Alpha Knows Best: Second Chance Shifter Romance (Southern Shifters Book 3) Read online

  Chey stepped forward. “This is all too ridiculous. Why? What did he have to gain from all of this?”

  “I don’t think it had anything to do with gaining and instead had everything to do with—”

  “I think that’s quite enough Kitty, don’t you?” said a new voice.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Bran emerged from a clump of trees to their side. How the hell he’d gotten so close without his scent giving him away Malcolm couldn’t fathom. He looked every inch the perfect councilman dressed impeccably in his freshly pressed slacks and button down white shirt. Except for two things. The wild, unfocused look in his eyes and the black pistol he held in his hand.

  “Didn’t know you were followed, huh? I knew you were always worth nothing. I should have put you down long ago.” Before anyone could respond, Bran shot Kitty in the stomach. The sound tore through the area, quickly followed by Allie’s shrieks.

  “Shut the baby up before I do.” Bran commanded. He leveled his gun in Allie’s direction and Malcolm’s cougar took over. Claws ripped through his skin, fur bristled across his arms mere seconds before he prepared to jump on his uncle. “Move and I shoot. Do you think you can shift and pounce faster than a bullet?”

  Malcolm’s blood froze. The cougar screamed in his head but the logic of the man won out. He clamped on his control as he glanced around their rag tag group: Kitty bleeding on the ground with no one able to get near her, Lara holding his child with Chey standing guard in front of them, and Kane by his side waiting for the right moment to jump Bran.

  The pungent scent coming from his uncle clogged his senses and turned his stomach. It wasn’t exactly fear but it wasn’t confidence either. More like righteous indignation. Kitty was right. He was plain nuts. The urge to eliminate the threat clawed through the beast inside him. It took every ounce of control he had to hold onto the human half of him. His bond with Chey had gone a long way to correcting the imbalance between man and animal but it wasn’t enough. His experiences had shaped him into a different man—a harsher one that could no longer conform to the rules he’d sworn to live by as a cub.

  The hate he’d allowed to seep into his life had become a part of him and he doubted even Chey could eliminate it.

  Allie cried harder, reaching for her mother.

  Bran pointed the gun at Chey’s head. “Touch her and you both die.”

  Chey hesitated and Malcolm calculated the distance between him and his uncle and exactly how long it would take to block him. Damn bastard. “Guns are for cowards.” He couldn’t help taunting the asshole.

  “Guns will keep your ass in line. And your half-breed too.”

  “You aren’t getting out of here alive, uncle. So what is it you want?”

  “If any of you kill a council member without sanction you’ll all be executed.” He shifted his stance. “Don’t you get it? I’ve done everything I’ve done for the good of the clan and everyone knows it. I’m the only one of those bastards who was really willing to get his hands dirty when they grew tired of your father’s power. They wanted someone who would toe the line and he wasn’t it. It was supposed to be me. I was born first. The dominant gene is always carried through the first-born child. Always.”

  “You’re going to die a lonely old man with nothing at all because you’ve let jealousy eat you alive. No one controls Mother Nature and even you know that,” Kane said, his voice rumbling.

  “You are so stupid. The luck of your DNA may have made you Guardian, but for the last five years you’ve done as I directed. At least until you brought her here.” Bran sneered at Lara. “You were the worst mistake of my life. If only Nick had done as he was supposed to.

  “What?” Malcolm and Kane yelled in unison.

  “Her bitch of a mother promised me a child of my own making, but all I got was yet another bastard whore like that one.” Bran swung his gun wildly toward Kitty. “Hell, I even thought just maybe Malcolm’s half-breed mate might produce an heir I could claim as my own. Imagine my surprise when her useless substitute mate revealed the child was a girl while blood gurgled in his throat. At least he’d tried to protect them. Unlike you.”

  Hot blood red rage filled Malcolm’s vision. In the back of his mind he heard someone shriek and all hell broke loose. The half wolf form of his mate sailed through the air, headed straight for Bran. Her bones and muscles popped and stretched the whole time until the wolf fully emerged. Bran, far more agile than Malcolm had expected, shot his gun and leapt toward her. The wolf cried out and fell, crumpled to the ground, blood spatter spraying Malcolm’s shirt.

  The scent of his mate in pain unleashed the beast he’d tried to control. A roar emerged from deep within, startling everyone around him. Mate. Mine. The familiar pain of his shift rushed over him, taking complete control of the human and shoving him aside. Until Allie screaming behind him caught his attention.

  Her cries turned to pain filled wails and they all turned to focus on her. Oh holy hell. She was going through a change. The adrenalin from her fear must have brought it on.

  “Allie!” Chey cried from the ground, her wolf form gone. “Let me help her. This is her first shift.”

  “No.” Bran stepped on Chey’s wound and the guttural cry of fresh pain filled the night air and shook him to his core. Bran might as well have been peeling the flesh from his bones. The man reemerged, fighting for breath and control.

  The sound of the babe’s bones snapping and her muscles tearing ripped through Malcolm’s guts. Chey ignored Bran’s warnings and locked her gaze on him.

  Save my child, she mouthed.

  Malcolm focused his gaze on his uncle and moved to block his child. “If you kill her, you die.” He paused. “You know what? Fuck that. You’re already a dead man.”

  “What the hell?” Bran’s gaze locked on the girl behind him.

  Malcolm turned to Lara and swallowed hard. Struggling in her arms he found the impossible. A fully shifted black cougar cub. He couldn’t even fathom how that was possible. Never in centuries of history between Scotland and North America had there ever been a documented female black cougar.

  Before Malcolm could move, the cub scrambled from Lara’s arms and hit the ground feet first. She yowled at Bran and leapt in his direction.

  “No!” Chey yelled at her daughter, fear stopping her heart. Oh Goddess, please. She struggled against Bran’s hold until the pain blinded her. In her peripheral vision she watched helplessly as he raised his gun and aimed at her beautiful baby cougar trying to protect its mother.

  Malcolm, partially shifted, leapt on a soul splitting roar. Chey would swear later her bones shook from the force of it. He blocked Allie’s jump and landed on top of Bran. The gun went off again but Malcolm didn’t stop. In the violent frenzy, Chey was able to hobble across the clearing and scoop up Allie. She’d already shifted back to the adorable child Chey’d done everything to protect and failed miserably at.

  Tears tracked down Allie’s face as she held her close. “It’s okay, honey. Mama is here.” But Allie knew it was not all right. How could she not with the wild shrieks behind her?

  “Kane, do something to help him,” she demanded.

  He shook his head. “No, this is his fight now. You know damn well he’d probably tear my head off if I didn’t let him do this.”

  “If he dies, then I’m going to strangle you. How’s that?” The thought of Malcolm losing turned her blood cold and wrenched her gut. She couldn’t live without him now. The thought shocked her into place.

  “Let me take Allie and get her away from here.”

  Chey turned away from Lara. “No.”

  “Then you do it. Your child’s safety has to come first dammit.”

  Lara was right of course. Nothing mattered more than Allie’s life, not even Malcolm’s. He’d want it that way as much as she did. Tears rolled from her eyes. “I can’t leave him. I can’t.”

  “Then give me the babe and trust me to keep her safe.” Chey glanced down at Allie’s face bur
ied at her breast. Her body shook like a leaf, breaking her heart. The scent of fear came so strong from her it nearly debilitated Chey. It probably proved a distraction for Malcolm as well.

  “I can’t leave, baby. But you have to.” She pressed her lips to the dusty black curls on her head. “Lara will keep you safe while I help your daddy.”

  Before she could change her mind, she pulled Allie free and handed her over to Lara, who wasted no time running away.

  “If anything happens to Malcolm, Bran won’t leave here alive,” Kane reassured her.

  “He’s not leaving alive no matter what happens.” She’d kill him herself if she had to. Fear and anger fueled her now and both would work in her favor as powerful motivators.

  Twilight had descended on the area and soon it would be black as night. Not that it affected any of their vision. They saw as good in the dark as they did during the day. Both men were now giant cats, rolling through the grass. Blood covered Bran’s lighter coat and she suspected Malcolm’s dark fur disguised the same. Claws and teeth swiped at each other until Bran managed to get the upper hand and his jaw bit down on Malcolm’s throat.

  In a split second, the air grew thick and still as Bran held Malcolm pinned to the ground. In a bold, possibly stupid move, Malcolm half shifted back to human and caught Bran off guard. He twisted his body and tore his way into Bran’s chest. Teeth tightened around Malcolm’s neck and Chey screamed.

  Malcolm jerked his arm and pulled Bran’s heart free from the cavity of his chest. “Take that motherfucker.”

  Malcolm tossed Bran’s now lifeless body as easily as a rag doll to the forest floor and rose to his full height. Half cat and half human, he stood covered in bloody gashes across his skin, his eyes so gold it nearly hurt to look at them. He still held Bran’s heart in his hands and he looked every inch the savage she’d suspected he’d become. Her heart beat wildly.

  “Fuck, man. You are still one scary dude.”

  “Go away,” Malcolm snarled at his brother.

  “As if it’s that easy. You’ve made quite a mess that’s going to take some time to clean up.”

  “Not now, Kane,” Malcolm warned again.

  Kane started to say something and must have thought better of it. He pushed his way past his brother and scooped to pick up Kitty who still lay bleeding on the ground. The thick red liquid oozed through the hand she pressed to her stomach. Her eyes grew round.

  “Don’t look at me like that, woman. You may annoy the hell out of me but you have answers I need so I’m not about to let you die tonight.”

  “I don’t have to tell you shit,” she spat.

  Kane laughed, a wholly evil sound. “Oh but you will. I promise you that.” He turned and strode toward the cabin, leaving them alone at the edge of the forest.

  Malcolm looked at the heart still gripped in his hand and his lip curled in disgust. On a grunt, he threw it as far away as possible. Chey didn’t know what to say. He stood before her tore up from a fight without a stitch of clothes on and a hard on from hell. He’d obviously enjoyed killing Bran, and if she examined her own feelings, she’d discover her primal satisfaction as well. He’d done what it took to save their child and that’s all that mattered to her.

  “Chey,” he whispered.

  She loved the sound of her name when it fell from his lips. It always swept over her like a sensual caress. She darted forward and he immediately raised his hands to stop her. Puzzled, she stood transfixed and waited. The air shimmered and the magic of the shift swirled around her. He fell to the forest floor and the sleek black cat emerged for a few brief seconds before he shifted again and stood proud on his feet.

  The gashes from his skin were now simply red streaks of skin knitted back together and most of the blood had fallen away as well. His amazing ability to heal still astounded her. She could do the same although on a much smaller scale. It sped the healing process but it was far from instant. Injuries like his would take much longer to heal in her.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, moving close. He pressed his hand to the soft skin of her side, scorching her already burning skin.

  “Not badly. The bullet missed its intended target and only grazed my hip. The shift helped.”

  Malcolm growled an instant before he moved. Before she could blink, she was backed into a tree and his body pressed to hers. “You scared the hell out of me.”

  Moisture pooled between her thighs at the gruff tone of his voice. The harsh intensity in his eyes bored clear to her soul and caused a mass of butterflies to take flight in her stomach.

  “I panicked and was running on pure instinct. I couldn’t stand idly by and do nothing.” He’d saved her child. Saved her. Hell, she couldn’t think straight with his scent wrapped around her. She wanted him so damn bad her pulse beat wildly for him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Don’t. Look at me. This is who I am now. I’m not nice or cuddly by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve developed the habit of hurting those around me. You should run.”

  “I can see just fine. And I certainly don’t have much right to expect perfection.” Chey’s insides trembled as she waited for his reaction. He’d barely discovered he had a child before he had to defend her life. When the adrenalin fueling him came down, he’d want nothing to do with her. But if all she had left was this moment now, she’d take it. She couldn’t not.

  “I need you, Malcolm,” she confessed, bowing her head in submission.

  He growled. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.” He rubbed his naked body against hers, his thick erection branding the warm skin of her lower abdomen. “Every minute I’m around you I want to fuck you. I always want to be inside you,” he growled.

  Goddess, she loved the need she heard in his voice. If only she could find a way to hold onto that and get them over the past. Her fingers tightened on his biceps when his fingers flicked across her aching nipples. She traced an angry looking red mark on his chest and leaned forward to press her lips to the skin. The dusting of hair on his chest tickled her nose and the scent of victory and horny man filled her senses.

  She held tight and lifted from the ground, wrapping her legs around his waist. He probed her entrance, nudging the wet heat and sensitive folds until he slowly began to fill her. She sucked in a breath and nipped his nipple with her teeth. His head tipped back and he roared, shaking the tree and ground beneath them.

  “Mine.”

  His exclamation surprised her. Yes, they’d been mated but that didn’t mean love and happy endings, especially not after what they’d been through. “Malcolm. Yes. Ohhh. Yes.” Violent sensations tore through her with every new inch of cock he fed her until she wanted to kick and scream and claw his eyes out for more. Never in her life had she felt this wild, this out of control for sex.

  One hand slid behind her back and protected her from the rough bark of the tree but the other… Oh Goddess, his claws. He raked them across first one breast and then the other, eliciting shards of pleasure so intense she threatened to blow.

  Her muscles clenched, clasping at his dick, sucking him deeper than before. “Oh yes, just like that.”

  “You’re so demanding.” He shoved to the hilt and the words she’d been about to say disappeared in a harsh exhalation of what little air she maintained in her lungs.

  For a split second, she felt his warm breath across her cheek, a sensual brush of erotic hunger that pushed her to the edge of a frenzy before his lips captured hers. His tongue pushed between her lips and the familiar roughness started a firestorm inside of her. She moaned into him. And still with the damn claws! He dragged them across her skin with a firm stroke to the point of a strong sting that awakened every nerve ending he touched.

  He sucked on her tongue and the last of her restraint melted under the onslaught. The kiss deepened as he withdrew to the tip. She whimpered into his mouth and dug into his skin to keep him from pulling out. His kisses were better than anything she’d ever imagined and she’d had some serious
dreams about this man. He brushed his hands down her sides and around her thighs until his claw-tipped fingers brushed the soft skin of her nether lips that were stretched wide to accommodate him.

  Malcolm licked and stroked her mouth while shuttling in and out of her excruciatingly slow. The pace maddened her but the second she moved to protest, his claws pricked her skin, stopping her movement. The scent of hot desire fueled by the excess adrenalin of the fight made her want to resist. She wanted to struggle. Chey clenched around his shaft with every ounce of strength she possessed until he broke the kiss and growled at her.

  Despite the hard look in his eyes, the passion and need shone through. Malcolm thrust harder and Chey sensed the danger swirling around him. This man would always demand her submission—she felt it clear to her core. His features contorted and melded, making it apparent the beast resided side by side with the man.

  Yet he gave her more than he ever took. Pleasure and protection. He’d been willing to lay down his life for not only their child—but her. Chey trembled with the fact. Her head tipped back. It was just the mate bond. It had to be. He hated her wolf.

  He pumped harder, fucking her with a demand that pushed her ever closer to the edge. Oh Goddess, it was too much. She arched, angling for him to go deeper. Once again, he growled at her in warning and she froze. He flashed his fangs. Her body quivered. Each stroke was hotter than the last, sending an agonizing flash of electricity across sensitive nerves. Only enough to keep her close and wanting just a little bit more. Dammit he wanted her to beg. And she wanted to. Goddess did she ever.

  “Malcolm, please,” she whimpered each time he bumped her needy bundle of nerves. “Please. Goddess. More.”

  Another growl, this time rumbling through his chest and belly and vibrating between her thighs. Sweat glistened on his skin, muscles strained for obvious control and the sweet musk of sex tormenting her. He leaned his body closer, creating more friction than ever as he hammered into her. She couldn’t hold on. Chey locked her heels across his buttocks and screamed his name as a sudden wave of pleasure washed over her. She shook and shuddered in his arms as the onslaught continued one pulse after another. The explosions of color blinded her, and the world around her absorbed her screams of both pleasure and torment.