Free Alpha Rising by Rebecca Royce Page A

“You’re such an asshole.”
    “Hey now, is that how you talk to family, cousin?”
    Lilliana’s hand found the she-wolf totem she wore around her neck. In all their dealings, Cyrus had never taken it from her. Who was this man who laughed at a mythological story but wanted a totem so badly he’d followed her home to get it? He’d not taken it when he’d had the chance?
    She shook her head. “So then, no. Not the original wolf. Who was the Alpha Prime?”
    “His name was Lucian. He ruled us all with an iron hand and a heart of gold. Someone chopped off his head before he could name a successor and everything went up in smoke.” Travis shook his head. “Some of us think that we don’t need a Prime. Cities can rule themselves and leave each other alone.”
    Cyrus nodded. “On that, Travis and I agree. You think I give a shit about full oon rights in Arizona? Let them work their own crap out. I fought and bled for Manhattan. Lucian was one thing. He earned his position. He cared about all of us. I’m not kowtowing to anyone, and I’m not giving up my city.”
    Lilliana tugged on Travis’ hand. “Come on. I want to go home.”
    “It burned, she-wolf.” His eyes moved over, sadness obvious in their blue depths.
    “As would I have had Cyrus not rescued me. Thank you for that.” She stared at Cyrus. “I think you should have this.” She unhooked the totem Travis had given her. “I’m safe now and I’m at peace for the first time in my life. I am finally who I have always been meant to be. I have my mate, and had I not been born a werewolf, I would have asked the moon to make me walk on four legs to be with him. This kept me safe. Now it should keep you that way.”
    Cyrus’ eyes met Travis’ over her head. “Is she for real?”
    “I’d suggest you take it. Those were some pretty powerful words she just spoke over you.”
    He took the necklace from her hand. “Thank you, Lilliana.”
    She nodded and would have turned, but he grabbed her arm. “You know you smell fantastic. Like hot sex. If you change your mind and want more than tattooed boy there can give you, you make your way up to Manhattan, and I’ll open my arms for you.”
    Lilliana groaned. “You know that’s not how this works. Thanks for the pseudo compliment just the same.”
    At least she thought that was how it worked. She’d only been at this for a couple of days.
     
    ****
     
    Travis held her hand in the bus. One of his pack members had rented one, and the whole pack traveled back to Philadelphia together. Nerves made her edgy, and she tapped her foot.
    “The moon isn’t quite gone yet. It’s still ninety-nine percent full,” he whispered in her ear. “Tomorrow will feel more normal.”
    “My mom used to tell me I was hormonal.” She shook her head. “I’m glad there’s another answer.”
    One of the female werewolves laughed in the back of the bus, and Lilliana felt heat rise in her cheeks. They were all listening to every word she said, and everyone had wanted to speak to her. The pack felt like family, and yet they were strangers, an odd combination that did nothing to set her at ease.
    “Can I ask you something?” If they had extra ears listening, then oh-frickin-well. She supposed as the Alpha’s mate she’d have to get used to it.
    “Anything. Always.” Travis leaned back in his seat. He seemed perfectly fine so he must be used to the strangeness of always being on stage, always being watched.
    “Who killed Lucian?” The question had troubled her for hours.
    “We don’t know. Some people thought it was me. We’d argued about how much I had to pay in service to him that month.”
    She shook her head. “It wasn’t you.” That was impossible.
    “Ah. Thanks?” He laughed. “Nothing like my mate thinking I’m not capable of killing if I had to.”
    Lilliana looked at him sideways. “For money? I don’t think so.”
    “All right. That I’ll take.”
    “No one knows who killed him?” That couldn’t