by T. S. Ryder
"First off, Lucinda didn't get those ideas in her head by herself. This falls just as much upon you and how you have been telling her that she was going to be the Alpha female from the time she was a little girl. Second, I am not just some human that your Alphas are going to mate instead of another werewolf. I am the completion of their Alpha triad, and I will not be spoken of like I'm a Band-Aid slapped on a problem, understood?"
Lucinda's grandfather stared at her with a slack jaw.
"Third," Amelia continued, taking his silence as understanding. She realized too late that she didn't have a third point. "Uh… I want an apology. And from this day forward, you will not talk about me as though I'm not present."
The council stared at her. The old man mumbled an apology, but a smile tugged at his lips.
"Are you sure she isn't the Alpha female of another pack?"
Amelia put her hands on her hips. "What did I just say?"
"I'm sorry. Are you really human?"
"Yes," she replied. "And don't you forget that. It doesn't make me any less worthy of being mated to your Alphas."
"I see that now." The old man nodded. "Welcome to the pack, Amelia."
Amelia nodded graciously back. Well, that was over easier than she thought it would be. She supposed the Alphas fighting was enough to get anybody to come to their senses.
Now it was just a matter of introducing her two mates to her brother…
***
A couple weeks later, Amelia had Adrian over to her house so she could introduce her brother to her two Alphas. He arrived, scowling, and her heart sunk instantly. Fortunately, he didn't bring Mr. Abs with him, which was something he had threatened to do for a while. The Alphas wore dress shirts with jeans, looking very neat and presentable. As nervous as she was, Amelia had high hopes that this would go well.
Adrian, however, didn't seem to be interested in having pleasant conversation. "So which one of you was it that had my sister calling me in tears because she thought you were just after her to be a breeding mare?"
Amelia winced. "Adrian, it wasn't either of them. I told you that. There was a woman who lied to me about it."
"Lucinda," Xavier added. "She has apologized for her actions, and we believe she is sincere."
"That's it? You're not going to punish her?"
"We're Alphas, not dictators," Timothy said. "As personally upsetting as it is, she didn't break any laws. If we used our position to settle personal grievances, it would be an abuse of power, wouldn't it?"
Adrian relaxed a little, drinking his cup of wine. "I'm glad that you two seem reasonable, because if either one of you ever makes my little sister cry again, I'll have to come after you with a twelve-gauge shotgun."
"Adrian!" Amelia stared in shock at her brother. "Why couldn't you have been this protective when I said I didn't want anything to do with Mr. Abs? You pushed and pushed me to be with scumbags. When I finally find two guys who I actually like and who don't say 'Babe, make me a sandwich,' all the time, you threaten them with a shotgun? What is that?"
"I'm just looking out for you."
Amelia rolled her eyes and threw her napkin in her plate. He was an idiot. "I'm going for a walk. I can't handle this right now."
***
"I'll talk with her," Xavier said, getting up from the table.
“Great,” Timothy mumbled, not looking forward to be alone with Amelia's brother, who clearly didn't like them.
"So, Adrian," he said, trying to mimic Xavier's calm way of talking. "Why do you object to Xavier and I? Is it because we're werewolves?"
"I don’t have anything against werewolves."
That wasn't what it sounded like, but Timothy elected to go a different route. "Then is it because of the triad dynamic?"
Adrian made a face but shook his head. "I can't pretend to understand that, but if it's what Amelia wants…"
"Then why? Amelia has told us about your friend Mr. Thompson. Why are you so insistent that they be together?"
Pushing back from the table, Adrian folded his arms. "Daniel would give her a good, stable life. He'd provide for her, she wouldn’t want for anything. He would protect her. Yeah, he's a bit immature, but he'd change once he realized what a catch Amelia was. But with you two, how does she know what to expect? You've known each other for how long? It's already been a roller coaster. At least with Daniel she knows he won't just up and leave her!"
"And neither will Xavier and I," Timothy replied calmly. "Yes, our relationship didn't get off to the best start, but we have made a commitment to communicate from now on. I'm confident that we can make it work. Xavier and I love your sister. We have a steady income; she won't want for anything. We will protect her – to the death if need be."
Adrian narrowed his eyes. He muttered something in Spanish but stuck out his hand. “I will try to be more supportive of my sister's choices. But I'm serious about the shotgun. If you ever hurt her…"
Timothy nodded seriously as he shook Adrian's hand. "I understand. We hurt her, we get our heads blown off."
Adrian cracked a smile. "Good. Now, let's go find my sister. Food's getting cold."
Chapter Ten
"We're almost there."
"Okay, I just need to rest a moment."
Amelia paused to drink water and rest her aching calves. Timothy and Xavier paused on either side of her. It was something that they were very good at, giving her time to rest without seeming impatient for her to continue.
For the past three months since the Alphas had brought this up, she had been doing extra hiking to prepare to climb this mountain with them. She wasn't especially outdoorsy, so the hike presented her with a challenge, but she wanted to do it all on her own and was proud of herself for only having to take three breaks so far. Her legs were burning, though, and she would be glad when they made it to the top.
As they started walking again, Amelia considered the last time they had dinner with her brother. He had brought along his wife and children for the first time, and Amelia was hopeful that he was coming around. At least he had stopped bringing up Mr. Abs. The man himself had showed up a couple of times, but he finally seemed to get that Amelia was telling him no, not try harder.
The packs also seemed to be handling the situation better now. Amelia had started spending nights with the Alphas on the packlands, thus there were no more midnight serenades from females howling outside their windows, hoping to entice them away from their human choice.
"You're doing really well," Xavier encouraged her as they began walking up the mountain again. "Only fifty feet left or so."
Amelia sighed and pushed on.
When they reached the top, Amelia couldn't stifle a gasp. They emerged on a wide, open clifftop. The ground beneath her feet was covered in soft grass and the surrounding view was simply breathtaking. A deep valley covered in trees looked as soft as velvet. A ribbon of a river running through the valley. The tiny anthills of cities. Amelia went as close to the edge as she dared, drinking it all in.
"Wow."
"I know, right?" Timothy grinned at her. "A hard journey to make, but so worth it in the end."
Amelia nodded. "Thank you for bringing me up here."
"It was our pleasure." Xavier moved up behind her, nuzzling into her neck. "We talked it over and thought that this would be the perfect place."
Amelia turned a puzzled look on him. "Perfect place for what?"
Her Alphas gave each other a conspirator's glance that had Amelia's mouth going dry. It had been three months since they started to seriously see each other… could it be that they wanted their first time to be out here in the open air, with nature all around them?
Xavier pulled a blanket out of his pack and laid it on the ground. Oh, boy.
"What if someone sees?" she blurted.
"Nobody will see us up here," Timothy assured her, taking her by the hand.
Amelia's face and body heated. Excitement was kicking all through her, and she struggled to think clearly – to kn
ow what the rational choice was. "How is this going to work? Is it one at a time or… double?"
Timothy reached under her shirt and tugged it off over her head. "Xavier and I have talked about it… If you want, you and I will start, and then we'll see what you want after a bit. We'd like to make you a sandwich, but it's up to you. There's no rush. We have our whole lives together."
Amelia nodded, her heart pounding as Xavier sidled up behind her. He unfastened her bra and tossed it aside while Timothy undid her jeans. Xavier's big hands cupped her large breasts, his mouth sucking at her neck, sending tingles flooding her body. A hand slid between her legs. Timothy stepped back, stripping off his own clothes as he watched Xavier prepare her. He took himself in his hand, readying himself.
"What happened to me and you and then Xavier joining us?" Amelia gasped, her eyes sliding shut as her body tightened.
"Timothy may have skipped over the finer details," Xavier chuckled in her ear. His fingers were like magic, playing her as deftly as a classical piano piece. Amelia rolled her hips forward, trying to get more contact between the two of them.
Timothy was there soon enough, his hands clasping her hips as he tugged her away from Xavier. His mouth captured hers, his hands picking up where his partner had left off. Amelia groaned into his mouth, jumping so she could wrap her legs around his hips. Xavier stepped up behind them again and together the two Alphas laid her gently on the ground, where she writhed as Timothy worked her. He paused briefly to put on a condom, and then slipped easily inside of her.
Amelia gasped as the rush of pleasure hit her. She arched herself to him, planting her feet on the ground so she could match him thrust for thrust. Here, surrounded by nothing but trees, she voiced her pleasure in shrieks and groans. She caught Xavier's eye as Timothy built her higher and higher; he had undressed at some point and was grinning as he watched them.
It was enough to send her flying. Amelia's back bowed, her fingers dug into Timothy's back, and she let out a scream so loud both Alphas jumped, startled.
Timothy stopped. Amelia moaned, rolling her hips to encourage him to continue even though she had just finished, but he shook his head. "Do you want Xavier to take over or join us?"
Amelia glanced up at Xavier again. His eyes were so bright, a smile on his face. She couldn't repress another moan and held her hand out to him.
"Join us."
Timothy rolled over so that she was on top of him now. He adjusted Amelia so she was kneeling, and she couldn't stop the bursts of giggles from coming up her throat. She had been fantasizing about this moment ever since they met, and for the past three months had been using the toys that Xavier had given her so she would be more prepared for when the time came. Now that it had, her nerves and excitement were so mixed up she thought she might faint.
"Hold me," Timothy whispered, thrusting up gently as Xavier pulled a bottle of lubrication from his pack.
The anticipation was so tight inside her that she had to bite down on Timothy's shoulder, closing her eyes, while Xavier got her ready. She shivered in the cool mountain air. Then his heat was on top of her and he was easing himself in. The pleasure was so intense that Amelia felt blinded. She gasped dryly, both Timothy and Xavier's hands on her hips, holding her still. They both began moving in sync, as though they could read each other's minds.
Even though she had just climaxed, Amelia felt the build happening again, faster and higher this time. Xavier kissed the back of her neck, growling, while Timothy's hands moved to her breasts, holding her away slightly so he could knead them between his hands. Heat surged and Amelia couldn't stop a second scream of pure pleasure as the three of them reached the heavens together.
***
Xavier grinned to himself as the three of them laid on the grass together. The blanket had been crumpled away at some point during their lovemaking, leaving them on the naked mountaintop. Not that he minded.
"Wow," Amelia said, stirring. "That was better than I thought it would be."
"I agree," Timothy said. "You're so receptive…"
Xavier grinned, watching them kiss a little more. Eventually, though, he sighed. "As much as I'd love to do that again, it's getting late and we have to get back down the mountain before dark."
Amelia groaned. "Next time we bring a tent. I don't know how I'll walk after that."
"We'll carry you," Timothy promised. He kissed her shoulder. "But Xavier's right. We should dress and head back down… wait until you see what we can do in a bed."
Amelia was on her feet, tugging on her clothes before Xavier could blink. He laughed at her excitement, feeling a well of love for her. She was perfect for the two of them: feisty, sensuous, and passionate. Keeping up with her would be difficult for the both of them. No wonder no one man in her past could give her what she needed! He and Timothy dressed more lazily, and once they were all clothed, he glanced at his partner, cocking a brow.
"Before we go," Timothy said, understanding the look, "we have something to ask you."
"What is it?" Amelia smiled at the two of them in turn.
Xavier swallowed. They were already mated according to werewolf standards, but there was one thing that they wanted to do: a human tradition. Amelia deserved to have everything she dreamed of, and she was already planning the wedding, though she tried to hide it from them. Together the Alphas knelt and pulled small velvet boxes from their packs. Amelia gasped.
"Will you marry us?" they asked in unison, opening the boxes. Inside were two thin rings, one gold, one silver, that would interlock once they were on her fingers
Amelia's eyes filled with tears and she tackled them both, swapping kisses between the two of them like a woman possessed. "Yes!" she cried. "Yes, of course, yes!"
*****
THE END
The Vampire Prince's Bride
Description
A BBW with a secret PLUS a vampire general who needs human blood PLUS a shifter army out to kill!
Vampire general Darius isn’t looking for love or romance. He’s looking for a promotion. And for that, he needs a human wife and a baby. Just one look at Cleo’s curves and he knows she can give him what he needs. The thought of another man touching her makes him want to kill.
Cleo has always been strong, always in charge of her own destiny. But what Darius doesn’t know is that she isn’t as invulnerable as she seems. She keeps her secrets just as he keeps his. They made a deal. Why should they be concerned with each other's intimate lives?
But Darius and Cleo are forced to confront their worst fears when Darius is sent to fight a group of rebel shifters that may just get him killed. Violence is a vampire’s domain. But can he survive this?
As feelings deepen and danger grows ever closer, Cleo and Darius will have to face hard truths–and decide if ambition is really worth their lives, or if love is worthy of sacrifice.
Chapter One – Darius
A picture of Iosif hung over the mantle in Darius's study. The king had ruled all the lands from the Black Sea to the Carpathian Mountain range to the Danube River for almost two thousand years now and was a vampire of great strength and pride. This study had once belonged to his father and Darius had sat on the floor and stared at wonder at the king's picture ever since he was a young boy.
Hearing about the king's great feats against the shifters, who used to run rampant and murder recklessly, had always made his heart swell with pride. He had determined from a young age that he would be as great as the king, one day wearing the crown on his own head. As he grew up, he realized that his goals required a lot of hard work, but Darius was nothing if not determined.
"There have been reports of wolves here and here," he said, pointing to the map spread out on his desk. "Three dozen sheep were killed and a shepherdess has disappeared only a dozen leagues from here."
His best friend and second-in-command, Gordon, frowned. "You think it's the Rebeluna?"
Darius grimaced as he considered. The Rebeluna was a self-proclaimed rebel group that r
esisted the vampire king in any way possible. Shifters of various clans gathered and were responsible for more vampire deaths than any other group in the past decade. Since they assassinated the last colonel charged with finding them, the king had turned the investigation over to Darius.
"No," he decided. "The Rebeluna are organized, efficient. These are minor inconveniences, more likely wolves who consider themselves rebels but don't have the courage to actually commit to open rebellion."
"Then why bring them up?"
Darius straightened and grinned. "They're exactly the type that the Rebeluna will recruit for cannon fodder. Send a couple of men to investigate. If humans think that we're allowing shifters to steal them away with no consequences, it might stir up unrest. Find the shepherdess, if nothing else."
"Am I interrupting?"
The cool, confident voice made him turn to the door. His twenty-year-old human wife of four months, Cleo, stood in the doorway. Darius smiled at her. Iosif and his own human mate had had no children of their own and had made it clear that the vampire they chose to replace Iosif had to prove he had good relations with humans. The best way to do that was to marry one, and so he had.
"Darius. Gordon." Cleo strode in, her shoulders back, her head held high, exuding an air of confidence about her.
She had been Darius' choice wife for two reasons. One, she was beautiful. Bronzed skin, long curly hair, stunning black eyes. When Darius first chose her, Gordon had questioned whether he really wanted somebody as 'robust' as her. She was all curves and softness, nothing angular or sharp about her–except her piercing gaze.
Which brought him to his second reason for choosing her. She made no pretenses about what she wanted – a husband who could give her all the luxury and power she desired. She wanted to be queen as much as he wanted to be king, and she would do anything necessary to ensure that happened.
