Alpha Mine (The Alpha Council Chronicles) (25 page)

It was only a dream,
he reminded himself as he dressed quickly to join the pair in the kitchen.

“And what may I ask is so funny?” Stephan strolled into the kitchen, the forced smile on his face did not reach his eyes.

“Oh, nothing,” replied Kat, smiling at him. “You really had to be there.”

“Care to join us?” Marcus lifted his glass containing blood.

“I think I will.” Stephan poured a glass of the precious crimson liquid for himself then joined the twosome at the table, taking a chair between them.

“So, again I’ll ask. What was so funny?” Stephan raised his glass to his lips to take a sip of the life-sustaining fluid.

“Oh, we were just talking about past Halloweens,” Kat informed him wistfully. “We have always had such fun on Halloween.”

“That’s true.” Marcus nodded his agreement. “Remember the year we went dressed as Cleopatra and Mark Antony?”

“Oh yeah, that was hysterical. You looked so good in that toga, Marcus.” Kat took a sip of her coffee.

“Marcus, the Italian, dressed in a toga. I’d liked to have seen that.” A smile pulled at one corner of Stephan’s mouth when his mind supplied a picture.

“Yeah, it was something to see all right. His legs peeking out from under that white sheet, like two hairy telephone poles,” Kat quipped, earning a round of laughter from everyone.

“Hey, I resemble that remark,” Marcus chimed in, feigning offense.

“I can’t wait to see you in your costume tonight, Marcus.” Katrina took a bite of her bagel.

“You’re going to be a knockout in yours, Kitty Kat.”

“You two have costumes for tonight?” Stephan looked inquiringly at the pair.

Swallowing, Marcus placed his empty cup on the table. “Yes. We bought them a couple of months ago. You have to get them early if you want the good ones.”

“Where were you planning on wearing them?” Stephan turned a scrutinizing eye on Marcus.

“We were just trying to decide where to go tonight,” offered Kat.

“I don’t believe going out is a good idea,
mein schatz
, my treasure. I don’t think it is safe.” Stephan covered Kat’s hand with his, and glared at Marcus who shifted uncomfortably under his attention.

I can’t believe you would think taking Kat out is a good idea, Marcus. She could be attacked again.
Along with his thoughts, Stephan sent the mental equivalent of a head smack through his mindlink to Marcus.

“We would be going in costume, no one will recognize us.” Marcus shrugged. “Besides what are the chances that Gage or any of his men would be going to the same club we choose?”

“Pleeeaaasssee,” chimed in Kat, looking up at him with big, childlike eyes. “I love Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday, and I want to go out to celebrate it. I don’t want to be stuck in the house, afraid. I want to go out and live life.”

Stephan could tell she truly didn’t want the incident from the previous evening to disrupt their plans. He’d made a similar choice many years ago and knew that you had to live life not hide from it, even if living life meant taking risks rather than playing it safe. He understood the best way to get through something traumatic was to get out and experience life again, but the need to keep her safe warred with his need to please her.

“I don’t know,” ruminated Stephan, thoughtfully. “I suppose you do have a point, Marcus. Even if we happen upon Lucio, he probably wouldn’t recognize us if we were wearing the right kind of costumes. “

Stephan turned his full attention on the beautiful blonde sitting beside him. “Are you sure you feel up to going out tonight, Kat?”

“Oh yes. I’m completely healed and thanks to you, I feel better than ever.” Katrina produced her leg to prove her point. Her robe fell away from her thigh, exposing her long smooth skin, when she propped her heal on Stephan’s thigh.

Stephan’s hand shot out of its own volition, encircling her ankle. After a careful inspection, his gaze followed his fingers as they made their way slowly up her leg and over her knee to climb her thigh. The feel of her creamy skin brought sinful thoughts to his mind.

The sound of Marcus clearing his throat brought Stephan out of his sensual musing. The Alpha pulled the satin material of Katrina’s robe over her long leg and gently lowered her foot to the floor. Stephan knew his blood had made her feel good, and he couldn’t doubt her conviction or the proof that she’d healed—at least physically.

He nodded his head in agreement.

“Okay,” he reluctantly agreed. “As long as we’re dressed up, we can go out, but I’ll need a costume.”

Marcus clapped his hands together and smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I have seven years’ worth of costumes from when Kat and I have gone out. You can borrow one of mine.”

Stephan raised a weary eyebrow in Marcus’ direction. “Well, then I guess I have no choice but to agree we can go out.”

Kat jumped from her chair and leapt onto his lap. She squealed as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. Stephan hugged her back, the male in him satisfied because he’d pleased her.

Marcus rose to his feet, gathered the dishes from the table, and rinsed them in the sink. After putting them in the dishwasher, Marcus turned toward the couple. “Come on, Stephan. Let’s go find you a costume.”

Stephan stood, gently putting Katrina on her feet before following Marcus into his room while Kat went upstairs to take a shower.

“Here,” said Marcus, pulling what looked like a white adult diaper out of his closet.

“What the hell is that?” Stephan gingerly took the cloth between his index finger and thumb. He held the item away from his body as he stretched the loin cloth to its full width between his hands.

“No, look.” Marcus brought out a shield. “You can be a gladiator.”

Stephan bunched the loin cloth between his hands and sent it hurling across the room to hit his friend squarely in the face. “Absolutely not. There is no way I am wearing a diaper as a costume!”

“No?” teased Marcus, putting the costume back into his closet. “I thought you would have liked being a gladiator.”

He sent his young friend a smirk and sat on the bed. “I don’t think so. Next.”

Marcus withdrew a white and gold colored toga from the closet and held the garment up for inspection. “You could be Mark Antony,” he offered.

Stephan raised both eyebrows and shook his head. “I don’t think so. I will not wear a dress. No diapers. No dresses. What else do you have?”

Marcus returned to his closet and shifted through the clothing. “How about this?” he asked pulling out a black cape, hat, and mask. “It’s my Zorro costume. You would need to wear a black shirt and pants, but I know you have those. I even have the sword to go with it.”

“Ummm, all black, with a mask, and I get to carry a sword,” Stephan pondered aloud, stroking a thoughtful hand over his chin. “That will do. The only thing I’m not fond of is the cape, but I’ll get by. “

Marcus smiled. “If anyone can pull off a cape, you can my vampiric friend.”

Stephan laughed. “Always the flatterer, Marcus.”

Hours later, Stephan sat in the living room, waiting for Kat and Marcus to finish dressing. His black silk shirt and pants, hugged his muscular body. He laid his hat and mask on the coffee table along with the sabre, then gazed at the portrait of Kat on the wall. Apprehension about the evening crept in. He did not think going out was a good idea so soon after Kat’s attack, but she had wanted to go so badly and he wanted to please her.

He looked up when Marcus entered the room dress as a wolf in a zoot suit. His face and hands covered in fur, he wore a red sports coat, brown pants, black shirt with a white tie, and a matching black Fedora with a red band around it.

“What are you supposed to be?” inquired Stephan.

“I’m the Big Bad Wolf.” Marcus swept a hand down his body. “I’m looking for Little Red Riding Hood. Have you seen her?”

“No, I ha—” Stephan’s reply was quickly cut off as he spied Kat coming down the stairs. Though dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, there was nothing young or innocent about her. She wore a red mini skirt that flared out from the white tulle crinoline underneath. Tucked into the skirt, a white fluffy shirt with a black corset boosted her full breasts up until Stephan thought they might pop out at any moment. Around her neck was tied a small red hooded cape that hung down to the hem of her short skirt. She wore her hair up in tight spirals which bounced with each step she took. Stephan’s gaze drifted from her curls, down her long, shapely legs to the black stilettos with the peek-a-boo toes on her feet. His heart pounded hard in his chest sending desire coursing through his blood.

Marcus turned and Stephan knew the moment his eyes found Kat because the Big Bad Wolf craned his neck toward the ceiling and let out an appreciative “Ah-ooooooooooo.” Stephan hit Marcus on his shoulder, hard enough to cause him to stagger slightly.

“Hey!” Marcus said catching his balance.

“Down Boy. That’s my Red Riding Hood. If anyone’s going to be her big bad wolf it’s going to be me.”

“Can I help it if I appreciate a beautiful woman when I see one?”

“Don’t make me put a leash on you.” Stephan crossed the room and wrapped his arm around Kat’s shoulders, giving her a quick peck on her fire engine red lips.

Kat giggled against his lips, kissing him back. “So I guess you approve of my costume,” she said grabbing the skirt and doing a quick curtsy.

“Kitten, I will be your big bad wolf any day.” He gave her a wily grin and shagged his eyebrows up and down at her.

“You look hot, Red,” Marcus commented, as he strolled across the room to join the pair. He handed Stephan his hat, mask, and sword. “I hope you don’t mind, but I invited Nicholai and Demetri to meet us at the club.”

Shock turned his head to Marcus. “I’m surprised Demetri would come to something like a costume dance.”

Marcus chuckled. “I didn’t say they were both coming. Nicholai said he would be able to meet us there, but Demetri respectfully declined.”

Now it was Stephan’s turn to chuckle. “I’m sure he did. I can’t imagine Demetri in a costume.”

“So are you boys ready to go?” Katina slipped a red, rhinestone covered mask over her eyes.

“I believe we are, Kitty Kat.”

“Then let’s go.” Stephan joined in, extending his arm to escort Kat. Marcus mimicked his stance, and Kat thread her arms through the arms of her escorts.

“Let’s go boys. I’m ready to have some fun.”

Chapter 30

The trio exited the Mercedes. Stephan handed the keys and a large bill to the valet then tucked Katrina against his side. They headed toward the hottest club on the strip, located in one of the five star hotels. Red looked up in dismay as they reached the line for the club that stretched through the casino and out the front door of the hotel.

“Oh no! We’ll never get in.” Disappointment dripped from her voice.

Stephan grinned down at her. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, Kitten.”

The threesome strolled up to the bouncer at the club’s entrance, and Stephan glanced at Marcus saying, “Do you want to do the honors or shall I?”

“Be my guest,” Marcus acquiesced with a sly grin.

Stephan leaned in whispering in the bouncer’s ear and slid some green into his palm. A dazed look overcame his face when Stephan pushed his command into the man’s mind. The bouncer aptly unhooked the burgundy velvet rope and stepped aside, ushering the group in with a gallant sweep of his arm, and welcomed them into the club. Kat looked at him with wonder in her eyes.

“What?” He feigned innocence. A knowing smile on her beautiful face rewarded his efforts.

“Oh, nothing,” she answered as the trio made their way into the bar.

They were greeted by Nicholai, who apparently noticed them at the entrance and had made his way through the sea of people. The Alpha wore a Phantom of the Opera costume, the white mask covering half his face, his dark hair greased back. He grabbed the edges of the long cape he wore, tucking it around him, and bowed in greeting toward Kat. She curtsied back, giggling.

“Glad you could make it, Nicholai,” said Stephan as Nicholai gave Kat a quick kiss on each cheek. A possessive growl rumbled in his throat.

“So where’s Demetri?” smirked Marcus.

“This type of event is not for him.” Nicholai smiled. “My cousin is much too stuffy to be caught dead in a place like this.”

“Can you imagine Demetri in a costume?” Marcus posed.

“Can you imagine him in the gladiator costume you tried to get me to wear?” Stephan retorted. “Can’t you picture him in the loin cloth that looks like a diaper?”

The group laughed boisterously together and headed for the bar.

After ordering a round of drinks, Marcus leaned against the bar. “Demetri in a diaper. What I wouldn’t give to see that.”

“He definitely wouldn’t seem so scary then,” murmured Kat.

Nicholai drank his shot in one gulp. “I would give my entire fortune to see Demetri in a loin cloth costume. I am afraid my cousin takes himself much, much too seriously. I do not remember the last time I saw the man laugh or tell a joke. Life was made for love and fun. It is a shame his is devoid of both.” Nicholai turned toward Katrina. “Let us not be the same way. Shall we go have some fun and dance?” He offered his hand.

After glancing at Stephan for approval, Kat smiled and placed her hand in Nicholai’s, allowing him to lead her to the crowded dance floor.

Stephan watched his date make her way to the dance floor. He and Marcus remained at the bar and ordered a second round of drinks. Knowing Katrina was in safe hands, Stephan took note of the club. It was translucent. Every piece of furniture, the railing, even the bar was made to be see-through. The lighting played through the surfaces giving the place a neon glow when it pulsated in time to the music. The fast beat of the loud music reverberated in his chest and overpowered his sensitive hearing.

“The music is so loud,” Stephan said.

“What?” asked Marcus, leaning toward his friend.

“I said the music is loud.” Stephan made his voice louder.

“What?” repeated Marcus.

I said the music is so loud. I can barely hear myself think.
Stephan used their mindlink to express his thought to Marcus.