average human’s Reviews > Ember's Claim > Status Update

He’s planning to use her distraction as his chance to attack. My lion takes off and jumps, clearing more space than I knew possible.
He lands between Ember’s wolf and the traitorous fuck. His roar echoes, warning the wolf of what’s coming. However, it’s Ember’s growl that he’s met with. He glances over his shoulder to find the downed wolf is immobile and Ember’s wolf limping closer.
She snarls, baring her teeth.
My lion gets the message, even if he doesn’t like it. He dips his head and returns to the downed wolf. He wants to be sure this fucker can’t get up for a second round, either.
The crunching bone and blood filling his mouth makes my stomach roil, but I’m content in knowing that asshole won’t rise again. He turns back to see Ember clashing with the larger male wolf. He aches to intercede and end this, but he catches sight of Veryn kneeling at Lorcan’s side.
My heart stalls.
Lorcan is immortal, as long as he’s able to replenish his magic every full moon. It must be after midnight, but there’s no telling if this bloodshed will count for that ritual.
Ember growls, and the sound of gnashing teeth makes me ache to stand at a safe distance and ensure everything goes the way it should, but Ember is capable.
What she won’t be able to handle is losing a bonded mate so soon after bonding. It would have a detrimental impact on anyone. Urging my lion toward Veryn, I try to focus on remembering the steps Lorcan always follows.
Everything is so fucked.
The daggers are supposed to pierce each foot, followed by his hands, and finally his heart. Then he bleeds out under the full moon, offering his blood to Mother Nature and the earth. They, in turn, judge his sacrifice and, if it’s worthy, will replenish his life force and his magic. Only, I don’t know the spell or incantation or whatever the fuck it is he recites.
My lion makes it halfway across the clearing before a portal opens.
There’s a moment of pure relief as Cohen steps out with a female at his side, but that’s short-lived.
A collection of wolves comes into sight, and my stomach drops.
Veryn shoves himself up, flexing his hands, which are now sporting pretty significant claws.
Cohen will protect Lorcan, and he’s much more likely to know the incantation than I am. Calyx steps through the portal next, and that seals my resolve.
It’s time to back up my packmate.

79%

My wolf limps back a few steps, circling the wolf we should have handled outside of the modified dog kennel the first time he tried our authority. I proverbially grit my teeth to manage the pain that radiates into me from her back right leg. That’s the kind of injury that will take some time to heal, and I’m guessing the agony is what brought me back to consciousness.
The male wolf isn’t in much better shape. His missing eye is likely gone forever, but that won’t be a problem, considering he won’t be living through this battle. There’s also a huge patch of hair and skin dangling from the left side of his neck.
He advances, and my wolf refuses to back down. She meets him in the air, snarling and trying to rip into his jaw as his paw lands against a particularly tender wound in her ribs.
I yelp in her mind, but she sounds nothing short of rabid. Her teeth catch on his jowl, and she tears away skin and flesh, flinging it aside before attacking again.
The male wolf’s feet land on the ground, and she lunges, despite the burning pain in her leg. He attempts to roll, but she’s ready for that. Her fury turns into a red tint that hazes my vision, or maybe that’s the massive amount of blood that spurts onto her face as she rips his throat out.
It’s clear he’s down and not getting back up, but she doesn’t heed any of my instructions. Not until his head is no longer attached to his massive body.
Her head falls back as she howls, but it’s not a victorious sound.
Her agony and heartbreak fill my mind as I realize I can’t feel Lorcan at all anymore.
There’s no pain…
It’s just nothing.

My wolf moves as quickly as she’s able to with a broken leg. She spots Veryn and Anders fighting against a group of wolves, but it’s barely a thought in her mind. She focuses on getting us to Lorcan’s body, and she doesn’t know what to make of the two men hovering over his sides.
She recognizes Rogue, but even our lifelong friend feels like a threat. She growls, snapping her teeth. I push with every bit of my will to force her to give up control, but she won’t.
“You can’t hurt them,” Rogue says in her no-nonsense tone. “They’re working to save your mate. If you kill them, you kill any chance of saving the druid.”
My wolf bounds around Rogue, hobbling on three legs. Every inch of her body aches, but it’s nothing compared to the emotional torment.
She continues to try to shut me out. It’s her attempt to protect me from the pain, but I fight with every ounce of energy I have left. Her head tilts, and we both stare in shock as the man with black hair pulls the spear from Lorcan’s chest, only to drive a dagger straight through his heart.
My wolf snarls, but the man’s face flies up. Something inside me says that’s Calyx. There’s something wholly unnatural about his gaze, and if she wasn’t so furious, she might whine or even run away.
“Don’t,” he says simply as his hands begin to glow with wispy white magic.
My wolf lowers to her belly, like if she shimmies along on it, he might not see her. She inches closer until her nose bumps Lorcan’s hand. A long dagger protrudes through the middle, staking him to the ground.
I start to cry, and the tears leak from her eyes as she laps at his skin.
The blond man with glasses also raises his hands over Lorcan’s chest, but he looks at my wolf. “We’re doing everything we can. Don’t cry.”
My wolf squeezes her eyes closed and continues rubbing her muzzle against Lorcan’s palm, like she can will him to live. She feels Rogue take a seat next to her, but she’s too heartbroken to do anything as Anders and Veryn continue to fight against the remaining wolves.

82%

Energy buzzes, building under my skin. The warm, fuzzy feeling makes it difficult to think, but I know the experience well enough to recognize it’s my rebirth following the ritual.
My muscles tense.
The full moon isn’t until tomorrow night.
“One more try,” Calyx says dryly. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not infallible. Simply doing the best I can here. Find a healer or take your shifter mate to a human hospital. Let me know how that works out for you.”
Ember wails. There’s no other word to describe her agonized screams. Her misery filters through the bond, and alarm builds in my chest, but no matter how strongly I fight my appendages, they don’t respond.
“God, I’m so sorry.” It’s a feminine voice that I believe belongs to Rogue.
“You really shouldn’t be.” Calyx sounds like a cocky know-it-all. I’m genuinely surprised he’s not punched in the face more often. “It’s painful, but such is the healing process in general. You need to toughen up, princess.”
Ember is healing from…something. Taking a few moments to center myself, I focus my intent. A gasping breath fills the air as oxygen floods my deprived system.
“Get them out,” I choke.
Cohen and Calyx will understand that I mean the spelled daggers. A millennium ago, when I made the choice to extend my lifespan by completing the ritual, I did so with only one blade—the one through my heart. Over the many years, I expanded to include the ones for my feet, which is surprisingly the most painful of all the locations. Three points of connection with the earth increased my power thrice over, but until I had Calyx to do my final hand, I could never get higher than four points.
“Ahh, it lives.” Calyx chuckles darkly and removes the dagger from my heart.
My eyes fly open, and for several seconds, his true appearance stares back at me as he stretches to grasp the blade in my right hand. The wound seals itself as he tugs the dagger free.
“No,” Veryn growls. “Stop fighting me, or I will spank your ass. You’ve got to give your injuries a chance to heal.”
“I’m going to let my wolf bite you,” Ember snaps.
Calyx pats my now-healed chest and moves to remove the blade from my other hand. “She’s quite violent. I’m not sure how the universe decided that would be your perfect match.” He moves to my feet. “I thought mates were meant to temper one another.”
I chuckle.
He’s every bit the dick he’s been for the last thousand years, but he’s still my best mate. He offers me a hand, pulling me up, so I don’t have to struggle with doing it on my own.
Calyx releases me and steps around me as I twist toward the area Ember’s voice came from.
Her nose and eyes are red. Both seem to be leaking, and her lip wobbles when she spots me. She leans with her back against Anders’s chest, and Veryn sits at her side with his hand on her middle, like he’s been holding her in place.
“Are you okay?” I ask with my heart thundering.
She nods, then sobs as her head shakes. “I thought you were dead.”
“Like I could leave you right after bonding.” I move closer, trying to determine how to get her into my arms. “You’ll be stuck with me for quite some time, lovely.”
“Careful, her leg was pulled out of the socket when two wolves played tug of war with her wolf,” Anders growls, giving me a look I can’t decipher.
“Fine, I’ll portal the two of you back to Anders’s house, but then I’m leaving. I want to go home and sit on my couch.” Calyx frowns, looking at Rogue. “You’re coming too. You promised to⁠—”
“Just get Ember back safely, so she can rest.” Rogue quirks an eyebrow, popping a hip out.
Hmm.
I feel like I may have missed something there.

Holding Ember like a bride, I take a careful seat on the couch in Anders’s living room.
Calyx gives a simple nod before grabbing the pretty fae with a hand on her ass. They disappear back through the portal.
I’m guessing I only have several minutes before Anders and Veryn arrive, and I’d like to make the most of them. “I need to apologize. I meant to warn you of what to expect during my replenishing ritual, but I also didn’t want to taint the memory of our bonding.”
Ember huffs, turning in my hold until her pretty blue eyes peer up at mine. “I’m not human, Lorcan. I would have dealt just fine if it was a normal thing, but seeing that spear sticking out of your chest… God. I don’t think I’ll be able to forget that for a long time.”
“Yes, well, it’s preferable to you experiencing the pain,” I murmur, bringing my hand to cup her cheek. “And you still did, so I failed in that.”
Ember scoffs. “That was no worse than when my dad put my wolf in her place the first time I growled at my mom as a teenager.” My brow wrinkles, but Ember laughs. “He showed her that no disrespect would be tolerated, which honestly, she needed that lesson. She’s kinda temperamental at times.”
My fingers dig into her jaw, pulling her mouth to mine. Her lips are soft and warm. It niggles at my mind, and I wonder if her injuries will halt her approaching heat.
Ember’s hand lands on my shirt, and her fingers dig into my collarbone. My tongue clashes with hers as I breathe in her pheromones.
The scent of blood sends me into a tailspin as we kiss. There’s no excuse for me not being able to protect her, and while I’m grateful she’s capable of looking after herself, it also drives my instincts crazy.
“If I carry you up to the shower, do you think you’ll be able to stand while we get clean?” I ask, pulling back from her parted lips. “I didn’t even think to give the bathroom an upgrade, but it wouldn’t take more than thirty minutes. There might be a bench in the shower. I didn’t check the one in the nest.”
“I’m fine, Lorcan.” She gives me a soft smile, looking up at me under her lashes. “Your friend really did fix me right up.”
Calyx may have fixed her dire injuries, but he sure didn’t do a fucking thing to remove the bruises. Ember sports a purple ring under her eye that will only darken with time. There’s another reddish-purple oval on her cheek, and I have no way of knowing what’s hiding under the T-shirt.
“A quick shower, then we’ll sleep in the nest.” I lift her carefully as I stand.
Veryn and Anders can seek us out when they arrive, but for now, I’m here. So, I’ll be providing the care my mate desperately needs.

86%

My inner walls clamp down on Anders’s length, and his spikes seem to grow even more…spike-like. It’s hella intense, but in the best way possible.
I lose the ability to stay quiet as I explode.
My lion growls from behind me, pumping into me a few more times before his cock swells. “Thank God,” he groans, like he just realized he doesn’t have to hold out anymore.
I would smile, but Lorcan has my tongue occupied.
Euphoria slams into me, not just from my orgasm, but also from Anders’s. My body shivers as I leak around his swollen shaft, and the sensation sends me over the edge.
Lorcan drinks down my sounds, somehow managing to grin into the filthy, messy kiss.
Hot cum floods my core as Anders shudders behind me. Their scents mingle in the air, making me floaty as I drink down their potent pheromones, but I do everything I can to work my hips through his orgasm.
Anders finally stops jolting and moves his hand from my throat to my jaw. He tears me away from the kiss with Lorcan, tilting my mouth back to meet his. All I can pick up in the bond is his smug contentment, and I do my best to send back thoughts of how thoroughly he just rocked my world.
“Not to ruin a perfectly sweet moment,” Lorcan says, sounding a little too amused. “But I did come up here with a purpose, and I’m afraid you’ll be angry if I further delay explaining what that is.”
Anders releases me, and I turn back to my druid with my chest heaving.
“What’s up?”
“I met your mother. Lovely woman. I see where you get your ethereal beauty.” Lorcan grins as my mouth falls open. “And the blood witch, the one you mentioned masquerades as a fertility witch. Nadia, I believe that is her name. They’re both downstairs, waiting.”
Anders’s chest vibrates behind me with his low chuckle, and I fight the urge to elbow him in the gut.
“My mother is here?” I squeak.
“Indeed.” Lorcan smirks. “Don’t worry, Veryn is keeping them busy, and I purposely came up to place a sound barrier around the room. You can thank me now for being a conscientious mate.”
My hands land on his chest, giving him a shove as I wiggle off Anders’s cock.
“I’m so gonna kill you when they leave.”
Ember has a total nervous breakdown when she finally makes it down the stairs, but Emerson is chill. She already knows Ember and I bonded, and she got the full Lorcan introduction.
Based on the way Nadia grins, I’m going to go ahead and guess she knows why Ember was delayed too.
Anders, for being old as fuck, looks exceptionally uncomfortable when Emerson pulls him into a hug. Seriously, he and Ember give it away more with their reactions than anything.
Lorcan’s eyes glimmer as they meet mine, and he finally offers Anders a lifeline when he claps. “The entirety of the pack is waiting. We likely should get to it.”
Ember nods, licking her lips. “Damn, this is going to suck.”

My sweet mate leans into my side, and I tighten her hold on my hip. We stop about fifty feet from the collection of wolves waiting under the shaded oak trees and around the entrance to the building where meetings are held.
“Any recommendations?” she asks in barely more than a whisper.
I step around in front of her, so it’s my back to the wolves. “The pack does cremation after some type of ritual. I don’t know if any of the remaining wolves have family members among the dead, but I would offer them the chance to pay their respects and claim their loved one’s ashes afterward.”
“Okay.” Ember nods, swallowing thickly. “I thought I’d maybe say something like I wish it didn’t come to this and explain that anyone who doesn’t want to stay is welcome to leave peacefully. And that if they do, no negative consequences will come to them.”
I brush a flyaway hair back from her face. “That’s very diplomatic of you. I’d probably rain down hell while interrogating them to find out how many knew that bullshit last night was coming.”
Ember snorts. “If Lorcan hadn’t come back…” Her head shakes as her face grows more serious. “I’d have called everyone we know for a good old-fashioned bloodbath.”
“That’s my girl.” I grin, bending to give her a quick kiss. Her nerves spill into the bond, but I do everything I can to shore her up as I pull back. “Tell them the deal, Alpha.”
Ember nods, grabbing my hand and giving it a squeeze. “You know how much I appreciate you, right? I feel like Lorcan and Anders came out of nowhere and everything happened so fast⁠—”
“Don’t. I might have delusionally hoped to keep you to myself for a few hundred years, but I saw how much my mom needed each one of my dads when I was growing up.”
“I just love you a lot.” Her cheeks turn pink, and I ache to toss her up against the nearest tree and rut the fuck out of her.
“I know. Now, lay down the law. I’m kinda daydreaming about napping in the nest together as soon as this is over.” I wink, slapping her ass. I haven’t been to sleep yet, and I’m beat, but sleep can wait.
Ember laughs, and at least momentarily, her anxiety disappears as she recalls her morning quickie with the lion. I vaguely wish I’d been the one snuggled up next to her when she woke up, but her joy in the bond is enough for me. And someone needed to deal with the carnage.
I’m more than happy to do my part as a member of our newly formed family pack.

87%

Ember shrugs. “As long as I don’t have to be pregnant for it to work… I’m all for it.”
Fuck me.
There’s something a little too primal about the urge to fuck her full of my baby, but I’ll have to settle for practicing for the next few decades.

The day goes a lot more smoothly than I’m expecting. We even manage a nap after Ember’s mother and aunt leave. I’m not sure the witch is biologically related to her, but they share some type of familial connection, and that’s good enough for me.
The moon hangs low in the sky, and my wolf is antsy. He’s never pushed to be let free on the full moon. At least, not to this level of dominating my thoughts.
My lion couldn’t care less about the moon cycle, so he lets my wolf take center stage, which is rare enough on its own.
I’m not complaining, though. It’ll be nice to chase Ember through the woods, no matter my form.
Veryn and Lorcan are around, but they don’t approach with us.
Having Ember’s hand wrapped in mine makes my shoulders pull back with pride as I examine the crowd to ensure they have only the purest of intentions.
Sofia spots us and rushes over. “I heard you made quite the impression on everyone this afternoon.” She smiles softly. “The pack hasn’t felt this hopeful in a long time.”
I run my thumb over Ember’s wrist, squeezing her hand. “Good.”

“They were kind of a tough crowd,” Ember says, chuckling awkwardly. “But I’m glad to hear it.”
Sofia glances over her shoulder at Bryant, Toby, and Kent before refocusing on us. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for the two of you.” She moves to give me a hug and kinda lingers next to Ember. “Can I hug you?”
Ember drops my hand and wraps my sister in a hug.
“She’s just trying to soak up all your baby-making pheromones.” I chuckle at the glare Sofia shoots my way.
“I wanted to hug my new sister-in-law, but yes, there are a fair number of other females waiting for their chance, if you don’t mind.” Sofia gestures toward a small cluster of women near the front of the crowd. “Most are humans who’ve had no luck conceiving with their mates, but there’s also a fox shifter and fae.”
Ember’s eyes widen as she steps back. “I really don’t want to give anyone false hope, but I’m willing to try. Have them come over.”
My sister’s face breaks out into a bright smile. “That’s perfect. Let me snag them.”
Ember turns, burying her face in my bare chest. “I’m so afraid they’re going to get their hopes up for nothing.”
“Hope is never a bad thing,” I assure her, sliding my hand down the back of Veryn’s T-shirt. It’s the only thing she’s currently clothed in because we’ll all be shifting in a few minutes. Her fingers dig into my sides as she nods against my skin.
I will my cock to behave. These thin sweats won’t do shit to hide my dick if I get a hard-on.
Kent runs up, squealing his hello, and I pull Ember’s back to my chest to block my misbehaving cock.
Jesus Christ.
Even scenting her is a problem, with how potent her pheromones are.

It’s always strange watching a crowd of shifters change into their animal forms. Not that I’ve been here all that long, but I’m shocked to see there are actually three foxes, two bears, and two panthers. It’s even cuter to see the five kids in their wolf forms.
Ember’s wolf does a double take when she spots mine. I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing, but she dips her head and approaches slowly. Her tongue flicks out, and she licks at my muzzle.
My wolf straight-up falls in love at this very moment. He bumps her head with his and nods back to the waiting crowd.
Mates are allowed to be affectionate and playful, but this is the first encounter most of them are having with her wolf.
Ember’s wolf throws her head back, howling at the night sky, and the crowd choruses the action. She takes off through the clearing without a backward glance, and I get my ass in gear to follow.
There are normally so many bugs, it plays as the background symphony, but tonight, they’re silent, along with most of the smaller prey animals and the birds.
It’s strange to feel Lorcan as we run past his invisible form. There’s also a comfort in knowing he’s watching.
Veryn flies low in the sky in human form, with only his wings borrowed from the dragon. When he’s fully shifted, he’s like thirty feet long. That would scare the hell out of the wolves, but they seem to accept him partially shifted.
Ember leads the pack in a complete circle around the exterior of the pack lands. Upon making it back to everyone’s clothing, at least half drop off. Technically, no one is supposed to pass the Prime Alpha on a run, but Ember slows until she runs just next to my wolf. Every time he backs off his speed to allow her to stay in front, she growls until he gets the hint.

After the third lap, the others have had enough, but Ember guides me back toward the waterfall she and Lorcan visited last night. She nips at my flank, whacking my wolf with her tail.
When he doesn’t take the bait, she tackles him, rolling him onto his back and licking his muzzle.
She wants to play, my lion says, the thought echoing around my mind.
She’s our alpha, my wolf replies.
She’s our mate, you idiot. Play with her. Give her a solid chase. The rules of the pack don’t apply between the two of you. My lion sounds overly exasperated.
My wolf gently shoves her with his paws, but Ember’s wolf barely budges. She gives a playful bark and growl that seem to indicate my lion is correct.
Ember nips at his shoulder, and my wolf throws his weight behind attempting to roll her. She hops up, shakes out her thick coat, and takes off.
My lion fights for control for the first time all night. He really loves a good chase. My wolf concedes control, and the change takes hold midair. It’s significantly more painful to change from my wolf to my lion or my lion to my wolf than it is to morph from human to either animal. I’ve never been able to figure out why, either. It’s just one of those facts of life.
My lion’s paws hit the ground, and he makes a show of letting out a violent roar.
Ember’s wolf glances back over her shoulder, and her eyes glow. She growls, but it’s a playful sound that has my lion bounding after her.
She’s in the lead, but he does his best to guide her away from where Lorcan’s attack happened. There’s no need for any of us to revisit that location again so soon. He finally catches up with her at the bottom of a small hill by using his weight to propel his momentum. Even then, he ensures the majority of his massive frame lands on the ground, not Ember.
She grunts, rolling under him. Her paws come to rest on his face, and he dips his head, licking her teeth as she growls. He thinks her attitude is precious, and it’s like I can feel my wolf and I simultaneously rolling our eyes. He paws the top of her head, and she sure does turn sweet as he does his best to shove his tongue into her mouth.
I try to force myself into the driver’s seat before he gets any bright ideas about trying to mate her in her animal form.
Ember must have the same idea, because one second, he’s licking her wolf’s muzzle, and the next, his tongue drags over Ember’s soft cheek. “Wow, you really are giant. I mean, you were big before, but…” She laughs, squirming under him as he laps at her neck. “Your tongue is like sandpaper.”
I struggle against my lion, and he finally gives up control. I end up nude, hovering over Ember on my hands and knees.
She grins, making my heart race. “I wasn’t complaining about the scratchy tongue, but I’m happy to have you in human form too.”
I dip my head, kissing her under the full moon.
Life really changed for the better when she tossed herself into the ring with Aimes and saved my ass.