She moved around him to follow Ace.
A combination of newly found respect and another wave of desire hit him at the same time.
“Mate,” the wolf whispered in his head once more.
Riktor grabbed her wrist, stopping her. “I…I don’t know what to say. I just want to keep my family safe. My brothers safe. They depend on me.” Emotion welled up inside of him. The confession came out strained, but a sense of relief lifted a burden off his shoulders.
“That’s what every good alpha wants for their family, their pack. You’re at the beginning of yours, and your father did a piss-poor job of preparing you. He got your head into the business angle, but not the other things. You’ll learn. You just need to accept help and advice from your mate.” She shrugged. “But we can discuss it in full later. Right now, I’m hungry, you haven’t eaten, and I’m pretty sure Ace will think I’ve kidnapped you and dragged you back to my suite to have my wicked, wicked way with you.” She winked at him. Her stomach rumbled, punctuating her point.
Riktor let go of her wrist and grabbed her hand. He held her gaze. “Thank you.”
She shrugged. “No problem. You’re buying me two big bacon cheeseburgers. No veggies except for deep fried potatoes and a strawberry milkshake.”
He chuckled. “That will be the only thing you, Ace, and Banan can automatically agree on. Food.”
He guided her around the various diners until they reached the private room in the back. Ace and Banan were already seated. Ace was recounting to Banan his earlier conversation with Michaela.
Banan peeked up at them through a thick fringe of dark hair. “Is this true? Is she really going to help us?”
Michaela sidled up in front of Riktor before he could respond. “Yes, yes I am. We’ll discuss the marriage and all that after the challenge is over. For now, I’ll help with the strategy and put in a few phone calls to increase pressure on Winthrop.”
Banan licked his lips. “And you think this Winthrop will play dirty, bring someone else into the fight with him?” Worry darted through his eyes.
Michaela took a seat next to Banan. “Yes, it’s his MO. He’ll always take the easy way out. He wouldn’t be challenging Riktor if he didn’t have something up his sleeve.” She glanced around. “Before we go any further, can I order? I’m starved.”
Riktor signaled a server, who came over and took all their orders. Once that was over, Riktor settled in a chair next to Michaela. Ace raised an eyebrow at him. Amusement warred with concern on his face. Riktor ignored him.
“Fun fact,” Ace said. “Riktor’s name is actually Roderick. When Banan was little, he couldn’t pronounce Roderick, but he loved the name Victor, so he just combined the two and came up with Riktor.” Ace nudged Banan, who flushed a bright red.
“Shut up,” Banan muttered.
Michaela chuckled. “My favorite cousin couldn’t pronounce my name, and since she loved all things Disney, she started calling me Mickey, and it stuck. My mother was appalled. She’d done a deal with my father, that he was allowed to name the first child and she could name all the rest. I’m actually named after my grandmother on my father’s side of the family.” Her grin widened. “Anyway, and for the whole nine months, they went back and forth about names. My father had originally wanted to name me Perry, after Perry Mason, his favorite TV lawyer.” She let out a musical laugh. “My mother was not having that.”
“Wait, who?” Banan asked.
Michaela’s eyes grew round. “What do you mean…you don’t know who Perry Mason is? When this is all over, I’m going to drag you to my suite, and we’re going to binge watch the whole series. All nine seasons of it.” The server put a large double bacon cheeseburger in front of her. Her stomach gave an unladylike rumble of need. “Oh, God, that looks heavenly.”
The men laughed. “Let’s dig in,” Ace announced.
“Now, now, boys, manners. First we say grace. Bow your heads. I’ll start.” Michaela grabbed Riktor’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “We thank the Lady for this bounty placed before us. That we may continue to grow strong and thrive. We thank Diana and Hecate for their protection and grace. May we continue from strength to strength, and may we prosper. So mote it be.”
Everyone muttered the last part.
“Didn’t know you were religious,” Ace said before taking a large bite out of his own burger.
“Not really, but mother always did a blessing before we broke bread with strangers. She said it was a way to bind us together and calm the atmosphere so we could eat in civility and friendliness and spread goodwill all around. Just thought I’d do that here. That, and it kept me from devouring this food on sight.” She chuckled.
“We never had traditions like that growing up,” Banan pointed out.
“That’s because Father thought all that kind of stuff was useless,” Ace put in. “You know I’ve been to a lot of werewolf households, and they don’t really do that.”
Michaela shrugged. “Mom was a traditionalist. Dad, not so much, but he went along with it for her. My childhood was a mishmash of beliefs and traditions. Like, we didn’t do Thanksgiving or Halloween, but we did Samhain and Yule. And we made offerings during Beltane.”
Banan frowned. “We never did that after our mother died. In fact, I don’t even think we celebrated Christmas.”
Ace shrugged. “Mom was more about that stuff, and when she died, Father buried himself in his work and didn’t let us acknowledge the holidays. His way of controlling us. Now that he’s gone, we can restart all that if we want and do it our way.” Ace reached over and patted Banan on the back.
Banan ducked his head. “I’d really like to celebrate Halloween and Samhain.”
“You just want all the candy,” Riktor teased. “But we can do that. Now.”
A sense of yearning started in Riktor’s gut for the life that Michaela described with her family. The Shaws seemed so close—not the monsters his father had described to them while they were growing up. When the after-dinner coffee came, he wasn’t ready to break up the party, but when Banan yawned, Riktor knew it was time to go.
Banan glanced from Riktor to Michaela to Ace and back to Riktor. “Should we have breakfast together and go over strategy, since we didn’t get to do it during dinner?”
Riktor nodded. “Yeah, we can do that. Go get some sleep. No playing video games OK?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Banan blushed.
“Come on, Ban, let’s get you tucked in and I’ll tell you a bedtime story about the time I got shitfaced and talked my way into an arm-wrestling contest.” Ace wrapped an arm around Banan’s neck and pulled him out of the room.
“No, don’t corrupt him!” Michaela followed them out with Riktor at her heels.
“Too late!” Banan sang out with a laugh.
Riktor caught up with her at the elevator. “Thank you,” he said to Michaela.
She grinned at him. “For what?” She slipped an arm through his. “Dinner was nice. We need to do that after you win.”
“Do you think I can?” Worry fluttered in his stomach. “This is my first official alpha challenge. Ace and Banan just accepted their roles in the pack. My father prepared me for everything but this.”
She shook her head. “He couldn’t have prepared you for this.”
They stepped into the empty cabin. He pressed the button for her floor, and the doors slid shut with a thunk.
She snuggled up to him even more. The side of her breast pressed against his arm.
“Alpha challenges can come at any time, at any age,” she said. “As long as there is a full moon, and it gives you plenty of time to get a second and order your affairs, that’s all you need. You know how to fight, right?” She let out a soft yawn.
“Of course. Ace made sure we could defend ourselves physically. My father taught us how to defend ourselves financially.”
“He wants money,” she said. “You could try buying him off.”
“I might be a new alpha, but I know you can’t let
a challenge to your pack and leadership stand. I’ll lose all respect, and I’ll face even more challenges. No, he needs to be faced head-on. “It’s what I need to do to protect my pack,” Riktor said.”
She looked deep into his eyes and nodded. “I was hoping you would say that.”
The cabin stopped, and doors slid open. They stepped out onto her floor and headed straight to her suite. When they reached the door to her room, she turned to him.
“Coming in?” Her dark, seductive voice wrapped around his cock. It jerked, and a shot of fire lit up his insides.
He wanted nothing more than to pin her to the wall and capture her perfect lips. But as badly as he yearned for that, part of him was focused on the coming fight. He had his pack, his brothers, depending on him.
She seemed to read the conflict inside him. Her smile was gentle…and more than a little wicked. “It’s actually normal to feel horny before a fight. It’s your wolf’s way of letting off steam before the challenge and to calm you down, so you sleep.”
He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorway, watching her. She truly was beautiful. “You certainly make a compelling case.”
She let out another laugh. “With the full moon and a challenge on the horizon your wolf is trying to focus you. Like I said, nothing prepares you for a challenge. So. Coming in?”
He reached out and gently traced his thumb along her cheek, reveling in the smooth warmth of her skin. “I want nothing more than to carry you inside, tear off that dress, and make you scream my name as I give you the fuck you earned a thousand times over.” He held her gaze. “You’re changing things, Michaela. Every moment I spend with you changes me.”
She took his hand and gently but irresistibly tugged him inside. “Stay with me tonight. We don’t even have to have sex. I just…need you here. It can help ground your wolf to be around its mate. Calms you down, centers you.”
He allowed her to lead him to the bedroom where she took her time undressing him. He pulled her to him, reveling in the heat of her body, how she fit so perfectly against him.
Michaela cuddled up to him. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head into her neck.
For the first time in years, he felt calm despite the oncoming challenge.
He could get used to this.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The day of the challenge went by in a blur. Mickey kept very close to Riktor, much to his irritation. She settled in a chair behind him in his office, ate with him and his brothers at breakfast and lunch, trailed after him while he made a tour of the resort to make sure that everything was running smoothly. If anyone thought it odd that Michaela Shaw was being allowed such access, no one voiced their concern. She did note that Amber, Riktor’s personal assistant, gave her dirty looks whenever they met.
Mickey dismissed it as a female alpha feeling threatened with another female alpha on what she presumed was her territory. Or maybe Amber had a secret crush on Riktor, who knew? But Mickey ignored it in favor of keeping an eye on Riktor.
So far he’d seemed calm, but underneath she felt the threads of unease. The atmosphere around them grew tenser as the day went on. Ace didn’t help matters by drifting in and out at odd times to check on Riktor.
“I don’t need babysitters!” Riktor growled. He glanced from Mickey to Ace and back again.
Mickey shrugged. “Not my problem. I know from experience you shouldn’t be alone before a challenge. I’m here to keep you grounded and make sure that no one tries to take you out beforehand. That’s been known to happen.”
Ace nodded his agreement. “I’ve heard stories, and a lot of them are attached to Winthrop. Better to be safe than sorry. You’ll just have to deal with us.”
“Fine, but I’m going to shower and change and then we’ll leave for the island selected for the challenge point. Banan stays here. You and Michaela will come with me. I suggest you grab some protein shakes, shower and change. I don’t think high heels or a five-thousand-dollar silk suit are appropriate for this type of thing.” Riktor pushed back his chair and stood.
“Well, at least have Banan with you, just to watch your back,” Michaela insisted.
“Exactly. Go change. Get ready. I’ll be fine. Despite what some may think, Banan can fight.” A dark glint entered his eyes.
Michaela shivered. The dossier Everly had given her hadn’t mentioned any sort of training or fighting expertise for Banan, but she didn’t doubt he could hold his own.
Riktor moved around the desk and headed out of the office. Michaela and Ace followed suit.
“Don’t drop your guard. Not for anything. And don’t answer the door or accept a message claiming to be from Ace or me. Winthrop has tried this tactic before and succeeded.” Anxiety jittered over her nerves. Her heartbeat pounded against her rib cage.
“I promise to be safe and not accept candy from strangers.” Riktor paused by the front desk and accepted his mail. He sorted through the stack and held up a message written on resort stationery. “Looks like he beat you to it.” He turned his attention to the attendant. “When did this arrive?”
“Five minutes ago. The man on the phone said that it wasn’t urgent, so I didn’t bother you.” She turned her attention to a guest.
Riktor handed the message over to Ace, who read it and passed it over to Michaela.
“Come to Black Howl, alone. I have information about Winthrop that you’ll want to hear,” she read aloud. She snorted. “Original.”
“I’ll check in with Black Howl.” Ace left them and headed back toward Riktor’s office.
Michaela moved over to Riktor’s side, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed him over the pulse point on his neck. She felt the rhythm jump and pulled back with a grin. “I’ll see you later, hubby.”
Mickey strode toward the elevators. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She slid it out and answered it. “Dad?”
“When the hell were you going to tell me you had gotten married? And that bollix had followed you to the resort? Never mind, stubborn girl. I’ll be on the next plane out as soon as possible. If Winthrop carries out this ridiculous challenge, there will be more than hell to pay from the Council. I’ll demand rite of blood.” Mickey’s father hung up before she could respond.
Mickey stood in front of the elevator seeing but not seeing the open doors before her. “Shit,” she muttered. She entered the cabin and hit speed dial. “Alan, do not let Dad or Mom leave. We’ll handle this. I can stop this.”
She hung up before her brother could respond. “Like father, like daughter,” she muttered to herself.
Mickey arrived at her floor and went straight to her suite where she showered and changed into sweats and slip-on sneakers, clothing easy to discard and lose. No makeup or jewelry, not even her wedding ring. Once done, she headed back down to the lobby where Riktor and Ace waited.
“No strangers at Black Howl and no one looking for us. Where’s Banan?” Ace glanced around.
“Back in the computer hub answering a tech question. He’s fine, and nothing happened while I got ready. Let’s get to the boat and get this over with.” Riktor led the way.
Mickey’s heart raced even faster. Her wolf howled in her head. The pull of the full moon seeped all the way into her bones. All her senses sharpened. She smelled the musk of other shifters, tasted the earth and ozone from an oncoming storm, felt the solidity of the ground under her feet, and heard the waves crashing on the shore. A soft, cool breeze rippled across her face. An ache began in her gut. Her blood heated and her skin prickled with awareness. She heard the distant pounding of the brothers’ heartbeats. Electricity danced on her tongue.
Ace and Riktor’s nervousness and eagerness tickled her face.
She barked out a laugh. “Men. You’re really eager to fight Winthrop, aren’t you? Both of you.” She glanced from one brother to the other.
Riktor nodded. “I want to show what I’m willing to do to protect my family, my pack. I want him to regret challenging me.”
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Ace cracked his knuckles. “And I just want to hunt.”
Bloodlust hit her in the gut. Her wolf let out another howl. Splinters or fire shuddered through her hands and out into her fingers. Her nail beds pulsed.
“We better hurry. My wolf wants out, and I’m not sure she’ll hold off until we get to the island.” She strode ahead of the brothers only to stop. “Shit. Where are we going?”
Riktor grabbed her hand and led her toward the area where the golf carts for Black Howl met guests. They veered off the path and headed for an anemic trail barely big enough for two people to walk side by side.
“This is the private trail that leads to the dock for the family to use. Not the same pier you arrived at. Everyone else can shift wherever they like, but this is our space.”
They emerged on a side of the island full of lush flora and pristine golden sands. A pier extended out into the ocean. Two rowboats rose and fell with the waves.
She stared at the transport. “Um, are we going to row to the island? Where’s the yacht?”
Ace chuckled. “We don’t own one. Don’t need one. Just need those two. Besides, the speedboat motor is in the shop. Come on. I’ll row. Didn’t get my morning workout.” Ace waded out into the ocean, climbed into one of the boats, and grabbed onto the pier.
“Do you want to go down the ladder or swim for it?” Riktor asked.
They stopped at the water’s edge.
“Might as well swim.” She tugged off her shoes and dropped them to the ground. “It will give my wolf a bit of a workout and ease some of the need to shift.”
“That’s all you’re gonna take off?” Riktor stripped off everything.
She swallowed and tried not to stare at the silvered planes of his body.
“You’re beautiful,” she whispered.
“And the only one naked,” he joked.
“You two gonna stare at her each other, or can we get a move on?” Ace shouted.
Mickey sighed. She took off her clothes and dove into the surf. She swam to the boat and pulled herself in without any help from Ace.
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