Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (5 page)

“I would if I could.” She looked around the room. “Don’t you have any forks? Knives?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. There should be something in here you could use.” Ronan riffled through a box of metal objects. He didn’t know what half of them were, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him.

“Ah. This could work. And maybe… that’ll do.” Triumphant, he emerged with his spoils and laid them before Lia.

She turned them over in her hand. One was a huge knife that might have been a machete, and the other was a child’s fork. Her shoulders slumped, but she slowly cut into the meat. It looked like she was too tired to protest. Ronan made a mental note to ask for a set of silverware the next time a trader passed through.

Lia’s eyelids drooped as she chewed her food. He wondered if she’d fall asleep before she swallowed. Hopefully she wouldn’t smack her head on anything if she passed out. Her forehead looked bad enough as it was.

He crouched beside her. It hurt when she tensed, gazing up at him suspiciously. As gently as he could, he reached out and touched a thumb to the graze on her forehead.

She flinched away. “That hurts.”

“Let me call Ivy to tend to it. She’s our healer.”

“Maybe later,” Lia mumbled.

“I’ll let you rest now, but you need to get it cleaned today. Wounds are serious business out here. I don’t know what you witches did, but we can’t simply wave infections away.”

“Fine.” She hacked off another hunk of meat, holding his gaze as she chewed.

If she was to be his mate, he wanted to do right by her. To be completely honest, he wanted to take her in his arms and feel her skin against his, the softness of her curves… He wanted to kiss away her troubles. But she didn’t know him well enough yet, and judging by her wary expression, his caresses wouldn’t be welcomed right now. Still, he wanted to make sure her first day wasn’t entirely terrible. This, after all, was going to be her home.

Lia glanced toward the doorway. It looked like she was deep in thought.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked.

She drew her knees into her chest. “I don’t have to stay here, do I?”

Pain went through him like a knife. She didn’t want to stay here? With him?

“No,” he lied. “But stay a few more days, for me. At least until your head heals.”

She sagged, lying down as if accepting defeat. “Do I have to see Kane again?”

“I think he’ll steer clear of you for a bit. Just as a warning, don’t expect an apology from him.”

“I won’t.”

“Lia…” He hesitated. He really wanted to take her hand, but he resisted the urge. “I’m sorry. For him. I hope I can make it better.”

Lia stretched across the mattress. “Thanks, Ronan. You won’t hurt me, will you?”

“I won’t. I promise.” This time, he couldn’t resist reaching out to tuck some stray strands of hair behind her ear. “And if Kane has, I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

Ronan couldn’t explain it. He had known this girl for less than a day, yet suddenly he was filled with the urge to protect her, to fight for her. He’d face down anyone for her, even Kane.

The thought jerked him to his feet. He couldn’t allow himself to think that way. He and Kane were a team. They had promised each other that they’d always be a team. Ronan never would have survived those long winter nights without him, when their bellies rumbled and everything seemed bleak, and the only thing that kept him alive was the knowledge that Kane needed him, and he needed Kane.

He couldn’t let anything ruin that, not even Lia.

Walking to the doorway, Ronan started to babble. “This is in case of emergencies.” He patted the boulder. “I don’t know why Kane felt the need to move it, it’s on a track. If you press a button here, it’ll block the doorway.” He demonstrated. “Press it again, and you’re free.” The boulder swung back.

“You should know about all of this, just in case.” He walked back into the room, talking feverishly. “All of the other rooms have openings in the walls or ceilings for light, but this one only has a lamp. That’s because this is our safe room, our bolt-hole. I mean, we’re obviously using it for storage right now, because no enemies have ever reached our den, but it’s here for emergencies. See this rock here? It moves, too. No switch for that one, though.” He shoved part of the wall, and light crept in through the cracks. “It’d be a tight squeeze for me, but you could get through easily. Again, for emergencies.”

Lia’s eyes closed. “Okay.”

Suddenly, it seemed very important that she remember this. He couldn’t bear to think of anything happening to her. Pulling her up by the shoulders, he rubbed them so she’d wake up.

“What do you want?” she asked irritably. “Why can’t I sleep?”

“Promise me you’ll remember these. Promise.”

“Remember what?”

He made sure her eyes were open. “The boulder on the track. It has a switch in here, only in here, to move it. This rock,” he rapped on it with his knuckles, “in the wall, you can push it out and escape from the den.”

“Escape?” she asked.

“Yes, if there’s danger.”

She closed her eyes again. “But won’t you be here?”

A strange sensation overtook him, as though she’d reached through his chest and claimed his heart. “Yes. Always.”

As carefully as he could, he laid her across the mattress. He felt so warm in her presence, but since she had goose bumps prickling her skin, he draped the blanket over her.

Ronan leaned down, his lips by her ear. “Get some rest.” He tried not to breathe in. Surely her scent would bewitch him.

He got up to leave when her hand shot out, firmly grasping his.

“Don’t go,” she murmured.

He let her pull him down next to her. Lia rolled over, her back to him, his hand still in hers. His heart pounding, Ronan drew her close to him. She was soft, as lovely as he’d imagined. Her hair smelled like mountain laurel. In that moment, he knew he’d never be able to smell the flower again—only her. She had bewitched him easily, and she hadn’t even needed a spell.

Ronan listened as her breathing slowed, then deepened. She was asleep. He could go now, he should go. He couldn’t lie about all day. But he needed one more moment with her, and then just a few minutes more… He felt more calm than he could ever remember, a stillness he had never known. Lia was the right one. She should be his mate.

His and Kane’s, of course.

Minutes stretched into hours, and at last Ronan admitted to himself that it was time to go. Easing away, he managed to rise without waking her. He allowed himself one last look before he slipped away.

***

She was flying high above the mountains, aloft on her very own bough. The trees were no more than green carpets below. It was everything she’d dreamed.

“This is amazing!” she shouted.

Next to her, Lizabeth swerved, knocking into her bough. “It’s not for you.” With that, Lizabeth pushed her. Lia fell, clawing at the air. Lizabeth smiled. It was a long way down.

Lia jerked awake, her heart hammering. She was alone in the dark.

“Ronan?”

She blinked, trying to breathe evenly. First, she wasn’t in the dark. Light trickled in through the doorway. All around her were the pack’s piles of forgotten treasures. Lia rubbed her eyes. Why had she called for Ronan?

He’d wanted her to remember something. Yes, the boulder, and the stone in the wall. She hesitated. She could use it to escape. If she were careful, she could leave the valley without anyone noticing. It might be hours before they started looking for her. But Ronan had asked her to stay a few days so her head could heal. She touched the graze, feeling the dried blood. It was probably fine. But because Ronan had asked, she would stay. For now.

Part of her wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, but a more urgent part wanted to use the bathroom. And a quiet, secret part wanted to find Ronan.

She dragged herself out of bed. Why did her legs feel like jelly? She walked into the corridor as quietly as she could, peering into the room with the long table. She wasn’t ready to see Kane again.

“There you are.”

She jumped straight in the air. Somehow, a shifter had appeared silently behind her.

“Did I scare you? Sorry.” The woman ran a hand through her dark hair. “I’ll try to make more noise next time. I’m Lark, by the way.”

“Lia.” Her heart was still beating wildly.

“Yeah, I know. Everyone knows. You’ll get used to it eventually.” Digging in her pocket, Lark brought out something dark and shriveled and popped it in her mouth. “Oh, excuse me,” she said as she chewed. “Do you want one? Dried rabbit kidney. Delicious.”

“I’m good for now.”

“Let me know if you want some. My friends hunt with the pack, so they can always get more. Of course, knowing the Alphas, I don’t think you’ll be wanting for much of anything.”

“Oh.” Lia didn’t know what else to say. “Is Ronan around?”

“He’s not, sorry. But I’m here to look after you! Are you sure you don’t want to sleep longer? It’s only noon. Ronan thought you might sleep until nightfall.”

“I’m all right.”

“If you say so.” Lark didn’t look at all like she trusted Lia’s assessment. “Anyway, since you’re awake, you’re supposed to come with us.” She motioned at one of the rooms off the hall, and two more shifters stepped out. “This is Dove, and Cricket. We’re taking you to get cleaned up.”

Maybe she should go back to sleep. She felt a bit overwhelmed. “I’m fine.”

Lark swept her with a critical gaze. “You have dried blood across your forehead and down the side of your face. You’re covered in dirt. Not to say there’s anything wrong with blood or dirt. They make a rather lovely combination. But these are Ronan’s orders, so we’d rather obey.”

Lia could tell she wasn’t going to win this argument. “All right.”

“Wonderful!” Lark jumped toward the main entrance. “Let’s go to the pools!”

Lia followed as Lark led her west of the den, across a wide meadow. They seemed to be following a narrow track in the grass. Dove and Cricket walked slightly behind them, like a silent honor guard.

“That was brilliant what you did to Kane, by the way,” Lark said. “I had no idea anyone but Ronan could keep him in line.”

Lia grimaced. “I wouldn’t exactly call it that. He tossed me in a room and barred the door.”

“Yeah, but you threw fire at him. Brilliant. Of course, he’s probably secretly pleased, since it gives him an excuse not to wear a shirt.”

“Not that we mind,” Dove said. At least, she thought it was Dove.

Cricket laughed. “I think there have been times when we’d all have liked to throw fire at Kane. It’s healthy for him to be outmatched every once in a while.”

“I’m not sure it was worth it, though,” Lia said. “He seemed pretty angry.”

Lark rolled her eyes. “Kane’s usually pretty angry. Maybe it’s an Alpha thing? But then, how do you explain Ronan?”

They continued through the meadow, until it gave way to forest. Lark, Dove, and Cricket kept up an easy conversation about the arrival of spring weather. It was probably for Lia’s benefit, but she enjoyed the simplicity, and the fact that there was no mention of Alphas or fate.

She was starting to be able to tell them apart more easily. Despite Lark’s carefree manner, she seemed to have a quiet sense of command. Dove had gray eyes, and the palest skin. Cricket laughed easily. She also had no body fat whatsoever, and if she weren’t so nice, Lia would be jealous.

“Almost there,” Lark said.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees. Branches bobbed, showing off their forming buds. A bluebird stopped to chirp at them, cocking its head as they passed.

Lia heard water babbling over rock as Lark led her over mossy stones. They were slick enough that Lia slipped twice, Dove catching her one time and Cricket the next. But all fear of cracking her head open on the rocks was lost when she saw the pools.

A waterfall had carved descending basins from the rock. They spilled into one another, water swirling lazily before tumbling out again.

She turned to Lark, openmouthed. “That’s where you bathe?”

Lark grinned. “Where the girls bathe, anyway. We stole the prettier spot from the boys.”

“They did give it to us when we asked,” Dove added.

“Dove! The story isn’t as fun that way.” In one smooth motion, Lark pulled her shirt off and threw it on the ground. “You don’t mind if we join you, do you, Lia?”

“Of course she doesn’t.” Dove had already stripped. “Last one in’s a rotten carcass!” Sprinting, she dove into one of the pools. Cricket jumped in behind her, pulling her knees to her chest.

Lark organized their clothes before turning back to the pools. “You’re coming in, aren’t you, Lia?”

“Yeah. All the blood and dirt, remember? Just give me a second.”

“Take all the time you need. The water’ll still be there.” Lark chose to enter the water with a belly flop, drenching a shrieking Dove.

Lia sat for a moment, trying to breathe. Bathing in the coven hadn’t been so… communal. You took your bucket of water and went into the forest. While the pools seemed much more pleasant, she wasn’t sure she was ready to bare herself in front of these beautiful shifters. Surely they’d see that she didn’t compare. Would they stare at her? Giggle, and whisper behind their hands?

She put her thumbs under her waistband, but she couldn’t bear to pull her pants down. Then they would see. How there was no gap between her thighs, how her calves weren’t defined like theirs. Lia glanced toward the trees. If she left, would they notice? Could she find a bucket somewhere?

“Lia!” Lark called. “The water’s fine! And no one’s going to steal your clothes, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“A deer tried to eat Cricket’s pants once,” Dove said. “It didn’t end well for him.”

It didn’t look like there was any way out. She might as well get this over with. And since they’d seen her throw sparks at Kane, maybe they’d go easy on her. Lia shucked her clothes and stood on the rocks, waiting for the howls of laughter.

They stared at her.

“Come on, then.” Lark flicked the water, splashing her. “You have to actually get in the pool to get clean, you know.”