VampireMine

Aline
Hunter

Book three in the Alpha and Omega series.

A bond as endless as time. Their
forbidden union sealed in blood.

As the Alpha of New York, Trey
placed the needs of his pack above everything—until the mate he’s waited
centuries for waltzed into his life and gave him a taste of what he’d been
missing. Sadie, seductive, beautiful and utterly captivating, is also something
shifters avoid at all costs—a vampire. Stunned to learn of her nature, Trey
turned his back on the only woman who could complete him.

Now, realizing he’s thrown away the
one thing he can’t live without, Trey hunts Sadie down and defies tradition.
Their sexual hunger is undeniable, with each sizzling encounter bringing them
closer together. Sadie tries to resist but he refuses to allow it, using desire
and her need for his blood to keep her close. With danger closing in, it’s
necessary to announce his mating before the pack. To keep his female, he’s
willing to lose everything he’s ever known.

A
Romantica®
paranormal erotic romance
from Ellora’s Cave

Dedication

To my amazing editor Ann, as well as the art department at
Ellora’s Cave for inspiring me to write this story sooner rather than later.
I’d also like to thank the readers who support the Alpha and Omega series and
my crit partners and beta readers. This one’s for you.

Pain—raw and intense—slammed into Sadie Dumus.

Like a living creature it snaked its way through her system
and clawed at her insides. The result of starvation, her body demanded the
sustenance it needed to survive. Horror swept through her as she shoved a hand
to her abdomen, willing the agony to disappear. Her muscles rebelled, flexing
beneath her contorted fingers, creating more misery. The dryness in her throat
made it difficult to breathe. Hunger and bloodlust roared to life, no longer
willing to be contained.

Not now. Goddess. Not now.

She was so close to her goal, standing right at the finish
line. Finally, after months of work, she’d managed to track Aldon Frost to his
nest. It was the one place he’d be vulnerable, the only place she could learn
his secrets. It had taken so much time, so much patience. He excelled at hiding
his tracks, leading her down one path only to lose her on the next.

Tonight she’d finally managed to stay on his ass.

She’d followed him successfully, using every resource at her
disposal. She phased, she hid and she watched. The bastard had finally taken
her down an alley, toward what she was certain was his domain. Sadie’s coven
viewed Aldon as a threat to the city. He was a rogue vampire drawn to the dark
side of magic. As their protector and enforcer, it was her job and duty to take
him out for her sisters-in-magic. What she hadn’t known was how defenseless
she’d be when the opportunity finally struck.

As weak as a newborn kitten.

The magic inside her dimmed and the final reserves her
ravaged body had managed to store ebbed away. She fought, willing her depleted
muscles to keep going for just a little longer. She’d put herself at risk by
using power she didn’t have, afraid that if she didn’t find his nest soon she
never would.

Her heartbeat slowed to a horrific thudding in her chest.
Without essential nutrients her organs were shutting down. It was only a matter
of time. She’d known that. She’d thought she was ready for the moment to
arrive. Her existence had become a cage of mirrors, reflecting her past back to
her piece by morbid piece. They served as a reminder of what she’d done to
herself.

She was going to die. It was inevitable.

There was no one to blame but herself.

Her feet shuffled, creating a dangerous sliver of sound she
couldn’t afford.

Shit.

Leigh had told her to come clean with the coven about her
circumstances but she hadn’t. If they ever found out she’d fed from a werewolf
they’d shun her or kill her. Despite the fact it would leave the coven
temporarily defenseless, they wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks. A vampire
who was blood bound to a werewolf was the ultimate weakness in an enclave.
She’d never feed from another, meaning she couldn’t heal herself by drinking
from a passing stranger if the need arose. She also wouldn’t be able to move
from place to place if her sisters-in-magic decided it was time for a change of
scenery. Her importance depended on her ability to adapt. They required her to
be ready and willing for whatever they needed.

She was their enforcer, the one entrusted with their
protection.

Her stomach churned as a ball of fire erupted in her gut,
begging for something—anything—to ease the persistent torture. Pushing her
balled fist into her belly, she prayed for relief. She’d known it would come to
this. The last few weeks had been hell. Each day was like sand slipping through
an hourglass, each grain lost becoming another nail in her coffin. Her torment
went beyond hunger at this point. The last blood she’d successfully ingested
was long gone, dried up and all but forgotten. She’d been lucky to have lasted
this long—a little over two months—without the nourishment necessary to
survive.

The man she’d been tracking froze. His nostrils flared, his
thick blond hair skimming over his shoulder as he turned. She tried not to
panic, to rely on her training. Vampires could smell fear and she didn’t have
the strength to mask the scent. Not with her shields falling so quickly, each
breath she took like a ticking time bomb.

“Don’t bother trying to hide. I can feel you. Reveal
yourself.”

To her utter mortification her magic chose that very moment
to vanish.

Son of a bitch.

Here she was, face-to-face with a threat she couldn’t take
down. In her current state Aldon could snap her like a twig. She couldn’t phase
away, nor could she defend herself. Her vision blurred, the slow thudding of
her heart ricocheting in her head. Damn it. She was fading faster than she
thought possible.

Thankfully, he didn’t know that.

Not yet.

He took a step closer, sizing her up. He was so tall, like a
fucking building hovering over her. His shoulders were much broader than hers,
muscles visible beneath his trench coat. Although pale—as all vampires were
prone to be—his skin had a swarthy hue. He’d blend in with mortals and
immortals alike, beautiful to behold even if impossible to touch. As though he
needed another weapon against helpless victims who would be powerless against
him.

Bastard vampire.

“Why are you following me?”

“Who says I’m following you?” Thank the Goddess her voice
sounded strong, her statement coming across as confident. “It’s a beautiful
night to hunt. I decided to take advantage.” She arched a brow, giving him a
thin smile. “Nocturnal creatures are known to cross paths from time to time.”

“True.” His expression revealed nothing as he studied her,
his sky-blue irises vibrant in the dark. “Yet somehow I don’t think that’s the
case.”

She wanted to think of a witty retort but a wave of
exhaustion prevented it.

Fatigue swept through her, white dots speckling her vision.
Pride kept her from falling on her face. She extended her arms, attempting to
remain upright. How had she gone on for so long like this? How had she managed
to convince herself she was still in control?

A memory flashed through her mind, making her withering
heart skip a beat. Even now—with all the time that had passed—she ached when
she thought of
him
. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, yearning and
heartache forming a knot in her throat. She remembered Trey resting on his
side, his beautiful amber-tinted irises hidden behind closed lids, a sprinkling
of dark shadow lining his jaw. He’d seemed so different then, unable to defend
himself, trapped in a cage like a damn animal.

The sight had angered and terrified her. The man was more
than capable of taking care of himself but he’d gotten himself into trouble.
Captured by Shepherds—religious zealots determined to destroy shifters one by
one—there would have been no happy ending. They’d have broken him down, using
every weapon in their arsenal, before they snuffed him from existence.

No way. She hadn’t been able to let that happen.

One bite had sealed their fates.

In saving his life, she’d sacrificed her own.

Even now she could taste his blood, feel her pussy clasp in
response, her weakened body tingling in multiple wicked places. The first
swallow had been the best, cascading down her throat like ambrosia, so good she
knew she’d never find its equal. His being a shifter had meant she’d started
healing immediately, despite the severity of her wounds. But that hadn’t been
her focus. Instead she’d fought off an orgasm unlike any other, mortified at
the thought of using him, of taking more than he was willing to give.

It was bad enough to take his life’s blood without consent.

A whimper seeped past her lips and she dropped to her knees.
She focused on the memory, not the pain. This was all that was left—the past.
Memories of what she wanted but would never have. Death didn’t frighten her. In
fact, the thought of passing into the next realm brought a strange sense of
calm.

No more pain.

No more heartache.

Only peace.

Arms wrapped around her and the world shifted. She shuddered
as she felt a chest against her shoulder, followed by Aldon’s hushed order,
“Easy.”

Confusion swamped her, breaking the spell of Trey’s memory.

Had she died? Was her brain reacting to her demise like a
dream that made no sense?

Aldon Frost was evil. The head of her coven—Geneva—told her
so. During private meetings when she’d been given instructions on how best to
guard the coven the mistress of the group had told Sadie that Aldon had to be
monitored more closely than any other. Once his nest had been found, Sadie had
to destroy the vampire. He threatened their race—was a danger to their very way
of life.

Why hasn’t he killed me yet?

She felt the firm press of his hand as he lifted her head.
She didn’t open her eyes, remaining lax as he scented her neck. The position to
vampires was the same as bearing her belly to a predator, a sign of submission.
As much as she detested herself for it, there was no other alternative. Not
now. His teeth sank deep, easily penetrating her skin. She wasn’t the hunter
but the hunted. His contented sigh reverberated through the cold night air. She
shivered, trying to think of Trey, wanting to remember him in her final
moments.

This is it. I’m about to die.

Then he was done, pulling his fangs from her abused flesh.
“Stubborn creature,” he stated matter-of-factly. “So certain of yourself. So
arrogant. So predictable. You wear your pride like a shield. I suppose I should
thank you for simplifying things.”

When she attempted to struggle—determined to at the very
least slap the hell out of the bastard—she felt it.

Magic.

Warmth seeped into her chest, the first relief she’d felt in
months. But it wasn’t coming from her. It was coming from him. She fought the
compulsion of succumbing to his will and tried to stay awake. It was a trick,
the inviting allure of dark magic. If she gave in, her soul would be lost. She
had to fight to maintain the hold on her sanity.

“Sleep,” Aldon commanded, the order a siren’s song too
powerful to deny. “Sleep.”

She tried to open her eyes and see the face above her.
Instead darkness rose, wrapping its arms around her, trapping her in its
embrace. There was no fear, only comfort and reassurance. The feelings
disoriented her, breaking her tenuous hold on reality. The abyss overcame
everything, shrouding her mind and body like a blanket, directing her thoughts
to another time and place.

She sank into eyes the color of cherished whiskey, felt the
rasp of Trey’s breath against her face as their lips had met for the first
time. The grass had cushioned them as he’d settled his weight against her, his
form molding to hers as though they’d been made for each other. He’d smelled so
good—too good. He had been a part of herself that she’d never truly known.

Like this, they would have forever.

Maybe this was the end. She’d finally arrived.

And what could possibly be better? What more could she ask
for in the afterlife?

Trey was his own version of heaven.

Trey Veznor gasped in ecstasy as he felt the prick of teeth
against his skin. A gash had been made in his throat, creating a small trickle
of blood. Sexual need rushed through his body, engorging his cock, drawing his
balls taut. He growled at the sharp scrape of teeth against his neck, the sweet
flick of a tongue sweeping across his flesh. Despite the ache in his muscles he
tried to reach out when his lover moaned—the sound a symphony in his ears—and
discovered he was unable to do so, trapped in a body that refused to function.

Fury made him want to scream in frustration.

The need to touch the female—his female—increased.

She’d been hurt. He scented the metallic rustiness of her
blood, sensed her wounds through their flourishing connection. Misery consumed
her, the pain unbearable. She’d been injured in a way that terrified him. He’d
never seen the woman destined to be his mate in a weakened state. She was
strong, fearless and fierce. He knew her, could feel her. He’d thought about
her so often she was in his thoughts even when he didn’t realize it.

Sadie.

His skin parted in welcome as her tiny fangs pierced his
throat. Her lips moved, surrounding the punctures, sealing them off. The suction
of her mouth as she drank was so sweet and hot. He wanted to grasp her tiny
waist and place her on top of him. A few thrusts and he’d come like a randy
schoolboy, unable to hold back long enough to even think about sinking his cock
inside the haven of his mate’s body.

Desire amplified, his dick straining against his jeans.

So close…so fucking close.

He’d hurt her before, reckless in his outrage against her
kind, but he was determined to make things right. Once he found her he wasn’t
letting her go. He’d warned her not to make promises she couldn’t keep.

No more barriers. No more bullshit.

Teeth slid from his skin and her tongue skimmed over his
wounds.

“Sadie,” he whispered, trying to lift his arms and open his
eyes.

He felt her move away, her succulent scent beginning to
fade.

Damn it. He wouldn’t let her go. He’d tether her ass to his
bed and force her to face what they were to each other, even if it meant being
locked in a room with his mate for days.

“Sadie,” he roared, fighting to lift his lids, to see her
angelic face. “Listen to me.” It felt as though his soul was ripped apart, torn
in two as she vanished. “Damn you! Listen to me!”

This time when he tried to move, his arm worked.

Then something shook him hard. “Wake up.”

He swung at the thing pulling him away from the warmth of
Sadie’s touch. His wolf’s anger merged with his, his growl a threat to the
idiot stupid enough to try to come between him and the one female destined for
him.

They’d waited too long. Time had transformed into an enemy
he’d become tired of facing. Each second was pure agony. Too much more of this
shit and he’d break like a rubber band stretched past its limit.

More shaking against his shoulder, harder this time. “Trey,
wake the fuck up.”

His eyes flew open, his hand flew out and he wrapped his
fingers around a throat. Even with vision blurred from sleep he made out the
form of a dumbass fucking male who’d intruded where he wasn’t wanted. When his
opponent didn’t fight him he slowly came down to earth. His fingers loosened as
he recognized a vital member of his pack, the one person who was aware of his
situation and of the loss he experienced with each passing day.

“Easy, man,” Nathan—his Beta—grumbled. “I’d have left you
alone but you were getting loud.” Trey lowered his hand and Nathan moved away.
The Beta ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. “You’re going to
have to get hold of that shit. If we have guests and they hear you they’ll know
something’s up. Hell, they already suspect something’s off.”

“I could say the same about you,” Trey replied, shaking off
the memory of Sadie’s silken lips against his neck. He sat up and ran his hand
over his face. “You’ve not exactly been June Cleaver.”

Nathan’s lips formed into a sardonic smirk. “Unlike you,
I’ve only got a few weeks left. I’ve waited this long. A few more days aren’t
shit.”

Fucking bastard.

“If she shows,” he taunted, unable to prevent the sliver of
jealousy that arose. “She could blow you off.”

Humor faded from Nathan’s face, replaced by anger. His
Beta’s eyes turned, irises shifting from brown to amber. “She gave me her
word.”

Nathan’s mate—a vampire who’d somehow been involved when
Sadie had saved Trey’s life—had promised to return after a period of three
months. Nathan hadn’t wanted to give her that space but current events had
prevented him from stopping her departure. Fortunately, due to their
circumstances, the men had been able to share their concerns about taking
vampire mates. In the shifter world such unions were forbidden. Vampires were
magical creatures, with some of them being able to turn the animals inside
shifters into familiars.

Such a thing could render a shifter—male or
female—powerless.

“Listen,” Nathan said, this time in control of his emotions.
“When Leigh shows up I’ll find out about Sadie. As soon as I know where she is
I’ll tell you. You can talk to her and sort things out.”

Sounds like a great plan. Too bad she doesn’t want to
talk to me.

The intimate time he’d shared with his mate had gone
badly—very, very badly. He’d been drunk, relying on his friend Mr. Daniels to
assist him in grief. Sadie’d paid the price for his spiral of gloom. All it had
taken was a few words—words he hadn’t meant to speak aloud, for fuck’s sake—for
her to promise he’d never see her again.

The way she’d looked at him…the hurt he’d glimpsed in her
eyes…
Christ it made him feel like a total piece of shit.

Nathan walked across the bedroom toward the door. “Diskant
called right after you crashed. He’s arranged for a meeting with the pack at
noon.”

“Let me guess.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed,
flexing the muscles in his back. “We’re hosting.”

“You’re Alpha,” Nathan responded over his shoulder. “What do
you think?”

Nathan vanished around the corner, leaving Trey staring at
the empty entranceway. After Diskant had moved he’d handed over the keys to his
former home—an old fire station, of all places—to Trey. The place had always
been used for meetings. Since Trey had been reinstated as Alpha—a
responsibility he’d abandoned to search for those who’d killed a large portion
of his pack months ago—he’d been in charge of all werewolf business in the
city.

He’d thought pack business would be a welcome distraction.
Something to ease the memories of a woman he wasn’t sure he’d ever see again.
Instead each gathering with his kind served as a reminder of how moronic he’d
been. Yes, he was Alpha. As such he’d always care for those who turned to him
for protection. However, as a shifter it was impossible not to do the same for
his destined female.

She was equally—if not more—important.

As he walked to the adjoining bathroom he thought about the
time that had passed. Sadie had rescued him from a Shepherd cell eight weeks
ago. For two months he’d wondered where she was and if she was safe. Nathan had
hesitantly told him about what he’d seen when Leigh had brought him home. Sadie
had been in the car, bleeding all over the place. Nathan hadn’t had the
opportunity to inspect her wounds since she’d vanished into thin air.

Phasing.

That’s what vampires called it. Some vampires were born with
the talent, able to move from one place to another instantaneously. It allowed
them to protect themselves from harm and to move around undetected.

He turned on the shower and considered contacting Aldon
Frost. The vampire was the only person he knew who could give him answers.
Unfortunately contact with the leech wasn’t welcomed by the pack, which meant
it was done on the down-low. They knew Trey did the vamp’s security and
accepted Aldon returned favors but that was as far as their knowledge went.
Aldon had been curious about Trey’s interest in vampires but hadn’t asked
questions. That was one perk of running a private and exclusive security
business.

He chose his clients and worked when he felt like it, was
his own boss on his own terms.

As his client, Aldon would answer questions without
hesitation, sharing information in exchange for state-of-the-art technology.
Not to mention Trey’s services came with complete confidentiality. No one would
know where Aldon lived, what kind of system he’d purchased or what kind of
traps he had in place for unwelcome visitors.

Sliding his head under the hot spray of water, he thought of
Nathan’s promise.

A few weeks.

Sure as fuck, it sucked, but he’d wait.

Like a premonition of bad things to come, Sadie’s warning
returned to haunt him.

After tonight, you’ll never see me again. You have my
word.

“I warned you not to make promises you can’t keep,” he
growled in frustration, closing his eyes and enjoying the hot streams of water
beating down his back. “Once I find you, you’re mine. There’s no running from
me.”

Not now.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever.

He didn’t take his time, glad that he’d gotten his hair cut
and didn’t have to primp or preen. Toweling off, he studied his reflection.
Since he’d stopped drinking his coloring had returned to normal, although he
still had shadows under his eyes. That came from restless sleep—most nights
consisting of dreams of Sadie. On good nights they’d engage in pleasures of the
flesh, exploring each other’s bodies in all sorts of wicked, delectable places.
On bad nights, such as the one he’d just woken from, he’d be trapped in his
body, unable to move, knowing after Sadie had taken his blood she’d leave.

The doorbell rang, which was odd since the pack usually just
barged inside the house whenever they felt like it. He got on track and pulled
on his clothes. Black T-shirt, worn blue jeans and a beat-up pair of boots. It
wasn’t anywhere near noon—maybe six or seven if his inner clock was ticking
right. Perhaps it wasn’t the pack and Ava had decided to swing by. Usually if
she had an appointment with the doc, who’d started monitoring her pregnancy
more closely, she liked to drop off leftovers from dinner.

His mouth watered just thinking about it. The woman
certainly knew how to cook.

Diskant and Emory were lucky bastards. Their mates—Ava and
Mary—had become close in recent weeks. The women made meals, talked and spent
their free time together. The men in their lives reaped the rewards of the
friendship. Not only did they get to eat homemade food every night, they also
got to take their mates to bed after they finished. It was the good life—one
Trey wanted for himself.

Stop that shit. Get your head on straight. Pack business
today. Remember?

He tried to listen to sound reasoning, going through the motions.

Then logic flipped upside down and turned on its
motherfucking head.

A scent drifted through his door, hitting him like a
well-aimed sucker punch.

The hair on his nape rose on end, his sense of smell kicking
into high gear. The fragrance was familiar but he couldn’t quite place it.
Flashes of memory bled together. Wasn’t the scent from the nightmare he shared
with Sadie? Every single time she took his blood then left him high and dry
there’d been someone else with her. He’d always known there had been—had been
able to feel the weight of the outsider’s stare—but didn’t really give two dog
dicks about it. All he wanted to focus on during the encounters was his female,
not some idiot who’d decided to enjoy the show.

He dragged in a deep breath, senses going into overdrive.

Damn.
The smell was so fucking recognizable. Deep
down he knew it from somewhere. Worse? He also identified traces of Sadie’s
scent along with it. His mate’s sweetness was there—faint but there.

What the fuck?

Two and two. Simple fucking math. Bringing everything
together.

He ran from the bedroom and rushed down the stairs, heart
pulsing, muscles in motion. He’d recognize Sadie’s luscious scent anywhere,
delicious and vibrant, an aphrodisiac that went straight to his head. She
wasn’t close but someone who’d been in her presence was. God help the person
who’d come to his home. He wasn’t in the mood to ask questions. He was going to
demand answers.

He didn’t hesitate when he spotted the stranger in his
kitchen—a tiny and helpless female. Sadie’s scent was stronger now. Despite the
fear that he felt coming off the woman across from him, he could smell traces
of his mate. Moving forward and ignoring the alarm in the young girl’s face, he
growled low in his throat. Before he could reach her Nathan blocked his path.
Trey snarled, the wolf within gaining ground, wanting to take control. His Beta
grasped his arms, harsh fingers digging into his skin. Trey snarled when he
felt the male’s power—the ability Nathan had to control the beast of others—attempting
to calm him with touch.

“Get your fucking hands off me.”

“No,” Nathan snapped, pushing Trey back, getting in his
face. “Go for her and there’ll be blood. I’m a Beta by choice. I don’t fight
battles. Not because I can’t but because I choose not to. Don’t forget that.”

Trey’s wolf howled—in pain, anguish and fury—and tried to
push past his defenses. Too long denied what it needed, the beast sought an
outlet. Trey was aware this would happen eventually. The animal could only take
so much for so long. He’d been afraid he’d frighten Sadie when they met again,
consumed by the desire of man and beast.

“Listen, Trey. That’s my female you’re threatening.” Nathan
snarled in warning, nails forming claws that broke the surface of Trey’s skin.
“Calm. The fuck. Down.”