Page 15 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter (Moonbound Mates #3)

JAVI

M orning presents us with our first challenge: what works when we’re alone won’t work when we’re with the others.

For one thing, it’s made clear to us from the minute we step outside of the room that there are certain rules omegas must follow and that it’s looked down upon for alphas to indulge any breaking of those rules.

First, Peaches has to stay collared—which neither of us likes.

Second, she’s not supposed to wear normal clothes.

And third, she’s supposed to stay indoors unless explicitly told to leave by the Prime.

I have to go down to the dock to talk to Boyd before he hightails it out of here, but I can’t leave Peaches at the Citadel.

Our mating is purely cosmetic, and a single bite isn’t enough to fend off encroaching alphas.

I can sense her, sure, but the way the men at the Rig behave, it would be too late for me to get to her if something happened while I was gone.

Given how embarrassed she’s been this whole time, I don’t intend on following most of those rules. She’s still wearing my t-shirt, leaving me bare-chested and looking more than ready for a brawl. I don’t mind it; I want the others to know how dangerous I can be.

And when we’re inevitably questioned on why she’s not running around naked, I’ll need the skill of intimidation to get away with it.

I may have agreed to be part of Gideon’s pack last night, but I’ve never considered myself a very honest man.

“So what’s the plan?” Peaches asks, plucking at the hem of the shirt like it offends her, even as she sniffs at the collar. “I don’t think they’ll let me wear this.”

“They’ll let you wear it because I say you’re wearing it,” I growl, sharper than I mean to be—but fuck if I can help it with her standing there in nothing but my clothes, looking at me like that.

I stalk to the window, needing the distance, peering out at the platform for any sign of Boyd.

The sky is still heavy with storm clouds. The Rig isn’t done with us yet.

“I want my scent on you,” I say, voice low. “It’s the only way to keep the others from fucking with you.”

Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, and I swear the earth tilts beneath me. Her brown eyes find mine, wide and searching.

“The bite won’t be enough?” she asks.

I glance at her throat. At my mark.

It’s mostly healed now—pink and delicate, two punctures just barely open, a little kiss of blood still staining her freckled skin. Right over her heartbeat.

Mine.

My wolf wants me to drag her down and put more marks on her. Everywhere. My teeth on her shoulder, her hips, the inside of her thighs. She’d look so good covered in me.

I force those thoughts back. Chain them down with guilt.

“I’m guessing you don’t know much about how mating works in packs like this,” I say instead.

She bristles. “Don’t treat me like I’m na?ve,” she huffs—and fuck, the little attitude is unexpected and hot, that spark behind her voice like she’s not quite done fighting me.

“But…no, I guess I don’t. I was too young to be mated when I left here, and in Austin…

well, they do things a lot differently.”

“How’s that?” I ask, my voice rougher than it ought to be.

“It’s more like a wedding,” she says softly, her lashes lowering. “It’s slow…sensual. There’s snacks and nests and nice words and the bite…I think the bite is the last part. Because it’s such a big deal.”

Fuck .

That word— sensual —should not come out of her mouth like that. All soft and dreamy, like she wants it. Like she misses it. The image burns through me—her laid out in a nest, surrounded by soft blankets and candlelight, her body warm and willing, marked by me . Welcoming me in.

I turn to the window again, crossing my arms over my chest like it’ll hide the effect she’s having on me. Like it’ll stop my cock from hardening just at the sound of her voice.

“Well…you should know it’s different here,” I manage. “The goal is to claim your mate. Mark them multiple times. Breed them. If we’d actually mated last night…”

I glance over my shoulder, catching her wide-eyed stare, the flush blooming in her cheeks, the way her thighs press subtly together.

“…you’d be covered in bite marks.”

Her breath catches.

“That doesn’t sound very romantic,” she whispers—but her scent betrays her. Sweet and thick and fuck, she likes it. Her body is reacting whether she wants it to or not.

“It’s not about love, Peaches,” I say, jaw clenched. “It’s about sex. Rutting. It’s about…pleasure.”

Her scent spikes .

A fresh wave of slick hits the air, subtle but unmistakable. My wolf claws against its cage, snarling for more, for her . It takes everything in me not to turn around and stalk toward her like the animal I am.

When I do look back, her lips are parted, pink and plush. Her gaze is locked on mine, something wild and uncertain and needy swimming behind her lashes.

That mouth…

That’s the first place I’d bite.

A little nip right on her plump lower lip, just enough to hurt.

“Anyway,” I mutter. “We have to figure out how we’re going to watch each other’s backs and get over to the dock.”

“Ah, so we’re watching each other’s backs now,” she says with a smile. “You make it sound like we’re partners in crime.”

“According to the law of the Rig, we may as well be,” I say. I get closer, lowering my voice. “Never forget that everything we’re doing right now is a crime according to your father. Not only are we about to break a hell of a lot of rules about omegas, but we’re committing treason in his eyes.”

She sobers. “I’m sor—wait. Yeah, Javi. I get it. No more jokes.”

At least she’s not complaining anymore.

I keep her close as I go to the door and step out, feeling more like an unwelcome guest than a prisoner.

None of Gideon’s people are around, which seems like it’s gotta be either a flex or a serious lack of awareness.

I settle on the former when, after a quick circuit of the first floor, it becomes clear that this place is a fortress.

The only people here are Gideon’s omegas…and Gideon has already figured out that I don’t intend on hurting them.

Not that I think he would care.

“Can you smell them too?” Peaches asks as we walk toward the front door. “My father’s mates—they’re somewhere in the Citadel, but I don’t hear a peep.”

“They’re hidden,” I say, “though I don’t know from what or who.”

“You, maybe?” she says. “They don’t know you.”

“Hm,” I grunt. “Or your father.”

The front door is unlocked, and it’s at the threshold that we meet with resistance for the first time.

Two guards are standing outside, and they catch sight of Peach right away.

One of them swings out an arm to stop her, and I take a threatening step forward as I resist the urge to rip his arm right out of its socket.

This is gonna end in violence.

Just a matter of time.

“You can’t go out there,” the guard says. “No omegas allowed on the deck without Gideon’s express permission.”

“She’s mine,” I hiss. “Gideon doesn’t decide what I do with my mate.”

“She might not be yours for long,” he warns.

He matches my energy, taking a step toward me and Peaches. But he doesn’t even get a word out before I cut him off.

Because threatening my mate is the last mistake he’ll ever make.

I’m on top of him in a heartbeat, claws of one hand at his throat, my opposite fist slamming into his jaw. He goes down fast, a spurt of red blood pouring from his mouth. I think I dislodged a tooth, which feels right for this fucking hillbilly asshole?—

The other guard grabs my shoulder and pulls me back, but he stumbles away when I stand up and square my shoulders.

“Smart guy,” I say. I reach for Peaches and tuck her back into my side, where she belongs. “Best you don’t fuck with me again; next time, I’ll do worse.”

I stalk away, Peaches practically jogging to keep up with me. She stays completely quiet—as we agreed she should, with the Rig’s rules—but I can tell she’s freaked out. I hope I had the same effect on the other alphas and that they’ll leave us alone from now on.

We stride across the deck and toward the elevator, one of my arms around Peach and my opposite hand in my pocket.

The note I wrote earlier this morning is burning a hole in my palm, my anxiety rising as I wait to pass it over to Boyd.

I don’t know what he’ll be able to do or if he’ll be willing to do anything at all—or even if he’ll sell me out to curry favor with Gideon—but I have to hope he’ll get our message to the Austin Pack.

What can they do…?

I don’t fucking know.

We’ve almost made it all the way to the elevator when a group of alphas appears on the other side of it, walking toward us at a quick clip.

I recognize Abel and Ephraim right away, and they look pissed.

I try to increase our pace, but I can’t pull Peach along fast enough without picking her up, and I don’t want to attract too much suspicion.

“What is she doin’ out here?” Ephraim demands.

Peaches stiffens and I hold her closer, practically gluing her to my chest.

Ephraim’s eyes narrow. “She should be back at the citadel.”

“I’ll tell you what I told the guard,” I warn. “I decide my omega’s fate, and I don’t trust you fucks. Wherever I go, she goes.”

“Why don’t you trust us?” Abel asks with a sneer. “We’re pack. Family.”

I’ve never had a pack—never had a family—and I don’t intend on picking one up on this godforsaken hunk of junk.

“I’ve known you for all of three days,” I say.

“Why were you going down to the dock?” Ephraim asks. “Not trying to run off with your girl, right? Gideon told you no.”

“Just to see off my partner,” I say. “Grab my stuff.”

“Well, fancy meeting you here,” a voice says from behind us.

I turn around to find Boyd on the other side of me, right next to the elevator. He’s got my battered old backpack in his hand, and holds it out to me.

“Was just coming to look for ya,” he says. “Heard you got mated. That was quick.”

I can tell he’s pissed just from looking at him—and I get that. After I ducked out of our bunk during the storm, he probably figured I’d killed someone and that it was a death sentence for him. I’ve been irresponsible before, but never like this.

“Came to say goodbye,” I say, keeping Abel and Ephraim in my peripherals. I slip my hand out of my pocket, palming the note. “And uh…well, I guess I owe you an apology.”

“Not necessary,” Boyd says with a congenial grin. “Always kinda figured you’d get snatched up by some cute little omega. That’s just the way of things, ain’t it?”

I’m sure Peaches would have something to say about that, given that we’re in fact the ones who snatched her…but she keeps her mouth shut with Ephraim and Abel looking over our shoulder.

“Well, it’s been good working with you,” I say. “Thanks.”

“For what?” he scoffs, crossing his arms.

For saving my life. Even if you’re a good-for-nothing degenerate.

“For the good company,” I say.

I reach out my hand to shake his and our palms meet. There’s a flash of recognition in that moment, his blue eyes narrowing slightly—but then it’s gone as he takes the note from me and slips it into his pocket.

“See you around, Javi,” he says.

“See ya, Boyd,” I reply.

The only friend I’ve ever had gets in the elevator, shooting me one last grin before it descends. I don’t let the pain reach anywhere deep, plain discomfort settling on my skin as Peaches and I are left alone on the platform.

“Well, now that that touching moment is over, the Prime wants to talk to you,” Ephraim says. “But you can’t bring your female.”

I glower at him. “Like I said, she comes with me.”

“Eh, let her,” Abel says with a shrug. “What is she gonna do? She’s too stupid to get anything out of our conversation.”

Peaches stiffens again, and I squeeze her shoulders.

Let them think she’s stupid—I’ve overheard more than a few privileged conversations because people thought I was just a brute. I’ll try to tell her that when we’re alone again later, when she’s allowed to speak.

But for now, we have to go and meet with Gideon.

“Lead the way,” I say.