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Chapter 10 : A Brush With Danger
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 11 : Alpha's Interrogation
I try not to grin coyly at Jordan at breakfast the next morning. Fortunately, we’re joined by members of the court. Stewart Sloan, the Beta, Phaedra Cascadia, the pack healer and royal physician, and the Alphas’ assistant and personal secretary, Natasha Lynnwood. They’ve all heard about us nabbing the rogue. The whole palace and the city are buzzing with it.Phaedra is quiet, like Stewart and Kent, and dresses in a long blue-and-white healer’s robe with a simple amethyst pendant around her neck. She doesn’t look tired, despite being rudely awakened last night.Could I find out the kings’ medical weaknesses from her?Natasha has a fiercely intelligent look, as though she knows where all the bodies are buried. There’s nothing romantic between her and the kings. I could tell in an instant if there were. They’re not sleeping with their assistant. Sensible on their part and hers.And a relief for me.She probably wouldn’t give me any dirt on the kings, even so. Stewart is still the
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 12 : Private Audience
I swallow, my mouth dry, and moisten my lips with my tongue. His burning gaze is fixed on mine. “You’re charming too, and sexy,” I admit. “Especially those eyes and that voice.”And you’re my mate, just like your brothers.“Still waters run deep,” I add. “I find you enticing, too.” I watch his eyes shimmer with color and heat before they turn wolf gold like Jordan’s.With a low, sensual growl, Kent sheds his tight control and his mouth lands on mine with the same precision with which he does everything else. Maybe a little less neat and masterful, because he kisses me in a way that says he means business.I stay perfectly still in his arms except for kissing him back. His lips are even warmer than Jordan’s, and no less eager. His hand presses against my back and bends me over his arm, just like when we danced. This kiss started with that dance.He breaks the kiss and mutters, “Come with me.”Is that a double entendre? His hand sears me beneath the fabric of my shirt as he dir
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 13 : Out in the Open
I heard correctly, didn’t I?Fated mate? Do they mean me?Crouching under the desk, I stare at Kent’s shirt pooled on the floor, and at my mates’ boots.“You lost your shirt. Did you get too warm with all the thinking you do in here?” Jordan quips.“Never mind that,” Kent says. “We haven’t confirmed that she is our fated mate.”I bite my tongue. How can he say that after what just happened? Unless I’m mistaken and there’s another “she” in their lives. If it’s true, how could he make love to me like that–as if we are mates? Maybe I was right about these men. Is he ashamed? Am I his dirty little secret?My wolf tells me to stop my mind chattering and listen to my heart. “She is,” Wiley declares. “And I say we stop competing over her like the worst case of sibling rivalry ever. We’re adults, for Goddess’s sake.”“No argument here,” Kent says. “I’m not sure it was even a competition.”Jordan chooses to sit down in one of the leather chairs, right near my hands. I curl up even s
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 14 : The Moon Goddess' Plan
“I want you,” I tell them. “All of you.” My hands are shaking slightly as I wait for them to respond. Jordan and Wiley take a moment to let my revelation sink in. They look at Kent.“I’m hearing it for the first time, too,” he says in his gentle way. “Out loud at least. She already told me with her body.”Jordan nods slowly and looks at me. “You told me, too, Aurora, when you shuddered in my arms. That’s why I wanted to propose you as our mate to my brothers. We all felt it.” The other two nod their agreement. I feel stunned. It’s out in the open now. We all know. It feels liberating. It feels like I’m riding a wild wave still.It feels like I'm betraying my father. My wolf is undaunted by that. She wants us all to bond. Right here, right now.No. This was a giant step and I’m still catching my breath. “It’s only been a day,” I say. “Not even a day. When I woke up yesterday morning in a little roadside inn between here and the border and was planning the rest of my journe
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 15 : Meeting the Queen Mother
Picking up Kent’s shirt, I toss it to him. He gets dressed in seconds and I smooth the wrinkles from it. He gives me such a tender look before he turns toward the door. “Enter.”Lucas Bateson pulls the door open and enters Kent’s private study. His alert eyes take in all three of us clustered so closely together, and not working. I wonder if he suspects. “The Queen Mother, our former Luna, has returned from her visit to the Omega Lake Pack,” Lucas says. “She’s waiting to see you in the parlor.”All three of my mates smile broadly at the mention of their mother. Anticipation builds inside me, and my palms grow clammy and slick with sweat. Luna Elayna is a legend among our people, one of the greatest Lunas of our time.“Tell her we’ll be there shortly,” Kent says in a gentle voice.After Lucas leaves, Jordan clasps my hands. “She’ll LOVE you.”Not if she knows what I’m truly doing here. And being introduced as her sons’ fated mate before I’m sure about their innocence could be lik
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 16 : Afternoon Heat in the Garden
I lie on the bed of soft flower petals, staring up at Wiley’s earnest but playfully wicked face. “This part of the garden has rare plants I imported that don’t like a lot of direct sunlight,” he says, light-hearted. “I’ll show them all to you, but first, we’ll eat.”Did he create this beautiful little sanctuary? How could someone so thoughtful ever be cruel? “Are you going to feed me?”He grins. “Why, milady, I thought you’d never ask.”Laughter bubbles up. “I was joking.”“Whereas I, on this rare occasion, am deadly serious. And I’ll prove it.”I lie waiting, curious about what he’ll do. He hovers a canape over my mouth within reach. I open my mouth for him to place it on my tongue, and I savor the bite. “Another?” he asks.I nod. “Delicious. Please.”He feeds me more canapes before offering more substantial fare. He reveals one of the sandwiches I liked yesterday. “I noticed these were your favorite.”They are, and even more so when a gorgeous man is feeding them to m
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 17 : Hunting the Rogues
Finally, a solid lead on the rogues! Everyone starts talking at once, excited.Queen Elayna holds up her hands to quiet us. “You can’t hunt these criminals on an empty stomach. You can all take a few minutes to finish your dinner.”Jordan blushes with a frown. “She’s right. We’ll need our strength.”We all sit back down and attack the mouthwateringly rich stew. Elayna nags at us to slow down. “You’re not pigs at a feeding trough!”Her comments about my father aside, I admire the former Luna. We finish our food and even enjoy dessert. Elayna knows that she can’t hold us back much longer. “Go with my blessing, pun intended,” she says. “It’s obvious your sons got their wit from you,” I say with a smile. “Thank you. I’ll head out immediately.”This is why I came, why I’m here, and I’m eager to stretch my legs and do what I’m good at: hunt. Kent shakes his head. “We’re coming with you. This is our fight, too.”“You can go first and draw their attention, Aurora,” Jordan says, thi
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 18 : Team Effort
My teeth sink into the ear of the nearest rogue, a brown wolf with shaggy and extremely thick fur. It’s like biting into heavy wool yet it’s no match for my teeth. There’s a yelp of pain as the rogue tears away, shaking me loose. I slam into the wolf and hear the whoosh of wind being knocked from his lungs. The other rogues snarl and circle me. They don’t stand a chance. One of them is too impulsive and wastes all his energy leaping at me. I knock him out with my paws. The wolf I targeted first has the sense to run away, but I slam into him again, hitting his head and he drops to the floor unconscious. The third howls to alert the others, but I make short work of her as well.All three opponents lie on their sides on the ground, still and silent. The heat of battle is exhilarating. I haven’t had such challenging opponents in a while. It feels good to use all my strength and skills even though it’s for a temporary pack and now my own.The remaining rogues head for the valley at fu
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Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 50 : Mistress of My Mates' Pleasure
Jordan thrusts out his chest. “We dare you to take control of us.”“If you can,” Wiley says with an impish grin.Kent gives me the understated bedroom eyes that always make my knees wobble. “Do your worst.”Relishing my role, I point to him. “I think we have a volunteer–get on the bed. Wiley. Jordan, your seats are ready.”With both his brothers in their chairs, Kent stretches out on the bed, smoothing it around him. I lick my lips and approach him, taking a moment to survey all that manliness displayed before me, his arms extended, his legs open. He looks, oddly, like a medieval painting. Or maybe an ancient Greek sculpture.“Kent, I’m going to drive you out of your mind until you beg for release.”He doesn’t repeat his prompt to do my worst, but his eyes speak volumes. “But first, I need something–and it doesn’t have lavender in it. It’s from Phaedra. Don’t go anywhere.”I dart into the bathroom and return with a bottle of pure sandalwood oil. I pour a generous amount of san
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 49 : Standing Together
Kent breaks the stunned silence. “We want it said that Alpha Arnold had no knowledge of this wicked plot, and was appalled when he found out. He did what any responsible Alpha would do and exiled Haydon Blessing on the spot. The traitor is not welcome in the Nightstalkers’ kingdom or ours.”The guests’ eyes turn to red and gold. Growls of righteous fury fill the room.Alpha Arnold raises a hand and Kent nods at him, beckoning him. When he approaches us, we move to make room for him. In a solemn voice, he says, “On behalf of our entire pack, I apologize for this betrayal. Haydon Blessing was my friend, but the man I saw tonight was not him. I’m certain that his mate, well-loved in our pack, knows nothing of this. I know this news will break her heart. She will be protected, make no mistake–if the traitor tries to get to her, the entire pack will come after him tooth and claw.”Jordan says in a strong voice, “Make that BOTH our packs.”Every Ruby Nightclaw shifter in the room howls t
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 48 : Aftermath
Their hands are in my hair, and their arms are around me, comforting me. Alpha Arnold murmurs something I don’t catch. It sounds sympathetic. Jordan answers him in a low voice, and I hear Alpha Arnold’s footsteps as he leaves us alone. “He doesn’t blame you,” Jordan whispers.“I should have told him.”It should never have gotten this far with my father. I wish I had said no to him. But who else would he have sent? At least this way I came here and found out the truth. In case he tries to recruit anyone else for this gruesome task, my mates and I will spread the word. The idea makes me quake, but I think we have a duty to warn people about the vile things my father has been saying about the Leavenworths. He might attempt to smear my name, too, although his influence disappeared with him. I didn’t even get to ask him about why he thought a stolen Alpha’s daughter would help him in his warped ambitions. Just as well. He’d just lie and twist everything around and play the victim. Thr
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 47 : The Quality of Mercy
“Do it, if you have the courage,” Haydon taunts my mates. “Kill me in front of her. You’d break her heart and you know it.” My heart is already broken by his actions and words now. “I should be running this pack,” he continues. “I’d be a much stronger leader.”“We’ll just see what your Alpha thinks of that,” Kent shoots back.“Right now, if I were you, I’d be more worried about Aurora.” Haydon looks sorrowful. “You claim to be her mates. You’ve moved her into your suite and been seen joined at the tail with her. Do you know what harming me is going to do to her?”He’s still the man who raised me, unfortunately, and I can hear the tenderness in his voice as he says my name.“Let him go.”I have to force the words out and feel sick when he looks at me. I wish I could say I was surprised.Wiley growls in disbelief–the wolf equivalent of “What the hell?”Jordan and Kent look at me pleadingly. “Aurora, are you sure?” Kent asks, always the one to think through things.My tears bu
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 46 : Never Let Them Go
I can just feel my father’s glee at the thought of me beheading the kings. The anticipation is almost more than he can bear. A little anti-silver medicine goes a long way as I throw it on the kings while my knife lowers to their necks.My father bellows, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” He’s noticed that something seems off. But then, this plan isn’t perfect. Almost perfect, and good enough to trap my father. He should have remembered that by the time the prey sees the snare, it’s too late to escape.The sizzling silver wounds heal instantly and my mates leap up. Fully alive, covered in blood, smiling with defiance. Magnificent. “You’re alive?” Even shouting, my father doesn’t sound so confident now.In fact, the veins are popping out on his forehead, a sure sign he’s panicking. His mouth is opening and closing as he fights for breath. “We’re alive and triumphant,” Kent says. “Clearly.”“Your fault for raising your daughter to be the world’s best hunter,” Jordan taunts my father, clea
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 45 : Silken Death
Halfway through the meal, Elayna gets up and strides to the lectern, then addresses the crowd, regal and poised. “It’s time, in this room full of friends and my dear late husband’s favorite color, to present the Morland Leavenworth Service Award. To give out the award, please welcome his sons and your Alpha Kings, Jordan, Kent, and Wiley.”The guests erupt in applause and cheers. Sneaking a glance at my father, I see something no daughter should have to see on her father’s face. Vicious hatred for my mates.I turn my attention back to the lectern where Jordan, Kent, and Wiley stand proudly in blue, red, and yellow. Jordan begins. “My father loved a good party. Nothing would have made him happier than to see this ballroom crammed with people. He loved to entertain. He was thrilled when his friends enjoyed themselves in his home. Although, as the night wore on, he often had his fill of socializing and would either take a walk in the galleries around the ballroom or in the garden. I
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 44 : Royal Debut
Peeping out into the ballroom, waiting to make our grand entrance, I see a sea of faces all talking, laughing, and bedazzling. Jordan adjusts my moonstone necklace, called the Tears of the Moon Goddess. Made of 24-karat gold, it has layers of moonstones linked together. The matching bracelets set the dress off strikingly, and he checks the clasps on them.“These are just breathtaking,” I say. “Thank you for this gift.”Jordan, radiant in blue and gold silk, kisses my shoulder. “Treasures for our treasure. Are you ready?”“Do I look ready?”“You look blindingly beautiful,” Kent says. He’s chosen to wear red velvet with gold trim. I spot Brynna in the crowd talking to one of the lords at court. “She looks fantastic,” I murmur, with a grumble in my voice.Sharp-eyed Wiley, in a yellow silk suit, follows my gaze. “So, what did she do to you?”I sigh. “Stole the boy I liked when she knew I liked him and never apologized. She could have had any boy in the pack, but she picked him.”
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 43 : Demanding Proof of Death
I spend the rest of the day planning the ball with the kings and Elayna. After much deliberation, we all take a vote on the theme. We vote by secret ballot and Natasha and Stewart get a vote as well. Jordan and Elayna vote for the red with wolf pups.Kent, Wiley, and I vote for the yellow.Natasha votes for the autumn-patterned one.Stewart votes for the green with the hunter’s bow. Elayna doesn't seem crushed that yellow won. “It’s perfect,” she declares.Kent and Wiley hug her. “It’ll look spectacular,” Wiley says. “I love yellow, just like Dad did. Now, about the music–”“We decided to give your friend’s band another chance,” Kent says. “It turns out that the tavern brawl was blown out of proportion.”Wiley howls with glee. “Thank you!”I shake my head, smiling. Elayna looks less than convinced, but she doesn’t make an issue of it. If her sons are happy, she’s happy.Elayna is still looking over the menu. “Well, I just wanted to be sure. I wanted to have those little b
Mated to the Alpha Kings Chapter 42 : Old Friends and Old Lovers
“I’d be honored to be your date,” Brynna says to Jordan, deliberately ignoring the deafening silence and the stony looks.This must be breaking every rule of royal protocol, and considering my assassination attempt, I’m hardly one to throw the first stone. But Jordan didn’t exactly give her any encouragement. Whatever Brynna’s faults, I thought she knew how to read the room. And the room is saying, “Go away.”She’s always been the sophisticated one, even as a fellow hunter. When we were growing up, she’d spend hours doing my makeup and hair and trying on clothes with me. My mother approved of that because it balanced out all the hours hunting in the woods with my father and coming back with mud in my fur. To my mother, you could still be a hunter and be feminine. Shifter women have balanced both for centuries. I was always hungry for a sister. As an only child, I craved that sibling experience. Derric was a wonderful friend and I had other girlfriends in the pack, but there are thi
