Page 83 of The Alpha

A chill went up his spine as his protective instincts kicked in. “Safe!” His voice came out low, gravelly.

She froze. “What?”

Oh, stab me! Go away!He told the other side of him.She’s perfectly safe!

KEEP HER SAFE!

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and put a hand to his belly. Wewill keep her safe.

Yes…

Melvale opened his eyes. “Fine.”

“What?”

He turned to Pari. “Not to worry, I… had a moment there. Know that nothing will harm you in here.”

The screech of a young Noghard filled the air, and Pari screamed.

“Blast it.” Melvale pulled her into his arms.

“What was that?!” she asked against the lower part of his chest. He had almost a foot and a half on her in height, and he hoped she didn’t deem their height difference a problem. “A friend, or at the very least an acquaintance.”

She looked up at him. “What is it?”

“Well,” he drawled, pondering how much to tell her. “One of the Noghard. I did tell you there was more than one alien race living in the palace.”

Pari continued to look at him with wide eyes as she gripped him tighter. The Alpha deep within him rumbled in satisfaction. Melvale had to admit he was enjoying her tight hold too.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he said gently, and was surprised the Alpha was calm. She was frightened, yes, but wasn’t threatened. He knew what the Noghard was doing. It was clearing his friends out of this section of the library. Kwaku must have alerted Novhak, the Noghard king that an Alpha was rising up. Novhak was old enough to have known the last one.

Melvale made a mental note to himself to speak to him later. He might have some good advice on how to navigate the slippery slope of merging.

“Are… you sure it’s safe?” Pari hedged.

He looked at her and tightened his hold. “Yes, little Pari, it’s more than safe.”

She took a deep breath, then nodded against him. “Okay, I’m… better.”

Melvale closed his eyes a moment, dragging the bliss of having her against him out before letting her go. “Let’s continue on then.”

He led her across the meadow and into the woods beyond. The shaded path was inviting and cool, with ferns and wildflowers growing on either side. Pari held his hand and squeezed it as her eyes rounded to saucers. Her jaw dropped now and then at the birdsong overhead, and again when they emerged from the woods and headed for the arched bridge over the small creek. “Melvale, this is beautiful.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand in return. “It is, isn’t it? The people I want to introduce you to love it here.” A tiny pinch of warning got his attention. The young Noghard might have frightened her, but what was Irene Dunnigan going to do? He hoped she was in a good mood.Hewouldn’t react around some of his favorite people, but he wasn’t so sure about the other side of him.

They passed through the next set of woods and eventually reached the replica of Clear Creek. Pari took one look at the old west town and openly gawked. “What is this place?”

“You could say it’s a sort of headquarters for some very special people.” He smiled at her. “Would you like to meet them?”

She met his gaze “Are they… human?”

“Yes, but… well, I’ll let them explain.” They entered town near the hotel, and Melvale sensed more than a few people inside. They stepped through the hotel doors, and Pari continued to stare at everything in wonder.

“Melvale!” Cyrus cried from the dining room. He headed straight for him. “Welcome back! Kwaku said you had a time of it.”

“Cyrus,” he greeted then saw the others. “Polly, Mary, Paddy.” He waved at hand at Pari. “May I introduce you to my ma… um, Pari Lindir.”

Pari sidestepped closer to him as Mary Mulligan approached. “Hello. My, what pretty… hair you have.”

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