Love, Against All Odds

III - Chapter 1

'Becca,' Kal whispered with thunder and heat in her voice.

Becca stood before the Alpha and searched the dark ashen eyes above her. Her skin was hot and itchy, her clothing confining. As she inhaled, she swore Kal reminded her of warm autumn spices, and it excited her blood to the point that she wanted to strip. Instead, she adjusted the heavy saddlebags on her right shoulder and hoped she didn't drop them with her shaking frame. For a moment she was unsure whether she would be invited into the cabin or rejected. She clutched the bags' leather tighter as she waited for Kal to make the final decision.

Kal remained poised in the doorway, filling it with her brawny body. She was breathing heavily and gripping the door with white knuckles, as she seemed to struggle with her inner Alpha. Although she only wore a breast wrap and loose, black bottoms, sweat was beaded along her brow.

Becca used all her willpower to not look below Kal's waistline where she imagined there was already an erection. As a kid, she heard many tall tales about Alphas in ruts, but now she wondered if there was truth behind them. She cleared her throat, swallowed once, and did her best to remain silent, knowing Kal was in charge.

'You should not be here.'

Becca bit her lip and withheld a moan at how Kal's voice rumbled and called to Becca. She struggled not to shove Kal into the cabin and tear both their clothes off. Such a strong need to have sex had never existed in Becca's life until today. Her mind was growing fuzzier with each tick, but she took a deep breath and focused herself a bit longer. 'I'm where I should be.' When Kal narrowed her eyes, Becca whispered, 'You need me.' A shiver raced down her spine after Kal's deep growl, but it wasn't threatening. 'And honestly—' She hesitated, feeling the truth heavy on her chest. '—I need to be with you.'

Kal shifted closer, pressing their bodies together.

Becca almost dropped the saddlebags after Kal's noticeable erection pushed against her stomach. She couldn't fight her needy moan this time. She stiffened when Kal bent over her, nose brushing near her ear, then decided this was her last chance to nudge Kal over the edge. 'I won't leave. I can't leave.' She closed her eyes while Kal breathed in her scent, savoring the sweet smell. 'I know you're in pain. Let me help you.' At the thought of Kal's misery, her chest strained and eyes stung. 'Krafka, Freen.' Her shoulders sagged with each heartbeat; but then the weight vanished.

Kal had taken the saddlebags and stepped aside for her lover, inviting her into the cabin.

Still trembling, Becca entered the cozy interior that wasn't much larger than Kal's quarters in the Great Tower. She noticed the lit fireplace and a long sofa with a wooden table in front of it. Her attention skipped to the oversized bed beside a window. To the right was a basic kitchen with all the necessities to be comfortable for noreds in the woodlands. Between the kitchen and bedroom space, a closed door probably led to a washroom, and Becca suspected there was an outhouse somewhere on the property.

'Did you come here alone?'

Becca faced her lover and replied, 'Ja. Only Dorlon knows I'm here.' She waited for any recognition in Kal's features about Dorlon knowing they were lovers. If Kal pieced it together, it didn't seem to matter. All that stood before her was a rutting Alpha who wanted to mate her.