Alpha Shifter Protectors: Paranormal Romance Collection

by Keri Hudson

  Lisa seemed to give that some thought as well. And Paul was surprised, even impressed, when she asked Ruth, “But… couldn’t you launch a boat from that same beach?” Paul knew that Ruth couldn’t be entirely frank with Lisa, that the truth of the orcas’ hatred for them meant that they’d never survive any boat launch from that island unless it was on a craft big and strong enough to be safe from such an attack. Any luxury yacht such as the one Lisa had apparently been on would be more than enough, but no raft or canoe or anything fashioned from materials on the island would survive those massive, powerful, and intelligent creatures.

  But to tell Lisa all that would mean revealing their secret, and that was something James would have to decide, among others. Even considering that, and the ramifications of James’ patriarchy, made the hairs on Paul’s arms stand on end. But he remained calm, hoping that things would somehow work themselves out. Knowing they would not, he began putting together his arguments, the reasons he could put forth to convince his father not to turn Lisa over to either Peter or Matthew or both, or perhaps keep her for himself.

  Lisa climbed out of the pond behind him. Paul could tell it from the slight splashing, and his instinct was already telling him she was near. She was clean and wet and naked and beautiful, still beyond his ability to fully comprehend or believe.

  Ruth fit Lisa with some of her own leathers, which included a top in addition to the skirt they all wore. Ruth had perfected the cuts, which were sewn together with dried strings of the pigs’ intestines and shaped to cling naturally to the hips. The top rested on Lisa’s breasts, clinging to her just under the arms. Her body was shapely and sexy under those skimpy leathers, and she made it look good in a way his sister never had and never could.

  Lisa looked herself up and down and then up at Paul. Giving him a little spin, she asked, “You approve?”

  “Very much,” Paul said, a thick sexual tension growing between them, one apparently not lost on Ruth. “All right, well, we better get back to the compound.”

  Paul knew she was right, though he dreaded going back there and what would transpire between his family and their new guest or between his family and himself. But he knew it wouldn’t be long before he found out.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Dinner that night included fresh pork stew with cabbage, carrots, and celery, other things which grew naturally on the island. Lisa seemed to be savoring the meal, and Paul could hardly take his eyes off her. She ate with perfect manners despite the primitive surroundings, something James had instilled in his own children. Lisa seemed to radiate class which was undiminished by her leathers. They even accentuated her curves and drew the eye in a way Paul found irresistible.

  But he knew he was drawing the glares of his father and the others. Even Ruth was glaring at Paul, not from disapproval of his feelings but because of his unabashed admiration for her stunning beauty and natural charm.

  James cleared his throat as he spooned up another mouthful of stew using the curved bases of dried palm fronds. Freshly cracked coconuts sat next to each plate, a sweet and refreshing drink, one that already had sentimental meaning between him and Lisa. He couldn’t ignore the sparks between them, the little smiles she kept giving him, how she let her naked leg touch his as they next to each other on the same big, flat stone.

  James said, “Lisa,” commanding her attention and that of the rest of his family, “we’re… we’re all sorry for your loss, of course. We know the… the pain of being castaway as we are, the sense of loss.” Lisa nodded, clearly unable to contradict the man and unwilling to even if she could. “You’re bound to be fearful, worried, but we want you to know that you’re welcome among us, that you’re safe here.”

  Lisa swallowed her bite of stew and smiled. “It’s very good of you to say that, sir.”

  “Please, James,” he said with a smile that sent a chill up Paul’s spine. But he remained respectfully and strategically quiet. “We’ve been here a long time, all of Paul’s life and then some. And the only way we’ve managed to survive is to… to follow a certain structure, organization. You understand?”

  “Like any family,” Lisa said.

  “Exactly,” James went on in a slightly patronizing tone. “Well done, Lisa, well done. So, we all work, contribute to the common good, and you’ll be expected to do the same. We’ve got gardens that need tending, cleaning up, animals that need to be dressed and butchered.”

  Lisa sat, eyes wide as she turned to Paul. “I don’t know anything about… butchering?”

  “Ruth will teach you,” James said. “You’ll have plenty of time to learn.”

  Lisa seemed to give it some thought, looking down at the coconut shell full of stew in her lap. “I’ll do whatever I can, but… I think we can all look forward to a rescue, and soon! Maybe just a few days.” A solemn silence passed around the group, flames crackling in the firepit between them, something not lost on Lisa by the quickly rising tone and pace of her words. “My father is going to come looking for me, I know he will! I’m his only daughter!”

  “And we’re all sure he loved you very much,” Ruth said.

  James went on, “But this is an uncharted island. Ships almost never pass. Your father, good man that I know he is, won’t have much reason to think you all didn’t go down into the Pacific.”

  “No,” Lisa said, shaking her head with increasingly evident panic, “not my father! He… he doesn’t let things go, he doesn’t! He’ll come looking for me, I’m sure he will, I’m certain of it.” Both Paul and Lisa looked around at the others, and their sad stares seemed to tell her that none of them could agree.

  Paul said, “I’m sure he will, Lisa, and we’ll burn the fire on the beach all night to make sure he doesn’t miss us.”

  Lisa nodded, seeming to review and reflect before saying, “I still don’t understand why you don’t build a raft and launch from the beach. Wouldn’t the current take a person to Hawaii, or close?”

  Peter answered, “The orcas in these waters are deadly, it’s impossible.”

  “Really, orcas? Killer whales?”

  “The wolves of the sea,” Matthew said, eyes fixed on Lisa’s breasts.

  Lisa leaned back a bit as if it might hide the view. “But… I heard there was never a reported attack on a human being by a killer whale, not ever.”

  “You try it, then,” Matthew snapped at her, unreasonably peevish. A long, tense silence fell over the clearing, before Paul cleared his throat.

  He said to Lisa, “I think, if that’s true, it must be because the orcas’ kill rate is so high, nobody survives to make a report.” Lisa seemed to think about that, and as it made perfect sense, she seemed to accept and digest it.

  She went on eating, Paul unable to miss the admiring glances she was earning from his brother, his cousin, even his father. “Such delicious food,” she said.

  “Thank you,” Ruth answered with a smile. “My men know how to bring home the bacon.” They all shared a little chuckle.

  Lisa looked around. “No weapons? Aren’t you afraid they’ll… I dunno, attack?”

  “They fear us,” Paul said, “as I explained earlier.”

  “Right, but… they don’t just… die of fright, I’m assuming.”

  Paul looked back at his father, at Ruth, at his brother and cousin. Peter offered, “We use traps, it’s a lot easier.”

  Matthew added, “So you better watch your step, young lady.”

  The menace of the moment was impossible to miss, and Paul knew that Matthew was the greatest threat to Lisa, and he resolved there and then to be on guard against him, against all of them.

  “All of that aside,” James said, “we have to keep things here… under control. Surely you’d agree.”

  Lisa nodded. “Once again, anything I can do.”

  “Good,” James said. “I…we notice that you’ve struck up a quick… chemistry with young Paul here. He’s a friendly man, a good man and a good son.” She gave him a quick smile and a roll of her naked sh
oulder. “But you’re not to be intimate with him, or with either his brother or his cousin.”

  Matthew looked on, eyes shifting under his red hair, freckles twitching on his pale face.

  Lisa seemed shocked, eyes wide and mouth open. “I… I’m sorry?”

  “I’ve told them all and I’m telling you,” James went on. “The tension your presence has created here is already palpable, young woman, though perhaps you do not see it. Granted, ultimately, there is likely to be a coupling—”

  Lisa repeated, “A coupling?”

  “Of course,” James said. “But there’s a lot to be taken into consideration—”

  “I’m sorry?” Lisa’s voice pulled back as her face revealed her rising ire. “I… I hardly know what to say.”

  Paul said, “It’s okay, Lisa, I’ll handle it.”

  “I’ll handle it,” she said, “thank you very much!” She turned her attention to James and the others. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, Mr. Landry, but… I’m not some… some breeder! I told you, my father is coming for me, probably on his way here right now!”

  “And when he comes,” James said, “I want him to find all here living together, cooperatively, as friends.”

  “Then you won’t ever speak to me that way again,” Lisa said, seeming to be carried away with her offense. “I’m sorry, but… there’s no coupling that’s at all likely, as if I were a prize in some island rape raffle! And I don’t appreciate you telling me what I can or cannot do. I appreciate your hospitality, I really do. And I know you all do things a certain way, I don’t want to disrupt it, but… I’m not accustomed to being ordered around. I’m twenty-two, a grown woman, and I—”

  “You’ll do as you’re told,” James said. Peter and Matthew shared a little glance, and Paul was already worried that they’d spoken privately, and certain they would act against him and then likely each other. “I run things around here,” James went on, “and I do not abide stubbornness.”

  A tense silence swept over the clearing, Ruth cracking a nervous smile. “Okay, we… we’re all upset, it’s been a big day. I think maybe Lisa here needs some rest?” Lisa looked at them all with new fear, even at Paul, which was already breaking his heart.

  But Paul nodded, knowing his sister was right. “It’ll be okay,” Paul said to Lisa, “I’ll take care of it.”

  Ruth stood up and approached the big rock where Paul and Lisa sat. She extended her hand and Lisa took another worried look at Paul, who offered her a smile which he hoped would be reassuring. But it didn’t do much to lessen the obvious fear and worry in her eyes.

  Ruth said, “You can sleep in my chamber tonight, the bedding is fresh.” Lisa looked from Ruth to Paul and the others and back. Paul took her coconut shell and she stood, following Ruth into the cave to leave Paul and the other men behind. She turned, casting a last worried glance in Paul’s direction before turning to follow Ruth into the mountain.

  Paul returned his attention to his father, knowing he was in the midst of a conflict of wills that was about to get much worse, and fast.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The men returned to the firepit, their voices low and rasping. “All right, boys,” James said, clearly aware of the tension that was growing among them. “This was just what I was afraid of!”

  “I’m the eldest,” Peter said, “and by all rights, she’s mine.”

  “If that’s what she wants,” Paul said.

  Matthew said, “You can say that because she already wants you.”

  “She’s never gonna want you,” Paul snapped at his cousin.

  “You people have always treated me this way,” Matthew spat out. “Family, all these years, yeah… right! But I’ve never been more than a cousin to any of you.”

  Peter said, “That’s not true and you know it, Matthew. You’ve been every bit as much a brother to me as Paul, and that’s the way I’ve treated you.”

  “Yeah,” Matthew granted with a sneer, “only you. The rest of these…”

  “Mind yourself,” James said in a low, growly tone, one that they all knew was not to be contested.

  “Maybe it’s time you all started minding me,” Matthew said. “Now, I want that girl and I don’t care what she wants.”

  “It doesn’t matter what either of you wants!” James shook his head and walked toward the firepit, Paul and the others following.

  Matthew said, “You don’t want her to come between two brothers, Uncle James! That means there’s only one way to settle it.”

  James said, “Stop, all of you, let me think.” He stepped closer to the flames, rubbing his beardless chin. “She doesn’t know our secret, that’s obvious.”

  “She’ll find out in time,” Peter said, “then what happens if her father does come? We can’t let that get out.”

  “She wouldn’t tell anybody even if she did know,” Paul was quick to say, “but she doesn’t.”

  “She will,” Peter said. “Asking about the weapons, the boats, she asks too many questions.”

  “She’s inquisitive,” Paul said, “intelligent. Father, you admire those traits.”

  “Not in my enemies.”

  “She’s not our enemy,” Paul said, noting the urgency and volume in his voice.

  “No, she’s not an enemy,” Matthew said, “she’s a breeder. Uncle James, I’m already your cousin, that’s one step away from the central bloodline. That means I’m the most likely choice for a stronger new line, doesn’t it?”

  Paul said, “You touch her and I’ll tear your heart out.”

  “Bring it on, whelp!”

  Peter said, “Obviously neither one of you can handle this.” He looked at their patriarch. “You can’t deny it, Father. Not to mention the issue of my birthright.”

  “Birthright,” Paul repeated, “I’m talking about love!”

  “Love,” Matthew said, “that says it all right there! This isn’t about love, it’s about life!”

  James seemed to give it some thought, but he was interrupted by Peter, who said, “Father, I’m your firstborn! Let’s let the matter rest at that.”

  “I really think it’s up to the girl,” Ruth, who had joined them at the firepit, pointed out. “We don’t own her, for heaven’s sake!”

  “Ruth is right,” Paul said, “this is preposterous! I knew you all would react this way. But I wanted to be honest with you, not be the cause of any division between us. Obviously, I shouldn’t have brought her here at all!”

  “Where else where you gonna take her,” Matthew asked, “Paris?”

  “I’ve had enough of your attitude,” Paul said, adding, “Cousin Matthew.”

  “I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be,” Matthew said, “little Paulie.”

  The men lurched at each other and Peter stepped between them, pushing one away from the other. “Boys, c’mon, stop it! Father’s right, we can’t let this girl come between us.” He turned to James to add, “This is why I should have her, stop the bickering among the youngers.”

  James said, “Perhaps I should end this another way… you all might enjoy another sister or brother or cousin.”

  Matthew was quick to roll his eyes. “You’ve had your family, Uncle James, and another sibling only means an end to another generation!”

  James bellowed, “You would contradict me? How dare you?”

  “I have to,” Matthew said, “I’m the only one seeing this clearly. The girl goes to you, we lose a generation. She goes to either brother, it will cause a chasm between them that will fracture this family forever. And where are we gonna go, Uncle James? We’re all stuck on his shitty island, and we have to find a way to live together.”

  “Not if the girl’s right,” Paul said, his voice low and hoarse like the others. “Suppose her father leads a rescue team, shows up here? He’ll find that you’ve imprisoned his daughter, raped her—”

  “The father shows up,” Matthew said, “everything changes. We kill the girl, claim we never found her at all. He’s still no
t gonna just leave us here. He’ll bring us back to the United States, wherever, then we’d be free! The girl’s got nothing to do with it.”

  “But if she’s alive,” Peter said, “and well treated, she might not only bring us back, but reward us. If I go back, I’d like to go back rich.”

  James nodded, scratching his whiskerless chin. “Don’t get your hopes up about that. I know the girl’s hopeful, she would be. But… we all know better, don’t we?”

  Matthew asked, “And how long are we going to wait? A whole season? Through the winter? What if she gets sick and dies? She’s just a normalo, after all; you know how the typhoons can be.”

  “If you can’t keep your wife alive,” Peter said, “how do you expect to raise a pup?”

  “Feeding it with your bones, you whelp!”

  “I’ll take you on any day,” Paul was quick to say.

  James growled, “I’ll kill her right now before I’ll let this happen!”

  “All right, now, that’s enough,” Paul said, stomping toward the entrance closest to Ruth’s private chamber. “Lisa, it’s me, Paul,” he shouted, “come out here please!”

  James said, “You would defy me?”

  “I won’t have you talk that way, or think that way.”

  Lisa crept out of the cave. “Paul? What’s wrong.”

  Paul took her hand. “We’re leaving.”

  Ruth said, “Paul? Father?”

  Matthew asked again, “Where’re you gonna go?”

  “As far from you as I can,” Paul said, “from all of you.”

  Lisa said, “Paul?”

  “It’s okay, Lisa.” He stepped back, pointing a finger of warning at his father, his brother, his cousin. “All of you, keep away from us, just leave us alone.”

  Peter said, “You don’t want to do this, brother.”

  “You don’t know my mind, you don’t know what I want or need.”

  “But I do,” Peter said.

  “We sure do,” Matthew said, earning a stern glance from both James and Peter. Ruth looked at Lisa, the two women sharing an unspoken understanding.