Mated to the Alpha: The Complete Collection (32 page)

"I didn't kill you outright so you could know the truth," she growled at him, his eyes still aware even as he knew he was dying. "That attack was on my house. But don't worry, you won't be lonely in hell for long. I'm going to send a lot of your friends after you."

The man sagged to his knees, his eyes finally glazing over before he fell face first onto the ground. Kimberly watched as the jet of arterial blood from the severed stump of his arm weakened before becoming a mere oozing trickle. Reaching inside herself, she partially caged the beast inside her enough to let her paws retract to something approaching normal size. The left side of her neck was already stinging as the adrenaline of the attack wore off, and the pain receptors started working again. Going over to the body of the man she had kicked first, she saw that he was still alive, although unconscious. Reaching into his jacket, she found his gun and pulled it, flicking off the safety. She found the gun from one of the other men and picked it up in her right hand. Squeezing the triggers quickly, she put a total of fifteen rounds in the bodies before spraying the rest of the room with the remaining twenty rounds left over. Since she was in wolf form, she wasn't worried about leaving behind DNA or fingerprints, even in their current state, her hands were too large and didn't have fingerprints or palm prints that could be traced back to her. Tossing the guns next to the bodies, she scrambled out of the same window she'd crashed through less than thirty second prior and ran to the roof.

The cloud cover broke just as she stepped onto the roof, a full moon beaming down from the night sky. She let herself go, shifting back into full wolf form before lifting her bloodstained head to the sky, spreading her arms, and letting loose the long, sonorous howl that had built within her. The residents of the War Zone that heard the cry remembered the scene that had greeted them the last time such a howl had echoed through the neighborhood, with two reactions happening. Those who did evil or took advantage of the weak and downtrodden quickly retreated indoors, hiding in whatever bolthole they could find for the night. Meanwhile, those who had been taken advantage of, the victims and downtrodden felt a sense of cold security. There would be no more criminal activity that night in the War Zone.

"
H
ow's that feel
?" Keith asked as he pressed the edges of the wound together. His fingertips were bloody, but his grip didn't slip as he waited for the glue to finish working. It had seemed strange to him for wounds to be healed with glue, but Kimberly had sworn before the mission that the newest generation of surgical glues would be better than trying to stitch it closed.

Kimberly winced and sucked in air through her teeth as the sting of the wound subsided slowly. Her feet were healed, as well as a gash that she had picked up on her leg from going through the window that she hadn't even been aware of. Only the knife wound on her upper back was still painful. "It'll heal up soon enough," she said.

"You know Edward is pissed that you went in the way you did. He feels he should have been there backing you up." Keith relaxed his fingers slightly to see if the edges of the puncture would hold. They did, and he went over to the kitchen sink to wash his hands. "Melanie's concerned more than anything else, but she's seen you in action. If you had told her you were taking down a platoon of Army Rangers, she'd put money on you in Vegas."

"Yeah well, I think that's the last time I go tooth and claw on someone until after the baby," Kimberly replied. "I'd rather risk my life behind the control stick of the Wolf or maybe behind a rifle than that. I'll be honest Keith, that last one was scary. An inch to the side, and you'd be an Alpha Male without a Female."

"I know," Keith replied quietly. He finished washing his hands and brought over a damp cloth to dab gently around the wound, cleaning up Kimberly's skin as much as he could without disturbing the wound. "And while I understand Edward's opinion, I think you did the right thing. At the same time I agree with you that I don't want you getting so up close and personal unless you have to until after your baby is born. When Edward told me you'd been injured, it scared the hell out of me, Kim."

Kimberly turned around, disregarding the fact that she was still naked from the waist up to allow Keith to heal her wound, and wrapped her arms around her brother. The two twins, whose first move after being born was to embrace each other and find comfort in the other's arms, once again found the place that was stronger than the Link, stronger than anything else in the world. Keith gently held his sister as they comforted each other before Kimberly stepped back. "No matter how long you and Mel, or me and Edward are Mated, I'm always going to need hugs from you, Brother."

"Me too. Now, let's go show Edward that you're okay. I'm pretty sure you'll have that shoulder back to one hundred percent within a day or so, just be careful tonight with it."

Kimberly pulled her shirt on and looked at Keith. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I know how you get after going wolf, and I know how you and Edward are. Just.... nothing too athletic, okay? Alpha's orders."

Kimberly blushed before chuckling. "Okay, okay. Just remember, you're the same way I am. I'm going to remind you when you drag your scraggly shot up hide in here again and I spend an hour patching you up. Hell, I won't even warn you, I'll just lock you in a bank vault for the night so poor Melanie can get some sleep."

The twins went downstairs, where Melanie was sitting with a clearly agitated Edward. Seeing Kimberly walking so casually down the stairs, he jumped to his feet, nearly sprinting to the foot of the stairs. Melanie looked up at Keith, who just smiled and shook his head.
She's fine. Let's give them some privacy.

Okay. Jay's sleeping peacefully in his crib, how about we enjoy some private time ourselves?

Oh? Anything in mind?

Melanie chuckled and shook her head.
Not that, not at two in the morning after the day I've had. However, I think a little bit of cuddling and maybe a few kisses would be nice. Think you can keep it to just that?

Only if you promise not to nibble at my neck the way you like to. Do that, and all bets are off.

I don't know. I kinda like knowing I can turn my big bad Alpha Lycan into a whimpering pup with just my teeth and tongue.

Woman......

Melanie grinned and got up off the couch, coming over to Kimberly, who was caught up in an almost crushing embrace from Edward. "I'm glad you're doing better. I'll see you in the morning, we can have brunch. Love you, Kim."

"Brunch it is. I love you too, Mel."

Keith and Melanie went upstairs, leaving Kimberly still in Edward's arms. She wiggled, getting her arms free to allow herself to stroke his hair. He'd been growing it out, his once almost military flat top now a few inches long, rich and full. "It's okay, my love. I'm going to be fine."

"Kim, I... tonight..." Edward started, before the tears came to his eyes.

"I know," Kimberly replied, kissing his forehead before pulling his head into her chest. "Listen. It's still beating, strong and sure. I've already talked with Keith, no more of that type of mission for me until after the baby. But I need something right now."

"What, my love?" Edward asked, his left ear still pressed against her chest to listen to the calming beat of her heart."

"Make love to me," she whispered in his ear. "Please."

Edward pulled back and looked Kimberly in the eye, nodding silently. His arms lowered to pull Kimberly's legs up and around him, supporting her easily with his left arm while his right arm held her torso against him. Turning, he carried his Mate into their bedroom, which had a unique bed. Instead of any sort of box frame or base, which would quickly break under Edward's weight, there was a single thick custom made extra large mattress that sat directly on the floor. The end result was lower than a typical bed, but was perfect now as he laid her on the pillow top. Getting to his knees on the floor, he still towered over her, his gray eyes turning the deep slate that Kimberly knew meant he was feeling her desire as much as she was.

"Think you can be gentle?" she asked, reaching up and stroking his massive, meaty arm. "Right now I can use that more than strength."

Leaning down, Edward kissed her so lightly she barely felt it, except as a slowly spreading warmth that radiated out from her lips. Sitting up, he smiled and nodded. "Like that?"

"Like that," she replied, scooting over on the mattress and turning on her side. "Very much like that."

Edward climbed onto the bed, stretching out next to her. Tracing his fingers down her arm, he drank her in with his eyes, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. "I love you, Kimberly."

"I love you too, Edward," she replied, reaching over and rubbing his chest. Through the thin shirt he was wearing, she could feel the ripples of his muscles, making her smile. "Now I know what turns me on so much about you."

"Oh?" he said, smiling slightly. His hand mimicked hers, cupping her breast and running a thumb over her nipple. "What's that?"

"You turn on both sides of me," she sighed happily in reply, biting her lip. "The woman who wants gentleness and restraint, and the wolf that wants strength and fiery passion."

Pushing Edward onto his back, Kimberly swung her leg up and over his hips, mounting him quickly. "And I know what turns you on," she replied, pulling her shirt over her head with her uninjured arm. "You just love my boobs."

Edward grinned at the playfulness Kimberly was showing. "I love much more than just your boobs, but they are nice,” he admitted, massaging both at the same time. Kimberly lost herself in the liquid heat that formed under his caress, her eyes fluttering closed with happiness.

Slowly, unconsciously, Kimberly's hips began to shift back and forth as the desire built within her. Leaning down, she kissed him again, their lips and minds joining together to create loving poetry.

I was so worried.

I'm a warrior as well as a woman. You are a warrior too.

And I love you just as you are. Still, I worried.

I love you for your worries. I love you for your strength, and your tenderness.

You are my life, forever.

Somehow, neither of them remembering exactly how, the rest of their clothes were taken off and laid on the side of the bed. Holding each other, lips and fingers stroked every inch of their Mate's body, warm flesh pressed against warm flesh and emotions strengthening their bond. Kimberly lost track of time, only aware of Edward's skin against her, and the growing pulse within her.

Rolling onto her back, she wrapped her legs around him, feeling his cock pressing against her. Wordlessly, everything coming through their Link in surges of emotion, he spread her open slowly, both of them luxuriating in the feeling of their union.

To an outside observer, they looked so different. The slender, lithe woman and smooth skin turned creamy from the lack of sun during the winter, and the naturally lightly bronzed man, whose muscular body towered over her. Still, there was something about them that was invisible that sang of their unity and their perfection for each other as Edward's hips rose and fell, his cock sliding in and out.

Maybe it was in the way their hands were in perfect coordination, one each touch and caress being exactly what the other needed. Or perhaps it was in the way that Edward knew, without being told, exactly when to speed up or slow down, increasing the perfect pleasure that each of them were feeling. Kimberly's feet clutched at the back of his legs, urging him in deeper and faster, and he responded, both of them climbing towards the life affirming union of their bodies and souls in climax.

Kimberly didn't know, and didn't care what it was, but she knew that Edward was perfect for her. Her body sang as his cock plunged in and out of her pussy, her body tensing with each stroke, not wanting to let him go, but doing so reluctantly as she knew the next stroke would bring further pleasure. Their hearts beat in unison as she clutched him to her, and her body reached the place beyond pleasure, where everything was a purity of light and happiness.
I'm coming!

Edward's groan of reply was all she needed as she cried her pleasure out, clear and joyful. They felt the union of body and soul briefly before coming back to reality, exhausted and sweat covered.

"
I
n the past four months
, Lycan forces in both North America and Europe have inflicted losses over the
kinbushi
," Akiko Thornblood said over the video conference system which connected the Clan leaders. "However, we've taken losses as well. Thankfully, we've been handed an unexpected benefit in that many of the Lone Wolves of the European Lycans seem to have unofficially joined in with us. According to what House Melior had forwarded, over a dozen different Order strongholds have been wiped out by Lone Wolf attacks."

"Meanwhile the European Houses have sat on their asses and done nothing," Peter Alces, standing in as Alpha for Clan Kenai, responded. "And we've lost nearly four hundred Lycans here in North America. Between that and the first attack on Lockwood Manor, we've lost nearly twenty percent of all Lycans in our Clans. We can't keep this war up much longer."

Keith sighed and looked over at Akiko. She had decided to visit Lockwood Tower for this meeting, allowing for faster communication and less stress on the computer servers. Akiko shrugged, not able to retort. Just a week prior, Clan Thornblood had been hit heavily when a small preschool, owned by the Thornbloods and educating all the Lycan children in the Clan under the age of seven as well as visiting children from other Clans, had been attacked by
silberjagger
. The cover story that was leaked to the press was that a mistaken attack in a gang drug war had led to the drive by, which involved three cars spraying the classrooms with over five thousand bullets. Thankfully, the heavy cinderblock construction and the fact that one of the two classrooms was on the other side of the building doing music saved many of the children. Of the twenty dead, fourteen of them were Lycan adults who tried to save the students under their protection.

"We are aware, Peter. Which is why we are going to stop this war of attrition, and go for a final, decisive strike."

"What do you mean?" Connor Mac Tire asked. "This is something new to me, my friend."

"House Melior recently have passed along the most recent intelligence that they have. They have determined that the head of the Order, who goes by the title of Archbishop, is leaving the stronghold in Liechtenstein and going to Scotland for a conference of the Order and their potential allies. They're meeting in an old monastery among the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye. Guillaume Bisclavert has told us that his Second Mate, April Bell, is willing to meet with us and coordinate information on the island. Her House's territory is adjacent to the island, and she is supposedly familiar with it."

"And your plan?" Connor asked.

Keith took a deep breath, and looked at his family. "We end it. I've already coordinated with Akiko, Clan Thornblood will be providing two aircraft, a C-5 and a C-130, upon which I am loading every remaining Thornblood and Lockwood warrior as well as our two attack helicopters. They will fly first to Iceland before refueling and then Scotland, where we will land at an airstrip owned by Lady Bell's House. From there we will attack the meeting directly via land and air."

"Why such overwhelming forces, Lord Lockwood?" Harold Longtooth of Clan Lykos asked. "We have conducted this war so far very clandestinely. Such a large attack will surely garner the notice of British authorities."

"Because we are attacking in daylight," Keith said quietly. "According to the Melior, the Order has beings on their side that are better adapted to night fighting than even us."

The collected group fell silent as the implications came over them. While the Lycans were clear masters of the North American continent, there were still tales told of beings who were even stronger. Steeped in mythology and old superstition, the names varied depending on the Clan's home country, but the stories were often the same.

"For the Hunters to be cooperating with such creatures is.... disturbing," Connor Mac Tire replied. "Is your attack worth riling up such enemies? No offense Keith, but wouldn’t securing North America alone be enough?"

Keith shook his head. "Connor, you know as well as I do that any such security would be fleeting at best. The Europeans are not willing to assist us in whittling down our enemy. Quite frankly, I'm not sure if they are as powerful as they claim. If we merely throw the
silberjagger
out of North America, they will lick their wounds, heal, and then work their way back in through other means. You all know what we've learned. No longer are our enemies using just legal trappings. Now they are partnering with criminal elements such as street gangs and other groups. If they want, they could pull every Hunter out of North America and fight a proxy war using just their money. That is a war we can’t win."

Akiko interjected before any could say anything. "This war must be finished, and soon. The world is changing. We can’t go on as we have been, fighting a constant low level conflict. In the past, our kind could just fall back or move to another territory if normal humans learned about us. This isn't possible any longer in North America. We have this last chance to strike and secure our peace, or else face slow strangulation from all sides. I request your warriors, I request yourselves. I can fly another thirty people on my aircraft, and through the Air National Guard get another plane if needed. If I have to I'll charter an airliner."

The collection of faces on the video wall nodded, and slowly, one after another, more were added to the Lycan ranks. By the end, Akiko and Keith's original plan changed, and the old C-130 was ditched in favor of the 747, as over four hundred Lycans were to join the assault on the Isle of Skye.

After the meeting, Keith was stunned when Melanie came into the living room, dressed in SWAT boots, fatigue pants, and a long sleeved black undershirt with tactical vest. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure it still fits," she said simply, looking at the assembled Lycan Alphas. "You seriously didn't think I was going to be sitting on my ass this time, did you? Edward can’t go because of your agreement with the Europeans. He'll watch Jay, and I'm coming with you."

"Melanie...." Keith said, before stopping. He knew the look on her face, and knew she was committed. "Fine. Then I am making one command, and if you don't like it, I'll tie you up and leave you downstairs with orders to Edward to keep you there until we are gone."

"What's that?" Melanie asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She had worked hard in the months since Jay's birth, and was now in better shape than she had been when she and Keith first met.

"You and Akiko are a team, no arguments. You stay on her hip, and she stays on yours. Akiko, do you understand?"

"Yes Keith," Akiko said directly.

Melanie looked like she was about to argue, but nodded. "Fine. Then I have one request as well."

"What's that?"

"I need something better than a Glock. I want something with more power."

Akiko grinned. "I know just what you need."

T
he four turbofans
of the C-5 were muted to Melanie as she sat in one of the airline seats. She had been surprised when she found out that the massive aircraft, officially named
Galaxy
but the flight crew lovingly called
FRED
, had a passenger deck that normally could seat seventy two people on it, laid out like a normal airliner. Due to the size of the average Lycan, Akiko had only seated fifty of the combined Thornblood and Lockwood troops in the plane, with Keith, the remaining Lockwoods, and the other allied warriors all taking the chartered 747 that would depart six hours later. The passenger plane didn't need to refuel to land, and could make the flight in one jump, while the C-5 would have a refueling stop.

Melanie was surprised when, just before takeoff, someone sprinted up the stairs and into the plane, breathing heavily. Looking up from the book she had been reading,
Team of Rivals
, she was surprised to see the streaked hair and amber eyes of her Sister. "Kim? What are you doing here?"

Kimberly, who was already wearing her slate gray flight suit, plopped down in the seat next to Melanie. Akiko, who was seated across the aisle, looked over, also surprised. "What?" Kimberly said. "Did you really think I would let you guys load my damn helicopter in the cargo hold of this thing without coming along? You must be out of your mind. Besides, I found out what some joker decided the in flight movie was going to be on the other plane, and knew I had to catch this flight before I went insane somewhere over the Atlantic."

"What are they playing?" Akiko asked. "I merely instructed the accountant to charter a plane."

"Yeah well, some joker either knows we are Lycans, or just has a terrible sense of timing, because the other three hundred and fifty or so people on this mission get to enjoy watching Bella, Edward and Jacob do their little romantic puke fest for twelve hours."

Melanie snirked, trying not to laugh, but finally couldn't hold it in any longer. "Seriously? They decided to play the
Twilight
saga?"

Kimberly grinned and nodded. "Yep. When I ran through the terminal after changing, I heard Keith on his phone calling for a car, and directions to the nearest place he could buy DVDs. I think he plans on taking control of the entertainment systems on the plane, even if he has to tear the player out of its cabinet with his bare hands."

Akiko laughed and leaned back in her seat. The seats were staggered so that, in most cases at least, people could lean back or spread out without bumping into a neighbor, and the seats directly behind and beside her were empty. "How ironic. I promise you, I didn't have anything to do with that. The charter company merely thinks that we're flying over a large group of Scottish Highland Games fans overseas. I'm surprised they didn't decide to subject them to ten hours of caber tossing and weight throwing. It was the best cover I could think of on short notice for a couple hundred men all over two hundred and twenty pounds and built like Lycans."

"In any case, I had just enough time to change into my flight suit and run out here," Kimberly replied. "I'm just glad that I can fit into Keith's still, my old one is getting just a bit snug in the belly. The arms and legs are a bit long though."

"Get used to it," Melanie replied with a smirk. "Remember the basketball I had under my shirt that last month? Oh, and by the way, say goodbye to your twenty three inch waist, dear Sister. You're heading for twenty five, twenty six afterwards, even after the extra fat melts off."

Kimberly grumbled, then smiled. "Well, I can hope that I get the same benefit you did getting back in shape," she said, whispering in Melanie's ear. "Or did you get that rock hard booty that my brother keeps staring at constantly by pure chance?"

"You know exactly how I did it," Melanie said, opening her book and finding her place. "The exact same way you will, and probably end up with a better butt anyway."

"Will you two young things give an old lady some peace?" Akiko chided gently from her seat. "Some of us don't have the body of a twenty five year old any more."

"And some of us will be happy to have the body you do when we're seventy one," Melanie retorted, earning a grin from Akiko.

"So what are you reading?" Kimberly asked as she settled into her seat. The flight crew came on, stating that everyone needed to be buckled in, and they double checked their belts.

"It's about Abraham Lincoln's leadership in the Civil War," Melanie replied. "He did something really cool in that his Cabinet was made up of people that he didn't always agree with, but he knew were best for the job. With so many points of view and all the other stuff, it just reminded me of how we kind of are. So many different viewpoints, not always agreeing, but working together. So I wanted to see if there was any way that I could learn something and be a better part of the team."

Kimberly sat back and patted Melanie on the leg. "You already are, Sister. Just by being you, you already are."

For the next five hours, Melanie lost herself in the book as the flight wore on. Kimberly moved over a seat and went to sleep for a while, before getting up to use the toilet and coming back a few minutes later and dropping back off to sleep. Melanie finished her book just before the plane banked and made final approach into Iceland, where the plane was refueled. Looking over, she saw that Akiko was still awake. "Aren't you going to sleep too?"

Akiko shook her head. "Since Nioclas died, I've only been able to sleep a few hours at most a night. I took a nap prior to us boarding, I’ll be fine. What about you?"

Melanie got up and quickly stood up. Grabbing a blanket from an overhead rack, she covered Kimberly up and propped a pillow underneath her head before moving across the aisle and sitting down. "I'm never one to get a lot of sleep before a big operation like this. I might drop off for a bit right before we land, but there's no way I'm doing a long sleep like Kim is."

"You should. You don't exactly have Lycan reserves," Akiko replied. "If you stay like this, you’ll eventually have exhaustion catch up with you."

"I know, but I'm too worked up," Melanie said. "I've always been this way. I don't know if it is adrenaline or just scared silly, but I can't sleep."

Akiko nodded, then held out her hand. "Give me your left hand."

"What?" Melanie asked, perplexed. "Why?"

"Ancient Asian reflexology trick, taught to me by a Swedish massage therapist," Akiko joked softly. "Just trust me. Close your eyes and lean back, and let me see what I can do."

Melanie sighed and did as asked, letting Akiko manipulate and massage points on her left and and forearm. It didn't feel like she was doing anything, but the touch wasn't unpleasant, and besides, Akiko was trying to be helpful. Still, there was no way that she'd be able to fall asleep under these circumstances.

"Mel? Hey Mel? Time to get up, sleepy head," Kimberly said, shaking her shoulder gently.

"Wha... wha?" Melanie said, blinking her eyes. She'd just been getting her hand massaged by Akiko, what was going on?

"You've been asleep for seven hours," Kimberly explained with a light chuckle. "You looked so cute lying there, Akiko and I let you stay down after the plane landed, but now they've got most of the cargo bay unloaded. Keith and them are on final approach now. You ready to get up?"