Page 29 of Bound to Four Alphas (Silverthorn Alphas #1)

Nobody was surprised when Selena announced that she didn’t actually want to be a Goddess. Two months had passed since she had donned the crown and defeated Phaendar and Damien, and ever since then she had been working closely with Elian to learn how to control her magic, channel it, remain its custodian until such a time as she could hand it down.

She didn’t need to be a Goddess. Not when she was perfectly content with the life she was building with her four alphas.

For the time being, they had taken up residence in Marble Halls, with Ronan and Kaelen regularly traveling to their territories to strengthen the border and their control. Elian had taken his father’s place as Lord, and Malek helped oversee the reclamation of the forest. The current discussions centered on unifying the realm, with Selena as Queen and custodian. There was some opposition, but with all four alphas by her side, dissent was rare.

Under Kaelen’s orders, a great palace was being built just north of the temple of the Forest God where the priestesses had welcomed them with open arms. The heart of the realm.

Selena grunted as she reached up to pull yet another book down from one of the high shelves. Most of the library was likely in the Northern Suite at this point, but she didn’t care. She had a lot to learn.

“Struggling, are we?” Elian pressed up against her from behind, his hand darting out to grasp the book that remained frustratingly out of reach with ease.

She turned, a blush rising on her cheeks at his wicked grin.

Her mates had more than made up for lost time over the past few months. Kisses had turned passionate, wandering hands explored with leisure, and she had shyly let them know that she was happy to welcome them into her bed. Just that morning Kaelen had taken his sweet time bringing her over the edge again and again before finally knotting her as the sun rose.

Elian placed the book down, his hands resting heavy and hot over her hips, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. “I think you’ve done more than enough reading today, little dove.”

She stifled a moan as one of his hands drifted higher, cupping a breast over her satin dress, his thumb rubbing over her stiffening nipple. She could feel his hardness pressing into her back and keened softly, skin alight with desire.

He walked them backwards until he sat back in a large armchair by the fire, pulling her down in between his spread legs to sit against his chest. Ronan, who had been lazing by the fire, resting before a journey west, looked up with interest, his eyes turning dark.

“Now, little dove,” Elian crooned into her ear, his hand massaging her tender flesh, “why don’t we put on a little show?”

With practiced ease, he pulled up her long skirts, snarling in pleasure to find her bare beneath them. His right hand returned to its tortuous assault on her nipple while the other stroked her inner thigh.

“Please,” she whined, trying to buck into his hand. Ronan growled with pleasure, his yellow eyes narrowing with predatory intent.

“If you’re not going to do it, Benellane,” he growled, “then I certainly am not about to pass up the opportunity.”

Ronan dropped to his knees before her, his enormous hands spreading her thighs. He glanced up and winked at her, before leaning forward to press his mouth to her aching heat.

She keened, hips lifting from the chair as he licked and nibbled, but his hands kept her firmly in place as he doubled his assault. Both Elian’s hands were on her chest now, unlacing the front so that her breasts spilled free, nipples stiff and pink.

The coil deep in her stomach was tightening and she rocked her hips against Ronan’s face. His tongue curled against the bud at the apex of her thighs and his name tumbled from her lips as the coil snapped and stars exploded behind her eyelids. He continued as wave after wave of pleasure crashed into her, muscles shuddering with the power of her orgasm.

Eventually, Ronan leaned back with a grin, his fingers replacing his tongue, easing inside her and lazily pumping.

Elian snarled, standing abruptly with Selena in his arms. She squealed as he carried her over to the cushions before the fireplace, dropping her amongst the mound of blankets.

He was on her in an instant, his lean muscles pressing against her, driving her wild with lust as she writhed against him. He snarled again, tearing the rest of the gown away, flinging the scraps of fabric to the side to bare her fully to his gaze.

She whimpered as his mouth crashed into hers, his tongue slipping into her mouth possessively, dominating every inch of her. Automatically, her hands found their way to the drawstring of his trousers, undoing them so she could clasp the hot, thick length of him.

He shuddered at her touch, kicking the rest of his own clothes off.

“So eager for me, little dove,” he crooned, nestling between her open legs, rubbing his hard length against her core. “What is it that you want, hmm?”

“You!” she begged, nails scraping down his back, desperate for him, “Please, Alpha, I want you!”

His eyes darkened and without warning he pushed into her, a long, needy whine escaping her lips as he rocked his hips.

“Is this what you want, Omega?” he hissed, claiming her lips for another searing kiss as his thrusts became harder, faster.

“Yes!” she cried, trying to match his movements, helpless against his strength, “Please, don’t stop, don’t stop!”

Elian seemed only too happy to oblige. She fell over the edge twice more before he came with a sharp growl, forcing his knot into her. They lay together, panting in the afterglow, until Elian’s knot softened enough that he could slip out of her.

He glanced over at Ronan, who was watching Selena like she was a meal he couldn’t wait to eat. Selena could only whimper as Elian chuckled darkly, “She’s all yours.”

Ronan was never gentle. He bent her over in the furs, pounding into her, snarls and growls pouring from his lips. Where Elian and Kaelen liked to talk, Ronan preferred to give into his animalistic side.

Selena didn't care. She liked the way he lost control, her omega preening at the dark storm in his eyes when he took her, the possessiveness with which he claimed her. And afterwards she often caught him staring openly, ferocious with male pride, at the marks on her skin. Bruises from his fingers clutching her, teeth marks in her neck. Imbuing her with his scent.

When he knotted her, roaring with pleasure, every bone in her body turned to jelly. She would never get used to this, never get used to the delicious ache of the stretch, the warm weight of her mates draped over her.

She didn’t want to get used to it. And she never wanted to stop.

“Beautiful girl,” Ronan crooned, forcing her further into the cushion with his huge bulk, trapping her entirely with his body.

She whined with satisfaction, adoring the complete safety of being surrounded by him, of surrendering herself completely. After so many years of being by herself, always alone, always scared, the knowledge that she was at last completely, utterly protected warmed her to her very soul.

“How long will you be gone?” she murmured as he gathered her to his chest.

“I have to leave tonight,” he rumbled, “but I’ll be back in two weeks. The negotiations with the dragons are proceeding well. By spring we’ll be ready to start tearing down the old territory lines, let our people mix.”

Selena hummed with satisfaction. With Ronan and Kaelen at the helm, there was no doubt in her mind that the uniting of the clans would happen smoothly enough.

“I need to bathe,” she said as Ronan was finally able to withdraw. “Fancy joining me?”

He shook his head, his eyes closing. “Let me get my rest, sweetness, you have a wonderful talent for exhausting me.”

She giggled, standing and wrapping herself in a robe.

After spending her whole life washing with tepid water barely warmed over her tiny fire, the luxury of the bathing room was one she didn’t think she would ever get used to.

She moaned in delight as the warm water encased her, instantly soothing her aches. Not that she minded them—they were a reminder of the love shared with her mates.

Relaxing fully into the water, she let her eyes grow heavy, drifting in and out of sleep. The hazy scent of lavender compelled her eyelids shut, and she wasn’t about to fight the sweet allure.

She was startled by the door crashing open, scrambling backwards and covering herself with arms. Malek stopped short upon seeing her, guilt splashing across his face.

“Apologies, Selena, I will return later.”

“No,” she called after his retreating form. “Malek, it’s okay! You can join me!”

He swallowed, seeming to fight some internal battle, before nodding stiffly and letting his robes fall to the floor.

Selena could help but sigh at the distance he put between them, ever cautious, overly respectful. It didn’t matter how many times she had tried to reassure him that she didn’t fear him, didn’t blame him for anything that had happened, he was still reluctant to be in her presence without one of her other mates around to babysit him.

She huffed. Enough was enough.

Standing abruptly, the water lapping at her hips, she waded over to him, ignoring the apprehension in his eyes.

“How was your mission?” She dropped down and pushed herself behind him, grabbing a cloth to rub over his back. He was stiff as marble under her touch, his throat bobbing.

“Successful,” he replied, “I’ve found a few more … monsters … that show similar levels of awareness to me. They’re not ready to be around others yet, but … they’re learning.”

“That’s really good news.” She continued to bathe him. “I really hope that one day you’ll have more of your kind. I want all to be welcome.”

He nodded, his muscles relaxing ever so slightly under her touch. It was the only confirmation she was going to get that he was pleased with her words. But that was okay. She didn’t need him to speak to know how much he cared for her.

She gently moved around to his front, moving her cloth to the pale muscles of his chest, biting her lip as she glanced up at him through her lashes.

A low rumbling began in his chest, and his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. When he kissed her, it was nothing short of blissfully sweet, adoration in every movement. She whined and pressed herself closer into him.

The rumbling got louder as he nudged her legs apart, his hand skimming appreciatively over the swell of her stomach.

“How is our child?” he asked, his eyes still so full of wonder at the word.

“Strong,” Selena said, nuzzling into him, “but that doesn’t come as any surprise.”

He kissed her again, lifting her hips to push himself gently into her. She gasped at the sensation, arching into him, her aching breasts crushed against his muscles.

Malek was always gentle when he took her. She could sense it, the way he kept the ravenous beast under control. Sometimes his lips would skim over her throat, right where her blood raced, and his breathing would become ragged. Hungry.

But he always controlled himself. He would tear his mouth away, lean his forehead against hers, and pour every ounce of love and devotion into his gaze.

And so it was this time.

As they embraced in the afterglow, Selena smiled against his skin. And was happy.