The Alpha (4 page)

Chapter 5

Spice squirmed the whole way home. Sharing her past with Eric was like a weight lifted from her shoulders. Suddenly she didn’t feel so alone. The meal, the talk, and the dance were perfect. Now the best part of the date could begin. Just the thought made her wet with anticipation.

Eric fumbled the keys as he tried to unlock the front door. A feral growl escaped him and made her jump. He glanced at her with alarm. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“No problem.” She stepped closer to him and took the keys from his hands. “Just promise to save it for bed, I liked it.”

She turned her back on him to unlock the door. The light poured out as she went inside the house. She looked over her shoulder and caught the glimpse of amber in his eyes.
Weren’t they
a chocolate brown?

He blinked and stared at her. The color she remembered returned.

The house sat quiet for once. No board game shouts from the living room or sports from Daedalus’s man-cave. Somehow everyone knew what she planned for tonight and apparently approved since they had given them some privacy.

They hung up their coats and their eyes met. Her courage crashed. What if she overdid things in bed and freaked him out? It never worried her when they fooled around because he set limits. Tonight was no holds barred.

He planted a soft kiss on her mouth. “It’ll be fine. I want to do this.”

Her insecurities must have shown on her face. “That’s the problem. I don’t want it to be
fine
. I want to blow your mind away.”

A large grin spread his lips. “You can blow me all you want.”

She rolled her eyes. They’d be all right, she’d just let him have the reins. “Then follow me, baby. I want you to show me your dark secret.”

His eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened as if she’d slapped him instead of inviting him to drop his trousers. Then it dawned on her, his secret, he hadn’t told her yet. She’d meant his cock when she spoke. Kicking herself in the ass for wrecking the moment, she pulled him down to her lips and kissed him with enough heat to make him forget his name. With an expert’s ease, she slipped her tongue inside his mouth.

He returned her every move with as much passion.

They shuffled to the bedroom in each other’s arms. At the door she pulled away. “Make yourself comfy. I’ll be right back.” She retreated to his bathroom and yanked off the dress. Under it she wore a matching set of black strapless bra and panties. She plumped the girls up and pulled the edges of her underwear to show a little more ass. Reaching for her heels she hesitated. He mentioned he liked them, so she left them on.

Candle-lit shadows filled the bedroom when she returned. The blankets sat in a pile on the floor, only a white sheet and pillows remained on the bed. Her breath caught when she saw Eric. He lay on his back with arms behind his head, wearing nothing but his suntan. Light played along the lines of his muscles, making them more defined.

Nothing would please her more than to touch and massage every inch of his long legs and torso. She’d seen her fair share of buff bodies and knew the difference between beach muscles and working muscles. This was a body of a fighter, sleek and lean, ready to snap into action. Odd, how an image of a predator came to mind when she looked at her gentle, loving boyfriend.

“Are you going to stand there all night?” He grinned at her.

“Let me enjoy the moment. I’ve never seen you completely naked in this kind of light before.” She strolled to the dresser and lifted the wrapped present, then brought it to the bed.

Eric rolled to his side and leaned on an elbow to sit up. “What’s this?”

“The present I told you about.” She sat on the edge of the mattress. Offering him the gift made her a little queasy. What if he didn’t like it? She could stand on a stage without any clothes in front of a bunch of strangers and not feel a bit insecure, but one selfless act made her squirm.

He chuckled. “When you said you had a present for me at the house, I thought you meant… sex.”

“That’s
your
present to
me
, silly.” She placed the gift in front of him. “Open it.”

He did as she asked and stared at the book, then flipped the cover. “It’s signed? You met her?” He touched the signature. “Wow, this is nice of you, Spice. You didn’t have to though.”

“I know, but I wanted to.” She ran her fingers through his thick hair. “I like making you happy.” Truth rang in her words, and she hoped he heard it. Everyone worried she’d break his heart, but no one considered how frail her own heart had become. She was about to lay her hopes and dreams on this man and if he failed her, she didn’t think she’d survive. “I love you, Eric.”

His head snapped up from examining the book. “What?” He set the gift onto the floor, then gathered her into his arms. “Really?” The question was softly asked.

She scooted closer to him so they sat touching, and nodded, afraid she’d say the wrong thing.

He buried his hands into her curls and drew her mouth to his. The demand of his lips as they consumed hers ignited the fire that had dwindled down to simmering coals. She didn’t need to hear the words, he already told her with his actions.

The firm muscles under her hands flexed as he pulled her onto his lap. His hard, full cock pressed against her panties, and he rocked his hips.

She dug her nails into his shoulders. At this pace, they’d both come before he entered her. With all her willpower, she shoved away from his warm embrace and sat on his thighs. “Whoa, turn down the heat.”

“I want you.” He gripped her ass and tried to coax her back onto his cock.

“Trust me, I can’t wait to have you too, but we don’t get a second chance at a first time.”

The words must have reached a part of his brain not focused on entering her pussy. He stopped dragging her over his body and took a deep breath. Then a small evil smile came to his mouth. He lay on his back and placed his hands behind his head. “Please, do with me as you will then.”

Originally, she wanted to give him the reins and let him have her as he needed, but this could be better. He’d last longer and the experience would be mutually beneficial, a moment to remember.

Her eyes traced from his face to his chest, running along his abdomen to his thick, erect cock. It looked ready to explode. She could see it pulse with his heartbeat. If she indulged in what she wanted to do by stroking and sucking it, then it would be over. She wanted him to climax with her.

This night was for him.

He definitely didn’t need any more foreplay but she did. Stretching herself along his body, she pulled one of his hands from behind his head and guided it inside her panties. She entwined her fingers with his and pinched her clit as he stroked her pussy.

The brush of his fingers at her entrance sent a shiver down her spine. He entered with a slow slide and she joined her finger with his, showing him what she needed.

A groan came from deep inside his chest. His free hand slipped into the cup of her bra and released her breast from its confines.

She leaned forward and offered her hard nub to his mouth. Elation electrified her as he sucked on it and sent a thrill of pleasure through her nipple. She ground on their entwined hands and pumped their fingers deeper inside.

“You’re overdressed, Spice.” He spoke in a voice thick with desire as he removed his hands from her body and tugged on her lingerie.

The withdrawal of his touch almost made her cry out. Her bra snapped open and slipped off her shoulders.

His hands cupped her breasts and squeezed before flipping her onto her back with a feral growl. She squeaked with surprise, but the passionate handling only stoked her sinful desires.

He yanked her panties down her legs and tossed them to the floor, then spread her thighs far apart as he pressed his mouth to her pussy.

She could have sworn she heard him whisper, “Mine,” before plunging his tongue inside her, sucking with a carnivorous hunger. Writhing under the onslaught, she dug her hands into his hair and wrapped her legs over his shoulders to rest her stiletto heels on his back.

Pressure built between her legs, she moaned and raised her hips to open them more for him. He slipped a finger inside her as he stared up her body to meet her gaze. The candlelight reflected off the deep amber of his eyes. Untamed fever burned in his stare.

It excited her. She inhaled a shaky breath and released her hold on him.

With an unnatural grace he crawled up her body, lifted her hips to his, and thrust his cock into her pussy. Each succinct lunge went deeper and deeper inside.

She cried out, astounded at his fervor and loving every moment of it. Her quiet gentleman turned animal in bed. She’d died and gone to heaven.

His breaths came in gasps and sharp little growls joined in time with his thrusts until he arched his back and drove himself as deep as he could go. The heat of his seed filled her, and she cried out with him as the pressure exploded, replaced with ecstasy.

* * * *

Eric lay in their bed with Spice cradled in his arms and pressed against his body. In the dead of night, he couldn’t sleep. How could he? A self-satisfied grin spread across his face. He really made her scream on their second round. She’d even left a few scratches on his back. Too bad they’d be healed by morning.

He never told her his secret. Guilt threaded itself around his heart. First thing tomorrow, he’d confess. She did say nothing would drive her away from him. God, he hoped she really meant those words.

He pulled her closer and buried his nose in her hair.

The scent soothed him and his beast. She smelled like his. No other way to describe it. So much for keeping his beast under wraps, it liked Spice as much as he did. For once, they agreed on something.

His cellphone went off. In the silence of the house, it made him jump as if struck by a cow prod.

Spice murmured in her sleep while he untangled himself from her body.

Scrambling in the dark, he found his trousers and answered before it woke her. “What!” He tried to whisper.

“Get dressed, we have a problem.” With that, Daedalus hung up on him.

Chapter 6

“Have you told her about your being an Alpha of a werewolf pack yet? Lovers should know these kinds of things.” Daedalus shifted his black Jaguar XJ into second gear while Eric attached his seatbelt. The vehicle fit the vampire’s personality, big, sleek, and fast. Every time Eric rode in it, he realized how little he owned.

No car and no house; his job paid well, but he didn’t have the time to make a home. If Spice stayed maybe some of it could change. He sighed. “You know I slept with Spice?”

“Subtle is not your middle name, Alpha. You still carry her smell.” Daedalus stopped at a red light.

“I wish you wouldn’t call me that.” He fiddled with the belt across his chest. Maybe if he started calling Daedalus “Prime,” then he’d get the point on how annoying it was to hear his title repeatedly. “I guess the other Omegas must suspect since they deserted the house. What does Sugar think?” He should stop considering his friends as the only Omegas. They needed to be one pack.

“You haven’t spoken to her about shagging her sister?” The light turned green, and he continued toward the abandoned warehouses.

“No, she knows I carry a torch for her twin. It feels odd confiding in her while Spice might be doing the same.”

Daedalus laughed out loud. “So you’re going to use me instead.”

Eric crossed his arms over his chest, the muscles made it more difficult, he still wasn’t used to them. Twenty-five years as a skin-and-bones weakling was hard to forget. “Why not? I’m worried she might be using me.”

“For what? Sex?” His voice rose with incredulity. “Oh, wait a minute. You want her to fall in love with you?”

“Is that so unbelievable? I know you’re not crazy about her, but she’s a great person. Someone just needs to give her a chance. She’s vulnerable right now, and she might
think
she loves me but really I’ll turn out to be a crutch.”

Even though Sugar and Spice grew up in the same horrid home, it was Spice who took the brunt of the abuse to protect her little sister. The others didn’t know this, but he and Sugar did. He remembered finding Spice hiding in the apartment building’s shed one afternoon. She had a black eye and split lip. When he barged in she threatened him.
Don’t you go running off and telling
Sugar, you little dweeb, or I’ll pound your ass.
Most would have been insulted, but he’d heard her parents yelling through the thin walls of the building and knew she’d pretended to be her twin. She’s taken that beating and others for Sugar. In an odd way, he thought of her as a hero.

Daedalus took the corner at a sharp angle, making Eric’s seatbelt strain. “You’re a dumbass, worrying about love when we’re on our way to break up a room full of women who are competing to be your pack mate. You need to man-up and take care of your pack. Not moan about a human girl.”

“I’m here, aren’t I? We’ll stop this nonsense tonight. I’m going to it make illegal to challenge without my permission.”

“You can’t do that, Eric. Haven’t you read the copy of the Accords I gave you?” Silence filled the car as Daedalus sped to the on-ramp of the interstate. “Look, challenges are pertinent to werewolf packs. It sets the hierarchy. The strongest female should lead the pack at your side.”

Eric looked out the window at the other cars as they passed them. No one would convince him to take a stranger as his mate. He needed to find a way out this mess. “You’re telling me to back off from Spice.”

“I’m telling you if you fall in love, it will only end with heartbreak. Arranged marriages still exist and they work…mostly. This is almost the same thing. You can agree to have lovers if you insist on keeping the girl.”

He shook his head before facing Daedalus. “It’s too late. She smells like mine. I can’t touch another woman.”

“Damn it, you being a romantic drives me nuts.” Daedalus hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. They came up to their exit and cut across two lanes to catch it.

“Holy crap, you’re going to have a wreck and kill me.”

“It wouldn’t be any worse of a disaster than what you’re doing to your own life.” He made a right turn and screeched into an industrial park, then slammed on his brake and popped the shift stick into neutral. At this time of the night the place was deserted. “You inherited a sick pack, and you need to nurse them back to health.”

Anger boiled in Eric’s gut. He undid his seatbelt so he could face the vampire-turned-asshole. “I didn’t ask for this responsibility.” Then he grabbed Daedalus by the shirt and shoved him against the car door. “I don’t care about these Ayumu mongrels.”

“They’re Omegas now.” Daedalus’s cool, calm voice reached the reasoning part of Eric’s brain. “If she means so much to you, then make her wolf. Take her as your mate.”

The suggestion slapped him across the face. “I’d never turn anyone on purpose.” He let go of his friend and sat back in his seat.

Daedalus straightened his shirt. “Why not? Ask her first, I’m not telling you to do it against her will.”

“I-I…” Eric stared out the windshield at the buildings. “How do you tell someone you’re a werewolf?” Sure, the law considered them legal citizens, just like vampires, but people didn’t accept them. Where was the romance in turning into a hairy monster? He quirked an eyebrow at his companion. Or a bloodsucker. “This isn’t about me, is it? You must have asked Sugar to become a vampire.”

For a moment, Eric didn’t think Daedalus would answer him but it made sense. The vampire sat still, like stone, as only the dead could.

“I did.”

“And?” He couldn’t guess Sugar’s decision. A year ago she’d run from all of them, too freaked out by their differences. Now, they lived happily under one roof. She’d even joined them a few times on full moon celebrations in the forest to watch them change. Maybe Spice could accept him.

“She’s thinking about it. To be honest, I thought she’d turn me down, so I’m happy she’s at least giving the idea a chance.” He shrugged. “If she says ‘no’ I’ll be forced to watch her age and die, and I don’t want to. Is it selfish of me?”

“Is it selfish of me to want to be with the woman I love and not take some stranger as a mate?” He gave a silent prayer of thanks for getting this opportunity to make his point to his thickheaded mentor. Daedalus was a true friend and had a lot of experience for them to fall back on, but he thought and lived like a warrior.

Eric was a lover.

“No, it’s not. Point made, but I’m not the one you truly have to convince. There’s a warehouse full of female werewolves duking it out as we speak. What are you going to do, Alpha?”

“Shit if I know. Let’s go before someone gets seriously hurt.”

Daedalus shifted the car back into motion and drove to the warehouse where Eric had killed Michael, the old Ayumu alpha. Forest surrounded the building as it tried to reclaim this abandoned area. It was ideal for the pack to use.

Eric hated the place. Not just because it held bad memories but it symbolized the way the pack lived their lives. Hidden and abandoned by humanity. Things needed to change and as alpha it became his responsibility.

Ten cars sat in the parking lot by the entrance. A low growl rumbled in his throat. Daedalus heard through the grapevine some of the females were forming challenge rounds tonight, but Eric hoped the rumor to be false. When he took control of the pack, he’d asked them for a year before he picked a mate. His one year anniversary passed a month ago. Since then, the women with ambition to lead next to him had been challenging each other to obtain dominance. The one who wins gets the prize. Him.

They parked next to the cars. “What next, Alpha?”

“If I break this challenge up, they’ll start another one tomorrow. I’m getting tired of these games.”

Daedalus leaned his seat back and placed his hands behind his head. “If you need me, holler. I’ll come running.”

To add to Eric’s stress, over the last few weeks Daedalus had stopped being a physical presence at his side.
Time to cut the apron strings,
he’d said.

“Sure you will.”

The vampire grinned and flashed his fangs.

Eric opened the car door and climbed out. He stretched since his six-foot frame felt cramped after being folded into the sports car. A faint cry of cheering came from the warehouse. He rolled his eyes. How was he going to deal with this?

He walked to the door and entered the building. Two werewolves fought inside a cacophonous ring of crazed women and snarling beasts. The larger of the fighters smashed her opponent to the ground, then pinned her with a clawed foot. She howled her win.

At least these fights weren’t to the death.

After she gloated, the female beast looked in his direction. From her scent, he recognized her as Clair, the most dominant of the challengers so far. She changed back to her female form, her fur melted to smooth skin and her bones slid into place without a single pop. Her long brown hair fell to her hips but instead of using it to cover her nudity, she flung it over her shoulders. The others turned to stare at him.

Show no fear . I’m bigger and stronger than them.
He swallowed. “Time to go home everyone. Fun’s over.” With a gesture of his arms to scatter, he approached the group. A few whimpered and crawled away but most stood their ground. They were competing to be the alpha female after all. “I said it’s time to leave.” He glared at each one.

Four others walked away, which left three facing him. Clair crossed her arms under her bare breasts. “If you won’t choose a mate then the
Accords
state we’re entitled to fight for it.”

She used the Accords against him. The very thing he’d done to get Michael into the challenge ring. Most paranormal races still followed the general laws set down centuries ago. Vampires, merpeople, selkies, and other Were races, but the werewolf population had forgotten them. Eric suspected on purpose but couldn’t figure out why. He brought the Accords back to the Ayumu— the Omegas, he needed to stop thinking of them as separate.

“I’m very aware of your rights, Clair, but I’ve found a potential mate. These challenges are over until I’ve courted her.”

“You can’t do that now! We gave you a year.” Clair howled and changed back to beast form. It took strength and stamina to transform twice in a short period of time. Eric had no doubt who would win those challenges and didn’t care for Clair one bit.

She and the other two females stalked toward him.

His beast roared and tore from his body. He was going to kick their disobedient, mangy asses.

Clair crouched low to the ground and stalked on all fours while her two companions circled him on either side. The woman on his right started to change into her beast form but couldn’t complete the act. She crumpled to the ground in an exhausted heap.

He sighed at the sight. It was irresponsible of Clair to encourage acts of stupidity from her pack mates. A Were could die if caught in such a state. What kind of leader would she be? His pack would wither and die if she became their heart.

Without further contemplation, Eric pounced on the woman to his left, who remained in her human form. He threw her against the wall. Her head banged against the hard surface, and she fell to her knees. She was lucky he restrained his beast. It wanted her unconscious.

A snarl warned him of Clair’s attack. He spun and caught her neck in his grip mid-leap. Her confident demeanor evaporated into a whine.

“
Did you really think the three of you could take me on?
” He sent his thought to her mind but could sense her beast had more control over her than it should. Disgusted, he tossed her toward the exit, then changed back to his human form. Naked, he faced her beast, crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at her. “Get out.”

If she didn’t fear him, she would have followed suit and changed back as well, but she stayed in her beast form. When she started to crawl away, he turned his back on her.

Big mistake.

The treacherous bitch lashed out and gouged his back with her claws. Not a fatal wound but it hurt him.

If he’d called for Daedalus’s help it would make him look weak. With a growl born of frustration, he spun around to watch Clair run out the exit with her tail between her legs, abandoning her accomplices.

He turned to the woman slumped against the wall who rubbed the back of her head. “This is what you want in a leader?”

She didn’t respond or meet his gaze, merely laid herself prone on the ground.

When Eric stumbled out of the warehouse, naked and injured, the vampire jumped out of the car and offered a shoulder to lean on. “You sure have a way with women. Remind me to never take any of your advice.”

Eric chuckled.

Daedalus pulled a gym bag from the trunk of the car, opened it, and offered Eric his workout clothes.

“They stink.”

“Don’t be a wuss. Dawn’s approaching, hurry and dress.” He got into the driver’s side and started the vehicle.

On the trip back, an overturned vehicle caused a traffic jam on the interstate. Daedalus shouted at the windshield. “Eleven hundred years old and I’m going to fry in the sun because humans can’t drive.”

“Leave the car with me and find a hiding spot until nightfall.” Eric grimaced as he turned in his seat. He could feel the blood trickling down his back from Clair’s claw marks.

Daedalus’s pupils dilated as he stared at him. “You’re bleeding quite a bit.” He ran his tongue over a fang.

“Snap out of it, buddy. The cars are moving again.”

His friend blinked and turned his attention back to the road.

They raced against time to get home and lost as they pulled up to the house.

Daedalus’s exposed head burst into flames as he stepped out of the car and the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon. Shrill shrieks accompanied it.

Eric scooped his friend into his arms, not thinking of burns, and ran for the house. Kicking in the door, he found Sugar inside, the source of those screeches as she watched her lover burn from the living room window.