To Seduce an Omega (21 page)

So far, so good. The sphinx didn’t know Titus was there. His primal form howled to spill for more sphinx blood. No one threatened his pack’s females and walked away unscathed. His alpha nature demanded he dominate Jethro until he went to his belly and apologized. That or skin the kid alive. Yeah, that second option sounded like a plan.

He thought fast. The only alpha the sphinxes knew was that rank bastard, Zebadiah. They’d expect Titus to beat up on Jethro until the boy begged for mercy. Poor Rose, Jethro’s sister, had suffered enough, but temporarily Titus needed to add to her concerns.

Still in human form, he backed up before he charged down the corridor like a bullet. As he turned the corner, his feet slipped on the polished floor. His momentum kept him moving, and he barreled into Jethro, knocking him to the floor.

An overfed male held a knife at the she-wolf’s throat, but intent on his prey, Titus never spared him a glance. He towered over Jethro, fangs bared. “What did I tell you about following orders?”

“My sister…” Jethro grunted.

Titus glanced at Rose, then glared at Jethro. He hated behaving like Zebadiah, but with the silver cuff around her wrist, Rose couldn’t turn primal and fight her way free. It was up to Titus to get her and her brother out of here. “Don’t give me excuses. Get up and fight like a man. You’re a blasted idiot, and I’m going to pound that stupid streak out of you.”

Jethro blinked hard. His voice almost broke. “P-p-please, Titus, just look around.”

Rose shrieked and fought her captor’s hold, but when he let the knife cut her skin, she froze.

Oblivious to anything but the wolf at his feet, Titus kicked hard at Jethro’s ribs. “Can’t follow orders. Can’t fight. You can’t even stand up for yourself like a man. What sort of useless shits do the Rock Prowlers breed?”

Jethro curled up and clutched his broken ribs. “Titus. Don’t do this. Please…”

Titus stared at Rose, determined to get her out of here. Fangs bared, claws out, he lifted his arms for a killing blow. “Bloody useless wolf. I don’t want shit like you in my pack.”

Chapter Twenty

Titus growled and lifted his arm, claws extended ready to rip out Jethro’s throat. Rose screamed. Jethro winced and closed his eyes. The sphinx laughed. Titus spun around, grabbed the startled sphinx’s arm, and yanked it away from Rose’s throat. Stunned, the sphinx dropped the knife, and it clattered to the floor.

Determined to get to the blade and save her brother, Rose sank her elbow in her captor’s gut. He doubled over and tried to catch his breath. She stepped hard on his bare feet, twisted in his grip, and brought her linked hands down on the back of his neck. When he went limp and dropped to the floor, she shot forward and scooped up the knife.

Titus grabbed the sphinx’s arm. Once he’d fastened one of Queen Meena’s amulets around his captive’s wrist, Titus flashed the prisoner to a Fae-crafted holding cell. A moment later, he flashed back to the chamber where he’d left his two pack members.

Rose had already helped Jethro to his feet. Shoulders hunched, he leaned forward, trying to keep his breathing shallow as he clutched his ribs.

Titus shifted to human form. “Take your sister home and get someone to look at your ribs. Sorry about that, but beating you up was all I could think of to get near that sphinx.”

Jethro lifted his head. “You knew he held a knife to my sister’s throat?”

Titus nodded. “From the moment I heard your sister shout a warning. Rose, you can put the knife down now and let your brother flash you back to Prowlerville. The cubs are already there. Fleur and Jilly swear we have all of them, so it’s time for you to come home. We have Fae healers on standby, and as your new alpha, I’m ordering you to let them heal any injuries you’ve suffered.”

She glanced at her brother, and when he nodded, Rose lowered the knife. “New alpha? Not Zebadiah?”

Titus stared at the blood staining his torso and the cuts on his arms. He wondered how, with his solid, muscular bulk, bent nose, and torn ear, he could look reassuring. He shrugged and gave it up as a lost cause. “You’re stuck with me now, but I’m proud of every member of the Rock Prowler pack, Jethro included.”

Jethro blushed. “But you said—”

Titus cut him off abruptly. “A lot of stuff I didn’t mean.”

Rose looped her arm around her brother’s waist. “Is it really over?”

Both Lykae males nodded.

Titus looked over the youth’s shoulder at a squad of Lykae as they systematically checked each room.

Another soldier, Lysander, from the Tundra Tough pack, nodded. “Hey, T.! You didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun, especially since this involves my little sister, Jilly. Apparently, the sphinx cowards have fled. Once we have all our women accounted for, I’ve orders from King Caleb to fire the place. This will never be a sphinx stronghold again. Once we’re home, I’m going to have a long chat with Jilly and meet the nephews I didn’t know I had.”

Glad his old friend had stepped in to help rescue the Rock Prowler she-wolves, Titus grinned. “Just double-check we have everyone first. Enough Lykae have suffered here already. Jethro, no hard feelings, I hope. You should spend a couple of years in the Lykae army, but never forget you’re a Rock Prowler. I’m proud of what you and the pack accomplished today.”

Jethro blushed. “You’ll let me serve in the army, even after I stuffed up today?”

After a glance over his shoulder at the Lykae’s regular soldiers and the disciplined way they cleared the rooms, Titus clapped Jethro gently on the back. “I’ll insist on it, as will King Caleb. Rose, everyone rallied around to make a welcoming home for our cubs, and once the healers are done with you she-wolves, we are going to have one hell of a party to welcome you ladies home. That and to celebrate my claiming my true-mate. Go see a healer and have someone cut that damn silver bracelet off your wrist.”

* * * *

Viola sat on an empty market stall, stood up, paced, and sat down again.

“It’s hell, isn’t it?” Queen Sylvie asked.

Viola nodded. She’d never enjoyed an easy life, but waiting while her mate—her
unclaimed
mate—fought on the front lines made all the trials she’d suffered in her past twenty-eight years seem easy. “I hate it.”

King Caleb flashed back to Prowlerville’s central square and held his arms out to his queen. “You’re sure we got all the cubs?”

After a moment’s embrace and a kiss that turned lingering, she rested her head on his chest. “Every one of them. Jilly and Fleur have checked twice. All the she-wolves but one are safe too, but there’s just too damn few of them.”

King Caleb stared over her head at Viola. “Titus has gone to find her and her impetuous brother. That young man will benefit from a couple of years in the army. Your mate’s safe. Now he’s found you, he finally has something good to fight for. He won’t be taking any foolish risks.”

Five minutes later, Titus flashed into the square and gave over his prisoner to the assembled pack. “Don’t kill him…yet. Feel free to geld him like an earth girl’s pet kitty if he gives you any trouble, though.”

Viola flung her arms around Titus, her upturned face and pursed lips demanding a kiss. “Look at you. For goodness’ sake, come here and let me heal your wounds.” She ran her fingers over his injuries, stunned when the blood stopped flowing and his flesh healed. Not that she wanted Titus hurt, but she was glad he was part of her first Fae healing. “Just look what a night in your bed can do to me. Are you hurt anywhere else? Is that your blood or someone else’s?”

Enjoying having her fuss over him, Titus leaned in and stole a quick kiss. “Someone else’s. And since I promised to help with your need for regular sex, I’d best make love to you again later. Now, I have to go search that castle before Alexander fires it. There might be more sphinxes out there, hurting females from another pack.”

Viola blushed and buried her head against his chest. “Later, then. Go do what you must, but take care. “

Behind them, King Leonidas flashed into the square.

Titus kissed Viola again. “I will, but in case of emergency, I know this sexy little hedgewitch who can heal me.”

She stiffened in his arms. “Don’t talk like that. Go do what you must, but remember how angry I’ll be if you let some idiot sphinx so much as scratch you.”

Leonidas strode forward. “You mean Fae princess, not hedgewitch. Meena said I should come and support my newest half sister. I brought a couple more female healers since some of your she-wolves won’t let any non-Lykae males near them. Titus, go finish your Lykae-only battle while my half sister introduces me to your pack.”

Titus lifted Viola’s chin, kissed her, and flashed away.

While Leonidas clearly chafed at being excluded from the fight, he’d hung back and respected the pack’s need to reclaim their pride. He dropped a casual arm around Viola’s shoulders, showing the pack how high their former omega had risen, and together they strolled around the square. The Fae king knew the right thing to say to put everyone at ease, but Viola still worried over Titus.

Not long afterward, Titus and the soldiers flashed back into the square. King Leonidas tightened his grip around Viola’s shoulders. “Are you certain you want the Rock Prowler alpha?”

“Mine,” Viola snapped and started toward Titus.

“Okay. Let’s get this over with.” Leonidas released his grip on her shoulder and made a standing leap onto the empty stall. Queen Meena stood in the castle doorway and worked a carry spell on her husband’s voice.

“I am Leonidas, King of the Fae, and I demand bloodshed for the way the Rock Prowler pack has treated my half sister. Viola, my dear, you will come back to the Fae palace and take up your new life as a Fae princess.”

“Like hell,” Viola snarled. Leonidas had given them his blessing…she thought. Now he tried to pry her from Titus’s side. Not that she’d let him. Titus snatched her into his arms. “Mine to love and protect. I will cherish her as no woman has been cherished before and banish anyone who says a word against her.”

Around them, the pack huddled in groups, wondering how to appease the Fae king.

Viola clung to her mate. “I thought he was okay with this. Not that it matters. Titus, from now on, we come as a pair.”

Queen Sylvie kept her voice low as she moved to Viola’s side. “He is, but he’s ensuring the pack treats you with the respect you deserve by making them see you as a Fae princess rather than the woman they treated as omega.”

King Caleb strolled into the center of the square. “The Rock Prowlers are under my protection. The past is forgotten, and their slate is clean. Viola is my queen’s half sister too, and that makes her a Lykae princess. No one will hurt or disrespect my family, nor will they force my sister-in-law from her true-mate. Viola’s happiness is mine and Titus’s priority.”

Viola swiveled in Titus’s arms and faced the pack. “No one will suffer because of the way Zebadiah treated me. If necessary, I will renounce my Fae blood. I am Rock Prowler pack through and through.”

Jethro came out of the house the Fae healers had commandeered. “Three cheers for Viola, the pack’s alpha female.”

The pack went wild, chanting her name and cheering.

Queen Sylvie touched Viola’s shoulders. “Did I tell you how proud I am of you? I’m glad you’re my half sister.”

Viola looked wide-eyed and dazed, but Titus pulled her closer. “Apparently our pack has accepted you quicker than we expected.”

King Caleb joined them. “I hate to say this, but the Fae king’s a wily bugger. He set that up beautifully.”

King Leonidas and Meena joined Titus and Viola as they stood with their arms locked around each other’s waists. Unsure what to say, Viola glanced up at Titus.

For his part, Leonidas simply leaned in close and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I hate how I’m always the bad guy. Sorry about that, Viola. I didn’t mean it, of course. Remember, I intend to give you away at your wedding.”

Titus stood behind her, his arms around her waist, his breath warming her neck. “Tonight, after I’ve claimed my mate, we will share our wedding with the pack.”

Meena grinned. “Someone’s in a hurry. Don’t worry, Viola, you just go rest and clean up, then enjoy a frolic with your mate. I’ll sort out your dress.”

Sylvie turned to the pack. “We have a party to prepare. We’ll celebrate the she-wolves’ return and welcome the new cubs. Most of all, we’ll celebrate Viola’s and Titus’s bonding. We’ll assemble in six hours and arrange the best Rock Prowler Party ever. Viola, you’ll need your strength later. I assume you’ll stay at the inn until you decide where to make your new great hall.”

Leonidas shook his head. “Can’t stand Lykae ale. I’ll send over some decent wine for the celebrations. Take care, little sister. I’ll see you later.”

Viola blushed at the way everyone assumed she and Titus would have sex. Then again, they were right. She’d run, and Titus would chase her, shove her down on all fours, and fuck her senseless. When she came, he’d sink his fangs in her neck and claim her, always assuming her knee didn’t give out first. Her greatest fear was that her weakness would spoil the claiming ritual for him. But then Meena grabbed Viola’s hand and tugged her toward the healer’s temporary headquarters. “I almost forgot. I need to fix your knee.”

Viola trembled and kept hold of Titus, dragging him with her. Meena stopped, stared at her, and shook her head. Understanding that the female she-wolves in the healer’s quarters were shy of men, Viola released him. “Ladies only, I guess. I’ve got to do this. Go clean up, and I’ll join you later.”

Sylvie shooed Titus away. “Go on. We don’t want you giving the cubs nightmares with all that blood on you. Having seen Meena in action, I’m sure this won’t take long.”

Viola clutched Sylvie’s hand as they followed Meena inside. The Fae queen smiled and pointed at the sofa, so Viola sank down on a sofa and stretched out her leg. Meena chanted so quietly they couldn’t make out the words. Power crackled around her in zigzags of red lightning. Her hair spread upward in a rainbow-colored halo. As she rested her hands on Viola’s knee, power flowed from her fingers.

Viola winced and tried not scream. Pain burned through her knee. She thought her leg bones were melting. Finally she felt them untwist and reform. When the pain stopped, she relaxed and flexed her leg. Whole. New. Flexible. Painless. Amazing. “Thank you. You just worked a miracle.”