N. Walters: Alexandra's Legacy

“None of you really want me. You don’t know me.” Several men protested and stepped forward, including the one her father had called Grady. “You want me because of some biological reaction that I can’t control. You want me because I’m in heat.” Her face burned as she spoke the words, but she wouldn’t back down. Not now.

“See what diluting the blood lines will do. Disrespectful half-breed.” An older man and woman stepped forward and spit on the ground at Alex’s feet.

Joshua was by her side in a second. “That is my future mate you disrespect, Miles Jenson.”

Jenson just laughed. “She is weak and will breed weak pups that will probably have to be put down.”

Joshua was as still as a stone, but Alex could feel the winds of fury raging through him. He glanced over at her father, who had come to stand on her other side. Some silent communication seemed to pass between them and her father nodded. Joshua turned back to the angry couple. “If you do not wish to live among such tainted bloodlines, you are free to leave.”

The older woman paled. “You would banish us?” Shock was evident in Jenson’s voice. He pointed a trembling finger at her. “She is the one who is disrespectful to our ways.”

“She doesn’t know our ways,” Joshua pointed out. “Three days ago, she had no idea who and what she truly was.”

“Her father should have told her.” The man was totally indignant.

“I hoped to spare her this.” Her father finally spoke. He surveyed the crowd before him. “I knew many of you would hate her, despise her for her human blood. I didn’t even know if she would be werewolf or human, so I waited. Because I knew that just as many of you would want to claim her as a mate. Women of our kind are not so plentiful any longer that a strong, healthy, beautiful one can be overlooked. Even if she is a half-breed.”

Her father turned back to her and smiled. “So I raised her as best I could. Alone. And she is a strong woman. The kind of mate any man would be proud to call his own.” Her heart ached at the emotion in her father’s voice. She wanted to reach out to him, but knew she had to let this scene play out. She knew instinctively both their futures were on the line.

“If you find that kind of woman offensive, then you are welcome to leave.” Her father stared at the couple, who seemed to shrink beneath his gaze, and then he swept his eyes over everyone gathered. “And that goes for anyone else who thinks the same. I am alpha here now and she is my blood. Accept her or leave.”

Alex held her breath. There were rumblings, but no one made any move to leave. Miles Jenson stepped forward and bowed his head low in submission. “My apology.” Alex thought he might choke on it, for it certainly wasn’t sincere, but her father graciously accepted it. She made a mental note to keep an eye on this man and his entire family. There would be more trouble from that corner for sure.

Joshua stepped forward. “That leaves the business of the challenge for Alex unresolved.” He ignored her gasp of outrage. “She is mine.” His voice was hard and brooked no disagreement. “Any who wish to challenge, do so now.”

“Don’t I have any say in this?” She faced him, standing so close that the tips of her slippers were touching his boots.

“No.”

“No?” She poked him in the chest. “I don’t think so. Mine is the only voice that matters.”

Whirling around, she faced the crowd once again. “Before you all beat yourselves to a pulp, you’d best know one thing. I’ll accept who I want to accept and no one else. Anyone who thinks they can claim me better be prepared to get a knife in the ribs.”

“What a woman,” Grady whispered almost soundlessly as he stepped forward.

“And who do you choose?” Brady Donovan’s face was inscrutable, but she thought she caught a glimpse of some softness in his eyes. She could easily have fallen for him if she’d never met Joshua. But she had met Joshua and there was no accounting for taste when it came to love.

Turning, she glared at the man who had captured her heart. Joshua was overbearing, infuriating and sexy as hell. The thought of any other man touching her left her feeling cold. She gave him her back again and sensed his growing frustration. “I will have no one but Joshua Striker.” There, let him think about that.

His large hands came down on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “The challenge must be met,” he gritted out from between clenched teeth.

Alex had finally reached the limit of her patience and endurance. The adrenaline rush that had carried her through the challenge with her father had petered out. The anger that had sustained her was gone, leaving exhaustion in its wake. She swayed on her feet.

“You do whatever you have to do. In the meantime, I’m going to bed.” Ignoring all the stares, she walked toward Joshua’s home. “I’ll be waiting,” she called back over her shoulder. “If anyone other than Joshua gets in bed with me, they should be prepared to be castrated.”

The men all shuddered as they watched her leave. Joshua was torn between laughter and going after her, throwing her over his shoulder and dragging her off to bed. The only reason he didn’t do either was because, like it or not, the issue of the challenge had to be settled.

He watched the sway of her hips and then growled when he realized that half the men there were watching it too. He’d seen the exhaustion in her face and wanted to go and gather her into his arms and hold her while she slept. He wanted to pamper her, see to her needs and then…then he wanted to make her his.

Donovan and Grady watched until Alex let herself inside the front door of Joshua’s home. They both grinned when the door slammed shut behind her. “Now that is a woman worth challenging for.” Grady nodded his head in agreement with Donovan.

Joshua began to strip off his shirt. “Which one of you wishes to challenge first?” A heavy hand on his arm stopped him and he lowered his shirt back down.

Donovan was staring at him, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I said she was worth fighting for, not that I wanted to be turned into a eunuch when I beat your sorry ass.”

Grady chuckled. “I like my parts right where they are, thank you very much.”

Joshua was astounded. He knew neither man was afraid to challenge him, nor were they afraid of claiming Alex. What they were doing was showing their respect for her and for him in front of the entire pack.

“You’ve got balls to take on that one, Joshua.” Isaiah slapped him on the back. “But I think she’s exactly what you need.”

James came to stand before him and all the men fell silent. “You accept her choice?”

They all nodded. James smiled and turned to Joshua. “She is unconventional and unused to our ways, but she will make you one hell of a mate.”

“I know.” Joshua had waited long enough. He strode toward his home, ignoring the catcalls and advice being hurtled at him from all quarters. “Isaiah, you’re in charge for the next few days.” Laughter and hooting followed his words. “We’ll have the formal ceremony then.”

He lengthened his stride, all of his thoughts on finally claiming the woman who was his.

Alex came awake in stages. It took her a second to remember where she was and, when she did, she wished she was still asleep. Yesterday’s scene replayed in her head. God, had she really stalked off and left Joshua and the rest of them standing there with their mouths hanging open?

Burying her face in her pillow, she tried to block the memory. Yes, she had. It had been worth the embarrassment just to see that.

She had no idea what had happened after she’d made herself scarce. True to her word, she’d stripped down to Joshua’s shirt and climbed into bed. She remembered stirring when someone had climbed in beside her, but since it was Joshua, she’d drifted right back to sleep. If he’d come with the notion of bedding her last night, he’d gotten a surprise. She’d been too exhausted to stay awake.