Destined For The Alpha: Six Heart-Racing Shifter Romances (Werewolf's Harem Book 7) (11 page)

Mr. Smith stepped onstage, flanked by two guards. Two more half-carried the female to the circular pedestal, securing her ankles to the base with finely wrought silver chains. The guards let her slide down to her knees, then stepped away. She faltered once, nearly toppling over. Walker had to wonder if she was really so deeply drugged, or if some of it was an act.

Three men approached, each wearing heavy black robes. Their faces were hidden by thick hoods, sunken in shadows. Each wore a simple golden cross around his neck, and their light shoes, pale skin, and soft hands said that they were not outdoorsmen. Walker would have guessed that they were some kind of Fae, but they smelled human. He couldn’t catch the slightest whiff of any magic on them, actually. Perhaps they were some kind of priests or monks.

“Ah! Our final guests,” Mr. Smith crowed. “I knew this would be of special interest for you, gentlemen.”

The three figures remained standing, and no one took exception. Where all the other customers had stared at Walker with a mixture of fear and insatiable curiosity, no one dared to examine the monks. Whoever the guys were, they were no idle threat. One of the guards offered the foremost monk a paddle, only to be rebuked with a silence. He backed away, nearly cowering.

“Welcome, everyone. We have, tonight, something very special. Ella here is a lot more than she seems. Sweet, innocent, sexy… and that’s just her human half. She’s only twenty-four, and shifters live very long lives. They heal from almost any wound, instantly. You could get a lot of use out of little Ella, gentlemen,” Smith announced, his voice excited. He grinned at the crowd, eyes twinkling. 

 “Let us start the bidding as planned, everyone,” Mr. Smith crooned. “One million and five, please.”

Paddles flashed, and Smith called out numbers.

“Two. Two-five. Three. Three-five. Four. Five,” he said, pointing to each bid. 

Walker waited. The bids slowed at fifteen million, and Mr. Smith waved to the guards close to the female. One stepped forward, grabbing her by the hair. He pulled the hair back from her soft face and yanked hard, forcing her breasts to jut forward. The crystals of her outfit glinted brightly under the bright stage lights.

“Did I mention she’s been dosed with a drug that makes her tranquil and insatiably horny? The serum comes as part of the package. Get her wet any time you please! Or don’t, if you’re into that sort of thing,” Smith howled, growing fevered.

Paddles flashed. Bids flew, and each time the slowed the guard flaunted the girl a little more. The guard spread her thighs apart, nearly baring all due to her skimpy costume. Walker suppressed a groan, because Smith wasn’t lying about the serum. As disoriented as Ella was, she was also turned on. He could actually smell her arousal from thirty feet away, and it was killing him.

“Fifty!” Walker shouted, garnering nasty looks from the other bidders. Silence fell for long moments, and Smith had a very conflicted look on his face. They’d been planning to capture Walker and sell him, no doubt. Fifty million might be too much to walk away from, though.

One of the monks raised a hand, and Smith looked as if he might explode with pleasure.

“Fifty five!” the man cried.

“Sixty,” Walker rejoined.

Another hand wave from the monk.

“Seventy!” Walker said, growling now.

Smith completely ignored Walker’s bid, turning to the monks.

“One hundred, even?” Smith asked. 

Walker stood, rage flowing in his veins. The bastard was going to get every penny he wanted, and try to take Walker to boot. Greedy piece of shit.

A nod from one of the monks, and Smith howled with glee.

“Sold!” he cried, applauding wildly. “Sold to the Legion!”

The Legion…

Walker didn’t have time to think about Smith’s announcement. All the bidders stood, and the guards all edged closer to form a loose net around Walker’s spot. He saw silver in the hands of at least two guards. Tranquilizer guns, probably. 

Ella’s head snapped up, and she noticed the guards moving toward Walker. 

“No!” she screeched, struggling to stand. One of the guards pushed her back down, motioning to the monks to come claim their prize.

“Look out!” she cried, her voice muffled when one of the guards pushed her head down as he unchained her.

Walker was less concerned about the guards and their tranqs than about his ability to simultaneously fight the guards and keep the monks from disappearing with Ella. He also knew that some of the guards carried real guns, and he needed Ella out of the line of fire before he could act. 

Walker shifted, snarling, and bolted for the front doors. He took down the two guards at the doors with minimal effort, and then ramped up his speed and shot into the woods. Oblivious to the shouts, wincing at the sounds of gunfire, he ran straight for half a mile before beginning a painstakingly wide loop back around. He needed better odds than forty against one, and the best way to do that was to end the auction. He just prayed that he could sneak back up to the parking lot before the monks took off with Ella.

When he reached the warehouse again, he shifted and grabbed two of his stashed weapons bags. He edged right up to the front of the warehouse, hidden only by a tight cluster of trees at the parking lot’s edge.

“-took one look at your sorry ass, and ran for the hills. Even that dumb wolf knew when he was beat,” one of the guards was drawling. 

Ella was lying down in a slim metal cage, resting in the bed of a black pickup truck. Her hands and feet were pinned at opposite ends of the cage. The shimmery dress had vanished, an oversized black t-shirt now covering her slender frame and exposing her to the guards’ thirsty gazes.

“You thought loverboy was gonna rescue you, didn’t ya? Ya dumb bitch,” another guard said. “Bitch. Hah, get it? Cause she’s actually a bitch?”

“Shut up, dumbass,” the other one snapped. Reaching a hand in the cage, he pressed his hand to Ella’s toned thigh. 

When she snarled, the guard grinned ear to ear.

“What are you gonna do, baby? Bite me? Maybe you’d like that, huh?” he taunted.

His hand crept up her leg, and Walker’s vision went entirely red for a moment. Stifling the rage and adrenaline pulsing through his body, he chucked a flash grenade into the clearing, making sure it landed far away from Ella. 

Closing his eyes, Walker put his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes. Half a minute later, the clearing exploded with confusion and fear. Walker slung one of the bags around his shoulders, pulling out his first automatic weapon and another grenade. He grinned, eyeing his targets.

Using the flash grenades to drive the guards where he wanted them, he mowed them down with bullets. It was easy, on a level that made him a little sick. Humans were just too damned easy to kill, really.

Once he’d taken down everyone outside and a wave of guards stupid enough to come running out the front door, Walker went to Ella. He swung the cage door open, easily grabbing and breaking the chains that held her. His adrenaline was pumping so hard, he probably could have shredded the walls of the warehouse without batting an eyelash.

“Stay,” he cautioned Ella, pressing his hand down in a simple gesture. “I am going to take you someplace safe, I promise. I think you understand that I have to destroy this place, though.”

Walker scanned her face, anxious for her agreement. When she swallowed and nodded, he gave her a nod of thanks. Turning, he grabbed his second bag and produced a grenade launcher.

“Fucking A, Ben!” Walker cheered, loading the launcher. Moving away from Ella, Walker fired round after round into the building. Smoke rose, and after a minute five figures staggered from the warehouse. The three monks, Smith, and Clipboard.

Walker shot Ella a glance as he went for the humans.

“Don’t look,” he warned, unused to the nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. For some reason, he really didn’t want Ella seeing him kill these men. No matter that they’d hurt her, no matter that they deserved much worse than he could give them right now.

Torn, he simply caught them one by one and snapped their necks, letting them remain where they fell. It was the work of mere minutes to kill them all. 

The warehouse’s roof collapsed as Walker dropped the last body, and he sighed. Normally he’d go inside first, and then comb the woods for survivors. No one walked away from something like this, not if he could help it.

He’d already let the buyers go, though. Yes, he’d memorized their faces and planned to track them down at a later date, but still… Walker liked certainty, and here he was with a bucket full of question marks.

He glanced at Ella, saw how she hugged herself and shivered, and somehow he just walked away from the men, the warehouse, all of it. He walked right up to her, scooped her up, and brought her to the passenger side of his now-tattered rental car. One of the back tires was gone, and the whole sedan was riddled with bullet holes and shattered glass. Clearing the seat of debris, Walker tucked her inside before closing the door. Coming around, he slid behind the wheel and turned the keys. Mercifully, the car started right away.

“You okay?” he asked, looking over at Ella as he pulled out of the parking lot. 

She shook her head slowly, lower lip trembling, but otherwise didn’t respond. No tears, no wailing. Ella was not your average female, obviously. She was made of tougher stuff, and it gave Walker a strange feeling. Pride?

No time to examine emotions, Walker floored the sedan. They reached the chopper in ten minutes, abandoning the car without a backward glance.

Walker thumped the pilot’s window, and the pilot gave him a thumbs up. If the man was curious about the faraway explosions, he didn’t say anything.

Jumping up into the passenger bay, Walker reached down for Ella. She stood below, wincing when the pilot started the engine. 

Big green eyes gazed up at the chopper’s blades, fearful. Her eyes darted to the pilot, then to Walker, and then back up to the blades. 

Walker cursed. Of all the times for brave little Ella to find fear, now was not ideal.

“Ella,” he shouted, crouching down to her. Taking her hands, he met her gaze.

“You’re afraid of the helicopter?” he asked.

She gave him a strange look, then shrugged a thin shoulder.

“I’m going to make you a promise,” Walker said, squeezing her hands. “You will be more safe in this helicopter than you have been since you were kidnapped. You know that, because you’re smart. I can tell.”

Those bright emerald eyes pierced him, fixed him in place. She was curious about him, at least.

“If you are scared, you can sit with me. I won’t try anything. I won’t do anything more than hold you. That’s my promise,” he said, tugging at her hands.

Ella gazed at him, searching his face for long moments. Finally, she softened.

“Alright,” she mouthed. 

“Step up,” Walker coached, lifting her up into the passenger bay before sliding the door closed behind them. Inside, it was much quieter. 

Walker saw Ella’s gaze drift back to the pilot. He reached out and grasped a plastic handle, sliding it across the space between the cockpit and the passenger bay. Closing the partition, in a sense.

“He’s only worried about flying, okay?” Walker asked. He wanted to reassure her. He wanted to calm her, hold her if she’d let him.

He wanted to know why he gave a flying fuck, as well.

Sitting down, he drew Ella to the padded passenger bench. They both fastened their seat belts, sighing.

The chopper lifted off with a jolt, and Ella’s tiny hand flew into Walker’s big one.

Walker tried not to grin as they rose, sinking back into the seat.

Just like that, Ella was free.

E
lla looked
around the helicopter’s tight quarters, biting her lip. This cramped space was really, majorly bad news. She sucked in a deep breath, but all she managed to do was drag her hero’s thick, masculine scent more fully into her lungs. 

She looked over at him, taking his measure fully now that they weren’t in a life-or-death situation. He noticed her appraising look, frowning and clearing his throat.

“I’m Walker Black,” he grunted. His voice was so low and gravelly that Ella squirmed in her seat. 

Ella blinked, taking in his words. She was all tongue-tied over his bravery and his looks, but she hadn’t even thought to introduce herself. As if sitting here mostly naked, inches from a stranger, wasn’t embarrassing enough!

“Ella Reid,” she answered, dipping her head to hide her blush. 

He didn’t offer a handshake, and though normally she would have thought it rude, just now she appreciated it. She really, really, really needed not to touch him right now. Scooting down the bench, Ella edged away from her savior. Luckily, he didn’t seem to take offense.

“Walker,” she repeated, rolling his name off her tongue. 

“Yep. Just your average guy,” he said. His awkward humor was unexpected, and a bit sweet.

“Walker, I don’t know how to thank you,” Ella said. She stared at him, unbelieving. 

She’d been kidnapped off the street near her house. She’d been tied up, doped up, and put on display for undeniably ill-intentioned buyers. Just when she’d been certain of a dire fate, this incredible male had shown up and eliminated every single human with a hand in her abuse.

“Do you, uh, need to talk or something?” Walker asked, rubbing a hand over the back of his head. The movement made his biceps flex ridiculously, drawing Ella’s gaze to his impossibly black tattoos. This tall, dark, and handsome soldier was just her type. Of all the luck… 

Shaking her head, she frowned. Who else but Ella would be captured by shifter slavers? Who else would be rescued, practically nude, by a perfectly buff and gruff hottie? Who else would start literally going into heat while all that was going on?

No one, that’s who, she growled to herself. You have the worst luck, girl. Why even pretend that you’re not about to make your hero extremely uncomfortable?

“Ella?” he prompted, his hand reaching out to touch her knee. She jumped, brushing away the burning brand of his touch.

“I’m fine!” she squawked. She tried to move further away from him, but the bench seat wasn’t very long. Her retreat only put her a whopping five inches from Walker’s warm skin and intoxicating scent.

“Oh…” he started, then trailed off. Concern lit his features, his brow drawing down over his gorgeous chocolate-colored eyes.

“I should have realized that you probably don’t want to be touched. Did they… hurt you?” he asked. 

“What?” Ella asked. “Oh. No, it’s really not like that.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Walker said. He was doing such a poor job of masking the anger in his expression, where before at the warehouse he’d been a blank slate. Ella found the contrast curious.

“Honestly, it’s nothing like that. I’m just, uh. Uncomfortable, you know?” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“Like airsick? Do you need a bag or something?” he asked, puzzled. He leaned closer, looking her over from head to toe.

“No! No. I’m fine,” she said, waving a hand. She sighed inwardly, willing herself to resist him. Her wolf paced like a caged animal, unsettled. Her wolf scented Walker’s wolf, and she wanted more. Touch, taste, fuck…

Ella groaned aloud, feeling her need increase with each passing moment. Desire filled every inch of her body, pressing outward from her very skin until she thought she might explode.

“Ella,” he said, reaching out and snagging her hand in his own. The simple touch gave her goosebumps, and a cold lick of pleasure stole down her spine. His touch broke her will completely.

Mindless, Ella launched herself at her savior. She landed halfway in his lap, hands pulling his face down to her own. She stared into his eyes for several beats before leaning in closer.

At first Walker froze, every muscle in his body tightening in alarm. Ella released a soft breath, brushing her lips against his. His hands settled on her back, uncertain. She pressed her lips fully to his, seeking more.

Just when she thought he might refuse her, he sucked in a breath and grabbed her hips, pulling her closer. If she had any doubts about his interest, they were dismissed when she settled fully onto his lap. He was fully erect, and his long, thick member pressed against her outer thigh. His excitement increased her own, and she slid her arms around his neck.

He was hard all over, pure muscle against her soft curves. His skin was hot to the touch, and his dusky male scent pervaded her senses. She skimmed her fingernails up the nape of his neck, deliberately provoking him.

Walker’s alpha male came out immediately, and he gripped her waist as he deepened the kiss. Ella opened to him, her lips parting eagerly. His tongue touched hers lightly, stroking and tasting. Ella turned, reseating herself so that she straddled him on the padded bench. Walker pulled her flush to his body, groaning as he ground her against his hard length. She was completely bare other than the t-shirt she wore, and the intimate contact floored her.

Her breasts pressed against his tautly muscled chest, and Ella knew she needed to feel her skin against his. She leaned back, pulling her shirt up over her head and tossing it to the side.

Walker stilled for a moment. His eyes dropped first to her breasts, her hips, then traveled back up to her face. Conflict was written plain across his features.

“Ella,” he said, his eyes flitting to the flimsy divider that separated them from the cockpit.

“Are you modest now?” Ella breathed, grabbing one of his hands and dragging it up to cover her breast.

His eyes closed briefly, and his breathing grew heavy as he cupped her breast. He muttered a curse, eyes snapping open once more.

“I’m not worried about me,” he said, his tawny gaze piercing her.

“Don’t you want me?” she asked, rocking her hips against his.

His brows slashed down, angry. He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his cock, his stare defiant.

“I think that’s answer enough. I don’t want you doing this as some kind of, I don’t know… some kind of fucked-up thank you,” he insisted.

“Don’t be stupid,” she said, shaking her head. “I promise, that’s not it.”

“I can’t see why you’d want this, then. Unless you’re traumatized or something?”

She paused. Closing her eyes, she dipped her head to hide her face. She had to tell him her secret, but she didn’t want to see his reaction. Males were unpredictable when it came to females in heat. The chance of mate bonding increased exponentially, so most tried to avoid females in her condition. Which sucked, since females in heat grew maddened with lust. Just as Ella was, even now. Her skin burned, her breasts throbbed, and she was blatantly wet.

“I’m in heat,” she mumbled, bracing herself.

Walker was silent. He didn’t yell, or push her away. His hands dropped to her hips once more, and he stilled once more.

Ella opened her eyes, chancing a look at him. He was looking over her shoulder, out the window. There was no anger or resentment in his expression. He appeared to be weighing his options. When he finally looked back at her, she released a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding.

“Okay,” he said, simple as that. He cupped her face in his big hand, leaning in close for a kiss.

Ella’s heart soared, even as desire rocketed through her veins. Their mouths met, lips parting. Walker’s kiss was assertive, just like the man himself. His tongue sought hers, tasted her in bold strokes that made her tremble with need. His hand dropped down to her neck, strong fingers stroking the nape of her neck as his thumb brushed her collar bone. 

The simple possessiveness of his touch delighted Ella’s wolf, the creature turning fierce with want. Walker broke the kiss, burying his head against her neck. He sucked in a long breath, inhaling her scent. He found the sensitive spot on her neck, just behind her ear, and kissed and nipped her until she groaned and rocked against him. 

Walker ran his hands over her shoulders, skimming them down her ribs and waist to her hips. He pulled her shirt up and over her head, and Ella couldn’t miss the gleam of male appreciation when he leaned her back enough to see her bare body.

He framed her breasts in his hands, cupping and admiring them as if they were something precious. Walker tilted her back another inch, leaning down to nuzzle her petal-pink nipple. 

Ella growled with satisfaction, and Walker gave her a smirk that said he was used to making women moan. A dimple flashed in his cheek, and Ella thought in that moment that she’d never known any male so deadly. He’d literally killed for her, and now he was driving her mad with his knowing glances and the certainty of his touch. Her hands balled into fists, a strange rush of fury urging her on. For a moment she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit him, or to fuck him senseless.

Walker’s mouth found her nipple, and the anger washed away. The wet heat of his mouth sent sharp pulses of electric desire rippling down her belly. She felt warm, and full, and alive. His hands crushed her breasts, and he dragged his teeth over her achingly hard nipple.

Ella dragged one of his hands to her flat stomach, crazed with a need for more of his touch. A small voice told her she should be embarrassed, that she would normally never be this forward with anyone, but she was too far gone to listen. 

“Touch me,” she whispered into his neck. She cringed at the breathless sound of her own voice, at the fact that she was begging for him to help her, to end her suffering. The desire was eating her up, burning her alive, suffocating her.

Walker sucked in another big breath, and his fingers teased her mons. He released her nipple and took her mouth once more, tongue sliding against her own in a seductive dance. Ella braced her knees on the bench, lifting herself from his lap to give him better access to touch her.

His fingers played over her slit, found her hot and wet and ready. A growl rumbled deep in his throat, the sound both approving and dominating at once. He flicked his fingertips back and forth, his touch too light to ease Ella’s need. His thumb sought her clit, circling softly. 

“Fuck!” Ella cried out, breaking their kiss and grinding against his hand. 

“Be patient,” he murmured into her ear.

“No,” she growled. His chuckle made the violent urge rise in her once more, but then he swirled a fingertip around the entrance to her aching channel and pierced her, sliding his finger deep inside her.

“Ahh,” she groaned, hands gripping his shoulders.

Walker pushed second thick finger inside her. His thumb teased her clit as his long fingers flexed in lazy, agonizing strokes. Her body heated, every nerve ending humming at his touch. She panted, rocking shamelessly into his touch. Tears pricked her eyes as the force of her need grew overwhelming. 

“Walker…” she cried, her throat thick with the near-pain of her desire.

Ella pushed at him, hands clawing at his shirt. She pulled at the infuriating fabric, ripping the shirt as she bared his chest and arms. 

“Yes,” she crooned, raking her nails down the rippling muscles of his neck and shoulders. His back was taut and sleek under her hands, and she couldn’t stop touching him. She ran her hands over his pecs, his perfect abs, the tight vee of muscle carved into his groin. 

Her hand dropped to the heavy swell of his erection, breath catching as she explored his length and thickness through his pants. Her body tightened and tingled with anticipation, and her mouth actually watered.

“You’re huge,” she gasped, bracing herself for another of Walker’s smirks. When she glanced up at him, the darkness in his expression stilled her touch. His dark eyes were black, heavy brows slashing down in a grimace. He looked pained, and her desire-addled brain couldn’t understand. 

Did he not want her, then?

“Ella,” he said, taking her hand and pulling it upward to his hip. His touch was surprisingly gentle, belying his fierce expression. “Let me finish you with my mouth, okay?” 

Her lips parted to disagree, to tell him that she needed his cock inside her body. That she needed him to pull her hair and fuck her hard until they both shattered apart, screaming.

But then her eyes dropped to his mouth. He licked his lips, deliberately taunting her. She wavered, imagining the pleasure he could give her with his tongue.

“Please, Ella,” he said, leaning forward and brushing his lips over hers as he cupped her breast. He licked her bottom lip, dragging the wet heat of his tongue across it, and she relented. Her greedy brain knew the quickest route to gratification, and she couldn’t stop herself from agreeing.

“Yes,” she whispered against his lips. She gasped as Walker scooped her up and brought her to the helicopter’s cramped floor. She landed on soft cotton, one of their shirts cushioning her as Walker splayed her out. He kissed her lips, kissed and sucked at her breasts, nipped at her belly and thighs until she was soaked again and squirming with need.

As if sensing her growing desperation, Walker stopped teasing her. His strong hands parted her thighs, big fingers spreading her slit. He lowered his mouth, tongue flicking against her clit. 

Cries of pleasure poured from Ella’s lips, tears rising as she writhed under Walker’s attentions. His tongue found a heavy rhythm, lips sealing around the taut bud. He licked and sucked her expertly, sliding his fingers deep into her body and stroking her with long pulls of his fingers.

Heat and tension built within her as she gasped for breath, her hips jerking against his lips and fingers. Hot tears slid from her eyes, sweat beaded on every inch of her body, and for a moment Ella thought she might die. Fade into black nothingness, cease to exist.

Then Walker sucked hard on her clit, stroking her inner walls with his strong fingers, and she exploded. Stars burst in her mind, eyes rolling back in her head. Her whole body locked up, spasms wracking her body from her core to her fingertips. Strangled cries thickened the air, but she was senseless to her own state. The sensation went on and on. Walker gently tongued her the whole while, milking her orgasm and wringing every last bit of pleasure from her too-sensitive flesh.