Page 27 of Alpha's Rise

Save my wife. My son.

The words repeatedly played over and over. Nathan and Tobias knew their cousin and best friend was losing his shit at the thought of his family coming to harm. But they also knew, with the three of them together, whoever had brought danger to their lands was about to die.

Little Christopher’s voice called out again to the people holding him. “You’re in trouble. You took me and hurt my Auntie Romi. You’re all gonna die.” They weren’t sure how they could hear him so clearly, but they had a feeling it was because of how special Chrisopher was. Even though he wasn’t their pup, his words made them both proud.

Arriving at the clearing, Tobias leaped through the air and latched on the throat of the man closest to him. Without hesitating, he ripped into the man’s throat, Tobias’s strong teeth pulling at the flesh and bone, twisting his head and pulling away. Blood flew and spread over his maws. Not wanting any part of this asshole in his body, he spit out the chunks of flesh and turned back to the shifter bleeding out in front of him. Lifting his front legs, he brought one foot down on the man’s head, the other on his chest before pulling. Only when the head was fully separated from the body did he stop. One of the other interlopers came running, trying to shift midair. Tobias had already changed over to his human form, but he was still powerful. As the man began to shift, Tobias ran over to him, only partially shifting one hand, his claws long and deadly. Dropping into a crouch, he raised his arm and sliced through the shifter from stem to stern. Blood dripped over his naked form as the being crashed to the ground. Standing, he looked around to see if there was any other danger. At the sight in front of him, he smiled.

When Tobias went after the first guy, Nathan also launched into the air, claws unsheathed, and teeth bared. When the shifter turned and saw him, he yelled out, just before Nathan’s claws ripped into his chest. Their bodies crashed onto the ground. Some would say it was an unfair fight, with Nathan in his wolf form and the other shifter unable to turn.

Fuck anyone who didn’t understand that nothing about this situation was normal. Not only had these fuckers come on their pack lands without permission, but they also threatened his cousin’s mate and child. They all needed to die, by any means necessary. Nathan realized his claws had never stopped slashing and digging. Entrails and blood covered the ground beneath the interloper. Through his blood haze, he could see the shifter’s body trying to heal itself. Not today, motherfucker. Bending his head, Nathan’s large mouth ripped through the neck flesh and in one motion almost separated the head from the body.

Meanwhile, Odin had also come into the clearing, but he’d shifted into his biped form. Coming up behind the man who held Layla, Odin grabbed his head and twisted, ripping it off. As the man dropped, Odin caught Layla in his arms before gently laying her down on the ground. In the blink of an eye, he stood in front of the man holding Christopher. Just as his son’s face lit up in relief, Odin grabbed him from the man’s arms, tucking him under one arm. His other arm shot out, breaching the man’s chest all the way through his back. When he pulled his arm out, he held the shifter’s beating heart in his hand. Dropping the organ to the ground, he took the same hand and slashed it across the man’s neck, almost slicing his head off.

“Oda doggie,” his son cried. “I knew you’d save us.”

“What the fuck,” Jones yelled as he watched the last of his men be cut down. He began shifting when Romi called out to him.

“You came after me. Threatened my family. Do you really think you’re going to get a chance to live? You should have stayed in your hole because you made the wrong fucking choice.” Before she could say another word, both Nathan and Tobias were in front of Jones.

Without a word, they began slashing and tearing at his biped form. Jones was a special breed and in any other situation, he would have bested two lesser wolves. But this was two-thirds of the Alpha Triad of the Bloodmoon Pack. Nathan and Tobias were not normal wolves. They didn’t need special enhancements to be powerful. It was already inside of them. Their power and strength were natural born and Goddess granted. Romi stood watching as her men tore through Jones body with every swiped. Blood and sinew flew around the clearing, landing on both of them.

Staring at them, she thought they’d never looked sexier. Yes, it may seem odd for her to think that way, but it was the truth. Glancing around the area, taking in the carnage, she noticed Odin standing off to the side, watching the situation play out. His eyes glanced around looking for any other danger to come their way. Layla was leaned up against a tree behind him and Christopher was standing next to Odin, his little arms crossed. Even though the macabre scene was playing out in front of her, she couldn’t help but give her godson a little wink. When he returned the gesture, she almost laughed.

No one would deny they were a fucked-up group of individuals, but that was okay. At the end of the day, her family would always be safe. Turning back to her men, she heard Nathan growl loud as he took both hands and dug them into the middle of Jones’s body. Tobias grasped Jones’s head in his hands and twisted. One second later, the man who’d came to hunt her down and kill her was in multiple pieces on the ground.

Nathan and Tobias stood there breathing loudly, their chests rising and falling from exertion.

“Auntie Sparkles,” Christopher called out to her, causing Romi to turn to him. He was running over to her, his little feet avoiding all the puddles of blood. Jumping, his tiny arms wrapped around her neck, hugging her tight. “I knew you could hear me. I knew you would come. They took my mommy and tried to fight my daddy. But then they took me, and I knew you could find me. My daddy was so mad, his doggie came out.” He stopped talking and looked over at Nathan and Tobias standing there covered in blood. “That’s my daddy’s friend. He’s strong, but not as strong as my Oda doggie. But the other one,” Christopher squinted his eyes before gasping, “he looks like my daddy. My Oda doggie. How?” His young face was scrunched in confusion.

“He’s your daddy’s cousin, sweetheart. They’re wolves are related,” Romi told him.

Staring at Nathan, Christopher tilted his head and continued to take in the shifter in front of him. “His doggie is like my Oda doggie, but not quite. I like him, Auntie Romi. He’s good.”

Wrapping her arms around the child, Romi rocked from side to side. “Yes, sweetheart, he sure is good.” Looking at her two men standing naked, she knew there were no more doubts about their commitment to her. Their need to protect her. Yes, she’d had reservations about her role in their life and what she truly meant to them. But no more. That doubt was now gone. Glancing over at Layla who was now up and making her way over to Romi and Christopher, she smiled. “Let’s make sure your mom is okay.”

Walking over to her friend, Romi handed Christopher to his mother. “You okay, Layla?”

“I’m fine. Those fuckers got us while Odin was out on a run. I was outside walking with Christopher when they showed up. He was too far away to get back to us before they took us. I just worry that he’ll never want to leave the house again. He worries about us so much after everything that happened when we first arrived. Now this.” Layla glanced over to find Odin standing with Nathan and Tobias, but his gaze was firmly on her.

“He loves you, Layla. Of course, he worries.”

“I’ve thought about asking him to change me, so that I can defend myself and Christopher. Well,” she laughed into Christopher’s hair, “I think this little man can take care of himself if push came to shove. Me on the other hand… that’s a different story.”

“Momma, let me down. I want to go be with Daddy.” Layla placed him on the ground and watched as he ran over to the three men.

“When did he start calling Odin his dad?”

Glancing over at her son and husband, Layla took a few seconds to respond. “About two weeks ago. It started slow, like it was a reflex. Odin would put him down for bed and he’d say goodnight daddy, as if it were the most normal thing. It shocked me, but it damn near floored Odin. He stayed up the entire night sitting by Christopher’s bed just staring at him.”

“He’s a good man, Layla. I’m glad you found him. Plus, that man is fine as hell.”

“Quit looking at my man’s dick, Romi.” They both laughed.

“But Layla… would you look at it? It’s just all out there and shit. Whew!” Romi fanned herself with one hand.

“Girl, you have two fine, glorious men of your own who are looking at you like you’re a raw filet mignon and they haven’t eaten in days. Plus, I mean, if we’re talking about being all out there and hanging free… I mean, damn. Odin is all that and a bag of chips, but you have two sizeable platters just waiting for you.”

“Shit, now I’m hungry,” Romi said with a laugh.

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