Surrendering To The Alpha (7 page)

Chapter Nine

Addyson sat at the kitchen table and watched the steam rise from her coffee. She couldn’t sleep. The prior day’s events kept replaying in her mind. Her heart ached for Keegan. He still held on to the pain of his loss, or was it the so-called betrayal?

Something just didn’t settle right with her. Keegan’s mate couldn’t have turned her back on him and the Pack. Addyson refused to believe it to be the case.

The sound of shuffling feet drew her out of her thoughts. She turned her head as Will sat down next to her. “Morning. Did I wake you?”

He shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

“Are you hungry? I made muffins.”

His eyes brightened, and the corners of his mouth lifted. “Blueberry?”

Addyson laughed softly and ruffled his hair as she stood to go get the tray of muffins and pour him a glass of milk.

“Where are you from?”

She stilled briefly, surprised by the question. “What do you mean?”

“Where did you grow up?”

Addyson closed the milk carton and put it back in the fridge. “I don’t remember my childhood.”

Will drew his eyebrows together. “Not at all?”

Addyson shook her head. “Nope. Nevan, the Pack Empath and psychiatrist, said that my mind may have locked up my personal memories to preserve my own sense of reality.”

A tic formed in his temple, and he took a breath before asking, “How long were you there?”

She shrugged. “About a hundred years.” He fell silent, making Addyson peer over at him after taking her seat next to him. He picked at his muffin, and she could tell he was deep in thought. Covering his forearm with her hand, she said, “Now do you understand why my mind is broken?”

His gaze snapped up to hers. “You are not broken. You’re just scared and need time to heal.”

She meant to argue but stopped as she caught Keegan’s oak-and-spice scent wrapping around her. A moment later she felt his hands press gently on her shoulders. Leaning down so his lips were inches from her ear, he whispered, “You’re a very strong female, Addy.”

Her heart fluttered rapidly behind her ribs, and for a second, she almost forgot how to breathe.

Keegan’s weight lifted from her, and when he moved to walk around the table, she let out a breath she didn’t remember holding. Sitting down across from her, he took a muffin from the plate and met her gaze with brown eyes so dark they looked black.

“Why don’t you have Jared see if he can help you remember?” Keegan said casually.

Jared was the Pack Justice and possessed the ability to read people’s memories through touch. Although it was possible that Jared could unlock her memories, there was the little issue she had with skin-to-skin contact.

Addyson shook her head. “I don’t know if I want to remember.”

Keegan narrowed his eyes at her. The stare was so intense she had to look away, her cat too much of a submissive to hold the connection.

She linked her fingers together on the table and focused on them as she told the two of them what she did know about her den. “Once, a few years before I escaped the Onyx den, I found a small clay bowl. It looked familiar, but somehow I knew it didn’t belong to anyone in Onyx. So I touched it briefly with the tip of my index finger. I saw a younger version of myself holding the bowl while I sat propped against a large snow leopard. My father.”

Tears burned her eyes as her vision grew blurry. She’d held onto that small happy memory, cherished it. It was the only piece of her past she had and the only hint of who her parents were before Onyx slaughtered them all.

Keegan placed his warm hand over hers, forcing her to lift her gaze to his. This time she held it. He didn’t speak, just rubbed circles over her wrist with his thumb. It soothed her on a level that should have scared the life out of her.

Will set his empty glass on the table hard enough to snap Addyson out of whatever had just happened between her and Keegan. She peered over at the teen as he asked Keegan, “Can I go for a run? It’s been awhile since I shifted.”

Her leopard whimpered inside her head. She dropped her shoulders and glanced back at Keegan. He let out a sigh, stood, and held out his hand to her. “Come on. Let’s go let our beasts out to play.”

****

The relief mixed with excitement that passed over Addyson’s face made Keegan want to pull her into his arms and claim every inch of her. It also pissed him the hell off that she hadn’t been taking care of her leopard’s needs.

When she placed her hand in his, he tugged her close so their bodies touched. “Why haven’t you been taking care of this?”

It came out as a growl, and he sensed her cat wanting to submit to his. Damn it. With his free hand, he traced a finger down her cheek to her chin, where he lifted it gently to peer into her eyes.

Eyes that wouldn’t meet his.

He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, “Addy.”

She relaxed slightly against him. “I’d shift at home, but only while within the den’s protective wards. I was taken while on a hunt, caught in a net. So, I don’t like to go out alone.”

He hugged her closer, wrapping both arms around her. She was so strong; he knew that. He felt it when he was near her, but fear rode on her every action. She was too cautious. “You are free. Onyx will never have you again. I’ll make sure of it.”

Addyson pressed her hands against his chest and pushed. He let her go and allowed her to step back. Her brows dipped, and creases formed on her forehead. “I’m stronger than this, damn it.”

It came out as a low mutter, but he heard it. He leaned in and nipped at her nose, bringing a shy smile to her sensual lips. He grabbed her hand and tugged her to the door. “You’ll feel better after a good run.”

Outside, the rays of the morning sun filtered through the trees, making the dew droplets sparkle. Beside him, Addyson took a deep breath, as if taking in the fragrances of the forest around them. Keegan too drew in the pine, oak, and other earthy scents, although he also wanted to make sure there weren’t any rogues snooping about. As if on cue, Alec walked out of the trees and peered at the three of them before focusing on Keegan. “Anything wrong?” his son asked when he came to a stop beside him.

“No, just going for a run.”

Alec gave a short nod and walked over to sit in one of the chairs under a shade tree a few yards from the entrance of the cave. Keegan shook his head as his son popped a pair of headphones in his ears. Alec had a way of appearing harmless right up until he struck.

A flash of movement to his left drew his attention to the gold and black leopard. Will stretched in his animal form then ran a circle around Keegan and Addyson.

Addyson laughed. “I think he is enjoying himself.”

“It seems so.” He placed a hand on her lower back. “Ready?”

She nodded while she took in a long, deep breath. Then she stripped down to her bra and panties. As shifters they didn’t hold the same insecurities about nudity as humans. It was a fact of life, a natural state of being.

However, the sight of Addyson standing in front of him so incredibly beautiful and bare for the sentries Keegan smelled nearby to see made him want to cover her. His leopard didn’t like her so exposed to them.

She peered at him from over her shoulder and smirked before she darted off into the forest, shifting into a snow leopard just before she disappeared behind the trees.

Keegan heard Alec chuckle as he stood and called out to Will. “Hey, Will. Come run with me. You don’t want to be around the lovebirds.”

Will let a playful growl then charged at Alec.

Keegan sent his son a telepathic “thanks” and shifted into his leopard, giving chase. His heart thumped against his ribcage, and he zipped around the trees. The wind blew through his fur, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this great, this alive.

It was Addyson’s doing. She had awakened something inside of him that went far beyond the urge to make her his.

He skidded to a halt when he saw her lying by a small stream. She was beautiful with her white coat dusted with black spots. He inched closer, careful not to startle her.

Her right ear twitched, but she didn’t look his way, although he did notice how her body tensed with each step he took. He knew that if he moved to fast, she’d bolt. It was her nature no matter what hell she’d lived through at the hands of Onyx.

He came to a stop inches from her back. She stayed utterly still except for her tail, which twitched from side to side, but not out of annoyance. No, there was anxiety laced in her scent.

Moving around her, he lay down beside her and nuzzled her neck and drew in her strawberry scent. Relief flooded him when she leaned into him, accepting him.

Taking a chance that he might regret, he shifted back to human form and whispered, “Shift for me.”

She shuddered then, with a flash of soft white light, she shifted. He peered down at her, meeting her violet gaze. She was beautiful. She had high cheekbones, and a slightly rounded face that made her look much younger than the average shifter, most of which appeared to be in their early to mid thirties.

Addyson looked to be in her late twenties, although her eyes held secrets and a darkness that no one should ever know.

Addyson reached up and touched her fingertips to his lips. It was a bold move for her, a move that he didn’t want to discourage. In fact he wanted her to know she didn’t need his permission to touch him, pet him, anytime she wanted.

She studied him for several moments before asking, “Where’s Will?”

“Alec is keeping him entertained.” He inched his face closer to hers until their lips brushed together.  Her breath caught, but she didn’t pull away.

That was all the invitation he needed. He claimed her lips and was surprised she was ready for him, as if waiting for him to take charge. She opened her mouth, and he thrust his tongue inside, finding hers to dance with.

She threaded her fingers through his hair then fisted a handful to draw him closer.

Fuck
.

She held a fire inside her that ignited the desire deep within him, the desire he’d thought had died until Addyson came into his life. He wanted her like he wanted no other.

He broke the kiss and rose over her. The violet in her eyes was so dark it made them almost black as she watched him cautiously. He kissed her nose then her chin and then her breastbone. She sucked in a breath, and he stilled.

“Addy?”

She ran her fingers through his hair, letting her nails lightly scrap over his scrap. “I’m fine. It’s just…I’ve never…”

He pressed a kiss to her breast and said, “I’ll be gentle.” He moved his lips to her nipple and swiped his tongue over the tight bud.

“Keegan,” she said on a gasp.

He trailed his fingers down her belly to her sex and stopped to let her catch her breath. “Are you okay?” She nodded, but he wasn’t so sure. He could feel her anxiety and a hint of fear.

Slowly he dipped his fingers through her folds and groaned. “You’re so wet.”

She dug her nails into his bicep while he rubbed her clit in slow, circular movements.

“Too much?” he asked, not wanting to overload her senses.

“Yes, no. God, it feels good and a bit overwhelming.”

“Do you want me to stop?”

She held his gaze and said, “No, not yet.”

He bent down to capture her nipple between his teeth, causing her let out a cry of pleasure. He eased a finger inside her. She tensed for a moment then relaxed and started moving against him as he moved his finger in and out of her pussy.

God, she was so beautiful.

And all his.

His leopard growled in approval and nudged him to take her, claim her as their mate.

No, he couldn’t do that, not yet. Addyson would have to be eased into a mating. She also needed to fully understand what it meant to be mated to an alpha male as dominant as he was.

He slid a second finger inside her as he teased her nipple with his tongue. Her breathing came out in a gasp right before she cried out in release.

He lay down beside her and drew her into his arms and held her as the last shudder left her body. She laughed and said, “That was…”

He kissed her temple. “That was just a tease.”

She laughed again and then fell silent. He wanted to demand that she tell him what was going on inside that head of hers, but he reined in the urge.

Finally she spoke. “You didn’t…you weren’t satisfied.”

He squeezed her closer to him. “I’m fine. Pleasuring you is enough for now.”

“But—”

He cut her off by biting down on her earlobe, which drew a squeak out of her. “No buts, Addy. Clear?”

She let out a breath, and he could hear the smile she tried to hide. “Yes, my Alpha.”

He pinched her hip and growled, “Don’t you forget it.”

Chapter Ten

Ana jerked to the right and caught her sister, Sable, in the stomach with a shoulder and flipped her on her back. Sable landed with a grunt then started laughing.

“Well done, little sis.”

Ana straightened and smirked at her sister. “I got you that time.”

Sable held up her hand. Ana grabbed it and jerked her to a stand. “I was tired.”

Ana laughed. “Excuses, excuses.”

Ana walked over to the one of the benches positioned around the edges of the large gym, which was located in the middle of the Onyx den. After she sat, she grabbed her water bottle and took a drink as she watched Sable do the same.

Sable wasn’t her real sister. She was Ana’s adopted sister. Ana had known this all her life, although she never mentioned it out of fear of what her father would say. That was until today. She couldn’t get the man she’d helped in the woods out of her mind. Of course she knew he was the Alpha of Ashwood and supposedly her enemy, according to the stories her father had told her growing up.

Yet, the man—Keegan—was not a threat to her. She couldn’t understand how she knew that, but she did. Deep inside her soul, she sensed he would never harm her. No matter who she was and where she came from.

Sable sat beside her and leaned her shoulder against Ana’s. “What’s on your mind?”

Ana peered over at Sable and narrowed her eyes. “Am I really that easy to read?”

Sable shrugged. “No, but I know when something is bothering you.”

Ana smiled and looked around the empty gym. “Could we talk somewhere more private?” she asked in a low whisper, meant only for Sable to hear.

Sable stood, stretched her lean body, and said, “Come back to my place, and I’ll fix us dinner.”

Ana rose and followed her sister out of the gym and across the center of the den to the private section of living quarters for the senior officers. Sable’s apartment was at the end of the corridor that branched off from the others. Sable had told Ana that the space was designed for the Alpha of the Pack, but Felix refused to stay there. Why Ana didn’t know, but she’d guess it was because their father believed he was above anyone else.

No, the Alpha of Onyx stayed in a large cabin just outside the den. It was just one the many things that bugged Ana about her adopted father.

When they reached Sable’s door, Ana caught an all-too-familiar scent in the damp air of the cavern tunnel. Rich, spicy, and belonging to the one male who could break her heart.

Kieran Michaels rounded the corner, and he didn’t look pleased. His dark brows dipped to cause a crease in his forehead, and there was a tic in his jaw that indicated he was clenching his teeth. He looked deadly and hot as hell.

Kieran stopped a few feet from them and held Ana’s gaze as he spoke to Sable. “Two mutants were found dead an hour ago.”

Ana stilled, and her heart sank into her stomach. This would make the third time she had been caught outside the den. Each time before, Sable had stepped up and saved her from a beating from their father. Sable had always taken the punishment for Ana’s fuckups.

Sable growled low and said, “Kieran, why don’t you join us for an early dinner?”

Kieran snapped his gaze toward Sable and studied her for a long moment before he turned to go inside Sable’s apartment.

Once inside, Ana felt the tension fill the room. Kieran stood against the far wall with his arms crossed. Ana took a seat on the sofa and took a deep breath. “I killed the mutants,” she said softly.

Sable dropped into the chair across from her. “We know that. The problem is you can’t continue to do it. I don’t like the dumbass animals any more than you do.”

Kieran cleared his throat, forcing her to look at him. Damn. He knew she wasn’t alone in the forest. He most likely smelled Keegan on her. Kieran, after all, was a possessive male and had no issues with letting everyone know Ana was his.

“They creep me out and follow me. Besides, I don’t like the way they look at me.” She sat back on the sofa, refusing to meet Kieran’s stare. He wasn’t going to like what she told him next. “The first one I killed…touched me.”

Kieran’s growl rumbled through the room, making her peer up at him. His hands were fisted by his side and his mouth set in a hard line. “How did he touch you?”

“Does it matter? I killed him. None of them has messed with me since.”

Sable asked, “And what about the second one?”

Ana shrugged. “He saw me use my ability. I have to get out of the den and expend the energy buildup. I was afraid he’d tell father. Sable, you were the one who told me father can’t know about my gift to control the natural elements.”

Sable crossed her arms over her chest. “You are also not to be alone. It’s for you’re own safety.”

Kieran nodded in agreement with Sable. “What about today?”

She met his stare and said, “I saved a man’s life today.” He gave her a raised brow for her to continue. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I met the Elder of Ashwood.”

Sable jumped up from her seat and started pacing. “What did he say? Shit, this is bad.”

Kieran grabbed Sable’s upper arm as she passed by him, halting her. “We’ll deal with it.” He peered at Ana again. “Tell us what happened.”

Ana pursed her lips. Anger started to build inside her. They were hiding something from her. The two people she’d thought she could trust in this dysfunctional Pack had withheld information from her. It not only pissed her the hell off, but it hurt.

“I saved his life from the mutant, and now he owes me a favor.” She wasn’t going to tell them about his strange reaction to her. Keegan had seemed to recognize her, but that was impossible. She’d spent her whole life locked up inside the Onyx den.

Well, not actually locked up, but close enough in her opinion. She was forbidden to leave the secure walls of the mountain where the den was located.

Kieran growled. “Is that all he said? He owes you a favor?”

“Yes.”

Sable sat beside her and took her hand. Ana’s pulse picked up, and dread filled her belly. Sable had kicked into mother mode. This couldn’t be good.

“There isn’t any easy way to say this but to just spit it out. Since you know you’re adopted, and you know of Felix’s twisted way of ruling the Pack…” Kieran let out a warning growl, but Sable didn’t flinch. She didn’t even acknowledge him. “Anyway, Keegan Andrews is your real father.”

Ana jerked her hands away from Sable and stood. Kieran moved closer to her, and she snapped her gaze to him, fury building inside her. “You knew this? Both of you. I knew there was something you weren’t telling me. Damn it. My whole life. I could have had a different life.”

Her head started to hurt. Images of Keegan in the forest fighting the mutant flashed in her mind. She’d felt a connection to him but didn’t know what it was. He wasn’t Pack. Yet, now they were saying he was her father.

She started to shake, and then Kieran’s warm, strong arms wrapped around her from behind. He pressed a kiss to her temple and whispered, “I’m a spy for the Ashwood Falls Packs.”

She sagged against him. “Why am I not surprised? What else are you two keeping from me?”

Sable sighed and sat back against the couch. “Nothing. You already know about the rebels and my involvement.”

Ana snorted. Sable wasn’t only involved; she was their freaking leader.

“Tell me everything. I have a right to know.”

Sable nodded. “You’ll only want to kill Father more than you already do.”

Ana smiled. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

****

Keegan lay across the king-sized bed and watched Addyson step out of the bathroom. Water droplets rolled down her cheek to her neck and disappeared into the towel she’d wrapped around herself. He fought the urge to snatch the towel from her so he could watch the water continue its journey down her beautiful, slightly curvy body.

She lifted her violet gaze to him, and one side of her mouth lifted in a smirk. “What?”

He patted the bed. “Come here.”

“Oh, no. We are going to talk about Cate and Ana.”

He growled and rolled to lie on his back. He had agreed to let her help him decipher the vision she’d had to see if there were any truths in the theory that Cate had been controlled. “Where is that submissive cat?”

Addyson climbed on the bed and lay next to him. “She’s decided she likes playing with you.”

He turned his head to peer at her profile and realized she’d smiled more today than he’d ever seen her do. He’d have to make sure she continued to smile, always. “You’re beautiful when you smile, and when you’re mad.”

“Well, you mister, make me both happy and furious all at the same time.”

He chuckled and pulled her to lie across his chest. “I plan to do both for a very long time.”

Silence filled the room, and he waited for the ache in his chest to overpower his ability to think rationally. It never came. Instead, his leopard purred and rubbed against his chest where Addyson snuggled.

Of course the cat would. He’d already claimed her as his mate. The man was just now starting to accept it.

He kissed the top of her head. “So, Felix can control minds.”

“Yes. He did it to me until I finally let my mind break, and then he said I gave him headaches.”

Keegan didn’t bother to hold back his growl. “Felix will die one day. It’ll be one day soon if I get my hands on him.”

She smoothed her palm over his chest and threaded her fingers through the light dust of chest hair. “He rules through mind control and fear.”

Keegan already knew this. Well, the fear part. The mind control was new knowledge. He wondered if Kieran knew. Did it even matter?

“Did you know Felix had an adopted daughter?”

Addyson shrugged. “I heard rumors. They mentioned some female by the name of Zorana and how she was off limits to everyone. It really didn’t make any senses to me at the time.”

Zorana. It was the name Cate had picked out. She said it sounded exotic and beautiful. Felix must have pulled the name out of her mind. Keegan grounded his molars and tried to calm himself. “Addy, you know I’ll have to go for a run after this conversation. I’m not used to facing all these emotions and not kill something.”

She released a small sigh. “I know. Thanks for trying. I do believe it will help.”

“Have you been hanging out with Nevan?”

She laughed. “I’ve been speaking with him. He comes by the house. We have tea and talk.”

Keegan hugged her close. “That’s good. Is it helping?”

“Yes, I think it’s why I can now try to create my shields with Will’s help.”

He smiled. The human psychiatrist now mated to the leopard Healer had proven himself and had helped many Pack members deal with issues in the short time he’d been in the den. Keegan was glad to have him.

His phone rang, drawing him out of his thoughts. He picked it up after the second ring. “This better be good,” he snapped.

“She wants to meet with you,” Kieran said, not at all fazed by Keegan’s tone.

Keegan stopped breathing for a second. “What? You told her?”

Kieran laughed. “She’s as smart and stubborn as you are.”

Keegan was too stunned to reply with a smartass comment. “Okay. What time?”

“Mid-morning, our usual meeting place.”

Keegan hung up the phone and met Addyson’s smiling face. “This is good, right?”

He kissed her forehead. “I hope so.”

God, he hoped so. The last thing he needed was to walk into a trap.