Alpha Blood

by Tamara Rose Blodgett

  Adrianna gives a startled yelp as his wolfen eyes are inches from hers.

  “Oooh, stud—you’re full of surprises.”

  Slash likes to think he might be, given their age difference. Pressing her tightly against him, Slash keeps up the rhythm as she brushes a delicate kiss against his forehead. The press of her lips skims the mass of scar tissue bisecting his eyebrow. That no longer gives him pause. His other palm goes to her breast, cupping the smooth flesh as his head bends to lathe the nipple in a gentle, hot sweep of tongue.

  “Oh, Moon,” Adrianna groans, grasping his hair with her fingers. She tugs, and he feels a deep, single pulse around his prick.

  His mate will come.

  Once, twice, three times, Slash withdraws as he lifts her with one hand, and with his final thrust, he keeps her against him, around him, biting her shoulder as her release tears through them both with a ferocity that shakes him.

  Slash’s essence pours into his female, and he hugs Adrianna to him, so moved by their union, tears threaten.

  She has made him weak. And stronger. The contrary result is one he can’t sort. Maybe Slash can let that go and just love her.

  They pulse together as she grows limp in his arms.

  After a few minutes, Adrianna pulls away slightly, giving him a light slap on his shoulder. “I have to take charge once in a while, or you’ll never sex me up properly.”

  Slash smiles. “Yes, well, I do want to ʻsex you upʼ—but you forget your delicate condition…”

  Adrianna allows herself to fall backward, legs splayed, and rolls her eyes heavenward. “Oh, Slash—Moon. I’m fine.”

  Rising to his knees, he crawls up the body he just worshipped, pecking her flesh with kisses that end with the barest nip.

  When he is near her sex, her breath stills, and he lazily rolls his eyes to her.

  The bright hazel of her irises lay partially hooded by eyelids lowered in lust.

  “You’re very bad, Slash.”

  He does not answer. Instead, Slash continues to work his way up, ending at the mild wound he put at her shoulder. Though, Moon knows, he would like to only partially heal it, a sign that she is his to any male who takes notice.

  He licks the wound clean, kisses the tender skin, then gives it a very small nip.

  Slash lies beside her, feet dangling off the end of their small bed, and props himself up with an elbow, dropping his head into his palm.

  “You’re a biter,” Adrianna teases him, dragging a light touch along his jaw.

  Grabbing her finger, he feels his eyes darken with emotion. “And you like that I do, my mate.” He scented her arousal at the minuscule wounds he places against her flesh.

  And he scents it now when he makes reference.

  “Yes,” she admits quietly. “Am I pervy or something?”

  Slash barks out a laugh. “I do adore you, my mate.”

  Her smile is shy, and he does not wish for that to be between them. Tenderly, he cups her chin and turns her to face him. “I love our play that's uniquely ours, Adrianna. There is nothing that we do with each other that is anything but good.”

  She nods, but worry edges her eyes.

  Slash frowns. “What is it?”

  Adrianna grabs his hand, and he crosses her body with his chest, parking an elbow at either side of her body as he gazes deeply into her eyes, their hands laced.

  “You better not die on me. Now that you’re all Alpha and shit.”

  He does not smile at her words. It is serious for a mate to promise something.

  “I will not die of a purpose.”

  “Moon, I know that, Slash!” She’s aggrieved, turning her face away from him again.

  “I will scent your emotions, but I’d rather you tell me what is truly bothering you.”

  He waits while she chews her luscious lower lip.

  “My sire died. Half the den was murdered, Slash,” she says, her voice low. “I can’t do this if you don’t promise me you’ll be careful.” Her eyes shift from his, and it’s as though the sun hid behind a cloud.

  He softly drags her face in his direction. Their eyes lock. “We are doing this.” His eyes search hers, tears causing them to shine. “You carry our whelp.”

  She nods quickly, and the wetness breeches the rim of her eyelids, traveling sideways, soaking the hair at her temples.

  Slash sighs, kissing Adrianna and her tears. “Do not cry. No weapon is more dangerous to me than your tears, Adrianna.”

  “You’re a tough male, Slash—the toughest ever.”

  He lifts his face and stares at her for a handful of seconds. “Except when it comes to you. You’ve thawed my heart with your love, and every piece that you melt makes me more vulnerable.”

  “That’s so romantic.” She kisses him quickly then flops back down.

  Slash was not making an attempt at romance. It was simply the words he’s always felt since the moment he began to resist his feelings for Adrianna.

  He finally decided to say what she’s meant to him—what she means now.

  Adrianna’s nostrils flare. “Ah, that’s so sweet.”

  There is no hiding anything from a mated pair.

  “You’re just telling me you love me.”

  Slash ducks his chin. It is more than love. But it’s a difficult thing to convey to one as young as Adrianna, and she is prickly about their age difference.

  Or his initial objection to it.

  “Oh!” she squeals, and adrenaline spikes.

  Slash is immediately on all fours, glancing around the room, flaring hard to scent for threats.

  “Come here, silly. There’s no problem. Come feel the whelp.”

  Oh. Slash watches as her delicate fingers splay on her rounded belly.

  Impatient, Adrianna frowns and sits up, knee walking to him. They face each other in mirrored stance.

  She grabs his hand and puts it against her stomach. “Feel that, Slash.”

  An elbow or body part pushes up against his hand, and he gasps in surprise. Slash feels his eyes crinkle at the corners with a grin as he sinks low, placing the side of his face against Adrianna’s silky skin.

  Another jab gets him at the corner of the eye, and he chuckles, turning his face straight. He lays a protective kiss on the whelp between them, punching and kicking.

  Slash winds his arms around Adrianna and pulls her close, resting his head against where their whelp plays.

  His good fortune overcomes him, and Slash does not dare to speak.

  Later

  “Don’t go.” Adrianna pouts.

  He walks to the window and gazes out as night begins to consume the day. Finally, all that’s left is a haze of illumination.

  “I must. We have the new female—and I do not like what Howard and Jake have said.”

  “Vamp talk.”

  Slash nods. “Usually, vampires will not consider Were worthy of notice.”

  “Julia Caldwell wasn’t so lucky.”

  “True, and she is not Lycan.”

  Silence is heavy between them. Adrianna moves to the edge of the bed, sliding socks on then panties.

  Which Slash watches with interest. He believes Adrianna uses a little more shimmy than necessary to get into her underthings.

  And he likes it very much.

  “Damn,” she mumbles.

  Slash looks to where the complaint is. The button of her denims will not latch.

  He walks to her and gently pries away her frustrated fingers.

  “I will get you new clothing.”

  Adrianna’s eyes rise to his. “Like at a mall or something?”

  His expression must be offended, because she laughs.

  Slash glowers. “Of course. I have seen how your things no longer fit.”

  Her face goes coy. “When I am wearing anything. You keep me naked more than clothed.”

  Slash feels dull heat land at his nape. He cannot deny how much he wants her.

  Adrianna slides her arms around his waist. “I
love that you want me as much as you do. Don’t feel bad about it, baby.”

  He cups the back of her head. “I don’t want to exert you or—”

  “Shut up,” Adrianna says, giving him another smack on the shoulder. “You’re too damn serious.”

  There is so much reason to be, but he doesn’t say. “We will go away tomorrow. We can go to Tacoma Mall, and we will get you all the things your heart desires.”

  Adrianna cocks her head and, jiggling her beautiful breasts back and forth, says, “I know what my heart desires most.”

  “Oh?” he asks, molding his hands over the breasts so artfully displayed within cups of delicate, icy pink lace.

  “You,” she says softly and rises to put her face close to his, and he dips to meet her lips.

  Slash mourns that he must attend to pack affairs. However, honestly, he can’t lounge all day with his female.

  There is a new pack member, his scouts must debrief him, and there is the matter of Bray and an offensive to be mounted. When he returns—and Slash has no doubt he will—they can grind his bones to dust.

  Susan grows old, and he noted that she will need help with her duties. Perhaps their drudge, Becky, who keeps watch at the tiny convenience store not a half mile from their pack, could offer assistance.

  Then there’s Nova, practically out of whelphood.

  Devin, who is an unknown—and her half-breed daughter.

  “Moon, where are you?” Adrianna asks, searching his face.

  He kisses the tip of her nose. “I must go. I can’t let all these issues that are clogging my brain to continue.”

  “That’s cool. I was gonna hang with Jenni and Devin.”

  Slash’s lips part.

  “Nope! Don’t say it.” She laughs. “I get that Sebastian or Dare need to be skulking around.”

  “Definitely skulking,” he repeats dryly.

  She pulls a long-suffering face. “Ya know what I mean.”

  He does. But Slash also likes to tease Adrianna. And for the millionth time, he ruminates on one of the many gifts she’s given him: levity.

  “And then there’s the new chick, Marley. Man is she a beaten thing.”

  Slash nods. It is her beauty. Any other beta female would hate her. And some Alphas too.

  Not Adrianna, though.

  Nodding, more to herself than him, she says, “I’ll suck her up into our clique. She can feel better. After all, it’s certainly a hodgepodge in the Northwestern at the moment.”

  Yes, it is.

  Suddenly, the door bursts open.

  Slash moves in front of his half-clothed mate with a sliding crouch and growl.

  It’s Jake.

  “Speak.” Slash’s voice has gone wolfen, and he hangs on to his human form by a thread.

  “A Lanarre princess is here.” His dark-blue eyes sparkle.

  Slash supposes he’ll forgive Jake the indiscretion for this. Straightening to a stand, Adrianna remains behind him, holding a shirt she didn’t have time to put on in front of her as a shield.

  But Jake doesn’t notice their disarray.

  “A dignitary?” Slash asks instantly, trying to make sense of royalty seeking the Northwestern.

  “No. Get this,” Jake says quickly. “She’s seeking asylum.” His sandy brows shoot up, midnight eyes flashing with emotion.

  This can’t be good, and there’s one thing Slash doesn’t want—more complications. Especially from the Lanarre. He and Adrianna were barely out of the altercation with the Hoh when those scouts tried to take his mate from him.

  No, they didn’t need this. But what could Slash do? Turn down a female seeking sanctuary? A royal, no less. Never. It’s simply not done.

  “Who is it?” Adrianna asks.

  “Tahlia of the Redwood.”

  Adrianna whistles low. “Shit, I know her.”

  “And I,” Slash adds. Barely. They met and, in the next moment, were gone. There was so much commotion when she and Tessa escaped with the demonic, the memory of the female is nothing but a shadow in his mind.

  He had his own female to protect and seek out.

  “Is she going to hurt Marley?” Adrianna pivots to Slash, fisting his shirt. “Make that a condition of asylum. She can’t beat up Marley. I don’t think that female can take one more round of abuse.”

  Slowly, Slash nods, and Adrianna releases her hold on him.

  “I want to talk to her too.”

  Slash takes her hand, raising it to his lips. He presses a soft kiss at the center of her palm. “At my side.”

  “You’re damn straight,” Adrianna says.

  Jake grins at Slash, and he gives the tiniest shrug he can manage while his spitfire mate grumbles about pack politics, Alphas, and justice.

  “Get out so I can get dressed,” she says to Jake, who backs out the door, closing it quietly behind him.

  “Never a dull moment, I guess,” Adrianna says, pushing her arms and head through the holes of her shirt and jerking it down over her head.

  Never indeed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Tahlia

  A s Tessa would have said, Tahlia’s in a funk. She’s starting to get hungry again, and no matter how she tries to talk herself out of it, she’s nervous about a new pack.

  She has no other options, and the surly Alpha male deposited her in an empty room to wait. Things aren’t looking too great.

  Tahlia doesn’t think Neil will bother with her and contemplates making herself look more attractive for assimilation by omitting the entire detail of her speculation about Neil's intentions.

  She can do nothing about Drek, though emotions choke her. She understands that one of them surviving is better than both getting killed. Her mind easily came to terms with that practicality and Drek telling her to escape, because he could provide time. But grief and guilt war inside her, and her heart burns for her guardians, Tessa, and Drek. Anyone who loves her. Tahlia puts her fisted hands against her clenched eyes. I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not—

  The door bursts open, and she’s facing… Adrianna.

  “Hey,” Adrianna says, sharp hazel eyes flashing with emerald, gold, and amber. “You remember me?”

  Unforgettable. “Yes, I do.” Tahlia’s arms drop to her sides, and Adrianna notices.

  “Good deal. Listen, I know this is kinda right outta the box, but I have to know if you’re going to kick all the beta femalesʼ asses.”

  Tahlia blinks. “Ah—no. That was not my plan.” She narrows her eyes on Adrianna. “Unless you have plans to challenge me?”

  Adrianna is as Alpha as they come. She hikes her chin then immediately lowers it. Their gazes burn each other up as a few pounding seconds storm past.

  Tahlia flares her nostrils. “And you with whelp?”

  Adrianna straightens, hand still gripping the knob while a huge Red comes to stand behind her. A disfiguring scar bisects a stern and roughly handsome face. Clearly, he’s her mate, for his scent hangs on her like perfume.

  “Yeah, I’m knocked up, so what?”

  Tahlia spreads her arms away from her sides. “I am unwilling to challenge a female who carries a most precious Lycan within her,” she states in the old speech.

  “I am most grateful,” Adi’s mate replies in kind from behind her.

  His name escapes Tahlia.

  There was a huge fracas going on at the time that she met many people at Region One of the Singers.

  A pang of defeat aches inside her breastbone. What a mistake all that was.

  “Slash, shh.”

  Slash—that was it.

  “Give us the Reader’s Digest version why a Lanarre princess”—Adi pauses over that part—“would seek asylum with our pack?” She crosses her arms and gives Tahlia an expression of dubious caution.

  Tahlia supposes she would feel the same if she were in Adi’s position.

  “Things did not work out as I’d hoped at the Hoh.” The understatement of the current century.

  “Yo
ur betrothed?” Slash interjects, a lilt in his voice.

  Tahlia looks down, forcing into submission the tears that beg to come. Finally, when she thinks speaking’s an option, she meets their eyes. “He and I were traveling to the Northwestern as a dignitary with a Lanarre soldier. A coup occurred at the Hoh in our absence.”

  She pauses, blowing a hair from her face, and shifts her weight. After a couple of fortifying breaths, Tahlia tells the rest of the tale.

  After nearly an hour, Adrianna sits on the small table in the equally small room, facing her.

  Slash moves through the doorway, following his mate to join her as they listen.

  When she’s finished, Adrianna shakes her head. “Ya know, you’d think that the royalty would have their shit together, but no.”

  Tahlia blinks again. Adi is a breath of fresh air, plain-speaking in a way that would never be allowed from a female of Tahlia’s station. For the first time since their second meeting, Tahlia feels a small shred of hope that somehow, she could fit in here. “I’m afraid there’s a lot of politics that come with the title of royal,” Tahlia says with a diplomacy she doesn’t feel.

  Slash inclines his head. “You believe Drek is dead?”

  Tahlia spreads her hands apart. “There is no scenario that I can imagine in which he could have survived. Drek gained me time, nothing more. He held them off only for me.” She buries a sucking inhale behind her fist.

  She catches Slash’s subtle flare of nostrils. “Do not assume false guilt, female. Any male of worth would have sacrificed his life for a female. Especially one who is royal and your betrothed.”

  Tahlia gives them earnest eyes. “It doesn’t matter that I’m royal. Don’t you see? My life is not greater than his.”

  Adi says to Slash, “I think I like her, even if she does talk like a royal.”

  Tahlia allows a small smile. “Oh, that was changing, I assure you. When Tessa and I traveled together, I was…” Tahlia clears her throat delicately. “She was teaching me.” She gives a short laugh, remembering Tessa’s unconventional ways and how much she misses them now.

  “Yeah, Tessa—she seemed pretty cool.”

  Tahlia’s head comes up, and she meets their eyes. Slash’s are so dark, even her sharp Were sight can’t make out the pupils within the irises. “Have you seen Tessa and Laz?”