Chapter Twelve

She was everything he wanted and more. He pulled her close, his need to keep her beside him overwhelming. Whether she liked it or not, he marked her body as his own. His scent would warn away any unwanted attention and remind anyone who was a shifter that she was spoken for.

He would kill for her, live for her, do anything he needed to protect her.

"Stay with me," he whispered against her damp skin, her back pressed to his chest as he curved around her in the bed. The night had been long and she had relented, screaming his name so loud it shook him to the core. He was taken with the woman and yet he knew he couldn't open himself up to her just yet.

She was vicious and she would continue to protect herself for the tragedies to come.

He would have to remain aloof or she would run from him. As committed and loyal as she was to her father and their pack, she was scared to death of love and committing to him. She had proven that throughout the night.

"I can't. I need to get home. My brother is staying with me and will be worried."

"You're a terrible liar." He licked at the side of her neck, his fingers rubbing softly along her arm.

"You're right. I want us to remain business partners and nothing else until I figure things out with my pack. My desires can't overshadow my responsibilities. This isn't just about me, but about hundreds of others that look to my family to do what's right."

"You don't think I am part of what's right?" He released her as she pulled from him and got out of the bed. Alec turned onto his back, his hands lifting his head as he watched her closely.

His body reared to life again at the sight of her naked and walking around his bedroom. She belonged there. She was his whether she realized it or not. They sat on the edge of the same fight they had ten years ago, but he was older and more willing to relent now. His mentor had taught him many things over the last few years. One was to pick your battles. This wasn't one he needed to win right now.

Patience was a virtue.

She would need him, physically if nothing else. Now that he had marked her, the bear inside of her would seek its mate with harsh aggression. He didn't need to push her, she would push herself back into his bed. He would fuck her every night she showed up until her heart followed her need. Then he would have her. Time was the missing element.

"All right. I'm here if you need me. Be careful." He stretched and tugged at the covers, rolling over and smiling against his pillow as he heard the soft huff come from her. She didn't say another word, but he knew he had her where he wanted her. He waited to hear the front door close before passing out.

No one would be stupid enough to wake a resting bear.

"You got laid. Dear God, don't tell me it was the black widow that tried to put you in the hospital recently." Jared poured a cup of coffee before walking to the small breakfast nook where Alec was.

"Ok, I won't tell you. She's everything I remember. I feel like the world is slowly setting itself right." Alec stretched and got up, walking into the kitchen and pulling various items from the refrigerator to cook breakfast.

"You're fucking insane." Jared chuckled.

"I don't care what I am. Best sex of my life. I'd risk everything for that or her anytime. I love it."

"You love her?"

Alec glanced over his shoulder, not sure how much he wanted Jared to know about him. He needed to trust someone and making friends with his Beta would be natural, but he didn't trust anyone.

"I've proven myself over and over, Alec. I'm here for you. Good, bad or indifferent. I hated the fucker before you. I'll fight to keep you where you are. If you don't want to talk about the girl, just say so, but stop looking at me like you don't know what to say." Jared shook his head, the look on his face something close to disgust.

"You're right. If you fuck me over, I'll just kill you." Alec shrugged and cracked a few eggs into a bowl.

"This is true. You want me to get out of here so you can eat?" Jared took a long drink of his coffee and waited.

"No. I need you to look into something for me." Alec picked up a fork and started to whip the contents in the bowl.

"Anything. What's up?"

"I'm signing the papers on Varetec later this week with Sonya. I need to see who else is out to buy it. I know without a doubt that someone is going to step up and try to take not only the company but the pack as well. I'm interested to see if it's going to be the same dead man or if I'm going to have to take several lives."

"I see." Jared ran his hand over his five o'clock shadow and tapped his fingers on the table. "I suppose someone from the human world would want to take over the company. Victor was an icon. It's not just us that will be looking for a way to turn a profit."

"Agreed. Find out who we're up against. I want a list by tomorrow at the latest. I need to start knocking people out of the line in the most gentlemanly fashion as possible."

"And after that?" Jared smirked.

"We take a few lives. I'm not interested in leaving any threat where she's concerned. I want the company and the pack on lock down. Get it done." Alec turned his attention back to his breakfast, his thoughts shifting back to the night before with his woman beneath him.

Her willingness to let him take her from behind was a sign that she was moving toward wanting a traditional relationship with him. Her actions screamed far louder than her words. She contradicted herself, but she was in a battle. Her body would continue to clash with her strong, independent mind until one side won. The one thing that would tip the scales toward his plans was winning her heart.

He was going to focus by taking care of the things she loved – her father, her company and her people.

"Yeah, I love her." Alec moved to the stove to start cooking as the front door bell sounded. He put it down and growled as Jared got up.

"I'll get it."

"Check the security camera to see who it is. I have more threats than guests." Alec rubbed his chest and rolled his shoulders. He needed to get dressed but wasn't in the mood to do anything conforming to the norm.

He glanced over his shoulder at the sound of Drago as the older man and Jared walked back toward the kitchen.

"Interesting. Yeah, Alec will want to know about this." Jared nodded toward Alec. "Hey. Drago says they've heard rumblings of a rather aggressive brown bear Alpha heading this way to sniff things out in relation to Victor's pack."

"Do we know when this guy will be here, how many people he's bringing and who he is in the bigger picture?" Alec moved the skillet off the stove and left his breakfast untouched as he walked toward the other two men.

"No, but we need to bring this up to Victor or the leadership of his pack." Drago leaned against the counter.

"I thought brown bears and black bears didn't consort together." Alec tilted his head to the side, wanting to test the old goat and push a little at the same time.

"We don't consort, but Victor has been a good rival, as you've put it. We stay in our domain and he keeps to his. I think this would start a war for us if we didn't share information we've picked up on this new threat."

"I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew." Jared picked up his cup and walked toward the sink as he shrugged.

"I'll talk to someone in his pack today. Any information on this guy? No one answered me." Alec pressed his fists to the kitchen counter as concern for Sonya washed over him.

"We know nothing, but I'll have someone look into it," Drago responded before slipping his hands into his pants pockets.

"I'll investigate. I'll head out now unless you need something else, Sir?" Jared turned to Alec.

"No. Get on this and get back to both of us fast." Alec turned his attention back to Drago, wishing the advisor would leave, but sensing there was more to be discussed. "What else?"

"We need to discuss your mating."

"That's none of your business."

"You're the leader of our family, Alec. Your choice and unwillingness to settle down is very much our issue and our business as members of your pack."

"I'm tired and I have a shit ton of stuff to work through today. Say what you came to say and get out, Drago." Alec narrowed his eyes. His bear was not liking the direction of the conversation at all.

"You need to start looking for a black bear to mate with."

"Not happening."

"There are whispers that you have something going on with Victor's daughter. The intermingling is going to happen, I agree, but it cannot be a declaration from you. You are a pure blood or the gods would not have chosen you to lead us. You cannot taint that."

"I'll do what I like and I'll say this once more before I tear someone's fucking head from their shoulders. I'll choose my mate based on what my bear decides. Back off or he's going to unleash hell on all of you. I'm the Alpha. Do you want the job? Come and get it."