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He pictured her inside his home in Alaska. She’d probably like it. It was roomy, and his clan would treat her extremely well. He’d make damn certain of it.
He clenched his teeth, not liking where his thoughts kept straying.
Keeping Shay… It would be a bad idea to take her home with him.
Then again, she’d be better off there. No one would dare harm a single hair on her head or hurt her feelings. He’d beat the shit out of them for even thinking about it. His clan would welcome her with open arms, or he’d kick their asses so hard, they would change their attitudes—quick.
* * * * *
Shay worried as they made their way to the trailer. It was still daylight, and a time when a lot of the pack roamed. “Someone might see us together. Maybe you should walk ahead of me a ways.”
Trayis surprised her by reaching out and taking her hand, instead. “I don’t care if anyone finds out.”
That stunned her enough that she stumbled. “They could get the wrong idea if we’re seen together again. Some already saw us leaving the party yesterday.”
“I don’t care what the pack thinks, Shay.”
Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard. The thought of the pack finding out her and Trayis were having sex, more than once, would be huge news. No matter what his position in his clan, he had some alpha blood. She was considered the weakest member of her pack. Tongues would wag. It could change how everyone viewed him.
She stopped walking, yanking her hand from his.
He turned, frowning.
“I can’t do this.”
“Shay?”
“I don’t care if everyone thinks badly of me, but you’re Arlis’s half-brother. You’ll lose respect if anyone believes we’re more than just a one-time hookup. You go first, and I’ll sneak in once I’m sure no one’s around.”
“Fuck that.” Trayis moved fast, grabbed her, and scooped her into his arms.
She clutched at him, almost dropping her bag. “Trayis!”
“I don’t care what they think, what they assume, or any other damn thing. We’re spending time together. There are a lot of idiots in your pack, Shay. You’re worthy of my attention—and I dare anyone to say otherwise. I’d enjoy making them bleed after the way you’ve been treated.”
He resumed walking toward the travel trailer.
Shay didn’t struggle in his arms. Instead, she settled the bag on her lap and wrapped her arm around his neck, before gently placing her free hand on his shoulder. “But what will Arlis think? It might upset him. He’d tell you to spend time with someone else.”
“I’ll deal with him if he has a problem with us.”
She heard a noise and whipped her head around. Dread filled her. Martin walk down one of the trails.
He spotted them and hurried forward with a scowl. Trayis stopped.
“Are you hurt, Shay?” Martin glanced at Trayis. “What’s going on?”
Before she could respond, Trayis spoke.
“I’m carrying her because she almost fled into the bushes to hide the fact that we’re walking to the trailer to spend the night together,” he announced. “We spent last night together, too. I asked her to do it again, and she agreed. But Shay’s under the impression I give a fuck if anyone has a problem with that—I don’t.” He paused. “Now, should I put her down to fight you? Or are we free to go?”
Martin’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. He paled a little.
Trayis shifted his stance. “Am I breaking some law that I don’t know about, being with Shay?”
Martin snapped his mouth closed and his dark gaze fixed on Shay. “You’re okay with him?”
She had to clear her throat. Twice. “Yes. We did spend last night together.” There was no reason to hide that now, since Trayis had already admitted it. “I approached him at the party and made my interest known.”
The enforcer glanced between them. “You two are…” It was Martin’s turn to clear his throat. “I didn’t see that coming. Not in a million years.” Martin gave a sharp nod and stepped off the trail. “Have fun.”
Trayis didn’t move, though. “Are you going to report this right away or give me time to speak to Arlis in the morning? I’d like to know if I should expect our evening to be interrupted.”
“Shay’s an adult female. Who she spends time with is her choice. She made it clear she’s willing to go with you. I have nothing to report.”
“We’ll be going then.” Trayis continued down the trail.
Shay’s heart pounded. Martin wasn’t a gossip…but Trayis planned to tell Arlis.
She waited until they’d reached the trailer and he put her down inside. “Your brother will be upset, Trayis.”
He locked the door and faced her. “He knows me. Knows I wouldn’t hurt you. I don’t see a reason for him to be concerned.”
“That’s not what I mean. I’m the lowest member of the pack!”
He sighed, took her bag, and rummaged for the box of condoms she’d packed. He withdrew them and tossed them down the short hall, toward the bedroom. “Doll, stop thinking that way.”
“It’s true, though. You’ve given me the impression you have some standing in your clan, like you’re an enforcer or something. Your own alpha would tell you that I’m beneath you.”
He closed the distance between them and put his hands on her hips. “Think like a human.”
“You’re a man. I’m a woman.”
“Exactly.”
“You’re not human, though.”
“I’m also not pack. And I see you, Shay. You are wonderful and beautiful and I like spending time with you. We have great chemistry. And anyone who has a problem with it really will get their asses handed to them by me.”
“I just don’t want you to suffer in any way, Trayis. What if your alpha hears about this? He’ll question why you would choose to spend time with me instead of a full-blood.”
He smiled. “Damn, doll. You should come with a warning label for being too damn sweet.” He pulled her against his body. “Don’t worry about that. It’s not an issue. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the leader of my clan would approve of me spending time with you one hundred percent.”
Shay sighed. She trusted him. “As long as you’re sure there won’t be any problems for you later.”
“I want you naked.” He eased his hold on her. “On the bed. Legs spread. I promised to distract you and make you forget everything. I keep my word.”
Shay gave a nod and a smile and began to strip.
Chapter Seven
Shay wore one of Trayis’s shirts as they sat next to each other on the couch. He’d unfolded a couple portable trays, and they ate as a movie played on a television screen that slid down from the ceiling. A shelf of movies had been supplied for them to decide from, and they’d chosen an action film. He’d also put on boxers to answer the door ten minutes before, accepting the delivered meal from one of the sentries.
“This food is amazing.”
Trayis nodded, reaching over and rubbing her bare thigh. “I’m glad you decided to spend the night with me. Great food, good movie, and the best company.”
She felt heat flush her cheeks, liking that he thought so. Spending time with Trayis made her happy. They’d already had mind-blowing sex before the food had arrived, so the fact that he now wanted to have a mini date with her, including dinner and a movie, was immensely flattering.
She still thought this felt like more than a casual hookup, especially since they were together two nights in a row, and that left her feeling a little confused. She didn’t want to push him for answers, though. One thing was for sure—she’d miss him when he returned to Alaska.
Trayis released her leg and picked up his knife, cutting one of the steak medallions on his plate. He had already eaten his lobster tails. He laughed as the human actor on the screen shot someone.
She smirked. “You find that funny?”
“Of course. It looks fake.”
�
��It seemed pretty gory to me.”
“They wouldn’t die that fast from being shot there.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to ask how he knew that. “Do you use guns often?”
“No.” He glanced at her and lifted his beer, taking a sip. “Is this movie too violent for you?”
“No. I like movies where someone who does someone else wrong gets their ass kicked by the good guy. Or in this case, gets killed by the good guy.”
He winked, returning his attention to the TV. She ate, finished what she could, and leaned back. Trayis glanced at her. “There’s dessert.”
“I’m full.”
“You’re done?”
She nodded.
He lifted her plate off her tray and dumped her remaining food onto his own. She smiled. He could put away a lot of food. When he finally finished, he leaned back too and pulled her closer until she snuggled into his side. It was nice…comfortable.
The movie eventually ended, and Shay got up first and began to clear the dishes. She washed while he dried and put them away. The last delivery bag he put in the fridge.
“For later.” He held out his hand. “Ready for bed?”
“Always.”
He led her to the compact bedroom and turned to face her. “Are you getting sore? Be honest with me.”
“I heal pretty quickly, Trayis, human side considered. I’m good. And you’re pretty gentle with me.”
He put his hands on her waist and drew her closer. She reached up, holding on to his shoulders, and he lowered his head. She loved the way his eyes turned more golden in color when he was aroused. She closed her eyes as his lips took possession of hers, opened to him and kissed him back. He lifted her off the floor and she wrapped her thighs around his waist.
A ringing sounded and he stilled, a growl coming from him, chest vibrated against hers. He pulled away and she opened her eyes, meeting his gaze.
“I have to get that.”
She nodded. He put her down, stepped away, and walked to his cell phone. Another growl came as he answered it, putting it to his ear. “What’s wrong?”
She heard a male speaking but Trayis walked away before she could make out words with her keen hearing, putting distance between them. He paced in the kitchen area.
“Fuck. We knew this was a possibility, that’s another reason I came. But I’d hoped no one would be that stupid.”
He listened more. She noticed his expression, how angry he seemed. She wondered what was going on.
“That’s bullshit. We stand together. I’ll be right there. Try to keep your cool.” He ended the call and snarled, his eyes darkening.
“What’s wrong?”
His eyes became all black. Even the whites of his eyes were gone.
“One of the alphas is posturing at my brother’s party.” Trayis’s voice came out deeper than normal. “Fucking Lycans. They see a perceived weakness and want to start shit.” He put his phone down. “Stay here. Lock the door after me.”
He moved fast, yanking open the closet in the bedroom, and began to dress.
“Someone is going to challenge Arlis?”
“Some alpha prick named Frank is being a dick. I don’t remember him.”
“He rules about ninety pack members. He’s not mated, and he took over six years ago after winning a challenge.” She paused, still sick with worry for Arlis. “He killed his older brother Fred to take control of the pack, Trayis. The guy is a dick; he sent a condolence card when he found out Arlis had mated Ginny. He acted like it was just a joke but…I doubt it. He’s old school. Ginny isn’t an alpha bitch, which means he doesn’t hold any respect for her—or Arlis for mating her. It’s not a secret. He usually avoids the alpha meets though, sending excuses to decline the invitations.”
Trayis glanced at her as he put on shoes with a confused frown. “Explain the alpha bitch thing.”
“I keep forgetting you don’t live with a pack. Frank is a hard-core believer in strength, basically. He killed his own brother because he felt Fred was too weak to lead. Ginny is strong, but she isn’t the baddest bitch in the pack. He thinks less of Arlis for that because he’s a jerk. It’s the same reason some think I should never approach someone like you. I’m too weak for you. Do you understand?”
He stood from the edge of the bed where he’d sat. “I think I do.”
“Frank probably thinks Arlis should have bred and mated better. But it’s bullshit. They’re true mates. Everyone knows that…but jerks like Frank would ignore an emotional bond for the chance to birth the strongest sons possible. Knowing him, he’d invoke the old breeding fight law if he could.”
“Breeding fight law?”
“The elders tell stories about the days when packs were smaller because they were killed by humans and other predators. They lived nomadic lives and didn’t wait to find true mates back then. Once they hit adulthood, it was pretty much a requirement to breed to build their numbers. Alphas would allow their packs to fight it out. You know, only the toughest ones winning the right to breed with each other. Guess they believed their chances of creating hardier pups would increase. I can totally see Frank making women fight to become the mother of his young, to make sure he got the strongest bitch in his pack.”
“He is an asshole.”
“Of the worst kind. I agree.”
Trayis paused in thought. “The name Fred sounds familiar. Why?”
“He took in the survivors of Bufford’s pack.”
Rage crossed his features. “That bastard who attacked this pack before?”
She nodded. “Not all of the Weres with him were fighters; they had no idea what Bufford had planned. Once the pack was disbanded, they would have been rogues.”
“I remember now.”
She nodded. “Fred ran a good pack. Until his younger brother challenged him. You’re going to go support Arlis and Ginny?”
“You bet your ass I am.”
“Be careful.”
He smiled. “I will.”
“You need to shower first.”
He inhaled deeply. “No. I’m not hiding you, Shay. Lock the door after I leave. Until I know what’s up, only open it for me.”
He left and she locked the door, staring at it as she bit her lip. She hadn’t been born yet when their territory had been invaded. Bufford had wanted their land, but he hadn’t challenged their alpha pair the way their laws commanded. He’d chosen to go about in a sneaky way, showing up in the middle of the night to attack without warning. Worse, he’d poached unhappy members from other packs to help him by promising them status if they fought with him. Many deaths had occurred.
What if Frank decided to pull that same move?
She mentally replayed every communication she’d dealt with from him. He was a complete ass.
Shay suddenly wished she were in her cabin. Unlike other pack members, she owned a shotgun and boxes of ammunition. The lack of claws didn’t mean she had to be utterly defenseless.
A cell phone rang, and she jumped. Trayis had forgotten his. She walked over to it, staring at the lit screen. It said “Wen.” She didn’t touch it, though. Maybe that was Trayis’s alpha. No way did she want to get him into trouble.
She paced up and down the length of the trailer, wondering what was happening. Part of her wanted to get dressed and go snooping. Then again, she didn’t want to be around if a war broke out. She’d be killed unless she could get to her cabin and a weapon.
“Let everything be okay,” she implored aloud.
* * * * *
Trayis walked into his brother’s house without knocking. Conversation stopped as over thirty people turned his way. He spotted Arlis standing by the large fireplace looking pissed and a tense male facing off with him. He guessed that must be Frank. A few of his brothers’ enforcers gave him respectful nods. He was glad they were there, since each alpha had brought a few of their best fighters, too.
Arlis smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Frank, you haven’t met my brother, Tr
ayis.”
Trayis stopped next to his brother, almost close enough to touch him. He knew his eyes were showing his rage, that they’d be pure black.
The other Lycan alpha backed up a step, looking stunned. “What the fuck?”
“He’s VampLycan. I know you were aware of him.” Amusement filled his brother’s voice.
Frank cleared his throat and took a step forward, posturing by flexing his shoulders. “I heard. I didn’t know he was here.”
“I dare anyone to demand I announce my visits to my brother.” Trayis glared at the alpha. He let his claws slide out of his fingertips and lifted his hand, scratching just under his chin as if he had an itch, letting the prick get a good long look at them. He retracted them just as fast. “You’re the one who challenged your brother six years ago, correct?”
Fear flickered in Frank’s eyes but it disappeared fast. “I didn’t know you kept up with local news.”
“I make anything that concerns my brother my business. Not that I need to.” He smiled, showing off his fangs. “I taught my brother how to fight myself. He can take care of his own problems…but I’m nosey. You’re aware of how he became alpha, aren’t you?”
Frank swallowed, glancing at Arlis. “Yes. He survived when his pack was challenged.”
Trayis wanted to gut the asshole. “There was no challenge. Fucking cowards snuck in at night to murder members of this pack while they slept. Arlis personally killed over nineteen of those assholes. I got here as fast as possible, ready to tear apart any who lived, but unfortunately there were none.” He sighed, glancing at Arlis. “It was disappointing.” He gave his brother a genuine smile. “You should have at least left a few of them alive for me.”
“Why would you involve yourself with this pack?”
Trayis snapped his head back to stare at Frank. “Because unlike some, I stand by my brother. And didn’t anyone tell you that many VampLycans have family who live here? My clan is related to probably half of the members.” He was lying, it was only a few, but he wanted the prick to stew on that.