Sweet Submission Page 3

  She closed her eyes as something sharp bit the skin in her thigh. She gasped slowly, her breath brushing his before her eyes began to close. Her mind fluttered. The last thing she remembered was that now she knew why these men were so appropriately called eye-commanders. A simple look deep in her eyes and he had control of her, of her body, and of her mind. He had planted that image in her mind, that beautiful, sweet, wonderful image...

  When Kita opened her eyes again she felt like she had been asleep for days. She fell in and out of consciousness, always aware that she was never alone. She never saw anyone, but she knew that someone was with her. She could feel them there. But now, for the first time, she felt alone. She blinked, wrestling against the dreamy haze that hung over her eyes yet. A quick scan of the room revealed what she had felt. She was alone.

  She moved her fingers numbly, fighting the stiffness in her muscles and the aching in her joints. She had to get up, had to move around. She chewed on her lip, focusing her energy on escaping the bed. She made herself sit up, wiggling awkwardly against the headboard as she fought the tenderness and aching within her. Her eyes caught a clump of fabric near her feet, and when she looked closer she found it to be a pair of jeans and a simple white t-shirt.

  After a struggle to get dressed she stood up from the bed, feeling her legs wobble unsteadily. She steadied herself on the bed, taking a calming breath to gather herself. The jeans were a little big and the t-shirt was a bit snug, but at least she had clothes on.

  She shifted her weight to one leg to proceed forward, stifling a scream that came out as an alarmed screech. Her legs buckled and she fell forward, bracing her palms out to catch herself on the wall. The wooden planks of the walls in the log home scratched her palms and she sank down to her knees, unable to hold herself up any longer. She sat there pouting for a few minutes, rotating her cut up hands before her as she cussed at her weak legs for being so useless.

  She inhaled. She had to get up before Sasha found her on the floor. With stubborn determination she rose to her feet, clenching her teeth with effort as she ignored the pain and the numbness within her. When she had finally regained her footing she stumbled into a nearby bathroom, using the walls to keep her balance.

  She had to keep moving, it was the only way her muscles would come back to life. She leaned into the wall, never straying far from it as she began to walk around the house. Whenever she felt weak she all she had to do was to lean into it and catch her breath. The house was big and beautiful. There was a warm, homey feeling about it, and the aroma of pine that surrounded her made her feel like she had never left the forest. The hard maple floors were blanketed by rich textured animal hides that felt silky smooth on her bare feet. The hallways were lit by intimate candles that burned brightly from candleholders that had been stuck in niches on the wall. The atmosphere was so peaceful, almost romantic.

  She continued her exploration, relishing in the warmth that surrounded her. There were several burning fireplaces, and combined with the candles they made the home warm and inviting. It was a far cry from the cold marble floors and modern accessories that she had grown accustomed to in the home that she had grown up in.

  There were many rooms that she passed, but she didn't take the time to examine them, there were simply too many, and she was beginning to feel weak. Her primary goal now was finding a room with a couch to sit on.

  She leaned against the wall, looking through into another room. There were several couches and chairs lining the great room, and it was just what she was looking for. She hesitated though.

  Four women were already in here, and they had stopped talking the moment that they saw her. They were watching her keenly, and before Kita decided to join them she decided to assess her surroundings. There was no door on the wide entrance. It was clearly a communal room. Her eyes shifted to the women, all of which were facing her now.

  One of them slowly stood to her feet. The act seemed almost challenging. She was pretty, a middle aged brunette with deep brown eyes. The woman glared at her, sending Kita's already tense nerves on alert. Something deep within her stirred and her every sense came alive, preparing for impending conflict.

  Kita smiled tauntingly. Where she was from fights for dominance were never ending, and if this woman thought that she was dealing with an amateur she would find out the painfully hard way that she thought wrong.

  Suddenly her heart bombed into her gut as realization hit her. She couldn't fight with this woman, and it had nothing to do with her injuries or her exhaustion. It had everything to do with Sasha. This woman had to be his mate. No other woman in the pack would dare challenge a newcomer without first learning who she was. As much as she hated to admit it, she was no match for Sasha. If he were truly angry with her there would be no way that she could defend herself against him, and fighting his mate would certainly anger him.

  Kita watched anxiously as the woman edged towards her, her whole body looking like she was ready to pounce on her and beat the hell out of her at any moment. She couldn't back down, her pride wouldn't allow it and neither would her upbringing. She had to find a way to make the woman back down first, before it got physical. She glared back at the woman, daring her to attack while hoping that her confidence would be enough to make the woman think twice before assaulting her.

  The woman suddenly dropped her eyes and retreated to the couch, sitting back down as if she had been chastised. Huh, that was easier than I thought it would be, Kita thought smugly. With her adrenaline no longer pumping exhaustion swept down on her, nearly dropping her to her knees right then and there. She had to sit down, or at least get back to the safety of the wall so that she could catch her breath. She turned, running right into an immovable wall of power. Her breath left her lips sharply and she looked up. Now she knew why the woman had backed down so unexpectedly.

  Sasha looked down at her. His eyes were hard and concerned.

  Kita braced her right hand against his broad chest, unconsciously keeping herself from falling into him. She could smell his subtle cologne, his masculine scent as he hovered beside her. Heat sank into her palm where she touched him, and she drew away from him instantly. She felt dizzy, weak under his influence, and for a moment she began to collapse into his arms. She reached out and braced herself on his chest again, pushing away forcefully this time as she tried to shake her head clear.

  Sasha grabbed her wrists, pulling her to him as he prevented her from withdrawing from him. He looked at her hands. There were scrapes on her palms, and dried blood lined the little streaks.

  Kita tried to pull away and pain shot up her left arm. Sasha saw the grimace of pain on her face and he released her left hand immediately to her surprise, but he maintained his grip on her good arm. She glowered up at him.

  "Release me, Sasha,” She hissed through clenched teeth.

  "What happened to your hands, sweetheart?” He asked in a sincerely concerned tone as he glanced at the scratches.

  She tilted her chin in confusion, “Keep calling me sweetheart in front of your mate and she's not going to be happy with you."

  It was his turn to be confused, and he looked beyond her at the other women, “I don't have a mate.” He informed her quickly, maybe a little too quickly.

  Sasha frowned. He hadn't meant to sound so defensive about it. After all, she didn't care if he had a mate or not. He felt foolish. He knew why he had said it. He wanted her to know that he was still available. He absently brushed the pad of his thumb across her palm, reminded of his initial question.

  "What happened to your hands, sweetheart?’ He asked again.

  She glanced away, trying to tug away from him before giving in and answering his question, “I fell, and when I went to catch myself I scratched my hands on the wall."

  His brow darkened, “Where was Kiser?"

  She shrugged. She had no idea, and she really didn't care, either.

  For the first time she saw real, cold anger flash in the big mans eyes, and his hand tightened painful
ly around her wrist, “He was supposed to be with you."

  She writhed against his hold, resentment coloring her cheeks with irritation, “Let me go, Sasha."

  "Why didn't you wait for me to help you?” He asked almost protectively.

  She glared into his eyes, furious that he refused to unhand her, “I know how much weakness and surrender turns you Alpha's on, and I would hate to give you a huge hard-on seeing me on the floor unable to move, big boy."

  He smirked playfully, suddenly grabbing her hips and pulling her closer to him as he whispered into her ear, “well sweetheart, if that's true then you're about to give me the biggest hard-on you've ever laid eyes on."

  She frowned in confusion, screeching in alarm as he lifted her off the ground and tossed her over his shoulder, as lightly and as easily as if she were a sack of potatoes. She thrashed at his shoulders and back, punching with tight fists angrily, ignoring the raging pain that surged through her left arm and body. She was so busy thrashing against him that she didn't even pay attention to where he was taking her, and she didn't care, either. Right now all she wanted was to be put down, out of the hands of this burly Alpha who now had her weak and defenseless, slung over his shoulder like a hard won prize.

  After what seemed an eternity he set her flailing body gently back down onto the bed. He winked at her, impervious to all of the thrashing and cursing that she had done to him.

  Kita was fuming. She had never been so manhandled in all her life. She wasn't used to this, and the loss of control sent her head reeling.

  "Don't you dare do that again, Sasha, or it'll be the last thing you do.” She warned him.

  "You know, sweetheart, you really shouldn't be so hostile, especially to men who can hurt you.” He admonished. His lips curved upward into a sly grin, “I'm a nice guy, so I'll let you get away with your little antics, but there are others out there that will not be so nice..."

  She narrowed her eyes, “you call tossing me over your shoulder like a side of beef being a nice guy?” She scoffed, absently gazing away before she spoke again. Her voice came softer now, and she looked distant, “and as for men that can hurt me ... I've already met my share. You don't have to remind me."

  Sasha watched her expression. She changed suddenly, no longer strong willed and hot tempered, but soft and pensive. He saw sorrow in her eyes, her shielding wall let down as memories caved in on her.

  He didn't know why, but seeing her beautiful blue eyes looking distant and scared made his stomach tighten possessively. A part of him wanted to grab her and pull her to him, to hold her and tell her that she was safe, that he would protect her.

  Kita blinked, thinking about her past. She had encountered her share of angry males. They were selfish, taking whatever they wanted, even if it wasn't given. They were unable to feel compassion, feeling only for their selves. Hell—that was why she was here in the first place. Her own father, an Alpha male, had deceived her. He wanted something, and his daughter was the sacrifice for it. She felt sick in the pit of her stomach.

  Her eyes found Sasha's. He was watching her intently, and she could read his eyes. He felt sorry for her. Anger rose inside her, she didn't need his pity, she didn't need anything from any Alpha male. She parted her lips, ready to object, but something in Sasha's eyes left her breathless.

  Splashes of gold fired around his pupils until a flicker of orange danced within his gaze. She was entranced, motionless as a picture came to life before her. She saw a warm wood-burning fireplace in the center of a room, the light from the flames bouncing off of amber walls. It was so real she could almost smell the ash and the cinder in the air around her. There was a soft deerskin rug on the floor before the fire, and she watched as a blonde woman stepped onto it. Even with her back turned, Kita could see that the woman was beautiful, wearing only a large red flannel shirt that only barely covered her curves. Silky jagged light-colored hair covered her shoulders and her back.

  A man stepped onto the rug beside her, shirtless with only a pair of loose jeans on. She didn't see his face, only his body. The woman turned her head for a moment, and Kita felt her heart race when she was looking into her own eyes. A muscular arm reached around, obscuring the view. For a moment all she saw was a tattoo, a black wolf's paw print etched into the man's bicep.

  A strange calm ensued, as the woman in the scene turned to face the man, leaning into his chest for support. Her eyes closed, and so did Kita's. She felt warm, protected, and safe. Her heartbeat slowed and she began to fall asleep. The image in her mind gradually faded, until the last thing she saw was the fire, the flames flickering out as she drifted to sleep.

  CHAPTER 4

  Kita soaked in the darkness around her. She could barely see. The only light came from dead embers in the fireplace. She looked sideways, making out a dark silhouette in the shadows. She could tell by the deep breathing that Kiser was asleep, reclined in a rocking chair to her right.

  She carefully slipped from the bed, making as little noise as possible. She would have to leave soon, she couldn't stay here. She had already been here too long, compromising not only herself, but Sasha and his pack as well.

  She stole through the house quietly so as not to awake anyone and risk giving away her intentions. With a soft click, she turned the handle of the front door and stepped out into the cool night air. She shivered against the cold, watching her breath as it plumed out in front of her. Her foot left the safety of the steps, and she tensed immediately when she came down on biting snow. She cringed. She hated the cold.

  Her gaze searched the area around the house. The moon was full, casting off of the snow that glittered and sparkled beneath it. The air was cold and empty and it left a bitter sting in her lungs with every breath. She frowned. To the side of the house there were three large animal skins splayed stretched across rustic wooden frames. The skins were big, probably from elk. She licked her dry lips and looked away, dismissing the hides as evidence of the eye-commanders primitive lifestyle.

  Her eyes swept the white crystalline earth before her. There were footprints on the ground, both human and wolf, too intermingled to tell if any were fresh or not. She sighed, reminding herself that everyone was asleep. There was nothing to worry about. She never even noticed the pile of clothes under the steps...

  She pulled the t-shirt over her head, exposing her chest to the chill of winter. Her nipples reacted immediately to the frigid cold, tightening painfully as they pulled against her tender skin. The jeans she didn't even have to unbutton, with a little wiggling they slid right down over her hips onto the earth.

  She shivered as she folded the clothes into a neat little pile and left them on the steps. Her arms wrapped around her exposed sides, unsuccessfully keeping out the cold. She inhaled, closing her eyes as she let the transformation take place. The sensation could have been akin to being struck by lightening. It happened so quickly that it was hardly felt. There was a surge of energy and power, a moment of pain as her body adjusted, and then she was on the ground, completely transformed from human to wolf.

  She didn't waste time, in an instant her body propelled forward, and she rushed through the trees. Pain tore through her injured arm and she slowed, limping slightly as she wound through the trees. Her feet struck the icy earth, but with her body now covered by fur she didn't even notice the cold.

  She made a loop of the territory, quickly realizing that the hunter had driven her right into a geographical enclosure. Sasha's territory was surrounded by mountains, and she had no idea how to safely cross them. This was foreign terrain to her. If she wanted to cross the mountains safely she would need a guide, a guide that she didn't have.

  The only safe way out was the way that she had gotten in, across the river through a narrow gap between the mountains. She bristled. The man hunting her had counted on one of two things. If he failed to catch her he would send her right into Sasha's path, where she would be killed. If Sasha didn't kill her he still had her trapped, and he knew right where to find her. E
ither way he seemed determined to have her destroyed. She couldn't really blame him, he was furious with her.

  She trotted along the edge of the meadow, freezing in her tracks as the cold winter wind sent an aroma to her nostrils. She could smell the hunter, somewhere beyond the river. Why was he still there? She stepped back further into the shadows instinctively. She knew why he was still here. He wanted proof that she was dead, but he couldn't just come onto Sasha's territory and look for her dead body. No, if he had been a human he might have been so foolish, but he was not human, and he knew too well the danger of crossing an Alpha male werewolf. A part of her smiled inwardly, he was afraid of Sasha, and it gave her a morbid feeling of pleasure to know that there was still one man in this world that he didn't dare oppose.

  She eyed the river in the distance. It looked like a long snake bobbing up and down as it slid along its course. Her heart sank just thinking about the danger that lay waiting for her in the shadows across the river. She knew the hunter well. He was ruthless and heartless. She felt a slow searing tingle run down her spine as she realized something, if the hunter was so afraid of Sasha, she should have been, too.

  A scent skimmed past her, and she tensed again. It wasn't the hunter, but it was a familiar scent nonetheless. Her eyes went wide as recognition struck. It was Sasha. Questions ran through her mind. Why was he out this late at night? Did he know that she was out here? What would he do if he found her? She shouldn't have cared what he would do to her if he found her out here, after all, she was a big girl and she would do as she pleased, but the thought of him asking questions or becoming infuriated with her was enough to make her think twice about getting caught.

  She spun around, racing silently through the trees back towards the house. She had been out for a while, and her leg was now fortunately numbed by the cold, allowing her to keep the pace without slowing. She burst out of the trees, darting across the moonlight towards the steps. A flash of jet-black exploded from the shadows to her side, and she gulped in a breath as she reached the steps. Her adrenaline was racing, and she spun around just in time to face Sasha. He was furious. She could see it in the bitter glow of his golden eyes.