Claiming Her Mates: Book One

by Dia Cole

  He rubbed his jaw and nodded.

  I glared up at Liam. “How dare you attack him!”

  Liam glanced down at my naked body and swallowed hard. “He was taking advantage of you after we all swore not to touch you.” He let out a rumbling growl and swung his menacing glare back at Mason.

  I laid my hand on Liam’s broad chest feeling the thundering of his heart against his tight knit shirt. “He didn’t take advantage of me.”

  “She ordered me,” Mason gasped, stumbling to his feet. “I couldn’t resist her compulsion.”

  Liam froze. “Is that true?”

  Confused, I looked between the two of them. “I-I told him to touch me.”

  “She doesn’t yet know her power,” a deep voice said from the doorway.

  We all turned to see Gabriel leaning against the doorframe.

  The dark-haired man was dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans and looked good enough to eat. “Leave us,” he ordered the other men.

  Neither Liam nor Mason looked happy, but they followed his order and strode from the room. Based on the dark looks Liam gave Mason, he still wasn’t happy with the doctor.

  After closing the door behind them, Gabriel threw something at me.

  Reflexively, I caught the ball of shimmery fabric. As I pulled it apart, I discovered it was a gold silk robe.

  “Put it on.”

  I bared my teeth at him. Something in me rebelled at him giving me an order.

  Gabriel took a step back and gentled his voice. “Please put it on, Havana.”

  Mollified, I slid the robe around me, loving the fabric's soft slide against my skin. The owner of the robe clearly had luxurious taste. “Whose robe is this?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. It didn’t seem like anything the men would wear.

  “The Alpha female who lived here,” Gabriel said, crossing his arms.

  I blinked. Not this stuff about Alphas and wolves again.

  “Why don’t you sit down?” Gabriel nodded at a stainless steel stool over by the counter.

  “I’d rather stand,” I said stiffly, remembering the last conversation we’d had. Swallowing hard, I said, “Just be honest, did Mason drug me so I hallucinated you turning into a werewolf?”

  Gabriel let out a deep laugh. “I can assure you he did not.” The smile faded from his lips. “But what he did was so much worse. He gave you a transfusion of Lykos blood to push you through your first transition and in doing so turned you into an Alpha female.”

  I shook my head. “You can stop now. I’m not buying into the Alpha werewolf crazy talk.” Mason must’ve injected me with more of that aphrodisiac drug. That’s why I’d all but boned him on the exam table.

  “If it only were crazy talk.” Gabriel crossed the distance between us and looked down at me. “You're now a Lykos Alpha female, Havana. And with that comes a great deal of power.” He gestured at my hand. “The power to shift into a wolf and heal your injuries.”

  I let out a weak laugh. As if.

  His serious expression didn’t change. “And the power to compel humans and other Lykos to do your bidding.”

  “You mean like mind control?”

  “Exactly,” he whispered into my mind.

  “Did you just speak to me telepathically?” I cried, taking a shaky step back. My bare foot crunched down on a piece of broken glass from the cabinet. The sharp pain was a welcome distraction. I reached down and pulled the jagged shard from my heel. Blood poured from the wound.

  “Heal yourself,” Gabriel ordered.

  I looked up at him in confusion. “How?”

  “Find your wolf.” He sent images of me transforming into a large black wolf.

  No. I shook my head, rejecting the idea. “That’s impossible.”

  “Don’t fight it. Change!” Gabriel’s voice reverberated off the walls of the room. He ripped the gold robe off me.

  Instinctive fury rose inside me. How dare he command me! A snarl escaped my lips. Suddenly, every muscle in my body seemed to contract at once. Bones and cartilage snapped and popped. Overcome with the startling sensation of my body being remade, I fell forward and landed on huge claw-tipped black paws.

  My shocked cry turned into a bark. Holy hell. I’m a wolf.

  “Impressive. Now change back.” When I blinked at him, he added, “Visualize your human form.”

  Once I imagined myself as I’d looked the last time I’d peered into a mirror, I immediately snapped and popped back to my real body. Wow. I looked at my trembling human legs with a mixture of wonder and horror.

  Gabriel handed me the robe and watched me put it on. “Look, see how your foot has healed.”

  I glanced at my heel. There wasn’t even a scar to show where the wound had been. “I don’t understand.” This can’t be happening. None of this can be happening.

  Seeming to sense my crisis, Gabriel grabbed my elbow and led me over to the stool. “You’re different now.” As I sat down heavily, he went over to the counter, picked up a stainless steel tray and held it out. “See for yourself.”

  I peered into the shiny bottom of the tray and blinked at the pair of bright yellow eyes staring back at me. My eyes. “What happened to my eyes?”

  “You have the eyes of an Alpha now. I pray you won’t abuse your power like others of your kind.” His voice held a bitter note.

  The memory of my encounter with Mason replayed in my mind. Did I compel him to touch me?

  “Probably. Although I’m sure he wasn’t unwilling.”

  I jumped. “You can read my mind.”

  “You’re telegraphing your thoughts for anyone to hear. You’ll have to learn to shield them.”

  “Can I read your thoughts?” I asked, as curiosity warred with fear.

  “Try me,” he said, kneeling down next to the stool.

  I gazed into his dark eye.

  “Please don’t become like Tasha.”

  Shit. I can read minds now. I swallowed hard. “What did this…Tasha do to you?”

  He flinched and stood. “Besides this—” he motioned at his eye patch. “She compelled me to murder my entire family.”

  18

  Gabriel

  Havana gasped and her beautiful face paled. “She made you kill your family?”

  Shame and grief filled me as the horror of that night came back. “My sister had just given birth to her first child—Isla. It should’ve been a joyous occasion, but the babe was born with yellow eyes marking her as an Alpha female. Even though they're revered among the other factions as the rarest and most powerful of our kind, Tasha views them as a threat to her rule.”

  I let out a deep breath. “I knew I should’ve moved them to another faction immediately, but my parents and my sister’s mate wanted to wait a few days for my sister to recover from the birth. Somehow Tasha found out.” I gritted my teeth as regret and pain knotted my stomach. “She confronted me, ripped the truth out of my mind, and compelled me to slay every member of my family. And I did.” I clenched my eye shut as if that would block the memory of their screams.

  Havana stood and laid her hand on my shoulder. “Oh, my God. That’s horrible.”

  Shooting pain had me rubbing my eye patch. “After it was done, Tasha ripped out my eye, placed one of her diamonds in my eye socket. She compelled me to wear it for the rest of my life to remind me of my betrayal.”

  Havana shook her head in disbelief. “That woman’s a monster, Gabriel.”

  That she is. “I’m sharing this with you so you’ll understand the depths of your power and what you’ll be up against. Because as soon as Tasha discovers what you are, she’ll come for you.” She’ll come for us all.

  Instead of being filled with fear, Havana’s golden gaze narrowed. “Good. That bitch’s reign of terror needs to end.”

  My heart wrenched at the mental image of Havana facing off with Tasha. Tasha would make sport of destroying her piece by piece. Then she’d mount Havana’s head on her trophy wall as a warning to others. My throat ti
ghtened. No. I can’t let that happen. I’d failed my niece and my family, but I wouldn’t fail Havana. Somehow I’d figure out a way to keep Tasha from finding her.

  Trying to push thoughts of the evil she-wolf from my mind, I cleared my throat. “Why don’t I show you to your room while you still have your wits about you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you remember the first heat cycle I told you about?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “You’ll begin it soon.”

  She flushed. “I think I might already be in it.”

  I gave her a pitying look. “Believe me, you’d know.” The heat cycle was twenty-four hours of unyielding torment for females. Only the semen from a Lykos male could ease the primal assault on their bodies.

  “Oh,” she said breathlessly.

  She was so fucking gorgeous. I tried not to notice the glimpses of her thigh peeping through the gaps in the robe or the way her pert nipples pressed against the silky fabric. I couldn’t let my brain travel down that treacherous road. Not while Nathan had already staked his claim.

  As if picking up on my thoughts, Havana cocked her head to the side and said, “Are Nathan and Mira here?”

  “No. The storm still rages. When it clears, they’ll come.” I strode over to the door and opened it hoping she wouldn’t detect my worry. The storm had taken out all the radio and cell towers and I hadn’t been able to reach the Alpha male. I hoped the virus hadn’t reached Sunridge, but if it had… There was no telling what threats he and his daughter were facing.

  As we stepped out into the hallway, Liam and Mason stopped in the middle of what looked like a heated argument and rushed to Havana’s side.

  Mason grabbed her hand. “You must be famished. Can I make you something to eat?”

  Liam pushed him away. “Why don’t you make her food while I give her a tour of the lodge?”

  The doctor gritted his teeth. “I was planning on giving her a tour after I’ve made her lunch.”

  Havana’s wide-eyed gaze ping-ponged between them.

  Trying to stifle a laugh, I held up my hand. “Enough. I’ll be escorting Ms. James, to her room where she can relax and take a hot shower.”

  “That'd be amazing,” she said, stepping around the other males.

  Their crestfallen expressions were almost comical.

  Havana looked back into the infirmary. “I guess all my stuff is scattered in the snow by the cabin.”

  “I can go get your things,” Liam offered, looking like an overeager puppy.

  Havana's gaze brightened. “You'd do that for me?”

  “I’d do anything for you,” Liam said, clasping her hand.

  “As would I,” Mason declared, grabbing her other hand.

  Rolling my eyes, I said, “Liam, go get Havana's things. Mason, go prepare something for her to eat.”

  The males nodded and strode with us down the hallway to the elevator. Both males practically hung off her arms as we traveled up in the small steel box.

  I sighed heavily. It was both a blessing and a curse that we males were instinctively driven to serve the needs of our Alpha female.

  After promising Havana they would see her soon, Liam and Mason exited on the first floor. Havana and I continued up to the second.

  Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when we stepped out of a hidden door within a spacious walk-in closet. “What is this place?” She reached out and touched one of the dozens of shimmery designer gowns.

  The cloying scent of roses clinging to the dresses made my nose wrinkle. “This is one of Tasha’s vacation homes and these are her things.”

  Havana snatched her hand back as if burned. “I don’t want to wear her clothes.”

  I stifled the impulse to nod approvingly. “I’m sure we can find you something else. Come.” I waved her through the gold-hued bathroom and into the bedroom.

  Havana stopped short, her gaze fixed on the life-size portrait of Tasha hanging over the king bed. The artist had captured the blonde female’s stunning beauty along with the wild, unhinged look in her yellow eyes.

  “Meet Tasha Digoski,” I said, flashing Havana a bitter smile.

  Havana gasped. “I know her. She’s Mira’s mother.”

  Surprised that Havana had met Tasha and lived to tell the tale, I could only nod.

  Havana’s eyes narrowed. “Nathan left me for her.” She paused and let out a brittle-sounding laugh. “Well, I guess the truth is that he was cheating on her with me.”

  Even though it wasn’t my place to get in the middle of Alpha politics, I had to set her straight. “Doubtful. Nathan was Tasha’s consort until Mira was born. As soon as she realized the baby was an Alpha, she tried to murder her. Nathan stopped her, offering Tasha anything to save Mira’s life. Since Tasha had long coveted Nathan’s position on the Council, she made him a deal. The Council seat and his eternal servitude for letting the child live. I can assure you Nathan has no warm feelings for Tasha.”

  Havana blinked and took a minute to process my words. “She was at his house the night he broke up with me. He acted so cold when he told me to leave and never contact them again, but when I think back on it, he wasn’t acting like himself.”

  Without trying, I glimpsed Havana’s memories of that night. The Alpha male had clearly been scared out of his mind. “Nathan was probably worried that Tasha would discover your relationship. If she had, she would’ve killed you on the spot. Nathan ended your relationship to save your life.”

  Tears filled Havana’s eyes as she gazed back up at the picture. “I didn’t know. I hate—hated him for how he treated me.”

  Congratulations, asshole. She’s back in love with the Alpha, my inner voice chided. Now she’ll never be mine.

  Havana jerked her head up. “I’m not back in love with him. I simply understand better what happened. If he truly loved me, he would’ve told me the truth about her and about the Lykos.”

  I felt my face redden at the fact she’d read my mind. I’ll have to better guard my thoughts. Needing to escape the sight of Tasha and her nauseating rose scent, I led Havana out of the bedroom down the hall into a more masculine space.

  Havana inhaled deeply as we walked into the room, her gaze taking in the dark mahogany furniture and oversize four-poster king bed. “This smells like Nathan.”

  “Yes, it was his bedroom. Tasha hasn’t let anyone stay in here since he left. I thought you might like this room.” And I thought if you’re surrounded by the scent of the Alpha, I’ll be able to resist you.

  She flashed me a knowing look that told me she’d read my mind.

  Clearing my throat, I showed her the large bathroom.

  She moaned at the sight of the walk-in shower that was so large it took up an entire wall. Her hand went to the belt of her robe.

  I sucked in my breath anticipating another glimpse of her body. I want her so much.

  Havana whirled around, her face flushed. “I want you too, Gabriel.” She shimmied out of the robe and I forgot to breathe.

  Fuck. She was so beautiful. Her breasts were the perfect size, just big enough to fit in my hands. The tempting strip of hair between those long legs that seemed to go on forever made my shaft throb.

  “Please, Gabriel,” she begged.

  Her intoxicating scent clouded my mind. My hands traced the underside of her breasts before I could get control.

  “No.” I shook my head. “There’s shampoo and soap in there. I’ll wait outside the room while you shower.” Not waiting for her response, I rushed back out into the bedroom and then sought refuge in the hallway.

  Fuck. I knew it was just her impending heat making her proposition me like that, but it was getting harder and harder to resist her pull. What if you didn’t? an insidious voice inside my head asked. What if you gave her what she asked for?

  I shuddered. Lust burned all rational thought from my brain as I fantasized all the ways I’d take her. I’ll give her such pleasure she’ll claim me as her own. No! Tha
t can't happen. By some force of will, I kept myself in the hallway. Minutes or hours later, Liam and Mason joined me.

  The doctor carried a tray of pasta, fruit, and soda while Liam held Havana’s duffel bag in one beefy hand.

  “She’s taking a shower,” I said, refusing to leave my post by the door. “I’ll make sure she gets those when she’s done.”

  Mason set down the tray of food and glared at me with far too much impertinence for a male who’d never had to fight for his life. “I’ll wait until she gets out.”

  “Me too,” rumbled Liam.

  “Suit yourse—” I broke off when a pain-filled cry rang out. “Havana!”

  I flung open the door and the three of us rushed inside.

  “She’s not here,” Liam shouted, looking around the bedroom.

  “The bathroom,” I yelled, rushing toward the scent of sandalwood that hung in the steamy air. I flung open the bathroom door and my heart stopped.

  Havana lay writhing on the tile floor of the shower. Catching sight of me she moaned, “Gabriel, I need you. It hurts.” The hand she held between her legs told me all I needed to know.

  We need to leave.

  “Havana!” Mason cried trying to step by me and open the glass door.

  “No.” I grabbed his arm in a death grip and dragged him back.

  “Is she hurt?” Liam demanded, trying to force his way into the bathroom.

  I pushed both males out of the bathroom into the bedroom. “No. Well, technically yes. She’s in heat.”

  Havana let out another cry that sliced through me like a jagged blade.

  “She’s in pain,” Dr. Obvious stated, thrusting a hand through his hair. “We can’t let her suffer like that.”

  Liam wore a look of helpless frustration. “How do we help her?”

  A solution popped into my mind. I looked over at Mason. “We can knock her out again. Do you have more of that sedative you gave her in the cabin?”

  The blond male frowned. “Given that a small amount put her out for days, I wouldn’t advise giving her another dose. She may not wake at all next time.”

  Great. Well that option is out. “Then mating is the only thing that will relieve her pain.”