In Need of an Alpha (Interracial Paranormal Shifter Romance)

by Aaliyah Andrews

  He stretched out and reclined against the limo's roof. Muscles tight, nostrils flaring, he distanced himself by staring off down the street.

  "Fuck no, you're not coming. It's dangerous. I won't have you there."

  The driver threw up his hands in shock. He finally realized what he'd done. "I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't know they didn't belong here. They knew of our plans."

  He stepped past Evan to remove us.

  I slid farther into the limo. I slowly shook my head.

  "No, I'm not going."

  "Miss, you have to leave. Remove yourself or I'll call the police."

  Aimee took a sip of wine and leaned closer to the driver. "You don't have time for all that. Just take us with you."

  Evan seethed. He barred his teeth.

  "I'll drag you two out of there. We don't need the police," he said.

  This was quickly getting out of hand.

  I slid closer to Evan. "Evan, I need to know. Let me be there. You trust me, right?"

  "It's not a question of trust. It's a question of keeping you out of this. It'll be violent. I…" He stopped. Even the driver turned and stared at him, waiting. "I don't want you to see me like that."

  I reached out for his hand. Defeated, he let it drop. "I don't care. I know what I'm getting into. We should be open with each other, even about the things we might not particularly like about ourselves."

  Evan put a hand on the driver's chest and gave him a pat to step back. "We're fine," he said.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes, we don't have much time, anyway."

  He dropped down into the limo and shut the door. I reclined back, wanting to tell him I was sorry, but I couldn't. I needed to know what would happen to him, and I needed to know the truth about him as well.

  I needed to see him shift. I needed to see that other side of him.

  We rushed to the meeting point, a wooded area an hour out of the city, down a dirt road that wound up a hill. I was a little creeped out by all of it, but Evan held my hand, and that kept me occupied.

  At the top of the hill, we reached a checkpoint that looked military. There was a barbed wire fence and spotlights with three guards, decked out in riot gear and holding huge rifles.

  "Go on inside," the guard said, and he waved us into the compound.

  There wasn't much to protect, except maybe their secrets. There was a rocky parking lot, and in the distance, bonfires were lit on the peak of the hill. I could see shadows standing around it, and in the center, an area that was completely lit but where no one stood.

  "Are you sure you want to watch?" Evan asked me. His finger trailed over my jaw line. I thought about never having that touch again. What a wasted opportunity that would be...

  "Yes," I blurted out, without thinking about it much. Wherever Evan was going I needed to go with him.

  "I'm sorry for what you're about to see. It's necessary. I wouldn't resort to this unless it was necessary." He helped me out of the limo, and then Aimee next, who decided to bring the bottle of wine with her. That was probably a good idea. I was too tense to be bothered with it right now, however.

  The circle of shifters broke to let us in. The flickering of the bonfires and the full moon cast them in an eerie light. I wondered how many could sniff the human on me. As I took my spot next to someone, I looked up, seeing an elderly gentleman, his nostril up high and his eyebrows raised, practically meeting.

  "He's here. I thought he had doubts," I heard from the opposite end of the circle. It closed in again, Aimee at my side, and I really wanted to hold her hand, but she was nursing her drink.

  Lyndon, still hunched over, wearing a suit and tie, approached the center. All eyes pointed his way, the full moon like a spotlight on him, his eyes blazing a fiery red in our direction. As I looked across the crowd, I could see all different colors flashing in their eyes, and when I looked back at Evan, his were bright yellow, almost too bright to look at when contrasted with the night.

  "Let's get this over with," Evan grunted. He stepped into the circle. It drew in. I could see the wolves around us change their positions, putting one foot forward, ready to knock anyone back who got too close.

  "Wait," Lyndon said, and a sick smile curled on his lips. He sniffed the air. "What do I smell? Did you bring that whore here as a gift for after I kill you? Thanks for doing me a favor, boy."

  Aimee saw my reaction, and she dropped the bottle, shoving me back so I wouldn't rush him. Evan could stand back and watch as I tore Lyndon apart myself!

  "Stay," she said, blocking my view, but I heard what transpired over my blinding rage.

  "This isn't about being head alpha now. It's not about the company. It's about killing you, you sick fuck," Evan yelled, the aggression in his tone causing me to stop fighting Aimee. She backed away, giving me a view of the battle again.

  Evan launched himself at Lyndon. He tackled him, spearing him to the ground, but as he tried to throw punches, Lyndon threw up his arms, blocking them. He twisted Evan off and sent him to the dirt.

  Lyndon stood right back up, much faster than I expected. He certainly never moved that fast when I needed something from him at work. Evan kicked back up into a standing position.

  They circled. Evan threw a right hook. Lyndon dodged. Evan threw a left, then two rights. They were a blur, so quick I barely saw them, but each time Lyndon reeled back and they missed.

  "That's the best you can do?" Lyndon taunted.

  Evan's fist rocketed toward his face, but Lyndon sidestepped, yanking him by the back of the neck. Shoving his knee into his ribs, he flipped him onto his back. Evan hit the dirt with a sickening thump.

  My adrenaline pounded in me so hard I was trembling. Thankfully, Aimee would be there to stop me if I thought about running in again.

  Lyndon waited for Evan to stand. The head alpha grinned at the circle. There were some chuckles in response.

  Evan was back up. They circled again.

  Once again, Evan was the aggressor. He threw a punch, but when Lyndon attempted to catch it, Evan recoiled and slammed his foot into his ankle. Lyndon howled, but returned a stiff uppercut to Evan. He was ready for it.

  Evan snatched his fist in his jaws, now guarded by rows of vicious, wolfish teeth. It didn't draw blood, but he managed to keep him clamped there, catching his fist long enough where Evan could catch his arm, drop him to the ground, and apply pressure to Lyndon, catching him in an arm bar.

  It seemed over. Lyndon would have the life squeezed out of him. He struggled in Evan's grasp.

  But then in an instant, he changed. A dark shape rushed out of Evan's arms. With Lyndon no longer there, Evan dropped to the dirt. A giant wolf, Lyndon transformed, growled and snapped.

  Instead of fearing the wolf, Evan smirked, and my heart lifted as he shifted as well. He turned into a giant, grey wolf. Evan let out a howl, almost causing me to tumble to the rocking Earth.

  The two wolves clashed in the center. Snarling, snapping, their jaws flashing in the moonlight, they twisted around one another, trying to discover an advantage. My heart was no longer soaring, but shoved deep down in my chest. Sickened, I could only watch as blood spewed from wounds and splashed against the battle grounds.

  Evan tackled Lyndon. It seemed like it might be over since he had him pinned, but Lyndon bit into Evan's neck. There was a wheeze from the wolf as his jaws closed in on his throat.

  "Evan," I screamed. No one else said a word. Aimee wrapped an arm around me and tried to keep me close. She was prepared to shield my eyes if it continued.

  Evan's back legs leaped up, smashing into the hind end of Lyndon. Lyndon's grasp weakened, but he still held on. Evan thrashed backward. The bite took off a chunk of his neck, but not as much as it could have been. Hold broken, Evan tore into Lyndon, ripping apart his face with huge, nasty bites.

  Lyndon growled, but the beast didn't last much longer.

  Shifting back to human, Evan rolled away. Completely naked, his neck bleeding, he panted and stared at
the moon.

  The circle closed in. I rushed to the middle and dropped to my knees at Evan.

  "Don't leave me," I screamed.

  Sitting up, he took me in his arms and sat me on his lap. "I'm not going anywhere," he said. He attempted to kiss me, but I reeled back.

  "You're bleeding, fool."

  He ran his fingertips over the wound. Applying pressure, the bleeding seemed to stop. "Full moon," he grunted. "It's not a deep bite. It should be fine by tomorrow. Shifters heal faster, especially on the full moon."

  I nudged my head to Lyndon, completely torn to pieces.

  "Don't worry, there's no coming back from that."

  He brushed a strand of stray hair aside to get a better look at me. "You're not afraid of me?"

  I gave him a kiss. My lips sealed around him, not wanting to let him go.

  "I guess that answers it," he said.

  He broke away. Grinning wide at me, but with a hint of pain still there, he told me, "The limo will take you back. You've got work tomorrow, don't forget."

  "What about you?"

  "I've got things I need to tend to. I'm the new head alpha, after all."

  I was so happy that my vision blurred with tears. But I wouldn't cry, not in front of all these shifters. By the time I thought about arguing with Evan, Aimee was there to help me up.

  Evan was right. We needed to leave. I needed some sleep. I was sure to have a big day tomorrow.

  There was a new boss to impress.

  Late. How could I be late? I never slept late.

  It figured that it would happen now on Evan’s first day as boss. I checked my phone, saw it was nine thirty instead of eight thirty, and hurried to get dressed. As I was showering, I decided to take my time instead. If Evan was my new boss, I would be able to take as much time as possible, and I would need to look and feel fresh to entice him. After the night I had, I didn’t think he would mind, either.

  I dressed in that short skirt I wore days before, but now I wore it with confidence. That short skirt now said, “Fuck you, Lyndon, I found my man, and it’s not you.” I tried to concentrate on my makeup, but it wasn’t going so well. I wanted to rush out of my apartment and sprint to the office, and I wasn’t a runner, not at all.

  Throwing down my hair dryer, I wasn’t completely dry, but I was dry enough. I put on my heels and strode out of my apartment to work. It was the fastest I ever walked in heels.

  The elevator ride was especially painful. It reminded me of Evan trying to help me while I was breaking down.

  I really needed to see him again.

  The doors opened and it was like I was walking on air. The corner that hid the cubicles seemed to greet me too soon. Time sped up. As I neared it, I heard a strange commotion. Lots of laughter. Lots of talking. It sounded like a party.

  Evan cheered with a glass of champagne to every worker in the building. They celebrated with him. A long line formed down the cubicles with everyone cheering and raising their glasses. I stood on the verge of the crowd, but he still spotted me.

  He looked glorious, like he was a general celebrating a historic victory with his men. That was the way they treated him as well, like their savior. Evan smiled. Surrounded by the crowd, I might’ve expected it to be a general smile to everyone, but I was sure that he was smirking right at me.

  After he finished his champagne, he waved me forward. I was right. He was looking right at me.

  It didn’t feel right. I was on edge, extra wary. Since when did I feel so happy at work?

  “Sorry everyone, I have something I need to do now. You all keep celebrating. We’ll get back to work in an hour or so.”

  Everyone groaned and some people told him to stay, but he waved them away and told them, “Sorry.” He disappeared but emerged in front of Lyndon’s door. I walked up to him.

  “I told you I couldn’t stay away,” he said, and he leaned back on the office door to invite me in.

  I wanted to jump into his arms, but I knew better than to do it in public. He led me inside then shut the door, and I leapt into his arms, which I had been dying to do. My lips rushed him. I got to him first. He split my lips wider. He pinned my tongue down and grooved with me, pumping me full of that elation that I had been so skeptical of for so long.

  He placed me back down on my feet.

  That’s when I realized that the room was different, the most obvious change being the removal of the black curtains. There was now an open, spectacular view of the city skyline. All the furniture was removed and updated to more sleek and modern pieces. The room must’ve been vacuumed and shampooed overnight, because there was no scent of smoke, only that woodsy, leather and sex scent of Evan.

  “I like what you did with the place.”

  I’d been so excited to see Evan that I hadn’t noticed the mark, a long scar curving from his chest to his collarbone. I reached out and ran my fingertips across it.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. It healed quickly.”

  He held up his arms and spanned them across the room. “This is all mine now, but what I’m most excited about is you. Amber, you’re all mine now, and I intend to have you right away.”

  I bit down on my lip hard, so hard I expected to taste the coppery blood flowing over my tongue. Maybe that would give me a reason to escape and regroup. My eyes darted from Evan over to his wide, sturdy desk. He could take me on that, and his soundproofed walls and his thick wood door would keep my moans from any suspicious ears.

  “I’m happy,” I tried to explain, “I really am, but I’m scared too, Evan. You’re my boss. This is my job. I need this, but I need you too. I don’t want to lose my job or you.”

  “Why would you lose it? I don’t understand.” The alpha put his hands on my waist. His fingertips dug into my softness, revealing how tender and sensitive I was compared to his firm, commanding touch. I felt like I should drop and have the desk save me, but that was falling right into his trap.

  I thought about what Aimee said. I could only have one or the other. Evan expected to claim me, to conquer me completely, perhaps he already had, but I needed to regain some independence. He could conquer me all he wanted with that cock, but outside of that, I needed to set some boundaries. Alphas didn’t understand those very well.

  “You’re my mate. I was always sure of it. My wolf raged at me whenever I couldn’t have you. Whenever I let you walk away, it would try to free itself. I fought it for so long. I’m tired of fighting, so let me take you as my mate. Officially.”

  I wasn’t sure what that all meant. I remembered the last time I turned down Evan, and I didn’t like it. I disappointed myself.

  “I’ll quit,” I murmured. It piped out of me. I just blurted it out without thinking, but then I realized that it was clear what I needed to do. “You can have me, Evan, but I need to quit.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll take all you can from me, but that’s just your nature, so I can’t fault you for that. Working with you will be too much, I fear, so I’m choosing what’s better. I’m choosing you.”

  He smirked. He almost laughed at me, and that made me feel foolish. When he saw my stern look, he stopped smirking. He shook his head in earnest. “I’ll get you another job in the company. No problem. I don’t think you were that excited about this position anyway, but I do know a position that I could get you excited for.”

  “Oh yeah?” I tugged at his shirt. I tried to get him closer, but he kept himself far enough away.

  “You’ll find out soon.”

  “Is there any way I can convince you to tell me sooner?”

  “Perhaps there’s something you could do.”

  “I think I could convince you.”

  “Get down on your knees. You can convince me with your mouth.”

  When I didn’t move fast enough, he snatched me by my hair, curled his fingers with it, and then tugged me to my knees. “On your knees, Amber.”

  On my knees, I let my tongue moisten my fu
ll, glossy lips, then let it hang and wait for his lovely cock. He unzipped his fly. Hard, with some precum pearling at the tip, his cock slid right out. I hadn’t been able to taste him before, so I was looking forward to having that salty, sweet taste on my tongue.

  I tasted him, then I swallowed him. That fat cock stretched my mouth and had me panting. I sucked and he thrust slowly in and out of my mouth until my sex begged for the same treatment. It quieted when he reached down and caressed my tits. I rolled my tongue over his head, making sure to pleasure that sweet spot between his tip and his shaft.

  That drew a pulsating of his balls and a low growl from the shifter. His growl vibrated through his straining abs and into me, right down to my sex. I ground my thighs together in anticipation. I attempted to roll my hips to touch my naughty bud against my skirt, but to no avail. It wasn’t relieving the pressure.

  I focused on Evan. I swallowed more of him. I ran my fingertips over his lubed-up base, all the way down to his balls, massaging them and caring for them so they would release inside of me and fill me.

  “Fuck, Amber, you suck my cock so well. Maybe you’re right. If you were right outside my door every day, I would be pulling you in here and having you suck me off all the time.”

  I wouldn’t mind that. With other guys, I most definitely would, but I didn’t think I could get tired of Evan and his sexual needs.

  “All right, you’ve convinced me. Stand up.”

  I got back on my wobbly legs.

  “Strip,” he instructed. Once again not fast enough for the alpha, he caught me by the throat, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to hold me. He instructed me again. “I said strip. Quickly.”

  I quickly got out of my clothes. He did so as well. We both watched in frantic heat as the other took off an article of clothing. It was a race to be the first naked. I was the first one to get there. I threw myself down on the desk where I knew he wanted me.

  “You’re learning fast,” he said.

  He pressed his weight on top of me. He distracted me with kisses. My fingers roamed over his chest down to his abs, taut and flexing as he kissed me. Evan dropped to my side, and taking my top leg, he raised it up and positioned himself to take me to the side.