Alpha's Challenge: An MC Werewolf Romance (Bad Boy Alphas Book 4)

by Renee Rose

  She shakes her head, but I don’t quite believe her.

  When we hear the sound of cars on the highway, Tank and I find ourselves alone.

  “You all right?” he asks as we climb into Daisy.

  I barely nod. My father is missing, and has been for most of the year. My kin are a bunch of backwoods, inbred, wolf-hating hillbillies. We didn’t see any females other than Jordy, but if she’s their example of a liberated woman, I don’t even want to know what they think of hippie feminists who dye their hair and own businesses. No wonder Johnny didn’t bring my mother into the fold. As much as she might dig the homemade clothes and living in caves, she couldn’t give up coffee shops and modern plumbing.

  “Foxfire?” Tank has pulled over. We’re at a diner on the edge of town.

  “We should call Sunny,” I say. My mom might be worried. Or, knowing her, assume we snuck off to make love in the woods all day. I pull my phone out and shoot her a text, asking if we can bring her dinner. She replies right away that she made friends with a few local market people and is going to a vegan potluck and meditation session with them tonight.

  Tank guides me into the diner and orders food. When it comes, I pick at it.

  After polishing off his huge order, Tank bumps my foot. “So, you met your kin. Pretty smart of them to hide out like that.”

  “Did you know there were… people… living like that?”

  “No. But I’m not surprised. It’s dangerous for the weaker species. They lie low.” He frowns. “You gonna eat the rest of your burger?”

  I shake my head.

  “What do they do if they have to go to the doctor?”

  “Shifters don’t need much medical care.”

  “What about food? Schools?”

  “They don’t trust any outsiders. They take care of their own.”

  He signals to the waitress and asks her to box my food up, along with a few extra orders.

  Halfway to the car, he stops and pulls me alongside the building. He crowds me against the wall and frames my face with his big hands. “Foxfire, talk to me.”

  “They didn’t know he had a daughter,” I say around the lump in my throat. “They had no idea…”

  Tank searches my face.

  “He didn’t want me.” My voice wobbles.

  “Baby.” He hugs me. “You know that’s not true. He sent your mom money all these years.”

  “Why didn’t he ever come to meet me?”

  “He thought you were human, remember? Maybe he wanted to protect you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you think he wanted to expose you to those people? Risk their laying claim to you, demanding you be raised among them?”

  I shake my head. Life with Sunny was definitely better than with the extras from the cast of Deliverance.

  “Sounds like he was trying to escape them himself.”

  “But what about what they said?” I ask. “Shifters disappearing?”

  Tank straightens. Shadows move across his face. “I don’t know,” he says finally. “I can’t say whether their claims are true or not. Your father could’ve just run and escaped them. We may never find out.”

  “It just sucks. I finally have a reason to seek out my father, and I’m a year too late.”

  “I know, baby. I know.”

  I head into the diner for a pitstop while Tank loads the food into Daisy. When I return, a soft voice calls my name.

  I whirl and peer into the shadows. “Jordy?”

  My female fox kin inches away from the wall where her bike leans.

  “You came to find me?”

  “I wanted to give this to you.” She holds out a small brown object, a wallet. “It’s Johnny’s. He left it hidden at the market stall, the day he disappeared. I found it in the locked money box. I was the only one who had a key.”

  I flip the worn leather open and peer at the driver’s license. A solemn faced man, light-haired, with freckles, looks up at me.

  “Johnny,” she confirms. “He was my brother. Older by a bunch of years.”

  I close the wallet, hiding my father’s picture away. “That makes you my aunt.”

  “Yeah.” She smiles shyly. She doesn’t look that much older than me, maybe five years.

  “Foxfire,” Tank calls. Jordy startles.

  “It’s okay.” I step into the light and wave at Tank to wait a minute. Jordy cringes against the wall, the whites of her eyes flashing in the dark. “He doesn’t bite, I promise.”

  “Wolves are so dangerous,” Jordy whispers.

  “You get used to him.” I shrug.

  She shakes her head. “The clan doesn’t want him around, even if he is your mate.”

  “My what?”

  “He marked you.” She jerks her chin at my neck. I put a hand over the place where Tank bit me. “That’s what wolves do when they find their mates.”

  “So?” I say, not certain what she means by mate. “I’m still one of you.”

  “No, you ain’t. And that’s the way it’s gotta be.”

  “But you’re my family.”

  “You’d better just forget all of us. Johnny would want you to. Johnny wished he could sometimes.”

  “Everything all right?” Tank walks slowly toward us.

  “I gotta go.” Jordy grabs her bike and climbs on, poised to flee.

  “You going to be okay?” Tank asks her.

  “Yeah.”

  I add, “You’re not in trouble for coming to talk to us?”

  “I had to come. Johnny would’ve wanted it.”

  “Jordy…” I want to tell her she doesn’t have to go back, that she can come and live with me. But I don’t even know what I’m going to do. I thought I’d find my father and things would magically make sense.

  “Write down our numbers,” Tank decides for me. I fumble in my purse for a pen and paper and take down the digits. “You get in trouble, you call.” He holds the paper out to Jordy. “We’ll get you out.”

  She snatches the paper and folds it so it disappears among her clothes before pedaling away.

  “You okay, baby?” His hand rests on my neck, stroking.

  “Yeah,” I whisper, watching the lone figure ride into the wilderness.

  ~.~

  Tank

  Foxfire’s quiet as I drive to the hotel. Jordy gave her something. I can smell it in her purse, but she doesn’t mention it, so I don’t bring it up.

  Back in the room, she disappears for a few minutes in the bathroom. I give her space, touching her lightly when she leaves and I take my turn to wash up.

  When I come out she’s lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The bag of food sits by her, untouched. I don’t like how little she’s eaten, but I understand. It’s been an intense day.

  I lie down beside her.

  “What do you need?”

  A little sigh escapes her. Her scent changes. Before I can analyze it, she rolls to face me, blinking her large gray eyes.

  “Make love to me, Tank.”

  I don’t know what to say, so I stay silent. Her whole world is upside down. I’m the only one she has to talk to. I’m happy to be there for her, I’m just not sure I deserve her trust.

  “Please.” She wriggles closer, her head tilting up to mine. “I need to be touched.” She lifts her hand, hesitates, and then touches my hair. “I need you.”

  I swallow, hard. I thought resisting Foxfire, the crazy-haired sex kitten, was hard, but seeing her hurting guts me. Nothing on the planet would keep me from giving my mate what she needs. Even if I haven’t wrapped my brain around the fact I’ve marked her.

  As in, she’s mine forever. And I’m still not sure that’s the best idea.

  What am I saying? My wolf fucking loves the idea. I just have this itchy feeling about how this will all fall out with the pack. I’m up here in Flag when I should be keeping an eye on Eclipse and Garrett’s businesses in Tucson. Have I forsaken my pack for a female, just like my father did?

  But I can f
igure that out later. Right now, my babygirl needs me. I wrap my hand around her nape, pull her close, and kiss her.

  We don’t talk. We don’t have to.

  I’m not rough, this time. I give it to her sweet. Not quite tender—I don’t know if that’s possible for me—but as gentle as I can. I stroke my tongue into her mouth, suck at her lips. Pull her shirt off and drag down the straps of her bra. I worship her nipples, sucking, pinching, kissing. I move down her belly, divest her of her pants.

  She starts begging for my cock the minute my mouth is on her core, and I don’t have the heart to delay her orgasm. I stand up and yank off my clothes.

  “You want this, baby?” I grip my cock.

  “Yes, Tank. I need you.”

  I climb over her and rub my cock along her glossy slit. For once, I use some restraint, inching in slowly, doing my best not to turn this into another bed-breaking slam fest.

  She arches and squeezes me tight.

  Fuck. Maybe it will be another bed-breaker. I rock into her, holding her gray gaze, lacing my fingers over the tops of hers.

  “Is this what you need, little fox?”

  “Yeah,” she chokes. She’s popping her pelvis up to meet me on every stroke, rubbing her sweet spot over my cock. “Yes!”

  I keep our bodies connected but roll over. Let her drive, for once. She straddles me, and I grip her hips, sliding her up and down the length of my cock. Her breasts bounce, color flushes her cheeks. She drops her hands to my chest and digs her nails into my skin. I let her take over the rhythm.

  Her eyes glaze, lips part. She’s already shot to outer space, but I don’t make her stay with me. She needs this. “Take it, baby. Take what you need.”

  She rides me fast, making the sexiest little grunts until she comes. I hold her hips in place and jack mine up, fucking her deep until I go off like a firecracker.

  She hums and settles on top of me, naked, her cheek cradled on my chest. I run my hand up and down her back, soothing her, listening to her heartbeat slow.

  “Whatcha thinking about?” I nudge her.

  “My kin.”

  “Ah.”

  Yeah, there are no words.

  “At least I found them.” It’s an obvious attempt at a silver lining, and it makes my chest tighten for her. “And I guess we know why I’m such a freak.”

  “Don’t do that,” I say immediately.

  “Do what?” She raises her head.

  “Nobody calls you a freak. If I catch anyone calling you names, I’ll make them pay.” I waggle my eyebrows. “Even if it’s you.”

  Her lips quirk with a reluctant grin. “You’re going to spank me for calling myself names?”

  “Yes.”

  She snorts, but I let her see I’m 100 percent serious. Not about punishing her, but about defending her. Because, despite my father’s advice, I will choose Foxfire over pack, if it comes to it. Any one of my pack brothers judges her, and they’re going to swallow my fist whole.

  I roll on top of her, holding most of my weight while still covering her slender body with mine. She doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe, looking up at me like I hung the fucking moon. I want to bottle this feeling forever. The glory of being her lover, her protector.

  “No one insults my baby.” I nuzzle her neck, right over the mark I gave her. I haven’t explained it to her yet. I still had to wrap my own mind around it, and she has way too much on hers. But I will.

  She’s mine, now, whether she likes it or not.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Foxfire

  Someone knocks on the door. Tank and I are in a tangle of limbs.

  “Go-way,” I mumble.

  “It’s okay, baby. I got it,” Tank whispers, the ghost of his fingers trailing down my back as he leaves the bed.

  My mother’s voice mingles with dreams of returning to the fox caves to meet my father, and convincing Jordy to dye her hair blue.

  I jerk as Tank’s warm hand covers my shoulder.

  “Foxfire, we’ve got a problem.”

  I come awake. “What?”

  “Someone slashed our tires last night. Your mom was out early this morning and found it.”

  “Oh no.”

  “The vandals didn’t leave a note or a anything, but the tires’ stink of fox piss.”

  I start to get up, and Tank presses my back. “You stay. I’ll handle it. I saw a shop right around the corner.”

  “Why would the foxes do this?”

  “Send a message. They don’t want us visiting again.”

  “By making it hard for us to leave?”

  “They may not be the smartest shifters out there. Your father must’ve been the exception.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Not your fault. Rest baby. You need sleep.”

  He’s not wrong. The second he’s gone, I’m falling back into my crazy jumbled dreams.

  When I finally get up, Tank isn’t back yet, so I shower and do my morning stuff. There are dark circles under my eyes, and I look like I’ve lost weight. Even my normally brilliant plumage droops a little. Maybe I should become a redhead. Or blue—maybe my dream was a sign.

  My father’s wallet lies on the bedside table, where I put it last night.

  I open it.

  “Hey,” I tell my dad. “Look, Sunny says I didn’t want to know you when I was growing up. That’s not true. I wanted to know why the other kids had dads, and I didn’t. I wanted to meet you. But whenever she brought it up, she’s right, I denied it.

  “Sunny did her best. I know you did, too. But I wish you had been more selfish. I was a tough kid. I could’ve handled it. I wish I had known you. I have a feeling now I never will.”

  I flip the wallet closed. Why did my dad leave his wallet before he skipped town? Was it a message to Jordy?

  I search through, and other than a few folded bills, change and a library card, there’s nothing of note. Except, when I search an inner pocket, I discover a brass key. A small piece of tape marks it with a long number. A code? Is this a key to a safe? I tuck the key back carefully. Tank will know. I grab my phone and dial him.

  A few rings later I realize his bag is vibrating. He must’ve left his phone here. I go get it, ready to run down and find Tank and tell him what I discovered. He has a few missed calls from last night and this morning. One’s from Garrett. There’s even a text from a “Jared.” “U alive?!?”

  Guess Tank has been neglecting his pack to deal with my drama.

  As I stand there, holding the phone and feeling guilty, it rings. The caller’s name is “Dad.”

  Biting my lip, I answer.

  “Tank’s phone. He’s not here right now, but I can take a message.”

  “Who’s this?” an older version of Tank’s voice asks.

  “I’m Foxfire. Did you want to speak to Tank? He left his phone here but should be back—”

  “Is there a reason you’re answering his phone?”

  “He just ran out on an errand and left it here. I’ll tell him to call his pack as soon as he gets back—he’s been busy… um… helping me with some family problems.”

  Silence. I wince. This is not how I wanted an introduction with Tank’s dad to go.

  “I’m a fox shifter,” I offer, then wonder if it was wise to tell him that. “You’re his father? It’s nice to meet you—”

  “Look,” the man interrupts. “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care. Tank has been off with you while his alpha and members of pack were in trouble.”

  “What?” The air sucks out of the room.

  “I don’t know what he’s doing with you, but his alpha’s back in town, now, and wants answers. Tank needs to wise up and get back to his duties.”

  It’s my turn to be silent.

  “Listen, I don’t mean to be hard on you. But Tank’s second in the pack. You know what that means? His alpha relies on him. He doesn’t need a woman messing up his place in the pack.”

  “I wouldn’t do that.” I will my voice
not to shake. “We only just met, but I care about your son.”

  “If you care for him, you’ll be careful with him. You say you’re a fox shifter?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “Shifters don’t mix with other species. Tank needs a mate who understands him. He belongs with his kind.”

  “I’ll tell Tank you called,” I whisper, and hang up. My body is numb, like I’ve been slammed into the ground.

  Shifters don’t mix with other species.

  My kin, waving guns at Tank.

  Tank needs a mate who understands him.

  Tank at the wheel of his truck, trying to explain how a pack works to me.

  He belongs with his kind.

  Tank’s face, filled with pity as he looks at Jordy. At me.

  The missed calls. His insistence he can’t involve his pack. His father’s ugly words, not angry, but worried.

  I don’t belong in his world. He definitely doesn’t belong in mine. I’m doing just what his mother did, putting his good pack standing in jeopardy.

  Selfish, selfish, selfish. I pack up my stuff and put it in Sunny’s room.

  I find out from Sunny where Tank had the car towed. Turns out it’s a short walk from the hotel.

  Tank comes around the bus as I approach, rubbing his greasy hands on a rag.

  “Tires should be here by noon. I just did an oil change, and I’m going to check a few more things before we go.” He glances at me. “Everything okay?”

  My feet falter. I rehearsed what I’m going to say on the way over, but, at the sight of him, biceps stretching the sleeves of his shirt, jeans creased with oil stains, proof that he was taking care of my mom’s vehicle even though we didn’t ask, and she probably can’t pay. Tank being Tank.

  “So, we’re leaving?”

  He shrugs. “It’s up to you. I was thinking we’d stay a few more days, see if we can get any more leads on your dad—”

  I shake my head. It’s just like his dad said. I’m a ball and chain, dragging him down.

  “You need to go,” I blurt. His head jerks back, brows knotting. “I mean… I think it’s best if you go back to your pack. They need you. My kin won’t talk to me with you around and…” I shrug.