Claiming The Alpha (10 page)

blade catching the light.

“It’s silver. Works on werewolves, not so much on lycanthropes. It might slow him down, if you’re

attacked.”

“But I’m not going up there…no way in hell. I didn’t sign on for this, just to bring you here. You’re the hunter, I’m just the…. I’m not going up there.”

Nikki backed out of the room, Bec’s eyes locked on hers. The anger in his look was almost palpable

and she was suddenly almost as afraid of him as she had been of Ryan. She didn’t think he’d hurt her, but suddenly none of this seemed like a good idea.

She turned, wanting to go back out to the street. But before she was through that damned beaded

curtain, an arm wrapped around her neck, pulling her back. She instantly recognized the smell of unwashed body and dirty hair. It was Ryan, in human form…more or less.

The lights in the tiny room came on suddenly, blinding her for a moment. There was a shout, Bec’s

voice loud in her ear and then another voice, a woman. It was Lori.

Against her neck she could feel Ryan changing, fur replacing skin, talons digging into her neck. His

chest heaved and twisted beneath her back and she was suddenly lifted off the floor, her feet dangling. She wanted to scream, but the hold he had on her, and the fear she felt kept her from making any sound.

“Let her go. She’s not who you really want.” Lori’s voice was cold, her words clipped. Ryan spun

around, Nikki’s feet swinging like a puppet’s, as he turned to face her.

“You…bitch. You fucked me over with this one, didn’t you? Ruined everything.”

His hot breath rasped against her cheek and for a moment, Nikki thought she would vomit from the

stench of his breath. He kept talking but his words grew garbled, changed into grunts and barks and then

snarls. His teeth were dangerously close to her cheek and she tried to pull away. But his grip was like steel and there was nothing she could do.

Suddenly something warm sprayed across Nikki’s face and she found herself on the splintery wooden

floor, gasping for breath. She ran a hand across her face, horrified when it came away red with blood.

The bellow behind her told her it was Ryan’s blood. She scrambled away on all fours, heading toward

Lori. She sat down finally, looking over her shoulder.

Bec lunged at Ryan with a large silver knife, much larger than the one he’d given Nikki. With practiced

ease he swung at Ryan’s neck. But Ryan raised one hairy limb, deflecting the blade, knocking the knife

from Bec’s hand.

“Shit…” Bec spat out the word, crouching low as Ryan advanced, swiping long front legs tipped with

razor sharp claws at Bec. He lost his footing, falling back on his hands, crab-crawling away from the raging Ryan.

Nikki looked up at Lori, crouched in her own feral stance. And made a decision.

“Lori, here!” Nikki thrust the knife at Lori. Lori looked down for a second, then grabbed the knife,

leaping toward Ryan. Bec was on his back on the floor now, arms up, waiting for Ryan to attack.

Lori sunk the blade between Ryan’s shoulders, the blade going in to the hilt. Bec was instantly on his

feet, looking for his knife.

“Get her out of here!” Lori was twisting the knife as Ryan flung his arms behind him, desperately trying

to dislodge the knife. But Lori held on to the blade, teeth clenched, not giving an inch.

“I said get her out…”

There was a crash from the outer room and Jax was there, pulling Nikki out of the room. The last thing

she saw was Lori, covered in what Nikki hoped was Ryan’s blood, both hands clasped around the handle of

the knife.

She met Nikki’s eyes for a moment, held her gaze and for an instant Nikki knew everything was good

between them. There was a hint of a smile on Lori’s face.

Then Ryan tossed his head back, hitting Lori in the forehead. She staggered, the knife coming loose. In

that instant, Jax pulled Nikki out of the room. He practically flung her down the front steps, pushing her to the sidewalk.

“Are you hurt? Is this your blood?” He was peering at her in the dim light from the lone streetlight

down the block.

Nikki shook her head. “No, I think it’s all Ryan’s. Jax…Lori’s in there. Help her.”

Jax looked back up the stairs. “Bec is there too. Stay here. Do not move.” He kissed her quickly and

then was gone, up the stairs into the shop and out of sight.

Nikki stood on the sidewalk, fidgeting, shifting from one foot to the other. It had started to rain again and she was soon soaked to the skin. Her teeth began to chatter and she hopped up and down, trying in

vain to warm herself.

The sound behind her made her blood run cold, chilling her even more than she already was. When the

smell washed over her, she froze. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest and without turning she knew

exactly what was behind her. She was paralyzed, wanting to run, wanting to scream for Jax or Lori or Bec.

But her throat clicked, her mouth suddenly dry.

The click of a claw on the sidewalk sent her in motion. She turned left, almost running into the creature.

It skidded sideways and she finally found her voice, a piercing scream coming from her lips.

Jax was in the shop and she wanted him, but the wolf-thing was between her and Jax. She didn’t think

she could outrun this thing for very long, if at all. But the only other place she could think of was Lori’s apartment. Nikki spun around, adrenaline flooding her body. She ran faster than she’d ever done in her life, ducking down the alley that ran next to Lori’s apartment.

She was too afraid to look behind her, all her concentration on not slipping on the wet pavement. The

dark opening of the alley appeared and she ducked into it, knocking over a garbage can. The booming

sound sent her heart into over-drive and her chest felt like it was going to explode.

And then she saw it. The wall at the other end of the alley. She’d assumed it went straight through, to

the street. But some asshole had built a wall. She was trapped, in a garbage-strewn courtyard a stone’s

throw from Lori’s apartment.

Nikki jumped at the wall, but it was too tall for her to get a handhold. She looked around frantically for something to stand on, dragging over a box. But the rotten wood gave way as soon as she stepped on it,

sending her sprawling on the dirty wet cement.

She heard the wet slobbery growl of the creature before she saw it. Lying on the pavement, looking up,

it was horrific, yellow fangs; the neck covered in matted fur and dried blood. She could see what looked

like gaping wounds, old and crusty, but still oozing blood.

It was Arden, still caught between death and life. And now he was apparently intent on ending hers.

He lunged and she rolled, landing on her side, his fangs biting the air where she’d just been. As she lay on the pavement, he stood on his hind legs, lifting his deformed muzzle to the sky. The sound he made was far from anything Nikki had ever heard.

With lightning speed he swept his arm forward catching her under the waist with his forearm, his long

claws cutting easily through her jacket and shirt, the pain searing her skin. She cried out and then she was flying through the air.

The crash knocked the breath out of her, the pavement gritty under her face. She took a breath, but

nothing happened. She tried again, her lungs refusing to work. The world faded to gray and then even that disappeared. The last thing she heard was the sound of the thing, a sound like a laugh. But that couldn’t be right. Laughter was the wrong sound. But then even that was gone.

*

“Go! Find her!” Lori was screaming at Jax. Nikki’s scream still echoed in his head.

Ryan was still fighting Bec and Lori, both of them covered in Ryan’s blood. Bec had finally gotten his

knife, driving it repeatedly into Ryan’s throat. But Ryan was still incredibly strong.

“Go…we’ve got this.” Bec was waving him off, twisting the knife. Jax took one last look and then

turned, bolting down the stairs and out into the street.

Nikki was gone and his heart stopped. Then he heard the faint sounds of a fight, a body hitting the

ground and a sound that turned his blood cold. The sound of laughter.

He knew exactly where she was and he took off at a dead run. The alley was there before he realized it

and he skidded into the narrow opening.

Nikki was on the ground, the creature standing over her. She wasn’t moving but Jax had no time to do

anything but hit the creature with all his force. It took both of them down, Jax rolling over with the

creature, its stench washing over him.

There was nothing he could do for Nikki except kill this thing. With more strength than he thought

possible he threw the thing off of him, jumping to a crouch. Instantly he went for its neck, digging his

fingers into the matted fur, finding the wound inflicted so many years ago.

He dug his fingers into the creature’s neck, twisting, feeling fresh blood spurt from the torn jugular

vein. The thing made a horrible gurgling noise, twisting feebly beneath him, waves of blood running over

the ground, covering everything in a scarlet sheen.

It was over, more quickly than he’d thought possible. He sat back, looking down at the ruined creature

beneath him. The matted fur was wet, with rain and blood. Its chest drew one last shallow breath and then was still.

Jax stood up, casting one last look over the thing. And then he ran to Nikki. She was breathing, but

barely. He gently turned her on to her back, easing her upright. Her eyes opened and she looked at him.

“Jax…” Her voice was just a whisper. “I knew you’d find me.”

“Shhh…don’t talk. We need to get you to a hospital.” He tried to pick her up but she shuddered in his

arms, her eyes rolling back in her head.

“No! Nikki…” He shook her gently. “Come back to me…come on, Nikki. Open your eyes.”

Her eyelids fluttered, but remained closed. He suddenly heard Bec’s voice in the alley and then his

brother was beside him.

“She’s not going to make it Jax. You’ve got to blood her, now. You’ve got no choice, brother.”

Jax looked at Bec, crouched next to him, soaked in Ryan’s blood. “I…I can’t.”

He looked back at Nikki. Her eyes were open and she was looking at him, her eyes glazing over, her

body going limp.

“Jax. I’m ready. Take me…please.”

Jax nodded, stroking her cheek. “Bec…brother, help me. Hold her steady.”

Bec held her against him and Jax pulled open her jacket and shirt. He’d never contemplated biting

someone before. The hunters he’d killed he’d just savaged. This was different.
Very different.

Gently he turned her head, exposing her neck. He bent toward her, his teeth grazing her soft, delicate

skin. With as much care as he could, he bit into her warm flesh. The coppery taste of her blood filled his mouth and he held himself against her a moment, gently licking the wound.

He sat back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Bec looked up at him, brows drawn together.

“She should start healing.”

Jax pulled off his jacket wrapping Nikki in it. She was cold to his touch, the rain hitting her face. He

rocked her gently, waiting for some kind of sign; anything that would tell him biting her had worked.

After what seemed an eternity she stirred in his arms, her eyes opening.

“Nikki...” Jax ran a gentle hand down her cheek.

“Jax… am I going to be okay?”

“Yeah, baby, you’re going to be okay. How do you feel?” He brushed a strand of hair away from her

face.

“Better. Weak…but better.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke without opening them. “Jax?”

He smiled. “Yes?”

“Can you take me home now?”

“Home?”

“Home…with you. Where I belong.”

Epilogue – Full Moon

The full moon was still several minutes away. Nikki had been pacing anxiously for the last hour,

complaining that her bones hurt, her skin didn’t fit anymore…all the classic signs the moon was exerting its pull on her, starting the change in her body.

“I know, Nikki. I know. There’s nothing you can do. But if you relax, it will be easier.”

Jax longed to take the pain away, to make this an easier transition, but he knew that wasn’t possible.

Every human who was blooded went through this, their first time. He still went through it, each full moon, but he’d grown accustomed to that moment of pain, when his body was held for that briefest second

between human and wolf.

“I want my clothes off.” She was pulling at her t-shirt, almost frantic to get it off her body. He took the hem, pulling it over her head. He’d explained she’d need to be naked and was surprised by her sudden

modesty. She’d insisted on remaining clothed, telling him she’d brought extra clothes for…after.

She tugged her jeans down her legs, kicking them away in frustration. Jax took off his shirt and pants,

the tug and pull of the moon stronger now, the thrill of imminent change running through his own veins.

“Oh, fuck, Jax. This is happening now. I don’t…I’m not sure…don’t leave me.” She was standing in

front of him, every muscle taut, eyes wide. He reached out, grabbing her hands.

“I’m right here, Nikki. Look at me, just keep looking at me. Listen to me. Okay? It’s going to be okay.”

And then it started. He watched in amazement as her body began to shift, his own body mimicking hers,

bones elongating, muscles stretching. He saw her fangs extend as he felt the pain of his own tearing through his gums.

Her hands were changing, the fingers contracting, the palms growing larger against his, her soft skin

turning into the pads of a wolf paw. Her nails clawed against him, raking over his own leathery-skinned

paw.