Romeo Alpha Blood Lines Romance Series - Books 1 to 5

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Romeo stood at the edge of the woods looking into a clearing that by any human standards was beautiful and serene. The wolf in him knew much better. Out there lay a small pack that had nothing better to do with its time than plot how to kill off members of his own pack. And he was about to step out and ask their queen, for lack of a better word, to take him as her mate. And if that wasn’t enough, he was going to stall her, protect his grandsons and do everything in his power to shove the entire pack to the depths of hell while he was at it.

He knew if he looked back, he wouldn’t be able to see the members of his pack who waited in the woods, but he could feel them. He could hear Amanda whispering in his ear. He spoke back to her from his heart and then with a deep sigh, stepped into the clearing, holding his hands up as if in surrender.

“What do you want, Traverse?” Turning, Romeo saw a massive beta wolf standing guard over what looked like nothing more than a patch of meadow.

“I request an audience with Lilith Delaney,” Romeo said. He kept his stance relaxed, even as his muscles bunched with tension.

“Tell me what you need her to know and I’ll deliver the message.”

“I’d think, considering I came all this way,” he said, smiling, “that Lilith would appreciate seeing me in person. I’d hate to head home and find out later that she killed you for not telling her I was here.”

Romeo watched the big man’s eyes harden before he turned, tapped the grass twice with his foot and then squatted down. Romeo envisioned ripping the man’s throat out while he was distracted, but that would be counterproductive to the pack’s plan and it all hinged on him being the bait. “She’ll see you in just a moment,” the man said, standing up again. For his size and stature, he should have been an alpha, but Romeo knew Fenris well and Lilith, for that matter. Neither would subject themselves to adding more alphas to their pack than necessary. He could already see them fighting over the spot themselves.

“To what do I owe the extreme pleasure, Romeo?”

He turned to see Lilith, who’d obviously dressed for the occasion. Her body was outfitted with a dazzling silver dress that plunged low and tight over her considerable breasts, leaving nearly nothing to be desired. It curved out at her generous hips and had a slit up the thigh. Even from where Romeo stood, he could feel the s****l pull from her. Was that how she’d gotten Fenris, a much weaker man when it came to morals, to be seduced by her? He only knew of the legends, but asking her outright had its advantages.

“You have my grandsons for starters,” he said, keeping his eyes from turning steely. His voice flowed out melodically, showing her he meant no harm. “And, I was hoping you might trade those two little ones for the bigger fish you want?”

“Oh?” she purred. She all but glided to him, her body now screaming with pheromones. Romeo, dampened down his own need, stomping it under his anger and frustration. “Well that’s a thought now, isn’t it? Although, I’d need to know, of course, why you’re really here. It’s certainly not just to trade yourself as a prisoner?”

“No,” he said. Keeping his eyes on her, he smiled. “I’ve realized of late how tiring it can be to run a pack as large as the Delta. Seeing to everyone’s needs is exhausting. Amanda can’t get over the loss of our son and has left me rather dissatisfied, we’ll say, in the bedroom. She’s a darling woman and one hell of a witch, but I’m afraid we’ve come to an impasse in our relationship. Add the kids at home and the pack’s needs and well, I’ve become quite dissatisfied by the whole lot of them.”

“So you came here hoping to have a break?”

“Actually, I came, hoping that perhaps your pack might find room for an old alpha such as myself.”

Her eyes went molten and Romeo felt the pull on his loins as if it was his first s****l encounter. It rivaled his first time with Amanda and that, he could readily admit, he hadn’t been prepared for. Clamping a lid over his l**t, Romeo sighed in relief when he felt Amanda reach out to him. She’s nothing but lies, he heard her say in his head. Her love encased his heart, relieving some of the need Lilith pulled at in him.

“You’ll forgive my skepticism of course,” she grinned. “I’ve dealt with you before and well, I find myself in need of a little testing before I take you into my pack.”

“Of course,” Romeo said. Lilith stepped so close that he could smell the perfume she’d put on her body. Her dark eyes shimmered with hunger and a s****l need even he couldn’t match. Not that he was particularly inclined to do so.

“Kiss me,” she smiled. “Kiss me as if I’m the only woman in the entire Delta you want. If I believe you, I’ll bring you in.”

“And if you don’t?”

“We’ll deal with that after,” she purred.

Romeo knew how to impress a woman, but this would be a test like none he’d ever had. Could he convince another woman, one who wasn’t his mate, that he wanted her? Releasing some of the need she tugged at, Romeo tipped her face up at a slight angle, ignoring the darkness in her eyes, and took her mouth with a roughness he’d only ever shown Amanda. He felt her shock vibrate through him, but didn’t respond to it, yet. His arm snaked around Lilith’s waist and pulled her closer and he let his hand slide down to cup her tight a*s. Sliding his tongue warmly over her full bottom lip, Romeo nearly groaned when she invited him deeper.

The kiss lasted far longer than he’d been prepared for and Romeo could feel both anger and hurt pumping through him when he pulled back, courtesy of his wife. “Well,” Lilith smiled. “It’s been a while since anyone’s kissed me like that.” He watched her run her tongue over her lip. “You certainly know what you’re doing in that department. I suppose that’s how you ended up with five kids. And I’m terribly sorry about your eldest by the way. I was fresh into my body and not quite in control of myself. I’d hoped to seduce him, but things went wrong rather quickly.”

Romeo only nodded his head. Any forgiveness on his part, even for show, was too much. He’d already scarred his marriage by kissing her. He wouldn’t doom it by forgiving her for Jason’s death. “What will it be, Lilith?”

She smiled slowly, stepping closer and leaning into him. “I’ve waited decades for this. I’ll take my time with you, but I’ll release your grandsons in the meantime. I assume you have someone here who can take them?”

As planned, Amanda stepped forward from the woods. Her eyes showed the level of seething anger that poured through her and Romeo had to keep from grinning. One twitch of her eyebrow could have Lilith in a pile of ashes, but he knew his woman wouldn’t give in to her own wants. “Oh,” Lilith giggled outright. “I’ve always wanted to meet the former Mrs. Romeo Traverse. Tell me darling, is he as good in bed as I imagine? Don’t worry about how things will go. He’ll make sure you’re taken care of. After twenty some odd years and five kids, I’d expect nothing less. And you’ll find another mate soon enough. With a body like that, I’d offer a room next to mine so we could all have fun together, but I wouldn’t expect you to accept. Playing second best to me would hardly be worthy of a former queen.” Lilith then turned her attention to the massive guard. “Sarden! Bring the twins here.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The huge man Romeo had talked to moved quickly to an opening Romeo had noticed earlier but hadn’t moved toward. Minutes later he emerged with two sleeping boys in his arms. Romeo stood still and let Amanda take them. She rushed forward, nuzzling them until they stirred. She cooed to them and Romeo flashed back to when Jason and Sarina had been born.

>>

The Delta had been in the death grip of winter when Amanda had gone into labor. With a hospital too far away in the adverse conditions, Romeo had little choice but to find women to attend to her. Two older women, who had six babies between them, came to see about Amanda. She’d progressed quickly throughout the morning and by early afternoon things were happening at lightning speed.

“You push when you feel the urge, darling,” one woman said to Amanda as she tucked another towel under Amanda’s bottom. Three strong pushes had Sarina, with all her dark hair, emerging. She’d screamed like a banshee for a solid minute before she’d finally taken a breath and gained her color. Jason was right behind her and as soon as Sarina’s cord had been cut, Amanda gave two pushes to have Jason entering the world. He’d been fair haired and nearly twice as large as his sister. Still, she outgunned him when it came to crying and once one got started they were both going, as if it was competition.