Claimed by the Alpha (Shifters of Ashwood Falls Book 13)

by Lia Davis

  She raised her brows and held his gaze as she lowered her head to his cock and took him inside her mouth. He jerked as she palmed his sac and sucked him. Fisting his hands into her hair, he closed his eyes and rode the wave of ecstasy.

  She pulled up, releasing his cock. She palmed the base of his shaft and took him inside her mouth again, raising and lowering her head. Each stroke pushed him further over the edge. He thrust his hips, fucking her mouth as her nails lightly scored his dick.

  His balls tightened, and his cock throbbed. “Luna…”

  His plea only made her work him faster until an orgasm tore through him.

  He gripped her arms and pulled her up to kiss her hard. She smiled into the kiss and crawled forward to position herself over him. He thrust up, entering her in one swift movement. She gasped then started rocking against him.

  He took hold of her hips as she rode him to the edge of another orgasm. When she cried out in release, he followed with his own.

  Luna stepped out of the shower and reached for the towel when crippling pain exploded in her head. Images flooded her mind. Death. Everyone she loved died.

  Faelin had the wolf shaped moonstone around his neck and he glowed with the power of the moon. A sea of rogues fanned out behind him, ready for him to give the order. Then the vision flashed forward to Faelin, throwing his hand out, sending a stream of powerful energies out in all directions. Everyone the power touched died instantly.

  When the vision vanished, Luna was in a ball on the bathroom floor, holding her head. Tears streamed down her face.

  Footsteps rushed toward her, but she didn’t dare look up, afraid the light would bring back the headache. It sometimes did. Then a soft robe covered her right before she was lifted off the ground.

  Rafe’s cedar scent enveloped her, and she fisted her hands in his shirt. Instead of putting her in bed, he sat in an armchair that was in their room and cradled her to him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Tanner. She’d know his pissed off tone anywhere. But he wasn’t alone. Hayden and their mates were there.

  “Vision,” Hayden said as he moved closer to her. “Sometimes the light hurts her eyes after.”

  The room around her darkened as if someone shut the blinds or covered the window. Slowly she opened her eyes, then lifted her head from Rafe’s chest.

  Her guess was right about covering the windows. Someone, most likely Tanner, had tucked sheets up over the closed blinds. She met everyone’s stare and said, “Faelin. He will transfer the power of the Moonstone. He will be too powerful, and everyone dies.”

  She went on to tell them about the vision and how Faelin will kill everyone within a 100-mile radius. That included her and her loved ones.

  “We have to test how we will balance the power of our stone. It’s the only way to defeat him.” She got out of Rafe’s lap and wrapped the robe around her tighter. “I have a few things that Faelin doesn't. My pack connection, Rhea, and the twins.”

  A knock sounded on the door, drawing their attention to Colt. He stared at them wide-eyed, and Luna could tell he was distressed, and it wasn’t about her vision. “What’s wrong?”

  He shifted from foot to foot and glanced from Luna to Rafe and back again. “It’s Oscar.”

  She had to think who Oscar was then she recalled. “Your friend?”

  “Yes, but he is no friend. Not anymore.” Colt’s hands trembled. “He has been acting strange and I saw him sneak off, so I followed him.”

  He fidgeted even more and looked like he wanted to bolt. Oscar was one of the first people to friend Colt when he arrived at the rebel camp. The two of them became close friends in the short span of a couple of months.

  Luna slid her arms in the robe and tied it closed before going to him and taking his hands in hers. “Colt, you can tell me. Where did he go?”

  His lip trembled as he spoke. “I’m stupid. I should have never trusted him.”

  “Colt,” Rafe growled, making Colt straighten his back.

  Okay, so Luna was going to use her Alpha voice as a last resort. Cutting Rafe what her boys call the mom look, she gently squeezed Colt’s hands. “Tell us.”

  “Oscar went to meet with Faelin. It looked like they have known each other for a while.”

  Fuck. “Where is Oscar now?”

  Rafe grabbed their bags and started packing what little things they had scattered around the room. Hayden said, “We’ll gather everything else and tell the females we are leaving.

  Colt sighed. “He went back to his house. I was careful not to let him know I followed him.”

  “That’s good, Colt.” Luna released his hands and went to grab some clothes from her bag.

  “There’s something else.”

  Luna glanced at him and lifted a brow. The poor guy looked ready to hang himself.

  “I told him we found the second stone. When I got back home last night, he came over, and we talked and hung out as usual. So I didn’t think anything of it when he asked about the trip. I just told him. I mean, it wasn’t a secret, was it?” Colt’s words were rushed out.

  Rafe walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You wouldn’t have known he’d run to Faelin. This is not your fault. Plus, I’m thinking that if Oscar is working with Faelin, he has been since the bastard got into town. So he’s been spying on us for a while.”

  Colt looked relieved at Rafe’s reassurance. Luna met Colt’s gaze and said, “You do understand what we have to do, right?”

  Oscar was a wolf shifter. He was a member of the Wilde Wolf Pack that helped out the rebels that lived in the area. It wasn’t uncommon for the Wilde wolves to do so because they didn’t live in a den as Ashwood did. The Wilde wolves ruled their territory, which included Willow Glen and the fifty miles radius surrounding the town. They were intertwined with humans, rebels, and other shifters who passed through town. Kasen had eyes and ears everywhere. No one entered or left his territory without him knowing it.

  Colt nodded. “You have to turn him into Kasen, and he’ll be killed.”

  She wanted to make sure he knew the rules of the Pack. “A traitor is considered a rogue. Especially if that traitor is passing on information to the enemy.”

  “I know. Kasen explained it to me when I talked to him about staying in his territory for good.” Colt gave a small smile and added, “He said because I’m officially part wolf that I could be part of the pack. Stacy and Kathy would default as pack members because they are my family, and they would be protected as such.”

  “That is great.” It surprised Luna. From what she heard, Kasen didn’t offer placement in his pack easily. He liked his Pack small. It currently had about seventy official members. The others that lived in the area were protected for being loyal, but they weren’t privileged to Pack business like an official pack member would be. Plus, they paid to stay in town and receive that protection.

  Much like the mafia, Kasen took a small percentage from the profits of anyone doing business in town.

  She shook that thought off. It was none of her business what the Wilde Wolves did as long as it didn’t threaten the shifter communities.

  “Go wait out by the truck. Rafe and I will be out shortly.”

  Colt did a little bow to her like he always had since she took him from under Faelin’s control. When he left the room, she closed the door and turned to Rafe. “I want information from the little bastard.”

  Rafe had his phone out and was dialing a number. “So do I.” After a moment, he spoke into the phone. “We have a traitor. Oscar has been meeting up with Faelin.” He paused, then added, “Lu and I want answers from him before you kill him.”

  Hanging up, Rafe said, “Kasen said he’d meet us at Wilde Industries.”

  “Good. Then let’s go. I want to be the first one to sink my claws into him.” She would make him squeal like a banshee. When she finished with him, she’d move on to taking down Faelin.

  Chapter Ten

  They met Kasen in the
basement of the Wilde Industries office building. When they emerged from the elevator, he saw why they were meeting there.

  There were holding cells lined up against one of the walls and several medieval torture devices that Rafe had no idea what they were used for.

  Luna walked past him and grinned. “This is cool.”

  “If you say so. At least we know why Kasen doesn’t have any issues with rogues.” Rafe glanced at Luna and raised a brow. “Don’t get any ideas. Ashwood doesn’t need a torture room.”

  She laughed. “It’s a good thing Ana isn’t here because she’d definitely put a presentation together on why we need one.”

  Rafe shook his head. Ana enjoyed torturing mutants and rogues for information and a lot of times just for fun.

  “This room isn’t used as much as you think,” Kasen said as he exited the elevator. Behind him was Tate and Chance dragging Oscar between them.

  The Enforcers strapped Oscar to a wood board that stood upright. Kasen moved to a cabinet and opened it. Inside were various weapons and knives. Rafe glanced at Luna, who shrugged and pulled out her phone. After sending a text, she pocketed the device and said, “We won’t need those.”

  Then she walked to Oscar and shifted one hand into claws. Rafe moved in behind her and folded his arms over his chest, trying not to think about how hot his mate was in full Alpha mode.

  She pressed a claw to Oscar’s throat. “So, I hear that you’ve been getting chatty with Faelin.”

  Oscar snarled. “I’m not talking to you.”

  “I didn’t expect you to. But that’s not why you’re here.” Luna drew her claw down his throat and down to the top of his shirt. “I already know where Faelin is.”

  She did? Rafe remained still and emotionless. He didn’t want to give it away that Luna was bluffing.

  Oscar’s features paled a little, then let out a laugh. “I’m not sure you do. And you can’t do anything to me to make me talk.”

  “Oh, I have ways.”

  The elevator opened, and Nyla bounced out. She crossed the room and around the board Oscar was strapped to. Leaning, she inhaled and smiled. “His soul will keep me sustained much longer than the human pedophile I had last week.”

  Rafe smirked as he watched Oscar go white as snow and stare at Nyla with wide eyes. The half-demon, female fed off souls as well as regular food. She didn’t need to feed as often as a full-blooded soul demon, but when she did, it was from those who deserved death.

  Oscar lifted his chin. “Your own spy was eliminated last night while you were getting the stone. Easton didn’t have a chance to call his mutant followers before his throat was slashed. Didn’t even see it coming.”

  So now he’s talking. An ache formed in Rafe’s chest. He’d been working with Easton for a couple of years to gather info on the Onyx Pack. He was the one who told him about the stone in the first place. And why he was forced to face Luna after all the time he’d been away.

  Nyla clapped her hands. “Oh, look, someone wants to chat.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you do to me. Faelin found someone powerful enough to pull the power from the moonstone.” Oscar worked his jaw.

  After a moment, Rafe realized he had something in his mouth. “He has something.”

  Nyla gripped Oscar’s face, squeezing his cheeks so he opened his mouth. Then she jumped back. “It’s poison. The fucker is killing himself.”

  Moving closer to him again, Nyla placed a hand on his forehead and closed her eyes and gasped.

  Kasen inched closer to Nyla, tension and worry heavy in his scent.

  When the poison killed Oscar, Nyla stumbled back a few steps. Luna beat Kasen to the female. “Are you okay?”

  Nyla nodded and took a deep breath. “I couldn’t feed on his soul because the poison had magical elements that blocked it from me. It was weird. I did, however, extract his memories of the last few days.” She looked at Rafe and frowned. “Elise is a powerful witch that will help transfer the power to Faelin. And I know where he is right now.”

  “Then we have to go.” Luna moved to the elevator. “There is no time to test balancing the power of the second stone. Faelin needs to be stopped before my vision comes true.”

  Rafe cursed. As much as he hated going in unprepared, especially when it came to magic, Luna was right. Faelin needed to be stopped.

  And now.

  Luna hopped out of Rafe’s truck before it fully stopped outside the underground bunker Faelin was using for his hideout. The Jeep Hayden rented pulled to a stop next to the truck, followed by Kasen’s Audi and a few more vehicles. The Wilde wolves.

  Rhea and the twins rushed over to Luna. Rhea asked, “What’s the plan?”

  Luna handed Brenna the stone. “Don’t pull on the power until I say. Brenna and Bryce will serve as the center of the power source. Rhea and I can draw from them. If it gets too much, then anyone linked to me via the Pack bond can buffer it.” She moved toward the entrance of the bunker.

  Luna didn’t plan on holding onto the power. She was going to pull it through her and straight into Faelin. But she needed to make sure she did it at just the right time.

  She reached for the door, but Hayden stopped her and directed Tanner and Jon to go in first. As the Pack Marshal, it was his job to command the Enforcers and sentries as well as protect his Alpha. Hayden was ten times worse than a normal Marshal because he was her son. Overprotective and growly.

  Much like her mate, who was behind her with Tanner and a few of the Wilde wolves. Alec, Rhea, and the twins hung back and would enter the bunker a few seconds after they did.

  Once inside, Luna scented Faelin and Elise further inside. The bunker was set up like an apartment with a central area and rooms that branched off from it. She followed their scents to an opening to her left.

  Before she reached the door, it blew open and rogues streamed out. One tackled her to the ground. She hit the fucker in the side of the head, knocking him off her. Rolling to her feet, she growled and charged at him as he stood. With a clawed hand, she sliced through his stomach, then again across the throat.

  He dropped to the ground with a thud, and she rounded on the next one. The stupid bastard thought he could sneak up on her. Ha! Silly fucker.

  She thrust her hand forward and up, hitting him in the nose with the heel of her palm. He screamed out and stumbled backward. Taking advantage of his distraction, she circled him to jump on his back. He reached back and grabbed a handful of her hair, trying to pull her off him. Nice try, asshole. She gripped his head in her hands and jerked, twisting it and snapping his neck.

  He fell to the floor, and she jumped to her feet. That was when she saw a clear shot to the room Faelin and Elis were in. Sending out a telepathic message to her packmates, she said, “I’m going after Faelin. Bren, start pulling on the power and let it trickle into our connection.”

  “You got it,” Brenna replied.

  Luna ran to the door and opened it. Faelin and Elise stood facing each other in the center of the room, surrounded by a magical circle. Elise held the stone in her hand between them and was chanting. Power flowed out around them and into Faelin.

  “They’re in a protective bubble.” As soon as Luna sent the thought out to Rhea and the twins, the three of them materialized beside her.

  Rhea took Luna’s hand and smiled. “This way is better.”

  Luna grinned and tightened her hold on Rhea’s hand. “Ready.”

  Brenna pushed the power from the stone out to the rest of them. Luna inhaled as the magic filled her, enhancing her Alpha power. “On the count of three.”

  “One,” Brenna said.

  Bryce smirked. “Two.”

  Luna finished the count down. “Three.”

  Together they threw out the power straight to the magic circle. It instantly fell, allowing the moonstone magic to hit both Elise and Faelin. They cried out as the dark power wrapped around them like a tornado, moving faster and faster.

  Rhea pulled on Luna’s hand. “
We need to get out of this bunker. Now.”

  Yeah, the magical tornado was getting bigger. Rushing out of the room, Luna yelled. “Everyone out!”

  No one questioned her, they stopped fighting and ran toward the exit. Just as the last person was out of the bunker, it collapsed and the ground shook under them. Another moment later, the ground opened up. Fuck. They had created a sinkhole.

  “Move!”

  Luna jumped into Rafe’s truck at the same time he did. She didn’t get the seat belt on before he pealed out and raced down the road toward town.

  Her heart was going to leap out of her chest and her body still hummed from the moonstone power. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

  Rafe covered her hand. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. You?”

  “Never better.” Rafe kissed her knuckles, and she sighed. She couldn’t wait to get back home and snuggle up to her mate.

  “What now?”

  Rafe shrugged and slowed the truck down. “I figured it was time for me to return to Ashwood for good. And claim my mate.”

  She laughed. “If I don’t claim you first.”

  The rest of the drive was filled with a comfortable silence. When they stopped in front of Wilde Industries, Rafe turned and framed her face. “Faelin is gone. The war is over?”

  She kissed him. “He’s gone, and there is no one else left that was connected to Felix alive. But I think we will always be battling rogues.”

  “You’re right. But the biggest battles are behind us now.”

  She kissed him again. “Let’s get this all wrapped up with Kasen and go home.”

  “Yes, my Alpha.”

  Epilogue

  Two years later

  Luna propped her bare feet on the coffee table and admired the new set of pink paw prints on the top of her foot. She had waited until Sasha confirmed the sex of the baby before she had Brenna add the pink paw prints. Bren had become a very talented tattoo artist to help pay for her way through art school.