Chapter 2: Liam

Six months ago

As I drive away from Cara’s birthday party, I call my Beta, Dustin.

“Alpha?” His excitement and hopefulness feel like a punch in the gut. Everyone in my pack was hoping Cara would choose me.

“I’m staying in the city tonight. Have someone clear out my room.” I’d had my room decorated with the expectation that I’d be bringing my new Luna home. There were flowers and candles around the room, setting the ambience for a romantic night of marking and mating. But that won’t be happening, and I can’t bear to see the remnants of my plans. So, I’ll stay in my apartment in the city.

“What’s the plan?” He asks, his tone considerably more subdued. Everyone knows we need a Luna. I’m nearly 25 and have yet to find my mate. Pretty soon, I’ll have to choose a mate. I had chosen someone, Cara, that I thought was worthy of being the Luna of my pack. I haven’t found anyone else that met the criteria that she did.

“We’re going after Eli Gunnar. Meet me at my apartment in the morning and we’ll develop a plan.” Eighteen years ago, my pack was attacked by an Alpha seeking to overthrow my father and take over our pack and pack lands. My father defeated and killed the Alpha, Alpha Jerome, but not before a teenaged Eli Gunnar, known as the Banished Beta, got to my mother and killed her. He was found with her bloody body in his arms. He ran and escaped. My father searched for him for years before he died. I took over the search, even before my father’s death 8 years ago.

Last month, Eli kidnapped Cara and attempted to force the mate bond on her. Luckily, she was underaged and her wolf is strong. She was able to fight off the venom he put in her body. But having him in close proximity has only made me more blood thirsty. I’ve been waiting a very long time to bring the Banished Beta to justice for what he did.

“Do you want some company?” Dustin asks me.

“No. I’ll be fine. Nothing that a bottle of bourbon can’t fix.”

I end the call and make the hour-long trek into the city. My apartment is in the same high-rise building that my company offices are in. Holstin Enterprises, Inc. has two arms, one in construction and one in security. Both are easy businesses for shifters to work in. Since my pack, the largest in the country, is nearly 800 pack members, I need an outside business to employ my pack members and keep the pack financially stable.

The company is in the human area, and my manager is a human. It’s helpful when there are drifters that come through town for short periods of time. I frequently employ bear shifters, fox shifters and once I even hired a lion shifter, although that didn’t last long as he tried to create a pride/harem with my clients.  When drifters come into town, I hire them and depending on their skill set, place them in one of my businesses. They make the money they want and then take off again.

I park in the underground parking garage reserved for residents and employees and head straight to the bar. When I sit, the bartender looks over at me. “The usual?” He asks.

I nod and when he brings my amber colored liquid to me, I shoot it down and tap my glass on the bar. “Just leave the bottle.”

He does and moves on. My mind drifts back to places I don’t want it to be. Back to the time when I still had a chance with Cara. She’s a Guardian, born from two Guardians. She is strong, powerful, fierce and beautiful. Everything I want in a Luna, except she’s not mine.

I’m drowning my melancholy thoughts in my bourbon when a scent I haven’t smelled in a while hits my nose and a beautiful woman sits down next to me. I can’t help but look her over. She’s stunning. Her bronze skin is accentuated with jet black hair that looks like silk falling down to her mid back. She’s wearing a skintight animal print dress with a plunging neckline that shows off her large tits and a short length that shows off her fantastic legs. The dress leaves no question that she’s wearing anything underneath it.

She looks me over before meeting my eyes. “Want some company?” She asks and her voice is like a purr.

I frown at her, my nose tipping up in the air trying to sniff out what she is. Her smile widens as she watches me. Then she leans in crooking her finger to get me closer. I lean toward her and she slides her cheek against mine as she whispers seductively in my ear. “Panther.”

She sits back and smiles at me, taking a sip of her drink before looking over at the bartender, raising her glass in a silent request for a refill. She turns back to me. “That is what you were wondering, right wolf?”

I set my arm on the bar, leaning into her. “What’s a sexy kitten like you doing here?”

The bartender brings her a refill. I watch as she uses her tongue to play with her straw before answering. “I’m in town for the weekend. Work conference.”

“What’s your name?” I ask her, sliding my fingers up her thigh to the hem of her short dress.

“Audra. What’s yours, gorgeous?”

“Liam. Want to take this party up to my room?”

Her smile is all feline. “Let me get another drink to go.”

I look at the bartender. “We’ll take a bottle of what she’s having as well. Put it all on my tab.”

The bartender brings the bottle. I grab both bottles, balancing my glass as well, leaving one hand free.

I put my hand on her exposed back and lead her to the elevator. When we get in, I push the button for the penthouse and slide my key in to gain access before pushing Audra against the wall, taking her mouth roughly and sliding my hand up her inner thigh until I feel her wet warmth. I was right, nothing underneath her dress. I slide my fingers across her bare lips, growling my pleasure. Her hand has gone to my short hair, but she’s found a grip and she pulls hard. Oh yeah, this is going to be rough and raw. Good thing she seems to want the same thing.

When the door to the elevator opens, I step back and let her walk ahead of me. I stalk her like prey as she walks into my suite. I set the bottles down as she turns back to me. Her amber colored eyes are full of desire and a hunger I understand well. It’s been a long time. I went celibate months ago when I told Cara I intended to pursue her. I wanted her to feel respected when, if, she accepted me. Now I have a lot of pent-up sexual energy that I plan to expend tonight. And this little kitten seems more than willing to take whatever I give her.

As I stalk toward her, she gives me a playful smile and begins walking backward, setting her glass down as she goes. A primal growl, a growl of the hunt rumbles in my chest. “Here kitty kitty.” My voice so deep is sounds like a snarl.

She turns to run and gets one step before I’ve got her, pinning her against the wall. She’s panting as she looks at me. I reach up and tear her dress down the center, letting it fall open. “I hope you didn’t like that dress.” I say to her.

Her claws come out and she scratches me from shoulder to waist, shredding my shirt. “It was my favorite.” She says.

“I have no intention of being gentle.” I tell her as my claws also come out and poke into her waist as I hoist her body up.

“Did I say anything about wanting gentle puppy.” She purrs down at me.

I look up at her. “It’s Alpha to you.” And I throw her legs over my shoulders, my hands holding her up by her ass, as I pin her to the wall burying my face between her legs. I make her cum over and over until she’s screaming my name.

When I finally pull my head away, I bring her legs back to the floor before spinning her around roughly, grabbing her hair and pinning her to the wall as I undo my pants. When they fall to the floor, I toss them aside before kicking her legs open. I pull back, holding her head against the wall and pulling her hips back toward me.

“Brace your hands on the wall.” I order. As soon as she does, I slam my dick inside her. “That’s right kitten, take my cock.” I fuck her hard, feeling her body responding to mine. Her claws are scratching gouges in my wall but I don’t fucking care. Everything that I’ve lost tonight, every desolate moment that looms in my future, a lifetime of loneliness in my past, none of it matters in this moment. Right now, there is nothing but this feeling, nothing but this little feline that seems to want exactly the same thing I do. One night to forget everything.

When she screams my name I continue my brutal pace. It isn’t until she begins whimpering ‘Alpha’ over and over, I finally let go and empty myself inside her.

……….

The next morning, I wake up at my usual time. I’m surprised since I didn’t get much sleep. Kitten has some stamina that’s for sure. I look at her naked body next to mine. She is covered in claw marks in various stages of healing. My hand print on her ass is lighter than it was when I gave it to her, but it’s still there. My own body is riddled with bite and claw marks partially healed.

I lean over and kiss Audra on the shoulder. She moans, half asleep. “Again already? Are all Alphas like you?”

I chuckle and smack her ass cheek hard enough to leave a new mark. She hisses with the pain, but doesn’t resist. If anything, she pushes her ass toward me, so I lean down and sink my teeth into her fleshy cheek. She moans through the pain and I can smell her arousal.

“Naughty kitten. If you want more, you’d better meet me in the shower. I have a meeting this morning.” She groans as she watches me walk into the bathroom. I’ve just gotten under the hot water when I feel her come up behind me. Her hands go around my waist and slide to my dick, stroking me. I was already partially hard because of the smack and bite mark so it only takes a moment to be at full attention. I turn to face her and she drops to her knees.

“Hungry little kitten?” She nods as I rub my tip across her lips before she licks from base to tip. I’m not certain, but it feels like her tongue is rough like a cat’s. After all the activity last night, it’s almost too much stimulation. Then she takes me in her mouth and down her throat. I don’t know if all felines are this good at giving head, but damn she is. After I shoot my load down her throat, I pull her up, pushing her against the wall and take her again.

When we’re done, I finish washing and leave her to finish in the shower. I walk out and hear a knock at the door. Thinking it’s room service, I open the door to find Dustin. “Hey, uh, come in.” I say.

He looks at me. “What the fuck?” Yeah, I’m covered in cat scratches and bites. He only takes two steps in before stopping dead in his tracks. “What the fuck happened here. And what’s that smell. It smells like….”

“Panther?” Audra asks coming out of the bathroom with nothing on but a towel wrapped around her head, keeping her long hair from dripping.

Dustin just stares. I have to admit, the woman is gorgeous. Even after seeing every inch of that luscious body last night, I could still look at her all day.

“Dustin, Audra. Audra, Dustin.” I make introductions.

‘Ummm, hey.” Dustin says.

“Hey” she says back before looking at me. “I don’t have anything to wear since you felt the need to rip my clothes off.” She says, putting a hand on her hip.

“Right. Hang on.” I go to get her one of my t-shirts and pair of shorts, getting dressed as well.

“So, you guys did all this last night?” Dustin asks. The room is a disaster. The bed is broken, the sheets and mattress are shredded, the couch is shredded, the coffee table is in splinters, there are holes in the walls, and claw marks on almost every surface.

“Yep. You know, you don’t smell like an Alpha.”

“I’m his Beta”

I come back out with the clothes. She puts them on and turns to me. “Thanks for the best fuck I’ve had in a really long time. If I’m ever in town again…”

I reach my hand out to Dustin and he pulls a business card from his wallet. “Look me up.” I finish her sentence. She gives me a pleased smile then turns, grabs her purse and heads out.

I look at Dustin. “Let’s get to the office. We need to get a game plan together and I need someone to come clean this place up.”

“Yeah you do.” He says as we head out.