Reluctant Alpha (21 page)

“
She’ll make a good mate. She already knows more about weres than anyone I know. Well, knew anyway.” Again, she stared off into the dawning day.

“
What’s wrong, Alastriona?” He moved to sit beside her and then pulled her onto his lap with her back against his chest. He wanted her, wanted to make love with her, but she seemed a little upset and he wanted to figure out why.

“
Nothing. Well, I…” She turned around and straddled his legs with her thighs, her hands on his shoulders. He rested his hands on her waist and waited for her to continue. Or kiss him.

“
Alastriona, we need to be honest with each other. And we have to be able to talk to each other. We have a very large pack to oversee and I need you by my side. My side love, not behind me.”

“
Am I your mate because Christopher changed me, or am I your mate because I am? Do you love me because I’m Airic, or because I’m your mate? I’m frightened, Bradley, terrified that you’ll come to realize that I’m a fraud and leave me.” She laid her head on his shoulder and nuzzled him there.

“
Alastriona, if you keep doing that, I won’t be able to answer you. I love you because you’re my mate who also happens to be Airic. You’re my mate because he changed you and the Fates decreed it. You aren’t a fraud, love. A fraud would never have been able to pull his wolf tonight with only a word. Nor would any other female have been able to command so many to do what they did for you tonight. You are their alpha and they bow to you as they would me.” He couldn’t help himself, he tried to behave, but he wanted her. Cupping her breasts in his palms, he lifted them just above the water and licked the moisture off her nipples. First one then the other. Her moan vibrated along his skin like a caress, making his cock harder. “I want you. I want you now, Alastriona, right here.” He lifted her up by her waist and as her legs snaked around him, he turned and laid her on the padded decking surrounding the tub. As he covered her body with his, he slid into her, rocked hard and deep.

“
Bradley, I need to come, I want to come now. Please hurry.” She tilted up and using her legs as leverage, surged against him, taking him deeper inside. Her moans became whimpers, then sobs.

He took her nipple into his mouth and suckled it hard, his tongue pressing the nubbin hard against the roof of his mouth. His cock was pulsing inside of her, her heat, her wetness driving him on to the ultimate goal.

“
Come for me, baby. Come all over my cock. That’s it, baby, tighten around me, pull me deeper. Come! Now!” Her explosion was epic; her scream rent through the morning quiet like a gun shot. Bradley felt the moment she started to come again, the moment her body pulled him along. He poured into her, deeper and harder than he’d ever come before in his life. He knew, knew with all certainty, that they had created a child, their child.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

He carried her into the cabin and up to bed. Reverently, he put her to bed and covered her up. He laid down beside her and simply watched her sleep, marveling again and again that she was his and she was safe. Finally, he fell asleep, but not before joining her beneath the blankets and pulling her lax body close to his.

They were having breakfast that evening when Mel showed up. She said that she was there to answer any questions they might have.

“
Did you know that Christopher was going to show up last night when you sent me to the field?”

Mel looked over at the beautiful woman, more so now that she and Bradley had become one. “Yes. And, before you ask, no, I couldn’t have told you. Sometimes fate needs a helping hand, not a shove down the stairs. You needed to make the choice to go or not, and the decision to confront or not. Each generation has had the same opportunity to become the king and queen of wolves. No one made the decisions needed to make it fact.” She stood to go to the sink, thought it was too much work, and sat back down. With a small wave of her hand, a cup of steaming tea and a plate of her favorite cookies appeared on the table between them.

“
Are you saying that everyone failed before now? No, I don’t believe that. My dad and mom were good people, and never would have done anything different than we did.” Bradley snatched a cookie off the plate, only to have one replace it immediately.

“
Last night was your decisions, the two of you. Your parents had a different one. And no, it was never a question of failure, just as yours would not have been for you. It wasn’t even the outcome, but the way you each depended on the other ultimately. As you said last night, beside you, not behind.” When he looked at her sharply, she shrugged.

“
Are you saying that he and I are now king and queen of wolves because we worked together? That doesn’t make sense. I mean, all those before him could not have made it work as well as they had without working together. That isn’t possible.” Airic took a cookie off the plate and watched as another replaced it. She looked at Mel.

“
The magic knows to trust you, so it shows itself. And no, what you did wasn’t just working together, because you’re right, they all worked as one. You two depended on each other, ultimately. You knew without doubt that Bradley would protect you, even if it meant his death. Just as you, Bradley, knew that she would do the same, even if it meant death. No doubts, no second guessing.”

After a few minutes of quiet contemplation, and another cookie, they started talking again. Mel was relieved. And a little nervous. She knew this next part wasn’t going to be easy.

“
So now what? We’re the king and queen, our marks are different. I don’t see a crown, so that’s not different. What are we now that marks us a royalty?” She watched as he sat back in his chair, then reached over, snatched Airic up, and settled her on his lap.

Just like the vamps,
she thought,
always touching.
She smiled.
Yes, this was a good decision for everyone.

“
There is a crown if you want it, but it’s hard to keep it on your head when you run as a wolf, I would imagine. You’ll both live a lot longer, well, that’s not quite true. You’re now immortal like me. Your children will also be immortal, and you’re right, Bradley, you created a child last night, a boy child. You now have magic, quite a bit as a matter of fact. I will send someone around when you’re ready to be taught how to use it. As king and queen, I’ll expect you to be with a bodyguard at all times. I know you’re immortal, but you can still be hurt.” She stopped and looked at them and realized that they hadn’t heard anything she’d said past the child. Oh well, that was okay. They had lifetimes to learn their new duties.

She picked up her cup, put it in the sink, and the plate of cookies disappeared. She shimmered out of the room without either of them noticing.

About the Author

Hello! My name is Kathi Barton and I’m an author. I have been married to my very best friend Sonny for at times seems several lifetimes – in a good way, honey. And together we have three wonderful children and then the ones we brought into the world - Paul and Dale Barton, Jason and Wendy Barton and Danielle and Ben Conklin. They have given us seven of the greatest treasures on Earth. They don’t live at home seven days a week! No, seriously, seven grandchildren – Gavin, Spring, Ben, Trinity, Sarah, Kelly and Kian.