by Sedona Venez
He leveled them with a hard stare. “We need to find out who killed those shifters. I need everyone reaching out to their contacts. I want solid intel by the end of the night.”
The heavy pounding of the music strummed annoyingly, reminding him the charity gala was still in full swing. He truly hated these events, but socializing with Others on occasion was a necessary evil. He had to lead by example, showing coven, pride, and pack leaders that they could coexist in peace. At the urging of Rosa, he organized a series of charitable events with a freaky, sensual twist for Others who indulged in kinky escapades. To Ryker’s surprise, his events grew to be one of the hottest invites in the human and Other social circles, with invites sent to only his wealthy associates, who were more than willing to give generously to his charitable foundation.
He smoothed the sleeves of his black tux. “Let’s get this gala wrapped up. We have more pressing business to attend to.”
They all exited the office and into the gala, which was in full swing. The high-octane mixture of new money and old money permeated the room. He ignored the stares and whispers of the glittering women and cigar-smoking men as he strolled menacingly through the crowd of Others—shifters, vampires, and human nobility. A waiter shuffled over, presenting him with a glass of scotch. Others nodded respectfully, shocked that he turned up for his own event. Nine times out of ten… he didn’t, but tonight, something stirred within his beast, urging him to attend.
Sophie, a thin blonde, dressed in a skin-tight, red gown strolled up to him, smiling seductively.
“Sophie. You look beautiful as always.” Ryker stopped, admiring her long legs. Sophie Jenson was one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood. She was also an alpha female wolf-shifter who was strong, smart, and cunning, much desired traits within the circle of Alphas.
She smiled, fully appreciating how he looked dressed up for his charity gala. She reached up to kiss him on the lips. He politely leaned away, kissing her chastely on the cheek. Her eyes hardened and smile slipped before she tilted her lips into a forced smile.
“All for you.” She laid her fingers on his cheek, but he pulled away. He knew what she wanted… to become his mate and Alpha-female of his pack. But she was like a sister to him and they were never going to work as a couple. Something Sophie refused to accept.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to his pack. “I’ll meet in you five minutes.”
Knox, Bones, Jackal, Soar, and Rip regarded each other before stealing a glance at Sophie. He knew exactly what they were thinking… Sophie was trouble with a capital T. Sophie was the daughter of Harvey Jenson, Alpha of the Jenson pack, the second strongest pack in New York after his. Harvey and Ryker’s father had been childhood friends and had forged an alliance years ago, hoping one day their children would unite their packs through their mating. Which was not even a remote possibility as far as he was concerned, and that was even before he decided to leave the pack at eighteen to forge his own way, not wanting anything to do with the forced mating or the power-mad man his father had become.
When he returned to claim his position as Alpha, he fucked Sophie once, a mistake he had been paying for ever since. That one night had motivated her to ramp up her one-woman campaign to press for an alliance and mating between them. She refused to take the hint that he wasn’t looking for a mate.
“You can’t keep doing this,” he remarked coolly. A woman strolled past him, leering at him with interest. Human. He glanced away. He hadn’t slept with a human since college. They were way too clingy and wanted commitment. He wasn’t a one-woman man… and forever wasn’t in his vocabulary.
“Doing what? This?” Sophie shot him a seductive grin, reaching down between his legs to wrap her fingers around his shaft.
In a flash, he grabbed her wrists, bringing them against his chest. “Yes, that.” He sighed heavily. “Sophie, you need to find a nice mate to settle down with.” He felt the hostile stare from across the room. Jacob, a wolf-shifter who worked for her father, had been actively pursuing her for months. “Like Jacob.”
“Jacob?” Sophie flushed. “Are you serious? I don’t want Jacob. I want you.”
That was the other thing that turned him completely off from Sophie. She was a spoiled brat who viewed things and people as her possessions. “Want? I’m not your possession.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “When you turned your back on your pack to find yourself, I waited. When you came back and beat your uncle for Alpha position, I waited. When the members of your pack deserted you, I waited.” Her eyes narrowed. “But I’m done waiting. You need a strong mate to keep the pack together, a mate with strong pack ties. I can help you rebuild.” Her eyes were cold and calculating. “I know you will never love me. Frankly, I don’t give a shit about love.”
He smiled coldly. “And your gracious offer has absolutely nothing to do with the fact your father is ill and my uncle is poised to take over your pack as Alpha?”
She flinched like he physically slapped her.
“Or the fact he wants you as his mate?”
She sniffed with disdain. “I will do what is best for my pack. But obviously I would like to explore other options.”
He was the other option. He didn’t blame her. She was desperate to save her father’s pack from being taken over by Peter, his uncle. Peter was crazy, ruthless, and consumed by the need for power. So consumed, he killed Ryker’s father and appointed himself Alpha of the Alfero pack. In the blink of an eye, gone was the life he had built within the human world. The Goddess had ordered him to reclaim his bloodline. To go back to the world he had turned his back on and fight Peter for position of Alpha. He rubbed the scar across his brow, one of the many reminders of that hard fought battle.
Ryker gritted his teeth. “I’m not going to mate with you, Sophie, but I assure you my uncle will not become Alpha of your pack.”
“My father and the elders—” Her voice broke before she cleared her throat. “Think you must take me as your mate to unite our packs, preventing a shifter war.”
Narrowing his eyes on Sophie, he growled, “I don’t give a shit what they think.”
“God, I’m sorry I even brought this up.” She bowed her head, not meeting his eyes. “There are whispers among the Others that without a strong mate, your position as Alpha is in danger.”
He knew she wasn’t sorry at all. Despite the fact that his pack was smaller in numbers, they were still a force to be reckoned with. His pure bloodline ensured that, but as the bearer of the Sword of Souls, and wielder of life and death, it pretty much sealed his fate and service to the Goddess of Death for the rest of his life. No one could kill him, for he was the epitome of death and destruction.
Power surged through his veins. “You go back and tell your father, elders, and my uncle that if they want to challenge me, they better be ready because I will show them no mercy.” He paused. “And as far as you and I go, there is nothing between us. Never was, never will be. Now run along.”
Sophie bristled, standing a bit straighter. “You will need me, Ryker… very soon.” She smiled at him bitterly before marching away in a huff.
He bristled, knowing Sophie and her father would not give up until they found a way to get what they wanted… him mated to her. An alliance they waited for years to happen.
He gulped his glass of fifteen-year-old scotch. Now his fucking night was completely ruined. First by finding out two shifters had been killed in his territory, and now by Sophie. He nodded toward Soar, indicating he was done for the night and leaving, when a familiar scent hit him. Lightning Credence.
He turned casually, watching as she swayed right past him and through the crowd, sipping a glass of champagne. With utter disdain, she ignored the appreciative stares of men. He watched as someone caught her eye. Lacie Gilden, a wolf-shifter and owner of an Other escort company. Light stared boldly at Lacie’s date, giving him a sexy smile, which made the shifter stop midsentence, checking her out in typical shifter fashion. Ligh
t’s eyebrow arched with a look in her eyes that he knew all too well, a look he used on many women. A look that said, “Once you fuck me, you won’t remember your name or hers.”
The bear-shifter swallowed hard. Light laughed at the expression on his face before turning on her heels, strutting through the glitter of the party. His cock jerked. Holy hell, what a fucking strut; it was sensuous like a stripper. Ryker had seen her at a couple of events and, though she was captivatingly beautiful, she wasn’t his type. He liked his women demure and submissive. From what he heard about her erratic party girl lifestyle, Lightning Credence was a pit bull in a dress. Yet there was something about her scent that pulled on his cock like a leash, commanding him to stop and pay attention.
He watched her flag down a waiter. “Do you have anything stronger than this?” she drawled, holding up her empty glass. The waiter nodded no. “It figures,” she grumbled. “With the amount of money floating around this place, would it have killed Mr. Alfero to have an open bar?”
God, she was beautiful… stunning if she wasn’t half drunk. He silently took several long steps toward her while she appraised the guests. He slid behind her.
“What is that supposed to mean?” he murmured.
She turned, slamming right into his chest. Her eyes widened at the sight of him.
He continued. “Champagne is not strong enough for Lightning Credence?”
Her hazel, almond-shaped eyes blinked rapidly. He heard her heart race as she pulled her long, jet-black hair away from her neck. He swallowed hard when her hair slid across his hand. The image of her hair gliding across his body as she slipped her head between his thighs flashed through his head.
What. The. Fuck?
He usually had more control of himself than this, but something about her scent slammed against his body, rendering him speechless for a moment. He forced himself to speak. “Sorry, darling,” he mumbled. “Are you all right?”
She let out a shaky breath. “Uh…” Her back straightened as she smoothed out her skintight crème lace gown.
His eyes narrowed while he took a sip of his drink. “I’m Ryker…”
“—Alfero,” she snapped.
She cut him off. This was new. Women never cut him off.
She continued. “Alpha of one of the largest and most powerful wolf-shifter packs in New York and leader of the Other Council.” She looked him up and down. “You don’t look as feral as rumors say.” Her eyes narrowed. “Shit, I was expecting you to be foaming at the mouth.” She smiled seductively. “Not bad looking at all… if I was into the crazy Viking look.”
He stared at her sensual, full lips. God, he could imagine all of the sinful things those lips were capable of doing… “Thanks. I think.” Christ, he wanted her.
He watched her gorgeous lips curl up into a sly smile before she snapped. “It’s a compliment, Alpha. Not an invitation to fuck.”
Oh, yeah. He wanted her more and more every second.
Light’s eyes narrowed at his silence. She raised a brow. “What the fuck’s wrong with you? You’re staring.”
Shit, he loved her voice. It was low and husky, like a lover’s touch. “I’m the silent but deadly type, darling. I let my actions speak volumes… in and out of bed.”
He couldn’t help notice their discussion was low and oddly sensual in the middle of the packed party.
She sighed. “Idiot wolf-shifters,” she mumbled under her breath. She grabbed another glass from the passing waiter and hurriedly drained it, slapping the empty glass into the waiter’s hand, and grabbed another from the tray, sipping it greedily like water.
He arched a brow. “Should I send out for more alcohol for my beautiful drunk?”
Her eyes narrowed as she drained the glass. “Was that your attempt at a joke?”
“It’s a fucking point. Slow the hell down. Shit, at the pace you’re going, there won’t be much left for the rest of my guests.” He looked her up and down. “And for the record, tipsy is tolerated but flat-out drunk is fucking distasteful.”
Her unfocused gaze fluttered, then zeroed in on him with utter disdain “Tolerated and distasteful? Wow! I didn’t know wolf-shifters could string together such intelligent words in one sentence. I thought you guys grunted and pointed like cavemen.”
His smile slipped. She was trouble. He didn’t like or need trouble. Not now that he was on the brink of another Other war. She licked the rim of the glass tauntingly and his cock jerked. But for one night of hot, uncomplicated sex with the Holy Grail—a member of the Credence bloodline—he could make an exception.
She shooed him with her hand. “Now move along, Wolfie. You’re scaring away all of the hot bachelors.”
He shifted, trying to ease his now rock-hard cock.
She glared at him. “What?”
His cock jerked. He loved how annoyed she sounded. “Just looking at you.”
“Don’t.” The tip of her pink tongue ran across her pouty lips.
He knew he should back away. He had more important things to think about, but shit, her scent was driving him insane. It was a mixture of Fae, Witch, and something else. Her scent made him so hard he wanted to bend her over in the middle of the crowd and fuck her so hard that she wouldn’t remember her name. His beast seconded that sentiment by rattling his cage, fighting him for control, fighting him to get ahold of Light.
“Why?” he responded.
Her eyes shrewdly looked him over. “Because I’m more woman than you can handle, Alfero.”
The image of her kneeling at his feet flashed through his head, making him even harder. “Is that a fact?”
“Yes, it’s a fucking fact,” she snapped.
His eyes narrowed. “You have no clue about the things I can handle.” He stepped closer, watching her gaze travel his body. “Or do, given the right motivation.” The sensuous scent of interest wafted from her. Unlike most Others, she had strong, clean emotions. Anger. Anxiousness. And now… arousal.
She stared at him for a full minute before responding. “I’m not interested in being your motivation.”
Ryker frowned. His body tensed. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I’m not interested in being another notch on your bedpost, with a gold star next it for actually banging a Credence.”
Ryker was shocked. For the first time in a long time, a woman shocked him. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly.” She tilted her head back to see him clearly. “Granted, there’s something about you. Something…” She stared at him like she could see deep into his soul, and his caged wolf pranced around like a show dog whining for attention. “Wild about you that’s mildly intriguing.”
Yes. He’d take intriguing if it would get her in his bed. “Intriguing is good,” he responded huskily.
“Intriguing is not good. I’m intrigued when I watch models prance down the runway in Milan, but it doesn’t mean I want to fuck them.” She laughed loudly. “God, what is it about Credence women that make men so desperate to fuck us? Frankly, it’s damn annoying.” She tapped his cheek coyly. “Playtime is over. Now get to stepping, Alfero. Go find yourself some submissive she-wolf who you can sell your Alpha bullshit to.” She smiled widely, toying with him. “You know, a woman stupid enough to settle for less than you’re willing to give, whose heart you can break without giving a shit. This woman is off-limits.” She stepped back, but he couldn’t stop staring at her. He’d never wanted anyone more in his life. He wanted to fuck her until she screamed… and he could tell she was one hell of a screamer.
“Light?”
She stared at him, enjoying herself like a cat with mouse. “Ryker?” she mimicked.
He stepped closer and was impressed when she didn’t flinch or back away. He slid his hand behind her neck, leaning down so their faces were close. “You will be mine.” He knew she wanted him. He could smell it all over her like perfume. Light pulled her head back, looking him in the eye. “That’s not going to happen, Wolfie.” She smiled. Not a forced one. “
Have a good life, Mr. Alfero.” She gave him one last glance before strutting away. Ryker watched her go. His eyes trained on her full swaying ass. Shit, her strut was sensuous like a stripper.
“You can run, but you can’t hide, darling,” he hissed, mildly pissed off that his cock was still rock hard from her lingering scent.
Jackal ambled up to him with eyes also trained on Light’s ass. “Damn, look at that filly go.”
“Back off,” he growled. “This one is all mine.” And when he’d fucked her senseless, and she could no longer remember her name, they both would move on and he’d go back to concentrating on rebuilding his pack and uniting the Others. But for now, Lightning Credence was mission critical.
SHIT! IT COULDN’T BE NORMAL to dislike him and want him all at the same time. The problem was he was exactly my type. The type of man I wouldn’t mind going a few hot sweaty rounds with, a man who was only interested in one night of rough-and-tumble sex with no commitment. Damn it, he was my version of nirvana, with absolutely no possibility of him hanging around like some damn pathetic puppy dog after I was done with him.
I moaned but cleared my throat when I saw Reason with her chin propped, watching me with rapt attention. Damn hybrid was enjoying watching Ryker annoy the shit out of me. I almost moaned again when he stared at me cockily with those hot smoldering sea-green eyes that made my sex clench. Shit, he made me feel like I hadn’t had sex in years, not months. Dammit! This couldn’t be fucking happening. Why did he have to come along when I was on a no-sex lockdown? I was happy with my newfound sex hiatus. It gave me plenty of time to think and learn about myself. And frankly, some of the things weren’t pretty, but I was a realist. I was a fucking mess. A mess I created by picking all of the wrong men… intentionally. Nolan, well, he was a prime example of my ability to pick a worthless sack of shit without even trying.
How the hell did Ryker know I was thinking about Nolan?
Ryker kept staring at me. My stomach tightened as heat crawled through my body.
