He pulled me close, not caring that everyone from our group was watching, and placed his hands on my hips, bending down to growl in my ear. “Dance with me. I have yet to experience your dance moves.”
Heat rushed to my face. I averted my eyes, which made him chuckle, as I said, “I don’t dance well, so you’ll probably laugh.”
Still in his arms, he led me to the dance floor. “Even if I do laugh, I’ll still think it’s adorable. So just be yourself.” He shrugs. “Dance like I'm not even here.”
The music changed; a bouncy and rhythmic song started up. The dancing continued, with some people holding drinks while the others just curiously stared at everyone around them. I closed my eyes, taking a steady breath before I began to get into the rhythm of the music.
I swayed my hips, forgetting everyone around me, as I twirled and began to grind my ass against Alaric’s manhood. I heard his growl, as he pulled me flush against him, his erection jabbing my back.
I squealed as his hot breath caressed the spot under my ear, sending a shiver through my body. “That’s extremely sexy. I knew you could dance. We’ll have to continue this later, when we’re alone.”
The music changed again, as my Gamma mind-linked us. Alphas, I’m sorry to interrupt, but the food has arrived.
All right, thank you, Wyatt. We’re on our way. I mind-linked in response, as I led Alaric back toward the table.
He stopped, making me turn back to him with an eyebrow raised. He chuckled. “I’d rather not show up to the table with a raging boner. I’ll be right back; let me go take care of it.” He winked at me before disappearing into the crowd once more.
I returned to our table, where everyone waited for me to sit down before they began to eat.
Rylan smiled slyly at me, a look of satisfaction on her face. “I see you got some dance moves, girl.”
I blushed, my attention moving to my burger in front of me. The aroma made my stomach growl. The seasoning of the burger, with the mayonnaise and the lettuce, was enticing.
Terry gave me a look. “Where’d Alaric go?”
I had just taken a bite of food. “The bathroom,” I said between a mouthful.
Rylan giggled as she too started in on her food. “All right.” Terry nodded as he dug as well.
Just then, Alaric weaved through the crowd, dodging girls who tried to latch themselves onto him as he kindly turned them down. I smirked as the girls pouted, going back to the oblivious dates they’d brought with them for the evening.
Alaric turned his head, smiling, as I munched down on my burger. “You like that burger? You’ve got mayonnaise all over your face.” He chuckled, as he grabbed a napkin from the edge of the table to wipe my mouth for me. I laughed, as he scooted closer to me, to place a kiss on my temple before cutting into his steak.
The rest of the evening went by in flash. The next thing I knew, Alaric and I got into bed and were instantly asleep, exhausted from the events of the day.
CHAPTER 20
DAHLIA
TRYING TO JUMP out of bed to turn off my alarm, Alaric snaked his arms around my waist, pulling me back on top of him, holding me tightly.
“You aren’t going anywhere, little wolf,” he chuckled, trying to seduce me; the motion of his laughter moved me up and down.
I whimpered but forced myself from his arms, stating as I rolled my eyes, “We don’t have a choice. We’re supposed to be at the High Were Council’s place in...” I grabbed my phone, turning off my alarm and checking the time. “An hour and a half, so get your ass up and get dressed.”
I swayed my hips—the panties and undershirt I had on hugging my curves—as he tried to grab me again, but I jumped out of his grasp this time. “I like that nickname though; it’s cute.”
Once I was at the duffel bag, I pulled out my outfit for the meet- ing. It was a pair of dark blue jeans and white shirt. After a shower, I was quickly blow drying my hair when I heard the phone go off from the living room.
I came into the room just as Alaric stumbled to get his jeans on before rushing out of the room, with no shirt on, and down the hall toward the phone. A few minutes later, his Alpha tone rang through the hotel apartment. “We’ve got ten minutes before our escorts arrive, so make sure everything is packed and ready to go.”
We had the choice to unpack last night, but I decided to leave everything in the bag for easier maneuvering. Slipping the strap over my shoulder, I pushed my feet into my sandals and grabbed my phone and our chargers from the bedside table before leaving the room to join the others in the living room. Alaric had Wyatt grab the box before we all made our way to the elevator.
In the lobby, we were pleasantly surprised to find Marquis waiting for us. It was only 6:25 a.m. but that didn’t seem to put a damper on his good mood. His smile lit the empty lobby. “Good morning, Alphas. I hope your stay here was magnificent. How did you sleep?”
He watched as Alaric took my purse and the duffel bag from me, before I answered. A smile formed on my face, making the tall man’s stern face soften. “We slept great. Thank you for letting us stay here. We most definitely will be back to visit.” I bowed in respect, and watched the rest of my group do the same.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Nick and Gregory make their way over to us with the luggage cart behind them.
“Good morning, Alphas.” They bowed, as everyone moved over to place the luggage neatly onto the tall, golden-railed cart. “Let’s get moving. It’s a good forty-minute trip to the island.”
WE TRAVELED FORTY minutes on back roads and through thick traffic before we turned onto a dirt road.
From what I could tell from looking through the front wind-shield, this road led down to a private shipyard connected to the ocean. There are four boats, one attached to a single pier but they all were of unique sizes and made from different companies.
Gregory pulled up to a small pier, where a medium-sized boat waited at the end of the dock. It sparkled against the morning sun, the white and gold paint glistening. It was a fancy boat with white leather seats.
The black SUV came to a stop before the boys climbed out and went to the back to help Nick and Gregory unload the vehicle. Rylan put the seat down before she climbed out with Ellen and I behind her.
I watched as Alaric, Terry and Wyatt made their way to the boat, where Nick had climbed in, taken the bags from the boys and placed them into a compartment Gregory had opened to store our luggage.
The wind suddenly whipped up, and the scent of the salt water filled my nose as my hair was blown every which way. With my phone safely tucked into my purse, I gripped the strap in my hands as I made my way onto the wooden dock, staying in the middle of the dock.
The waves of the dark water splashed against the posts, sprin- kling freezing cold droplets up and onto me, making me screech and quickly race toward Alaric, who waited patiently for me with a smile on his face.
“Beautiful.” He bowed his head, holding out a hand for me to take so he could help me step into the wobbly boat. It swayed against the waves but was securely in place. That thought made me relax a little but I was still on edge.
My mate helped Rylan and Ellen into the boat as well, before he climbed in and took a seat, grabbing me by the waist to pull me onto his lap, where my body relaxed into his. His warmth enveloped me as I rested my head in the crook of his neck.
“Are you relaxed now?” he whispered in my ear, as he used his other hand to move my hair away from my face while Nick started the engine. It cranked to life as the propeller in the back began to rotate, causing water to splash up, while it made a loud rumbling noise. It was almost like a cat’s purr.
“Yeah, thank you,” I said, trying to get closer to him, as the boat was untied from the pier and began to move away.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep inhale of Alaric’s masculine scent. It was the same leafy smell, but ever since we completed the mating ritual, it had become stronger. Aromas of fall combined with wet leaves. It mellowed me out when th
e boat rocked slightly as he wrapped his arms around me.
I had fallen asleep sometime between just leaving the pier and when the boat started to slow down and jerk against the wooden dock. “My love, we’re here.” Alaric gently shook me, kissing my hair, as the engine shut off and movement started to rock the boat.
I opened my eyes, taking a hand to shield myself from the blazing sunlight above.
Alaric helped me stand, balancing me when I got up too quickly. Gregory and Nick grabbed our luggage, placing it onto the dock before they stepped out of the boat. Alaric went first; he then reached over and grabbed me by the waist as I stepped up and onto the dock.
Nick and Gregory were already headed down the wooden plat- form, toward a smaller building with multiple arched doorways, each one shining against the morning sun.
We followed Nick and Gregory as they walked side by side, only separated by a golden rail that led down the dock, and to a set of winding stone stairs with glass lights set up to light the area when it turned dark.
I held Alaric’s hand as we followed at the back of our group. I glanced up to admire the massive structure. It was magnificent, with a tower built on the left side and windows neatly cleaned; though several darker gray stones caught my attention. The orange-red roof glistened against the morning sun as we started up the steps.
To the left of us was a rocky beach, which was definitely lethal given a fall from a high enough distance; it was accompanied by a thick forest. The pine trees swayed in the ocean wind as we moved further up the stairs. To the right were two raised platforms. One held purple lilacs and red roses, while the other held a few pillars. The aroma from the flowers calmed my increasing nerves as the trial approached. Whatever the outcome, I knew it was the best choice.
I watched Wyatt and his mother walk side by side, engaging in small talk as the castle loomed above us.
Nick stopped at the front door, where he set our luggage down before loudly knocking. Minutes later, a rough looking butler greeted him and motioned for us to come in.
Once everyone was inside, and the door was closed, Nick turned his head to us, saying, “I’ll take you to your sleeping quarters before the High Were Council requests your presence.”
My nerves skyrocketed as we followed in line behind the two burly men and up a large double staircase that had recently been polished; our shoes squeaked as we made our way up. This entryway was extraordinary with white painted walls and a large statue of a wolf in the center of the room, a shiny golden plate underneath it reading “Behold, the mighty seeker.”
At the top of the stairs, we turned the corner, the hallway lighting up as we entered.
“Each of you will have a room to yourselves, so make yourself at home. There is a living room at the end of the hall for you to use, especially since the trial is almost upon us. Let’s get you into your rooms. The Council is waiting.”
AFTER EXPLORING THE rooms provided for us, we made our way back down the stairs, where the butler showed us to a large library. There were red cushioned chairs and coffee tables scattered across the room. It had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and those fancy golden ladders that attached to the bookshelves themselves.
From what I could tell, the room was empty. Nothing stirred and no one was here.
“My dearest Council members, Alpha Dahlia and Alpha Alaric, along with Gamma Wyatt, Beta female Rylan and Alpha female Ellen, have arrived,” the butler croaked into the room.
Suddenly, like out of thin air, six men stood in front of us, each wearing a different colored brooch. The man directly opposite of me, with his black hair and dark eyes, stared intently at me. Alaric growled, standing to block his view of me. The man chuckled, bowing slightly. “Pardon me, Alpha Alaric, I meant no disrespect. I was just admiring Alpha Dahlia’s beauty.”
Something about him gave me the creeps, but I pushed that thought away so I could stand beside Alaric, taking his hand in mine. I studied the other men, who all genuinely took interest in my group and me.
The man, straightening himself introducing each of the men one by one, explained, “The man on the far right, that’s Vernon. He’s a vampire, the last pure-blooded one. He’s kind but watch out for his snide remarks.” Vernon flashed him a deadly stare, his pale skin and dark hair glistening, before he appeared in front of me. His cold hand taking mine, he kissed the top of it, making my face pale and my skin run cold.
“Alpha Dahlia, I’ve heard so much about you.” His golden gaze flickered a darker shade as he glanced between Alaric and me. I squirmed, unable to keep staring at him. I was going to force him to let go, but I didn’t want to be rude in front of a Council member.
The other man cleared his throat. “Vernon, quit intimidating her. She’s already nervous enough as it is, so get your ass back over here.”
Vernon rolled his eyes, releasing my hand, and was back in his place within seconds.
“The man next to Vernon,” the middle man started, pointing to a blonde-haired older gentleman. “Is Raven; he’s a griffin shifter. He’s quiet and reserved but a loyal comrade.” Raven bowed his head and gave a small smile, keeping his silver eyes on Alaric and me as he studied us.
“Hello.” He waved a little.
The man who spoke first suddenly disappeared, and emerged right in front of me leaving a black puff of smoke in his wake. His smile was bright but his eyes changed to a deep red; his voice was laced with a thick accent up close. “My name is Ivan. Head of the High Were Council and they say I am kin to the devil of all creatures. The Lycan. And you, my dear…” He suddenly pulled me into a tight hug, flush against his body. The motion made me sick to my stomach and the feeling of almost vomiting was right at my throat, ready to come up at any moment.
Alaric made an attempt to jerk him off me, but Ivan shot one look at him and waved his index finger, making Alaric suddenly stop in place. I could tell my mate was having a hard time breathing, so I made the dumb decision to use all my strength to hit Ivan while he was distracted.
As my fist made contact with his face, shock filled him as he was knocked back on his butt. I growled loudly at him, as whatever spell he had Alaric under disappeared as quickly as it’d come.
In seconds, I was at my mate’s side, catching him before he fell to the floor. I held him close, using our mate bond to help heal him.
Ivan had gotten to his feet, popping his jaw before smiling wickedly. “Well, the little Alpha has some spunk. I’m impressed.” He had this off expression in his face as he tilted his head. “I would never hurt a woman. But what’s even more frightening is a woman protecting what’s hers.”
The other man who stood to the left of Ivan spoke up. “Enough of this petty bullshit.” He turned to me and said, “I apologize for Ivan. I am Michael, the last mer-species, but my powers are still as strong as they were when I was younger. You and your group are dismissed. Meet us at noon for the trial. Nick or Gregory will bring your lunch up and come get you when it’s time. May the Gods bless this trial so we may understand what really happened.”
With that, we were escorted back to our rooms.
WHILE ALARIC AND the group were huddled together to go over the evidence to prove me and our pack innocent, I couldn’t stay still. I paced back and forth. If the floor wasn’t laminated, I would have burned a line in the carpet from my pacing.
“Little wolf.” Alaric turns his attention from the papers to me. “Come relax. Nothing good will come if you keep worrying yourself. Come here.” He motioned to me with open arms.
I wrinkled my nose, sighing before settling myself into Alaric’s lap. His presence calmed me as my body relaxed. We turned our attention to the paperwork before us. Wyatt had his head buried in the screen of his laptop, scanning some kind of information.
“We’re about to watch the cameras. Are you ready?” Terry asked, as he hooked the cameras to the large flat screen TV in front of us. He returned back to his seat across from me, where he adjusted the volume. He waited for Rylan and Ellen to join
us from another room before he pressed play.
The black screen changed to a bright image of me waiting for our visitor. I looked anxious and determined to get it over with. I blinked while watching the TV in slow motion, before the vehicles pulled up and Alex came into view.
We couldn’t tell what we argued about, but it was evident that I had raised my voice when my grandmother came into view. Even watching her from the camera, I choked up and I felt the tears begin to form.
Alaric wrapped his arms around me, rubbing his hand over my uninjured arm. It’d been awhile since my scar had hurt, but that’s because I wasn’t doing anything drastic with it. He pulled me closer, as we watched Alex and me interact. It was evident that he hadn’t planned to leave there without a fight. He was one sick bastard. I didn’t tear my eyes from the screen as we noticed the noise from above and at that moment, I was attacked.
I had punched him, surprising him, as my wolves made their entrance and another vehicle approached. From then on, the fight ensued. I watched as he faked shock and used it to his advantage, knocking me to the ground and punching me multiple times before grabbing a concealed knife from the back of his jeans.
Behind me, I heard a loud growl from Alaric, as he instinctively tightened his arms around me, his gaze still on the screen. I noticed the blood everywhere when Alex stabbed my arm, making me physi- cally scream out and try to knock him off of me. I then saw a large gray blur bounce from one man to another before a massive wolf noticed Alex continue his assault on me.
As the wolf raced to my side, his jaw snapped around Alex’s arm before tearing him off me, the knife still embedded into my arm. Before we could say anything else, there was a knock on the door with a voice behind it. “The High Were Council is ready for the trial.”
Rise of the Alpha (The Rise Series Book 1) Page 28
