The Price They Paid: Imprinted Mates Series

and that’s when something else dawned on me. “Ree, how old are you really?
Ree smiled. “We’ve all lived for centuries. Guardians have a much longer life span, especially when their bound to royal families. Ms. Cordell is the eldest, but I’m not too far behind her.”
Ms. Cordell didn’t appear to be old, though she dressed as if she were. The illusion that she’d presented was gone without the barrier of clothes, making her appear just as young as the other women. They were glorious.
I giggled as I thought about trying to teach them to cook. “Are you guys really that bad at cooking or was it an act?”
“Partially, both,” Ree smiled. “Ms. Cordell and I can cook. The other’s, not so much.”
It all seemed surreal. I looked at the woman that I didn’t know. “Who are you?”
“My name is Mandy. I live on the outer edges of the pack land.” That explains why I hadn’t seen her before.
“Well, nice to meet you.” I pondered all the information, and something dawned on me. “You said guardians of nine. Where’s the ninth?”
“We don’t know,” Mandy said sadly. “We haven’t seen her in a long time.”
“Let’s head back,” Ms. Cordell said ending the conversation. She led the way through the forest in wolf form. The rest of the wolves flanked around me as we headed back to the house. Mandy didn’t go beyond the edges of the forest, but the others did.
Once we were back to the house, I headed upstairs to check on Seuss, but he was asleep. I headed to the shower, and a strong heat built in my groin taking over my senses. I lost myself in the raw feelings of it all. The need to fuck was riding me hard so I decided to masturbate. Taking the edge off wasn’t doing the trick. I lost count of the number of times I came. My legs were like jelly, but I still needed more. I blasted the freezing water over me until I was too cold to function. I stepped out the shower shaky and a blubbering mess. My body was just as raw as my emotions. I toweled off, and the heat resurfaced and simmered along my skin.
When I passed the mirror, I noticed a difference in my eyes. They seemed wider than they once had, and my hair was more vibrant, curlier and fuller. I got dressed and headed into Seuss’ room to see him awake. He stared at me as I moved toward him. Though I was the one moving, I felt stalked. He watched each movement of my body as I neared him.
“Nice to see that you’re awake.” I stood at the foot of his bed. Things felt different now that he was conscious.
Seuss nodded to me and then I heard his faint voice across our bond. “The ability to speak escapes me.”
“Understood. Did you need anything?” It was near dinner time, and I was starving. I knew he had to be, too. Feeding off me and Alice’s healing induced sleep couldn’t have been as satisfactory as real food.
“Steak.”
I smiled. “Well, that’s easy. With what?”
“Steak. Why does there need to be anything with it?”
“Because you need your vegetables, Alpha.” I put my hand on my hip in disbelief. Steak wasn’t a full meal.
Seuss groaned. “Sassy …”
“You rang?”
He smiled and then closed his eyes to rest. He inhaled deeply and sighed. “God, I love your scent.”
I blushed but chose not to respond to his comment. “I’ll go make your steak and be back in a few. Maybe I can convince Ms. Cordell to send me some of that magical juice that she makes.” I turned to head to the door.
“That’s not juice, it’s deliciousness.”
It was my turn to laugh. “True.”
“You cook?” he asked.
I turned to see him watching my departure. Was he … admiring me? “Yes.”
“We’ll see.” Disbelief was etched in his features as he closed his eyes again.
I could show him better than I could tell him. I put my hair up in a bun as I descended the stairwell. I opened the freezer as Maddox came through the back door.
“Your Alpha wants steak,” I said as I looked up into his eyes.
Maddox looked at his watch and turned on his heels. “I think I can catch the butcher in town. Steaks do sound good. I think the Beta needs one too.”
I giggled. “Buy enough to feed whomever. I have a challenge from an Alpha that I need to show up, Beta.”
“Yes ma’am.” Maddox saluted me and exited the house again.
I checked the pantry to find potatoes, and there was fresh broccoli in the fridge. Ree entered the kitchen and looked around at the ingredients on the counter.
“Just in time. I need your help.”
I entered Seuss’ room with his dinner tray, and his eyes opened immediately. He inhaled deeply, and the pangs of hunger answered back. Placing the tray on his lap, I watched him as he assessed his meal. There were homemade mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed broccoli and peppercorn steak. There was a knock, and I went to the door to retrieve the juice from Ree. Seuss was struggling to cut into his steak when I returned to him, so I graciously took the knife and fork from him and cut a piece for him to try.
I heard the rumble of approval, and I couldn’t help but to beam. “Perfect.”
“Thank you.” I’d been nervous about it since I hadn’t asked his steak temperature preference. I liked mine medium rare and assumed that it would be fine, or I could cook it longer for him.
“Another.”
I sat beside him continuing to feed him all his food. After his second plate, he leaned back full of his meal. He was more than satisfied, and I was pleased that he was. I used the time while he slept to eat my food in peace before removing everything except his half cup of juice. I changed into clothes for bed before heading into the room with Seuss.