Markon's Claim: A SciFi Shifter Romance (The Last Alphas of Thracos Book 2)

by Marina Maddix

  Thrane slapped me on the back, a little harder than necessary, and grinned at me.

  “Speaking of things I still can’t believe, how did you know?”

  Thrane ducked his head and glanced up at me from behind shaggy hair. “How? Because I’m a fucking brilliant alpha, that’s how.”

  “So is Markon,” Natalie said, sidling up next to me and pressing a bandage to the deep gouge in my shoulder. I managed not to wince. I wasn’t about to show weakness in front of Solan and Thrane.

  “Markon led you all into a trap,” Thrane snorted, driving the stake of guilt deeper into my heart. The worst part was that he was right. If it hadn’t been for him and Solan, we’d all be dead.

  “To save me,” she countered, shooting a glare at my brother. “I suppose you would have just left me to die. Or worse.”

  Thrane’s shrug left no question that he would have done exactly that. “First of all, I wouldn’t have risked my men for a fucking Terran. And second of all, even if I had allowed you into our village, you would have been locked up with the other females, safe and sound.”

  “Held prisoner, you mean,” Arlynn said, joining the discussion, with Sienna close on her heels.

  Again, he shrugged. Arlynn sniffed in disgust and shook her head.

  “So what do we do with the Terran bodies?” Sienna asked, not so subtly changing the subject.

  “Let the forest rats have ‘em,” Thrane said. Again, Arlynn sniffed in disgust. “What, you want us to break our backs burying the scum that tried to kill us? They deserve what they get, you ask me. Besides, a few alien carcasses would make a nice snack for a pack of rats.”

  “You’re disgusting!” Arlynn threw up her hands and stomped off. Thrane watched her leave, a smirk twitching his lips.

  “I’d like to show her just how disgusting I can be.”

  “Hey, that’s my sister!” Natalie shouted at the same time Sienna cried, “Watch it!”

  Thrane held up his hands in mock surrender to the women and sucked on his teeth. “Sorry, sorry,” he said, even though he clearly wasn’t. Just Thrane being Thrane.

  “So can someone please explain what happened here today?” All I knew for sure was that Solan and Thrane had led a group of Valley Wargs into the fray and sent the Terrans packing. How it all came about was still a mystery.

  “After I, uh, left the village, I wandered around the Hill for a bit. Kept an eye on things.”

  Just like Thrane to not let go, or to believe I could actually be trusted with ‘his’ tribe.

  “Spotted that alien asshole snooping around the edges of the village, but he didn’t spot me. Naturally.”

  “Naturally,” I agreed, trying not to sound amused. Thrane had always been an excellent tracker, and he knew it. The only trait he lacked was humility.

  “Idiot almost became grumpus lunch more than once, but I saved his ass each time.”

  “Why?” Solan asked, incredulous. “If you’d let him die, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

  “Exactly! I wanted to see what he was up to. I figured he was from that alien craft, but it didn’t make sense that he would hang around near a village full of Wargs. He had to know he’d be killed if he was caught.” He shrugged again. “Call me curious.”

  “And?” Natalie asked, her own curiosity getting in the way of her dislike of my brother. She was so invested in the story that she pressed a little too hard on my injury, drawing a gasp of pain. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

  “It’s okay, my love.”

  Thrane’s gaze bounced between us, then narrowed. Of course he disapproved, but I no longer cared what he thought. In fact, all the anxiety and insecurity I struggled with after his departure had all but vanished. We might not rule in the same way, but I was comfortable in my role as alpha. It suited me.

  I wrapped a possessive arm around Natalie to show him what I thought of his opinion. He shook his head, much like Arlynn had, and continued.

  “Long story short, he had some kind of device to communicate with others. His alpha told him to watch carefully for the right moment to abduct the alien females.”

  “Terrans,” Sienna corrected. “And only one of us is still Terran.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he muttered. “Anyway, when Miss Whipsmart over there decided to take a walk in the woods, he ran ahead to the meadow and hid. I followed — undetected, of course — and heard him talking with his alpha. He was to call as soon as he got all three women, and an assault force would wipe out anyone who dared try to rescue them.”

  The blood ran cold in my veins. It had been a trap all along. No amount of negotiating would ever have swayed Hank into releasing Natalie. Suddenly I remembered how his gaze kept shifting to the sky as I tried in vain to negotiate with him.

  “You know, little brother,” Thrane said, “I saw from the edge of the forest how much happier our people grew after I left. It wasn’t the way I’d command the tribe, but as much as I hate to admit it, you did good.”

  “Thank you.” Our dead father’s praise couldn’t have felt as gratifying as Thrane’s approval of me as alpha. It eased some of my lingering guilt from taking over his role.

  “Whatever. You still almost got yourself killed. Which is why I went to Solan about mounting a counterattack. You went on and on about how great he was, how merging with the Valley sc— excuse me, tribe, was our only salvation. Thought this would be as good a test as any.”

  “Did we pass?” Solan asked with a raised eyebrow.

  Thrane gave him an appraising look, then shrugged. “We’re all alive, aren’t we?”

  “So now what?” I asked. Thrane’s brow creased in puzzlement.

  “So now what what?”

  Solan tensed, knowing what was coming. We’d been discussing it for months. The time had come to push the issue.

  “Merging tribes.”

  At Thrane’s annoyed huff, I quickly continued. “You’ve seen what the aliens can do, Thrane. It’s only a matter of time before they come back to wipe us out completely.”

  “Can’t argue with you there, little brother.”

  “So does that mean…?” I left the question hanging in the air.

  “You know I’m in,” Solan said.

  “Me, too,” I agreed.

  Everyone stared at Thrane. He scowled back. “Why are you all looking at me? If you’ll recall, I no longer have a tribe. You don’t need my approval.”

  “We need you, Thrane,” I said, throwing my arm around his shoulders. “We need all three of us to survive what’s coming. Both tribes’ warriors are ferocious, but there’s no denying that you have a knack for military strategy. Solan is a natural at inspiring his tribe, and I’m the voice of reason.”

  Solan nodded. “Markon is not only a top-notch negotiator, he has the uncanny ability to see situations from all points of view. That’s invaluable.”

  “You don’t think I know my own brother?” Thrane snapped. Solan grew red but Sienna’s hand on his arm kept him quiet.

  “So you’re saying that the three of us, the last alphas of Thracos, should rule together?”

  “Why not?” I asked.

  Thrane dropped his face, his hair swinging as he shook his head. When he looked up, he was grinning.

  “Why the hell not! It’s not like that scenario is ripe for conflict or anything. But if you two are in, I’m in.”

  Not since Vanter and Tooibas ruled the Great Tribe had the Hill and Valley Wargs agreed on anything. The transition might get rough at times, but with the three of us working together, I had no doubt we’d be ready when the enemy attacked again.

  “Flee! Flee!”

  Heads swiveled to locate the source of the hoarse cry. Amma hobbled into the meadow, her wild, white hair wilder than ever and the hand not holding her walking stick flapping frantically.

  “Flee!” Her shrill voice echoed across the meadow and panic flared in her eyes.

  I hurried over to her, grasping her elbow carefully but firmly. Poor thing was clearl
y confused. No sense in upsetting everyone all over again. Our seven injured tribesmen certainly didn’t need more stress.

  “Amma, it’s okay. The fight is over. We won.”

  For now, I thought. But now would have to do…for now.

  “Time is short! Time is short! Flee!”

  “Amma—“

  I heard it before I saw it, but just barely. The now-familiar high-pitched whine registered in my brain a split second before the alien craft skimmed over the treetops. Two Terran soldiers hung halfway out the open door, weapons drawn.

  “Run!” I screamed, and the air exploded with orange light.

  I had just enough time to throw Amma to the ground and cover her with my body before the aliens were gone again. If anyone had doubts about the threat Terrans posed, this stunt erased them.

  I helped Amma stand and surveyed the scene. Who knew when or if they’d come back, so anyone still standing took the opportunity to help others — Hill and Valley alike — to the relative safety of the tree line. Solan barked orders while Sienna and Arlynn ran around tending to the fallen. Thrane stood in the middle of the field, screaming profanities at the sky, daring them to come back.

  My skin prickled when I didn’t immediately see Natalie. She must be helping someone, I thought frantically, even though my heart told me otherwise. A small hand pressed against my back and gave me a hard shove.

  “Go to her,” Amma hissed, pointing in front of me.

  I scanned the area and saw nothing at first, but on the second pass, I noticed a large swath of grass that hadn’t been totally trampled in the fight. Behind the stalks and blooms, a flash of creamy Terran skin peeked through. And blood. Blood so dark it looked almost black.

  My chest felt as if a giant snake had coiled itself around me and was squeezing out my very life essence. I crossed the distance before I caught my breath and fell to my knees at her side.

  “Natalie,” I breathed, scanning her body but not wanting to believe what I saw.

  Blood spread across her belly and chest, dribbling down her sides into the dirt. So much blood. Her hand felt ice cold when I clutched it to my heart. Panic and denial flared in me at what that signaled.

  “Natalie.” I leaned over her and almost laughed with relief when her eyelids fluttered open.

  “Markon.” She hadn’t even finished saying my name when a deep, wet cough sprayed specks of blood all over me.

  This couldn’t be happening. Just this morning, we’d awakened in each others’ arms, content in our love. That was it, I decided. This was just a dream. A nightmare. It had to be. Then the sound of wailing erupted behind me, and I didn’t wake up.

  “Natalie! No!”

  Sienna, Arlynn and Teema rushed toward us, but Amma stepped between them and us.

  “NO!” she shouted, her strong voice rolling across the field like thunder.

  Ignoring them, I stared deeply into Natalie’s eyes, kissing her hand and brushing strands of hair and specks of blood from her face.

  “I’m…sorry,” she croaked, never letting her gaze stray from mine.

  “About what, my love? You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “Our fight…and…not finding…the cure.”

  “No, the fight was my fault. I’m the one who should apologize. We just need to get you back to the village and Bandrin can—“

  She squeezed my hand and my breath hitched in my chest at how weak she was. For a moment I thought it had begun to rain, until I realized the drops falling on her pale face were my tears.

  “Markon…my love…it’s time…”A ghost of a smile flitted across her lips and her eyes closed. Opening them again was a monumental effort for her.

  I shook my head, unable to speak, unable to bear the truth. I’d found in Natalie my perfect match. I didn’t need a claiming or to be thunderstruck to know I loved her and that she loved me. Our future should have held the promise of the universe, with a pack of little whelps — all girls — running around terrorizing the boys of the reunited Great Tribe of Thracos. We would surpass Amma in age and die in our sleep together, holding one another, as our daughters surrounded us.

  That’s what our life should have been, and now would never be.

  “Don’t leave me,” I whispered. Sadness filled her eyes and we cried together.

  “Mayhap she won’t.” Amma bent low over us, glancing between us. Her words were almost enough to give me hope but the worry etched on her face dampened it.

  “What? How?”

  “Give her the bite. Might work.”

  “Might?”

  She shrugged in response to my question. “Might not.”

  “Do it, little brother,” Thrane said. I looked around to see all of our loved ones surrounding us. “You know as well as anyone that our beasts heal faster than we do.”

  “But what if she so weak she can’t handle the transformation?”

  He laid a hand on my shoulder. “Then she’ll die anyway.”

  I swallowed hard and leaned in close to Natalie. She could barely keep her eyes open any longer. “Natalie, I need to give you the bite to save your life. It’s our only hope. I know you’re worried your brain won’t work the same when you become a Warg, but I have faith that you’ll find the cure. I always have. But more than anything, I can’t live without you. Even if your fated mate turns out to be someone else.”

  The hand I’d been holding fluttered up to my face, a chilled finger grazing my cheek. “You’re…my mate…Markon. Always.”

  She took another shallow, shuddering breath and closed her eyes.

  “Bite me.”

  27

  Natalie

  ONE WEEK LATER

  “When are you going to throw those out?” Jorek asked as he set up another slide to test.

  For the umpteenth time since entering the lab that morning, my gaze drifted to the flowers Markon had given me a week earlier. They’d wilted and grown brown during my recovery, and the water had turned stagnant, but I couldn’t bring myself to throw them out. In fact, I’d moved them to my workspace so I could look at them whenever I wanted. They gave me strength, and I needed all I could get on my first day back at work. As a Warg.

  “Never.”

  Jorek gave me a bemused glance. “If you don’t mind my asking, I’m fascinated by what the entire transformation felt like.”

  “You know, I really can’t remember much about it. I was a little distracted trying not to die.”

  I actually remembered more than I let on, I simply didn’t want to share such personal details with anyone but Markon. Most of it was a blur, but I distinctly recalled intense heat and sensations that bordered on pain, but nothing compared to the wound in my belly. The world twisted and turned in on itself until everything went black.

  The next thing I remembered, I was lying on a mat in the koshu in my beast form, all my sisters — including Teema and Chayma — tending to me, and Markon at my side. I was too disoriented to pay much attention to how my new body felt. I remained a beast for five days before Binkor judged that I was strong enough to shift back.

  “Do you feel any different? I know you were worried about your cognitive function.”

  As he spoke, Jorek mixed two specimens to test. While I was recuperating, he came up with the idea that perhaps we were looking for two species to mix with the reet. So far, no luck, but that didn’t surprise me. My gut — something I’d never given credence to before coming here — told me we were looking for just one other component.

  “Well, I’m still healing, but it seems I’m actually thinking more clearly than before. Certainly Warg life makes much more sense to me now. Although I still can’t figure out why Markon can’t seem to put his dishes in the wash bucket to soak.”

  Jorek nodded soberly, not getting my joke. “Perhaps he suffered a brain injury at some point in his life.”

  “Either that or I have a lazy mate.” Still no smile.

  “Ah, so you’ve finally accepted the concept of fated mates.”
He reached for more samples.

  “Why does everyone say that?” I huffed. “I don’t believe in fateds any more now than I did before. Markon and I chose each other, long before he gave me the bite. We love each other exactly the same as before.”

  Jorek looked up from his microscope, one eyebrow twitched halfway up his forehead. “Exactly?”

  This time I blushed. I couldn’t deny that colors popped more brightly, flavors zinged more boldly and birds sang more melodically than when I was a Terran. And emotions were more intense, just like Arlynn had told me before I left the Valley. My feelings for Markon nearly overwhelmed me at times. It was hard to keep our hands off each other, but he insisted on waiting to make love until Binkor said I was healed. No amount of begging — or touching or kissing or rubbing — could sway him.

  “What’s that amazing smell?” I asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

  “Oh, they’re slow-roasting a cabra for tonight’s feast celebrating the merging of the tribes. One last Hill party before the integration process starts.”

  “Teema says she and Sienna have started planning the first mutual claiming festival,” I said, fingering the dried-up head of helixgrass in my withered bouquet. Ripe magenta seeds scattered all over my workspace. “Dammit.”

  I’d hoped the flowers would last longer, but I honestly didn’t need them for me to know Markon loved me. He showed me every day in a million different ways. Of course, I wasn’t going to tell him that. As practical as I was, every girl in the galaxy liked getting bouquets from her man now and again.

  “I guess it’s time,” I sighed and grabbed the flowers.

  The moment I stepped outside, I took a deep lungful of air. A thousand different scents assaulted me, nearly knocking me over with their power. The beast inside me rumbled with hunger for some juicy cabra. This whole Warg thing was going to take some getting used to.

  I was nearly fully healed, but some residual discomfort remained so I walked slowly and deliberately toward the fire pit in the center of the commons. A group of boys raced around the fire like maniacs, and I couldn’t help laughing at their antics. Then Krindi, whose little legs couldn’t keep up with the boys, broke into song, her voice sweet and clear, like the village’s filtered stream water.