Alpha Contender Boxed Set: BWWM Paranormal shifter romance BBW

by Terry Bolryder

  I jog toward the house.

  It’s only now sinking in that Lindon tackled his own teammate out of need to protect me. It makes my heart double thump in my chest and I reach up to rub it as I run, baffled by the sudden ache there.

  No one has ever cared for me like that. And it may be because he’s assigned, but it also seems too instinctive for that.

  I don’t know when I’m going to understand Lindon. I just know that each interaction with him makes me more determined to try. It doesn’t hurt that a lot of those reactions result in kisses. Since I really could have been hurt today, I should probably thank him later for going turncoat on his team to protect me.

  I grin, thinking about how that conversation will go, and pull open the back door to the house. It was already half open, and I hear voices as I step inside. Coming from upstairs.

  I swear I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but my hearing is just so good. Either that or these men have no volume control.

  “It’s too dangerous,” a low voice says. Is that Fifi? “You have to tell her.”

  “No, never!” The high pitched response is definitely Matt. So they’re in here together? What don’t they want to tell me? I walk slowly up the stairs, letting the voices get louder.

  “If you don’t, I will.”

  “No, if I tell, then everything is ruined, and there’s been no point to all of this. You weren’t supposed to know, but now that you do, you have to help me.”

  No, is Matt the murderer? My eyes widen, and I freeze on the stairs. I don’t want to move and have something creak and have them know I heard them. I’m sure if they thought I did, they’d try and kill me now.

  It breaks my heart a little that Fifi would be in on it, but he never did clarify his intentions for coming here.

  “I’m in it with you. Obviously I’m not going to leave you alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But this is bad. You shouldn’t be here.”

  Now I’m really confused. What on earth are they talking about? I’m tempted to bolt up the stairs, rip open the door and ask them myself, but I try to resist being so impulsive. I’m nothing if not patient. When I want to be. I creep further up the stairs, a little reassured that they aren’t necessarily murderers.

  “Did you hear that?” Matt’s voice asks, rising in nervousness.

  Silence. Then Fifi. “Someone’s here. I can smell it.”

  I freeze, damning myself for my smell. Damn.

  “Take care of them,” Matt says coldly. An upstairs door opens and I find myself eye to eye with Fifi. Tall, cold, imperious. He folds his arms and looks almost regretful that I’m the one there.

  “Misty. Did you hear us?”

  I shake my head. Then nod. “No, well, yes, but…please.”

  He reaches down and grabs me by the arm and hauls me to my feet and then up the rest of the stairs. He’s so strong, and he’s not hurting me, but I have no way to get away as he drags me toward the room. And I didn’t put on my bracelet today, because I didn’t plan on being alone with anyone.

  He opens the door and tosses me inside gently but firmly. I land on my butt and push up on my hands to confront my captors.

  Then I see Matt, over by the mirror in the bathroom. My eyes widen as I take in his appearance, and I crawl back in shock. That’s not possible.

  “Matt? You’re…”

  Matt sighs and turns toward me. Damn it. I guess it’s all over now. Fifi, you want to do it, or should I?”

  My eyes widen as I look from Matt to Fifi, and Fifi lets out a long sigh. Betrayal and confusion flood through me, and I reach instinctively for my wrist, wishing the bracelet were there. Wishing I had any way to call someone to help me as Fifi reaches down and tilts my chin up to meet his eyes.

  “Well, Muppet. I guess it’s time we talked.”

  * * *

  * * *

  To be continued in Alpha Contender 4. Turn the page for the last volume!

  Alpha Contender 4

  Copyright © 2015 by Terry Bolryder

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Design by Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers

  Chapter 1

  I look up into Fifi’s intense, dark blue eyes, and then flick my gaze to Matt, walking toward me from the bathroom. Never in a million years did I see this coming. I don’t know how carefully guarded this secret is, but I know it must be intense. I remember what Matt said.

  “Take care of them.”

  Them meaning me, the person who was listening from outside.

  I swallow and Fifi guides me to my feet, keeping that one, long finger under my chin. He releases me when I’m standing, facing Matt.

  “I’m not going to tell anyone,” I say. “Why would I?” My eyes wander back to Matt, looking him over with astonishment.

  Looking her over with astonishment.

  “Matt, you’re a…a…”

  “A girl, just say it,” Matt snaps, in a voice that I now realize is quite low for a woman but quite high for a man’s. “I’m a female. My father leads the tribunal, and when he was unsuccessful in siring any males, it was decided from birth that my gender would be kept a secret and I would be raised male.”

  “But, but—”

  “Please stop stuttering. It’s not becoming,” Matt mutters.

  I snap my mouth shut and Fifi sits on the wide king bed in the room and pats the space next to him for me to sit down. I do, still in complete shock, body sagging from the anticipation of being dragged in here, worried I’d be confronted with a murderer.

  Not a woman.

  “But…” My mind works overtime trying to figure it out, as Matt unwinds the rest of the binding on her chest, revealing small but perfect breasts. She’s not modest at all, strutting to her closet and stretching with a loud sigh.

  “Ah, that feels so much better.”

  I look at Fifi, wondering how he plays a part in all of this.

  “Fifi’s my cousin,” Matt says. “Only my family knows.”

  I lean back on my hands on my bed, letting my heartbeat calm slowly as it sinks in that they aren’t going to kill me. “But, wouldn’t someone have leaked it?” I ask.

  Matt glances at me with sharply narrowed eyes. That cold beauty makes much more sense now. Matt’s family is probably a lot of pure wolf and that means the only humans who bred in were physically stunning. “No one has a death wish, that’s why no one has leaked it. A lot of work went into hiding my secret. Upsetting the tribunal in such a fundamental way would be akin to asking for execution.”

  “They can do that?” I ask, as Matt shrugs into a sports bra, a tee shirt and a pair of shorts and walks over to the bed. I’m lucky no one knows he’s a she, because I’d be too intimidated to be able to compete with her. Long, gorgeous legs, tight waist, and high perfect breasts. Gorgeous face accented by her pixie cut.

  Damn, how did I miss it? How did she fool all of us?

  Matt goes to a bag and rummages in it before pulling out a vial and tossing it to me in one smooth motion. I catch it clumsily and look at the label.

  “Smell it,” Matt says.

  I do, and my eyes water at the honeysuckle smell, plus something chemical.

  “Artificial male pheromones. Werewolves listen to their nose more than their eyes. That’s how I get away with it, if you were wondering.”

  “I was wondering.”

  “I know, I could tell by your stupid face,” she retorts.

  I laugh nervously. I guess it makes sense why Matt is so jerky now. Having to live as a male…

  “Don’t pity me,” Matt says, slumping into an office chair by the desk and swinging her legs over the arm. “I hate that.”

  “And you hate me,” I say, kind of wanting to ask if she’s the murderer while
I’m at it.

  “Yeah, I kind of do,” she says.

  “Why?” I ask, putting my hands up. “We could be friends.”

  Fifi laughs out loud at that, clapping his hands and then falling on his back on the bed.

  “Pray tell, what’s so funny, Felix?” Matt snaps.

  “Ooh, full name,” Fifi scoffs, pushing to a sitting position. “Better straighten up.”

  “Still it’s nice to have another girl in the house,” I say, reaching a hand of peace out toward her. She eyes it suspiciously and then sits back in her chair.

  “I don’t need your friendship, commoner. Though I do envy you. What was my father thinking? Sending me here to watch another female with her choice of mates, knowing fully I’d never have the same.”

  “Do you want to mate?” I ask.

  She scowls at me like I’m stupid. “Of course I want to mate. Do you want to breathe?”

  “You should tell your dad you don’t want to be male,” I say.

  “Ha!” Matt says.

  I turn to Fifi for an explanation. He shakes his head and rests a hand on my shoulder.

  “What?” I ask.

  “That’d be akin to asking the president of a nation to allow his son to get a sex change.”

  “But it’s how she was born!” I say, irritated by the whole thing and feeling sorry for Matt. “But you don’t have to worry about me.” I put my hands up in a placating gesture. “I won’t tell anyone.”

  Matt’s eyes flash and narrow slightly. She eyes me again, like she can’t decide what to make of me. Then one corner of her mouth twitches with mirth. She stifles it quickly. “Good. As much as I don’t like you, I don’t want to see you killed by tribunal lackeys.”

  I jump off the bed and grab her chair by the arms and pull it toward us. She gasps in offense and drags her feet but I pull her all the same to be next to me and Fifi.

  “You know what this means, right?” I ask them with a sly grin.

  “What?” Matt asks sharply.

  I give her chair a little turn in response and she glares again. “We can talk boys!”

  Fifi groans and Matt clicks her tongue. “This is just as inane as I thought it would be,” she says, moving to stand. “Anyway, both of you can leave my room. I need to get ready again.” She pulls a fresh pair of bandages from the closet and eyes them reluctantly.

  “Do you need any help?” I ask.

  “No,” she snaps.

  Fifi sighs and rests his chin on his hand, but doesn’t move to leave. Instead, when I stand to go, he tugs on my hand to pull me back onto the bed with him. “I was trying to convince Matt to tell some of the others, trust them to stay silent. If she gets hurt here when someone gets rough, there’ll be hell to pay.”

  Matt shrugs. “I’m not competing, so I’ll just not participate.”

  “Someone could still figure it out. There are some strong noses around here,” Fifi argues.

  “My father sent me to do this. He wouldn’t have if he didn’t trust me to carry it off.”

  “Your father is an ass,” Fifi says, giving a little snort. “I wouldn’t trust him farther than I could throw him.”

  “Which could be pretty far, considering how strong you are and how light he is,” Matt says, flashing a rare smile our way. The effect is instant and amazing, transforming her from a girly boy to a full-on beautiful woman.

  “I can see why you don’t smile more,” I say. “It makes you look too beautiful.”

  Matt freezes, half-unwrapped bandages in her hands. “I’m beautiful?”

  I nod. “Super stunning. If you were here as a female, I’m sure no one would look at me.”

  She thinks about it and then gives a curt nod. “I thought so. I thought I’d be intimidating as a woman.” She sighs. “But it doesn’t matter. Besides, I doubt I’d be able to compete as much as you think. Weres like curves.” She pulls off her shirt and glares at us. “Are you guys going to leave, or didn’t you get enough of a show before?”

  “Can I come back later and talk to you?” I ask, feeling shy but knowing that it would be amazing to have someone to talk to. And it looks like Matt could use a female friend as well.

  She sighs, like what I’ve asked is super annoying, but I swear I see a flash of a smile as well. “Fine. You can come by tonight if you want, after dinner. I’ll just be reading.”

  “Okay,” I say.

  “So we aren’t telling anyone?” Fifi asks, full lips pouting.

  “I don’t know who we would tell,” I reply. “We’ll just have to avoid activities that would get her hurt or give it away.”

  “Please, guys, I’m completely competent,” Matt says. “I’ve gone twenty-six years without getting caught, I think I can go a few more. She grabs the vial from me and dabs it at her wrists and neck, inhaling the air and adjusting until she seems happy.

  “But I have to say, Misty. If it were me, I’d go for Lindon.” She gives me a sly grin.

  I perk up my ears interestedly. “What?”

  “I’ve seen how you look at him. I’d pick Lindon if I had a choice of all the men. And I would definitely not pick Thor.” A blush tinges her cheekbones. Does Matt like Thor?

  “Why Lindon?” I ask, and Fifi snorts.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Matt says, ticking reasons off on her fingers. “Great bloodline, prestigious pack connections with Rowan, whom even the tribunal fears. Great genes and looks, strong alpha blood and tremendous wealth. What’s not to like?”

  “A bad personality,” I grumble, and Fifi laughs out loud, holding his stomach and rolling back on the bed. “Glad you are finding this hilarious, Fifi.”

  He wipes invisible tears from his eyes. “It’s just…I’ve known Lindon since he was little, and I’ve never heard him described… exactly like that.”

  “So, Fifi, why exactly are you here?”

  That sobers him up slightly, and he sits up, wiping his eyes and composing himself. “I came to watch out for Matt. And to check out the guys.”

  “So you’re gay then.”

  “Not exactly,” he says, eyes flashing over me. “I’m okay with both.” He puts a hand up to caress my waist and I cough and step back.

  Matt laughs. “No one can figure Fifi out. Don’t even try.”

  Fifi shrugs. “I know I said you weren’t beautiful enough before, but I think I was wrong. Your beauty is just different than I thought. I think I’d be willing to do you now.”

  I bite my lip, trying not to laugh. My eyes meet Matt’s and she makes a similar expression. Together, we somehow remain serious and I turn back to Fifi. “Good to know.”

  He raises a purple tinted eyebrow. “You don’t believe me? You don’t see me as viable?”

  “Um. No,” I say.

  “Hm.” He leans back on his elbows, displaying an impressively toned chest and taut abs. Defined arms. Definitely all man, but there have just been too many times of ridiculousness for me to see Fifi like that.

  Before I can say anything about it, Fifi grabs me behind the neck and pulls me onto him on the bed. He holds my hair and pulls my mouth down to meet his, and I gasp at the intense feeling when he bites down on my lip, hard, and then licks it better with his deft tongue.

  Lavender overcomes me in a sleepy haze, and Fifi’s hands dig into my hair, pulling it tight, making each nerve aware as his tongue sweeps through my mouth, owning it completely. It’s like standing in a firestorm, overwhelming, odd, and yet completely safe.

  Okay, maybe a little dangerous. He pulls my tank top straps down around my arms, pinning them at my sides as he moves to press a quick kiss at the side of my jaw and nip the skin there. He runs a finger along my arm and shoulder and I gasp. I look up into his hypnotic purple-blue eyes and feel my body responding even as my brain is starting to panic.

  He likes being in charge, maybe even more than Lindon does. His eyes flicker with triumph and he toys with the bottom of my tank as I wriggle against my straps.

  “All right, Felix, th
at’s enough,” Matt says, walking up to us with folded arms. “Stop being kinky with Lindon’s property.”

  I release my breath as Fifi steps back with a smirk. “Property?” I ask.

  “His scent is all over you. You know, Lindon’s been involved with some of the studies into scent disguise and replacement. You’re totally marked.” Matt’s lip curls. “And, stupid human that you are, you don’t even know it.”

  “I’m not a human,” I say, sitting up and pulling my tank back over my shoulder. I take a deep breath and exhale, letting my heart return to normal. “I can turn into a wolf.”

  “For how long?” Matt asks. “Not even hours, right? A true werewolf should be able to stay that way for days at the least.”

  I sigh. “It’s not my fault my parents abandoned me.” I fold my arms, putting a wall between me and them. It’s been fun learning Matt’s secret, having a few moments of less animosity between us. But in reality, our worlds are too different for much more than that.

  “Well, why don’t you just pick Lindon and get things over with?”

  I blink, hoping the sting in my eyes is just dryness, not tears threatening. But it’s been such an overwhelming couple of days. “He isn’t competing. He has said he’ll stop marking me as much.”

  Fifi and Matt look at each other. “Mmhmm,” they say together.

  “What?”

  Matt shakes her head. “I don’t blame you for not knowing, but I’d expect Lindon to know better. Males don’t mark if they aren’t competing. He may not be fully conscious of it, but he’s marking, so he wants you. Just get him to mate you, and you’ll be good.”

  “You mean, have sex with him?”

  Matt’s lip curls. “Crude human term.”

  “Yes,” Fifi says, grinning at me. I flush, still not sure how I felt about our little kissing session.

  “What if he already had a mate?” I ask them. “What if he thinks he was fated and can’t love again?”