Rough It Up

Rough It Up A Grassroots Story

Emma Hillman

Resplendence Publishing, LLC http://www.resplendencepublishing.com

Resplendence Publishing, LLC 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, #349 Daytona Beach, FL 32118 Rough it Up Copyright © 2011 Emma Hillman Edited by Corrie Blackmon and Veronica Petroelje Cover art by Les Byerley, www.les3photo8.com Electronic format ISBN: 978-1-60735-413-0 Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Electronic Release: October 2011 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

To my husband, for playing with our daughter so Mommy can “work” on her laptop on the weekends. To Cassandra, just because. I hope one day you’ll read this (when you’re way older!) and think your mother wasn’t such a bad writer after all… To my readers. I hope you’ll enjoy the Grassroots series and the three seriously sexy Franks brothers. Happy reading 

Chapter One

“You feel it too, don’t you?” Alexa froze at her neighbor’s whispered question. Somehow, she’d hoped he would ignore the mating call, that alluring scent that was binding them together more and more as minutes passed. But, of course, he probably wouldn’t have sat beside her in this dingy airport lounge otherwise. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. Surely he wouldn’t act on it if she told him no. “Ignore it,” she snapped back, fear making her forget everything her mother had taught her about politeness. “I can’t,” he replied. “You smell too good.” She forced herself to turn her head to the left, all the better to glare at him. “It’s involuntary. Believe me.” He grinned, dimples appearing on each side of his mouth. “Oh, I believe you,” he said. “But I can’t help my reaction either. You’re in heat, darlin’.” If she could have shifted, she would have right at that instant. Just to be able to sneer at him with her fangs glistening. But no, she was a mixie, a half-blood unable to take her lion form. “Ignore it,” she repeated. “I can’t mate with you.” “Why not?” He moved his arm so it touched hers, her skin sizzling at the contact. There was only one way to get rid of him… “I’m not a pure.” His eyebrows rose. “And?” he asked, clearly puzzled. It was such a weird reaction for him to have that she turned around fully and faced him. “That doesn’t bother you?” “Why would it?” He leaned forward, his nose nearly brushing against the side of her neck. “Fuck, but you smell good!” She blinked. Usually that was all that needed to be said to make the men run far, far away from her. Between that and her average looks, she’d never had to beat them back with a stick. More to the contrary, really. “I thought pures didn’t mate with half-breeds?”

“Is that what they do in your Pride? Who takes care of you when you’re in heat then?” Whoa! The guy was forward, that was for sure. “I can take care of myself.” He grinned again. “Really? Oh, baby, can I watch next time?” Shit! She hadn’t meant it that way! “Get your mind out of the gutter. I don’t even know you.” She sat back against the hard plastic seat and crossed her arms over her chest. “Want to know me better? I’m Jay, and I’m available.” “I’d guessed that,” she muttered under her breath. “What’s your name, cutie?” She rolled her eyes. “Are you for real?” “Give me your hand and I’ll show you proof, baby.” “Seriously?” He widened his legs so she could see the way his pants tented. “See? I’m all yours for the taking.” “I don’t understand,” she mumbled, unable to take her eyes off him. She might be in heat, but it didn’t matter. It never had. She couldn’t shift, so there was no point in mating with her. Didn’t this guy get it? “Why aren’t you running away?” He frowned, looking around them as if searching for something. “Are you here with someone? Is that it?” She shook her head no. “Then, am I that ugly you wouldn’t take the relief I’m offering you?” “But…no one has ever… I mean—” Her voice broke. She had no idea what to say to him. His proposal sounded too good to be true. He looked like a god and he wanted to mate with her, even though he knew she wasn’t a pure. Something was definitely wrong with that picture. “You’re a virgin?” His shocked gasp rang over their heads. “Shh!” She glared at him once more. “No, I’m not, but I live according to human rules. When I’m in heat, no one knows but me.” “Oh, darlin’.” His arm wrapped around her shoulders, drawing her to him. “And you’re okay with that? Doesn’t it hurt?” She shrugged his arm off. “I’m fine.” “So, you really don’t want my help?” Alexa stared at him. Steady blue eyes. Scruffy jaw, as if he hadn’t had time to shave that morning. Wind-swept brown hair that curled at his nape. He was wearing an old brown leather bomber jacket and black pants, his white shirt open at the neck showing smooth

golden skin. He was yummy as hell; she couldn’t deny it. And yet she found herself shaking her head. “No thanks.” She got up and grabbed her purse, hooking it over her shoulder as she forced herself not to look back at him. Her lioness roared inside her, but she’d become adept at ignoring her. It was surprisingly easy to walk away from him. Too bad, she couldn’t walk away from her animal…or the rapidly building mating urge that was threatening to undo her. No, she’d be fine, she thought as she stepped onto the plane taking her home. She’d been ignoring it for years now, and it had always worked. One meeting with a potential mate couldn’t possibly change things that much. Right? **** Wrong. She’d been so completely, stupidly wrong. Alexa writhed on top of her bed, her lioness pacing inside her, calling for her mate to come to her. “He’s not your mate!” she growled back, aware the animal wouldn’t care whatever she said anyway. She’d been trying to calm her ever since she’d arrived home the previous day. If only she could find someone else, another guy who’d happily fall into bed with her and fuck her hard. Anything to make the lioness forget they’d been propositioned by a perfect lion specimen. You should have told him yes! “Oh, get over it!” Alexa snapped back. It’d have been a lot more effective if she hadn’t pumped her hips up at the same time. Her animal’s anger had revved the mating urge so damn high, she’d had to call work and tell them she was too sick to come in. She’d lied to her boss, and she’d hated it, but she’d had no choice. She couldn’t have turned up at the office with her breasts budding under her shirt and her thighs wide open. Her insides clenched, and she felt so damn empty. She turned to her side and drew her knees up, curling herself into a tight ball in a vain attempt to stop feeling. It’d only been a day, and already she was at her wits’ end. How was she going to last the whole next week? It was a good thing it only happened once a year, because she sure as hell couldn’t imagine going through this every month like normal humans did. The lioness raked imaginary nails along her ribcage, making Alexa cry out. “Stop it!” Call him, and I will! “You are not the boss of me!” You think? the lioness answered before doing it a second time. This time, Alexa thought she would pass out. Between the pain and the all-encompassing lust, it was a wonder she hadn’t already lost her mind.

Several hours later, that’s what happened. Too worn out from fighting herself, she picked up her phone and dialed the number she’d found in her jacket pocket only hours before. He’d slipped it there at one point, and she almost hated him for it. She didn’t need him; she didn’t need anyone. Hadn’t she shown her family how independent she’d become? How successful, too? She’d achieved everything she’d worked for, but she’d never be free of her heritage. “Jay speaking.” The sound of his voice. That was all it took for the lioness to calm down. The urge, however, picked up, almost as if sensing sex was on the horizon. Damn animal urges! Her breasts tightened so much, she moaned. “Help me!” she called out. “Hello? Who is it?” “Airport. We met yesterday. Alexa. My name’s Alexa. Please come.” “Oh, shit. Are you all right, sweetheart?” “It hurts!” she couldn’t help but say. “Please, help me.” “I’ll be right there. What’s your address?” A mostly unintelligible monologue later, she managed to slide the phone shut. She stared at the opposite wall and blinked. She had to get ready. Someone was coming. Yes, she should go take a shower, do…something? The lioness started pacing inside her once again, and Alexa lost the battle. She closed her eyes and let herself drift away. Away from this reality where being a mixie meant you were always in pain, one way or the other. It sucked to be her. It really did. **** “Alexa?” Jay knocked on her door for the third time in a row. No one answered. He’d checked the name on the mailbox downstairs and was pretty confident this was indeed her apartment. So why wasn’t she opening the door when she’d been the one calling him in the first place? She’d sounded out of it on the phone, though. Fear spiked inside him. He grabbed the door handle and was shocked to find it turning under his palm. He pushed, the door sliding open until the security chain stopped him abruptly. A low growl rumbled in his chest. His shoulder propped against the door, he pressed forward. It didn’t take much time before the chain snapped. He fell, righting himself at the very last second. “Alexa?” he called out, louder this time.

The apartment was dark; the only light he could see coming from a room at the other end of the hallway. He closed the door behind him and walked toward the light, whispering her name along the way. He stepped into what could only be the bedroom and was shocked to a standstill. She was lying on the bed, a sheet lying haphazardly beside her. She was also naked. He stared and stared, unable to stop himself, unable to ignore his body’s demands. His cock hardened inside his jeans. His mouth dried out. It’s only when he noticed her begin to move that he snapped back to the present. “Alexa, I’m here, honey.” He hurried to the bed and knelt beside her. She shifted beside him, her eyes opening to find him standing there. “Help me?” she murmured, her hand reaching for him. “What do you need? God, you’re burning up.” He’d just noticed the sweat beading all over her body. “Hold on, I’ll get you some water.” “No!” She tried to grab him back, but he’d already moved off the bed. When he came back, she was struggling to sit up, her arms shaky as she pushed herself up. “Jay?” she said, her voice husky. “I’m here. Here, drink this first.” She gulped it all down before letting out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.” “What’s going on, baby?” “I don’t know.” She blinked. “The urge is a lot worse than usual. I can’t seem to get away from it. It never stops. She never stops.” “I see.” She sure looked a lot worse than he’d expected. Her eyes were feverish, her scent stronger than ever before. She was in heat, and she was in pain. Poor darlin’. “Are you sure you want me to help, Alexa?” He didn’t want to leave, but he also knew he had to give her an out. She’d shot him down the day before, after all, and as the Alpha’s son, he sure as hell wasn’t used to being told no. Come to think of it, no lioness had ever told him no before. “Please?” She sounded hesitant, but her eyes were fixed on him. “Make it go away. Please.” Her hand shot out and this time, hit pay dirt on the first touch. Jay hissed as her fingers brushed against his denim-clad erection. “I’ll stay, but Alexa, you need to follow my orders. Do you hear?” “Whatever you want.” She leaned down to nuzzle his neck. “I’ll do whatever you want, Jay. Please.” His cock twitched at her words, and just like that, he knew he was a goner.

Chapter Two

Alexa was going out of her mind. Her skin felt so tight, she wondered for a second whether it wouldn’t crack and burst open. That sure would be a sight to see! “Relax, honey. I’ll make you feel better.” “Hurry!” she snapped back, her control slipping. Her lioness had been appeased when she’d scented the male in the room, but the urge was still there, and it was growing by the minute. “Okay, okay. Let’s get you off first, and we’ll go back to basics the second time around.” She heard his voice but only realized what he’d meant by that when he forced her thighs wide open…only to slide in between them, head first. “Oh!” She looked down at his hair, so dark amidst her pale, pale skin. “Jay?” “Shh,” he said, his thumbs already parting her folds. Her brain shorted out. She let herself fall onto her back and decided to let him do his job. “Now!” He chuckled, the sound echoing loudly inside the room. “Impatient much, darlin’?” She would have told him off if she’d been herself. Turns out she didn’t even need to as his mouth found her clit only seconds later. Her hips bucked up, his right arm suddenly there to hold her down. His tongue flicked her pussy, from her clit to her entrance, back and forth. She grabbed his hair and never let go. She’d been so aroused that it didn’t take long for her to feel the pleasure build up. And up. Until her voice broke into an unrelenting litany of moans. Until her knees locked around his head, making it impossible for him to move. She needed to come, damn it! When one of his fingers slid into her, it lit her up from the inside out. Her back arched as her climax hit, her moans turning into screams. When she finally let go of him, it was because she no

longer had the energy required to, well, do anything. Her legs flopped back down onto the disturbed sheet, her eyes blinking at the ceiling as if she couldn’t quite decide what to do next. “Okay?” he asked as he moved up the mattress, his gaze finding hers. “Ye-yes.” “Let me know when it hits again so we can move to part two.” He lied down beside her and drew her against him. His clothes were harsh against her sensitized skin, making her break out into goose bumps. “Part two?” she heard herself ask. Holding himself up on his elbow, he smiled down at her. “Part two is when I get naked, and we have even more fun.” “Oh.” “Sounds okay?” “Sure,” she answered almost reflexively. Probably because something was going on inside her. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She frowned, wondering what the heck her lioness was doing now. She’d been purring only moments ago, happy to have such a nice male specimen close to her. Now what? “Shit!” she gasped when her walls started to pulse. “Not again!” “Alexa?” Jay leaned over her. “What’s wrong, baby?” She opened her mouth to answer, but the urge was so strong, she couldn’t find her words. She was staring at him when she saw it hit him. His eyes turned to gold, his lion watching her, assessing her. Alexa held herself still, not wanting to draw his attention to her. Well, her lioness had already done that, but if he could find her lacking, that’d be good. No! the lioness roared inside her. I want him. I need him. Take him! Almost as if she no longer controlled her body, she watched her own hands rise in front of her and begin to undress him. Her fingers, usually so clumsy in similar circumstances, deftly opened his shirt and drew it down his arms. Taut biceps, strong shoulders, tanned skin. It was all revealed thanks to her greedy lioness. Alexa looked on as she pushed him down, straddling his thighs in order to pop his pants open. With his cock clearly delineated by his thin cotton boxer shorts, he looked good enough to eat. She guessed she had said that one out loud, because his hands soon found the back of her head. He pushed her down his body until her mouth was only inches from his erection. Fingers drew the boxers down, his cock popping out and almost hitting her chin. She watched, quietly amazed, as a single pearl of semen made its way down the wide length. Unable to stop herself, she lowered her head even more and licked it in one slow gulp.

He moaned above her, his hands fisting into her hair, forcing her to take even more of him inside her mouth. “That’s it, baby. Take it all in. Oh yeah, suck me, Alexa.” Tastes good. Eat him. The lioness’ thoughts made her scramble to get back into control. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, hurt him! He’d come to her rescue even though they didn’t know each other, had only—and very briefly at that—met the day before. Or was it the day before that? God, she had no idea how long she’d been in her apartment fighting the mating urge, driving herself crazy along the way. She drew back, pursing her lips to make it a tighter fit, earning herself a happy growl. “God, you’re good at this.” His hands relaxed in her hair, as if he’d realized he could trust her. Damn, he is so wrong, she told herself even as she continued pleasuring him. Her fingers found his sac, weighing it and teasing it and caressing it with light touches. He seemed to like that even more. “Fuck, you’re gonna make me come!” She looked up then, frowning. Wasn’t that the point? She wasn’t too sure whether he saw her confused face or heard her on a deeper level, but he pulled her away from her a moment later. She licked her lips, her jaw feeling sore. “Why did you stop me?” “Time to get to part three.” Before she could question him again, he contracted his abs and sat up, his face suddenly eerily close to hers. “What d’ya say?” His lips brushed hers. It was a sweet kiss, so sweet after what they’d done, it sent her thoughts spinning. It didn’t take much more for her lioness to raise her head and fight for control once again. More! With all that animal lust pouring into their bodies, the kiss turned lethal fast. Tongues clashing, teeth biting, fingers scraping. It became a duel no one could be the victor of.

Chapter Three

“More. More!” Alexa rocked her hips, trying to get him to speed up his movements. “Fuck me, damn it!” She banged on his shoulders with her fists. He reared back and grabbed her hands in his, forcing her arms over her head. His weight bore down on her, pressing her even more into the mattress. She could have complained, but she didn’t have the energy left. She just wanted to come so this would end. “Look at me, Alexa.” Jay’s voice flitted over her. “Please, baby, look at me.” She opened eyes she couldn’t even remember closing and blinked. He looked somber. Why? He was inside her. She could feel his cock pulse; she knew he wanted this. The mating scent was all around them, her lioness purring for more, wanting to push him. And push him. And push him. “Alexa!” She blinked once more. “Ye-yes?” She licked her lips, finding them so dry, they ached a little. “Stay with me, darlin’. If you don’t focus on me, what we’re doing will be for nothing.” “Just fuck me, Jay. Please. I need to come.” “I know, baby, I know. Try to ignore her, okay? Focus on me. You feel this?” he asked just before sliding nearly out of her. She locked her inner muscles around him, terrified he would slip out of her and leave her wanting. “No!” “Shh. I won’t stop. Don’t worry. Just feel…” What the hell was he going on about? The thought slashed through her brain, but then he did it again, forcing her to concentrate on the movements of his body. On the way her breasts brushed his chest at every thrust. Or how the head of his cock pressed against that one spot inside her that made her light up. “Oh.”

“That’s right, sweetheart. You’re doing great.” She shivered at the affection lacing his words. Such a perfect mate, the lioness purred, but she quickly shut her up. No, he wasn’t her mate and never would be. She was a mixie. He was a pure. The two just weren’t compatible. But feel how compatible you are… “Shut up!” “Alexa?” She looked up and spotted the indecision in his eyes. “Sorry. I was talking to her, not you. She…” “It’s okay.” He smiled, as if trying to reassure her. **** It wasn’t getting any better, Jay acknowledged inwardly, even as he picked up speed. They’d been making love for hours. In every position he could think of. With every caress he could invent. On every damn inch of her lush body. And yet, she was still in pain, her eyes too bright as she looked up at him and begged for more. Something was wrong. He could feel it. His lion felt it too and paced anxiously inside him. For the first time ever, he couldn’t help one of his kind. It was inconceivable. Unacceptable even, that he, son and successor of the Pride’s Alpha, couldn’t get her mating urges under control. After all, he’d been doing it ever since he’d hit puberty. God, he could still remember the first time he’d smelt the mating call, the first time his body had reacted to that pheromone-laced scent. He’d grown hard, the show of virility instantly praised by his father and various uncles. He’d gone to the woman in heat and had offered his services, her eyes widening with pleasure at the thought of being his first. She’d taught him well too, and since then he’d always loved that time of the year. Except now… He stared down at the woman who’d called for his help, only a few hours after rejecting him, walking away without even a backward glance. He’d been intrigued, still was for that matter, wondering which Pride she belonged to, wondering whether she was single or not. She was so his type, too. Round in all the right places, golden hair cascading down her back, light eyes that sparkled. She was perfect… If only he could help her. “More!” Her groan rang above his head. He realized he hadn’t been paying attention to her and swore. Letting go of her hands, he pushed on his knees and, still embedded within her, stilled long enough to caress her. She jerked up the second his thumb pressed against the side of her clit. “Like that?” he asked, his voice low, his focus once more all on her.

“Jay!” she gasped. “Do you like that, Alexa?” He let the Alpha inside him come to the forefront, the tone of his voice becoming a lot harsher. “Answer me. Do you like me fucking you like this? Do you like having my cock so hard inside you? My fingers on your pussy?” Her gaze locked with his. “Yes. Oh yes. Please.” He blinked. He could swear he’d seen her lioness in her eyes. But that wasn’t possible! If what she’d told him was true, if she was really a mixie and couldn’t shift— something she wouldn’t have any control over with the mating urge so bad—then he shouldn’t be able to see the animal in her. She bucked under him, his cock pressing against her womb, her cries sharpening. He pushed the thoughts away and worked on getting her to climax once more, hoping that one would do the trick. Doubt niggled at him, however. **** Help her. Jay had been drowsing, his arm around her waist, holding her to him in case she woke up while he was still asleep. He didn’t want her to be alone, not even for a second. “Alexa? You awake, baby?” He leaned above her and frowned when he noticed her closed eyes. “Baby?” Help her. The voice echoed inside his mind. Nails sprung from his fingers, and he had to physically stop himself from shifting. His lion roared, but it was only when it’d quieted that Jay understood what’d happened. Her lioness had talked to him. It was impossible. And yet, he’d heard her. What the hell was going on? “Who are you?” he asked the sleeping woman lying beside him. She never answered.

Chapter Four

“Can I talk to you?” “What’s wrong, son?” Trust his dad to know something was going on, even though they were thousands of miles apart. “I’m with a…woman. She’s in heat, and I offered to help.” “Of course, you did.” Jay mentally rolled his eyes. “She says she’s a mixie, Dad, but something feels wrong. I can almost feel her lioness, and the mating urge is so strong, she’s in serious pain. We’ve been…you know, working at it for two days now, but nothing seems to do the trick.” “Is she on drugs? Alcohol? Meds? Anything that could affect her control and responses?” “No. I don’t think it’s that. Dad…her lioness talked to me. No half-breed should be able to do that.” Silence. “No, you’re right. Are you sure she’s a mixie?” “She says she is. She says she’s never been able to shift. She was born like this from a pure mother. Father unknown. Her mom remarried to a pure. Sounds like she’s got stepsiblings, too.” “Do you trust her? She could be lying for all you know, Jay.” His lion growled, clearly not appreciating his father’s faithless question. He thought about the past forty-eight hours, how instead of getting better, she was slowly getting worse. The pain in her eyes, the cramps, the spasms she could no longer hide from him. Who’d go through something like that on purpose? His lion pawed at his insides. Yes, his animal was right, he thought. Even more than that, he didn’t think she was that type of person. She was his now, whether she wanted it or not. He’d take care of her, or die trying… “I trust her. My lion does, too.” “Fine. What do you need then?”

He exhaled. He hadn’t wanted to call his father, hadn’t thought he’d need help at his age, but he’d soon realized he couldn’t do this alone. Not this time. Not with her. “I don’t know what else to do. The urge should be fading by now, but it’s not, and I’m starting to worry about her. She’s exhausted. She’s in pain. I don’t know how long she can last like this.” “Can you bring her here?” “I don’t think she’ll cope well with the flight, Dad.” “Of course. Do you know which Pride she belongs to?” A shaky voice rang behind him. “Who is it?” Jay turned around and spotted Alexa crawling toward him, her fingers clenched, her breasts jiggling at every move. “Baby, what are you doing out of bed?” “I need you,” she replied, lust coating her words. Her eyes were bright, too bright. She appeared completely out of it. “I’ll be with you in a sec.” He sent her a reassuring smile. “Who are you talking to?” she growled this time, the lioness taking over. There was jealousy in her tone now. Anger too. Shit! “My dad,” he quickly replied. “Which Pride do you belong to, baby?” She stopped in her tracks and frowned. “Red Rock, why? Why are you talking to him now? I need you!” Red Rock. He froze. “Dad? Did you hear that?” “I heard. What’s her surname, Jay?” His father’s voice had gone cold. “Callahan. Alexa Callahan.” “Why are you telling him my name? Who is he?” She got louder. He knelt before her and said, “Are you sure you belong to the Red Rock Pride, darlin’? I’ve never heard of the Callahans before.” “It’s my mother’s maiden name. My stepdad’s Connor O’Shea. Who’s yours?” “Alistair. Your Alpha.” Her eyes widened so much, he thought she was going to faint. “Are you okay? Alexa, what’s wrong?” “You’re talking to the Alpha? About me?” He nodded, unable to lie to her. “No. No, no, no!” She began to inch backward, her limbs not strong enough to carry her. She stumbled, hitting her shoulder against the doorjamb, and yet she didn’t even react to the pain. “He’s going to kill me. He can’t know I’m here. I have to run. I have to...”

Jay couldn’t believe what he was seeing. She was slowly losing it, words pouring out of her without conscious thought. He tried to stop her, but she cringed away from him. Calling out to her, his voice a whisper, he asked, “Who’s going to kill you, Alexa?” “The Alpha. He can’t know about me. I’m a shame to my family. I’m a mixie. Halfbreeds don’t matter. They don’t. He’ll kill me.” “Dad?” he said through clenched teeth, aware he couldn’t react violently or she’d flee. “I heard. I think I’ll go pay a visit to the O’Sheas. I’ll call you back.” As soon as he heard the click on the other end of the line, Jay slid his phone shut and put it back in his jeans’ pocket. “No one will hurt you,” he announced as he crept closer to her. “I’ll take care of you, Alexa. I promise.” She was still shaking her head, her hair obscuring her face. She racked her hands down her thighs, her nails leaving deep gouges in the tender skin. “He’ll kill me. They told me he would kill me! I’ve been so very good. I have. I tried and I tried and I tried—” He couldn’t take it anymore. He pounced on her, and using his weight, forced her to lie down on the carpet. She growled, her hands flaying. One fist connected with the side of his head, but she wasn’t strong enough to do much damage. “I’m going to have to tie you up,” he finally acknowledged. “Let’s go back to bed, all right?” “Get off me!” She tried kicking him with her legs. “I need to leave!” “You’re not going anywhere. Not on my watch, darlin’.” “I want you to leave. I don’t need you anymore. I’m fine. I’m just fine!” He chuckled, the sound dry even to his own ears. “If you think I’m going to believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Right, let’s go.” He stood up without letting go of her, her body going limp as soon as she got to her feet. Bracing himself against the nearest wall, he turned toward the direction of her bedroom. That’s when her foot found his shin. She tried to run away. She did. Except all she did was crumple to the ground. “Alexa!” He was at her side in an instant. She laid listless on her side, her pulse far too rapid, her skin a mottled red. He took her in his arms and slowly, carefully, carried her back to her bedroom. Hurry, Dad, he thought as her body flopped onto the bed. He wouldn’t be able to take being inactive for long. His lion pawed at him, wanting to help the female, needing for her to be better. “I know,” he said out loud, his fingers clenching into fists.

Chapter Five

Jay knew he needed his cell, otherwise, it would already lay shattered in a corner of the room. His father couldn’t find Alexa’s stepfather. He’d looked everywhere within the Pride domain, but the man was nowhere to be found. That wouldn’t be suspicious in itself, if any of them had known his wife had a daughter from a previous relationship. Things like that never stayed quiet. They didn’t need to, to be fair. After all, Red Rock prided itself on its numerous members. The more, the merrier, was his father’s motto, and had been for years. So, why had O’Shea hidden Alexa’s existence? She’d only woken once since her earlier botched escape attempt. She’d tried to sit up in bed, her curves as enticing as usual, her skin just as soft, but her eyes had been dark and her face drawn. She’d cursed him out as soon as she’d realized he’d tied her to the posts; scarves he’d found in her closet now laced around her wrists. He’d tried to make her hear reason, had tried to explain it was for her own good. She’d kicked him. Again. He sighed as he stared at her prone body. She’d fallen asleep just a few minutes ago, just like that, almost as if she was giving up. He hadn’t moved a single inch since then, unsure of what to do next. If only his dad could find the damn man to interrogate. He knew his father could deal with it, and yet he hated being stuck here with no solution at hand. She was slowly dying, and he couldn’t do anything about it! He opened his mouth and roared, his lion so close, he knew he would shift at the slightest provocation. Take it out. He froze. “What?” Take it out! What the bad man put inside her. Take it out! I need out! He licked his lips. Her lioness was talking to him again. That wasn’t a good sign. “What bad man?” he finally asked. Her womb! Take it out! Take it out!

Alexa’s back arched, her skin rippling almost as if she were going to shift. But she couldn’t. She was a mixie! “I’ll take it out. I promise,” he replied as calmly as he could to the lioness. He let his Alpha tendencies come to the surface and added, “I’ll take care of you. You have my word.” That seemed to do the trick. She quieted down, and he watched as Alexa’s body lay still once more. He leaned down, parted her thighs, and took a deep breath. There was only one way to find out if what the lioness had said was true... **** “Can you get Nathan here?” he snapped as soon as he heard his father’s voice on the line. “What’s wrong? Is she getting worse?” “Yes. The lioness spoke to me again. She told me to take out the thing the bad man had put in her womb.” “What the hell does that mean?” “I looked for it, Dad. There’s some kind of implant, like an IUD type of thing, inside her.” “O’Shea’s a surgeon.” “I know. I’ve thought about it, and I’m wondering whether he didn’t implant it on her so she wouldn’t be able to shift. That’s why her lioness is so strong. And why the mating urge is slowly driving her crazy. She’s been denying it for so long, she’s going to explode if no one helps her.” “I’ll tell your brother to fly right out. But, son, it might already be too late. You know that, right?” Jay stared at the woman he’d had to tie to her own bed for her protection. She’d appeared so strong that day at the airport, acting as if she didn’t need him, or anyone else for that matter. She was no longer that person, and his heart ached at the thought. “I know but…I have to try. I have to.” He wouldn’t give up on her. He couldn’t. “Did you mate with her, Jay?” He ignored his father’s question and instead told him to call Nathan and urge him to hurry. He hung up the phone and grabbed his head in both hands. He only had two things left to do now: wait and pray. ****

He nearly decked his brother. One step into the room and Nathan was already whistling in open admiration. “Good catch, man! Dad would be pleased.” “For fuck’s sake, Nate. She’s dying!” His brother’s lion appeared in his eyes. “Not on my watch.” Jay watched as the mischievous little boy of his past became the doctor he was now renowned for. He trusted Nathan implicitly and knew that if there was something to be done, he’d do it. He’d keep her alive. He had to. And, once his brother learned they’d mated, that the woman whose curves he’d found so enticing was his, nothing would stop him. She would become the Alpha’s mate and stand by his side at all times. He couldn’t wait. Closing his eyes for a second, Jay let himself hope for that future with her. He barely knew her. He didn’t even know what she did for a living or how she was as a child, and yet he couldn’t care less. She was his now. Forever.

Chapter Six

The implant fell into the metal basin with a sharp ping. Jay looked at the small and remarkably innocent-looking object…and fought the urge to smash it to pieces. Nathan wanted to take it back to his lab so he could study it; that was the only reason why he hadn’t already grabbed for it. Alexa moaned in her drug-induced sleep. She was already becoming restless, her head moving from side to side as if she was running in her dreams. “Is she going to be okay?” he asked his brother, who was tugging the covers back down over her. “Time will tell. Until we’re sure what... What the hell?” Jay saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He whirled around only to find her body bowed, the sheet slipping to the floor without a sound. Then she emitted a low growl and flopped back down, only to move and flip over in the next second. Her face now mashed against the pillows, she moved onto all fours and shook her hair down her back. He knew that sign. He knew it well. “Nate…” “I know.” They both watched in silence as she shifted for the first time. Her limbs lengthened. Her nails grew out. Her body slowly became covered with a golden fur. The bed creaked under her weight as a lioness emerged. “God, she’s beautiful.” His brother echoed his own thoughts. Jay stared at the woman he’d mated with. He could have left her there and walked away at some point over the past few days. He hadn’t thought once about the fact she was a mixie, hadn’t cared either. But she wasn’t. She was a pure…and she was magnificent. He smiled. “Hello, Alexa.” The lioness’ tail swished in welcome.

He forced his lion back, deep inside him, not wanting to risk frightening her so soon. Instead, he held out his hand and waited for her to come to him. She stepped down from the bed, grace in all of her movements as she completely ignored his brother and walked toward him. That made him smile, that faint twitch of his lips the first sign things were improving. “You’re so beautiful, darlin’,” he crooned as she head-butted his open palm. He knelt down in front of her and caressed her soft fur, rejoicing in the feel of her, in how amazingly perfect she felt. She turned her face to the side, but he grabbed her by the ears and forced her to look at him. “Mine,” he growled, using the voice he knew she wouldn’t be able to ignore. He wasn’t his brother, as gifted as he was. He was the Alpha’s first-born. Their Pride’s future Alpha. “You are mine, Alexa. Human, lioness, you’re both mine. Forever.” And with that, he leaned down and dropped a kiss on her snout. The lioness shook her head but didn’t move. She looked at him as if weighing his words carefully. Seconds later, she leaned her weight against his legs. She’d accepted him. Relief flooded him, and it was only when his brother clasped his shoulder and said, “Well done, bro,” that he finally believed everything would be all right. He stood up and watched as she pranced around the room, her too-big body bumping into every piece of furniture. She seemed content enough, though, as she got used to her new form, sniffing every corner, looking at him every so often just to check he was still there. He smiled, but it didn’t last long. Trust his brother to ruin his good mood. “You’re gonna have your hands full. She’s clearly a dominant.” Nathan’s voice was huskier than usual, his lion more apparent in his gaze too. “I know. I’ll be fine. What’s wrong with you?” “She’s still in heat. You might have mated, but she’s still sending out pheromones like crazy. You need to get her to shift so I can examine her. Once that’s done and I’m convinced she’s all right, you can take her to bed. Oh, and Jay? Keep her there for the next few days, all right? She needs to get all those years out of her system before you can even think of bringing her back home. ” Jay nodded. “Thanks, Nate.” His brother grinned. “I wouldn’t have missed that for the world. Our dear Alpha-tobe, shackled! The Pride women are gonna be so upset you won’t be there to help them the next time they’re in heat.” “They’ll have you.” Nathan laughed out loud this time. “Oh yeah. I hadn’t thought about that.” He rubbed his hands in glee. “More for me!”

Shaking his head, Jay took a few steps toward the lioness and grabbed the skin at the back of her neck. She hissed, but one growl from him and she stopped. “You need to shift now, Alexa.” She stared back at him and showed him her fangs. “Don’t make me force you, darlin’. We both know who’s the strongest. Come on, baby, shift. I’ll be here to catch you.” He worried she wouldn’t take heed, but he shouldn’t have. He had to stop forgetting she was already his mate. The mating call might still be upon them, but to their animals, they were now irrevocably linked. He inched away from her and watched her transition, his body tense until she appeared. The woman who’d captured his interest from the get-go, her lush curves bare, tempting, teasing… “Shit,” his brother muttered under his breath. And yet, he heard him. “Leave this room.” He could feel Nathan fight the instinctive response to obey his Alpha. “I can’t. I need to examine her.” His lion roared inside him at the thought of another male touching his mate. “I don’t know if I can let you do that.” “Jay?” He heard the question in his brother’s voice and realized he had to get it together. If he was to succeed his father, he would have to learn to control his lion so that nothing and no one could get him to shift. “I’ll stay. You do it. Quick.” His eyes never left his brother’s hands as they parted Alexa’s thighs, spreading her open, exposing her lovely pussy to the both of them. His nails lengthened, and yet it wasn’t the first time Nathan was touching her. He’d taken out the implant, had slipped his fingers inside her, had… “Hurry, damn it!” “I’m doing what I can, okay?” Nate snapped back. Fingers traced her slit before they slid deep inside, the movement too much like a caress in his burning mind. He growled, the sound loud and provoking. His brother hissed back. “This is my job, Jay! You need to learn to deal with it. What if she gets pregnant? I’ll have to do this again. Control yourself!” “She’s my mate!” “I’m your brother!” That shut him up. But not for long…

Chapter Seven

Alexa came back to herself slowly. Very slowly. She could hear voices somewhere in the room, but she felt too tired, too lethargic, to pay attention to them. Soon she’d listen but not right now. Not now when she was feeling so good, so perfectly in tune with the world. She’d never felt like this before. Oh, she’d fantasized about it as only mixies do. She’d had so many dreams over the years of running as a lion, feeling the wind brush along her fur. Becoming one with her lioness. God, she must have had a very good night if she could feel like this now. She moaned, a long “Mmm...” that echoed inside the room as she moved to lie on her side. “Alexa?” She blinked. Did she know that voice? Her eyes opened. Two men were standing at the foot of her bed. Two tall and muscular men, their golden gazes showing their lion selves. And here she was, naked and already aroused. Wasn’t that the best dream ever? She stretched her oddly cramped legs and made a point of keeping them wide open. One man choked as if she’d shocked him. She frowned. If this was her fantasy, they should already be jumping on her! “Alexa, baby… How do you feel?” That voice. She knew it; she was sure of it. “Who—” Images collided inside her mind. She groaned and sat up, her hands coming up to hide her face. She tried to fight the memories, but they swamped her brain, showing her what’d happened in crystal clear detail. Her lioness! No, she thought, they were one and the same. She wasn’t a mixie. She’d never been. Her stepfather had lied. That…that thing had been in her, forcing her other self to hide within her, stopping her from ever shifting. It’d nearly killed her. He’d nearly killed her!

Anger sparked inside her, and it burnt so bright so fast, she was already moving before she realized what she was doing. “Alexa!” A man’s fingers were on her arm. He held her in place, effectively stopping her departure. She whirled toward him and roared her displeasure. “Control yourself!” Jay— yes, that was his name—snapped, his lion watching her within his hooded gaze. “You’re not in the Pride right now.” “I know.” She licked her lips. “I need to go see that…that…” “He’s gone.” She blinked. “What?” “O’Shea’s gone. My father’s looking for him. He’ll find him, don’t worry.” “Your father—” “Your Alpha, yes.” “You’re that Jay. Of course, you are.” She’d heard of him, although she’d never actually seen him before. Her family had always kept her hidden, fearful their leader would kill her for being less, for tainting the Pride with her mixie genes. But she wasn’t one. He’d lied. They’d all lied. Even her mother? She bit her lip at the thought. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Jay said, his eyebrows snapped together. She didn’t answer, unsure of what to respond. They stared at each other in silence until the other man cleared his throat and said, “Well, I guess I shall leave you guys to it. I’ll come back tomorrow and have another look at… Huh, right. Bye!” Alexa watched him leave. She knew he was Jay’s brother, although she couldn’t remember why she was thinking that. She also knew he was a doctor because he’d been the one taking that thing out of her. He’d been gentle, too; she remembered that. God, her mind was spinning! She stumbled a little, but Jay was instantly there, catching her, holding her against him. She closed her eyes and breathed him in…and it made everything worse. Eyes wide, she pushed on his shoulders until he was no longer touching her. “What did you do?” she shouted. “What did you do?” His eyes now a tarnished bronze, he held up his hands and said, “You were dying, Alexa.” “That doesn’t explain why we…why we…” “Why we’re now mated?” “Yes!” “Our lion selves decided that for us.”

She was shaking her head before he’d even finished his sentence. “No, no, no! You could have still said no. You’re an Alpha! You could have stopped your lion. I know you could have.” “I could. But I didn’t.” “Why?” She stared at him, begging him with her eyes to explain it to her. “We don’t even know each other.” His head tilted to the side. “That’s not altogether true.” “You decided we should mate because we had sex together? Are you crazy?” “Alexa.” This time, her name was a growl. She felt all the hairs on her body rise in reaction. Alpha, he was the man who’d become her Alpha. Her mate, too. This was mad. This just wasn’t happening. “I don’t understand.” He took a step forward and grabbed her hands in his. Pulling her to him, their bodies now only separated by a few inches, he said, “Would you believe me if I said it was love at first sight?” She harrumphed. “No.” Weirdly enough, that made him grin. “Lust at first sight then?” She shrugged. “Maybe. It still doesn’t explain why you thought we should mate. You’re our Alpha-to-be. I’m a nobody. We’re just not supposed to be together!” “Who says?” He tugged on her hands and made her fall against him, his mouth finding hers a second later. He kissed her, a hard and so completely thorough kiss, she was moaning by the time he pulled back and whispered against her cheek, “You’re mine now, Alexa. Body and soul. Mine to cherish.” A bite on her neck. “And love.” A quick nip of her earlobe. “And fuck.” His lips met hers again for another utterly intoxicating kiss. By the time she realized he hadn’t fully answered her question, she was on her back and he on her. Her fingernails racking through his hair, she thought about stopping him and forcing him to talk. But when he began playing with her breasts, teasing her nipples into hard little points, she knew it’d have to wait. Especially when he said they were going to have to do this for a long time, doctor’s orders. After all, she really shouldn’t be in public if the pheromones were acting up. Right? Yes. That was a very good excuse. She tugged on his hair until his face was just above hers, then she kissed him. And again. And again. And… “Yes!”

Chapter Eight

Jay was so pleased with his mate, he was purring. Literally. If he’d known the sex would be like that with his future wife, he’d have stopped the philandering a long time ago. God, she was incredible. Yes, he thought, maybe it wasn’t just any mate. Maybe it was just his… He smiled as he felt her shiver beside him. He’d been running his fingers up and down her back, tracing her spine and the part of her neck he’d realized was so sensitive. Goose bumps rose on her skin. A smirk now firmly in place on his face, he bent down and nipped the spot where her shoulder met her neck. She groaned and rocked her hips. “Jay! Please, I’m tired.” “Nope,” he murmured as he slid his hand down. “One more.” “You’re a machine.” He laughed out loud this time around. “No, I’m just a newly-mated lion. And I really, really love doing this with you.” He licked a path down her back, stopping only when he reached her ass. She tensed, he could see it, but he didn’t give her time to say no again. He just dove straight in. Widening her legs so he could kneel between them, he made sure she was open to him as he lowered his head and licked her slit. She keened and grabbed the pillow at her head with two clenched hands. He chuckled and did it all over again, this time making sure to hit all her hot spots. From her hardened clit to her opening, already wet with her juices, to her little rose, begging at him to play with it. He dropped a quick kiss on it and heard her intake of breath. “Like that?” “I… Jay, I…” “Yes?” he asked, his attention already on his next caress. “What are you doing?”

“Loving you, darlin’.” “Yes, but… What are you going to do?” “I’m going to give you so much pleasure, you’ll be roaring, Mate.” Unbeknownst to him, his lion had come to the forefront of his soul again, making his voice husky and predatory. That hadn’t been his plan at all, but maybe the animal hadn’t been able to control himself once he’d seen her in such a submissive position. She was nearly on her hands and knees now, her ass in the air, her hair trailing down her back. God, she was beautiful. And his. All his… He bent down and nipped the curve of her ass, leaving his mark on her, relishing the fact he could actually do that to her. He wanted her covered in love bites. He wanted to admire her smooth creamy skin decorated with the shape of his teeth, from her neck to her dimpled thighs, her breasts to her round ass. Her body would announce to the whole wide world that she was his. His mate. He shook his head and forced himself to focus. The mating frenzy was still hot inside him, even though they’d been making love for hours on end. He knew it wouldn’t lessen that easily though, not with him being an Alpha and Alexa a dominant female. He smiled and purred once again. “Jay?” She looked at him over her shoulder, the sight hardening him even more. “Are you ready for me?” he asked, his voice now more a growl than anything else. He smoothed her sex with his fingers, spreading her juices all over her. “So fucking wet, baby.” She wriggled her hips, the universal signal for “More!” He smirked and let his thumb travel upward, teasing her rose with a light touch before he pressed against the tight rim of muscles. It popped right in. She gasped. He groaned. “Fuck yeah.” “Jay! What the—” He thrust into her, cutting her off, forcing her to concentrate on him instead. Her walls widened to let him through, the position making her that much tighter. That much better. Especially when he twisted his thumb and she gasped, her hips rocking up, her pussy clenching around him. He grinned and went to work. He had a mate to make scream after all. **** He’d fucked her senseless. Alexa lay on her back, her breath still bursting out of her parted lips in short gasps. Her body was still wracked with aftershocks every few seconds. She should have been tired. She really should have been telling him off for that stunt he’d

pulled, that caress unlike anything she’d ever felt before. And yet, all she could do was lie there with her lioness purring inside her. Her mate was something else, all right. She grinned at nothing in particular, her eyes closed, but her mind buoyant. “I’ll give Nate a call. If he can give you a check up today, we should be able to go home afterward.” And just like that, her mood took a downward turn. She moved onto her elbow and looked at him, sprawled beside her in all his naked glory. “Home?” “Our Pride?” “I don’t live there.” “You do now.” His eyes flashed, but she didn’t heed the warning. “I don’t think so. I might be your mate, but I have a life, Jay. My life is here. I have a job, this apartment. Friends!” He sat up, all the better to stare her down. “You’re my mate, yes. That means you’ll live with me, in our Pride. You’re not a mixie any longer, Alexa. You’re the future Alpha’s wife!” “I don’t care!” She slid out of bed and grabbed a clean T-shirt from her chest of drawers. She slid it on and smoothed it down her thighs. It didn’t hide much, but it was a start. “You can’t force me to move back there. Sure, I want to be there when Alistair finds my stepdad, but after that, I’ll leave again.” “No.” “Don’t you use that tone of voice on me!” she snapped back, aware his lion was close to the surface. His eyes had changed colors again, a warning sign all on its own. But she didn’t care. He couldn’t order her around. He couldn’t! “I will use whatever I want on you. I’m your mate. I’m also your Alpha. Look at me, Alexa.” She refused to obey, fighting her instincts, fighting her lion self as best she could. She’d spent years battling her own body, living amongst mortals as soon as she’d understood how her family, her Pride, didn’t want her there with them. She’d left and built a life of her own. Sure, she might not have been truly happy, but at least it had been hers. “Alexa!” This time, she couldn’t ignore the injunction. She met his gaze, albeit reluctantly. “You will stand beside me at all times,” he said, his voice echoing around the room. If she’d have been in lion form, her ears would have been flat against her head. But right now, she couldn’t do anything but listen to him…and obey. “You will live within the

Pride, with me, at all times. You are my mate, Alexa, and I am your Alpha. Do you understand?” Oh, she understood all right. She nodded because she didn’t have a choice, but left the room almost straight away. She made a big deal of taking a shower and cleaning herself before his brother arrived. All the while, however, her mind buzzed. If he thought she’d happily lay low and let him order her around, he had another thing coming. She hadn’t survived the past years by being weak. No, Jay was in for a surprise. Damn him. Damn them all!

Chapter Nine

“Dominant, eh.” Jay flipped his brother off, his gaze never leaving the woman sitting across the aisle. She’d been ignoring him ever since he’d turned Alpha on her. He should have known she wouldn’t take it well, but his lion had reacted to her independent words, and he’d let him. He really should have expected she wouldn’t play along. She was, as Nathan had said, far too dominant to just do whatever the hell he wanted. And he loved that in her. He did. He just couldn’t imagine his life in the Pride without her. Sure, he’d only known her for a few days, but he didn’t care. She was his mate now, body and soul, for better or worse, and all that jazz. They were as good as married, and she was talking of living away from him. From his Pride! What the fuck, right? His hands grasped the armrests of his seat and clenched, his nails springing forward to dig into the brown leather. She didn’t move a single inch at his obvious display of testosterone. She kept on reading whatever book she’d grabbed from her purse. His brother laughed at his side, and he fought the urge to hit him. Instead, he took a deep breath and forced his lion deep inside him. His nails retracted, letting his hands relax on the armrests once more. It was a good thing this was their Pride’s plane; otherwise there’d be hell to pay. But it wasn’t the first time a lion had lost control in the air and probably wouldn’t be the last. He waved the stewardess away, aware of her curious gaze and yet not giving a damn what she thought. He wouldn’t think of her or the last time he’d been in this plane with her. Alone. If Alexa learnt of it, she’d be on the other woman in a nanosecond. He forced the thoughts away and instead focused on the problem at hand. His mate was so strong, she could avoid his orders to some extent. He knew she thought she’d gain something by acting like this, by ignoring him as if he wasn’t the most

important person in her world right now. He just had to find a way to make her understand she was wrong. No, not that she was wrong, but that this was meant to be. Yes, that was it. He closed his eyes and figured out his next plan of action. **** Alexa stood in front of her Pride’s Leader for the first time in her life. Alistair was an older version of his eldest son in almost every aspect, his brown hair graying but still curly, his sharp grey eyes missing nothing as he stared at her. Unable to stop herself, she gazed at him for a second too long before looking down at her feet. He laughed. She looked back up, startled. “Alexa. Welcome, child. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.” And with that, he pulled her into a hug. She stiffened, unsure of what to do. This was the man she’d been warned for years would kill her. And here he was, smiling down at her, welcoming her as if she was someone important. She stood there, unmoving, until Jay’s arm wrapped around her waist. He tucked her against his body, his warmth seeping into hers, awakening her from this strange mood. “Hey, Dad.” “Son. I guess you forgot to mention you got mated.” Jay didn’t even react to his father’s words. She’d have been terrified, but he appeared completely at ease as he smiled at Alistair. “You knew already.” “I had an inkling.” The older man’s eyes twinkled in the late sunlight. “Of course, you did. What’s the news?” And just like that, Alistair turned into the Alpha she’d imagined him to be. His face hardened. His gaze darkened to a burnished copper, his lion so impressive, she had to stifle a gasp. “He’s nowhere to be found. I ordered the family to be locked into their house. I thought we could go interrogate them as soon as you got here.” “My… My mother?” He turned toward her, her gaze instantly finding her feet once more. “Your mother is with them, yes. If she knows anything about that implant, we need to know.” She nodded. “I want to come with you.” Jay’s fingers dug into her hip, but she ignored him. Alexa looked up long enough to see the Alpha’s eyebrows cocked in wonder. “Please,” she added. Silence, then, “I suddenly understand better why you chose her, son.” Was she supposed to say thanks? “They did this to me. I want to be there.”

Her mate growled. “We understood you the first time, Alexa. I’ll make sure she obeys, Dad.” “See that you do.” Alistair whirled around and stalked to a parked Jeep. They all followed. Jay’s grip was still tight, but even though she wanted nothing more than to tell him off for his words, she knew she couldn’t. If she wanted to go with them while they interrogated her family, she had to play nice. She could do that. Right? **** Her resolve lasted until she saw her mother. Jay’s hands on her shoulders were the only thing that stopped her from going to her. She wanted to ask her if she knew what they’d done to her, her only daughter. If she knew the man she’d married had done this to her. He’d violated her, and for what? Tears appeared in her eyes, but she blinked them back, not wanting to appear weak in front of them all. “Behave yourself,” her mate whispered in her ear. “Or I’ll have to lock you in one of the cars.” She growled back. He caught her gaze in his and waited for her to… What? Calm down? Apologize? She didn’t know. But he finally let her go, stepping in front of her so he was standing right behind his father. Alistair had stepped to the middle of the room, the lounge she’d only been in days before. It’d been her mother’s fiftieth birthday, and her stepdad had agreed, after numerous phone conversations, that she could visit. Only for a day, but she’d still jumped on the occasion. It’d been an awkward and stilted affair, all of them showing her in little or big ways how much she was an outsider. Not anymore, she thought with a surprised jerk. She was as pure as they were. She was also mated to their Alpha’s first-born. Shaking her hair down her back, she stepped to Jay’s side and looked at her family. Or rather, what was left of it: her mother and her two stepbrothers, Jimmy and Tommy. The three of them were seated in a line on hard-back chairs, the ones she knew had come from the kitchen. For the first time, she met their gazes straight on, the lioness pacing inside her lending her courage. Her stepbrothers glared at her. Nothing new there. Her mother, however, appeared on the brink of tears. “Where is he?” Alistair asked then, his voice low.

They all stared down as one. No one answered. The silence grew, an almost palpable tension spreading through the room. It shattered when their Alpha roared his displeasure. “I asked, where. Is. He?” Her mother’s mouth opened, but before she could say anything, Tommy fell sideways, bumping his chair into hers, making them both sprawl to the floor. Alexa reacted instantly.

Chapter Ten

“No one touches my mother!” She grabbed her stepbrother and lifted him, her muscles aching as she held up his full weight. Her lioness was so angry, she could feel her skin start to itch. She was going to shift soon, but she didn’t care. She wanted to shake him. Hurt him. Make him pay. For this, sure, but also for all those years where she’d cried herself to sleep every damn night. “Alexa!” Hands pulled her back. She growled and snapped, never letting go of Tommy. He saw an opportunity and slashed at her with his shifted paw. She bit back a cry. Blood was already welling up from the cuts that were appearing on her shoulder. Jay pushed her behind him and was on the other man in a second. His fist met with her stepbrother’s stomach, sending him flying into the nearest wall. Tommy bounced then lay sprawled in a weird position on the floor. Her mate knelt down to check out the other man, swearing when it became quite clear he was out of it. “Shit!” Alexa bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood. Her shoulder ached, but she didn’t even look down at it. She knew she’d messed up. Bad. But they’d touched her mother! Her lioness was so upset, she felt on the verge of losing it inside her. Liquid pooled down her arm and plopped onto the linoleum-covered floor. Drip, drip, drip. It was the only sound in the room, bar Jay’s anger-laden breathing and her mother’s tears. She could feel everyone’s gaze on her, some accusing, some wondering. It was a cowardly thing to do, and yet she couldn’t stop herself from whirling around and striding out of the house. She’d thought she was this strong woman, all too aware of her new status, drunk from the power her lioness gave her…and yet, she was just as she’d been before. Weak.

“Go take care of her. I’ll deal with them.” His father’s words echoing in his mind, Jay thought he might snap as he stepped outside and went looking for his mate. She’d disobeyed him. No, it was even worse than that. She’d clearly acted without thinking in front of their Alpha and his lieutenants, and had gotten hurt in the process. Somewhere inside him, he knew why she’d done it. He almost understood it. After all, he probably would have acted the same if someone had threatened his mother. But she wasn’t Alpha! She was his mate, and he’d told her to behave, but no, she’d had to go and… He growled, the scent of her blood turning him even angrier. “Alexa!” he called out. He followed her scent to the back garden, growing more and more agitated as seconds passed. When he found her, however, he realized he couldn’t reprimand her. Not right now. She was sitting on the cold ground, her eyes unseeing, her shoulder still bleeding. “Alexa, baby.” He knelt down behind her and drew her against his chest. “I’m sorry,” she murmured as she closed her eyes, avoiding his gaze. “You should go back inside.” “My dad sent me here. You need to get this cleaned up.” “It’s fine.” “If it’s still bleeding, darlin’, it obviously isn’t.” She shrugged. He stared down at her, at the obvious trail tears had left on her face. His heart squeezed within his chest. So, that’s what having a mate felt like. He was still mad at her, but he also wanted to make her feel better, to shelter her from the world and everyone else. He brushed curls away from her face, wiped away those tell-tale trails, and bent down to kiss her lips. It was a short kiss, but when he pulled back, her eyes were open and she was staring at him in shock. “Jay?” “It’s going to be okay,” he reassured her, or himself; he wasn’t sure. “I messed up.” Her voice was so low, he had to lower his head to hear her. He nodded. “You did. But you’re new at this, Alexa. They’ll understand.” “I… He touched my mother. I thought he was going to harm her—” “And your lioness reacted?” he wondered. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I felt so close to shifting. I was just so, so mad. So really angry.”

Was her lioness even more dominant than he’d thought? Could she be an Alpha? Was that even possible in one who’d been dormant for so long? Thoughts whirling through his head, he still managed to get up and pull her with him. “Let’s go. We need to look at your shoulder.” “But…” She stopped in her tracks. “What about the interrogation?” “My dad will deal with them. Come on, Alexa. The scent of your blood is driving my lion nuts.” That seemed to do the trick. She followed him to the car, then sat there, lost in thought as he drove to his house. The one she’d never been in. The one she was now going to share with him. God, he couldn’t wait. **** Alexa stared at the bright white tiles behind Jay’s head, trying to focus on something other than the pain lancing her shoulder. He’d already cleaned up the deep lacerations Tommy’s nails had left in her skin, and now he was suturing them, the needle sharp and fast, but still undoubtedly there. Each time it pierced her skin, she flinched. Each time she flinched, he growled. His eyes had gone dark again, his lion assessing her, almost as if he was afraid for her. She wanted to pet him, wanted to tell him she was all right. Of course, for that she’d have to stop being such a girl about it all. “Okay,” he finally said as he grabbed a large bandage from the shelf on his right. “I’ll just put this on you, and we’ll be done.” “Thanks.” He looked down at her and smiled. “My pleasure.” She rolled her eyes, all too aware his attention had now shifted to her bare breasts. She’d taken off her blood-drenched top and bra earlier. Now that he’d finished taking care of her, however, he could clearly see the way her nipples had puckered from the cold. Okay, or maybe it was also because his hands had been on her. Turns out her lioness was easy where her mate was concerned. “You have a one-track mind,” she finally said. He chuckled and bent down to kiss her. “You’re the one half-naked.” “There was a good reason for that!” “Which we’ll address once we’ve eaten something. Come on.” He tugged her up from the stool she’d been sitting on and pushed her until they were standing in his bedroom. “Here, you can wear this.” He handed her one of his shirts and helped her to put it on, her grimace the only sign her shoulder still hurt.

She followed him to the kitchen soon after, knowing they were going to have to talk…and really not looking forward to that conversation. But she knew she’d been wrong, so she’d take the consequences, whatever they may end up being. It was a good thing she trusted her mate though. Otherwise, she might have flown had she known what was going through Jay’s mind right then.

Chapter Eleven

“Will you let me do something?” Alexa looked up from her plate, a frown sliding into place on her face. “What?” “Will you let me try something? I’d like you to shift, darlin’.” “Now?” He nodded. “Why?” He felt his lion come to the fore. Again. Instead of pushing him back, though, he let him shine through. “Now, Mate. I promise I won’t hurt you.” He placed his hand over hers on the table and added, “You trust me, don’t you?” He could see when she decided to do as he’d asked, probably helped by the fact she was still thinking on how badly she’d acted earlier. He remained immobile as she stood up and took her clothes off, the impromptu striptease making his cock harden to full-mast. He gulped but didn’t let any emotions seep onto his face, knowing far too well he needed to stay in control for what was going to happen next. He kept on watching as she knelt on the floor, her head hanging down, her fingers lengthening seconds later. God, she was quick! Her body was soon covered in that golden fur so reminiscent of her hair. She turned to face him, sniffing the air as if she needed to reassure herself it was really him. “Come here, Mate.” He stretched out his hand and motioned her over. Her ears drew back, her clever gaze assessing him for a moment too long. “Alexa. I said, come here!” His voice took on that Alpha tone he knew she hated but was definitely necessary right now. She stared at him for a little while longer before advancing toward him, her tail swishing behind her. His lion purred in pleasure inside him, appreciating his mate’s show of bravado. That, and she really was a beautiful lioness.

Once she was in front of him, she rubbed her head against his jeans, marking him with her scent and making him grin. “Darlin’, you’re something else all right,” he couldn’t help but say. She rumbled in reply, her muzzle brushing against his erection. This time, he laughed out loud. “Feeling frisky, are you?” The lioness looked up, her slanted green eyes capturing his gaze. He scratched the fur between her ears as he stared down at her. “You’re mine, aren’t you, Alexa?” She opened her mouth, her fangs glistening in the low lights. Then she snapped it shut, and he realized she’d been about to speak. Or rather, that she’d wanted to speak and had forgotten she wasn’t in human form. He smiled and said, “You can shift again, baby.” Her tail slapped his shin. Hard. “I’m sure. Shift whenever you’re ready, Alexa. I’ll be in the lounge waiting for you.” And with that, he left the room. He had important things to mull over… **** “I don’t understand.” Jay looked up to find his mate, naked as the day she was born, standing in the threshold. “What don’t you understand?” And why hadn’t she gotten dressed again? His cock twitched. He winced, knowing he wanted to talk to her first and foremost… And yet, feelings were already swamping over him. His hands itched to grab her and pull her to him. “Why did you ask me to shift? You wanted to try something, you said, and yet you didn’t do anything!” She came to a stand only feet from him and crossed her arms over her chest. Except from his standpoint, it looked like she was pawing at her own breasts. He exhaled and tried to focus on the conversation. “I wanted to check something.” “So?” “So, what?” “What was it?” He brushed his palm over his face. “You know you’re a dominant, right?” She blinked. “You mean, as a lioness?” He nodded. “Yes. Even as a human, darlin’, I guess. You’ve got such a strong personality.” She was frowning and shaking her head by the time he finished his sentence. “No. No, I’m not like that. I’m weak, really.”

He let out a short laugh. “Are you kidding me, babe? You disobeyed me! You ignored your Alpha’s orders!” “I know, but…” She clearly didn’t understand. For the first time, he really understood the way she’d been brought up, so cut off from her own origins, she had no idea what he was hinting at. “Alexa, you’re this close to being an Alpha,” he motioned with his fingers. “Your lioness is so strong, she can butt heads with me. You know who I am, don’t you? I’m the second most powerful lion in this Pride, darlin’. Do you see what I’m trying to say?” “I’m not sure, no.” “If we weren’t already mated, you could challenge me.” “For what?” He laughed, the sound dry this time. “For my dad’s position.” “As the Alpha? Are you crazy?” “No. No, I’m not.” “Did you drink or something, Jay? That’s entirely preposterous. As if I could ever do such a thing. I just found my lioness, for pity’s sake!” She wasn’t taking him seriously. He could understand it. After all, she was right. She’d thought she was a mixie all these years, and now here she was, so strong she didn’t really have a place in the Pride. But she did. She was his mate. Maybe he should remind her of that… The thought burst through his brain, and an instant later, he’d pulled her to him. She cried out in surprise, the sound cut off by his mouth. He kissed her like he’d wanted to earlier. A rough kind of kiss that took no prisoners. His hands found her ass, his nails biting into her soft skin. She moaned into his throat and moved up on her toes, fitting her body against his. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, but the cotton of his shirt lessened the sensation. Before he could take it off, her hands were there. It was almost as if she’d heard him, as if she’d known what he wanted before he’d even formulated it. Growling, he attacked her mouth for an even harder kiss. He was going to remind her how mated lions made love. Oh yes, he was.

Chapter Twelve

Alexa wondered what’d gone through her mate’s head to suddenly become this frenzied but so very sexy man. Not that she was complaining, of course! He’d taken his clothes off and sat back down on the sofa, tugging on her hands until she was on his lap facing him. Her sex was exposed that way, and he’d growled at the sight of her wet folds. He’d turned her on with one kiss. He was that good. She wasn’t planning on telling him that, but it was true. One kiss from her mate, and she’d turned pliant in his arms. Even now that his lips were currently taking a very long, and slow, detour of her neck, she was nearly vibrating. She wanted him. So, she told him. He growled. “Fuck, baby.” She grinned. He bent down and nipped her shoulder in retaliation. She opened her mouth to tell him off when she realized it hadn’t hurt. Putting a hand on his cheek, she stopped him. “Where’s it gone?” He stilled. “What do you mean?” “The cuts?” She could understand the bandage not surviving her shifting forms, but the lacerations themselves? He pushed her hair down her back and leaned down to inspect her shoulder. “Gone,” he declared before dropping a quick kiss on the now smooth skin. “How’s that even possible?” She craned her neck for a better look, but no, he was right. There was nothing there but her usual freckles. “You shifted.” “And?” He blinked. “You really don’t know much about this, do you, baby?” Before she could snap at him, he added, “Your body reconstructed itself. Hence why there’s nothing left.”

“Oh. Can anyone do that?” She couldn’t remember her stepbrothers ever mentioning this. Considering the number of times they’d maimed themselves as teenagers, dirt-bike riding or plain-old being stupid, this was a bit odd. Surely, if the only thing they could have done was shift, they would have. Right? “No. Only the strongest members of the Pride can heal themselves when they shift.” “Oh,” she repeated, but this time the two letters held such a maelstrom of emotions, she saw his lion seep into his eyes. “That’s, huh, good.” He shook his head. “Do you believe me now?” “I guess.” He chuckled softly and bent down to capture her mouth once again. The fire inside her, banked during their conversation, roared back to life. She slid her fingers into his hair and kissed him back with all her might. All her love. No, she contradicted herself inwardly. She didn’t love him. Not yet. She was just in lust with him because, well, he was her mate and… “Stop thinking,” he admonished, nudging her face up so he could kiss a path down her neck. She leaned back and grabbed her knees, holding herself up to his inspection. He groaned and fell on her breasts, sucking on one nipple until it hardened. He did it all over again to her other breast, loving her with his mouth, her moans ringing in the otherwise silent house. When his hand slid between her thighs, she nearly shouted. His thumb pressed against her clit, two of his fingers slipping inside her at the same time. She keened and nearly fell off his lap. He wrapped an arm behind her back but didn’t stop his caresses. Lost in the way he was making her feel, she started rocking her hips up and down, forcing his fingers deeper into her. He sucked on her nipple, even going as far as biting on the tender skin. It was too much. She opened her mouth to tell him, but instead she moaned. He laughed, the sound husky and so very male, she shivered. “Jay!” She was so close. So damn close. She could feel the orgasm building inside her, that amazing wave of fire spreading throughout her limbs, up her thighs, deep within her. One flick of his thumb over her clit, and she exploded.

He didn’t give her time to come back down, simply grabbed her hips and pulled her closer. Muscles bunched, he lifted her up…and made her fall right onto his cock. He hissed,

she groaned. She fitted him so well, he thought dazedly as he luxuriated in the feel of her walls stretching around his pulsating length. “God, you feel so good,” Alexa purred, rubbing her chest against his. “Ride me, darlin’. I want you to ride me.” She opened her eyes and grinned. “Oh boy.” She looked far too happy at the prospect, and maybe he should have worried, but all his blood had rushed to his cock, and he couldn’t think anymore. He just watched as she sat up straighter and started circling her hips, all the better to brush her clit against his pubic bone. It felt good, there was no denying it, especially with how wet she was. But he wanted more. “Ride me!” he snapped. She shuddered at his tone but obeyed him nonetheless. He was so shocked it’d worked that he stared at her for a full minute without moving. Sensing that she was going to stop, he palmed her waist and thrust up. She let her head fall back, her hair brushing his hands. So soft. She was so soft everywhere. “You feel so good, sweetheart,” he murmured against her skin. She mumbled something back, but it became quite clear her mind was on other things. Her movements became frenzied. Her walls tightened around his cock. Her nails dug into his biceps. Knowing she was close made him lose control. He gave one final thrust, stopping only when he was to the deep of her, the head of his shaft nudging her womb. Her walls clenched around him as her climax hit, triggering his own release. He came with thick, sharp jets inside her, intense pleasure, relief, overwhelming him. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, feeling at peace for the first time that day.

Chapter Thirteen

The moment of quietude didn’t last long. His phone rang, shattering the silence that had wrapped around them. He pulled her off of him and dropped her down on the sofa. Laying a quick kiss on the top of her head, he stood up and went to find his jeans. Sliding his phone open a moment later, he wasn’t surprised to hear his father growl on the other end. “Get back here. Fast.” The line went dead. Jay closed his eyes for a second. When he reopened them, he saw straight away how tense she now was. Ignoring her for the time being, he put his clothes back on and went to the bathroom for a quick wash. He didn’t really have time, not with his dad sounding like that, but the lion in him couldn’t imagine other men smelling her on him. When he reappeared in the lounge, he noticed she’d put on the shirt he’d lent her earlier, hiding her lovely assets. She’d also wrapped herself in the blanket that’d been folded at one end of the sofa. She looked lost like that, her knees upturned, her face peeking out from under her hair. It curled in every direction, his overactive hands obviously at fault there. The thought made him smile…and that’s when she looked up and spotted him standing there. “You’re going to ask me to stay here,” she said, her voice low. He nodded and took a few steps toward her. “Yes. I know you want to be there for your mother, but Alexa, I can’t let you jeopardize this.” “Like I did earlier.” He didn’t comment, but simply added, “We need to know why Connor put the implant in you, darlin’. We also need to know if he’s done it to other women in the Pride. As a surgeon, he had access to everybody. You understand, right?” She nodded, although it was plain to see she hated being left behind. Considering how strong she was, her lioness was probably pushing her to move. He stilled his temper and kept

on talking. “Just stay here and wait for me. Please, Alexa. This is your house now, so why don’t you take a tour and see what you’d like to change?” She blinked, and he berated himself for his last words. They still hadn’t talked about that morning’s argument, when she’d told him she had a life, one he wasn’t a part of. Surely she’d come to understand she needed to be at his side? His thoughts dark, he went to her and nudged her face up. Her gaze locked with his. He let his lion show through, forcing her to drop her eyes after a long pause. When he drew down and took her mouth into a hard kiss, he wondered whether she would reciprocate…or whether she was going to bite him instead. Relief washed over him when her tongue met his. He quickly departed after that, his steps lighter than he’d expected. **** Alexa stood on the front porch, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her lioness was pacing inside her, wanting her to move, to go and find out what was happening to her mother. Had she confessed? Had she told them why she’d let her get hurt? Why would she want her daughter to be brought up as a mixie, though? That didn’t make any sense! She bit her lip and hugged herself, telling herself it was because she was cold. But she wasn’t really. She was just indecisive. Weak. Her stepfather’s voice echoed inside her mind, reminding her, as he’d done countless times before, that she was nothing. She wasn’t even worth the food he’d had to pay to feed her throughout the years. All the money he’d spent on clothes, all the time he’d spent hiding her… All this had been for nothing. She couldn’t get her mind around it. Sure, he’d never loved her, had never even acted like he did. Oh, he’d been nice enough when he’d courted her mother, but she’d been little at the time. They’d married, and for a time then, Alexa had thought she finally had the family she’d been dreaming of. It hadn’t lasted long, however. As soon as she’d hit puberty, it had gotten progressively worse. All the innuendos, all the put-downs, the nasty comments mumbled behind her back. She’d accepted them all, knowing it was her own failure for being the only mixie in the family. She’d left home as soon as she’d been able to, relocating thousands of miles away where no one knew her. Where no one knew she was a shifter, just another faceless woman in the crowd. She’d thrived on the anonymity, however. Blossoming, finding her wings, a job, friends. She’d had it all, and now Jay wanted her to say goodbye to her hard-won life. Who did he think he was? Our mate, the lioness replied inside her. We need to go to him!

Alexa shook her head and forced her feet to stay put. She’d said she’d stay here. He counted on her. She might not like the way he ordered her around, but she also knew he was doing it because he thought it was for the best. Part of her also understood why he wanted her to move in with him. After all, they were mated now. That’s what mated couples did. God, she really had to stop thinking. Rolling her eyes at herself, she turned around…only to stop short when something skittered on the driveway behind her. She stilled, waiting to hear if she heard the noise again. Nothing. Just the sound of the wind brushing the leaves of the trees lined up the street. Relaxing her stance, she grabbed the door handle. An arm wrapped around her throat from behind, cutting off her air. She chocked, her hands automatically trying to dislodge it. Her fingers dug into the thickly muscled arm under her chin, but it wasn’t enough. She partially shifted and felt her nails pierce the man’s skin. He roared in displeasure and accentuated the pressure. Black spots appeared in her vision, her breath coming out too slowly for her to do more than just stand there and wait. No! Her lioness growled. Fight! Alexa wavered, but she did manage to send her booted foot slamming into her attacker’s shin. He yelped but didn’t let go. His scent grew stronger, as if his emotions were getting out of control. That’s when she recognized him. Anger sparked bright inside her. A final burst of energy made her slam her elbow back into his paunchy stomach. He snapped and covered her nose with his other hand. Unable to breathe any longer, she fought against his hold. Seconds later, her world turned black.

Chapter Fourteen

Alexa came back to herself slowly. Even before her lioness started talking to her, she knew she’d been drugged. Her limbs felt heavy, her breathing choppy. She couldn’t open her eyes or move her hands. Panic surged inside her. Only the thought of her mate stopped her from giving in to it. Jay... Jay would find her. She had to trust him. She had to. Her heartbeat slowed down a little, and she forced herself to lie there and listen. Beep beeps. The faint sound of a pump. There were machines all around her; she would bet on it. “I know you’re awake, whelp.” She tensed as the dreaded voice whispered in her ear. “Now that you’re properly tied up, we can start with the procedure.” He must have reduced the drugs invading her system because she could feel the fog that had surrounded her gradually lessen. She blinked. It took her a few tries, but she finally managed to open her eyes. Bright lights made her close them almost instantly. He laughed, almost maniacally, somewhere to her left. Her lioness sharing some of her strength, she tried again and almost cried out when she noticed where she was. It was a surgical room. Her fingers tensed, but he’d been right. She was cuffed to the bed. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t run away and hide. Her feet were in stirrups, her legs wide open. A sudden realization came over her. He was going to do it again. Implant that thing in her, hiding her lioness from the world once more. No! she roared inside her, scraping her nails against her insides. Alexa gasped out loud this time. He turned around and smiled at her. “I promised your mother I’d take care of you. And I will.”

She stared at her stepfather’s bright eyes and fought the urge to scream. He was crazy; there was just no other explanation. “Wh-why?” she managed to ask, her voice sounding rusty. “No one would have respected me if they’d known I had a dominant female in my family. Who did you think you were? Stronger than my sons. Than myself even! No, you were better as a weak female. Don’t you know that’s how lionesses are supposed to be? Meek and docile, just like your mother.” She blinked. “Lionesses are stronger in the wild. They hold the Prides together.” He slapped her across the face, his wedding ring catching her bottom lip. She felt the skin tear, and when she licked at the cut, the metallic taste of blood exploded on her tongue. She didn’t wince though, didn’t allow herself to show any sign of the weakness he so obviously wanted to see in her. “Let’s see how you feel when you’re reduced to being a sniveling mixie once again.” “I’m not a mixie!” He chuckled, the sound grating at her ears. “You will be. It worked last time after all, didn’t it?” “You’ll still be weak,” she announced, knowing it was suicide, and yet unable to stop herself. Fury ran through her veins, her lioness close to losing control. One more minute and she’d let her free, she promised her. “Your sons, you, you’re nothing. Do whatever you want to me, but it’ll never make you strong.” His face turned purple as he advanced toward her, his hands raised in front of him as if he would choke her. Closing her eyes, she focused on her animal and let her come to the fore. She felt herself start to shift, fur rubbing her from the inside out. The cuffs snapped, not wide enough for her large paws. She found herself on all fours on the hospital bed, the drugs now only a distant memory. Thank God for her quick metabolism…and for Connor’s stupidity. Once again, he’d underestimated her. She shifted her weight to her hind legs and jumped, his scream cut off by her jaws closing around his throat. Her lioness’ anger was so pure, so all-encompassing, she had to fight to keep control. The animal wanted to kill the man who’d hurt her over the years, keeping her locked inside that body. And for that? Because he’d realized she would become stronger than him and his sons? It was unacceptable. Unimaginable even. But even if he was obviously insane, she couldn’t kill him without talking to her mother first. Kill him! I want to drink his blood.

Her lioness on a rampage, Alexa felt her control slip further and further… “No!” Her mate’s voice rang above her head, bringing her back to the present. She forced her animal self to let go of her stepfather. Watched as he collapsed onto the tiled floor, his neck now decorated with bloodied marks. That made the lioness growl in happiness. A hand grabbed the fur at her neck, pulling her back. She jerked around and roared, but it was the one man who could dare do that. “Are you okay? Alexa, what did he do to you? Please tell me you’re all right.” And because she couldn’t listen to the hurt in his voice and not respond, she dropped to the ground and started shifting back. **** Jay knelt down and pulled her against him. His hands trailed all over her body, making sure she was fine and in one piece. And amazingly, it looked like she was. She snuggled into his embrace, hiding her face in the crook of his neck as if she needed a moment to herself. He grabbed the sheet that had covered the bed and dragged it around her shoulders, covering her nudity more for his peace of mind than anything. Shifters, as a rule, couldn’t care less about each other’s bodies, especially before and after shifting, but this was his mate. And she was only his, damn it! He pushed his lion back inside him and brushed his hand down her hair, soothing her, soothing himself with the quiet caress. “Are you okay?” he murmured against the top of her head. She nodded and looked up. “I’m fine.” “What happened?” Alexa shook her head. “Not now. I’ll tell you everything, but not now. I need to talk to my mom.” “She already told us everything we needed to know.” He watched her face turn pale. “It’s not what you’re thinking, darlin’. She really did think you were a mixie. Connor had told her he was treating you because you were too weak. He said he’d implanted an IUD in you so you wouldn’t be able to procreate. He told her having children would kill you.” She blinked. “That doesn’t make any sense.” “It does. It did. You’re her only daughter. She wanted to protect you.” “But he hurt me!” “And she’s going to have to live with that for the rest of her life, baby.”

His words echoed inside her. Something shifted in her heart. Something she couldn’t quite put a word on. But when he took her hands and drew her up, she went with him.

Chapter Fifteen

The Pride organized a trial. Connor and his two sons, who’d known for years what he’d been doing and had even encouraged him, were sentenced to a lifetime in prison. Alexa would have thought that wasn’t enough, if the Alpha hadn’t ordered his son to put implants on the three men, rendering them lionless until the end of time. It was a supremely harsh sentence, but only the fact her stepfather hadn’t implanted other women had saved him from being killed. Her mother was now on probation within the Pride, her future life dependent on her behavior over the next five years. And Alexa, meanwhile, was still here. She tucked her hands in her jean pockets, her gaze unseeing as she stared through the back windows. Winter was coming, snow in the air, the sky heavy and a grayish white. She hadn’t seen snow in so long, not since she’d moved south. She hunched her shoulders and thought about the coming evening. She was going to be officially presented to the Pride. Oh, they all knew about her now, especially after what’d happened, but this was also so they could see their future Alpha’s bride. A small smile graced her face. Jay was the only reason she was still here. She still hadn’t decided what she wanted to do, but he kept giving her more reasons to stay. They’d had time to get to know each other, their relationship turning into a full-fledged one. It wasn’t only sex these days, even if they spent an inordinate amount of time in bed. Or on the table. The sofa. The shower… Never mind that. She shook her head. No, it was more than that. It was the affection that engulfed them when they were together, the easy camaraderie she’d never shared with a man before. It was how much their animals enjoyed each other, especially when they shifted and went running in the woods bordering the town. It was…love. Yes, she couldn’t deny it any longer. Neither had said the word out loud yet, but anyone looking at them would have guessed. And probably already had. She’d seen Nate grin

at them just the day before as they’d bickered over pizza toppings, of all things. He’d smiled at them as if he were a proud parent. She’d snarled at him, but he’d only laughed. He was a nice man, though, more like a brother to her than her step-ones had ever been. And thank God for that! She laughed softly at the thought, the sound cut short when arms embraced her from behind. “Hey,” Jay whispered in her ear. “Hey,” she replied, snuggling back, enjoying the way his body fit hers so perfectly. She’d never thought she’d get a mate, and certainly not one like him. He was handsome, nice and hard at the same time, Alpha to the core. She shivered when she remembered how he’d taken her the night before, his fingers finding the one spot inside her that made her scream in no time. “What are you thinking about?” His voice had turned husky, and she grinned when she realized he’d tuned in to her. It was happening more and more often these days. Sometimes it was her who guessed what he was thinking or was about to do. Sometimes it was him. The mating frenzy had died down, and now their souls were irrevocably linked. It was amazing to have that connection with someone. It really was. “You,” she finally murmured, turning around in his arms at the same time. Leaning up on her toes, she aligned their mouths and let him take over the kiss. A low rumble started in his chest, and before she could guess his next move, he’d lifted her onto the countertop behind her. The kitchen tiles were cold under her jeans, but she didn’t give a damn, too caught up in the way her mate was making her feel. Minutes later, they were both naked, their bodies brushing against one another, moans ringing in the air. When Jay knelt down in front of her, his hands heavy on her thighs, she gasped. He chuckled softly and looked up, his blue eyes sparkling. “Just sit here and enjoy, darlin’. This is for you.” “Ohhh, yes,” was the only thing she could think to say. That made him laugh again, but he stopped suddenly. Probably because he’d opened her up with his thumbs, and she knew he could see how wet she already was. He blew gently over her clit, making her arch her back in reaction. “So nice,” he murmured before his head lowered even more, and his tongue found her. Alexa leaned back and hooked her ankles behind his head. The cabinet’s handle dug into her scalp, but she didn’t move from her position, not when his teeth were suddenly around her hardened nub. Such a sweet pain. “Jesus.”

He flicked his tongue over her clit one last time before slipping it inside her, going as far as it could go, collecting her juices and avidly lapping them. He was such a feline sometimes, she thought with a smile. She grabbed his hair in both hands and held him to her, only just stopping herself from grinding against his face. That would be bad manners, but God he was good at this! She promised herself she’d definitely repay the favor soon. Later on today even. Any time but now, because she really needed something. Or rather, someone… “Fuck me, Jay.” He jerked. Looked up. “Now?” “I need you in me.” “Damn, baby.” He moved her legs off of his shoulders and stood up, taking in their surroundings, clearly wondering where they should go next. She stepped down onto shaky legs and decided to take control for once. Turning around, she grabbed the counter with both hands and arched her butt high up in the air. “Ready!” A muttered expletive rang behind her, making her grin. Gotcha, she thought as she wriggled her hips. Hands squeezed them seconds later. A hard length pressed along the cleft of her ass, and she shivered when he dropped a soft kiss on her right shoulder. Fingers spread her open, his thumb sliding into her to test her readiness. If her voice would have worked, she’d have told him there was no need. He came to that same conclusion and aligned himself. Her insides clenched. He thrust into her, and just like that, she was coming. He groaned behind her, her walls spasming around his cock, slowing him down. It didn’t stop him though. He made love to her feverishly, pistoning in and out of her until she could feel another orgasm build. “Jay!” she called out, her voice strangled. He sensed her, felt her. She didn’t know for sure, but she did hear his answering growl. Teeth bit into the sweet spot of her neck. The sharp pain was all she needed to let go once again.

Chapter Sixteen

Alexa shook her head at her mate’s amused smile. He was proud of himself. Of course, he was. Here she was dressed to the nines, and he was grinning like a lunatic because she hadn’t been able to completely cover up the hickey he’d left on her neck. Her dress was cut into a low V, showcasing her assets and swirling around her body unlike anything she’d ever worn before. She was even wearing high heels, and while she loved not having to crane her neck to talk to Jay for once, it also meant he could reach parts of her body much more easily. “Stop it!” she hissed as his hand landed precariously low on her back. “I’m just being a gentleman, darlin’,” he replied, his eyes dancing. She rolled her eyes but let him escort her inside the village hall. It was crowded; everyone who was anyone in the Pride wanting to show their allegiance to the Alpha. A podium had been raised at the other end of the room, and they slowly made their way toward it, saying hello to everyone they encountered, Jay introducing her to the few people she had yet to meet. When they walked up the few steps separating them from Alistair and the rest of his lieutenants, Alexa started to feel faint. This was for real, she thought and not a little bit wildly. “Jay,” she whispered under her breath. He grabbed her hand in his and led her to his father. Their Alpha was standing at attention, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze solemn. She gulped but followed Jay’s lead, suddenly feeling unsure of herself. Did she really warrant this? Sure, she’d mated with him, but nothing was set in stone. Right? Maybe he didn’t really want her. Maybe he’d try to get out of this relationship when the lust faded.

Alistair’s eyes locked on hers, and she found herself rooted to the spot. He moved toward her and stopped only inches away. Even in her stilettos, she had to look up, then she remembered she wasn’t supposed to stare at him anyway. Too late, she looked back down. He laughed, the sound a deep rumble within his chest. “Daughter.” That made her look up again. Daughter? She opened her mouth but snapped it shut when she realized she had no idea what to say. “I think you managed to render her speechless, Dad.” Jay’s arm snaked around her waist, making her lean against him, giving her strength. “Alistair,” she finally said, her voice a little shaky. Her mate lowered his head and murmured, “I think he wanted you to call him Father. Or Dad.” He did? He had? She blinked. “Really?” This time, all the men present on the podium laughed. She felt her cheeks start to redden and wished she was anywhere but here. Before she could run away, Alistair—or whatever he wanted her to call him—drew her forward. His arms closed behind her back. She found herself relaxing almost instantly, knowing on a deeper level that she was safe with him. He was her Alpha, sure, but he was also part of her. His scent mingled with hers, reminding her of his son. Her mate. Her family. When he let her go, she drew back and looked up. This time, she held his gaze and smiled. “Thanks.” A pause, then, “Father.” Their fearless leader grinned. “Welcome to the Pride, Alexa. May you and Jay be happy for as long as your lion souls live within you.” His voice gaining volume with each word, he finally turned toward the crowd and pushed her to stand in front of him. “Behold Alexa, our new daughter…and your future Alpha’s mate!” Applause and shouts rang out. She stumbled a little, her eyes wide as she took in the people cheering for her. Blinking back tears, she turned to the man who’d come to a stand beside her. Jay’s smile lit up his face. He tugged her to him and softly brushed his lips over hers. When he drew back, his face serious, it was to run the pads of his fingers down her cheek. “I love you.” The words took Alexa by surprise. She hadn’t expected him to declare himself for the first time at such a time. In public, no less! “Jay—” He cut her off, “You don’t have to reply right now.”

She was frowning by the time he finished his sentence. “Are you kidding? Of course I will!” “Dominant,” Nate mumbled behind them, reminding her where they were. She had no idea what her new brother had meant, but right now she had other things to worry about. Leaning up so her forehead touched her mate’s, she closed her eyes and whispered, “I love you, too. Even though I still can’t believe you’re mine.” Jay drew back. “Why?” “I…” She waved her hands, indicating everything that was happening around them. “I was a mixie. I didn’t belong to this Pride. Not really. I was nothing. And now, here I am. It’s… It’s a lot to take in.” He pulled her back to him. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known.” “I wasn’t when we first met.” His lips quirked. “You attracted me from the start. I wasn’t even supposed to be sitting in that part of the terminal. I missed my flight that day, you know. I saw you and couldn’t stop myself from going to you.” “It was the mating frenzy.” He shook his head and grabbed the back of her head, forcing her face into a certain angle. “No, it wasn’t. It was you.” And with that, he kissed her, the rest of the world forgotten as they lost themselves in each other’s embrace.

About the Author

Emma Hillman never plans her stories. She just lets the characters have fun and hopes the ending will make sense. It usually does. Besides being a multi-published author of erotic romances, she works full-time and lives in Paris with a (nice) husband, a (cute) little girl, and two sweet but (very) loud pets. She also reads far too much as the postman (and her banker) could attest, but shhhh. For more information on her current and future releases, you can visit her blog at http://emmahillmanbooks.blogspot.com/ or chat with her on Twitter (@droptheglasses). She’d love to hear from you!

Also Available from

Resplendence Publishing

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