The Alpha King Page 5

  Luca’s mind was filled with Kit. The scent was unmistakable. He had never followed a track so strong, but then he had never had a mate either so it made sense. He began to scent other wolves after a while and then he heard human voices. He stopped behind a large oak tree and let his human side take over. As soon as he had shifted back Kit’s smell diminished but it was still there. He caught sight of a cluster of small cottages. Kit’s scent went right past. Maybe he could throw his new status around and persuade the humans for help.

  “I need some clothes,” Sam whispered to Luca, who had just shifted behind him. “Can you still scent him?” Sam continued. “That’s remarkable. I could only get a faint scent in the house, and it was gone completely in the woods. I would have no chance now.”

  “He’s carried on past but we are close. I know we are. I smelled the scent of the other wolves that took him, and they’ve moved, but I think we’re getting nearer.”

  “Where exactly are we?” Sam asked.

  “Human settlement right between Hendrick and Malachi pack lands. The village is called Hunterberry and is the buffer Hendrick and Malachi worked out years ago. Both packs are allowed access but neither of them can settle or claim it. Only licensed humans are allowed to live here and the profit is split equally between both Alphas.”

  “Your pack lands,” Sam insisted. Luca smiled. It would take some getting used to.

  Luca heard the sound of a human moving toward them. “Help you, gentleman?”

  Luca knew the old man was no threat but the large knife he was carrying might be. Luca turned slowly. “My beta has need of clothes.”

  The old man sighed and eyed Sam. “You’ll be lucky. My spare pair of pants is in the wash and there’s not any big enough for you, anyway.” He lowered the knife quickly, as if suddenly realizing he could get into a lot of trouble for threatening a wolf. The man frowned. “My son has long legs but still shorter than yours, so why don’t you get some from the camp?”

  “Camp?” echoed Luca, and the old man squirmed a little, clearly wondering if he had said something he shouldn’t have.

  “A wolf camp?” Sam asked eagerly. The man nodded.

  Luca stepped up to the man towering over him and put out his arm, reaching for the human’s elbow. The man stared in shock. No werewolf would ever greet a human as an equal. His bony fingers clasped Luca’s arm, their forearms lined up.

  “My name is Luca Hightower and I am the new Alpha of Caedra. My omega has been kidnapped by those wishing to do him harm, and I may need some help to get him back. I can scent he is close and likely in the wolf camp you mention.”

  The man looked Luca in the eye, again something humans weren’t allowed to do. “You taking over from Hendrick?”

  Luca nodded. “Things will be a lot different.”

  The man huffed. “Well, they couldn’t be much worse.” He took a decisive breath. “I believe you. Name’s Richert and I manage all your farmlands to the east. Hope I’m not going to regret this, but I can get ten big lads to help you. We have no weapons—well, a few knifes.”

  “Excellent,” Luca said. There was a lot he could do with a knife apparently.

  “Follow me. They aren’t going anywhere. They always camp in the woods, kill any game they find, and drink themselves stupid.”

  Luca needed the weapons, so he agreed. “I need to be as quick as I can. I do not trust them with my unmated omega.”

  Richert stilled and worry chased his face. “We will be quick.”

  Richert, it turned out, was somewhat of an unofficial leader in the village. He was also surprisingly fast for a human. In less than an hour, Sam was clothed, and they had ten men and an assortment of makeshift knives and spears. Luca knew the humans would have no chance trying to overpower the wolves but apparently there were human guards at the camp and he was more concerned he might need help with those. Sam and he would have to take care of the gammas. Richert didn’t think there were more than three or four in total.

  “So, outnumbered sire? We should have thought to bring some gammas.” Sam chuckled, his face a picture of unconcern. Luca strapped four knives into the belt he wore.

  “Richert’s boy says they were drinking all last night,” Luca said grimly acknowledging Sam had the right of it, but once he had scented Kit he couldn’t think of anything else. “I’m hoping most of them may be the worst for wear.”

  “Except the two that took Kit,” Sam reminded him.

  “Do you want to shift?”

  Luca shook his head. “For a large group, I am better with the knives than I am with my teeth. I also plan on being able to speak.”

  “You are giving them a chance to surrender?” Sam’s eyebrows rose.

  “As soon as I have secured Kit.”

  “It is more than they would have done.”

  Luca agreed, but he would start ruling as he meant to right now. Mercy wherever possible. Luca looked up as Richert’s son, Asher, came creeping back. They had no choice but to send a human to snoop. The gammas would pick up on his and Sam’s scent instantly.

  Asher crept close. His green eyes glinted in barely contained excitement. “There is a small hut at the back of the camp. There are two guards on the door but as I watched, Alpha Gareth went inside.”

  “He’s not an Alpha,” Sam growled.

  Asher frowned. “And what would you like me to call him that won’t get my head separated from my neck?”

  “Asher,” grunted Richert. “Show some respect.”

  Sam narrowed his eyes at Asher’s defiant shrug but Luca was thankful he kept silent. Asher had a point. “How many werewolves did you see?”

  “Four outside but drinking heavily, and two that went in the hut with...Gareth.” Asher seemed satisfied to cut the honorific from Gareth’s name.

  Luca nearly laughed at the consternation on Sam’s face. Asher was being insulting but at the same time doing exactly what Sam had instructed. He glanced admiringly at the human. He would have put him around the same age as Kit but he was as different to Kit as night and day. Asher had nearly black hair and deep green eyes. He was tall and built well for a human. Huge strapping muscles lined his arms and his lower calves. The rags he wore stretched over a wide chest, a testament to the amount of physical labor he did, no doubt. He would make a good guard, Luca thought. He had also seen a flash of intelligence in those green eyes as well. Luca filed the thought away for later.

  Luca and Sam crept closer, hoping the wolves outside were too drunk to scent them, until finally they stopped behind a bush. Luca saw the hut as Asher had described, and the two gammas who had gone in with Gareth were now outside standing watch. The rest of the humans and the other four gammas Asher said had been drinking lay snoring in a pile about twenty feet away.

  “Asher?” Luca whispered. “Can you take them if Sam and I go to the hut?”

  Asher nodded grimly and glanced at the other rag-tag assortment of men that were with him, all of them nodding their understanding. “We take the guards silently. I don’t want to alert whoever is in the hut.”

  Luca agreed. He couldn’t risk the precious few seconds of Gareth being warned before he got to Kit. “Now,” Luca said as he stood, but just at that second an agonized scream came from the hut, turning his blood to ice. “Kit!” he roared and the knives flew from his belt with deadly accuracy before he had taken barely two steps. One gamma fell with a knife through his heart. The other didn’t even get a chance to take a last breath as the blade pierced his forehead. Sam ran straight after him and they both crashed through the door.

  Luca saw everything through a red haze. Anger the like of which he had never known boiled over him at the sight of Gareth pinning Kit to the bed, Kit naked, and Gareth with his pants down to his ankles. He was just lining his filthy, dripping cock up to a struggling Kit while he held Kit down by the back of his neck with his partially shifted and clawed hand.

  Luca heard shouts outside as the ground shook. Fear registered in Gareth’s eyes as Luca grabbed
the wolf by the throat and lifted him off the floor. Legs scrambling, he tried desperately with clawed fingers to loosen the hands Luca was choking him with. Luca roared again and Gareth’s face turned purple, his struggles becoming weaker.

  “Sire, Sire... Luca!” Luca took a breath as he registered the small cry and saw Kit crying in Sam’s hold.

  Luca opened his fingers instantly and Gareth dropped to the floor. Sam let go of Kit at the same time and then Kit launched himself at Luca. Luca folded his arms around him protectively and bent his head.

  He couldn’t think. Kit’s delicious scent weaved through his lungs and he drew in deep breath after deep breath. Luca couldn’t stop shaking. He became aware of someone whispering comfort to him, and realized it was Kit. Murmured words interspersed with kisses, covered his skin and soothed his heart. He held Kit close, the omega’s skin like a furnace.

  “I’m sorry,” Luca ground out. “I should have listened to you.”

  Garbled words left Kit’s throat and even desperate as Luca was to claim him, he tried to grasp the shreds of his control.

  “He’s sick,” Luca said to Sam.

  Sam took a step nearer to Kit and a growl seemed to burst from Luca’s throat. Kit seemed almost delirious, rubbing himself on Luca, whines and little pleading noises filling the air.

  “Sire,” Sam said, taking a step back, “you need to claim him.”

  Luca’s wolf roared in his mind and his gums ached. “I-I can’t.”

  “Sire,” Sam pleaded, “he’s not sick, he’s in heat.”

  What? Luca’s mind cleared. “That’s impossible, he’s a human—a male human, not a female she-wolf.”

  “He’s a pure omega, Sire. Listen to your wolf.”

  Kit mewled again—“Luca, Luca please,”—and Luca felt the last shred of control over his wolf snap. Luca captured Kit’s lips. He mauled Kit’s mouth. Licked and sucked and gently bit. He vaguely heard the door to the hut close firmly and knew Sam had taken Gareth outside. He didn’t care whether the wolf was still alive, all his focus was on the gorgeous lithe body wriggling temptingly in his arms.

  He wrenched his lips away from Kit with difficulty. Kit’s scent was drugging him until he could barely think. “I can’t. I haven’t any—” He couldn’t take Kit with merely spit. The idea appalled him.

  “I am an omega,” Kit said, clutching him. “I am your omega.” He took Luca’s cheeks in both of his small hands. “My body was made for you, you cannot hurt me...ever.”

  Luca blinked at the complete certainty in Kit’s eyes. He hoisted him higher. Kit wrapped his legs around Luca’s waist instantly and Luca’s hand strayed to the crease of Kit’s ass. Kit trembled as Luca’s hand slid further, but not in fear. Luca stared into the deep blue eyes, wide with lust and dark with longing. His gaze dropped to Kit’s lips—pink, puffy, but curving in the most heart-stoppingly beautiful smile he had ever seen.

  Luca’s breath caught and Kit slid closer, tightening his legs and pressing his cock against Luca’s abdomen, silently begging. He fixed his eyes on Kit’s face and searched with his finger, immediately finding Kit’s puckered entrance. He swirled his finger around and his finger came back slick. He blinked in shock.

  “Made for you. I told you,” Kit urged and Luca slipped his forefinger in as Kit gasped and his head fell back. Luca nearly came himself at the look of complete rapture on Kit’s face. He truly was made for Luca. Kit moaned decadently, the sound sending another bolt of heat to Luca’s groin.

  He had to lay Kit down, now. There was a small bed in the corner and Luca only took two steps to reach it. He lay Kit down gently on his back.

  “It may be easier if you turn over and get on your knees,” Luca insisted.

  Kit shook his head. “Please, no. I want to see you.”

  He cupped Kit’s face. “It will kill me to cause you any pain.”

  “Not possible.” Kit’s smile was back.

  “Made for me.” Luca echoed before Kit had the chance.

  Luca dropped his pants quickly and his aching cock sprang free to be immediately clasped in Kit’s small hands as Kit bent forward. Luca was embarrassed at the noise he made. No wolf should whimper like he did. Kit’s hand glided up his shaft and Luca clamped his lips closed. Fuck, he was so close already.

  “What are you waiting for?” Kit teased, and he guided Luca’s cock to his hole.

  Luca was hanging on by a thread. He tried to remain still, he tried to go slow, but the first touch of Kit’s welcoming heat around his length ripped his patience to threads. Luca bucked his hips and his cock glided straight into Kit’s welcoming ass. Luca whimpered again, making no attempt to hide the noise or his need.

  Kit wrapped his legs around Luca’s hips and moaned long and low. “Perfect.”

  Luca’s eyes opened wide in astonishment. No pain registered on Kit’s face at all. His creamy brown cheeks, dusky with a pink tinge, lips parted, and blue eyes wide and unfocused were the most beautiful thing Luca had ever seen. More small, satisfied noises fell from his lips as Luca thrust in hard and pulled out achingly slow. Need burned in Luca hotter with each motion and he leaned closer to Kit, locking his elbows and changing his angle of thrust so he wouldn’t crush him.

  “Ohh...” Kit’s eyes opened wide and Luca smiled, knowing his cock had just brushed Kit’s gland. Kit’s legs wrapped tight around Luca and Luca now set up an urgent rhythm. Tight, perfect heat surrounded his dick and he felt his balls draw up and pressure build in his spine. His jaw tingled. He licked his lips, salivating, knowing his canines would drop to give Kit the mating bite.

  “Touch yourself,” Luca commanded, wanting Kit to experience the same rush of pleasure.

  Kit’s gaze narrowed as he tried to focus on Lucas. He clumsily grabbed his own slim cock. “Please,” Kit begged, licking his lips. “Don’t stop. I’m—” Kit arched, his eyes closed and his mouth falling open.

  All words forgotten. Kit’s scent slammed into Luca. The heat from Kit’s cum splattered his abdomen. His canines dropped instantly as he lowered his head to the base of Kit’s neck. Pleasure exploded in every cell in Luca’s body as his balls emptied and his teeth cut through Kit’s skin like butter. Stars exploded behind his tightly closed eyelids as he sucked furiously. He just had the ability to lick the wound closed as his teeth retracted and he collapsed to the side, bringing Kit with him, their bodies still joined.

  Complete peace surrounded Luca as he panted softly. It was the best, the most perfect feeling of completion...ever. Luca lay panting. Kit lay limp in his arms. Sudden worry chased him. He’d been too rough. Mindless. He should have waited. He wasn’t some feral creature with no control. Guilt slammed into Luca and he tried to move, only to get a moan from Kit. He was so hard still, and when his cock throbbed, he felt Kit shudder. Was...did Kit like it?

  Yes, he heard the fervent agreement from Kit, vaguely surprised he had managed to express himself coherently at all. He groaned at the feeling of his still swollen cock inside Kit’s ass, but then he wrapped him up tighter. He was never letting him go.

  Good.

  Luca blinked, the word from Kit filtering through his brain. What?

  I said good. I never want you to ever let me go.

  Luca opened his eyes in shock. Kit lay with his eyes shut, but with a smug smile on his face. Luca swallowed. Open your eyes, he thought.

  Kit blinked his eyes open. Yes, Sire.

  Luca gaped. You can hear me?

  I am your omega, Kit replied as if that explained everything.

  Luca tightened his arms, relaxing as he felt his swollen cock slide out and Kit gave a very satisfied sigh. Yes, Luca thought. You most certainly are.

  Chapter Five

  Is this another gift?

  That we can talk to each other? Yes.

  One you were expecting?

  Kit grinned. “Much as I would wish it, I am not a fountain of all knowledge. I dreamed we would always know what was in each other’s minds.”

  Luca kissed the
top of his head and frowned when he felt the bump from where he had been hit. How do you feel? Luca gazed into Kit’s pretty blue eyes. His skin had cooled to pleasantly warm. His eyes were focused. Kit wriggled and lifted his eyebrows in invitation. Luca put his head back and laughed. “When we get home.” He caressed Kit’s soft cheek with the side of his hand. Luca huffed. He needed to get up. They needed to leave, he had a council meeting... “Have you any clothes?” He had no intention of anyone seeing Kit’s body except him. Then Kit turned his head to one side, catching his attention....

  Luca stared in astonishment. His own mark was the letter A followed by an L. Simple, indicating his Alpha status and his name. He expected Kit’s to be the same, or similar; It was anything but. He had the image of a small crown and the letter O woven into it. It was much nicer than his own.

  Kit smiled. “You need to look at yours.” Luca jumped up. There was no mirror for him to see. There was no bathroom in the measly little space.

  Close your eyes. Luca did immediately, and his mind was immediately filled with an image of himself. He tilted his head to the left and stared openmouthed back at his own body. It was weird, as if he were looking in the mirror. Except the image was...almost erotic, his lips plump and wet as he licked them, muscles bunching and falling, his cock thick and filling even as he—

  “What the hell?” Luca opened his eyes to see Kit’s brimming with laughter. He stared at the mischief written all over him and understanding slammed into him. “I was seeing through your eyes?” he asked incredulously. Kit giggled, and the sound skittered pleasantly over his skin.

  Luca smirked and closed his eyes again. Just the tattoo this time, he admonished. Then he nearly opened his eyes again in shock. His mark was completely changed. The letters A and L were still there but skillfully woven into a crown. It was the mark of the Alpha King. He knew that without having to say another word. Even the crown was similar to Kit’s, just a larger version. Luca grinned and opened his eyes. My crown’s bigger than yours.