Alpha in Disguise

by Afton Locke

  All running stopped as every pack member stood and blinked at the downed rogue Wolf. No one made a sound against the backdrop of crickets. Ogden lowered his head, flattened his ears and splayed his feet apart, challenging the others to more of the same if they dared to mess with him. The rest of the Wolves wisely kept their distance.

  The fight was over. As if ringing the bell in a boxing match, Drew barked once and loped toward the hall. Everyone followed, shifting to human along the way. When Drew reached the back door, he finally shifted, too.

  “Let’s go inside for a while and act civilized,” he told the crowd.

  Too late for that. Lara turned to see Ryker drag Cliff off the field by the arm. She had no doubt the rogue’s nasty behavior would be punished by exile or worse. The stony-faced Enforcer was starting to grow on her. A feeling of safety, warm as a fleece blanket, settled over her shoulders.

  One by one, the shifters entered the unfinished hall. The Dominants sat around the same conference table while the rest found spots on the floor in front of it to watch. Butterflies pelted her stomach. Drew must be about to make his decision.

  After turning to her man, who’d shifted beautifully back into human form, she squeezed his hand.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, gazing into the serene blue eyes of the man who had taught her love.

  “Woods,” Drew began, “I’m officially making you a Dominant of this pack.”

  Ogden grinned to the depths of his blue eyes. “I take it I passed your test.”

  “What test?”

  “Out there on the field,” Ogden replied.

  Drew blinked, looking puzzled. “There was no test. I gathered everyone to celebrate your official standing in the pack, your mating, and the strength both will give the Black Hills Wolves. What you did to Cliff proved how right I was about you.”

  Voices rippled through the building. The other Dominants set their mouths in grim lines but didn’t argue.

  Under the table, Lara squeezed her man’s thigh in relief.

  “Thank you, sir,” Ogden said. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  Drew raised his hand. “Before you celebrate, there’s something I need to get off my chest.”

  Ogden squared his shoulders. “Let’s hear it.”

  Excitement rippled through her body. She loved seeing him living so comfortably in his new Dominant skin. Finally, the man inside matched the strong, rugged exterior. Watching him cowering as a fake Omega had filled her with pity and even disgust. Warm cream dripped into her panties. She knew exactly how she wanted to celebrate with him later.

  “I don’t believe the sins of the parents should be visited upon the children.” A vulnerable expression crossed Drew’s strong face. “Those of you who know me should understand why.”

  Lara shivered. After their shifting lesson today, Ogden had told her Drew’s history, which intertwined with the town’s. His father had gone crazy and Drew had shot him. So, the town’s closet already had a skeleton in it.

  “However,” the Alpha continued, “I’m not thrilled with how you played a submissive for years. Don’t ever do it again, okay?”

  “You’ve got a deal,” Ogden agreed.

  “You need to hire some help, though,” Drew said with a glare. “That’s an order. And the rest of you need to respect this man’s skills and workload.”

  At last, the Alpha’s gaze rested on her.

  “Which brings me to you, Lara Wolfe. I admire the way you handled yourself today. Therefore, I’m officially making you a Beta of the Tao pack.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Your pack, however, is a bit more difficult to figure out.”

  Her heart thundered as the hall erupted with controversy. Many made it clear they had no desire to be overrun by a foreign pack. She couldn’t blame them, but where else could her people go? If they weren’t close to her as she began her life with Ogden, part of her would be missing.

  “While it’s always been my goal to have a pure Tao pack within Los Lobos,” Drew said, “I realize it’ll never happen. We’ve got humans and other pack members here already interbreeding with our own. Hell, we’ve even got other species wanting to move in.”

  “I understand,” she said.

  “Because your pack is small and has no leader but you, a Tao member, I’ll permit them to settle outside of town.”

  She clasped her hands together, whispering words of thanks because she could no longer talk.

  “On two conditions. No free handouts and each must sign an agreement pledging submission and allegiance to the Tao pack.”

  The thought of her once-proud pack relegated to subservience smacked her harder than a hammer, but the deal was better than nothing. She’d make sure they all understood it.

  “Your terms are fair,” she replied. “Thank you for your generosity.”

  She and Ogden clasped hands under the table. Their grip was so hard they almost broke each other’s bones. They had a home!

  Drew brushed some stray sawdust off the table. “When is this damn hall going to be finished, anyway?”

  Ogden grinned. “Well, it depends on what type of molding you want.”

  Thank goodness his job was to supply materials, not build the place.

  Drew stood and laughed. “I don’t give a flying furball about the molding. I trust you to decide. Meeting adjourned.”

  Everyone clapped and filed out of the building. On the way out, men slapped Ogden on the back in congratulations, and several other Betas introduced themselves to Lara. She even got invited to some social events and received compliments on her previous performance at the Den.

  Outside, she put her arm around her mate and kissed him. “You did it!”

  “We did it. If not for you, I’d still be a groveling Omega.” His blue eyes dimmed. “If I’d known how Cliff would treat you, though, I never would have brought you here.”

  “Who is the little shit, anyway?”

  “A leftover from the Magnum days.” His hands clenched into fists. “Wolves like him are the reason I lived in fear so long. Ryker will deal with him, and if he doesn’t, I will.”

  “The incident is already forgotten.” She stroked his hands until they relaxed. “Let’s go home. I can’t wait to call my pack members and tell them the good news.”

  He cupped her buttocks, setting off a very different reaction than the earlier groping she’d endured.

  “I have a few other things in mind for celebrating, too.” He cocked his head toward the field. “First, I want to show you the stream.”

  As they crossed the field, Lara couldn’t believe how torn up it looked from their flying paws. Had she really behaved like such a savage beast? The stream was barely past the edge of the forest. Water spattered over rocks, soothing her from the fevered pitch of excitement earlier.

  “Are you okay with Beta status?” Ogden asked her as they faced the water, black and liquid in the moonlight.

  She nodded and sniffed the air. A bear must have passed through here lately. The sight of crazed wolves had probably scared it off.

  “I’ll always be Dominant to my pack. It’s enough. I hope they’ll all come.”

  “Maybe they will,” he replied, rubbing her back. “We are on a winning streak.”

  “Roark will never sign the agreement. He’s too proud.”

  “Who’s Roark, the young guy with the braids?”

  Her gaze snapped to his. “How did you know?”

  “I guessed. Are you sure he’s not a Dominant in disguise, too? I noticed he gave you plenty of sass at your meeting.” His brow knit. “If he is a Dominant, wouldn’t you two be perfect mates?”

  “I happen to prefer older men. Besides, he’s my cousin, once removed.”

  Ogden sighed, looking relieved. “Ah, well. He looks strong. Bet he’d be a great worker at the mill.”

  “Roark isn’t exactly the working type. I can help you at the mill during the day since I sing at night.”


  He gripped her hands, his thumbs stroking her knuckles. The sensuous touch made her toe the pine needles underfoot, assessing their softness as an impromptu bed.

  “We can’t have your hands getting all rough and chapped. I’ve got much better uses for them.”

  She jumped toward him when something splashed in the water.

  “Damn. Missed it.” The deep voice came from behind a nearby tree.

  The warmth between Lara’s legs cooled. Thank goodness she hadn’t pulled Ogden down to the pine needles and taken off her wet panties. They had company.

  “I thought we were alone,” she protested. “Who’s there?”

  He grinned, not looking too surprised. “Gee, are you spying on us again?”

  “No, fishing. And I was here first.”

  She stepped around the tree. The tall man looked as stony and immovable as the large rock he sat on.

  “Gee Rivermoon, meet my fiancée, Lara Wolfe,” Ogden announced.

  When she shook the beefy hand offered, she realized he wasn’t a Wolf. Bear, her instincts told her.

  “You guys put on quite a show out there,” Gee said, dropping his line back into the water.

  Lara’s chest filled with warmth. She’d come a long way from the grieving Werewolf who’d stumbled into this town of strangers. Los Lobos already felt like family.

  “Well, hang onto your rock, Were-Bear,” she said, “because we’re just getting started.”

  ~A LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR~

  Dear Reader,

  Wolves have always been dear to my heart. They are the perfect animal totem, and my beautiful Siberian Huskies are my children. It pains me to hear of them being slaughtered and eliminated from their natural territories. After visiting Yellowstone National Park and reading about the plight of today’s wolves reported by Defenders of Wildlife, this story was born.

  Lara is the gutsiest heroine I’ve ever written, and who doesn’t love a man who works with his hands? The subject of home is very important to me, and I’m so proud of the journeys my characters make together.

  We all have “alpha” inside us. The key is knowing when to show it.

  I love hearing from readers, so please contact me at: aftonlocke@aol.com

  Links:

  Web site: http://www.aftonlocke.com

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  Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke

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  Want more Black Hills Wolves?

  Watch for…

  A Wolf’s Promise by Cara Carnes

  Chapter One

  As far as the middle of nowhere went, Los Lobos proved as difficult to locate as the man Kinsey Jamison sought in many ways—impossible, dangerous, and mysterious. Huh. She paused to massage her weary thighs. A weaker woman would’ve given up on Drayce Freeman long ago.

  Fortunately, no one ever described her as weak. Head strong, unrepentantly goofy, impulsive, and too trusting. She’d heard those descriptors a lot. Sure, she’d loaded her lone suitcase and trekked across the country chasing a man she’d spent one glorious, life-altering night wrapped around.

  Okay, the decision may seem impulsive to some people, but Kinsey considered it confident. There’d been chemistry between them, and she didn’t appreciate him turning tail—no pun intended—and running in the heat of the morning after. The damn chicken owed her more than two world-shattering orgasms. If Drayce thought she’d simply shrug her shoulders and move on, the foolish Wolf had a hell of a lot to learn about her.

  Hence, her trudge down the cattle-trail-sized road leading into Los Lobos. The not-so-friendly man with the four-wheel-drive truck hadn’t even stopped long enough for her to thank him. Jerk. Whatever. Half dragging, half carrying the rickety-wheeled suitcase, she sighed her gratitude as a small cropping of rooftops winked at her from over the steep hill.

  Almost there. The sun began its decent from the sky, flashing its brilliant heat across her face. At least she’d make it before nightfall.

  Sweat dampened her normally fine limp hair into a moppish mess that battered her cheeks and shoulders. Maybe renewing her gym membership should make it to the top of her to-do list. Her stomach grumbled, adding its protest to the cacophony of aches battering her confidence. Maybe she should’ve thought this admittedly rash decision through a bit more. What if he didn’t want to see her again? What if he hadn’t experienced the zing of chemical need to permanently meld the way she had?

  Nans had said the zing would happen—when she met the man who’d own her heart and soul. Nans knew many things, most of which she’d whispered to Kinsey when her time came. Those shared secrets had helped her know what he was. A shifter, like those Kinsey’s family had helped protect for over a century.

  People who could shift into an animal form needed to be protected. Not everyone would understand their existence. Fear ran rampant in fools, Nans said. She wasn’t wrong.

  Kinsey had her first bit of evidence the morning after he’d left. Her best friend, Lauren Jago, had walked into her living room, kinked up her nose, and hissed. Straight up, Jaguar hissy growled. Wolf.

  The declaration provided explanations. Of course he’d run. She was human. Packs were very reclusive. Lauren had said so—and she would know since her dad led their den. She hadn’t been pleased with Kinsey’s decision, but she’d helped round up what funds they could.

  The small town of Los Lobos was in a state of disrepair, and that was being generous. New wood intermingled with its ancient predecessors on a few of the sparse buildings. Unused boards sat beside the structures, as though itching for their chance to help. Few of the buildings offered clues to the secrets they contained. They loomed on the dilapidated roadside, warning passers with their unnamed status—visitors weren’t welcome.

  Damn it, I wasn’t expecting a welcoming parade, but a hint of civility would’ve been nice. Drayce’s pack resembled the Jago Den more than she’d hoped. Fine. Totally manageable. Wolves couldn’t be much different than Jaguars. Right? Besides, she’d come armed with everything she’d need to vet herself.

  Opting for the largest building, she lugged her suitcase through the door and halted as her gaze swept across the interior. Clean. Quaint. Just about what you’d expect from a small, turn-of-the-previous-century bar. She met the gazes of a few of the unwelcoming inhabitants with a knowing smile. Yeah, they totally hated her.

  The dying castor on her suitcase squeaked and squalled across the wooden floor as she made her way to the massive man behind the bar. She flashed a smile she hoped said, “Relax, I know what you are and I am your friend.” She doubted it worked since the man had yet to smile or acknowledge her presence beyond a blank stare.

  She blinked and waited.

  Nothing.

  He crossed his arms. She crossed hers.

  The secret to garnering respect from shifters was to stand your ground. A lesson Nans schooled her in and Lauren reinforced. She should’ve probably sat before the stare down began. Her feet throbbed, and her legs burned. Her throat squeezed, desperate for water. Her belly growled for food. Maybe grabbing something to eat before finding Drayce would be a good idea.

  A large body appeared in her peripheral vision, but she maintained the intimidating lock of gazes with the giant. His unexpressive face remained locked. Silence descended in the room. Wait. Was this their Alpha? Surely not. He was behind a bar. Wouldn’t an Alpha be doing leadership stuff?

  “Enough, little girl.” The man grasped her upper arm and shoved her onto a stool. “You don’t have the teeth for the fight you want.”

  He stepped back and crossed his arms. She shut up. The newest entrant projected the don’t-fuck-with-me-or-else tone she’d learned long ago. Everything about him screamed Enforcer—the right hand to
the Alpha, the protector of the den, or pack in this case. Of course he would show up the moment she hit town.

  Her stare nemesis grunted and filled a glass with ice. She tracked the flow of water over the cool chunks. Licking her lips, she eyed the man skeptically. A peace offering perhaps? When it landed in front of her with a hard thud, she smiled her gratitude.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” the self-appointed referee stated.

  “I’m here to visit a friend.” She slammed the water with unladylike voracity. Amusement flickered in the Enforcer’s gaze as he watched. He was handsome, Native American ancestry of some type. Studying the other people in the bar, she noted their wary gazes. “Perhaps you could help me locate him, and then I’d be out of your way quicker.”

  “People around here value their privacy.”

  “I get that. Really, I do.” She eyed her empty glass longingly. “Tell me where I can find Drayce Freeman.”

  “People around here value their privacy.”

  Well. He had the line down pat. She sighed, too exhausted for the battle she saw in his stance. Tension thickened in the room, a palatable unease she’d seen before when Lauren’s den was around her father or Denton, the Enforcer for their group. Knowing her luck, it was probably the latter. It would make sense they’d send their protector to shove a stranger from their midst.

  The bartender refilled her glass. “You walked.”

  “Finding a ride here was challenging. Apparently not many people make it this far into nowhere.” She kept her gaze on the younger man. “I’m Kinsey, but my friends call me Kins.”

  When no one offered their names, she took a sip of her water and set the glass down. “I should probably warn you. People say I’m real stubborn when I want something. I never give up. Ever. It’s a flaw, really.”

  “A deadly one.” No mistaking the warning in his statement. He glanced at the bartender. “Gee will feed you, give you a room, and then tomorrow, I’ll escort you out.”