Cruz's Salvation

He leaned in and gave her a hard kiss to show his despair in leaving. He wanted to stay right here and kill anyone who told him otherwise. But these choices were hers to make. He’d never kill her father. She’d never forgive him for such cruelty. Tearing his mouth from hers, she held his gaze, and the same injustice showed on her expression.

With a last look at her, Cruz couldn’t find words to say goodbye, and as he always did, he ran, traveled through the opposite side of the forest far away from the woman he loved. Her taste on his tongue would keep him sated until tomorrow night. As the wind brushed against his skin, his frustration grew and his demanding cock only added to his irritation.

He had no control over the situation and needed to get shit off his chest, needed to find a voice of reason to find a solution in the hell of his tormented heart. Only one person would understand what he went through—another vampire who’d suffered such trials Cruz faced now.

Devon. His brother in blood, turned with him in the same pointless war they’d fought and lost.

Chapter Two

Kiara righted her dress, and tried to settle from the lingering effects of her orgasm. She forced herself to no longer be aroused. She drew in a couple deep breaths, pleased to find she calmed. Without wasting a single moment, she ran over to beside the pond, where she’d placed perfume when she first arrived. Reaching down, she grabbed the bottle and quickly sprayed between her thighs. At least it would mask the evidence of her climax—werewolves’ scent made secrets impossible.

She tried to ignore the memory of Cruz’s dark eyes staring at her when he did those naughty things to her, attempted not to think of his stylish dark hair that sat atop a handsome face. Even tried not to be aware of his tall, lean physique with toned muscles. Yes, she forced all these thoughts from her mind.

The sound of a paw cracking a twig drew her attention toward the edge of the forest. She quickly deposited the fragrance behind her, dropping it to the ground. Her father, proud Alpha, stepped out of the tree line and approached her with a pair of jeans in his teeth. His shift came instantaneous and he stood nude. Kiara kept her gaze on his face while he dressed in the jeans he carried.

“What are you doing here, Kiara?” Adric’s strong presence, dark hair dangling over his left eyebrow, all meant safety to Kiara. He took a long, deep breath. His charcoal eyes burned with a clear threat. “And why do I smell one of them?”

Them meant vampire, exactly why Kiara couldn’t tell her father her secret. “Not sure. I scented him, too, but haven’t been bothered at all.” She did her best to give an innocent smile. “I needed some fresh air—all the male testosterone can be a bit much.” Living as the Alpha’s daughter meant no free time to herself, always surrounded by an entire pack of wolves. Since women weren’t involved in day-to-day business of an Alpha, men remained her constant companions.

Her father chuckled. “It can be overwhelming, can’t it?” His smile faded and his eyes saddened. “If your mother was around—”

“Don’t start,” Kiara interrupted him. Childbirth had killed her mother, and her father had been her only family. Sure, he wasn’t emotional like a mom, but he did his best and she loved him. “I’m never without anything. You’ve given me all I ever needed.” A strange expression crossed her father’s face. One she couldn’t identify. “What’s the matter?”

Adric glanced down to the ground, shifted on his feet as if uncomfortable. “I appreciate your kind words, but I suspect you are lying to me.” His gaze returned to hers. “Are you truly not without?”

Kiara tried to make sense out of her father’s words, but failed. Instead of mulling it over, trying to piece together what she didn’t understand, she voiced her confusion. “Of course I’m not.” She snorted, incredulous. “Why would you think such a thing?”

Adric took her hand, lead her back over to the tree trunk, where mere minutes ago, Cruz had her spread wide with his mouth on her intimate places. The memory sent a rush of heat to pool between her thighs and as she sat, her father examined her.

“Are you feeling all right?”

Kiara suspected her blush burned bright. “Yes, sorry, I’m fine.” Clamping down on the images raging in her mind since her father’s wolf scents obviously picked up on her heightened thoughts, she refocused herself. “Please go on. What’s wrong?”

Her father drew in a long, deep breath, and knelt down next to her. Kiara crossed her legs, uncomfortable with him being there considering the earlier events. He reached out and took her hand so soft and gentle, unlike his typical Alpha nature. “Are you lonely?”

Off all the things she thought he wanted to talk with her about, his question hadn’t even crossed her mind. She laughed, maybe in a bit of nerves. “Lonely?”

“Yes.” Her father found nothing amusing, his expression stern and serious. “Months ago, I saw how happy you’d become. For once, I witnessed you had found something in your life you were missing.”

Kiara’s heart raced. Had he known? Did he suspect she had met someone? She tried to remain nonchalant and chuckled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t been any different.”

“No.” Her father raised an eyebrow, not fooled. “A change in you occurred. I still haven’t quite figured out what transformed, but I saw a glimmer in your eyes I’d never seen before.”

Kiara squeezed her father’s hand, hoping to find a way to rest his mind of these questions and thoughts. She wished she could tell her father about Cruz, yet he’d never understand. “Maybe I’m just growing into my own.”

Adric shrugged, and looked away from her to their held hands. “At first, I thought it was something like that, but then you changed. You’ve grown so unhappy. So longing.” His gaze came to hers, determined. “Do not try and deny it.”

He had backed her into a corner. Her father knew her, loved her. Not only as her Alpha would he sense the torment she’d suffered about how she longed for Cruz, but he would know just by being her father. Kiara sighed, a long, heavy breath expelling all the feelings she’d been fighting against. “I won’t deny it.”

“Then tell me.” Adric’s expression was so open, willing honesty from her. “What has gone astray? What troubles you, Kiara?”

If only she could tell him. Admit she loved a vampire and that her heart felt empty every minute they were apart. However, none of these things she could disclose. He’d rage if he heard the reality. “Maybe I am a little lonesome.” What else was there to say? He needed an answer and this had been as close to the truth as she could go.

Adric’s eyes lowered in sadness. “I suspected so much.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman, Kiara. Sometimes I wonder how you’ve turned out so well being surrounded by all these men.” He laughed, a soft sound that escaped through his nose. “How you’re so sweet and kind when you’ve only been raised by me.”

Kiara leaned into her father’s hand. How she loved him. “Because you are sweet and wonderful. I never needed anything more.”

Adric smiled, a grin only produced from her father; filled with trust, adoration, and conviction. “A generous offering from you, but it’s time I really prove it to you. I’ve decided to ease the pain you suffer.” He dropped his hand and stood.