The Alpha's Onyx & Fire (2 page)

This time she wound down the window. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” he said quietly. “By the way, the name is Sage.”

“I’m Tessa.”

“Tessa. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Tessa.” He smiled at her, and her heart fluttered at how utterly gorgeous he was. “Do you need help finding your way to wherever it is you’re headed?”

His eyes never left hers, she felt trapped by them, and suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Damn, those eyes were mesmerizing. “Um, no thanks. I think I’ve got it from here.”

She tried hard not to let her attraction to the stranger show, but something about the way his lips twitched, and the amusement she saw in his eyes, let her know she hadn’t been too successful. He was handsome, and she couldn’t help it.

“Well, I’ll let you be on your way then. No sense in keeping the kids out in the cold longer than necessary.” He stepped back, giving her a nod. “I’ll see you around I’m sure, it’s a small town.”

Thanking him again, Tessa wound up the window and started the engine. She squinted through the windscreen as the snow began to fall thicker. Letting out a sigh of relief, she finally found the name of the street she had been looking for. Sunset Lane.

“Thank God,” she muttered.

Turning into the driveway of number seven, she followed it down the back of the property and to the three bedroom granny flat that would be there new home.

Placing the car in park, she twisted in her seat. “Okay, guys. We’re here.”

She smiled as she was met with cheers.

They clambered out of the vehicle and Tessa quickly made her way to the front door. Having already gotten the keys from her friend, Ella, she let them in, surprised to find the heat already turned on.

There was a handwritten note on the table by the door, and she picked it up to read.

Tessa,

I figured you and the children would be cold and hungry by the time you arrived, so there is lasagne ready to be heated in the fridge. I also turned the heat on. I hope you don’t mind.

I’ll be working late, so I will come by to introduce myself tomorrow. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.

S

Below was a phone number she assumed belonged to the Alpha.

“Wow.” She couldn’t believe how nice the man was.

Oliver came to stand behind her, reading the note over her shoulder. “Huh, nice guy. I’ll go heat the dinner up, did you need me to do anything else?”

“Let me check out the rooms to see what we need. I can bring some things in from the car, but the rest can wait until tomorrow. Just stay in here where it’s warm,” she instructed them all.

Wandering down the hall, she flipped on the light to the first room, frowning when she found it completely set up. A queen size bed sat in the middle of the room, fresh linen covering the beautiful mahogany furniture. A plush cornflower blue towel sat on the end that matched the curtains hanging. The room was simple, but homey. Further inspection showed that all three bedrooms were set up the same, ready to go. Tears pricked at the edges of her eyes at such a considerate gesture. After having her own family turn their backs on her, for a complete stranger to go to this much trouble was so much more than she could have ever expected.

She sighed. “Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.”

Heading back out into the living room, Tessa stumbled to a stop when she glanced at the letter again.

“Oh shit,” she whispered in shock.

The letter S suddenly stood out like a neon sign. How had she not realized before? S for Sage, the name of the Alpha, and the incredibly gorgeous man who had helped her find her way to town.

She had just met the freaking Alpha!

*****

Sage Ashcroft gritted his teeth against the cool winds blowing the falling snow. “Damn, it’s freezing.”

The fact the weather affected him at all was a testament to how cold it was. As a White Tiger shifter, the temperature rarely registered to him.

“You can say that again,” his brother, Chase muttered. “Why the hell are we out here anyway?”

He chuckled. “What’s wrong, little brother, the snow messing with your perfectly styled hair?”

Chase didn’t bother responding other than to flip him off and kept walking.

“And you know why,” he said seriously. “Aidan and his men keep encroaching on our territory. After the stunt they pulled with Summer and Evan I’m not putting up with it any longer.”

Aidan Morris led a group of misfit shifters a few hours north of New Hope Valley. Sage wouldn’t do the other man the honor of calling him Alpha. The man had no morals, and lacked any kind of leadership quality. As an Alpha himself, Sage didn’t understand how someone so cruel and vindictive could lead anyone. A few weeks back, Aidan had set a plan in motion, which involved his half-brother, Brad, attempting to rape Sage’s younger sister, Summer. When that failed, thanks to Summer’s mate, Evan, Brad returned one last time, trying to kidnap Summer and bring her to Aidan. All so their family could become part of this ridiculous prophesy.

His Pride had resided in New Hope from the moment it had been built, and there was no way in hell he was letting the likes of Aidan Morris to come in and hurt his people again. The man only brought trouble.

Bunching his jacket closer, he cursed the fact they couldn’t shift. Since they were so damn close to the line, Sage couldn’t do anything to provoke the bastard. Knowing Aidan, he’d run crying foul to their frigging council.

“So how long do we have to stay out here? And why?” Chase complained. “You’re the frigging Alpha, can’t you order someone else to do this shit?”

“That’s right, I’m the Alpha. I need to set an example.” He loved his brother dearly, but the man could whine better than any canine.

“Example, shmample,” his brother grumbled, kicking at the snow beneath his feet.

“Buck up, sunshine.” He slapped his brother on the back. “Rourke and Dominic should be here soon to take over.”

Sage continued to trudge through the mud and thick snow, thinking his two brothers, and Betas, couldn’t get here soon enough, if for no other reason than to shut Chase up.

“What has you in such a great mood anyway?” Chase asked, narrowing his gaze on him. “There is no way you’re this happy to be traipsing around the woods at this time of night, and in this weather. So what gives?”

He couldn’t contain his grin. “I found my mate.”

Chase halted in his tracks, mouth gaping wide. “And you're just telling me this now! Why the hell aren’t you with her? Where did you meet her? When do I get to meet her? Dude, start spilling.”

“Whoa,” he chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. “I only just met her. She was lost and I helped her find her way into town.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you aren’t with her right now, getting all sexed up,” his brother snorted.

“No, but that right there explains why you don’t have a girlfriend,” he drawled, rolling his eyes at the other man.

“Why would I want a girlfriend? Or boyfriend?” Chase scoffed. “No way do I want to risk having one if I meet my mate.”

He winced. His brother had him there. They had seen the mess first hand with their cousin, Tony. Damn, that had been unpleasant to watch.

“Besides it’s not like I can just walk up to her and tell her she is my mate. She’s human.”

Human and had a lot of responsibilities. The moment Tessa had stepped out of her car, he knew she was his. Her chocolate brown eyes had stared back at him, framed by her flame like red hair and he had momentarily forgotten how to breathe. When he had finally dragged air back into his lungs he had smelt the children. Tessa had then asked for directions to New Hope, and he realized he was not only staring into the extraordinary big brown eyes of his mate, but his new tenant.

Well, at least I made sure things were ready for them. Should earn me some brownie points.

“So how do you plan to tell her?” Chase raised a brow. “You’re going to have to at some point. I mean, how close did you get to her? Has the mating heat kicked in?”

“No, of course not,” he growled. He would never take away his mate’s choices like that. Even a kiss could lead to the mating heat being initiated, a tug on the lips, breaking of the skin. No, he would be careful not to force her into anything.

“Sorry,” Chase said quickly. “You know sometimes it can happen without meaning to. When a pair are so compatible it happens naturally.”

Sage laughed. “They’re old wives tales, little brother. Don’t tell me you believe in that? A mating will only begin if it is initiated by one of them through an exchange of blood.”

Chase shook his head. “How can you not? It has happened. Granted not for a long time, but still...”

Fairy-tale. That’s all they were. But if his brother really felt the need to believe in them, then Sage would let him.

He opened his mouth to say something when he suddenly heard a snapping sound. “Someone’s coming.”

Tilting his head to the sky, he took a deep breath. Rourke and Dominic. A few minutes later his brothers broke through the tree line.

“Hey, big brother, sorry we’re late,” Dominic said as they approached. “Rourke took a little longer to make himself pretty.”

“Oh, fuck off,” the other man chuckled, punching Dominic in the arm.

He chuckled. “All right. Break it up. I’m freezing my arse off here, and I want to get going.”

“Got a date or something?” Rourke asked, raising a brow

He saw Chase grin, and knew his secret was out. “He’s got a mate.”

“Holy shit! Seriously?” Dominic asked in astonishment. “Congrats, man.”

“Yeah, damn. Alpha’s got a mate. That shouldn't take long to get around.” Rourke thumped him on the back. “Who is she, and where is she? Or is it a he? Whatever, details.”

Chase was quick with the answer. “She’s human.”

“Should I just take out an ad, or leave that to you?” he asked, rolling his eyes at his brother.

Chase seemed almost as excited as he was. “Oh, come on. You found your mate. Sure, she’s human, so you have that whole explaining thing to do, but this is a time of celebration.”

“You’re right,” he conceded. “And it helps that she’ll be living so close.”

“True,” Chase said. “The town isn’t that large, so she can’t live far.”

He chuckled. “Oh, she’s even closer than that. My mate is Ella’s friend, Tessa.”

All three men gaped at him.

Unsurprisingly, Chase was the first to speak up. “Seriously? The woman who just moved into the apartment behind your house, is your mate?”

“Yep.”

“Wait,” Rourke said, holding his hand up. “Doesn’t she have, like...five kids or something?”

“No. They are her brothers and sisters.” He shrugged. “Not that I’d care either way. She’s my mate.”

Dominic laughed. “So the mighty Alpha has fallen.”

“Watch it,” he grumbled good-naturedly.

“I’ve got a question,” Chase said.

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t you normally.”

“Well, yeah, but this is different,” Chase said with a shrug. “If she’s Ella’s friend, then it’s safe to say she knows about us, but the real question is does she know about mates?”

That there was the multi-million dollar question, he didn’t have the answer to. He had forgotten Ella had told Tessa about them, so at least he didn’t have to face that, but still, there was the whole mates thing. “I’m going to call Ella, see what she has told Tessa. I’ll figure it out from there.”

Sage sure as hell hoped she knew what it meant. Would make his life a hell of a lot easier.

He had a mission in front of him. He not only had to help Tessa adjust to her whole life being turned upside down by her parents, but now he was about to do it to her all over again when he told her she was his mate and what that meant. Shouldn't be too hard though, right?

“Ah, fuck.”

Chapter Two

Tessa sighed in relief as she lifted her legs to rest on the ottoman in front of her. The ache and strain from the drive finally setting in now the four youngest were in bed asleep, only her seventeen year old brother, Oliver left to keep her company.

“You look like you could pass out,” he said, taking a seat on the lounge opposite her.

She groaned. “I feel like it, but I still have to unload everything from the car that we’ll need in the morning.”

“Can’t it wait? The Alpha seems to have set things up here.”

“True. I just want the kids to feel settled, you know.” She shrugged. “I figure if they can wake up and find familiar things around the house, it might make it feel more like home for them.”

Her five younger siblings had been through hell lately, and she wanted nothing more than to make everything better. Tessa knew she couldn’t take away the pain her parents had caused before and after their deaths, but she had to try. What kind of big sister was she if she didn’t?

As if reading her mind, Oliver shook his head. “You know none of us blame you, right?”

“I know.” Even to her own ears she lacked conviction.

Oliver gave her a look as though he thought she was a lost cause. “No, you don’t. But I love you anyway.”

“Shut it, twerp,” she muttered, pegging a cushion at him.

Mouthy little thing
.

Her brother dodged the flying object, chuckling at her. “On that note, I’m going to bed. And don’t worry about the rest of our stuff. It’s freezing outside and it can wait.”

Dropping a kiss to her forehead, her too-mature-for-his-own-good little brother shuffled down the hall to the room he was sharing with their brother, Bailey.

“Don’t worry? Easier said than done,” she whispered to herself.

Forcing herself up and out of the comfortable chair, Tessa lifted her arms and stretched, letting out a yawn. She knew Oliver was right, and the bags and extra belongings could wait until morning, but it wasn’t like she would be going to bed anytime soon. Sleep had become a treasured commodity Tessa had given up on. With her eight-year-old brother, Jay, waking up with bad dreams in the middle of the night and the five-year-old, Ryder, waking up at the crack of dawn, Tessa knew she would only be woken up in a few hours.