Alpha MC: The McKinnon Brothers

by Alana Hart

  And looking into those dark, sad eyes, Lyss didn’t see any reason to say no. So, a few days later, she and Emmett packed up his Jeep and then went to the kitchen for a goodbye dinner that Siobhan had insisted they stay for.

  Emmett wasn’t popular in the pack, adopted as he was, but there were a few members there, all enjoying Siobhan’s delicious Shepherd’s pie. The woman hugged Lyss tight.

  “If you need anything—anything—you call me. I can fly up and be there in a few hours. And don’t you dare try to have that baby without me. Even if I’m just on the phone. Once you feel those contractions, you call me. Otherwise I’ll fly up around your due date. Understood?”

  Lyss nodded, the warm feeling that being cared for left her with was nice. She was going to miss it.

  She had decided, once she had the baby, and Siobhan was up there caring for it, Lyss was leaving. She knew nothing about babies, nothing about being a mother. It was better for everyone if she just left. Brendan Day had offered her a place if she was ever in Ireland.

  Feeling sick in her heart, Lyss smiled at Siobhan.

  Toward the end of dinner, as Siobhan was bringing out chocolate and raspberry tarts, there was a commotion as new people entered the kitchen.

  Connor and Aidan came in, followed by their parents, and then—Lyss’s heart stopped—Liam.

  God damn it. If they hadn’t stayed for Siobhan’s dinner, they could have been gone by now. He hadn’t tried to get in touch with her in over a month, Lyss doubted he wanted to see her now.

  He stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room. When they fell on her, he stiffened, his brow furrowing. And then he turned and left the room.

  Okay, Lyss thought, if she needed a sign that she should leave, that was it. She turned to Emmett who hadn’t gotten up to greet his cousins.

  “Ready to go?”

  He met her gaze and nodded.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Liam paced the bedroom he had shared with his brothers and Emmett all his life, cursing himself and his cowardice. He saw her sitting there and wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and never let her go, but he hadn’t. No, chicken shit that he was, he had run to his room and hidden like a little bitch.

  “Fucking asshole,” he muttered.

  “That’s the consensus.” Aidan’s voice in the doorway made Liam jump.

  “Fuck you.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You’re a tough guy.” He came in, Connor following, and they sat on one of the beds. Liam paced before them. “You decide yet?”

  Liam glanced at his brothers, both watching him expectantly. “I already said I’d be an alpha with you guys. As long as the uncles stay in Ireland, I’m all for it. Make some changes around here…” He started mumbling.

  They had gone over this with Brendan Day and his uncles when they brought Gavin to Ireland. The McKinnon brothers would take over as alphas, and Ronan and Cormac would retire in Ireland, where they couldn’t interfere. Brendan Day was considered the alpha, so no one argued with his decision.

  “That’s not what I meant,” Aidan said.

  “I know what you meant, and I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.” He glared at his brothers. “Siobhan said she’s pregnant.” He swallowed hard. “The fuck do I do with a baby?”

  “You love kids.”

  “I love the pups. It’s different; they’re not mine.”

  “Siobhan’ll help. We’re all here,” Connor said. His eyes softened. “No one’s leaving anymore.”

  Liam’s heart constricted. His brothers were all here. They were going to be alphas together. Their parents were staying as well; they wanted to get to know their sons now that they could, but that wasn’t as important as his brothers being here.

  And Lyss.

  That’s what made this so hard. How could he ask her to stay? Hadn’t she made it clear she wouldn’t? And now he had gone and knocked her up.

  “She probably hates me,” he said.

  Aidan massaged his temples. “Well, you have about five minutes to decide.”

  “Why?”

  “She’s going to Canada with Emmett.”

  Liam growled. “Like hell she is.”

  He was outside in less than thirty seconds. Emmett was already in his Jeep, the engine running, but Lyss was only just opening the door. Liam slammed it shut, making her jump.

  “What the fuck!” she punched his arm, and it hurt. He had to remember she was a fucking bear.

  Liam stood awkwardly towering over Lyss. Now that he was out here, his bravado was failing. He could feel eyes watching them from the bar. Lyss stared at him.

  “What?” she said, her temper flaring.

  He could see the bump her belly had become and something swelled inside him. She crossed her arms.

  “God damn it, Liam, what do you want?”

  He smiled. His name in her mouth sounded like heaven. He grabbed her, pulling her close, and kissed her well and good. She melted into the kiss, and then pushed him away.

  “You didn’t call.”

  “I was busy being a hero.”

  She lifted a brow.

  He gave her a dramatic shrug. “Apparently my blood and venom are, like, superman type stuff. Brendan has people who can synthesize them and cure some shit.”

  Her smile lifted her cheeks and scrunched her eyes.

  “But, yeah, I should’ve called.” Liam glanced at Emmett who was tapping the wheel. “You’re not going with him,” Liam said, his hand finding her bump and feeling the little heartbeat inside.

  “Oh no? Why not?”

  His eyes found hers, piercing and blue. “I don’t trust anyone else.”

  She shook her head. “Not good enough.”

  “You make me feel safe.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Try again.”

  He growled low in his throat, but she only cocked an eyebrow. He kissed her lips softly and spoke against her mouth.

  “You’re not leaving because I love you.”

  She smiled. “Much better.” And she kissed him.

  THE END.

  About the Authors

  Alana Hart

  Alana Hart is an American romance writer who decided that writing with friends is better than writing alone. Hartfelt Books brings together a huge group of sweet and steamy romance authors, collaborating on a new line of books that will have your heart pounding.

  When she’s not skyping and sharing her latest collaboration on googledocs, she’s typing away in her local coffee shop with a hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows and extra whipped cream, on hand. She claims it makes her happy ever afters that much sweeter!

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  Allison Teller

  When she’s not writing, and depending on the season, Allison enjoys a beer on the porch with her husband, beach days with her son, and hot chocolate with a good book, wrapped in a comfy blanket.

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  Romance Collaborations from the Hart

  BONUS MATERIAL

  Please enjoy the first chapter from another Hartfelt Books title -

  SAVING HER BEAR (The Bears
of Blackrock, Book One)

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Just come home, honey. We can figure this all out.”

  Catherine stood just outside the rest area convenience store waiting for her cousin Bennett to return from his snack and potty run. She held the phone to her ear with a strange tension in her stomach. She hadn’t wanted to hear her mother’s voice again so soon.

  “No, I’m not coming home.”

  Her mother made a huffing sound on the other end of the line. “You’re being ridiculous! I know Charlie can get a little out of hand sometimes, but it’s all settled now. It’s all settled and – you know Grampy doesn’t need you coming up there and putting him out like that.”

  Catherine closed her eyes. This was a fear she harbored, but there was a truth she wasn’t willing to share about going back north to Maine. There was more there than just Grampy Calhoun’s potential guest bedroom.

  “Mom, if I had any other choice, believe me, I wouldn’t be looking to stay with Grampy.”

  “Does he even know you’re coming? Has Bennett asked his father if you’re even welcome? Damn it, Catie! Just come back before you upset everybody.”

  “Never. I will never set foot in that house again.”

  Linda Calhoun groaned on the other end of the line. “How am I gonna take care of the house? What am I supposed to do?”

  Catherine’s eyes were welling up. Hearing her mother try to guilt her to come home was both infuriating and heartbreaking. Why couldn’t she see what she was doing?

  “You lied! You lied for that piece of shit and I almost went to fucking jail. Your house can burn to the ground for all I care!”

  “Don’t say that, Catie. It’s not my fault -”

  Bennett appeared at her shoulder and Catherine practically deflated in relief. “We’re getting back on the road. Good bye, Mom. Good bye!”

  She hung up, turning to receive the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Bennett had snagged for her.

  She smiled up at her cousin. “Thank you.”

  Bennett nodded, then started back toward the truck. “You almost went to jail?”

  Catherine glared at him. “Don’t.”

  They piled back into the truck, and a few moments later, Catherine’s new friend Jean returned from the restroom. They were off, hauling ass out of Kennebunk the way only Bennett could, his mighty engine growling up the onramp of Route 95. Catherine had to ignore four calls from her mother by the time they were coming into Bangor.

  “You’ve never been this far north?”

  Bennett was glancing into his rearview mirror at Jean Trainor, giving her more attention than Catherine would like. She didn’t mind that he was chatting her up, what she minded was that he wouldn’t keep his damn eyes on the road.

  “Benny!” Catherine shrieked as they veered a little too close to the guardrail.

  He straightened, scoffing at her. “Calm down, cuz. I’m not gonna kill us. Jesus.”

  “Yeah, then quit acting like it.”

  “No, I’ve never been this far north. Pretty sure I’ve never been past Old Orchard Beach,” Jean said, leaning her blonde head over the front seat to be a part of the conversation. She gave Catherine’s shoulder a quick scratch to show her solidarity. Catherine wasn’t the only one hoping Bennett would keep them alive.

  Bennett whistled. “Well, then you’re in for a treat. This is what real Maine looks like.”

  Catherine laughed. They were in the no man’s land of Route 95 between Bangor and Cherryfield. There was nothing to praise here save for trees and more trees – and maybe a couple dilapidated barns.

  “It looks lovely,” Jean offered.

  Bennett shook his head. “Wait til we get to camp. Acadia’s got nothing on Blackrock.”

  Catherine didn’t disagree. Still, she’d grown up around these parts, where the nearest Target or Home Depot was at least an hour and a half drive. It was almost four hours to the nearest Trader Joe’s. Despite the sad circumstances of her family’s moving away, she couldn’t say she didn’t enjoy the convenience of living closer to civilization.

  “Did Catherine tell you the creepy shit that happened in Blackrock when we were kids?”

  Catherine groaned, rolling her eyes. “Please don’t.”

  Jean shook Bennett’s shoulder. He smiled at her touch.

  “No, please do. I love this kind of stuff,” she said.

  “You sure? It’s kinda scary, and you’re gonna be sleeping in these woods tonight with no one to protect you.”

  Catherine shook her head, but Jean pleaded with him. “I’ll have you. Come on, now. Don’t listen to Catherine. Tell me.”

  Bennett flushed at her comment, his full face turning a pretty pink. Bennett wasn’t a slender man. He was built like a rugby player, thick in every part of him, much like all of the Calhoun men in her family. His brown hair was shorn short in a buzz-cut, now growing out enough to give a full bristly texture when someone ran their hand over his head. He was a handsome guy, and Catherine thought Jean could do far worse than cuddle up to a guy like Bennett.

  Bennett set off to tell the tale of the Blackrock swimming hole, a place she’d ventured with him many times when they were kids.

  In Blackrock, there’s this popular spot where everyone likes to go in the summer. There’s a lake and miles of woods – it’s called Parkhurst. We used to swim there, my dad likes to hunt there – just super popular. So, there’s this rope swing that hangs out over the water. You climb up this massive boulder, grab on and pray your grip is strong enough to carry you long enough to make it to the water. I’ve seen some guys just bite it after a night of drinking, thinking they could hold on, and just dropped like a stone to the beach. It’s not a huge drop, but I’ve seen some split chins.

  “Get on with it, Benny,” Catherine said.

  Sorry, sorry.

  Anyway, so Catherine and I went there all the time when we were kids. One day we get down there and a couple of my friends from school are there with their family – you remember those guys, right Catie?

  Catherine nodded. Yes, she remembered his friends. She remembered one in particular.

  Well, they’re there, but they’re not swimming. Their parents are there taking their boats out over the water, and a couple of em are putting on goggles, swimming across the lake.

  Catherine felt a chill run down her spine remembering that day. It was one of the last times she ever went swimming there.

  “Sounds like fun!” Jean said, glancing at Catherine for explanation to Bennett’s tone.

  “That’s the thing. They weren’t having fun. They were ‘trudging’ the lake.”

  Jean gave a half gasp.

  “Apparently, a woman named Alison Fenn had gone for a walk in the woods a few nights earlier and never came back.”

  “Did you really need to tell this story, Ben? God, you’re gonna ruin my day.”

  Bennett smiled at Catherine. “Don’t worry. You’ll feel better when you hear who might be there tonight.”

  Catherine stopped, turning to stare at him. She licked her lips, glancing at Jean’s confused expression. “Who?”

  Bennett just smiled. “She knows who.”

  Jean tapped Bennett then, egging him on. “So what happened? Did they find her?”

  “That’s the thing. See, she disappeared way off in this town called Falkirk’s Seat, but her whole family was down there in Blackrock – miles away from where she disappeared - scouring Parkhurst fucking Lake.”

  Catherine stared out the window as they passed through a small town, watching as one of the only grocery stores for a half hour in every direction passed by in a blur.

  “The cops thought they were lunatics, cause they were off searching the woods in Falkirk’s Seat, but wouldn’t you know it, they found her in that lake. Her fucking brother found her body in the damn lake.”

  Jean gasped again. “Oh my god, that’s horrible. What happened to her?”

  Bennett was relishing her rapt attention. Catherine was w
illing herself deaf. It was one of the worst memories of her childhood – the murder of Alison Fenn. She’d been a schoolteacher at Blackrock Elementary School, and one of the few truly sweet people Catherine had ever known. Sadly, the Calhoun family wasn’t known for their loving natures.

  “She’d been shot. Cops tried to pin it on one of the Fenn family, given they knew where to find her body and all.”

  “Did they figure out who did it?”

  Catherine shook her head, answering before Bennett could. “No. Couldn’t find the rifle to match the bullet. No one was ever charged.”

  Jean slumped back into her seat. “Jesus, that’s some harrowing shit.”

  Bennett glanced into the rearview, swerving just so as he did. Catherine slapped his arm and he returned his attention to the road.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Yeah, but you want to know the creepiest part?”

  Jean was leaning forward again, instantly. “Yes!”

  “Four years later? The body of Gregory Fenn washed up in Falkirk Seat Harbor.”

  Jean and Bennett continued this conversation, but Catherine simply couldn’t listen anymore. These were stories she knew well. Everyone from Blackrock to Machias knew about the Fenn murders. No one was ever charged. They rattled the small towns in Downeast Maine and were part of the reason why her family moved away from Blackrock, coming to settle in North Conway, New Hampshire. Catherine finished high school in New Hampshire, ended up attending UNH. She never went back north to Blackrock. She had her reasons, and the murders weren’t one of them.

  No, she’d never come back to Blackrock because of the boy named John Fenn.

  Bennett continued talking about the murders, about how the police interrogated every member of the Fenn family, from the patriarch, Patrick Fenn; a gray haired beast of a man who owned property in all corners of the county, to John and Deacon Fenn, Patrick’s teenage grandsons. Catherine remembered sneaking out of the house to go be with John when the town was turning against his family, threatening to get into fist fights at school when other kids began teasing him, calling his family a bunch of murderers. John didn’t need defending, and the kids at school knew it. However much they teased him, there wasn’t a single kid stupid enough to try to fight John Fenn.