Page 2 of The Alpha's Mates

Christoph narrowed his eyes again. He realized standing next to his father, there was a subtle subtext about them he didn’t understand, or rather, never understood. He tucked the information away as he followed his father to the elevator. “How far do we have to go?”

His father laughed. “One floor below us. There are three your age. All of them have shifted in preparation.”

Shifted in preparation? His lips curled in disgust. “Why are they in feline form?”

“It’s how you have sex the first time,” his father said with a shrug. Christoph scented the air for a lie, but couldn’t detect one. “Your mother and I did. It’s how you were conceived.”

“So, you’re hoping I impregnant one of these girls?” He frowned. “I’m not sure I agree.”

His father chuffed. “Stop being such a tight ass.” They stepped into the waiting car and his father pushed the button for one floor down. “This is your duty as the Alpha’s son. When you return from America, you will be expected to take some lionesses and form your pride. Today starts the process.”

His father was moving too fast for him. He didn’t understand. He thought he would take over for his father, not create a new pride. “W-What?”

“You didn’t think you could come home, did you?” His father chuckled as the elevator chimed. “Son, prides can’t have two Alpha males. You’ll leave. It’s how it’s been for generations.”

Nothing his father said made sense. “But I—” The scent of estrus hit him square in the chest as the doors slid opened. His dick went rigid. His canine teeth elongated. He inhaled the sickening sweet smell, and he wanted to claw his skin off from the intensity of his yearning to shift.

“Later, son. For now, go have fun. We have much to discuss later.” His father touched Christoph’s chest, and a yowl was ripped from his chest as the shift overcame him.

Warmth and lust consumed him as the world was upended on him. When he could open his eyes, he’d been on all fours and the smell of sex and fertility mingled. There was also the tangy musk of scent-marking urine. These females were proving to him they were ready, and they were fertile.

He yowled again, unable to groan.

In the back of his mind, he knew this was all wrong. In the back of his mind, he knew his father was taking away Christoph’s choice along with those females who swished their tails at him while rolling to their backs with their legs spread wide in invitation. His father used their pheromones to create an orgy of sorts. It should have made him sick. Unfortunately, he was only along for the ride. His lion was loose, and he no longer had control of his basic urges.

Sometime later, when his father came to gather him, Christoph was sprawled across the floor. The smell of sex, cum, and urine covered him. He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. He’d spent too many hours as the beast. Even his dick was raw, and his balls were dry. Mentally, the things he did there, in that room, left him disgusted and sated. Christoph couldn’t reconcile the two, nor could he understand why he wasn’t repulsed by himself when he should have been.

Perhaps he was, and he couldn’t acknowledge it.

“Now,” his father said as they stepped onto the elevator, “you can go to America and begin your new life.”

Christoph blinked. “Huh?”

His father smacked him on the back, and he lurched forward. “College, my boy. You’re leaving in the morning.”

Christoph opened and closed his mouth, still confused by what his father was saying.Maybe the old man slipped me something before stepping into the elevator?“What?”

“Oh, did you not know?” his father said. “We sped up your move-in date. You’re leaving tomorrow.”

“You lost me.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure I—”

“Yes, just be ready to go in the morning.” His father stepped aside as they stopped on their floor. “I have business to attend to. Your mother is sleeping as well. I’ll be back to see you off in the morning.”

Christoph’s brows furrowed. “O-kay. Sure.” Before he could say anything else, his father hit the button on the lift and disappeared behind the closed doors. “What the fuck am I missing?”

As he stepped into their penthouse apartment, he spotted his bags near the door. His father hadn’t been kidding. However, the short notice of the changes rubbed him the wrong way. He knew he should be suspicious and want answers to his questions, but at the moment, he needed to sleep more. Without even showering, he climbed into bed and passed out.

Tomorrow, Christoph started his new life and put into motion a series of events that would change him forever.

Thirteen years ago, somewhere in the desert of Arizona...

Bell startled awake, sucking in a deep breath as pain radiated through her head and body. She tried to move her arms and legs, but nothing would cooperate. It was as if her limbs had no bone or muscle, or maybe her brain couldn’t process the signals. Either way, she couldn’t move. The last thing she remembered was following Zoe after sneaking out of the house.

Stupid Zoe, always trying to get me into trouble.

If they hadn’t left home, none of this would have happened. They would still be safe. Bell blinked several times, trying to figure out where she was, but it was dark. The musty smell of wet earth and damp rocks clung to every surface. She inhaled again, reaching out with her lioness, and recoiled. Blood. Whose or where it came from, she couldn’t tell. It wasn’t fresh either. Instantly, she wanted to go home. She tried to remember how she got there or who took her, but her memory was jumbled, and her head hurt, too.

“Ah, you’re awake, good,” a man said, while lurking from the shadows. “I was wondering if those stupid hyenas gave you too much.”

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