Filed to story: Mated to the Alpha and His Beta Novel Free >>???
“Ancient as shole,” Xander muttered through the mind link.
“Everyone, Xander has made some good points. So has Malachi.” I paused. “Sorry, man. Consider it diplomacy,” I added through the link. To everyone else, I said, “It’s been clear to both of us that Brightsky does, in fact, have a superb security system. But any system is only as good as its updates. And nothing is without flaw. My brother’s concern about striking hard at the town of Standard is about the innocents who live there. Neither one of us is willing to have that on our conscienees, and I doubt any of you want that, either.”
Malachi shrugged. “Life is short.”
“Not for vampires,” I told him. “And since the rest of us only have as much life as we’re granted, it seems particularly cruel to steal that from people who’ve done nothing to harm you.”
I wasn’t sure I was getting through, but at least the vampire looked uncomfortable. Jacques didn’t, but most of the others were nodding and looking thoughtful.
“Anything we do through fear is bound to come back to bite us twice as hard. That’s why it makes more sense for us to gather more information before acting.
Are we all in agreement on that?” I looked around the table.
“Generally, the leadership council takes action items to a vote,” Jacques said in a bitter voice. “Not that I’d expect Alphas to get why having everyone’s input is important.”
“So much for everyone being welcomed here at Brightsky,” Xander retorted with half a snarl. “You talk a big talk about how everyone’s got a place here, but it turns out, the only place you want us to have is under your heel.”
I put my hand on my brother’s shoulder to stop him from leaping across the table and probably tearing out that jackwad’s throat.
“Bro. We just talked about not bringing down violence where it wasn’t warranted,” I thought to him.
“Key word being unwarranted,” Xander thought back, but he stayed in his seat.
“You know, I think it might behoove all of us to consider some inclusivity training,” piped up a small, clear voice from the end of the table opposite Malachi.
“Begging all of your pardons, but wolves have been rare here in Brightsky, and it seems like at least some of you are holding onto some..erm…well, I’m just saying that it’s nice to have some differing viewpoints.”
We all turned to look at the young wolf who’d been speaking. I wasn’t sure of her name or even if I’d ever seen her around, but nobody else looked affronted that she’d spoken.
“You make good points, Goldie. You can head the committee.” Malachi nodded at her. He turned back to me and Xander. “So, how do you suggest going about this? What should I call it? A reconnaissance mission?”
“How much do you trust your sources?” Xander asked him.
“As much as I trust any source,” Malachi said. “Which is to say, only after they’ve proven themselves.”
“And they have?” I ask him.
“Any trusted source can turn out to be untrustworthy,” Melina said smoothly. “Your closest friend can turn on you at any point.”
“I bet she’s a joy to be mated to,” Xander thought to me.
Aloud, I replied to Melina, “Fine. Then send someone new into the town to act as a backup source. Have them all observe the new arrivals. Set up fresh surveillance. You can do that, right?”
“Of course we can.” Malachi snapped his fingers.
“We’ll send a dozen or so of the spiders.”
Xander coughed. “The what?”
“Enclavian spiders are intelligent, empathic, telepathic, and psychokinetic,” Jacques said with a sneer.
“We’ve had them observing you two since you got here.”
“And tell me, what have you discovered about us?” I kept my voice neutral even though now I was the one who wanted to jump across the table and throttle him.
“Pr ick,” Xander judged through the link.
“Major,” I agreed.
Jacques shrugged but didn’t say anything else. I ignored him and sat back down. Melina leaned to whisper something in his ear that made him frown.
“Send the spiders,” I agreed.
“I’ll go,” said the young wolf, Goldie. “I’ve never been to Standard. I don’t know any of the sources, and I’m willing to bet they don’t know me.”
I looked to Malachi for confirmation of this. When he nodded, I smiled at her. She ducked her head in embarrassment but smiled back after a minute.
“Just get pictures for now, Goldie. You should be able to get photos of every resident, not just the new ones.
Bring them back here for identification. We can start there,” I told her.
“And what happens if you recognize someone?” Jacques demanded.
“If we do, then we’ll go from there,” I promised. “And if there’s proven danger, I promise you, we’ll do whatever is necessary to protect the enclave.”
Zane–
“Papa?” My son’s little voice called out from the bedroom. “Come see!”
The tension coiling between me and my Luna didn’t dissipate, but we both laughed softly and pulled away from each other. Having three kids meant so little “private time.” Lanie leaned in to kiss me.
“Later,” she promised, her hand on my thigh. She squeezed gently.
My co ck throbbed. I wanted her, but more small voices called to me again. “I’ve been summoned.”
“Should I be jealous they want their Papa and not me?” Lanie’s head tilted as she grinned.
I brushed a stray strand of her hair off her forehead and studied the shadows in her eyes. Something was going on in her beautiful mind, but I didn’t want to pressure her. So I kissed her, instead.
“Why don’t you go take a long bath or something?
Do alittle self care,” I told her. “I can handle the little monsters.”
“Don’t,” she said sharply as her wolf flared in her eyes.
She made an obvious effort to soften herself. “I mean, don’t call them that.”
“Sure, love. I was just teasing.” I kissed her again.
Definitely something going on with her.
“I think I will take that bath,” Lanie said. “Are you sure you can take care of the pups? They’ll all need baths, too. And bedtime stories…..
“I’ll take care of everything. You go relax.” I got up and poured her another glass of wine.
She stood and took it. Her eyes shone with love. “You really do take such good care of me, Zane.”
“Forever,” I promised.
“Pappaaaaaaa!” Three small voices chorused.
I laughed and kissed my mate one more time, then went to see what was so important.
“We made this for you,” Alaina said proudly.
What they’d made was a big mess, but my heart swelled at the sight of the fingerpainted signs. I ignored the pots of fingerpaint and the messy hands as I gathered all three of them in for a hug. I didn’t even care that they were getting paint all over my clothes. That’s what washing machines were for.
This was my life. The woman out there. These three young ones in here.
Lanie–
waited until Zane went into the bedroom before I grabbed up the big book from the shelf. I took it and my glass of wine into the big bathroom the four of us shared. I locked the door behind me. I need privacy, and with three mates, I knew it was entirely likely that at least one of them could burst in on me without warning.
I filled the large tub and added some scented oils. I lit a few candles and put the wine on the edge of the tub.
I laid down a towel and put the book on it.
When did all my muscles start to hurt? I hadn’t noticed until I started taking off my clothes. I checked the large mirrors, turning around to check my body from all sides. No bruises, even though it felt like I’d been pummeled. I pressed my palm to my heart. It was just stress, I told myself.
I eased into the steaming water with a sigh of relief.
I’d forgotten to pull my hair up on top of my head, and the ends dipped into the water. I couldn’t be bothered to do anything about it now and simply let myself relax into the heat and steam.
The wine warmed my tongue as I sipped. Faintly, I could hear the rising sound of laughter from Stella’s bedroom. And then the sound of Zane…singing? Some kind of nursery rhyme, or that’s how it sounded.
Amazing how sound carried through the vents, since most of the time our quarters were fairly soundproof.
Which was a good thing, I thought with a chuckle. I didn’t want anyone to be able to overhear what the four of us got up to.
I couldn’t hear them anymore. I sipped more wine and put the glass carefully on the ledge. I closed my eyes. I wanted to look over the book again, but suddenly, was so tired that it was all I could do not to fall asleep right then and there.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?