Page 61 of Alpha Scorned

The rhythm of his hips stuttered, but I kept moving mine, even as his taste exploded in my mouth and his scent filled my senses.

“Holy shiiiit…”Owen’s long drawn out exclamation accompanied an eruption of fire inside me. I kept moving, desperate to wring every last drop of pleasure from him. I drew another mouthful of his rich blood, loving the taste of him rolling down my throat. Another convulsion racked his huge body and he cried out my name as pleasure detonated through my body, and I spasmed around him. Breathing hard, I reduced the movements of my hips, until I was barely rocking. Trembling from head to toe, I wrapped my arms around him and carefully removed my teeth from his skin, laving the wound just enough to slow the bleeding but not stop it completely.

He gave a half-groan, half-chuckle. “Damn, Lina, that was...wow.”

I smiled and kissed him, trying to tell him without words that I agreed. I’d always heard that sex while mating was an amazing experience, but there were no words to express what it felt like. Reluctantly, I pulled my lips from his and I let my whole body relax, holding him close as I nuzzled into the warmth of his neck.

“I love you,” I murmured against his skin.

He pulled me closer. “I love you, too. Forever. So no more talk about not being good enough. You are mine, now. And I am yours. We move forward from here. Okay?” he whispered in my ear.

I could feel the weight of his gaze, but I was too warm and comfy to move. “Mmm,” I murmured, and nodded.

He chuckled and stroked my hair out of my sweaty face. “We should get cleaned up.”

“Mmm,” I agreed again, with no intention of moving.

Owen twitched inside me, and I smiled, responding with a roll of my hips.

“Well, I guess we could just stay here like this, for now,” he said thickly.

“Mmm.” This time I grinned against his neck, and snuggled in until there was nothing but Owen’s warmth and scent and the feel of his skin against mine, and his growing erection inside me. Every breath I took was filled with him, as it should be, and as I wanted it to be, forever, however long fate decided that was for us. And even though I was tired, I was far from sated. Smiling, I rolled my hips. “Mine,” I whispered, as our wolves danced.

Chapter 21

Owen

Raysof the early morning sun warmed my face. My wolf rumbled in contentment. We had spent the last three days claiming our mate, and to say we were satisfied and beyond happy was an understatement. His joy and self-satisfaction filtered into my own. I couldn’t hide the elated grin I’d been sporting since we’d stepped outside as a mated pair.

A flash of sandy blonde hair caught my eye. I raised my hand as Lionel, Stone and Rawson spotted me. They stood outside Shane’s timber home, leaning against the balustrades of the veranda. A shit eating grin stretched Lionel’s features.

I couldn’t help but grin back as I took the steps in one leap.

Lionel pulled me into a bro’ hug and smacked my back. That’s what I liked about the fucker, he was as genuine as they came, and was always easy going and upbeat.

“Hey, man, you look like the cat that got the cream.” He chuckled. “I take it that Selina is okay?”

I grinned back, so wide my cheeks ached. “Yeah, she’s all healed. And she’s mine. Same as I am hers.”

“Fuck, really? That’s great. Good for you, man, congratulations.”

I glanced at Stone, who was studying us in his quiet, intense way. “Glad it worked out alright for you, brother.” Then he cocked his head. “So you’ve got your head completely back in the game now?”

I nodded, knowing he was asking if I was stable enough to come back and work with them all. It was a fair question, and I felt a stab of remorse at what I’d put them all through. Stone wasn't a full shifter, but his mate had been murdered by Doherty right before he’d been thrown in the shifter prison, andhehadn’t gone rogue. Though I suspected the outlet of the violence and fight rings had hidden much of his grief. I faced him fully and met his gaze. He held it and then moved his attention to the side. None of my brothers would ever lower their gaze and I would never want them to, but all of them would move their eyes sideways to avoid issuing a challenge to me. The fact that he’d done that showed he still felt me worthy of being his Beta. I swallowed the sudden thickness in my throat, and nodded. “I really have.” I held my hand out. Stone didn’t hug, but this was as good as for him. He gripped my hand and we shook on it.

“Connor’s waiting to see you,” he said before he and Lionel sauntered through the front door, leaving me outside with Rawson.

I leaned on the balustrade rails and stared out at the street. The bodies of the dead pack members had been removed and people worked side by side to repair the extensive damage caused by the raids. I felt Rawson’s energy as he moved closer. The bear shifter had always been a quiet and steady presence in the pack, but I guessed I had pressed him too far. I’d brought up memories of his own loss, and shoved his pain right back in his face. He’d been right to challenge me, I could concede that much, but...

He leaned his forearms on the railing beside me. We were both tall and well built, our shifter spirits lending us more power than any human our size. It didn’t matter, I would win against him, because I had more to prove now. I needed Connor to know I was powerful enough to be his right hand man, and that he could trust me. I also needed my brothers and the shifters Connor ruled to know that I had their backs as well as my King’s.

I thought of Selina and the way Devon’s face had lit up when we’d gone to find him at Becca’s first thing this morning. Proving to my new mate and my son that I was strong enough to protect them was also a great motivator. I wouldn’t let Rawson win any challenge…

“I’m glad things worked out for you.”

Rawson’s voice pulled me from my internal reverie. I continued to watch the people buzzing around the town, moving from one place to another and going about their lives, but I was aware of every little move my brother made. “Thanks,” I said. I should have said more. Rawson had figured out about Lina’s wolf, but even before that he had pushed me to fight for what I needed. He’d known how broken I was, and how broken I would become without her, because he’d been there. Perhaps he still was. My stomach tightened. He’d lost his mate, and even though that was over seven years ago, it was the kind of agony that would never go away. I turned my head to look at him. “Not just for figuring out there was something more to Lina’s rejection, but for calling me out on my shit.” I straightened, and held out my hand. “I’m sorry for putting you in the position of having to challenge me. I wasn’t stable enough to be Connor’s right hand. You were right to do it.”

He glanced at me, but his face remained tight. Dread coiled in my belly when he ignored my outstretched hand. I let it drop to my side, and exhaled a deep breath.Shit.

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