The Alphas' Arrival - Halley's POV
Reed opens the door before I’m fully ready. I’m not sure what to expect, but it’s definitely not seeing four huge men standing on the porch, just outside the door. Each one is more menacing than the last, with scars on their faces or arms.
“Meet the alphas of the Howler Pack,” Reed says, tossing a quick glance over his shoulder.
My entire body stiffens as I take them in. “They are all the alphas of the pack?”
The man standing toward the front of the group takes a step inside as my brother moves out of the way. He’s the tallest of them all, standing at about six feet five. The others aren’t far off, though and as they file inside, I feel a little claustrophobic.
I take a step back, swallowing hard. “Hi.”
The first man who enters glances down at my five feet five self and grins. “Yes, we are all the alphas over the Howlers. Is it that odd?”
I blink, then blink again. “Well, I know some packs operate under two alphas, but it’s been a while since I’ve heard of one who had four.”
He chuckles low under his breath, leaning down to capture my chin with his fingertips. “We are the only pack with four alphas that I know of. Several packs have two, though.”
A long time ago, only one alpha ruled over the pack, but then two brothers broke the mold when they both took over the pack together without fighting over it. It works for some, but not all. Four seems unimaginable.
His fingers are rough and calloused from years of shifting and fighting, though I’m not sure if its from fighting the three who came with him or from defending his pack. The heat of his skin sears through my jaw like a hot iron brand. Instinct kicks in, my wolf snapping inside of me. A low growl rips free of my lips, though I try to fight it.
“I—” The words get stuck in my throat.
His pale gray eyes gleam with something I can’t read as he tilts my chin slightly, forcing me to meet his gaze. There’s dominance there, almost more than my brother’s. It’s sharp and unrelenting, which makes my pulse race faster. This is a different kind of power, something that is raw and wild. I feel it crawling over my skin, as if he’s dragging his hands all over my body at once.
Reed is suddenly by my side, trying to cut between us. “Easy now. I know an alpha’s daughter is tempting, but you can’t just come in here and claim her before everyone meets her.”
The man before us smiles slowly, like a wolf circling a prey it knows is about to die. Then he lets go of my chin and lets Reed get between us. The ghost of his touch lingers like a chilly wind gracing my skin. My muscles coil tighter as the other three get closer to him, their boots thudding against the hardwood floor.
The air thickens with the scent of dominance. It smells like a territory battle and my brother won’t have it if it keeps up.
“Relax,” the one off to the right says, his voice not as gruff as the first. “Excuse my older brother, Dalton. He’s a bit rough and not as civil as we are. We’re just here to meet you and to be considered.”
The man he calls Dalton leans back a little, his smile spreading wider. “You are quite the beauty and the alpha in you calls to me. My brothers are just better at hiding it.”
“Brothers?” I ask, my voice cracking.
Reed barely glances at me over his shoulder, his eyes briefly meeting mine. “Dalton, Colt, Noss, and Nix are all brothers.”
For a moment, I’m puzzled. I’ve heard some stories about packs with two alphas. They sometimes share their mate, because of lineage. But what about the four of them? Do they also want to share their mate?
“She has gone pale,” Dalton says, almost laughing. “I figure you are thinking about multiple alphas and how they take a mate. Well, we share. I can’t imagine the chaos that would break out if we all took multiple mates and had children. There would be too many fights to break out for the alpha position.”
“Simple. It’s for the oldest son,” I repeat my father’s words from my childhood.
They all exchange glances. It makes me wonder if other packs don’t follow that rule as closely as my father.
My mouth drops open briefly before I snap it shut. The first alpha, who is tall, broad, and all hard edges, grins again, teeth flashing white against his tanned skin. My eyes dart to the three behind him, noticing similar expressions.
They came for me and probably will fight to win me. My heart pounds faster, louder. I’m sure they can hear its rapid beat. The heat of Dalton’s stare doesn’t waver either, and even though Reed is between us now, I can feel his raw dominance rolling off him in waves crashing against my skin.
It takes everything in me not to bare my teeth and let my wolf rip through what little control I have. She doesn’t like the way they are looking at me. Neither do I, though there is little I can do about it.
She wants Sam. Her mind is made. But this is my new reality that she’ll be forced to accept.
The thought of taking one man as my mate is hard enough, but to imagine I might end up with multiple alpha mates is enough to make my skin crawl.
“I think that’s enough introductions for now,” Reed says, his tone short. “You were invited as guests. Not to scare my sister just as you come into the territory. Go outside and find something to do until dinner. No one is claiming her—”
“Claiming?” Dalton chuckles low in his throat. The sound vibrates through my bones. “We aren’t staking claim on her just yet. I understand there are certain protocols. But I think she feels it too, don’t you, little wolf? That tug?” His head tilts as he studies me. “Don’t lie and say no.”
The air feels like it’s being ripped from my lungs. It’s too thick and filled with tension. My throat goes dry, and before I can speak, one of the others steps forward, tapping his brother on the shoulder. I believe it’s the one they call Noss, though I’m not sure. His dark eyes scan me slowly, and far too deliberately, like he’s memorizing every inch of me.
“Back up, Dalton,” he says, before taking the lead. “You don’t need to be afraid of us,” he says, his voice deep and smooth. “Our pack takes care of what’s ours.”
Ours. The word slams into me like a punch to the gut. My hands curl into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms until I bleed. I am not theirs. I’m not going to be anyone’s property.
Not that I have much of a choice.
I open my mouth to snap back, but Reed ensures I’m firmly tucked behind him. He growls low. “She’s not yours yet. That will be decided later. You’re in my house, on my land. Don’t forget that.”