Page 65 of Alpha Scorned

“Good.” The growl in his voice sent shivers across my skin.

He moved up the bed to lay on his back and pulled me up against him until I was practically sprawled on top. His hands rubbed lazy circles on my skin and I mirrored that relaxed touch on his side where my arm draped down. My heart rate didn’t come down a lot though. I had too much on my mind, my stomach tied in knots in case this all went wrong.

“What time does Connor want to leave?” I asked, making sure to keep my voice even.

His chest rose and fell in a sigh, and he twisted to look at the clock. “About an hour. He wants to get to the Count’s estate and back again in time for the celebrations.” He chuckled. “I think Ember will have his balls if he’s late for her birthday party on the beach.”

I chuckled. It was true. Connor was taking Owen to see Shane who was a ‘guest’ of the Count’s. His estate was a two hour drive away in the borders. That meant I had a whole day to make sure everything was done right. I squealed as he lifted me fully on top of him.

“Hey, what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” His attention fixed on my face.

I cupped his cheek. “Just how happy, and lucky, I am,” I said, andthatwas the truth. I often woke at night and expected to find that my life with Owen was a dream. But every little touch of his hand and kiss and smile reminded me that it wasn’t.

He narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t fully believe me. That was the problem with being mated; he could feel an echo of my emotions too. Just as I could with him. His anxiety, which I suspected was because he was leaving me alone, was touching as hell...except, I wanted to get rid of it for good. I’d rejected him, and that wasn’t something he would easily forget, no matter that we were mated now, or how happy we were. I took a deep breath and hoped that today would erase those fears.

Distracting my mate was easy enough, I leaned in and gave him a long lingering kiss that had precisely the effect I wanted. Smiling to myself I flung my leg over his hips and lowered my body down his, sliding his growing length back inside me.

When the alarm went off Owen was already in the shower, but I snuggled back down under the warm sheets, not really wanting to leave them yet.

Owen came back out naked and glorious, and I openly ogled my mate’s magnificent body, groaning with disappointment as he covered it up with a grey tee that matched his eyes, some faded jeans, and a pair of black shitkickers. He caught me watching as he strapped on his weapons.

“Enjoy the show?” he asked, his eyes twinkling, a satisfied smirk curling his lips.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “It was okay.” Then I pouted. “But I prefer it when your clothes are coming off.”

He laughed. “Me too, Kerores. Me too.”

He leaned down, kissing me and darting his tongue into my mouth, taking a quick taste as I gripped onto his hips. I was breathing hard again when he pulled away. “Enjoy your day with Ember. Make sure Zander is with you when you start getting things ready on the beach, though.” The warning in his voice was a stark reminder that we were at war with the Made vampires.

“Don’t worry, I will. Besides, Ember has her own protection, too. And if I’m with her, they’re with me, along with the rest of the castle.” I chuckled. “I think everyone is invited to this shindig. We’ll be fine.”

He stood tall and stared down at me, his head cocked. “Why do I get the feeling you have something else cooking?”

I gave him an innocent look. “Of course I don’t. I’m just helping Ember get her party ready.”

He pressed his lips together in a tight line as he stared at me for a beat longer. I kept myself relaxed and smiled. The last thing I wanted was for him to drag me with him and Connor to see Shane. I’d already been to see my former Alpha. A few days ago in fact. I’d managed to sneak out with Shannon and Ember while Owen and Connor were busy in a meeting. Shane was weak, but up and about and able to walk slowly around his new home at Balthazar’s castle. He had been surprised to see me, and that surprise had only grown when I told him that I needed a favour from him. “Go. I’ll be a good girl–until you get home.”

Owen straightened and stood tall, raising a brow.

“What?” I giggled. “I will be.” But I sat upright and let the sheet drop, uncovering my breasts. “Oops.”

Owen cursed, his eyes darkening and he ground his teeth as he backed away to the door. “Damn, Lina. That’s not fighting fair.”

I smiled and blew him a kiss. “Go. I’ll see you later.”

He gripped the door handle, his knuckles turning white. “Fine.” He bit out. “But you’d better get ready to be really,really,bad when I drag you away from that party later.”

I smiled as he reluctantly opened the door and stepped out, shutting it quietly behind him. As soon as he was gone, I flung back the covers and darted to the shower. I had a lot to do today and only a few hours to do it in.

Chapter 23

Owen

I drovethe bulletproof Mercedes SUV through the huge ornate gates leading into Count Bathazar Rossi’s estate. It wasn’t deliberate that the Count lived only two hours from the King of Shifters. It just so happened that the large estate Connor had purchased was on the borders between Scotland and England, which was where the Count’s old estate had always been.

Zander was guarding Ember and Lina today, and I knew my brother would keep them safe, but I still hated leaving my mate. It had been three weeks since we’d mated, yet the pull she had on my soul hadn’t lessened any.

Connor twisted in his seat to look at me. “It doesn’t, brother.”

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