Ultimate Alphas: Bad Boys and Good Lovers (The Naughty List Romance Bundles)

by Synthia St. Claire

  But now, Heath had invited me back to my hometown. And here I was.

  I was going to see him again.

  A ceremony was to take place that night. Every few years, a new alpha male is chosen for the wolf-pack of a particular region, and the previous alpha retires. This ceremony coincides with a lunar event called a “super-moon”, which means that the moon is closest in its orbit to the earth, at the same time as a full moon. It can be a tempestuous time for us werewolves, because the full moon exerts its influence on us even more powerfully than usual. Emotions run high. It's considered a sacred time, which is why the crowning ceremony takes place during it.

  I received a letter from Heath asking me to come. I had instantly recognized his handwriting on the letter, and all the old emotions had come flooding back.

  It's been far too long, Heath's letter had read. I'm going to be chosen as the new alpha for the region, and it would be great to have you there. I miss you.

  I caught the next flight. I couldn't resist.

  But now that I was here in town, nerves were beginning to take over. The impending meeting with Heath was causing old anxieties to stir deep within me, bringing up all the old fears that I had learned to push away in my new life. I was sitting on my motel bed, opposite the mirror. Taking in my own reflection.

  I was still curvy. Still plus-sized. Far from the media's idea of “perfection”. When I had moved away, I'd always planned, in the back of my mind, to slim down before I ever saw Heath again. He was always so fit – a bronzed, muscular athlete. I wanted him to look at me the way I had looked at him. I wanted him to hunger for me the way I had for him.

  But I hadn't changed much at all. I had become a woman, and my curves suited my frame a lot more now. But I wasn't the typical scarecrow supermodel you see on television. I rarely experienced much attention from guys. I'd heard snide comments about my size.

  But even worse than that was being ignored. I felt invisible sometimes. I'd find myself walking down the street, crossing paths with an attractive guy, and while I'd be checking him out, his eyes would slide over me as if I didn't exist. It wasn't exactly a self-esteem booster.

  I was too nervous to call Heath and see him before the festival. I decided to just take a walk down the main street, and do some reminiscing until nightfall.

  It was strange, wandering along the boulevard that I used to frequent as a teenager. It seemed as if it hadn't changed. I realized suddenly, as I reached the end of the main street, how small the town really was. Aside from the rows of little shops along the main street, and the mall behind it, there was very little else to see. The main street was surrounded by the residential estate, where most of the population lived, and then the estate was surrounded by farms, which ended at the national forest. The forest through which Heath and I used to run in wolf form. Where the ceremony would take place that night.

  I missed this place, I realized.

  The simplicity. And the nearness to nature. In the city that I'd moved to, I had to drive for an hour to reach the forest that I explored each full moon.

  With all this mulling in my mind, I turned and decided to walk back along the main street, to absorb it all over again.

  And what I saw, as I turned, nearly made my heart stop.

  Heath.

  He hadn't seen me. He was crossing the street, and I caught a glimpse of his face, bright eyes and stubbled jawline, before he turned in the opposite direction. His erect posture and loping gait was instantly recognizable. Strength emanated from the broad swell of his back.

  A shiver went down my spine, and I stood there, frozen with indecision for a moment. I wanted to call out to him, but the nerves were kindling inside me again.

  As he reached the other side of the road, I took a breath to call his name. But as I began to mouth the word, a woman shot from the darkness of a building and ran to his side. She was slim and beautiful. Long, blonde hair fell like silk to her shoulders. She embraced him, and my shout died in my throat. I froze up.

  And then I turned and left. Returned to my motel.

  I knew that if I went over to speak to him, the disappointment would have been written all over my face. I had hoped, deep down, that he had asked me to come as more than a friend. I had some delusional hope that a romance would finally be kindled between us.

  I was dreaming. Just like always.

  Back at the motel, I lay in bed and considered getting a flight back home. As selfish as it was, I didn't know whether I could face Heath with the slim, beautiful woman that I had seen him holding.

  It was such a strange feeling, to be gripped once again with the pain of this crush. I thought I had smothered it down inside myself over the intervening years. But returning to this place brought it all crashing back.

  I had been in relationships since I moved away from my hometown. They were just never serious. I always knew they had an expiry date. Heath had always been there, visiting my dreams. Shining in my mind like the moon on a lake. His image would dissipate briefly during a relationship, but when it was over and the ripples settled once more inside me, his face would be back. It was as if some part of me, deep down, knew that we were meant to be together.

  I had to leave. Get a plane back home. It would hurt too much to see Heath with someone else. I picked up my mobile phone and began to dial the number for a taxi. But as I did, the phone beeped in my hand, making me jump.

  A text message.

  I stopped dialing and opened the message. It was Heath.

  Hope you're coming tonight, it read. I can't wait to see you.

  Once again I was frozen with indecision. Going to the ceremony tonight would be painful. But I didn't want to let Heath down. This was an important night for him, becoming alpha of the pack.

  After reading the text message, I decided to swallow my pride and go to the ceremony. It was time to grow up, and let go of the youthful – and delusional – crush that I had on Heath. I typed a reply into my phone.

  Of course I'll be there. I can't wait either.

  I lay back in my motel bed, burning with conflicting emotions. I was aching to see him, but at the same time, I was crawling with the thought of seeing him with somebody else.

  But I had made up my mind now. I was going to the ceremony, and that was that. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. My breath slowed.

  Suddenly he was in the motel room with me.

  He came through the doorway, padding on bare feet. It was much darker now than it had been moments ago; he was in shadow, but even so, I could see that he was naked. I could smell the musty scent of lust on his skin. He became more clear to me in the darkness as he neared. I sat up in bed.

  “Heath?” I said. “What are you doing here?”

  He didn't reply. He came closer, his golden eyes gleaming in the darkness. They were as mesmerizing as always. I felt his hand rise and touch my lips; beneath his caress, they tingled and seemed to swell. A hot flush spread through my cheeks. My heart began to pound as I looked into his eyes. His hand dropped from my lips, and he came even closer, through the darkness.

  And then his lips were on mine, hot and soft. I breathed in his earthy scent as his hands held my face. I closed my eyes as his tongue caressed mine. He drew away, and lay me back, settling over me on the bed – but it was a bed no longer.

  We were in the forest now, amidst the towering, mist-wreathed pines. Beneath the gleaming stars. The moon was full overhead, drenching us in silver light. I was naked, lying back on soft grass, and Heath was over me, between my parted, quaking thighs. His eyes burned with hunger, and I longed to have him inside me. I could feel my wetness, feel the lust rising inside me as he flexed his abdomen, hot against my own. The head of his cock brushed my wet sex, and a tiny gasp escaped my mouth, as electricity coursed through me. I ached for him.

  “I've waited so long for this,” I breathed.

  “I'll see you soon,” he whispered. His reply puzzled me, and I opened my mouth to question it, but as I did, he thrust himse
lf inside me, his hard cock parting my folds and sliding to my core. Pleasure burst inside me, and coursed in waves throughout my body. I arched my back and moaned into the air, closing my eyes; I was dissolving into the night, and the night was dissolving into me …

  A beeping sound awoke me.

  I was disoriented for a moment, before my eyes adjusted and I realized where I was. The motel room. My heart was still thudding in my chest, though Heath was gone. Darkness was gathering outside the window.

  Yet another dream.

  I turned over and grabbed my mobile phone from the bedside table. Another text message from Heath. I opened it, and gasped as I read the words.

  I'll see you soon, it read.

  The same words that Heath had just said to me in my dream. They echoed through my mind, and the hair on my neck prickled. A wave of goosebumps spread over my body as I lay in bed, gathering my wits. In my dazed state, I thought I could still smell Heath's earthy, masculine scent.

  It must have been a coincidence, I decided. The words he had said in my dream coinciding with the text message. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and climbed from bed.

  I'd have to hurry. The ceremony was to begin at dark.

  I caught a taxi to the edge of the national forest.

  “Strange time to be coming out here,” remarked the taxi driver as he dropped me off. “Heard there's wolves out here. Be careful.”

  “I'm meeting some friends,” I told him. “I'll be fine.”

  I could already smell the bonfire as I wandered into the forest. Heightened senses are a pretty great perk of being a werewolf. I followed my nose, walking along the path at first, but soon straying amongst the pine trees.

  The familiarity was soothing, feeling that same old earth beneath my feet, tasting that sweet cool air. Mist snaked through the trees, and it reminded me of the dream I'd had in the motel. A secret thrill ran through me as I pictured Heath's naked body between my thighs. My anxiety was beginning to turn into anticipation with the knowledge of his nearness.

  I could hear the sounds of people, and see flames flickering between the trees. My heart was thundering, but as I neared the throng, drums began to pound, deep and hypnotic, drowning out my thumping heart. The rhythm pulsed and echoed throughout the forest.

  The congregation became more clear to me as I neared: a huge fire, burning in the center of a clearing. Groups of people and wolves clustered near the flames, casting shadows that danced in the flickering light. I saw naked bodies dancing and writhing snakelike before the flames. I could smell the people, hot and sweaty and full of vitality, and I felt the animal rise up inside me, pulsing under my skin. It longed, ached, for release. I looked up, and saw the moon shining down on me, full and bright.

  My fears began to melt away as the shackles of civilization fell from my mind. Here, amidst these Lycans, existence was simple. Living, breathing, bleeding. Fucking. Running through the night, intertwining with the teeming life of the forest.

  I came into the outskirts of the clearing, drawn like a magnet by the primal rhythm of the drum. But something made me pause. Amidst the scents of the crowd, I smelled one that felt more like home than anything I had experienced that day.

  Heath.

  His raw, earthy scent was easily distinguishable amongst the pack. His scent elicited pictures of my dream in my mind, and I felt a burning surge of want rise up inside me. I was drawn towards the crowd, drawn towards him. I broke away from the shadows of the forest and joined the flame-drenched throng. I weaved through them, seeing some familiar faces, but looking for one.

  And then I spotted him, standing near the fire, chatting to another guy. The flames cast a warm light on Heath's face, accentuating the strength of his stubbled jawline. His eyes glowed golden. My nervousness came back, but it was overshadowed by the wish to speak to him, to feel him against me. I stood for a moment amidst the crowd, looking at him.

  And then an expression of concentration came over his face. He paused and raised his nose, smelling the air, and a small smile began to play on his lips. His eyes left his friends and roamed over the crowd, searching …

  Until they found my own. His golden gaze bore into mine, and his smile turned into a grin as he spotted me amongst the people. I smiled shyly in response, my heart thundering with the drums, and made my way over to him, as he came towards me.

  But as we neared, a familiar form emerged from the crowd. Slender, blonde, beautiful. The girl I had seen him with earlier that day. She intercepted Heath's movement and grabbed his arm possessively. He looked down at her and they began to speak. I stopped, uncertain as to whether I should proceed.

  The woman pulled on Heath's arm, trying to lead him away from me, and an annoyed smile came over his face. I couldn't hear their words, but he motioned over in my direction, and she turned to look at me.

  Her glare was full of hate. I could almost taste the venom dripping from her fangs. Her mouth was pursed in a petty disgust as she ran her eyes down my body, and I suddenly felt self-conscious. She turned away from me with a flick of her long, shining hair, said something more to Heath, and then turned and left him alone.

  I stood for a moment longer, confused. Heath looked at me sheepishly for a second, then grinned and opened his arms.

  My discomfort from the Barbie lookalike melted away. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Heath with his arms open for me. I ran over to him and sank into his embrace. His body was hot against mine, and his thick arms enveloped my frame. I felt small with him wrapped around me, soaking in his familiar scent. I melted as we fitted together, neither of us speaking for a moment. And then he drew away, holding my shoulders and beaming into my face.

  “It's fantastic to see you,” he said. His voice gave me goosebumps – it was lower, sexier, than I remembered. I could almost feel it reverberating inside of me.

  “It's great to see you too,” I said. “You look amazing.” I blushed at my words. But he just laughed.

  “So do you,” he said. And as he spoke, I thought I saw his eyes trail down my body. Was it my imagination, or did I see a flash of hunger on his face? Or was the firelight playing tricks?

  A split second later, his eyes were on mine again, his expression playful.

  “You coming for the pack run tonight?” he asked. “It's going to be amazing.”

  “Of course,” I said. The wolf inside me was itching to burst free. “Amazing?” I asked. “Because you're going to be leading it?”

  “Exactly!” He laughed. And then his face became serious. “I'm really glad you came,” he said. “My crowning wouldn't be the same without you.”

  “I'm glad I came too,” I said. “How does it feel to become the new alpha?” I expected him to burst into a chorus of enthusiasm, but his face remained serious.

  “It feels good,” he said. “But … it's a heavy weight to carry.” He motioned to the crowd of people around us. “These guys are gonna to be my responsibility after tonight. I have to protect them. Lead them. You know?”

  I nodded. He had matured so much since I'd seen him last. I felt a welling up of intertwining emotions – pride, and that old familiar desire, and something deeper, underneath it all …

  But none of it could be put into words. I just opened my arms and fell into another embrace with him. He laughed, a joyful ringing out that bubbled up beside my ear as I held my head against his chest. And then he wrapped his arms around me again, and held me close. My eyes welled up with tears – of joy, or sadness, I wasn't sure.

  I don't know how long we stood there for, with him holding me. The world fell away. I closed my eyes and sank into him, and he into me. But at some point, the sound of drumming died away, and a chattering developed amongst the crowd. Heath slowly unfolded me from his grasp, and looked into my face.

  “Time for the ceremony,” he said. Excitement danced with the flickering firelight in his eyes. “I'll see you on the run.”

  “I can't wait,” I said. I felt drunk with the relaxation of hi
s embrace. He left me there, at the front of the crowd, and went to the area before it, where the old pack alpha Tyrael stood – a grizzled, middle-aged man who was ready to relinquish his leadership. Beside him stood his wife, Jala. It was said that she was a seer – that she could see into the future.

  The crowd was quieting down, gathering closer. Tyrael raised his hand, and a hush came over the throng.

  “The time has come,” Tyrael said, “for a new leader to rise. Someone young and strong and capable. That someone I have chosen is this man. Heath.” He clasped Heath on the shoulder, and Heath smiled, looking with confidence into the crowd. In his face, I could see his willingness to protect and lead the pack.

  “I know that I've made the right decision,” Tyrael continued. He turned to his wife, Jala, and she began to speak.

  “And I,” she said. “I have seen the future, and know that, under Heath's guidance, the pack will thrive.” Like Tyrael, Jala was middle aged. She was still beautiful. Her cheekbones were high, and her eyes clear and bright as she addressed the crowd. Her gaze roamed across the sea of faces.

  When they reached me, they stopped. A contemplative expression came over her face.

  “You,” she said. My face began to burn as the crowd turned to look at me.

  “Me?” I squeaked.

  “Yes, you,” she said, her eyes boring intently into my own. “You are like me. You have the vision as well.”

  “I don't understand,” I stuttered. I was burning with the agony of embarrassment, weighted down by the hundreds of eyes upon me.

  “Look into your dreams,” she said. “They tell of the future.” And then her gaze left mine, and she fell silent. My skin prickled.

  The dream that I'd had in the motel came to me. Heath, settling his hot body over me, his cock brushing at my dripping sex …

  But surely that was just a dream. Jala must be mistaken, I decided, as Tyrael began to address the crowd again.

  “It's time for me to step down,” he said. “It's time for your new leader to speak to you. And after the run, he is to choose a mate.”