Beta: Her Alpha Read online

  Erik called me, telling me he’s on his way home. It’s earlier than he’s supposed to get out, which means something’s off, but from the tone in his voice it’s nothing bad. I just got out of the shower after working all day with the human resources department. Gage is sleeping already because he’s got an early trip back to Redding. Since he is learning his new task, he’s been too busy to spend time with us.

  I hear him come in, but I decided that I want him to come get me. “Chloe, babe, I’m home.”

  “I’m too tired to get up. I’m in our bed,” I say.

  He runs up the stairs in a flash—I guess he knows what I want. He practically breaks the door open, asking, “Are you…” Seeing his expression, I guess he thought something was wrong with me, but now it’s clear he sees my intent.

  “Oh, babe. Fuck, I think I’m going to be too tired to go to work tomorrow. But first, babe, I need a shower. Give me two minutes and stay just the way you are. Better yet, part those sweet thighs apart and slide you fingers along your slit for me. I’ll hurry.”

  I saw and smelled the faint odor of blood on him. There are small specks of blood on his clothes. He had to have met with Ryan. He’s taking a little too long in the shower, so I walk in to see what’s going on. He’s got his head pressed against the shower wall, and his shoulders slumped. I know he feels me in the room, so I climb in behind him after dropping the red nightie I put on. Placing my head on his back, I hold him.

  “It’s over, isn’t it?” I whisper, kissing his spine.

  “Yes, my love. It is.” He takes a deep breath before standing straight, then turning to me. “You looked so beautiful tonight, but I didn’t want to come to you with blood on me, his most of all.”

  “I understand, Erik. Are you okay?”

  “I’ve never killed anyone before, believe it or not. It’s invigorating, but wrong. He deserved it, and because of that I don’t feel as guilty as I should.”

  “Are you feeling bad because you don’t feel guilty?” I interpret.

  “Exactly.”

  I lift up on my toes and pull his head down to me, kissing him fully on the mouth. Our kiss is passionately slow and sweet. He licks my lips before pulling away and getting us some towels. Carrying me back to bed, he makes slow love to me all through the night.

  Epilogue

  I’ve been patrolling all day. Hunter had to head over to Redding today to talk with Creed and Kane about some issues we’ve been having with another group of shifters. They live forty miles away, but once in a while we cross paths and they always want to start some shit. Hunter and I are ready for war because we’ll do anything to protect our mates and pups, but we’re trying to avoid it.

  Their Alpha, Turner K, has called a meeting between the packs for tomorrow, so we hope all shit goes well. Some of the young pups got into it with some other young pups because one of the pups is interested in the younger sister. But we’ll have to straighten them out. I don’t see what the deal is because neither of them are of age and they can’t mate. It’s about the different packs, in my opinion.

  I’m dreading the years when Chloe and I have daughters that are ready for mating. We don’t have any girls yet, but we do have two boys, Erik, Jr. and Jamison. Our sons are strong and powerful at four years old and are on pace to be bigger than me. We haven’t gotten pregnant again since them. Not that we haven’t tried, but it’s just not happening. I know Chloe wants a little girl to spoil and play dress up with. More shoes in the house comes to mind when I think of dress up. It breaks my heart when I see her eyeing Cat’s and Kane’s daughters. They both have two each.

  I’m just about to head home when I hear my name softly through the wind. I smile because I know it’s my lovely wife calling me to her.

  Stripping bare, I shift and rush through the woods looking for her, but she’s running from me fast as hell. She can’t beat me, and I’m on her before she knows it. We are just beyond a large group of trees and high grass. Pouncing on her back, I waste no time entering her in one smooth thrust. Chloe lets out a low howl when I nip at her neck, then lick her. Fuck, she feels so good. She hasn’t shifted for mating in a long time because we usually don’t care for it, but something about this feels so right.

  She yelps as my cock thrusts into her heat in and out. It’s not long before she’s howling out her release. I empty into her, then we cuddle into the brush. I love her fur, it’s such a pretty white, and I’m hard again. Licking her over and over, letting her know my intentions. With a low growl emanating from my chest, she’s up on her paws and on the run again just to tease me. I know she’s going to go change and I should too, but I just want to spend time with my wife.

  She comes out dressed, and I head to get mine where I left them. After changing, I take her in my arms. “I missed you too, Chloe.”

  “I needed to show you how much I love you,” she whispers. I can sense her fear.

  Lifting her chin, I stare into her eyes and ask, “Babe, are you worried about tomorrow?”

  “A little,” she admits reluctantly.

  I give her a squeeze. What happened in the past has left an indelible mark on us, but has gotten easier to deal with over the years. “Chloe, it’s not going to be bad. We’re only meeting with the Alpha and Beta in Hunter’s house. If Hunter thought there’d be trouble, he wouldn’t have it in their newly decorated house. Cat would murder him.”

  I knew I’d get a smile. She chuckles. “She sure will.” Getting serious, she adds, “I know it’s only a meeting, but I love you. I can’t lose you.”

  “You won’t. I promise.” I kiss her hard, then rub my hard cock against her, letting her know our fun for the day is only just beginning.

  “They’re here,” I warn Hunter, although I’m sure he can hear the truck approach. It’s a nice ride; I’ll give them that.

  “Okay, Alpha. You let me know what you need me to do.”

  “I will. Just keep your cool. They came alone, which shows a lot of trust, or they have their guys away from the wind. Either way, I have a good feeling about this.”

  We let them in. Both men are our height, but we’re bulkier. I look them over because I can’t just trust these boys. I’m the sheriff, so I’m still packing.

  “What’s with the gun?” the second, Mark Keats says, eyeing my holster.

  “I’m the sheriff. I’m always carrying.” I stand my ground.

  “Hey, don’t get bent out of shape. I just asked. We want this to be peaceful as possible,” he says, tossing his hands up in surrender.

  Wanting to get this over with, Hunter gets right to the point. “Okay, so two of our young ones got into a fight together, but what I don’t understand is why.”

  The Alpha Turner says, “It’s because I told my younger brother to protect my little sister. She’s a teen, and well, I don’t want any men sniffing around her. She’s not mating age yet, so when the Crabtree kid kissed her, my brother was on him.”

  “Let me ask you something. Do you ever think that they’ll mate once she’s of age?” I ask Turner.

  He growls, “Even if it was possible, why is he kissing her now?”

  “Why would you care? He can’t fuck her,” Hunter asks. Really, it’s not a cause to start a war between packs. This isn’t ancient Greece.

  Turner goes on the defensive. “I didn’t react. My little brother did. But it still doesn’t excuse what he did.”

  Hunter had talked to the pup, and he told him why he did what he did. “He said it was because some human boy was flirting with her and he didn’t appreciate it. Erik, why don’t you go ahead and tell them about how you met my sister?” he asks me.

  I laugh with a shake of my head because the pain of that time hasn’t ever left my mind. “He probably kissed her because he’s young and his mating starts next year. If he feels anything like what I felt for my mate before I mated with her, then his heart is hurting. Jealousy eats at him constantly. It can leave you empty and sad, craving for her just to be near. Have you met
your mate yet?” I reveal. Alpha Turner lets out a low growl in frustration.

  Hunter gives him a sympathetic look and says, “So you have, but you’re not mated yet. How long has it been?”

  He growls out, “Five months, three weeks, two days, and twelve hours.”

  “I fell in love with Chloe a year before our full mating kicked in. Our mating instinct waited until I was worthy of her and became the Beta. I spent a year in purgatory. Looking, wishing, and hoping I could touch her. I don’t know how many times I almost kissed her or how many times I snarled at another man speaking to her. If I’d been younger, I don’t think I’d have the self-control to stop myself. When I thought all was hopeless, the change happened.”

  “A year?” His eyes widen in fear and desperation.

  “A year,” I repeat. “The longest year of my life.

  “So she’s his mate?” the second asks.

  I shrug. “More than likely, and until the time is right, they’re both going to be suffering. The best thing to do would be limit their contact with the opposite sex, but don’t keep them from each other. Jealousy only heightens the need to claim what they can’t. Keeping them apart will make it worse.”

  “Thanks,” he says as he shakes my hand.

  Just then, a car is pulling up the driveway. I close my eyes because I don’t want a fight to break out here. Building trust is key to ending any tensions between the packs.

  “I thought you said it was just the two of you,” he says. His suspicion is on high alert.

  “It is. If it’s my wife, I’m going to spank her ass.” Hunter has a scowl etched on his face as he marches to the front of the house.

  “Mine too,” I say, walking behind him.

  We take a whiff of the air, and it’s not either. I know the scent, so it’s one of our people. Of course it’s her. Of all the people to show up, it’s Deputy Arroyo. She’s the only human. Why the fuck she is here is beyond me. If she wasn’t a badass, I would have to fire her for this.

  Before we could tell her to stop coming, Turner runs right past us and straight to her. Hunter and I ready to shift and rush at him when he says with surprise, “It’s you!”

  “It’s you!” Maria shouts out. He pulls her into his arms and kisses her hard. Their mating instincts hit full on and I know that they need privacy soon before we see more of them than we need to see.

  “Wow, didn’t see that coming,” Hunter remarks, staring at them practically dry humping each other on his lawn.

  Hunter and I start laughing, and the Beta looks at us like we’re insulting his Alpha.

  “What’s so funny?” he growls.

  Still chuckling, I inform him. “It’s funny because the boy after his sister happens to be her roommate.”

  He looks back at Turner and Maria and “Oh shit. That is funny. So I guess we’re going to have some problems on our hands, aren’t we?”

  “Let’s hope not.” I shrug. Turning to Hunter, I suggest we head out. “Hunter, let’s go and get our wives.”

  “Hell, yeah. Do you to want to join us for dinner?” Hunter asks Mark. We know Turner is going to be too busy to care about food for a week.

  “Sounds good. I’m freaking starving. Maybe I’ll find my mate too.” He gives us a hopeful grin.

  “There’s lots of females in our pack that are of age,” I offer.

  “Good, I’m getting up there in age already.” We all walk down the stairs, and the Alpha’s already growling at us. He’s not into the idea of anyone sharing or even looking at his mate. We’re all that way even though it’s foolish, so we wave his ass off.

  “Turner, you two are more than welcome to go to the resort. I’ll call and make the reservation for the next two days,” Hunter says, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

  “Thanks.” He turns to Maria. “Let’s go.”

  “Have fun, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

  He just flips Hunter off and tosses Maria over his shoulder before walking to his truck.

  “Hey, what about me?” his Beta teases.

  He turns back and gives him a deadly glare. “Walk,” he growls back.

  We reach my house ten minutes later with our guest. We walk in to a noisy house full of little pups and our stunning wives. Chloe is standing near the window on the opposite side of the room looking as beautiful as ever as the setting sun shines onto her. Fuck, I want her this instant.

  Telling them about the pain I suffered before Chloe and I mated brought back all the frustration and hurt, and reminded me that she’s so special. I never take it for granted that she’s mine.

  Needing to hold and kiss her, I pass our small children and run to my love. Taking her in my arms, I whisper, “Thank you for loving me, my mate.”

  “Thanks for letting me keep my shoe collection.” She winks at me, then tilts her head to the floor. I follow her eyes, and she’s got on those heels that I love. My dick is so hard I want everyone gone. I grunt to myself and give her ass a squeeze.

  As soon as everyone is gone, I think it’s movie night.

  THE END…For now