Awakening the Alpha (7 page)

Which mirrored his exact thoughts.

Moving her thighs apart, he covered her with his body, nestling between her legs, his cock hard against her. Moving forward, he lifted himself, looking her in the eyes, while he used one hand to finger her sex. In and out he pushed, slick wet heat as he pushed deeper, spread her wider. And then he took his fingers away, guiding his large cock into her instead.

A moment of panic, as he pressed forward, breaching her outer lips. Then he moved deeper, stretching, her sex gripping him tightly as he filled her. A sharp pain shot through her as he ripped her innocence and she gripped his arms, a small, whimpering cry of fright escaping from her lips.

Riley lowered his mouth, kissing her pain away, his body still inside her as he let her adjust to him, and then he began to move. Slowly, rocking his hips, the rhythm increasing in tempo as he pushed deeper, his hips moving to slide his cock in and out of her. The friction between their bodies was incredible. Both inside and out. His cock slid against her tight walls. As she stretched, the sensations grew, as did her need to come. Riley’s body skimmed hers with each thrust, skin against skin, his chest stimulating her nipples, bringing her closer to release.

She climbed higher, her orgasm close, hovering in front of her eyes. And then she came. Riley thrust into her so deep, impaling her as her world exploded, her body filled with an incredible tension. Riley rode it with her, a wave of pure pleasure, and then he erupted, his cock spurting deep inside her, filling her with his seed.

Above her, he strained forward, thrusting deep, penetrating her fully, his hips grinding into her. His hands fisted the sheets, and his mouth pulled back in a contorted grimace as he finally let himself go, his voice primal as he cried out her name.

When he collapsed, exhausted and spent, he lay by her side, his arm draped across her possessively. Not that she needed anything further to tell her she was his; they were joined now, in ways neither of them could understand. The thread that had bound them together seemed less tight; maybe because it wasn’t needed anymore, they had reached an understanding in their lovemaking. They were one, mated forever.

She turned to him, nuzzling into his neck. He lifted the covers and made sure she was warm enough, and then he stroked her back, soothing her as she dozed in his arms. This was as close to perfect as she could get. For the first time in years, she felt as though she was home.

Despite her joy at being with her mate, she still felt a small unease. There would be no putting off a return to Wolf Valley. If for no other reason than she had to see Kira and put the ghosts of the past, the ghosts of her father and his betrayal by the beta, to rest. To make a new start, she had to let go and forgive. And hope the people of Wolf Valley, particularly Kira, would forgive her.

He lay next to her; it took him a long time to drift off to sleep. He was worried that if he took his eyes off her, she would disappear. Lifting his hand, he stroked her shoulder, resting his hand there to feel the rise and fall as she breathed. So warm, so alive. So his.

It was good to be free; Cole and Kira were picking Sol up from Fara’s and then taking him home. For once, Riley had no responsibilities at all. Except to his mate, and he had satisfied
those
responsibilities. Twice. Now she had to sleep: working in the bakery meant an early start. So although he wanted to kiss her awake, and make love to her again and again, he didn’t, choosing to lie awake and watch her instead.

He didn’t want to think about their future, about where they were going to live, how he would support her and their family. Or whether he was going to be the next alpha. However, those thoughts wouldn’t leave him. Natalie had a good steady job, while he had the reputation of being a troublemaker. It was doubtful anyone would hire him. Unless he was the alpha of Wolf Valley, then he could persuade people to hire him—hell, he might even persuade them to simply pay him a wage or he could raise his own taxes.

Was that any different to being a raider?

Turning on his side, he tried to close his eyes and block all of these thoughts out. He needed to sleep. There was nothing more he could do, and he wanted to get up early in the morning and walk her to work. Then he would return to Wolf Valley and check on Sol before coming back here, picking Natalie up, and taking her home. He decided it was best for her to see where he lived, and then together they could decide where their future lay. Personally he was all for repairing his father’s house and living there. It had a big garden, plenty of space for their children to run, and for Sol. Yes. She had better meet Sol too; he hoped she wouldn’t mind his younger brother living with them.

By the time he drifted off to sleep, he could picture them all living together in the house, children running around, with Sol, their uncle, joining in with games and no doubt teaching them how to eat too many cookies.

For a man who had come here to cause trouble, he now could think of nothing better than living in Wolf Valley in wedded bliss with his mate.

***

“Riley,” she said, shaking him awake. He lay still, and for one moment he couldn’t remember why he wasn’t at home. Or was he? Had Sol gone out and got himself into trouble and some stranger was here, waking him up to tell him he needed to be more careful letting his younger brother out to run wild? “Riley.”

Her touch on his shoulder wasn’t that of a stranger, and as he came awake he remembered everything. Every touch of her hands, the smell of her skin and her voice, which made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. His eyes flew open:
his mate
. How could he forget her?

“Hi. Is it time to get up already?”

“’Fraid so. Although you can stay here if you want. I’ll go into work and you leave when you are ready.” She was already getting clothes out of her closet and heading for the bathroom.

“No. I said I’d walk you to work. I’m just not used to being up at this time of the morning. Unless I’m on my in.”

“You like to stay out late?” she asked.

“Only when my brother goes walkabout. Or should I say run-about.”

“I’m intrigued,” she said from behind the bathroom door.

“If I pick you up later, perhaps you would like to meet him. He’s like a child, although he’s a fully grown man. He lives with me. Since Bliss, my sister, and Cole my other brother moved out, I’m in charge of him.”

She opened the door and came back out into the bedroom. “That is sweet. At least I know you’re a good man. Oh. You didn’t leave him home alone, did you?”

“No. He went to stay with Cole and Kira.” Riley was dressed now too, trying to find his shoes; he sat on the bed and pulled them on, yawning as he stood up. “I might have to go home and sleep for a couple of hours.

She laughed. “You had better get used to it. I’ve been getting up at this time for so long, it doesn’t bother me. Sometimes I think it’s the best time of the day, you have the streets to yourself.” She went to the window and pulled open the drapes, a gasp leaving her mouth.

“What?” He came to her, looking down into the street, just in time to see a figure running away. “Who was that?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. He was there before. Just staring up at the window.”

“Well, he’s gone now. I’ll walk you to work, then pick you up after. Tonight you can stay at my place.”

“I can’t. I’ll be late for work in the morning.”

“We’ll get up extra early. Until I find out who that is and what he wants, then I am not letting you stay here alone.”

She turned to him, her eyes fearful. “Does this have something to do with us? With Wolf Valley?”

Riley shook his head. “It would be hard not to put the two things together, but I honestly don’t know.” He hadn’t recognised the figure, but then he had only caught the back of him as he ran. If he had to hazard a guess, he would have said it could be Lance, but he couldn’t be sure. And why would Lance be here outside Natalie’s apartment?

Later he would talk to Kira and Cole and try to get any information he could from them about what was going on. He was sure things were about to take a turn for the worse again in Wolf Valley, although why Natalie was caught up in it, he didn’t know.

However, as he walked her to work, both of them deep in their own thoughts, he was beginning to think there was more to Natalie than he thought. There was a reason she had left Wolf Valley, and maybe it was time both of them laid their pasts out so they could work out exactly where their future lay.

“It’s good to see you so happy,” Trudy repeated for the fifth time that day.

“You can keep on fishing for information, but I am not going to tell you anything.” Natalie was putting muffins in the oven. Straightening, feeling the tired ache in her muscles, she added, “This is the last bake. Then I am off home.”

“Your man not meeting you?” Trudy asked.

“He might be,” Natalie said evasively.

“I don’t know why you won’t tell me. You know enough about my sex life.”

“This is different, Trudy.” She washed her hands and then dried them, smiling weakly at Trudy. “I don’t know how to explain it. But he’s special.” How exactly did you explain the mating bond between two people to someone who had no idea that it even existed?

“Listen, I know it’s none of my business, but he makes you happy. Don’t be afraid of that.” Trudy patted Natalie’s shoulder. “And don’t take this the wrong way, but I know how to bake. Might not be as good as you, but if you want a day off, the place won’t fall apart.”

“You mean you don’t need me?” Natalie joked.

“You know I do. But why not take tomorrow off?” Trudy smiled weakly. “Look, I’ve played the field, but you know I would kill for a man who looks at me the way your man looks at you. I can see babies on the horizon for you two.”

“I’ve only just met Riley; it’s not as if I’m going to marry him tomorrow,” Natalie insisted, but of course, Trudy was right: where wolves and their bonded mates were concerned, wolf pups usually followed on very quickly. There was no need to be with someone for years just to make sure you hit it off before you had kids. It was already a foregone conclusion bonded mates would stay together long enough to raise kids, that part of the equation was well and truly solved.

“We’ll see. And listen, if I ever come into work looking like you do this morning, you take me by the shoulders and shake me until I wake up and see I’ve met Mr. Right.” Trudy went back through to the store, saying over her shoulder, “Because that is a Mr. Right face if ever I saw one.”

Natalie wanted to run to the restroom and check the mirror to see what exactly her Mr. Right face looked like, but she didn’t, opting to stay in the kitchen and get all her work done as quickly as possible.

It had nothing to do with the thought of not being able to wait to meet him again. Neither did it have anything to do with him wanting to show her where he lived; although that made her nesting instincts kick up a notch. There was no way she could raise a family here, not when their children would most definitely be wolves themselves.

No, once they had kids on the way they would have to move somewhere quieter, where they could grow up as she did, not having to hide who they were. Therefore, his house, wherever it was, seemed the best option.

“He’s here, Natalie,” Trudy called. “I think you can knock off early if you want. Nothing in the ovens, is there?”

“No. It’s all done; I was just putting everything away.” Natalie came out, wiping her hands dry. Sure enough, there was Riley, looking as handsome as ever.

“If he has a brother, you let me know. Or a friend, as long as he has the muscles and a cute smile, I’m not going to turn him down.” Trudy stared at Riley with open adoration.

“I’ll ask him for you.” Natalie kissed Trudy good-bye and then went out to join Riley.

“Hi there,” he said, taking her hand.

“Hello there, you.” Natalie turned to wave at Trudy, who was obviously imagining what it would be like to have a man like Riley. Natalie simply shook her head, but grinned all the same and then waved. “My boss is drooling. She wants to know if I can rustle up another man just like you for her. If only she knew how hard a good man is to find.”

“I haven’t always been a good man,” Riley said honestly, taking her by surprise.

Natalie fell silent. “I think today might be the day we tell each other all of our secrets. Do you?”

“I think that might be a good idea. Although first ... and I hope you don’t mind. But my brother and Kira are coming over, with Sol. They want to meet you, and I would like to show you off.”

“I’d like that.” She wanted the opportunity to speak to Kira, to tell her how sorry she was she hadn’t been there for her when her father died. “Although I am nervous.”

“I’ll be there for you. Every step. Always.” He pulled her into his strong arms and held her close; she tipped her head back and their lips met. Damn, he made her want him. Every part of her was screaming to go back to her place and make love, instead of going to his house and having to spend time with anyone other than him. His lips were soft, then more insistent, his hand going to the small of her back, and inching lower. Then he remembered where they were and pulled back, sighing. “I guess we should leave before I ravage you here right on this street.”

“I think you might be right.” She allowed him to help her into his truck, snatching one last brief kiss before he shut the door and ran around to the other side. Buckling her seatbelt, she tried to make her heart rate slow down and her breathing return to normal. Not easy when he got in next to her. Having him in such close proximity was almost too much.

“Ready?” he asked, switching on the engine.

“As I’ll ever be. It’s going to be weird mixing with people who can go wolf too. I have spent so many years hiding it from everyone.”

“That must have been hard.”

“It was. At first, at least. But then I came here to hide from who I was, so it became easier, second nature.” She looked out the window, ignoring his questioning stare; she didn’t want to go into it any deeper than that, not yet.