Healing The Alpha Collection

by Jessica Ryan

  With a deep growl he threw his head back and groaned as his cock exploded inside of Leena, finally staking his claim to the only female he had ever wanted to mate with. At the same time she arched her back and reached for him, screaming as her own pleasure overtook her body.

  Everything was hazy after they had finished and the world was a blur for Aster. He was still inside Leena as he looked down at her. A smile had come across her face, but it was a smile that Aster had never seen. There was something different, almost sinister about it.

  Aster tried to gather himself as he focused on the emotions he was feeling from Leena. It took all of his concentration, but he was finally able to zero in on what he was receiving from her. His eyes grew wide and he pulled back as it flooded into his brain: fear. She was scared to death right now, but her facial expression certainly didn’t show it.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” she asked, her voice dripping with venom. “Feel something wrong?”

  Aster started to pull away, intent on getting the hell away from Leena, but the cold metal he felt at the base of his skull forced him to stand completely still.

  “I finally have you,” Abaddon whispered in his ear. “You really crippled my operation with all the guys you killed, but it doesn’t matter yet. Your people won’t stand without you.”

  “Listen, you fucking psycho,” Aster started to say, but just as quickly as the haze lifted and the situation became clear he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and then the entire world went black.

  Healing The Alpha Part 2

  Chapter 10

  "It's really simple here, boys," Abaddon said as he climbed off his motorcycle. "You give me Leena and I'll leave your shitty little town forever."

  "You cannot have my daughter," Luke said, flexing his chest out and trying to appear as menacing as possible.

  He wasn't intimidating to Aster, though. Aster knew Luke was finished. He was covered in bruises and cuts from the battle he had just engaged in with several of Abaddon's betas. Sure, they were broken and beaten on the ground, but the battle had taken its toll on the powerful alpha who was taking a stand to save Bucklin.

  It had been a whirlwind two weeks for Aster. The motorcycle gang had been raiding the town, coming in the night and having violent confrontations with the police and other packs. They'd burned several homes and businesses and left many wolves dead in their wake. The entire time they'd asked for Leena. It was tough for Aster to discern everything, but he had figured out they intended on taking his beautiful mate as Abaddon's new mate.

  The last week had been spent in hiding as Aster, Rowan and Leena retreated to the forest to try and keep her from the biker leader. But they couldn't run from the problem anymore, so he was here and he was ready for a fight.

  Luke had finally retrieved them from the forest the day before, explaining that he was going to have a final showdown with the lord of Satan's Angels. Luke had been confident he could crush the smaller Abaddon with his bare hands, but the fight had quickly turned unfair when his betas stepped up to fight first.

  The rumors of Abaddon's true nature had swirled through town, causing other members of the pack to recoil in fear as he rode through town. Many whispered that he was a demon, possessed by an unholy fire spirit that made him invincible. It was that fear that had allowed a vastly outnumbered gang of wolves to crush the wolf-run town under their fist. It was the same fear that held Aster and Rowan in check right now.

  "Do you want to see all these pretty people die?" Abaddon asked, sweeping his hand back towards the town of Bucklin. They stood on the hill outside Luke's mansion for the meeting, overlooking the town. "I know you wolves have worked hard to become civilized humans over the past couple of decades. Do you want to see it all destroyed in the blink of an eye? Because I can do that."

  "Why did you come here?" Luke asked, his voice shaking with rage. "Why do you want my daughter? You can go anywhere in America and have any female you want. Why my daughter?"

  "She's got something special in her," Abaddon said. "Plus she's the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on. If it wasn't you, it'd be some other asshole. Why can't I just have what I want?"

  He leaned over, looking past Luke. Aster felt his skin crawl as Leena hugged him tighter and the demon's eyes fell on him. Abaddon winked and then blew Leena a kiss. She cried out in fear and buried her face in Aster's chest like she was afraid the kiss would somehow touch her skin and melt it away. Aster hugged her tighter and gave Rowan a distressed look. His normally sturdy and strong friend looked scared to death—neither of them had an answer for this.

  "Me and you," Luke said, finally declaring his challenge. "A one-on-one fight to the death. If I win, you get the hell out of my town forever."

  Abaddon's expression turned to one of mock concern. "Don't throw your life away like this, Pops. There's no need for you to die."

  Luke, always the overconfident one, laughed and wiped some blood away from a scratch on his face. "I won't be the one taking a dirt nap, punk."

  Abaddon exploded in laughter. Luke shifted his weight uncomfortably as the demon's booming roar bounced off the trees and echoed back to them. Aster shuddered as a chill ran down his spine. It was like listening to Satan himself cackle.

  He tried to look away from Abaddon and Luke, tried to concentrate on something else. It was a beautiful day, one that he would have killed for normally. It was the perfect day to gather up Beorn and go fishing in their shifted forms. The sun was shining brightly overhead, the birds were chirping and there was nary a breeze. Aster wondered if such perfect days would always bring him back to this horrible moment, would always remind him about the horror he had faced on this hill. This was Luke's last stand and Aster knew it would not end well.

  "What are we going to do, Rowan?" he whispered. "Your dad can't win."

  "My dad can take him," Rowan angrily shot back. "He's a lot bigger than that fool."

  "Your dad is beat up and tired. He just fought six wolves and killed them with his bare hands. They got their licks in, Rowan. Look at him, he can barely stand."

  They both looked at Luke. He was swaying back and forth where he stood. If the day had had a breeze, it probably would have sent him to the ground.

  "He'll figure it out," Rowan said, now looking worried. "He always does. He's my dad."

  "All I'm saying"…" Aster said, pausing as Rowan looked him in the eye. "Be ready to fight. If your dad goes down, we have to step up and defend Leena."

  Leena looked up at Aster and started to open her mouth to speak, but she was cut off by Rowan, who had now stepped only a few inches from Aster. His chest was pressing in to Leena's back, sandwiching her between the two alpha males.

  "I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Rowan said, gaining confidence from Aster's words. "If he kills my dad, he'll have nowhere to hide. 'We'll rip him to shreds."

  "Right," Aster said, nodding confidently.

  Leena stifled whatever words she was going to speak and looked back at her father as he continued to jaw with Abaddon. Aster had lost track of what they were saying, but he could tell it was just posturing and attempted intimidation.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours of staring, trash talking and flexing, Abaddon began to slowly remove his clothing. Carefully he removed the flannel, sleeveless shirt he wore underneath his leather vest. He took it off and folded it neatly on the seat while his vest hung from the handlebars of his bike like a flag declaring his allegiance with Satan's Angels. Then he undid the chaps he was wearing, pulling them off with all the care of an eighty-year-old grandma who wanted to save the paper while opening her Christmas presents.

  He's a cocky bastard, Aster realized as he watched Abaddon fold his laundry. He doesn't see Luke as any challenge and he's letting him know. He's going to shift, but he cares more about taking care of his damn clothes than he does about fighting Luke. This is ridiculous.

  Aster looked over at Luke, who was shaking with rage. If i
t had been Aster, he would have shifted and attacked, try to get the upper hand, but 'that wasn't how Luke operated. He was full of honor—honor that was going to kill him.

  Finally Abaddon stopped his disrespectful showing, looking down at the clothing that he had shed. His body was an impressive sight, Aster would give him that, but so was every fully grown male werewolf he had ever seen. It wasn't hard to be rock-hard steel when your metabolism was like a furnace.

  "I'll give you one more chance to back down and give me the girl," Abaddon said. "I will hold no ill will if I just have to spin around and get dressed again."

  "Fuck you," Luke spat, effectively sealing his fate.

  "Have it your way," Abaddon said.

  Quickly he began to shift, silver hair sprouting from his body as his bones cracked and twisted into the form of a werewolf. Luke did the same, with brown and gray hair sprouting all over his body as his snout elongated and a row of razor sharp, death-dealing teeth appeared in his mouth. To most humans the change was instantaneous: one minute you were looking at a human and the next you were face to face with an angry wolf. But to other wolves the transformation seemed to last minutes and it felt even longer when you were the one actually shifting as you felt your entire body rearrange. Aster could see every movement, every twist, every turn as both wolves shifted from the naked, pink, vulnerable form of a human to the four-legged hellhound of nightmares.

  "Whoa," Rowan said, stepping back.

  Aster knew exactly what had taken his friend aback. Abaddon towered over Luke. His fur was an unnatural silver color, shimmering in the afternoon sun and nearly blinding Aster if he looked at it from the wrong angle. His two front fangs were larger than any wolves' fangs he had ever seen, looking more like butcher's knives than teeth. His eyes glowed a demonic red as they fixed on Luke.

  By contrast Luke looked like an old, haggard beast. His legs were shaking and he was barely able to stand. His brown fur was streaked with gray all over and he was still bleeding from numerous wounds. Fortunately his condition did not stop his ferocity. He snapped and leapt forward, intending to quickly deliver a death blow to his opponent. Abaddon reared up on his back legs and Luke did the same.

  The two wolves met, slapping and tearing at one another. It was a tornado of fangs and claws as they twisted and spun, trying to gain the advantage over one another. Aster's eyes grew wide with surprise as he realized Luke was easily holding his own and not allowing himself to be overpowered by the younger and bigger wolf.

  He glanced over at Rowan, who was smiling from ear to ear. He pointed enthusiastically. "That's my dad! I told you he wouldn't be beat by some skinny punk bitch!"

  Even Leena had pulled her face away from its hiding spot and was watching her father fight off the demon with a reverent smile. Maybe Aster and Rowan didn't have to get involved; maybe Luke would step up and protect them all, like he had promised.

  Unfortunately their joy and excitement was short-lived. Luke quickly began to tire, but the endless energy of the demon fueled Abaddon on. Luke began to back down as Abaddon snapped and slapped at him, causing more wounds to be added to the already deadly tally.

  "Dad!" Rowan screamed. "Dad, no!"

  Luke took a few steps back from Abaddon, unable to maintain his balance any longer. He slumped over onto the ground, his body refusing to allow defense any longer. He was a sitting duck, ripe for the kill.

  "Dad!" Rowan screamed again, trying to rush forward. Aster grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back, shaking his head as Rowan tried to get loose. It wouldn't do any good for Rowan to get involved right now; Luke would die just the same. Aster saw it now: there was no beating the demon.

  "Rowan, stop," Leena begged, tears streaming down her face. "There's nothing we can do! I don't want you to die too. Please, Rowan, stop!"

  Hearing her plea, Rowan stepped back, clenching his fists and nearly hyperventilating as he watched Abaddon advance on the fallen body of his father. Abaddon stopped right in front of Luke and glanced up at the two boys who were very quickly going to become men. His red eyes studied each one of them before finally landing on Leena. His long, pink tongue darted out of his mouth and licked his lips, causing Aster's stomach to churn in disgust.

  "Daddy!" Leena screamed, before burying her sobbing face in Aster's chest one more time.

  Abaddon snarled and dove forward, his powerful jaws clamping on Luke's throat. With a quick twist of his powerful head and the unmistakable sound of snapping bone it was over—the head alpha of Bucklin was dead.

  Leena's body lost all strength and she collapsed to her knees, wrapping her arms around Aster's leg and resting her face on his leg. "You son of a bitch. I'll never love you. I'll never be yours."

  Abaddon popped up from the ground, shifting back into the despicable form of the biker that they had all come to know. He smiled at Leena and held his arms out to the side. "I don't believe you have a choice, my dear. Who is going to protect you now? These two?"

  "You're damn right we are," Rowan said, stepping in front of Leena and peeling his shirt off. "Let's see you do that to both of us."

  Aster could feel the fear inside of him, but he knew it was now or never. He pulled himself away from Leena and stepped up to join his oldest friend, pulling his own shirt over his head. "You still have to get through both of us to get her, Abaddon."

  Abaddon rolled his eyes and flipped his hand dismissively. "An easy task to get my bride. Are you both going to come at me at once, or are you going to tag in and out?"

  "Make your jokes, tough guy," Rowan said. "They'll be your last."

  "No!" Leena screamed, jumping up from the ground and pushing her way between her brother and her mate. "Stop it! Both of you, stop!"

  "Leena…" Aster said.

  "Just stop, Aster," she said, putting her hands on his cheeks to try and calm him. "I love you, Aster, I always will. You're the only man I've ever wanted and the only one that I'll ever want."

  "I love you too, beautiful," Aster said, feeling a sickness rising in his stomach. He knew what was happening and he couldn't bear to stand by while it did.

  "And you," she said, moving to her brother and grabbing him by the face too. "You're the best older brother anyone could ever ask for. I never would've made it this far in life without you."

  "I can't make it without you," Rowan said, fighting back tears. "Who else is going to take care of me?"

  "You have to take care of each other now," Leena said, wrapping an arm around each of their necks and pulling them in for a group hug. "You both have to take care of Bucklin and the packs."

  "Leena, please," Aster said. He was cut off again, this time by her lips against his. It was the last time he would ever feel those lips. They were amazing against his, always the right taste as they danced across his own. As they stood in a final lover's embrace, Aster could feel his heart being rent in two. He would never love anyone again.

  "This is bigger than me and you, Aster. It has to be done. Take care of each other," she said, her beautiful face stained by tears. "I love you both."

  Leena turned to Abaddon, her lip curling in disgust as she looked at the gang leader who was casually getting dressed. "I'll go with you, Abaddon, but you have to promise to leave Bucklin alone forever."

  "No worries," Abaddon said, finishing up his outfit. "We have a pact now. I promise I won't return to this town to cause trouble as long as I have you."

  "Very well," Leena said, bowing her head. "Let's go."

  As she climbed onto the back of Abaddon's motorcycle Aster stepped forward, reaching for her, but it was too late. She gave him and Rowan one last long, mournful look as Abaddon's motorcycle roared down the street and out of sight.

  Aster watched her until the motorcycle disappeared into town, leaving the two friends alone on the hill. Rowan was silently crying, trying to fight back his tears and be strong. Aster patted him on the shoulder before looking up at the sky. The sun was shining, the birds were chirp
ing and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and Aster was right: beautiful days would never be the same again.

  Chapter 11

  "Are we going to die?" Eva asked. They had all sat in silence in their little cell for what felt like an eternity.

  She looked up to see Rowan looking out the window, a distant look in his eyes. He hadn't been the same since they had been captured. She had tried to love him, kiss him, hold him and make him feel better, but it had all been for naught. He had gone through the motions by kissing her, embracing her back and telling her that he loved her, but it was just habit. She could tell the lights were on but nobody was home behind her love's eyes. It didn't bother her like it would another person; she knew that he was going through absolute pain.

  "This isn't what I signed up for," Ciara said, sitting up from her spot on the other bed. She had been lying against Hawk, staring at the ceiling, but now that Eva had spoken, it had roused the short redhead from her daze. "I didn't think we were going to be put in this situation."

  "I offered to take you away," Hawk said, rolling onto his side and looking up at the woman he had claimed as his mate. "You said it would be wrong. You wanted me to stay and help."

  "I didn't think the girl we rescued would turn out to still be possessed," Ciara said, shrugging her shoulders. "I thought the demon was loose in the forest or possessing that Forrest guy, or something. Your fucking names are confusing me!"

  "Sorry," Hawk said nonchalantly.

  It was obvious he cared for Ciara, but she had turned into a bit of brat since their capture twenty-four hours ago. Hawk had fought so hard to save the town, he had done everything possible to rescue Leena and his mate, but it had all blown up in his face. It was a devastating blow to such a prideful wolf and he seemed resigned to accept death as some sort of punishment.