Alpha Doms Box Set: 9 Delicious Stories + 10 Sexy Heroes = 19 Reasons to Indulge (13 page)

But there are some things that aren’t
allowed to be revealed, secrets that aren’t entirely yours to
share. There are those truths that shouldn’t be shared until you’re
absolutely certain of who you’re trusting, and why you’re trusting
them.

—

Chapter One

BRENDON

I heard the tightness in her voice.
Immediately my lungs fought to expand, every hair on my body stood
on end as awareness plucked my nerves. My wolf growled low and
tight, making his presence known.

“
What happened, Drea?” My
voice was calm, the opposite of the way I felt at the
moment.

She hesitated on the other end of the phone.
She was good about putting on a solid front, but I knew her too
well. She softly sighed. “It’s nothing.”

Ah. The good, old denial
routine.
That meant it was bad. “Talk to
me, sweetie.” My heart reached out to her. It was instinctual for
me.

“
Me and John broke
up.”

My wolf nearly purred at the news. My angst
fled as elation coursed my veins, kicking up my pulse. This time, I
wasn’t waiting for another male to step in and snatch her up. I’d
been waiting too many years to make my move. I’d been suffering
much longer than any werewolf ought to when his mate had been in
front of him nearly his entire life.

She’s human; I’d been coddling her. My
patience was dwindling though. It was getting harder and harder to
keep my hands off of her, especially when it was obvious no other
man was satisfying her, not that I was pleased with any man, aside
from me, touching her at any point.

I slowed down, focusing on her needs for a
moment. “What happened?”

“
Oh no. I’m not getting
into this over the phone right now.”

I grabbed a shirt from my dresser. “Fine.
I’m coming over. I’ll be there in ten.”

“
No-“

I hung up before she could object, which I
knew she was going to do. She didn’t play the damsel in distress
role; she’d never taken advantage of me. I had to practically force
myself on her for her to accept my help most of the time. It was
instinctual to want to be close to her, to want to be there for
her. She was my mate. No one else would ever come first. And
tonight was the night I was going to tell her.

—

Chapter Two

DREA

I stared dumbfounded at the
phone.
Did he really just hang up on
me?
I shook my head.

I tossed my cell phone onto the kitchen
counter. I glanced down at my ensemble, frowning. It wasn’t like
Bren hadn’t seen me at my worst. After my mom passed away, he’d
been there to wipe away every tear, inadvertently witnessing dark
bags beneath my eyes, snot running from my Rudolph nose and a
depressed, broken woman who didn’t shower for days. I was a mess,
yet he never said a word. He was my silent strength, my fortress
through the storm. Near the end of our time together, over the
course of those long days following her death, I thought I caught a
glimpse of something beyond friendship from Brendon, but I put it
down to a misinterpretation given my disheveled state; I wasn’t
thinking clearly.

Brendon and I had been friends since
kindergarten. He was the first kid to steal my crayons, but also
the first to stand up for me if anyone tried to tease me or hurt
me.

Over the years, we grew closer, despite
following different crowds. Brendon was athletic, in excellent
shape with boy-next-door good looks, while I was a plus size, with
thunder thighs and doublewide hips, woman. He had dark hair,
chocolate eyes, a nice tan and soft lips that a girl could lose
herself in. When you added in that he was a nice guy, one of the
good ones, he truly was the perfect package, while I was a sappy,
sloppy walrus… or so I felt.

I’d suppressed my attraction to Bren for
years. He was my best friend, but he didn’t look at me as anything
more. Why would he when he could have his pick of any girl in town?
Any time we went out together, women practically threw themselves
at him. He at least respected me in the sense that he never acted
on the women’s bold advances in my presence.

I sighed, putting on a pot of coffee. I had
a feeling it was going to be a long night.

—

Chapter Three

BRENDON

My wolf hung in the shadows, anticipation
riling both of us. I’d waited twenty years for this night; since
the day I scented Drea as ours in kindergarten. Back then I didn’t
know what drew me to her, but after I shifted for the first time a
year later, there was no doubt in my mind. When I checked with my
dad, he confirmed it for me. Human or not, Drea was my mate. And
after twenty years of secrecy, I was finally ready to tell her
about my heritage, the dark side of me, the beast that dwelled
within me.

I took the steps up to her second floor
apartment two at a time. Outside her door, I smelled fresh coffee
brewing, mixing with her aroma: a floral burst that was ebbed by a
hint of cinnamon apples, the essence of fall. She smelled like
heaven.

I knocked on her door, listening as she
walked to the door, towards me. I leaned against the frame with
both arms, waiting to peer down at her, to catch a glimpse of her
beauty that never ceased to send my heart racing.

I heard the deadbolt slide away before she
opened the door. I smiled, my heart sprinting in my chest at the
sight of her. She was dressed in a pair of short plaid pajama
bottoms and a worn, oversized black t-shirt that couldn’t hide her
ample curves beneath. Her dark brown hair sat it a messy bun atop
her hair, exposing her neck and the edges of her shoulders, the
connection that I longed to lunge at and bite. Her honey brown eyes
welcomed me as she gazed at me.

“
Hey, Bren.” She left the
door open for me to come in on my own as she headed towards the
kitchen, presumably for the coffee she’d just brewed.

My wolf flew into a desperate rage, anxious
to get to her, as I watched her large, round ass sway on her way to
the kitchen. I bit back a groan, immediately feeling the pull in my
groin. It wasn’t enough to constantly be at battle with my wolf; I
also had to battle my own desires. And damn, what I wouldn’t give
to drive my cock into her pussy while smacking her ass, making her
creamy, ivory skin a gorgeous red.

I took a deep breath, trying to diminish my
flaming need and beat down my wolf simultaneously, and closed the
door. When I turned back around, she was leaning against the wall
that separated the kitchen from the entry and living room. She had
her head cocked and was eyeing me suspiciously.

“
You okay? You seem a
little off.”

Shit.
She knew me too well. “I’m good.”

She narrowed her eyes a bit, pursing her
rosy lips as she considered me. I gave her a goofy smile.

Her lips curled up in a wistful smile,
sending my soul into a flutter, as she shook her head in dismay.
“I’m onto you.” She pushed off the wall and returned to the
kitchen.

I tugged on my pants. I always rode a fine
line when it came to her. My wolf had grown inpatient, his need to
claim her stronger than ever. His anxiety heightened my physical
reaction to her, increased my craving for her. Just looking at her
roused my cock.

I rolled my shoulders and strode into her
small galley kitchen. She was standing near the coffee pot, her
hands working. I crowded the space beside her.

She had poured two cups of coffee and was
already adding sugar and non-dairy creamer to hers. “You didn’t
have to rush over. The break-up happened days ago.” She tried for a
casual approach, but I could sense her unease.

I glanced at her, observing her stirring her
coffee. For as close as we were, it always felt like she had a wall
up between us. “It’s me, Drea. You don’t have to pretend. Let’s go
sit in the living room and you can tell me what happened.”

She stared down at her steaming coffee for a
moment before picking up the mug and heading to the living
room.

—

Chapter Four

DREA

Damn.
He knew me too well. It’s like Bren had a sixth sense when it
came to me. I was surprised he hadn’t sensed my attraction to him
by now, but was grateful for that one.

I set my cup of coffee on the side table and
bent over to adjust my knee-high socks, which had begun to slide
down my plump calves. Happy with their new placement, I sat down on
my worn leather sofa. It was worn in the sense that it had
rustic-style fading around the edges, adding to its character.

I frowned when Bren didn’t immediately sit
down. He stood behind the couch, his entire body stiff. His grip
was so tight on the ceramic mug in his hand I wouldn’t have been
surprised if he broke it. His gaze was focused entirely on me, his
brown eyes dark with a new emotion in their depths.

I swallowed hard, concern tugging on my gut.
He wasn’t himself. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He inhaled deep, adjusting his jeans then
jerking on his black t-shirt before he made his way around to the
front of the sofa. He sat down next to me, his eyes never leaving
me.

Don’t get me wrong. When Bren was around me,
he gave me his undivided attention, but never like this. The look
on his face was similar to a predator who’d spotted his ideal prey.
His eyes were eating me up in a way that had warmth spreading
through my body.

I picked up my cup of coffee, willing my
body to stop reacting to him. The last thing I needed was to mess
up our friendship because I couldn’t control my urges around
him.

Bren angled himself sideways on the couch,
towards me, throwing a single arm along the back of it. “Talk to
me, sweetie.”

“
Not really much to say.” I
shrugged. I blew lightly on the hot coffee.

“
Give me the short of it
then.”

I felt heat tinge my cheeks. It’s not that
Bren didn’t know I was fat, it was obvious to anyone who cast a
glance my way, but to openly admit it in a conversation felt like I
was exposing myself on a new level to him, one I wasn’t entirely
sure I was ready to do yet.

The back of his hand stroked my left arm.
“What happened, Drea?” His voice was soft; the hints of baritone a
soothing lull to my broken soul.

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage.
“Turns out John is an F.A.”

A single brow drew upwards on his face.
“What’s that?”

I nibbled my lower lip, casting a wary
glance towards him. “It’s a fat admirer.”

Both eyebrows lifted towards his hairline
this time. “So he only likes… bigger women?”

“
Ugh,” I groaned. “This
conversation wouldn’t be half as awkward if you had an ounce of fat
on you.”

Bren immediately frowned. “You’re not fat,
Drea. You’re a beautiful, curvy woman.”

“
Yeah, well, John thought I
was fat. In fact he thought I was his ideal fat girl. So much so
that he said if I ever lost weight he would dump me. So I dumped
him, and all my confidence, that night.”

Embarrassment mixed with anger. I felt hot
tears welling in my eyes. Damn it. I did not want to cry. I held my
cup of coffee with both hands, focusing my gaze on the hot brew
within it.

—

Chapter Five

BRENDON

My wolf roared. Indignation thundered in my
chest. I wanted to rip the asshole apart limb by limb. How the fuck
could he treat my woman that way?

Shit.
That was the problem. She wasn’t mine yet. That had to change.
She deserved love, regardless of her weight, and I was the best man
for the job. Nature dictated that twenty years ago. Everyone in my
family knew Drea was mine; they’d all been waiting anxiously for me
to finally claim her, especially after my dad retired and handed
the pack over to me.

My heart broke at the tears brimming; her
cheeks were stained a deep pink. My gaze slid down to her lips
being abused by her teeth.

I set my cup on the coffee table and moved
closer to her. I crooked a finger beneath her chin and lifted her
head to face me. “Listen to me, sweetie.” I kept my voice low and
smooth. “He was an idiot. No man should dictate a woman’s weight.
Whatever makes you happy is the weight you should be at.”

Her honey brown eyes stared into mine, so
innocent and lost. I grabbed her cup and set it beside mine on the
coffee table. Her gaze followed my moves, but she didn’t move a
muscle.

I leaned in close, hovering over her lips,
looking directly into her eyes. “For what it’s worth, I think
you’re perfect just the way you are.”

Her breath hitched, and for the first time,
I got a whiff of her arousal. It was barely present before it
disappeared again. I cocked my head, inhaling deep. Drea fidgeted,
her blush deepening. I tapered my eyes on her. The little minx had
been hiding it all this time. She was attracted to me. It wasn’t a
one sided thing.

Damn it.
How had she been able to mask it for so long? Had
I known she felt any sort of attraction to me, I wouldn’t have
waited so damn long.
Fuck.
I’d suffered all this time because she was
embarrassed to reveal the truth to me?
Crap.
That meant she didn’t think I
felt the same. This whole time we’d both been suffering in
silence.

“
Drea.”

“
Yeah?” Her voice was
thick.

“
Be honest with
me.”

Her brows drew together. She was back to
fidgeting. My arms framed her on either side of the sofa; my wolf
was rattling his cage, fighting to be set free so he could claim
her. He was focused, like a silver bullet with a close target.