To Love an Alpha (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) (3 page)

As she walked into the house, Kenny went over to where Clarissa stood sparing after her father.

“He hates me now Kenny. He won’t even look at me.”

“Look in my eyes Clarissa,” As she did so, he continued. “He will come around. He knows that I love you and that you’ll be well protected with me. You will see that this will all be okay.”

Reassured, Clarissa accepted Kenny’s hand, and followed him into the house.

Chapter 3

“Someone start speaking.” The Old Wolf said as she stood before the two families. The council and enforcers stood at her back.

Kenny stepped forward. “Madame Councilwoman, I believe I can explain. I may be a young wolf, but I’m not blind. I’ve seen the problems within the pack. The split that is inevitable, unless they,” he tilted his head to Joseph and Dominic, “Come to some sort of agreement.”

He walked over to where Clarissa sat. “This is my mate. I know it and so does my wolf. He claimed her even before I knew what it was to be mated.”

He grabbed his collar and looked to Clarissa to do the same. Pulling the fabric, they exposed their mating marks to the council.

“We felt like we were left with no choice.” Clarissa said speaking up.

“I see.” The Old Wolf said. She looked up to two young wolves and her heart hurt. She knew without even consulting her fellow members of the council what the outcome of this would be.

The only other female on the council asked. “Was there any other pack member witness to this mating?”

Kenny shook his head. “We were alone. It was a decision we felt was right between us.”

Dominic snorted. “That is exactly why the two of you should not have mated. It’s not up to just two of you.”

“Do not disrespect my home beta, or even the enforcers won’t be enough to stop me.” Joseph warned.

Dominic growled.

“Insolent pups! Calm down.” The Old Wolf snapped and turned her attention back to Clarissa and Kenny.

“As you both know, pack law dictates and upholds certain rules and traditions. When two pack members mate without consent from the females relations agreeing to the match, it then falls to her father, or oldest male relation, to either accept the union or discarded it.”

Dread settled low in Kenny’s gut with every word.

“The mating cannot be undone, but if Dominic chooses to reject it, that two of you cannot live as mates.” She looked at Dominic and asked. “Do you accept this meeting between your daughter Clarissa and Joseph’s son Kenny?”

“Daddy, please.” Clarissa begged.

Dominic stood. He had heard everything that was said, but it changed nothing.

“This boy took from me an honor that was rightfully mine. Clarissa it is my only child and he stole her.” The vicious look on Dominic’s face was unmistakable. “So no, Madame Councilwoman, I do not accept this union.”

Clarissa felt as if the world opened up and swallow her whole. He couldn’t mean it. He wouldn’t keep her from her mate. He knew how hard that would be for them, to stay away from your new found mate.

Clarissa looked to her mother, who wore an unmistakable angry expression.

“Daddy, please don’t do this. Please.” Clarissa begged.

“My decision is final.” Dominic’s voice remained iron hard.

***

Kenny had stood silent. A number of emotions raced through him at once, but the one that lingered and dug in its talons was anger.

“You son-of-a-bitch.” He said. “You would put your only child through that kind of torture, that kind of pain. I will not let you hurt my mate. I’ll kill you first.”

The two enforcers stepped forward at the sound of the threat.

“Calm down son.” Joseph put a hand on his son’s shoulder. His eyes were drawn to the mark on his son’s arm. It never glowed so bright before.

Kenny’s chest was heaving heavily, his eyes flashed golden amber as his wolf started taking over control.

“I will not let you hurt my mate.” He repeated.

With a loud growl, Kenny shifted and went straight for Dominic’s throat. The two enforcers sprang into action and stopped Kenny before he could reach Dominic. But Kenny was frighteningly strong and nearly overpowered the two before being forcibly subdued.

Dominic was emotionless as he watched Kenny struggled. “I’ll hear no more of this. Clarissa, let’s go.”

“No. Never.” Clarissa took off running out of the door and into the woods surround the house.

As soon as the enforcers let Kenny go, he raced after her, concern for his mate outweighing all else.

The old turned from the door to the two betas in front of her.

“I will tell you two this. If an agreement can’t be reached between you, I will appoint someone else entirely. I’m getting tired of both of you.”

She headed for the door, her enforcers and council following behind her.

“If you would be so kind as to leave my home.” Joseph said to Dominic. “I won’t be so polite next time.”

Dominic rose, walked to the door and turned. “I will not apologize for my decision. Nor will I back down.” With that, he was gone from sight.

***

Kenny found Clarissa by the lake not too far from his home. She was at the
water’s edge, staring out into the horizon.

“He will never accept our mating.” She said when she heard him come close. “My father is a difficult man, especially when it comes to me. What are we going to do?”

“Give it time. That’s all we can do right now. This is all still fresh. The betrayal he feels is still new. All we can do is hope he changes his mind.” Kenny trailed his hands down her shoulders, rubbing and squeezing, trying to relieve some of her stress.

Her head tilted beck on his shoulder. “I can’t be without you, Kenny.”

Hips lips pressed against hers. They parted slightly and she felt warm moistness.

“We will be together Clarissa, I promise.” He turned his head and planted kisses on her wrist and the palm of her hand. She could feel her cheeks grow hot; her inner thighs begin to ache.

She lifted her face and kissed him full on the lips, running her tongue across his lips.

He opened to her, his tongue delving deep into her mouth, learning the space, memorizing every contour.

She moaned, and arched against his chest. He broke the contact with her lips and stood. Bending, he scooped her up and walked the short distance away from the water’s edge and laid her down softly on the ground beneath an old oak.

He leaned down and kissed her once more. Lying down beside her, he slid one arm beneath her back. With his free hand he traveled her body, lightly caressing her skin.

She raised her arms and he quickly stripped her of her shirt. The loose sweatpants she wore were next.

“You are so beautiful.” He told her as he stared down at her naked flesh.

His hand roamed over her breast and lifted one into his palm. He rubbed her nipple with the pad of his thumb and lowered his head to take it into his mouth.

He loved the little sounds she was making and sucked more firmly.

“Please.” She said, begging for something she could not put into words.

He moved on top of her and pressed his knees between her thighs, pushing them wide. He knelt between them.

He could feel the softness of her inner thighs against the hardness of his legs, reveled in the fullness of her breast.

His erection was straining and he felt if he didn’t bury himself inside her soon, he would explode.

“I can’t wait any longer.” He told her.

“Then come to me, my love.”

He spread his knees, lifting her legs up, and she wrapped them around his hips. Kenny positioned himself at her entrance, and pressed inside.

She fit him so perfectly. He loved the look on her face, the sharp intake of breath. She was all wet heat.

He clamped his teeth together and slowed his pace. He looked down at his mate. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted slightly.

Her full breasts looked ripe and ready for his mouth. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, a small smile playing across her lips.

He went deeper, thrusting hard. Her smile turned into a perfect O. He settled his hands on her hips and withdrew from her. He pressed in again withdrew once more, setting a steady pace.

He felt her nails scratching down his back.

Kenny took her hands and stretched them above her head, appreciating the way her breast strained at the action. He straightened his legs and brought his entire weight on top of her.

He sped up his thrust, pumping hard into her. Her body seized and she shuddered, calling out his name. She fell limp beneath him.

He felt the pull of his own release. His thrust became quick and deeper. His release was hard and he growled his pleasure.

Kenny eased off his mate and lay next to her. She had her eyes closed and her breathing was steady. She had fallen asleep.

“Everything will be okay, I promise.” He whispered to her. He pulled her into his arms, and as she snuggled in closer, he followed her into sleep.

***

As weeks passed, Kenny felt as if he was going insane. Dominic had kept his word and had not let
Kenny see his mate. As a result, his wolf was on edge. He wanted to attack Dominic, force him to accept the mating, and let him be with his mate. But he couldn’t.

He felt empty. A part of him was missing. Kenny knew his mate was feeling the same things he was going through. He felt her emotions as well as his own.

The only solace he had was he could still communicate with her telepathically. They would speak every night, with Kenny promising things he was now unsure he could deliver.

***

“We have to do something Joseph. Our son is going crazy. How would you feel if I was so close but you couldn’t be with me?” Kenny’s mother Ophelia asked one night.

Joseph rubbed his brow. “I know that. But what can I do? You heard the Old Wolf. Dominic refused the mating and his word is law in his family.”

Ophelia got up from the couch and walked over to the side table to pour herself and her husband a drink. “There must be something we can do.”

“I’ve been asking around,” Joseph said. “I have pack members that are loyal to me. If we head north, I have some land there. We could start over. Kenny wouldn’t be as on edge as he is with Clarissa so close.” It would hurt, it certainly would. But in time, Kenny might get over it. “It will be hard on him, but until Dominic accepts their mating, we have little choice.”

Ophelia put her head down. “I understand, but he’s not going to take this easy, or come willingly.”

“We know what’s best for him, and right now, this is what’s best. He’ll see that in the long run.”

***

Clarissa had had enough. She needed her mate, and her father was being a stubborn bastard.

He was the only one who could end this, yet he wasn’t budging on his decision. Nothing her mother said, no matter how much she begged, his answer stayed the same.

She felt Kenny’s frustration and anger. Her wolf howled in her head at the injustice of it all, ready to rebel against her father. She was ready to see Kenny despite what he had said.

There had to be a way out of this, she just knew it.

Her father and Joseph had yet to come to an agreement and the pack still had no alpha.

She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew she couldn’t face it without Kenny.