Page 97 of The Alpha

“Alpha,” his great aunt breathed in Muiraran, with no small amount of reverence. “How good it is to see you up and about.” She looked him up and down appreciatively then frowned and looked at the kitchen she’d just left. “You’re hungry? Why did you not summon a servant to bring you food?”

Melvale stared at her and fought the urge to bare his teeth.Calm down!He told the other side of him.She’s a relative!

“Alpha Melvale?” his aunt hedged.

“I’m looking for Archer,” he said in English for Pari’s benefit. He noticed his voice dropped lower than normal. Had his eyes gone blue again? He’d better start carrying a small mirror with him.

Melvale felt movement and realized he still had Pari tucked behind him. He took her by the hand and slowly pulled her out into the open but kept her next to him.

Great Aunt Timmohn’s eyes lit up. “There she is,” his great aunt said in English. Her eyes raked over Pari like she was some prized horse. “Well, I suppose she’ll do.” Her eyes flicked to the kitchen and back. “If it’s that half-breed you seek, he’s in there stuffing his face. What do you want with him?”

His Alpha side growled at her before Melvale could stop it.

Pari looked up at him. “Bondrah?”

Great Aunt Timmohn gasped. “Bondrah?!”

Pari looked at her and side-stepped closer to him. “Yes, that’s his name, isn’t it? One of them anyway.”

Great Aunt Timmohn looked down her nose at her. “It isthename, child. And is not to be spoken lightly.”

“But what does it mean?” Pari asked.

His aunt smiled. “You mean you don’t know?”

Both sides of Melvale sensed something deep within his aunt that was out of place. He hissed at her and stepped in front of Pari protectively.

His great aunt laughed. “You’ll not take that stance with me.”

That did it. Melvale’s fangs descended, and he roared at her. Pari let out a yelp of surprise behind him, and he snaked an arm behind him and pulled her close. He didn’t want her to bolt.

“Mind yourself!” his aunt commanded.

Melvale laughed, a deep, guttural sound. “You try to command me?”

Great Aunt Timmohn’s eyes grew wide. Melvale was vaguely aware of the claws extending from the tips of his fingers as his right hand came up to strike.

“Bondrah Miah?” came a small voice behind him.

Melvale’s hearts responded and he turned without thinking. “Kahtala Miah.” He knew his Alpha side was in control, and didn’t try to pull him back. Curiosity had him, and Melvale wanted to see what would happen. He hoped Great Aunt Timmohn had the good sense to skedaddle.

“Bondrah…” Pari looked up at him with her big blue eyes. “Don’t hurt her.”

He cocked his head. “She… is not right. She could harm you.”

Pari put a hand on his left forearm, looked at his clawed hands, and gulped. “Is that any reason to hit her?”

He pulled his upper lip back from his teeth and his fangs retracted. “You would protect her?”

Pari blinked a few times. “I don’t understand what she’s done.”

His eyebrows shot up. “I see.” He cocked his head and cupped one side of her face with his hand. The claws were gone. “Pari. My little one.” He got down on one knee before her. “I am yours to command.”

Great Aunt Timmohn gasped, turned on her heel, and hurried down the corridor as fast as she could go.

31

Pari stared after the Muiraran woman hurrying down the long corridor. She wasn’t sure who she was, only that she upset Bondrah.

---