Claimed by the Alpha (Shifters of Ashwood Falls Book 13) Read online

  “Gina?”

  A smile tugged at Luna’s lips as she told Stacy the short story about who Gina was. “She and a wolf Healer from another Pack are working on an antidote to reverse the effects of the mutant serum.”

  Stacy stopped, and her features changed to hopeful. “Then Colt could be human again.”

  “We’re hopeful, but I don’t know a lot about the genetics and biology of it all. Gina and Sven both have a vast knowledge that will help them. Plus, Sven’s IQ is off the charts according to human testing anyway.” Luna sensed Rafe nearby, so she directed Stacy to turn down another tunnel. “It could be years before they find a cure.”

  They came to the common area and Rafe walked out and locked gazes with Luna. Damn, she was sure she was moving away from him. Then again, she was a little distracted. Ignoring Rafe, she asked Stacy, “Is there anything that concerns you?”

  “No. Colt is as caring as he ever was, but I worry that the things he did while under the rogue Alpha’s power damaged him in some way.” Stacy glanced from Luna to Rafe.

  Rafe spoke before Luna had a chance to. “I can call in a Healer.”

  Luna pursed her lips. “No need. I’ll talk with Nevan to see if he can evaluate Colt’s state of mind.”

  “Is that the human psychologist?” Rafe asked.

  Luna nodded. “He’s mated with our leopard Healer and was raised by a puma stepmom and three puma brothers. He’s familiar with shifters and their nature.”

  Stacy relaxed as if Luna’s offer took a ton of bricks off her back. “That would be great. Thank you.”

  Then Stacy left to head back to the playroom, leaving Luna alone with Rafe. He was staring like he usually did. “Forever the loving Alpha.”

  “I’m good at it.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. His black hair was cut short with the top long enough to curl. His ice-blue eyes were thankfully different from Royce’s midnight blue that looked black most the time. Black like his soul.

  But Rafe’s eyes were like looking into heaven, calm and cool.

  A dimple formed in one cheek as he gave her a crooked smile. “Have lunch with me.”

  Even though he said the statement as a request, there was a demand in his tone. Luna wondered if she refused would he bully her into doing what he wanted. Royce would have. She couldn’t tell him no because it didn’t matter what she wanted. “What if I say no?”

  He shrugged. “I’ll be eating alone. It wouldn’t be the first time.” Then he leaned in until their lips were inches apart. “I don’t use force to get what I want. I’m a patient male. You’re my mate. Nothing will change that.”

  Her heart pounded, and she had to fight the urge to lean forward that fraction of an inch to claim his mouth. But she wouldn’t. Not until she knew for sure that what she was feeling was real. She thought Royce was her true mate, and she was wrong.

  She wouldn’t be wrong again. If that meant living the rest of her life alone, so be it. However, she was hungry and did have questions she hadn’t had a chance to ask him. “I can eat.”

  His features turned lethally gorgeous as he extended his elbow for her to take. “Good. Do you still like Mexican?”

  “Of course.” Luna took his arm and fought off a groan as an electric current of need and desire flowed through her. Damn him. She was supposed to hate him for walking out when she needed him. But he had his reasons. She was going to find out just why he stayed away for as long as he did.

  If he thought he could just walk back in and claim her, expecting her to jump in his arms, he was delusional. She was going to make him work for the right to mate with her.

  Chapter Two

  Rafe watched Luna from the other side of the booth. She had her curly red hair braided down her back. A few strands hung free on either side of her face. She was beautiful, and he was glad she didn’t lose her natural need to love everyone. He was afraid Royce would destroy that part of her.

  She was stronger than ever and not because she was Alpha. “You have questions. Ask them.”

  Picking up a chip, she dipped it into the salsa before speaking. “How long have you worked with the rebels?”

  “About several years after Royce kicked me out of the Pack for questioning his judgment.” He took a drink of his beer and studied her.

  She didn’t give him a reaction. He guessed schooling her emotions and reactions was something she learned to do while mated to Royce. The bastard. She took another chip and broke it in half. “Were the rebels the reason you left?”

  Narrowing his gaze, he said, “I told you why I left.”

  “Not the whole truth.”

  A lazy smile lifted his lips. There was no lying to an Alpha, especially one who had their wolf as close to the surface as Luna’s was. “I knew since you came of age that you were mine. It didn’t surprise me that Royce also claimed that you were his as well. It’s not uncommon for twins to have the same mate. I should have known he was lying and only wanted you to keep us apart.”

  Luna was quiet for a long while as she stirred her chip in the salsa. “He was the stronger twin; my father would have picked him anyway. Plus, Royce was charming and fun. In the early days of our relationship, anyway.” She paused and Rafe swore he saw her lip quiver. She stuck the chip in her mouth before he could confirm it.

  “We were close until he claimed you. Then after the first attack that killed our parents, he changed.” The pain from having the bond to their parents break made him pull away. “You were the only one to seem to reach him.”

  She frowned. “I clung to that, thinking I could heal him and change him. When we mated, I worried our bond wasn’t strong enough. Now I know why.”

  “He was never your true mate.”

  “No, he wasn’t. He used me to gain power over the Pack.” Luna let out a humorless laugh. “What better way than to woo the Pack princess?”

  Rafe fisted his hands and ground his teeth. The only regret in his life was not protecting Luna from his asshole brother. He should have seen through the mask and sensed what he was up to.

  Rafe should have challenged Royce the day his brother told him to leave. Instead, he thought he had a plan that would keep Luna out of harm’s way. He was wrong and failed his mate.

  “Why didn’t you come back after Royce died?” Luna stared at him with no emotions.

  That was a question he asked himself many times. “I was never sure if you wanted to see my face. It would only remind you of what the bastard did.”

  She shrugged and took a drink of her margarita. “At first, maybe. But it’s been over forty years since I killed him. And you show up now. What’s your plan?”

  He lifted one brow and leaned across the table. “Stop Faelin and put an end to the rogue war for good.” He caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “And I plan to claim what’s mine.”

  Sitting back out of his reach, Luna narrowed her green eyes. “I belong to no one.”

  There was a growl in her tone, but he scented her desire. His instinct was to push with the forced seduction of an alpha male. However, Luna would kick his ass to the curb as soon as Faelin was dealt with.

  Rafe had spoken with Hayden a few days ago, telling his nephew his intentions with his mother. Rafe had let her go once, and he wasn’t going to walk out again. Her sons needed to know that. Hayden told him how his father treated Luna, how the bastard kept her weak by dominating her and making threats to hurt her sons and the Pack.

  Royce used his Alpha power to control her. He thought to tear her down when all he did was make her turn to her wolf, letting the animal take over. Until the day she turned feral and killed her mate.

  So no, Rafe wouldn’t claim his mate as an alpha male would. He would seduce her, support her just like her Beta would. That didn’t bother him because he’d always been more beta than alpha anyway.

  Laying his hand on the table, palm up, he said, “I don’t want to own you. But I’m not above using seduction to get what I want.”

  Her lips twitched
before she turned her head to look out the window. Before she replied to his statement, Nyla and Kirk appeared at the table.

  Nyla sat beside Luna with a wide smile. “Hello! I love Mexican. It’s been a while.”

  Kirk nodded to Rafe before sitting next to him. Luna glanced at Nyla with a brow raised. Nyla rolled her eyes. “The food, not an actual Mexican. Geesh, I do eat regular food. I’m a half-witch, after all.”

  Luna laughed, the sound was song-like and captivating. Rafe needed to find out how to make her laugh more often.

  Kirk shook his head and handed Rafe an envelope. “We ran into Easton on our way here. He told me to make sure you get that.”

  Meeting Luna’s gaze, Rafe took the envelope then opened it. There was a flash drive and a note that read, “I think you will find this interesting. Hint. There are two stones.”

  “Two stones?” Luna said in a low voice so those around them didn’t hear.

  Rafe nodded as he put the flash drive and note back in the envelope. “I think we should get our lunch to go and find out what’s on that drive.”

  “I agree.” Luna held up her hand for the waitress. “What are you thinking?”

  Rafe shook his head. “Not here.” He glanced around the restaurant. It was late for lunch, so it wasn’t too busy.

  His gaze met that of one of Kasen Wilde’s Enforcers. Of course, the Alpha of the Wilde Wolf Pack would have them followed. Why? Rafe didn’t know nor did he care. Kasen knew what they were dealing with.

  Motioning to Luna, Rafe said, “Might as well call Kasen to join the meeting.”

  She looked at the Enforcer, smiled wide, and waved. “Hi, Tate. It’s nice to see you.”

  Tate stiffened and turned his back to them, making Rafe laugh. When Luna started to walk over to Tate, Rafe looped an arm around her waist and pulled her toward the door. “We don’t have time to torment the Enforcer.”

  She smirked and wiggled out of his arms. “You’re no fun, but you’re right. We need to check this thing out.”

  The thing she referred to was the new information from Easton, Faelin’s Beta and a rebel spy. Rafe just didn’t know which group he was working for. It didn’t matter at the moment because Easton was playing on their side. If he got a wild bug up the ass and switched sides again, Rafe would be there to bring him down.

  Chapter Three

  There is another stone.

  Luna's mind churned with nightmarish thoughts and dread. If Faelin got the second moonstone, he would be unstoppable. They didn’t stand a chance of stopping the war against the rogues. Was that why he was in California? They couldn't let him have it.

  The flash drive Easton sent them proved it. Well, it at least told of twin stones that held the powers to destroy the world. There were maps and coordinates. One set was where Rafe said Royce found the one Faelin had in his possession. The second set of coordinates were in the Sierra National Forest.

  “Aren’t there Packs in that forest?” Luna didn’t want to go through the red tape of meeting the Alphas of different Packs just to recover a stone. She would if she had to, but she’d rather not. Faelin wouldn’t bother, he’d go in with an army and kill anyone in his way.

  Rafe shook his head. “The only Packs I know of are Whisky Hollow and Hudson-Reed. The Alphas of each are twins, brother and sister. This location is several miles north of the packs, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “I have an alliance with the Hudson Twins, so it won’t be a problem anyway,” Kasen said as he walked into what the rebels called the war room.

  Beside Luna, Rafe stiffened. When she looked up at him, she noted how his eyes narrowed on Kasen, watching him as he moved closer to her. Kasen pretended not to notice, but Luna knew he caught Rafe’s reaction too. The Alpha was also amused by it.

  Men! “So you’ll call ahead to let them know we’ll be near?”

  Kasen nodded then moved to stand behind Nyla, who was on the computer breaking codes of some of the encrypted files on the drive. Nyla’s body went from relaxed to defensive as soon as Kasen got close. Luna watched them for a few moments. Both were tense but desire flowed between them.

  Then an image of them kissing flashed in Luna’s mind. It was brief, but it still shocked her. Mostly because Luna’s visions were usually violent and ended in death, she hadn’t expected to see something positive. At least she hoped it was positive.

  Shaking out of her thoughts, she met Rafe’s stare. He looked at her like she was about to faint or something. “What?”

  One side of his mouth dipped into a frown. “You had a vision.”

  That got everyone’s attention in the room. Luna rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing.”

  “Your visions are never nothing.” Rafe stepped closer and demanded, “What was it?”

  Anger rose inside her, and her wolf lunged at Rafe. She knew her eyes glowed as she crossed her arms and got into his face. “It doesn’t concern you. We have other pressing issues to worry about.”

  Just then, Nyla sent her a telepathic message. “Please tell me you didn’t have a vision about me and psycho wolf behind me.”

  Luna snorted. “Okay, but I’ll be lying.”

  Nyla made a growl-like sound, making Luna laugh. When she focused back on Rafe, she shook her head. “Are you going to check out the area from the coordinates?”

  “I’ll take a team to search the area.”

  She lifted a brow. “You. Don’t you mean we?”

  Rafe worked his jaw. “You are the one that Faelin wants. It’s best if you stay here under the protection of the Pack.”

  A deep growl rumbled from her and she poked him in the chest, making him back up. “I am not hiding underground. I’m going with you, and that’s final.”

  Rafe towered over her, putting his nose to hers. She sensed Kirk and Nyla step up behind her, while Rafe’s rebel soldiers entered the war room. With his wolf in his eyes, Rafe snaked an arm around her waist and flattened her body to his. “I think it’s best if you stay here.”

  “I don’t give a fuck what you think.” She punched him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. He instantly released her and doubled over.

  She moved a few feet away, trying to calm the hum of desire rolling through her. Damn the fucking mating pull! She turned to Kirk and said, “Call Tanner and have him send a team here. I’ll need Rhea and Ana to work with Serenity and Nyla to see about transferring the power of the second moonstone to me.”

  “Fuck that, Lu.”

  She whirled on Rafe and shook her finger at him. “I know you are not telling me what to do again.”

  He took a shaky breath and rubbed his stomach. “The power in the moonstone could kill you.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. That’s why I need the four of them to examine the stone, and we’ll form a plan when they arrive.”

  Shaking his head, he said, “You will stay at my side the whole time.”

  Whatever. Stubborn-ass male.

  Kasen broke his silence by adding, “I’ll have a couple of Enforcers go with you to ensure your safety.”

  “Thank you, Kasen.” Luna sat in front of the computer. “Nyla, how close are you to breaking the code?”

  “Oh, I’m in.” She pulled over a chair and moved the laptop to her. “There are files on how the magic of the stones work, and after glancing over them, I kind of agree with Rafe. The power would be too much. That might be the reason Faelin hasn’t transferred the power from the one he has yet.”

  Yeah, Luna was thinking the same thing. “That has to be the reason he needs a powerful witch.”

  Nyla frowned. “I’ve never seen the stone or been close enough to it to know just how much power it holds, but if it is as powerful as I think, one witch won’t be enough. At least not without killing her or him in the process of transferring.” She turned to the computer again and added, “I’ll keep digging through the files on here and see if there are other options.”

  “Thank you.” Luna faced Rafe. “What’s the
plan?”

  Chapter Four

  The plan was to move out first thing in the morning. Rafe wanted to talk with his mate and do some wooing, but she avoided him the rest of the afternoon and night. Instead of tracking her down like he wanted to, he gave her space.

  To keep his mind busy, he contacted two of his rebel soldiers that would go with him, Luna, and Kasen’s Enforcers to the location where they believed the moonstone was. Elise was a strong fighter and loyal. Russ was a great strategist as well as lethal.

  Rafe was briefing them on what he learned and the plan when Colt, Kirk, and Nyla entered the room. Kirk gave a nod to them. “Colt’s in.”

  “Good.” Rafe waved the mutant over to include him in the briefing. Colt had taken it upon himself to be Luna’s protector. No romantic feelings were coming from Colt, just loyalty an Enforcer would have for his Alpha. That was why Rafe liked the male.

  Several minutes later, Rafe picked up on Luna’s rosemary and mint scent. Then her laughter filtered into the room moments before she and Kasen entered. Straightening, Rafe watched them. They were so close their arms almost touched, and Rafe wanted to kill Kasen. Luna was Rafe’s mate.

  Mine.

  Yeah, he agreed with his wolf.

  As if sensing Rafe’s darkening mood, Luna jerked her gaze to his and pursed her lips. In a flash, she relaxed and asked, “Is everyone here and ready?”

  Rafe closed his laptop before shoving it into the messenger bag. “I just finished briefing everyone on the mission, so we’re ready.”

  They still didn’t have a solid plan because they didn’t know where exactly the stone was. They had the coordinates, but that didn’t mean it was there. The stone could have been moved, or the coordinates could point them in the area but not the moonstone. That made more sense to Rafe because that would make the stone harder to find.