03 The Bloody O'Sullivan

It was a clear spring night with chilly winds when we lined up to welcome Alpha O’Sullivan and his men from the Blood Moon pack. I was thankful for my decision to tie my hair in a tight bun, otherwise it would have been all around the place by now. My ears and nose were getting frozen, but I stood straight amongst the men, all a good head taller than me.

I was in the second line of warriors, right behind Richard, just as he wanted me. He was standing straight, his hands behind him, and I knew he was wearing his usual poker face. But I have known him for too long. I could see the tension in his shoulders and tight muscles under his elegant suit. I could feel his wolf being uneasy.

I looked at his Luna, and I sighed. Poor girl needed some comfort herself, not that she would ease her mate. I could sense her discomfort and even some fear. She was so fresh to the position; she was not ready, and that fact alone wouldn’t do any good to the Alpha tonight. I hoped at least she would listen to my advice and wouldn’t do anything stupid.

I felt Josh watching me, and he winked as I looked up at him. Being second in command, he was standing on the other side of Richard, and he pretty much worked like a lightning rod right now. He had always been more calm and collected than Richard, and that made him his perfect Beta. I only hoped that he could stop him if needed. And that the other Alpha would also have someone like that. Then we could survive this night.

I watched a dusty Range Rover getting closer, and I became more and more uneasy myself. I could feel my wolf walking up and down at the back of my mind. She was excited and impatient, and it was one of those rare times when I didn’t even know why. She wouldn’t tell me, or should I say couldn’t? I felt my stomach tighten as the car stopped in front of us and the doors opened.

One huge guy got out of the back seat, and I could tell at first look that he was a bodyguard. His size alone was quite intimidating, and I could feel that his wolf was quite strong, too.

The second man, getting out from the first seat, was supposed to be their Alpha, but I could feel no authority coming from him. He was good looking as hell, and sure was a great warrior, but not Alpha material.

I turned my head to see the man getting out of the driver’s seat. Could it be that the Alpha himself drove all the way here? How unusual.

Then I saw him, and suddenly time stopped.

He looked me right in the eye, and I felt myself shiver, just like my wolf did at the back of my mind. She was ecstatic as the feeling pierced my soul. He was my mate.

I watched him freeze for a minute before moving on and standing right before Richard. He was a good half head shorter than him, and not that pumped up either. No, this other Alpha didn’t have those big muscles to show off, but his presence and authority were way stronger than I ever felt Richard.

He offered his hand, and I shivered again as I heard his deep and husky voice for the first time.

“Alpha Richard,” he called calmly. “Nice to meet you,” he said when Richard accepted his hand. He had one of those crooked smiles when only one side of his lips moved and I found it incredibly sexy.

“Nice to meet you too, Alpha Duncan,” Richard answered, and I could see their joints turning white for a second as they shook hands. “Is that all of your men with you tonight?” he asked.

“I thought I shouldn’t arrive with an army for a negotiation about peace and alliance” Alpha Duncan smiled, and ran his eyes through the warriors lined up behind Richard, carefully avoiding me.

“We are happy to accept your good faith,” Richard forced a wry smile on his face, but I could feel him tense up even more. “These are my most trusted warriors who all came to greet you,” he made a gesture towards us, and we all bowed our heads politely. “Also, let me introduce my Beta, Josh and my mate, Jennifer”

He rendered our politeness with a nod, then turned to look at Jenny.

“How nice,” he bowed to her, and I shivered at his voice. Even his smile was cold and empty as he looked at Jenny. “This is my Beta, Noah, and this is Caleb,” he gestured, and Noah nodded. Caleb didn’t move.

“Now that we got to know each other, shall we go in?” Richard showed the way, and I ran to open the door for them, then quickly disappeared into the kitchen. I pushed my back against the door and took a shaky breath.

The infamous Duncan O’Sullivan was my mate. The Bloody O’Sullivan, whom even Richard didn’t dare to take the risk of making him our enemy. I found him good looking and he was a smooth talker, but he seemed quite cold. How many of the rumors could be true?

As I finally opened my eyes, I saw all six girls assigned to the kitchen look at me, stopped in midair with all their work.

“They are here. Three people, the Alpha, his Beta, and a bodyguard, the size of a mountain,” I told them and tried to smile. “It’s going to be alright girls. Is everything ready?” I asked, pushing myself from the door, and went to check the appetizers before they were served. Keep your calm, I told myself. I had to reassure these girls and keep things going. I could think about my newfound mate later.

I hid in the kitchen till they had dinner, then the girls cleaned the table and served the liquor. Jenny came out, and I reached for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “How was it?” I asked, looking at her pale face.

“It was all right, I think…” she said shyly. “They were so polite it was uncomfortable. But it is good, is it not? Maybe they won’t go for each other’s throats,” she tried to smile, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her that being overly polite means tension, and tension will definitely lead to fight, sooner or later. I just gave her a fake smile, which I tried to make reassuring, and sent her into their room.

We talked about it with Richard, and all of us agreed that Luna should not be there in the actual negotiations and should be kept safe in her room. I escorted her to the stairs and nodded to two of our guards. They followed her like a shadow and would guard her till the whole thing was over.

I went back, and sneaked in, as silently as I could. He was calmly sitting in his chair across the table, snipping on his whiskey. As I stood behind Richard, our gazes met again. He had the deepest blue eyes, I thought, as my stomach tightened and my wolf started whimpering inside. I didn’t even notice, we both froze until Richard cleaned his throat.

“She is Moira, one of our best warriors, and my left hand, if I can say,” he explained. “I hope you don’t mind her joining us.”

“Not at all,” Alpha Duncan answered, and I heard his voice becoming deeper than before. He didn’t move his eyes from me till I turned my face away. There was a crazy battle inside my body and soul, but I couldn’t afford it to be seen. Our packs depended on tonight.

“Come sit,” Richard patted the chair next to him and looked up at me. “Are you all right?” He whispered, seeing my face. How bad could I look? I nodded quickly and sat down.

The negotiations were hard. Both alphas were relentless. It was about their pack’s well-being, after all. The question of land made it hard to make the temporary peace they agreed on into a permanent one.

The Blood Moon, all in all, was a bigger pack, but they had many elderly and children to take care of. They had fewer warriors than us, but they were all skilled and hardened in battle. Richard was being stubborn, but I knew he thought that letting a little now would mean they would come back for more. And for stubbornness, Alpha Duncan was just as bad.

“Why don’t we take a little break,” I inserted after like an hour of dead conversation, and I put my hand on Richard’s arm. “Maybe we should discuss things again amongst ourselves. Both of you want the best of your pack. I’m sure we will find some kind of solution.”

“Be it,” Richard said, and Alpha Duncan nodded. I could feel his eyes on me, but I tried really hard not to pay attention. I was right behind Josh, leaving the room with them when he called my name. My whole body shivered, and I halted. I felt like his deep voice stroked my whole body. Taking a deep breath, I turned to face him.

 “May I be at your service, Alpha Duncan?” I asked politely, being as calm and collected as I possibly could be right now.

“Leave us,” he told his man, and they closed the door behind them. I could see worry in Josh’s eyes, but I put on a smile and said it’s alright.

 We were alone now, and my heart was beating like crazy. My breath was caught in as he moved unbelievably fast and pinned me to the wall. I felt his energy burning my skin as his hard body pressed against mine, and he brushed his face against my naked neck.

“Moira,” he growled my name again as I felt him breathing in my scent. “Mine,” he pulled away to look in my eyes, his hands not holding me down anymore, but one grabbing my waist and the other was on the back of my neck.

I knew he would kiss me, and when I really felt his hot lips against mine, I willingly opened up for him. He was violent at first, but when he felt my devotion, he became more passionate.

My arms hugged his hip and pulled him even closer. I could feel his hardness pushing against me and I was sure I was wet like never before. I would be off the minute he touched me. Even my wolf was going crazy in my head as he ran his hands along my sides.

“Tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t mark you, right here, right now,” he murmured as he started kissing my neck, gently sucking on the spot where his mark should go. It was hard thinking of one. Both my body and my wolf wanted him to do it. Right here, right now. My brain already had problems functioning.

I pushed him away a little and looked into his eyes again. “Not like this. I want to do it right. I will be yours before the sun rises. Promise. But you need to finish what you came for. Please.” I pleaded against all the growling my wolf made in my mind.

After a moment of silence, he moved away, and I tried to relearn breathing. He went back to the desk and drank up his whiskey in one go. Pouring another one, he brought it to me and I drank two big sips before giving it back. He raised his eyebrow, and I nodded.