The Alpha

Chapter 5

Reality had left. In its place, a mocking version of animals and men. In comprehensive, as Luca put it. My scream punctured the silence in the woods savagely; disturbing the peace amongst trees. I heard the desperate flap of wings, the uncoordinated scurry of frightened animals above the brush laid on the forest floor. 'What is that!? I should get the hell outta here!' That's when I heard, discernibly for the first time, Luca's voice in my head. 'Don't!' I didn't let those booming words in my skull keep me from sprinting. The twigs slapped my bare skin, a cloud of dirt stirred around me as I pushed quickly through the branches. I expected the distant sound of paws and claws moving with ease after me, but it wasn't there. 'I'm surprised he isn't sending them after me! To eat me before I tell someone.' I heard his voice in my head again. 'I would never! Rae! Come back!'
'No! They're monsters! They are all monsters! And you led me there! Y-you're probably one too! I won't be your prey! I won't be some victim!'
'Enough! You are more than that! More than them!'
     My heart hammered in my chest when his next words were broken with a pained groan, and I felt the pain I had felt earlier budding in my gut, causing my steps to falter. I tripped, tumbling to the ground, dirt driving beneath my nails as I reached out to catch myself. 'Luca!' The pain slowly flew throughout my veins this time, but Luca's roars could be heard from across the span of the entire forest. I knew he was in pain just from the way the stabbing pain moved through me, as I recalled his worst. 'We're connected. He could feel my pain and I can feel his.'
     I twisted on my side, taking a few ragged breaths before I climbed to my feet, unsteadily. I reached out, aware there was nothing to grab onto, my eyes scanned the woods as I contemplated what my next move was. 'He needs me!'
     I startled myself by those words. They surfaced out of nowhere, a firm dominance from a connection I kept denying. I shook my head, trying to shove the desperate thoughts to run back to him and be by his side, away. It didn't work. My yarning to go to him was stronger than it's ever been. 'I can't go back! I need to run from those things!' Luca's voice cut through the trees once again. "No!"
'He doesn't want me to leave.'
"Rae!" My name was a strangled word between his lips, and once it was spoken I whipped around to the direction he was in, aware of how the word mine popped into my skull, and an invisible string tugged me slightly in his direction. 'Ugh, I should go to him!' Howling pierced the forest, I cringed at the sound. 'Like wolves mourning... But he's not dying, is he? No!'
     I jogged, but my movements were slow, too compromised by the horrible sting that had poisoned my body. 'Keep moving. I just need to keep moving. I need to get to him.' His agonized groans weren't as loud anymore. The closer I got, it was like I was the antidote he needed to stop the pain. I soon realized when I saw him in the distance that my own pain was subsiding like no longer avoiding my destiny was the key to flourishing. 'This is insane... but I know it's right. It's the only thing to stop this torture.'
"Rae." My name wasn't as distorted now. I visibly felt his relief as I closed the distance between the two of us and collapsed onto my knees beside him. Wolves surrounded him, stagnant gazed resting on us as I pressed my forehead against his, and both of our breathing became synchronized. As if even my heart and lungs connected as one. 'Oh god, what am I doing?'
     After a few beats, he raised his hand to cup my face, his eyelids fluttering open to reveal those deep red eyes so dark they appeared black as he gazed at me with a possession that made me forget my name and only think of him. 'He keeps saying I am his. And I keep denying it. But deep down, something inside of me is saying it's true. We are connected. But that scared the hell out of me.'
"It should. But I will protect you." I shook my head, moving away from him, to sit beside his body as my mind began to run rampant. I questioned ever decision I had made so far, or had I not agreed to have him help me, I wouldn't be where I was then. 'Because where I am is crazy. Unreal to every single person I know.' I sighed and shoved my fingers through my locks of hair which were all in disarray. 'My mom sure as hell wouldn't believe this. She'd probably faint at the thought. Oh god, my mom! She's probably worried about me!'
"Stay."
'Maybe I'll stay.'
     I hated to admit it, but at that moment, my body yearned for him. The notion of leaving his side made my stomach twist into knots, causing a bunch of nausea so fierce it made me whistle an uneven breath between my clenched teeth. "You belong with me."
"Luca, how can you say stuff like that?" My longing blossomed, and I found myself leaning towards his body, my body unconsciously craving the heat from his towering frame. The heat that soaked into my skin, set my veins ablaze with his molting ecstasy until I was a panting mess beside him. 'Jesus, why do I want him so much? Why can't my body just be logical? Why can't I get his lips out of my head? Ugh, those lips! I should go before I lose control...'
"Lose control."
     I heard him hiss those words before he wrapped his thick hand around my arm and pulled me on top of him, my limbs melding against his in all the perfect intimate places. His rigid muscles along his abdomen, and with one short thrust of his waist upward, I was keenly aware of that erection from earlier. 'The one that was the size of a damn arm... so thick. God! I shouldn't be thinking these things!' I pressed my hands into the ground beside both his arms to balance myself and attempt to push myself off of him, but his arms wrapped around my waist, angling my throbbing core against his steel rod, until I was dizzy from the pressure it put on my sensitive folds. 'He's not playing fair.'
"Luca, that's not fair."
"I'm not fair. I get what I want. Any means necessary."
'He wants me... I still can't wrap my head around it.' A growl left his lips, and I felt his fingers dig slightly into me. "Mine."
     That word should have ignited anger in me. I've never been anyone's. No man had ever tried to claim me. Not that I would let them. Quiet or not. "That's good if you." His eyes gleamed with amusement, before they trailed down my face and lingered on my lips, his tongue moistening his mouth as he did the time before when I thought he would kiss me. The sight made me clench my inner walls, as I nibbled nervously on my lip in preparation for the assault of his lips. "Rae?" The sound of Jaxon's voice captured my attention. I twisted my neck, eyes widening when I laid them in my friend. 'He's one of them? And he's naked!' I opened my mouth to respond, when a deep throated scoff left Luca's lips, he used his hand to firmly grasp my chin, leveling my gaze with his. I opened my mouth to protest his jealous aggression, but I was cut off by his mouth, that word, a repeated rhythm in my head as he claimed my kiss. "Mine!"
'Oh, Luca!'
     His mouth maimed mine, as did every other part of him. I shook in his grasp, my limbs vibrating against his, until my hips were subconsciously grinding against his to douse the flames of my longing. 'He's everywhere. His body on mine. His voice in my head. His affection in my heart. I don't think I could deny him.'
"You cannot!" His voice interrupted mine, and for once I didn't have some defying thoughts. I let him take over - his tongue expertly entwining with mine in a passionate dance for dominance until he was lapping and licking, marveling the taste of me on his mouth, until he had enough strength to flip me over so he hovered above me, intense and brooding. 'Any sane person would be afraid of him. But I'm not.'
     The longer I remained locked in his passionate embrace, the more frenzied my lust became, and soon I found myself whimpering like an animal when he pulled his lips free and moved them to my throat. His teeth dragged down the flesh, hard enough to afflict a painful hiss from my lips. He moved to pull away, but out of nowhere my hands shot to his neck end held him here. "Again!" A sultry moan left my lips as I begged him with a yearning that I had never felt before. "Again! Oh god, Luca! Again!"
"Ego pediuado ego vos nunc, in conspectu omnium."
'That language again...'
"Latin." He growled, his words still in my head. "I will claim you in every language imaginable. In front of everyone here. Our entire pack. That's how you will become mine."
     His teeth were back on my neck, moving to my shoulder where he bit harder. I gasped, back arching as I felt liquid bead my skin. 'Blood.' He licked the bite, before his lips were on mine again, my tongue exploding with the metallic taste of myself. It should have grossed me out. Completely drained me of the fact he licked the wound he created, but all it did was make my throbbing center soaked with that nectar I knew he was itching to devour. "I can smell your arousal, Rae."
"Y-You can?" His nostrils flared, his erection twitching in his pants against me. His gaze was unwavering with lust. I knew he was moments away from committing to what he said, and claiming my delicate sex in front of all of them. "Be gentle with me, Luca."
"I don't know how to be gentle." He moved in towards me and captured my bottom lip between his teeth, and I let a treacherous moan slip out, in which he claimed with his tongue. His voice entered my mind again. 'When I claim, I destroy.'
'Destroy?' That thought made a shiver roll down my spine, and I found myself pressing my hands against his chest. "Maybe we should stop..."
'I don't think I'm prepared for that. Or if I can handle that...'
     With a guttural groan, he moved off of me into a crouch, his eyes so dark I could no longer see the whites, as his chest rose and fell deeply - each breath choked through his clenched jaw. 'Oh my god. I'm so stupid.' My eyes moved around the group of people surrounding me, passing over a few naked people who must've just shifted. A blonde girl who couldn't stop staring intently at me, smooth skin of her naked flesh blatantly visible for all eyes. I felt my cheeks heat when I made eye contact with her.
     The same brunette who exuded jealousy from Luca's living room the other day. A woman with dark skin, who appeared to be a little older than me, offering me a warm smile. I gasped when I realized there were a few wolves scattered around as well. 'The pack.' Finally my eyes found Jaxon. His face stone, shielding his emotions from me as I dragged my hands down my body to straighten my clothes, before I got up on my feet after Luca had risen. 'We almost... in front of everyone!' I pressed my face in my palms and swallowed as anxious tears began to sting my eyes. "I'll bring you home -"
"No!"
'We need some distance... I-I need to think clearly.' I knew he could hear me even though I was only thinking the words. The way he formed his lips into a thin line, and his jaw tended before he whipped around to face the mansion once again. "Jaxon, bring her home." Luca's words were low but the deadly force behind them ricocheted off the trees. Jaxon replied instantly. "Yes, sir." I knew Luca was pissed. I felt it between the connection that tied us together. It was almost potent enough to cause unjust bouts of jealousy within me, but I suppressed the feeling, attempting to sever the connection as best I could. 'Because I'd enjoy some semblance of privacy.' I gasped when Luca entered my mind again. 'As you wish.'
     What can only be described as a wall, seemed to materialize in my head. For once, I didn't feel that tickling sensation of having someone in my mind. 'It's what I wanted. Why am I disappointed?'
     When I turned back to Jaxon, shorts were hanging loosely on his hips. He nodded for me to follow, and I hurried over to him, before we both began our walk through the forest to civilization. I glanced back over my shoulder, my face falling when Luca was nowhere to be found. 'I've disappointed him...' I blinked rapidly, clearing my throat in the hopes of distracting myself from the growing void in the middle of my chest. I trudged alongside Jaxon, a million questions swirling around in my head with each step. I moved quickly beside him, huffing out strangled breaths as he walked quicker, like he was trying to shake me. It wasn't until I finally saw an opening in the trees, and the small sight of the road, that my face lit up. 'We're almost out of these damn woods.'
     Just when I neared the tree line, Jaxon whipped around and I yelped, halting quickly to keep from running directly into his chest. "Look, you're a sweet girl, Rae. I just want you to be careful with Luca."
"Careful?" Jaxon nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, before his eyes darted behind me like he was looking for something. 'Why would I need to be careful for Luca, who swears he wouldn't let anything bad happen to me.'
"What is going on?"
"No. I can't. Just be careful."
'Well, I'm planning on trying to avoid this entire situation. Luca and everyone included.'
"I don't plan on running back this way anytime soon anyways." He snickered, his eyes rolling before he whipped around and began towards the road again. "You will find a way back... They always do."
     I wrapped my arms around myself to suppress the shiver, and follow after him, unconcerned as to whether I could fully keep up anymore.
     I rode in silence, unable to revisit the tension that was clearly brewing between the two of us. I managed to mutter a quick goodbye before climbing out of the car when I got home, and scurried up towards the front door. After I unlocked it, I threw it open and pushed into the foyer, before closing the door and resting my back against the oak. 'Even though Luca isn't here... and I no longer hear his gruff voice in my head, I still can't escape him in my memories. The way he touched me...'
     My hands moved along my waist, where his were, as if I could still feel his commanding embrace. 'The way he kissed me...' My fingers brushed my lips, and I quaked as if he was standing before me again. 'No man has ever kissed me like that. Ever touched me like that. I've spent too much time taking care of my mother to delve in the pleasures of someone my age.'
     I was interrupted by my mother. Her concerned tone snapped me back into reality, where Luca's lips no longer reigned, and I ripped my hands away from my mouth, flexing my fingers before tightening my hand into a fist, as I felt my cheeks warm with embarrassment. "Mom?"
"Where have you been? I've been so worried about you. You weren't in your room." Her words rolled together as she began rambling anxiously as she descended the steps, towards me with her arms outstretched. "Where have you been?"
'In the woods... with a man who defies all logical reasoning. A man that turns into a damn animal during a full moon.' I blinked a few times. 'That would either kill her, or make her lock me up in a mental hospital.'
     I contemplated on whether it would be a good excuse, or whether it would just worry her more. "I'm seeing someone." I blurted out quickly, watching as she released my arms and stepped back, alarm on her face. She furrowed her brows, but her determination trumped her illness, and she still managed to scrutinize me as her line of questioning began. "You're seeing someone? As in dating?"
'Dating... or mating in this instance?' The thought made me snort with laughter, which I quickly swallowed by biting my top lip. "I just met someone. It's not really official dating."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Honestly, I didn't want to say anything until I was sure I'd be pursuing it."
     She placed a hand on her stomach, and I stepped forward, reaching for her as worry lined my brows. "Mom, you're unsteady... we should get you back to bed."
"Who are you seeing?"
"Just some guy."
"Who? Rae? Tell me!" Her urgency startled me. Rarely is she ever like that, but in the moments she is, I felt panic rising. "His name is Luca."
"Luca what?" I blushed when I realized I didn't even know his last name, before I shook my head. "I don't know his last name..."
"Rae..." Her admonishing tone caused me to roll my eyes. 'As if I'm still a child and can't take care of myself.'
"Don't worry about him, ma. Honestly, I don't know if I'm going to continue seeing him. I want to focus on some other things."
     My mom's gaze softened, before she tilted her head with curiosity. "Other things?"
"You're health." I gently rubbed her arms reassuringly. "Just be careful, Rae."
'Everyone keeps telling me that. I should probably try and listen to the advice. Except when Luca is near, I can't seem to heed the warning signs.'
"I will be."
"And get some rest yourself. You're always so worried about me, you never take care of yourself."
"Well, you're the one we should be worried about. Have you taken your meds?" She waved a dismissive hand, and twisted towards the kitchen. I clamped my mouth shut, stifling the yawn that was building, when I finally noticed my exhaustion. 'I guess my broken sleep is finally catching up with me.'
     I sighed resigned from arguing with her about her medications, knowing it won't do any good. Some days she took them, other days she didn't, and she was even more stubborn than I was. "Please take them." I quickly called over my shoulder before I began to climb on the steps, the alarming call of my bed too enticing to resist.
     He was in my dreams, but this time instead of being just a manifestation of something that was driving my body crazy, he was truly in my head. I felt the solidity of his presence the same way I did yesterday when his voice dominated my thoughts. "Luca." He moved to me, a man emerging from the depths of the shadows within my room towards my bed. I knew the room around me wasn't real, and that I was peacefully sleeping just from the heaviness that I felt on my body, but that didn't stop him from sauntering towards me until he was standing beside my bed. "I couldn't stay away. Out of your head."
     An array of emotions swarmed inside of me, and I was met with a confusion of what I wanted. On one hand, excitement blossomed in my gut, but on the other hand, fear accompanied it. "You should've... You're not good for me. You're dangerous."
"I'm yours." He shook his head, his biceps tensing, showing just how muscular he truly was. His lips were set in a firm line and my fingers ached with the urge to run them through his dark brown hair. "I will never be a threat to you."
"How can I be sure of that?"
'Especially when so many people continue to warn me of him?' His brows furrowed, the area between them wrinkling as he gave me a look of distaste. "Who's been warning you?"
'Oh boy.'
"It's just a feeling. I don't want to get hurt... I don't know if I'm strong enough—"
"Anima mea, you are stronger than you know."
"You seem more sure of that than me."
     He snickered with amusement, his eyes lancing over my body. He hissed when I shifted, and my blanket fell away from my hip, revealing a delicious glimpse of smooth skin from my thigh and an edge of the panties I was wearing. 'He always looks at me like he wants me.' An appreciative grunt escaped his lips and I found myself unwittingly trailing my gaze down his powerful body, until I got to his jeans where I noticed he was hard as steel. "For you. My Queen. My body desires yours... Like it does air."
"That's intense."
"It is true. Even now you're moving your hips because you desire me equally. My closeness."
     His eyes dropped to my center, and with a gasp I found my legs spreading immediately for his greedy gaze. He licked his lips at the sight of my wet panties as a low growl rumbled from his chest. His own hand gripped the waistband of his jeans so fiercely, the button came free and I got a delicious eye full of the deep muscular V-line that headed to what I yearned to have buried inside me. "See. Even your body submits to my presence. The scent of your arousal is strong. Consuming me." He cursed beneath his breath and my eyes widened when I saw his massive member twitching inside his pants. 'For me?'
"Yes. Always for you. Anima mea. My soul. My mate." I opened my mouth and breathed his name into the air, the word dancing off my tongue as a passionate, tortured moan, and with one more possessive growl, he pounced.