Mate Claimed: Alpha Marked Read online

  The rolling sound cut off the moment his eyes met hers, the last of his air hissing from his lungs in a sigh. “Scarlet.”

  She waved behind her. “The Ruling Alphas said I needed a guard. No need to get testy.”

  Madden furrowed his brow. “Wha—”

  Keller cut him off. “I’m sure they want to keep you safe.” He smiled and stepped around the table, drawing her forward with a hand on her lower back. The seductive scents of heated wood, raw power and man surrounded her, and she melted into his side. “You already know how to handle our Madden.”

  She chanced a look at the wolf in question and noted his smile. “Perhaps.” She turned her attention back to Keller. “I’m not sure how to handle you, though.”

  “I doubt that’ll be a problem, sweet. I’m like any other wolf. Give me something to snack on and you’ll have my attention.” She didn’t miss Keller’s not-so-subtle innuendo.

  “Right,” she drawled.

  Keller pulled out the chair and she sat between the two men. His heat warred with the inferno that flowed from Madden. Two sides of the same coin, so alike, yet so different.

  The guard that had accompanied her took up a post in front of the table. He and four others essentially made a wall-o-wolves, cutting them off from the rest of the diners. Talk about overkill.

  * * *

  Keller forced himself not to reveal all. She didn’t know. Didn’t realize she was to be mated to the Ruling Alphas. And that made him want her all the more.

  Truly? Madden’s voice floated to him, and he sensed his partner’s vulnerability mixed with surprise. They’d had their share of women come after them because of their position, but this human Marked had no idea as to their identities.

  Truly.

  His shoulder throbbed, the heat slithering through him and wrapping around his cock. He couldn’t deny the scents of arousal surrounding them: her sweet musk combining with his need and Madden’s desire. He’d long ago brushed aside any embarrassment over his partner’s reactions when it came to women. From the moment they’d paired, they’d shared women, preparing themselves for their mate someday. Bodies touched, cocks got hard. It was all part of sex. As long as lips didn’t wander and swords didn’t cross, they were all good.

  He fought to stifle his moan when Scarlet’s tongue darted out to lick her lips.

  It didn’t work. A pale blush stole up her cheeks, and she glanced at him. “What? What are you looking at?”

  He smiled. He couldn’t suppress the sappy grin that covered his features. “You.”

  Madden eased toward her, closing in on her from the other side, and Keller mirrored him. The flavors of need grew, encompassing their small group. He knew she didn’t recognize mates by scent, couldn’t smell their desire. Part of him wished his sweet Marked was another wolf and could sense their flavors in the air. But when she turned those brown eyes on him, so needy, he didn’t care that she would always wear human skin and never fur.

  Keller’s shoulder seemed to be on fire, scorching him and stroking his cock with an imaginary hand. He moaned and leaned even closer, catching more of her scent, hissing when the heat grew and his balls drew up tight.

  “I don’t understand…” Scarlet shook her head as if clearing her mind.

  Madden nuzzled her from behind, rubbing his scruff along the pale skin of her neck. Keller watched dark fur slide from his pores, evidence of the man’s wolf rising and pushing at his control.

  Keller felt the same, beast pouncing and shoving at the wall that held it at bay. But he needed to go slow, needed to keep from stripping his mate and taking her in front of one and all. He was normally the more level-headed of the two. Normally.

  “Shh…” He eased back, forcing his muscles to relax, and he shoved at his wolf. “Madden, give her some space.” His partner’s eyes glowed bright. “Man, you’re scaring her. Knowing and feeling are two different things.” The other wolf whimpered, and it was the first time he’d ever seen his partner truly vulnerable.

  Keller reached out and ran a finger down her cheek, traced her jaw. The heat rose around them. “A kiss for Madden, Scarlet? You can see he lives close to the edge.”

  Her arousal beat at his control. She was a Marked, knew of Gathering laws, and he assumed she was familiar with what happened when meeting her mates. But like he said, knowing and feeling were two different things.

  Scarlet nodded and turned her head, a small movement that put her lips within Madden’s reach. His partner struck, mouth moving over hers, and tongue delving into her. Keller’s cock throbbed in his pants, silently demanding release, but he held it back. Watching them, their mouths dancing, tongues twining… Envy and jealousy had no place in their mating. All he felt was pure bliss.

  Madden’s feelings flowed over their connection, the peacefulness that came from experiencing Scarlet’s touch. He sensed his partner’s desperate need, a feeling greater than his own, and he accepted that encouraging Scarlet to turn to Madden first was the right decision.

  They had a lifetime together.

  The seconds ticked by, the entwined couple’s breathing growing heavier with every heartbeat.

  Madden?

  Mine.

  Keller sighed. They’d go through this until they’d claimed her. They were both dominant, but Madden’s wolf had always been a little more so. Ours, Madden.

  A snarl tore through his mind.

  Madden, we need to take care of our mate. I’m sure she’s hungry.

  This time it was a growl, but their kiss eased, lessening until his partner released their woman.

  Scarlet sat back with a sigh, fingers trembling when she reached for her water glass.

  “Scarlet?” The last thing he wanted to do was overwhelm her.

  Scarlet licked her lips, and a light blush tinged her cheeks. “Sorry. It was so…”

  “Big.” He tempted himself with the feel of her skin beneath his hand. He stroked her arm, letting his fingers slide over her softness. He wanted her no less than Madden, but he didn’t want to scare his poor Marked.

  “Yeah,” her whisper reached his sensitive ears and then she turned toward him, glowing smile in place. “Big.”

  He echoed her expression, let her feelings clasp him. “But big is good.”

  Scarlet nodded, closed the distance between them. “Big can be very, very good.”

  She brushed her mouth across his, her delicate tongue darting out to lap at his lips, and he resisted the urge to surge into her. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, overpower her with the depth of his need. Madden lacked control, but Keller’s passion had always outpaced his partner’s.

  The arousal that had been simmering nearly bubbled over, the feelings so much stronger than what he’d caught from Madden. Reluctantly, he ended their near-chaste kiss, eased from her mouth and put distance between them. They were both panting, fighting to catch their breath.

  “Dinner. We invited you out for dinner.” He swallowed, mouth dry.

  “I vote for dessert.” Madden’s voice was deep and hoarse. A glance revealed the wolf was almost in control.

  Scarlet turned back to Madden. While he couldn’t see her expression, he could see his partner’s. She reached out and cupped the other wolf’s cheek. He saw the sappy smile that graced his features. Keller was awed when the smattering of fur receded to reveal skin. He didn’t listen to her low words; he merely enjoyed seeing the tension recede from Madden.

  Yes, she was the perfect one for them.

  Chapter Four

  “Easy big guy.” She rubbed her thumb along Madden’s pronounced cheekbone. “We’ll get there. Soon.”

  Scarlet’s heart thundered, pummeling her rib cage as fear and need warred. Part of her ached to listen to Madden: to do as her body asked and follow them up to their room to solidify their bond.

  Her Mark throbbed in an ever-increasing rhythm, each pulse reaching down to stroke her clit. Her nipples were hard within her top, pressing and straining against her silk and lace bra.
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  Their arousal was palpable. Even without their sensitive noses, she sensed their desire. For her. Her. Curvy, plump Scarlet Wickham. A nobody.

  Keller and Madden’s nearness wreaked havoc on her body. She wanted to rub against them and purr like a cat. Yet she also ached to run and hide from the feelings their closeness elicited.

  She had no delusions of a forever love or immediate appearance of deep emotions, but…but the Mark laid down the building blocks. It fed their emotions and encouraged them to bloom.

  And there was some kind of blooming.

  Her heart was already engaged with these two massive Alphas. While Madden seemed intense, Keller was banked aggression. The larger wolf charged in, and her other mate was more watchful but no less fierce.

  “I still vote for dessert.” Madden’s voice no longer held the rough scratch of his wolf, but she saw it lurking beneath his skin.

  Damn, she wanted them both. Ached for them to release their passions and claim her. Every part of her being screamed for their touch. There was only one thing she could do.

  She’d calmed the raging wolf, and now she was about to poke him with a stick. Yum.

  Turning from Madden, she gave Keller her attention. She noted the hint of yellow in his eyes, the sprinkle of barely-there fur along his cheeks and the flash of fang when he smiled. Her sweeter mate was on the edge.

  “Keller?” She couldn’t breathe, lungs frozen from the choice she was about to voice.

  “Yes, sweet?” He eased closer, his heavy scent enveloping her.

  “I think it’s time for dessert.”

  The man’s eyes did flicker yellow, then gray fur sprouted and coated his skin. A snarl echoed behind her, but her attention was focused on the battle warring across Keller’s features. The wolf wanted out, she saw it, but the human half of him wouldn’t let it free. He kept it caged and locked up tight.

  She couldn’t have that.

  Claw tipped fingers gripped her upper arms, and she was yanked back, Madden’s form molding against her.

  “Mine.” His snarl overrode every other sound in the room.

  Sharp fangs scraped along her exposed neck, and a shudder overtook her body causing arousal to slam into her. She tilted her head to the side, encouraging Madden’s attentions, letting the fierce wolf sample her.

  Through it all, she kept her gaze on Keller, daring and taunting him with her intent focus.

  Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through Madden’s hair, ran her digits through his strands. He licked and sucked her skin, stoking her desire with each touch.

  When his tongue traced her ear, she moaned and gasped, pussy flooding with moisture. She wanted him, them. Now.

  Scarlet squeezed her thighs together, taking pleasure in the pressure and working to alleviate some of the blissful ache surrounding her clit. Her heat clenched, tightening, and even more cream soaked her panties.

  Before her, Keller’s nostrils flared, his wolf catching her scent.

  Madden’s growls and groans intruded, adding to her panting moans. “Need.”

  The word was barely recognizable, but she sympathized. Need was one way to put it. Soul deep craving was another, but whatever.

  His large, warm hand stroked her side, squeezing gently before continuing its travels. The touch shifted and rose along her rib cage to cup her left breast.

  His callused palm easily engulfed her plump mound. He squeezed and kneaded her flesh, thumb circling her hard nipple. The added touch sent another zing of ecstasy rocketing through her, heading to her needy pussy.

  “Madden,” she gasped and moaned, pressing into his touch.

  And still Keller observed them, eyes entirely yellow and glowing in the dim restaurant. His muscles were tense, straining beneath his skin.

  She wanted him to lose control, let all that tension free.

  Madden sucked on her neck, adding in a piercing nibble between licks.

  “God, yes. Mate.” She moaned and rocked in her chair, searching for added pressure against her pussy.

  Then her wishes were answered. Madden abandoned her breast, his hand wandering down her stomach, over the slight swell, and his fingers fisted her skirt. The hem rose higher and higher, increasing her arousal with each climbing inch. Cool air bathed her soaked, silk covered pussy.

  She suddenly remembered their guards, but a quick glance revealed they still stood before the table, backs to them, and blocking their view of the restaurant. Okay, maybe guards came in handy. She’d have to thank the Ruling Alphas.

  But now, she thanked God for her mates.

  Thanked God because Madden’s fingers traced her inner-thigh, his digits drawing nearer and nearer to her heated pussy. She reached behind her, mimicked his movements and gripped his upper leg.

  When his palm cupped her cunt, she grabbed his cock. When he traced her panty-clad slit, she stroked his dick.

  Their actions mirrored. Rubbing, petting, pumping, and then the silk of her knickers disappeared.

  All the while she watched Keller. Still, silent Keller.

  “Do you see, Keller?” She panted and fought for breath.

  Madden growled and groaned, yanking the same sounds from her chest when he delved between her folds. Blunt fingertips slid through her cream, rubbing her from hole to clit and back again.

  Then…oh, fuck…then he pushed into her, shoving his fingers into her cunt and stretching her with his invasion.

  “Mine.” The snarl was rough against her neck. His digits withdrew and pushed back in, tearing a choked cry from her throat. “Mine.”

  Scarlet continued tormenting Madden’s cock as he plunged his fingers in and out of her wet hole.

  “Do you see him fucking me?” The heel of the larger wolf’s hand pressed hard against her clit, sending a shard of pleasure through her. “God, Keller, he’s fucking me, gonna make me come.”

  Madden shifted her, his right arm coming around her body and he squeezed her breast. “Ride me mate, come for me.” Scarlet rocked her hips in time with his thrusts, fighting to do as her mate demanded. “She’s so wet and tight, Keller. Gonna suck our dicks right in. Squeeze so hard.”

  She arched into his touch, drawing on the pleasure of his fingers and hands. He pinched her nipple and thrust into her pussy, gripped her breast and stroked her G-spot. It all joined and coalesced, building within her as it grew and grew.

  “He’s fucking me, Keller. Do you know how wet I am? I can’t wait for you both to fuck me, claim me.” Madden slammed in and out of her heat with bruising speed. “Is this how you’ll fuck me?”

  She panted and moaned, fighting for her release, gobbling up every morsel of pleasure Madden handed over.

  The wet sounds of the wolf’s thrust and retreat surrounded them, her scorching musk adding to the air. She knew the other wolves could hear and smell what they were doing, but she only had eyes for her self-restrained mate.

  Scarlet was so close to coming, racing toward the edge of release. The pleasure built, growing and expanding to fill her from top to bottom. It crept into her toes, taking over her muscles, and she arched. Control was no longer hers, stolen by Madden’s ministrations until all she could do was feel.

  “Need… Wanna…” She sobbed, stared at Keller and saw when the moment of indecision shattered.

  Keller leaned forward and fisted her hair. His fingers slid through the strands and jerked her head toward him. He snarled, baring his fangs. She’d broken his hardened shell. “Come.”

  He pressed their mouths together, shoving his tongue deep into her. They tangled, yet he dominated their coming together. He forced her to his will and she eagerly followed, reveling in her triumph.

  The bliss that had been gathering blew, bursting into a million sparkling fireworks. The bright lights glowed behind her eyelids. She came with a blinding rush, muscles spasming, tensing and tightening until her chest stilled.

  She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think beyond the two men bracketing her. She was surrounded, encased i
n her mates. She trembled within Madden’s embrace, let Keller draw her into him, and her orgasm kept racing through her veins.

  The infinite bliss racked her, tore her apart from inside out, and she sobbed against her mate’s mouth.

  Distantly she heard growls and snarls, the sounds breaking through her pleasure-induced haze. Suddenly her men were gone. They’d built an impenetrable wall between her and whoever had invaded their space, their bliss.

  She hoped they ripped the intruders into a billion pieces.

  Unsteadily, she pushed to standing, catching herself on the chair as she rose. On wobbly feet, she peeked around the bodies. Garron and Quentin were being held back by a guard, the row of strips on his sleeve indicating that he was the Captain.

  Her mates met the danger with rolling growls, but the other two wolves didn’t appear threatened.

  No, Garron opened his mouth and yelled into the tense space. “We call right of challenge! We challenge the Ruling Alphas!”

  Scarlet gasped. No. Not only were her mates being challenged, but… Her mates were the Ruling Alphas? No. No, no, no. She was not the right girl for the job. Ever. Never ever, even.

  But it was too late. A low exclamation of “witnessed” came from the other side of the restaurant. The word dashed her hopes that her mates, her Ruling Alphas, could get out of the situation without a fight.

  Keller sighed, and she knew what he’d say before the word left his mouth. Part of her wanted to silence him, slap her hand over his lips so he couldn’t say a word. But the challenge had been witnessed, and it had to go on.

  “Accepted.”

  Chapter Five

  “Only you,” Gabby grumped. “Only you would come to our first Gathering and, without realizing it, snag the Ruling Alphas.”

  “You knew? Why didn’t you tell me so I didn’t make an ass of myself?” Scarlet glared at her sister.

  “Because it was fun.” Gabby stuck out her tongue. “And, amazingly enough, if you’d listened to me at any point before this moment, you would have known about them, too. Funny how that works.” Gabby glared back at her, and Scarlet realized that her sister was right. Damn it. “Anyway. Then, you’d be the only one whose Alphas were challenged for rank and mate.” Gabs huffed. “Have they decided to let you keep the cat or is he going to be a snack?”