Blood Challenge by Kit Tunstall Page A

Vitoro lunged forward, Rica moved with a burst of energy. He blocked the other man’s assault, using his greater size to propel Vitoro back and pin him to the ground. His teeth clamped over Victor’s throat, without penetrating the skin.
    Viggo walked over to them. “Do you yield, Vitoro?”
    Vitoro gave a barely perceptible nod. Rica withdrew and transformed into his man form. A cry of shock escaped Ellie when she saw the wounds marring his body. She wanted to run to him, but knew how important it was to follow the ceremony. She retraced her steps to take her post in front of Golatia, while watching him through the veil of her lashes.
    He moved slowly, with a visible limp. There was blood smeared across his body, and he swiped a heavy patch from his chest without care as he stopped in front of her. The air sizzled around him, and when Ellie met his gaze, she forgot how to breathe. Primal feelings stirred in her. She had to resist the urge to throw back her head and howl at the tumescent moon. She blinked, wondering where the compulsion came from.
    She stood before him, trembling under his hot gaze, not from the coldness of the snow she stood on, nor the chill wind cutting through the clearing. Ellie bowed her head, as her instincts told her to submit. When Rica briefly caressed her shoulder before dropping his hand, she shivered at the contact.
    Viggo came to his brother’s side, and Golatia stepped forward. “Will you give this union your blessing, Guardian?”
    Golatia nodded her consent before stepping behind Ellie.
    He turned his gaze on her. “Will you accept Rica as your mate?”
    Now was the time to let reason reassert itself. She should give a resounding no as her answer and walk away, before the culture of the Pack absorbed her. Ellie raised her head to give her response. Rather than the strong negative reply she knew she should give, she whispered, “I will.”
    She was in his arms in the blink of an eye. Ellie looked up to meet his gaze. The heat in his blue eyes made her burn. It was so intense, she felt a trace of fear. His mouth descending on hers washed away any emotion but desire. She opened her mouth as Rica’s tongue swept inside. Whether or not she had yielded, he would have branded her with his kiss. She recognized that on an instinctive level. Rather than stir her feminine ire, the notion stoked her desire.
    She was vaguely aware of him moving her into the center of the circle, but tried to block out the presence of the others. It was only she and Rica, sharing this night under the moon. Gradually, her awareness of the others faded completely, as she got lost in his kisses.
    His mouth traced a hot line from her lips to the column of her throat. He nuzzled at the bend of her neck, inhaling her scent. Ellie clung to him, unable to stand on shaking legs. Rica must have realized she had lost her strength, because he lifted her against him, supporting her as his nose moved lower, to nestle between her breasts. She threw back her head and buried her fingers in his hair as he inhaled her scent.
    “Rica,” she said with a moan when he lifted her higher and moved his mouth to take possession of her nipple. His tongue was hot and urgent as it laved the beaded peak. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed his head against her, urging him to take more. She closed her eyes and whimpered.
    He responded to the invitation by nipping the tingling bud. The slight wrench of pain heightened her pleasure when he cupped her other breast in his hand. He rolled the nipple between his fingers, tugging in a rhythm simpatico to his suckling. Ellie arched her pussy against his stomach, aching for more. She couldn’t remember ever being so turned on so quickly. All she wanted was for Rica to bury his cock inside her and claim her as his.
    Her arms tightened around his neck as he lowered her to the ground. She tensed, anticipating contact with the snow. Instead, her back encountered soft fur. Someone had