The Alpha by Jenika Snow
19
Evelyn
It was a strip of sun in my eyes that woke me up fully as soon as I was conscious. I stretched, and an instant smile spread across my face as the aches and twinges of discomfort and the memory of what I’d done last night encompassed every part of me.
I was naked under the comforter, so sore between my legs that I felt pleasure all over again, an intense high that crashed through me. I looked beside me on the bed and smoothed my hand across the sheets that were cold. Cian hadn’t been here for a while. I lay in bed for long moments, just letting my body wake, allowing myself to enjoy how I felt after what we’d done last night. I stretched out my legs, and my feet came in contact with something hard at the end of the mattress.
I pushed up to see a large white box on the bed. I reached across to grab it, keeping the blanket pressed to my chest, and pulled the box onto my lap. There was a dark-red satin ribbon tied around it, and once I pulled it free and got the top off, I felt my eyebrows lift at the stacks of clothing inside.
Leggings, a pair of jeans, and several clearly luxurious cashmere shirts lay inside. There was also a small white rectangular box tucked inside, and when I pulled it out and opened the lid, I felt this warmth boom in my chest at the tiny bracelet inside with the silver wolf charm hanging from the clasp.
Another smile—which I was sure looked goofy as hell on me—spread across my face at the thought of Cian going to the trouble of getting me clothes. But when in the hell would he have had time? We’d only been here for a day and a half, and he’d been with me the entire time. Maybe he’d dispatched Odhran, but as I spied panties, my face heated in embarrassment if that was the case.
I got out of bed and wrapped the blanket around me before heading to the bathroom with the box in hand. Once the door was shut, I looked at myself in the mirror, and a gasp left me sharply. I set the box on the counter and reached up to lift the long fall of my dark hair up and kept it pinned to my crown with one hand as I tipped my chin and to the side and stared in shock at my neck.
Teeth marks, purple and blue love bites covered both sides of my throat and even where it met my shoulders. And then there was the claiming mark—which couldn't be called anything but that—covering one side of my throat. Twin puncture wounds with a bruise blooming around it was a neon sign for exactly what Cian was and what I was to him.
I dropped the blanket and looked at my body, more bruising from his passion, more fingerprint marks from when he’d held me down. Even my inner thighs were covered in the proof of his branding.
And I got wet over the sight, felt an intense flush steal over me. I braced my hands on the bathroom counter and breathed out at how much pleasure—both physical and emotional—I felt, seeing myself like this. I wouldn’t be winning any feminism awards; these marks meant a hell of a lot to a Lycan male claiming his mate. I knew that without a doubt.
After taking a quick shower, the remnants of what we’d done last night gone from between my thighs, I put on a pair of dark leggings and one of the soft sweaters that fell below my bottom. I even found a pair of flats at the very bottom of the box. I had no idea how he’d known my sizes, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain. For the first time since all this shit had gone down, I felt put together and human. So to speak.
I left the bedroom and instantly smelled food. My stomach cramped, reminding me I’d barely eaten since all of this went down. I went around the corner and saw Cian in the kitchen by the stove, his huge body seeming so out of place as he took on this domestic stance.
I couldn’t help but imagine this was a normal moment between two people who’d just been together. My big and strong, over six-and-a-half-foot Lycan mate making me breakfast after he fucked the hell out of me. This was going to take some getting used to for sure.
I took a moment to just watch him silently, to appreciate the way his muscles flexed and relaxed under his dark-gray long-sleeved shirt every time he moved. His short hair looked a little bit darker from a clearly recent shower, the strands still a bit damp. It should be against nature for a man to look that sexy, especially first thing in the morning.
Of course he sensed my presence and looked over his shoulder at me, his slow and sexy smile heating my body up instantly, even though I was sore in the best possible way.
“Mo ghràidh.” His voice was deep and slightly scratchy, what I imagined he sounded like every morning when he first woke up.
“Good morning,” I said softly and felt like my face was on fire, because the way he looked at me, the way his gaze moved up and down my form, couldn’t be called anything but scandalous.
He was in front of me in only three long strides, his long legs eating up the distance. He instantly wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in the crook of my neck, his nose running up the length as he inhaled deeply. The rumble that left him when he got to the main mark he’d left had me melting against his body even more and a soft breath leaving me.
He positioned us so my back was now against the wall, the wide, hard expanse of his chest pressed to mine, caging me in. He gave the mark on my throat a gentle kiss before he pulled back, his eyes hooded, his pupils dilated. I didn’t have to be a supernatural creature of the Otherworld to be able to scent his need for me. And I also didn’t have to feel the raging erection pressing against my belly to affirm that. It was the expression on his face, the heat in his eyes that spoke volumes.
He leaned down and kissed me softly, and just when he would pull away, I cupped his nape and pulled him close to me, my mouth against his. I swiped my tongue along the seam of his lips, and he growled, opening for me and plunging his tongue deep inside my mouth. My body hummed with pleasure, this heavy ache settling between my thighs, more wetness spilling from me as my body prepared itself for his big cock.
God, I might’ve been sore, but I wanted him again.
The kiss ended far too soon, and when he broke away, I was panting, resting the back of my head against the wall, staring up at him, and feeling drugged and soft, open and ready.
“Thank you for the clothes,” I said softly, my lips still tingling from his kiss. His eyes narrowed, and he took a small step back as he glanced at my outfit. I felt my brows lower in confusion at his reaction. “What? You don’t like them?” I teased to ease the weird strain that was coming from him now.
“I dinna get ye these clothes.” His jaw was severe as he clenched his teeth.
“What? Then who did?”
He grated out, “Adryan. Had them dropped off this morning. I found the fooking box on the front porch with a note attached saying ‘no woman should be forced tae dress in oversize sweats. If yer mate canna provide, I’m at yer service.’”
I felt my eyebrows rise that Adryan had the nerve to say that shit, especially knowing how pissed Cian would be. But I was learning fast that Adryan was a whole other arrogant asshole breed than I’d ever experienced.
“I guess this wasn’t from you then?” I lifted my hand to show the bracelet, and I watched the anger move across his face tenfold.
“He’s such a motherfooker.”
I nearly choked on my laughter when he tried snatching at my wrist gently. “Hey now, the bracelet didn’t do anything wrong.” I lifted my wrist to show him the charm. “You may not like Adryan, but look, he gave me this, which has a little part of you on it.” I flattened my palm on Cian’s cheek and smiled. “I’ll have to tell him thank you when I see him next.”
The grumble that left Cian was pure male arrogance. “No fooking way ye’re getting close tae him again. He’s dangerous.”
I wound my arms around his neck. “And you’re not?”
He shook his head slowly. “Never tae ye.”
I smiled. “I know.” I rose on my toes and kissed him. “But they’re just clothes.”
“I donna like another male providing for ye, but until it’s safe for us tae leave and for me tae spoil ye, I’ll have tae concede and let the bastard Adryan do this.” His jaw was clenched so tight I thought for sure I’d hear his teeth crack from the pressure.
I found it humorous he was so worked up about this. It was just clothes, after all. But I could understand pride and his need to take care of me. So I kept any more amusement to myself. If I only knew one thing about Lycan males, it was that they were hella possessive.
Something to get used to for sure.
“Besides,” I whispered. “I’m yours.”
His gaze dropped to the claiming mark again, and he growled in pleasure, but then his brows lowered as his eyes moved along either side of my neck. Before I knew what he was doing, he reached out and pulled the collar of my sweater down, revealing the tops of my shoulders. This low rumble left him, and he closed his eyes, breathing out roughly.
“Ah, lass,” he said in a deep, whiskey-sounding voice. “I dinna realize I was so rough last night. I could no’ control myself.” He opened his eyes, and I saw the regret on his face, the agony that he thought he’d hurt me. “My wolf was fierce with ye. Too fierce, especially for yer first time.”
I was shaking my head before he even finished speaking, then rose up on my toes to press my lips to his. “No,” I murmured against his mouth. “I don’t regret this, what we did, or anything else between us.” I kissed him again and again before pulling back. “I liked it all. I liked the roughness, how fierce you were.” I felt more arousal move through me. “I liked the pain and especially the pleasure that accompanied it.” Slowly that hard, sorrow-filled look on his face faded, and he leaned down to rest his forehead against mine. For long moments we just breathed the same air.
I hated that he felt bad, that he was in pain at the thought of hurting me, but it also told me he was a good man, he cared for me, and he only wanted to keep me safe, even from himself and his inner animal.
I lifted a hand and stroked his whisker-covered cheek. “I’m fine,” I reassured him again. “Truly.” My face heated when I whispered, “I hope it’s like that every time.” He growled low and leaned in to kiss me again, when we heard the front door open and footsteps coming closer.
“Christ, Cian,” Odhran said as he stepped farther into the kitchen, and his eyes latched to the area of my throat that was on display. “Neck’s fooking brutal, yeah?”
Cian growled low and positioned his body more in front of mine at the same time he adjusted the collar of my shirt so it covered my skin again.
Neither male spoke, but they sure as hell had a stare off. And after a tense moment, Odhran shook his head, cursed low, and walked over to the table to sit down.
“The sight just took me off guard. No need tae act all fooking territorial. Ye kno’ yer mate isn’t even on my mind.”
Odhran sounded distant, and now that I really looked at him, I could see the darkness under his eyes that showed he hadn’t slept. I felt my heart break now that I knew the truth about his mate.
I placed a hand on Cian’s arm and gently pushed him away. He retreated instantly, and I realized how much power I held over him. He was this big, strong paranormal creature, yet he folded for me with just a gentle touch of my hand on his arm. It was a heady sensation, but one that also made me feel vulnerable.
I walked over and took the seat across from Odhran, and although he wouldn’t meet my gaze, I knew he could feel me watching him. It was the subtle way his shoulders went back, how his spine straightened. I wanted to tell him that although I knew nothing about him and that we’d just met the night before, I empathized with him. Although I had never experienced what he had, I did know the pain of loss acutely.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly, and although I wanted to take his hand in mine, I also didn’t want to instigate the jealous part of Cian, the one he couldn’t control because he was more animal than man.
Odhran lifted his head, and our eyes locked. I didn’t notice the large scar along his forehead and cheek. I didn’t notice the bags under his eyes or the weathered, exhausted expression on his face. What I noticed was a man who felt like he had nothing and was doing everything in his power to gain some control back.
I saw a man who felt like he had lost the only thing that meant anything to him. I saw a man who’d had the one woman who was born to be his taken away.
And for men like these, feeling as if they had no control or power was like a blow to the gut, draining their bodies until they were husks. It was as if they didn’t have a purpose.
Cian moved behind me but didn’t say anything, and the gentle but heavy pressure of his hands landing on my shoulders as I felt him give me a gentle squeeze of reassurance made me feel like things could be okay as long as we gave them a chance.
Odhran didn’t say anything, but he did give me a slight nod, and I had a feeling that for a man like him, it was his way of accepting my sympathy and showing his gratitude. Finally he cleared his throat and rested fully back in the chair, looking over at where Cian stood.
“Left last night,” he said and let those words hang between us, and I felt my face heat because I knew why he’d left. Things got loud. “Figured ye’d want privacy,” he added as if this wasn’t the most humiliating thing to ever talk about. “Contacted Adryan, and I went over tae the other property he was at, started early, looking over all he has on the Assembly.”
Cian sat in the seat beside me, his focus wholly on Odhran. “Did ye find anything out?” I knew he was referring to his mate, but when Odhran shook his head sharply, I felt my chest crumble a little more for him.
“I came back tae shower and change, and then I’m going tae head back and search more.”
All of us were silent after that, but I could see Cian’s mind working over all the information.
Odhran ran a hand over his jaw and closed his eyes for a moment, breathing out almost warily. “I donna think I’m going tae find anything useful.” God, he sounded so defeated, but there was still a fire in his voice. “But I have tae keep looking. I have tae keep trying.” He opened his eyes, and I wished things could’ve been different. For him. For me and Cian. For everyone in danger.
“I’ll come back before sunset. Ye should be there with Adryan tae go over all the information. But I’ll stay here tae make sure yer mate is safe.”
I looked between the two men, feeling confused. “I thought Adryan said the house was protected?” Not that I wanted to be here alone anyway, but if they had stuff to figure out, a way to work through this and end it, I didn’t need nor want anyone babysitting.
“I would no’ fooking trust Adryan to pick up my dry cleaning, let alone protect the most precious thing tae me,” Cian said as he stared at me, that look of wonder on his face so heavy I felt it wash over me. “I’d feel better taking ye with me, but in this, Adryan is correct, as much as I hate admitting it. It’s safer having ye here, protected with wards to keep others from finding ye, lass. I will no’ be long, but we need tae figure out how tae end this, and the sooner it’s done, the sooner we can start…”
I held my breath, waiting for what he was about to say.
He leaned in, and in a low, deep voice, he finished, “…The sooner I can start building a proper life with my mate and spoiling her.”
I felt like my smile was so stupidly happy spread across my face, and I didn’t even care if we had an audience. I was ready for this, I realized. I was ready to finally do something profound that made me happy. And that was creating this crazy—but wonderful—life with Cian.
“I suggested Adryan come here tae go over everything,” Odhran said, and when I looked at him, his expression gave nothing away. There was no judgment that we were creating too much PDA for the likes of him. “But he said, and I quote, ‘I’m no’ hauling my shit and soldiers over there just tae put a couple of Lycans at ease because they have a weak human female in their midst.’”
Cian growled, low and menacing. “She’s no’ weak. I’ll kill him for saying that.” Cian looked at me and reached out to stroke his finger along my cheek.
“No killing necessary.” I shook my head and smiled that something as simple as Adryan calling me a weak human female could rile him up so much. I had a lot to learn about shifters in general, but I felt like learning everything that made my mate tick was at the top of that list, especially if he could easily kill someone for just insulting me.
This was proving to be a very interesting journey, to say the least.
