The Alpha Takes a Mate (12 page)

“Seriously, you can go again?” she asked.

He chuckled. “Baby, wolves are designed to go for hours. That was a starter to me. Go to sleep
, and I’ll hold you while you do.”

Elle didn’t argue with him. Closing her eyes she let sleep claim her.

Chapter Twelve

Brandon left his mate sleeping as he went down to where his friends were waiting. Lewis, Darcy, and Drake were sat around his sitting room drinking his expensive whisky. He got the whiskey imported once a month. Being a werewolf meant a lot of strong alcohol passed through their system with no side effects. The stronger the whiskey the more it took hold and gave him the buzz humans got. He liked the buzz the stronger stuff gave him.

“Layla’s worried about Elle. She wants to call or visit as soon as she can. I told her she was in good hands. My word wasn’t good enough,” Lewis said.

Folding his arms over his chest, Brandon looked among all three men. “What’s with the sombre faces?” he asked.

“Crazy Lizzy turned up along with several witches from her coven,” Darcy said.

“The strongest?” Brandon asked, taking a seat.

“
Yeah, they’re starting a war with the warlocks, and they don’t want them on this turf while they’re here. Crazy Lizzy is shouting about a breed of species to ruin them all. I don’t know. She never makes any sense. I’m sure the thoughts that come to her are from the books she reads,” Darcy said.

“Crazy Lizzy scares me
, but she’s always been right about everything. Look what happened to Brandon. She foretold of him taking over the pack and us being underneath him,” Drake said.

“Yeah, but she also foretold of a strong mate for our good leader. Last time I checked a human wasn’t all that strong. If Lori got near Elle, she’
d break the human like a twig,” Lewis said.

Brandon
didn’t need the image of his mate breaking.

She’s only human. No one can protect her. They will kill her easily.

“Elle is not getting near this. She’s staying away from it,” Brandon said.

“You can’t face these people without your mate, Brandon. They know you’re mated. They’ll sense your claiming a mile away,” Darcy said, warning him.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll hide it.”

Silence filled the room as his men looked at him.

“You’re going to use Lori,” Drake said.

“Everyone knows she’s the strongest of our female pack. She’s been in my bed
, and my scent is all over her. None of them will be the wiser. She’ll pose as my mate in front of them. Elle is to be protected. Have you brought me any males willing to take on the task?” he asked.

“You can’t be serious?” Darcy said, stopping him from moving the conversation along.

“Serious about what?” Brandon turned his gaze to Darcy.

“You’re going to cause shit for us doing that. Vamps, witches, warlocks, all of them are not fucking stupid.
If you do this, Brandon, it could turn badly on us. They’ll find a reason to get rid of you,” Darcy said.

“I’m not talking about this. I’m the alpha. You’ll do as you’re told.”

“Fuck that, you’re breaking the alpha code.” Drake stood. His anger lashed out at Brandon.

Brandon
took the anger but fed his wolf the energy needed to assert his authority. “I’m the alpha. If any of you wish to take my place, tell me, and the pack can be yours.” He looked at all three men in turn. The Northern Forest pack was his. Brandon would fight to the death if he needed to.

All three men bowed their heads, backing down from the challenge.

“You’re the best alpha this pack has had. I’m not going to fuck that up by fighting you for it. I’m not the alpha, but I don’t think bringing Lori in to replace Elle is the right decision. You’re talking about your
human
mate against a tough female wolf,” Lewis said, being the voice of reason for a change.

“What are you trying to say?”
Brandon asked.

“Lori could make a claim for Elle’s position. It has been known to happen. Elle would never win in a fight. Lori
will
fight for the seat by your side.”

He considered Lewis’s warning. “Lori won’t do that. I know her. She’ll be happy to be by my side. That will be enough.”

“Whatever. I need a drink.” Darcy walked out of the room with Lewis following behind him.

Only he and Drake remained in the room. “I hope you know what you’re doing,
Brandon,” Drake said.

“I know what I’m doing. I’d never put this pack in danger.”

Drake nodded then followed the other two men out the door. The weight of their disapproval settled in the pit of his stomach.

I’m doing the right thing. Elle wouldn’t be any match against the creatures of the
Otherworld.

Brandon
downed his glass of whiskey before searching for Lori. He found her on the edge of the forest.

“I wondered when the human would bore you,” Lori said. She didn’t turn around as she faced the edge of the forest.

“I’m not here for a fuck.”

“Pity. I know how much you love to fuck after the full moon. Does
Elle
know about your passions? Another question, could she even handle what you need?” Lori asked, facing him.

“I’m not talking about my mate with you.”

“Yet, you’re here with me and not with her. What’s the matter, she too virginal for your tastes?”

Brandon
snapped. He may have a human mate that he didn’t want, but she was his mate. No one was going to disrespect her in his company. His hand went around Lori’s throat cutting off any laughter.

“She’s your fucking queen.”

Lori’s face fell. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”

He glared down at her until he was satisfied. Letting go of her neck,
Brandon stared up at the full moon.

“The creatures of the
Otherworld are arriving in a couple of days. Crazy Lizzy is already here.”

“What do you need from me?” Lori asked, rubbing her throat.

“I want you to stand at my side. You’ll pose as my mate for them but nothing else. You have no prior claim or any shit, do you understand?” Brandon asked.

“Yes
… Alpha.”

“Good.”
Brandon left her at the edge of the forest. He went back to his room. Elle was fast asleep in his bed. Curling against her, Brandon wrapped his arms around her body and let sleep claim him once again.

****

“Why have you brought me here?” Elle asked, folding her arms. She squealed as a frog hopped past her. They were deep in the forest. For the past two days Brandon had done nothing but take her on expeditions or exploring the surrounding forests of Grace Hill.

“I thought you’d like to get out of the town. Working in the diner isn’t the most thrilling job,” he said. She watched as he ran his fingers in the river they’d found. Standing on the rocks she took the time to look around.
The thick green forest surrounded her. The rushing water filled the silence when their conversation became stilted.

“It’s still a job
, and feeding the pack is a joy. You guys certainly know how to eat.”

He walked toward her. Since the night he’d brought her to orgasm with his tongue,
Brandon had become quite attentive of her. She didn’t mind his attention, but she started to think his sudden interest in her was down to something else. The whole pack was on alert. She’d also noticed Lori’s gloating look when she passed the other woman.

What was going on to have the whole pack like this?

“My woman, the feeder,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“What’s going on?” she asked, chancing a look in his eyes. The piercing blackness scared her. She looked away. His sigh came next. For the past couple of days they’d been like this.

“You know I’m going to have your gaze on mine soon,” he said. “I’m not fighting you because I know it has something to do up here.” He pointed against her temple. “You’re mine, Elle. I’m not letting this go.”

“I know.”  She didn’t understand why she couldn’t look at him.
The fact she couldn’t look at him for any length of time bothered her.

What kind of mate was she when she could share his bed, explore his body
, but not look him in the eye?

Talking with Layla was out of the question
, and she’d never ask her parents something so personal.

You’re alone in this. Always alone.

They shared a bed at night. Brandon refused to let her go back to her home. Slowly, the pack brought her stuff to his home. They gave her weird looks as they each brought an item to her. She didn’t understand what was happening.

“You’ve successfully evaded my question,
Brandon. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he said, cupping her cheeks. He dropped his lips against hers. She instantly flooded with warmth at his touch. “There is nothing going on. I can smell your pussy. You want me
, don’t you, baby?”

She whimpered as he claimed her lips once again. Her nipples hardened. They hadn’t done anything more than touch. She’d explored his body with her hands, stroking his cock until he reached climax.
Brandon’s body was beautiful. His tats captivated her, as did his muscles. She loved watching him flex and move. He had a tight ass as well.

“I could fuck you here,” he said.

“Why don’t you?” she asked, then gasped. Elle covered her mouth with her hand.

Brandon
chuckled. “You’re not ready. I’ll know when you’re ready.”

“How will you know when I’m ready?”

“Baby, I’m a man. They’ll be no stopping you. You’ll be like an aggressive beast, hungry for my hot body.”

She slapped his naked chest. Elle noticed over the past couple of days that most of the pack men went around without a shirt. Most of the females wore bikini tops. She’d asked Daisy about it
, and apparently their bodies ran hotter than humans. Not only did they run hotter, but when other Otherworld creatures were close by, their temperature spiked because of the need to change. It was like a defence mechanism in them.

“Are other
people
here?” she asked, breaking from the kiss. Her father was the one organising the event. She recalled him talking about it a few months ago.

“Some are here. Not everyone,”
Brandon said, letting out a sigh.

“Do you need me for this? I understand if you do. I’ll be by your side, helping you.” He pressed a palm against her mouth.

“No, I don’t need you there. This is pack stuff.”

And she wasn’t a pack member.

You’re a mate. A human mate.

What did it mean? Was she good enough to fuck but not have at his side? She didn’t understand what was going on.

She knew who’d have the answer. Glancing down at her watch she let out a sigh. “I need to get to work.”

“Okay, hop back on. I’ll have you at the diner in no time.”

Elle moved closer to him. Brandon caught her chin. “Look at me.” She glanced in his eyes then turned away. “I’m keeping you safe. You know that, right?”

She nodded. “I’m getting that. I don’t get this mating stuff
, but I get that.”

He helped her on his back
, and then they were walking through the forest. Brandon walked a lot faster than she did. He got through the thick forest without falling down.

Holding onto his body, Elle rested her head on his back. She was getting attached to him. Every second they spent together the bond between them was growing. She even started to feel his presence. When she was working at the diner, she’d get a tingling along her arms. Turning around she’d watch
Brandon enter the diner.