The Old-Fashioned Alpha

by K. S. Martin

  Right now she needed Big Red to use her instincts and fight this bitch. Jess let her take over. She stepped back in her mind and out of the way. The wolf was smarter in this situation. The wolf was more vicious, too. Jess watched from behind her eyes. She watched the cat try to swipe at her with its claws then lung at her with its sharp fangs. Jess felt the claws connect with her shoulder, but the wolf ignored the pain and whipped around on her. Big Red sank her fangs into the cat’s neck and tore her throat out without a second thought. Eww, Jess thought, feeling the warm blood in its mouth, and suddenly she knew who the cat was. Margaret Lansing.

  Jess stared down into the cat’s eyes as the life fled her and the fur disappeared. Her muzzle shrank back into her face and left the face of her boss. James yipped then. He needed help. She gave Ms. Lansing one more glance, then threw herself into the fray with James.

  Within seconds, she took down two of the big cats, and James killed another. The last ran away. Her two were out cold but not dead. She wanted to see who they were, so she waited, but Big Red wasn’t interested. She’d come out here to play, run, and fuck. She nudged James’s muzzle, then nipped at his ear. He gave her a look that made her wolf submit. She lay down and rested her head on her paws.

  First, one of them shifted into Debbie from payroll. The other, Jess did not know. Maybe he was her brother, because he resembled Debbie. The third, she’d never seen before and she didn’t know who he was. James yipped at her and trotted off in the direction of the SUV. He shifted when he got there and held the door open for her. Jess shifted into her human self and climbed in.

  “I’m proud of you. You did well in your first fight.”

  “Did you see who that was back there? Did you see who I just killed?”

  James nodded.

  “Did you know that she was a panther?”

  He shook his head. “And shame on me for not knowing. I don’t know why I didn’t scent her… why none of us did. She and the girl from payroll must wear something to mask it. Even when I got out of the truck, they were close, but I didn’t scent them.”

  “She was here for me,” Jess said quietly. “She meant to kill me. What happens when she doesn’t show up tomorrow?”

  “Probably nothing until someone finds the body.”

  “She has kids.”

  “She has teenagers, and only one of them lives with her. The oldest, I think he’s eighteen now. Don’t worry about it. She didn’t.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

  Jess stared out the window. She heard his phone then. He was dialing.

  “Freddy,” he said quietly. “Are you alone?” He put his turn signal on and got into the left lane to head home. “We were at the state park. Things went bad with some cats. You’re going to get an anonymous tip that there are two bodies up there in about three hours, okay?” James pulled into their driveway a few minutes later. “Yeah, that’s the place. See you tomorrow.” He turned the vehicle off and climbed out. Jess sat there, still in shock. He came around and opened her door. “Come on, sweetness. It’s over. We’ll play indoors tonight.” Jess slid out of the truck and let him wrap her in his arms.

  “I don’t want to ever do that again.”

  He nodded and guided her inside.

  “I can’t believe that I…”

  “You didn’t, she did. She had to. It was kill or be killed, babe. Your wolf did exactly what she should have done. She protected you. It was smart to let her have control. You did the right thing. Only instincts would’ve prevailed in that situation. I have the feeling that Margaret chose to stay in control, they all did. Too much ego. Big cats are vicious and very hard to kill if they are in control.” James led her inside and straight into the bedroom from their entrance.

  There were other cars outside, and she knew the pack was home—well, mostly. Some were still at work. It didn’t matter if they were in the house, this end of it was private. They only shared kitchen space, and that was only for now. Soon the rest of their part would be completely renovated.

  James pulled his clothes off and tossed them into the baskets Jess had lined up. The clothes were separated into the basket by colors. It saved her time when doing the laundry. She went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. James came in shortly afterward and stood behind her. His eyes flared. Hers flared back, and he smiled. Still watching her, he bent to kiss her shoulder, his hands resting on her hips.

  A little thrill raced through her as it always did when he did these things. When she bent to spit, her bottom snuggled against him, and she felt the delicious hardness of him. Jess rinsed her mouth, then turned to face him. Her arms snaked around his neck, and he pushed her back against the counter.

  “Here or there?” James nuzzled her neck.

  She sighed.

  “I know, sweetheart, but that wasn’t an option tonight. Tonight we only have here or there.” She felt him smile against her skin, and a small shiver raced through her. “I think there,” he said, and lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he carried her to the bed and rested her on the side. “I want to take my time.”

  She sighed again.

  “Jess?” He glanced up at her, and she knew that he saw disappointment there. It was how she felt. She couldn’t hide it. She’d wanted wild and free, outdoors. He was always a little rougher outdoors. “Tell me.”

  She gave him a little shake of her head.

  His left eyebrow rose, and he gave her that look that always shook her to her core. He was the Alpha and she would submit.

  “I wanted outside.” She pouted. “I know, it’s not an option tonight.”

  “Tell me why. What is it about outdoors that is so much better for you?”

  She didn’t answer him. How could she? It was so naughty. She felt her cheeks pink.

  “Jess. Tell me. You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you, and I only want to satisfy you, sweetheart.”

  Jess was looking at his sternum because he was in the way of her looking at the floor.

  His knuckles brushed her cheek. “We can sit like this all night,” he murmured.

  “It’s better.”

  “Why is it better?” He kissed her forehead.

  “Because you’re not so gentle or understanding out there.”

  “Ah,” he said, and she looked up into his eyes. “You want the untamed Alpha that chases you.”

  She nodded so slightly he could have missed it if he hadn’t been watching like the predator that she wanted. James suddenly yanked her shirt off and ripped her bra away from her breasts. Jess’s heart went into overdrive and her breath heaved in and out of her. He pushed her down roughly and took her pants and panties at once. She’d already removed her shoes. James threw her up toward the head of the bed and climbed up behind her. Her bra was lying on the pillow beside her head. He grabbed it and tied her hands together with it, then tied them to the headboard.

  “James,” she protested, not sure what he was up to and not sure if she liked it. He flipped her over suddenly and hauled her to her knees, then slapped her ass. Hard.

  “James!” she cried.

  He slapped her backside again.

  “James!”

  His eyes flared at her again, and this time, he was Alpha. Her heart tried to jackhammer its way out of her chest.

  An electric current raced over her skin, radiating from the spot where his hand met her bottom. She felt his face against the warm spot there, then felt his tongue. It slid from her tailbone down to her wetness.

  “Oh James,” she panted, her arms nearly crumpled beneath her. He thrust into her then, balls deep, and she cried out. James pounded into her, and Jess loved it. She loved the way she was so full of him, the way he controlled her body and its sensations. This was what she needed. She needed him to dominate her, to make her submit, for him to take her. He reached around to pull and roll her nipple. She nearly crashed. His deft fingers found her clit next and tugged.

  Gentle and patient was nice sometimes, but not on the nights when the wol
f was out. When she came out to play, it made Jess wild for a while, and she needed the release. The wolf needed to submit; it calmed her. James pushed her face down and angled her hips back more sharply.

  The climax started low and tingling, then worked its way violently through her. It crashed through her womb. The clenching and squeezing of it was too much, and Jess moaned loudly until it turned into something near a howl. She felt his climax begin and heard him roar behind her. Yes! That was what she needed.

  Jess collapsed on the bed beneath him, but he stayed inside her until there were no more tremors or shudders left in either of them.

  “Better?” he asked, kissing the back of her neck and unfastening the bra from her wrists at the same time.

  “Much better,” she murmured.

  “Anything you want, sweetheart, and it’s yours. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or need. Ever. I’m more than happy to oblige.”

  “Okay,” she mumbled incoherently, and she felt him smile against her skin again just as sleep claimed her.

  Chapter 16

  Jess heard a jay squawking outside and opened her eyes slowly. She stretched her limbs as far as she could, then closed her eyes again. The bedroom door opened and closed, then she looked up at James. He had coffee and a croissant. He’s the best mate a girl could ever want, she thought, when the scent of the mocha coffee hit her. James perched on the side of the bed after setting the plate and mug on the side table.

  “Time to get up, sweetheart.” Jess moaned. “No time for that. Come on. Sit up and eat your breakfast while I shower. Remember you are riding with me today.” He kissed her warmly, then slapped her thigh lightly. “Come on. Up.” Jess wiggled into a sitting position and accepted the cup from him. He put the pastry on her lap. It was stuffed with ham, eggs, and cheese. “If you need more, there’s bacon and eggs in the kitchen. The boys are up and cooking Freddy’s groceries.” James winked and went to the bathroom, shedding his boxers along the way.

  He had a magnificent ass. She watched it disappear into the bathroom and heard the water come on. Jess sipped her coffee, and the huge vicious cat from last night popped into her mind’s eye. Then what her wolf had done to it and who it became after that.

  What would happen now? She’d never killed anyone before. Would they put her in jail? No. James wouldn’t let them. He’d sent Freddy out there last night and he said that Freddy was home. Jess put her dishes on the side table and got up.

  Quickly donning her robe, she flew down the hall to the kitchen. The pack was eating, all in various states of undress.

  “Hey, Jess,” Duane said around a forkful of egg.

  David nodded respectfully as he usually did. Austin glanced up from the paper and nodded.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Jess said, and sat beside Freddy, who looked exhausted.

  “Freddy, did you take care of that matter last night?” she asked softly so everyone couldn’t hear. He nodded and sipped his coffee.

  “They all know. There are no secrets here,” Freddy said loudly, grinning into his cup.

  “Good job, Jess,” Mark said, giving her a lopsided grin. “I feel safer and scared at the same time.” There were chuckles around the table. Jess gave him a confused look. “All I mean is that your wolf is definitely a killer Alpha, no doubt about it now, because she took down a very nasty cat. Which means that you might be able to kick some of our butts.”

  Jess giggled.

  “Definitely Duane’s, definitely.”

  A donut hit Mark in the forehead, and they all laughed.

  “It seems that a Margaret Lansing was in the park at night and was attacked by animals. She didn’t make it.” Freddy sipped more coffee. “That’s the official story, anyway. I would’ve liked to have watched. That woman was one nasty piece of work. We’re still trying to ID the other guy.” Several of them grunted.

  “What’s up?” James came into the kitchen, carrying Jess’s coffee and croissant. He set them in front of her and waited for the explanation. Jess got the feeling that even though he’d said there was breakfast, he didn’t approve of her being out here in her robe.

  “I wanted to know what happened last night after we left, so I came out here to find Freddy.”

  “Did you really take on a pack of cats, Cap?”

  James nodded at David. “I had help.” He gave Jess a wink.

  “Since when do cats hang out in a pack unless they’re lion shifters?” Alex asked, and James shrugged.

  “A few work in accounting with Jess, though, which means that job is suddenly dangerous.” The heat of James hand on her shoulder comforted Jess.

  “The job is no more dangerous than a week ago,” Jess said, tearing off a piece of pastry and sticking it in her mouth.

  “Yes, more than a week ago. Now they all know what you are. How often do you come in close contact with them? It’s taken them a minute to figure it out. I’m sure those that didn’t know have been informed by Margaret.”

  “It explains why they get away with murder and all their work is dumped on me, too.”

  James nodded.

  “Is Lolly one of them?”

  “I don’t think so, sweetheart, but I can’t tell because she wears so much perfume. Who knows what’s hiding under there.”

  “How could I tell? I mean, we go to the gym together and she showers. Before she puts the perfume on, what would I smell?”

  James considered it. “Tell you what, I have a few guys at work that are different species. Come over for lunch and I will introduce you. You can scent them and I will tell you what they are, then when you get a chance to scent Lolly without the perfume, you’ll know. Now go get dressed before you make us late.” Jess hopped up and crammed the rest of her croissant in her mouth and let him kiss her stuffed cheek as she passed him.

  “I’ll hurry.” She jogged toward their apartment.

  ***

  Jess went to James’ office at lunch time. She had to wander around a bit because she’d never been to this side of the complex, but she found him with a little help from a young officer. She walked into James’s office, where he sat watching her approach.

  He was leaned back in the tilting black leather chair that she had more than likely purchased, with his arms crossed behind his head. He was smiling when she entered, that broad, open, beautiful smile that she loved.

  “Hi,” she said, closing the door quietly behind her. “Why do you look like that?” she asked nervously since his smile hadn’t faded in the least bit.

  “Dirty thoughts.”

  Jess felt her face heat as a sudden image of her kneeling in the space beneath his desk and sucking him filled her head.

  “Hmm? I see you are having some of your own. Tell me.” He gestured to the edge of his desk in front of him. She went around and perched there. “What did you think about right then?”

  Jess shook her head.

  “I thought about pushing that skirt up around your waist and bending you over this desk,” he murmured. “Maybe a quick repeat of last night.”

  “Okay, Captain. I thought about crawling under your desk and sucking on you until you came.”

  The air left him in a whoosh, and Jess laughed.

  “You win. Claim your prize.”

  Jess giggled and slapped his hand that was resting on her thigh.

  “Come on, it’s all yours.” He gave her a squeeze.

  “I believe you promised to teach me to scent shifters, sir,” Jess said coyly.

  “I’d rather play the other game.” He ran a hand up her thigh under her skirt.

  “Me too, but not at work. Besides, this office is a fish bowl.” She looked around at the glass that made up three walls. There were mini blinds on all of them and on the door, but still, people could see them. As she looked around, she noticed that people were looking. “Why are they watching you?”

  “They’re watching you.” He grinned. “You are in the captain’s office and perched on his desk in an overly familiar fashio
n. They’re wondering who you are and why you are sitting so close to me.”

  She looked around again and saw Mark. He nodded. She waved at him, but he’d moved on. “Come on. Let’s go see what you can scent, Big Red.”

  Jess giggled and took his offered elbow.

  James led her through the squad room and down a hall. A man approaching them had a uniform on with more stripes than James’s had. “Commander,” James said. “Please allow me to introduce my fiancée, Jessica. She works in our accounting section.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Jessica.” He shook her hand, and his eyes flashed for a microsecond, but she saw it. He recoiled slightly when her wolf perked up at him, and her eyes flashed back.

  “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Jess answered and smiled.

  He moved away quickly.

  “Deer.”

  Jess looked at him with raised eyebrows.

  “Well, stag, not like a doe or anything weak and small, but still, deer. He moved up through the ranks before the wolves invaded. Now he just steers clear. We’d never hurt one of our own, but he’s a deer, so naturally he’s afraid of wolves. You just scared the crap out of him.”

  Jess grimaced. Apparently Big Red was a fan of venison.

  James walked on and into an office. “Sir, did you get the paperwork on the Ellis case?” James asked the man behind the desk.

  “I did, James. Good work,” he said without looking up. “Your mate?” he asked, raising his eyes from the computer to look at Jess. He had bars on his collar and seemed to be in command.

  “Yes, sir. Jessica. She works over in accounting. I’m teaching her about different scents, she is a recent convert to our kind.”

  “I’d love to hear that story sometime. Welcome, Jessica. You’ve just met a tiger.”

  Jess smiled. “Are there more of you here?” Jess whispered.

  “Tigers? Uh, I think there is one in the mail room. He’s very old. We are solitary creatures, if you know what I mean?”

  She nodded. No pack, she got it.

  “See you at one, sir?” James asked.

  He nodded, and they left him on his own.

  “A tiger? Wow. What has been going on around me all these years? Are there shifters everywhere?”