No Alpha, page 7
part #1 of The Alpha Brothers Series
"You ride the dead horses like you were born to do so," he tells me as I slide my legs to one side, and he grips my hips as I jump down into his arms. He holds me close to him, making sure my feet don't touch the sand. Chuckling, I wrap my legs around his waist, keeping my hands on his shoulders. His hands hold my ass tightly as he walks us to the water.
"So do you. It's clear you love riding," I reply, and he nods while walking us into the water.
"Though I do not like being beaten. I think it's time you had a little punishment now," he teases as we get farther into the water. The waves push against his legs as he walks us in, though he doesn’t seem to notice as he looks at me only.
"If your punishment is to drop me in the water, I think you'll find I don't mind that. The water is warm, and I can swim," I reply, raising an eyebrow at him, and he laughs.
"Who taught you to swim?" he asks.
"I taught myself. There was a lake in the forest, and I got bored as a kid. The dead horses weren't always around, so I taught myself to swim, how to make a fire, and just lots of other things. Though tree climbing was always one of the things I was bad at," I explain to him.
"I'm impressed. I taught myself the same things. So did Alpha and Letric. We had to learn quickly as kids on this island alone," he tells me.
"How did you eat?" I ask, curious how they managed to survive alone on an island. I’ve heard the outcasts hunt in the forest for food like many of the pack do. The forest is full of deer and rabbits. Everything else, they grow, though this island doesn’t look like it has a lot of land to grow things.
"The fish. Let me show you how we learnt to hunt, and then I will punish you tomorrow night when you are staying at mine," he says, and before I question why I am not staying at Alpha's or where I will be tonight, Alaric drops me into the sea. I fall backwards, getting soaked before I kneel forward and glare at his back as he walks to the beach.
“Don’t worry. The bridge is closed due to the war, and no one comes here. We are alone.” I stand up and look around, seeing that we are alone before undoing my dress. I walk back to the horses and throw my dress over my horse’s back just as Alaric comes back with a long stick. Both ends are extremely sharp, and he has taken all his clothes off, so he is now only wearing shorts that tightly stick to his body, showing me how happy he is to see me. His eyes stay fixed on me for a long time, and I wonder if he is going to kiss me, but he shakes his head and rubs his hands with his face.
"Come on," he says, holding out his hand, and I slide my hand into his as we run back into the water. We walk against the waves until we get deep enough for the water to settle a little, and we start swimming. This water is a lot different to swim in than the water of the lake, plus it is warm, not very cold like the lake always was. Luckily, my old pack was nearer the ocean than the Xan Pack who live up in the very top of the mountains where it is said to always snow, and their water is frozen solid.
"Can you swim underwater for a moment, just to watch?" Alaric asks once we get far out, and I nod, knowing I can do that. The water is so clear here that it will be easy to see with the bright sunlight as well. Alaric grins before diving under the water. I take a deep breath and dive in, ignoring the way the salt water burns my eyes as I adjust to it.
There are lots of different size fish swimming around us, and the ones in the distance look a lot bigger. All the different colours of them look amazing as they reflect from the water and the sun above. I watch as Alaric straightens up in the water. He lifts the long stick over his shoulder and waits. Just as I think I need to swim back up for air, he throws the stick over his shoulder, and it slams into the stomach of a large silver fish. The fish floats up with the stick as I swim out, gasping for air, and Alaric appears above the water a little bit later. He swims to get the stick and comes back to me as I float.
"That is seriously impressive. You taught yourselves how to do that?" I question, and he nods, wiping a hand through his wet hair.
"Do you want to learn? I know fishing is a bit boring—"
"I'd love to learn," I interrupt, and he smiles, before swimming closer and kissing me lightly.
"I'm going to put this fish in the satchel, and I will be right back to show you how to do it," he explains to me.
"Okay," I say, smiling as he looks at me strangely for a moment before letting go and swimming away. I lie on my back in the water, looking up at the bridge and frowning in shock when I think I see someone on it. I sink back in the water, hiding my body as I search the place where I thought I saw someone and not seeing anyone again. Why would someone be in the middle of the bridge watching us?
Chapter 16
Elodie
"Here you go, Mary," I say as I hand over the eight fish tied with some string at the top as she holds her nose from the fish smell and takes them from me. Alaric had to leave to sort out a pack issue with Alpha, so I thought I’d come to the kitchen and start cooking the meal for tonight.
"This will make a lovely dinner tonight," Mary says then raises her eyebrows at me. "Have you been fishing all day with Alpha Alaric?" she asks as she walks off to the kitchen to put the fish on the counter. I follow her over and pull one of the fish in front of me. Grabbing a knife, I start cutting it while answering her.
"Yes. Alaric packed us lunch as well, and he taught me how to fish. How was your day?" I ask, and she mutters something under her breath before answering me.
"I had a fine day. I collected more herbs from the garden. Did you catch one of the fishes?" she asks as we gut the fish.
"Err no. I need a lot more practice. I've learnt my upper arm strength is nowhere near Alaric's," I say, and she laughs with me. We don't say much more as we finish sorting out the fish, and we cut up a dozen potatoes before Letric walks down into the kitchen. Letric has on a white shirt tucked into tight black trousers.
"My two favourite girls," he says, kissing the side of Mary's head, and she shoos him away as he comes over to me. "Can I steal the lovely Elodie from you, Mary?" he asks as he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to his side. I can't help but smile up at him, and when I look over at Mary, she nods with a sad look in her eyes.
"Yes, go on. I will bring you dinner later on," she replies.
"Great! We will be back at the tower in about an hour," Letric says and leads me out of the kitchen and up the stone steps.
"Where are we going then?" I ask him, and he grins down at me.
"There is a party in the town to celebrate a mating. There will be dancing, and I want to dance with you, Elodie," he tells me. It makes me remember all the parties in my old pack and how I was never invited to any of them. I used to cook the food, help with the alpha female’s and beta females’ hair, and then I would watch out of a window as they all had fun.
"I can't dance. I've never danced with anyone actually," I reply, and he shakes his head.
"I don't care if you step on my toes or knock me over. We are still doing it," he tells me, and he laughs at the look on my face as we get outside. "Come on, I'm trying to be romantic and all that."
"Why on earth would you want to be romantic with me?" I ask, and he glowers.
"I like you, El. Isn't that clear?" he asks.
"It's clear I'm temporary in your lives. Mary explained it all to me, and I get it. I really do," I admit, even though I know I'm getting addicted to my time spent with the brothers. I can’t imagine my life without them now, and I know I need to start thinking of a future in the pack and just seeing them around.
"Maybe not all of us want you to be temporary," he quietly tells me as we walk down the path. I look up at him, wanting him to expand on what he just suggested, but he shakes his head. "I have a better idea. Why don't we just live for now and worry about everything else later on?"
"I can try that," I say, knowing it is what he wants.
"Okay, so this is a date, and I'm taking you dancing," Letric says, and I chuckle as he links our hands as we get into the village. All the stalls are lit up with little candles, bright flowers tied together on strings, and all of the people walking around the market look happy, talking amongst themselves and laughing. There is music in the distance, and Letric leads me through the crowds of people to the clock tower where there is a large band playing different instruments as a woman sings in front of them. Letric grins and pulls me into the couples and people dancing to the music. I laugh as he spins me around, pulling me against his chest as I wrap my arms around his shoulders. I try to keep up with Letric, but even as he leads me, I trip on his feet a little, and somehow, he manages to whisk me around so no one notices. I find myself relaxing more and more as the beautiful music plays, and I relax to the song.
"Lodie! Lodie!" I hear my name called by a familiar, little voice, and Letric lets me go to turn around as I see who called me.
"Annie!" I say, holding my arms out as the little girl throws herself into them, and I lift her up. Annie was a little girl who was the daughter of one of the betas, but her mother died in labour, and her father didn't want much to do with her. She was mainly passed around the pack, and I looked after her quite a lot. It's clear someone has been caring for her, likely much better than she was before, by the looks of the little white bows plaited into her blonde hair and her stunning pink dress. She looks happy.
"Who is this?" Letric asks just as a woman runs over, her eyes widening as she sees me holding Annie and then Letric.
"I'm Annie, Lodie's best friend," Annie proudly says, holding out a hand for Letric to shake. Letric shakes her little hand and bows to her, making me smile.
"It's good to meet you, Miss Annie," he says, making her giggle.
"I'm so sorry, Alpha Letric and Leader Elodie," the woman says, and I shake my head. “Our daughter ran off while I was getting her a drink.”
"It's okay. Annie was from my old pack, and we were friends. Are you two dancing to the beautiful music here?" I ask Annie, and she nods. Her new mother smiles at me, looking relieved.
"Yes, but you sing better. I miss your songs that helped me sleep," Annie says with a dramatic sigh, and Letric grins at me as I put the little girl down.
"I'm sure your new parents can sing to you whenever you ask. I hope we can see each other again sometime," I tell her.
"Me too! We could make sandcastles on the beach!" she exclaims, walking to the woman's side and taking her hand. "Bye!"
"Bye, Annie!" I reply before turning back to Letric.
"So, you can sing?" His sensual lips curl mischievously. “You didn’t tell me that.”
"I can sing a little," I reply, and my eyes widen as he takes my hand before leading me through the people to the woman in front of the band. Her song just finishes when we stop in front of her.
"Alpha Letric, how are you?" the woman asks, letting their band carry on playing a song behind her.
"Good, Peria. My friend, Elodie, can sing," he says, dropping me right in it.
"Oh, you must sing for us then, Elodie!" Peria states, looking overly excited. "Do you know a song you want to sing?"
"I don't know..." I mutter, crossing my arms.
"You can do this. Do it for me, sweet El," Letric asks, and I bite my lip, before taking a deep breath.
"I know the Claim of Wolves song," I admit, and Peria grins before whispering to the band who stop their music. The woman offers me her hand and pulls me onto the little stage before we both look at all the people staring at us. Letric steps back into the line and crosses his arms, giving me a nod.
"The lovely Leader Elodie is going to sing for us tonight," Peria loudly declares, and everyone expectantly waits as the woman steps down while the soft, haunting melody of my favourite song starts playing. I close my eyes as the song leaves my lips, and I sway to the music, hearing my voice echo as the wind carries it around.
"When the wolves stake a claim,
Oh, the joys it can bring.
The claim is near. The claim is gone.
Oh, when the wolves stake a claim.
The girl with no claim sings along.
The girl who grows to a wolf with no song, but oh she loves to sing along.
When the wolves stake a claim.
Oh, the wolves will claim...
The claim of the damned, the claim of the lost.
A claim that follows the old song...
Oh, when the wolves stake a claim,
What hearts it can break...when the wolves stake a claim."
My song echoes around the crowd, and as I sing the last note, my eyes lock onto Letric as he walks to me. As the music drifts off and the crowd cheers, Letric steps in front of me and kisses me. For only a moment, I feel like a wolf who was just claimed.
Chapter 17
Elodie
I laugh as Letric opens the door to his tower, and we go in, seeing the fire is lit and there is food on the coffee table, covered with metal lids. The smell is amazing, and the room is lovely and warm compared to outside now. I ended up singing three more songs after the first as Annie danced with Letric. Letric danced some more with me when Peria took over as the sun set in the sky around us. It was a fun night, one I know I will never forget.
"So that guy never dances? Ever?" I question Letric as he shuts the door, still chuckling about the story of how my songs I sang made one of the grumpiest wolves in the pack decide to dance with his mate.
"Never. Seems I'm not the only one that finds you enchanting, Elodie," he teases, and I chuckle.
"I'm not enchanting, Letric," I reply. I don’t get why they all seem to think I am so enchanting when my old pack saw me as nothing more than a shadow to do their bidding.
"Yeah, you are," he says, walking over to me, and my laugh dies off when the mood changes in a moment. The tension builds as Letric stops right in front of me before gently sliding his hand down my arm. "I broke my promise tonight."
"What promise?" I ask, watching how he runs his eyes over me, taking in every part of me. From my fast beating heart I know he can hear, to the way he makes me feel that tiny bit nervous. Yet I don’t want to hide myself from Letric. I know I never do.
"I told you I would not touch you until you asked me, but I kissed you tonight because I couldn't think of doing anything but kiss you," he admits to me. “I had to kiss you. I had to be close to you.”
"Then don't ask. I don't want that," I admit, biting my lip as I step closer and place my hands on his shirt. I slowly slide to the buttons in the middle and start undoing them one by one, the tiny sound feels like they echo in the room from the tense silence.
"Tell me what you want, Elodie," he asks me. His deep, gravelly voice is so different from any way I’ve heard him speak to me before.
"I want you to take me to your room," I bravely reply, and he grins before taking one of my hands in his, linking our fingers as he walks us up the stairs and to a door. Letric pushes it open, pulling me inside before shutting the door. I look around his bedroom briefly, seeing his bed is gigantic in the middle of the room, taking up most of the space, with a large cream rug under it that matches the cream sheets. There are three large windows overlooking the sea, and they don't have curtains on them, letting the moonlight shine into the room and light it up. There are two more doors in the room that are closed, and two bookcases are on one wall, with a mirror between them. A dressing table is next to the door we came in, covered in little shells, crystals, and other small things. Some of them even look carved into little animals.
"Now what do you want Elodie?" Letric asks as I look back at him.
"Show me exactly what you want to do to me. What you are thinking. I want you to show me what it is like to be with Alpha Letric for a night," I say, watching his reactions like a play.
"You might regret asking for that. I'm not like my other brothers who prefer to rush to the end prize," he says, slowly walking around me. Every time his skin brushes mine it makes me shiver.
"How do you know they rush with me?" I ask.
"They project their thoughts quite clearly when they are with you. I am not guessing anything," he whispers to me, stopping right behind me and resting his hands on my shoulders. He slowly pushes my dress down as he continues talking. "You might not know it, Elodie, but you are something different to us all. We have never been enchanted by anyone for more than one night." I don’t reply to him as my dress falls to the floor, and I turn around, stepping out of it. Letric looks down at me as I press my body against his and place my hands on his chest. I slowly push his shirt off his shoulders, before sliding my hands across the smooth muscles of his shoulders and down his chest to his stomach. I lean closer and kiss his chest before kissing a little higher each time until I get to his neck and feel him shiver as I kiss a certain part.
I gasp as Letric slides his hand into my hair and almost roughly pulls my head back, so I am face to face with him. He kisses me in an unexpectedly harsh, brutal and unyielding way. It's delicious, intoxicating, and I never want him to stop. Letric walks us back until he pulls me onto the bed, rolling himself on top of me, and I part my legs for him before he pulls back. Letric stares down at me for a moment.
"I get it. I understand it completely now," he says, but before I can ask what he means, he is kissing me again and pressing his body into mine in a way that makes me forget any words. Letric moves his lips from mine, taking his time to kiss down my neck and to my chest. He spends a long time teasing me with just my nipples, flicking his tongue over each one and learning what makes me moan louder, I suspect. Letric moves off me to lie at my side, his one hand on my breast as his other goes straight between my legs, and he slides a finger inside me. I reach over and undo his trousers as quickly as I can as he moves his finger in and out of me, the pleasure overwhelming. I finally free his erection and take it into my hand, rubbing my hand up and down his cock and enjoying the sounds that escape his lips as he presses his head into my neck.
