Broken alphas, p.14
Broken Alphas, page 14
*
Sheila came to her senses with a pounding headache. She was bobbing up and down like she was on a river. The scents were not right. People she didn’t recognize were touching her.
“Damn, the bitch is heavy.”
The man talking was holding her against his chest and was running. Sheila fought to think of what had happened. The fire. The garden. Someone had kidnapped her again. Damn them to hell! Disoriented but growing angry, she fought. She would not take the abuse.
“Stay still, you little slut!”
The bastard growled in her ear. It was a snarl, like a dog’s. Was he a wolf?
“Careful, Cain wants her alive.”
“Shut up, Rusty.”
“Fuck you!” Sheila lunged, biting the cheek of the shifter holding her. He dropped her like she’d burned him. Hands and feet tied, she landed on the hard ground with a loud thud and a wince of pain. “Another bruise,” she thought wryly.
She kicked the feet of the other man, a human man, her nose told her, but did little damage. The bastard just laughed and picked her up like a sack of potatoes, throwing her over his shoulder.
“I’m going to warn you right now, girl. If you bite me, I’ll shoot you in the legs. With your legs intact, you’ll have a better chance of fighting and escaping the Doc and his mad house. If you’re crippled, you’re dead.”
Tears welled up in Sheila’s eyes, but she didn’t bite his ass. She felt the barrel of the weapon settled against her thigh. Time. She needed to buy some time. Logan will figure out she was gone. Hopefully. Whatever it took, she would not give up.
Inside her, her panther paced, enraged by the situation. In the distance, a furious roar broke the silence of the forest.
“God dammit! Hurry, Brendon. We’re almost at the pickup spot.”
Smiling, Sheila fought. Her tiger was coming for her, but he needed a direction to follow. One thing she had sensed, the males wore no scents. Well, she could fix that.
Sheila unsheathed her claws, raking them down Rusty’s thighs, ripping the pants in the process. The scream was like a beacon in the dark forest.
“Fucking bitch!”
The man stumbled and fell. Sheila took advantage, launching away from his shoulder. She rolled on the ground. The other male, Brendon, came for her. She rolled away when he lunged to grab her tied hands.
“Get her!”
“I’m trying. The fucking bitch is fast!”
Brendon finally got her legs. Sheila lunged forward, digging her claws into the guy’s arms, leaving behind deep, jagged claw marks.
“Ah! Fuck this!”
The bastard released her tied legs, and Sheila scrambled to get away. Then she heard the click of a weapon.
“I’m just going to kill the bitch. I’m not dying because of her.”
Sheila’s breath was coming in hard pants. She looked at the shifter that was about to put a bullet into her head. The other man, Rusty, was nowhere to be seen. In the commotion of Brendon and her fight, he had fled.
Behind Brendon, Sheila saw the gleaming eyes of a cat. She smiled.
“Guess what, dog boy? Your friend is gone. But mine are here.”
The tiger creeping behind the shifter leaped before Brendon could turn and point the weapon. The scream didn’t reach far. It wasn’t even a fight. The crunch of bones breaking sounded like branches cracking. It was such a natural sound, blending with the night. Then, quiet. She waited. The Alpha tiger came forward, nuzzling her.
“Ewe, you have blood on your muzzle.” She complained but rubbed the gigantic head nudging at her.
“I’m tied up. Can you shift and let me loose?”
Seconds later, Logan kneeled naked next to her. He pulled her into his arms, squeezing the breath out of her.
“Sheila, baby. I thought I lost you.”
Logan grabbed her face and kissed her. And kissed her. And kept kissing her.
“Ahem. Do you want us to leave you alone?”
Patrick and a few others stood around them, grinning. Sheila blushed. Logan grabbed her face again, giving her a small kiss before he let out a long sigh.
“Do you have a knife?”
“I brought Sheila’s belt. It didn’t catch fire.”
Logan took the knife belt his mother had given her. Was that hers? She thought...
“Thanks Trick.”
Logan cut the bonds, careful not to cut her skin.
“Here, put them on. I don’t want them off of you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Really? Even when I shower or I’m sleeping?”
“Keep them close,” was all Logan said.
He helped her up. Sheila assessed the situation quickly.
“Where are we?”
“Near the pride’s border.”
She pointed to the dead Brandon. “That’s a wolf shifter. There was a human man as well. I cut his legs. Do you have his scent? I cannot believe the fucking pack is involved with humans.”
“We lost his scent at the river. But now we have a pretty good idea how they came in to avoid detection. We’ll secure the perimeter.”
“Okay, people, back to business. The patrols will run in teams of four for the rest of the night. We’ll have a meeting to inform everyone of the situation and the extra shifts.”
The Beta took control of what Sheila assumed were Rangers or soldiers. Logan pulled her into his arms. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her. Sheila buried her face into his chest, rubbing her scent into his skin.
“I can’t scent you,” he sounded panicked.
“What?”
“You don’t have a scent.”
“How did you find me? I thought...”
“I followed the bond. But I can’t scent you. You are in my arm and I can’t scent you.”
“Hey, they probably gave me something to erase the trail.”
“Yeah. Probably.”
Sheila leaned into him, caressing his chest. “How about you carry me back to the house? That way, you can feel me until my scent comes back.”
He lowered his head, nibbling on her lips.
“Yeah. That’s a good idea.”
“And we can stop at the healer to take some of my blood. Maybe she can identify what the substance blocking the scent is.”
“Yes, that’s also a good idea. You are full of them tonight.”
Logan picked her up, heading back to the house. Sheila felt drained.
“What time is it?”
“It was about two in the morning when I found out you were missing. I think it’s going on three and a half now.”
Logan sounded dead tired. He had fought the fire, too.
“I’m sorry for all the trouble today. I swear I’m not such a pain in the butt, usually.”
Logan kissed her head, and she cuddled closer to his body heat.
“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. You were being kidnapped. Again. I thought our borders were secured. Apparently, I was wrong. That’s on me. You should have been safe here.”
Sheila heard the recrimination in his voice. She cupped his face.
“Hey, someone threw fire into your home to distract you. I say that’s a good excuse.”
“Did they hurt you?”
“I have a new bruise on my butt. Maybe you can kiss it to make me feel better.” She teased to focus him on other, more pleasurable, things. She needed the relief as well.
“I most surely will,” Logan purred. “I will also inspect every millimeter of your body to make sure you don’t have any other bruises.”
“The bump at the back of my head where the bastards hit me. Maybe you can massage the spot.”
“Yes.” The agreement was a purr.
Sheila chuckled and let her mate carry her away, enveloped in his powerful scent. In his arms, she was safe.
Chapter seventeen
Logan cracked opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings. He was not in his room. Why not? He blinked. The fuzziness of sleep slowly cleared away. The voices and people arguing were what woke him. He looked around. He was in the guest room Sheila had used before...
The fire... The kidnapping of his mate...Sheila! Where was she?! The place next to him was empty, but the faintest scent lingered, assuring him she had been there with him.
The toilet flushed. Ah! She was in the bathroom. The shower turned on.
The commotion outside the door gritted on his nerves. Logan got out of bed, rubbing his palms over his face. His head felt heavy, like he had drunk all night and was having the mother of all hangovers.
“I don’t care!”
The roar from the hallway made Logan wince. Why were his senses so heightened? Yes, he had the hearing of a cat, but he usually tuned out the extra noise if it was of no interest to him or his beast. Now? His hearing was wide open, picking up the murmur of the people talking outside in the yard.
Logan stumbled to the door. His balance was off, too. What the hell? Reaching the entrance, he gripped the doorknob and ripped the door open. The crack of the wood coming off the hinges startled him and the people arguing in the hallway.
His enforcers, Aedan and Adam, looked at him with wide eyes and took a step back. John Black scowled at him.
“Uh, boss?”
The twins looked confused.
“What is wrong with you?” John growled.
Logan frowned. What were they talking about? He had no problem. Well, he did, but-
“Why are you screaming outside my door? I had a long night and I’m trying to sleep.” He turned to John. “And why are you here?”
“Boss?”
It was Aedan taking the lead.
“You and Sheila have been sleeping for two days. We got worried, so we called John.”
Two days?! What the hell?! Logan heard the shower turn off. He scowled.
“Well, we’re awake now, so you can leave.”
“I don’t think so, boy. I want to see my daughter.”
John’s dominance gritted on Logan’s raw nerves. But he was her father. He had the right to see her. If she wanted to, that was.
“I’ll go talk to her, then we’ll see. Go get some coffee or something. We’ll be out... sometime today,” he mumbled as he turned and tried to close the broken door. Logan frowned. What was with his strength? Where had his control gone?
Sheila came out of the bathroom gloriously naked. They both froze in place. Logan stared at the milky white skin that was patched with scrapes and bruises. They hurt his woman. Again.
“At this rate, I’m going to lock her in a patted cell.” The thought was one with which his beast agreed.
“Hi,” Logan whispered.
“Hi.”
Sheila smiled a shy smile and fidgeted in place. He swallowed hard. The faint blush spread all over her body. She looked so fragile and innocent. He walked to her. She didn’t retreat but bit her lip, showing him she was nervous. He was too.
Logan took her hand and pulled her gently toward him. When she didn’t protest, he gathered her to his chest. Skin to skin. Her perfectly round breasts pressed into his feverish skin and her taut nipples felt like tiny daggers. His shorts were the only barrier between them. Logan groaned.
“Sheila.” Her name was a whisper against her lips. She lifted her face to his in invitation. Logan pressed his lips to hers in the gentlest kiss he had ever offered. He traced her lips with his tongue, then caressed his lips against hers.
Sheila opened for him. Her tongue touched his, and they both groaned. Her mouth moved eagerly against his, mimicking his movements and driving him crazy. Logan knew he would never get enough of her kisses. She was addicting.
Sheila buried her hands in his hair, deepening the kiss. He allowed her to take control for a few minutes, then he drew away. His senses and self-control couldn’t take the erotic torture. Sheila mewled in protest and fought to draw his mouth to hers again.
“Baby, enough, or I’ll do something you’re not ready for.”
“I’m ready, I promise.”
Her acceptance almost broke his will. His dick was iron hard, threatening to break the fabric of his shorts. Logan took a deep breath of air, pressing his forehead to Sheila’s. Both of them panted. The fire they sparked was about to burn them to a crisp.
“Your father is here.”
“I know.”
“Do you want to see him?”
“Yeah.”
Sheila embraced his waist, resting her face between his pecs. Logan let out a sigh of contentment and felt the strange energy that rode him since he woke, settle. His mind cleared, and he felt like himself again; centered.
“Come on. Let’s get dressed. The others are waiting. Maybe your father can shine some light over a few things.”
Sheila looked up at him, piercing his soul with her emerald eyes.
“And I’m sure he wants to know what happened. You didn’t have time to talk to your Rangers, either.”
Logan caressed the raven hair away from her face, leaned in, and pressed a gentle kiss on her lush lips. Then he pulled away and walked into the walk-in closet. He was sure all his clothes stank of smoke. He searched for pants and shirts to fit his size.
Sheila came in behind him, a confidence to her that was not there when she came out of the shower. They jumped another stone in their building relationship.
“I cannot believe we slept for two days! How come we didn’t pee in the bed? Or died of starvation?”
Logan started the conversation to prevent any awkwardness between them. He wanted his mate to feel secure he would not laugh at her inexperience. Or think he found her lacking in any way. He knew she was going to grow into her womanhood with confidence. He will be there to support her and lift her whenever she will feel unsure. That will cement their bond in eternity. That was the bond his mother had had with his father, and he wanted it.
Sheila’s light chuckle made him grin.
“I don’t know about the peeing. Maybe your Beta held a cup for us. I know a person can survive for about three days without water and approximately three weeks without food. Now, neither of us is in the starvation phase.”
Logan shuddered, glaring over his shoulder at her.
“Don’t even suggest that. A cup?”
Sheila smiled at him with mischief in her shimmering eyes.
“Well, you never know.”
Logan saw her wince slightly when she pulled the pants over the large bruise on her thigh. A blue t-shirt mostly covered the cuts from the shattered glass. He nodded toward her ass.
“Do you want to go see Karla about that bruise? Maybe something broke.”
“I will not be in that woman’s presence without you. I might kill her.”
Logan pursed his lips, but nodded in understanding. He pulled on the black pants he found and the gray t-shirt. Unlike other people, he didn’t do socks. He rarely wore shoes, too. He liked to feel the earth under his feet.
It grounded him and connected him to the Mother. Sometimes he could swear he felt her energy rush through him. It was something that none of his pride ever experienced. Maybe it was an Alpha thing.
He walked to his mate, cupping her jaw. Sheila looked at him with a heat he felt to his bones. Logan ignored the attraction. It wasn’t the time.
“And the head? How’s the head?”
“It’s not pounding. I expected it to hurt for a while. Or at least to have a concussion. They hit me pretty hard. But... nothing. I have the wound and it hurts a bit, but that’s it.”
Logan considered her words and his disoriented state that morning.
“I was pretty out of it when I woke. Maybe the bond is strengthening, and it attenuated some of your pain.”
Sheila stilled under his hands. Her smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Aren’t you worried the bond is growing stronger?”
He frowned. “No. Why would I be?”
Sheila bit her lip. “Because if it’s strong enough, you won’t be able to let me go.”
Logan and his tiger both froze. “Are you planning on leaving?” He thought she was getting comfortable with him and his pride despite the unfortunate situations. But after being attacked by his healer and almost being kidnapped from his lands, she might not have the security that he could protect her.
“No, but you might not want me here for long. I seem to bring trouble wherever I go.”
Logan’s chest lost the stone that had settled there just moments ago. He gripped her chin, looking into her eyes as he spoke.
“Sheila, you don’t bring trouble. Trouble was here before you arrived. You brought safety for my sister, peace of mind for my mother, and you brought me my mate. All good things.”
Tear filled her eyes, and Logan kissed her. She responded eagerly, arching her body towards his; inviting him to touch. Logan accepted the invitation. He caressed her body, careful not to aggravate her hurts. He and his beast reveled in the feel and scent of their female.
“Can you feel the pull?” Logan asked between the little kisses he was applying on her neck.
“Yes.”
Her whimper of pleasure made his erection jerk. He was so hard he could hammer nails with his dick. If he didn’t bury deep in his mate soon, Logan was sure his balls would fall off.
“Goddess! I want you, Sheila.” As he spoke, Logan pressed his hips against her, showing her it wasn’t a lie. Her hands traveled over his chest; lower, lower, reaching the waist oh his unbuttoned pants.
“Sheila, baby, what-”
Logan’s mind skipped. Sheila’s hand slid inside his pants, gripping him in her soft hand.
“Oh, fuck.” Logan trembled, locking his knees to keep from falling.
*
Sheila couldn’t believe she was so bold! Logan wanted her to wait, but her body was on fire for him.
“Bond mate.” Those two words echoed in her head. The moment she gripped his shaft, she felt his entire body stiffen, then trembled. Growling, he grabbed her by the back of the neck, fusing their mouths together. Logan kissed her like there was no tomorrow.
She adored their kisses.
Sheila moved her hand up and down, stroking Logan’s shaft the way she saw him do it.
“Harder, Sheila. It won’t break. Squeeze me, baby. Move faster.”
She listened to his instructions.
