Rebecca (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Alpha Marked Book 4) (4 page)

A growl built in Rebecca’s throat and vibrated the air around her. “He’s gorgeous.”

Scarlet’s eyes widened. “That was kind of scary awesome. Gorgeous?”

“Yes,” Rebecca snapped.

“Right. You might be Marked and just not know it. Maybe in your vagina? Especially since you think Aidan with all his freakishly large size and, you know, Land-o-Scarring is hot. And they wanna hump your leg like a fire hydrant.” Scarlet nodded to reaffirm her statement. “Like, hard core.”

Yeah, well, Rebecca felt the urge to do her own kind of humping though hers was more like rubbing all over him. Her right hip tingled, warming, and a sliver of arousal slithered into her veins. She’d reacted the same way when in that small room with that guy—Aidan?—and it intensified when the other man entered.

Rebecca grimaced and shook her head. “They’re hot.” So friggin’ hot. “But I’d know if I had a Mark. Really.”

Her cousins exchanged a speaking look, and it appeared they had a silent conversation before focusing on Rebecca again.

Scarlet spoke, and she figured it made sense. She was the eldest and ruler-type person. “Okay, but since you’re new, it might be a good idea to have a guard or two.”

Rebecca huffed. “A babysitter?”

“Well, okay, fine. A babysitter.” Scarlet waved her hand. “I’m ninety-nine percent sure a few other Wickham cousins are gonna pop up. I mean, we were really close in age at the family reunion, right? You were three, I was four? We were little, but I remember you and your sisters. If any of them were Warden Born, their happy asses were automagically hauled here. And they won’t have any clue like you and—” A shout had them all turning toward the main doors. Two massive men—probably werewolves and
not
aliens—carefully dragged a woman into the room. “And it’d be great to not have to worry about you.” Scarlet turned to her again. “I mean, can you be trusted not to pull a gun on anyone?”

Rebecca tilted her head to the side, thinking about what her backpack held. Thank God she hadn’t released it when she was hauled through that dark, scary as hell place. “Gun? No, I don’t have a gun.”

Bear repellant was a different story, and it’d probably work. Bears were big and had fur. All the men she’d seen here were massive and sometimes had fur. It’d work.

All three women deflated, releasing relieved sighs.

“Good, that’s real good,” Scarlet spoke again. “So I’m going to release you to Aidan and Carson.”

“Carson?”

“The other guy. Not quite as big, no freaky scars—”

Something inside Rebecca snapped. “Stop talking about Aidan that way.”

Scarlet rocked back on her heels. “Right, right. You’re going with them. They’re an Alpha Pair, so they have a big-assed suite. You can stay there until you find your mate or the Gathering ends. Whichever comes first. They’re good guys. Uh…” Scarlet scrunched her nose. “Can I call them scary? Because, really, they are.”

Rebecca leveled a glare on Scarlet. “I can see why the Twynhams and Wickhams don’t talk anymore.”

“Hey, now.” Whitney spoke up. “Let’s not bring that drama-llama here. We already have enough. Our parents and grandparents were the ones who had problems, but that doesn’t mean we have to. This will give us a chance to get to know one another without our families interfering.” Whitney reached out and squeezed Rebecca’s hand. “We didn’t have cousins growing up and I think it’d be awesome to have one. Maybe we could have dinner while you’re here. I know you’re still reeling from all this, but you could sit down with our mates and learn a little more about us all without this madness.”

Yeah, Rebecca felt the same. She had her sisters, Lorelei and Paisley, but they hadn’t had cousins growing up. “Sure, that sounds good.”

“Great!” Gabby clapped her hands. “Let’s get you to your matching mountains and then we can try and keep the rest of these women from neutering any of the wolves.”

With that, Gabby snared Rebecca’s hand and hauled her from the couch. Before she was dragged away, she snatched up her dirty backpack. “Do you think I could get a shower? Or clothes?”

Or at least a washing machine and a sink so she didn’t reek of the forest.

Gabby smirked at her. “Oh, Hunks One and Two will take care of ya.”

Rebecca groaned. “You’re making it sound like something it’s not. They’re hot, but if what you say is true, then…” There’s nothing between them.

Gabby jolted to a halt and grabbed both of Rebecca’s hands. “Listen to me. I know what the Wardens believe, and I know there are all kinds of rules and laws hanging around. But Whitney, who didn’t have a Mark, found her mates with Emmett and Levy. If they want you this bad and you want them just as much, then there’s probably someone else who got things wrong. Don’t push them away because of what all these people say.”

“You’re one of these people.”

Gabby shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m awesome-er, so I don’t count.”

They resumed their trek toward the main set of doors. The moment they stepped into the hallway, Aidan and who had to be Carson jumped in their path. Neither touched Rebecca, but she sensed their need to lay their hands on her. She felt the same desire, the urge to stroke Aidan’s skin and run her fingers through Carson’s wavy hair.

Gabby proceeded with introductions, but Rebecca remembered Aidan’s embrace and the deep rumble of Carson’s voice. “Aidan Hall and Carson Holland, Garden Ridge, Illinois Alpha Pair, let me introduce you to Rebecca Twynham. Also known as a Wickham cousin.”

“Cousin?” That did not sound like a deep rumble. No, Carson squeaked like a mouse.

“Yes, the family had a falling out when we were young, but she’s our cousin and we’ve all agreed she might be more comfortable staying with you two for the weekend.”

“She’s ours. It’ll be longer than a weekend.” Carson’s voice was filled with unyielding conviction, and his eyes went from a gorgeous chocolate brown to a bright amber. An amber similar to Aidan’s. Like a wolf. A wolf’s eyes or a werewolf’s eyes and holy cow it finally slammed home that she wasn’t surrounded by aliens, but honest to God werewolves.

She focused on his words, on the blatant proclamation, and her heart stuttered. She wanted his statement to be true so, so badly. Because even if she weren’t the type of girl to snare such hotties, she’d take them without hesitation.

But… “I, uh, don’t think I am. Because… You see… I don’t have…”

Gabby placed her hand in Rebecca’s and squeezed. “What Rebecca is trying to say is she’s not Marked.”

*

The world around Carson ceased to exist the moment Rebecca stepped from the Grand Ballroom. Hell, he hardly noticed Gabby’s presence at her side. His entire focus was on Rebecca and Rebecca alone. Their mate had emerged, and now they could get to the matter of claiming her. Sure, some wooing might have to happen since she knew nothing of wolves, but he planned on sinking into her heat as deep and often as possible.

He was more than up for it now. If she were willing…

Damn it, his cock seemed to get even harder and fuck if his hip didn’t tingle and throb in time with his heart. His wolf caught her scent and howled in approval, prepared to claim the small human woman as their own. She was a tiny thing, short and curved in all the right places. He couldn’t wait to run his hands through her hair and fist the strands as she sucked his dick. Yes, as soon as he got enough of her pussy and ass, he’d have her wrap those plump lips around his shaft. He’d beg if that’s what it took.

When it came to Rebecca, he’d gladly drop to his knees if it meant being close to her. And naked. It wouldn’t be worth it unless they were nude and sweaty and…

Then Gabby’s words cut through his fantasies and sunk into his brain. “Wait, what?” He shook his head. “She’s…”

“Ours.” Aidan’s voice was flat and emotionless, but Carson knew better. His partner was holding his wolf back by a thread.

Gabby gave him a kind smile. “I understand, but…”

The heavy weight of Aidan’s gaze slammed into him, but he kept his attention trained on the women before him. Aidan wanted him to fix things, but some things were broken beyond repair. He craved Rebecca like no other, but if she didn’t have a Mark…

His wolf howled its objection and scraped his flesh from inside out. Normally the beast expressed his complaints by attacking Carson’s arms and forcing his hands to shift. But today, it scratched him in an altogether different spot. His right hip. As before, an ache enveloped the area, the warmth and tingling sensation sinking into his blood and moving to encircle his rapidly hardening shaft. The animal dragged its claws, bringing his attention to the location.

When Rebecca moved her hand and rubbed the same area on her own body, he realized he didn’t give a damn about Gabby’s words. Rebecca had a Mark. She had to have one. He couldn’t accept any other truth.

Maybe Rebecca was simply unwilling to accept her new reality. Maybe she was nervous about craving two men she’d just met. Hell, he didn’t give a damn
why
she denied having a Mark as long as she was going to spend the weekend with them.

Carson stepped forward and snared her free hand. Slowly, carefully, he brought it to his lips. He rotated her wrist and placed a tender kiss to her palm. “Hello.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened, her pupils growing in size until they almost obliterated the sparkling blue of her irises. Her chest rose and fell as she panted and fought for breath and the seductive, musky scent of her arousal surrounded them.

Oh, their little mate wanted them. There was no doubt about that fact.

“I can see I’m not needed,” Gabby’s voice interfered, but he didn’t bother tearing his gaze from Rebecca. “The family wants to have dinner with you three. Tonight? Eight?”

Aidan grunted his assent while Carson nodded. He couldn’t tear his gaze from Rebecca.

“Okay, then. See ya.” Gabby patted Rebecca, and it took everything in him not to snarl at the woman for touching the woman who belonged to him—to them. She was his mate’s cousin; pissing her off probably wasn’t a good idea.

The moment Gabby left their immediate area, Aidan was there, his massive body behind their small mate. Carson watched her reaction to the other Alpha. Rather than shy away from his bulk, she leaned against the large male. Unlike every woman they’d ever encountered, she sought shelter in his Alpha partner. That proved once again she was the one for them.

A low grumble, one that didn’t come from Carson’s or Aidan’s beasts, reached his ears, and a pink blush stole over Rebecca’s cheeks.

“Hungry?” He raised his eyebrows, hoping she said yes. They could feed her, take care of her. That pleased his wolf and the animal ceased his torment and changed its focus. Now it was intent on herding her toward the nearest restaurant.

Rebecca nodded and then grimaced. “Yeah, but I could use a shower and a change of clothes first. Something other than”—she glanced down and picked at her shorts, sending a cascade of dirt drifting to the ground—“mud
chic
.”

Another way for them to care for her. “We’ll go to our suite. We can order room service. While you clean up, we’ll see about getting you some clothes.”

A rumbling growl came from Aidan and Carson felt his wolf answer the sound. Images of a naked, wet Rebecca filled his mind, and he recognized those same thoughts in Aidan’s. It was great to almost share a brain.

Rebecca squeaked as his partner slid his arm around her waist to hug her close. That earned them another squeak and damn if that wasn’t a sexy sound.

Carson crowded her as well, easing forward until she was captured between their bodies. She pulled back from him the tiniest bit, and he leaned toward her. She wouldn’t escape them. Her warmth invaded him as did the flavors of her need. He couldn’t wait to taste her. His hip burned now, heating and pulsing, practically screaming that Rebecca belonged to them.

“Um…” The vibrations of her single word snaked along his spine, and his gums ached with the need to bare his fangs and sink them into her shoulder. It wouldn’t claim her, not truly, but it’d be a good warning to other wolves. “You guys are, um…” She swallowed and he traced the line of her neck with his gaze. “You’re kinda, you know.” She wiggled and Aidan groaned. Carson’s came right on its heels.

“Yeah, we are. You’re so damned gorgeous.” Carson stroked her cheek.

“Ours.” His partner nuzzled her neck, and he smiled when she tilted her head to the side.

“And we’re both imagining you wet and naked.” His lips spread further, widening his smile when Aidan scraped her skin with a fang and she sucked in a rough breath.

“You heard what Gabby said. You should”—she tilted her head even farther, giving Aidan more room, and he’d never been jealous of his friend before this moment—“you should never stop doing that.” She released the words in a breathless rush. “Ever.”

Carson stilled, his limbs freezing, and a slow realization crept through him. Rebecca was responding to Aidan, begging him for more. She’d leaned against him, not pushing his partner away when he’d pulled her against him.

When Carson stepped up to her, did the same, she eased back for the barest of moments. Disappointment speared him, the reversal of roles slamming into him like a sledgehammer, and he backed away from her.

“We should get her to our suite, Aidan.” He didn’t withhold the annoyed growl in his tone.

His partner raised his head from their mate’s shoulder and shot him a confused look, but he ignored the expression. Rebecca took a jerky step back, further pushing against Aidan, and shook her head, eyes now bright blue instead of mostly black as her arousal vanished.

“Oh.” She squeezed her eyes tight and then reopened them. “Yeah, a shower and food would be great.”

With those words from her lips, Carson spun on his heel and headed into the mass of moving bodies. He glanced over his shoulder and confirmed Rebecca and Aidan were behind him. His partner ensured no one bothered her or impeded their travels. Rebecca’s hand rested on Aidan’s as he clutched her right shoulder. It was an awkward position, but it didn’t seem to matter to her.

Another Alpha bumped into Carson, clipping his shoulder, and Carson snarled at the male, baring his teeth. The wolf pushed them forward without hesitation, ready to take on the asshole. It was pissed as hell, angry Rebecca seemed to prefer Aidan to him.