An Alpha Torn (Nights Of Lust Book 1) Read online

  Sapporo looked un-amused in the discussion of the loss of one of his kin. Still, he stood silent in his annoying, Ancient manner.

  "Tell him," Kissa stirred against him. "Tell him about our mates. Protect our mates.” She snuggled closer, resting a hand on Joséf's thigh.

  "Kissa overheard the vampires talking. They are going to steal the rest of the wolves’ mates. Where are the mates of the others, Sapporo? Have they been watched?”

  "I do not know," and the Ancient one shrugged. “The latest few have yet to visit them in Budapest.”

  Shock jolted through him. "What do you mean, you don't know? Livía mentioned that you are older than the other Ancients, and possess great knowledge. So, tell me. Why don't you know?” Joséf's arm tensed around Kissa.

  "I am powerful, it is true. But I am not a god. I do not know everything, Mr. Staganov."

  "What good is power, if you can't help others?” Enraged, Joséf concentrated hard, focusing his energies. Power spilled out from him and through the meeting place, and Joséf opened his eyes. The flames of the fire in the pit erupted into a blue hue, just long enough for everyone around to ooh and ah over the sight.

  Sapporo shook, but only Joséf seemed to notice. He smelled the vampire’s fear in his nose, tasted the bitterness of it on his tongue.

  Smiling wickedly, Joséf looked down at Kissa, who remained unaffected by his sudden action.

  Sapporo took a step back. "You are a power, too. Let's hope you are intelligent, as well as strong, Staganov."

  "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

  Sapporo twitched as if nobody had ever sworn at him. "Can you lead the pack?” Narrowing his eyes to thin slits of pale blue, Sapporo tilted his head slightly.

  "Why should I? I'd rather let them rot if I had my way.”

  A few of the onlookers straightened. Joséf sneered at them. "Yeah, I said it. Fuck all of you who challenged me. Worthless assholes. Your methods are as outdated as you are.”

  "Joe," Istvan sidled up beside him.

  "Right. Greater good. Fine.” Joséf felt Kissa's hand tighten on his thigh. She looked peaceful, even as the rest of them felt threatened.

  Sapporo folded his arms. "Can you lead them to defeat this menace known as the Syndicate?"

  Joséf studied the Ancient. A deadly loose end nagged at him. "Tell me where John is, Sapporo."

  Sapporo frowned. "I told you, he was eliminated."

  "I'm demanding proof. I mean it.” Joséf narrowed his eyes.

  Nobody made a move or said a word.

  Sapporo rolled his eyes. "The intruder you seek is…difficult to pinpoint."

  Great. "Are you saying he's dead? Or alive?"

  "Neither."

  "Fine.” Joséf looked at those silently watching. "Who will follow me as we solidify this pack?"

  Joséf looked around at the battered pack. Several stood in wolf form, ears raised for an answer. Others stood in human form, dirty, hungry, and expressionless. Three men sitting behind Sapporo didn't look like they were all that old. The one on the right had a shaved head, no facial hair and a toned, but small body. He was dressed in rags like the rest of them.

  The one next to him stood, eyes focused on Joséf. "I am Gabor. I will follow him if he chooses to lead us.” He spoke in a thick Hungarian accent. Gabor's rugged face and full beard made him look older than Joséf sensed him to be. Gabor was stockier than the other two, but he looked like he could take out his weight in opponents.

  The man on Gabor's left rose to his feet. Slightly taller and thinner than Gabor, he looked at Joséf with a solemn, tight-lipped expression. His eyes didn't shine as bright as Gabor's, but determination lived there. His face was narrow. Dusting off his shoulder, he looked at the ground, then back at Joséf. "I, too, will follow in Gabor's footsteps if you will help return our mates to us, Joséf."

  Behind them, several others moved forward. There must be fifty of them, a mismatched crew of various shapes and sizes, but they all looked to be very strong. Dave would be back shortly. He'd stand with Istvan.

  "How many of you are missing mates?"

  Several hands went up throughout the crowd. Dismay covered the faces of the others and groans were heard.

  "I take it not all of you are aware?"

  A youngling, maybe twenty, stepped forward. "Most of us haven't been to Budapest in a few days. We go every few weeks to check on things, but it's almost two hours away."

  Joséf whistled. "That's a long run for a weak wolf, son."

  The boyish wolf nodded. "So, what do we do?"

  "A few of you, leave for Budapest now. Go, check on your mates. If all of you leave, it'll cause the Syndicate to question things, so only a few. Five or six at the most. The rest of you stay here and get rest. Switch out with the group in half a day. I'll have a better plan tomorrow night."

  A smaller wolf with brown fur came up, baring teeth. Shifting before Joséf's eyes, he stood clothed in rags, like the rest of his pack. His ruffled hair matched the color of his fur. He wasn't much taller than Kissa, though thicker in body. "What if they abduct more of our mates between now and then? We need to attack them now.”

  “What’s your name, wolf?”

  The young wolf bristled. “Erik.”

  “Do you have a plan to get your mates back, Erik? Do you know where they might be held?”

  The wolf froze. “No. Not so much.”

  "Then let me lead. I know how to do my job.” Joséf let power spill out to indicate his force. "Apparently, I was asked to come here and fix things. Let me."

  Nobody said a word.

  "Look, we can do this one of two ways. The smart way, or the way that'll get most of us and our mates killed.” Joséf folded his arms across his chest.

  "But," and a young boy, no more than ten, stepped forward, his expression fearful. “My mother…”

  “We will save the mates, and those who are mothers. But since you don’t know where to go or how to do this, I suggest you follow my lead. Do you understand?” Joséf did his best to hide his impatience.

  Turning around to get the rest of the pack’s input, Erik’s energy rose. "You all trust this man?"

  Gabor nodded first, followed by similar movements from the others.

  Facing Joséf, he growled. "Fine. But I don't like it."

  "Then stay home."

  Erik sent him a startled glance. "What? My mate, and my mother, is in just as much danger as the rest of theirs. I can't do any such thing."

  "Then stay out of my way. Follow my orders or I will kill you.” Joséf felt Kissa's soothing energy envelope itself around his body, tampering down his aggression. "Damnit," he muttered.

  These things are necessary, my prince.

  They may hate him for what he just said, but it appeared he had finally, grudgingly, won their respect. A plus for them, definitely. They now possessed a chance to defeat the problem at hand. "Those of you who are going to Budapest, leave as soon as you can. Check on your mates, and report in as soon as possible. The rest of you, eat if you haven’t, then get some rest."

  The pack dissipated, low muttering and conversation going on as they disappeared.

  Doubt grabbed hold of him. Could he lead them to defeat the Syndicate's presence here?

  A hand snaked over his stomach. His muscles clenched. Looking down, he saw Kissa's half smile. "Lead us to victory, my prince."

  He sat next to her and nodded. "We will plan tomorrow when I return."

  "Just instruct us," Gabor lifted a fist.

  "Indeed, Joséf, you are acquiring followers. I suggest you do something.” Sapporo turned and vanished into thin air again.

  "Damnit, I hate when he does that shit."

  Laughter rang out in his head. Lead them, oh great prince. Lead them to victory!

  He ignored Livía’s playful taunt. Narrowing his eyes, Joséf looked to each of the wolves standing before him. "For this to be done," his tone dropped, "we have to be ruthless. You have to be harder on them than you we
re on me. You have to know you cannot reason with them. You must kill them. If the thought horrifies you, stay home."

  "It only horrifies us lycanthropes," a familiar voice rang out.

  "Dave," Joséf didn't bother to look in Dave's direction.

  "Yes Cap'n?"

  "Shut up the fuck up."

  Dave stifled a chortle and sauntered up beside Istvan, joining Gabor.

  "We need reconnaissance. Kissa is the only one with any sort of information, but she's out right now. I will handle it. The rest of you, get some sleep."

  "But our mates," an agonized voice called out.

  "Will be saved. I promise you. But that’s all I can promise, right now. It’ll have to be enough.” He didn’t like giving half-assed assurances like that, but it was the truth.

  Joséf rubbed his eyes. Damn but his body was tired. Muscles ached.

  You are quite the hero, Farkas.

  "Livía," he mumbled under his breath.

  Yes, I am here, but if I were there, I would help you.

  "I don't…I don't understand," Joséf swallowed the breath he'd been holding.

  My Farkas, trust me. Trust in me. You and your Kissa will have a space ready to share when you come back to me. It is daylight and I must rest. Szeretőm, have faith.

  When his heart warmed, he envisioned Livía smiling.

  Kissa nudged him and brought him back to the wolves in front of them.

  "Those of you not headed out to see your mates, go get some rest. I will hold council in the morning."

  The pack nodded and retreated into the woods, where many of them slept on the cool ground. Istvan and Dave stayed behind.

  "What do you two want?” Looking at them, Joséf felt something heavy surrounding them. Something unclean.

  Istvan shoved his hands in his pockets. "Joe, heal your mate tonight and see us afterwards. Bring her, she will help us."

  "What's wrong with you two?” Joséf focused his energy on the two of them, seeing the taint of the vampire and Syndicate trickery. Somehow, Dave didn't look the same. "What's wrong with Dave?"

  "He took several blows to the head. They got us pretty good after you left."

  Frowning, Joséf looked away.

  "Look, Russian. We did fine before you were here and we'll do fine after you leave. You are just here to help us solidify."

  "Is that Sapporo's purpose?"

  "Partially. Get some rest. Heal Kissa, let her heal you. I can feel how tired you are from here. I'll take Dave and find some food. That always helps him."

  "Yeah, I could use a bite to eat. You know as a lycanthrope…"

  Istvan and Joséf glowered at Dave and he stopped.

  "Damn, lighten up you two," he let out a laugh. Turning, he walked off with Istvan's help.

  5

  Left alone with Kissa, Joséf realized then that her focus hadn't swayed from him. He stood, lifted her in his arms and carried her from the fire. She needed something deeper than just body heat.

  She grew heavier with each step and her eyes seemed to regain their spark from the physical contact. Good.

  Joséf headed toward the clean, crisp smell of Lake Balatón. He wrapped her tightly against him, felt her mimic his motions.

  Thoughts of abandoning Kissa frightened him, but he would need to get away quickly once the threat to her life and the pack was eliminated. He'd murdered her brother in cold blood, nearly killed who he feared would become his right hand man if he did end up controlling this fucking pack, and threatened an Ancient. That alone could have signed his death warrant.

  Chaos and disaster seemed to follow him everywhere. Kissa didn't need that. She deserved a chance at life, a chance at real peace.

  He could never provide her those things.

  In America, he had his reasoning and when that failed, which it usually did, he could rely on brute strength. The Hungarian wolf pack did things differently, but the end result still remained the same. Violence.

  Was that his doing? Or was it the drugs?

  In the end, his opinion mattered little. Kissa needed a proper mate, not a lover's fling. So what if holding her in his arms felt right. Not quite like Livía's body against his, but not all that different, either. That scared him most of all.

  How could he give his heart and soul to one woman, let alone two? At least Livía saw the world for what it was, embracing it as the Queen of the Night. Her former entourage of lust slaves, willing and sometimes otherwise, did her bidding. She ruled the Bay Area and was the vampire to deal with, until the Syndicate made their inroads and took out much of her power base. Why she had given it up without a fight, he'd never know.

  But Kissa…

  Fingers snaked through his shoulder-length hair, massaging the back of his neck.

  Joséf stumbled, almost falling before catching himself at the last minute. Kissa's giggles floated over his ears like silk. Kissa needed someone to shelter her, to protect her. Not someone who would bring her nothing but pain.

  "This isn't right.” He tried to deny the erection straining his pants. Lust intensified with each heated gaze over her tired, bedraggled body.

  Kissa's eyes opened partially. "It is right, my prince. Your lust is caused by your intense feelings for me. Be they caused by protection, or anything else, is irrelevant. I know you love me, even if you are not yet aware of it."

  Right. Not aware. That had to be it. Because he often came to foreign countries and bedded the first young woman looking for comfort, then carried her away when her body had become bruised and battered.

  Except, he didn't. He wasn't confused. Her misguided sense of love told her she was in love with him. Yet he was no white knight.

  He'd never have left Livía, had he been one.

  Instead, he was a man who loved and hoped for it to be returned, even when it was undeserved. Like now.

  "Kissa," he muttered. He smelled her earthy arousal, picked up his pace to find them some privacy in an open area.

  After a few minutes, they'd reached a clearing. He set her down against the rocks and took a few steps back from her, studying her, and remembered what Sapporo had called her.

  “Why are you now the wolf princess?”

  She lifted her head and smiled at him. “Because you stood up for me. And you went through a challenge for Alpha. You won, so you get to pick your woman and you chose me.”

  He didn’t bother to reply, but her response made sense. Sighing, Joséf rubbed the back of his head, looked out over the land, then back at Kissa.

  She shifted for comfort, lifted her head slowly and met his stare with lust shining in her eyes. Careful not to move too much, she brushed strands of hair from her face.

  Even with her wounds, she moved gracefully. "If you let me, I'll show you how wonderful it feels to help each other.” Kissa repositioned herself so her body was open to Joséf.

  He sat down a few rocks away from her, trying to avoid her lusty gaze. Crawling forward, she invaded Joséf's personal space. He inched forward then stopped. The look in her eyes said she wouldn't take no for an answer. She wouldn't relent until she could be with him.

  She moved so close he couldn't escape her if he wanted. Couldn't overpower her, wouldn't try. Not that he wanted to escape.

  "Why me, Kissa?"

  Continuing forward, Kissa stopped when she stood on hands and knees only a breath away. She pressed her lips firmly to his mouth, pushing her body against his. The softness of her body became his new focus.

  Almost automatically, he lifted his arms, pulled her into him and leaned back, relaxing into the rock while she straddled him. Reaching for her brought comforting waves to settle in his mind. His arousal stirred. Kissa was barely dressed, other than a few bandages. She pulled back from the kiss and licked her plump lower lip. Her hair fell in loose ringlets on either side of her face.

  "Because you don't know who you are, and it's our job to show you. I’ve known for a long while now, as I said. You’re mine."

  The words hit him in the
gut, knocking the wind out of him. Joséf couldn't understand, even this far into any sort of relationship, why she'd say such things. Yeah they'd been together, slept together twice in a two-and-a-half-week period, but that only served to heal him so he could fight another day.

  He gripped her shoulders in an attempt to stop her, but his hands moved to hold and his body craved hers. His mind worked to force his questions out of his mouth.

  "I don't—"

  She leaned in for another kiss, her tongue exploring his bottom lip. Her tongue’s velvet caresses made his cock jerk. His groin tightened, as did the rest of his body. Eagerness, to wrap her in his arms and let her ride him, swelled within.

  She pulled back, smiling. "I'm strong. But it's not in my physical nature to show you. It's in my emotional nature that heals you."

  He nodded while keeping his gaze on the burning desire swimming in her eyes. His heart began to beat louder; his breath came in soft pants.

  Licking her lips, she closed her eyes and opened them again. Color returned to her once-dull eyes, so vivid and pure, Joséf knew he had caused her response. The sexual energy he expended helped heal her, even with just slightest touch.

  Amazing.

  "Love me, my prince.” Her husky voice trembled against his warm skin, sending shivers over his body. Goose bumps appeared; wind touched him lightly. The hair on his body stood on end, his nerves ready to fire. He wasn't a lover, he was a fighter and at this point, barely a survivor. Her gaze trailed over his body, stopping at his groin. Joséf wanted to remain still, begging his body to not react.

  Kissa reached behind her, slipping off the cloth material covering her upper body. Her pert breasts swung free beneath her hands.

  Extending a hand, he cupped her chin. "You're killing me, Kissa."

  Giggling, her eyes widened. "That's the point, silly. It’s my job to break down those ridiculous barriers you have, and your job to let me help you."

  Warmth poured from Joséf's body, surrounding them. His familiar black aura encompassed them.

  "Give me what I want," Kissa demanded and plunged her tongue between his lips.

  Letting her explore, taste and draw his tongue into her mouth, Joséf let her suck on his tongue while his hand swept around, cradling the back of his head.