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Chapter Seven - Son of the Alpha

Two days later, Father returned with my brothers carrying a young female in his arms. Her golden hair draped under her limp head, matted with mud. The pride stopped to watch as he carried her forward, resting Tali's battered body by the fire pit. Yunya stepped out from behind our brothers, her head hanging.

Their mothers rushed forward, sobbing.

Father stood over Tali and her mother, his fists clenched. He stared down, his body seeming to grow larger with each breath he took.

Mother wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "Tali..."

Father looked to Mother, his eyes ablaze. "No one harms my daughters without bringing vengeance upon themselves. Any male I find trespassing on my land will be killed on sight."

"Do you not know which male took her?" Mother asked in a whisper.

Father clenched his jaw. "I do, and he will die for what he has done."

Father motioned for Hektos to come forward. Hektos trotted over, keeping his eyes low. "Father?"

"Go to all your brothers, Thelmos first, then Fennir and Keenan. Tell them to find Omi, son of Reesh, and bring him to me. There will be a reward for whoever hands him over."

Hektos nodded, then, calling over two brothers, they headed northwest toward Thelmos' land.

"Father," I said. "Won't that bring war with Reesh?"

"He knows the law." Father looked back at Tali and the females lifted her to prepare her to rest. "I am within my rights to seek vengeance. He killed my daughter, on my land, and abducted another who barely escaped. Reesh has no choice but to let me have him."

Father watched Tali be carried away, then hurried over to carry Yunya into her mother's hut.

Over the next few days, we grieved for the loss of our sister and laid her to rest. Father moved around the camp like a dark shadow, barely acknowledging anyone. When Mother finally had enough, she brought him into our hut to sleep with us.

He laid on the mat between us, and Mother rubbed his shoulders. "Krosh, carrying your anger helps no one."

"I will carry it until the murderer is dead."

"Krosh." Mother leaned over him, kissing his ear. "We need you to be at peace. The whole family is tense when you're like this, and you have responsibilities you are neglecting. Juniper is still on heat and suffers from your neglect."

"Juniper." He let out a long sigh.

"We are doing all we can to alleviate her discomfort, but she needs to be mated."

"Mmm." He turned his head to look at her. "You are very beautiful, Flit. To this day you are my prize."

She shuffled down beside him, wrapping his arm around her. "I will be faithfully yours until the day I die."

He pulled her in to kiss her. I smiled, loving when my parents showed such affection for one another. Then he rolled on top of her. His head pulled back, but he didn't look away from Mother. "Zora, leave us."

I rushed from the hut, and a moment later, Mother moaned. I glanced back, and Father had her skirt open as he rocked into her. So, Father did mate for pleasure; with my mother.

Strolling toward the dim fire, I listened to the soft voices of the mothers putting their children to bed. Some sang, some told stories. With the insects buzzing, and the clear sky dotted with stars overhead, a sense of serenity swept over me.

A dark shadow stepped between two huts. I stepped back, preparing to yell, until the fire illuminated Mhor's face. I covered my mouth, glancing around. With no one else in sight, I rushed over.

"Mhor, you can't be here."

"I had to see you." He caressed my face. "How can you be more beautiful than I remember?"

"Mhor." My arms wrapped around him. "We can't do this here."

I tugged his arm and we darted into the bushes. We moved without a sound away from the camp, and when we reached an open field, he grasped my hand. "I have noticed the grief among your family. What happened?"

"One of my young sisters was killed," I answered, hanging my head. "A stray male abducted her and another while I was on heat. Our sister who survived says he mated with them both, but when the scent of the musk abated, he realized he'd taken females that were far too young. So, to cover his tracks, he tried to kill them and hide their bodies. But Yunya managed to escape."

"A sad outcome. Something I saw far too often on my travels; innocents being killed for territory and mating rights." He drew me closer. "I hope you don't blame yourself. You had no control over your heat or the outcomes."

"I do feel a little guilty," I said, looking up at him. "But I couldn't have done anything to change the outcome."

He stopped our stroll, turning me to face him. "You are wise, Zora. I'm looking forward to having you at my side as my alpha. I will be the envy of every male in the region, and when my father hears of my match, he will be so proud."

I stepped closer, entwining my fingers with his. "You honor me by your words, but even more so by wanting me. My brothers are great, but not as great as you."

His breathing grew heavy, and he glanced around. He pulled me over to a low tree and shoved me onto the ground. "Zora..."

"We need to finish what we started." I pulled my dress over my head.

He undressed quickly, and laid me on my front over a small boulder, with my dress underneath me.

He slid his hand up my back, brushing my hair over my shoulder. He pressed down over me, sliding his knees between mine. I panted in anticipation. Was this one of the benefits of being an alpha? To be pleasured regularly?

He parted my cheeks, and bit hard on my shoulder as he slid into my folds. I growled, clenching my muscles around him. His thick, long rod felt hot inside me, and again, he felt right there. "Mhor."

He clawed at my ribs as he pulsed hard and fast into me. I groaned, throwing my head back. He felt so incredible, filling me up, rubbing my tender, sensitive insides.

He pushed my head down, biting my neck. "Mine," he muttered, shifting over me to get deeper penetration.

My loins quivered as I pushed back against him. I wanted him so badly. I wanted to feel that rush of a climax he gave me. He pushed harder against me, pinning me against the cool stone. Growling, he scratched at my arm, biting the nape of my neck. Then he grasped my throat holding me tight to push harder, deeper.

"Mhor..." It came out as a whimper, my whole body on fire as he took possession of me. My nails dug into the moss on the rock as he brought me to a climax.

"Give it to me," he said in a deep growl.

I let out a cry as my body rippled with the pleasure coming from him inside me. He pushed with his hand between my shoulder blades, thrusting into me as hard as he could.

"Yes, Zora."

My toes curled as my genitals squirted onto him. He felt incredible, and as I came off my climax, my body trembled. I flopped against the boulder as he pulsed into me, finishing as well. He shuddered when he came, running his hands up and down my back.

He withdrew from me, panting as he bent over and kissed my shoulder. I smiled, well beyond satisfied.

He shuffled behind me, then clasped my waist. Pulled me down, he laid us on his clothes in the grass. We stared up at the glittery sky, panting. As our breathing grew steady, he rolled onto his side, his fingers brushing over my breast.

"Zora?"

I turned my head, meeting his gaze. He propped his head on his elbow, his gaze following his fingers as he ran them down my body. My golden skin shimmered in the moonlight, twitching as his fingers found sensitive spots.

"You are a magnificent female," he said as his hand came back to my breast. His thumb brushed over my n****e, making my back arch. "In my travels I never found another to match you."

His fingers wandered down my body, and I opened my legs to let him stroke me. "Mhor."

He leaned over, kissing my neck as his fingers stroked over my now tender hole.

I stroked his shoulders, loving the feel of him. Grazing my fingers over his family marking, I asked, "You were the son of an alpha, weren't you?"

He lifted his head, looking into my eyes. "What makes you say that?"

I stroked his cheek, gasping when his fingers slid inside me. "Mating for pleasure. My father only does it with my mother. You know about it because your parents did the same."

"I hoped you might say because I'm such a breathtaking specimen." He kissed my cheek, his lips wandering to my collarbone.

"That too." I giggled when he licked my throat.

He withdrew his fingers from me, wiping my fluids on his leg. "I was the fifth born of my mother, three sisters and one brother before me. My father worshipped her."

I rolled up onto my elbows to look into his eyes. "You say it like she's gone."

"She is." He softly kissed my shoulder. "Her first two daughters were born of a different male, so when my father took over, she was already well into her prime. But Father made her his alpha, despite being much older than him, and adored her with every breath. When she gave birth to me, she was already quite old."

"I'm sorry." I ran my hand down his chest.

"Because of that, my father delayed thrusting me out for as long as he could. But when my drive to mate grew too strong, he forced me from the pride. But with his final words to me he made me promise to find only the finest females to form my pride. He then told me of two prides with strong and powerful females many miles south of us; the prides of Voch and Krosh.

"So I set out, with the two prides as my goal. Along the way, I encountered many other prides, but their daughters did not entice me. They may have been beautiful, but they lacked cunning, or they may have been cunning, but not strong enough to follow through. So, I kept travelling, fighting my way through boarders when necessary, hiding when I encountered prides with several brothers at their heads.

"Finally, I made it to the land of Voch, since it's just north of here. Eager to see the impressive specimens my father spoke of, I hid and watched the females as they hunted. They were indeed strong, but they lacked the cunning I desired.

"Disappointed, I moved on. But I feared the daughters of Krosh wouldn't live up to their reputation just like the daughters of Voch. But, I set up to watch anyway. Soon after, I saw you."

I smiled, nuzzling against his shoulder. "Me?"

"Yes." He arm slid around my back, holding me closer. "Beautiful, strong, cunning, everything I desired. As I watched you hunt, I knew I'd found my mate. But you had not yet come of age, so I was obligated to wait."

"How long did you wait?"

"Not long," he said into my ear. His warm breath sent bumps rippling over my skin. "One moon. But when I smelled your heat, oh, it was the sweetest scent I'd ever encountered. It meant I could have you, so I showed myself to you."

"But the twins..."

"Yes, the twins." He buried his face into my hair. "They desire you almost as much as I do. They'd been waiting as well."

"But I chose you." I nuzzled against his neck, running my fingers through the hair on the back of his head. "Mhor, know this; you have my loyalty. Until my last breath I will be devoted to you."

He laid me back, climbing on top of me. "That means everything to me, my alpha."

He kissed me softly. I wrapped my legs around him, drawing him against me. He slid back inside me, but kept focused on his kisses over my neck, ear, and face.

His head snapped up. His eyes reflected the dim moonlight as he scanned the area. He lowered his lips to my ear. "Something is nearby. Get dressed."

He rolled off me, tossing me my dress. Keeping low, I pulled it over my head. He snatched his pants, sliding them on without breaking his focus.

I sniffed the air, scanning the field. "It smells like my family."

"There." Mhor nodded toward a scruffy tree. A young male head popped up from the grass, moving toward us. Hektos.

"It's my brother." I nudged Mhor. "They are supposed to kill any male they find on father's land."

"I can take him."

"Please." I kissed his cheek. "Don't draw attention to yourself and be driven out. Stay close by so I can see you."

He sighed, looking into my eyes. "Soon we will be together without restraint. Goodbye, my Zora."

He darted soundlessly into the grass.

Taking a deep breath, I stood. Walking the direction of the encampment, I hoped Hektos would follow.

"Zora?" He shot to his feet from his hiding place. "What are you doing out here?"

"Probably the same thing you are." I looked him over, then changed course to meet him. "Avoiding the hut."

He trudged to me, and we headed toward the camp side-by-side. "I walked in on them."

I chuckled.

"Not funny." He elbowed me. "I just want to go to bed."

"You're supposed to be sending word to our brothers."

He shrugged. "I'm stopping on my way between them, since home is on the way." He let out a long sigh, looking up at the sky. "I won't be here much longer, so I want to enjoy it while I can."

I wrapped my arm around his waist. I'd miss him when we parted. Hektos had always been the brother I was closest to, and not just because we bore a striking resemblance; golden skin and hair, Father's face, but softened by a touch of Mother. Our closeness in age helped our bond, but also we viewed life in similar ways; optimistic, and taking delight in simple things. When he formed a pride, his females would do well with such a cunning and strong male.

We soon arrived at the hut. We paused outside to listen, but finding it silent, we slipped in. Our parents lay naked, with Father's hand cupping Mother's breast. I grabbed a blanket and tossed it over them.

Hektos took his usual place in the corner, while I lay a few inches away from Mother. Mother and I always slept together, so when Father stayed with us, I ended up without a bed.

Mother's eyes flittered open. She smiled, grasping my arm to pull me closer. As I shuffled in, she drew a sharp breath. Her eyes widened as she squeezed my wrist. "Zora, did you see your mate?"

I stared, speechless.

She shifted, glancing at Father. "You smell of him, all over you. You mated, didn't you?"

"Mother..."

"Go clean up before your father smells you. He will not be pleased if he discovers your mate is hiding and seeing you."

In a flash, I rushed from the hut. I found our stored water and scooped handfuls out to wash myself. On the way back to the hut, I plucked some wildflowers and carried them with me to disguise any lingering smell. I had to be more careful if I wished to keep Mhor a secret.