Claimed by the Ice Alphas

CHAPTER 004

Elara’s POV

"A True Mate?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper in the silent, blood-stained hallway. "Lucian, that is impossible. I am completely human."

"Your scent says otherwise," Lucian said, his hands remaining locked on my hips with terrifying strength. His naked chest rose and fell rapidly against mine. "Human blood does not drive an entire room of dominant Alphas to near madness."

"He is telling the truth, Doc," Jaxson added, stepping closer until his hot shoulder pressed against my right side. His golden eyes swept over my body with raw, unfiltered desire. "When those rogues crossed our boundary, they were not looking for territory. They were tracking your sweet scent."

"This is crazy," I said, backing away until my shoulders hit the cool wall of the corridor. "I came here to do my job as a physical therapist. I am not a prize for rival packs to fight over."

"You are not a prize, Elara," Lucian said, stepping forward instantly to close the distance between us. "You are our future. And as long as you are under my protection, no outside wolf will ever touch a single hair on your head."

"And what about inside your pack?" I asked, looking between Lucian and Jaxson. "How am I supposed to work when all of you are constantly looking at me like you want to consume me?"

"You cannot stop a starving man from looking at food, Doc," Jaxson whispered, reaching out to tangle his long fingers in a lock of my brown hair. "Especially when you smell like pure temptation."

"Enough, Jaxson," Lucian commanded, his low voice carrying the sharp weight of his Alpha authority. "We need to clear the rest of the facility before the local police start asking questions about the alarms."

"What about the keycard Zane gave me?" I asked, remembering the heavy piece of plastic sitting in my blazer pocket.

Lucian’s gray eyes instantly turned dark and storm-cloud heavy. "Zane gave you a keycard?"

"Yes," I answered, meeting his gaze directly. "He told me to meet him in the private upper lounge after the game tomorrow night."

"He is moving too fast," Jaxson growled softly, his teeth sharpening for a fraction of a second. "He thinks because he is silent, he can just claim you first."

"Nobody is claiming anyone yet," Lucian stated firmly, though the heavy muscle along his jaw twitched with dark frustration. "Elara, you are staying in the team residence suite tonight. It is on the top floor of this building. It is the only secure location with reinforced steel doors and blood-bound security locks."

"I have my own apartment downtown, Lucian," I argued, crossing my arms over my chest. "I am not staying here like a prisoner."

"It is not a prison, Elara," Lucian said, leaning down until his lips brushed the sensitive skin just below my earlobe. "It is a fortress. And I am staying right outside your door all night."

A sudden wave of intense heat shot straight down to my core at his proximity. My breath hitched in my throat as his warm breath fanned across my neck.

"Come on," Jaxson said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the private elevator at the end of the hall. "Let us get you upstairs before more strays decide to crash the party."

We rode the fast elevator up to the top floor in total silence. The heavy tension inside the small metal space was thick and suffocating. Both men stood close to me, their broad shoulders completely blocking me from view as if an attack could happen at any second.

When the elevator doors slid open, we stepped into a luxurious penthouse suite. High glass windows offered a panoramic view of the dark city skyline and the falling rain. Deep leather couches sat near a warm stone fireplace, and a massive king-sized bed was visible through the double doors of the bedroom.

"This is where you sleep tonight," Lucian said, walking inside and inspecting every corner of the room with sharp, analytical eyes.

"Where are you going to be?" I asked, looking at him.

"Right here," Lucian replied, pointing to the dark leather couch near the entrance. "Jaxson will patrol the lower floor with Zane. I will keep watch up here."

"Lucian, you cannot sleep on a couch," I said softly, feeling a sudden surge of sympathy as I noticed the faint, dark bruises on his ribs from his fight with the rogues. "You were just in a brutal fight. You need rest."

Lucian turned slowly, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his handsome face. "Are you inviting me into your bed, Elara?"

My face flushed hot instantly. "That is not what I meant!"

"Are you sure?" Lucian murmured, taking slow, heavy strides toward me until my knees hit the edge of the mattress behind me.

He reached out and gently unbuttoned the top two buttons of my blue work shirt, his warm fingers brushing against my sensitive collarbone. A involuntary gasp escaped my lips as a deep, thrilling ache bloomed between my legs.

"You are trembling, Elara," Lucian whispered, his dark gray eyes locking onto mine with absolute possessiveness. "Is it fear, or do you want me as badly as I want you?"

"Lucian..." I breathed, my hands reaching out to rest against his massive, warm chest. I could feel the powerful, steady beat of his heart under my palms. "We shouldn't."

"Tell me to stop," Lucian growled softly, leaning down to press his lips against the column of my throat. He sucked gently at my sweet spot, making my toes curl against the hardwood floor. "Tell me you don't want my hands on your body, and I will walk away right now."

I bit my lower lip, unable to utter a single word of rejection. My body was reacting to his Alpha aura with pure, undeniable hunger. I wrapped my arms around his broad neck, pulling him down closer into a deep, passionate kiss.

Lucian let out a deep, primal groan, lifting me up effortlessly and setting me on the edge of the tall bed. His hands slid under my skirt, his long fingers caressing my inner thighs with fiery pressure that made my hips arch upward on instinct.

"You are so perfect," Lucian growled against my lips, his hand moving higher toward my lace panties. "Mine. You belong to this pack."

Before his fingers could slide beneath the soft fabric, the heavy glass window of the penthouse suite exploded inward with a deafening crash.

Sharp glass showered across the room, catching the moonlight in a deadly spark.

Lucian instantly tackled me backward onto the bed, covering my entire body with his massive frame as a tall, terrifying figure stepped through the shattered window frame, landing heavily on the hardwood floor.

The stranger was tall, wearing dark leather armor, with long silver hair and eyes that burned like pure, white fire. He held a long silver blade in his right hand, dripping with fresh, dark blood.

"Get off her, Cross," the silver-haired stranger growled, his voice sounding like grinding stone. "The bloodline of the True Mate belongs to the Iron Claw pack now."

Lucian stood up slowly in front of the bed, his dark gray eyes turning completely black as a terrifying Alpha roar burst from his chest. "You made a mistake coming into my home, Vance!"

My eyes went wide in pure shock as I looked at the intruder's striking face under the moonlight.

"Vance?" I gasped, my blood turning to ice as I recognized the sharp jawline and piercing pale eyes. "Father?"