Pack Alpha Read online

  “I asked you where you were going,” he said sharply.

  Tightening her hands on the wheel, Marissa kept looking straight ahead. “Home.”

  Gage yanked the car door open. “Move over.”

  “No.”

  Reaching down and unbuckling her seat belt, he pushed her towards the passenger seat. She didn’t have any choice but to move before he sat down in the driver’s seat.

  “Hey! Hey! You can’t do this!” She grabbed at his wrists and hands.

  Gage ignored her and put the car in reserve.

  “Gage, stop!”

  When the road was wide enough, he turned the car and headed back towards the houses.

  “Gage, please stop.” She didn’t want to fight with him. She didn’t want him to give her the lecture she knew was coming.

  “Let me leave, please. On my own. I promise not to come back.”

  “Let you leave?” His voice rose. “Do you really think I’m just going to let you take off without a word?”

  “This isn’t about you, Gage. I…I just have to leave.”

  “No. You’re not running, Marissa.”

  “She asked me to leave!”

  Gage looked over at her as he navigated the road. “Because of me.”

  Marissa looked away.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  She sat quietly next to Gage. She didn’t have anything more to say.

  ****

  Elizabeth sat with her hands in her lap, nervously rubbing them together. She hadn’t expected Gage to take her sister’s leaving well, but she hadn’t expected to be ordered to his office.

  She glared at her future mate who stood next to the bar talking quietly with Logan. Greg had called Logan when Elizabeth explained why Marissa had left. Greg hadn’t been happy either. Didn’t they understand she was trying to protect them and everyone in the Pack?

  She jumped up when Gage walked in with her sister in tow.

  “Sit,” he snapped at Marissa, pointing to a chair.

  Elizabeth saw her sister start to refuse until Gage turned those fierce grey eyes on her.

  Marissa lowered herself into the wingback chair with her back to the window.

  “Out,” he ordered the two men.

  Gage nodded at Elizabeth to sit. Once she was settled back on the couch, he sat behind his desk. Elizabeth tried to catch her sister’s eyes but Marissa wouldn’t look at her.

  She really should have handled the situation better, but she was scared Gage wouldn’t let her mate with Greg now. She’d almost lost her position once in a Pack because of her sister. Of course, that hadn’t been Marissa’s fault. She’d been young and in love, and Elizabeth couldn’t blame her for what had been out of her control.

  “Explain,” Gage looked at her, speaking quietly.

  Elizabeth ran her sweaty hands over her pants. “I believe it best if Marissa leaves.”

  “Because of what happened earlier between her and me?”

  “She doesn’t belong in Pack territory.” Her heart almost broke at the sound of Marissa’s breath catching. She didn’t want to hurt her sister, but she didn’t have much of a choice.

  “Yet you asked permission for me to let her come. Now you want her to go?”

  “Well, I didn’t know… I mean, I…”

  Gage nodded before looking at Marissa. “How do you feel?”

  Marissa’s face was blank and her eyes had turned cold. It was an expression Elizabeth hadn’t seen on her sister’s face since she left their former Pack.

  “I was leaving, wasn’t I?” Marissa told him, her face and tone not giving away any feelings.

  “Just like that?” Gage continued to speak calmly. When Marissa didn’t answer him, he looked back at Elizabeth. “I’m beginning to think I have missed some important information about your old Pack.”

  “I told you everything, Alpha. I didn’t hide anything!” This was it. He was going to kick her out. Tell her she can’t mate with Greg.

  Instead he looked back at Marissa. “In the woods, you said you were trying to protect me.”

  Marissa glared at him. ”Yeah, so?”

  “Protect me from what?”

  She didn’t answer. Elizabeth was used to her sister’s attitude but could see Gage was losing patience. She opened her mouth to answer, but Gage cut his gaze to her and shook his head. Elizabeth closed her mouth and looked at her sister. Marissa still wouldn’t look at her.

  “And you will harm me, Marissa?” Gage asked as they both watched her sister.

  Marissa only shrugged. Elizabeth wanted to come to her sister’s defence, but knew she couldn’t help her. It broke her heart that once again Marissa would be thrown out of Pack territory.

  “Answer the question,” Gage said louder, making Marissa press back into the chair.

  “The law,” she finally told him.

  “What law?” Gage looked from Marissa to Elizabeth with a confused look.

  Marissa crossed her arms over her chest in response.

  Gage looked over at Elizabeth.

  “The one against mating with a non-shifter,” Elizabeth answered.

  “The law against mating with a non-shifter,” Gage repeated.

  Marissa jumped up from her seat. “Can I leave now?”

  “Sit down!” he snapped though he didn’t raise his voice.

  Elizabeth almost fell over in shock when her sister dropped back down in her chair.

  “Who told you about this law?”

  “Our Alpha,” Elizabeth answered.

  His gaze never left her sister’s face. “And what did he tell you would happen?”

  “Because she…she was…”

  “Because I fucked his son not only could I be kicked out of the Pack but so could my entire family,” Marissa exploded, jumping up and smashing her hand onto his desk. Elizabeth jumped, but Gage didn’t show any reaction.

  “And were you all?” Gage asked, even though he knew the answer.

  “I agreed to leave and never return so my sister still had a Pack to protect her,” Marissa answered, anger burning in her eyes.

  He stood and came around the desk. She didn’t step back but stood straight when he stepped in front of her.

  “Marissa.” He wanted to hold her. To comfort her.

  “And I’m willing to go now so you don’t have to kick her out. No one else needs to know. I’ll leave quietly,” she told him.

  Gage gently cupped her cheek, but she jerked away from him. “I’m sorry for everything you have been through.”

  Marissa remained stiff so he turned back towards Elizabeth. “While it may have been that Pack’s rule, it is in no way a law. I have never heard of anything more ridiculous.”

  “If that’s true, then…” Elizabeth trailed off, and Gage knew she was piecing together that they had been lied to.

  “It’s true,” he assured her, then looked back at Marissa. Reaching for her, he drew her to his side.

  “Then Marissa didn’t have to leave.”

  He watched the play of emotions on Marissa’s face before her eyes chilled again and she pulled away. “You don’t know what you are talking about.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  Gage shook his head. “Why do you think we have a council of former Alphas to police the Packs? It’s to protect the members, not to hurt them.” He could see Marissa started to shake in front of him. “My father is one of the council members and I can assure you that, whether you can shift or not, he would have never allowed you to be mistreated. There is no such law.”

  “It is a law!” Marissa yelled.

  He knew she wasn’t trying to convince him but had come to terms with it.

  Her eyes started to swim with tears and Gage’s heart broke for her.

  “Oh, Marissa, I’m so sorry,” Elizabeth moved towards her.

  Marissa held up a hand to stop her. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

  Elizabeth looked at him and he nodded. “Go out and find Greg. We’ll finish
up here and I’ll drive Marissa back to your house.”

  “Marissa has her own car. And it’s already packed,” Marissa interjected.

  Gage didn’t even look back at her but kept his gaze on her sister. “She’ll be okay here with me.”

  “Okay…I’ll…see you both later.” Elizabeth quickly made her exit.

  “Come here, baby,” Gage said once his office door closed.

  “I want to leave.”

  Gage closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes. I think you do. But not yet,” he told her gently.

  “No.” Marissa tried to pull away. “Now. I want to leave now.”

  “It’s okay, baby.” Gage held her tight as the tears she’d been fighting started to fall.

  As she cried in his arms, anger swelled inside him at the Alpha who had pledged to take care of her then turned her out without a Pack, without her family.

  Tears streaming down her face she looked up and him and pressed her lips to his in a desperate kiss. Glad to be able to take some of the pain away, he let her kiss him and tightened his hold around her.

  Chapter Five

  Marissa pressed herself against Gage. His body was strong, solid, and everything she needed right now.

  Gage’s arms tightened around her as he kissed her back. When he pulled away and looked at her, Marissa felt her heart skip. She could get used to this man being there for her. And that was scary.

  “Upstairs. I want you in my bed,” he whispered in her ear.

  Marissa shivered at his declaration. No more hiding. No shame in being with a wolf. She didn’t have to hold back her needs with him. “Okay, upstairs.”

  Gage took her mouth again, this time with more force. Marissa gave herself to him willingly. He lifted her off her feet easily and she wrapped her arms and legs around him.

  “We’ll also talk about your punishment for talking back to me. Again.”

  Marissa scraped her teeth over his neck. “Maybe later.”

  Gage chuckled. “Much later.

  They barely made it up to his room without her ripping his clothes off. Luckily they didn’t run into anyone to slow them down. Gage kicked his bedroom door closed as Marissa teased him with her tongue on his neck and ear.

  When he dropped her carelessly onto the bed, Marissa bounced, laughing before she looked around the room. “Oh wow.”

  Gage already had his shirt over his head. “Yeah. Strip.”

  Ignoring him, Marissa knelt on the giant bed and took in the large room. “This room is huge.”

  Although there were no lights on, she could see clearly enough. The bed was up two steps on a platform. To her left were balcony doors and to her right a sitting area with couch, table and chairs, and a flat screen TV. A door on the far wall would probably lead to a bathroom.

  “You’re not undressed,” Gage practically growled at her.

  Marissa looked at him and took in the naked body in front of her. Lean and muscular. Tan with no tan lines. She made quick work of removing her clothes and scooted closer on her knees. “Your room distracted me. Now you have distracted me.” She licked a small circle on his chest.

  Gage pulled her back by her hair. “Strip for me.”

  Marissa pressed a kiss into his chest. “Please let me do this, Gage.” She needed to feel in control. Since first arriving, she had felt like her life was spiralling around her and she was only a passenger.

  His eyes softened, telling her he understood. “Okay, baby.”

  She reached out and pulled him onto the bed. He let her lay him on his back before she straddled his waist. Marissa took her time kissing Gage’s lips, running her teeth over his neck and chin, before lavishing his chest. Keeping his hands at his sides, he allowed her to explore his body. And what a body it was. She breathed in his scent. Rich, dark, and male. She rubbed her face and body against his as she moved down.

  “Marissa.” Gage tried to pull her back up, moving his hands into her hair, but she continued to lower herself to the object she wanted most. His gorgeous, fully erect cock. Licking from the base up, she felt him let out a rush of breath. Then with just the tip of her tongue, she teased the head.

  “Marissa,” Gage hissed out, raising his head to look down at her.

  Oh, she could definitely get used to this. She opened and took him deep into her mouth. Gage groaned and dropped his head back down. Adding her hand, she stroked and sucked him deeper into the back of her throat. He was salty and her body responded as his hips bucked to press himself deeper into her mouth.

  “That’s it. Suck me, baby,” he murmured to her approvingly.

  Marissa did. Tipping her head back, she took him as far as she could while sucking him deep.

  “Stop,” he ordered.

  She hummed and swallowed, trying to push him over the edge. To make him lose control like he always seemed to manage with her.

  “Stop!”

  Marissa gave him one last lick before looking up. He stared down at her. His eyes glowed, showing just how close she had been to making him lose control and spill into her mouth.

  “Come here,” he commanded, and she didn’t see any reason not to get what she wanted—him deep inside her.

  She moved up his body slowly, arousing both of them with the rub of her body on his. When she was straddling his thighs once more, he gripped her hips. Lifting herself, Marissa took Gage’s hard cock in her hand and teased her pussy lips with it. Moaning, she continued to tease them both until he growled.

  She took just the tip of him inside as she bit her bottom lip, trying to control her need. Sliding down slowly, she felt her body adjust to his girth. When he was fully inside, she rocked forward.

  Gage moaned, or maybe it was her—she couldn’t tell anymore. He felt so good filling her. As if he was the only one who belonged there. Still gripping her, he began to thrust up to meet her every time she rocked. Marissa cried out, throwing her head back. She rode him faster as his hips lifted to meet her. Gage matched her speed, pulling her down harder each time.

  “Yes.” Marissa leaned forward, her hair streaming over both of them, making a curtain around them.

  She was almost there. That sweet release was only a few strokes from taking her. They moved in a rhythm that built in intensity, but it wasn’t enough.

  Slipping one arm around her waist, he flipped her onto her back. He must have felt the need for more, too, because he slammed and pounded into her harder.

  “Oh, oh,” Marissa panted out. She was there, ready to explode.

  “Stay with me,” Gage grunted out, plunging inside incredibly fast and hard.

  Marissa felt her body spasm. Reaching up, she grabbed his arms. “Yes. Harder.”

  Roaring as if his control was gone, he took her not only as a man takes a woman but also as a wolf would take his mate. She was still screaming when the first orgasm passed and another hit stronger, taking all her breath away. Gage threw his head back and yelled out his own release before collapsing on top of her.

  ****

  The day of the ceremony was busy for both Elizabeth and Marissa. Marissa took extra time to help her sister get ready—drawing her sister a hot scented bath, fixing her hair and make-up before helping her dress.

  “That dress is beautiful. You are beautiful,” Marissa told her sister, trying to hold back the tears.

  “I can’t believe it’s finally here. I’m going to perform the mating ceremony.”

  Marissa leaned over and kissed her sister’s cheek. “Not if you don’t hurry.”

  Laughing, Elizabeth twirled around. “I’m ready.”

  Taking her hand, Marissa smiled. “Then I better get you there.”

  As she started to lead her from the room, Elizabeth pulled her back. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Marissa assured, and meant it.

  Elizabeth stood in front of her, and Marissa knew that regardless of how long she had avoided this talk, it was going to ha
ppen now. Or her sister wouldn’t go.

  “I love you,” Marissa started, going with honesty. “I will admit that over the years I’ve been jealous of you. I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to be either a were or a human.”

  “Oh, honey.”

  Marissa shook her head, cutting off Elizabeth’s sympathy. “No. It’s not your fault and it’s not mine. Talking with Gage and Logan, I realised we both had a bad deal. We both deserved a better Pack than what we got.”

  “If I would have known…”

  Marissa hugged her and then cupped her cheek. “But you didn’t. Please, I want to give you this day. I want everything to be perfect for you. I’m okay.”

  “But…”

  “I’m okay, Elizabeth. Please believe me.”

  “Okay.” Elizabeth took a deep breath and Marissa was glad her sister hadn’t cried. They didn’t have time to fix her make-up. They were already late.

  “So, let’s go!” Marissa ushered towards the door.

  Elizabeth smiled but didn’t move. “One more question.”

  She knew what was coming. Even knowing didn’t help with the answer.

  “What about you and Gage?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “But you do care about him.”

  “I do,” she admitted. “But I’m not a Pack member. I don’t belong here. I have to go home soon.”

  “You could stay. Be part of the Pack. We could be close again.” Elizabeth spoke of everything Marissa had already thought about.

  “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I just can’t,” Marissa told her softly. “Please don’t let this ruin your day.”

  Elizabeth smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “No. I won’t let anything ruin today. I just wish you’d think about staying.”

  “What if I promise to visit more?”

  Finally Elizabeth’s smile reached her eyes and lit up her face. “Are you going to be coming to see me or Gage?” she teased.

  Gage paced his office while Logan sat back comfortably on the couch.

  “Nervous?”

  “Of course I’m not nervous,” Gage growled.

  “She sure is something.”

  “Yes, she is. Everyone loves Elizabeth.”

  “I wasn’t talking about her.”