In the Alpha’s Arms

Bonus Chapter- Not My Problem

“You want me to do what? Lita asked her father carefully, all of her emotions building in a poignant clarity. Lita could hardly remember how long they’d been talking. After he mentioned her mother, time became unclear. All she knew was that he’d been talking the whole time and that he’d triggered the kind of emotions that whited–out the pain and left only Nyx behind. He couldn’t have said those words. He couldn’t have asked for such a ridiculous thing. Though the expectant face that met hers told her the opposite.

Anyone who actually knew Lita knew that Nyx only dealt in absolutes. Kill or be killed. Dominate or be dominated. It was clear in the way others

tood around her. And yet her father had the nerve to dismiss Lita’s years of trauma and abuse. He ignored the stress of her wolf being suppressed, even as it went against the very fabric of this archaic beliefs. And Lita knew he ignored it all in order to get something from her. Something neither he nor her mother deserved.

Lita’s eyes bled from black to red, coloring the world in rubles with each measured breath. She would not start a war, she told herself. She would not start a war with this Alpha. No, she would not start a war with her father.

I don’t know, Nyx growled, could be fun to see the old man bleed. I want to show him what we can become when we’re not so civilized.

Thank the moon I don’t take any advice from bloodthirsty wolves, Nye, Lita replied, a proud smile in her voice. One of these days, though, I promise I really let you loose to give these men a lesson.

“Calm down, daughter.” Asher laughed as if her change in demeanor shocked him. How could he think she wouldn’t react to such a suggestion? To the mention of her mother. This man knew nothing about her, and it was painfully clear to Lita that he had no desire to know her. That he would never see anything outside of his own interests. Anyone who could know Lita’s history and suggest she have anything to do with her mother-

“Daughter?” She parroted him, confused. How dare he call her that? Lita’s voice sounded wrong. Too calm and thick, too sharp and hollow. Cole stiffened, pressing his knee into hers, probing the bond with quiet alarm. He had to know she’d be out for blood.

Not now, Lita snapped at Cole, who released the thread immediately, and Nyx snarled in agreement. She didn’t want any distractions from him or his overprotective wolf.

“Obviously, I understand why you might hold a grudge or two against your mother, but that’s practically ancient history,” Asher insisted, crossing a tailored pant leg over the other. “She’s been stripped of her title and you’re a pack Luna. You have a strong Alpha at your side. Surely, your mother is no longer a threat to you, so there’s no reason to give into such irrational feelings.” His brows softened, as if he were addressing a child, his eyes urging her to see the logic in his dismissive words.

“Inational… feelings…” Lita repeated aloud, testing the words on her tongue as if they were foreign. As if she didn’t understand them. Maybe she didn’t. Maybe with the flood of clarity came a lack of understanding for those who would try to use her. He thought she was a simpering she wolf Even as an Alpha in her own right, a Luna to an entire pack as he’d said… Her father saw her as a hysterical, dim–witted woman with absolutely nothing to contribute to a pack or her mate, except a birth canal. Nyx barked, the sound sharp as a whip and blanketed in a lethal calm. A killing quiet descended between them all, tense and heady.

“Asher, you don’t speak to my mate- Cole started, snapping to attention as the insult finally landed. He leaned forward, blocking Lita’s view of her father, shielding her from harm and conflict as he always did. She wouldn’t let him this time.

Move, Lita said through the link, her voice a coiled spring ready to snap. She hardly recognized the sound or force of it. She hadn’t felt like this since the pits and that hellish time at Maxim’s compound. Nyx growled sweetly, rolling her shoulders with feral joy. She wanted to rip something apart.

The reverberation of tones in

mean to point out that emotional baggage is a weakness. You shouldn’t let it define the decisions you

let emotions rule my leadership decisions, I’d probably have gone for your throat the moment you suggested I take my mother in.” She

something warm down the bond. From this

confusion and anger warring for control of his features. Indignation had him

carefully notching into Lita’s soul for traction if they shifted. Lita’s hand wrapped around Cole’s forearm, enforcing her earlier words with an iron

Bonus Chapter–Not My Problemi

disgust for her father railed

moment she wasn’t sure if he would yield, his own Alpha instincts likely driving him to protect her. But when she dragged her mate back, he went without issue. Cole sank into the leather as Lita gently forced him into his seat. She leaned forward and met

eyes.

into that pull with you. You’re both too selfish for anyone’s good and that’s probably a better example of a mistake than the innocent

of his lips. Something strong and liquid went through the band again, but Lita ignored

father waved his hand wildly. “I merely think it’s expected that you’ll offer your mother sanctuary in your pack. No one would judge you for taking in a disgraced wolf. After all, you’re accepting humans for moon’s sake.” He chuckled cruelly, as if the idea was abhorrent, any semblance of his warm exterior melting into the man that had not cared

to speak about my pack. My friends. Human or not, laz is pack.

Lita- Cole said, his voice deadly smooth-“I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m not the type of male that tries to break his Luna in by dominating her. It’s a disgusting practice, wouldn’t

and disgust showing on his face. He opened

armrest. Her muscles felt like they thickened, stretching with energy reserves. “If there is one line between us, Calvin Asher, know this- Lita stood, her body unfolding to its full height and build-“You will not insult my pack” Lita’s flesh chilled, her body tightening in anticipation of a fight.

body was that of an Alpha, rar power and dominance enough to match any man in the room. And she would unleash the fight on her father if he challenged her. She didn’t feel weakened by their

forward, menacing and pissed from

asked, not waiting for a response.“1 will not offer my mother

momentary lapse in judgement, Asher hissed, his breath

daughter. You haven’t earned the right to call me that, and you never will. Imagine that I’m as dead to you, Alpha Asher, as you are to me,” Lita replied, “You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? Trying to clean up the mess you’ve made in both of your homes by pawning off one of your

you like this. You speak as if you have as much right to an opinion as I or your mate do when you don’t. You, Lita, do nothing except what you’re told. That is the role

me? Teach me how things work in your world? I dare you to try,” Lita mocked his obvious aggression, “Nyx is