The Alpha's Mate (8 Sexy, Powerful Shifters and Their Fated Mates)

by Lynn Red

  “But I’m human.”

  “But you’re human.”

  It always boiled down to that.

  “The Panthera would never allow a human to lead one of the packs. You need a natural-born shifter as consort, or at the very least a Cavaliere to rule at your side. If I let you lead the pack on your own, it will only serve as a temptation for every panther to challenge your authority and win leadership from you.”

  “I can handle the challenges—-”

  “You can. But what about the rest of your pack? Each challenge means war, and every war has casualties.”

  “Stefano will—-”

  “—-not always be with us,” he finished gently. “He has his own pack. He will eventually return to them. No shifter can ever turn his back on his birthright.” A sigh emerged from Venetto. “I am old, Calys, and I am tired.”

  The words had me stiffening. I hated it when I was reminded of his age. Even though his shifter blood allowed him to look decades younger, the truth was, Venetto was close to being a century old now. He had been my rock, and I couldn’t imagine life without him.

  If choosing a Cavaliere today could make a difference, if it could ease his worries and prolong his life, then so be it.

  I bowed to him. “I beg your leave, Father. I will start circulating and look for potential consorts.”

  “Make sure Stefano is with you at all times.”

  “Yes, Father.” When I straightened, I saw that a grave look had fallen on Venetto’s face.

  “I’m sorry for placing pressure on your shoulders, but we simply have no choice. War is upon us, cub. I cannot be at peace until I’m assured you are not alone in defending our pack.” He nodded towards the other shifters. “Be quick in choosing, Calys.”

  The words he left unsaid hung in the air.

  I did have to make my choice, quickly, if I did not want The Conclave making the choice for me.

  Chapter Six

  ALEJANDRO

  “I would like to ask you to draft a contract that frees me to be a...Cavaliere...to a pack princess of the Panthera.”

  The words should have come as a shock to the heir of the Moretti pack, but when Domenico Moretti looked up from the documents he was quietly perusing, his handsome face was unreadable. His tone was just as bland as he said, “Please take a seat.” Everyone who knew him, however, would also understand that the words were not a request but a command.

  When his younger brother was seated, Domenico asked, “Why is there a need for a Cavaliere?”

  “It appears that her father is on a husband-hunting mission for her.” Alejandro cracked his knuckles as he spoke the words. It did not sit well with him that his little kitty might be given to another man.

  Domenico studied the play of emotions on his brother’s face with interest. “May I ask which pack princess is this?”

  Wordlessly, Alejandro pushed forward the invitation he had wrangled from another pack princess, this one the stunning and worldly eldest daughter of the pack of the Garridos. She had been the only Lyccan he knew who had been invited to tomorrow’s auction, and that invitation was vital since panthers were notorious for being distrustful of strangers.

  One eyebrow arched questioningly as Domenico read the invitation. “They must need to have her mated as soon as possible. Those panthers are famous all over the world. I can see a lot of pack leaders’ sons hurrying to attend this event.” He paused. “Do you plan to be her Cavaliere just for the sake of owning one of those panthers?”

  Alejandro said idly, “Would it be hard to believe if I said yes? Those panthers, as you say, are world famous.”

  Domenico wasn’t fooled. His younger brother might insist on making others see him as nothing but a carefree playboy prince, but he knew all of his siblings well. With this brother of his, the charming sophisticated façade he presented was just that: a façade.

  “If you become the princess’ Cavaliere, you will need to spend a lot of time with those panthers. They are not exactly friendly with strangers. You will need to bear a lot of prejudice there.”

  A pair of ocean-blue eyes flashed in Alejandro’s mind as he questioned his decision. The memory of the taste of his kitty’s lips and the feel of her body had kept him awake and aching the entire night, so much so that in the end he had found himself masturbating and pleasuring himself in the shower – something he had not done since he was a boy.

  When his younger brother only shrugged, Domenico remarked casually, “You know, my first thought was that this would be more to your twin’s liking. As we all know, Alessandro’s been rather aggressive. That would make him feel right at home there.”

  No fucking way, Alejandro thought blackly. Only when Domenico started talking about panthers and his twin in the same sentence did Alejandro remember one important thought. He had an identical twin, and he did not like to think about what could happen if his little kitty realized the same thing.

  Would she want Alessandro more? Perhaps. She seemed to be the type of woman who was all for grand gestures, and what was grander than one Lyccan prince fighting a dozen other shifters, all for the glory of defending their pack’s reputation?

  “Alessandro would not make a good Cavaliere for her. She’s already too passionate. He’s too hotheaded, especially when you consider he’s a college professor.”

  Domenico smiled but said evenly, “As you are too charming for a paid fighter.”

  Alejandro stiffened. So Domenico knew of his nocturnal activities then. He waited for his brother to ask about it, but no question was forthcoming.

  “Nonetheless, I’m thinking about whether Alessandro should accompany you to this party. What do you think?” Domenico asked even though he really had no plans of having both twins attend the party. He only wanted to push his younger brother into revealing his thoughts. Alejandro worried him in a way Alessandro didn’t. This brother of his kept too much to himself even as he continued to charm everyone with his lazy wit and courteous ways.

  “Whatever the pack leader’s heir decides,” Alejandro said.

  The words were spoken in a dulcet tone, but the muscle ticking in Alejandro’s jaw gave Domenico hope that all was not lost. Pride had lost him the woman he loved, and he was determined that none of his younger brothers would follow in his footsteps. In Alejandro’s case, it appeared that the fate of his heart lay in the hands of a panther princess.

  Domenico took careful note of the princess’ name even as he kept silent. It would be healthy to let Alejandro sweat it out a bit. Calys Adelardi. He must find out everything about her and ensure that she was the ideal woman for Alejandro.

  Chapter Seven

  CALYS

  Selflessness came in many forms, and not every warrior’s deed had to be dipped in blood. It was like what The Dark Knight said when he had decided to give up his cape. That a hero could be anyone—-

  Stefano Guidicelli, tall, blond, and blue-eyed like a real-life Prince Charming, came to stand in front of me. “Princess.” As he bowed, he not so gently stepped on my foot, saying under his breath, “Stop daydreaming.”

  I blinked rapidly in pain even though I badly tried to look as if I was flirting with my father’s right hand man. I wanted to yelp in pain, but I didn’t. A true warrior always suffered in silence. When he straightened, I mumbled, “I’m sorry.” I had been daydreaming for the last couple of minutes. My eyes had started to glaze the moment the men started talking about going to beach parties and attending some event that sounded like a cross between a coach and Cinderella. I just couldn’t believe the future pack leaders of the Panthera were so...shallow. Didn’t they know that war was at our doorsteps this very moment?

  As Stefano came to stand behind me, he murmured glacially, “You need to focus on sizing each and every eligible shifter that comes your way. One of them could potentially be leading your pack with you or for you. The future of your pack hinges on your choice of consort. Is that matter so boring to you?”

  Stefano’s words had me pal
ing. “I’m sorry.” God, what was wrong with me? I used to consider finding a consort an honorable task. I had looked forward to the opportunity to serve my pack. All I had been able to think back then was what I would gain for the Adelardi pack.

  But after last night...

  After Alejandro Moretti...

  Now, I was starting to think of what I could lose.

  Crap, crap, crap. This had to stop. Pushing the thought away, I straightened up and pinned another smile on my face. “Elias, Elijah.” The panthers I called immediately came to my side, stretching by my feet lazily before looking around them with disdain. I could empathize. All three of us were for show, but we had to do what we had to do for our pack.

  A crowd of guests immediately surrounded us. The questions started coming in, and I answered them pleasantly while I calculated each shifter’s BMI. Sadly, not one of them rated below overweight. What kind of warrior training did these princes have? Did it take place next to the bed and the refrigerator?

  It was nearing noon when Stefano spoke again. “Princess.”

  I jumped at his voice. Crap. Had he seen my eyes glazing when the prince kept droning on and on about taking a selfie with my panthers? A selfie! He was a warrior! And he wanted a selfie!

  “Would you like to take a walk while the panthers are given water?”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. Stefano was allowing me to have a break from princess duties. “Yes, please.”

  Stefano bowed to the crowd of disappointed guests in front of us, murmuring our excuses. I listened to him with admiration. Both of us had the same tutors, the same training, the same everything. But why was it he had mastered the art of smooth talking and I couldn’t?

  Stefano walked beside me, a right he had earned as an honorary member of our family. My thoughts turned to Alejandro Moretti once more. I didn’t want to think about him, but I couldn’t help it.

  If only he truly meant to be my Cavaliere, I thought wistfully. It would have been ideal, and it had nothing to do with the fact that the Lyccan prince happened to be very attractive and an absolutely great kisser. Absolutely not. Stuff like that was just like...like icing on the cake. Yes, icing – deliciously hot and sweet icing, with the way his lips so expertly claimed my own, with the way his large strong hands shaped my body as if it was a toy to be molded to his will, and oh with the way he could make my nipples—-

  “Princess, you seem like you are about to drool.”

  Stefano’s puzzled observation had my eyes flying open. Crap. I was about to drool. But before I could think of an excuse, someone called out to us. “If it isn’t the Human Monster and the Bastard.”

  It was a group of young cubs, and the leader of the group had an insolent look on his face as he sauntered towards us.

  “Take it back,” I said coldly.

  “Princess,” Stefano said warningly.

  I didn’t heed it. Stefano never liked it when we made a fuss over him, but he was family. And anyone who thought he could be insulted because he was a bastard did not deserve to be treated with respect.

  “What are you going to do if I don’t?” the leader jeered.

  I knew his kind. He had heard stories about me and thought he would claim his manhood by beating me. The Human Monster. If he had only insulted me, I might have allowed him to leave without harm. But he had insulted someone under our pack’s protection and without provocation at all. He had to be shown the error of his ways.

  “Apologize if you know what is good for you.”

  “And I keep asking you, bitch. Whatcha gonna do if I don’t? Flutter your eyelashes at me and kill me with a look?” His friends snickered at his words, and it made him puff his chest out like a peacock.

  He turned to Stefano. “And then there’s you. You’ve got a nice and cozy setup here, don’t you? Thrown out by the jaguars, but like any greedy bastard, you managed to claw a spot for yourself with the panthers. Probably want to marry her yourself, don’t you? Match made in hell.”

  More snickers.

  He was really getting on my nerves.

  “You must learn to control yourself, princess.”

  I knew Stefano was right. Sadly, this cub’s attitude wasn’t any different from the rest of the other panthers. Panthers in general were racist and uncivilized. If you weren’t a panther, then you didn’t amount to anything.

  Or at least for now. It was my calling to change that. I knew in my heart I was destined to reshape the future of the panthers. And I could start right now. Struggling to control my temper, I said, “There are certain rules we must abide, panther. One is to respect the owner of the house and its guests—-”

  “Fuck you.”

  Then he looked at Stefano.

  And spit.

  Stefano’s curse was the last thing I heard before I went dark.

  When I looked up, I no longer existed.

  My darker half said in a silky voice, “That was a bad thing you did, little boy.”

  Silence fell at her words. When my darker half woke, she made everything just a little darker all around her. You could feel her power thrumming in the air, and it wasn’t the kind that reassured you. It was the kind that scared the crap out of you, and the poor cubs that thought to mess with me were scared.

  One of the cubs tried to make a run for it. In the blink of an eye, my darker half had blocked his way, moving as fast as any shifter, and with a beautiful smile on her face, she aimed for his knee. There was the sound of bones cracking, followed by his scream of pain before he crumpled to the ground.

  In another blink she was back at Stefano’s side, facing the other cubs. They weren’t scared now. They were about-to-pee terrified. Unfortunately for them, they had good cause since right now, my darker half was in a bad mood. The kind that wanted blood spilled and lives taken.

  She raised her arm. “Don’t even try to escape or it will be worse.”

  Crap.

  She was going to kill all of them.

  I willed myself back in control, but it was impossible. There seemed to be an invisible wall separating the two of us, and there was no way around it.

  When my darker half prepared to strike, I screamed. My eyes closed involuntarily, unwilling to witness the slaughter of innocent lives even as I screamed and tried everything in my power to wrestle back control of my body.

  When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Alejandro Moretti. The sun shone behind him, making him look like an avenging angel. I shared a moment of confusion with my darker half. Why was he here? And why was he wearing a suit?

  “Easy now, little kitty,” he told my darker half softly. I marveled at the sheer absence of fear in his voice and the clarity of his gaze as he looked at her. Even Stefano had an impossible time controlling my darker half when she was this pissed, but somehow, there was something about Alejandro Moretti that seemed to make her listen, like a beast that knew its master.

  She cocked her head to the side. “Why do you call us this?”

  Her words stunned Alejandro. Even Stefano became more alert. Heck, even I myself was shocked. She had never referred to me in any way in the past.

  The air vibrated with even greater tension as she waited for his answer. Leaves ruffled above us, and even the ground seemed to respond to her, like it was only waiting for her command to break apart.

  But Alejandro appeared oblivious, a mysterious smile playing on his lips as he answered, “Because you look like one to me. A little kitty.” His smile widened ever so slightly. “My little kitty.”

  I heard everyone drawing their breath as he took a step towards her, calm as you please, like he wasn’t about to get close to a hungry predator. In many ways, that was what my darker half was. “As my little kitty,” he continued in a seductively persuasive voice, “you should let me, your Cavaliere, do the fighting for you.”

  The sound of a needle falling could have been heard at the silence his words caused. My heart was beating so fast now, and my body felt restless and incomplete
at his words. I couldn’t believe he had really said that out loud.

  My darker half considered him with a thoughtful expression. Finally, she spoke. “You would make them pay?”

  Solemnly, he said, “Yes.”

  “You will show them the error of their ways?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then fight.” A pause. “I want all of them unconscious, wolf. I will be displeased if any one of them can remember his name when you are done.”

  The leader of the cubs actually started to cry.

  But all Alejandro said was, “Your wish is my command, little kitty.”

  Chapter Eight

  “What are you doing here?” One moment I was alone in my bedroom, combing my hair while daydreaming about conquering battles with my faithful Cavaliere at my side. The next thing I knew, my Cavaliere was indeed at my side.

  How the heck did he get in—-

  A gust of wind teased my hair and I grimaced, realizing he had sneaked into my room through the balcony. Darn shifter stealth. And my darker half had allowed it, obviously not considering his presence in my bedroom a danger.

  These days, I was really torn. Was my darker half really on my side or his?

  He came to stand behind me, and our shared reflection on the mirror had me swallowing. He looked so powerful and dark, and he made me feel so small and womanly. Not at all like a warrior. Mouth drying, I watched as he slowly lifted a hand and rested it on my shoulder, my body shivering at the way his fingers curled around my nape.

  When he bent down, my nipples came alive, pricking against the cotton nightshirt I wore. He was still in his suit, and the contrast between our appearances suddenly struck me. He was so elegant, and I was...not. “W-why are you wearing a suit?”

  A pained expression briefly crossed his face. “I had the mistaken impression that your auctions for panthers worked the way horse auctions normally do. That it would be a formal occasion.”