Unholy: An Alpha's Kiss, #3

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UNHOLY: An Alpha’s Kiss Romance (Book 3)

By Evelyn Glass

CHARMAINE'S WORLD HAS just been turned upside down. Her brother is hell-bent on tearing apart the fragile peace accords and has set an ultimatum that leaves her caught in a place she never thought she could possibly be in.

A spur of the moment decision to marry Parker seemed like the best course of action at the time, but as more devious members of each pack set their plans into motion, conflict becomes all but certain. Threats seem to appear out of thin air no matter where she and Parker turn to.

Can the two of them save their loved ones from coming to blows or are they too late to put out the growing flames of war?

PROLOGUE

In the moonlit circle , twelve gray wolves faced the gathering, their golden eyes gleaming. She took a deep breath and pushed past the others to stand in front of them, lowering her gaze as expected. The pup trotted next to her, and she nudged him closer to the Elders for inspection. He stood bravely, just as they'd practiced, while the older wolves communicated amongst themselves, considering him carefully. Never once did he look back at his mother or take a submissive stance. He gazed straight ahead as if he were alone in the clearing and not face-to-face with the most intimidating forces in his world.

She held her breath as one after another the Elders inspected her son, searching for physical flaws, signs of nascent moral corruption budding in his young mind, or fear. He endured their scrutiny with the bearing of his birthright, calm and confident against the potential for their displeasure. He had been prepared for this from the first day. He was his father's son through and through. The Elders would find no flaws.

Young as he was, he knew that facing the Elders—though necessary—would only happen once like this. Far more worrisome was the ongoing scrutiny of the others. He would always need to be a cut above the rest: smarter, stronger, faster, better in all ways and forever vigilant. He was the rising Alpha, the embodiment of the New Way, and his shoulders were already heavy with responsibility.

CHAPTER ONE

She'd awakened early Monday morning from a restless sleep and was greeted by her husband's troubled gaze from the other pillow. He'd been watching her—for who knew how long—and she caught the shift from worry to false cheer in a millisecond when he brightened for her benefit.

Good morning, my beautiful wife. Strong arms pulled her in for a tender kiss.

It's Monday. She bit the inside of her cheek, willing away the tears that stung the backs of her eyelids and the lump that rose in her throat.

We can do this, Baby. We're going to be okay. His fingers caressed her forehead and cheeks but did nothing to abate the roiling in her gut. Why do we have to go back?

But her rational brain didn't control things with Parker, not when he brushed his lips softly across hers and the knot of fear burned away as quickly as a dry leaf in the heat of her own passion. Not when his kisses erased everything, even the inner recesses of her mind, as her body bloomed for him. He rolled her on top of him and cupped her face in his hands, moving beneath her until they aligned, hard to slick, and he barely had to move to slip inside her. His mouth on hers was hot and urgent though he let her body take the lead, and he devoured her from beneath as she clutched him with her thighs and moved on him. It was all forgotten as he murmured tender promises and moved his body for her pleasure, bringing her to the brink and then holding her there until she cried out in frustration and he granted her a swift release. Parker followed, her name choked between shudders, and she cradled him to her, sweaty and spent.

Through their silence she listened to his ragged breath becoming slower and more even, heard his galloping heartbeat return to its familiar resting cadence. She pressed her lips to his forehead, inhaling his natural scent slightly tinged with the musk of their lovemaking. Her weekend exhilaration was deflated in the face of their impending return to reality. The thought that all of it could be snatched away in an instant was too much to bear.

Parker rose and packed with focus, and though she'd protested, he insisted that she take her time getting ready and let him do the work. She refrained from arguing that she was more than capable of packing her own bag and carrying it to the car. Instead she let him take care of it, impressed as ever by his masculine efficiency and secretly relieved that she was able to rest when she tasted the metallic tang of her morning nausea. Watching him pack was a pleasure she tried to enjoy, but between the mild queasiness and her unease she was unable to fully appreciate all his flexing and bending and lifting.

Now, speeding back through the desert, Charmaine struggled to form words for her worries. Parker looked at her so sweetly that she wanted nothing more than to tell him to turn the car around and drive back to where things made sense, where all that mattered was their sacred love. She wanted to lose herself in his sea glass gaze and pine scent and keep him close and safe. As a new bride, she was supposed to be happier than she'd ever been in her life, but she couldn't keep sneaky fingers of dread from creeping along her spine.

Their legal marriage changed very little for them, practically speaking. The Vella and Kreuger packs were still feuding. The Council had yet to rule on their status as official Mates. Their unborn child—the son both Dominic and Parker had prophesied—was still a secret. Parker's father was still dying of cancer. And her brother had given her an ultimatum that threatened to shatter her entire existence as she knew it: Either say goodbye to this company and this family, or say goodbye to Parker Kreuger.

All this and they hadn't even lived together yet.

You're my wife now. Does this mean you'll finally move in with me? Parker teased, closing his hand over Charmaine's so that he cupped her rings against his palm.

She'd been twisting her hair and staring out at the desert, willing the tears to keep from welling up, when his voice cut through her reverie. Let's not go back to reality just yet, she begged the universe. It's too soon. We haven't had enough time. Yes, she replied softly. I'll move in today, after work. It's the one thing we can actually do.

Baby, I promised and I meant it. He pulled her hand to his lips and planted a tender kiss on her knuckles. I'm going to take care of everything.

I know that's the plan, she said carefully, withdrawing her hand and avoiding his eyes.

That makes it sound like I'm a little kid who wants to be an astronaut when I grow up. He frowned. It's more than a plan; it's already set in motion. I've taken all the right steps. I've followed every rule. Now we just wait. A little bit of patience and we'll be on the other side of this.

"That's what worries me. I've been thinking about this all night. Yes, you took the right steps. You followed the rules. But you're counting on everyone to do the same." She paused, unsure of how to proceed.

Say what's on your mind, he urged levelly.

I don't trust Christopher, and I don't trust Jamison, either. I worry about them taking advantage of you when Dominic... She couldn't finish that sentence. Dominic Kreuger had become as dear to her as if he were her own flesh and blood. Though he'd been dying when she met him, she still couldn't fathom life without him.

Parker looked at her, the shadow of a smile playing on his lips. My wife thinking strategically, like a true Alpha. I like it. But you don't have anything to worry about. Everything is under control.

His voice was