No Claim: A Dark Reverse Harem Romance (The Alpha Brothers Book 2) Read online

  “It is true, and I’ve never touched another woman since. It was my promise to her dead body when I held it in my arms, and every moment I’m with you, I want to break it. I’m an asshole, and you are best off staying a little distance away from me,” he says, and I know telling him sorry won’t help the situation.

  “River, what happened to her?” I ask. “Will you tell me, because I’m not going anywhere.”

  “We were fourteen, kids really, but so excited to mate in a few years. We were on a date in the higher mountains, talking about mating when we were older, laughing, joking around. We snuck out every weekend since we were eight years old to see each other…but that weekend was different,” he says, not looking at me as he turns the four steaks over one by one. “There was a slight quake in the mountain, which caused an avalanche. They happen sometimes, but usually we can hide in our houses to keep safe. I remember seeing the wave of snow knocking down trees just before they hit me, and I shifted. I was knocked out and luckily survived, but she was dead. It was my fault for taking her there and not protecting her like a mate should have done.”

  “That was not your fault, and she wouldn’t blame you. River, you can’t stay guilty forever over something you didn’t cause,” I tell him truthfully. I place my hand on his cheek, turning him to look at me as I step closer and see so much pain in his eyes. “You can’t spend the rest of your life running from life because you feel like that is what she would have wanted. River, anyone that cares for you wouldn’t want that.”

  “Elodie,” River whispers my name ever so gently, and I lean closer, pressing my lips gently against his without thinking about it. I just want to comfort him, show him he is worth loving. I freeze when I realise he hasn’t kissed me back, and I pull away, stepping back.

  “I can’t. I just can’t,” he whispers, rejecting me and shaking his head. He looks away from me when I can’t hide the pain I’m feeling in my heart. “I want to be your friend, nothing more. You are just confused, and I am not the man for you.” I don’t argue with him or say a word as Arabella comes into the room.

  “Elodie, want to see the chocolate bean machines that River fixes in his spare time? Some of them even have chocolate in them we can try,” she says. “Our parents used to make the machines, and everyone loves chocolate.” I finally know why River smells like chocolate now.

  “I’d love that,” I say, thankful for the escape.

  “I will call you for dinner when it is done,” River tensely says, and I feel like I’ve just broken some part of our relationship, whatever it was anyway. I guess I felt something that he didn’t, and now I wish I could forget.

  Chapter 13

  Elodie

  “Elodie!” Letric shouts as I walk to my room and pause just outside. I look back down the corridor to see Letric jogging to me, stopping close and running a hand through his hair. He has changed into black, tight leather trousers, a grey shirt and a long cloak covering his shoulders, and his hair is cut shorter than I’m used to seeing him. River very quickly dropped me off at the throne room before making up some excuse and disappearing but saying he would be close by anyways. I didn’t even say a word because it was more than awkward at dinner and then even worse on the way back home.

  “Hello,” I say a bit lamely. I suddenly feel guilty for kissing River, even if he didn’t kiss me back. It’s the hormones and the fact River is kind, charming and handsome. It’s all just messing with my head, and why should I feel guilty anyways? I don’t even know what I am to the Alpha Brothers who are insisting on staying here.

  “Can we go for a walk? I just want to talk to you alone for a bit,” he asks. “And this part of the castle still freaks Alaric and Alpha out, so they don’t come up here unless they have to.”

  “Sure,” I reply, letting him lead me down the corridor, and we pass the throne room down the next corridor before either of us says anything into the building silence between us. “Why does my room freak them out?”

  “You forget who used to live here,” he says, and I bite down on my lip. Damn, they did live here and hated it, though Letric was only a toddler, so I doubt he remembers much of the place. Alpha and Alaric, on the other hand? They must not be able to forget.

  “Of course, Alpha and Alaric grew up here,” I mutter. “I didn’t think about how difficult this must be for them.”

  “And ran away from here. Alpha swore he would never return to this place unless he was alpha, and yet we are all back for you,” he says. “Alpha never changes his mind or goes back on his promises, but with you? Every rule is getting broken in the best way we never knew we needed.”

  “I’m sorry this place brings back bad memories. Hopefully in time, we can make new ones with the baby,” I admit.

  “How are you? The baby?” he asks, his eyes fluttering to my stomach that is hidden by my dress.

  “Fine as can be. I have a healer coming to see me tomorrow to check on the baby and make plans for the birth,” I explain to him.

  “Can I be there? I’d really love to,” he quickly asks the moment I stop speaking.

  “The healer will be here at ten in the morning,” I say with a small smile, leaving it up to him if he wants to come. I can’t help the nice, warm feeling I get at the idea of Letric being there with me tomorrow.

  “This is tense and more awkward than I thought it would be,” he finally says as we walk past a lot of empty rooms that have lounges, studies, a library and a mixture of other rooms I haven’t explored. We pass the room I like the most because of its amazing views of the pack.

  “Same,” I say, looking up at him and breathing in a deep sigh before asking the question I need to ask. “Did Alpha really kill Misty?”

  “Yes, I promise he did,” Letric firmly replies.

  “Why didn’t you come after me when I was taken then? I know you don’t want a mate, but if you care at all, you should have—” I’m cut off when Letric gently takes my hand in his, and we both stop in the corridor.

  “I never wanted a mate until I met you, and now, I don’t know how to let you go. We were attacked by your mother’s pack from the inside. It took a week to save our people, kill the people who betrayed us, and then come for you. If we had our way, we would have been here instantly,” he explains, his words shocking me and my resolve that they are the bad ones in this. “I was close, inches away from leaving our people to die and come after you. We all were.”

  “I didn’t know,” I reply, completely shocked but somewhat happy there was a reason. They didn’t just sit there, not coming straight after me.

  “There is a lot you don’t know about how we feel for you, what we want, but I want you to know one thing for certain, Elodie,” he tells me, each word seems to go straight to my heart, teasing it to beat harder in my chest.

  “Yes?” I whisper, not trusting my voice to be any louder as I can’t take my eyes off Letric and how he is looking at me. My hands itch to reach for him, to feel close to him once again, because as much as I want to hate him, I want him all the same.

  “I love you. I really, really love you, and that will never change. There has never been anyone like you,” he says, his words echoing in a whisper around the empty corridor as I almost feel like slapping myself because this doesn’t seem real. I throw myself into his arms, pushing my lips against his as he groans and lifts me into the air. My legs wrap tightly around Letric’s waist as we harshly kiss, pushing passion and longing from our time apart into every moment. Letric rips away my underwear as I free his erection before he presses me against the wall and slowly inches himself inside of me. I moan, but Letric swallows the sounds escaping my lips with a deep kiss as he thrusts in and out of me.

  “I missed you,” Letric whispers into my ear, pushing me closer and closer to the edge with every thrust. “I missed you. I missed fucking you so much. I missed hearing your moans as you come on me. God dammit, I don’t ever want this to end.” I cry out as an orgasm slams into me, and I feel Letric come deep inside me nearly
at the same time. The intense pleasure takes a while to die down until I can control my breathing, and Letric gently slides out of me. I am standing on the floor as he tucks himself away.

  “I love you too, by the way,” I admit, and he smiles, leaning down to gently kiss me once more. “Though I don’t know where we go from here.”

  “Give us all a chance to prove we deserve you,” Letric gently suggests.

  “Don’t hurt me then. Please,” I beg.

  “Never again, there are never going to be any secrets again,” he promises before he kisses me again, and I let myself be lost in them.

  Chapter 14

  Elodie

  “I invited Letric, not all of you,” I say when I open the door to my room, seeing Letric with both Alpha and Alaric at his side. I automatically smooth down my blue dress, which is in two parts so the vest can be undone without touching the skirt. Angel brought a few of these dresses over for me this morning, explaining that pregnant women usually wear them as the top has room to grow. The vest is also easy to pull up to reveal my stomach for the healer.

  “The baby is all of ours, so here we all are,” Alaric replies, walking past me into the room. “Don’t say you aren’t happy we are here. You can’t hide your smile, sweet El,” Alaric teases.

  “Come on in," I say, knowing there is no real point to arguing with them now they are here. I walk back into my room, choosing to lean against the door to the bathroom as I watch my Alpha Brothers look around my room. Alaric goes and sits on my bed, putting his feet up like he lives here. Whereas Letric goes over to my cabinet, looking at rows of dresses, shoes and shiny jewelry I have been given that I never wear in fear I might break one of them somehow. I miss my necklace Letric gave me and the charm Alaric added, though I’m sure it is long gone now. Alpha stays by the door, watching me, and when I look his way, I notice how tensely he stands still. He meets my eyes after a long silence between us all, and I can't read his emotions all that much. He is too good at hiding them from me.

  "How long until the healer comes?" Alpha asks.

  "Does it make you uncomfortable to be here?" I reply to him, curious.

  "Considering the last time I was in this room, my father beat me until I saw stars, I would say yes," Alpha tells me. "Though I’m here for you like the heartless bastard you believe I am."

  "He is dead, you know that?" I reply. “And I do not think you are heartless.”

  “I wish he wasn't so I could kill him much slower for ever daring to touch you," Alpha growls out. I part my lips to say something when the door is knocked on twice and then opened. River walks in first, his eyes widening for a moment at the sight of all the Alpha Brothers in the room before he cools his expression and steps to the side for the woman to walk in. The woman is a little older than I am, her blonde hair is cut very short, and it matches her tight white shirt and long black jacket. Everything about her seems precise except her green eyes which are somewhat kinder.

  "Alpha Elodie, this is healer Periya, the best healer in the Xan Pack," River explains as he introduces us. “As you know, this Alpha Elodie.”

  "I wouldn't say the best, but I have delivered a lot of children successfully, so that makes me a good healer for you to have at this time," she states. “I will be staying in the castle, at your call whenever you need me, as I suspect you will want to have the child in this room.”

  "It's lovely to meet you, Periya, and yes, I want the baby to be born here," I say, holding out a hand for her to shake. We shake hands before she puts her bag on the floor near me and opens it up. I’m more than relieved that she will be staying in the castle and will be there when I need her.

  "Right then, are all these males staying in here?" Periya asks.

  "Yes," each of them says in unison, even River who has been quiet with me since the near kiss.

  "Well, these questions I have to ask you might be a little embarrassing then," she says, raising an eyebrow at me.

  "Elodie needs not be embarrassed by any of us," Letric says, a big grin on his face.

  "Ask away," I kindly reply.

  "How are you feeling, for one?" she asks, kneeling down and pulling out strange metal tools from her bag. "Morning sickness? Any bleeding? Anything unusual you wish to discuss with me?"

  "I'm sick every morning, though River found an herbal tea that helps a little," I reply. "And no bleeding or anything else to report."

  "That is good news to hear after your fight with Alpha Tanner. Pregnant wolves should not be fighting. Anyway, I wish to examine you, if you don't mind. Could you lie on the bed?" she asks, not giving me much of a choice.

  "Sure," I reply, walking to the bed and sitting down on the side opposite Alaric who gets up. I lie down as Periya comes over, sitting next to me.

  "Could you lift your top up?" she asks. I glance at River for reassurance, and he nods firmly once. I slowly lift my shirt, exposing my stomach which has a little raised bump now that has been growing these last few weeks.

  "That is some bump already," Periya states. "How far along do you think you are?"

  "I honestly don't know, but at least a month now," I reply. Periya nods before putting the plug ends of the thing she has into her ears and the circle end on my stomach at the side. She moves it around, pausing in places before taking it off. I stay still as she feels my stomach, sliding her hands around and lower than I would have expected before sitting back.

  "The babies feel and sound in good health to me. Two strong heartbeats, and twins are a very rare thing indeed," she says, like we should have known there were two babies. I place my hands on my stomach, paused in the moment of pure shock as she keeps talking, explaining complications of twin births, but I can only focus on the word twins. I’m going to have two babies, and that is not something I ever planned for. The more I think about it, it is rather perfect to have twin baby alphas to rule over such a large pack.

  "Twins? Two babies?" I ask.

  "Yes, Alpha Elodie. There are two new alphas on the way. I will come back in a month for a check-up, and every month from now on to check on you, but I will be around. I do have many other patients, but you only need to call for me. I will also find two trusted nurses to help with what will be a complicated birth," she says. “I will need help.”

  "I will want the names in advance of bringing them here," River states. "I hope you understand that protecting Elodie is the most important job while she is vulnerable."

  "Of course," Periya says and stands up off the bed. "Now, Alpha Elodie, no more fights and plenty of rest. Please call for me if you are worried at all."

  "Thank you for your help, and I will," I say, nodding once at her as I sit up off the bed. She walks to the door with River, who bows once at me before leaving to escort her out, no doubt. We really need to have a talk about what happened.

  "Twins. Double trouble, I have heard," Letric says, somewhat quietly. Alpha has his arms crossed, looking out of the window, and Alaric is just grinning at me like he just heard the best news in the world.

  "You sure don't do things by halves, do you, El?" Alaric replies. "Anyway, me and Letric have to go and see Mary. She is fretting around in those houses the pack are in."

  "Mary could come here. I didn't even think about her when I invited you to stay," I quickly say, knowing having more trusted people around isn’t a bad thing.

  "That would be brilliant. Mary won't admit it, but she misses you, El," Alaric says, winking at me once before straightening up. "Also, before I go, can I take you somewhere tomorrow?"

  "I don't see why not," I reply.

  "Tomorrow morning it is then," Alaric says, before walking out with Letric following after, waving once at me. The moment the door shuts behind Letric, I look at Alpha who is still staring out of the window.

  "We can leave this room if you want. I didn't know about your past here," I gently say to him. Despite everything, I’m still trying to protect him the best I can.

  "The room is just a room. I will forget the past and m
ake new memories here," Alpha says, his eyes drifting over to the crib in the room before going back to the outside. Our children will bring new memories, memories that will wash away the pain and darkness in his heart. If only he will give me a chance to help do the same thing.

  "We are never going to agree on anything, are we? You don't want a mate, and I will not give up my pack to you. We are two alphas fighting either sides of a war when—"

  "When what?" he stops me to say.

  "You know what?" I reply. I take a deep breath before slowly walking to him, every step hurting more than the next because I know he will push me away again. That is all he knows how to do. Tanner trained that behaviour into the very core of Alpha’s existence. Love...that isn't something he knows how to do, despite the fact I suspect it is how he feels for me. Loving Alpha will always be a fight, and I will always lose.

  "I smell Letric on you, I'm taking a guess you finally believe what we told you. We never betrayed you, Elodie," he bluntly states.

  "Yet you did, in a way," I reply, “even if you didn’t betray me with Misty in the way I thought you did.”

  "How did we betray you then?" he asks.

  "I want more than you could ever give me. Being around you all is like teasing a child with sweets, and eating the sweets yourself," I reply.

  "I never teased you, Elodie," he says, though we both know that is a lie.

  "You took me as a slave, as nothing, and pretended I meant more to you than just someone in your bed. That was teasing," I inform him of the truth.

  "You are more than someone in our bed," he says, and my heart bangs against my chest, wishing he would explain that statement more.

  "Then prove it, submit to me. Be mine, like you claim I am yours," I whisper, and my voice catches with emotion I didn’t want to show him so soon. Being vulnerable around Alpha is a dangerous game.

  "No," he says, and just like that, I know he will never change his mind. He is too stubborn, too cold to let me love him. To let me into that frozen heart of his.