Page 10 of Alpha's Unwilling Mate

Chapter Five

Bastion

Simon, one of the most trusted members of my team, met me with a blanket when I stepped from the cover of the woods. He averted his gaze, standing in front of me to block my mate from any other eyes as I quickly wrapped the blanket around her. Raina had fallen into an exhausted slumber, so exhausted my movements didn’t jar her awake.

Dark circles under her eyes spoke of a bone-deep weariness, and I couldn’t help but wonder when she’d last truly rested. I wanted to lock her away from the world where nothing could touch her, save me, and I planned to do so often. Hell, I’d only had a taste of her so far, and my cock was already hungrily rising again, ready to find its home inside her.

“Let me take her, Bas,” Simon offered as he nodded to a pile of clothes on the ground. Those closest to me had the habit of shortening my name and putting the z sound on the end. “Your clothes are there.”

“I’ve got her.” The words came with a growl of displeasure I couldn’t prevent. Raina wore only a blanket. She was all but naked, and though I trusted Simon with my life, I didn’t like the idea of any man holding her.

Simon laughed. “Seriously, you don’t want to drop her, and I don’t think she’d appreciate you putting her on the ground. I’ll be easy. Hold her as I would a child, just long enough for you to get dressed.”

“If you touch her skin, I’ll gut you.”

Simon blanched but held out his arms, and after a brief inner struggle, I handed her over. I’d never dressed so fast in my life. I swear I quit breathing until I felt her slight weight filling my arms again.

“Where are we going?” Simon asked as he opened the passenger door of the SUV for me. I waited until he jumped behind the wheel before answering.

“Home.”

Simon didn’t question me as I knew some of the others might, especially my sister, Belinda. She’d argued with me since the request to take on another group of wolves had come in. She worried about me, always had. She seemed convinced Raina’s brother’s death hadn’t been an accident. In fact, my sister was certain he’d been murdered. I’d assigned a few of my most trusted members to look into it, but we’d yet to find any indication her assumptions had validity.

I’d already warned everyone to keep their lips sealed about Belinda’s suspicions. Raina had been close to her brother, and I could see the physical toll his death had taken on her. The last thing I wanted was to make her think his death was more than an accident. Besides, it didn’t make sense. If someone had killed Rowan Byrd, surely they would have attempted to step forward and take control of those who’d been left behind. No one had. As much as I loved my sister and accepted she was…different, I didn’t think she was right in this.

Raina moaned as she wiggled in my arms. I crooned softly to her, pressing my lips against her hair. She buried her nose in my neck and with a deep inhale, settled into sleep once more. It was impossible for me to think of anything or anyone else for long when I held Raina against me. She’d wreak havoc with my job as head of our motley group. I already knew I’d need to have Simon repeat whatever it was he was saying. I hadn’t the faintest idea what he’d told me, and it could be important. Right now, all I knew was I’d found my mate, my purpose. She was my reason for existing. Not my role within our society. Not my role as brother and friend. It was my role as hers, her mate, her lover, and hopefully, someday, her reason to be, as well.

“Bas.” Simon sounded exasperated.

“What?”

“I asked if you wanted me to move Bee for the rest of the night. Give you some privacy.”

Simon had a crush on my sister, and as much as I liked the idea of the two of them together, she’d refused. She said he wasn’t meant for her. She swore her mate was coming for her, and there was no arguing with her. I shook my head.

“No. My home will always be her home. My mate doesn’t change that.” I glanced down at Raina. “It’ll be fine.”

Simon nodded, and I ignored him for the rest of the drive. In my hurry, I managed to get the front door open without jostling Raina too much while Simon tried to keep up. I’d hoped my sister would be asleep by now, but she sat on the bottom of the stairs when I stepped inside. Her eyes were wide, her fingers twined closely together in her lap, and I knew she’d had an episode. For the first time in our lives, I found myself annoyed by her and guilt ate at me.

“Belinda, everything okay?” I asked. Though she often went by the nickname Bee, she’d always be Belinda to me.

“She brings change. I see death and birth, love and hate, celebration and mourning.” Her words were whispered almost as if she wasn’t aware of what she was saying.

“Belinda,” I rebuked.

She blinked again, slowly focusing on where I waited, my arms full of my mate. My voice seemed to have broken whatever spell she’d been under, and a smile lit her face as she rose and practically skipped over to me. She stood on tiptoe to stare at Raina for a long moment.

“Your mate brings life, and all that comes with it,” Belinda said then grinned. “We’re going to have a new alpha in the house.”

“The hell we will,” I growled, but my sister just giggled.

“Oh, we will. When’s the mating ceremony taking place?”

“Soon,” I barked. I’d get back to her statement about a new alpha later. She’d thrown out the one thing sure to pull my attention in another direction. A mating ceremony.

I glanced down at Raina. She was already my mate, our bond sealed in blood. But had Raina agreed to mating? For the life of me, I couldn’t remember. It didn’t matter. I’d get everything prepared so we could say our vows the following evening. Once Raina and I became one, so would our families.

Right now, all I could think about was getting my little mate into my bed and stripping the blanket from her. I wanted to spend the rest of the night learning every inch of her body, even if it was only visually.

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