“I don’t know what this place was before we found it, but it was in ruins. The towers were the only buildings standing, and they were in bad condition. We built those up first, and then we found the basement under the courtyard after a lot of digging. All these books were in there, each one was wrapped in fabric. There are two thousand and eighty-nine books in here, not counting any new ones brought to the island,” he tells me.

  “Whoever saved these books was a good person,” I comment, running my finger across a few as we disappear deeper into the row.

  “Yes, I think so. There is a lot of history in the books, a past that was lost to us,” he comments and steps up right behind me, pressing me into the shelf. I hold onto the edge of the empty shelf in front of me as Alaric pulls my hair to the side and starts kissing my neck, making me shiver and my lips part.

  “We shouldn’t,” I gasp, feeling his chuckle vibrate against my neck as I feel him sliding his hand under my dress and parting my legs.

  “We shouldn’t, but that’s what makes it so much sweeter,” he whispers as his hand cups me, and he very slowly slides a finger into me. I moan, only to have Alaric cover my mouth with his hand, a low grumble leaving his lips as he removes his other hand. “Shh, you wouldn’t want anyone to hear. God, you are so fucking wet before I’ve hardly touched you.” I don’t reply to him, too lost in the sensation of him pulling my dress up and the sounds of him freeing himself. Moments later, he pulls my hips back with his one hand and slides deep inside me. I moan into his hand, shivering from the intense pleasure. As Alaric fucks me, pressing me deeper into the bookcase shelf, and I bite down on his hand to stop the cries of pleasure leaving my lips, I realize I love this. I love the threat of someone catching us. I love having Alaric’s cock inside me, making me close to losing all control every time he thrusts.

  “Come for me, sweet El. I want to feel you come,” he whispers into my ear before biting down on my neck. His words, his cock and the perfect mixture of it all send me spiraling over the edge, not caring one bit about the sounds escaping my lips. Alaric growls as he comes, holding me in place as he rides out his own pleasure. We both chuckle as he pulls out of me, and I turn around as he kisses me once more, pushing me into the shelves once again.

  “Why does it get better every time with you?” he asks, stroking a hand down my face. “I never want to stop this. It fucking scares me.”

  “It scares me too,” I admit, and he sighs, before kissing my cheek ever so softly.

  “There is a bathroom at the end of the path. Go clean up, and I will get you some books I loved which I think you might like,” he tells me with a wink, and I nod with a small smile, walking away as I hope the warm feeling in my chest disappears soon. I can’t fall in love with them, even if I know I want to. After I finish cleaning up in the small bathroom, I walk out and find Alaric with three red books in his arms.

  “You like to read then?” I ask him as we walk to the stairs and start heading down.

  “Not always, but as a kid, yes I did,” he tells me. I smile back at him, liking that he is telling me a little about himself before we get to the bottom of the stairs. I rest my head on his shoulder as we walk past, and the old lady from the table glares at us as we pass her. I quietly laugh with Alaric as we hurry to the door and pull it open, sliding outside before I shut it behind us. I go to speak when I notice people are running up the hill, and as I look back to Alaric, he swears under his breath.

  “There is a problem. Come on,” he says, placing the books on a nearby stall before we run. I follow behind Alaric as people move out of the way for him. The closer we get to the towers, the more I start to panic that something has happened to my alphas. No, Alaric would have said. Something else must be wrong. We break through the small crowd, and I stop at Alaric’s side as we take in what has happened. There is a man in ripped clothes, looking scruffy as he holds a screaming baby in his arms. He is standing on a stone wall that is a sheer drop off the cliff into the sea before. The wind blasts against him as he shakes his head. Alpha is a little distance away, and Letric is trying to talk the man down from his side. I step forward and walk to Letric’s side. The man doesn’t look at us, just down at the baby.

  “She looks like my mate. She looks so much like my mate who she killed,” he cries out.

  “The baby didn’t kill anyone. It was a terrible thing that your wife died in labor, but the baby should not be killed,” Letric gently pleads.

  “I thought I could take care of her, but I can’t. She makes me feel sick,” he spits out, looking up for a moment, and I notice one of his eyes is patched. I look over at Alpha who is watching me, and the story he told me of the dispute comes to mind. I have no doubt that this is the mate who wanted to keep the baby, and the grandmother was killed for trying to kill him and take the child.

  “Then give her to me,” I suggest, getting the man’s frantic eye locked on me. “You will never have to see her again. Just let me take her away.”

  “She will be gone?” he asks, his eye searching mine as I step closer again and lift my arms.

  “I promise. I will take her away.” The man keeps his eye locked on mine as he sits down and hands me the baby ever so slowly. I look at her pale skin and dirty face, but her bright brown eyes stare at me as she cries. I step back, lightly rocking her in my arms as Alpha walks forward.

  “No!” I shout, but it’s too late as Alpha slams a fist right through the middle of his chest. The man coughs, spluttering blood as Alpha moves his hand out before picking him up and throwing him off the cliff. There is nothing but silence as I am making hushing noises to the baby who has stopped crying. Alpha walks over to me, touching my cheek with the hand covered in blood.

  “Don’t ever interrupt me again. This is my pack, do you understand?” he growls.

  “Yes, Alpha,” I reply, knowing I shouldn’t have interrupted, but I also know he isn’t mad at me. He is mad at himself more. The decision he made was wrong, and I know he blames himself.

  “Now go and give that baby to someone you trust before coming home,” he says and kisses me harshly before letting go and walking away.

  “You did good,” Letric whispers to me before running off to Alpha’s side. Alaric stops at my side, looking down at the little baby.

  “Do you have a clue where you are going to home her?” Alaric asks me, and I don’t take my eyes off the sweet baby.

  “I know two amazing parents. They took Annie in, and I’m sure they won’t say no,” I say, then turn and walk through the people as I take the baby to her new home.

  Chapter 21

  Elodie

  I cry out as an orgasm shatters through me, and all I can do is hold onto Letric's shoulders in the shower as he thrusts one more time, finishing with his own shout escaping his lips. He rests his head against mine as the hot, steamy water pours down us before he kisses me ever so gently. The kiss is tender, sweet almost. I run my fingers through his brown hair, smelling nothing but his peppermint shower wash and shampoo. It’s been a month since mine and Letric’s first night together, but it always feels good. It always seems like it’s the first time with each of the Alpha Brothers. They are stealing my heart, along with ruining my body for anyone else. I couldn’t imagine anyone being like they are with me. Letric is sweet, tender and takes his time with me. Alaric is playful, creative and teaches me new things as he makes me laugh. Alpha is demanding, seductive and makes me crave him more after every touch. Each of them is making it impossible to think of them as a temporary thing in my life.

  The only good thing that has happened recently is that the brothers haven’t spoken about the war or even trying to attack the Xan Pack. I doubt they have forgotten about it, but they keep the leaders’ meetings to talk about the running of the pack and nothing else. I don’t want to bring it up with them because I know I would do nothing but worry if they all went to war. I may never admit it, but as I look into Letric’s eyes in this moment, I know I love him.

  "I like this shower," I admit instead of my actual thoughts, looking around the steamy room as Letric chuckles and lowers me to the ground.

  “I’ve never cared for the shower much until now. Now I want nothing more than to shower all day with you,” he replies. I let the water run over us, cleaning us up before Letric turns it off and we get out. I wrap a towel around myself before opening the door to his room and walking to a window, resting on the side and looking at how the sun touches the sea, the way it sparkles like a crystal almost. The sunlight shines on me, slowly drying my skin as well as keeping me warm.

  "I will go and get us some breakfast. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry," Letric admits, pulling his shirt on as I look back at him. His wet hair dips down his white shirt, and his black trousers tightly show off the body I know is hidden underneath it.

  "Okay," I reply, watching him come over to me and kissing me gently before walking out of his bedroom. I open one of the windows, letting in the warm breeze and letting the sunlight dry me off a little more before picking my dress up and pulling it on. I make Letric's bed up and clean up the room before wandering around, looking at all the little things on the cabinet by the door. Letric rarely leaves me alone up here, so I’ve never had a chance to look around before. I pick up a bronze little wolf which is about the size of a grape, and it is so pretty. It must have taken Letric a long time to carve all the solid bronze metal into the howling wolf in my hand.

  "What do you have?" Letric asks as he comes into the room, carrying a basket in his hand. He puts the basket on the floor as I stretch my hand out to show him the wolf.

  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone through your things," I admit, feeling a little guilty.

  "Don't be sorry. My space is always open to you, and that includes anything in it," Letric tells me, picking up the wolf to look at it, and I lower my hand. "It's odd you picked this. I found this chunk of bronze metal on my first day on this island. I learnt to carve it much later, and I tried to make it look like my wolf."

  "It does, except your wolf is white," I say, and he laughs.

  "Very true," he says and looks back at me. "Give me one second." I nod once before I watch Letric leave the room, and I go sit on the edge of the bed, peeping inside the basket to see a range of freshly cooked rolls and a glass bottle of orange juice. Letric comes back into the room a few minutes later and kneels right in front of me.

  "What are you doing?" I ask with a chuckle as he is hiding one hand behind his back.

  "Close your eyes for me, El," he says, and I sigh before doing as I am told. I feel Letric lean closer, brushing my hair off my neck and then clipping something on me. "Open them." I open my eyes and look down at the necklace he has placed on me. The wolf lies in the middle of my chest on a gold chain.

  "Thank you," I whisper in slight shock that he has given me a gift, before looking up at him and throwing my arms around his shoulders. He laughs, holding me tightly and spinning me around in a circle.

  "It's only a little gift," he says, but he has no idea what that means to me. No one has ever given me a gift before, let alone something so beautiful and personal to him.

  "I'm feeling a little jealous now. Where is my gift, brother?" Alaric’s humor-filled voice asks, and I look over Letric's shoulder to see him stood by the door, leaning against the frame. His black shirt is tight, undone for the first five buttons and leaving little to the imagination. I swear the brothers seem more attractive every time I see them. Letric chuckles as he lets me go to face his brother with me.

  "You're not as pretty as El is, so you don't get a gift," he tells his brother, and I chuckle along with them. “Now, why are you here?”

  "Alpha wants to see El," Alaric explains, and a wave of nervousness fills me for a moment. Deep down, I know he won’t hurt me, that I can trust him, but another part of me remembers how he could snap his fingers, and this life I’ve built up would be gone in a moment. I almost expect it every day now. I see the look in Mary’s eyes every time she sees me. She expects me to leave soon as well. This is much, much longer than just one night, and I only want more, even if that makes me selfish. I don’t care if the world is evil as long as I have the Alpha Brothers at my side.

  "Okay, where is he?" I ask, trying to pick up on Alaric’s emotions. If Alpha was going to end it, he would know. So would Letric.

  "In the clock tower," Alaric tells me. "I will escort you." Letric kisses me gently before handing me a roll from out of the basket before I leave his home with Alaric. I eat the roll as we walk down the village, and when I am finished, Alaric wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. I rest my head on his chest, waving at the few familiar people we pass. I’ve learnt that the majority of the pack are good people who have bad pasts they needed to escape. Their stories inspire me, make me believe that no matter what is in your past, you can have a better future.

  "Did you have a good night?" Alaric asks, picking up an apple from a market stall, and the owner waves at us as Alaric takes a large bite, letting the juice from the apple drip down his chin. I have the urge to lick it off him, but there are way too many people around for that.

  "I had a very good night. Thank you," I admit, and he smiles.

  "Careful now, El. You are going to make me jealous," he warns, and I laugh.

  "I have very good nights with you too," I tell him just as we get out of the market.

  "I know. You don't hide your emotions at all," he says as we walk past the people and to the tower. “Especially not when I am inside of you and you are screaming my name.” His dirty words make me shiver as I keep my eyes on him, half expecting him to kiss me when he smirks instead. Alaric opens the door and slides an arm around my waist, pulling me to his chest so I have to look up into his eyes. "Come to the barn this afternoon. The pregnant horse I told you about a long time ago is finally going to have her foal. The pregnancy is extremely overdue compared to others, which usually indicates a rare horse of good breed. It's a sight worth seeing at least once either way."

  "I’d love to see that. I'll bring us some food," I say, and he nods before kissing my forehead and walking away, eating his apple. I watch until he disappears into the crowd before I go into the tower.

  Chapter 22

  Elodie

  I climb up the steps of the tower, pushing the door open at the top and seeing Alpha sat on his chair, looking at a large map on the table in front of him. There are drinks on the table, empty glasses and some fruit in a bowl. There are also several piles of paperwork littering the table. Alpha’s dark hair falls messily around his face, and the fact he is missing a shirt gives me time to run my eyes over his tight abs, smooth chest and muscular arms. He is perfection in every sense, seductive in every tight part of his body, and it is difficult to pull my eyes away from him. Especially when I know what it is like to have his body pushed against mine, his cock deep inside me, making me feel like it’s just him and me against the world. I doubt he feels that way, though after all the time I’ve spent with him, I still cannot pick up on his emotions. He is a master at hiding anything from me, and I’ve become a master at pretending he feels the way I do about him.

  "Seems my brothers are addicted to spending time with you, Elodie," Alpha says, and I watch him closely as I shut the door behind me, wondering if he means himself as well in that comment. Every part of my Alpha looks tense, annoyed, and his voice is nothing more than frustration and loathing. I doubt I’m the only reason he is like this. His eyes focus in on my necklace, and his hands tighten.

  "I missed you," I say, not hiding anything from him, even when I know he would never tell me the same thing. Even when I know telling him my feelings very well could be the final stone in the bucket that makes him throw me away.

  "Stop treating me and my brothers like we will become your mates. We don't want a mate!" he exclaims, his eyes never moving from my necklace.

  "Then let me go," I suggest, wondering if he could really do it. I know I shouldn’t push him, but I can’t stop the words that fly out of my mouth. “Let me find a mate, someone who wants me. Someone who will keep me for more than just sex.”

  "No," he growls the one word, almost making it seem like his wolf spoke more than he did. He suddenly pushes up from his chair and storms over to me. He slams his hands on the door behind me, placing his face close to mine. "You belong to me. You are fucking mine."

  "Yet, I am not your mate," I counter, watching how his whole body vibrates in anger as he stares at me. I know I shouldn't push him too far, I know I shouldn't keep eye contact with him for so long, but a deep part of my soul doesn't want to submit to someone that won’t claim me. Someone who is burning a hole in my heart that I know no one else will ever be able to fill.

  "Tell me you are mine," he demands, and I stay silent long enough that there is nothing but the sounds of our heavy breathing in the room. I nearly jump when he picks me up by my ass, pressing me against the door. His one hand slides up my thigh until he finds my core, and I gasp as he slides two fingers deep inside me and his thumb goes to my clit. He rubs circles around my clit as his fingers slide in and out of me. I groan as the pleasure builds, and then he suddenly removes his hand. He frees his erection before grabbing my ass and lining himself up. He doesn't wait or even pause as he slides inside me, pressing me against the door and slamming in and out of me. I cry out, and Alpha speeds up. At the same time, he places his hand on my neck and squeezes until I can only just about breath. It makes the pleasure so much sweeter. The perfect mix of pain and pleasure at the hands of my alpha. "Tell. Me. You. Are. Mine." He growls each word out in time with his thrusts that draw me closer and closer to the edge.

  "I'm yours," I finally say as I explode around him, and he slams his lips against mine, swallowing my moans as he finishes. He continues to kiss me as we both come down from the high, and when he finally breaks the kiss, I miss it. I love him, I know that completely with every part of my soul as I stare into his eyes. This brutal, heartless and amazing alpha has stolen a part of me I know I won’t ever get back. Nor do I want it back, because he would only be handing me pieces of a broken heart.