by Celia Kyle
Garron snorted. “Of course I know the law. I—”
“It’s not your turn to speak, Garron.” The Alpha quieted the man, and her attraction to him and his partner increased.
She was suddenly not quite so pissed about being summoned. Her Mark tingled, heating and pricking right below her right shoulder.
Her mates were near. Not the two guys who’d blocked them. The new Alphas? Regardless, she’d found her mates. Portions of her raged against fate. She’d have to uproot her life. Move. And there was the fact that they could be total dicks. Who was to say they wouldn’t be like Garron and Quentin? They could treat her like shit.
Unfortunately, her other half, the bit that’d been lonely, rejoiced.
She had a guy to smack down first.
“Miss Wickham?” The hazel-eyed devil raised a single eyebrow.
The puny asshole, Garron rolled his eyes. She ignored him. “I’m assuming you know the first law. That a Marked shall never be harmed. Now, the second addresses a Marked’s submission.”
“See? You must—” A half-shifted claw wrapped around Garron’s throat. Way to go, badass Alpha.
“The first clause of the second law does say that each Marked must submit to the Test of Proximity.”
A gurgling gasp came from Garron, and the Alpha turned to her with a wide, toothy smile. “Continue Miss Wickham.”
“The law governing the Test of Proximity indicates it is the Marked who initiates and concludes the test. An Alpha pair may request the test, but, outside arranged Gatherings, no Marked is required to submit.” She glanced back at her sisters. “I didn’t agree to anything, did you?” Both Gabby and Whitney shook their heads, wide smiles in place. “So, my sisters didn’t agree to the Test of Proximity. I didn’t agree to the Test of Proximity, and I know for damned sure this is time set aside for registration. Thus, no required submission.”
She tilted her head to the side. “In fact, I do happen to recall that direct violation of Gathering laws in relation to the Marked, and their treatment, results in immediate expulsion. The laws are in place for our protection, not so you can come in and be a dictator. We are balance. We are your cherished. We sure as hell aren’t here to get barked at and sniffed.”
Garron’s reddening face paled, and the other wolf, Quentin, growled low. Apparently the other half of Garron’s pair didn’t care for what he heard. Well, she didn’t like being around assholes, so they were even.
The stocky man tensed, hands flexing and then they became claws. A rolling growl overrode Quentin’s, and the wolf quickly quieted.
“Thank you, Madden.” The lean Alpha’s voice was calm, smooth and not hinting at the tiniest bit of stress from holding Garron still. “Miss Wickham is correct. She asked you to move. Twice. You made demands of her and her…” He glanced at her, eyebrow raised in a silent question.
“Sisters.”
“You made demands of the Sisters Wickham.” The unknown Alpha pushed Garron away and, for the first time, Scarlet noticed the guards surrounding them. “Have this Alpha pair escorted from the grounds.”
Way to make an entrance.
Snarls and growls filled the air as the two asshole Alphas were drawn from the area, the guards doing their jobs as ordered. Which left Scarlet and her sisters with a thinning crowd and two massive, fuck-me-now Alphas.
“Um, thank you?”
The leaner of the two smiled, a slight quirk of his lips. “I’m sorry it was necessary. Unmated Alphas can come on a little strong and push the laws a little, but those two are too aggressive to remain. Apologies.” He bowed ever so slightly, bringing him nearer, and it took everything in her not to reach out and run her fingers through those slight curls. “I’m Alpha Keller Aaron, and this is my partner Alpha Madden Harris.”
Gabriella gasped, but Scarlet ignored her sister. She was too interested in the gorgeous men before her.
Keller continued. “We welcome you to the Gathering. If there’s any assistance we can provide, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Keller glanced at Madden, and their gazes remained locked as if they fought in a silent battle. Finally, Alpha Keller’s attention returned to her. “At this time, if you are amenable, we would like engage in a Test of Proximity.”
Scarlet blinked. Then blinked again before turning her head to look at Gabby. “Do you want to go with them?”
Her sister’s expression went from a mixture of wide-eyed fear and surprise to completely blank and devoid of emotion. She’d have to ask Gabby about that later. “They don’t want me, hon.”
“Whitney?”
That sister raised her brows. “Dude, I don’t even have a Mark.”
She stood there, stunned. Okay, her Mark was doing a happy little pulsy thing and the tingles were traveling on to her pleasurable pink bits, but… Her?
Scarlet turned her attention to Keller and Madden. “Me?”
Keller winked and Madden…smiled? Sort of a mix between a grimace and a smile. A smilace? She saw the vulnerability in his eyes, the wariness and unwillingness to let her in. In one sweeping glance, she caught it all. This was the big, bad pack protector who probably didn’t let anyone in. Keller would be the politician. Granted, the man could probably tear off a wolf’s head without hesitation, but Madden would be the one knocking heads around first and asking questions never.
At least Garron and Quentin were able to walk away.
“Yes, Miss Wickham, you.”
She looked to Madden for confirmation. His nod didn’t do anything for the butterflies in her stomach. “Um, okay. I don’t know how… Do I… Like, lean forward and you can sniff me or…”
Scarlet waved her hands, gesturing between them. She so wasn’t knowledgeable about wolf-land specifics. Sure, she’d absorbed the laws Gabby had spouted, but she hadn’t bothered with the rest. Hell, she didn’t even know who the Ruling Alphas were, hadn’t seen a picture or learned their names. She just knew that they were their starting point in Operation: Help Whitney.
Once again, like when she was a child, she should have paid more attention.
“Why don’t we meet in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner? We can talk and…see how things go from there.” Keller’s words were soft and soothing while a sexual, predatory gleam lingered in Madden’s eyes. She imagined him unleashing his pent-up need. On her.
She shivered, a brush of arousal traveling down her spine. Okay. Yeah. Dinner. She licked her lips. “That sounds good. Seven?”
That’d give them enough time to develop a battle plan. The growing throb in her shoulder told her in more than words that these two were the ones for her. She’d be the balance between the seething strength of Madden and the hidden power of Keller.
And that didn’t scare her nearly as much as it should have. Like, at all.
*
Madden watched her walk away, watched the sisters Wickham push and nudge through the throng until they were hidden from sight.
His wolf was pissed.
His heart thundered, pounding against his chest like a thousand horses racing across the plains. He couldn’t draw air into his lungs, couldn’t breathe.
His beast clawed and scraped and scratched inside him, snarling because he and Keller had let Scarlet leave.
The woman awed him. Not only did her body call to him, her mind proved she’d be a good match for them. She hadn’t walked into the Gathering blind. No, their mate had come in armed, prepared to battle with the overbearing Alphas.
Madden never doubted they were arrogant. Alphas, as a rule, wanted things done now and their way. Period.
Their Scarlet would be a good supporter and adversary at the same time.
“She’s beautiful.” Keller’s voice was pitched low, but Madden had no trouble hearing his partner Alpha.
And he agreed. She had luscious curves in all of the right places, nothing like the trim unmarked female wolves who threw themselves at the Ruling Alpha pair. Female wolves were great for a tumble, but their temperament didn’
t provide proper balance, hence the magic that forced Alphas to find their mates amongst the human Marked.
And their Marked, with her round hips and lush breasts, was perfect.
Her long brown hair had seemed to gleam and glow in the ballroom, catching the light with her every shift. Her eyes… Her eyes were dark chocolate, the deep hue tempting him and luring him closer.
And, wolf or no, he was a chocolate lover at heart.
Keller’s elbow collided with his stomach, and Madden grunted. “What?”
“What do you think?”
He had only one thought, and he and his wolf were in complete agreement. “Mine.”
“Ours.”
The wolf growled but quickly recognized their partner’s claim. The beast knew they couldn’t rule, couldn’t claim Scarlet, alone. They needed Keller. Keller was as bloodthirsty as he was, but the other wolf managed to keep him out of trouble. His presence prevented Madden from spiriting Scarlet away and locking her up somewhere safe. He could protect her if she stayed inside. In his room. He suddenly realized why princesses were locked in towers.
Madden nodded. “Ours.”
The low clearing of a throat forced him to turn his attention from the point where Scarlet disappeared, to the man beside them. “Alphas.”
The Captain of the Guard. That’s right, they’d booted the asshole duo of Quentin and Garron. He hated both men. Their dominance tended to lean a little closer to mean than he liked, but each Alpha pair was entitled to join the Gathering and to search for their mate among the attending Marked.
Marked. He’d found his, theirs.
“Captain.” Madden’s attention remained riveted on the guard.
“The Colson Alphas were secured transportation to their home and given an escort to the airport.” The guard glanced at his watch. “Their flight leaves in one hour, twenty-seven minutes.”
“Excellent.” Keller joined their conversation, turning away from a pair of Alphas who’d approached them.
Keller’s gaze fell to him, eyes dark, brows furrowed and lips pinched in a solid white line. Already his partner had to be feeling the effects of their mate’s absence.
Scarlet? Keller spoke with his partner Alpha telepathically, a benefit of being part of an Alpha pair.
Madden rolled his eyes. Like I’d ever forget about ensuring her safety. “Captain, please locate the sisters Wickham. I want them to have round the clock protection. Pull in whomever you need, but I want a guard on their asses at all times. Like fucking glue.” The Captain raised a single brow but remained silent. Madden refused to sate the guard’s curiosity. The packs would learn about Scarlet soon enough. “That’s all I need.”
The wolf bowed and retreated, disappearing into the sea of men and women.
His inner-beast clawed at him, furious he’d let Scarlet’s protection fall to another.
A rough nudge had him turning his attention to Keller. “Chill. We’re having dinner with her tonight. Probably more. Then we can both watch over her.”
Madden knew he’d been at Keller’s side since they were young, but it still creeped him out when the man read his mind.
“I know.” Knowing didn’t keep the wolf calm. He practically vibrated with the need to hunt and protect her. She was so small and sweet and—
Keller snorted. “Small, maybe. I don’t think our mate exudes sweetness.”
Fucker had weaseled into his head again. Madden growled at the other wolf. The beast wouldn’t tolerate anyone, not even Keller, speaking badly about Scarlet. “She was protecting hers. She—”
“Alphas.”
He turned and snarled at the wolf who’d interrupted them, then drew the sound back. He was on edge, would be until Scarlet carried their bite and they both came deep within her body, one in her ass, the other in her pussy.
There was no reason to snap off Albert’s head. “Sorry.”
Keller strode past him, hand patting Madden’s chest. There wasn’t a sexual relationship between them, but time brought easy familiarity and comfort most human men shunned. “Don’t mind grumpy here. What do you need?”
Madden needed Scarlet, but it didn’t look like he’d get his way any time soon.
“The Marked have all checked in, though we still have a few Alpha pairs yet to arrive. I have confirmed they’ll be here by morning.”
“Thank you, Albert.” Keller gave the man a small nod and the wolf scampered away.
Keller, eyes dancing with mirth, turned to Madden. “That wasn’t very nice.”
“Shut it. You know you feel the same way; you’re simply nicer about it. You want to hunt her, too.” He narrowed his eyes. “Maybe we should have picked her guards ourselves. I’ll go find the Captain—”
His partner chuckled. “Come on, we still have a few duties to complete before we can meet our mate, and I’m sure the Captain has selected the very best to watch over the sisters Wickham.”
The wolf growled but felt the truth in Keller’s words.
He just didn’t like it.
Chapter Three
The closer she drew to the restaurant, the hotter her Mark became. It sent pulses of arousal thrumming through her veins. With every step her pleasure grew, body heating, and her doubts about Keller and Madden melted away. The first response was the gentle tingles, the hum to signify her mates’ closeness. Then she’d become aroused, burning with need until they completed their bond. It increased until she was desperate for their bodies.
The only good thing about the process was that the wolves would feel the same. Their need would mirror hers, and a burning sensation would pierce them in the identical place as where she carried her Mark.
They’d all be a bubble of arousal until they finally broke.
Yum.
The only thing marring her impending mating was the fact that she still hadn’t hunted up the Ruling Alphas to sort out Whitney’s situation. Plus, there was some guy with a gun on his hip following her.
She seriously hoped she wasn’t about to be involved in another incident like the one in the ballroom. One confrontation a day was enough for her. Really.
Scarlet tugged on the hem of her skirt, nudging down the edge. She never should have listened to Gabby. The darned thing rose with every step. She wobbled a little on her high heels, the four-inch, strappy stilettos making it difficult to walk. Ugh.
Plus, what had been up with her sister? Gabriella had been giving her extra-wide smiles and battering her with taunting questions.
“Isn’t it great that your mates are so strong?”
“I bet they’re as strong as the Ruling Alphas.”
“I wonder if…”
And blah, blah, blah. The woman knew something Scarlet didn’t, and as soon as she was done with the whole mating thing, she’d beat it out of her sister.
Scarlet continued clicking down the wide, marble-tiled hallway, passing boutique after boutique of overpriced souvenirs and gifts. Nearing a store boasting high-end purses and accessories, she paused, pretending to look over the offerings. In reality, she took a peek at Mr. Gun Guy in the glass’ reflection.
He didn’t even pretend he wasn’t watching her. No, he stood eight feet back, hands behind him, and flat-out stared at her.
Well, she wasn’t about to have him follow her to dinner. She turned and faced him head on. “Is there a reason you’re following me?”
“Yes.” His voice was a low baritone, but it did nothing for her.
She waited for further explanation but didn’t get anything. “Okay, why?”
The man’s look remained bland. “Because the Ruling Alphas ordered your protection.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, we’re back to why.”
“It was ordered.”
Scarlet huffed. “Do you know why and you’re not telling me, or are you simply a drone doing as he’s told?”
That earned her a quick twitch of his lips, and she knew he was trying to suppress a smile. “A little in between.”
“Fine
. God forbid we complain about the Ruling Alphas and their high handedness. This is because my sisters and I got into it in the ballroom with Garron and Quentin, isn’t it? Keller and Madden tattled to them. It wasn’t our fault, you know.” Then again, the assholes had been tossed from the Gathering, so it made sense that the head honchos needed to be informed. “Well, if you’re gonna follow me around like a puppy,” she winked to take some of the sting out of her insult, “you might as well walk next to me.”
Scarlet gestured for the guard to approach, but the man stood still, his body frozen in indecision.
“Come on, I promise not to tell the big bad Ruling Alphas you actually talked to me while you acted as my guard. Hell, who knows when I’ll actually get to meet them. I’ll probably forget you by then.” She winced. “Not that you’re forgettable, I—” She huffed. “Just talk to me.”
“I don’t think—”
“Well, I do.”
She stomped toward him and tugged on his arm, ignoring the sting that accompanied touching a male not meant for her. Stupid Mark. Now that she’d met her mates, pain would accompany any contact she had with other men, human or wolf. At least until she completed her mating with Keller and Madden. Thankfully she wasn’t alone in the ouchy department. It was the same way for the guys.
“Yes, Alpha Mate.” The man grumbled but relented. Aw, her males had already spread the word about their connection. That had to be the reason she’d been upgraded from simply “Marked” to “Alpha Mate” by the guard. How sweet. Sweet-ish. She sorta wished they hadn’t jumped the gun, but Alphas were Alphas.
As uncomfortable as the wolf appeared, she didn’t bother trying to talk to him further. She simply felt better that he wasn’t following her and making her feel like a stalked chubby gazelle.
In less than a minute, they strode into the restaurant side by side, the maître d’ quickly leading them toward the back. Together, they wove their way through the room, sliding around various tables, and she noticed most were occupied by two men and a single woman.
Well, it looked like quite a few were already performing the Test of Proximity. Although she had a feeling the test was all for show. Much like the dinner she was about to enjoy.
