Annie Nicholas - Sigma

He snarled and yanked her close, his cock hard and ready. “I want to ride you.” The seam of her dress sleeve tore.

She gasped. “Later, Sam.” Then slapped him across the face hard. “You have to take control. Sugar’s in danger. You’re her sigma.”

He blinked. The human female, the one who smelled nice and who was always kind to him, made him feel wanted. With a shudder, he shifted to his beast form as Clementine suggested and allowed her onto his back. It was time to hunt.

The race across the city left Sam breathless upon arriving at the apartment building. They kept to the alleys and less traveled roads, trying to avoid humans and Pal Robi vampires.

If those bloodsuckers hurt Daedalus and his pack mates, there would be hell to pay. First, he needed to make sure the twins were safe. Please let them be sleeping . They could have been so tired that the phone didn’t wake them. On both calls he’d made.

His heart dragged like a lead anchor. At least the run had helped to wear off his blood high. What an aphrodisiac. He could have drilled a hole through granite with the hard-on it had given him.

All the windows of the building were dark, which was normal for this time of night. They crouched across the street, hiding behind a parked car.

He shifted back to human form so they could talk. “Stay here. I’ll go inside and check things out, then come back for you.”

She set the butt of the rifle between them. “And if the vampires who want me dead show up? Do you mind if I shoot them out here on the street or should I ask them to wait for you to come back first?”

Raising an eyebrow, he stared hard at her. “You’re going to start being a smartass now?”

“Sweetie, you’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to knowing me.”

He sighed. They didn’t have time for this.“Fine, follow me. Stay close and don’t make any noises, but if we’re attacked, run.”

“Don’t get hurt. I understand.”

His stomach clenched at all the horrible possibilities. He pulled her into his embrace, crushing his lips to hers, tasting her as if it could be his last time. If they survived the night, he’d make things more permanent with Clementine. He was done with one-night-stands and heartless flings. He appreciated her delicate strength and courage.

She moaned into his mouth and clutched at his flesh before pulling away. “Let’s finish this. I have other things I’d rather be doing with you than hunt assholes.”

He grinned at the determination in her eyes. “How good are you with that gun?”

“Terrible, but I can manage to not shoot myself or you.” She clicked the safety off and nodded for him to go.

In a crouch, he crossed the street with Clementine close behind. They opened the front door wary of another ambush. He breathed a sigh of relief when they met no resistance and scooted inside. Quiet as phantoms, they crept up the stairs to Sugar’s old apartment.

Choking on a snarl, he halted before the door. It hung a little ajar. He’d locked it tight before leaving. No way one of the twins had left it open. Fuck.

He waved Clementine behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her aim her rifle at the door. He sure hoped she told him the truth about not shooting him. Normal bullets could still kill him if they pierced his heart or head.

Taking a deep breath, he called upon his beast to stay close to the surface before storming the entrance ready to shift in a split second’s notice. The door swung against the wall with a crash as he halted in the living room.

Silence greeted their entrance.

Clementine pushed past him and raced to the bedroom. “They’re not here,” she called out.

Dread swallowed his gut. Were they too late? Had the Pal Robi vamps taken them? He inhaled, but didn’t capture the scent of any strangers. “They left the apartment on their own. I don’t smell the presence of anyone else.” He twisted around, trying to find a scent track to follow, but they’d all been through the doorway recently. The scents were all a tangled mess.

“Where would Spice take Sugar?” Clementine handed him a pair of sweatpants. “Not that I don’t mind the view, but I don’t need the distraction.”

“Thanks.” He hopped into the pair of sweats. “Good question. What would make her move Sugar?” He gestured for quiet and listened, using his beast’s natural hunting instincts. At first he heard nothing unusual. Then it came, the sound of a window sliding open in the Omegas’ old apartment down the hall. He grabbed Clementine’s hand and descended the stairs at break-neck speed.

He should have thought of it before. The vamps knew the twins were in the building, but not which apartment. Daedalus had bought this place with more than sentiment in his heart. He’d known searching all the rooms would take an enemy time.

Spice must have heard them coming, just like he had, but after his loud entrance into the apartment, the vamps knew where to search. At least this way he could draw them away from the twins.

As they reached the lobby, the front door shattered inward. Two vamps charged him. He shoved Clementine toward the basement door as he shifted once more. How long would her blood sustain him?

With his claws, he decapitated the first vampire, then tore the heart out of the second. He walked backward, following Clementine into the basement where they could draw the bloodsuckers and make a stand. In the dim light, he traced her scent. Then, to his shock, the twins’. He hung his head. Oh no, he’d led the vampires straight to them.

A white figure stepped out of the shadows. Spice in her beast form. How many? She asked via the mind link packs shared.

I don’t know. Where’s Clementine?

She’s with Sugar, hiding in the furnace room. There’s only one door to it and she should be able to defend it with her rifle. Sugar has a small handgun too.

Really? He folded an ear to the side and tilted his head. Sugar was the most non-violent person he’d ever met.

Not all her rehab was about dressing herself. I made sure she could handle a small caliber weapon, since she can’t run anymore.

He rubbed his nose against the underside of her muzzle in a submissive, yet affectionate way. You’re the best.

She gave him a playful snip . And you’re a flirt. Let’s go kick some vampire ass. She shoved by him.

Alpha, you should stay with your sister. He could smell the blast of Spice’s fury. For the pups’ sake.

She twisted and caressed her lower abdomen . I will always be alpha first, Sam. You are all my children. We fight together. She turned her back on him and hid by the staircase exit.

The shadows were thick, leaving plenty of places for him to lay an ambush. Sam swung into the rafters and prepared to attack from above. The last place they’d expect to find a four-hundred-pound shifter. He licked his muzzle and listened to the footfalls racing to their area.

How many could they fight, and for how long? He glanced at Spice. Did you call the Vasi? They’d need backup.

Eric is on his way. Daedalus lost his phone during a skirmish. They knew we’d be compromised somehow by that, but called me too late to warn you. I’m glad you and Clementine didn’t get hurt. For a bloodsucker, she’s kind of sweet.

Yeah, she really was.

Gunshots announced the Pal Robi vampires’ arrival.

Watch out! They’re armed with silver bullets. He launched himself over Spice, as he’d planned, and tackled three vampires before they could get any more shots off. He pinned them to the stairs as Spice finished them.