The Alpha Wolf's Bride (The Necklace Chronicles Book Four) Read online

  As he walked down them, he heard someone coming and leaned against the wall, flattening himself as much as he could. He heard soft humming, and knew it was Bri.

  He grasped her around the waist and put his hand over her mouth before she could make a peep.

  “Where is the female?” he whispered once she’d relaxed after recognizing him.

  He lifted his hand from her lips and she said quietly, “She went to tell her sister she found you.”

  “Her sister?” he asked, turning Bri around to face him.

  “She’s the boss of the vampires. Dominique said she’s called a mistress, but it’s like being alpha. Natasha will be mad, but she’s going to stay outside of the walls and then come back here to mate you. Are you happy, Daddy?”

  Understanding blasted through him. “You did this? You spelled for a mate for me?”

  She let out a frightened squeak, and he could hear her squeezing her stuffed wolf toy as she sniffled. “Don’t be mad. Elsa told me about the necklace and I found it in your closet. It doesn’t matter that she’s a vampire, Daddy, because she’s your mate.”

  He growled sharply and heard her sharp intake of breath. The scent of her fear was so pungent that it made his nose wrinkle.

  “Wolves and vampires are mortal enemies, Bri. How could you do something so foolish?”

  “I didn’t know she’d be a vampire,” she said, her voice rising as she started to cry. “She’s so pretty and nice. She said girls are awesome. I just want a mommy to spend time with me. You don’t spend time with me! Why are you such a bad daddy? Why don’t you love me?”

  He pressed his hand to her mouth to try to silence her shrill voice. She tried to stifle her sobbing, but it was clear she was upset. And her words cut him to the quick. Although he’d tried to ignore the truth about his lackluster parenting skills, it was difficult to ignore the tears of his only child. Her words were like little blades, slicing through him and embedding deeply in his heart. He’d always assumed she understood that he was an important male in the pack and very busy, trying to keep their borders safe. It was clear now, however, that even if she did understand, she didn’t like it.

  He’d known in his heart he was a bad father, but he hadn’t wanted to admit it to himself or anyone else.

  He lowered his hand. “Bri, I love you dearly. I’ve done a bad job of showing you that and I’m sorry. But right now, I need to find Dominique because it’s not safe for her outside. Go back to your room and don’t come out until I get you. Do you understand?”

  She nodded, sniffling.

  He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Bri. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  “We’ll talk about this later. Go on now.”

  She moved past him but paused. “I’m not sorry. She’s mine.”

  “Your what?”

  “Mommy. And my friend, too.”

  She turned and hurried away, and he sat in the dark corridor and listened until he couldn’t hear her anymore. Then he followed the corridor until it ended at another door that led out into the side yard. It was overgrown with hedges and entirely concealed. He closed the door and waited for the patrols to pass by, and when the way was clear, he stripped and shifted, gathering his jeans in his mouth and carrying them as he raced through the yard and into the woods beyond. He didn’t know how much of a head start Dominique had on him, but he needed to reach her before she left the pack territory. Not only to ensure her safety – his people patrolled the woods twenty-four-seven – but also to make sure she didn’t get to the neutral territory. Whoever had tripped the perimeter alarms earlier could still be there, and if it was a pack enemy, then she could be seen as a traitor or used as leverage.

  He paused and scented the air, catching wind of her swiftly. Tightening his hold on his jeans, he took off in the direction of his mate.

  What was his plan again?

  Right.

  Find her.

  Mark her.

  Mate her.

  Mine.

  Chapter 6

  Dominique didn’t like leaving Bri, but severing her membership in her sister’s coven and explaining she’d found her mate was the smartest choice. She liked the little girl. Bri was smart for her age. And of course she didn’t like leaving Ryde’s bed. She’d wanted to snuggle up to him again and discover what he sounded like when he fell apart.

  She stayed to the shadows, using the trees to conceal herself whenever she heard someone coming. There were wolves patrolling, but they weren’t as stealthy as they probably thought they were being and she had no trouble avoiding them. She could see the edge of the woods and the neutral zone beyond.

  Her whole body jolted with awareness suddenly and she froze, tilting her head and listening intently. She could hear something moving fast and heading right for her, and knew immediately that it was Ryde.

  Turning slowly, she folded her arms over her chest and waited. Within minutes, a wolf appeared, holding a pair of jeans in its mouth. The gray and white wolf had piercing amber eyes. He dropped the jeans to the ground and gave her a soft growl, almost a question. If she hadn’t felt the tug of awareness, she might have been worried and raced for the safety of the neutral zone.

  “Hello, Ryde.”

  He shifted and she was mesmerized. Thick fur disappeared in the wake of inch after inch of sexy, tanned skin. Ryde made her mouth water and her body flare to life. He was built all over: broad shoulders, tapered waist, rope after rope of muscle, and a cock that made her want to fall to her knees and never, ever get up.

  Although it warred with her, she lifted her gaze from his drool-worthy body and looked into his eyes. He tugged his jeans up, barely stifling a groan as he shoved every bit of himself into the denim. She tried not to smile. She liked affecting him.

  “Why did you leave?”

  “Um, you left me first,” she pointed out.

  “I had things to do!”

  “I’ll try not to be offended that I was naked and turned on and you disappeared – after insulting me, I might add.”

  His brows furrowed. “I insulted you?”

  “You called me a bloodsucker.”

  He made a confused face, all scrunched up and adorable, and she almost forgave him on the spot.

  Almost.

  “You are.”

  “Um, hello! Do you not know anything about my kind? I drink manufactured blood, not real. Except for when I have to attend the boring parties my sister throws, and then it’s just for show.”

  He blinked a few times and his shoulders sagged. “I need you to come back to the house with me.”

  “First I have to talk to my sister.”

  He moved so fast he was a blur, suddenly standing in front of her, his eyes flashing and fangs peeking from his parted lips. “I can’t guarantee your safety in the neutral zone. My authority stops right there.” He pointed beyond her to where the forest stopped.

  She grasped his wrist and drew his hand to her face. “My sister’s the mistress of Arbor. If I don’t show up tonight, she’ll send the army searching for me. She’ll assume the worst, because that’s her way.”

  “I can’t allow you to leave.”

  “You can’t force me to stay.”

  He snarled and his eyes bled to amber. His voice, all husky and full of authority, caressed her as he said, “Fucking stay with me, Dominique.”

  She wanted to protest, slip away and take care of business with her sister so she could walk back into his bedroom without much baggage. But instead she said, “I still have to talk to her.”

  “Video?” he suggested.

  “That might work.”

  He bent and upended her over his shoulder. The air whooshed from her lungs and she squeaked in surprise. “This is so undignified!”

  He laughed, his whole body vibrating with the sound. And then he ran, moving through the trees at a speed that rivaled her own. She wondered if he was as fast in his wolf form.

  He stopped moving suddenly and
set her down gently. Her vision swam for a moment and when it passed, he was next to the open door that Bri had brought her through.

  “Promise to stay and I’ll make sure you’re able to talk to your sister. Later, of course.”

  She ducked into the dark corridor and waited until he followed, shutting and locking the secret door. “Why later?”

  “Because you’re wearing my mating necklace, and my wolf is pissed that I left you earlier.”

  “Your wolf… but not you?”

  He huffed. “I’m pissed, too.”

  “Good. You should be. You were a total ass, and you’re going to have to work really hard to make it up to me.”

  “I’m the alpha.”

  “Not in the bedroom.”

  He growled, but she could hear the smile in his voice when he said, “I think you’ll find I’m alpha everywhere.”

  “Bossy, bossy. Every time you call yourself alpha, you’re going to have to make me come.”

  He cupped her head and drew her close, brushing his lips over hers. “I’m alpha. I’m alpha. I’m alpha.”

  She laughed quietly and nipped his bottom lip. Then she turned from him and hurried up the sloping corridor. The sooner they got to his bedroom, the sooner she could collect.

  * * *

  “I’m alpha,” he said when they reached the bedroom.

  She laughed loudly that time. “Four.”

  He rolled his eyes. “What I meant to say was that because I’m alpha–“

  She couldn’t stop herself from giggling. “Five!”

  “Damn it!” He rolled his neck and said, “Because I… am who I am, I can’t simply mate you because you’re my true mate. Well, I can, but there are complications.”

  “Because I’m a vampire?”

  “And I have a daughter.”

  “What about her?”

  “Her mom abandoned her.”

  “I heard.” She was still seriously thinking about finding that bitch and giving her a good punch or two in the face.

  “Yes, but if I mate you and exile myself from the pack, I can’t take Bri with me. She’d be taken from me by pack law.”

  “Fuck pack law. She’s your daughter. No one can take her without your consent.”

  “Hey!” he snarled the word. “Pack law is everything to me, and since I’m alpha–”

  “Six!”

  “Damn it, woman! Stop counting.”

  “Stop referring to your position. I know what you are.”

  He growled and narrowed his eyes. Then he smiled in a most predatory way. “I’ll talk about other positions. Like you on your knees.”

  “I was thinking about that earlier in the forest. You’re pretty damn sexy.”

  He stepped close and pinched her chin lightly between his thumb and finger. “I wouldn’t have a choice in the matter with Bri. The only way I can keep her, and you, is through mating-by-combat. Essentially, we’d mate and then I’d bring you to my pack. In order to remain alpha and keep my daughter, I’d have to win against any male who wanted to take my position.”

  She searched his face. He was so damn serious. “There’s more.”

  “They’ll be trying to kill me. If I die, they’ll kill you, too. Bri would be safe, but she’d be an outcast in our pack, the child of a ghost.”

  It was tempting to tell him that his people could try to kill her, but she was fairly sure that while she could hold her own in most circumstances, if an entire group of male wolves wanted her dead, then she’d be dead.

  “Then I guess you better make sure you win.”

  “I have zero intention of losing. There’s too much at stake. I just wanted you to know what we’re going to face tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow night. I can’t go outside in the daylight.”

  He nodded. “Right. Do you have to sleep when the sun rises? Like is it a compulsion?”

  “It is for babies and young vampires, but not once we reach maturity. I can stay awake all day if I choose to, but I’d be weakened like a mortal who would stay up without resting.”

  He hummed, his brows drawing down. “We do a lot of our business at night anyway. I’m just trying to figure things out.”

  She glanced at the bed. “Can we figure them out later?”

  The sound that rumbled out of his chest was a lot like a purr. As quickly as it started, it stopped. “I need to bite you.”

  “Just make sure I’m super happy first.”

  “No, I mean if I drink your blood, what will happen to my wolf?”

  “Nothing until I take yours, too. But can I tell you something?” She took a few steps backward toward the bed and unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing. She bared the center of her body first, smiling inwardly at how his gaze snapped down to follow her fingers, then shrugged out of the shirt and dropped it to the floor.

  “You can tell me anything,” he said, his voice dropping low, sending sexy shivers up her spine.

  “Sharing blood with you will make you my true mate. You’ll become an immortal hybrid. You’ll still be able to shift, daylight won’t bother you like it does me, but you’ll be faster and stronger. If we share blood before you have your mating-by-combat, I don’t really see how you can lose.”

  “Do you get anything from sharing blood?”

  She paused for a moment, then said, “I get you.”

  He was in front of her in a heartbeat, banding his arm around her waist and jerking her against him. “You already have me.”

  “You were really angry at first,” she said, cupping his face.

  “I’m sorry. I was caught off-guard. There are a lot of rumors about vampires.”

  “I’ve heard rumors my whole life about shifters, too. My father was killed during the great war.”

  “Mine, too.”

  “We have a lot of good reasons to dislike each other, based on our past and our people’s perceptions.”

  He touched the emerald pendant. “But we have one very good reason to go forward with our mating, Dominique. We’re true mates. If you walked away from me right now, my wolf would go insane. I’d never be whole without you. I tried to get some space between us before so I could think, but when I came back here and you were gone, I thought I’d lost you. I knew in that moment that it didn’t matter whether you were like me or not, because we were true mates.”

  “Were you worried I’d hurt Bri?”

  “At first, yes. We don’t know each other. I’d locked you in the room after threatening you. I don’t know what I would have done in a similar situation.”

  “You don’t have to find out.”

  “Ah,” he said, smiling. “You’re not going to yell at me, insult me, and then lock me up?”

  “Nah. I kind of like being around you.”

  “I do, too.”

  Their lips met and parted, and he plunged his tongue into her mouth. She couldn’t stop the moan that rolled up her throat. He tasted so good, like her favorite dark chocolate candies, a short burst of sharpness and then silky and sweet. He chased her tongue, the dancing glide against hers setting her nerve endings on fire. He drew her closer and the denim of his jeans dug into her skin. He cupped her breast, running this thumb around her nipple before giving it a light tug between his finger and thumb. They moved backward together until her knees hit the bed, and as she stretched out on her back, he followed her down, his hands planted on either side of her head as he deepened their kiss. She ran her palms up his sides, feeling the warm, smooth skin and the muscles that flexed as he kept himself above her. He nipped her bottom lip with a soft growl, then kissed across her jaw to her ear, and down her neck. She felt his teeth as he sucked deeply on her throat, but he didn’t break the skin, laving his tongue over the mark and sending shivers down her spine.

  He licked her collarbone in a slow stroke, then moved slowly down her chest, nuzzling her breasts with that same sexy growling purr. She slid her fingers into his hair, letting the soft strands sift through her fingers. It was a pretty chocolate color
, with lighter brown highlights buried in the strands, long on top and short on the sides. He kissed her nipple, and she met his gaze as he ran his top teeth along the bud and then licked it slowly before sucking it into his mouth. She exhaled loudly as he licked and sucked the tip, then turned his attention to the other one.

  He ran his hand down her stomach and curved it around her pussy, sinking a finger into her slick heat. She lifted her hips as he pumped his finger in and out of her, curling it up to rub against her walls. Another finger joined the first in a slow glide as he kissed down her body and then straightened, drawing his fingers from her pussy and grasping her knees. He hooked her knees over his shoulders, cupping her butt and holding her off the bed as he lowered his head and licked her clit.

  She moaned loudly, her hands slapping on the bed. She linked her ankles behind him and tilted her hips more, loving the sight of his eyes changing to the amber of his wolf as he licked and sucked her. His hands flexed on her butt, his fingers digging into her as he drew her clit into his mouth, flicking the top with his tongue. Heat poured over her, her stomach twisting as he drew her to climax. She groaned, her fingers gripping the bedding as she came. He buried his tongue in her pussy, lapping at her heat with a throaty growl.

  He lowered her to the bed and licked his lips while he shoved his jeans down his legs. His movements were jerky and hurried as he stripped and then caught her legs at the knees, spreading her wide as he probed her pussy with his cock. He flexed his hips and sank into her, her whole body roaring to awareness as his body connected flush with hers. She’d already known he was her true mate, but now she felt it all the way to the center of her being. He released his hold on her legs and she wrapped them around his waist as he gripped the bedding on either side of her and began to move. He pumped in and out of her, her body jostling with the motion as they moved together. He sank deeper with each thrust until she was gasping and mewling each time his pelvis rubbed her clit just right.

  Standing on the edge of pleasure, she reached for her clit, strumming the bud with her fingers in time to his thrusts.

  “Fuck,” he growled.