Page 129 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha

NIGHT

After finishing the bottle of apple cider that Dom had brought for her, Bryn found a spot to curl up and fell asleep while the rest of us talked.

I found her on the couch with her knees tucked toward her chest, surrounded by throw pillows.

She looked like a doe curled up for sleep in the woods.

The sight was so sweet, it almost hurt to look at her.

My mate, I thought with an intensity that surprised me. Mother of my pups. The deep, growling purr from my wolf showed me his agreement.

Tavi turned off the music, and I sent her a grateful look. “I’m going to put Bryn to bed,” I said, speaking quietly so I didn’t disturb my mate. “Good night, you two. Thanks for coming.”

“We’ll catch you later, Night,” Dom said. “Tavi, wanna take a walk with me?”

She nodded, ducking her head slightly. Before they left, she turned to me. “I keep forgetting to tell you this, Night. Violet asked me to tell you that she wants you to come by and see her soon.”

“I’ll swing by her place tomorrow morning.”

She nodded but hesitated instead of following Dom to the door. She looked up at me for a few moments, then moved forward to hug me.

“Congratulations, Night,” she whispered. “I’m so happy for you and Bryn.”

I hugged her back. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her affection. It felt like years had passed since the last time we were so close with each other. “Thanks, Tav. Have fun tonight, okay?”

She nodded, and when she stepped back, she was smiling shyly. “We’ll see ourselves out.”

I carefully scooped Bryn into my arms. She moaned slightly, leaning her head against my arm. She felt so small and light in my arms, it was difficult to envision that she’d one day have a fuller, rounder stomach. The thought almost made me laugh because it was so different from how she looked now.

I helped her out of her dress and gently put her in bed. As I pulled away, my shirt caught on something. I turned, and it was Bryn holding the hem of my shirt between her fingers, her blue-gray eyes peering up at me through long dark lashes.

“Stay,” she whispered.

I smiled. The expression on her face, sleepy but insistent, made my heartbeat quicken. “I was just getting to my side of the bed.”

“Good.” She slowly let go of my shirt, and I pulled it off before crawling on top of her. Her hands clasped my shoulders.

I kissed her. “Are you awake enough to have some fun?”

A smile spread slowly across her lips, and she nodded.

“That’s my girl.” I pressed my lips to hers again, slowly this time.

I kissed her jaw and the spot just underneath her chin. Her fingers pressed into my shoulders, and she let out a sweet, soft moan. The sound, the smooth warmth of her skin…every caress was like heaven to me.

I trailed lazy kisses down her chest and sucked one of her hardened nipples into my mouth.

Bryn moaned loudly, and I moved to the other nipple.

I was careful with her because I knew how sore her body had been lately.

I didn’t want to remind her of her aches and pains; I wanted her to feel beautiful—like the queen she deserved to be.

"Night,” she whimpered, pushing gently on my shoulders.

She wanted me to head further south, and I was all too eager to oblige. I trailed kisses down her stomach, enjoying the texture of the goosebumps that my lips sent rippling across her skin.

Sliding my fingers under the waistband of her panties, I pulled the fabric down and tossed it aside to join my shirt and her dress.

The intoxicating, heady scent of her pussy had my wolf purring.

I flattened my tongue against her mound and dragged it slowly between her fuzzy lips, and it was all I could do not to howl when the salted honey taste of her spread across my tongue.

She gave a small cry as I devoured her, slipping my tongue inside her warmth before clamping my mouth down on her clit and sucking gently. Without my shoulders to hold onto, her hands pushed through my hair. Her legs bent, and her thighs tightened against my head.

It wasn’t long before each pass of my tongue made her body quake. She gripped my hair, holding me still as my tongue delved into her. Her orgasm rocked through her. She arched her back as she came hot on my face. I lapped at her. She was delicious.

After, when her thighs relaxed enough that I could slip free, I looked up at her. She was a mess, her hair spread across her pillow, her skin glowing with sweat, her chest rising and falling with each quick breath. Her smile was full of satisfaction, which was all I needed to see.

I left the bed to wipe my face, and when I came back, Bryn was still awake. I climbed into bed next to her, and her body curved into mine. I wrapped my arms around her.

“You’re going to tell your mom about our baby tomorrow?” she asked.

“That’s the plan.” I sighed. “I’m a little nervous.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I know she’ll be happy, but I guess it’s just the anticipation of talking to her about it.” I shook my head. "I don’t know.”

Bryn patted my arm. “It’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, I know. Maybe I’m just tired.”

She yawned and snuggled closer. “Let me know how it goes, okay?”

“Of course.” I kissed the top of her head. “Sweet dreams.”

She laughed a little, but within seconds, she was asleep. I closed my eyes and tried to empty my mind to let my exhaustion take over.

The next morning, I gave Bryn a kiss on her forehead before I left.

Heading out into King territory at night wasn’t something I often did.

I was always on alert when out and about in what had always been enemy territory.

Maybe that was why I felt a little nervous about announcing to Mom that Bryn was pregnant.

I was proud of Bryn, proud and unbelievably happy that I was going to be a father in a matter of months.

Still, the weight of the news was heavier than the logs I’d carried earlier that day as part of my training.

My mother would also want to hear about my trip back home, which I wasn’t looking forward to rehashing.

When I got to Mom’s cabin, I took a deep breath, exhaled, and walked inside. She was in the living room, snacking on some bacon she’d crisped up on the stove. A quick sniff told me her cup contained lemon ginger tea.

“There’s my son,” she said. “Look at you, coming to see me the day after I requested it.”

I chuckled and eased into the seat across from her. “You know I like to be punctual.”

“Mmhm.” She sipped her drink. “So, I wanted to talk to you about the council. Dom said you were meeting them.”

I let out a deep sigh and pushed a hand through my hair, wishing I was drinking something that would burn on the way down. For the third time, I went through the council’s demands, and for the third time, I felt a seething frustration rise in my chest.

“Dammit,” she said when I finished speaking.

“I wish I could say I was surprised. The five of them have done so much good for the Wargs, and I would never take that from them, but those fools are too stuck in the old brutalist way of doing things. Not to mention,” she added with a scowl, “they assume they can control you the way they were able to control Peter.”

“Fuck that.”

“So, what are you going to do about them?”

“My plan right now is to take things slow. Bryn had a pretty encouraging meeting with the Kings’ council, and with the reconstruction projects, we’re getting in the pack’s good graces. I think I’ll have some real support after the challenge—whatever that challenge turns out to be.”

“Mm,” she hummed, considering my words. “I know we all hate biding our time, but I think you’re right—that’s the best way to handle things right now.

I can’t believe the council is dragging their feet on this.

I guess that’s bureaucracy for you. What’s the plan for the challenge? Have you started training?”

“I have. And I’ve got Dom keeping an eye on my competition. We know of two threats, but they won’t be impossible to beat.”

“That’s good to hear. Is there anything else to report?”

Now was as good a time as any to tell her about the baby, but after talking to her about the alpha challenge, I wasn’t sure why I’d been so nervous before. Mom would be over the moon with joy.

“Yes, actually,” I said. “Bryn’s pregnant.”

She gasped, hopped to her feet, and rushed to embrace me. I hugged her and spun her around before setting her back down.

“Ah, my boy, my boy!” she exclaimed, pulling back to take my face in her hands. “Going to be a father already!”

I couldn’t keep my grin from spreading ear to ear.

“You met Bryn only a couple of months ago, and already you’re giving me grandbabies,” she teased. “You certainly didn’t waste any time.”

I chuckled. “Mom, come on.”

She pinched my cheek, then gently patted the same spot. “Honey, this is incredible. Why is Bryn not here with you to announce this?”

“She’s exhausted. We had a little celebration with Tavi and Dom last night. She was still asleep when I left this morning.”

My mother nodded and returned to her seat. I did the same as I snagged a few pieces of bacon.

“It sounds like you all had a great time last night.”

“We did, yeah.” We’d laughed a lot, and danced and talked about the future with my family, and…if I had space on my face to smile wider, I would’ve. “With all the shit that’s been going on lately, I don’t think I realized how much I missed relaxing with them.”

“Oh, Night, I’m so glad you all had a good time.” She reached across the table to touch my hand. “How far along is she?”

“We’re thinking only a few weeks, but I want Dr. Stan to take a look at her. Dom told me he hasn’t left for home yet.”

“Oh, yeah, he’s still here,” she said. “I’m planning on seeing him tomorrow. I’ll ask him to pay you two a visit.”

I frowned and lifted the cup to take a drink. “Is it because of your alpha wound?”

“Oh, no, honey. He and I have been arranging a date.”

I choked on my tea. She watched me recover from my coughing fit with obvious amusement.