Claiming a Beta Coyote

by Serenity Snow

  Kyra took a sip of her wine. “It must be nice having that.”

  “Family? Pack?”

  “Both,” Kyra said, thinking of Wes. She was getting tired of being a nomad, tired of being under his control. He was like a big brother to her in so many ways, and she just wanted to break away and live her own life.

  However, she felt stuck, bound to them knowing there was no place else out there that would accept someone as broken as her.

  “You said you were in contact with them,” Claudia said with a frown.

  “I work for them,” Kyra said and dug into her meal.

  Neither of them spoke for a long time as they ate. Both women were lost in thought.

  When they finished with their meal, Claudia paid the ticket, and they headed for the door.

  “Things are getting a little off track,” Claudia said as she opened the door for Kyra.

  Kyra stepped out before looking over her shoulder at her. Claudia saw a question in her eyes.

  She let the door close and fell into step with Kyra, putting a hand on her back. Her emotions were rioting which was a change for her. Well, since she’d met Kyra. No woman had ever so held the attention of human and animal as this woman.

  Claudia wanted her in her life and she knew that’s why she’d been so angry with Kyra earlier. She couldn’t believe she was just going to leave after the incredible sex they’d shared.

  “What do you mean, off track?” Kyra asked looking up at her.

  “I’m crazy,” she said. “I never do things like this—never wanted to do anything like this. When I became alpha, my entire world became pack. Being mayor just happened on a dare more or less, but I enjoy it most days. It’s similar to running a pack.”

  Kyra snorted. “Right.”

  “The point is I’ve never been as interested in a woman as I am in you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Kyra stopped walking to face her fully. Claudia was surprised by the shock in her face and reached out to cup her jaw.

  “It’s not just how hot a dancer you are,” she murmured. “Or how attractive you are, Kyra, that turns me on.”

  “What is it then?” she asked curiously.

  “You. The way you are. I like the way you say my name, the way you look at me, and the fact you stand up to me,” she said. “I like how you make me feel.”

  Kyra blinked, and Claudia groaned inwardly for saying so much. She didn’t do attachment or emotions mostly because she didn’t think she had the time, but also because she’d always been slightly afraid despite her comfort with her own body.

  Claudia had long accepted and kept in a place in the back of her mind that no woman would ever want to be with her long term. She was an alpha with a complicated job and she had distasteful parts—a dick.

  What woman would want that every day of her life?

  “How do I make you feel?” Kyra asked carefully.

  Claudia sighed. “Let’s just go.”

  “No. Tell me,” Kyra said, desperation in her eyes.

  They were serenaded by howls as she opened her mouth to speak. The sound almost beautiful as it was eerie in the dark.

  “Shit,” Claudia muttered. “Let’s get to the bike,” she said and glanced around.

  Kyra didn’t argue, which told Claudia she was either relieved or didn’t want to risk a confrontation either. Shadows seemed to encroach and the lamps that normally lit the lot were out in most places leaving only a scant bit of illumination.

  Her animal snarled at the idea that someone—no not someone—Forbes had engineered this attack to prove his strength and show her who was boss.

  Kyra pulled up short before reaching the bike as two jackals came around the bumper of a truck.

  “Don’t make this a problem,” Claudia said coldly. “Get out of here before you’re facing time for attacking the mayor.”

  ****

  Kyra exhaled as two more jackals sauntered around the front of the car and the quartet stared at them before launching themselves at them.

  Kyra instinctively raised her arms in a block and they slammed into a shield of golden energy and staggered back, whining.

  Claudia looked at her. “Interesting light show.”

  “Thanks.” Kyra nodded and released the shield.

  One jackal recovered faster than the others and came at them again. Claudia braced her legs wide and caught the animal. The momentum carried them to the ground, and the others descended on Kyra.

  Kyra backed toward the pier, drawing the cold air into her lungs. The animal inside her surged forward. She felt it shifting inside her, filling the human cells without changing her form, as it prepared to attack.

  A jackal leaped at her, followed by one going around behind her. Kyra sent out an arc of golden energy. The light smashed into the jackal even as its buddy bit her leg from behind. Kyra let out a scream of pain and the third animal banged into her leg knocking her off balance.

  As she stumbled, it jumped up, paws on her shoulders, it snapped its teeth, just missing her nose. Behind her, she was bitten in the back and let out a harsh breath as twin rays shot from her eyes into the jackal’s. They filled with light, turned red, and the pupils pulsed.

  The one in front fell away with a howl of pain, and Kyra shook the animal on her back loose before whipping around to throw a lighted ball at it. The jackal dodged it and leaped toward her. She stepped out of the way avoiding the takedown.

  The heavy thwack behind her had her turning to find Claudia taking out the animal’s throat in a swift and efficient move. Blood spit out on his coat and stained her cheeks. Her silvery eyes were winter frost, the silver flecks like snowflakes.

  Claudia dropped the animal at her feet and it became human quickly and convulsed before them. Kyra gasped. She’d never seen a snow coyote kill, let alone the power of an alpha.

  Claudia was reaching into the pocket of her now blood-stained leather jacket and jerking out her cell phone. Kyra watched the man’s face frost over lightly as he finally stopped moving.

  “Come on.” Claudia took her hand and pulled Kyra to the bike. “Tires are flat,” she muttered. “That bastard Forbes had to be behind this.”

  Her tone held a promise of retribution that snapped Kyra out of her fog. “Do you think it was him?”

  “Those punks focused on you,” she said, anger lighting her eyes. “He more or less threatened your life if I didn’t fall in line.” She pulled her phone from her pocket.

  Had to be that since the man hadn’t seen her, and in her light form, she gave off no scent whatsoever.

  “Delgado, I need a tow for the bike and a pick-up for me and my woman.”

  Kyra drew in light and focused her attention on the bites. Heat surged through her, coalescing on the wounds to heal her. It was an ability that took training, and she had to be careful with the sunlight and know just how much to infuse herself with or she’d do more harm than good.

  “Okay?” Claudia asked turning to Kyra. Her eyes were filled with concern as they took Kyra in. “Do you need medical attention?”

  Kyra shook her head. She was in some pain from the bites, but she would heal. “No. I’m good. It’s not that bad.”

  “Are you sure? Let me check.”

  “No,” Kyra told her, stepping away from her. She knew how her back and leg would look. The cells moving around the skin knitting itself together was … interesting.

  “Kyra—”

  “I promise.” Kyra gave her a smile. “I’ve never seen any shifter do that.”

  Claudia shrugged. “We all have our strengths.” She wiped blood from her mouth as footsteps raced toward them.

  “What happened?” a male voice demanded.

  “Some dogs attacked,” Claudia commented as she slid an arm around Kyra and pulled her against her possessively. “You might want to call the chief, but I doubt if he’ll come running. He’s being weighed down by that big stick that’s been suddenly shoved up his ass.”

  The man grunt
ed and cast a look around the lot. “He won’t be too happy with this mess, and you’re lucky I kept the human customers inside.”

  “Right,” Claudia muttered. “Just take care of this, Rod.”

  The man stomped away, and Claudia growled, her hand clenching in Kyra’s shirt.

  Kyra looked up at her, finding rage etched in her face.

  “That jerk, Forbes,” Claudia said. “He’ll regret dragging me into his fight with Sam and Mallory.”

  “That was a message,” Kyra said.

  “A badly delivered one,” she growled. “I’m going to have to send him a reply as soon as I get the chance.”

  Not if she beat her to it, Kyra thought darkly. He was a coward for not coming to kill them himself.

  Claudia started to speak but stopped as a truck glided into the lot and stopped a short distance from them. A siren screamed in the distance and Claudia shook her head.

  “Someone’s coming to take the bike away,” Delgado said from out the window. “You wanna hop in?”

  “No. Not yet. Jenner’s sending someone to deal with this mess. He’ll want to talk.”

  “Gotcha,” he said, and his gaze drifted to her. Kyra saw him checking her out.

  “Are you especially attached to your eyes, Delgado?” Claudia asked in an icy tone.

  He quickly looked away with a hint of a smirk. “I’ll ride in back,” he said.

  “In the bed, since you can’t control your wandering eyes,” Claudia told him. “You’re one of my favorite packmates, and I’d hate to blind you when this could have been easily avoided.”

  “I hear ya.” He cut the engine and climbed out. His gaze went to Kyra’s face and Claudia grabbed his shirt and shoved him into the side of the truck.

  “She’s mine, Del,” she said coldly and the air around them seemed to get colder. “Don’t forget it. Kyra, get in the truck.”

  Kyra started to protest, but Claudia growled at her, the chilled air dropping another degree to Kyra’s surprise. Kyra stared at her, shock cutting through her.

  Claudia wasn’t just putting on a show, she was publicly staking a claim, or her coyote was. Her own animal recognized the behavior for what it was, but the human side of her shot Claudia a glare before getting into the truck.

  Delgado moved away from the vehicle, and Kyra marveled at his speed and the power his alpha had over him. Was that the kind of woman she really needed to be involved with, even superficially?

  No, but she wanted to be. Wes cared for her, but Claudia’s animal would never betray her, would die for her. Wes was no longer capable of that with Ava and her child now part of his personal pack.

  As the police pulled into the lot, Delgado came to stand on Kyra’s side of the truck. He looked in, his gaze curious.

  “I guess you’re the one,” he said.

  “One?” Kyra asked curiously.

  “Claudia never gets possessive over a woman,” he said quietly. “She’s never given off that cold mystique either. I’ve heard about it happening to coyotes like her. They increase in power when it happens.”

  “You’re imagining things,” Kyra replied. She didn’t need to hear the word. That would make it real—too real, and she wouldn’t be able to hide from it.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Claudia woke the next morning to a sliver of light coming in through the window. It landed on her face and the scent of rich coffee permeated the air.

  She groaned and rolled over and the events of last night played through her mind. The attack and the mere officer in blue Jenner had sent to write up the incident report. He’d treated her with a marked lack of respect.

  That damned wolf.

  If Jenner thought that was going to win him any prizes with her, he damned well had another thought coming. They all fucking did. She wasn’t going to be backed into a corner or intimidated.

  Claudia threw back the covers and climbed from the twin bed, missing her own firm queen with its curved headboard. They were going to the den tonight, she decided.

  Well, she was. She couldn’t force Kyra to do anything she didn’t want to. Besides, she’d made it clear she was leaving very soon. The very thought cut, making Claudia wince at the pain. There had never been a woman…

  Kyra was probably more than happy to get away from not only this small town, but her too.

  “Claudia?” Kyra called and rapped on the closed door.

  “Come in.”

  Kyra pushed open the door, appearing in a camisole and shorts so short they barely covered anything at all. Her golden-red hair, lush curls that tumbled around her shoulders. Her full pink lips were slightly parted, and her whiskey eyes were a warm inviting pool that Claudia wanted to dive into.

  “You didn’t tell me what time you needed to be up,” Kyra said.

  Claudia glanced around for a clock. “Uh, I need to leave by nine. I have a ten o’clock meeting.”

  “It’s 8:00.”

  She swept her gaze over Kyra who stood there with a hand on the doorframe looking a bit indecisive. “What is it?” Claudia asked.

  “Did you still want me to work for you?”

  “I thought you were leaving soon,” she said swinging her legs off the mattress.

  “I could hang around a while. I mean, I won’t need to be back right away,” Kyra said. “Even with the Russos out of the way, you guys might need an extra hand getting rid of Shadow.”

  “Is that it?” Claudia asked as she stood. “You don’t have to stick around just for that. We’ll find a way to handle them without you. Just tell me what you know about them.”

  Kyra gave her a one-shoulder shrug, but there was something in her eyes that gave Claudia hope that she knew she had no right grasping at.

  This was fleeting or should be and the power blooming inside her, the strengthening of her animal was temporary. She knew that was a lie even as the thoughts formed.

  “Delgado brought you a garment bag and a car.” Kyra broke the silence.

  “Great. You did have on a robe when you answered the door, didn’t you?” she asked sharply, though she’d meant to sound teasing.

  “I’m not ashamed of my body, Claudia,” she replied coolly.

  Claudia growled. Her animal snarled in rage at Kyra’s outright rejection of it.

  “Get me the suit,” she ordered through gritted teeth.

  “Come get it yourself,” Kyra snapped and whirled around to leave.

  Claudia caught her before she got two steps and jerked Kyra around to face her. Staring down at her, she gripped Kyra’s jaw and forced her head up so their eyes met.

  “Damn, you’ve got me so crazy right now,” Claudia said roughly as she pressed closer to Kyra. “I know you don’t really understand the dynamics of pack or even—fuck it.” She released her quickly as she struggled to pull the animal back. “I’m out of line. I apologize. Where’s my suit?”

  Kyra ran her hand up her arm, and Claudia closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath.

  “Sweetie, I can’t take that right now. I’m in heat.” She was in the worst kind of heat. She’d go into a freaking rage if Kyra stayed in town much longer and didn’t at least stay away from other women.

  “Tell me what’s going on with you,” Kyra said. “You’ve been aggressive before, but this is different.”

  Her voice was soft, so soft a plea, Claudia looked at her. “I’m in heat that’s all. It’ll pass.”

  “I know, but it’s just starting so you shouldn’t be this grouchy.”

  Claudia laughed, and Kyra’s hand wandered down to rest on her hip. Claudia leaned into her, the coyote aching to be near Kyra. “You can’t talk. You’re snarky just for the hell of it, at least with me.”

  “Does being close to me do that to you?”

  She looked up, suppressing her fear. “I’m in heat. The smell of a pretty woman can have that effect.” Claudia was aroused and it was worse when she was in heat. Normally, she didn’t wake up with a hard-on, but that time of the month was a game-chan
ger.

  She backed up. “I better get ready.”

  “I don’t think you’re a freak,” Kyra said quietly, moving with her.

  “My dick is an interesting thing, but for how long, Kyra? I can’t just take it off when you get grossed out by it.”

  Kyra laughed, transforming her face into one of true amusement. “You’re a little self-conscious about that thing, aren’t you?” Kyra said coming to a stop toe-to-toe with Claudia.

  The look on her face turned to hunger and her voice was low and breathless to Claudia’s surprise.

  “No.”

  “Yeah, you are, but you don’t have to be with me.” Kyra gave her a wicked grin. “I loved every inch of it inside me.”

  Claudia snorted.

  “You make me crazy, too,” Kyra told her. “So crazy leaving is the last thing on my mind.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Claudia’s pulse beat faster. But this was dangerous. As long as she didn’t get any closer to Kyra she could get past her leaving. If she didn’t mate her, she could let her go.

  “We’re adults,” Kyra said in a husky tone. “Sex doesn’t change the course of a day.”

  “No.” Not normally.

  Kyra ran her hands up Claudia’s chest. “My mind has been so full of you since last night. I don’t think I’ve gotten enough of you yet.” She brushed her lips along the corner of Claudia’s mouth.

  Claudia shuddered at the contact and closed her arms around Kyra, crushing her to her. Their mouths met, and Claudia saw sparks as Kyra’s tongue darted into her mouth to tangle with hers.

  Claudia took over the kiss, her tongue slightly rough against Kyra’s as it tangled with hers, glided against hers, and plundered hungrily. Kyra closed her arm around Claudia’s neck, wanting to be closer to her to feel her skin against skin.

  Her body was on fire, need snaking through her fast and hard.

  Claudia’s fingers slid through the mass of curls as she traced kisses along Kyra’s jaw, nipping at her skin. Kyra moaned, running her hand up Claudia’s side beneath the tank she’d worn to bed. She glided her hand around and up her back, scratching.