Mated To The Alpha: Shared By His Brother

CHAPTER 1

|| Ashina Lockwood's POV ||

Have you ever been devoured in the best possible way? Like, so thoroughly devoured that the idea of never moving from this spot seems not just logical but the only sane course of action?

I stretched with a delicious ache between my legs and a slow lazy turn of my head confirmed the source of that wonderful soreness. And oh, what a source he was!

He was still asleep with the sheets tangled around his bottom, revealing a back with enough muscle to make a sculptor weep.

The memories of the night flashed behind my eyes like a sudden dirty and delightful play I was watching. The way his hands had gripped my back, the low growl in his ear and the absolute toe-curling, mind-blowing…

My brain screeched to a halt. Right. He was not my husband.

The warm fuzzies vanished, replaced by a cold jolt of reality. The first slivers of dawn were already lightening the sky outside the grimy window of the inn and so I had to move now.

I slid out of bed with the grace of a thief, which, I supposed, I technically was. I snatched my clothes from where they’d been flung... over the chair, on the lamp... and dressed faster than I ever had in my life.

I spared one last glance at the sleeping stranger who was a magnificent mistake.. a glorious, scandalous, potentially pack-war-inducing mistake.

Slipping out the door, I held my breath until the latch clicked shut with the softest of sighs.

The hallway of the Blackfen Inn was empty as I practically flew down the stairs and out into the morning air of the outskirts.

My story, of course, was that I was visiting my parents and my younger sister two territories over. My real story was that I’d needed one night.. one night away from the endless duties, the watchful eyes and the crushing soul-sucking boredom of my marriage.

So I’d come straight here to the middle of nowhere, downed a few strong drinks and somehow ended up locking eyes with him across the crowded tavern. The rest, as they say, was a history I’d take to my grave.

By the time the imposing gates of the Darktail Brotherhood came into view, my stomach twisting with guilt and fading bliss. The two guards at the gate snapped to attention, bowing their heads as I passed.

“Luna Ashina Lockwood,” one murmured, his eyes wide.

I’d clearly caught them dozing. Normally, I’d have said something but oday, I just swept past them without a word. I didn’t have the energy for disciplinary lectures. I had a lie to uphold.

The castle was quiet and my boots echoed on the stone floors as I hurried through the familiar corridors. I just had to make it to my chambers. Just had to wash his scent away. Just had to…

“How was your trip?”

I was cutting through the main hall... the stupid throne room... when a voice sliced through the silence, deep and cold enough to freeze my blood.

I jumped with my hand flying to my chest. Peering into the shadows by the far wall, I could just make out the shape of a man lounging in a high-backed chair. Not just any man.. my man.. Alpha David Calisto.

He uncoiled himself from the shadows smoothly with his usual stone expression.

“David!” I squeaked with my voice an octave too high. “You startled me. I didn’t see you there.”

“Obviously,” he said with his tone flat.

He took a step closer, and I prayed to the Moon Goddess that the scent-masking potion I’d doused myself in at the inn was still working overtime to mask that man's scent on me.

“I trust your family is well?” He asked coldly.

“Oh, yes! Very well. Mother sends her love.” The lies tumbled out, smooth and practiced.

He stopped a few feet away, his dark eyes boring into me.

“Imagine my concern,” he began, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous register that always made my knees feel weak for all the wrong reasons. “When the escort I ordered to accompany my Luna returned to tell me they’d lost you at the crossroads. That you insisted on going alone.”

I forced a sweet disarming smile.

“My love, I just needed some time to myself. It was a short journey. I’m perfectly capable.”

“You are the Luna of the Darktail Brotherhood,” he bit out. “You are not ‘capable.’ You are protected. This behavior is not just reckless, it’s beneath your station.”

I reached out, placing a hand on his arm.

“I’m sorry, David. Truly. I just needed to clear my head. I missed you.” The last part was a bold-faced lie and we both knew it.

He didn’t pull away but his gaze didn’t soften. He was silent for a long moment, just staring at me and then his nostrils flared.. just slightly.

My blood ran cold.

“Why,” he said slowly, “are you wearing scent mask?”

Oh, crap.

“Rogues,” I blurted out. “I was traveling alone. I didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention.” It sounded flimsy even to my own ears.

David’s eyes narrowed to slits. I knew he didn’t believe me.. not for a second.

“How fortunate that you were thinking so… strategically,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He finally shook off my hand. “Go to bed, Ashina.”

Temporary and fragile relief washed over me as I turned to go.

“I sent a messenger to your parents,” his voice stopped me dead in my tracks. “To confirm your safe arrival and return. They should be back with a reply by daylight.”

I didn’t turn around.. I couldn’t let him see the sheer panic on my face.

“And Moon Goddess help you,” he added with the words in a soft deadly promise, “if you are lying to me.”

I nearly ran the rest of the way to my rooms.

I fell into the large cold empty bed and I stared at the canopy with my heart pounding. What to do, what to do, what to do?

I could feign illness. I could say my parents were away visiting relatives but every plan I concocted sounded more stupid than the last.

I lay there for what felt like an eternity, cycling through sheer terror and desperate strategizing until the sunlight streaming through my window felt like an accusatory spotlight.

Then, a sharp rap on the door.

I sat bolt upright as a maid’s timid voice filtered through the door.

“Luna Ashina Lockwood?”

“Yes?” I croaked.

“The Alpha requests your presence in the throne room immediately.”

My stomach dropped straight through the floor.. the messenger was back. The sun had come up and with it, my judgment…!