Alpha’s Sun

by Rose, Renee

  He says it mildly, so I don’t take offense, but then the shifter who’s been an ass from the beginning says, “You might need to get your nose checked. You do know you marked a human, right?”

  I don’t think. I just growl and launch myself at him, but the two others catch me and pull me back. They’re strong enough to hold me, but I struggle until Sunny slips around the front of me and puts her palm on my chest. My wolf instantly calms.

  “Don’t mind Deke,” Rafe murmurs. “He’s always spoiling for a fight.”

  Deke’s laugh is slightly maniacal. Okay, the guy’s got a screw or two loose. Not my problem.

  I ease up and they release me.

  “Mention my female again and you’re dead,” I warn him.

  He grins from ear to ear and fucking winks.

  Crazy bastard.

  Sunny’s still got her hand on my chest, pushing me back, so I shift my focus to her. Where I want it to be, anyway.

  The other man holds out his hand. “Lance, I’m Rafe’s brother.” Another shifter of few words.

  I shake it and nod. Sunny offers hers with that wide smile. Neither of us offer a handshake to Deke.

  We walk out to a vehicle that probably cost as much as a small house. It’s the Mercedes version of a Hummer. I want to hate it, but I have to admit, it’s pretty sweet.

  “Here, man, I don’t want your bare ass on my seats.” Deke tosses a towel at me and I wrap it around my waist.

  They drive us up and out of the mini gorge and loop around to the dead-end road where we left the Harley, my clothes just a short hike away.

  “See you tonight,” I say as I climb out and hold Sunny’s hand to help her down.

  “Yep.”

  Chapter 9

  Sunny

  I lean my helmet against Titus’ back and review what just happened.

  Hearing the jabs that jerk took at Titus over me has me mad. Not for myself, but on Titus’ behalf. No wonder he’s felt so unavailable to me. My instincts weren’t wrong. We are literally a separate species.

  And his own kind mocked him for being with me.

  Maybe, as much as we’re attracted to each other and as much as we care about each other, a relationship is impossible.

  I don’t want to think about that now, though, so I push it out of my mind. Titus is still here on a job, and I intend to help him with it. After that, we can talk.

  We ride back to Titus’ place and he calls his alpha to report. I’m not trying to eavesdrop, but I notice he’s only saying I.

  Not we.

  He hasn’t mentioned my involvement at all.

  Would he get in trouble?

  Or is this more like… embarrassment? Like we’re in high school and it’s not cool to hang out with the weirdo.

  The girl I tried really hard not to be in high school so I could catch the heart and hand of Jack.

  Are we like a biracial couple one hundred years ago where he likes me in private but doesn’t want to be seen with me in public?

  I’m not down with that. It took me a while, but I’ve embraced who I am. I don’t want to be with anyone who isn’t cool with the whole package. Human genes and all.

  But when Titus gets off the phone and wraps a beefy arm around me from the back to kiss my neck, I melt.

  Just a little longer. I’m not ready to move on from him yet. The sex is too good. Feeling cared for and protected, too delicious.

  I’ll stick with my plan of riding this thing out.

  “My alpha offered to take them all in,” Titus says, lips still at my neck. “I’m going to hire a bus to take them all to Arizona if they want to go. Want to come along? You could stop in Tucson to visit the kids?”

  It’s not because I’m not ready for this to be over that I say yes.

  Not at all.

  And I am always excited to see Foxfire. I give her a call to tell her the news. Although not revealing what I know about her is going to kill me.

  “Hi, Sunny!” She picks up.

  “Foxfire, darling! How are you?”

  “I’m good. How are you feeling?”

  “Much better, darling. My bruises are fading and the arm doesn’t hurt a bit anymore. Titus is taking good care of me.”

  “So he’s still with you?”

  “Yes, he’s still here. And I’m going to head back to Arizona with him when he leaves in the next couple of days. I want to see you two.”

  “Sounds good, Sunny. I have some good news for you, too.”

  I gasp, my heart somersaulting. “Oh, goddess are you pregnant?”

  “No, no, no, no, no. Sunny, no. I told you we’re not even trying. But it is about a baby.”

  “What baby?”

  “Remember Jordy, my dad’s sister from Utah?”

  “Yes, of course. I never met her in person, but I remember Johnny talking about her.” I gasp again, catching up. “Is she pregnant?” I can’t help it, I get excited about babies even when it’s someone I only met once who lives in Utah.

  Foxfire laughs. “Yes, actually! Turns out, she ended up in Tucson. She mated—I mean married this big guy named Grizz and they’re expecting their first baby.”

  “Oh goddess, that’s wonderful! I want to see them when I’m there. Maybe we can arrange a shower for her? I mean, we are her family, after all.”

  “I bet she’d love that, Sunny. I’ll see if I can throw something together last minute. When exactly are you getting here?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know. In the next couple of days, I imagine. Titus is making arrangements.”

  It literally kills me not to tell her everything that’s going on. I’m a terrible secret-keeper. But Titus’ secrets are important to me, so I have to honor him.

  “Great, Sunny. Can’t wait to see you.”

  “Me neither, darling. Bye!”

  I hang up and beam at Titus, who is looking at me quizzically. “My daughter’s aunt is in Tucson now with a guy named Grizz and they’re expecting a baby!”

  Titus’ smile is totally indulgent. He drops a kiss on the top of my head. “That’s great, sunshine. I know you love those babies.”

  I snuggle against him and lean my head on his chest. Try to ignore how right it feels.

  * * *

  Titus

  Sunny and I meet the Taos wolves at the appointed time and place.

  “Hi, guys!” Sunny beams that bright smile and waves from the doorway.

  Four of them sit at a table in the back corner, sharing a couple pitchers of beer. It’s the same three from earlier today and one more who also appears military-trained.

  They look over. Rafe barely acknowledges us with a slight lift of his chin.

  “Hey,” she tries again when we sit down. She leans across the table and sticks out her hand to the guy we don’t know. “I’m Sunny.”

  He’s younger than the others, probably late twenties, with Captain America good-looks. “Channing.” His dimpled smile is just as bright as Sunny’s.

  A low growl starts in my throat when he takes her hand and he immediately yanks it back. “No offense, silver.”

  At first I think he’s referring to my beard, but then I realize he was the fourth wolf out during the full moon.

  Normally after a wolf marks his mate, the extreme possessiveness and jealousy eases. I don’t know why mine seems even worse. Probably because despite my wolf’s claim, I haven’t figured out how to keep her.

  Rafe pushes the beer and two empty glasses our way without a word.

  Quiet fellow.

  Once again I’m struck by the stillness he embodies. I follow suit and don’t speak, pouring a glass of beer for myself and Sunny and taking a long sip.

  “Well?” Rafe says.

  “We’ll take them all. No problem. I’ll take care of transport.”

  Rafe cocks his head. “You don’t know how many there are.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Alpha Green will figure it out. His son owns nightclubs and real estate all over Tucson, and th
e pack owns a brewery north of Phoenix. We can find jobs for them. Get them integrated. Help with the PTSD.”

  Lance gives a solemn nod. “Good. You have an understanding of what they’re dealing with.”

  “I know a few from the California lab. They function… but barely. Real paranoid and jittery. Definitely off.” I think of Declan, Laurie and Parker and shake my head. They are definitely unique characters.

  “Good,” Lance repeats.

  “We have two dozen refugees,” Rafe tells me. We took them in six weeks ago when we located the lab and took it down. They are currently camped nearby.”

  “Two dozen. Okay. I can hire a bus to take them down to Phoenix.”

  Rafe nods.

  When I realize we’re back to silence, I decide to try to get some of my questions answered. “So do you guys work for the government?”

  “Contractors for hire. Former active military. The order to shut down that lab came from the government, though.”

  Sunny and I glance at each other, digesting that news.

  “Yeah, if we’d known such a thing existed when we were in the forces, we probably would’ve all defected, right then and there,” Channing offers. Clearly he’s the only talkative one in the group. “Because what we found in that lab was wrong.”

  All four of them nod, a haunted quality sneaking into their sharp gazes.

  “All wrong,” Deke agrees, and throws back his beer, draining a full glass in a few gulps.

  “So why did the government send you in to shut it down forcibly, if it was their lab to begin with?” Sunny asks.

  Rafe shakes his head. “They didn’t brief us much, but from what I understand, it was a joint-venture project between government and private industry.”

  “Data-X,” I concur.

  “Right. The major players in Data-X were eliminated. I’m guessing by your network.”

  I nod.

  “The government chose to close the project and eliminate any evidence of what remained.”

  A chill runs up my spine. Are these guys government assassins?

  Not wanting to know one way or the other, I down my beer and stand up. “I’ll arrange the bus. When can we meet the refugees?”

  “Let us know when you book the bus and we’ll give you the location,” Rafe says.

  I barely manage not to roll my eyes at their cloak and dagger shit. “This time can I at least get a phone number?”

  “Yes.” Rafe turns on his phone.

  I pull mine out and it beeps with a message.

  “That’s me,” he says.

  I don’t even bother asking how he got my number. These guys probably already know everything there is to know about me, Sunny, and my pack.

  Sunny isn’t deterred by their reticence. “So what’s the scoop—were you guys, like, special ops?”

  All four of them consider her, which tells me she hit the mark. Her intuition is always spot on.

  “Shifter ops,” Channing grins and takes a sip of beer.

  Sunny’s eyes light up and she leans forward. “You were all like, shifter CIA? Navy SEALS? Special Forces?”

  “Something like that,” Rafe mumbles.

  “And now that you’re retired, you’re a pack?” she asks brightly.

  “Something like that,” Deke answers.

  “We’re a company—Black Wolf Security,” Channing offers.

  The other three look at him.

  “What? It’s not a secret.”

  “Need to know,” Deke sing-songs.

  “We’re a legit company. Rafe bought a headquarters.”

  “Still,” Rafe says. “Low profile.”

  Low profile, minimal words. I’m getting the essence of these guys. And while I think they’re the good guys, I’m also certain danger surrounds them. And my wolf doesn’t like Sunny near danger.

  I stand up and help Sunny out of her chair. “I’ll be in touch, then.”

  Rafe nods. Channing lifts his glass. Deke and Lance remain still.

  I shake my head as we leave. Not sure I’ve met a stranger shifter pack since those crazy three moved over from California.

  And they had good reason.

  Of course, these guys probably do, too, but I doubt I want to know what it is.

  Chapter 10

  Sunny

  I tuck a bottle of wine and an opener in my picnic basket, along with our lunch and climb in the bus to meet Titus at his place. It’s our last afternoon in Taos before we head to Phoenix with the refugees, and I intend to make the most of it.

  I’ve been ignoring the little niggles of anxiety that have been running through me as our end draws ever closer.

  I don’t want to think about it. Don’t want to give him up. Being with Titus feels too good.

  Too right.

  And every time I’m with him, his auric field turns pink.

  He loves me.

  He hasn’t said it, but it’s clear.

  And I feel the same way.

  I find him sitting outside his place, waiting for me. He surges to his feet as soon as I pull up.

  “Hey, big man,” I call as I jump out and hoist the picnic basket.

  “What’s this?” He takes it from me. I didn’t tell him our plans, just that I wanted to show him something this afternoon.

  I beam up at his handsome face. “We’re going to have a picnic at the waterfall,” I tell him.

  “There’s a waterfall?”

  “Yep. And we’re going there. On your bike,” I say. “It will be easier and way more fun.” The road up to the waterfall gets a little rough.

  Titus gives me a lopsided grin. It’s like smiling is an unfamiliar act for him and his mouth is still remembering how it works. “Sounds good to me.” He straps the picnic basket onto the back of the bike and we climb on. I give him directions and hum softly as his bike travels up through the trees on a rugged dirt road.

  Eventually, we get to the gate, where he parks and takes the picnic basket. “Not much farther,” I promise. “A tiny hike.”

  “You can’t scare me with a hike,” Titus says with a laugh. “No need to sell it.” He takes my hand.

  I look up at him, admiring the halo of pink and gold around him. The happiness in the lines of his face. He seems changed since he came here last week, and I know it’s because of me.

  Because of us.

  So isn’t that enough for me? Can I let myself have this happiness, a real, lasting relationship for once?

  The joy bubbling in my chest says yes.

  “So what’s in this basket anyway?” Titus hoists it on his shoulders and takes my hand.

  “I’m glad you asked. I know wolves are carnivores, but you’re also human, so all that meat can’t be good for your health. So everything I packed is vegan!” I give him a bright Sunny smile.

  “Woman,” he growls.

  “I’m kidding. I packed meat. Lots and lots of meat. But I did make vegan muffins, and you have to eat one.”

  He grunts.

  “Titus,” I scamper ahead to stand on a rock and face him. When we’re eye-to-eye, I tell him soberly, “You will love the taste of my muffin.”

  He shakes his head.

  “What?” I ask, even though I know he’s going to roll his eyes at me for being crazy.

  “You are too cute,” he says, and when I blink, he tugs me close for a kiss. “I will eat the hell out of your muffin,” he promises. Shiver.

  We follow the stream up until we hit the rock face with the water tumbling down. Sometimes it’s no more than a trickle, but we had a huge snow season this year, so the water level is still super high.

  “Beautiful,” Titus murmurs.

  “Right?” I tug him up to the top of a boulder where we open the picnic basket and he pops the cork on the bottle of wine and pours it into the two small mason jars I stuck in.

  “Cheers,” he says softly, lifting his glass to me.

  “Here’s to…” I stop and swallow. I want to say, to us. Or to second chances. Bu
t what if this is actually a goodbye toast?

  “To future possibilities.” He meets my gaze squarely and holds it like he’s trying to tell me something. Like he wants to explore our future possibilities.

  I want that too.

  “To future possibilities.” I clink his glass. “With you.” The last part is barely a whisper but he hears it. He probably has superhuman hearing, too. He catches behind my neck and pulls me in for one of those possessive kisses. The kind that consumes me, sets me on fire, turns me inside out. His tongue’s in my mouth, fingers stroking between my legs.

  I moan.

  He pulls me onto him, straddling his lap in a seated position. One hand crushes my breast, the other still holds my head captive. All the while, his lips move over mine with that passion he always brings.

  I’m already wet for him. Already eager. I pull my tank top off and he growls, eyes glowing bright blue.

  He looks around with a ferocity, like if there’s anyone around and they saw me, he’s going to rip them limb from limb.

  “We’re alone, Titus,” I murmur. “Hardly anyone knows about this place.”

  “Wanna ride Spartacus, angel?” He yanks my hips over the hard bulge in his pants.

  I make a purring sound. “Give him to me, big guy.”

  He groans and frees his erection as I stand and drop my shorts. I’m totally naked out in nature—one of my favorite things. And with the man I love.

  Goddess, is it true?

  It totally is. I love Titus.

  With that joyful thought, I straddle my man again and drop down, sinking onto his erection.

  We both groan with the pleasure of it. He’s too big—he’s always too big, but the stretch is so wonderful.

  He lets me control the show as I get comfortable and do my best to hang onto his shoulder with my good arm. Then he grips my bare ass and takes charge. He pulls me up over his cock and back down in a beautiful, rhythmic motion. A circular motion that makes me dizzy with pleasure.

  “Yes, Titus,” I encourage.

  As if this guy ever needs encouragement.

  But we surf the wave together, eyes locked on each other’s in some kind of tantric meditation. Time stops. The waterfall stops. There’s nothing but our two hearts beating together, our two bodies blending and coming apart in perfect communion.