Alpha's intended, Beta's claim

Chapter four

Edward

The drive to the inn was sheer, unmitigated, emotional torture.

Every time I shifted gears, the Harley roared beneath us, forcing Cassie's chest to press against my back. The erratic, frantic thumping of her heart through my leather jacket sent electrifying shivers that traveled down my groin.

But worse than that—infinitely worse—was her scent.

Beneath the light sound of rain pounding on my full-face helmet and the sharp tang of adrenaline, she smelled like an intoxicating blend of rain-soaked petrichor and something entirely, Cassie.

Pull the bike over, rip off her ridiculous clothes, and mark her right there on the asphalt. Let's make her ours. Jasper paced furiously against the edges of my sanity, clawing at my ribs.

You must be out of your crazy mind, Jasper. This is Cassie Jones, Alpha Caesar's intended Luna. Suck that up, boy!

And what was that momentary display of vulnerability when I stepped in front of her? I quizzed as I gripped the handlebars until the veins in my forearms bulged.

A truth you're afraid to face. Jasper whispered back.

I shifted gears, accelerating at an insane pace.

I came to this miserable town on a mission to Luna scout for a friend. To find the woman the seer had me commanded to fetch.

Scoff.

The Moon Goddess had one hell of a sick sense of humor. I was delivering my own mate to another man for a prize.

Interesting.

***

"We're here," Cassie declared, as we pulled into the gravel lot of a rundown motel sitting on the town's fringe.

The crunching sound of my bike's tyre against the gravel as it vibrated to a stop amplified the buzzing of the yellow sign flicking like a dying wasp.

I killed the engine and kicked the stand down, taking a deep, shuddering breath of the cold night air to cool the fire raging in my blood.

Swinging my leg off the bike, Cassie handed me the helmet, shivering slightly as she wrapped her arms tightly around her waist. I thought her outfit looked even more absurd under the yellow light of the motel building.

"You're freezing," I noted, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.

"I'm fine," she lied, her teeth literally chattering. "Let's just get inside."

No sooner had the words escaped her lips than she'd disappeared into the building, appearing almost immediately like a fly that had just dodged a swatter.

"It's nice here as expected, but there's a problem.” she spilled, pressing her lips together, and heightening the suspense.

“What is?”

“There's only one room left."

"What? A single room?" I blurted, feeling my head bang at the thought of driving miles for shelter.

I thought for a few seconds. I had to make the toughest decision, and Caesar didn't need to know about it.

"We'll stay the night here."

"What? Wait, together?"

"You heard me, or would you rather sleep in the parking lot?"

Cassie returned a questioning stare, her eyes darkening. I didn't mean that, but that was the way to avoid shelter hunting with her. Not tonight.

I dashed in, booked the room with cash, sliding a fake ID across the counter to the half-asleep clerk. When we finally stepped into room 19, I locked the deadbolt and turned to face her. It was a tacky medium-sized room, but the comforting scent of lavender drifting from the bedspread clung to the air like a second skin.

I couldn't help the smirk that broke through my icy facade as I swept my eyes over her. I wasn't entirely sure it would help, but I had to strike the bargain and get her off my mind.

"What exactly was the plan, Cassie? Because you look like you're late for a villain convention."

"That was the aim, but this is high fashion." She said gently, running her fingers down the hem of her skirt.

"More like high-visibility target," I fired back, though my eyes betrayed me, dropping to the red bralette that pushed her chest up perfectly, then down to the high-waisted miniskirt showcasing miles of bare, toned thighs.

A heavy, pooling heat slammed directly into my groin. I went instantly, painfully hard.

Look away, i***t. Restrain yourself, I ordered my wolf with a sense of guilt. Jasper wasn't the problem, I was. I could barely concentrate with Cassie in the room.

I took an abrupt turn, tossed my leather jacket onto the room's single armchair and rolled up the sleeves of my black Henley.

"Take the bed," I said, my voice tight as I forced myself to stare out the cracked window blinds. "I'll take the chair."

"I'm not making you sleep in a chair after you saved my life," she argued, her stubbornness flaring.

"Cassie." I turned my head just enough to catch her gaze. The gold of my wolf bled briefly into my blue eyes before I forced it down. "I am not getting in that bed with you. Trust me."

She swallowed hard, the fight draining out of her. She kicked off those chunky winter boots and looked around in the wardrobe for some change of clothes.

"Who were those men?" I asked softly into the quiet room after she'd washed up.

She hesitated. And I knew, that it was time.

Then, she rolled over and shifted on the bed with her eyes looking up at the ceiling.

"I don't know. Possibly one of the enemies I'd made today." She answered, honestly.

“What happened?” I quizzed, my voice the softest I'd heard in years.

It took ages, but she spoke up.

"We....my boyfriend cheated. Basically, he just tied the knot with my best friend since grade school."

Silence.

"I couldn't play victim so I had him pay. Can't go into details but he got what he deserved."

"And those guys were one of the line up of repercussions?"

"Obviously."

"Cassie, those thugs were bottom feeders. High level criminals," I explained, watching her eyes widen. "You’ve made some very dangerous enemies. The kind who don't just kill you— they'll hunt you."

Her breath hitched. "So what? You're just a Good Samaritan?"

"No." I met her gaze, forcing my voice to remain cold and detached, even as my chest ached. "I work for a very powerful man. He’s someone who has what it takes to wipe your slate clean. He can make every person hunting you disappear overnight."

"In exchange for what?" she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"You." The word felt like broken glass in my throat. "You come with me. You meet him, you accept his protection, and you stay at his estate. He’s looking for... a wife.” I bit my lower lip at that. “Someone to stand beside him. You accept his offer, and you get to live."

"And if I say no?"

"Then I leave you here, and you're dead by sunrise." It was a lie. I would burn the entire city to the ground before I let anyone touch a hair on her head. But she needed to agree to come willingly.

Cassie opened her mouth to argue, the fiery defiance returning to her eyes,

“And if you ever decide you're tired of him, then you can walk away. It's all simple.” I completed, hoping she said yes and frightened as well

It was difficult to tell what Ceasar wanted with the human, and more puzzling why it had to be my mate.

“Edward….” Cassie started but my ears perked up as a heavy, violent knocking rattled the cheap wooden door in its frame.

My nostrils flared. The scent hit me instantly through the drafty door—wet dog, stale blood, and the unmistakable, foul stench of rogue shifters. Loansharks. They'd tracked me down, but how?

No other person in Rivers pack knew I was in Albuereque except Ceasar.

"What is that?" Cassie whispered, her eyes terrified.

"Change of plans," I growled, letting my fangs lengthen just enough to taste the adrenaline in the air. I lunged for my jacket. "Get up. Now!”

“Wait, who are they?”

I didn't have the time to reply. When the first motherfucker trespassed into the room, I dug my claws into his chest, silencing him before he could make a sound.

That was uncalculated and Cassie saw that before I got the chance to explain.

I turned to her and saw her eyes widened, her chest heaving heavily.

“What are you?” she breathed, her soul slipping out of her body.