by Ivy Sinclair
Mating the Alpha (Greyelf Grizzlies #3)
By Ivy Sinclair
Copyright 2015 Smith Sinclair Books
ebook Edition
Cover Design by Charity Hendry
ebook Edition, License Notes
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CHAPTER ONE - Lukas
I had Markus to thank for having the confidence to be able to deliver the speech that solidified my leadership with all the shifters. After all, he wrote most of it. But as I saw the nodding heads and heard the approving murmurs of the crowd, I thought I had done my best to make his words my own. Speaking in front of a crowd never bothered me. I liked it when people listened to me. It made me feel special in some stupid way. Maren would have said that I was always a showboat and wanted to be the center of attention. There was some truth in that, I guess. Maren knew me better than anyone else in the world.
Watching the expression on her face when Doc Walden declared Vivian Reddon as my mate almost killed me. I was going to have a word or several with the good doctor as soon as this was all over. But with almost five hundred guests in attendance on the cusp of what would likely be the most critical shifter Summit since the original announcement that we existed at all, I couldn’t let myself get distracted from the mission. Not even for her. I’d find her afterward, and we’d talk, and we’d work it out.
I could feel the bear inside of me growling, and my vision threatened to turn completely red on several occasions, which told me I wasn’t nearly as calm as I needed to be. To phase into my bear form out of anger was one of the things that got beaten out of you as soon as it was determined that you were a shifter. It wasn’t safe for you or anyone around you if you couldn’t keep your animal instincts under control when you got emotional. It was one of the reasons the mortality rate among shifters was higher than it should be. That was another topic for the Summit. There needed to be more structure around a shifter’s education before and after their first phase. It was a tumultuous time even under the best of circumstances considering it happened right at the same time as a normal human’s time of maturity into adulthood.
Teenage hormones combined with claws and teeth weren’t a pretty combination. And I had been one of the worst when it came to learning the required techniques of control and patience. It meant that Markus wouldn’t let me leave the walls of White Oaks for more than a month after my first phase. That hadn’t been a great time in our relationship. But what had affected me most was not being able to hang out with Maren. It was during that month that I first started to figure out that I had more than friendly feelings for the girl who had been my best friend since I moved to Greyelf.
I was a fucking idiot. Like most things that I did in my earlier life, I seemed to pick the incorrect path at every step to try to accomplish what I wanted. I knew now that I spent a great deal of time keeping Maren’s attention glued firmly on me while doing everything I could to push her away at the same time. I never felt that I was good enough for her. That logic somehow translated into me dating every girl who even gave me a promising glance and usually sleeping with her too. Once I made the rounds of Greyelf High School and could drive, I started in on the girls in the neighboring towns. I have no idea why Maren put up with me. But she was always there whenever I called or came by, and I liked that. So in addition to being an idiot, I had been a selfish asshole.
I thought I was different now. Ten years and a bit of life experience can change a man. Being alone in Markus’s imposed isolation was one of the most difficult things that I could have imagined. But it made me appreciate the community and support that existed at White Oaks. I felt closer to the bear shifters here than ever, even if they didn’t feel that way about me yet. My big brother was smart as hell. He knew by keeping me away, he’d evoke the old ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ feeling. I wonder if he knew that same logic would end up applying to my feelings for Maren too. He probably did.
That was the baffling part about his death. Markus had an uncanny sense of being able to predict the future and read a room like a book. He was too smart to go for an evening run and accidentally step into an old bear trap. After he started building the White Oaks community, he had a team comb the woods for weeks to uncover and disassemble every bear trap they could find. It wasn’t entirely implausible that one had been left behind, but I didn’t believe in those kinds of coincidences. Add in the suspicious head wound, and I was more certain than ever that someone had intentionally murdered my brother.
My bear growled again across my consciousness. I beat it away even as I reached the end of my prepared remarks. I heard the rumble and roar of the crowd as they began to cheer, and I ducked my head slightly.
“Always appear humble,” Markus’s voice whispered in my mind. “Especially when you are the smartest guy in the room.”
Humility wasn’t on my list of strong suits. It was something that I had to work on every day. Markus’s lessons had spanned the last ten years, and thank God I had been smart enough to pay attention. Whenever I hit a place where I didn’t know what to do next, I simply asked myself “What would Markus do?” It was a technique that worked well in almost every situation.
I raised my hands and waved at the crowd before backing away from the podium. Doc Walden stepped forward and started to give instructions on the rest of the agenda for the evening, which was basically an invitation to the open bar and the opportunity to get hammered for free. The Grizzly Clan had opened its coffers big for hosting the Summit this year. I was certain the evening events would be talked about just as much as the negotiations that would be discussed during the day.
“That was quite a speech.” I had forgotten that Vivian Reddon was still on stage with us. She moved closer to me and leaned in. “I had wished that we’d met before today, but after hearing that speech, I’m glad we didn’t. Consider it an excellent first impression.”
“Thanks,” I said. I had no interest in the blonde bombshell. I would have patted myself on the back for showing such growth of character if her presence hadn’t sent Maren flying for the nearest exit. I knew exactly how it all looked, and I couldn’t blame her. It was a painful reminder that there were hours between me and the next time I’d be able to talk to Maren and calm the situation.
Doc Walden’s portion had ended, and he was moving toward the other end of the stage. “Can you excuse me?” I didn’t wait for Vivian’s reply before making a beeline for the older man.
I pulled up to my full height as I came up behind him. I wanted to make sure that he felt my presence. “Doctor, a word?”
He turned slightly. “There are several representatives waiting to chat with you, Lukas. You should probably start making the rounds before they have too many drinks. I suggest starting with Mr. Reddon. We can speak later if you wish.”
I stepped even closer. It took everything I had not to bare my teeth. “We’re going to talk right now.”
A hooded expression rolled across his face, and for a moment I thought that he was going to resist. For some reason, the idea of physically wiping the smug look off his face pleased me. But then he gave me a short nod. “Very well.” He gestured toward the back of the tent, and I stalked in that direction.
I saw the crease in the flap, and I stepped outside into the cooling night air. The tall, full trees around us blocked most of the stars, and that made
me uneasy. I was most comfortable when I had a full view of the night sky. That was why, even in the ten years that I spent in the city, I never felt fully comfortable there. It wasn’t my home. I spun on Doc Walden as soon as he emerged from the tent behind me.
“What the hell was that stunt you just pulled?” I hissed. “Don’t you think it would have been wise to have a conversation with me about my supposed mate before you made the announcement in front of the entire shifter leadership community?”
The man appeared nonplussed at my outburst. “The decision had been made months ago. Markus was fully aware of it, and as we discussed yesterday with you when you made your intention to take the alpha claim, that responsibility now falls to you.”
“You said it had been discussed.” Inside, I seethed, but I had to keep my cool. Otherwise, I was pretty certain I’d phase and tear the man limb from limb. “You didn’t say who the chosen mate was, and you most definitely didn’t say when this was all happening.”
“It was already decided,” Doc Walden repeated. “The announcement would have the fullest impact done here at the Summit. It is what Mr. Reddon was expecting as well. I’m sorry that we weren’t clearer on the matter with you, but the deal was done.”
“The deal was not done,” I said. “There was much more I had to discuss on the matter.”
“I supposed this reaction of yours has to do with Ms. Lene?” Doc Walden shook his head. “You don’t think that the council is well aware of your affections toward the girl? You should be thankful that we saved you before you did something monumentally stupid that affected all of us.”
“I will choose my own mate,” I said, my voice dropping an octave. My bear was right there below the surface. “I will not have her chosen for me.”
“We need a peace treaty with the Lopers, and we need a strong bloodline for the future of the clan,” Doc Walden said. His voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Lukas, use your head. We haven’t had time to brief you fully yet, but you know that there has been an uptick in violence between our clans.”
“There has been bad blood between us and the Lopers since day one. That isn’t going to change just because I mate the Loper alpha’s daughter,” I said. “This goes beyond that, and we both know it. It’s a full culture shift toward collaboration and mutual respect, two things that don’t exist right now.”
“Exactly!” Doc Walden stepped closer to me. “And the way in to give us the path to that end is a match between our two clans. And it couldn’t be just any match. It had to be at the alpha level for it to be meaningful and significant. They will listen to us now. We’re aligned at the highest level. What we’re going to be able to accomplish during the next five days of the Summit will be unprecedented. Lukas, you will be at the forefront of all of it. You will be able to do things that Markus was never able to achieve. The Lopers have strength in numbers, and this match brings all of them to the table willing to collaborate and listen to you.”
I hated to admit it, but I knew that he was right. “There has to be another way,” I said. “I’m not ready for this mating business, and definitely not for someone that I didn’t pick for myself.”
“Vivian Reddon is one of Washington State’s brightest attorneys. She’s been to the Supreme Court arguing on equality issues for shifters. She’s well-respected in the community and has a loyal following of her own that will do whatever she asks. She’s a formidable woman who also happens to be gorgeous and willing to mate you despite your reputation because she sees the benefit of this union as well. A Kasper-Reddon match would mean that shifters everywhere will feel the strength of the union of the two most powerful clans. They will see that we are being taken seriously everywhere.”
It was an argument that was designed to work on my brother, but even I could see the inherent logic in it. It made perfect sense, but it didn’t make sense for me. My heart would never be in it because it had already been claimed long ago.
As he sensed the reason for my hesitation, he added, “Every great leader faces sacrifice, Lukas. If you must bed her to get her out of your system, then do it. But your brother expected you to be smarter than that. Love and power rarely align. You have a responsibility to those who now look to you as their leader. You said this morning that you would do anything for them. Are you going back on that promise already?”
Dammit. I had to find another way. This conversation was getting me nowhere. If anything, it was making me think about things that I didn’t want to think about because every avenue in his logic led me to a place where Maren didn’t belong. I wasn’t going to give up. Not yet. Fuck. Not ever.
“I need a drink,” I said. “It’s been a long day already.”
“By all means.” Doc Walden flashed me a smile. He thought that he had won, but he obviously didn’t know me well. This was only the beginning of our conversation. “Now remember…”
“Schmooze with Reddon first, yes, I know,” I said. I brushed around him and back into the tent. Maren was going to have to wait a little while longer. I’d play the short-game for now until I figured out my Plan B. Long-term was and always would be Maren. There had to be another way, and I was determined to find it.
CHAPTER TWO - Maren
As I came to, my eyes felt as if they had been glued shut. I reached up to wipe the grime out of them and felt a serious throb in my temple that caused me to groan. My eyes fluttered open, and it didn’t take more than a second to realize that I had no clue where I was.
I sat up and immediately regretted it. The pounding inside my head increased tenfold, and I thought for a moment that I was going to pass out again. It all came back to me then. The opening ceremony of the Summit; Lukas kissing Vivian Reddon on the cheek, my flight out of the tent and into the night.
I gingerly let my fingertips explore the side of my head. Underneath my hair, there was a knot the size of a golf ball just above my ear. I had no idea what I had been hit with, but it had done some damage. Somehow, I managed to stay conscious even though the room started to slowly spin. I gulped several deep breaths and tried to think calming thoughts. I desperately tried not to think about the fact that I had been kidnapped.
Finally reaching a place where the world had stopped spinning and my hysteria was somewhat abated, I cracked my eyes open again. I was alone in a small, empty room. The lighting was provided by a small gas lamp set in the corner that threw long, haunting shadows on the walls. There was a window on the wall to my left, but it was boarded over. The smell of long disuse hung heavy in the air. The floorboards beneath me squeaked from the effort of holding my weight even as I pushed as gently as I could against them to steady myself. I determined that I didn’t think I had seen the room before, although it still felt slightly familiar. I could barely focus on one thought at a time much less try to wrack my brain for a distant memory.
I managed to push my body backward so that I could lean against the wall behind me. It also gave me the vantage point of being able to see the door directly across from me. Nobody was going to sneak up on me again. I surveyed my body. Other than the blow I had taken to the head, I couldn’t determine any other injury. My dress was dirty, disheveled, and torn in several places, but everything seemed to be mostly intact. Whatever my captors wanted with me, it didn’t appear to be anything violent. At least, not yet.
That was the thought that propelled me to my feet. My head protested every small movement, but I couldn’t afford to wait until I felt better. I could be dead by then. I settled my hand on the wall until I was sure that I was steady on my bare feet. I remembered taking off my heels to run away from the tent, and it appeared that I had lost them in whatever transpired afterward. That was okay. I didn’t want to give anyone any indication that I was awake until I had a chance to fully assess my surroundings.
Slowly, I crossed the room to the door. I leaned my cheek against the hard wood. It was cool against my feverish skin, and I almost gave myself permission to enjoy it for another moment when I heard a voice on the othe
r side. It was low, gravely and definitely male. I strained to make out what he was saying, but it was nothing but gibberish. It sounded like it was close, and then it moved away.
I put my hand gently on the doorknob. I listened again for several long minutes. It felt like an eternity. There was no sound or movement on the other side that I could detect. Taking a deep breath and ignoring the throb in my head, I tried to turn the doorknob. I wasn’t really surprised to discover that it wouldn’t turn more than a slight rock in either direction. It was locked.
I pushed away from the door and made my way to the window. Although it was boarded up, there were several gaps in the wood. I peered through one of them. It was almost completely pitch black outside, but a flare of light caused me to step back from the window quickly. There was someone outside. I waited to see if there was any indication that the person had seen me, but I didn’t hear any further movement.
Creeping back to the window, I peered outside again. I saw a shadow to the right of the window, but the only thing I could see clearly was a cigarette in the blackness. There appeared to be a porch outside the window, and that’s when it hit me. I knew exactly where I was, and my stomach rolled.
I was in Black Falls Cove. It was a mining town on the far north end of the nature preserve that bordered the Grizzly and Loper territories about twenty miles north of Greyelf. It had been abandoned in the late 1940s when the iron ore found there seemed to dry up overnight. The small town had a long and bloody history, and the ghost stories we were told about it around the campfires when we were kids were legendary.
Lukas and I spent several weekends exploring the supposed ghost town the summer between our sophomore and junior years of high school until Sheriff Nelson found out. He told us he’d arrest us for trespassing if he caught us up here again. The buildings had fallen into a severe state of disrepair, and I understood now that it was for our safety that he forced us to stay away. But it was the perfect place for someone to hide now because everyone in the area pretty much had forgotten the place even existed. That was aside from the fact that it was entirely possible to run into a lion or grizzly on the prowl on the road to get there.