Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (12 page)

Lia glanced outside, where Flint was laughing with another male. “Why keep him in the pack then, if he wants your place?”

“You can’t have weak wolves beneath you and expect your pack to remain strong. If Kane and I fall, we know Flint is there to take our place. He could continue to lead the pack. Not quite as we might, but well enough that the pack would survive.

“The transition wouldn’t be easy,” Ronan continued. “Whenever there’s a vacant Alpha spot, things can get ugly fast. Don’t think Flint would go unchallenged. We’ve been without an Alpha female for some time, and the women are getting restless. Sequoia especially, as you may have noticed. She sees power, and she wants it. But it’s good to have strength in the pack. And we wouldn’t be deserving of the role of Alpha if we couldn’t keep our pack members in check.”

Lia pushed her food around her plate. Did she really have the strength to control Sequoia?

“Eat,” Ronan said. “And don’t look so glum. Don’t think that we want you to run the pack alone, your first day as our mate.”

“Oh.” Lia wasn’t quite able to keep the relief out of her voice. “So you’ll handle Sequoia?”

“We’ve done it so far, with only a few casualties.” Ronan winked. “Now eat your dinner.”

She tore off a chunk of meat, feeling much better as it slid into her belly. Ronan was with her, and everything would be okay.

Footsteps echoed over stone. Lia looked around just as Kane entered the room. He paused and glanced at her. She looked away quickly, and heard Kane’s retreating footfalls as he stalked out of the den.

Ronan frowned as he watched his brother go. “What was that about?”

Lia shrugged.

“I don’t understand. Why are you ignoring each other?”

“Does that bother you?” Lia rubbed her arms. Her damp shirt was growing cold. “You didn’t seem happy this morning when we were… together.”

He got up, pacing in a tight circle. “Of course I wasn’t happy. But I thought it would all be worth it if the two of you had at least bonded, if you didn’t hate each other.” Ronan stopped mid-stride. “He didn’t make you hate him, did he?”

“Well…” Lia thought about how Kane had told her to talk to him if she wanted to rut again, then left her crying in the middle of the forest.

Ronan swore. He sat beside her, digging his nails into the wood. “I’m sorry about this morning. I thought I could share anything with Kane. We’ve shared loss, triumph, leadership. But when I saw the two of you together, something inside me just snapped. When it comes to you, the wolf inside me doesn’t want to share. But I need to, for the good of the pack. The three of us need to strengthen our bonds, and become one.”

“I tried!” Lia blurted out. “I tried to get closer to Kane, and look what happened. We hurt you. Kane hurt me.”

Ronan laid his hand on hers. “He won’t hurt you again. I won’t allow it.”

She sighed. “You can’t prevent this kind of hurt, Ronan.”

“I’ll talk to him. You’ll see.” He rose.

“What, now?”

“When else?” He stood in the entrance, silhouetted in the fading light. “The three of us need to lead the pack, not fracture it. And we start now.”

She watched as he strode out and put a hand on Kane’s shoulder. The other Alpha stiffened, then relaxed slowly as he saw his brother. Ronan was speaking to him, just softly enough that Lia couldn’t hear. She thought about forming her ear to become a bat’s, but she was far too tired. The last time she had tried, she had slept for three days afterward. She didn’t want to lose three days. She wanted to spend time with Ronan.

Outside, Ronan had stopped speaking. He seemed like he was waiting for a response. Kane’s jaw was set, his mouth stretched in a taut line. He stared into the den. Into Lia. His gaze pierced her, and she forced herself not to flinch or turn away.

Kane looked back at Ronan and nodded. Then he walked away, out of sight.

Ronan returned to Lia’s side. “That’s settled, then.” He sat, picking up his meat.

“What’s settled?”

“You and Kane are going to check the other crossings tomorrow.” He ripped his meat apart, dripping juice onto his plate.

“And you’re coming with us, right?”

“No. Just you and Kane. I need you two to learn how to get along.”

Lia gaped at him. “After what just happened? You seriously want us to go alone?”

“Yes. Kane agrees. The two of you need to get to know each other, more than physically. And I need to learn to let you two go off alone. I have to trust you, and control myself. I just need practice.”

“Practice?” Lia sputtered. “Ronan, you already know that Kane and I don’t get along. And we won’t. Please don’t make me do this.”

“You aren’t part of our pack yet, but if you want what’s best for the pack, then you’ll do this.” He finished his meat in a few quick bites. “I told Kane to be on his best behavior. If he’s not, he’ll answer to me. But I’m also asking you to try your hardest to cooperate with him. You don’t answer to me, but I hope you’ll do that for me.”

Lia looked at her hands. “All right. Do we have to go now?”

“No, it’s getting dark. You’ll go at first light.” He glanced at her plate. “Finish your meal, and we’ll go out and sit by the bonfire.”

Once she’d eaten her fill, Ronan led her out of the den. The bonfire was already roaring, flames leaping high. On this night, the circled logs were filled with shifters who talked and laughed as they tore into their meals. Lia felt a moment of terror at the sheer number of them, already feeling their judging eyes on her. She should flee, run into her quiet corner of the den. Or at least find pants. But Ronan kept striding forward, and she didn’t want to leave his side. She hurried after him.

There didn’t seem to be any more space on the logs. Ronan gave two males a pointed look, and miraculously a large space opened up. He gestured for Lia to sit, then made himself comfortable beside her.

The night air was growing cold, though with the fire in front of her and Ronan to the side, Lia hardly noticed. And she may have been imagining the judging eyes, because no one seemed to be paying much attention to her. It was a relief, really. She relaxed into Ronan as the shifters continued their conversations around them. Flint was regaling his friends with a story of how he’d brought down a huge buck by himself, and Lark was acting out the time two packless shifters tried to seduce Dove and Cricket, not knowing Huck was right behind them.

Lulled by the warmth and hearty laughter, Lia began to doze. She only woke when she felt someone lift her off her feet.

“Ronan?” she murmured.

“Let’s get you to bed,” he said.

The logs were empty, and the fire had almost died. She laid her head on Ronan’s shoulder.

He carried her into the den, up a flight of stone steps.

“This is my room,” he said. “Kane’s is right next door, but there’s solid rock between us. He can’t hear us, and we can’t hear him.” Ronan laid her on a pile of furs. “Are you comfortable enough? I can bring up the straw mattress if you’d like.”

Lia curled up in the soft furs. It felt like she was lying on a cloud. She reached out to Ronan. “Come here.”

He lay down behind her, his chest against her back. He was so warm, so close to her.

“You feel so good like that,” she said.

“I do, do I?”

“Mmm.” She wriggled backwards, trying to get as near to him as possible. “You always feel good, though.”

“I could say the same to you.” He ran his fingers down her side, all the way to her hips. Hooking a finger under the hem, he pulled her shirt up toward her breasts.

Lia’s eyes were wide in the darkness. She wasn’t so sleepy now.

Ronan kissed her neck. “I don’t mean to bother you. I just can’t keep my hands off you. You feel so
good
.”

He slipped his hand under her shirt, cupping one of her breasts in his rough palm. He swirled his finger around until he came to her nipple, which hardened at his touch. Lia let out a shaky breath. She could feel his cock, firm against her flesh. He wanted her. But she wanted him more.

Letting out a small noise of desire, Lia pressed herself against him. She wanted him to take her, just as Kane had. That would make everything all right.

Ronan had his thumb and forefinger around the nub of her nipple. He rubbed them back and forth, the pressure light yet unrelenting. Lia moaned. She was his to command.

“You like that?” Ronan whispered. “What about this?” His fingers trailed down her stomach, scorching her skin. They moved between her legs, and she opened for him. Lia was already shaking with desire, her breaths coming fast. She could feel Ronan’s quick pulse through his cock. Hopefully he would take her soon. She wouldn’t be able to last much longer.

“You’re wet for me, aren’t you?”

He had found his way into her soft folds. Every touch of his stoked her fire, and soon she would be burning.

She could do no more than arch into him, press herself against his strong fingers. He made curling motions, long and slow, as if asking her to come closer. She would have, if there were any space between them. Her shoulder blades dug into his chest, and she could feel his muscles twitching.

His fingers continued, his strokes steady. It was almost maddening, the way his methodical motions were driving her wild. His barest movement could make her slick, make her twitch and spasm. He began rubbing harder, and drew forth a low moan from her. Lia couldn’t control it, and she didn’t want to. She wanted him to know what he was doing for her.

Her legs quaked. It was too much. Ronan needed to stop, or he would push her to the brink. Maybe he knew this from the way her muscles jerked, the way her breath hitched, because he seemed to push her harder. His fingers moved faster now, speeding up and down. Lia held on until she couldn’t take anymore. Crying out, she fell over the edge.

Safe in his arms, she let herself fall, through stars and rain and fire. Ronan didn’t stop until she was through, until the tremors died down and her breathing evened out. He held her for a long time, until everything was still again.

“Sleep now,” he said.

She turned to him. “Don’t you want me?”

“Always.”

“I don’t understand.” Lia pulled her shirt around her. “I thought we were just beginning.”

“We shouldn’t have gotten started. I said we would sleep tonight, no more. I’ve already broken my word.”

“I don’t mind,” Lia said.

“I do. I’ll finish what we’ve started on the full moon.”

“Please? Why won’t you take me now?”

“Part of being an Alpha is doing what’s best for the pack, not what I most desire.” His voice rumbled deep in his chest. “You need your rest. You and Kane leave at first light.”

He spoke with enough finality that she didn’t argue. It wasn’t long before his arm around her loosened, his breaths deepened, and he drifted away. Lia curled close to him. Though he’d left her satisfied, he’d also left a gaping hole inside her, one only he could fill. And it ached.

It was a long time before she fell asleep.

Chapter Three

“Get up.”

Lia woke to find Kane looming over her. Reflexively, she drew the furs up to her chest.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s get this over with.”

She turned, looking for Ronan, but he was gone. His spot was still warm.

“Here.” Kane tossed some clothes on the bed. “Lark found you some pants and a shirt. And,” he mumbled, “undergarments.”

Lia put them on under the covers. “Tell Lark I said thanks.”

Kane bristled. “Tell her yourself. I am no messenger.”

As she pulled the shirt over her head, Lia allowed herself a hideous scowl behind the fabric. So this was Kane on his best behavior? Wonderful. She would try to be polite, for Ronan’s sake, but Kane was right. It would be best if they got this over with.

She had just gotten finished dressing when he ripped the furs away.

“You’re ready. Come with me.”

Lia was too tired to argue, so she stumbled out of bed. She followed him down the stone steps and through the den. It wasn’t until they’d reached the entrance that she realized they wouldn’t be stopping.

“Can I bathe before we go?” she asked.

“No.” Kane marched forward, looking like nothing would stop him.

Lia jogged to catch up. “At least let me get some food.”

“If you’re hungry, I’ll catch something for you. Later.”

Lia glared at his handsome back. “Why are you doing this? Why can’t I have just ten minutes before we leave?”

He whirled around. “In case you haven’t noticed, it’s already an hour past first light. I allowed you to sleep in, but I see that I cut you a dangerous amount of slack. The world won’t wait on you, or cater to your whims. We leave now.” Kane continued on, not bothering to look back to see if she would follow.

She did, because she didn’t have a choice. Her stomach rumbled, but she did her best to ignore it. Once they checked the crossings, she could go back to Ronan.

Thanks to Kane’s grueling pace, they were out of the meadow in minutes. Lia hoped that the woods would slow him down, with their gnarled roots and low branches, but if anything he had quickened his pace.

He was several lengths ahead of her when he stopped abruptly, turning to look at her.

“You’re dawdling,” he said.

“This is as fast as I can walk!”

Idly, he tore a thick branch off a tree, snapping it in half. “If I’d been in my wolf form, I would have reached the crossing by now.”

“So go on your own, then. I’ll catch up.”

“You aren’t fit to be left alone. There are a hundred things that could kill you within one square mile.”

Lia drew up beside him, trying not to pant. “I can handle myself, if you recall.”

“If you’re referring to the night we met, the nettles were a good trick. But they didn’t stop me, and I barely had to walk to keep up with you. You’ll need more than nettles to stop a hungry mountain lion.”

She didn’t want to argue with him. Really, she just wanted to get back to the den and sleep some more.

“Are you going to walk so fast that you leave me behind to face mountain lions alone?” she asked Kane.

“No.” He frowned. “I’m going to be your Alpha. I will protect you.”