I claimed his mouth, dragging him down to me. My hands roamed his body as his had mine. His cock was hard and throbbing under my touch as I began stroking it again. He moved to mount me, but I pressed hard against him until he obediently rested his back on the bed. I straddled him quickly and relished the way his fingers moved across my skin as the fiery embers of his eyes swept across me.

  I’d never have my fill of Stephan. I moved over him and slowly filled myself with his hard cock. I moaned at the awkward sensation of being atop him, astride such a powerful body. I intended to have him.

  His hands rested on my hips, and his growl filled the air, mixing with my moan of delight when he filled me fully. I’d fantasized of taking Stephan in this way for three days, ever since discovering two of his people at the river. The maiden had ridden the alpha hard, and my guilty conscience couldn’t drag me from it.

  Stephan groaned under me, and I remembered he could read my every thought. I moved atop him, choosing to move however it felt best for my pussy. My nails ran down his stomach. I knew continuing to mark his glorious flesh was wrong, but I wanted everyone to know this man was mine.

  “Mine.” The groaned word erupted from him as he moved under me. “You are mine, Hannah. No one else will ever fuck you.”

  I whimpered, unable to imagine myself allowing another to be this intimate with me. Only Stephan drove me to the depths of passion and ignited such need within me. Only his cock could command my body’s darkest desires.

  I fucked his cock, riding him with all the passion I’d bolstered for the past week. It had been too long since I’d had him. His growl filled the air as he maneuvered us with a speed that made my pulse race. His strength shocked and thrilled me. Confusion set in, and I was on all fours before I knew what happened. He was behind me, his cock filling my pussy.

  Stephan’s fingers were in my hair, tugging my head until his mouth could take mine. His kiss was hot and hungry and his cock fucked me hard and deep. “I will fuck you each night.”

  His thumb found my clit and massaged. The assault swept me into the fiery pleasure I’d climbed out of before. I surrendered to my release and savored the sound of him expending his need within me. I turned and fell on the bed, my back resting on the soft pelts. Stephan’s body covered mine, his mouth hot on my ear. “You taunt the animal within me with those lustful thoughts of yours.”

  “I cannot help what you incite.”

  “I’m afraid I will never gain control of the beast within me. He longs to be in our bed.”

  “Then he shall always be welcome.” I ran my fingers down his chest and traced the healing scratches I’d left on him. “I handle him well enough, I think.”

  “You fuck him hard.” Stephan pulled me into his arms. “I missed you.”

  “And I you.”

  “How was your time in the village?”

  “Nalla showed me much in the way of herbs and medicine. I made friends with Petra and Morena.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. They are good women. Many of our alphas wish to mate with them, but they’ve shunned their advances.”

  The two women had befriended me shortly after the departure of Stephan and his alphas. I had been pained by the sudden loss of one of my only allies. Their company had kept me sane—along with Nalla’s patient and calm presence. “Petra has eyes only for Fallon.”

  “They’d be a worthy match, though I doubt she’d enjoy his bed past the first night. My brother’s needs are great and have gotten worse with you in the village.”

  I swallowed, unsure how to respond. I hadn’t expected Stephan to know of Fallon’s desire for me.

  “We’ve always coveted the same women. You are a passionate lover. Many of the alphas wish to be your mate.”

  I shivered, unused to such open desire. I couldn’t handle the thoughts tumbling through my head about the future and my place within the village—assuming I had one. “What of the battle?”

  “We held our own and pressed them away from the forest lands. They’ll be back with reinforcements, though, so we must march again.”

  “But what of the alliance with the villagers?” The flicker of emotions rushing across his face transfixed me.

  “A leader of each village has been brought here. They’ve been met with by me on the way here and by my closest council members—except Fallon.”

  I listened, fear pummeling my veins as concern filled his eyes.

  “Your father is here.”

  He’d lived. I doubted my father cared whether I’d survived the village attack, but I was relieved to know he’d survived the battle. “And my brother?”

  “I know not of him, but you may see your father on the morrow.”

  I rested against Stephan and closed my weary eyes. For now, all was right.

  Chapter Seven

  The following evening, the alphas returned from their meeting with the two village leaders. I was surprised to learn one of them was my father. He’d never been a leader of much, except perhaps tempers. It left me thinking few of my village remained. Why else would he have taken command? His hot-headed temper and angry ways did naught but destroy. He couldn’t be trusted, and I hoped Stephan could sense the evil within the man who’d raised me.

  Guilt plagued me at my judgmental thoughts. I had no right to think such things of my stepfather because he’d provided for me as best he could. I knew he deserved my respect, though a part of me refused to comply. I was relieved his blood didn’t surge through my veins. My mother said his heart had blackened shortly after they’d wed, and that thought saddened me as he came from the meeting chamber. His face was devoid of emotion.

  There was no joy or gratitude for my safety, no expression of love or concern for all I’d been through. He headed toward me, his body cold and distant when he hugged me in a half-embrace too reminiscent of past forced emotional displays in the village for me not to know it was show and naught else.

  “My heart rejoices for your return.”

  My words were forced, and one look at Stephan and his guarded stance signaled he knew all was not right between my father and me. His alphas stood at attention, their stance the same as his—arms at their sides and their knees unlocked. Many would see the stance as a sign of comfort, but I’d seen enough of the youth practicing the past few days to know it was one of battle. Their bodies hummed with the urge to shift. I had no idea how I discerned that, but I knew it to be the truth when I saw the crystallized depths of Stephan’s eyes.

  “Let us speak alone. I wish to know how you’ve fared.” My father wrapped his fingers around my upper arm and began pulling toward the exit blocked with guards.

  “We have plenty of private quarters within the palace you may use.” Stephan’s voice boomed within the circular room. “I’d prefer you take your rest within these walls, where your needs can be met fully.”

  My father glanced about the room with the half-hooded evil glare I’d seen a hundred times. Whatever thoughts this man had were diabolical and not intended to aid Stephan’s war against our enemy. The unknown man from the other village near mine used an easy stance as he spoke with Xavier. His voice was filled with awe while he conversed with the alpha shifter.

  My father’s nod was curt. He followed Stephan, who led us to a chamber within a long corridor I’d never been privy to before. My heart raced when I moved into the room and Stephan left me alone with my father.

  Silence engulfed the room before he began pacing, his steps sliding across the room in the half-lazy manner he’d used for years. Step, drag, step. Step, drag, step.

  “How is Michael?” Mentioning my brother was a risk, but one I had to take. Despite my father’s scorn, my brother still carried a bit of familial love for me. At least he had before marching to war. Had he been changed by battle as well?

  My mother had always excused my father’s actions because of the war—saying it changed men. After seeing Stephan and his men, I wondered if that was true. None of those I’d spoken to seemed half as blackened in their souls as my father.

  “He’s dead.”

  I swiped the tear which slid down my cheek quickly. But he’d already noticed. His sneer made my blood freeze. I backed up, but said nothing.

  “You cry for him?” He choked on the words as he moved closer, but I held my ground. “At least I didn’t run like you. I buried him. My own son.”

  “I’m sorry, Father.”

  “You are sorry. Sorrier than I’d imagined. You know what it was like for me to return to the village and find out from the few who lived that you ran? You ran and didn’t even bother to come back and deal with your own mother.” His anger boomed through the room. “I had to bury her myself. Her corpse was days old. I should make you dig her back up and dig another hole yourself. After all she’d done for her worthless daughter, you turn and prove I was right all along.”

  I allowed his rage to boil and fester into the angry wounds I’d numbed to long ago. Tears slid down my cheeks, but I allowed them to, knowing he enjoyed seeing my regret and self-loathing run unhindered like fresh blood. “She made me promise to run as soon as I could. I swore.”

  “Of course you swore. You worthless slut.” His voice made me jump, but I remained calm, determined to hide the fear trickling to life within me. Would Stephan pick up on my emotions?

  I focused on him and what he made me feel. War was upon us, yet I felt safer within Stephan’s world and his embrace than any other time I could remember. My father glared into my eyes.

  “Are you even listening to me?”

  “Of course, Father.”

  He sneered. “Have you been acting like a slut with one of these men?”

  I shook my head. “Of course not, Father.”

  “You better be telling me the truth.”

  I was. I might’ve surrendered to my desire for Stephan, but I was by no means a slut. “I’m sure the king has quarters within the private area for you.”

  “He’d better. It’s the least he can do for dragging us here with all of them.” His hatred and scorn were etched within his words, and my blood ran cold.

  “Will you have the village men march beside him against the enemy?”

  He looked at me. “We march on the enemy in the morning, but my wound keeps me from being there. I’d love to see their faces.”

  A stain coated his tunic. “We should have Nalla take a look at that, Father. She is a skilled healer.”

  “I don’t need any of their help.” He bit his lip. “I’ll be fine. Show me where I sleep and then work on getting me some food.”

  My father was placed in the room across from Fallon’s and shared a wall with Stephan’s. My body hummed with the need to spend time with Stephan, but that was not destined to happen until after the battle.

  My father’s hateful glare never left me, leaving me no time to spend with Stephan before he and the alphas moved to engage in war. I longed to be at his side. I prayed he heard my thoughts and knew my desires before he left. Surely he could still read my mind.

  The morning dawn splayed through the glade and into the small window of my father’s room as I made my way in. I smiled, my nerves rattling like the dishes on the platter I carried to him. The smile he gave me back made my skin crawl with concern, but perhaps I’d been too skeptical of him.

  “Nalla offered to tend your wound if you’d like.”

  “I want none of their kind around me. They’re evil incarnate.”

  My gasp echoed through the room. I set the tray down, afraid I’d drop it from the shock filling me. “They saved my life.”

  “Ironic that their trust in you will be their downfall. Without it I would’ve never found this place.” His laugh made my heart stop as my mind raced to comprehend what he’d said.

  “What are you saying?”

  He sneered. “You always were stupid, like your mother.”

  “Don’t ever speak of her that way.”

  My face stung with his slap. I spat in his face, and he drew back to hit me again. I braced myself for the blow, but it never came. Behind him, an enraged Fallon dragged himself into the room. His body shook from the effort he’d expended to make his way to me.

  My father struggled against Fallon’s restraint, but the alpha, even injured, was stronger than my father. “You have no right to interfere between me and my daughter.”

  “I do. More than you realize, I do.” Fallon looked to me. “Are you all right?”

  I nodded. “He speaks of a plan against Stephan, Fallon. We must warn him.”

  “Our pack is too far to warn them now. Stephan is wise and doesn’t trust your father. All will be well.” Fallon’s pained voice offered me strength I couldn’t find alone.

  “He doesn’t trust my father?” Hope filled me.

  “No, because you didn’t.”

  Two men appeared, and my father’s outrage filled the room. “I should kill you for daring to hold me like a prisoner.”

  “Were I my brother, your heart would be flailing on the floor beside your worthless body.”

  “He wouldn’t dare.”

  “I assure you he would, since you dared to harm a female.”

  “She’s not your concern.”

  “I’ll leave Stephan to respond to that.” Fallon nodded and the two men dragged my father out.

  I moved to Fallon. His wound seeped from the excursion from his room. “Let’s get you back where you should be before Nalla hears of this.”

  “There’s no hiding from her.” Tenderness reflected in his voice as I led him across the hall.

  “Thank you.” My gratitude seemed too small compared to what he’d done. “No one’s ever interceded like that for me.”

  “Stephan won’t be happy to learn of his treatment of you.”

  I didn’t think Stephan needed to be troubled with such matters. Fallon’s low laughter made me think it would be otherwise, though. Opting to change the subject, I moved to the hearth and poured some hot water. I sprinkled in the herbs Nalla left and gave the mug to Fallon. The tonic smelled like the one I drank daily now.

  “I know this is bitter, but it does taste better over time.”

  He took the mug and drank. He continued observing me while he set the mug down. “You’ve had this before?”

  I nodded. “Nalla began giving it to me my first day here. I drink it daily.”

  “Really?”

  “I expected it to end after I recovered, but I’m up to two mugs a day.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Of course, it may not be entirely the same. She puts droplets of some kind in mine.”

  “And she’s done this in front of Stephan?”

  “No.” I was curious by his inquisitiveness. “Why does this matter?”

  He shook his head and grinned. “It doesn’t.”

  “What will happen to my father?”

  Fallon reclined on the bed. I moved to his side and removed the soiled dressing. My mind was swept into the consuming concern for Stephan and those he led.

  “He’ll be all right. Stephan’s a mighty warrior.” His lopsided grin made me smile.

  “This alloy they used concerns me. It sounded like it worries Nalla as well.”

  “She worries for naught.” Fallon winced as he repositioned his body to ease the tension from his stomach. “The alphas will return with a sample.”

  A crisp breeze slid through the glade as villagers gathered around the alphas. My heart swelled in a mixture of gratitude and regret when Stephan and his men led the restrained remnants of my village’s fighters into Realto.

  The other leader from Timbria walked beside Xavier. Both men smiled and spoke with easy tones. Timbrian fighters walked amongst the alphas. Their presence was clearly welcome.

  Relief and joy filled me upon seeing Stephan. Nothing beyond him being safe and back home with his alphas mattered. Again I longed for a moment alone with him so my hands could run along his body and offer me first-hand proof he was all right.

  My pulse raced when I saw him. Fiery embers flared in his eyes, visible to me from ten wide paces. My soul soured.

  Fallon escorted my father toward the other men of my village, who clustered farthest from Stephan. Evil glinted from his face, and his mouth turned upwards into the grin that always coiled my stomach for…

  Danger.

  The thought tumbled from my mind in a scream. Alphas moved to encircle Stephan. I felt his gaze on mine as he maneuvered from the pack toward me. I shook my head. Fear for him and his people burned my insides. Somehow my father expected his diabolical double-cross to be fulfilled.

  I glanced though the thick mass of fighters. Desperation consumed me while I tried to recall the faces of all the villagers. I might know why my father seemed enthralled by the scene before him. Faces blended in my mind and distorted my fear into a raging inferno of consummate desperation.

  Fallon was at my side. Stephan’s booming command to release him reverberated through the glade.

  “Answer me, Hannah.”

  I hadn’t heard Fallon’s question.

  “You must calm yourself. Your agitation erupts Stephan’s protectiveness and that of our alphas sworn to protect him. What frightens you?”

  “My father…his face.” I continued to search.

  Nothing.

  A bustle of movement to my left drew my attention. I moved toward Xavier and the Timbrian leader. From there I could see the remaining faces.

  I hoped.

  I had to figure out what my father’s diabolical plan was. These people had allowed me to remain with them when I had nowhere else to turn. Their warriors had saved me from a horrendous fate I refused to fathom. I owed them my protection. Even if it was from my kin.

  Michael.

  He lives!

  I blinked and he was gone. Fallon and Xavier moved swiftly. Only I knew my brother’s face. I and my father. Finding my brother was paramount.

  He lives.

  Surely that was my father’s insidious plan. Michael served the Timbrian. Their leader was at my side along with Xavier, whose words mimicked my thoughts.

  “Have you any new among your men—any strangers?”

  “Only one. He came from Tash and swore his allegiance just two risings past.” The man glanced at the thick mass of bodies. “I don’t see him.”

 

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