The Alpha King Read online

  They didn’t stop to eat the first day, but munched as they were traveling. Kit knew Luca and Sam wanted to get as much distance as possible in the first two days while everyone was at their most rested, and they were still in their own territory. Kit watched as two wolves loped alongside the horses up front. “That’s amazing,” he murmured and Asher nodded.

  “It’s Nial’s doing. All the horses we are using are trained to be used to having a wolf run alongside them. The problem is that we have nearly had to train the flight response out of them.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Asher rubbed the permanent scruff surrounding his chin. “Horses need to know they aren’t predators or they will never accept them close. The only problem is that means they think all wolves aren’t predators.”

  Kit frowned. “But I thought the danger was the human militia?”

  Asher huffed. “Kit, I don’t want to frighten you, but you have to know, there are a lot of wolves who don’t like have their status quo upset.”

  “You mean me,” Kit said bluntly.

  “In so much as you are human, yes. There are lots of wolves scared the humans will revolt the same way that the wolves did all those centuries ago, and they think that their King is being soft on humans.”

  Luca finally called a halt for the day as they approached the border with Perse. He wanted everyone rested and prepared to travel into another territory very early tomorrow when their journey would start to slow down considerably. It would be impossible to travel through Perse without meeting Alpha Erindell and his ruling council, especially as they were dealing with the recent village massacre as well. Tensions were high and while Gabriel’s contact insisted Luca would be welcome, Kit wasn’t sure he would be despite Gabriel’s reassurances. Luca was hoping they wouldn’t be delayed too much, but getting Erindell’s support was important. Sam had joked to him and told Luca he had to start playing politics. Luca had been horrified, but Kit was hoping he could help with that. At least, thanks to Gabriel, Kit hoped he wouldn’t come as a surprise anyway.

  Kit watched the men all unpack tents, light fires, and get the cooking started. Luca had sent two different shifters to scout as soon as they had decided to stop to make sure the area was safe before he would even let Kit get down from the cart.

  Kit whined. He had an uncomfortably full bladder and sitting on the seat for seven hours, even with cushions, was hard on his back. He needed to stretch his legs, and even though Luca had halted everything so he could get down a few hours ago, Kit had worried it was causing too much of a delay so he hadn’t asked again, merely peed into an old plastic bottle in the back of the cart.

  Luca, I need to get down now.

  Give me a minute.

  Kit didn’t even bother with a reply. Luca was up front with Nial, who was checking on a horse they were worried was going lame. It seemed to have stood on something sharp, and a lame horse on day one wasn’t a good sign.

  Kit sighed and stood up. Asher had gone around the other side of the cart and was helping unload it. Kit put a foot on the small step that had hurriedly been fitted to the cart. He could climb down, for goodness’ sake. All this treating him like a delicate flower was getting on his nerves.

  He turned around to climb down and took a step. The large hand on his ass made him squeak. “You have to be careful,” Kit whispered to his unseen helper. “If your King sees you touching my ass he will likely execute you.”

  The rumbled laughter vibrated in his ear. Kit smirked and allowed himself to be lifted down and turned until he was flush with Luca. “I need to pee, bad,” he whined and Luca let him go, pushing him towards the bushes.

  “I’ll wait here,” he said implacably and folded his arms. Kit sighed in relief moments later, and stepped back out of the bushes, straight into Luca’s arms.

  He rubbed his head on Luca’s chest. “I missed you.”

  “I might start alternating with Asher for part of the day.” Kit beamed at that, which of course made Luca laugh.

  “Sire?”

  Sam walked up to them with an apologetic look. “We are camped for the night, and I have posted guards.”

  “Which tent am I in?” Kit asked.

  Sam grinned and gestured to the other cart before walking away. There were three, all covered. One had been parked at the edge and left. It mostly contained spare clothes, animal feed in case there was no grazing for the horses, and food that wouldn’t spoil for a while. The one Kit had been sitting on contained all the cooking implements and sleeping bags. The second had tents, tools, and spare harness parts for the horses in case something broke. That one was empty at the moment. Kit followed Sam’s look. “We’re sleeping in the cart?”

  Luca nodded and put a protective hand on Kit’s belly. Kit shook his head and pulled Luca to one side. “Luca, I’m willing to bet I have slept in far worse circumstances than you. I’m not a girl.”

  Luca grinned. “Please never say that around Iris. She would kill you, and I want you around for a long time.” Luca held a hand up when Kit was going to object again. “Apart from the fact you are pregnant and I want you safe, it is difficult for me to sleep with the men. I want them to relax, not be on their guard and worried they might say something unfit for a king’s ears.”

  “Okay,” Kit said grudgingly. “That makes sense, I suppose.”

  “Plus,” Luca leaned close and whispered in Kit’s ear, the warm breath dusting seductively over his skin. “I want privacy for all the plans that I have for you tonight.”

  Kit shivered. Luca had been insatiable for the past four weeks and Kit had loved every minute of it. Not that he hadn’t been pretty insatiable himself. Luca walked over to his men and thanked them, and Kit went to see if he could help get the meal ready.

  Henry looked alarmed when he asked. The other man, Attica, had disappeared to get water. “I can at least peel potatoes,” Kit suggested. Within minutes he was ensconced on more cushions, busy filling two huge pans while the other two carried the water and lit the fire. He caught Luca’s amused glance a few times, but Luca didn’t interfere. Gabriel was busying himself organizing the perimeter guards and then he would curl up near the fire and study one of his books. Kit knew Gabriel was one of the wolves who didn’t really care for horses. Nial was corralling the horses together and examining the lame mare. Two wolves returned carrying a huge buck between them, but Kit didn’t watch as it was butchered. He was lucky he’d never had morning sickness, but it never took much to put him off food entirely, and there was a lot of blood. He didn’t need that vision in his head.

  Everyone ate quickly. Kit was pushing his food around after barely a dozen mouthfuls. Tiredness had hit him hard and fast and he was struggling to stay awake. He was quite disgusted with himself. All he had done was sit on his ass and peel potatoes. Luca, Sam, Nial, and Asher were all looking at the lame horse and debating what to do tomorrow.

  Kit’s head drooped a little and before he knew what was happening a hand had whipped the plate out from his own. Attica chuckled, and Kit smiled sheepishly. He had been at serious risk of face-planting into the food. Attica smiled and replaced the plate with a mug of tea. Kit looked down at it suspiciously. He never drank tea.

  “My wife ’ad three sons, and after the first we knew when she was expectin’ both times afterward because first thing she did was go off coffee.”

  Kit opened his mouth to agree but yawned instead. “I’m sorry,” he said weakly.

  Henry, another human, who hadn’t said a word to him up to this point, joined in. “And that’s the other sure sign. Tiredness that would hit you faster than a brick wall. One minute my Bess was the life and soul and the next she’d be snoring.” He cackled. “Only way of shutting her up.”

  Attica nodded as Kit sipped his tea and hugged the warm mug. It was getting chilly.

  “Yer back givin’ yer ’ell yet?” Attica asked.

  Kit huffed; Attica obviously came from Tethra. His accent was a dead giveaway.

 
“Feet swollen?”

  “Indigestion?”

  “Swollen ankles?”

  “Stretch marks?”

  Kit looked up indignantly at both men and caught their twinkling smiles. He chuckled. “Don’t be mean.”

  “Mood swings,” a third voice piped up. Kit gazed in astonishment as one of the other guards shuffled over to them. He wasn’t even sure what his name was.

  “And don’t even start me on what she would or wouldn’t eat,” the guard who sat closest to him said. Kit knew that one was named Ben. All four nodded in solemn agreement. “Not that it’s not worth every minute when you hold them for the first time, though,” Ben said after a few seconds.

  “I was petrified I was going to drop my Heather. Tiny thing she was. Came early, but she had the biggest pair of bleedin’ lungs on ’er this side of the Mendrik sea,” Attica put in and he turned to the man Kit didn’t know. “What about you, Charlie? Didn’t you have twins?”

  Charlie nodded. “Aye, both boys. Eric was a saint, but Jay screamed every day for the first eight weeks.”

  Kit paled. Eight weeks?

  A soft footfall had all the men scrambling to their feet. Luca waved them back down. “I don’t think we need stand on ceremony out here.” He looked at Kit and held his hand out, and Kit let himself be pulled upright. Kit dissolved into giggles and let himself be led away. He was nearly out like a light once he lay down though. One minute Luca was kissing his neck and the next minute he blinked awake to the sounds of metal clanging as the tents were torn down and packed away. He sat at the entrance to the wagon and tried to wake up properly. He needed to pee and he wouldn’t have minded a hot drink.

  Asher appeared. “Will you let me help you?”

  Kit nodded. “Where’s Luca?”

  “He shifted about twenty minutes ago. He said it would be a good idea for the wolves to catch game for tonight. The animals could be butchered for when we stop then.”

  Kit blinked in horror as a full body shiver ran through him and bile rose in his throat. He moaned in panic, but thankfully Asher was paying attention and he simply lifted Kit from the cart and held him as he retched into the grass. Someone pushed a cup of water into his hand after he’d finished.

  “’Ere, spit and rinse.” It was Attica, and Henry was stood hovering nearby.

  “Any better?” Asher asked gruffly when Kit had finished drinking and closed his eyes, sagging against Asher weakly. “I’m sorry,” Asher said. “Should watch my fool mouth.”

  “Let’s get you back inside,” Henry said.

  “I need to pee.” Kit took a couple of breaths. He eyed a bush that was close. Kit pushed away from Asher, relieved himself, then took a few faltering steps back.

  “Right, I’m getting you back inside to lie down,” Asher said determinedly.

  “We can use the spare horses to carry what we can’t put back. Four of us can run,” Elliot, one of Sam’s betas, had heard what they had said.

  “I don’t want to cause any problems,” Kit said, not a hundred per cent sure he could get back into the cart.

  “Sire.” Kit’s heart thumped in response to the respectful greeting Asher gave Luca. “A bit of an upset belly.” Kit didn’t realize his eyes were closed until he felt the warm hands on his face. “Sire, if you jump up, I can pass him up to you.”

  Kit barely registered Asher’s suggestion before careful arms lifted him and he was cradled into Luca’s chest. He inhaled slowly, pulling Luca’s comforting scent into his lungs, and he could feel his stomach settling. Kit was warm, held safe, and already nearly fast asleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Luca pushed on steadily for the third day. Kit had dozed most of the previous two in between nasty bouts of sickness. Luca had no idea why they called it morning sickness as it seemed to affect Kit all the time. Then another horse, a gelding this time, had gone lame yesterday and he was beginning to think they were jinxed. It had slowed them down to nearly a crawl and the two day journey to get out of Caedra had turned into nearly four.

  Kit had brightened briefly and managed some stew that Henry had made last night, but he slept restlessly and looked awful this morning. Luca drove the cart this time, and sent Asher up to ride next to Sam. He glanced back every so often, but Kit was sleeping soundly at last, and for the hundredth time in the last three days, he questioned his decision to bring Kit with him before the baby had been born—except, traveling with a newborn in winter would have been just as dangerous. Maybe he should have left them both at home?

  Luca sighed. Even as the thought was there he knew that wouldn’t work either. Kit had to be seen. If not for the wolves, then for the humans. Whichever way around, something in his plans was a bad idea. More of his wolves were having to shift and run as well because of the two lame horses.

  He heard a shout and saw the group of men up ahead. Sam dismounted immediately, as did one of the men and they shook hands. Luca exhaled in relief. This must be the welcoming party from Perse.

  Asher jumped down and run back to the cart. He climbed up. “I can manage, Sire. I believe you are wanted.”

  Luca glanced at Kit who was just waking up, passed Asher the reins, jumped down, and jogged over to where the gammas were. As soon as he got close, the man who had been talking to Sam turned and as soon as he saw Luca dropped to one knee and brought his arm across his chest. Luca stopped in front of him.

  “My father has instructed me to greet you and offer his apologies for not being present. He would be honored to welcome you as guests tonight should you see fit to break your journey.”

  Luca thought quickly. They were going to continue, but only had maybe three hours of daylight left. The lame horses might be swapped out here, but more importantly Kit had worried him all day. He’d been snappy, which he never was, and he could use a decent night’s sleep. “My gratitude to your father...” Luca paused.

  “I am Sascha Erindell. My father is named Petro.”

  Luca put his hand out and helped the Alpha-heir to his feet. “My mate is with child and needs rest and attention.”

  Sascha bowed. “Of course, Sire. If you would follow me, I will show your men where to stable the horses, and where they can eat and bathe.” Asher clicked and they all moved forward. Luca mounted the horse and stayed in step with Sascha. “We were thrilled to hear of your news, Sire. We are so excited to meet the pure omega...after she is rested, of course.”

  Luca bit his lip and tried not to find the whole thing amusing. Sam was staring down at his horse as if he found the animal suddenly fascinating. Luca took a breath. He might as well get it over with. “My mate isn’t female, Sascha, and he is also human.”

  Sascha gaped. Then he seemed to realize what he was doing. “That is fabulous, Sire,” he said, the awe apparent in his voice. Luca smiled cautiously, realizing it was more than awe—there was barely contained excitement in Sascha’s voice. He was glad hearing about Kit hadn’t caused a problem, but he was a little puzzled by Sascha’s reaction.

  Everyone stopped as they approached the driveway to what looked like a comfortable pack house. It was very modern, and had sleek white walls that curved around a small courtyard that the cart could maneuver up to drop Kit by the door. Luca was fascinated to see the servants all step out, each looking happy and well-fed in crisp, white uniforms.

  Sascha showed them up to the beautiful bedroom where they would be staying, then left them alone. Kit collapsed onto the first chair as soon as they walked in.

  “How much do you love me?” Kit groaned, resting his head back against the wall.

  Luca walked into the bathroom and stared at the huge bath. Within minutes, he had turned the water on and it was filling nicely. He walked back into the bedroom. Kit hadn’t moved—he just moaned.

  Luca chuckled and stepped out of his pants. “You’re gonna love the bath. Alpha Jace has one.” He threw his clothes on a chair. He started undressing Kit and gently unfastened the shirt that was stretched taut across his belly. Luca rested his
large hands on the bump. “You know, I think you’re bigger than even yesterday,” he said in awe.

  Kit pouted. “Don’t be mean.”

  “I wasn’t being—”

  “I’m the size of a barn,” Kit wailed, opening his beautiful blue eyes. “All I’ve done in two days is sleep and throw up, and when I’m not doing that I just want to pee all the time. Look!” Kit stuck his foot up. He’d kicked his shoes off and he didn’t have socks on. He’d complained earlier that his feet were itching and Luca had taken them off for him. Luca looked at his very cute toes. He opened his mouth, thought better of it, and closed it again.

  “It’s swollen,” Kit announced.

  Luca gazed solemnly at it. “It is?” he said cautiously, not completely sure if he was supposed to agree or not.

  Kit groaned again and thunked his head back against the wall. “Henry’s wife had swollen hands so big they had to cut her ring off.”

  Luca blinked. “You know, I’m not sure you listening to their horror stories all day is a good thing.”

  “Well at least they talk to me.”

  “I talk to you,” Luca said indignantly.

  “You’ve spent more time with those horses than me.”

  “There’s two that’ve gone lame.”

  “I’m lame!” Kit stuck his other foot out and promptly burst into tears.

  “Oh sweetheart,” Luca breathed, his voice catching. He bent down and lifted Kit in his arms as Kit turned his head into Luca’s chest and sobbed. Luca sat down on the bed and curled Kit into him, nestled in his arms. He kissed him everywhere he could reach.

  “You hate me, don’t you,” Kit said between sobs.

  “What?” Luca said incredulously. “I love you,” he insisted and kissed Kit on the mouth. Kit broke off after a couple of seconds.

  “I can’t breathe,” he stuttered and more tears leaked out. Luca picked him up and walked into the bathroom. The bath was running, and Kit gaped.

  “I know. You ever been in one?” Kit shook his head. Luca was pleased it had at least stopped him crying.