Bridenapped: The Alpha Chronicles

by St. Clair, Georgette

  Chapter 18

  “Yoo hoo, Caitlin?” Lottie called out, looking around the living room of the small log cabin. “Where are you?”

  One of the security staff had escorted her to the cabin, which was on the west end of the pack’s property. She’d expected to meet Caitlin and Paige for a bridesmaid’s fitting, at a member of the seamstress clan’s home. This cabin definitely looked more on the masculine side; there was hand-carved wood furniture, a moose head mounted on a wall, a bearskin rug in front of a flagstone fireplace…had they brought her to the wrong cabin? What an odd mistake.

  She didn’t see any dresses. Or tailors. Or anyone. There was a round tray sitting on the coffee table, holding what looked like two Margaritas

  “Caitlin? Paige? What’s happening here?” she yelled.

  A door opened, and Alexander walked out. She froze where she stood. Damn it, she hadn’t fixed her makeup, or her hair, and she was wearing a tank top and jeans, and…why was he looking at her like that, like she was a cupcake and he had a serious sweet tooth?

  Her breath quickened as he came closer.

  “Actually, I’m the one who asked you to come here,” Alexander said.

  “You did? Why?”

  Instead of answering, he leaned down, picked up one of the margaritas, and dumped it on her chest.

  She leaped back, with a gasp. “What was that for?”

  He grinned at her, stalking towards her. “I figured that would happen sooner or later, so I just got it out of the way.”

  “I….oh.”

  “And now,” he said, “You’re all sticky. You really need a shower. I happen to have a shower.”

  “You do?” her voice rose in a squeak.

  “Yes, I do. And if you’re wondering if that was just a transparent excuse to get your clothes off, then yes, it was. Because I really want to fuck you. I’m sorry, was that too crude?’

  “Oh, no.” Her voice was faint, and her heart hammered against her chest. “Not at all. It’s just crude enough.”

  Dazed by the way he’d so unselfconsciously laid out his desires, she wordlessly allowed him to take her hand and lead her into the bathroom. She was acutely aware of her erect nipples pressing against the wet fabric of her tank top and bra, and the citrusy, alcoholic scent of the margarita. If you’d asked her before today she’d never have guessed that a guy tossing a cold drink over her could be so damn hot. She shuddered delicately as Alexander let go of her hand to turn the shower on, then turned back to face her.

  His expression was intent as he allowed his gaze to roam over her face and linger on her lips before he looked down at the sodden fabric clinging to her breasts. Then he lowered his head and sucked on her peaked nipple through the cloth, making her moan softly with desire as her eyes drifted shut. Even through the double layer of fabric, his mouth was hot, the sensation of his lips moving over her breast making shivers of anticipation and lust shimmy through her.

  He hooked his arm around her back to hold her closer and she could feel the hard pressure of his desire against the front of her body. When he lifted his head, his eyes were clouded with desire, and when his mouth descended on hers his, the intoxicating taste of the margarita lingered on his lips and tongue.

  He kissed her with a gentle thoroughness, exploring her mouth with a sensual confidence that made heat shimmer in her belly. His arms were like steel bands around her, crushing her to him, and she felt almost drunk on the taste and scent and feel of him.

  She could hardly believe she was in Alexander’s arms – Alexander, the man who she’d yearned for from the first time she laid eyes on him.

  When he pulled away he was breathing hard, and she realized she wasn’t breathing at all. Her heart was pounding like a drum in her chest and her hands were shaking as she reached down to the hem of her top and stripped it over her head, bra and all.

  Alexander’s low growl of approval was enough to overcome her nerves and, feeling bold and wild and out of control, she kicked off her shoes and stripped off her jeans and panties while Alexander efficiently disposed of his own clothes.

  The room had filled with billows of warm steam while they’d been kissing, and when Alexander pulled her into the shower, the water was hot and invigorating as it pounded down on her shoulders. It saturated her hair and ran in rivulets down her skin. She lowered her lips to Alexander’s shoulder and lapped the beaded water from the hollow of his collarbone. His skin tasted clean and masculine, and even standing in the steaming water it felt hot under her lips. Alexander stepped closer, easing her back against the cool tiles, which provided a shocking contrast in temperature compared to the heat of the water.

  He stepped back and gazed at her for a long moment. Then he grabbed the soap and quickly lathered his hands before applying the palmfuls of soapy suds to her breasts. “Let’s get you nice and clean,” he murmured in a voice that sounded anything but.

  He ran his hands down over her ribs, the swell of her belly and the curve of her waist. The suds made his palms move slickly over her body and she shuddered under his skilful touch. When he parted the lips of her pussy and circled her clit with his fingers, she gasped, and when he pushed two fingers slowly, firmly inside her, the gasp turned into a moan.

  She was wet and ready for him and his fingers slid inside her easily. He curled them so that as he withdrew them the pads of his fingers rode over her G-spot, and she gave a long moan, her cunt clutching his fingers as though reluctant to lose his touch.

  “Alexander,” she gasped. “I want you inside me. Please…now…”

  Alexander growled and lifted her, his palms under her thighs, pressing her back against the cold tiles. He entered her at once, pushing inside her smoothly, giving her every single inch. He stilled for a moment and she could feel his cock twitching and throbbing insider her. Then he began to move, swiveling his hips each time he withdrew to tease her G-spot and murmuring sweet, half-incoherent words of passion into her ear.

  Lottie held on for dear life, digging her fingers into his broad, muscular shoulders as the thrust inside her, driving her closer to the pinnacle of orgasm. Her groans became higher, more desperate as his cock stroked inside her cunt, sending tingling spasms of pleasure shooting through her, building in intensity until she was crying out with helpless bliss and clenching around him, lost in the intensity of the sensation as Alexander continued to pump until the last pulses of pleasure died away.

  When he set her on her feet, she almost fell. Her legs felt wobbly and weak and she was still lost in the aftermath of her mind-melting orgasm.

  Alexander gave a self-satisfied grin and swept her into his arms. She could feel the rapid, rhythmic thudding of his heart as he carried her through into the bedroom, laying her in the center of the coverlet before crawling onto the bed to join her.

  His dick was still rampantly, gloriously erect as he settled himself between her thighs, and she gave a shaky sigh of arousal as he worked it between the damp petals of her sex, which was still slick and swollen from his thorough attentions.

  She could hardly believe it possible to have another orgasm so soon after Alexander had practically sent her into orbit, but she bit her lip and moaned as his entry into her tight channel began to stoke the flames of her excitement once again.

  Alexander moved above her, staring soulfully into her eyes as he pumped into her willing body. She ran her hands down his back and over the taut, flexing globes of his ass as he worked his way in and out, each thrust coaxing her into a more intense, more unbearable moment of bliss. Their skin was still damp from the shower, and his hair tumbled over his brown in wet waves. His skin seemed to shimmer where the light hit it as his muscles bunched and flexed. As Lottie tumbled into her orgasm, he stifled her hoarse moan of pleasure with his mouth, drinking in the sound, then pulling away to shout his own shuddering, unrestrained release.

  Afterwards they lay entwined, Lottie draped across Alexander’s chest, her legs tangled with his. He toyed idly with a strand of her damp h
air. The air was pleasantly cool on their skin as it dried and Lottie’s body ached sweetly from their lovemaking.

  "You know, if you lived here on the pack grounds, you'd be living right near your best friend,” he murmured into her shoulder.

  “On the pack grounds? Uh…any particular place that you were thinking of?”

  “I happen to know a very sexy werewolf who’d let you move in to his cabin, and whose only wish would be to sexually service you every night.”

  “Wow, he sounds hot! When do I get to meet him?”

  In response to her teasing, Alexander nipped her shoulder with his teeth, and with a hint of fang, and she yelped, then let out a giggle.

  “Only me,” he growled. “And you should know, I don’t do casual relationships. I want the whole package. I want you. I want a ring on your finger. I want cubs someday. With you, if I wasn’t clear.”

  “With me?” she snuggled deeper into his arms, closed her eyes, and imagined falling asleep like this every night forever.

  “When a werewolf meets the right woman, he stakes his claim.” He licked the top of her ear, and she shivered with desire. “What do you think?”

  “I think that if you are trying to sway my decision with incredibly hot sex, it’s working.” She let out a low, satisfied moan as he slid on top of her again.

  “Just to make sure you don’t change your mind,” he said.

  Chapter 19

  The smells and sounds of the forest enveloped her, the scent of rich loam filling her nostrils. Walking through the woods behind her house, holding Kristofer’s hand, felt so right. She felt loved and protected, and desired. If only it could always be this way.

  “Are you going to tell me what the surprise is?” she asked for the dozenth time since they’d left the pack lands. Technically, it didn’t violate the bridenapping rules for her to leave the pack grounds as long as she did so with the Alpha by her side at all times, but it was never done. And why was he bringing her to her family’s property, of all places?

  “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, wouldn’t it?” he repeated, with a big, maddening grin.

  “I’m not crazy about surprises,” she protested, as they pushed through the underbrush to reach her favorite grove. “They’re too…surprising.”

  “You will love this surprise. It’s my wedding gift to you.” He was brimming with happiness, she could see it. What kind of wedding gift would it be, that he couldn’t just give it to her at home?

  As they walked through the clearing, she noticed two things at the same time. One, the formerly blighted oak tree had big, shiny black patches painted over the disease spots now, and its leaves looked bright and green again.

  And more importantly, her mother, aunt, uncle, and cousins were all standing in the grove waiting for her.

  “What’s this? Did you actually get them to come out here and meet us?” she asked in surprise, as she walked closer.

  Her mother smiled and waved at her. It took several seconds for that fact to register. Her mother smiled and waved at her. She was looking right at Caitlin, and her eyes were focused and aware.

  “What happened?” she gasped. “What did you do? How did you do it?”

  “This is the other reason that I was so busy,” Kristofer said, a smile playing on his lips. “I didn’t want to get your hopes up until I was sure, so I didn’t say anything, but I’ve been working with our scientists, contacting experts from werewolf packs all over the country. I had them flown in to examine and treat your mother’s tree.”

  “My mother’s tree?” Caitlin echoed.

  “She’s a dryad,” Kristofer said. “You both are. I told you that you must have magic in your blood. When you mentioned that one of the oak trees in your favorite grove was sick, I suspected that might be the reason for your mother’s declining mental state, especially when you said that doctors couldn’t find any medical cause.”

  He glanced at the smaller oak tree, next to the blighted tree. “Thank God your tree didn’t get sick. It would have, in time, but now that we’ve treated your mother’s oak, the blight won’t spread.”

  Caitlin and her mother really were magic? They had their own trees? Her head whirled. This was too much for her to take in.

  “Caitlin!” her mother’s voice rang through the air. Maggie was standing there staring at her sister, wiping tears from her cheek with the back of her hand.

  “Mother?” Tears burned in Caitlin’s eyes, and she blinked hard.

  Her mother walked towards her. “I haven’t seen you in so long,” she said to Caitlin, smiling and gently stroking her cheek. “Where have you been?”

  Caitlin cleared her throat, struggling to find words. “I’ve been staying with my…my fiancée. This is Kristofer.”

  Her mother stared up at him, still smiling. “Oh, my, he’s a werewolf, isn’t he? I can tell by the eyes. An Alpha, I’ll bet.”

  “I am Kristofer Verhold, and I am honored to meet you,” Kristofer said, and he bent down and kissed the back of her hand.

  “Wow,” Priscilla said fervently. “He is hot. I mean, not as hot as Troy, of course, but wow.”

  Maggie shot her daughter a disapproving look, which Priscilla didn’t even notice. Priscilla was impervious to shame.

  Maggie frowned at Kristofer. “You saved my sister,” she acknowledged reluctantly. “For that I thank you. We will still never forgive you for stealing our land.”

  “I am hoping that you will all attend our wedding,” Kristofer said graciously.

  “Not as long as you have our property.” She raised her chin defiantly.

  “A strong and stubborn woman. It runs in your family. I admire that,” Kristofer said.

  For a second, Maggie started to simper, and patted her hair. Kristofer’s charm was that strong.

  Then she remembered herself, gave a scornful sniff, and turned away.

  “I will see you and your mother back at the house,” she said over her shoulder to Caitlin, and marched off, legs scissoring through the tall grass.

  “Bye, Mags!” her mother called out cheerfully. “I like what you’ve done with your hair! But then, you always were the pretty one.” Maggie paused, and summoned up a smile, and Caitlin could tell she was trying very hard not to cry again.

  “We’ll see you back there. Girls, come on,” Rich said, and Priscilla and Hailey followed him – Priscilla still looking back and casting admiring looks at Kristofer, and Hailey pausing to stick her tongue out and cross her eyes at him. She would have given him the finger, but unlike her younger sister, she was too well mannered for such a gesture.

  “Your mother at least will attend, won’t she?” Kristofer asked Caitlin. “And perhaps we can change your family’s mind by then.”

  “Maybe,” Caitlin said, still staring intently into her mother’s eyes, afraid that if she looked away, her mother would vanish back into herself again.

  * * *

  “Once more into the breech,” Kristofer said with a rueful grin, as they headed towards town hall. Frank was driving them in the limo. Kristofer had to attend a meeting of the clan chieftains, to discuss implementing new rules which would allow pack members to apply for, and train for, jobs outside of their clan. The idea was meeting with some resistance – mostly from wealthy, powerful members who had always been able to take their jobs and positions for granted. There was enough support, however, both from the pack and from the Alpha Congress, that Kristofer would be able to make much needed changes.

  “That doesn’t look good,” Caitlin observed as they pulled up in front of the town hall. Taddeus and his crew stood there, shouting and arguing with several other pack members. He held a newspaper in his hand and was waving it in the air.

  Kristofer climbed out, and Caitlin followed him, feeling faintly protective. It wasn’t that Kristofer needed protection so much, but she wanted to show that she stood by his side. She supported him.

  Taddeus whirled around as they walked up the steps. He shoved the newspaper at Kristofer,
who let out a snarl.

  “Watch yourself,” he growled at Taddeus. Gray fur rolled over his skin, and his ears went pointy.

  “This is the last straw.”

  Caitlin glanced at the newspaper headline and sucked in a sharp, startled breath.

  Mayor’s Daughter In Nude Midnight Romp?

  The article beneath it quoted her cousin Priscilla’s Facefriend feed. It detailed the night that Melodee had attempted to seduce Kristofer, right down to her being dragged out of the room by the guards.

  It also quoted the mayor threatening to sue the Bellefont family for the vicious, untrue lies that they were spreading about his innocent daughter.

  Caitlin’s heart sank. She’d never, ever get the deed back now.

  “This is a diplomatic disaster,” Taddeus snarled. “She’s been spitting on our traditions from the moment she set foot on our pack land, and now she’s going to cause a diplomatic incident between us and the humans. Have you forgotten the days that humans hunted us? It doesn’t take much to make them turn against us.”

  “They’re not going to start a war over a piece of gossip, Taddeus, and I will not tolerate your disrespect. You are no longer my Beta.”

  “No, I’m not.” Taddeus’s lips twisted in a sneer, and he looked Kristofer right in the eye. “I challenge you for your position as Alpha.”

  “Does tomorrow at noon work for you?” Kristofer’s tone was deceptively polite, but there was an edge of sharp, cold steel beneath it which Caitlin had never heard before. “Not that it matters. Because that’s when I’m going to kill you.”

  “I did exceptionally well in the physical combat section of the Alpha trials, and I have always maintained by training.” Taddeus’s eyes gleamed with hatred. “I look forward to bringing respect and decency back to this pack. Your queen-to-be consorting with commoners and making a mockery of our cherished traditions, and alienating our closest human allies…you’re a disgrace, Kristofer.”