Kym Grosso: Tristan's Lyceum Wolves

He raised his glass to the crowd in celebration. “Once again, thank you for coming tonight. Vive les loups Lyceum!”

A loud cheer erupted as Tristan exited the spotlight, determined to meet with his pack leaders. While he felt a splinter of satisfaction with the expedient and successful opening, revenge consumed his thoughts. He’d let his patrons celebrate, while he strategized his plan of action. Shaking hands as he made his way through the crowd, Tristan eyed Logan and nodded. The band started up again, firing off a sultry rock song. Undulating bodies filled the dance floor, writhing and grinding to the music.

This is why he was Alpha. The blazing fire had barely made a dent in his daily existence. He had easily rebuilt in the face of the fools who’d attacked his territory. The cool vibe of his new club exemplified just as much about him as it did about what was coming; a day of reckoning. Whoever had decided to torch his property had knowingly declared war on his pack. It was time to get to business, find the enemy and obliterate the threat. No one attacked Lyceum Wolves and survived.

Tristan approached the private entrance behind the bar, and pressed his hand into the biometric security pad. Greeted with a ping and a green light, he typed the code and the door slid open. He marched down the mahogany-lined hallway. Logan and Marcel brought up the rear, making sure that no one followed as the door closed. As he turned the corner, a svelte blonde, well-dressed in a camel-colored suede suit, leaned against the wall admiring her long manicured nails. Mira.

“Ah, ma chère. You look beautiful this evening.” Tristan slowed his approach, admiring her long legs. Mira Conners, alpha female of the pack, attracted every wolf on the East Coast. She and Tristan had made love on more than one occasion, but they couldn’t seem to make it work as a couple. They were more than ‘friends with benefits’ but less than lovers. Mira was the first female to teach him that sex didn’t equate with love. But his relationship with her also taught him about friendship and respect. A century of being together had a way of weeding out those you could trust from those you couldn’t.

Tristan caged her legs and set his hands upon her hips. “Nice leather.”

“Nice tux.” She smiled, fully appreciating how delicious he looked dressed up for this evening’s event.

“Listen Mira, we got work to do. I can’t afford to get distracted, and you have a way of doing that to me,” he whispered into her hair.

Without looking, he yelled over his shoulder. “Marcel. Logan. We’ll meet you in two minutes. Make sure everyone’s here.”

Marcel and Logan looked at each other, before stealing a glance at Mira, avoiding Tristan’s gaze. She’d been part of the pack since they were kids, and had been the strongest female they’d ever known. Both her physical and intellectual acumen set her far above other female pack members. Like Marcel and Tristan, she was destined to be Alpha.

Abandoned at birth, Mira had been raised by the Lyceum Wolves’ Alpha. Both the Lyceum Wolves’ Alpha and Tristan’s father had been the best of friends, so they’d decidedly forged a strong alliance with their children. From a young age, she’d summered in New Orleans, running with her boys: Marcel, Tristan and Logan. Tristan’s parents, the Louisiana Alpha and his mate, had welcomed the addition of the little female wolf to their home and pack. Tristan’s mother had always wanted a daughter, so in a way, Mira had filled those shoes, at least for a few months each year.

Summer after summer, they ran the bayou and raised hell. As Marcel grew older, he had become focused on learning the role of the Alpha, determined to take over for his father. In his absence, Tristan, Mira and Logan had strengthened their friendship, spending their days fishing in the swamp and warm summer nights making love in the fields. There had been a time when the three wolves had been inseparable lovers. In retrospect, Mira honestly wasn’t sure who she’d loved first, Tristan or Logan, but in the end, neither man had become her mate.

After attending graduate school, Tristan had come to Mira’s side after her father died. Determined to protect her, he’d fought to be the Alpha of Lyceum Wolves. In his newfound position of authority, Tristan had taken her under his wing, ensuring she continued her college education. Once she’d graduated from Wharton Business School, she’d smoothly slid into Tristan’s life as his executive assistant. She was the perfect fit for his real estate holdings corporation. Sharp dressed and tongued, she wielded great power in the boardroom and the pack house. Mira was in a league of her own among the females of the pack. And while she’d occasionally made love to both Tristan and Logan, they all knew it would not result in a mating pair for the pack. Still, she fit nicely into Tristan’s life as his confidant and friend.

Tristan liked to play the field but Mira could still make him hard with just a look. As she laid her fingers on his cheek, he let out a small sigh. She bowed her head, her eyes not meeting his. “Alpha, your new club is amazing. Sorry I’m late. Good news is that I wrapped up the Rapkus deal but got stuck in rush hour traffic.”

Tristan placed a finger under her chin, catching her gaze. “Great work, Mira. I’m glad you made it to this meeting. I know you usually work the business end of things, but I need you on hand to ensure the security of all ongoing deals. Something tells me this attack wasn’t the last, and I’m about to go on the offensive.”

Mira reached her hand up to cup Tristan’s hand and rubbed her cheek into his fingers, seeking his touch. He responded by holding her hips still, bringing her body flush against his. His warm breath teased her throat; she moaned as he licked her flesh.

“Please,” she begged.

Tristan laughed, knowing full well they didn’t have time to make love. “No time, ma chère. But look what you do to me,” he teased, groaning as he pulled away from her. Painfully aroused, his manhood pressed against his zipper. Damn, it had been a long time since he’d been with a woman.

“Later tonight, perhaps? Or do you have a date this evening?” he asked with a lopsided grin, knowing damn well that she had several wolves vying for her attention. She could have whoever she wanted any day of the week. Yet they both knew it didn’t matter. She was his first, no matter what plans she’d made.

“Maybe,” she hedged with a small teasing smile. “But I could reschedule for my Alpha. Seriously, Tristan, you know that you and Logan have ruined me for any other wolf. I mean, really? How will I ever find a mate who’ll satisfy me the way you do?”

“Ah, come now, Mir. You know that when you meet your mate, no one will compare. That’s just the way it is. Sadly, you’ll forget us like yesterday’s news…no matter what mad skills I have in bed.” He shot her a seductive grin, like a spider drawing her into his web.

While Tristan was truly an incredible lover and she was a desirable female, they both knew that once she found her mate, she’d leave him in the wind. When a wolf found his mate and initiated the final bond, no sexual rival existed. Sure, a wolf could consensually decide with his mate to play with another during the full moon activities, but the wolf pair would make decisions as one party. All decisions would be in the best interest of both wolves. And their love would bond them only to each other.

But until they each found mates, they were all happily single and available. While the threesome didn’t make love regularly, their strong friendship could easily turn into hot sex on the right night, waxing and waning like the moon. Given the kinky things they’d done to each other, Tristan knew it would be difficult for her to find another male who’d match the intensity of their trio.