In the Alpha’s Arms

Show Them Who’s Boss

“I don’t think I can face the park like this,” Lita admitted, wiping away the last of her tears. Nyx had fallen asleep sometime during her breakdown and though Cule had sat with her through it all, Lita knew he needed to finish his Alpha duties. She also knew he wouldn’t leave until she told him to. Or until she went with him.

“You don’t have to come, but…” Cole sat back on the floor, dragging his knees up to his elbows, “I plan to assimilate most of Maxim’s pack so… I just think they should see you as their Luna. In the position of power you deserve. Not the prisoner they’ve seen you as so far.”

It made sense. Lita knew that, Leaders were expected to put their personal problems aside for the betterment of the community. She should be able to put her big girl panties on and do her duty. Be strong for her pack. But she didn’t think she could face a mirror, let alone a field full of faces who most likely saw her as the reason for their new reality. Some would hate her for it. Others, maybe not. Lita, however, didn’t think it was realistic that everyone had hated it here. There had to at least be some wolves, those who were higher up in the pack hierarchy, that would never see her as their Luna. And with all the hateful indoctrination… it might not even be because of anything she could control.

She looked at the subtle tan to her skin, a sign of her heritage that she’d never lose no matter how many days she spent in a cell.

“How many are you going to take with us?”

ry to give them all a pock to be proud of. A better life than servitude and breeding for the women at the very least.”

ideally, I want to take everyone. Try to

He sighed, running his hand through his hair, “Maybe that’s just the spiteful part of me that wants to ruin everything my father ever worked towards. But realistically?” Cole rolled his neck. “I know most of them won’t be able to accept the way our pack operates. Especially with how much hate has been crammed down their throats. But, anyone who can swear loyalty to you, can stay.”

He didn’t say anyone who would swear to him, the Alpha of the pack, but to Lita, Because he understood why many wouldn’t and he wanted to weed those wolves out. He wanted her to be comfortable. A safe home not just for Lita but for Stace and Alex who were Dominican. And Andres, who was from pain. He probably even thought of Jaz, whose fate still remained to be seen. Their pack was diverse in more ways than one and he didn’t want to bring hate into it. Every time she thought she couldn’t love Cole more…

“I wish I could be more helpful. I can’t imagine what this is like for you. I wish I wasn’t Her bottom lip trembled. How much pressure had Cole heen under? To find her, to fight alongside another pack when his own wasn’t suited to combat, to come here and kill his own father. And he was still making hard decisions. Yet when she should have been able to support him, he was there coddling her instead. For a terrible moment, Lita felt like a burden.

“Hey,”

Cole pushed her chin up, “You are the strongest person I know, yea? Literally. Don’t ever sell yourself short. Between your family, your shithead ex, losing your brother, finding out you’re a wolf and we’re mates only for me to fuck it all up every chance I got… then on top of that, all this shit with my father. No one else could handle it, Lita” His voice went so soft uver her name she felt like crying.

Lita didn’t have the words to show him how much his words meant. Cole’s faith in her seemed endless.

“I can handle the pressure, okay? That’s what Alphas He pressed a kiss to her forehead, “And if you can’t walk out there and give Maxim’s pack hell, make them grovel at your feet, then that’s okay. If you can’t take on Luna responsibilities yet in our pack, that’s okay too. If Nyx can’t help during shifts and training, then I think Midnight is wolf enough to cover for you.” He smirked. Such a gentle gesture that Lita almost cried all over again, leaning forward to wrap her arms around his neck.

for the pack.” He took

apologize. I was so stupid. I don’t even know what came over

a hardheaded ass about a lot. A caring, hardheaded ass, but he only ever let his insecurities show with her. It was freeing in a way. It gave her permission to express herself

the thumb of a monster turn out this perfect for her? Kind and understanding. Thoughtful and brave. She’d never felt lucky before. If anything she always felt cursed but with Cole, her

being

I promised myself I’d stop

in the wake of everything that had happened. Cole pressed his forehead

14

Show Them Whos Boss

I don’t think I could let you go even if I

the bar. It was all so stupid, looking back on it. I wish I could go back

sex instead.”

eyes flashing, “Im really not above showing you exactly how much I missed you on the floor of Maxim’s office, baby. Let’s keep the sex talk

finally coming back to her voice, “I remember

at her lips, Ignore me. I’m an

her head playfully, standing, “Let’s go show

her a once

get himself to his feet and take her hand. He gave the end of the long hallway, Cole saw the others were locked in a tense conversation. Lita wondered where [at was but she didn’t

as they neared

if his attitude is anything to go on. Alex turned to Lita,

toward the door. He paused just before he opened it, long enough that all the familiarity and ease drained from his face. She didn’t recognize the

they had. The night he decked Ace for kissing her. Every time he stepped in the ring. Maybe that’s what this was for him, stepping in the ring with his father’s ghost. Lita had

feeling, he pulled her out the

again focused on the gathered faces of the pack on their knees. How many would actually make a vow to her? The more disgusted eyes she met, the more she was sure there wouldn’t be many. Those eyes

problem. She couldn’t help everyone and she couldn’t fix everyone else’s problems either. But damn she wished the women would come. The

him so they could walk together. It was another purposeful display of her authority in his pack. He was showing everyone they were equals. That might have won him some more brownie points, if not for how distracted Lita became at his warm breath on her neck. His low voice sent heat up her spine. Inappropriate timing or not, when he took charge, her body reacted all on its

at her