Alpha

by Charlene Hartnady

  “Interesting. Since skins can resemble anyone, we don’t even know what’s coming.”

  “Fifteen minutes won’t be enough time for her to change. It requires a huge amount of energy so she would be stupid to do so. The problem is that demon skins normally run in pairs so there’s a good chance there’s two of them. The second one could be anything or anyone. We still need to be careful.” Gray glanced back over at the bar. She followed his path of vision. The bar skin was no longer there.

  His muscles bunched and his jaw worked. “They’ve already had enough time to set up an ambush so rushing out there won’t do us any favors.”

  “All my weapons are in the corvette.”

  “What? Trouble packing in an outfit like that?”

  Actually, she had a knife strapped to her inner thigh, but he didn’t need to know that, so she ignored the remark. Ignored the way his eyes moved over her and not for the first time tonight. “Let’s go.”

  The badly lit parking lot was jam packed. Whole armies of demon skins or worse could be hiding out there. The hairs on the back of her neck went up and goose bumps formed on her arms. Absentmindedly she reached to her chest as if willing her gun to be there would make it so. It didn’t help that her heels were a nightmare. Her feet hurt and she might as well shoot a flare gun into the sky with the noise they were making, so she took them off and held them in one hand. Gray glanced at her, his eyes had changed. Dark chocolate now swirled with golden honey. He nodded reassuringly before using one arm to move her in behind him. It should have made her angry. She didn’t need protecting. Didn’t want protecting. It felt good though, so for the moment she allowed him to do it.

  On high alert, they inched their way along moving from car to car until they reached her corvette. Ash opened the trunk.

  It was empty.

  “We needed to make sure you would play nice.” It was tank top girl. Was it just her imagination or were her boobs even bigger than what they had been in the club? If she sneezed, she’d flash the bottom halves of her breasts for sure. A ploy maybe to distract Gray? If that had been the plan, the skin was failing dismally because Gray’s glowing eyes were locked on her face. His body tense and ready for anything.

  “We?” Gray growled. It was a different growl to the ones he’d used on her. The sound chilled rather than aroused.

  “Slip of the tongue darling,” the skin licked her lips.

  Bullshit. The bitch was lying. Gray may have pushed her behind him, but she’d make sure she had his back. Good thing too because the second skin attacked the moment she turned. One times, enormous, SOB came at them reminding her of a silent rollercoaster on a down turn. There was no time to warn Gray. She used the split second she had to pull her blade from its hidden sheath. Using the skin’s own momentum she plunged it home, straight into its belly. The impact still knocked her into the solid wall of Gray’s back. The Alpha stood his ground helping her stay upright. The skin was forced back but didn’t go down. Sweet smelling blood leaked from the wound. The blade was too small and the skin too damned big. If only she had her Glock, she could’ve blown a hole the size of a golf ball right through the Mother Fucker.

  Tank-top must have attacked because all hell broke loose behind her. She heard the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh together with menacing snarls. Thank God Gray was on her side. Just listening to him fight almost made her feel sorry for the skin.

  The big bastard in front of her smirked, curling his lips back in a silent hiss before coming at her again. There was a crack followed by a loud thud behind them and then Gray moved in beside her. He put his hand out intent on moving her behind him but instead, he froze.

  Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

  When Gray turned she had relaxed, allowing him to take the lead as agreed but he’d frozen and now it was too late to maneuver into place. The knife was knocked from her hand and one times humungous son of a bitch collided with her. Time seemed to stand still as they flew through the air. The last thing she remembered was sharp pain as her back and head collided with the asphalt. The big skin on top of her.

  Then. Nothing…

  ****

  Gray saw red. His vision zoned in on the skin as it and Ash sailed through the air. He reacted before they connected with the hard ground, reaching them a split second after. It gave him pleasure to feel his boot connect with the thing’s side. That pleasure intensified when he heard ribs snap. The skin hissed, a terrible high pitched sound that normally would have had him covering his ears. Instead, he allowed the screech to intensify his anger. Purposefully, he looked down at Ash, she didn’t move, didn’t make a sound. Then, he looked back at the skin. The spitting image of his dead brother. That was why he had frozen and why Ash was hurt. It was his fault and the skin was going to pay. Red darkened as his fury took hold. Tilting his head back, he roared. Deep and violent. His nails extended, teeth sharpened and his muscles roped and thickened. He couldn’t fully erupt but when angered to this degree, he could harness some of his wolf energy. Payback would be a bitch. The skin was back on its feet, its ribs already healed but blood still leaked from the puncture wound Ash had inflicted on its stomach. He felt proud of the little Chaser. Tough as nails.

  He had let her down.

  Gray snarled as his fist connected with the skin’s face in a satisfying crunch that flattened its nose. His canines extended some more as he left hooked the Bain-look-alike in the jaw. It tried to counter, but Gray was too quick. It was as if he could sense the demon skin’s next move. He pounded his fists into the skin until the creature was a bleeding mess. Only satisfied when he had ripped its throat clean out, Gray all but decapitated the demon. It deserved worse for hurting Ash.

  For hurting his woman…

  Chapter 6

  Ash’s eyes fluttered beneath her lids. She moaned. Sweet music to his ears for at last she was waking up. Hounds, maybe he should pick her up and take her to the humans. They were trained medics. They were her own kind. More capable of taking care of her than he was. Instead, he smoothed white tendrils from her face. He would keep her right here with him until he was satisfied that she was fine.

  She moaned again and her eyes cracked open. Quickly closing them again, she winced, “Too bright.”

  He switched on the bedside lamp, rushing to turn the main switch off.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Forty minutes. Not long.” But just long enough for him to have gotten her back, showered and to have run a little errand. The last thing he wanted was for her to see him covered in all that blood. He crouched beside her as she tentatively opened her eyes again.

  “What happened?” she rubbed the back of her head moaning as her fingers touched bruised flesh.

  “We were ambushed. You remember that don’t you?”

  “After I was knocked out?” Frustration edged in her voice.

  “I’m so sorry,” he reached for the glass of water and a container of pills he’d pilfered from the medic tent. Vicodin, the label proclaimed to relieve moderate to severe pain. “Here, take one of these.”

  “What…?”

  “Just take it please. It’s for the pain.” Thank hounds she took the white pill and swallowed it down. “I’m so sorry Ash. I would have said that nothing would have ever distracted me during a fight if you had asked me before.” He turned his head and then looked back at her as if the cost of that admission was heavy. “But the other skin was using the image of my dead brother Bain, and I was caught completely off guard. It was stupid, and I could have gotten you killed. I’m so sorry Ash.”

  “Your brother?” she shook her head in disbelief. He nodded. “In that case it’s completely normal that you froze so don’t apologize, you didn’t tell that skin to tackle me did you?”

  Still cracking jokes even with her head all banged up. “I was freaked out for just a second and look at you.” He couldn’t help but to cup her chin with his hand. Tingles. As electric as ever. Her eyes widened and she sucked in a breath. Ash c
ould feel it too. It felt better knowing that he wasn’t the only one affected. “Can you sit up?”

  “I think so,” she did, putting her fingers to her temples once she was up.

  “I think I can be of help until the pill kicks in,” he hesitated. “Can I massage you at the base of your skull and your neck? I promise you’ll feel better.”

  “What? Another little trick you doggies can perform?”

  He smiled, liking that the feeling of comfort, of…friendship had returned to their relationship.

  “More like something I’m good at.”

  “I’ll bet,” Ash nodded then winced.

  He slid in behind her, careful to avoid contact. “Lean forward.” She did. Starting with the pressure point at the sensitive spot where her neck ended, using mainly his thumbs, he massaged using deep strokes.

  Her heart rate went wild and she groaned. “Lord, oh Lordie. Where did you learn to do that?”

  “Relax. Deep breathes.” Moving down, he continued to massage her neck along the muscles running on either side of her spinal column. Next he massaged her temples in much the same way concentrating all of his energy on making her feel better. Trying to undo some of the damage he had caused.

  “God Gray, your hands are so…so hot,” she sounded drugged. Probably the Vicodin kicking in.

  “Maybe you should lie back down. Try and get some sleep.” He’d go and bunk with Phoenix for the night.

  “No,” she sounded stronger. Probably wanted to get back to her own room. “Tell me what you found out.”

  He was hoping she wouldn’t ask. “When I saw what that thing did to you I”—best he tread carefully. He’d never reacted so mindlessly, never felt the intense need to protect another—“I lost it.”

  “And that means what exactly?”

  He kept quiet trying to think of how best to convey the information. He couldn’t tell her that the sight of her unconscious body had affected him to such a degree that he had beaten the demon to death. That the knowledge that this creature would have killed Ash had disturbed him so badly he’d needed to feel its throat tear apart beneath his teeth, needed to taste its blood. If he had stopped and given it a moment’s thought, the demon skin would still be alive and after what it had done, what it had planned to do, he found that unacceptable and so he had let his fury take him. Nope he definitely couldn’t tell her all that, so, he briefly conveyed what had happened sticking to just the facts.

  Ash didn’t get upset like he thought she would. “I need a phone.”

  He handed her his cell. She relayed the evening’s events to a Chaser either at the Demon Control Agency or with PD, filling him in on all the details including her missing weapons and where he had stashed the bodies. She handed the device back.

  “I was right by the way.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “About taking the corvette. How would you have gotten me home if we’d taken the bike?”

  “Plan B.” Not telling her that Plan B would have involved him stealing a car. Fact was, he would have done just about anything to get her home safely. It bugged him that she had purposely not told him she suspected it was a demon skin helping the female wolf, that she didn’t trust him. “Don’t ever withhold information from me again. I thought we were friends. What have I ever done that would earn your distrust?” It came out sounding gruff which was better than sounding wounded, which was how he felt.

  “I do trust you Gray,” her cheeks colored. Peaches and cream.

  He almost decided to drop the whole thing but if they were going to continue to work together, they would need to be able to trust each other.

  “Forget about it,” her tone was clipped.

  “That’s not what you said earlier. Either you trust me or you don’t. It can’t be both. I can’t work with you if you don’t trust me.”

  “I do, I’m…forget it okay?” She slid from the bed, her legs giving out as she tried to stand.

  Gray reached out holding onto her hips, keeping her upright. She sucked in a breath. Her heart fluttered wildly and he could see her pupils dilate in the midst of a brewing storm. The unmistakable scent of her arousal filled the air like the sweetest honeyed nectar. Good thing she wasn’t a wolf or she’d have caught a nose full of his own need for her.

  “I’m fine, you can let me go now.” It almost sounded like she was begging him to.

  “Sit and I’ll release you.”

  “Fine…just let go,” desperation was etched into each word. He pulled back and she sank down onto the mattress.

  “I still want answers,” Gray concentrated on keeping his voice soft and even. He might need to know what was going on, but she was still injured.

  “I forgot to tell you and was too embarrassed to admit it. Can we drop it please?” Her voice was an angry snarl.

  Why was she lying? He had to know. The woman in front of him was brilliant at her job. The DCA had given her an important case to run on her own. This was not a woman that forgot things of that much importance. “I don’t buy it Ash. You’re too good at what you do to just forget about relaying important information like that.”

  “I’m only human for God sake. I make mistakes.”

  “Bull. Shit. I want the truth and you are not leaving this room until I get it. If you don’t trust me then I’m going to call the Agency and request that they send another Chaser.” She winced and this time not from the pain. Why couldn’t she just tell him the truth?

  Her eyes narrowed. Two sharp dagger points that shot gaping holes into him. “The truth!” Anger rolled off her. “I can’t think straight when I’m around you Gray. Satisfied?”

  He didn’t answer and it was mostly because his bottom jaw had hit the floor.

  “Not enough? Well how about every time I’m around you I can only think of sex. With you Gray. With you. Hot, hard sex. Okay? Does that satisfy you?” Her eyes had welled with tears and she tried to get back up off the bed. Her mouth a thin white line as realization of what she’d just said hit home. Her eyes refused to meet his. “You are such a dick. You’re so God damn full of it. I hope you’re satisfied.” She sounded hurt.

  “Don’t move,” he growled. His hands closed on her upper arms. “Look at me.”

  “No you’ve humiliated me enough for one night. I’m leaving.”

  “You’re staying because…damn it woman look at me…” Glacier blue, fringed by silk. He pulled her to him, covering her lips with his own mouth. Afraid he might scare her with the intensity of his hunger, but Ash melted against him. Opening, devouring, giving. Sweet honeyed peaches. The petite woman held more fire and spirit than heaven and hell combined. He groaned feeling himself swell and lengthen. His hand moved to cup her cheek and he turned his head so that he could deepen the kiss. The tingles were back. Only more intense.

  Holy hell.

  Finally, he broke the kiss. Not because he wanted to, if anything his feelings for her had grown, his need was almost more than he could handle. They were both panting. “I want you so badly.” He had to get that out. Needed her to know it, “but in two days…”

  “…I know. Alisha.” She whispered the demon wolf’s name looking both guilty and disappointed, she tried to move away but Gray held fast, his hands back at her waist.

  “We could have one night. I can’t give you more, only the knowledge that I have never wanted anyone more than I want you right now. If that is enough then…” It was the most selfish thing he had ever requested, but he could not let her go. At least this way he would have this memory to sustain him. Once he and Alisha were joined, it would be for life. He would be faithful and work hard at their relationship, but he knew that he would never feel this way about the female wolf. Hades be damned but he would probably never feel this way about anyone again. His blood ran hot like thick molten lava through his veins. Continual sparks flew between them. One night with his little Chaser would help to keep him going a life time.

  It would have to.

  ****

&nb
sp; Damn. Damn. Damn. One night would never be enough. Ash knew it, now that she had kissed him. He tasted of spearmint and vibrant Alpha male. He tasted like a thousand tomorrows. His tongue so powerful and commanding. A taste of what could be…

  “You’ve never wanted anyone more…,” she whispered. It seemed unbelievable that a man like him would feel that way about a plain Jane like her. Hardly an Alpha equal. There was nothing about her that drew attention except for maybe her hard-ass attitude and the fact that she’d had to fight for everything including her position as a Demon Chaser. There were men out there that liked a woman with a bit of spunk. She’d had lovers, although she could count them on one hand, but no one had ever looked at her the way Gray was looking at her now.

  “Never,” he growled using the tone that had her dripping wet and aching. That had her nipples tightening to the point of pain. “And just so that you know, men look Ash. You just don’t see it.”

  He turned her around, sliding in behind her, the hard ridge of what could only be an enormous cock pushed against her back. She let out a pent up breathe that she hadn’t even known she was holding.

  “Look, up there.” Her reflection stared back at her in a large gold guild mirror above the fireplace. At just the right angle to capture the entire bed.

  “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you put that there so that you…”

  “Not me. It was Bain. I’ve been meaning to get rid of the thing. Now I’m glad it’s still there. Look. I want you to see what I see.”

  Ash was looking; she looked at her lips, swollen and red from their kissing, at her cheeks which were flushed against pale skin. The smoky grey eye shadow made her eyes look huge, very blue.

  “What do you see?” Even though he whispered, his voice was deep.