Her Forbidden Alpha Mates

Chapter Five--A Crack in the Armor?

* * * Jaxon * * *

Back at the pack house, I could tell Max wasn't happy. He barely said a word as we padded in bare feet to our bedrooms. After throwing on some clothes, I headed back to his room with a bottle of Blanton's bourbon I'd been saving. He nodded at me as I entered, but said nothing. He was on his bed with his feet on the headboard as he tossed a tennis ball against the wall and caught it over and over again.

"How are you doing?" I asked. I pulled the stopper out of the bottle--that one was in the shape of "B"--and poured two fingers worth into each of the rocks glasses I'd brought with me. He didn't even glance as I set the glass next to him on his night stand.

"Not good. This whole thing is f****ed," He said. His tone was clipped. I drained the glass, to my own surprise, and poured two fingers more.

"What do you think Dax is saying?" I asked. The temperature could be icy with Max, but this was especially bad.

"Probably something stupid. As if he really believes he can woo her over to us with his nice guy act," He said.

I shrugged and sucked my teeth. "You know it's not an act," I said gently.

Max sat up and took the glass from the side table, drained it, and pushed it toward me for more.

"She's f*****g perfect," I said. It was so matter-of-fact I even surprised myself. The mate bond was already strong. I could barely look at her without pouncing when we were in the forest. Her body was so pale that she practically glowed in the half-moon light. Her hair was like molten silver running down the perfect slope of her shoulders and fanning over her full breasts. Her n*****s, pink and perfect, had stiffened in the cold. I could smell her arousal even when she'd clenched her thighs together. I'd wanted to take her right there, hear her cries of pleasure, hear my name on her voice as she came. The look on her face stopped me: fear and shame mixed together. She'd come in so proud and fierce; we could still smell her fear, but she held her own outnumbered and without a wolf. To see it melt away had caused me real, physical pain. My chest still tightened when I pictured it.

"I know," Max sighed. He ran a hand through his shaggy dark hair and kicked the headboard.

"Easy," It was a half-hearted admonition, but we didn't need Father or Bex coming to attention.

What's the word? I mind-linked to Dax.

No response.

"Give him some time," Max muttered as he swirled the amber liquid around in his glass. "Let's just get good and drunk before he gets in here. That's what I need right now."

I raised my eyebrows. "Weird to hear you say, but I'll drink to that."

* * * Daxiel * * *

I could smell her the entire trek to the house. It was slow, and it was getting cold, but it wouldn't have stopped me if she'd asked for me right then. Never had I been more attracted to someone. She looked exactly as I had pictured the Moon Goddess all my life. She practically glowed in the moon light. I imagined what her skin, her mouth, the sacred space between her legs must taste like. I wanted to know so badly, but I kept my eyes straight ahead and strode toward the house as if I had all the confidence in the world.

"Daxiel," Her voice pierced through my heart and straight down into my c**k. I was already stiffening again, and I prayed I wouldn't need to turn around for whatever she needed.

"Yes?" I choked out.

"Can we rest for a moment?" She was out of breath, and I felt immediately terrible for not insisting that she accept the offer of a ride to the packhouse. The first shift was rough for every wolf, regardless of prior strength. The trauma to the bones and muscles were often unexpected, and the sleep afterward was the best of one's life. I had personally slept for three days straight.

"Absolutely," I said. "Just pick a spot, and I'll keep my back turned."

I waited in silence for a moment as I heard her rustling around.

"I'm behind a tree, so you can turn around if you want," She said. Her voice was so weak. It sounded as if she would fall asleep right there.

I found a tree nearby and took a seat in front of it, leaning back on it for support. I realized I was tired, too, but it was a different sort of exhaustion.

It's exhausting to keep yourself in check around your mate, Arex told me.

No kidding. I have to figure out how to play this. I've got the best connection right now, but how far will that get me?

All you can do is keep connecting. Find an opening and keep going, He said. I felt him retreat into my mind.

"So," I said as I slapped my thighs, "what, uh, what do you like to do for fun at home?"

Wow, I was going to rest for the night, but now I might just stick around to see you embarrass yourself. So smooth, Arex chided.

I ignored him.

Kira snorted. "I train. I train every day to take over my pack and right the injustices against them."

Yikes, Arex said. Again, I shrugged him off.

"Uh, so you like fitness?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Silence.

"Well, besides training for our eventual comeuppance, what other things do you enjoy?"

Kira didn't say anything for so long that I thought she was just ignoring me. The wind rustled through the bare branches of the black walnut trees surrounding us and I shivered just a little from the cold. Finally, she spoke.

"I like to sing. I haven't for a very long time, but it used to be something I was passionate about. When my mother was still alive, we would sing together. I still sang for a few years afte she died, but it was never the same."

Her sadness cut through me like a knife. I could feel that heavy burden of grief she still carried in her heart, and I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and console her. How could I? How could I console her as someone part of the pack responsible? Not just part of...but a future leader?

"Can you sing something now?" I asked, trying to conceal the hope in my voice.

Kira gave a dry, humorless laugh.

"I don't think so, Dax," She said.

Hey, she called you Dax, Arex said with pride. Well, I guess she did, didn't she?

What's the word? Jaxon's voice came in clear through mind-link, but I wasn't interested in responding just yet.

Maybe that was my opening with her...

"Hey Kira?" I called. She didn't respond at first, but the wind carried the sweet aroma of her--the arousal just at the mention of her name--to me. My fists clenched as I fought off that primal urge for what felt like the thousandth time that night.

"Yes?" Her voice was so soft I wouldn't have heard it if not for my heightened senses.

"Please let me carry you back."

Another beat of silence before she finally said, "Okay."

* * * Kira * * *

I didnt' anticipate how exhausted I would be after the shift. I thought I could manage the walk back on sheer will alone, but my legs were giving out on me and I had no idea how much time was left. Riding on Dax's back was the last thing I wanted to do, but I physically could not continue. He didn't look back, as promised, when I approached him. He crouched down so his belly touched the ground, but he was still so massive in his wolf form. I couldn't recall seeing a bigger wolf form than he and his brothers possessed. With the last of my strength, I hoisted myself onto him.

The smell was overwhelming. The feelings in my body were stronger than the exhaustion. I squeezed my eyes shut to will it away--the yearning I felt to touch his skin in human form. His smell was spicy and sharp; it refused to be dismissed. I couldn't help the way my body responded as I melted into his fur. I could feel my consciousness slipping away as the exhaustion claimed my body, but the fire in my belly remained.

The lights from the packhouse kept me from totally falling out, and I was relieved that the ride would soon end. I wanted no more contact with these men. If my father saw me now, what would he say? Traitor kept flashing through my mind like a bright neon sign. How could I have accepted this?

When we reached the packhouse, Daxiel lowered himself again and I all but slid off, too weak to walk.

"Please," He breathed into my ear, exciting every nerve ending in my body, "let me carry you inside, Kira."

Too weak to even speak, I just allowed him to pick me up in his muscular arms. The heat of his skin was too much, and a whimper escaped me before I could stop myself. The heat in my face was immediate and I knew that my embarrassment was evident.

"Shh," He nuzzled my neck. "You don't need to feel embarrassed. I'm your mate, after all."

Though that was true, I couldn't help but see that flashing traitor in my mind again.

He squeezed me to his chest even tighter as I was only vaguely aware of us ascending the winding staircase. I could no longer fight the sleep that wanted to claim me, and nuzzling his chest was the last thing I remembered.