Her Forbidden Alpha Mates

Xavier Price, Alpha of the Cold Moon Pack, stood with hands clasped behind his back as he faced the window overlooking the pack training grounds. Seated on the other side of his large, mahogany desk were his three identical triplet sons. Alpha Xavier had said nothing for nearly two solid minutes, and the young men were beginning to get restless. “Settle yourselves. We are in a very delicate situation. One that we may not recover from should Alpha Kross discover what has happened.” Their father turned to look at them. He was quite young at forty-five. Only the slightest hint of grey had begun to emerge throughout his dark, wavy hair and neatly trimmed goatee. A pair of perpetually narrowed green eyes surveyed all before him, looking for weaknesses, said both his enemies and allies. “Father,” Maximus, the eldest of the triplets, began, “can’t this be managed in a more diplomatic way? Wouldn’t allowing our…” he glanced uncomfortably at his brothers so quickly it was all but imperceptible to Alpha Xavier, “…mate to reject us be the easiest course?” Alpha Xavier gave a dry, humorless laugh. “And allow you, and by extension the whole of our pack, to be weakened? Absolutely not. We’ve clawed our way to supremacy. I will not have it taken away by the same pack we stole it from. No, my plan is what is best for our pack and our family.” That would be the course, then. It was decided. “But Father,” Daxiel, the middle triplet countered, “surely, she will never accept us if she knows the truth. If we do this—we will guarantee that she will not strengthen the bond.” Jaxon, the youngest, clenched his fists. His demeanor was louder than anything he could say to his father and brothers, but he took to mind-link communication nonetheless. He’s insane. To make her a prisoner here? He’s not only ruining her future, but ours, as well. We’re doomed to suffer the bond, but we’ll have no release from its pain. “Don’t think you can hide from me in your mind link, Jax. I know what you think. But don’t fear, my boys. She won’t be any the wiser. I have a plan that will ensure her vulnerability and love. You will have your mate, and then your Luna.” I don’t like this, Maximus said over mind-link. His brothers said nothing, but they all felt the agreement. - Alazar Cain set Kira’s packed bag in the trunk of the black SUV. It was the middle of the night, and the girl had already been drugged and bound. She, too, lay in the trunk. Alazar passed his eyes over her slumbering form—long, silvery hair tumbled down the curve of her neck, the slope of her collarbone. His pants grew tight as he imagined taking her on the ground. But what fun would it be while she was unconscious? No, he preferred them willing and wanting. Besides, his mate would certainly know. Everything about Kira appeared gentle, graceful. Alazar smirked at the thought—there was little grace or gentility to be found in an enraged Kira. The Price family would soon learn this. Alazar closed the trunk quickly, and got into the driver seat. There would be a short drive to the next location, a trade-off, and then the work on the home front of the Black Wind Pack would begin. - - - - Kira - - - - It was dark; that was the first thing I noticed. I was also cramped, and I could hear music playing—Stairway to Heaven—faintly, but it was there. I knew I was in a trunk, but that did little to abate the panic tearing through my chest. I was groggy. Something was wrong with me; it felt as if I were swimming through jell-O as I tried to form a coherent thought, let alone a plan. Someone drugged me. It was a single clear thought—all I could manage—before unconsciousness gripped me again. “You’re awake!” My eyes were still adjusting to the light flooding the large bedroom. It was otherwise dark in theme—chocolate brown walls and rich, dark hardwood gleaming as an unfamiliar woman strode across the room from the entryway—her heels clicked across those floors in perfect, staccato rhythm. I pushed myself up on the down pillows behind me suddenly aware of a splitting pain in my head. The light didn’t help. “Curtains,” the woman said, though no one else seemed present. She snapped her fingers and a maid ran in behind her to close the curtains. It eased the pressure at once. “Thank you,” I groaned. The woman smiled. She was striking with strong, angular features, and bemused, catlike blue eyes. Her height was impressive, as well, nearing six feet. She stood tall, confident—with a small smile on her lips. “Welcome, Kira. I hope your trip was comfortable. We’ve been awaiting your arrival since we first received word from Black Wind. I hope you find that life here is just as good—if not better.” Her greeting was kind, but I was lost. “I don’t understand,” I said. My eyes were well-adjusted now, and the fogginess was still there, but I could think. “Where am I? How did I get here?” The woman raised an eyebrow. “Kira, your father sent you here with full guard for your official escort. You’re to stay with us,” She explained. Panic—that familiar friend—was threatening to burst through my chest. Something tugged at my memory, but I couldn’t seem to catch hold of it. A darkness? Music? It was there and it was gone. “No, no, no. My father would never send me away,” My voice began to take on a quickening crescendo, “We’ve talked about this. I never plan to leave Black Wind! He wouldn’t do this!! Why don’t I remember anything?!” The woman, shaken, took an unprecedented step back—the first crack in her otherwise confident demeanor. “Kira, was this not explained to you?” She asked with wide eyes. I clutched my chest as my heart hammered against it. The speed stole my breath and I began to gasp like a fish out of water. Another panic attack. I could form the thought, but it did little to help. The woman seemed uncertain how to respond. “Call for Xavier,” She told the same maid in a low voice. “And the doctor.” I held up my hands and shook my head. Brown walls, tall woman, hardwood floors, soft pillow. Brown walls, tall woman, hardwood floors, soft pillow. Every repetition, followed by identifying with the named object, slowly brought my breath back. Relief washed over me as my heart slowed once again. “Are you all right?” The woman asked carefully. I swallowed and have a stiff nod. “This is very overwhelming. I must speak with my father,” I said. The woman said nothing. A man appeared at the doorway—so handsome Kira’s breath caught again. He stood with his hands behind his back. As he advanced into the room, I realized he was several inches taller than even the woman before me. “I see you have met my sister, Bex. I trust your quarters are to your liking,” The man—Xavier, I assumed—said. I looked from Bex to Xavier, lost. “Why would my father send me here?” I demanded sharply. Xavier tensed, disdain evident on his face. Is he an Alpha? He was certainly huge. And he seemed to command respect just by his mere presence. “I, unfortunately, have no answers regarding your direct familial relationships. However, I can tell you that you’re here because you are mated to my sons.” I froze. The blonde hairs on my arms stood at attention as chills gripped my body. Mates? I don’t even have my wolf, yet. How would they know? As if reading my mind, Xavier smiled and said, “Some Alphas are able to recognize their mates before they shift for the first time. My sons happen to be among those few.” I flipped the blankets back to reveal my legs and swung my feet over the edge of the bed. I wasn’t prepared for the weakness in my legs as I stepped down into the cool hardwood floor below me. Unsteady, I rested my hand on the bed to right myself and waved off Bex and Alpha Xavier as they inched forward to offer aid. “Please, I’m fine. This is a…significant amount of information to take in. I don’t understand how they could know it was me, nor why my father would allow me to be sent away in secrecy.” It was painful. More than painful. My father had doted on me all my life, but it intensified after my mother’s death. I was an only child—there was no male heir to assume the role of Alpha after him. To think that he would send me away after having prepared me for leadership all my life. It made no sense. We had spoken of it only days earlier when I expressed my concerns about a potential mate. Our pack had experienced so much at the hands of our enemy—Cold Moon. Wait…Xavier? My eyes narrowed as I finally connected the dots. “This is Cold Moon,” I hissed. Bex blanched, but Xavier merely smiled. “I’m surprised it took you so long to pick up on that. Yes, welcome to the Cold Moon pack. I am Alpha Xavier Price. I’m sure you’re quite familiar with me.” How could I not have connected it sooner? I blamed whatever I had been drugged with that left my wits dull. “My father would never send me here,” I spat—venom dripped from every word. I leaned against the bed, my legs trembling now both from weakness and fear. I hated that feeling—the panic condition I had been saddled with since my mother died was a liability for a future Alpha. Yet here I stood before the source of it—Xavier Price. My father would never have allowed this. Regardless of who my mates might be as people, they were Cold Moon! It was a given that I would reject them. I would leave the rest to the Moon Goddess. If she saw fit to give me a second chance I would gladly take it. If not, so be it. Xavier lifted his hands palm up. “I can only tell you this has been arranged since we made the call to your father. I believe he sees it as an opportunity for peace. With you mated to my sons, our packs will merge and continue—stronger than ever before. Your offspring will be legendary rulers.” “Why would he not tell me?” “I do not know, but I give you my word that I will make contact with him,” Alpha Xavier said. His voice was gentle now, soothing. His narrowed eyes relaxed and a softness to their blue hue calmed her racing heart. She felt no animosity from either of them, and as if she read her mind, Bex smiled. “Can we help you feel more at home here?” She asked. “I’d love to show you around, get you something to eat, and maybe even introduce you to my nephews—if you feel up to it.” I took a deep breath and looked at them both. “Okay. I can do that much,” I agreed. But behind it all was only hatred and a need to survive. I would survive for Black Wind.