Bought By Their Alpha

by Bonnie Burrows

  She begged for her release, crying Quinn’s name as he took her to the edge. She fell over the other side, tumbling into the sweet release he gave her, to meet him there as his own release pulsated through his body.

  ***

  Morning broke on the horizon, gentle fingers of sunlight breaking through the cloud cover; the storm had blown itself out as the night gave way to the dawn.

  Eva’s pleasant pressure against Quinn’s side reminded him that there was light and goodness in the world again. Her breathing was steady as she dreamt in his arms, her chest rising and falling against him. She snuffled in her sleep, and moved closer against him. His arms tightened around her, her hair tickling his nose.

  Quinn sighed his relief then, exhaling the breath he felt he had been holding since the day she had walked away. He vowed then that he would never tell her to leave again; he would beg her to stay if it came down to it. But never again would he be so stubborn that he wouldn’t fight for her – for them.

  His inner wolf growled his agreement; he had claimed his she-wolf, through all the good and all the bad. Their bond was undeniable, there was no way to avoid it or ignore it. They were bound together, for as long as they both breathed.

  Eva stirred against Quinn; her eyes opened slowly, as though afraid that she had been dreaming the steady heartbeat beneath her.

  A lazy smile spread across her face, as her eyes met Quinn’s.

  “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare?” she asked.

  “I’m memorizing you; there’s a difference.”

  “You don’t have to. I’m going to say something now, that you will never hear me say again.”

  Quinn raised his eyebrow in question.

  “I was wrong.”

  Quinn’s eyes widened in shock; those words had never been formed on those perfect lips before, of that he was sure.

  “About?” he asked softly, almost afraid to say anything, in case he was dreaming.

  “I told you I would never belong to you, on the first day. I was wrong; I am yours. You own my heart completely.”

  “As you own mine,” Quinn said as he exhaled. “I wish I could change things – the way things happened. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “To hear it told, you’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot,” Eva sighed. “I wouldn’t change anything; everything led me to you, to this moment. It’s our story, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t regret a single moment that I’ve spent in your arms. It doesn’t matter how our story began, it only matters that we’re together.”

  “I finally got the girl,” Quinn kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her, drawing it deep into his soul.

  “Was it worth the wait?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “You shaved,” Thomas smiled sardonically as he sat down opposite Quinn later that day. The sunlight streamed through the windows in his office, warming the room to a pleasant temperature.

  “What is it with everyone and my beard? Can a man not let himself go in peace?” Quinn asked in exasperation.

  “If you wanted peace you should have chosen a different mate. I warned you in the beginning, she’ll keep you on your toes.”

  “That was never a possibility. As long as she lets me keep my toes, I’m happy,” Quinn laughed.

  “You’d best tread carefully then. She has quite a colorful imagination – I almost feel sorry for you.”

  “She’s perfect.”

  “Stop that, Quinn. People might start to think you have real emotions.”

  “As opposed to the fake kind?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past you,” Thomas shrugged.

  “Thank you,” Quinn said simply, “For interfering when I told you not to.”

  “Think nothing of it. You know I don’t always feel the need to listen to you.”

  “Well, this is one time I’m glad you didn’t. I know you didn’t come here to hear me wax lyrical about Eva. What’s plotting, Thomas?”

  “Absolutely nothing, making for a nice change. Everything is quiet. No border skirmishes, no mutterings of unhappiness; there’s a weird sense of calm and peace in the village. It’s almost as though they can feel their alpha’s contentment, and they’re echoing it. Strange how that could happen, isn’t it?”

  “You made your point.” Quinn rolled his eyes.

  “Have I though? I don’t know, man. I feel I should emphasize it more clearly. She’s good for you – you should keep her. If you screw it up again, I’ll tie you to a tree and let the birds peck at your toes.”

  “You sound just like her,” Quinn groaned.

  “She may have rubbed off on me a bit,” Thomas grinned.

  “Eva has a way of doing that,” Quinn nodded.

  “Just treat her right, Quinn. She deserves the best you can give her; God only knows what she sees in you.”

  “It’s the beard, I’m telling you.”

  “Keep lying to yourself.”

  “I miss it, even if it was hellishly scratchy,” Quinn rubbed his clean-shaven chin.

  “I will set Eva on you, don’t think I won’t do it,” Thomas turned in his chair as though looking for her.

  Quinn laughed, safe in the knowledge that Eva was visiting with Adrianna.

  ***

  “I’m so glad you’re back,” Adrianna enthused as she hugged Eva.

  “I missed you too, Adrianna,” Eva laughed.

  “Tea?”

  “Do you even need to ask?”

  Adrianna nodded, and made her way to the kitchen in the back of her shop. The smell of rose petals and honeysuckle reached Eva, as the tea brewed.

  When Adrianna had seated herself opposite Eva, tea cup in hand, she gave Eva the look that meant it was time to start talking.

  “What?” Eva asked innocently.

  “Don’t even try, Eva. Talk.”

  “I’m back. For good this time. Quinn knows not to pull that alpha crap on me again,” Eva shook her head even as she smiled.

  “Yes, well. You know men. They’re full of it. I don’t know what possesses them to think they know better than we do. When will they learn?”

  “Never, I’m guessing,” Eva smiled.

  “Have you two spoken through everything yet?”

  “We’re getting there, slowly.”

  “This time, try not to leave things unsaid. If I’ve learnt one thing in life, it’s that we regret the things we didn’t say, more than the things we did.”

  “I know you’re right. I think fear was our biggest problem before. We were so afraid to scare each other off by saying the things we felt, that we held back. I won’t make the same mistake again,” Eva said before she took a sip of her tea.

  “I’m glad to hear it. How is Quinn doing?”

  “Better. That haunted look is gone, so that’s something. I just worry I did too much damage by leaving him.”

  “That’s good news. Give him time, he just needs to fully realize that you really do love him.”

  “I can’t believe he ever doubted it in the first place.”

  “With a history like his, don’t you think you would have done the same thing?” Adrianna’s astute gaze fixed itself on Eva.

  “Fair enough. I just thought he’d learnt to trust in his own worth enough to know that what I felt was true.”

  “I don’t think he wanted to doubt that it was real – sometimes it’s just easier to believe the worst for a while. It makes the pain more bearable.”

  “I guess so,” Eva frowned. “Do you believe in the myths of true bonds, Adrianna?”

  “Of course I do. There is too much evidence to support that very fact, isn’t there?”

  Eva nodded, her mind already back with Quinn.

  *

  Quinn was waiting for Eva when she returned home from Adrianna’s. He had that look in his eye that told her he was up to something.

  When he asked if they could go through to their rock by the river, Eva knew she was right. She agreed
, nevertheless, and as they shifted into their werewolf forms, she became aware of the strength of their bond.

  They ran at a comfortable pace, enjoying the feel of the wind through their fur, and the soft ground beneath their paws. The air still held a slight chill, the last of winter’s touch that was left behind.

  They reached their rock, as Eva had come to think of it, just before sunset. The sky was painted in shades of yellow, orange and red as the sun bid farewell to another day. The water gurgled ahead of them, as it ran over the rocks deep below the surface. The last bit of sunlight glinted off the water, sending sparks of prismatic color into the air. Eva reveled in the beauty of the world around her, glad to be able to share this piece of it with Quinn.

  They shifted into their human forms, and Quinn took Eva’s hand in his as he led her to the rock.

  As they sat down, side by side, as little space between them as possible, Quinn picked up a stone, worrying it in his fingers.

  He launched it across the water, and they both watched as it skipped, once, twice, three times, before sinking into the river.

  “Now that’s improvement,” Eva smiled.

  “I have a very good teacher,” Quinn shrugged nonchalantly, causing Eva to punch him playfully in the shoulder.

  “You’re not the worst student out there, you know.”

  “Only because you know just how to challenge me, to make me want to be better,” Quinn kissed Eva lightly on the temple.

  Eva sighed as she leaned into Quinn, her body fitting perfectly into his, as his arm came up around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes, Quinn taking in the feel of Eva against him, just as Eva drowned in the closeness of him.

  “I need you to know that it’s true,” Quinn murmured into the comfortable silence.

  “What is?” Eva searched Quinn’s eyes; she was relieved that the haunted look was nowhere to be found.

  “That you bring out the very best in me; you make me want to be the best version of myself. I never had reason to try – for anyone or anything – before you came in and turned my world on its side. It’s as though you took everything I’d ever thought of myself, and refused to see me that way. And in doing that, you forced me to re-evaluate everything I’ve ever seen in myself. You have this way of seeing the good in me. Of bringing the good out of me.”

  “You were a bit of a fixer-upper in the beginning,” Eva laughed.

  “Prime real estate, right here,” Quinn joined her in laughing. “The thing is, Eva, I need you to know I will follow you. Wherever you go, I will follow. I may be an alpha, but you’re the one with the power here. I was an idiot to tell you to go – I thought it was what you needed. I knew I had made a mistake the moment you shifted; I was too proud and too scared to beg you to stay. I should have. I should have tried to keep you; to hell with everything else. You are the other half to my heart and soul. There is no one else who can ever compare to you. No one even comes close.”

  “I could say the same thing about you.”

  “You have to know that I will never be the same again. Your love has flowed in-between all the bits that make me who I am. You are the glue that binds me; you are my strength. Without you, I will fall apart. Again. I am in love with you, and I swear to you now, I will spend every moment of the rest of my life ensuring that you know exactly how much I love you. I will show you every day just how much you mean to me.”

  “You already do that, Quinn. I never doubted that your love for me.”

  “It’s more for my benefit than yours, Eva. I couldn’t live with myself if I drove you away again. If I learnt one thing, it’s never to take you for granted. You are the breath in my lungs, and the blood pulsing through my veins. You are the heart of my soul. The thing I revolve around; like a magnet, you draw me in every time.”

  “It’s scary, isn’t it? How strongly we attract each other,” Eva shook her head. “I want you to know, then, that you are in every beat of my heart, every breath I take, and every moment I live. You have my soul, and I won’t ever ask for it back.”

  Quinn kissed Eva, lightly; she could feel his hunger for her even in that gentle kiss, and it took her breath away.

  “I know I can be a difficult person to deal with, especially when the mood hits me just right,” Quinn sighed. “Just keep loving me, Eva, because you’re doing it perfectly.”

  “I can’t do anything but love you. You don’t understand,” Eva squinted as she looked out over the water. “The power you hold over me is something I could never have imagined. I left myself behind, when I left. Every part of me that loves you – and that’s every part of me – stayed with you. You really should know that. I took nothing of myself with me; only the feeling of your love through our bond kept me sane.”

  “I can’t ignore it, my love. I can’t fight my love for you ever again. I can’t be without you. I need you like the air I breathe. I will fight for you, to keep you, as long as I draw breath. Which is why I want you to have this,” Quinn fumbled in his pocket, drawing out a small box. “It was my grandmother’s ring; she believed in the power of love above all else. She always said fortune favored those who loved with their whole existence. I love you with everything I am, and everything I have. She would want you to have this.”

  Quinn could see their entire future stretching out before him in that moment, as he looked into Eva’s eyes.

  He could see the nights they would spend, wrapped up in each other’s arms. He could see the days they would spend together, laughing, living, loving each other. He could see each and every moment. He couldn’t see a future that didn’t have Eva in it, and he refused to ever live a life that didn’t include her in it.

  Every dream, every promise, every hope that they had, became possible, as Quinn opened the box he held.

  Eva’s breath hitched in her throat.

  He promised her, then, that he would spend the rest of his life fighting to be worthy of her. He would never take her for granted, or cause her to worry about his well-being. He would never let her slip through the cracks of life; she was his life.

  Quinn held his soul in his arms, he would never forget that. He would spend every day cherishing her, loving her, as gently and fiercely as she loved him in return. He would give her the best of himself; he would give her more than she asked for, it was only what she deserved.

  Eva would never know sadness at his hands again – he promised to protect her from anything that could hurt her, including himself. She was the only one with the ability to hurt him, to break him, but he handed her his heart and soul, knowing they were safe in her delicate hands.

  In that moment, Quinn knew their true bond could never – would never – break. Their love was perfection; they would spend their lives proving that to each other.

  Eva promised Quinn would never know loneliness or fear again. She would hold him safe in her heart; she would love him fully and completely, with every ounce of passion she had. She would never fight against his love. She promised to love him, for every day of forever. They would never have enough time together, she would always want more. But she would start with loving him forever, and take it from there.

  They claimed each other; above all else, they chose to spend the rest of their lives together.

  It wouldn’t always be easy, they knew that. They knew, too, that there was nothing they couldn’t overcome, together. They were the two halves of one whole; two souls destined to find each other.

  They would fight, for each other, until they stopped drawing breath. They would never part, as their bond would inevitably pull them back together.

  Quinn’s grandmother had told many stories in her days. Another she had told came to mind in those precious moments.

  She had told the story of a love so deep, and so vast, that it consumed the two halves that made it, returning to the world one perfect whole. That love, the strongest power in the world, would never wear thin, it would never break. That love could never t
ire, or falter. It only grew in its intensity, from something as small as a candle flame, into a raging inferno that could not be stopped. It gave life; it did not destroy. It created passion and laughter; it devoured all that was broken and returned, instead, the breath of life. That love was said to be a blessing of the greatest kind – a love so pure that it made anew what it consumed.

  Quinn took Eva’s hands in his, as they faced the inferno that was their perfect love. They stepped into its flames, together, and emerged on the other side, with a love that could not be denied.

  They had claimed each other; there was nothing in the world that could undo it.

  There was nothing left to fear as they faced the journey of their lives together.

  Eva trembled slightly as she slipped the ring on her ring finger, her eyes brimming with tears. Quinn brushed them away with his thumb as they wound their course down her face.

  She kissed him, her inner wolf joining his as they howled their triumph. Eva and Quinn had finally come home.

  *

  Epilogue

  As the seasons changed, and the world turned, Eva and Quinn’s bond strengthened.

  They went on that date they had promised each other – but even Eva had to admit there was no way she was only going to put out on the third date. True to his word, Quinn bought her a pretzel with a coupon.

  Eva moved in, properly, bringing not only her things from her room, but also from her father’s house. They spent weekends painting the rooms of the house, building character, as Quinn’s father called it.

  They took up gardening together when they’d run out of rooms to paint.

  Their house became a home, which Quinn attributed less to the stuff they brought in than to the power of Eva’s love and compassion.

  There was a warmth and welcoming feeling, where before there had been empty spaces. Photos lined the walls, as they made memories, together.

  Quinn took Eva on more dates; they even tried Latin dancing. It turned out Quinn’s Latina blood on his mother’s side translated into pure passion on the dance floor. His skill, however, was as always, bested by his she-wolf, who still danced circles around him. He found he didn’t mind.