Alpha Protector (Shadow Sentinels World #3)

Epilogue

S hannon

Giggles and laughter made me smile as the kids raced around the playground with footballs and skipping ropes. I loved this time of day when they could let loose some of the energy they kept bottled up in the classroom.

The sun warmed my face as I navigated between the running and squealing children. I had shucked off my jacket during this morning’s classes. It wasn’t that hot outside, yet I was boiling. I pulled my silky top from where it stuck to my damp skin and sighed at the feel of the summer breeze flowing under the material.

Stone strolled in through the gates, and some of the kids nearby gaped up at him, their eyes as round as saucers. I grinned. He clearly looked like a giant to them. To me, he was the sexiest male alive, and if it wasn’t so inappropriate for a school teacher, I’d jump up, wrap my legs around his waist, and kiss him until neither of us could breathe.

“Hey.” He leaned in and brushed his lips to mine, making a couple of the year fives giggle. “Ready for lunch?”

I laughed and snuggled under the arm he put around my shoulders, trying to rein in my need to tackle him to the ground right then and there. “Yep, I’m starving.”

“Bye, Miss!” yelled Mark, one of the cheekier kids from my class, making kissy noises as he whizzed past and booted a football to one of his friends. It was pointless reminding him that I’d be back in time for his afternoon class. Especially now that he was hooting and laughing with Damien, and they were both making kissy noises.

Stone raised a brow. “Are they always that…annoying?”

My laugh made his lips twitch. “You have no idea.” And yeah, it was true. Some days, I wished I was still a warrior instead of a trainee teacher. It would be easier to put down my enemies than try to control a class of young kids who were constantly pushing boundaries and doing things like stabbing each other’s hands with a pencil. But this was the life I’d chosen and I loved it, even if the learning curve was enormous. Especially on how to be diplomatic with parents who thought their child could do no wrong. I was still training, but being a teacher filled something in my soul that being a warrior never had. Imparting knowledge, seeing that light come on in a child’s gaze when they realised they could work out how to do the task you’d set, helping those who found words and numbers difficult was fulfilling in a way the violence of being a warrior could never be. Not for me, anyway.

Stone pressed a key fob, and the Land Rover he’d driven into the school grounds beeped, the lights winking to say it was unlocked. Not that locking a vehicle was necessary inside the compound, but Stone was always vigilant. He released me with a kiss to my temple and pulled a picnic basket and blanket from the back seat.

“Come on, let’s go to the beach for a while.”

“Sounds great.”

Maybe there would be more of a breeze there to cool me down. I took the hand he held out, revelling in the warmth and strength of his calloused grip as it wrapped around mine, and he guided me down the narrow sandy path.

The compound’s school was not far from the beach, so it didn’t take long before my feet sank into the soft golden sand of the shoreline. We hadn’t gone far onto the beach before Stone spread the blanket. “Sit.”

His instruction, as innocent as it was, had desire spiking between my legs. Fuck, he only had to look at me these days, and I was lusting after him. My body leaked heat, goosebumps peppering my skin as I did as he instructed.

Standing over me, his eyes darkened, the same lust I felt written all over his face. He grinned and a wave of need hit me through our bond.

“Always so good for me, aren’t you, Butterfly.”

I groaned at the gravel in his voice, my head tipping back and exposing my throat. My skin itched, my blood heated, and my clothes stuck to my damp skin. They were in the way. I needed them off. I needed his body heavy on mine, his skin touching every inch, and his cock inside me. “Stone, I need you,” I said, dropping back on the blanket, grasping my skirt, and lifting it up my thighs. “I’m hot. So hot…”

Stone dropped to his knees, his face dipping into a frown. His hands gently covered mine. “Hey, what’s wrong?” His nostrils flared as a wave of heat hit me, and I grasped at his wrists. “Fuck, baby, you’re in heat. We have to get home…”

Panic hit me. The thought of him not taking me made my chest tighten until I was grabbing at him, gasping for air. “No… not yet. Please….I need you…”

A muscle ticked at the side of his jaw. “Fuck, Shan, we’ll have every unmated male in a half-mile radius hunting us down. I need to get you home. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” His voice dropped. “And believe me when I say I’ll fucking kill anyone who tries to take you from me.”

My face flushed more, desire curling low in my belly at the possession and protectiveness in his voice. I loved being his, though part of me felt a twinge of guilt at not having a discussion about my heat cycles. I’d thought about getting some drugs over the last six months since we’d been home to suppress my heat, but I’d honestly thought I’d have longer. I guess with starting my new job and settling back into life here, it must have slipped my mind. I’d never bothered with drugs before, and I hadn’t been in heat since my father had locked me up in that fucking prison. Maybe it had been the alcohol or lack of nutrition that had held them back before, fuck only knew, but now it was too late. Did Stone even want kids? I was ashamed to say we’d never talked about it. I’d thrust it to the back of my mind, frightened of his answer. Shit. I was an idiot.

I undulated my hips, needing friction but finding none. Another wave of heat flushed my body, my sex swollen and needy despite not being touched. “I can’t… please…”

At my plea, he swore under his breath and positioned himself between my legs. Fumbling with his jeans, he got them undone and yanked them down to mid-thigh. The sight of his swollen erection only made me more desperate, and I writhed as he dragged my skirt right up and grabbed my silk undies, ripping them off.

There was nothing gentle about the way he plunged into my wet heat. “Fuck. Me.” His face screwed up in pleasure, his eyes shut even as he pumped his hips—hard—slamming my body into the sand. His eyes opened, a mix of heat-soaked silver and purple staring back. “Mine,” he growled as he drove into me with no restraint, his wolf riding him high.

I loved it. That rawness in his actions. His uncontrolled passion. His lust. His possessive snarl. I wanted it. All of it.

“Harder,” I rasped.

He grunted, driving into me and rolling his hips so that the base of his cock rubbed my swollen and needy clit. I moaned. Each delicious pass caused friction that drove me higher. My fingers scrambled and clawed between his corded forearms that were anchored either side of my head and his hips, lost in such lust and pleasure I didn’t know which bit of him to hold onto.

“I…I…I’m…” My eyes met his, and he grabbed my jaw as he kissed me furiously, like he couldn’t stop himself. His teeth scraped my lip, and I grabbed at his, making that softness bleed before he pulled back.

I bared my neck. I was already his, but I needed to feel his teeth in me, for him to take me in that raw and primal way. I tilted my head. No words were necessary; he knew what I needed without them, especially when our bond was wide open, and we were feeding from each other’s desperation.

His growl was feral as he sank those sharp teeth high in my neck, his pelvis slamming against mine. Our wolf spirits merged, their animalistic need heightening ours. Sensation coiled deep in my core, winding tighter and tighter until I could hardly bear it. My skin burned, blood rushed through my ears and seared through my veins. The draw of his mouth on my neck was too much, and my orgasm detonated. I clamped down on his cock, writhing beneath him, lost in almost painful pleasure, until his erection slammed into me once more, swelling and pulsing. Grabbing his hair and pulling his teeth from me, I yanked him close enough that I could sink my own teeth into his neck, claiming my strong mate out here in the open, under the vast blue sky. Hot fluid seared my insides, the feel of it undid me, another climax coming from nowhere, locking my muscles up as I screeched his name, lights flashing behind my closed eyes.

Panting, we both collapsed, our wolves settling inside us, but I wouldn’t let him go, making sure he lay on top of me. It was the best sensation ever, feeling him skin-to-skin with me.

“Damn, Butterfly, that was fucking amazing….and unexpected.” He lifted his head and, with a careful hand, brushed sweat-soaked strands of hair from my face. “So….are you…sure…about this? A baby?”

My heart squeezed. I couldn't look at him, suddenly shy, which was ridiculous considering everything we were to each other.

“Look at me.”

I did. Of course. I was wired to not disobey his commands when we were in private. Which I guessed we were, or Stone would be a growling mess of possessive Alpha wolf right now.

I took a moment to think about his question. Was I okay with having a baby? I took a breath, not wanting to lie.

“I honestly hadn’t thought about it much before…but, yeah…I am. If the Mother blesses us with a baby…that would be….amazing.” I lifted my hand to cup his cheek. “I love you more than anything, and seeing a mini you running around this place would make me so fucking happy.”

His eyes shone, and a beautiful smile lit his face. “Good, ‘cause I really want one, too.”

My head tilted as I stared up at the male I adored. “Why haven’t you said anything before?”

He shrugged before pulling out slowly enough to make me groan and feel the first stirrings of another wave of desire.

“I wanted to make sure you were happy and settled in your new job and our new life before I brought it up. I didn’t think you’d be ready yet.”

I smiled. “Well, no time like the present.” I groaned as his seed leaked from inside me onto the blanket. A long, haunting howl from down the beach caught our attention.

“Time to go, Butterfly, before I have to fight off Lionel or any other unmated males.”

I frowned. He was right. “I’m sorry I forgot to sort this out.”

Stone raised a brow as he cleaned me with a napkin before helping me to my feet and lifting me into his arms. I chuckled, knowing telling him I could walk was pointless. He was in protective Alpha mate mode now. “What about the picnic stuff?”

He grunted. “You’re kidding, right? We’ll get it later. You’re more important right now.” A wicked grin bared his teeth. “And just so we’re clear, I’m not sorry you forgot to stop this. It’s going to be amazing. Both sating your desire and the result.”

By the time we made it back to the large country mansion where our suite of rooms were, I was begging him to fuck me again.

Connor met us at the main doors. I hid my face in Stone’s neck. Not because I was embarrassed since going into heat was normal for a female shifter, but because I wanted to inhale Stone’s fresh scent until I drowned in it.

“Myles, Reed, and Owen are watching the house. Any unmated males are staying in the bar for now with Ember.”

Stone nodded. “Good. Any problems?”

Unmated males could become desperate if they caught the scent of a female in heat, so they were sequestered to prevent bloodshed.

“Lionel. But he’s contained now. It won’t be a problem.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Stone walked up the stairs, and I glanced at Connor over his shoulder. Connor winked and mouthed, “enjoy yourself.”

I gave him the finger, just because, although I grinned. I would. No doubt about it. Nerves fizzed in my belly when I considered what could be the outcome of this, but it was okay. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had a real family, a pack around me who would help if I ever asked, and a mate who would never leave me. I gazed up into Stone’s face. His eyes met mine, heat simmering in their depths. I loved him so much I couldn’t even…

He smiled, his eyes softening. “I love you too, Butterfly.” His mouth on mine was hot and delicious. I was vaguely aware of the click of the door before I was weightless. I squealed as he threw me down on the bed and was still bouncing when he fell on me, bracketing my face with his hands. “Now, let’s see if we can make a baby.”