Read Online Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) by Lily Thorn - Free Book Online Page B

shifted, hitting him with the scent of mountain laurel and river water. Her lips looked so full, so inviting. Ronan couldn’t help himself. Leaning in, he kissed her. Her eyes went wide, but soon she relaxed, melting into him. The taste of her overwhelmed him. He felt locked to her, like the tides to the moon, and he never wanted to be freed. She was his bliss, his heavenly body. She was going to be his mate.
    Ronan broke off the kiss before his instincts could take over. He was breathing heavily, and so was she. He took her hand in his.
    “Will you spend your future with me, Lia?”
    Her hand shook. “What if I’m scared?”
    “That’s why you have me. I’m here to protect you, from anything. I promise. Even from Kane.”
    Lia let out a shaky laugh. “I think you’ll need to protect him from me.”
    The silence stretched out between them. For a moment, Ronan was afraid she would ask him to take her back to the witches and leave her be.
    “I don’t feel so lost when I’m with you,” she said at last. “I’ve never felt that way before. I don’t think I can promise you forever yet, but I can promise you tomorrow.”
    “I’ll take tomorrow.” Ronan squeezed her hand. “Tomorrow and every other day I can get.”
    She leaned against him. Ronan draped an arm around her. Together they watched the sky until it tinged with dusk.
    “We should be getting back,” Ronan said. “Aren’t you getting cold? And hungry?”
    “I guess. I just didn’t notice.”
    “I should have. I’m supposed to be taking care of you.” Ronan cursed. He shouldn’t have left his clothes behind. He could have offered them to her.
    “Are you sure we have to go back?” Lia tugged at her shirt’s hem, which was now much more frayed than it had been yesterday. “Can’t we just stay here?”
    “The pack will have meat—cooked meat,” he said, noting the look on her face, “and a bonfire.”
    “We don’t need those. I can find some roots, you can shift and your fur can keep us warm. Just for tonight? Please?”
    His gaze flicked between her and the den. A night alone with her tempted him more than she knew. “The pack needs its Alphas, Lia. I need to watch over them.” Especially Kane.
    “All right. Take me back, then.”
    “Listen.” He put a hand on her back. “You’ve had a long day. Whenever you need to, you can go to my room. It’s private, so no one will bother you.”
    “Not even Kane? I’d rather not see him tonight.”
    Ronan’s heart twisted. While it was flattering that Lia liked him, it hurt that she didn’t like his brother. Of course, Kane wasn’t helping himself at all. And this grand plan of theirs would come to nothing if Kane didn’t win Lia over. Ronan would have to have a word with him, though knowing Kane, it would take several words, a few growls, and a threat.
    “Not even Kane,” he said. “Just me and you.”
    “Okay.”
    Ronan wished she sounded even a little bit enthusiastic. “We’ll just have dinner,” he said, “and rest. There won’t be any more excitement today. Kane will behave himself, I promise. If he doesn’t, he’ll answer to me.”
    He shifted, bending low so she could climb onto his back. Once she was ready, he trotted back down the mountain.
    There was a flurry of activity around the den. Orion and Duke added a huge log to the bonfire, nodding as their Alpha passed. Clove and Ivy knelt over a patch of smoldering earth, removing a layer of leaves to see if the venison was thoroughly cooked. Ronan breathed in deep. It certainly smelled ready. His stomach growled. They had been gone longer than he realized.
    Lia slid off his back. He shifted, wishing he didn’t have to lose the comforting weight of her.
    Ronan put his clothes back on. Some of the shifters had lost theirs throughout the day, but he didn’t feel the desire to scold them. Hopefully their nakedness didn’t make Lia too uncomfortable.
    “Meat, Alpha?” Clove held out a plate of fresh-cut venison. It