“Let them,” he said. “No one can touch you when you’re with me. I’ll protect you from anything. Anyone.”
“Thor…” she said.
“I know,” he said, his big body encircling her. “I’m being unrealistic, aren’t I? But I loved seeing you with my pack today. You aren’t at all who I thought you were.”
“I don’t even know who I am anymore,” she said. She turned in his arms to look up into his eyes, which were glowing in the late afternoon sun. “Why do you keep kissing me?”
“It’s just instinctual. Especially because I want you to know you’ll be mine.”
“That’s impossible,” she said. “I’m Tribunal, and you’re—”
“A mongrel, I know.”
“Wonderful,” she said. “Honest. Loyal. Nothing like the world I came from. I should go back there. Keep trouble from following me here.”
He shook his head. “I’d never let you.”
“Because you owe me?” she asked.
“That, and because I can’t let you go now. I physically can’t let you go.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I don’t have to make sense,” he said with a wry smile. “I’m a wolf.”
She sighed and took a step back, out of his arms. “I don’t know what will happen next. I can’t promise you anything. All I can do is make the best decisions I can as this unfolds. There’s no protocol for what is happening to me, and I have no way to know their decision. If they come for me, I can’t promise I won’t go, if it means you and your pack are safe.”
He took a step forward, tall and intimidating. “If they took you, I’d come for you.”
Somehow she didn’t doubt him. “If you came for me, it would be too late.”
“I don’t care,” he said, closing the distance. “You’ve always been in my mind, even when I knew it was hopeless.”
She turned to look at him. “Really?”
His gaze was earnest. Sincere. “Yes. And when you came here, when you slept in that chair that first night, and I kept watch, I couldn’t help thinking you were beautiful. I wanted to touch you.”
“Hm,” she said, vaguely unnerved, but still a little turned on. Why was it that things that would have pissed her off if other males did them, turned her on when he did them?
“You were everything I wanted to be, so I was blinded by my jealousy. But I have to say the jealousy I felt when I thought I had to compete with you is nothing compared to the jealousy of watching another wolf touch you. Male or female.”
She swallowed.
“So you may be worried about my pack. You may want me to let you walk away when the time comes. But I promise you that isn’t an option anymore. My body will fight to the last breath for you, even if you reject me. So you’ll just have to accept that I’m strong enough to protect you and the pack.”
She just continued staring, her whole body hot at the pure alpha strength he was exuding at this moment.
“Your wolf brought you to me in a moment of instinct,” he continued. “Now you have to trust me to take care of you.” He gave her a cocky grin ad walked past her to the cabin, leaving her cold and wanting.
Her features tightened in anger. How could he make a speech like that, one that rocked her to her core, and just leave? Hell no! She stomped after him, caught up, and jerked on his arm so he’d face her. Then she launched up on her toes, threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.
His stupid, romantic babble had made her whole world fall apart.
His shock quickly turned to surprise as he ran his hands along her body. He growled and deepened the kiss, stroking inside her mouth and thrusting against her tongue with an intensity that set her to burning nearly instantly.
They were like steel and flint, ready to spark at any moment and burn into a blaze that could obliterate everything around them.
There had never been anyone else for either of them, so the intensity of years was pouring out all in these few moments. He lifted her off her toes as he crushed her to him. She felt safe, warm and wanted. She felt like a true female for the first time in her life. When they’d made out before, it had felt heavenly, but new and confusing. It had almost felt like it was happening to someone else.
But right now it just felt perfect.
She growled against his mouth and tried to press herself closer to him. He caught her under her butt and lifted her to his waist and she wrapped her legs around him, growling and kissing him as he walked easily toward the cabin. He carried her like she was nothing compared to him, and she was not a short female.
She dug her hands into the short, thick hair that was a gorgeous blackened brown in the shade, and a black-cherry auburn in the sunlight. So thick, so strong, like him. Harsh, masculine, but different and unique.
She broke the kiss and leaned back to catch her breath and he turned his attention to her neck, laving and licking and biting as she dug her nails into his shoulders and back.
She didn’t know what would happen when they reached the cabin, but she knew it was going to be good. She didn’t much care beyond that. Her wolf was in control, howling at the moon, happy to have found her mate.
Mate. The word thudded through her, leaving ripples like a stone thrown in a pond. She held onto him tighter, savoring the feel of his lips, the heat he was building in her.
She could think of the difficult things later. Just once, she deserved to have fun.
And he wanted to mate her anyway, so what was the problem? They were two strong alphas, they could weather any storm.
She felt him stop and heard a familiar voice clear its throat. She felt Thor freeze against her. He slowly set her beside him on the ground, and then put an arm out in front of her. She could feel his body, so tense, so still. She took a deep breath and glanced up at the cabin to see what was bothering him.
Her eyes widened.
She hadn’t known what to expect when they got to the house, but this was the last thing she’d imagined.
The door was open, and Thor’s twin Lock, who’d been missing for years, was standing in the doorway.
10
Lock looked a lot like she remembered. She looked from him to Thor and once again noted the difference. Thor was muscled, kind of stiff, and had an abundance of severe alpha-ness when he wanted to. His hair was short, athletic, and he wore practical, masculine clothing that wouldn’t get in the way.
Lock had longer hair, but it was the same color as Thor’s since they were identical. His face was relaxed, as usual, but unlike Thor who was easy to read, there always seemed to be something under the surface with Lock.
She didn’t know what to make of him. She knew he’d kidnapped Misty during an alpha challenge and then changed his mind and gotten shot saving her life. But she didn’t know much else about him, except that he’d made his brother supplicate himself on the ground to save his life.
Lock preferred leather and distressed tee shirts. Bracelets and little braids. His hair was feathered around his face and collar. He was a much softer version of Thor, unless you looked in those eyes. If Thor’s eyes were warm brandy, Lock’s were frozen amber.
“Long time no see,” Lock said quietly.
She felt Thor take a deep breath. She knew how much he must care about him, judging by what he’d gone through before.
She felt Lock’s eyes on her for the first time, and he gave her a quick once over. Something like disgust flared in his eyes and she flinched, but convinced herself to stand tall.
“What’s she doing here?” he asked Thor. “Fraternizing with the enemy now, are we? And yes, I know Matt’s a she.”
Her heart was still pounding from the kiss, from Thor’s ownership of her body. It was exactly the wrong time to meet up with his long-lost, pissy twin.
Who somehow knew her secret.
Lock pushed off the doorframe and took a couple lazy steps forward. Thor stepped slightly in front of her.
“She needs help,” he said. “She cam
e to me because I owed her. You know, for…”
Lock sneered. “Ah yes, for having to kneel to the Tribunal to save my ass. Got it.” Lock stepped off the porch and circled them, making her uneasy. There was such thinly veiled anger surging through him that she didn’t know what to make of it, but she stayed close to Thor.
Even Thor seemed confused by his brother’s hate. “I’ve never known you to not want to help someone.”
Lock raised an eyebrow. “Really? Well, maybe that’s changed now that I know who murdered our parents. Maybe I don’t like finally making it back here to tell you only to find out you’re sleeping with their fucking daughter!”
And with that, Lock turned on his heel and marched into the house, slamming the door behind him.
Her heart slammed into her throat. It couldn’t be true. Thor turned to her with wounded eyes, and she took a step back.
“It’s not true, it can’t be.”
Thor shook his head and walked into the house. She hesitated, and he turned back. “You coming?”
She twisted her shirt in her hands. “I don’t know if I should.”
He bit his lip. “You’re the one I want for my mate. Whatever he says won’t change that. Why don’t you wait in your room while I talk to him?”
She shook her head. “No, if this has to do with me, then I want to hear it. I deserve to hear it. I’m not afraid of his anger.”
“You have no need to be. I’m with you,” he said.
Her heart warmed at the words, but she still felt cold fear at what waited for her inside the cabin. Not the anger of Thor’s brother, but the truth of what her family could be capable of. “I know. But he’s your brother.”
“And I’ve been handling him for years. I know him, Matt. He’s angry, so am I. We’ve been waiting for years to know what happened. So please, be patient with him.”
“I will be,” she said.
“I can’t promise he won’t say things that are hurtful.”
“He won’t be the first. And if what he says is true, I’ll agree with him. I’ll help him avenge them myself.”
Thor sighed. “Well, let’s see just what’s going on first.” He put out an arm and she took it and walked with him into the cabin.
* * *
The wood creaked as they walked over the threshold. Thor flicked on a switch and Lock was illuminated at the kitchen table, sitting hunched over a cup of something to drink, hair hanging down and shadowing his face. He was a handsome wolf, like his brother, but he was clearly only barely hanging on to his sense of civilization. She could sense that the wolf in him was desperate to break out. For vengeance.
His cold eyes flicked to her as they walked closer, as if he’d scented her. He let out a low snarl and Thor stepped in front of her to block her from view.
“Lock, this doesn’t involve her. She’s not with the Tribunal anymore.”
Lock shoved his hand across the table, knocking the glass to the ground with a loud smash. He stood and grabbed Thor by the collar. “Was she involved when they killed our parents? When they killed Misty’s parents? When they created a false scarcity of alpha females so that we would all have to fight to even breed with one?” Thor remained calm and Lock released him. “Has she told you about any of that?”
“Calm yourself,” Thor said, watching Lock warily as he paced. “No, she hasn’t. But I assume that means it’s because she wasn’t part of it. Maybe you should let Matt tell you her story before you go off making assumptions.”
Lock turned to him, a grimace of disgust plain on his handsome face. “Why? Because you want an alpha female so much that you’d forget the fact that you used to hate her? You’d believe her lies instantly? I’ve protected you for a long time, Thor, but how could you be so naive?”
This time Thor grabbed Lock by the collar and hauled him up so they were nose to nose. “Protected me? Is that what you call it? Getting in with the wrong group? Nearly getting executed? Making me save your butt and then disappearing on me for years? Is that what you call brotherhood?” He released Lock and shoved him away from him. “I don’t know you anymore.”
Lock rested his hands on his knees, and Matt realized he was trembling slightly. He must be hungry. Who knew how far he had come. She saw him waver on his feet and ran to put herself under his arm to catch him as he fell forward. She looked up at Thor, who stared at her in shock as she helped Lock over to the nearest chair and sat him in it. Then she got up and went to the fridge.
“You must be hungry,” she called over her shoulder.
Lock muttered something that sounded like “hungry for vengeance”, but she ignored it and pulled together some deli meat and vegetables. Thor sighed and handed her a plate and she put everything on it and put it in front of Lock.
He dug into it, eating more like a wolf than a human. Thor eyed her warily, as if he couldn’t decide if he should be mad at her for interfering or grateful that she was taking care of his brother. Thor sat in a chair next to Lock while he ate.
“I should have asked if you were hungry,” he said.
Lock shrugged his massive shoulders. “I intruded. Anger was carrying me where food never could. I’ve been angry a long time, Thor. They took everything. Do you know how our lives could have been? Instead…” He shook his head. “But it’s too late. But they’ll pay. Oh yes, they’ll pay. Just as soon as I figure out how.”
Matt settled in a chair near the kitchen so she could watch.
Lock flicked his gaze at her and then back to Thor. He grinned. “At least you figured out she was a female. How did you do it, with all the technology they keep for themselves and not us?”
Thor shook his head. “I walked in on her changing.”
Lock raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?” He laughed. He sounded more like the Lock she remembered when he laughed. “Good for you.”
“Good for me?” Thor asked, voice dark and growly.
“Yes,” Lock said. “Since I’m sure the little bitch wasn’t going to tell you her secret.”
Thor stood, pushing out his chair. “Don’t call her that.”
“Bitch, female wolf. Come on, Thor, don’t be touchy.”
Thor sat. “Nevertheless, don’t call her that. She’s going to be my mate.”
A bitter smile quirked one side of Lock’s full lips. “Oh is she? Really? You think a top member of the Tribunal family is really going to pick you? How do you know she’s not just spying on you? Using you, waiting for what she needs and then ready to turn on you at any second.”
Matt crossed the room. She’d heard enough. She grabbed Lock by the collar and looked straight into his eyes. He stayed relaxed but anger burned in his amber gaze.
“That’s enough,” she said. “You don’t know me. You just think you do. So maybe you should calm down until you know who to accuse.”
He looked her up and down. “Maybe. Or maybe I’ve just found a way to get back at the Tribunal.” He yanked her against him, arm around her waist, and she gasped and tried to free herself. A second later, she found herself plucked from his grasp and tossed backwards by an angry Thor, who was now transforming into a wolf to face his brother, who was transforming as well.
Their wolves were dark reddish-brown and huge because they were pure alphas. They growled as they circled. She could tell which one was Thor because his fur was slightly shorter. And because she knew his scent and his posture.
“You would defend her against me? Your blood?” Lock asked, disdain in his voice. “This is what the Tribunal has wrought. A desperation for alpha females that turns brother against brother, alpha against alpha. Meanwhile we are so busy fighting each other that we don’t know what they are doing.”
“And what are they doing?” Thor snarled back. “Because I’m not going to let you hurt an innocent female, regardless of your suppositions.”
“Not suppositions, brother. Facts. And I paid dearly for them, so don’t tell me that I don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Thor circled h
is brother. “Then explain. But do it without harming the person I’m supposed to be protecting.”
“I wasn’t going to harm her,” he said. “I was just going to taste her.”
Thor growled and lunged toward his brother and they clashed in a tangle of fur and teeth. Matt rolled her eyes and transformed into wolf form. She jumped between them and focused and a bubble of energy burst around her, knocking them back on either side, sending them sprawling against either wall.
They sat up and looked at her in shock.
She lowered her head and fought the crackling pain surging through her. She lowered herself to the ground, head between her paws, and waited for the pain to abate.
“What the hell was that?” Thor asked, limping toward her. “I feel weak as a kitten.”
“Where are my alpha powers?” Lock asked, shaking one of his paws. “What the hell did you just do to me?”
She grinned at them warily as she felt herself begin to transform. “That’s my alpha ability. That probably only makes you more pissed at me and my family, but my alpha power can temporarily negate yours.” Her body spasmed and shook and she fought the transformation so she could get to her feet. She limped toward her room. “So now you two have to work it out like brothers. With your brains instead of your fists.” She made it to the room and shut the door behind her, and then plopped down and transformed back into a human.
She let out a sigh of relief.
“Matt? Lacey? You okay?” Thor called.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I just need to recover. Talk to your brother.”
Then she fell asleep, naked, on the ground.
11
Thor eyed his brother warily as they both slowly changed, weak from transforming and whatever it was Matt had done to them. He’d never felt anything like it. Pure force, and then a feeling like the circuits in his body weren’t working.
“Lock?” he asked as he buttoned his jeans.
“Yes?” Lock replied, buttoning his own. Sometimes looking at his brother was like looking in a mirror.
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