In the Alpha’s Arms Novel

Bonus Chapter You Like That, Huh?

Pinot (oring you, Lita snarled through the link. You son of a

When now, Stace whistled, Based on that response, I’d say ya’ll are going to need some love alone. We’ll hang out down here. I left the works in the kitchen, Alpha.

What the hell is the works? Brody asked, sounding clueless about women.

Can we please get him a girlfriend because-

Sout

1. ap.

Ace! Several pack members said at once, making Lita laugh ahead of Cole, Shutting down the link, Cole exhaled with relief. At least she could laugh. That had to be a good sign. He would take Stace’s advice and let Lita decompress upstairs.

Lita’s head swam. She was so angry she felt like she might burst, and even Ace’s idiocy wouldn’t take that away. What she needed was a good scream. The kind that shredded the throat and pulled from the diaphragms. She needed to bellow her frustration and pain. Her imitation and acknowledgement of how unfair everything felt. As she pushed through the crowd, watching as the men in the ceremonial ring circled one another. One moved in one part of the ring, green linen pants and green paint that marked down his chest. And the other moved opposite green, but in red with paint down to his abdomen. Their posture turned more feral as they hunched toward the center. They weren’t taking any fighting stance Lita had ever seen in the circuit and she wondered what they were doing.

Lita pinched her eyes closed, and when she opened them again, she watched the fighters once more. Backs bowed, arms relaxed into casual jogging form. Lita couldn’t anticipate what was about to happen. The one in green lunged at the other in a swipe that didn’t appear to be meant to connect with any vital striking area, grazing the side of a shoulder. It could have been a testing strike, one designed to gauge the other fighter’s reaction time but, she’d never seen one use so little force or waste the advantage on an impervious part of the body.

It’s not as if biceps and shoulders couldn’t be damaged, they just couldn’t be damaged enough by a direct hit. A submission move used to extend the joints would work to damage the shoulder socket, but that didn’t appear to be green’s goal.

I know you’re overwhelmed. I can feel how confused and hurt you are, mote. Talk to me. How can I try to help if you don’t talk to me? Cole insisted, grabbing her arm from where he stood behind her. Lita shook it off, moving through the crowd. She was angry with him, but Lita was also angry with herself. She’d let Calvin blindside her emotions because, against all odds, she’d hoped that not all the adults in her life had been terrible.

Clearly, she was wrong. And now that meant she was disappointed and angry at herself for it.

How could be ask me that? How could he put that pressure on me?! Lita yelled, her voice echoing through the private link with Cole. Nyx flinched from the force of it and she heard Cole stutter step behind her.

He’s a command. A manipulative one at that. It takes a certain man, a certain type of wolf, to admit to disrespecting his Lune without an ounce of remorse. It doesn’t surprise me that he would ask you to take your mother in–to let her join our pack as if she could ever deserve your forgimers.

Why would he kick her out at all if he wants her in a pack? Why put this on me? I hate them both, Lita snarled. Hate them all. I wish I could just

Cole sighed, grabbing her shoulders as they reached the edge of the crowd, he pulled her to a stop, dragging her backwards until her back was against his chest. You already know that answer, Line, An Alpha willfully cheating on his Lava. No, he wouldn’t face any concequences, but it doesn’t look good. It doesn’t sit right with his pack. The cat is out of the bag where you’re concerned. Maybe there were suspicious and gossip before, but now it’s in the open. had to make the problem disappear. Especially after Rafi quiL And now, he feels like if we take in your mother, it would kill two birds with one stone. It would get her out of the city, and it would ensure he still had access to her if he wanted

That’s fucking disgusting, Lita hissed, spinning to face him. No surprise that there’s yet another man in power who wants his cake and to eat it too. Has be learned nothing from what happened to your father?

“Maxim’s downfall was a long time coming, baby, and I’m sure a lot of people wished he’d died well before he ever did. Men like that don’t ever think the end will come. They feel invincible because their reigns in power are long. They aren’t untouchable, but it’s pretty damn close when you consider how large their packs are and how many resources they have at their disposal.

The frustrated whine that echoed through their bond matched the flaring of Lita’s eyes. They grew dilated, flashing between her natural dark color and the red of her wolf. It made Cole tense. If you want me to teach him some manners, you only need to say the word. What’s war when it comes to love, right? Cole gave a half–hearted laugh, looking into her sad eyes. He cupped her cheek, placing a kiss on her forehead. Apparently, I’m developing a list of wolves I have to correct later.

Stop it, Lita snapped. Stop fighting these battles for me! I can deal with my father myself, Colet I’m the pack Laws and a dawn strong Alpha, yet every time I turn around, you or some other male is stepping on my toes.

And you can rip my head off for i, okay? Just not down here in front of everyone else. I do

have some dignity left, you know? Can’t we fight in private? Cole

Bonus Chapter You Like That, Huh?

watched Lita’s canines elongate until the tips punched down over her bottom lip. Heat flushed down the bond and she glared at him. Lita could place exactly what emotion he was feeling, but hot usually meant anger. He had the nerve to be angry at her? She wanted to break his damn nose.

He door open for her.

His eyes flashed. Pulling her behind him, Cole took them both to the staircase and held the door open

You’re going to escort me to your own ass–whooping? She laughed, annoyed at how much that excited her.

I figure after everything today, I deserve it. The least I can do is let you get a free hit in.

A hit? As in one? Lita cackled, throwing her head back to laugh out loud as she ascended the staircase. I think I’ve come far enough to land more than one, love, and I strongly doubt you’ll be letting me do it.

We’ll see, he chuckled through the bond, sending more of that heat. Only this time, Lita realized she might have misread the emotion. The feeling swept through her, making her skin pucker and sweat. Tingles fluttered in her stomach, her breathing growing shallow.

Does the idea of me kicking your ass turn you on? Is that what I’m feeling through the bond?

Cole said nothing for a moment as they reached the top step. He pushed the door open and held it again, as Lita raised her brows.

He shook his head, a heated smirk flashing some of his perfect teeth, telling her she was waiting for an answer she wouldn’t get. The guards on either side of the door nodded at them both and turned away.

Look, you can kick my ass all over the suite and eat your way through a tub of ice cream. Drink a bottle of champagne. Make hot chocolate with the fluffy marshmallows if it’ll make you feel better, Cole insisted when the door shut. “And if when you’re done doing that you want to leave, say the word and we leave. The room. The showcase. The city. Any of it, Lita.”

Cole’s voice poured through her head like warm tea, soothing and sweet. Lita hid her smile as she headed for the elevators.

It’s not fair that my best friend covers your ass with my favorite things, Lita rolled her eyes, pushing the button. Cole laughed, brushing Lita’s hair from her

neck.

“Who do you think asked her to buy them?” he said, his voice startling her as they slipped into the elevator.

“It’s not going to save you from a fist to the face, Lita shrugged, “And don’t milk the broken nose either. You can take a little deviated septum, you big, strong Alpha.”

Cole’s eyes flashed red and then deepened, molten hot sensation pouring down the bond between them. “Teasing me now? Very mature.”

“And apparently you love it when I’m mean to you,” Lita huffed, raising her brows at his expression. “Or am I misreading all this heat?”

He smiled, leaning against the side wall as he punched the button for their floor. “Dominance isn’t mean. It’s a natural state of being. And yea, for the record, Alpha aggression looks really fucking good on you.”