Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (16 page)

She stood, a warm breeze promising of summer ruffling her hair. She was going to keep the pack together. She would assume that the prophecy was correct, and that everything would be fine tomorrow. Lia wouldn’t let anything happen to Kane or Ronan. Together they had strategy and strength, and the pack needed both. She was going to wait for Delirium to claim them, and see what unfolded. Hopefully no one would die.

It seemed like a lot to ask for.

***

“Almost sundown,” Ronan said. “Shall we?”

Wordlessly, Kane got up to join him.

“Don’t worry,” Ronan said, “we’ll be back in time for dinner.” He tried not to worry about that far-off look in Kane’s eyes, the one that told him Kane was elsewhere at the moment. Ronan knew his brother must be thinking of tomorrow, though Ronan tried not to. He didn’t want to consider that Kane might turn on him, that Ronan might end up fighting for his life. A month ago, he wouldn’t have thought it was possible. But Lia had changed everything.

He watched her, sitting in the fire’s glow. Orion was on her left, Lark on her right. She would be safe, but that didn’t mean he wanted to leave her.

“She’ll be here when we get back,” Kane said.

Ronan raised an eyebrow.

“I’m pretty sure she will be,” Kane amended.

A taste like bile rose in Ronan’s throat. He remembered how it had felt before, the wrenching emptiness. Lia couldn’t leave. She wouldn’t.

Taking a breath, he quelled the panic within him. “Let’s go,” Ronan said. He didn’t want time to change his mind. They’d be back soon enough.”

“Where are you off to?” Sequoia pressed against his back.

Ronan stiffened. “It’s not your concern.”

“Everything you do is my concern.” She draped an arm over his chest.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lia sit straighter. Her eyes reflected the flames, and he wondered whether she could shoot them at Sequoia.

“Can I come with you?” Sequoia purred.

“You’re on sentry duty,” Ronan said. “You tell me.”

He reached to brush off her arm, but she drew back before he could. She let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Why can’t we go back to the way things used to be?”

Ronan lowered his voice. “Maybe you shouldn’t have lied to me.”

“To us,” Kane added.

“Like I’m the only one with a shitty family,” Sequoia said. “You’re ones to judge.”

Kane advanced on her, but Ronan pushed him back.

“The bridge,” he said, straining to keep Kane in check. “We need to fix the bridge.”

“No one calls her shitty,” Kane growled at Sequoia. “I’ll make you pay.”

“Not tonight,” Ronan begged. “Delirium’s tomorrow,” he whispered. “Lia needs us.”

Kane’s muscles went slack. “All right. But I don’t want to see her,” he pointed at Sequoia, “for the rest of the night.”

“Do your duty, sentry.” Ronan nodded toward the den. “Get to the heights, and stay there.”

Sequoia pouted, but complied. They watched her go, making sure she didn’t create any more trouble on the way. Ronan relaxed once she was out of sight. Sometimes she seemed like more trouble than she was worth.

Kane stalked off into the meadow. “No more delays. Let’s get to the bridge.”

Ronan followed, waving to Lia as they left. She didn’t see him, as she was frowning in the direction Sequoia had gone. He had to suppress a grin. She wasn’t actually jealous, was she? Couldn’t she see that no one compared to her?

He and Kane shifted, racing toward the crossing. Ronan reveled in the wind blowing through his fur, the feel of the earth against his paws. He kept up with Kane easily, not passing him only because that would put Kane in a sour mood.

Ronan looked up at the moon, a sliver away from being full. The wolf inside him wanted to turn, to race back to the fire and claim Lia now, to fight Kane off if necessary. He could be the lone Alpha at last.

Somehow, he kept himself from turning back. He stayed level with Kane, though when his brother glanced at him, Ronan was flooded with memories of leaping for his throat. As soon as the crossing was in sight, he shifted back to human form. He bent, hands on his thighs as the urge to bite and claw subsided.

“You all right?” Kane called from the edge of the bank.

“Yeah. Just got a stitch in my side.” Ronan walked forward, relieved that his murderous thoughts had dissipated. Looking into the river, he surveyed the damage.

“Should we use the same tree?” he asked.

Kane shrugged. “It can’t have been in the water that long.”

“We can cut off the roots later in the season.”

“Or make Flint do it.”

Ronan grinned. “I like the way you think.” He jumped into the river. “I’ll get the bottom half if you take the top.”

Kane splashed in without a complaint. Ronan felt a surge of affection for him. If something really needed to be done, he could count on Kane to help. And they never argued or got in each other’s way on projects like this. They worked together instinctively. Ronan grabbed the roots, looking at Kane. He was glad he hadn’t sliced his throat.

“Ready?” he asked.

Kane grunted affirmation.

“Go.”

The log on his shoulder, Kane clawed his way up the bank. Ronan pushed the roots after him, trying to take some of the weight off Kane.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Ronan said. “You were right. I shouldn’t have taken Lia hunting.”

Kane heaved the trunk up so that it rested on the grass above. “Of course I was right. She’ll be a shifter soon, she can hunt then. Or at least defend herself with teeth and claws. But if you want to kill our mate before we claim her, be my guest.”

Together, they shoved the tree onto the far bank. Kane scrambled up after it, standing on its end to keep it from falling back.

In a single bound, Ronan was beside him. “She’ll be a shifter tomorrow,” he said. “As long as she doesn’t die.”

“What do you mean?” Kane bristled as they pushed the tree until the other end rested firmly on the opposite bank. He looked at Ronan, chest heaving. “You don’t think she’ll survive the Bite?”

“She might not live through two.”

Kane jumped down to the river, rinsing off sweat. “Of course she will. She’s strong.”

“Most people don’t survive one.” Ronan joined Kane in the river, looking him in the eye. He wanted Kane to know he was serious.

Kane rinsed his face. “Fine. One of us will bite her. Let me guess, you think it should be you.”

“You already had the privilege of… deflowering her.”

“But you want to claim her?”

Ronan pinned him with a stare. “You didn’t already?”

Kane was silent for a long moment. “Fine. I’ll try not to bite her.”

“Don’t try not to. Just don’t. If Lia dies, you will too.”

“All right,” Kane said. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

That didn’t sound very reassuring, but there wasn’t much more Ronan could do. The sky had turned navy, and stars were bursting to life. He had one more night, at least, before everything changed. Climbing up the bank, he made his way back toward the den. And Lia.

***

Lia could hear her heart thudding in her ears. A hush fell over the pack as the sun sank below the trees. All the shifters had gathered in the den. No one dallied outside or sat around the fire tonight. The air was charged with energy. The pack held its collective breath as they waited for the moon to rise.

Beside her, Lark pointed. The moon swelled on the horizon, full to bursting with light.

Delirium was upon them.

Lia looked back at Ronan and Kane. The Alphas turned to her, their eyes glowing gold. Ronan stepped forward, and Kane snarled at him. Planting his feet, Ronan crouched low, bracing for a fight.

Lia’s heart beat crazily. Should she stop them? Step between them? They could shift to wolves at any moment, and she didn’t want to get in the way of their teeth. But she also couldn’t let them tear each other apart.

“Ronan?” she said tentatively. “Kane?”

They didn’t seem to hear her. They were circling each other now, searching for any hint of weakness. Lia didn’t like the way they were eyeing each other. It was like they had forgotten they were brothers.

Sequoia sauntered up to Ronan, leaning into him and stroking his face. She attempted to kiss him, but he brushed her off impatiently. Kane stayed on the balls of his feet, looking for any opening to take Ronan off guard. Ronan lowered his head, lip curled back in a snarling challenge. Neither of them was going to back down.

It seemed the pack had lost control of their urges. Dove, Cricket, and Huck were tangled together in a corner, trading kisses on both kinds of lips, not caring that everyone could see. Ivy and Clove were twined with Orion. He had both of them on the floor moaning, his hands working over their flesh. Sequoia had found solace in the arms of a shifter named Duke. From the way she was kissing him, tongue deep in his mouth, it seemed she had already forgotten about Ronan.

Lia watched Kane and Ronan, hoping they’d come to their senses. She realized that a loose ring of shifters had formed around the three of them, though she didn’t know why. Kane lunged at Ronan, stopping just short of him. Ronan looked at him coolly, without even flinching. They seemed to have forgotten her. They were blind to everything except the unspoken challenge that hung between them.

The sound of footfalls made her look up sharply. Flint was approaching, his eyes hungry. Lia took a step back. Could he bite her, and keep her from Ronan and Kane? From the gleam in his eyes, she could tell that’s what he intended.

She looked around, but no one seemed able to help her. They had all been swept away by Delirium, and were held under its thrall. Huck had Cricket on her knees, and Dove was too busy watching them to be concerned with Lia. Lark was nowhere to be found.

“Lia…”

She whirled. “Oh, thank goodness. Can you guys help me with the Alphas?”

But Fox and Dash didn’t seem to hear her. In fact, they had that same unnerving look in their eyes that Flint had.

Lia backed up as far as she could, but the three shifters were closing in. Soon, it wouldn’t matter if one of the Alphas conceded to the other. It would be too late.

“Ronan! Kane!”

They snapped their heads around, fixing her with their golden eyes. They scanned the three approaching shifters, growling low. Sharing a look, they nodded.

Ronan snapped at Fox and Dash, who retreated without a fight. Kane pounced on Flint, and they rolled across the stone. Sequoia broke away from Duke to claw at them as they passed. Lia realized with amazement that she wasn’t targeting Kane, but Flint. It seemed Sequoia didn’t like being seen as second best. On the other side of the den, Lark was welcoming Fox and Dash with open arms.

Ronan pulled Lia onto the dais. The rock was covered with plush furs, and she sank into them. Ronan ripped off her threadbare shirt, tossing it aside. Instinctively, Lia covered herself. She was naked in the middle of the den. But, looking around, it was clear that no one noticed. The shifters were otherwise occupied, and no one spared her a second glance. Kane patrolled around the base of the dais in his wolf form, ready to defend them.

“It’s just you and me,” Ronan said, “and it’s time, at last.” He ran his hands over her skin, buried his face in her breasts. “I want you,” he murmured. “I’ve always wanted you.”

“Take me, then,” she whispered.

His eyes flashed. It was like he let himself give in to Delirium. He might have been holding himself in check, but no more. He lay Lia down, making sure her head was cradled by fur. Lowering himself onto her, he kissed her neck possessively. He was already hard for her. Lia moaned in anticipation. She had wanted him so badly all those nights ago, when he had teased her. She wanted him even more now.

Instinctively, she pressed her hips into his. He growled, gripping her shoulders. She could tell that they would be bruised by morning, but she didn’t care. She needed him. His scent alone was making her wet. Opening her legs for him, she begged him with her eyes to take her.

Sliding down, he spread her thighs. Running a finger through her slickness, he sent her spine tingling.

“You’re wet for me,” he said. “But I can make you wetter.”

“What are you—”

But he had already lowered his head, tongue ready. She gasped as she felt its heat. It seemed to pierce the center of her. Her hips bucked, but he just held her legs more firmly. Throwing her head back, she gasped for air. Ronan parted her folds, licking her languidly at first, then more urgently. She was completely at his mercy. Her legs twitched and jerked, and the rest of her was racked with spasms.

When she caught her breath, she found Ronan staring at her, the strangest expression on his face. He ran a hand over her hip.

“How are you so beautiful?” he asked.

She hoped the moonlight made it hard to see how much she was blushing.

“Come here,” he said gently. He kissed her once, then rolled her on top of him. Lia swept her hair out of her eyes.

“Ride me,” he commanded.

Her breaths were shallow and fast as she positioned herself over his cock. He was so large, so thick. Her thighs trembled as she lowered herself onto him. Ronan had made her so slick that he slid in easily. She let out a ragged cry as he thrust in to the hilt. His fingers were light on her hips, and he stayed still until her legs stopped shaking.

His golden eyes drank her in. Tightening his grip on her, he raised her up slowly. His cock almost slid out of her, and she let out a small noise of protest. Grinning, he set her back down, and she moaned as he filled her again. He continued, moving her hips up and down, slowly speeding the pace. It was like she weighed no more than a feather.

Soon her breasts were bouncing. She could tell he liked it, as she could feel his cock twitch inside her. Arching her back, she circled her nipple with the tip of her finger. Ronan let out a growl. He made her ride him harder, until her flesh was slapping against him. She had to stop touching herself, as the feeling of him pulsing inside her had rendered her incapable of thought or movement. Before long, he had her keening.