rattling some unknown fragile object. It was as if the devil himself was clawing to get inside.

  Larken snarled and pushed her head, forcing her to stay in position. “That’s it.”

  She didn’t struggle, merely allowing him to take control, placing her hands on his thighs as he pumped his cock into her mouth.

  The tip hitting the back of her throat, he tossed back his head, issuing a series of animalistic grunts, wanting nothing more than to have his cum slide down her throat. His actions became more brutal, face-fucking her, his cock swelling even larger, a sign of his beast longing to be freed.

  Candy’s eyes were open wide, slight gagging noises pulsing past the thick invasion.

  He was close to shooting his load but wanted more. Tugging her to her feet, he lifted her into the air, pressing her back against the wall.

  “Oh, God. So strong,” she murmured as he thrust the entire length of cock inside her cunt. Squealing, she wrapped her legs around his waist and threw her arms over her head.

  Gripping both of her wrists with one hand, he plunged harder and faster, the barbaric force pushing the breath from her chest.

  She lolled her head as he fucked her, her lips pursed into an almost perfect ‘O.’

  He was electrified, blood coursing through his veins in a maddening fashion, his balls so swollen they hung low, swinging back and forth.

  “You are…” Her eyelids fluttered as the sound of their hard fucking rattled pictures on the walls.

  Another clap of intense thunder was followed by lightning bright enough to illuminate the entire room. His hackles were raised, hair standing up on the back of his neck. The Pride called to him, the invitation clear. Hunt or be hunted. They were warning him against an unforeseen advisory and yet he was unable to stop. Lowering his head, he licked her neck as he rode her hard.

  “Fuck. So good,” Candy whispered, her body undulating against his.

  He was shaking, his muscles elongating, his bones cracking. Clenching his eyes shut, he concentrated, ignoring the pleas, the wild and unbridled cries that only he could hear.

  “Yes. Yes!” She clamped her pussy muscles around his dick, her whimpers turning into ragged moans filtering between them.

  The thumping intensified as he pounded into her, leaving him breathless as the adrenaline cut through his tendons. He was losing control.

  “Yes, Daddy. Fuck me hard.”

  His mouth opening wide, his canines exposed, he bit down, breaking her skin as cum rushed into his shaft. Snapping his head, the single taste of her was almost too much, his body struggling to hold back, to keep from entering into the transformation stage. He issued a keening roar and exploded into her.

  “Yes!”

  Larken opened his eyes wide, the visions in his mind’s eye intense, a roving motion picture of things that were yet to be. His gift. His curse.

  His damnation.

  He could see her face, the woman who would be their queen. The realization of who she was startling him. He sensed that both Trevor and Bristol were having the same vision, their connection growing stronger. Scarlet Dumane had no way of understanding how important she really was. Dear God, Viola had known and had been protecting her. All his life, the stories told from the Elders, the ones he refused to believe were coming true, a foretelling of the Pride’s future. Rattled, he resisted allowing his rage to take over, shutting down his power, reeling in his beast.

  “You are… Wow,” Candy whispered as he eased her down. She wobbled and slapped her hands against the wall, blinking several times.

  Wiping his mouth, he kept his gaze averted, refusing to allow her to see any aspect of his other side. He yanked his jeans into position, fastening and zipping, reaching almost instantly for his shirt.

  “You don’t have to go yet, do you?” she cooed as she brushed both hands through her damp hair.

  “Yeah, something I gotta do.” He glared out the window, able to see his ravaged face, his cheekbones pronounced yet fading, his luminescent eyes glowing even in the reflection. “You’re something else, Candy.”

  “You think so?” Licking her lips, she didn’t seem to notice his physical change, her eyelids heavy.

  “Fantastic. Would like to do this again.” He headed for the door, taking his fingers and sliding them through his saliva then pressing the tips on the wound he’d created. She would heal almost instantly.

  “That would be amazing.” Her eyes still half closed, she kissed his lips before sauntering toward the couch, flopping down. “You are one powerful and very dangerous man.”

  Chuckling, he opened the door, shooting her one last look before walking out. She had no idea how close she’d come to seeing the real beast inside.

  Jumping onto his bike, he rolled through the darkened streets, racing toward safety. The rain pelted against him, tingling his skin. A light fog had already formed, the eerie appearance of the streets masking the various creatures of the night. This was their time. Keeping his body low to the bike, he had no trouble navigating his way home.

  Within seconds of arriving at the cabin and parking the Harley, he shed his clothes and stood in the middle of the pasture, throwing back his arms. There was no way to stop the transformation nor did he have any desire to do so.

  “Aaahhh!” he screamed into the night sky, saliva sliding from his mouth as the pain became unbearable. The brutality of the shift would change, becoming easier in time, but for now, he deserved the savagery. He was almost ripped apart and he grunted, doubling over, sweat beading along every inch of his body. Flashes of light and sound scattered around him, his mind opening fully, reeling from the information rushing in. How long had he locked out his ability, determined to shut down the others?

  “Uh… uh… uh…” His moans seemed to echo into the forest, his cries merely another call to the others.

  Anguish tore through every muscle as his bones expanded, breaking through the skin. Dropping to the ground, he shook
violently, finally allowing the change to take place. He issued a series of pain-filled howls as his skin folded back, replaced by glorious white fur.

  Only seconds later, the earth ceased to rumble any longer, but he heard several cries in answer.

  The king had returned home to stay.

  * * *

  Scarlet blew a wayward strand of hair out of her face and studied the pompous-looking man sitting across from her. She remained sticky, even sitting in an air-conditioned office. Between the phone call and the nightmares, she’d gotten maybe two hours of sleep and this jerk off was toying with her. “I don’t understand, Mr. Wallace. Why exactly is there an issue with my grandmother’s body and why was it cremated without my permission and with zero justification from what I can tell?” Her demanding question was terse. The medical report was benign, providing zero helpful information. The reason listed for her grandmother’s death was natural causes. No matter the seemingly black and white, a nagging remained in the back of her mind.

  “I’m very sorry, Miss Dumane,” he said, a smirk on his face. “Just a mistake and I’m certain that the funeral home will repay you for any out of pocket expenses.”

  The southern accent had already grated her nerves. “Out of pocket expenses? My grandmother was burned to a crisp, incinerated without my permission. I should sue both you and the funeral home.” You bet she had no issue threatening him. Within the bowels of the city, there were secrets furrowing. Her red flags had been raised since the minute she stepped off the plane. What was he hiding and more important, why?

  Leaning over, his smile faded, and his eyes fell slowly down to her chest, moving in a lazy and sensuous manner back to her face. “I wouldn’t go making any enemies, my dear. That’s just not how it’s done in these parts. I know you’re a city girl, but we take care of our own down here, especially since outsiders have a way of digging a very deep hole.”

  The threat was implied and said with a sickeningly sweet tone of voice. Riled, she held back a nasty quip, determined to get to the bottom of his reason for lying. She plastered on a practiced smile and also leaned closer, disgusted by the hint of bourbon on his breath so early in the day. “That’s fine, Mr. Wallace. I do so understand the ways of the South. You forget, I was born here, bred from some of the very first descendants. While I may not know about your background, I can tell by your fake accent and less than respectful demeanor that you’re the one who’s an outsider.” She refused to blink or move.

  After a few seconds, he nodded and was the one to break the line drawn in the sand. “Point taken, Miss Dumane, but keep in mind, when you left with your mama, God rest her soul, you gave up all claims at being anything of importance in this town.” His expression remained bland as he eased a folder across his desk.

  How fascinating that the attorney had taken the time to dig into her past. She highly doubted a woman with a keen instinct such as her grandmother would have trusted this pig. “Well, I can certainly see why my mother left.”

  The awkward tension remained, and yet her smile never faded.

  “As you might imagine, given you are the only remaining living relative, Viola left you everything. You’ll find everything you need right here. The paperwork should be in order.” Mr. Wallace sighed as he folded his hands.

  Everything. She hadn’t thought about the fact her grandmother would include her in the will. Leaving Lafayette quickly wasn’t going to be so easy; not a phone call she wanted to make to her boss. “Thank you. I appreciate all your help. What do I owe you for your excellent services?” She slapped her hand on the file, the thudding sound floating between them. Yes, the asshole had gotten under her skin. All her grandmother’s warnings about certain members of the town banding together in order to keep the ‘unsuitables’ as she called them out of town hovered in her mind.

  “No need to worry about paying me, Miss Dumane. You grandmother made certain every detail was taken care of, including paying various utilities for several months. I dare say she must have had a premonition about her death. Some people do.”

  The creepiness factor was on overload.

  He was smiling again as he sat back in his chair, the slight creak adding to the suffocating ambiance.

  Scarlet was beginning to hate the town. “Well, thank you again and I assure you, I won’t be needing your services in the future.” She snickered as she eased out of the chair, heading for the door. For some reason, a cold chill slithered down her spine.

  “One other piece of advice, Miss Dumane. Folks in this town are simple. All they want to do in enjoy their life, their families and friends. They don’t like outsiders trying to destroy their piece of the pie, if you know what I mean. Do what you need to do and go home. Chicago no doubt suits you much better.”

  She was able to maintain a straight face until she walked outside into the bright sun. Cursing under her breath, she had a feeling he was watching from the window. What in the hell was going on? She remained suspicious about her grandmother’s death, and why several people seemed so interested in her arrival. Maybe she would have a conversation with Sheriff Jefferson.

  Then again, could she trust anyone?

  Opening her car door, she tossed the file onto the passenger seat and slid inside, jamming her key into the ignition. Sweat had her blouse sticking to her back. She was exhausted, overheated, and starving. Noticing a diner across the street, she pulled into the crowded parking lot, finding what had to be the last spot. She’d order something to eat before purchasing some supplies. Cleaning out the refrigerator and sorting through the papers would be her afternoon chore.

  The moment she walked inside, almost every customer turned to look at her, conversations dropping off to whispers. Scarlet glanced toward the back of the diner, her skin crawling. Why was everyone staring at her? Holding her breath, she walked toward the counter, sliding onto the only open seat. The quiet was almost suffocating. She sensed the two men seated next to her were giving her more than a once-over and she avoided their dark gazes, gulping the cool air as she calmed her nerves.

  Suddenly, there was a hum in her ears, a flutter in her heart and she was unable to stop herself from glancing at the two rugged and very sensual men. There was a flash of recognition of some kind, electricity generating an entirely new round of wet heat. The connection shared was intense, drawing her in until she had difficulty breathing. Their eyes were mesmerizing, allowing her to see into their very souls. Flecks of gold accentuated the most dazzling shade of ice blue. Both had sandy blond hair, thick and luxurious strands falling to just above their shoulders. They were both roughhewn, their chest and arm muscles straining against their way too tight tee shirts. Tattoos covered the larger man’s right arm, vivid in color and detail, flames licking above the edge of material. They were without a doubt two of the most gorgeous men she’d ever laid eyes on.

  And they hungered for her.

  There was no doubt, no mistake. They wanted her naked and tied, ready to submit to their will, feasting on her pussy, driving their thick cocks into her cunt and asshole. The images floating in her mind were similar to the ones she’d experienced the night before.

  You will belong to us…

  Had one of the men actually issued the blatant statement?

  Her mouth was bone dry as the larger of the two inhaled, a rumble coming from his chest. Blinking, she tried to break the tether but could almost tell what they were thinking. No. No, this wasn’t happening. Just the phone calls. The book. The nightmare. Nothing else. Nothing. Finally able to close her eyes, shutting down her senses, the humming ceased as if snapped off. She took a deep breath and grabbed a menu, fanning her face instead of reading the selections.

  “What will you have, sugar?” the waitress asked, giving the two men a nasty glare.

  Scarlet jumped visibly before giving her a waning smile. “Um…” She tried to regroup, her hand shaking as she eased her hair behind her ear. “Lemonade to start if you have it.”

  “Comin’ up and don’t let
these two fellas bother you. They’re harmless.” Snorting, the waitress slapped a bill in between the men, narrowing her eyes as she shot a caustic glare at several customers. “Don’t let the assholes in the restaurant scare you off either. You’re always welcome here.”

  She smiled, feeling the rush of heat not only creeping up along her jawline but between her legs as well. At least someone had balls.

  “Thank you very much, Maggie. Just ruin our chances with a new girl in town.”

  His baritone voice couldn’t have been any sultrier, giving her an entire series of quivers.

  “Just warning the poor girl, Trevor.” Maggie slapped a roll of silverware in front of Scarlet before moving away.

  “We’re really not that bad,” Trevor stated as he nodded several times. “At least until you get to know us.” He wiped his hand on his jeans before holding it out. “Trevor Williams, and this guy is Bristol Abbott. Just regular guys in a sea of assholes.”

  Scarlet tentatively accepted his handshake, another jolt of current shooting up her arm. While she’d never heard of them, she knew them, as if she had her entire life. “Scarlet Dumane.” The look the two men shared was one of a clear understanding, as if they’d already known her name. The handshake lingered, more intimate than two strangers meeting. After a few seconds, his skin felt hot to the touch. Instead of letting go of her hand, he brought it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles.

  “Trevor. Let the nice girl have her hand back.” Bristol’s voice was just as commanding, his slight accent endearing. “Are you any relation to Viola Dumane?”

  “My grandmother.” A single twinkle in Bristol’s eyes drew her in.

  Trevor flashed a grin before easing her hand onto the counter. “And what brings you to our fair city, Scarlet? Visit? I haven’t talked to Viola in a couple of months. How is the feisty lady?”

  “You’re flirting again,” Maggie snarked as she thumped down a glass of lemonade, forcing a ridiculous whimper from Scarlet’s mouth.