Alpha Boxed Set

by Treva Harte

  “He’s stable. But maybe…” Ruth looked at the monitor again. “You probably need a human doctor. I don’t have any tetanus boosters since animals don’t get them and I don’t really have the facilities for—”

  “Even if I do get a human doctor, he still needs you.” Tala’s face was composed as she looked at her husband. “We don’t know how to deal with this. A non-were doctor wouldn’t either.”

  How did she stay calm?

  Ruth tried to make her understand the problems. “We can’t keep quiet about what’s happened to him. Someone will talk even if they say it was just a wolf attack. There will be questions about why you don’t have him in a hospital or under the care of a physician. I don’t think I can keep him in my clinic for much longer before someone finds out.”

  “Let them talk. I don’t care if they think his bitch trophy wife is trying to kill him. As long as we can keep him alive, that’s what matters.”

  “He’s not hemorrhaging anymore. That’s good. I’m not sure how much more Dunne had left to give. But I’m not qualified to—”

  “We’re all depending on you, Ruth. Again.” Tala gripped her hands. “I may ask for even more. You’re right about the talk. We can’t afford to let outside packs know that Hunt is weakened. I might need to move him to Dek and Leila’s ranch. Leila is very, very good at tending to were injuries and illnesses and no one would mess with us there. We’d need you there, though. I don’t know for how long.”

  Arlin had wanted to exile her to his family. Keep her away from him. But if she was needed there, what else could she do?

  “I’ll never make partner now. I’m sorry. I mean, Tala, I’ll do whatever I can for as long as I can. But—”

  “But?”

  “You’re acting like we’re friends.”

  “Are we enemies?”

  “No. I don’t think so. I’m not your enemy, anyhow. And I’d always agree to help. But—”

  “Not enemies but rivals, then?”

  “Yes.” Ruth wondered if she was being stupid to stake her claim against the lifelong bond Tala and Arlin had. But there was something she and Arlin had too, even if she’d lied to herself about how important that something was to her.

  Tala kept her grip on Ruth’s hands. “Maybe we used to be. Sort of. And you figured a were would be a dog in the manger, right?”

  “I was figuring on some kind of quarrel. Fight. Maybe it sounds stupid, but I thought we might have to fight.”

  “Mano a mano?” Tala’s teeth showed. “Bet I could take you.”

  Female wolves were as willing to fight for mates as males were. At least Ruth knew she was.

  Ruth stared back at her, not even trying to smile. “Maybe you could. But I wouldn’t make it easy.”

  Tala laughed. “You took down the piece of shit that hurt Hunt. You’re a tougher were than you act when you’re not changed.”

  Ruth thought about the horrible joy of chasing and catching her prey. It had felt right. Were right. And now, even back in non-were form, she wasn’t sorry.

  “Yes. I am tough.”

  Tala studied her. Ruth knew she looked like her usual veterinarian self—her hair tidied up and out of her way, dressed in a sterile office jacket, glasses on her nose. She liked that self too, liked being the quiet self that she was used to.

  What did Tala see? Someone who was a match for her despite the quiet? Better yet, someone who was a match for Arlin?

  “If I didn’t take you down for killing him before I got a chance to, I certainly wouldn’t over you capturing Arlin.”

  Tala sounded so sure, so easy making that assertion. But there was something underneath that tone… For God’s sake, she was questioning someone who had a husband lying in a coma next to them.

  “Tala, excuse me for saying that.”

  “You can say anything to me as long as you keep my husband with me.” Tala blinked and turned toward Hunt, lying unnaturally still in the bed. “You might want to talk to Arlin about calling dibs on him, though, because I don’t think he knows you—Oh, my God!”

  Ruth froze. Mentally cataloging the possible responses to an emergency, she stepped to Tala’s elbow.

  “Oh.”

  Hunt’s eyes were open and he was staring intently at his wife. Ruth stepped back, wishing she wasn’t there, knowing she needed to stay. Just in case.

  They weren’t saying anything out loud. But Ruth could see the intensity in Tala and Hunt’s faces. She could almost hear words buzzing between them.

  Let it be good news. Please, let it be good.

  “Hunt?” Tala’s voice was a half whisper. She touched his face.

  Then she began to cry. Ruth hesitated, torn between friend and doctor.

  “What is it?”

  Tala’s head was bowed over the bed, her hands stroking Hunt’s arm. Slowly Hunt’s hand opened to clasp Tala’s. The two of them stayed there, hand in hand, while Ruth blinked her eyes. “He’s back. He’s here. Oh God. Get Dunne. He needs to know.”

  Ruth headed out the door. All that couple needed right now was each other.

  Just like she needed Arlin.

  The two weres sat in her reception area, drinking coffee, looking grim, and probably scaring away any of her customers. Come to think of it, the room was unusually quiet for a regular office day.

  “Dunne. Quickly.”

  Dunne’s face went white.

  “It’s all right.” Ruth almost pushed him. “Just go.”

  Dunne almost fell over his feet as he ran for the hallway.

  “What is…?” Arlin stopped.

  “It’s all right, I think.” Ruth took a deep breath. What might be good for everyone else could mean something bad for Arlin. “Hunt seems to be conscious.”

  The smile on Arlin’s face as he jumped up couldn’t be fake. That must mean he couldn’t be too eager to get rid of Hunt and try to claim Tala.

  That didn’t mean he wanted to claim her instead.

  Since he was running to Hunt’s side right now, the odds were good he wanted his old foursome back.

  That didn’t mean she couldn’t beat the odds, of course. She was smart and Arlin liked sex with her and if she pushed things the right way… Whatever happened, she had to try.

  She followed the crowd.

  There they were. Tala twined around Hunt on the right, Dunne propping him up on the left. And Arlin standing at the foot of the bed, staring at the Alpha below him.

  A unit. One single unit, without her.

  But Arlin held out a hand to her without looking away and Ruth realized she was headed right for him, needing that hand to grip her close.

  This one. She wanted just this one. Please.

  But Arlin didn’t look at her, didn’t do anything but hang on as if he needed her to help him stand up. Well, hell. He could use the wall for that.

  Ruth left again.

  “ARE YOU GOING to be stupid? She wants you. You want her.”

  He was tired. So tired. Almost as tired as the voice in his head, the one that belonged to Hunt. When Ruth slipped away, it was like the only thing that was keeping him steady was gone.

  He needed to do something about Ruth.

  RUTH KNEW SHE should go back in and see to Hunt. Instead she stood in the hall outside, trying to gulp in air. There didn’t seem to be enough air in the world to get her lungs working properly.

  “Ma’am?”

  She looked up into the worried dark eyes of Hunt’s omega. She tried to smile and realized, to her horror, that her lips were trembling.

  “Are you all right?” His voice deepened.

  “F-fine.” She rubbed her arms, trying to hold herself together. “Hunt is better, I think. He needs his family.”

  “He has plenty of us there. I think you need someone more right now. I’m here, if…if you want.”

  “I’m terrible at this.” Ruth stopped rubbing and found her hands in Lupe’s large paws. “I don’t know what to do or how to act. I’m supposed to be were but I d
on’t do what weres are supposed to do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m too prissy and too fearful, or then I go berserk and kill. And…and…” She hesitated, faintly appalled at what she felt compelled to say next.

  “And?”

  “I must suck at sex.”

  “You’re shitting me.” They both blinked and then Lupe blushed. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not what I should say but…you must be shitting me.”

  “Well, I didn’t like my one and only threesome. I mean I liked it but I could do without another. Other weres seem fine with it.”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “Maybe you need more practice. No one as sexy as you could suck at that. Unless you mean some other kind of sucking.”

  Ruth stared up at the omega. Well. Weres, no matter what their rank in a pack, had no shyness about sex. Not even Lupe.

  Why was she discounting Lupe? He was very masculine. Very physically powerful. And he was staring at her with so much heat that she was forgetting that she wasn’t quite up to were standards.

  “Th-thank you. But Arlin doesn’t think so.”

  “I can’t believe that. But if you were right, then Arlin is a shithead.”

  Somehow, without her figuring out how, she was locked against Lupe and he was kissing her with a hot, devouring intensity. Or was she the one clinging to him and demanding still more?

  “What the hell are you doing?” Arlin’s voice was ice. Lupe let her go, then shoved her behind him.

  “Out of my way.” Arlin didn’t even look at the omega. “Ruth. I’m talking to you. What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Him.” Ruth pointed at Lupe. “I believe I was thinking about doing him. I want him, Arlin.”

  “He fucking dies.” Arlin’s hand was around the omega’s throat.

  Lupe was twice as big as Arlin but he stood, gasping, not resisting as Arlin squeezed.

  “Stop it, Arlin! He’s not going to fight back.” Ruth tugged at his hand. When that didn’t work, she gave one sharp kick to his shin.

  “I’m not going to have my mate picking a damned omega over me.” Arlin let go, reluctantly, and Lupe bent forward, gasping for air. “I’m not going to have you pick anyone over me.”

  His mate?

  “I’d be…honored…to be her…pick…” Lupe took another gulp of air and managed to finish. “I don’t think that’s what she meant though. A pity.”

  “You idiot.” Ruth kissed Arlin hard on the lips and stepped back. “I want Lupe to be part of our pack.”

  “You don’t have to lip-lock an omega to make him a pack member.” Arlin’s eyes were still narrow.

  “I did that because I like him.” Ruth’s chin went up.

  “Don’t do that to every were you like or there won’t be many left.” Arlin paused. “Wait. Take someone from Hunt’s precious pack? Hmmm.”

  “Don’t give me orders.” Ruth paused. “Wait. So you’ll consider it?”

  She put her hand on Lupe’s chest and ignored the faint growl Arlin gave. “I think he’d be happier with us, Arlin.”

  “Us?” Arlin began to smile. “You mean there is an us?”

  As if she had been the one to hesitate before. Well, maybe she had. But no more than he, and she had more reason.

  “He likes me too. A lot. I think that was what was wrong with using Dunne. He already belongs to someone else. But Lupe could belong to us, if we asked.”

  “If you’d let me make a suggestion, ma’am…sir?” Lupe’s mouth didn’t even hint at a smile, but Ruth could tell there was a laugh somewhere, hidden away. “Perhaps you could check first with my current Alphas? I believe they do owe you, ma’am.”

  * * * *

  “He wants a hamburger. Rare as you can make it. And I’ll have my usual sandwich.” Ruth clicked her glasses down on the table after she handed back the menu and smiled at him.

  Her smile was tentative but he relaxed when he saw it.

  “You need some protein,” she said.

  “And coffee.” And you.

  They ate without talking. No voice in his head. No chatter. Just Ruth’s presence there, anchoring him.

  “So.” Ruth cleared her throat.

  “Mmmm?” He smiled at her. Just looking at her relaxed him. And she still smelled like tangy sex. That was a little less relaxing but still worth a smile.

  “What expectations do you think I have of you?”

  “Wha—” He sat up straight, suddenly alert.

  “The ones that you can’t meet. I was so crushed when you made that little speech, I didn’t think hard enough about what you were really saying. But now I want to know about those expectations you think you aren’t fulfilling.” Ruth wiped her mouth with her napkin and tilted her head. “Not sex, I hope. I think you meet expectations there. Of course I have limited experience, but you seem to be doing just fine.”

  Arlin sputtered, trying to finish that last swallow of coffee without choking. Damn Ruth. She’d ambushed him and amused him all at the same time.

  “No. That’s not it. I-I’m probably too young for you.”

  “Are you sure you aren’t telling me that I’m too old for you? In some cultures”—Ruth hesitated—“I could be old enough to be your mother.”

  Arlin stared at her before he hid his head in his hands and let his shoulders shake with suppressed emotion. He managed a muffled, “No.”

  “And in some cultures, if you had been my son, I could have drowned you at birth.” She held her hands together so she didn’t smack him. She hadn’t gotten quite that bold in public yet.

  “No, it’s definitely not that.” Arlin stopped laughing long enough to look up at her. Heat flared up between them again.

  She believed him. She had to. She must realize no one could look at her that way and think she wasn’t—she was—

  “Well, then?”

  He glanced around and saw the few customers in the shop were completely indifferent to anything but their food. He ran his hand over his hair and got ready for the most important conversation of his life.

  “You deserve better than an eighteen-year-old were who hasn’t done anything on his own in his life.”

  “You protected me on your own.”

  “I called for help when things got bad.”

  “When we needed it. Very sensible of you too. I tend to lose all my reason when I get angry so it’s good that you don’t.” She smiled.

  “I led Dio’s men straight to Hunt and left you to fight them.”

  “I don’t think this has anything to do with my expectations, Arlin.”

  “I don’t know if I can protect you the way you should be. I don’t know if I—”

  “If you…?”

  “Can be your mate. If I’m worthy.”

  “What?” Ruth stared at him as if he’d lost the ability to speak English.

  “That probably didn’t come out right.”

  “Who told you I wanted a mate or that you’re not worthy?” Ruth began to scowl.

  “Wait. Before I screw this up again.” Arlin held out a hand and then fumbled with his cell phone. “I have a call to make first.”

  She stared at him, looking half-exasperated, half-confused, as he speed dialed.

  “Dad? I have something important to tell you.”

  “Yes, Arlin?” Nothing threw his father. He was usually focused, intense, almost grim.

  “I believe I’m bringing home my mate this week.” Arlin swallowed.

  “Ruth?”

  “Yeah. She’s too good for me, you know.”

  “Then she’s the right one. Your mother has always been too good for me.” Lowell’s voice warmed. His mom—even if he was talking about her—was the only thing that could melt that icy intensity. “Glad you finally made up your mind. I wondered.”

  “I know sometimes it didn’t look like it would be Ruth—”

  “You’re not the only one to get confused when there’s more than one female were in the area.”

&n
bsp; “Give me that.” His mother’s voice cut in. “Your hound dog father means that he was willing to jump any were female he saw back in his youth. Fortunately there aren’t many of them to see.”

  “He did?” That was another story that had been kept from him. Arlin tried and failed to imagine his father with anyone but his mother.

  “Until he picked me up at a bar, of course.”

  “Lin, you can stop now.” His father raised his voice to be heard. “Good luck, boy. Now that you’re sure. You’ll do fine.”

  “I believe I am.” Arlin clicked the phone off and looked at Ruth. “My father says that someone too good for me is the type I should pick. I’m taking you, Ruth.”

  Ruth’s face had changed from annoyed confusion to a very odd expression.

  “Where?”

  Arlin blinked. “Were?”

  “No. Where are you taking me?” Ruth said aloud.

  “That’s not—” He heard Ruth’s laugh in his head. She knew damned well what he meant. “I’ll take you in the bathroom right here and now if you aren’t careful. I’m not playing right now.”

  Shit. He shouldn’t have said that. Suddenly the images of the two of them tangled up—he wasn’t sure if he was thinking it or she was or they both were—were in his head. And God, she smelled so tasty.

  She ran one nail down the seam of his jeans and let it rest where his balls were starting to pull back, desperate to come.

  “Ruth?”

  “Are you sure? Mostly I’m pretty much the way I’ve always been despite everything that’s happened in the past few weeks. I’m reserved. I dress sensibly. I do my work and I like it. I don’t ask others for anything because I can do it for myself. I’m fine with that. Most of the time. The only time I’m not that way is when I’m were or when I have sex with you. And I’m very fine with that too. All I expect of you, Arlin, is that you keep trying to make me feel as good as I always do with you.” She played with the buttons of his pants, and the pounding in his balls grew harder and more insistent.

  Lupe walked into the café, scanning the crowd. When he saw them, he began to walk their way. Hell. He was not going to let some omega watch him get fondled in a restaurant.

  Apparently Ruth wasn’t either. She threw money down for the meal, and gave him a slow, hot stare.