by Alisa Woods
Pleasure (Dark Alpha, Episode 2)
Copyright © 2015 by Alisa Woods
February 2015 Edition
All rights reserved.
Sworn Secrets Publishing
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author. For information visit:
Alisa Woods
Cover by Steven Novak
Pleasure (Dark Alpha 2) - New Adult Paranormal Romance
Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.
Jak and Arianna have found something special in each other's arms... but is it something they can keep?
Is love stronger than magic? Or will breaking an unbreakable bond destroy them both?
Pleasure (Dark Alpha 2) is 60 pages or 15,000 words. It’s the second of six episodes in the Dark Alpha serial. Dark Alpha is the sequel series to True Alpha, the debut shifters-in-Seattle paranormal romance from Alisa Woods.
Dark Alpha Release Schedule - 2015
1 - Torment (1.19)
2 - Pleasure (2.2)
3 - Untitled (2.16)
4 - Untitled (3.2)
5 - Untitled (3.16)
6 - Untitled (3.30)
Box Set (Dark Alpha 1-6) - releases 3.30
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Untitled (Dark Alpha 3)
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Box Set (Vol 1-6)
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Jak had scrubbed every last bit of Arianna’s scent from his body, but he couldn’t erase what happened between them from his mind.
Nor did he want to.
They had returned early from the University when the bounty hunters’ attack cut short their plans on campus. Even with the brief delay due to their frantic lovemaking in the back seat, Jak and Arianna were still the only ones at the Red pack estate when he dropped her off at Mace’s house. Which was fortunate: she had to eliminate Jak’s scent before Mace returned, or they would both be dead. Or worse.
The idea of dying didn’t bother Jak as much as the knowledge that Mace wouldn’t kill Arianna… he would only make her suffer. And for a wolf, there was a lot of suffering that could happen before the mercy of death arrived. The mere thought of that chastened and enraged him all at once: his wolf was on a constant low growl that filled his ears and rushed his veins.
If Mace hurt Arianna in any way… Jak wasn’t sure if he could stop himself from killing her alpha. Or at least attempting to. The only thing that could possibly stop him would be the magic in Jak’s own blood: he was bound to Gage, Mace’s brother, and no matter what, Gage wouldn’t allow his beta to kill his brother. And Jak couldn’t disobey his alpha—his submission bond wasn’t as strong as Arianna’s mating bond, but it was still powerful magic. It would at least slow him down, make him weak… and doom him in a fight with Mace.
Which was seriously unfortunate: a dead Mace would solve more than one problem.
Jak climbed into fresh clothes after his shower. The soap and new clothes should safely hide his tryst with Arianna, although her scent was still strong in his mind… along with the way she moaned and flushed while she writhed underneath him. Just thinking about it was going to give him a hard-on, so he shoved that memory aside. Besides… finding the bounty hunters who attacked them was now his number one priority.
Jak sent a vague message to his alpha about urgent pack business back at the estate then logged onto the pack’s WiFi—but there wasn’t much to be found online. Of course, shifter hunters didn’t hang a shingle out on bountyhunterforhire.com. But even the darknet sites that shifters used to communicate away from the prying eyes of the Feds didn’t have any chatter about recent bounties or the hunters who answered them. Jak posted a description of the two men—mid-twenties, brown hair, gray hoodies, dart gun model—on a thread titled Hunters, Witches, and Other Black Arts.
Their attackers were pros, and even if they bumbled today’s attempt at bagging a wolf, this wasn’t their first time. Someone else on the net might recognize them. If Jak was very lucky, he’d score a lead on their base of operations, although that was information hunters kept very down low, for obvious reasons. Jak left off any identifying details about the place and time of the attack, just in case the hunters were lurking. He scouted around the other threads for possible leads on similar hits but came up dry.
Jak shoved away from the computer desk and paced the house’s main gathering room, checking his phone for thread updates and scouring his mind for ideas about how to track the hunters. A crunching of tires from out front signaled several cars pulling into the estate. It was still early, and Jak prayed Arianna had already showered. He sprinted to the front door—maybe he could occupy Mace a little longer and buy her a few more minutes.
The three pack cars held a dozen wolves, including Gage and Mace, who were out of their respective cars and stalking across the red pavers of the drive almost before the vehicles stopped moving.
“What’s the status, Jak?” Gage demanded in his usual no-nonsense approach.
“We had a run-in at the University,” Jak filled his alpha in quickly.
Mace’s face went from glower to livid in half a second. “What the hell!”
Jak threw his hands up. “Arianna is fine,” he said, all while noting that Mace hadn’t actually asked about her. Jak turned to Gage. “We were attacked by bounty hunters. Arianna was hit by a tranq dart of some kind, but she’s all right now.”
Mace seemed ready to choke on his own spit. “Some beta you have,” he growled to Gage.
“My beta kept your mate safe,” Gage spit back. “Care to wager where your mate would be now, if Alric was in charge?”
Jak lifted his chin, daring Mace to question him, but his stomach was chewing itself to pieces.
Mace growled at them both but didn’t argue. “I don’t care what father says, she should never have gone back.” It was more a pathetic grumble than an actual threat. At least Jak hoped. He knew school was the only thing that shone any light in Arianna’s life—although he couldn’t help hoping that maybe he was part of that light now, especially since he’d brought her alive in a whole new-to-her, steamy-hot kind of way. Regardless, Jak had to quickly find a way to put the attack behind them, so she could keep going to class.
“It wasn’t going to school that was the problem,” Jak threw into Mace’s face. He looked to his alpha for backup.
Gage’s face darkened. “Jak’s right. Being outside the compound just gave the hunters opportunity. But they shouldn’t have known Jak and Arianna were shifters in the first place.”
“Exactly,” Jak said. “Someone told them what we were and where we would be.”
Mace pulled back, his face darkening. “No one in my pack. Obviously.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Mace,” Gage said. Jak smirked. “It’s not anyone from Red pack. It has to be someone we’ve worked with: associates, other packs, the shifter community. We have more than a few enemies in the shifter world, and many know about your new mate. But regardless… someone sold out the pack, and I want to know who.”
Several of Gage’s pack members were gathered around their tight discussion, along with Mace’s two betas Alric and Beck. A growl of agreement went around the group, Jak along with them.
“It could be anyone,” Jak said. “Hell, maybe they were trying to stop my lab visit to Silver Quick. We don’t even know if Arianna was really the target—they may not have even known she was a wolf.”
Gage frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“She shifted during the attack—it seemed to catch them off guard.” Jak wasn’t sure that was entirely true. He had replayed the scene a dozen times in his head, and he suspected that when he dropped his phone he managed to avoid their first shot. They were aiming for Arianna as well, but they did seem unprepared for Arianna to ward off their dart, shift, and come after them.
“Of course she was the target,” Mace said with scorn. He gave Jak a look like he was pond scum, a revulsion Jak had no problem returning. “She’s a mated female.”
There was no question that mated females carried powerful magic in their blood, and especially in their hearts. But that wouldn’t mean anything, if the hunters didn’t know she was a shifter to begin with.
“Sure, witches could be after her… if they knew what she was,” Jak said. “She hasn’t been outside the compound in six months. Hardly anyone knows she’s here.” Jak turned back to Gage again. Mace was too much of a hot head; Gage was the only one with a chance of sorting this out. “It could be the Sparks pack. Maybe they’re out for revenge?”
Gage shook his head. “I doubt it. Things have been quiet too long on that front. Besides, their alphas aren’t the kind who initiate trouble.” He gave a pointed look to Mace.
He snarled in return. “They don’t have the balls to do what it takes. Not unlike some alphas in the Red pack.”
“Really?” Jak lurched forward to get in Mace’s face. “You want to be a little more specific about that?” Mace just insulted his alpha. Jak would be more than justified in tearing him into bloody strips… his mouth watered at the mere possibility.
“Your beta’s big on words,” Mace sneered to Gage. “Come on, beta. For once, I’d love to see your blood run instead of your mouth.”
Jak’s claws came out, and he was about to take a piece out of Mace when Gage yanked him back. Jak growled but obeyed his alpha and stayed back.
Gage jutted his chin at Mace. “Jak’s the only reason your mate is home safe right now. Show some respect, or I might have to teach you some… little brother.”
Jak snickered along with the rest of Gage’s pack. Their alpha had several inches and fifty pounds on his brother, and if it turned into a pack-on-pack brawl, Gage’s pack outnumbered Mace’s three to one. Those were only two of the many reasons why Gage was the dominant son in the hierarchy. That, and Mace was an asshole no one respected. Everyone knew it, even his own betas.
“So Arianna’s home safe now—is that right?” The gleam in Mace’s eye made Jak’s blood run cold.
“That was my job, and I did it.” Jak clenched his fists. The last thing he wanted was an enraged and frustrated Mace going home to Arianna and taking his impotent frustrations out on her. But Jak couldn’t object without bringing suspicion. He was already walking a fine line, trying not to let his ever-intensifying feelings for her show. Jak growled his own frustration. “Why don’t you run along home to your female, Mace? Let the big boys figure out who’s threatening her.”
Mace lunged for him, claws unsheathed and coming straight for his face. Jak bared his fangs, ducked, and came back up from underneath, pounding a fist into Mace’s stomach. He doubled over, and Jak grinned, a flush of triumph thrilling his body. Gage outmatched his brother, but Jak and Mace were similar in size and speed: only Jak was smarter, and his hatred for Mace knew no brotherly bounds.
“That all you got?” he taunted Mace. The others were holding back.
Mace pretended to straighten but whipped a slice of claws at Jak’s face instead. He caught one on the cheek even as Jak whipped his head back. His blood ran warm, but Jak quickly swung back, catching Mace in the throat. The two men went down, grappling hands-to-throat, choking each other. The others cleared a circle for them, scuffling on the pavers to get out of the way. Jak couldn’t breathe through Mace’s hold, and Mace’s claws were starting to dig into his neck… but Mace’s face was turning purple with Jak’s hold as well. It was a race to see who would pass out first—one Jak had no intention of losing. He lifted Mace’s head and slammed it against the pavers, stunning him enough to loosen his hold.
“Enough!” Gage’s roar sprung the others into action. Jak was lifted off Mace in an instant. Once his feet found the ground again, he stumbled backward, regaining his footing as Mace’s betas helped him to his feet. Mace pushed them away and looked like he was going to lunge for Jak while he was being held defenseless by his own pack. That would start a rumble like nothing else.
Gage stepped between them. “I said enough.” The deep timber command of his voice stilled everyone. Jak felt it resonate through his body. Even if he wanted to rip Mace’s head off—and he very much wanted to—his body wouldn’t obey. Not in such a direct counter to his alpha’s orders.
“These hunters aren’t just a threat to Arianna,” Gage said, his voice cooling a little. “They’re a threat to the entire pack. If Jak and Arianna are on their radar, they’ve probably connected the dots and figured out the whole Red Wolf company is a pack. Which means all of us are at risk. And our father isn’t going to like that very much. Mace.”
“No shit. Gage.” Mace’s voice was laced with bitterness. “The question is why your beta didn’t kill the hunters when he had the chance.”
“Gee, sorry, Mace.” Bile bit at the back of Jak’s throat. “I was too busy making sure they didn’t cut out Arianna’s heart.” He wiped away the blood that was still running down his face. The truth was he had let them go because keeping Arianna safe was more important than ripping out their throats—but that did complicate things now. And left a looming threat over her and everyone else.
Mace just growled and crossed his arms.
“We need to work together as a pack to take care of this.” Gage sighed and shook his head. Jak didn’t blame him—Mace was more a hindrance than anything else, even when his own mate was threatened. If she were Jak’s mate, he’d be tearing out throats. Not to mention racing home to make sure his mate was actually all right. As it stood, Jak was the only one actually trying to take care of this mess… along with Gage, who would make sure the right thing happened, in spite of his brother.
Jak’s phone pinged in his pocket. It was an alert from the message board.
“What’s that?” Gage asked as Jak quickly scrolled through it.
“Darknet,” he said, not taking his eyes from the screen. “I posted a description of the hunters. This is a private message response… but it’s just an address.”
“Sounds like a trap.” Mace grinned a sickly smile. “I think your ace beta here should go check it out. That way, if there are any witches waiting, we’ll just have a minor loss to the pack.”
Jak narrowed his eyes but going alone was exactly what he wanted. “Works for me,” he said to Gage. He didn’t know what was going on, or who outed the pack, but Arianna was depending on him. He could take care of business better without anyone else looking over his shoulder. Especially Mace.
“I don’t like it,” Gage said. “Take Mason and Johnson with you. Guns, stun weapons, the whole arsenal if you like. No reason to take unnecessary risks.”
That wasn’t going to work for keeping this a solo operation. “Strangely, and believe me, I didn’t think I would ever say this, but Mace is right.”
Gage arched his eyebrows. Mace just sneered, throwing a smirk to Alric behind him.
“If it’s a trap,” Jak said, “We don’t want to risk any more of the pack than necessary. I’ll go in armed to the teeth and just do reconnaissance first. Once I know it’s clear, I’ll call for backup.” He fully
intended to pummel the answers out of the hunters personally. “Besides, there’s an outside chance the hunters are working for law enforcement. Still doesn’t explain how they knew we were shifters, but if they’re working for the cops… it’s better for them to think I’m working alone and not part of a pack.”
Gage sighed, but Jak knew his logic was sound. Shifters kept their identity secret precisely because when they shifted into wolf form, they were all wolf: no identifying DNA to finger them in whatever crime they might be involved in. And while Red Wolf stayed mostly on the legal side of things, there were a few very not legal things that happened in both the company and the pack. If the whole pack was identified and hauled in as a group for DNA testing, forced to shift to match wolf-to-human DNA for the federal records… well, that would not play well with Red Wolf’s business plan. Which included, among other things, gaining the trust of up-and-coming dot-com startups. It was a reputation business, and being outed as shifters and potential criminals would shoot it all to hell.
“All right,” Gage said, reluctantly. “But I still don’t like it. I want you to play it safe, you hear me? Go there, check it out, monitor the situation, and get the hell out. Understood?”
“Got it, boss.” Jak had every intention of wrenching the truth from the hunters, by very not legal means if necessary, but his alpha didn’t need to know that right now. After the fact, Jak would be forgiven, even if he bent the command his alpha just gave him once he was out of his presence. Besides, if Gage really didn’t want him to bend the rules, he would come along. Jak had been his beta long enough to know that much.
