But there’s that amazing smell again. So good. Like mountain breeze. I sigh, then see a whole bunch of males eyes flick to mine, some angry, some apparently aroused. Jack takes a seat as everyone watches me intently.
Oh dear. I really didn’t think through how intimidating this would be.
I grin apologetically and try to pretend I wasn’t sighing at Jack. “It just smells good in here,” I say.
Seven wolfish grins of different sizes flash at me.
Ignoring Fifi and Matthew, there are still an overwhelming number of hot, muscled guys checking me out like I’m the only food on the menu.
Asher with his bad boy confidence, Thor with his stoicism, Lock with his easy smile, Bradley with his eager expression, Jack with a cool aggression as he shakes my hand and introduces himself again.
Even omitting the weirdoes, it feels like I’ve died and gone to man heaven. I think my ovaries are exploding.
And two more guys are still to come.
“His real name is Felix,” Matt mutters, eyeing Fifi, “and he really doesn’t have any business being here.”
Fifi ignores him with a little ‘hmph’ and goes on staring at nothing. But even Fifi is attractive in his own, weird way.
Another knock.
I can hear multiple voices. This must be the final two, coming in together.
The door opens to two tall men, both deep skinned with dark, curly hair and stunning gray eyes.
Their features are striking, like something from a movie, and they’re similar but not identical like the twins. One is leaner, sharper, the other broader and a little taller. Like a movie star and his equally hot stunt double.
Their eyes roam me at the same time, synchronous, and I get the idea that these guys share everything.
Another knock. “But that’s ten,” I say.
The men shrug. “Maybe they counted us as one. We do everything together,” the larger one says, winking at me. “I’m Timothy and this is Thomas. You can call us Tim and Tom, we like that. And two men are better than one.”
My lip curls at that, unsure what to say. I nearly turn to Lindon to hopefully share my feeling of ‘what the eff’ with him, but then a vision of being shared by these two gorgeous, exotic brothers kind of takes my breath away.
There’s one more man at the door. Even though there shouldn’t be.
Lindon opens it, bracing himself for whatever is coming. But it’s just a man with a clipboard.
“Um, sorry,” he says, stammering up at Lindon, who towers over him. “But I have a delivery of rather a lot of flowers…”
Chapter 6
The room bursts into arguments about who is uncreative, and I peek out to see a van full of flowers parked outside. And balloons. And chocolates. I jump up to go look closer and feel many male gazes jump to me as the room goes silent.
I scan the room, watching them all want me, feeling everyone but Fifi and Matthew licking me with their eyeballs.
I look to Lindon for help and he just lets out a long sigh.
I don’t think anyone really thought this through properly.
Then one of the men stands and points a finger in Lindon’s direction. Grumpy ass Thor. Who is also hot.
“What’s he doing here?” he asks, eyeing Lindon with a sneer. “I’m not competing with him.”
“Why not?” I ask.
Murmurs and scoffs go out through the other wolves.
“The prince can get his own female,” Bradley says. “He doesn’t need to take ours. With his family’s money they can buy anything.”
“Rowan’s pack is always overstepping,” Asher grumbles. The murmuring gets louder until the door closes with a loud slam.
“Alright, look you weirdoes,” Lindon says, his voice low and authoritative. Hot. “Misty is my friend, and if you want to win her, you’re going to go through me, get that?” He points a finger at them. “And if you know Rowan’s pack, our alpha power, then you know you don’t want me putting hands on you.”
There are nods and grumbles as the room quiets. No one looks eager to engage Lindon.
“So, are you competing or not?” Asher asks Lindon, resentment plain in his sparkling black eyes. He pushes unruly black hair behind one ear and gives me a cocky wink that puts me off balance.
I look around the room in shock. None of these men would have shown any interest in me in high school and now I’m suddenly supposed to expect that they’re all here to win me?
“She smells freaking good,” Tim, the larger of the brothers says. “Looking forward to sharing her with you, Tom.”
Tom merely nods darkly, looking to Lindon to see what he’ll say.
Lindon leans against the wall with folded arms and stares up at the ceiling for a moment like he’s praying for patience. Then his gaze snaps back to them, sparkling, glittering gold, his perfect mouth tightened to a slash, and gives them all a glare. “I reserve the right to choose either way.”
“How are we supposed to compete with Rowan’s pack?” Bradley says, breaking out into the group and shaking his head. “Money, prestige, I’m going home.”
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Asher says, sneering at the quieter, taller man.
Lindon puts a palm over his face, but Asher leans forward, continuing.
“So, we just need to claim her then?” he inhales the air and his black eyes flash as they lock on mine. A smile curls his lips. “Done and done.”
Several of the other males lean forward, low growls sounding throughout the room. Just how was Rowan thinking this wouldn’t become a bloodbath? Maybe he thought because Lindon had always been the calm one among his sons that he’d be able to keep them in line, but I can already see mutiny breaking out.
“No,” Lindon says. “You’ll stay here, we’ll pick rooms, and you’ll get to know Misty, so she can choose who will suit her.”
“Ha!” Matthew says. “Typical of someone raised with humans. She should do it the old way. Whoever comes out victorious in the fight for her should win, regardless of her own petty preferences.” He sends me a scornful glare, and once again I can’t help noting how pretty his face is. Maybe prettier than Lindon, and definitely not as masculine.
“Exactly what I’d expect from the tribunal,” Thor says, giving Matthew a light shove that sends the smaller man tumbling off the couch. Matthew brushes his pants off and gets up, steaming red, and goes into the kitchen for a glass of water.
Eyes follow him and then come back to me.
Long, lean, muscular males of every shape and color are lying over every couch and chair in the house and the air is thick with pheromones and glittering anticipation.
“Um, as Lindon said, I’m Misty…” I start.
“Nice to ‘mate’ you.” Asher sits forward, grinning, and I sit back, blushing.
Lock puts a palm over his face. “Oh no, we’ve gotten to puns already. We’re done for.”
Asher sends him a glare, and then smoothly exits his chair and approaches the middle of the room.
The other men watch with curiosity, as if to see how it goes when someone tests Lindon. Thor in particular seems interested, his amber eyes not blinking as they follow Asher’s approach. Almost as if he’d do the same thing if he could get away with it. I cringe into my chair.
“So, you think we should do it your way, and I think we should do it the old way,” Asher says, speaking to Lindon but eyeing me in a way that makes me uncomfortable. I wish Lindon would come closer, even if I sort of doubt his ability to take on Asher’s stocky strength. But Lindon just cocks an eyebrow at him, daring him to do whatever it is he’s intending to do.
“What would you even do, if I could get to her in seconds, flip her on her back and have my way with her?” He bares his fangs in a smile that makes my toes curl up, not in a good way. The other males lean forward, as if ready to engage him. Is Asher actually saying he’d do that, or is he just asking a hypothetical question of Lindon?
The tension in the room is already r
eaching a fever pitch, the flowers and chocolates in forgotten rows in the kitchen.
Then Asher lunges toward me. My mind tries to break down what’s happening, but it all goes so fast. I push myself back against my chair, the other males are leaving their seats as if to intercept him, and his eyes are determined, locked on mine.
And then a flash of navy blue and blond crosses my vision, and I see Asher’s eyes widening in shock as Lindon catches him with one arm and spins, hurling him back against the wall opposite me. Asher hits it with a hard slam and then slides down like spaghetti off a plate.
The room goes silent, save for the sound of Lindon slowly brushing his hands off as the others settle back into their seats. None of them were even able to stand in the time it took for Lindon to cross the room and dispatch Asher completely.
“Does anyone else want to test me, and get thrown out right now?” he asks. “Look, Rowan is responsible for Misty. He made a pack’s promise with her parents.”
There’s a light intake of air at that, and I’m going to have to ask Lindon what that means.
“So this is only happening on our terms. Otherwise our pack is taking her back and protecting her and none of you get a chance with her.”
“The tribunal would never allow it,” Matthew says.
“You’d know,” Thor retorts, voice dark and sullen. “So what are we, then? Performing monkeys?”
“We’re alpha males,” Tom says. It’s the first time I’ve heard him speak. Though slightly leaner, sharper, and smaller than his brother, his voice is deeper and his face is more hard. “Alpha males fight for mates. I’ve never heard of this happening. Why don’t we set up a variety of matches?”
“Yes, why don’t we?” Lock says, eyeing his nails lazily. “There are a few people in here I wouldn’t mind seeing beaten to a pulp by Lindon.”
All eyes turn to him and he stands and strides easily to the wall where Lindon was leaning before, taking his spot. He flicks his dark red hair out of his eyes and gives me a lazy smile. “While you guys do that, I’ll get some time with Misty.”
My skin is heating again. Lock has an interesting scent. Spicy, almost sweet. Sex in a bakery. But with his piercings and his edgy, longish hair, I can tell the sex would be anything but vanilla.
Could I handle any of these males in the bedroom as a virgin?
“Who says Lindon would beat on us?” Thor asks resentfully, sizing Lindon up like he’s wondering if Asher was just that lame or if Lindon actually has that considerable of an advantage.
My heart is still beating quick, thinking of how quickly Lindon was there, before Asher could threaten me at all. How effortlessly he threw the other into the wall.
So incredibly strong. The wolf inside me wants him.
No wonder Rowan assigned him to me. I feel stupid for doubting people who obviously know better than me about this world, and can feel a begrudging amount of respect for and trust in Rowan’s family starting to grow in me.
Around the room, the mood seems to be intensifying. Shifters are leaning forward, scenting the air, and Fifi stands suddenly and walks over to me.
Lindon starts, but then lowers his guard as Fifi reaches out a hand.
“How about we go upstairs?” he asks. “You look like you could use a bit of space, and these guys could frankly use a break from your scent.”
“What about you?” I ask, looking up at him. Fifi’s beautiful purple eyes twinkle in amusement.
“Don’t worry, I’m not interested in anyone less beautiful than me.”
“I’ll go too,” Matthew says, narrowing his eyes at me. “Since I’m also not competing.”
“Like hell you will,” Thor says, grabbing Matt by the shirt and pulling him back down to the couch. Matthew sits with a huff. “Go ahead Fifi, we need to have a man talk.”
Fifi sniffs and takes my hand and pulls me toward the stairs.
“What are you doing?” I ask, puzzled why he’s taking me and why the others are letting him. Fifi just grins and walks up the stairs. He scents the air and finds my room, opens the door and throws me inside, walks in, and shuts the door behind him.
I land against the bed and look up at him in trepidation.
“Girl, please,” he says. “I’m saving your butt out there. Not only yours, but Lindon’s. Maybe he can take on one at a time, but if all of them start fighting, it wouldn’t be good for either of you.” He walks over to my dresser and sits on the padded bench, playing with his hair and batting his eyes and pursing his lips at his reflection. “Flawless as always,” he murmurs.
“If you aren’t here for me, why are you here?”
He eyes me disdainfully. “I thought it would be interesting. And as an eligible alpha male I had a right to be here. I mean, a whole bunch of alphas in one house, bound to be something to see.”
“So, boredom?”
He nods, pulling his beautiful hair back in an effortless knot, exposing a flawless neck. His skin is gorgeous and smooth and pale, nearly translucent, and his eyes are luminous. He notices me watching and grins widely. “Well, you may not be much to look at, but you can at least appreciate beauty.”
“Are you gay, then?” I ask.
He laughs and spins around on the bench, crossing his long legs in a lady-like way. “No. It doesn’t matter much to me as long as someone is the right kind of beautiful.” He eyes me meaningfully. “Yeah, not interested, as of now.”
I shrug. “Join the club.”
He looks confused by that and waits for me to explain.
“No one has ever thought I was beautiful, at least in the human world,” I clarify for him.
He eyes me again but doesn’t say anything, and turns back to the mirror. “So, do you like anyone in particular yet?”
“Thor is very alpha, and—”
“They’re all alphas, dear. That’s the point.”
“As I was saying,” I say, taking control of the conversation back. “Thor seems my type, and Lock isn’t bad. The sharing brothers seem like an adventure. Maybe I could give them a spin.” Fifi stands and walks toward the bed, tilting his head in deep consideration.
“What do you mean a spin?”
I put my hands up. “Maybe I could have some fun, you know, before I figure it out.”
He barks out a laugh. “No one told you?” He walks forward, hands in his pockets. His eyes flick over me and he crawls onto the bed. My heart double thumps as he crawls over me, so much bigger, his eyes getting closer to mine every second.
Then he climbs over and sits himself against the headboard and pats the bed for me to sit next to him. When I do, he sets a heavily muscled arm over my shoulders and sighs. “I have some bad news, boo. Once you have sex with one of them, the decision is made. That’s how you get claimed.”
“Ah,” I say. “That makes sense now, thinking over what they told me. I don’t know how I missed that.”
Fifi nods and we sit there in silence. Voices raise from downstairs and my ears perk. More arguments about Lindon.
“Why are they so upset about him joining?”
Fifi sighs and removes his arm so he can fold both in front of him. “In our world, Lindon and his family are practically royalty. Most of the guys here thought this was their big chance to get an alpha female that wasn’t snapped up by a pack like Lindon’s. Seeing him here, they feel like they’ve already lost.”
I can see that, between Lindon’s height and physical beauty and strength and wealth. But they don’t know what I know, that he isn’t competing at all. And he probably only said that thing about reserving the right to compete so that he could protect me.
“You know, in our world, the rules state that a male can’t interfere in an alpha challenge unless he’s also interested in claiming a female…” Fifi says, as if he read my mind. But he stares neutrally ahead. “So one would almost wonder if Lindon only said he may compete to keep anyone from calling him on the fact that he probably shouldn’t even be here.”
“Right,” I
say. “What are we going to do, then? I don’t think anyone thought this through right.”
“Probably the tribunal. They’re all about reacting first and thinking about it later, and I’m sure they gave Rowan no time to set it all up.”
Fifi’s ears perk up as he listens to something downstairs. He flashes a fang at me in a one sided smile. “Ah, Lindon just said that anyone caught trying to force you will be ejected from the games, starting from now, and that the tribunal approved those rules. An interesting concept given that alpha males rarely have to force anyone.”
“What do you mean?”
He flashes that fang again. “We can be very…persuasive.” There’s that smell again, lavender sex.
“You’re odd, you know that?” I say to him.
“I know,” he replies. “I think we’ll make good friends because of it. And as for how we’ll do it, I’ll help you. We’ll think of all sorts of devious ways to make them compete for you.”
“What’s in it for you?” I ask.
He puts a finger up to his lips in a shushing motion and simply smiles. “Don’t worry about that.”
“All right,” I say, leaning against him. He gasps lightly, like he wasn’t expecting the contact, but it’s been a while since I’ve had someone to lean on, and after an awkward moment, he puts an arm around me and lets me rest against his side.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, I just sympathize with you…” he says. “You still aren’t beautiful enough for me.”
“I don’t think anyone is,” I murmur, feeling sleepy. It’s so calm and peaceful right now, which makes no sense considering what day it is and what has happened so far. But I find myself closing my eyes. So heavy. So tired.
Chapter 7
A loud knock on the door sounds and I sit up, wary and wide eyed.
Fifi isn’t in the room anymore. No one is. I rub the back of my neck and lean forward, then glance over at the window, seeing that the day is getting later. I must have slept for a couple of hours.
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