Page 62 of The Alpha

He looked her up and down with wonder as he pushed the thought aside. She was about the same height as Maida, which, compared to him and his brother, was tiny. He and Markhel were both seven feet tall. A five-foot-seven female was small by comparison. But that was okay. He liked her just the way she was. She was adorable, his little mate. Her face, like Maida’s and Shona’s, was almost childlike, and she had a lithe build. Yet, she was… Melvale cocked his head as she studied her. Shapely. Yes, he could make out her curves beneath the Sarian sleepwear someone had… his eyes narrowed.

“Someone dressed you?” he heard the low growl to his voice and shut his eyes tight.

When he opened them, the power of the Alpha trying to rise was gone.

Melvale breathed a sigh of relief and bent to his mate. He put an ear to her face and reveled in the soft touch of air leaving her nose to brush against his cheek. “You are so beautiful…”

A tear escaped. He was overcome, but didn’t care. “I have waited all my life for you,Kahtala Miah.” His eyes roamed her face, and he cupped one soft cheek. “And I am yourBondrah.” He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Why do I have a feeling you already know that?” He shook his head and lay back. He was still weak from whatever that fiendish doctor blasted himwith. Something he’d breathed in, and that was the last thing he remembered.

Melvale gasped. “We were rescued!” He grinned. “Time Masters Dallan and Kwaku. It had to be them.”

He propped himself up to look at his mate again. “I don’t even know your name.” He tenderly brushed some of her pink bangs off her forehead. “I should have a nickname for you. You areKahtala Miah, but what else should I call you?”

He thought of her scent, when he first caught it, and the sound of her voice as she fought against…

His eyes narrowed to slits and the Alpha deep within flew to the surface. He breathed in a lungful of air, taking her in again, and looked at her. No one had to tell Melvale his eyes had gone bright blue; he could feel that side of him hovering, ready to spring forth. Melvale still had control though. “You fought them, those foul young men. Like a tiny kitten surrounded by hungry dogs.” His eyes narrowed. “They touched you… they…” he growled low in his throat and shut his eyes tight. “Will you back off? Givemea chance to be with her!”

He took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and looked around the room for any sign of danger. He was going to have to merge with his Alpha side quickly or go mad. But there were things that had to happen first.

“Balance, balance. Maybe I’ll be better when she wakes up.” He looked at her again, put his nose to her hair, and breathed in her scent once more. Everything within him calmed, and he sighed in relief. “You are my balance, my life, my heart. I love you more than you know.” He looked at her and ran a finger over one cheek. “But that’s the problem, isn’t it? You don’t know me, don’t love me. And Creator only knows what the Alpha side of me said or did.” He tried to remember where he left the history books from the last Alpha’s reign. Could the Alpha speak before a merging? He couldn’t remember. He was still not himself andhoped the effects of whatever that quack doctor doused him with wore off soon.

His eyes narrowed as his Alpha side rose again.Kill him.

“Yes, yes, but not today.” Melvale looked at his heart again. She slept peacefully, and he realized he’d have to take care of her when she woke up. She would be confused, frightened, hungry…

Melvale lay on his side and repositioned her in his arms to hold her against him. “I’ll keep you safe, little kitten. Nothing can harm you when you’re with me.” He heard the lower pitch of his voice and sensed the new power flowing through him. With each passing day, he would become who he was meant to be. He just wished all this didn’t come as such a surprise. But that was the way of things.

No matter, he had his mate, his heart, and all was right with the world.

Melvale’s eyes sprang open. Except it wasn’t. For an Alpha to rise up, that meant trouble was brewing, be it war or some new enemy, the races would have to be united to fight whatever it was.

He sighed, holding his mate close, and unable to help himself, he ever so gently brushed his lips to her forehead.

She made a small sound, like a kitten, then another.

Melvale’s hearts leapt. “Oh, my…”

“Mmmm…” She turned her head into his chest, then the rest of her, surprising him.

Melvale smiled, eyes once more filled with admiration and awe as he took in the sight of her snuggled against him. He could get used to this, yes indeed!

He settled her more comfortably in his arms and let his eyes drift close. If anyone entered his quarters, he’d let the Alpha side of him take care of things. All he wanted to do was hold his mate and get a few minutes of real sleep.

Kwaku stoodoutside Melvale’s door with Sita Mihn, Angus, Markhel, Halden and Raina. Zara had her ear to the door and faced them. “I sense he is awake. His mate still sleeps.” She smiled. “And he is calm.”

Sita Mihn’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank the Creator for that,” she whispered. Sita turned to the others. “Now, remember, Raina, Halden, put the food on the table, and do not make eye contact with him. If you do, he will track your every movement. He doesn’t know you as well as the rest of us.”

“Table, right,” Halden whispered.

“Ye ken it does no good to whisper,” Angus grumbled. “Melvale can hear every word.”

“True, but whispers are calming,” Sita Mihn said. “Kwaku, Zara, let him see you but keep your distance. I’ll speak to him. Angus, stay behind me.”

“And me?” Markhel asked.

“You’re the backup, in case he gets out of hand. But I don’t think he will. So long as he knows his mate is protected and nothing threatens her, we’ll be safe.” She blew out a nervous breath. “Ready?”

Everyone nodded. Sita Mihn slowly opened the door and poked her head in. She entered the room just as slowly and motioned for Halden and Raina to follow her. Both had a tray of food in their hands.

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