by Lisa Lace
He smiled and picked up a glass of water. "I feel the need to watch out for you, but if you have a mate that would be silly."
"I don't know what we are. My bear thinks he's a match, but I'm still trying to convince myself."
"You always have made everything more difficult than it needs to be." He took a long drink of water and pretended to gag when he finished. "Don't eat the eggs. They taste like cardboard."
Sonya chuckled and put her fork down, thankful for the save. "I don't think I make things more difficult. I want to know what I'm getting into before I jump head first into it, you know?"
"Does he make your blood boil when he walks in a room?"
She felt her cheeks heat as she glanced down toward the plate of half-eaten food. "I'm not having this conversation with you, Cade."
"You would have it with Dad."
"That's different." She looked up at him and wished they had built something stronger before their father had passed. He was the glue between them, but Cade being there spoke volumes. He wanted to work on them, from what she could tell. She did too but didn't know how.
"Don't let it be different. Work with me here a little."
"Fine." Sonya let out a long breath and sat back. "Yes, he makes my blood burn just by walking in a room. I can hear his name or his voice and my blood pressure rises."
"And he's strong and capable of taking care of you?"
"Of me, his own pack, ours...everyone."
"And you love him."
She picked up another piece of bacon, unsure of how to answer. Tilting her head to the side, she chewed slowly.
"Stop overanalyzing my question and answer it. Do you love him?"
"Yes. I love him."
"Then why aren't you two together?" Cade scooted the plate toward her before standing up and walking back into the kitchen.
"I think we are now, but I'm scared."
Cade stopped in his tracks and turned around. Sonya looked up at him, taking in the shock on his face.
"The great unbreakable Sonya Valsek is scared? A new Alpha in town wants to take over our pack and you're fearless. Our father dies and you're a pillar of strength. The right man returns into your life and you're paralyzed?"
"Fuck you," she grumbled and turned her attention back to the food in front of her.
"Nope. You're not shutting me out." Cade walked toward her with purpose. Sonya stood up and pressed her chest to his as he narrowed his eyes on her. It was the most aggression she had ever witnessed from her brother.
"I'm not taking this from you or anyone else. I'm in over my head and Alec is the last thing I need trying to take my attention."
"Alec is the only thing you need taking your attention. He's the Alpha. Give in to him. Your bear will force you to anyway. Stand beside him while he fights this shit on your behalf. On our behalf."
He reached for her, wrapping her in a hug and pulling her close. "You need him like the air you breathe. I'm an Alpha too, whether I care to admit it or not. I can sense him all over you and your acceptance. Stop fighting against it."
"I don't know how to stop fighting, Cade."
"You're fighting yourself, Sis, not him. Give in to him and get ready to support him. He's going to pull us all through this. I know it."
"How? How do you know?" Sonya moved back and looked up at her brother, realizing how much he looked like her father in his younger years.
"Because with you beside him there is nothing he won't be capable of, Sonya. Nothing."
Chapter Eighteen
Alec checked his phone before walking into the pool hall. The music playing over the speakers sounded dark and methodical. It smelled like smoke and reminded him of the places he prowled around in his younger years. It was just before lunch, which left the place relatively empty. It was a good thing seeing that Alec thought a fight would probably be the end result of the meeting.
Dax was six years younger than him and was just like Alec if Alec had made the wrong decision at every point in his life. Alec was a little surprised that the brown bear Alpha had been so quick to meet him. Usually, these encounters took place in the middle of the woods at night and someone walked away limping or was buried where they last stood.
The guy must have thought he could find a comrade in Alec. Not even close.
A punk-ass looking blonde stood near a pool table at the back with two pool sticks in his hand. He nodded as Alec walked up, extending the pool stick and smirking.
"You're late," Dax barked out. As if Alec gave two shits.
"You're lucky I showed at all. I have more important things to do than meet up with some shrimp-dick from overseas and warn him. You know the rules of our people. Don't be a bitch or I'll treat you like one." He took the stick and forced himself not to break it on the bastard's face. Knowing that he had touched Sonya left him trembling with rage every time he thought about it.
"I like you already. You're lucky you're in another pack." Dax smiled and leaned over, taking the first shot. It was spot on. The sound of the balls cracking calmed Alec slightly. He needed a drink to ensure that they had a chance to talk before he whooped the pup's ass.
"I'm interested in Victor's pack as well." Alec rolled his shoulders, enjoying the look on the other man's face.
Dax laughed and pointed the pool stick at him. "You're up. You almost had me there for a minute."
Alec leaned over and hit the white ball, knocking in three balls in one shot. He had spent years perfecting his game as he roamed the world restlessly. Those days seemed so far behind him and yet they weren't. Thank God for Victor and his willingness to interfere with providence.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Dax. I'm interested in the pack. Their leader is a woman I plan on claiming." Alec pointed his pool stick at the punk. "You're up. Beat that."
"Not bad, not bad." Dax leaned over. He looked up at Alec and stood up before shooting. The tick beating frantically on the side of his neck gave him away. He was unraveling because control was slipping from his fingers. "You're a black bear. You're not allowed to take the brown bears. It's against the rules. You should know this if you are who they say you are."
"Oh, I think if you did your homework you'd know pretty quickly that I'm a rebel by nature. I'm not interested in rules. I take what I want – when I want it." Alec nodded to the pool table. "Shoot or forfeit. I have things to do today. I'm here to give you a warning that if you cross over into my lands again, I'll feed your balls to the hyenas outside my window. They're always looking for a snack."
"I'm taking the pack from the girl. You can have her, but the pack is going to be mine." Dax moved around the table and stopped a comfortable distance from Alec.
"I think not, pup. You might want to be careful who you threaten. The brown bears are in a vulnerable state right now, but us black bears, we're not at all. You and your boys were on my lands yesterday. Don't do it again. Got it?"
"Fine, but back the fuck off the brown bears. We didn't come over here to start a war. We're a strong pack in Europe and looking to come to the States. You and I can come up with an agreement with you as the Alpha of the Black's and me of the Brown's, but they are mine and I will be stepping up as their leader." Dax shrugged as if his word were law.
So young and dumb.
"You'll be fighting for the position." Alec walked to the wall and slipped his pool stick into the holder.
"Sonya is tough, but I can take her down. I don't want to, but if she gets in my way I don't have a choice. You're an Alpha, Alec. You understand this."
"This pack isn't up for grabs." Alec moved to stand in front of the younger male. His calm was starting to piss the kid off.
"Says who?"
"Me, and I'll tell you one more thing too. Hit a woman again and let me hear about it. I'll fuck you up so badly that your pack will need a new Alpha. I'm happy to take care of them too."
"Don't threaten me. I don't play games, old man." Dax took another step toward Alec, puffing out his chest as if he had a foot
to stand on. Three other men walked toward the table, two of them twice the size of Alec in human form. They had no idea what they were up against.
"I see you brought your friends. I appreciate that. Let's go outside and I'll take care of you."
"You trying to buy me off?"
"Nope. I'm going to kill all of you and chuck you in the woods. It will save you from the trouble you're about to put yourself through." One of the bears growled, but Alec wasn't concerned in the slightest. He glanced around and looked back to Dax.
"No one here to back you up, Alec?" Dax chuckled and looked back to his guys.
"Nope. We said we were meeting here, just you and me. I keep my word. No need to bring anyone else. I'm the Alpha of the largest clan in the world for a reason. I don't need anyone's help."
"I'm telling you to back off or you're going to regret what happens. There are only four of us here to scout things out, but if anything happens we will bring retribution to your door." Dax slipped his hands in his pockets and took a step back, leaning against the pool table behind him.
"You heard me, right? I keep my word. I'm going to have the girl, the pack and your ass buried in the back woods of my forest. It's a promise, little man. Bring your boys when we fight."
"I'm not fighting you over the brown bears. You're not their Alpha. I'll be fighting the sexy bitch that worked my cock the other day in her office."
Alec growled low in his throat and moved faster than any of them expected. He slammed his forehead into Dax's nose, busting it as the punk yelled and cupped his face. The others moved in quickly and Alec turned his attention to them, snagging the pool stick from their Alpha and swinging it fast and hard.
It connected with the largest of Dax's boys, breaking on the side of his face as he hit the floor. Alec dropped it and spun toward the other big one, kicking out at the smaller thug before punching the largest one three times in quick succession. It stunned the goliath long enough for Alec to drop a knee on the smaller one while Dax cursed him.
Picking up a pool ball, Alec turned and pegged the first guy in the face as he rose to his feet. With everyone busy trying to recover, Alec turned his attention back to Dax. He picked up the broken pool stick and reared back before jamming it into the Alpha's chest, ensuring that no bones were broken in the process. It was a warning.
Dax screamed and swung, his punch connecting on the side of Alec's face. He spit out a tooth before wiping his mouth and smiling. Leaning against the stick, he pushed it in farther.
"Back the fuck up. I don't play fair. You come near my girl, my pack, or her pack again, and I will cut you up piece by piece until there is nothing left of you. You're messing with the wrong man, little boy. Pack up your shit and get out of here." Alec gave the stick one last push and moved, turning and walking out of the bar as he rubbed the side of his face.
Alec got into his car, careful not to get blood on his seats. The possibility of Dax actually heading back to Europe was slim, but at least he knew now that he wouldn't survive another attack on Alec. Taking out four of them in human form was difficult, but laying waste to them in bear form would be nothing. He was willing and ready to prove it.
Chapter Nineteen
A long nap was in order after Cade finally left. The office was closed on Monday to honor the man who built it up from nothing to something great. Sonya laid in her bed after waking for a while, her thoughts moving from her father back to Alec at breakneck speed. She had become his, so the fight she planned was moot. He wasn't going anywhere and she was grateful.
Putting him in danger might seem like a selfish thing to do, but she knew that as the Alpha of a shifter group, he sought out danger and trouble. He wasn't the man she originally fell in love with, but someone older and more stable. She let out a soft sound of appreciation as her body quickened at the thought of him.
He had spent most of the night buried deep inside of her, his hands greedy, lips soft and wet. Since she walked away from him, sex had never been quite right or fulfilling, and he brought back her deepest desires. She slid her hand down her tight stomach and over her sex, pressing softly as she groaned.
It was tender from his aggression and yet she couldn't wait until he fucked her again.
"I still need to taste him," she whispered to the empty room around her, and licked at her lips before rolling onto her side and sitting up. She would call him later, but the first order of business was to figure a few things out. Her father was brilliant and had always known exactly what he was doing. Whatever he saw in Alec had begun to blossom.
"Thank you, Dad." Sonya ran her fingers through her hair and let the sadness that she had pushed to the edges of her mind wash over her again. She loved her father and had a special relationship with him. Laughing softly through her tears, she let herself be enveloped by the great loss.
She couldn't imagine a time she wouldn't feel sorrow about missing her greatest supporter, but she hoped Alec might fill the gap. She needed to know what her father did to help them. That would be the final parts of the puzzle.
Getting out of bed, she stretched and groaned. She wiped at her tears with her T-shirt and padded into the kitchen, heading for the fridge. A loud growl came from her stomach and she got busy making a sandwich out of anything and everything in the fridge. A quick glance at the clock on the stove told her that it was early afternoon.
The lazy day had proven good for her mental health so far, her sadness dimmed slightly by the promise of solving a riddle, and the prospect of sex with the best looking man she'd ever laid eyes on later.
Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, smiling at Alec's text.
Alec: Sleeping all day? Takes a big man to put a woman in a 24-hour coma.
Sonya: Just got up. Making food. No coma but will try if you're "up" for it.
Alec: Good. At door.
"No, you aren't." Sonya put the phone down and walked to the door in her T-shirt and panties. She pressed her hands to the wood and leaned in to look out the peephole. Alec stood there in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, sunglasses on his face and his hair a dark mess. She purred softly at the sight of him.
He was sexy when they were younger, but he was wickedly delicious now.
She opened the door and leaned against it as his eyes rolled over her, the hunger in his gaze searing her. "I guess this means you expect me to share my sandwich?"
He walked into the house, pulling her into his arms and sliding his hands down to cup her barely clad butt. "I don't want anything but you in my mouth."
She pressed him to the door behind him and hooked one of her legs over his hip as she pressed her lips to his. Sugary sweetness rolled over her tongue as she licked at his mouth. He slipped his hands into her hair and locked her in place as he kissed her hard. She pulled away breathless, her heart beating so hard it hurt.
How was he able to do that every time?
"I'm starving. Come eat with me." She tugged away from him and walked into the kitchen, careful to shake her hips far more than she usually would. He moved in behind her and caressed the part of her ass the panties didn't cover, his deep panting driving her mad.
"No way you're going to be able to eat that whole sandwich. Cut it in half and I'll save you from embarrassing yourself." He leaned against the counter.
"No way. I'll make you one too, but this one is all mine. I'm starving. Some large bear stole all of my energy last night and I'm not sure how I made it home." She moved to the counter and put a few more pieces of ham on her creation.
Alec shifted in behind her, sliding his hands around her hips and up her torso to her breasts. He bent down and kissed the side of her neck softly as she rubbed her rear against him.
"That bear would have brought you home and tucked you into bed if you weren't so hell bent on running the minute the sex was over."
"Is the sex over?" She turned her head toward him, her voice soft and questioning.
He squeezed her breasts harder and ground into her. "The bear says fuck no. Make
your sandwich and let's revisit what it means to lick someone to death. You've been so needy lately that I haven't gotten the chance to properly spend time exploring your sexy body."
"Me? Needy? I think you're referring to yourself." Sonya cut the sandwich in half and picked one part of it up, leaning over and taking a huge bite. She groaned and chewed slowly, letting the various flavors wash over her tongue. The only thing better than sex was power, and food was a close third.
"I agree, actually. I've never been needy for anything or anyone since you and here I find myself with that same problem again." He moved back, turning her a little and reaching around her to grab the other half of the sandwich. She growled a warning at him as he took a deep bite of it.
"You're lucky there's more bread and meat or I would have to kill you." She shrugged and took another bite, watching him closely. He was powerful and big, his size and stamina leaving her almost dizzy. She reached out with her free hand and slid it under his shirt, running her fingers over the thick swell of his chest. She played with his nipple before taking another bite of her sandwich.
Juice from the tomato dripped down the side of her mouth and she moved back to wipe it, but Alec trapped her hand against him and leaned forward. Her breath caught in her chest as he licked the contents away and nipped at her mouth.
"Why is it so hot that I know you could kill me if you wanted to?" He kissed the side of her mouth and moved back, leaning over and taking another bite of her sandwich.
"Because you're the Alpha of a large pack. Threats are imminent and me being vicious and independent means that you won't have to worry about my safety as your woman." She shrugged and took another bite.
"Does this mean you're going to stop fighting me so hard and relent?" He finished his sandwich, his mouth filled with the contents as he made quick work of it and licked at his fingers.
"Do I have a choice?" She extended her half-eaten meal to him and he took it, finishing it off too.
"Not at all. You mated with me last night. You're mine forever." He wagged his eyebrows and moved closer as he licked at the side of his mouth. "Why was that the best thing I've ever eaten?"
