Punished by the Alpha Book 2

Book Two

NINE MONTHS LATER

ALEXIA

“Hey, baby...wake up.”

The sexy murmur pulls me from my sleep. I blink my eyes and wake up slowly. I realize I’ve fallen asleep on the couch...again.

My tired arms are curled around the newest addition to our family, our perfect baby boy. I look up into Rainier’s golden eyes.

“Hi,” I smile. I just woke up, but my life feels so special it could still be a dream.

“My female,” he whispers. “Did you have a good nap? I would let you sleep, but dinner is ready.”

“Yes. Thank you,” I reply.

He touches my face and his eyes soften further, then grow dark with animal longing. I can tell his wolf is just under the surface, wanting to go for a romp in the forest.

It’s been WAY too long since we had time to ourselves.

There is just too much to do these days. Being parents to an infant and six-year-old twins is more than a full-time job. And that’s not to mention running the pack...

But it’s more than worth it. Our baby, Adam, has brought a rush of excitement and love into our lives.

Adam.

We decided to name our third child after my beloved brother. Adam is only one month old, but he already has my brother’s easygoing spirit.

He’s a happy baby, not a crier like Artemis and Raiden were.

Rainier kisses me softly, and I close my eyes. We’ve been together for seven years. We’ve made a family, but my mate’s kisses still give me butterflies.

And I’ve never loved my alpha male more than I do right now...

As my male pulls away, he looks down at the baby in my arms.

Our child coos up at his father and wraps his tiny hand around his finger.

Rainier lifts our baby gently and puts him down in the rocker, then strides over to the open window.

“Dinnertime!” he calls to bring in the twins after a summer afternoon of playing outside.

“Thank you for making dinner,” I say as I stand up and walk over to my mate.

Rainier situates himself behind me, his strong arms wrapping around my waist.

I lean against my male, knowing he’ll support me.

When he kisses my neck, my wolf purrs in delight.

“It’s just frozen pizza and salad...again,” he replies with a wry smile.

“Sounds delicious.”

These days, with two rambunctious kids and a newborn, I don’t have time to make nice dinners like venison stew...

And it means the world to me that Rainier has stepped up to help with mealtimes.

“Let’s eat and get the kids to bed, and then you’re all mine,” my mate growls in my ear.

I smile, biting my lip. Some quality time with my male is exactly what I need right now.

A moment later, the door bursts open and the twins tumble in. Artemis and Raiden both rush toward me, chanting “Mom! Mom! Mom!”

“Shhh, your brother is sleeping,” I say softly to them as I brush the hair from Raiden’s eyes.

“Look what we found!” Artemis whispers excitedly, uncurling her fingers to show me a large stone.

“It’s a diamond!” Raiden exclaims.

“Hmmm,” I reply, “it looks like quartz to me. It is very beautiful.”

“It’s for you, Mama,” Artemis says, smiling proudly. Her eyes shine bright and golden, just like her dad’s.

“Thank you so much. Now go wash your hands for dinner.”

As they rush off, I put my new stone on the shelf where I keep all the treasures from my kids. In my collection, I have various sticks, autumn leaves, some rocks, and an owl feather.

Before we head to the dining room, I check on Adam, who’s sleeping soundly in his crib.

Rainier takes his place at one end of the dining room table, and I sit beside him. Artemis already has a mouthful of garlic bread.

“What have we told you two about waiting until we’re all sitting at the table?” I ask them.

“I’m waiting!” Raiden protests.

“Good job, son,” Rainier encourages him. Artemis smiles innocently and I can’t help but smile back.

Rainier passes the tray of pizza to me and I take two slices of pepperoni. I bite into the cheesy goodness and let out a little moan.

“I wish I could hear that sound all day long,” my mate mind-links to me, and I meet his eye with a coy smile.

“We played dodgeball with other pups in the pack today,” Raiden says excitedly.

“I was a captain!” Artemis adds. “And Raiden was the first person I picked for my team.”

“That’s great. It’s important to look out for your siblings,” Rainier replies encouragingly.

Beneath the table, I squeeze Rainier’s leg. Part of why it means so much to him that our kids get along is because he never had that with his own family.

Silas, his long-lost brother, wanted him dead, and Rainier had no choice but to kill him.

When we started our family, Rainier knew he wanted to do things differently than his own father had.

“When will we see Aunt Gennie?” Raiden asks. “I want to give her a rock I found as a present.”

My son’s thoughtfulness makes me smile.

“She and Ardon are taking care of you guys next week,” I tell him, and Raiden grins.

Now I feel Rainier’s hand on my knee. He can tell I’m thinking about my brother, Adam. He knows that I wish he could be here with our children.

Gennie and I often talk about how much we miss him. My brother was Gennie’s mate, and I know she thinks about him every day.

Ardon lost his mate, too, so they both understand that pain.

Gennie and Ardon have created something as special as a mate bond. They are happy together, and I’m happy for them.

“I ate three whole pieces of pizza,” Artemis says proudly.

“That’s my girl. You’ll need the energy for our training session tomorrow,” Rainier replies.

“Really?! We’re training tomorrow?” She squeals with delight.

“Yes. Now let’s get you guys ready for bed so you’re nice and rested tomorrow.”

Artemis jumps from her chair and bolts up the stairs. Raiden pouts. “But I’m not tired.”

“I’ll read you a story,” I tell him, and his face brightens before he follows after his sister.

“I’ll clean up and take Adam upstairs,” Rainier says, leaning in to kiss me quickly.

“And I’ll help the twins,” I reply.

I make my way upstairs, feeling bone-tired but happy.

Thank you, Moon Goddess. I say a silent prayer as I enter the twins’ room. ~I must be the luckiest female in the world.~

After not one, but two stories about the Norse god Thor, Raiden and Artemis are finally asleep.

I tiptoe to the door and glance back at their sweet, sleeping forms.

“Good night,” I whisper before trotting down the hall to find my mate.

Having an infant has meant that we haven’t had much time alone, and I’m so ready to be intimate with Rainier…

But when I open our bedroom door, I see Rainier sitting up in bed, with Adam held against his bare chest…both of them fast asleep.

I admire the view for a moment, my heart swelling with love.

My male deserves to rest. Our alone time will come soon enough.

Rainier stays asleep as I take the infant from his arms and place him in his cradle at the foot of our bed.

I wash up in the bathroom, then cuddle beneath the covers. Rainier sinks down and pulls me into his arms, and in an instant I’m asleep.

Eventually, I find myself in a strangely vivid dream.

I’m walking through the woods when a savage growl punctures the air. I sense that something is wrong, so I follow.

I get closer and hear the murderous snarls of two wolves. My heart is pounding as I race through the trees, and then I reach a clearing.

Now I see them. Two lone wolves dueling.

Cheers and shouting rise from the woods, and a crowd of men materialize around the fighters.

Those men are ENJOYING this, I realize.

I finally get a good look at one wolf...and I realize I know him.

I would recognize the black wolf with a white mark on his snout anywhere.

Because he’s my brother.

“ADAM!” I shriek, but my voice gets lost in the cheers of the men. As the other wolf attacks him once again, I try to shift to my wolf, but I can’t. I’m helpless.

Suddenly the sky opens and a ray of light shines down on my brother as he fights for his life.

The voice I hear is strong, yet soothing. It envelops me, and I know it can belong to no one other than the Moon Goddess herself.

“Your brother needs you, Alexia.”

With that, I wake up. I sit up straight in bed, and I’m covered in sweat.

Rainier stirs beside me in the dark. My heart races as I try to catch my breath.

It was just a dream, but it felt so real.

Could my brother really be alive?!