Alpha Defender

by Terry Bolryder

  “You can have one now—”

  She put up a hand. “I knew it would never be the same. That my future would be chosen for me, that no one around me would ever know who I truly was. I’m not saying that made it okay for me to be a bully. Just that there are usually reasons behind someone being hurtful.”

  “I know,” he said. “But there are also people who are just plain jerks.”

  “Like you?” she asked. “You judged me from the first second you met me just for being the son of the Tribunal leader, didn’t you?” She stood next to him and threw a rock out. It was a good, hard throw, and her rock reached the same place his had. Impressive.

  “I suppose I did. I had a real problem with authority for a lot of years. And then I finally get a chance at an alpha female at that mansion years ago and someone like you shows up.”

  “Except as you now see, I had zero interest in that alpha female.”

  He grinned. “Are you sure? Misty was hot, all curvaceous, and—”

  She cleared her throat. “No. I’m sure. I’m sorry you prefer curvaceous though. Looks like the only alpha female available is a little lacking in that area.” She looked down at her chest and then shrugged.

  He nodded. “Nothing a little feeding couldn’t fix.” He gasped as he found himself pushed off balance, right into the cold water in front of him. He went in face first, coughing and spluttering, and felt for the bottom before pushing himself up. He came up treading water angrily, looking at the little miscreant who’d pushed him in.

  It seemed she’d acted without thinking, because she was looking at him with a mixture of guilt and terror at what she’d done that he found particularly satisfying. At least he would, once he dragged her in with him. He came toward her menacingly. She tried to back up but he caught her hand.

  “Oh no you don’t.”

  She squeaked and struggled against his hand. “Wait, I’m sorry, I just…”

  He grinned and yanked in her into the water with him, enjoying her screams as he dunked her in the icy depths. As she came up, cursing and stomping away from him, he shook his head and laughed.

  At least life with her would never be boring.

  She sent him a glare over her shoulder that said she’d make him pay for this when she was dry, and he gave her an answering look that said he was looking forward to it.

  Then he followed her inside.

  8

  He had lunch ready by the time she came out of her room, dried and dressed. She leaned on the counter with a sigh.

  “That pond water was so cold,” she said, shuddering.

  “Well, not everyone has a private pool, Princess.”

  She sat on the stool and watched him cut the sandwiches he’d made into careful halves. “I wouldn’t have expected you to be so domestic.”

  “I’ve been taking care of myself a long time,” he said, setting a plate in front of her.

  She lifted the sandwich and bit into it, starving.

  “So why did you push me in the lake?” he asked. “What’s wrong with me saying I could feed you?”

  She looked down and considered the sandwich but seemed to realize that there was no point turning down good food. And Thor knew he made some damn good food.

  She sighed. “I guess it’s just a hot button for me. Someone saying they can change me, or control me, or that I would work for their purposes if I was just a little different.”

  He felt like an ass, realizing how like her family he had sounded. “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”

  She shrugged and kept eating, ignoring him. So she was still pissed.

  “Look, it’s like you said before. All you can do is try to be better.” He sat next to her with his sandwich but let it sit as he thought of what he wanted to say to her. “But I can promise you this. As long as you’re here with me, no one, not even me, is going to force you to do anything.”

  She looked up into his eyes and he caught his breath at the vulnerability he saw there. “Really?” she asked. “And how will you ensure that?”

  He didn’t answer. He didn’t know how to. He just knew that his body would stand between her and anyone who meant to hurt her. It was just biology. His wolf said so.

  She picked at a piece of lettuce that had fallen from her sandwich. “I don’t even know what I expected when I came here. Maybe I was intrigued by you. Maybe I wanted to use the favor you owed me. All I know is that I didn’t think it through, and I usually think everything in life through. Maybe this instinct thing you’ve been talking about is correct.”

  His heart thumped. Did she mean what he thought she meant?

  “I’m willing to look into it, at least. Maybe.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  She shrugged again. She had a habit of it, and he was used to watching those thin shoulders go up and down. Used to seeing her bow her head in regret or indignation. Used to watching her negotiate the difference between what she actually wanted and the choices available to her.

  It was a life he couldn’t imagine.

  There were people depending on him, but he had chosen for it to be that way.

  They finished lunch quietly, both lost in their thoughts. When they were done, all Thor could think about was taking her back to his room and sealing the deal. But that wasn’t an option, so he stood to start cleaning up.

  “Get some rest,” he said. “Just spend the day inside. Tomorrow, when you’re at one hundred percent, you can come out on my rounds with the pack if you want to get out of the house. They’ll like you, I think.”

  “Do they like you?” she joked.

  He tilted his head to the side and considered it. “I don’t know. But I’m working on it.”

  “That’s all you can do,” she said, standing and grabbing his magazine to take it to her room.

  “Hey,” he said.

  She gave him a wicked grin that made his breath catch in his throat. He wanted to pounce on her. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then, wolf.” She let her hips sway slightly as she walked to her bedroom and shut the door.

  Damn, that female was going to drive him nuts. He grabbed his notebook and went to his office to try to focus on work. Tomorrow things would probably get even more wild, and he was looking forward to it.

  * * *

  Her first day doing rounds with Thor had gone well. They’d spent time visiting anyone who needed something fixed, checking in on the sick, and trying to find out if anyone had heard rumors about a missing Tribunal wolf. The pack had been welcoming, though that may have had to do with the fact that some of them were still really intimidated by Thor.

  But even those wolves seemed to be won over by his care and loyalty.

  She couldn’t blame them. She was being won over as well. They walked out of town along a dirt road that led up into the woods and toward his cabin.

  Thor stopped and took a long stretch in the sunlight. She wet her lips and tried to look away from the bulging muscles on the powerful alpha beside her.

  “What do you think?” he asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

  “What?” she asked, stupefied by hormones.

  “About the village?” he asked, a gleam in his eyes.

  “Oh,” she said, embarrassed by the trail of her thoughts. “It’s wonderful. Beautiful scenery and location. Really nice people. They seem wary though. What was your uncle like?”

  He paused. “My uncle?”

  “You know. The one that was alpha before. The reason you have to rebuild.”

  “How did you know?” he asked.

  “Didn’t you mention it?” she asked. “Either that or just something I heard when they had Lock in custody.”

  His expression darkened and he continued up the path. Shadows from the woods grazed the dirt in front of them, and then threw spots over his shoulders as they walked further into the trees.

  The trees were amazing. Large, rising, deep-green pines and pale, quaking aspens. Delicate plants and brush beneath, and rich mulchy soil
. It was a wolf paradise and Matt never wanted to leave.

  Things just felt simple here. Sure, there was still work to do with the pack, to keep things strong and make sure outsiders didn’t come in and try to mess things up, but it was workable.

  Unlike the mess that was her life.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked. “You’re quiet.”

  “You never answered about your uncle,” she said. “What’s going on there?”

  He shrugged those massive shoulders and walked on. “Not much to say. He was abusive, happy to take over when my parents were gone, and never let me and Lock forget that we were a threat to him.”

  “That’s too bad,” she said. “It sucks to be betrayed by your own family.”

  He paused and sent her a meaningful gaze. His eyes were a deep warm brandy color in the shaded light of the woods. “You would know,” he said.

  She flushed, pain coursing through her like blood. “Yeah, I would.”

  He jogged a few feet ahead of her and then stopped, facing her with folded arms. “So what do you think? Could you live here?” he asked.

  She swallowed. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been wondering the same thing. Could she adjust to life somewhere like this, even if it was safe? Or was it just the fact that it was new and free? And then there was the Tribunal to consider.

  She opened her mouth to answer. “I—”

  Thor looked over their shoulder at the sound of approaching footsteps. She shut her mouth, somewhat grateful for being saved from answering.

  She turned to see a short, curvaceous she-wolf huffing her way up the path. She had dark brown hair tied back in a long ponytail, was in her mid-twenties, and had a diamond shaped face with curious gray eyes. She wore a black sports jacket with jeans and anger flashed in her eyes as she looked at Matt.

  Then she passed her and ran straight to Thor, wrapping her arms around him.

  Thor raised his eyes to the heavens as if asking for patience and then pulled her off of him.

  “Lilac, for the last time…”

  “Come on,” she said. “Stop fighting it.”

  He sighed as she latched herself on again and Matt stifled a laugh and looked away.

  “What are you laughing at, bitch?” Lilac asked.

  That did it. Matt turned to her, glaring. “Excuse me?”

  Lilac squinted at Matt and her expression lightened. “You’re a boy?”

  Matt nodded slowly, though a part of her wished she could reveal herself as a female and show this she-wolf just how she felt as an alpha female watching someone touching her alpha.

  Wait. Her alpha? Ridiculous. So why did she want to challenge this insolent female for dominance?

  “Lilac, I’ve told you…” He sighed and gave up, leaving the small female glued to his waist as he started to introduce Matt. “Anyway, I’d like you to meet Matt. He’s a visiting alpha male…”

  Lilac’s interest perked immediately and she sized Matt up once again. Oh no. No no no. Matt looked at Thor for help but Thor seemed to have just realized that he could shove his problem off on her. A wicked gleam lit in his eye.

  “Yes. He’s here looking for a mate,” he continued.

  Matt’s eyes widened and she promised Thor silently that he’d pay for this later.

  “Does anyone else in the village know?” Lilac asked, biting down on her lower lip and showing one wolfish fang.

  “No,” Thor said. “Can you keep it a secret? We don’t want him being mobbed.”

  Lila nodded, finally letting go of Thor so she could circle Matt. Unexpectedly, she tore out of her clothes and changed into a little brown wolf, trotting around Matt and scenting the air.

  That was smart. Wolves had better senses in wolf form, and she wondered why no one had done it before. But she had faith in the pheromones.

  Lilac sniffed a few more times and then seemed satisfied. “Okay. Do you guys want to go for a run? I was about to go out when I saw you.” She grinned. “And you know I like to come over when I see you.” This smile was reserved for Thor, and Matt didn’t like it at all.

  Well, Thor wasn’t the only one who could manipulate the situation. Manipulation was her middle name. She frowned, because it wasn’t flattering, but oh well.

  “Lilac, was it?” Matt said. “I’d love to go run with you, but I have stuff to take care of back at the mansion. However, I hope next time you see us, you won’t only come because of Thor.”

  Lilac’s gaze snapped up to him and he could almost see little hearts circling her head. Matt made a beautiful boy and she knew it. Thor didn’t stand a chance. And if attracting Lilac’s attention to herself was the only way to keep her off of Thor, so be it.

  She reached down to pet Lilac’s muzzle and Lila snuggled in, as if submitting to an alpha. Matt sent a triumphant glare at Thor and realized he was glaring back darkly.

  Lilac looked up and between them, and then took a step back. “Am I missing something?”

  “No,” Thor said. “I just better get back.” He grabbed Matt by the arm and jerked him along with him as they left. “Get back home Lilac, your mom isn’t feeling well again today.”

  “Shit, all right,” Lilac said. She took one last, longing look at Matt and then picked up her clothes in her mouth and ran off in the direction of her house.

  Matt watched her go in amusement. That had gone well. She’d successfully shifted the female’s attention onto herself, thereby preventing competition for Thor.

  She was about to turn to him with a triumphant grin when she was yanked against his chest and his mouth came down on hers. Hard.

  9

  His hot lips seared hers as he crushed her to him. He forced her lips open and delved in with his strong tongue, stroking and exploring. Owning. It was suddenly hot, despite the cool mountain breeze swirling around them.

  His hands dug into her waist, dragging her against him, thigh-to-thigh, stomach-to-stomach, a full possession of her from head to toe. Everywhere she grazed him felt on fire. Though she knew they weren’t in the best location for this, she was too overwhelmed to do anything but submit to his will. It felt so good to be wanted so badly, like he couldn’t breathe if he didn’t have her.

  He growled lightly and nipped her lower lip. She let out a little gasp as her knees went weak and an ache throbbed at the apex of her legs.

  She heard a rustling in the woods and her survival instincts kicked in, reminding her that this wasn’t the time or place for such things.

  She pushed against his chest but he didn’t notice. He was just so much stronger than her. So she harnessed all of her self control to draw back her leg and give him a swift kick in the shin.

  He released her with a grunt, jerking back to rub the sore leg. “What was that for?”

  “We’re in public, you idiot,” she gasped out, putting a hand over her heart as if it could calm the pounding within. “You’ll blow my cover. You just told everyone I was a visiting alpha male, remember? So what would they think if you were kissing me?”

  “That I was kissing another alpha male?” he asked. “It’s not like it’s unheard of for males to mate.”

  “Or maybe they’d catch on that I was a female. They’re all one step from figuring it out anyway,” she said. “I don’t know why it’s harder to hide this time.”

  “Maybe because I’m here, bringing all of your femininity to the surface?” he joked pompously.

  She turned and growled, pointing a finger at him menacingly. “Don’t even.”

  He laughed and put his hands behind his head and followed her up the road. “Okay. For now, Princess.”

  She sent him her best glare and kept walking up the dirt path. Sunlight was streaming again as she got closer to the edge of the tree line.

  His heavy footsteps thudded behind her and then his warm hand caught her elbow and turned her toward him. His eyes were intense, no longer playful. The same way he looked before he kissed her.

  “Why were you flirting with a she-wo
lf? Is there something I should know about your preferences?”

  She shook her head and yanked her arm back. “I thought it was obvious. I was just trying to get her off of you before I blew my cover by challenging her for dominance.”

  “What?” he asked. He took a step back, looking puzzled. He was always so masculine, so in-control, from his short dark hair to his hard, chiseled features. But right now, he just looked confused. Stunned. It was an interesting look for such a large alpha male.

  “Don’t look so surprised. I’m considering you as a mate after all. I expect better behavior than letting other females wrap themselves around you at any moment.”

  The astonishment in his eyes turned to pleasure and he followed her as she started for the cabin again. “Can I help it if females want to wrap themselves around me?”

  She sighed. So egotistical. But not without reason. She looked him over. Well over six feet tall, heavily muscled, with that handsome, classic face and elegant squared-off jaw. And those burning brandy eyes that could make you drunker than any alcohol.

  Yes, females definitely would throw themselves at him.

  “Well, here is one female who can resist,” she said snippily, hating the mental image of other wolves liking Thor.

  “Oh really?”

  “Really,” she said tersely, speeding up her pace as she could hear him closing the distance.

  “So you aren’t even a little tempted?” he asked in a gruff voice.

  “No,” she lied, feeling her body betray her even as she said it.

  “I can smell you, Princess,” he said, catching up and wrapping an arm around her waist, caging her against him, making her his. She’d never belonged to anyone but herself, so it was an odd moment. But for some reason she just wanted to sink against him and feel safe.

  He held her tightly with both arms and nestled his nose in her hair.

  “You smell amazing. I know you want me.”

  “Stop that,” she said, fighting the rising pheromones in the air. His scent was amazing. So spicy and warm. He nuzzled her neck and she felt aches in places that had no business aching. “Someone will see,” she gasped out.