Claimed by the Pack: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance

by Jade Alters

  They were cotton, nothing fancy...but her body looked gorgeous and I couldn't turn away.

  She rifled through her closet, laying out a few outfits and then she ruffled my head and went into the bathroom and closed the door.

  I heard the shower come on and I went over to the bed to see what she'd chosen to wear.

  They were all three dresses…

  One of them was black and looked kind of slinky. I imagined her in it, got a little too excited and then took the hem of the dress in my teeth and bit down, hard.

  Once my teeth were through it, I pulled, unraveling the hem. Proud of myself, I did the same to the red dress next to it. I still had the hem of the tan one between my teeth when Cheyenne stepped back into the room, now wrapped in a towel and looking good enough to eat. I stared at her for several long seconds before I realized she was frowning at me.

  “What did you do?” She looked like she was torn between being angry and sad, like she might cry...and suddenly I felt bad. I let go of her dress and dipped my head down. I went over to her and for the first time since we “met,” she pushed me away.

  “No! I'm mad at you! I'm so angry. Why would you do this?”

  She went over and looked at the dresses.

  A small, slow tear ran out of her eye and down her cheek. My chest hurt and I wished I could say I was sorry.

  I tried to rub against her leg again, and again, she pushed me away.

  “Go away!” she scolded. “I'm upset with you.” I went over and curled up on the floor in front of the window, ashamed of myself...and scared of the way I was feeling.

  She was going to be Ridge's mate soon, and then what? I'd have to live on the compound, seeing her and smelling her and knowing Ridge was touching her, every single day.

  What have I done to myself.

  I wanted her, worse than I've ever wanted anything in my life.

  Chase

  I was working security on the compound again and just about to make a pass on the front gate when I saw Ridge.

  He was clean shaven, his hair was styled with some kind of actual product that smelled like coconuts and he had on what looked like a new shirt and jeans. I knew before I asked, but I had to know for sure.

  “Where are you off to?”

  He raised an eyebrow and said, “Do you really want to know?”

  “You going to see Cheyenne?” I had heard a rumor on the compound, that Chelsea and the other alphas had given him their blessing to see her. I hoped it was just that, a rumor. I know I suck as a best friend. I should want him to be happy, and I do...just not with Cheyenne.

  “Yes.”

  “Ridge...” he put up his palm and stopped me. I was interrupted the last time I tried to tell him how I felt too. He knew. He had to. He just didn't want me to say it out loud. “I want her, Ridge,” I blurted out. He looked wounded, like I slapped him in the face.

  “Well, you can't have her.”

  “Really? Aren't you supposed to be doing this the human way? If that's the case, then Cheyenne can date whoever she wants. I might ask her out myself.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me and said, “You wouldn't dare.”

  “I had a great time with her at coffee the other night. I think she likes me.”

  “She's just a nice person. Leave her alone, Chase.”

  “Let me ask you this. This isn't even about me...directly. But what is your little buddy Grayson doing? Why is he still pretending to be her pet?”

  “I don't know. I haven't had a chance to talk to him. You know Gray. He has a big heart. Maybe he is just worried about how upset she'll be if he “runs away”.

  “Hmm, yeah, I'm sure that's it,” I said, sarcastically. I rolled my eyes then and said, “Ridge, he wants her too.”

  “Bull shit.”

  “I felt it. I could smell it, the other night. Hell, he almost bit me over taking her out for coffee.”

  Ridge growled low in his throat and said, “Well, he can't have her either.”

  I felt defiant, something I'd rarely felt in my life. I like to get along, go with the flow...but in this case, I just didn't believe I could do it. With a tremor in my voice I said, “That's her decision to make, Ridge, not yours. She's not claimed and neither are we. At this point, everyone is fair game.”

  I chuckled because I didn't know what else to do. Wasn't it bad enough that I had to be patient and “court” her like a human being? Now my two best friends also wanted to court her? I honestly felt like I was going to lose my mind. “So by “fair game” what does that mean? I mean, what do you plan on doing about it?”

  “I'm going to ask her out.”

  “She'll say no.”

  Chase smiled at me and I saw that same steely determination in his eyes that I saw in my own when I looked in the mirror. He was about to give me something I'd never had before...competition.

  I was furious with Gray. I kept telling myself that he was a dog and didn't know any better...but, I'd left my things out the entire time he'd been there and he hadn't chewed up a single thing.

  It was just my luck that he'd choose tonight to act out. I dug frantically through my closet, finally settling on a blue and white flowered dress. I didn't care for the way it fit me in the hips, but It was close to time for Ridge to show up and I had nothing else.

  I finished fixing my hair, curling it and letting it hang down my back and across my shoulders, and then I spent twice as much time on my make-up as I normally did, at last pronouncing myself as decent as I was going to get, just before I heard his knock on the door. I heard a second knock as I pulled on my shoes, and a third when I went looking for my purse. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see Myrna sitting in the living room, idly flipping through a magazine...but I was.

  “You're not going to answer the door?” I said, annoyed.

  “Oh,” she said, in an “oh so casual” voice. “Was someone knocking? I didn't hear them.”

  “You're an ass,” I told her.

  She smiled. “I'm sorry honey. You know I just love you and don't want to see you hurt.”

  I had my hand on the doorknob and I looked over my shoulder and said, “I know, but I'm a big girl and whatever happens, I'll deal with it. I just decided that if I don't at least give this a shot, I was going to wonder what if, forever.” Myrna's face softened and she said,

  “I hear you. Did he at least get rid of the girlfriend?”

  “Yes, they broke up two weeks ago,” I lied. She nodded and then positioned herself in front of the kitchen island, with her arms folded as I went to get the door.

  Gray, who was acting out as much as she was, positioned his heavy self in front of the door.

  “I'm coming, Ridge,” I said. Then I looked down at Gray and said, “What are you doing?”

  He looked at the door and snarled. “I told you,” I said, thankfully, remembering Myrna was still in the room. “He's an okay guy...just a little different. I'll be fine.”

  I reached down and pet him and then I pulled open the door. Ridge was clean shaven and his dark hair had been finger styled and set with gel. He smelled like a summer day in the forest...and the tight flannel shirt and jeans he wore showed off what an incredible body he had. I felt every nerve ending in my own body react to the sight of him, and then I wondered if he could smell my lust. When I looked at his face at last, I was sure he could. The look on his face was pleased, but smug.

  “Hi,” he said. “You look amazing.” I didn't, but hearing him say I did made the butterflies in my belly take flight.

  “Thank you,” I said, “So do you.” I glanced over at Myrna and she was rolling her eyes. Gray sat at her feet and his blue eyes looked dark as he glared at Ridge. I hoped he didn't decide to bite him. The day I'd watched Ridge shift, I had seen what a big, powerful animal he was. He could easily maul my little husky. Not that Gray was a little husky in any sense of the word...but Ridge was a giant of a man. A hot, sexy, giant.

  “You ready to go?”

  I pic
ked up my purse and nodded. I turned to Myrna and said, “Can you let Gray out later, before you go to bed, if I'm not home yet?” Myrna rolled her eyes and nodded. Cheyenne looked down at Gray and said, “You be good boy and go potty when Myrna takes you out, okay? I won't be too late.” He whined and in my head I heard him say,

  “I'll be good. I'll be waiting, in my spot on the bed.”

  Little asshole.

  14

  Cheyenne

  One Week Later

  My heart was beating wildly, skipping beats here and there, and I could feel my panties, flooding with moisture.

  Ridge and I had just gotten back to my apartment after our second date. He'd packed us a delicious picnic dinner and we'd eaten it under the stars on the beach.

  He held my hand and we took a long walk, barefoot in the warm sand...and we talked, about everything. It was a wonderful night, the best I'd had in a very long time.

  I expected him to make a move on me sexually, but he didn't. He promised me on our first date he would wait until I was ready, and as soon as I was, all I had to do was say the word.

  With any other man who looked like Ridge, and made me feel the way he did, I would have ripped both our clothes off on that beach.

  But I knew making love to Ridge would be different, in more ways than one. To him making love to me would be “mating,” a thing he expected us to do for life. As hard as it was...and it was hard, I had to resist my sexual urges until I was absolutely sure it was what I wanted...forever.

  When we got back to my apartment, he walked me up to the door and then for the first time, we kissed. My heart was fluttering like it was trying to take flight and every nerve ending in my body felt alive and exposed.

  Ridge put a big hand on the side of my face and brought his lips down to mine. His lips were so warm that they bordered on hot and his kiss was slow at first, just sliding his lips over mine. His tongue came out then and he licked my lips, outlined them with his saliva, before sliding it into the seam and tangling it up with my tongue.

  He slid his along mine like he was tasting me and then he began to explore the rest of my mouth, and me his. The kiss grew from soft and sweet to hungry, desperate and erotic. The muscles of his chest were pressed into me and I could feel them ripple against my breasts.

  My panties were filled with moisture.

  I wanted him, so freaking badly...but God help me, I just wasn't sure that I wanted to commit to forever, at least not yet.

  I was the one that pulled out of the kiss, gasping for breath. He was smiling down at me, his lips were red and swollen from our kiss and God I wanted more. I wanted to taste them again. I wanted to taste all of him. I put my palms against his chest to push him away but for a second I got caught up in the feel of it and I wondered what it would feel like in the flesh...the hot flesh.

  I gained control of my senses at last and pushed against him.

  He took a step back and smiled again. “I can wait for you, Love,” he said, “It's okay. I know we'll be together forever. I'll let you decide when that forever begins.”

  Jesus, it wasn't bad enough how hot he was, or how strong, or that he'd just taken me on a dream date...now he sounded like a freaking poet. He was killing me.

  “I want...” What did I want? I wanted him. I wanted him to rip off my clothes and ravage me and I wanted to do the same to him.

  Ridge was nodding. “I know my beauty. When you're ready. I'll be here.” He kissed me on the tip of my nose then and said, “Go on inside before I lose my last shred of impulse control.”

  I smiled up at him and he bent down and kissed my lips one last time before I went inside.

  I stood there for a second with my back against the door, just trying to get my bearings and waiting for the world to stop spinning. When I felt strong enough,

  I went toward my bedroom, practically floating down the hallway on the after effects of that kiss. It was only when I flipped on the light in my bedroom that I realized Gray hadn't come to the door to greet me. That was when I called to him, whistled, and began to frantically search the apartment.

  I checked every place that he might be able to hide, twice, before I had to accept that he just wasn't there. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath.

  Where could he have gone?

  He was there when I left for my date. He'd lain in the center of the bed and watched me get ready. He seemed a little sulky and I felt bad for leaving him again since I'd only just gotten home from work.

  I fed him a special treat...leftover steak that Brett and Myrna barbecued the night before, and then I gave him lots of hugs and kisses before I left. I knew I was too attached to him, but every day that went by I felt more like he was really mine than the day before.

  I called Myrna, in a panic.

  “Did you see Gray when you came home after work?”

  “I didn't go home after work. Brett picked me up and we went straight to his place for dinner. It's his birthday, I've been here all night.”

  I heard a loud sob before I realized it was coming out of me. “Oh Myrna! He's gone!”

  “How? Was he there when you left?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then he has to be there still...no one has been in the apartment, have they? Does it look like we were robbed or something?” I looked around me then. I'd been searching for Gray but hadn't even thought to really look at things. Nothing looked out of place. I sobbed again.

  “The door was locked. Nothing is out of place. He's just gone!”

  “I'll come home and help you look.”

  A surge of guilt assaulted me. “No. It's Brett's birthday. You two have a good night. I'll look for him...maybe I left the door open and Mr. Balik came by and closed it. I'll check with him.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. I'm sorry to bother you.”

  “Please. You never bother me. I love you, girl. Good luck with the dog.”

  I smiled and wiped the tears off my face. “Thanks. Love you too.”

  I hung up and went to change clothes. I took off the sun dress I'd worn on my date and put on a pair of sweats and tennis shoes. Then, I found our flashlight and went out to look for him. I stopped by Mr. Balik's apartment first, but he hadn't seen him, or been by our apartment. Disappointed, I started searching for him around the complex. I walked around the front of the apartment complex with tears streaming down my face, calling his name. I made it to the end of the building and as I turned into the dark, a shadow appeared from between the buildings. I put the flashlight on it and saw that it was a man, a young man...with intense blue eyes.

  “I'm sorry,” he said. “I didn't mean to startle you.” I'm not sure how he knew I was startled. My heart was racing, but I hadn't reacted. Ridge could do that, sense what I was feeling. A chill ran through me. I wasn't afraid of Ridge, but the idea of being face to face with a stranger who could morph into a wolf, while I was alone, in the dark did frighten me.

  “It's fine,” I said, “Excuse me.” I turned and started back around the front of the building where there was light, and someone could hear me scream if it came to that. I heard him move behind me and I moved faster. Then suddenly he said,

  “Cheyenne.” That stopped me in my tracks. If I was smart, I would have run, but if he was a wolf, and he wanted to assault me, running wouldn't do any good. I thought about just walking away again when he added, “Please don't cry, Cheyenne.” My name on his lips a second time did it. I snapped. I spun around and put the light in his eyes and said,

  “Who are you and how do you know my name?”

  Softly, and in a voice that sounded like he was trying to make it non-threatening he said, “My name is Grayson. I'm a friend of Ridge's. I live at the compound.”

  “Grayson?” A tickle of fear, or horror, began in my belly and slid around to my spine. It climbed up slowly, touching every nerve transmitter along the way like a set of long, cold fingers. “No,” I said, shaking my head from side to side. “No way.” I was looking at hi
s eyes. I knew what he was. I knew who he was, but my mind didn't want to accept it.

  “Cheyenne, it's okay. It's going to be okay...”

  “No!” I screamed at him. “No! You're not him. You're not my Gray!” He was staring at me with those eyes...the blue eyes that belonged to the “dog” I'd fallen in love with. I felt sick and dizzy.

  This was a sick joke.

  As I clutched my stomach to keep from vomiting it occurred to me that he said he was a friend of Ridge's. Ridge had seen my Gray multiple times.

  He had to know! He knew? Oh my God...what kind of twisted animals were they? Was I just one big joke to them all?

  I thought about the kiss I shared with Ridge just minutes ago and I felt sick again. I had to get out of there. The world was spinning too fast and I wanted to get off.

  I turned away and started running, but “Gray” was right beside me, matching me step for step without breaking a sweat. Of course I couldn't outrun him. He was a freaking wolf for crying out loud. “Get away from me!” I screamed. Gray opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say was cut off. I saw a flash of fur out of the corner of my eye and suddenly Grayson the human was on his back and a large, black wolf stood on his chest on all fours, snarling at his face. The strangest thing about it was that Grayson the human, didn't look at all distressed, only pissed.

  “Get the fuck off me, Chase.”

  “Chase? Oh dear God.” The wolf stepped off of Grayson's chest and in seconds he transformed into the man I knew as Chase...and he was naked. It wasn't the first time I'd seen him that way. He'd been naked that day at the cabin too.

  “What did you do to her? Why was she screaming?” Chase was in Grayson's face. Neither of the men seemed to notice that Chase was naked. I looked around to see if there was anyone else around, but we seemed to be alone. I didn't know whether to be relieved by that, or not.

  “I didn't do anything to her,” Grayson said.