Bitten (Black Mountain Bears Book 2) by Ophelia Bell, Amelie Hunt Page B
Authors: Ophelia Bell, Amelie Hunt
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move,” Gunnar said behind her. “This is the rest of our lives, after all.”
Without another word, she shifted, and ran to catch up with Jasper, Gunnar keeping pace beside her.
* * *
Running between her mates, Autumn had never felt so alive.
Jasper led, directing them down a meandering path through the winter trees with subtle shifts of his gait. He seemed just as in his element at top speed as she and Gunnar.
She thought about recommending him as a runner to the Windchaser commander when they got back, but then realized they weren’t going back. At least, Jasper couldn’t. If she got pregnant out here, she couldn’t, either. That would leave Gunnar to make the recommendation. He was the only one who would be allowed through the portal after the lockdown, as a true Windchaser runner.
If they granted Jasper Windchaser runner status, he’d be able to come and go. And as soon as she gave birth—assuming she conceived—she would, too. They weren’t as isolated as it seemed, really. It would just take some time.
Her gait faltered when she remembered that it was Aidan who’d made all this possible. He’d given himself up so she could stay with these two males, let them love her.
She’d finally found them, and her heart soared, yet still reached out to Aidan, who had given up his own heart’s desire for hers. She couldn’t remember the vision she’d had for him, but she hoped it had been a good one. When they reached their goal, she’d spare another thought for him, but for now she needed to keep up with her mates, who seemed intent on having a race, using trees as their obstacles.
They’d reached a grove of old oaks, the stolid trunks standing as sentinels between them and their goals. The heavy branches had blocked out the sun beneath so nothing grew but spindly pines and dogwoods.
Gunnar roared as Jasper charged forward, rounding the trees with expert sureness. Autumn wanted to sit back and watch, but decided some energy output would be good for her and charged forward, too, letting out her own roar of challenge.
The sound made the males falter just enough for her to overtake them. After rounding several trees, she saw the target of Jasper’s charge. The huge cabin rested in a solitary valley below them, a trail of smoke rising from one of its three chimneys.
Autumn plowed forward, giddy from the chase and ecstatic about seeing Jasper’s home up close.
She made it halfway down the hill before she felt paws on her backside and she was suddenly bowled over into a snowbank beside a shed, meters from the house. Her back crashed into the side of the shed, snow flying around them. Jasper’s black-furred face hovered over hers.
He’d done this. Tripped her. She growled at him and he growled back. He pressed his furry snout against her neck and opened his mouth. The pressure of his teeth startled her.
She shifted back to human form out of panic, but he didn’t let go.
“Jasper, the magic has you. Don’t let it keep you. Please.”
His teeth sank into her shoulder, hot pain engulfing her.
In that second she realized he hadn’t been out of control, he’d known precisely what to do. The chase had been part of it and she’d led them inadvertently to their goal.
Gunnar’s white-furred shape brushed against her naked flesh, teasing. His nose sniffed at Jasper’s marks and licked them.
Autumn shivered. The pain was endurable, and she wanted more.
Gunnar’s snout pressed against her ear, his breath puffing out. It tickled a little, but she couldn’t help but read his desire into it. His question. His claws dug into her back where he anchored himself against her, so gentle, not breaking skin unless he meant to.
“Do it,” she breathed. “Mark me.”
She closed her eyes when his mouth opened, lips peeled back baring sharp teeth. They pierced her skin and Autumn cried out. Nothing but the pair of them existed, their mouths latched onto her skin for what seemed an eternity.
It didn’t
Without another word, she shifted, and ran to catch up with Jasper, Gunnar keeping pace beside her.
* * *
Running between her mates, Autumn had never felt so alive.
Jasper led, directing them down a meandering path through the winter trees with subtle shifts of his gait. He seemed just as in his element at top speed as she and Gunnar.
She thought about recommending him as a runner to the Windchaser commander when they got back, but then realized they weren’t going back. At least, Jasper couldn’t. If she got pregnant out here, she couldn’t, either. That would leave Gunnar to make the recommendation. He was the only one who would be allowed through the portal after the lockdown, as a true Windchaser runner.
If they granted Jasper Windchaser runner status, he’d be able to come and go. And as soon as she gave birth—assuming she conceived—she would, too. They weren’t as isolated as it seemed, really. It would just take some time.
Her gait faltered when she remembered that it was Aidan who’d made all this possible. He’d given himself up so she could stay with these two males, let them love her.
She’d finally found them, and her heart soared, yet still reached out to Aidan, who had given up his own heart’s desire for hers. She couldn’t remember the vision she’d had for him, but she hoped it had been a good one. When they reached their goal, she’d spare another thought for him, but for now she needed to keep up with her mates, who seemed intent on having a race, using trees as their obstacles.
They’d reached a grove of old oaks, the stolid trunks standing as sentinels between them and their goals. The heavy branches had blocked out the sun beneath so nothing grew but spindly pines and dogwoods.
Gunnar roared as Jasper charged forward, rounding the trees with expert sureness. Autumn wanted to sit back and watch, but decided some energy output would be good for her and charged forward, too, letting out her own roar of challenge.
The sound made the males falter just enough for her to overtake them. After rounding several trees, she saw the target of Jasper’s charge. The huge cabin rested in a solitary valley below them, a trail of smoke rising from one of its three chimneys.
Autumn plowed forward, giddy from the chase and ecstatic about seeing Jasper’s home up close.
She made it halfway down the hill before she felt paws on her backside and she was suddenly bowled over into a snowbank beside a shed, meters from the house. Her back crashed into the side of the shed, snow flying around them. Jasper’s black-furred face hovered over hers.
He’d done this. Tripped her. She growled at him and he growled back. He pressed his furry snout against her neck and opened his mouth. The pressure of his teeth startled her.
She shifted back to human form out of panic, but he didn’t let go.
“Jasper, the magic has you. Don’t let it keep you. Please.”
His teeth sank into her shoulder, hot pain engulfing her.
In that second she realized he hadn’t been out of control, he’d known precisely what to do. The chase had been part of it and she’d led them inadvertently to their goal.
Gunnar’s white-furred shape brushed against her naked flesh, teasing. His nose sniffed at Jasper’s marks and licked them.
Autumn shivered. The pain was endurable, and she wanted more.
Gunnar’s snout pressed against her ear, his breath puffing out. It tickled a little, but she couldn’t help but read his desire into it. His question. His claws dug into her back where he anchored himself against her, so gentle, not breaking skin unless he meant to.
“Do it,” she breathed. “Mark me.”
She closed her eyes when his mouth opened, lips peeled back baring sharp teeth. They pierced her skin and Autumn cried out. Nothing but the pair of them existed, their mouths latched onto her skin for what seemed an eternity.
It didn’t
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