The Alpha’s Mate (Werewolf Romance)
Michelle Fox
Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved.
Blurb
Sequel to the bestselling Bring Her Wolf....
Little known fact about being a werewolf: There are always wolves at your door and some of them are up to no good.
Chloe Weiss’ dreams have finally come true: She's a null no more, her wolf has finally come. She's now a full member of her pack in the remote Appalachian ‘weretown’ of Hunstville. Even better, she's mated to the pack's next alpha, Jackson Swift. However, now that she's on the other side of her happy ending, things aren't quite as rosy as she'd expected.
The women of her pack resent her status as alpha's mate and suddenly there are rumors that Chloe is an Omega, a werewolf so weak they are banned from ever mating. Worse, an old friend of Jackson's blows into town full of disapproval....and competition. It seems no one likes Chloe except Jackson.
Then women start disappearing, violently kidnapped from their homes and never heard from again. There's a killer on the loose in the small town of Huntsville, and the one wolf he'd do anything to have is Chloe.
Now Chloe will have to fight...for Jackson, her place in the pack, and her life.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction intended for adults age 18 and over. Minors should stop here and close the book.
All events depicted are fictional. Characters are consenting adults. Any resemblance to places and persons, living or dead, is unintentional coincidence.
Every effort has been made to provide a quality reading experience, but editors and technology are fallible. Please report typos or formatting issues to [email protected].
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Chapter One
“I think my wolf hates me.” I rolled over in bed and snuggled up against Jackson with a pout. It had been two weeks since he brought my wolf and claimed me as his mate. My life should be perfect. I had everything I ever wanted; a place in the pack and my very own ‘tall, dark and handsome’ man to warm my bed, but things weren’t seamless.
I felt itchy in my new skin, as if it wasn’t the right size. From the way some of the other wolves treated me, it seemed they felt the same. I hadn’t fit in when everyone thought I was a null and now I didn’t fit in as a wolf.
Jackson wrapped a strong arm around me and gave me a reassuring squeeze. “It just takes some time, Clo. Changing is awkward at first.”
“She looks at me like I’m offending her.” I frowned. She was doing it right now, in fact. Whenever I blinked, her haughty expression flashed against the backs of my eyelids. “How does your wolf look at you?”
He cocked his head and thought for a moment. “He just looks at me.”
“That’s it?” I sighed and rolled away. Jackson oozed sex like a pagan god and he looked the part too, with his sculpted muscles, dark molten chocolate eyes, and black, wavy hair. However, it sometimes seemed he didn’t think overmuch about anything but sex. Not that I was complaining. He was a fantastic lover, but I would’ve appreciated a little introspection just then. Maybe all the hot steamy sex we had was messing with the blood supply to his brain.
Punching my pillow, I attempted to settle in for the night. Sleep eluded me more often than not these days. Every time I closed my eyes, there was my wolf, her gleaming yellow gaze boring into my brain. She seemed to be expecting or wanting something, but I had no idea what.
“I know a way to guarantee sweet dreams.” Jackson’s hand spun little circles on my shoulder as his other hand inched the covers off me. I shivered, both from his touch and the cool air. We’d started our relationship in the fall when the sun was still strong enough to blunt the chill. Now, on the cusp of winter, the air nipped at my skin.
“Oh really?” I arched an eyebrow and resisted the urge to pull the covers back over me. Jackson was warmer anyway. Not to mention he provided orgasms.
“Yep.” He straddled my hips and leaned down to nuzzle the nape of my neck.
“Let me guess.” I put a finger to my lips and pretended to think very hard. “Is it sex?”
His deep chuckle seemed to rumble through my body as well as his. “Yep.” Jackson gently kissed my neck working his way to the hollow of my throat.
“Again?” I gave a soft gasp as his lips roamed my sensitive flesh. We went at it so often I wondered if we were really rabbits. The sensual pull between us was magnetic. We almost couldn’t help ourselves.
“And again,” he murmured in a baritone so deep, it vibrated through my neck. “I can’t get enough of you Chloe. Not since the day I first saw you.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “That’s why you slept with every other bitch in the pack, right?”
He sighed, but knew I wasn’t truly angry. Before we’d clarified things between us, he’d tried to find someone else to claims as his. Cal, our alpha, had put a lot of pressure on Jackson to mate and cement his relationship with the pack. Jackson wasn’t just new to the Huntsville pack, Cal planned for my alpha lover to take his place when the time came, which meant he needed a mate.
As a result, he’d told Jackson to avoid me because I was a null--I would never be a true wolf let alone an alpha’s mate. So, trying to find a match, Jackson slept with every bitch who’d shown interest. Sometimes two different ones on the same night. By the time he brought my wolf and claimed me, he’d slept with almost every eligible female in the pack.
We’d fought about his many flings at first, but I no longer carried any bitterness. Jackson was mine. I was his. There was no going back. That didn’t mean, though, that I wouldn’t give him shit about it.
The only problem? He gave me shit right back.
He paused, just on the threshold of entering me and stared into my eyes. “Mine,” he growled.
I nodded and arched my pelvis, reaching for him. “Yours.” I’d been uncertain when he first claimed me and sometimes still struggled with the idea of being half of an instant power couple. Back when I couldn’t change, I’d been a zero and no one paid much attention to me. Mating with Jackson would someday make me the alpha female of the pack. When I was alone with Jackson we fit perfectly, but, outside our bedroom, we barely knew each other.
Jackson slammed into me, bringing my focus to heel. I watched his face above me. He had the strong, sculpted features of a movie star and I never tired of looking at him. He watched me too, his hands still around my wrists pinning me tight. I twisted in his grip wanting to touch him, but he didn’t budge. While I was stronger than ever since the change, I still couldn’t top an alpha like Jackson.
“Let me go,” I panted.
“I like you this way.” He smiled and dipped his head to suck my nipple. “You’re mine to fuck senseless.”
“Oh God,” I hissed arching up toward his mouth.
He laughed, a strong rumble that vibrated through his mouth to my nipple. I whimpered when he began swirling his tongue over and over the taut nub of my breast. His cock continued to plunge my slick depths and my nipples grew tighter and tighter, feeding the aching pleasure at my core.
“I’m going to come,” I said.
“Yes, do it. Come for me, she-wolf.” He thrust into me even harder and that sent me over the edge. The orgasm shook me like a seizure. I couldn’t talk or think, let alone breathe. A series of big and sm
all explosions detonated in my nervous system, and, if Jackson hadn’t been there to physically hold me together, I would’ve blown apart. I was sure of it.
When I could function again, Jackson remained hard inside me. I knew what that meant. He was holding back because he wasn’t done with me yet. The man had exquisite control and loved to coax multiple orgasms from me.
“I love watching you come,” he said.
“You love making me come,” I corrected.
He nodded. “That too. In fact, I’d like to go for another round.”
My body quickened with excitement at his words while my wolf howled in happy assent. Then I caught sight of the bedside clock, which informed me it was two a.m.
“I have to be up at six,” I said in weak protest. I was supposed to drive to Nashville to go look at wedding dresses. Wolves love a good wedding, and, given Jackson’s future as pack alpha, we couldn’t call ourselves mated and stop there. No, we had to have a wedding with all the trimmings. A good old fashioned mating jamboree. I was alternately terrified and excited at the prospect.
“I’m up now.” Jackson pulled out of me and then slowly inched his way back inside to make his point.
I groaned as he filled me back up. Who was I kidding? I would stay up all night to fuck him and love it. He made me feel whole. I’d been lonely, so very lonely before Jackson came into my life. My parents died years ago, leaving me alone in a pack I couldn’t join. Jackson had changed everything.
“Sleep is for the weak.” I squeezed his length, allowing my body the pleasure of tracing the outline of his cock.
“Damn right.” He yanked on my hands and pulled me upright, until we sat facing each other.
“Oh,” I said with a shudder. The change in position caused my breasts to rub across his chest as we moved against each other. His cock delved deeper than before, splitting my core wide and exposing its sensitive center.
“There, that’s more comfortable.” Jackson kissed me, one hand going to cradle the back of my head.
“Mmm,” I murmured my agreement, my mouth too occupied to allow me to form actual words. He had this glorious way of nipping at my lips and then slurping the entire bottom one into his mouth. It made me weak in the knees every time.
Another bonus of our position change, my hands were now free and I let them roam his body. His muscles flowed in subtle hills and valleys. I travelled them all with lingering caresses. No other bitch would touch him again. This was my right now and mine alone.
Cupping his face in my hands, I took control of our kisses. “Mine,” I said and then I bit down on his lower lip.
Jackson growled at me and I bit harder. My hips circled faster, riding him rough and hard. He reached a hand down to where we were joined, slipping a finger between my lips to stroke the sensitive nub there.
My jaw went slack as I gasped and he took the opportunity to bite my lip the same way I’d bitten his. His teeth pricked my skin like sharp little knives and his finger toyed with me, pushing me closer to another release. Goosebumps skittered over my skin. Everything was too tight now; my nipples, my skin, even my wet passage, which wrapped itself around him and squeezed like a python.
“Jackson,” I said, almost crying. Behind my eyelids, my wolf began to howl.
“Are you going to come for me again, my little she-wolf?” He thrust his hips at me, meeting mine.
“Oh, yes.” I could only shriek as the orgasm washed over me.
This time Jackson couldn’t hold out, I was squeezing him too hard. His body quivered against mine and his hard shaft jerked inside me as he came.
He buried his head in my neck. “Chloe,” he said almost forlornly.
“Yes, Jackson?” I collapsed into him. We wrapped our arms around each other and a deep contentment filled the air between us. Behind my eyelids, I saw that we mirrored the way our wolves had collapsed into each other. His black wolf wrapped himself almost all the way around my wolf, contrasting with her coppery brown coat. He was large enough to be scary, but I felt no fear. I liked the way he filled me up and took up the space around me. It made me feel safe, and, not just loved, but wanted. Something I hadn’t experienced before.
“Mine,” was all he said, hands fisting in my hair.
I rubbed his back. “Yours. And you are mine too.”
“Yes,” he said pulling me down to lie beside him. “Always.”
“Forever,” I added. The idea both thrilled and scared me senseless. I’d lost everything before and now that I had everything, I felt like it would be torn away from me once again. I didn’t know if I could survive that loss a second time.
We fell asleep in a tangle of limbs, pressed so close together that we could feel each other’s heart beats.
Chapter Two
You’d think that werewolves would lead lives of action and adventure, using their superior strength and senses to their advantage.
You would be wrong.
In reality, wolves like to overeat (mostly chicken wings) and gossip. They especially love a good rumor, the more scandalous, the more salacious, the better. I knew firsthand how insular packs could be as I’d been the subject of wagging tongues my whole life. Being the only null in four generations could do that to you.
Except there was one rumor no one had ever heard and it was true: I’d never actually been a null. I’d just been delayed. A true null never would’ve shifted. The real mystery was what had kept my wolf at bay for so long. I suspected it was related to my parents’ deaths. If that didn’t set a wolf back, I didn’t know what would.
Now that I’d finally changed and mated with, Jackson, the scrutiny approached the intensity of a super nova. Everyone talked about me. All the time. They’d spent my whole life ignoring me, pushing me to the fringes of the pack and now they couldn’t stop noticing me. I was the biggest news to break in the small Appalachian town of Hunstville in decades.
The next alpha female of the Huntsville pack would be me, the ‘null’ who couldn’t change until her mate brought her wolf. The gossip ranged from claiming I was deformed to mentally unstable. To escape speculation, I’d taken to hiding in the house I now shared with Jackson.
Being the center of attention made me anxious. I had few friends and still didn’t quite trust my instincts as a wolf. Because I’d been shunned by the pack so long, I barely knew how a pack was even supposed to work. It was safer to keep to myself. I lived in fear of letting anyone see me struggle with my transition to a full werewolf. It would look like weakness instead of inexperience and there were wolves who would be more than happy to see me fail.
Today, however, I couldn’t stay out of the public eye. There was a package waiting for me at the post office and wanted to pick it up before I ran down to Nashville. Jackson was gone when I woke up, already over at Cal’s house on pack business. Something about renegotiating mineral rights with the mining company that leased some of the pack’s land.
Being a generally thoughtful guy, he made enough coffee for both of us before he left. I sipped it as I drove toward town, enjoying the hazelnut flavor.
I parked my Toyota pick-up--so ancient the cherry red had long ago faded to pink--as near to the post office as I could and checked my cell phone for the time. My truck’s clock stopped working sometime in the 1990s, back when my Dad was still alive.
It was Saturday, the busiest day of the week for our small town square. I’d hoped to avoid notice by being there when the post office opened at seven. The original idea had been to get in and get out before anyone saw me. Unfortunately, my cell phone showed the time as five after eleven. Jackson kept me up so late, I’d sank back into sleep instead of getting up when the alarm went off. Naturally, that meant post office was packed. So much for my plan to stay on the down low.
Squaring my shoulders, I stepped out of my truck and, after a brief moment of hesitation, opened the squeaky door to the post office. Bells clinked against the glass door announcing my arrival to everyone inside. I tried not to cringe at the sound. Bl
inking against the dim light, I took my place in line, acting like it was no big deal when, in reality, I hadn’t been around so many people in weeks.
One or two folks nodded at me in polite acknowledgement and I nodded back, noting the ones who turned up their noses, pretending I was invisible. As usual, it was the younger wolves who seemed to be the most offended by my existence. The older ones were more accepting of my sudden transformation and elevation in the pack’s hierarchy.
The varied scents of everyone waiting with me hit my nose, all carrying the distinctive tang of a werewolf. Only wolves lived in Huntsville and we didn’t need much in terms of human comforts. We had a bar, a grocery store, a bakery, a school, a gas station and a post office. An old brick Victorian mansion served as City Hall, housing what little government we needed to get by in a largely human world. The expansive house had been built by Heinrich Schmidt, a German wolf fleeing World War I. He brought his pack here and we’d prospered ever since.
I often wondered what he would think about me. Not every pack drove out its nulls, but Heinrich had apparently been influenced by Nazi racial purity doctrine: If you couldn’t shift, you had to go. Thankfully, future generations were a little more lenient. Cal, our current pack alpha, had let me stay as long as he could. If not for his leniency, I would’ve been long gone before Jackson ever came to town.
We kept Huntsville tiny on purpose. Humans weren’t welcome and we stayed off their radar by looking too small to bother with. Anything that couldn’t be found in town, we ordered online. Or, if absolutely necessary, we could drive the thirty minutes into Hudson which boasted a small mall. Nashville was just a couple hours away as well and we sometimes shopped there.
I shifted my weight from foot to foot as I waited in line and watched Jana Schwartz, the post mistress, beckoned people forward. Fine lines criss-crossed her weathered face and she had a stout, grandmotherly figure. I didn’t know her well, but appreciated her prompt efficiency in dispatching customers at a rapid pace. Jana wasn’t wasting any time and it seemed she didn’t like having a line as much as no one wanted to be in one.
The Alpha's Mate (Werewolf Romance) Page 1
