The Mating System: A Paranormal Shifter Romance Read online

  Alexa walked forward to the Alphas, and they took up a flanking position around her. Noemi was in front, guiding Alexa along, as though she didn’t already have the path memorized. They cut through the trees, trying to lessen the amount of time it would take to get to the meeting ground. Alexa wondered briefly how much time she had wasted when she was hiding, and knew that the only reason she hadn’t been punished with sharp fangs was because she was to look pretty for whatever male was presented with her.

  She glanced up at the sky, a serene blue that didn’t reflect her emotions at all. In her stomach, she could feel a storm brewing, threatening to turn over the lack of food in her belly. Suddenly, she regretted not eating, but she hadn’t had it in her.

  Ahead of her, Noemi glanced back, a little frown on her face. “Hey, Alexa,” she said, bringing the girl from her trance.

  Alexa tore her eyes from the sky, meeting Noemi’s eyes instead. “What is it?” Alexa asked, glancing up and down the Alpha. Alexa was jealous of how well-endowed she was, of how beautiful all Alphas were.

  “Good luck,” Noemi said. “I know I was rude to you earlier, I was just joking.”

  Alexa nodded, turning her gaze to the ground passing beneath her feet. “I know,” Alexa said. “I had just been thinking about it all morning. It stresses me out to think about it.”

  “What’s it like?” Noemi asked. She had fallen back a step to walk just in front of Alexa to her left.

  “What do you mean?” Alexa asked, furrowing her eyebrows at Noemi. When the girl blushed, Alexa realized, and averted her eyes again. “Sorry, that was rude to ask.”

  Another thing to be jealous of. Because of her status, Noemi wasn’t subjected to the horrors of what happened to the other females in the pack. She was revered as an Alpha, and despite having the best genes, she was far more useful in other situations. Just the thought of it made Alexa’s blood boil in her veins.

  “It’s scary,” Alexa finally said. Noemi’s bright eyes flashed to her. “You never know what’s going to happen to you, or what it’ll be like. Each time it changes, sometimes it’s better, but most of the time it’s worse,” she explained. “A new male each time, you don’t even know his name, and you never see him again.” She could feel her heart speeding up, and Noemi must have seen it, too. The Alpha reached out and took Alexa’s hand, giving it a reaffirming squeeze.

  “I didn’t know it was that bad,” she said. She looked like a dog that had been kicked, her tail practically between her legs. “I assumed that everyone liked it.”

  “That’s because you’ve never had to experience it,” Alexa snapped.

  Noemi drew her hand back, and gave Alexa a hurt expression. Stone-faced, Alexa stared forward. They were almost at their destination, she could already smell the wolves from the other pack, and no doubt the male that would be waiting for her. Noemi hadn’t deserved such harsh words, but it was true. When she was trying to face her fears, Alexa didn’t need misplaced pity from a misguided Alpha.

  As their group approached the other pack, the other Alphas stepped in front of Alexa, and she stopped moving. She lowered her head, banned from seeing her destined, temporary mate until the process began.

  “This one seems to have bad luck,” an unfamiliar voice said.

  “She’s a hunter,” Noemi lied easily. The other Alphas twitched beside her, wondering why Noemi had covered for a lower wolf. “It’s easy to get knocked around by hooves or run for too long and lose a litter.”

  “But she’s not an Alpha,” another wolf said. “Why is she allowed to hunt?”

  “We run our pack the way we run our pack, and you run your pack the way you run it,” Noemi snapped. If she were a wolf, Alexa could clearly picture her hackles raised, making the Alpha look even bigger than she was. She would take a wide stance, willing to lunge into battle the moment she was given a threatening signal from the other pack.

  “Alright, back off,” a third wolf said. “Let’s get this over with.”

  The Alphas in front of Alexa parted, and she took a pace forward, keeping her eyes on the ground. In front of her, she could see the toes of the male who was going to be her partner for the day. She wanted to know desperately what he looked like, if he was handsome, if she would want his pups if she were to catch. All she wanted for her pups was for them to be beautiful and healthy, to easily fit in their places in the pack.

  The three, possibly more, wolves from the other pack backed away. The Alphas from Alexa’s pack did the same. They took up positions far away, to give the couple privacy. Alexa’s eyes strained to pick out each detail in the ground, to try and give herself a sort of distraction. At the back of her eyes, the burning pinpricks of tears that threatened to overflow at any moment.

  The wolf in front of her reached out with big, calloused hands, and put his fingers on Alexa’s jaw. Alexa jerked her head away, and the first of tears began to fall. She nearly dropped to the ground right then, preferring the method of getting to it right away than having to deal with some sort of faked emotion that would only end in more heartbreak for her.

  “You’re crying,” the wolf noted.

  His voice was deep, an almost melodically-ringing voice that soothed Alexa’s frazzled nerves. She could hear the caring in his voice, something she wasn’t used to. He had drawn his hand back from Alexa’s chin, sensing her displeasure at being touched. Instead, with the back of his fingers, he wiped away the streaks of tears that had formed on Alexa’s cheeks.

  “Let’s just get this over with,” Alexa growled.

  The man was silent for a long time, but Alexa could clearly hear the deep rumbling of his breathing. “If that’s how you want to do things,” he said. “But will you at least look at me?” he asked. He tried to gently turn Alexa’s chin, but she jerked away again. “I just want to see you.”

  “Why?” Alexa asked. “So you can make fun of me? Ask me why it’s taken so long? Tell me I’m just an ugly girl who doesn’t deserve to have your pups, but you’ll do it anyway, for the sex?” she snarled. She slapped the man’s hand away and turned a murderous glare up to his face, fangs bared. She had drawn from experience to try and wound him, calling upon the things that his pack mates had said to her in previous sessions.

  When she saw his face, concern painted all over it, Alexa’s anger dissipated, as though it had never been there in the first place.

  *

  Whatever Alexa had been expecting, whmoever she had been expecting, it hadn’t been the man standing in front of her. She had to strain her neck to look up at him, his eyes as light blue as the sky itself. If she looked hard enough in those eyes, she could see traces of storm clouds, dark flickers that revealed more than they should have. Immediately, she could tell that the wolf in front of her was an honest one, with only the best of intentions. Never before had she considered that of a man she was supposed to lie with.

  Without even realizing, Alexa reached out and placed a hand on his chest. He had dark skin, kissed by the sun and shining as though he were made out of gold. Her fingers caressed the muscle that she found there, tracing the pad of her thumb over the thick, sinewy skin. Despite his obvious strength, his skin was soft and smooth, having never seen a battle or a well-aimed kick from a razor-sharp hoof.

  The male stared at Alexa, looking her up at down, but not saying anything. He allowed her to look, to touch, and to admire. She was fascinated, staring with wide eyes that had once been swelling with tears. Her hand was delicate and small, barely taking up the muscles on the left half of his chest. She felt his heart, the strong beat pulsing through her fingers and influencing her own heart, beginning to calm down.

  “You’re not crying anymore,” the wolf noted.

  Alexa pulled her hand back, embarrassed that she had done something so forward. “I guess I’m not,” she said, although she paused to wipe the last remaining tracks of tears from her cheeks. “Who are you?” she asked.

  The wolf’s steady breathing was calming her, as though every inch of h
im were as peaceful as the woods on a clear day. He was handsome in that way, too, strong muscle with long limbs and a jaw chiseled by the Gods.

  “Antony,” he said. The name rolled from his tongue, accented in a strange way that Alexa didn’t recognize.

  “Antony,” she parroted, letting her voice trail off in awe. She looked up at Antony, a blush spreading on her cheeks. “Antony, I’m—I’m so sorry about the things that I said. I’m so used to being mistreated and made fun of, I just assumed that you would be the same way.”

  Alexa ducked her head, waiting for the retaliation that she was sure to follow. Antony was gentle, though, and took Alexa’s chin in his hand again. His fingers were calloused and rough, as though he worked with his hands more often than not. He was staring into Alexa’s eyes, holding her gaze. When she tried to look away and show her submission, Antony would force her to look back.

  “I know what has happened to you,” Antony said. “Those wolves use you.” It was a traumatic subject, but the lulling of Antony’s voice kept Alexa far from panic. “I am not that kind of man. You are just as alive as I am, and you deserve to be treated that way,” he said. A silence fell between them, steady and peaceful. “What’s your name?” he asked after a long time.

  “Alexa,” she said. Her name was nowhere near as splendid or as exotic as Antony’s, but it brought a smile to the male’s features. Alexa nearly fainted at the sight of it, a shiver running through her entire body. If she were to die right then, she would die happy, with the image of Antony smiling imprinted in her mind’s eye.

  “That’s beautiful,” Antony said. “I love it.”

  Alexa laughed lightly, a soft noise that she hadn’t heard from herself in so long. Antony had finally released her chin, and she took the moment to tuck her long hair behind her ear. “Thank you,” she said.

  She looked up at Antony again, intending to say something else, but the words were stolen from her lips. Antony was kissing her, their lips melding together as they met. Alexa had wanted to push it out of her head, to imagine that they didn’t have a purpose for being there that day, but they both knew that they had a duty. From the way Antony kissed her though—the fact that he had kissed her at all—Alexa knew that this time was going to be different.

  Her body collapsed against Antony’s in a sudden wave of passion, hips colliding and locking together as if they were made perfectly for each other. Antony wrapped a strong hand around her hip, the other taking a fistful of her blonde hair at the base of her neck and tilting her head back. It was a rough motion, but Alexa allowed herself to be manipulated like a marionette.

  Antony’s tongue plunged into her mouth, exploring every crevice and discovering each point of her sharp fangs. Alexa nearly squirmed with excitement, the wolf inside of her wanting to bounce and run wildly with joy. Alexa had never experienced the other part of her brain, so she was excited for a ritualistic mating, and it was nice to finally be willing to partake. Her tongue moved against Antony’s, hungry and looking for more.

  With her eyes closed, her other senses lit up like flame, coloring her world in scents and sounds and the press of Antony’s body. She could hear his sharp breathing, as though he were having trouble controlling himself. Her own breathing was just as ragged, and she forced Antony away from the kiss so she could breathe. His blue eyes were shining with avid hunger, and a deep growl resonated through his chest.

  Alexa swallowed hard, looking up at Antony and trying to quell the fear in her heart. If she hadn’t known any better, she might have thought that Antony was angry with her, showing his true Alpha colors. However, she did know better, and she knew what that look was, hungry and biting, as if he were ready to pounce on her any second without warning.

  It was lust.

  Alexa was familiar with the emotion, painted on men’s faces as though she were theirs to use and then leave. Antony’s was different, though, looking her up and down and taking in each of her features. It was nearly loving the way he looked at her, as if she were actually his mate, rather than a wolf he would never see again.

  “Antony, you’re scaring me,” Alexa whimpered, trying to quell the snarling that the Alpha was giving off. She knew it was only possessive, but it was a sound that didn’t suit his gentle features.

  “I can’t help it,” Antony said. He reached out, placing a hand on Alexa’s cheek and locking his blazing blue eyes with hers. “I want you,” he muttered.

  Alexa felt a shiver run down her body, but before she could reply, Antony was on her. He had somehow brought the two of them to the ground in a flash of limbs and vivid blue, pinning Alexa under his weight.

  She couldn’t have moved the Alpha if she had wanted to, and she wasn’t really sure if she wanted to. Their mouths met in a harsh kiss, far different from the gentle ones they had shared up to that point. Antony was claiming every inch of her mouth as his own, a flurry of his teeth and tongue. He showed the girl no mercy, pressing her shoulders into the dirt and holding her down.

  Alexa finally allowed herself to give in. She could feel a deep howling inside of her, threatening to break loose as she grabbed onto fistfuls of Antony’s hair, holding on for dear life, as though she were a swimmer stranded in the ocean. She could feel Antony’s cock straining against her leg through his loose pants, a burning sensation that made her want nothing but more, more.

  “Alpha,” she keened, throwing her head back.

  Antony snarled at her, a quick display of fangs as a way of warning her not to do what he didn’t want. He didn’t seem angry for long, though, moving to attack Alexa’s teeth with his fangs. He was rough, but he never broke the delicate skin covering her throat, though he did leave a beautiful littering of dark, blossoming bruises.

  “You belong to me,” Antony said, running his fingers through Alexa’s hair. “I don’t care if we never see each other again, you are mine and mine alone.”

  Alexa nodded, wanting nothing more than to please the hungry Alpha above her. “Yes,” she agreed, “I will only belong to you.”

  Antony had a flash of a smile then, running his fingers down Alexa’s chest and resting his hand on top of her belly. “I’ll fill you with my pups, you’ll be happy and never want for anything.”

  Alexa nearly felt tears rise to her eyes as Antony spoke. His words sounded as though he intended on keeping Alexa close, as if they could truly control something like that.

  “I would love your pups,” she whispered. Her hand moved to Antony’s jaw, caressing his strong cheekbone with her thumb. “They would have your blue eyes, and your strength. They would be handsome, strong Alphas just like you.”

  Antony’s growling turned into a pleasant rumbling, and he nuzzled against Alexa’s hand. A moment later, the tender moment was broken, Antony flipping Alexa over onto her stomach before she could even process what had happened. She yelped in protest, trying to fight against the Alpha who was attempting to pull down her fur coverings.

  “No,” she said, putting her hand on Antony’s and stalling him.

  He looked at Alexa, horrified that she had dared to object. “No?” he repeated. A snarl crept onto his face again, and he narrowed his eyes. “I am your Alpha, you will do what I want.”

  “I’m your mate, and I want to see your face,” Alexa snapped.

  Cold fear pulsed through her body for daring to contradict an Alpha, but she held her ground firmly. A calmness spread through Antony, taking Alexa’s reason into count. Probably every male who had ever taken her had done so with her face in the dirt; Antony wasn’t one of those men.

  Gently, he rolled Alexa onto her back, and she gave him a little smile.

  “Isn’t this better?” she asked.

  Antony didn’t reply, moving forward again and taking her mouth. He was moving against her, hardly able to wait for the two of them to be rid of their clothes. He longed to be inside of Alexa, to feel that hot clutch surrounding his cock as he drove them both towards orgasm. Alexa seemed to understand, and underneath Antony, she m
anaged to pull of her top, only breaking the kiss for a second.

  As soon as she was revealed, though, Antony had other plans. He sat back, balancing on the balls of his feet between Alexa’s knees. He looked down at the frail she-wolf, admiring the way her perky tits sat on top of her chest. They were like perfect, ripe fruits, ready for the hands of a lust-filled mate. He caught Alexa’s eyes as he yanked down his own pants, watching as Alexa’s eyes went wide.

  His straining, pulsing cock was huge. He was far bigger than any of the males Alexa had been with in the past, long and thick. It had a slight curve to it, hard as a rock and wanting nothing more than to pound into the girl below him. Alexa sat up on her elbows, daring to glance at her Alpha before putting a hand on his dick, running her fingers along the shaft.

  Antony took in a sharp breath, his fingers curling into tight fists at his sides. Alexa’s hand was far better than his own, gentle and sweet like a doll’s. She touched him with a child-like curiosity, but Antony wanted more. He stared down at her full, rounded lips that were so close to him, and pushed forward.

  At first, Alexa backed away as the slit of his cock pressed against her lips, smearing a bead of precum. It was salty and nothing like Alexa had been expecting, but Antony kept a hand on the back of her head, keeping her from going too far. “Trust me,” he said.

  Alexa stared up at Antony, not sure if she was ready to trust a male at this point in her life. Antony wasn’t just any wolf, though. He treated her gently, but passionately, with all of the raging strength of a forest fire. She dared to nod, and opened her mouth just so for Antony. His hands gripped tightly in her hair, and he pushed the head of his cock past the girl’s lips.

  CHAPTER THREE

  At first, Alexa spluttered, finding it hard to regain her balance and calm down. She wanted to yank away, and to push Antony far away from her. Her hands were on his hips, but his hands were on her shoulders, keeping her close. He hadn’t pushed farther into her mouth, sensing the panic that was rising.