"You…" Nathan growled low in his throat. "You had no right. We decided that—"
"We never made any agreements that others couldn't come join us. This is a big house, I could have half my pack live here. But I won't… I think my sister will be enough to give Tanya an outsider's perspective."
Nathan growled again, louder this time. "An outsider's perspective? Yeah, right. You're only bringing her in here because you know you have nothing to offer Tanya that compares to what I can give her. That's a low blow, Gabriel. I thought you were a more honorable male than that."
"Who are you to talk of honor?"
"The alpha who didn't have to go crying to his sister to convince a woman that his rival was complete scum to have a chance at getting into her bed." Nathan set the plate of food aside. "And here I thought that you have oh so much respect for women."
Gabriel didn't care about the jibes, knowing he had Nathan on the ropes already. He wouldn't be lashing out like this if he didn't. "Complete scum, huh? Well, if that’s how you see yourself, I guess it must be true. And what's so dishonorable about wanting Tanya to know all the facts? Including how you treat the women you're dating."
"You know nothing about me."
Both males moved closer, fists clenching. Gabriel eyed his opponent. The alpha was big, almost as big as Gabriel himself, but was a few pounds lighter. His muscles weren't as defined, either. Gabriel had been hitting the gym every day for months to prepare for this. Even if they had made an agreement to allow the alpha's mate to choose between them rather than invoking the ancient tradition of beating the crap out of each other, he didn't trust Nathan not to resort to physical violence when he wasn't chosen.
"I know all about you," Gabriel said softly. "Everything."
"Oh, so Olivia told you what sex position I like best?"
"You—"
The soft sound of footsteps cut him off. Nathan moved back, and it was all Gabriel could do not to attack him as his face melted into a false smile. Tanya entered the room moments later and jumped when she saw the two of them standing there. A pink flush stained her cheeks and she twisted her hands together.
"Hello," she said uncertainly, then threw her shoulders back. "We need to talk."
Her round, succulent breasts pressed against her shirt. She'd changed into one of the outfits that Gabriel had had quickly delivered from town. This was a silk top and a pair of jeans. The top was a little loose on her, concealing the generous hourglass curve between her rib cage and her hips. The jeans hugged her perfectly, though, making Gabriel want to run his hands over her legs while he buried his face between her breasts.
"My eyes are up here," Tanya snapped.
He tore his gaze away from her body. A low growl of arousal hung in his throat.
Tanya huffed. "At least one of you is a gentleman."
It was directed at Nathan, who chuckled. Gabriel didn't say anything in reply to that. Instead, he offered Tanya a chair and took a seat on the couch. Nathan stayed where he was, eyeing Tanya when she wasn't looking. A 'gentleman' indeed.
"What did you want to talk about?" Gabriel had to work to keep the growl from his voice.
Tanya glanced between them. Her eyes darkened and she pressed her thighs firmly together. The motion made Gabriel want to grab a pillow to cover his nether regions. It surprised him, the darkening flush in her neck and the scent of apples that grew stronger in the room. She was aroused just being in their presence. Was she reacting to him or Nathan? It was impossible to tell with the other alpha in the room.
"Since I am your prisoner, I deserve to know exactly what you're expecting from me."
"You're not a prisoner," Gabriel blurted. "You are an honored guest, everything you desire—"
"And if I want to go home?" Tanya rose a challenging brow and he was silent, unable to answer that. She snorted and shook her head. "That's what I thought. Now you can either tell me exactly why I'm here, or I'll cause such hell that you won't want to keep me."
She had spirit, that was for certain. Gabriel smiled as he answered. "You interrupted a ceremony that was meant to choose the alpha female, and now you have to choose one of us as your mates by the full moon in two months."
"Why?"
"Why?" Gabriel repeated.
Tanya nodded. "Why does it have to be an alpha female, and I thought you two were already alphas, so why do I have to choose between you? What happens to the one I don't choose?"
"There has been political upheaval lately," Nathan answered before Gabriel could. "A few of the packs recently lost their alphas without anybody to replace them. Given the current situations with humans trying to encroach on our territory and steal our earth—"
Here Gabriel couldn't help but growl. They were dealing with all sorts of companies trying to steal their land to mine or forest.
"—we need to have a united front. In order for that, it was decided that the packs would be united under one alpha. Gabriel and I are the only alphas left. You were picked by the moon to be the alpha female."
"But I'm not even a shifter."
"Doesn’t matter." Gabriel shrugged. "We have a ceremony, and the first woman to reach the moon's circle was the one chosen by the moon to be the alpha female. You entered the circle on the night of the full moon. That means that you're the chosen one."
Tanya stared at him, jaw hanging loose. "Are you kidding me? I'm here because of a freaking coincidence?"
"Pretty much," Nathan said. "But being the alpha female is a great honor. You and I will do great things with the packs."
"Ha!" Tanya jumped to her feet and started storming around the room. "A coincidence. I'd better get a good story out of this, I'll tell you that. A coincidence! Ugh! Stop smirking at me or I'll give you something to smirk about!"
Gabriel tried not to laugh. Her scowl was very becoming, and the way she paced and muttered showed her fire. He was going to love getting to know her better, he just knew it.
Chapter Three
Nathan
There was one thing that Nathan had to give to Gabriel, and that was the man knew how to live. The mansion was old, and it could have easily fallen into disrepair or be severely outdated. Instead, Gabriel had it decked out with all the modern furnishings an alpha could want, including a massive hot tub under a pavilion. Nathan relaxed neck-deep in it, enjoying the jets massaging his body. He had to get himself one of these.
"Mind if I join you?"
Nathan sat a little straighter as Tanya's head peeked over the edge of the tub. He flashed her a grin and nodded. Olivia would be arriving any moment, and Nathan knew that his attempts to win the little human would get much harder after she arrived. Trust Gabriel to need his sister to get anything done.
Olivia had been an itch. They'd fooled around, but nothing was ever going to come from it. She knew it, he'd been very clear about that. Even she was cool with the way things ended. Why Gabriel insisted he was the bad guy in that instance he didn't know.
Shaking off those thoughts, he instead focused on Tanya as she climbed the stairs and stepped one foot in before she took off her robe.
All Nathan could think of was thank God for bubbles. They helped to hide the way he had sprung to attention at the sight of her body. Tanya might be short, but that was the only 'little' thing about her. Everything in her figure curved. What was more, she wasn't wearing a one-piece swimsuit. Oh no, she had gone for a tiny bikini. Her breasts strained against the small triangles, which showed the curve of her breasts below and on top, and the bottoms… they rode high on her hips, showing off her lush, heart-shaped ass. Nathan nearly groaned as he tore his gaze away from her magnificent body.
Her eyes were locked on him as she slid into the water. The tub was big enough that she could stand in the middle and the water was still just over her shoulders. The look she gave him was calculating, and he couldn't help but grin.
"What's that face for?" he asked.
"I'm just watching you."
"To make sure I stay a gentleman
?"
A wicked smile flashed across her face. "No… I mean, a gentleman's all good and everything, but I can't be with someone who isn't madly in lust with me."
She was going to be the death of him. Nathan rose a brow, fighting the urge to pull her into his lap and take her right here. "And here I thought humans were timid creatures."
"Not all humans are the same." She cocked her head. "Well? Do you like what you see?"
Nathan laughed. "What a question! Have you seen yourself in a mirror? Any man into women would be crazy not to be in lust with you at first sight. The first time I caught your green apple scent, I wanted to part those creamy thighs of yours. Come sit on my lap and I'll show you exactly how much I lust for you."
She gasped, as though what he said was shocking. Was she not used to men being this forthright with her? He gripped her hips under the water and pulled her closer, until he could hold her with his knees while his hands moved up her body. He inched his hand towards her ripe breasts, eager to shift aside that material. To his surprise, though, she caught his hand and shook her head.
"Okay, just because there's lust doesn't mean I'm choosing you," she blurted.
"I understand. I presume you'll want to try out both Gabriel and me many times before you make your choice. But I can't show you what I'm capable of if you don't let me touch you."
Her pupils dilated but she still shook her head, not releasing his wrist. "There will be none of that. I want to get to know the both of you first. What does being alpha mean to you? I mean, why do you want the position? How did you become alpha in the first place?"
Nathan's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly banished the thoughts that question had led to. Instead, he gave her another dazzling smile and pulled her closer. "It's so I can be with you."
He kissed her neck, nibbling at the skin there. She shivered and he took the opportunity to pull her into his lap. The movement actually raised her a few inches, and he buried deeper into her neck. With his hands on her hips, he ground on her from below. She gasped and stiffened–and not in a good way.
"Stop," she said. "I don't—"
Even as Nathan began to pull back, a roar echoed around them. He glanced up to see Gabriel charging towards them–and then he dove right into the tub, fully clothed. Tanya gasped as the other alpha ripped her from Nathan's grasp and shoved her behind him. Her foot slipped and Nathan lunged forward, striking Gabriel square in the jaw.
"You disgusting—" Gabriel drove a fist into Nathan's stomach, making him bend over, wheezing.
Water splashed out of the hot tub as he retaliated. A fist to the side of Gabriel's face, a foot to his knee. As he went down, Nathan grabbed the back of his head and smashed it against the side of the tub. There was a crack and blood blossomed. It spread rapidly in the water, but Gabriel wasn't down. He seized Nathan around the waist and all but lifted him from the water. With another roar, he threw him out of the hot tub.
Nathan landed hard, feeling something in his spine crack as he landed. The air was driven from his lungs, but he still scrambled back to his feet as Gabriel sloshed out of the hot tub. The other alpha might be stronger, bigger, but he didn't have the experience that Nathan had. The smaller alpha charged him—
An arm came out of nowhere, striking against his throat. His upper body flipped backward while his lower kept going, and he ended on his back again. Surprised, he glanced at the person who had struck him. A groan erupted from him. Olivia. The she-wolf quickly kicked out Gabriel's legs as he went after Nathan and planted herself firmly between them.
"Enough! You nearly drowned your mate."
Nathan's heart thudded. He looked quickly for Tanya, and found her standing on the other side of the hot tub. Her hair was plastered against her scalp, eyes wide. There was a cut in her lip that bled. He scrambled to his feet, but Olivia still stood between him and the human. Nathan's eyes widened as he saw his own sister standing beside the human, wrapping a towel around her.
"Grace?" he said, startled. "What are you doing here?"
He whirled on Gabriel as the other alpha stood, but before he could speak, Tanya did. Or rather, she started yelling.
"What was that all about?" She stomped a foot, face contorted in anger. "I could have drowned! All we were doing was talking, you didn't have to jump in there and start throwing me around as though Nathan was molesting me." She pointed at Gabriel, then whirled at Nathan. "And you! Take a couple seconds to think before you go around smashing people's faces up."
Gabriel's deep voice rumbled. "You were telling him to stop and he—"
"He was stopping before you felt the need to go all caveman on him. Next time don't make assumptions. If I need your help I'll ask. Both of you had better shape up or I'll mate with her," Tanya pointed at Olivia, "and she can be alpha!"
Nathan's jaw dropped. That was certainly a possibility he hadn't thought of! Olivia, Grace, and Gabriel all looked stunned as well. Tanya pulled the towel tighter around her body and stomped off, not looking back. Nathan ran a hand through his wet hair, shaking off the excess water. His back hurt something fierce, but at least he hadn't bled. Gabriel's face was a mess with blood pouring down it still.
Grace walked over to him, shaking her head. "You really do need to learn how to control your temper."
Nathan didn't respond. Instead, he turned on Gabriel. Adrenaline still pumped through him, his fists curling with the desire to hit something. He was getting somewhere with Tanya, and the other alpha had ruined it. "How dare you?"
"How dare I what? Make sure that you knew that a no meant stop not keep going?"
"I'm not talking about Tanya. I was stopping, like she said. How dare you drag my little sister into the middle of this?" He shifted slightly so that he was standing in front of Grace. "You had no right. Grace doesn't need to be around this. You know that we're going to lose our tempers from time to time, I can't believe that you'd—"
"Gabriel didn't ask me to come." Grace's small hand pressed into his lower back. Her large eyes stared up at him, a look of fear in them.
Nathan attempted to soften. Grace was small and frail for a wolf, and he hated seeing her upset. "Who did, then?"
"I did," Oliva said. She swept her hair behind her back and gave him a look that would have him bursting into flames if she had that power. "I agree with Gabriel, the human needs someone to talk to. Only one sister seemed to be lopsided, though. I thought that both of her potential mates ought to have representation. Makes it fairer."
She said the word as though it was an insult. Nathan put an arm around Grace, scowling at his rival and Olivia. Well, at least she wasn't going for the blatant misrepresentation that Gabriel was trying. Although Grace was so shy and reserved, he didn't see her standing up for him if Gabriel went on a tirade about him. It would just put her in a terrible position.
"Let's go," he grumbled, pulling Grace away.
Gabriel and Olivia watched them leave. As soon as they were out of earshot, Gabriel turned to his sister and started speaking in a low, angry tone. Nathan glowered at the both of them as he led Grace into the mansion.
"Are you okay?" he asked, turning to his sister. "I'm sorry you saw that."
"I'm okay. But I'm serious, Nate. You need to control your temper. When you were fighting him…" She took a deep breath. "You looked like Dad."
Nathan flinched. He dragged his hand through his hair again and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm trying, Gracie, I really am. It's just that he… he ripped her away from me and threw her around. I know he thought he was protecting her, but I just… I lost it."
Grace leaned her head against him. "I know."
They were silent, and Nathan's gut continued to twist. This was the last time he was going to let Gabriel provoke him. The very last time.
Chapter Four
Tanya
Tanya was almost disappointed that the two alphas had brought their sisters to the mansion.
Almost.
Having a couple other women there h
elped with a lot of things. For starters, she now felt more comfortable just wandering around the mansion. She didn't have to worry about going to the library and letting one of the wolves ravish her against the books. It was strange for her to have these wild fantasies–or rather, having a couple of men who were eager to give her experience, rather than just fantasy. She knew she had to be careful with them. This wasn't living in a porno to them, it was deciding their futures and the futures of their packs.
Tanya couldn't give them the wrong idea and so she couldn't sleep with them. As much as she wanted to, ached to, they'd take it as something it wasn't. At least Gabriel would. She had a feeling Nathan got around a bit more.
"You're not listening." Olivia's voice broke through her thoughts.
The three women were walking around the lake that sat behind the mansion. Olivia had been telling a story, but Tanya's head was filled with thoughts of her two alphas.
No, not mine.
With a groan, she scrubbed her hands over her face. "I'm just thinking. I only have two months to get this whole mess figured out… but you guys have to know that I can't choose either of them, right? I have a life out there. A job, people who are… sort of relying on me." Tanya sighed. "This is like a dream, but I can't stay here. I need to convince the guys that they need to pick another woman."
"There is no other woman," Grace said softly. "If you reject both of them, the packs will descend into chaos. Both of them will be rejected to be the new alpha, and every unmated male will be after you, to convince you to make them your alpha. The moon chose you—"
Tanya shook her head. "I stumbled into a circle of stones. Coincidence. Besides which… I mean, they both expect me to… you know."
Even if Gabriel hadn't been as direct about it as Nathan, it was clear that he had the same expectations. The way he looked at her was proof enough. He wanted to gobble her up. Her original assessment, that he was the sex-crazed one and Nathan was a gentleman, was way off course. They were both sex-crazed. Nathan wasn't shy about it, though, and on both of the two nights she'd spent here, he'd come to her door asking if she wanted to have sex. Gabriel was more subtle about it, inviting her to dinner instead of telling her he wanted to tear her clothes off.
The Billionaire Wolves' Virgin Page 2
