Alphas of Summer: A collection of shifter romances

by Lia Davis

  “Are you sure it’s safe to chase them in their territory? I can’t have anything happening to you either.”

  “There will be a lot of us, and Etienne is joining the hunt as well. We will be fine.”

  Just then the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, cher. How are you feeling today?”

  “I feel great, Emma. But Cade just told me about Julia’s.”

  “Isaac told me as well. That’s why I’m calling. The ladies are planning to help Julia wash down the bar while the men go on their crazy hunt. Would you like to join us? I don’t expect you to scrub a floor, but I figured you would want to be there for moral support.”

  “You’re right. I would. Let me talk to Cade about it. If he agrees, I’ll be there.”

  “If I see you at the dock in the morning, I’ll know you’re joining us. But please, don’t feel pressured to come along if you aren’t up to it.”

  “Thank you for inviting me. Give Isaac a kiss, and have a great night.”

  “My pleasure, cher. Goodnight.”

  “What did my mother want?” Cade asked suspiciously. From what he had heard, he was sure he wasn’t going to like it.

  “The ladies are going to the bar tomorrow to help Julia clean, and she invited me to join them.”

  Cade turned as white as a sheet. “Hell, no!”

  Anna frowned, hands on her hips. “Why not?”

  “I need you to be where I know you will be safe,” he argued.

  “Okay, let’s think about that. If all the men are on this swamper hunt, where am I safer: at home unprotected, or with five badass shifter females at the bar?”

  Cade ran his fingers through his hair, pacing like a caged animal. “I don’t like it.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  Cade’s wolf was clawing at him and had him growling. “I wish Jack and Michael could be out in daylight.”

  “Yes, that would solve the problem if it were an option.”

  “If I weren’t expected to join the swamper hunt tomorrow as the crowned prince, I would stay home with you. But, I can’t. Protocol dictates I protect my people.” He grumbled to himself and paced across the room again. “As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. You will be safer with the women.”

  She met him in the center of the room and gave him a kiss. “Thank you. Emma plans to have me sitting in a chair and only providing moral support. How much trouble can I get into?”

  Cade didn’t answer. He just rolled his eyes and laughed.

  “Hey,” she swatted his chest playfully, “Don’t laugh at me.”

  “I can’t help it when you say such outlandish things,” he teased grinning as he caught her wrist and kissed her soundly.

  “If you are done picking on me, we should practice the breathing I learned in class. Since you are my focal point, it’s hard to do it without you.”

  Cade excitedly led her to the bed. “Good idea. I also read about some relaxation techniques I want to try on you.” “Relaxation techniques? Is that what you’re calling it now?”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter, woman.” He laughed, but his eyes were glowing with heat. “I’m serious.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?” she asked as she followed him to the bed.

  “Because you want my body,” he teased her playfully. “But truthfully, the books I’m reading are very helpful, and I want to try a couple of the suggestions.”

  The next morning

  Anna chatted with Julia on the dock. The men were getting their boats ready, and they would be leaving in a matter of minutes.

  “How badly was the bar damaged, Julia?”

  “Everything inside was destroyed except the actual bar and the stage,” Julia said as tears filled her eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, hun.” Anna put an arm around Julia’s shoulders.

  “Thank you,” she sniffled and stiffened her spine.

  “You don’t have to be strong around me, Julia. Cry if you want to.”

  “No,” she shook her head, “tears won’t change anything.”

  Anna nodded and dropped the subject. She wouldn’t push Julia to express her feelings if she didn’t want to.

  “Good morning, cher,” Emma greeted her as she stopped next to her and Julia. “I see Cade let you out of the house.”

  “I pointed out I would be safer with five shifter women than home alone. He agreed.” Anna grinned.

  “Impressive.” Emma chuckled. “You really have his number.”

  “I bow to a master,” Julia laughed, admiration for her mother-in-law growing.

  “Thank you, thank you very much,” Anna said in her best Elvis voice as El and Rose joined them.

  Thomas saw the last of the women had arrived. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “We’ll meet you there,” Cade called back to Thomas.

  As the last watercraft in the group, he could take his time. Anna rolled her eyes as he drove their boat barely above an idle. He completely ignored her irritation. He was determined to provide his extremely pregnant mate with a smooth ride. The idea of her going into labor scared the devil out of him. He had learned a lot from the books he’d purchased and even more from online videos, but he would rather have his mate deliver their daughter in a hospital and not on a boat.

  The air was fresh and the sun warm. She would concentrate on that rather than Cade’s overprotective tendencies.

  Stefan laughed as Cade helped Anna onto the pier. “Nice of you to join us,”

  Cade bared his fangs. “You just wait until El is pregnant, and I’ll be the one laughing.”

  “Don’t even think it,” Stefan shivered. “Let’s hurry. We need to get to the backyard. Everyone is waiting to start.”

  “Okay, we’ll be right there.”

  Anna saw that the women were ready to get the show on the road. They stood next to their mates, holding brooms, buckets, and mops. A pang of guilt shot through her. She would be forced to sit while everyone else did all the work. Suddenly, she hated being delegated to a chair.

  Anna glanced at Thomas as Julia moved to the edge of the trees. Odd, she swore something colorful and shiny shone in the branches of the tree Julia stood in front of.

  She was about to ask Cade about it when Lucas began to speak.

  “Before I put you into teams, I’m wondering, does anyone feel we should leave a protection detail behind for the women?”

  Cade immediately spoke up. “I would like a couple men left here to protect them.”

  Anna was ready to object when El raised her voice. “I think as shifters we’re able to handle anything that arises. Between myself, Rose, Emma, Julia, and Krystal, we can keep Anna safe and out of trouble.”

  She put her hand on Cade’s arm and nodded her agreement, holding his gaze.

  Isaac turned to Emma. “I don’t like it, but it’s your call.”

  Emma gave the women a good, hard look ending with Anna, who gave her a tiny nod. “I think we will be fine. Besides, in about six hours Jack and Michael will be here.”

  Cade squeezed Anna’s hand on his arm. “I will abide by your decision. Please, make sure it’s a safe one.”

  Anna looked over the group of men. It was plain as day which men were mated with women staying behind. But they would never go against their king and queen.

  The women quietly watched as Lucas formed the men into teams before kissing their mates goodbye and walking to the bar.

  Anna followed Julia to The Backwater. The instant she saw the interior, her mouth dropped open. The entire place was stripped bare. But there was still glass, spilled liquor, and debris everywhere. She’d never seen such a mess.

  El’s growl had Anna’s wolf raising its hackles. “Damn, they really did a number on the place.”

  Julia sighed sadly. “You should have seen it yesterday.”

  Anna could tell from the stiffening of her spine she fought tears again.

  Gently, Emma put an arm around Julia’s shoulders. “W
e’ll have it better than new in a jiffy.”

  “I know,” Julia shrugged. “The one bonus is Logan can decorate any way he wants now.”

  Rose cocked her head. “Why is he decorating your bar?”

  “I’m selling out to him and living with Tommy at the plantation. It’s too far to travel by boat each day to continue operating it myself.”

  Anna squealed with excitement. She’d been worried about how Thomas and Julia would manage her running the bar and him as head of security. Her incredible daughter-in-law was taking care of the problem in a very noble way. She couldn’t have been more proud to be her mother-in-law.

  Julia carried the only remaining chair to the grass just outside. “Anna, I am assigning you as lookout.” Then she grinned at Anna and watched her waddle toward her. “I won’t have my mother-in-law delivering my baby sister-in-law on top of the bar.”

  Anna shook her head at Julia and chuckled. “As huge as I am, I wouldn’t make it to the top of the bar. I would have to deliver on the floor.”

  “Goddess! Don’t even think it.” Julia held her hand to her heart, laughing.

  Shortly after Julia seated her on the chair, she watched as wolves of every color slipped into the trees sniffing, searching for a trail to follow. Cade’s handsome black and silver wolf turned and loped to her.

  He laid his head in her lap for a moment and licked her hand before trotting after the rest of the men. A cloud of his warm chocolate and fresh baked bread scent swirled around her as if staying behind to guard her.

  Anna checked her watch for the twentieth time and sighed. Only thirty minutes had passed, but it felt like hours. She stood to stretch her back when the glint of a boat docking caught her eye.

  “What are you doing here? You can’t be here!” She screamed.

  As if from a distance, she heard Emma’s voice from inside the bar. “Who’s out there, cher?”

  She was shaking so badly her teeth rattled. “Tim!” she yelled before he grabbed her and slammed his hand over her mouth.

  Cade’s heart lurched in his chest. Something was very wrong with Anna. He could feel her terror. In the same instant, he saw Thomas spin to face the direction of The Backwater. Thomas shifted and tore off like a bat out of hell with him right on his tail.

  ANNA!

  Cade! Help me!

  What happened? Are you hurt? Is it the baby?

  Tim! He’s here! How is he here?

  Fuck! I’m coming, mon amour.

  Hurry, he has a gun.

  His wolf stumbled at the possibility of its mate shot and bleeding.

  Anna was in trouble. Shit, he had known better. A few of the men should have remained behind. He should have insisted. Damn it all to hell!

  He and his wolf pushed themselves to their limit, trying to reach their mate. Her fear was ripping him to shreds.

  Goddess, please protect her...he chanted over and over.

  She was a jumble of confusion combined with fear for her baby. How had Tim gotten here? He wasn’t supposed to be able to enter the state. Etienne had cursed him so his manly bits and pieces would fall off if he ever tried. This shouldn’t be possible.

  Julia couldn’t believe the sight before her as she barreled through the door. Anna stood trembling, held tightly by a man she’d never seen before, with a gun to her head. The hesitation lasted less than a second before Julia raised her arms to pelt Tim with anything at hand. Turning toward what was left of her house, she began to summon the energy. She never saw Tim point the gun at her back.

  “JULIA!” Anna cried. The sight of Thomas’s mate crumpled in a heap was more than she could take. The world around her swam as she fought to remain conscious. It took all her will to gather her wits. She needed a clear head.

  The other four women stared in shock. Julia lay unconscious at a hideous man’s feet while Anna was held in front of him like a human shield.

  She felt Tim jam the barrel of his gun into her temple. He must be completely mad to show up here with a gun and threaten her. That made him much more dangerous.

  “Get back!” Tim demanded.

  A howl rose deep in the forest, long and mournful and moving toward them. Cade was coming, and from the sound of it, he was coming fast.

  Thank Goddess.

  “Move it, bitch,” Tim snarled, pushing her towards his boat.

  Anna was momentarily taken aback when Thomas crashed from the forest. If she’d been thinking clearly, she would have known he would come for his mate. A few steps behind Thomas stood Cade’s very large, very angry wolf.

  She had never seen Thomas this furious. Cade looked equally intimidating. Growling menacingly, he paced around Tim, preparing to attack.

  Cade stared at Tim’s gun hand. If he could safely attack, that hand was coming off. But for now, he was forced to analyze the situation and formulate a way to get Anna away from Tim without her getting shot. Thomas was providing a good distraction. Tim was paying less attention to his wolf as he kept a close eye on Thomas. The arrival of the rest of the hunting party didn’t hurt either.

  Anna watched as her son, in wolf form, faced off with his father. She had to do something. She considered the consequences of head–butting Tim with a gun to her head. Would the gun go off, leaving Cade without his mate to follow her into death? She couldn’t have that, nor could she lose the baby she carried, and she certainly wouldn’t lose her son. She could see that Cade was trying to catch Tim off guard, and the women were too afraid to move or shift for fear he would shoot her.

  Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. She wasn’t one to allow another person to make her this helpless, but she also couldn’t put her baby in jeopardy. The wolf in her wanted to tear the idiot to shreds, regardless of the consequences. But her human side knew that wasn’t an option. It wasn’t worth the risk. No, she would have to watch for an opening before she could make her move.

  Tim removed the pressure of the gun barrel from her temple and pointed it at Thomas before she could formulate a plan.

  Cade froze. Tim had turned the gun on Thomas, and it looked like his stepson was going to sacrifice himself.

  “No!” she cried, as a silenced gunshot popped next to her ear. She watched as Thomas staggered, and the sight of blood soaking his shoulder was more than she could take. As if on autopilot, her fury and instincts took over. She slammed her head back into his face. A loud crunch resounded behind her head, telling her she had hit her mark. Tim screamed in pain, releasing her to grasp his bloody, crushed nose with both hands.

  Immediately, she felt hands pulling her away from Tim. Everything happened so fast, the next thing she knew she was wrapped in Cade’s arms.

  Krystal had snatched the gun Tim had held the instant he dropped it. She was relieved beyond measure to see Thomas in human form and that the bullet had only grazed him.

  Anna heard Tim yell, “What the hell are you?”

  “Your worst nightmare,” Thomas replied in an ominously quiet tone. “You should’ve stayed in Vegas. Coming here was your first mistake. Touching my mate and my mother was your last.”

  Cade turned Anna’s face into his chest as Thomas attacked his father. He didn’t want her to see the brutality of her son killing his father.

  By the time Thomas was done, Tim resembled ground beef. He watched as his stepson readied himself to snap Tim’s neck, but Etienne stepped in at the last second.

  “Thomas, leave him to me,” Etienne said as he stepped from the forest. “I will hold him while you take care of your mate. See to her health. He isn’t going anywhere.”

  Thomas hesitated for a moment. Cade breathed easier when he shoved the man at Etienne and rushed to Julia.

  As Thomas cared for his mate, Cade turned his attention to Anna. “Are you okay?”

  Numbly she nodded.

  He ran his hands over her body searching for injuries. Thank Goddess he didn’t find any. Breathing her in, he held her as tightly as he could.

  “I just lost two hundred years off my
life,” he said into her hair.

  “I’m sure I did, too.”

  “You’re sure the baby is unharmed?”

  “Pretty sure. You and Thomas got to me before he could physically hurt me. But I’m sure the fear and stress weren’t good for my blood pressure.”

  “As soon as we get to the house, I’m taking you to the clinic to be checked,” he said in a firm, unyielding tone.

  “I think that would be a good idea. I’m really not sure what that much stress can do, but I’d rather be sure she is unaffected.”

  Cade turned Anna toward their boat and would have left the island, but Thomas stopped them short.

  “Mom, Grandma, help me!” he cried as he rocked Julia’s prone body.

  Anna was eerily calm. “I can’t leave her.”

  Cade glanced from the boat to Julia and knew she was right. Every fiber of his being screamed to get Anna to the hospital. Instead, he helped her kneel beside Julia.

  He stepped back, but only a foot, just enough to let her assess Julia’s injury.

  Emma quickly took charge organizing everyone to help. “We need to get the bullet out first. Ladies, please place your hands on my back and shoulders and imagine energy flowing through you and into me. Some of you men, do the same for Anna.”

  A heavy stream of blood gushed from the wound as the spent bullet emerged from the wound and fell to the ground. He didn’t like Anna’s pale complexion. She was giving too much of herself to save Julia. He placed both hands on her shoulders and doubled his efforts to give her every bit of energy he had.

  Goddess help them, Julia didn’t look like she was going to make it.

  “What’s wrong?” Thomas asked in a terrified voice. “Fix her! Please.”

  Pale and swaying with weariness, Emma looked up at her grandson. “We’ve done all we can. She’s lost too much blood. I’m sorry, cher, all we can do is wait and hope to get her to a hospital in time.”

  “No!” he wailed, fighting against the hold Isaac had on him.

  No one had noticed the tiny faeries, Petunia, and Tulip. Tulip put a hand on Petunia’s arm. “Bring her. We need her. Now.”

  Petunia vanished with a tiny pop and reappeared moments later with Queen Lilli.