Her Forbidden Alpha Mates

Chapter Seven--Reality

- - - Kira - - -

Daxiel and Jaxon waited outside of my quarters while I readied myself. I had yet to have a shower since my first shift, and I felt disgusting, though the triplets hadn't seem negatively bothered by my scent. No, quite the opposite, Osseya laughed. I shrugged the comment out of my mind and relished the hot water that poured over me from the waterfall showerhead. I needed to get their scents off of me. The slightest touch had pervaded my senses--made me practically immobile in their presence. It wasn't who I was. I'm a future alpha, I reminded myself. I wasn't just some girl that would make a good Luna. I was meant to rule a pack of my own.

Despite that, I couldn't stop the images of naked Daxiel behind me in the shower with his hands on the curve of my hips, Jaxon's fingertips brushing my cheeks, Maximus's lips pressed against mine. Why couldn't I stop them?

You want your mates as badly as they want you. That's the nature of the bond, dear. Osseya again. She loved their wolves. I had seen that firsthand. Regardless of how I felt about Cold Moon, she had made her decision. She wanted them. She yearned to be near them, and that wasn't helping my own insistent thoughts. I quickly yanked the handle of the shower until it poured ice cold water over my body--the shock of the cold was enough to erase those thoughts, at least for the moment.

After my shower, I found a toiletry bag on the large counter before the mirror. I did the basic routine--brushed my teeth, combed my hair, washed my face. For the first time in a couple of days, I felt somewhat normal. It was a welcome relief. I slipped into the last article of clothing that had been packed for me--a wrap dress in indigo that perfectly hugged my hourglass figure. The color brought out the blue of my eyes and nicely contrasted my silver hair. I considered that a ratty t-shirt and jeans would have been a better look for facing my mates, but it was all I had left to wear. Slipping on my only pair of shoes--simple black flats--I took a deep breath and readied myself to face the two men outside of my door.

Their eyes widened when they came face to face with me.

"Wow," Jaxon breathed. His eyes flashed, and I knew that he desperately wanted to reach out and touch me. Daxiel tensed. The restraint from both of them was appreciated, but it was painfully obvious that they desired me.

"You're stunning," Daxiel murmurred. He offered the crook of his elbow to me, but I shook my head.

"No, thank you. Once was enough," I said. I saw Jaxon's eyes flash to some far off place and knew they were communicating over mind-link.

"Maximus says they're ready to receive us in the dining room," Jaxon said. I started down the corridor with the two of them flanking me. I felt their eyes boring into me, knew they were watching my ass in the dress. I straightened my shoulders and continued walking without shame. I did not care. I could not show any weakness to them. They caught me off guard in my room, but it wouldn't happen again.

We descended the stairs to the main level. An immediate right led us down a hallway until we stood in front of two ornate wooden doors that I presumed led to the dining room. I didn't wait for Jaxon or Daxiel to open them, but pulled one open and shocking myself at the new strength that I possessed. I couldn've ripped it off the hinges!

"Easy, Kira. You haven't adjusted to your wolf strength, yet," Alazar said with a chuckle. Relief washed over me in an awesome wave as I practically flew across the room to his open arms. Tears welled in my eyes, to my surprise. I hadn't expected to become emotional at the sight of a familiar face, but a single piece of home standing in front of me was enough to make it possible.

Alazar stroked my hair as I concealed the tears against his shoulder.

"Please, please take me home," I whispered. He continued to stroke my hair with a sigh.

I pulled away and looked up at him. Alazar was like an uncle to me, closer to my father than anyone else in the pack as his Beta. Alazar placed his hands on my shoulders and guided me toward a chair at the dining table.

"You have to understand, Kira. Your father didn't come to this decision with any amount of ease. There were countless nights of counsel with myself, Gamma, Delta, and your father, of course. This feud wasn't sustainable. And with the knowledge of your mates being the Price Triplets, it seemed this was our chance to finally make peace with Cold Moon. It was wrong to raise you with such a thirst for revenge in your heart. It would have led our pack to certain destruction--would have almost assured your untimely death, as well." Alazar wiped a tear away from my face with a pained smile.

I hugged my arms around myself, shocked. "I...I don't understand why he wouldn't tell me about this."

Alazar grimaced.

"There is something else, Kira. Something that your father neglected to mention."

I stiffened. "What is it?"

Alazar straightened his shoulders. "He will not be handing over the Black Wind pack to you. He has decided to keep the pack for himself, take a new mate, and hope for a male heir. If there is no male heir, then he will, with reluctance, hand the pack over to your mates."

Shock coursed through me. How? Why? I had trained my entire life to lead Black Wind. My father watched my training with such pride. He talked incessantly of what a wonderful leader I would be. Why would he change his mind now?

"He has chosen this path for you. He has also informed me that he will not communicate with you until you accept your bond with the Price triplets. Once you have solidified it, and assumed your role here, you are welcome to reach out."

I was speechless. I could only slump back in my chair and process what Alazar had said. I was no longer the future alpha of my own pack should my father have a son. I was not permitted to speak to my father until I accepted the mate bond with the triplets. I was trapped. This was my new future.

"I know this is not what you were expecting to hear," Alazar said gently. He placed a hand on my shoulder and sighed. "Truthfully, it's not what any of us want." My head snapped up. It was bold of Alazar to disagree with my father's orders. Although I did not agree myself, he was his Beta. He served him.

"If it is what father wants, should you not want it to?" I demanded. Alazar's eyes widened and he bowed his head.

"Forgive me, Kira. You are right. My heart is heavy with your absence."

My own demeanor softened. I was simply upset.

It was then that I noticed the Price family hovering around us. Alpha Xavier had not moved from his spot before his laptop.

"Well," He said with a clap of his hands, "I hope that clears things up a little more for you, Kira. I cannot comment on the decisions of your father, but I'm sure you're pleased to know that once you have solidified the bond with my sons, then you will be free to reach out to him, visit if you like."

The expression on his face was almost...smug, and I realized in that moment that I hated him more than I every thought possible--more than I had when I learned my mother died at his pack's hands. In my heart, I pledged I would one day kill him. He is the father of your mates, Osseya insisted from my mind.

He is my greatest enemy, I replied with venom.

Osseya said nothing else.

_ _ _

I watched from the window of the foyer as Alazar's lights grew smaller as he drove down the path toward the gate of the packhouse. He said he had to return to my father's side to draw up the papers for a peace treaty between the two packs. I was still reeling from the shock of his words. This was my home now; there was no going home. Years, nearly half of my life, had been spent in supreme hatred of the people with whom I shared a home. How could this be?

I sensed Maximus behind me. His scent enveloped me in such a warmth: almond and vanilla. Somehow relaxing and exciting me at the same time, I could not control the electricity that sizzled just beneath the surface of my skin.

"How are feeling?" He was just behind me, but close enough that I could feel the heat of his body emanating from beneath his shirt. Mate, Osseya's voice flashed through my mind.

"I...I don't know," I admitted. It was the weakest I had ever felt. I was stripped of my birthright. I was stripped of my home. I was stripped of any allies. I was a stranger in a strange land.

A shock of that electricity ripped through my body when he took me by the elbow. I gasped. He gently pulled me away from the window to face him. I had not been this close to him since they had descended on me in the kitchens. His eyes were swirling with concern and desire and...and...I felt drunk in his presence--unsteady.

"Kira," He purred, "please. Please let us love you. Do you feel it, too?" His voice was just above a whisper as he bent down. His lips were at my ear; his breath was hot against my skin, and my legs began to quiver. My panties were soaking, and the shame flashed through me hot and unwavering. "Do you feel the pain of being apart?"

I whimpered again, and my the heat in my face exploded down my neck and arms. I wanted to cry. I did feel it. The resistance took every ounce of strengh when they were near. Their wolves called to mine, as his was doing to Osseya at this moment. She whined and whimpered in response and I felt my knees buckling beneath me, but Maximus's muscular arms encircled my waist and held me steady. I felt the bulge of his jeans against my belly.

"Do you feel how badly we want you?" He breathed. He brushed a strand of hair from my neck and, before I had time to react, he planted a slow, lingering kiss on my pulsepoint. It was ecstasy. I moaned into the side of his hair and felt him chuckle. "Don't you want to feel us? Don't you want us to give you the greatest pleasure you've ever known?"

I tried to push back against him, but I was so weak. Osseya continued to whimper and whine and I could feel myself bending to his will. The power of the bond was so strong, so unforgiving.

"Let me mark you; let me make you mine," He growled into my ear, and I truly believed I could come with out any other aid.

Just then, he stiffened. I knew someone had contacted him through mind-link.

He shook his head and pulled away while looking down at me. "Let me take you upstairs," He said gently. "I won't push you any further. You must understand, I..." He blushed now, surprising me, "...I am also vulnerable to the bond, and I consider myself to be the most discipline. I'm sorry if I overstepped. I just...seeing you in pain and then...I lost control of myself for a moment."

He took a step back, and it was as if I'd been slapped. I wanted to drink him in, and that same shame bloomed within me again.

"I...I understand. It's okay. We can't help the bond," I murmured.

He smiled. "Thank you. Truly, thank you. Let me take you upstairs. Would you...would you spend some time with us?"

Embarrassed, once again, at my body's response to him, I raised my eyes to meet his for only a brief moment before looking away.

"I don't think I have a choice other than to give you a chance. And hope for the best," I admitted. My cheeks burned from my shame, but there was no laughter or jeering from Maximus. He simply stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"Come uptairs, then. Get to know us."