Connor

‘Finally!’ I hear my wolf howl in my mind. He’d been begging me to mate Hope since the second I could see again. I didn’t want to pressure her and, honestly, I’m pretty nervous myself.

‘Just let me take it from here. I’ve got this under control’ my wolf suggested. I scoffed at him. ‘You’ll be too rough. We need to take it slow.’ I pushed him to the back of my mind and refocused on my girl. She was already writhing and moaning under me as I continued my kissing exploration down her body. I snuck my hand down her shorts and rubbed circles on her clit, causing her back to arch and her to press her breasts against me. I trailed kisses along her jaw to her ear.

“You’re so beautiful Hope. I’m so glad you’re mine.” I murmured in her ear. She turned her head and caught my lips in a bruising kiss. I ran my tongue along her lip and bit down gently. She opened her mouth for me, and our tongues danced together. I pulled away gently and looked down into her crystal blue eyes.

“Are you sure you’re ready, sweetheart? We can wait.” She smiled gently up at me and cupped my cheek.

“I’m sure, Connor. I want to feel you inside of me.” I rested my forehead against her own and moaned as I slipped a finger into her silky folds. My hand was already drenched with her arousal. She cried out at my gentle intrusion and I felt her hands clench onto my shirt.

Just then, I felt a pressure against the block in my mind. The only person who could do that was my dad, as he was still the Alpha.

‘Rogues Connor! They’re by the house! I sent Draven and the guards for Hope. You need to hunt them down!’

“Fuck!” I cursed loudly, causing Hope to startle.

“I’m sorry, baby I didn’t mean to scare you. There are rogues I need to go take care of them. Go downstairs please and stay with Draven, ok?”

Once the lust cleared from her eyes, I saw the understanding and she nodded once. She kissed me hard before pushing me away.

“Hurry and be safe.” She gave me a hard look, as if to enforce her words.

“Yes, mo stóirín. I’ll come back on one piece. Stay on alert, we made need you to heal.”

She nodded once and I bound down the stairs to see my brother waiting.

“Don’t let her out of your fucking sight for one minute or I will rip you apart. You understand me?” I pointed at him and thrust my finger into his chest to make my point. He must not have been expecting my harsh command, because I saw genuine fear in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Connor. I’ll protect the Luna with my life.” I couldn’t form any words, so I tried to portray my appreciation through my eyes, but quickly turned to run through the door. I jumped off the porch, shifting mid air and landing on four paws.

I stuck my nose in the air and breathed in deeply. I could smell the stench of rotting flesh that is synonymous with rogues towards the back of our house. I rounded carefully, linking for back up as I followed the scent. The alpha’s house was only a few miles from the border through thick trees and steep hills. Most wouldn’t dare venture back here if they weren’t familiar with the area. It was dangerous even in wolf form. Lucky for me, I grew up here and could traverse the area with my eyes closed. I continued to follow the scent, and soon heard my warriors behind me. No one dared to step in front of me. That would basically be a challenge at this point, and they already knew who was in charge. They could feel the power radiating off of me. I usually tried to keep it at bay, especially in my human form. I demanded respect but didn’t need or want fear. But my wolf was agitated and just plain pissed off. A dirty mutt had come onto our land, near our home, endangering our mate. He was out for blood.

‘This way.’ I linked to my warriors and took off in the direction the scent was strongest from. I could feel agitation and concern from Hope through our bond.

‘Draven, is she ok?’ I asked my brother.

‘She’s fine. The girl is trying to make me freaking hot chocolate. I’m a warrior for God’s sake!’

I’m sure Hope could sense my amusement through our link.

‘Is it over?’ She asked me.

‘Not yet, love. Soon. Save some hot chocolate for me.’ She giggled in response.

‘Anything for my big, bad Alpha.’

We climbed a steep hill and one of our warriors got tangled in some brush and fell. I heard the snap of his leg and the howl of pain.

‘Stay back, we’ll come back for you.’

‘Yes, Alpha.’ I appreciated the fact that our men already referred to me as Alpha, even if the ceremony hadn’t been completed yet. It meant they were accepting of me as their leader. Even after my six months of blindness, they trusted the fact that I could handle this responsibility. It made my chest puff with pride.

As we bounded over the top of the hill, I saw movement maybe fifty yards ahead of us. The stench of rogue was nearly overpowering at this point. If I wasn’t so high on adrenaline I probably would have thrown up by now. I made a harsh right turn and pumped my back legs as fast as they could go.

‘There! Right in front! Take as many alive as you can. I want to know what they’re doing here.’ After a chorus of ‘Yes, Alpha’ I launched myself at the first rogue I could find. He was much smaller than me and could never withstand a fight. I broke his two back legs and swung him against a tree to knock him out.

‘How many, Connor?’ I heard my dad ask.

‘Not sure yet. At least 6. What about on your side?’

‘Nearly twenty. All dead. We think they were a distraction for the smaller group. Take yours alive if you can.’

After a few minutes of growls, bones breaking and skin tearing the ground was soaked in rogue blood and the night was quiet once again.

‘The count, Dean?’

‘Three dead, three alive, Alpha.’ I nodded my head.

‘Good. Take the live ones to the dungeons. Have Mark get to work on them.’

‘Yes, Alpha.’

‘Let’s head back, guys.’ I grabbed one of the unconscious rogues and started dragging him back towards the pack.

‘Yeah, so the Alpha can finish what he started with the Luna.’ One of the men snickered through our mind link followed by a chorus of wolf whistles.

‘You’re just jealous that the Alpha was gonna get some and you weren’t, Cooper.’ Dean threw back.

‘You’re right I am jealous. Our Luna is awfully pretty.’ Cooper responded and started panting. I growled at him.

“Watch your mouth, Coop or I’ll leave you in a cell with these piles of dog shit. Cooper whined and lowered his head in submission.

‘Yes, Alpha.’

‘What’s the matter? You seem angry?’ Hope’s sweet voice rang through my mind.

‘Nothing, sweetheart. One of the guys is just asking for an ass whooping. We’ll be back soon; I have a wolf I need you to heal.’

‘Ok, I’ll be waiting.’ We carried Luke, the injured wolf, carefully through the difficult landscape and laid him gently down in front of the house. Hope came out quickly and looked me over, searching for injuries.

‘I’m fine, baby. Just heal Luke for me please.’ She nodded and laid her hands on him. He was good as new in a few seconds.

‘Your wolf is sexy. Mine is trying to force her way through so she can mount you.’ Hope giggled through our link. She came up to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I nuzzled my face in her hair, inhaling her scent.

We all shifted back and put on some clothes that Hope brought out for us. I pulled her in close to me, relishing in having her near and trying to calm myself.

“Good job tonight, guys. Mark is in the dungeons with the rogues. Hopefully he can persuade them to tell us what the fuck they wanted. Go home and get some sleep.”

I carried Hope upstairs to our room and into the shower with me.

“I need you close to me right now, Hope. My wolf is still worried for your safety.” She smiled at me and kissed me gently.

“Of course, whatever you need.” She stripped down naked and stepped into the shower with me. I held her under the warm water for a long time before she took the soap and started washing the blood and dirt off of me. I watched as the red tinged water circled the drain, wondering why those rogues were here. Such a large attack is unusual, they are usually solitary wolves, and the fact that they separated and were so close to our home was concerning.

I was still contemplating this as I dressed and started to tuck Hope and I into bed. I pulled her close against me and kissed her neck, settling my face on her shoulder so I could smell her sweet, addicting scent. Sleep had nearly overtaken me when a voice sounded in my head. Mark. Our head torturer.

‘Alpha, I got something from the rogues. You’re gonna want to hear this.’