by Olivia Arran
Thoroughly confused by her change of heart, I sent a questing probe through the Alpha-bond, trying to figure her out.
“Stop that!” she growled, baring her teeth. “I’m said I’m sorry — not puppy-whipped! As I said before, you’ll never be my actual Alpha. I follow you because I want to — not because I have to. I don’t need no stinkin’ Alpha,” she muttered, stalking off down the stairs.
Shaking my head, bemused as always, by Amanda and her inexplicable idiosyncrasies, I followed her down to find my lieutenants. After all, I had a battle to prepare for and a girl to win.
Chapter Ten
Kara
Emerging from the forest in my wolf coat, I entered the clearing that was reserved for boundary disputes and succession battles. I had never been here before, but the smell of blood and violence saturated the earth. A calling card to all of those in tune with nature’s warnings. It was a large, circular area, big enough to hold two — maybe three — packs, with stone benches roughly heaved together a long, long time ago, and cemented with age. Nothing grew within the circle, the nature of battle at odds with the natural world, and the ground was a mixture of dry dirt and stones. The night air was still, unusually still, as if it held its breath until the meeting was over.
Seated on the largest stone bench were the five members of the Council, an imposing group of shifters, all Alphas or leaders of their packs, clans or—? My mind went blank, trying to think of what to call a group of dragons. Huh? A wing? Shaking my head I dropped my shoulders, laying my head on my front paws — a wolf bow for the Council, showing my submission and gratitude for their audience.
The Council member in the center of the group nodded in acknowledgment and motioned to a pile of blankets folded on a nearby bench.
Padding over, I let the shift happen and, stretching out the aches that come from assuming a four legged form, grabbed a blanket to cover my voluptuous curves.
“No need to cover yourself on my behalf, my sweet Kara. In fact, no need to cover on their behalf either! They will see it all — and more — during the mating rut. When I take you and make you mine.” Eric seemed to ooze from the shadows, followed by his goons, and then the rest of the Smithrock Pack. Grabbing his bulging crotch in a lewd display, he eyed the mounds of my breasts that were on display above the blanket that I had hastily knotted across my chest.
“Enough!” Council member number two called out, a huge man with an unruly thatch of sandy-blond hair and legs the size of tree trunks. Muscles upon muscles rippled across his bare chest as he stood to address the group. The bear shifter I presumed, watching in awe as he moved his bulk to standing.
“We have been called here this evening, to address a change of pack, and a mate-claim. Now, I’m not sure why we have to address a change of pack. It seems to me that anyone should be able to choose whichever pack they would like to belong to. I don’t really get the whole pack thing anyway, but I’m told that’s how it works…” His loud words trailed off into muttering, as he threw Council Member number three an exasperated look, his mouth twisted almost comically and his large shoulders lifted in a shrug.
Council Member number three rolled agilely to his feet. He was smaller than the bear, a more compact strength. Age and power glowed in his eyes — the wolf shifter I assumed. “Ahem, yes, well. You bears don’t really understand the whole pack hierarchy, being that you have clans and they are made up of family ties and of a looser organization. You have a more evenly distributed power structure — less one leading Alpha and more shared levels of Alpha. We wolves have packs to protect the weaker members, those who don’t have family to look after them or those that just need protection.” He turned and looked at me, his eyes piercing me, as though looking into my soul. “Although, this young lady is definitely not in need of an Alpha to protect her…she is not a pack member to be protected…” His eyes glazed over, a faraway expression clouding them. ”No…she is one who could lead, a future protector for the weak.” His eyes cleared and he pinned me with a questioning gaze. “Just who are you, young lady, and why are we called for assistance when you do not need it?”
Clearing my throat, I answered, “I am Kara, adopted into the Smithrock Pack. I do not know who I am—”
From the corner of my eye I saw Eric making impatient gestures. So, taking a deep breath, I steeled my spine and carried on. “There has been a mistake. I choose to stay with the Smithrock Pack, with—” my voice broke, stumbling over the words, “—with Eric as my mate,” I finished in a rush. “Therefore, there is no challenge, no claim. I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”
“She is lying!” A deep voice echoed through the night.
Spinning around, I saw James striding from the forest, his handsome face tight with fury. Naked from shifting, his strong muscular thighs flexed with each step. My eyes flicked up hastily. His sculpted chest led to a stomach you could bounce a quarter off, which led to…I couldn’t help myself…I looked. My breath caught in my chest, and I emitted a strange gargling sound. Man, he was gifted! Even in a relaxed state he put other men I had seen to shame. And I had seen a lot of naked men, being a bunch of shifters, nakedness was just matter of fact, otherwise we would have extortionate clothing bills.
A shiver ran down my spine like an electric current and warmth spread, pooling in my core. My wolf stood up, sniffing the air. Hastily I tried to stuff her back down, smother her with my willpower, but she threw herself forward, demanding to be let out. To get to her mate — our mate. I had accepted it now.
James stopped, and sniffing the air, he turned to me.
“She wants me. She has accepted that we are mates. You know it to be true, Kara.”
Without waiting for my reply he turned to address the Council, his pack congregating around him in support.
“I asked for this meeting. Kara is my true mate and should be with the Colstone Pack.”
Cries of challenge erupted from Eric and his group. Eric started forward but was stopped with a warning glance from the Council.
“If Kara decides that she does not want to be my mate, or to join my pack, then that should be her choice. She should not be coerced into it by blackmail! Eric has kidnapped Kara’s best friend and is holding her hostage to ensure Kara agrees to mate with him!” James had to raise his voice to a shout for the last part to be heard over the cries of outrage.
The whole clearing erupted, the two packs shouting and advancing on each other. Cries of “She’s ours!” and “Lying, scheming…” filtered through the air, while James and I stared at each other.
He was trying to save me but he was just making it worse! He didn’t understand what Eric would do to Lisa!
“Kara, I will find Lisa — I promise. Just…don’t do this. I can’t bear to think of you with him, what he would do to you, how miserable you would be.” He had moved closer, his voice low and clear, reaching me over the din of the others. “You wanted to be free to be you. Even if that’s not with me — please let me help you! I…I love you, you’re my true mate, and I would be miserable as hell without you, but I would rather die than for you to be miserable and hurting.”
“Is this true?” the Bear Council Member’s voice cut through the riot of noise.
Eric stared at me, mouthing threats, his eyes full of promise but safely out of view of the Council.
A lump formed in my throat. James loved me!
My voice was barely a whisper. “No…”
“Kara, no!” James reached for me, anguish on his face.
“Not so fast, lover boy,” Eric snarled as he grabbed me, dragging me away from James’s outstretched arms.
Lunging for Eric, animalistic fury on his face, James’s muscles quivered with the need to shift and tear him apart, but two of his lieutenants grabbed him, holding him back, muttering and cursing under their breath.
Eric’s hands crawled all over my body, savagely pinching and groping. He roughly kneaded my breasts, turning me to face James, and licked a trail down my throat to the
hollow of my neck — where the mating mark would sit.
“Remember Lisa, my little bitch,” Eric whispered into my neck. “I can either do what I want to you, or to her. Your choice…”
The fourth Council Member, silent up until this point, stood and pierced the crowd with his gaze. His eyes were an exotic almond shape and glowed like flickering embers of a banked fire. Lisa’s eyes. My heart wrenched in my chest.
“Is this what you want?” His voice was calm and lilting, as though he was speaking only to me. Kindness shone from his eyes. Kindness, and an acknowledgment of my sacrifice.
Picturing Lisa’s dark almond shaped eyes, her riot of corkscrew curls, her infectious smile and love for life, I replied, “Yes. Yes it is.” My sight blurred and stung, hot with tears.
James’s howl sounded through the clearing, heartrendingly sorrowful. A voice for my anguish and pain, breaking the sudden silence.
“You have your answer, Council,” Eric said, sneering at the assembled leaders. “Now I will claim my mate, here, now!”
He threw me to the dirt floor, grabbing at the cloth binding my body. Ripping it free, he rubbed and squeezed my naked flesh, his nails elongating into claws as he dug and tore at my fragile human skin.
Retreating into myself I forced myself to go numb, to try and detach myself from what was happening. The pain. The humiliation. James’s face.
Eric grabbed me by the hair, throwing me over and shoving my face into the dirt.
“I’m going to mate her the way she deserves, bent over with my cock rammed in her pussy. Show her who’s the boss…” he ranted, spittle flying from his lips as he worked on his jeans with one hand, the other binding my wrists behind my back.
My shoulders throbbed from being nearly pulled out of their sockets, the unnatural position torturous. Panting, I licked my lips and tasted dirt mingled with blood. Sharp stones scraped at my skin and sticks jabbed into my soft belly. My first time, like this! I bit my lip, trying to stifle my sobs of despair. I would not let him see that I was scared. I would not give him that satisfaction.
“After I’ve had your pussy, I’m gonna have your ass,” Eric declared, then leaning closer he whispered in my ear. “Then you’re going to ride my cock until you’re sore and bleeding, while each of my lieutenants stuffs and rips your ass. That should teach you who’s in charge, who your real Alpha is!”
I felt a nudge at my core and, panicking, I started to buck wildly against him. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t bear it! I had thought I could, but I couldn’t! And now it was too late.
“STOP!” a voice declared, heavy with the weight of power and age.
Eric froze on top of me, still holding me tight, but I could tell his attention was diverted elsewhere for the moment. Lifting and craning my head, I blinked to clear the dust out of my eyes, to try and see what was going on.
Unable to wipe my eyes with my hands still bound, blurry with sweat and tears, I tried to focus. An older man had appeared at the side of the clearing, his body still strong though his skin was hanging a little looser on his frame, and his hair had a touch more salt than pepper. A member of the Smithrock Pack passed him a blanket, which he hastily wrapped around himself, before striding to stand before the Council.
“I am the Alpha of the Smithrock Pack and this—” he pointed at Eric, his lined face heavy with disgust and regret, “—is my son.”
Colin! The older Alpha had all but disappeared over the last few years — mourning the loss of his mate. On the rare occasions I had seen him, he seemed to have shrunk and withered away. Gone was the large, powerful man — brash with good health and aggressive temper. Quick to rile, quick to fight. That was the Colin I remembered.
Not this man standing in front of me, looking at me with remorse and compassion on his face.
Another movement caught my eye, and I watched as Amanda calmly strolled from the forest, completely unabashed by her nakedness. Strolling up to Colin, she gave his hand a quick squeeze.
“Try not to give yourself a heart attack, Great-Uncle Col, that’s not why I came and fetched you, remember?” she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, then turned to stroll over to where James was being held back by his lieutenants. Strolling past me she turned and — so quick I nearly missed it — winked at me!
Stunned, and trying to figure out what was happening, I strained my neck to see the Council Members. Taking advantage of Eric’s distraction I managed to buck hard enough to dislodge Eric a little, forcing my legs closed. A small victory, but immediately I felt a little more secure. He’d have a fight on his hands to try and get them open again!
“I have been an absent Alpha for the last few years, and for that I am sorry, Kara.” Colin’s face drooped with sorrow and regret. “I should not have been Alpha, not after my Marie was taken from me, but there was no one else to hold the pack together…so I waited—”
“I was strong enough!” Eric leapt up, his shout indignant. “I am strong enough, you old fool! The pack belongs to me, you just don’t know it yet!” Eric prowled toward his father, his skin slick with sweat and dried dirt.
Seeing my chance, I leapt to my feet and gathered the torn cloth around me, pulling it tight and knotting it firmly. On shaking legs, I watched the younger male circle the older Alpha.
Ignoring Eric and addressing the Council, Colin continued, “What you have been told is true. Kara was found, an orphan, and taken in by the pack. I didn’t have much to do with her, left it to the women of the pack to decide what was best…maybe I should have been more involved, but I had my hands full — leadership and pack squabbles y’know…” His voice trailed off, lost in memories. “Then later, when my Marie was taken from me — some sort of cowardly poison — it was too late. I held on, waiting for someone to challenge me, to rightfully take over so I didn’t have to pass the leadership of the pack over to Eric, but he always intervened, killing off the challengers while waiting in the shadows for me to die. He needed the pack behind him when he took over, you see? He couldn’t kill me outright as they would revolt, and he’s not strong enough to hold them on his own. And gradually I have grown weaker, barely able to get out of bed most days.”
He turned to face Eric, speaking directly to him for the first time.
“You will not be Alpha. You are not worthy of it, son. You are sick, and corrupted with madness. You will give up your claim on Kara, and return the girl you have taken—”
“I will not! You stupid, old man! I will have what is rightfully mine—”
“I am your Alpha!” Colin’s voice was laced with power, which he aimed directly at Eric. “You will do as I say!”
Eric fell to his knees, the will of his father, his Alpha, crushing him.
“I am here to repair what you have done, son. To seek alliance with the Colstone Pack, in order to stamp out the corruption running through ours. It is my hope, one day soon before my strength gives out, that someone will rise to challenge me.”
Eric growled in frustration, pinned to the floor by his father’s will.
The fifth Council Member stood, tall and broad through the shoulders, narrowing off through the waist — a perfect inverted ‘V’. Darkly tanned, his skin at first glance appeared like old leather, but on closer inspection you could see the glittering of tiny scales, iridescent in the moonlight.
“As Alpha of the Smithrock Pack, do you agree that Kara is released from her mate promise with your son?” Smoke curled from his lips as he spoke, definitely the dragon shifter. I had never seen one close up, they kept to themselves, living at high altitudes, choosing lairs inaccessible to land-bound creatures.
Colin nodded, his head bowed in respect.
“Do you agree to the return of the girl that was taken?”
“Lisa, her name is Lisa!” I cried out, unable to stop myself.
“You will never find her!” said Eric, his voice a roar. He struggled to his feet, fighting against the bonds that held him. “As for you, old man, you are not my Alpha. You ha
ven’t got what it takes — you never had! Too busy trying to follow the rules, when you had the power to just take what you wanted! Always pandering to everyone else’s business. We could be the strongest and richest pack but no, you wanted everyone to be happy.” He sneered the last word, disgust dripping from his voice. “But you just wouldn’t die! I tried slipping you the poison, but YOU-JUST-WOULDN’T-DIE! Had to share everything, dear-old-dad, but you couldn’t share your power, and she was weaker—”
Colin turned a sickly white color, shock slackening his features. “You? You killed Marie? Your killed your own mother!”
“I was trying to kill you. Still trying! But you’re a hard bugger to kill.”
“How could you?” Colin croaked out, his words no more than a feeble whisper.
“Like this—”
Colin’s power had faltered in his grief and Eric charged at him, shifting as he lurched forward. With a snap of his wolf’s powerful jaws, he crushed the old Alpha’s throat, snapping his neck in one blow. It was a death blow, one only the young and powerful stood the slim chance of healing from.
Shifting back to human, Eric stood, the blood smearing and mixing with the coating of dust of sweat.
“I am the Alpha of the Smithrock Pack now. I claim Ascension before the Mother of All. You will all follow me, or die.” He threw his head back and laughed, a manic high-pitched sound, that curdled the blood running through my veins.
Turning, he faced the Council.
“Now, I will claim what’s mine. There is to be no agreement, no compromise. I will take what is mine.” He turned and pinned me with his gaze. Evil looked back at me. “It is my right as Alpha.”
Chapter Eleven
James
Amanda stood next to me, tears running down her face as she stared at Colin’s lifeless body. Trembling racked her body, and Tarq let go of me to pull her into his arms, offering the comfort of the pack. Her pain ricocheted down the Alpha bond and, with a grunt, I absorbed it, pulling it into me, away from my pack member that I had sworn to protect.