Whispered Loyalties Read online

  Whispered Loyalties

  Copyright © 2019 Aliyah Burke

  Cover illustration copyright © Covers by K

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web-without permission in writing from the publisher or author. The unauthorized replication or allocation of any copyrighted work is illegal. File sharing is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Border Patrol, Division of Cyber Crimes, in partnership with Interpol. Copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 per reported instance, and seizure of computers.

  This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

  Published by: Sensual Romance Publishing

  Whispered Loyalties

  By

  Aliyah Burke

  Blurb

  What will prove to be stronger, duty or love?

  KEANE PATRICK IS A top lieutenant in his leopard clan yet all it takes is one small wolf shifter and he is ready to follow her anywhere. The truth of who she was to him was revealed after their one night together. All he has to do now is get the woman to understand it as well. Easier said than done.

  Tora’s life is serving her Alpha but even she can’t help but realize there is something between her and Keane. As her past comes back and danger swells around them, she begins to comprehend how deep their connection runs.

  But when it comes to light, what will win out? Duty to their Alphas, or their love for one another? Is there a chance for both?

  Dedication

  To my readers, thank you so much for coming on another journey with me. To DH, I love you.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Other Books in the Tatra Series

  About the Author

  Additional Books by Aliyah Burke

  Chapter One

  19 years past

  “Fucking little runt. Useless, just like your mama. Although her at the very least, I could get some pussy with. You, you barely have anything to tempt a grub. Even shifted you’re not worth the sperm it took to make you. Should have shot my load on the ground, in her ass, or in her mouth and made her swallow it so you never would have seen the light of day. Saved myself from this embarrassment of a litter.”

  His gray eyes glinted with rage and disgust. The large man spat at her, a large glob of spittle landing on her cheek. Probably mixed in with it a few other things she didn’t want to think about. Still, she didn’t move. She didn’t bother to reach up and wipe it away, knowing that’s what he wished. He wanted her to show fear, to cower, to beg. It got him off, making her scared, making everyone and anyone scared.

  It wasn’t going to happen. Ever again.

  Holding immobile, she waited. Death was imminent, that was a fact and one she had learned far to early in her young years. Just like one day she would stand over his body while the blood flowed, claiming his rotten life.

  Right now, however, it was a different story. A different outcome and one she still couldn’t show emotion on. Her mother’s blood pooled around her bare feet gathering between her toes, comingling with that liquid life of her siblings. She was the only one left alive.

  Most likely by premeditated design. He gave them a much quicker death than she was in for. The man who spawned her sneered and stepped back. His teeth were greenish black, and a few were missing, others were rotten. Even from here, without being right up against him, she could smell his putrid breath. Her own bile rose up in her throat, but she ignored that.

  “My men want to play a game. And guess what, runt? Yep, you got it, you’re the prize.”

  Ice coated her heart and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep her claws from extending. She already remained at a huge disadvantage for this male. For any male, actually. He towered over her and hadn’t been beaten. He was stronger than her, had a longer reach. And was mean.

  For whatever reason, right now, he wanted to play so she wouldn’t push it. They didn’t know how fast she was. No one knew how fast she could run, even at five, she could go faster than the adults. Sure, it took a toll on her but she could outrun them all if she had to.

  And right now, she was about to fall into that category of have to in order to survive.

  “Because you’re a pup they will give you a head start. When they catch you,” he shrugged, “well, it won’t go well for you at all. And I’m pretty sure you’ll be dead after they finish with you. If they don’t kill you, they will leave you mangled and unable to defend yourself so something else will. Hell, perhaps they’ll toss you into another’s territory. Either way, my hands are washed of you.”

  With that, he turned his back on her and walked away.

  “Oh yeah,” he called out over his shoulder. “They said a five-minute head start, then the hunt begins.” The trees swallowed him up as the forest fell silent where he walked.

  Five minutes.

  She didn’t think so. Two tops. His men weren’t exactly known to be patient.

  Lowering her head, she stared at and took in the mangled bodies of the only family she’d known for her limited five years. They may not have been nice to her but they’d been a sight better than him. Now she was the only one left.

  Crouching, but not bending where she would be all together, unprotected, she yanked her mother’s necklace off and shoved it into her pants pocket, ignoring the sharp bite from the edges of the hand-crafted wolf pendant. Ears straining for the slightest sound, she plotted her course to the river as she remained still, hoping those watching her, because she knew they were there—she could smell them—hoping they would think she had her five minutes and was grieving.

  There wasn’t a man directly between her and the drop-off and she understood why. They hoped if they had her cornered on the outcropping, she would be easier to catch. They had no idea how wrong they were.

  The fist twig snapped, and she bolted, instantly beginning to run, not even waiting for they to show their ugly mugs. The sounds of wolves hunting filled her ears as she stretched out, she would have to shift soon but right now, she would hold them off best she could.

  Full grown wolves easily overtook her and she screamed in pain as the first graze of teeth shredded more than just her pant leg. Without slowing, she shifted and dug deep for her undersized wolf. The animal within her longed to fight but right now, they worked together to get away. There would be another day for her to extract her cold vengeance.

  Howls of raw anger and frustration as she pulled away from them hit her hypersensitive ears. Above her the birds called out to her, encouraging her on, alerting her to items in her path. They all were her friends and she utilized each one should could welcoming their information to keep her safe and out of the clutches of the pack of ruthless bastard killers and rapists after her.

  Exhausted when she hit the rocky outcropping
she shivered as the wind bit into her exposed skin. Having run up, the air was thinner and much colder here. Gasping, she pushed up to her knees and lifted her gaze in time to see four of them step into view.

  No longer wolves but naked men, she inched backward.

  “Nowhere for you to go. Don’t make me tell you again,” The largest of them beckoned to her. Scars marred his nude body and her wolf, young—a pup still—and exhausted, rose within her, determined to defend her.

  Her snarl rolled from her earlier split lips. All four of them responded in kind. She didn’t look away but rose to her feet, challenging them every inch of the way.

  “Bitch, I’ll make you pay for daring to challenge one of your betters.”

  “Older but not better,” she broke her no talking rule and let him know her stance on this position.

  His fangs slid free as did his claws. She inched back and waited.

  The jet gaze had her death and pain in it as he lunged for her. She embraced her wolf and rolled out of the way at the last moment, sustaining another tear along the temple. It didn’t matter as she reacted, launching at him, hitting him in the bare groin, claws extended, and she dug in and ripped as she took them both over the edge to the rushing river below.

  The river batted her about like a leaf in the wind. Breaking the surface, she gasped for much needed air seconds before she got smashed into a rock and sank.

  “Fuck!”

  Tora sat up in the darkness of her home, sweat running down her face and body at the dream. Leaning forward, she swore again as she slid her fingers through the shredded bed linens. Hand trembling, she reached up and touch the scar on the side of her head. One she had taken the time to have incorporated into the design she had shaved into the left side of her head.

  She rose from the damaged bed and walked to the living room without looking at what she’d done. Through the living room, she entered the kitchen and yanked open the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. With ease and the use of one nail, she popped the top and drank it in one setting.

  Anger pulsed through her, a living being, one intent on releasing the cap she had on her rage. With the single-minded determination to turn her back to a mindless puppet and killer. The bite of pain dragged her attention to the fact she’d made another mess. This time, in the kitchen with the bottle she’d just crushed in her hand.

  She needed a change. Cleaning up this mess, she showered then fixed her bed and dressed for patrol. Stepping from her house, she lifted her head and stared out over the night sky. The stars shone vivid and brilliant. There wasn’t any denying the beauty of this land.

  Her wolf rose within her and stretched, anxious for a run to calm down as well. There wasn’t any reason to disappoint her, so Tora began to run and when running on two legs wasn’t sufficient enough for them, she smoothly shifted and continued on four.

  Pushing herself, she made her way to one of the furthest boundaries of the Tatra Pack lands and returned to human shape. Dressed once more, she pushed her hands in her pockets and walked along the boundary.

  When the wild wolves stepped from the trees, she didn’t jump, she’d known they were there for a while now. It was the wild pack’s alpha and his mate, the one she and Keane had saved after the bitch had been shot. They were large and approached her, one pushed under each hand, butting her for attention and she bestowed it upon them.

  A bird chirped and she stopped burrowing her face into the warm pelts of the animals beside her and lifted her head in time to meet the man walking into view.

  “Sometimes, I think they like you better than they do me.” His voice was low and deep.

  Her Alpha, Casimir Lars.

  She didn’t respond well aware that wasn’t what he was after. Nor did she look at him with lust as a lot of the women who he walked up to did. He was her Alpha, she was one of his top lieutenants. End of story.

  Not really but there it was.

  “You’ve been sleeping poorly lately, Tora. What’s bothering you?”

  Had the question come from anyone else in the Pack she would have just walked off but this man, this shifter, her Alpha, had protected her years ago and had in that moment, won her steadfast loyalty and respect. It didn’t occur to her to lie to him.

  “Dreams of things I thought I have long forgotten.”

  “About your past?”

  Intrigue lined his tone and she understood, she didn’t know where she came from, which pack, none of it mattered to her. She’d been cast out, nearly raped and killed by the pack who should have protected her. They were nothing for her to waste time thinking about. Plus she’d locked the memories away, or so they told her, she had done so in order to protect herself. And until recently, the walls hadn’t ever begun to crumble.

  “Yes.”

  He slid closer to her and she could smell his mate and her other Alpha on him. While she liked his mate, Dyana, she didn’t necessarily think of her as an Alpha. Her loyalty was to this man beside her, only. She would fight and die for his mate and for any of the Pack, but they didn’t have her loyalty as he did. Never would.

  Casimir brushed the back of his hand along her skin and she closed her eyes at the contact. There were so few she would allow to touch her, he was one of them. His touch brought comfort and the sense of protection.

  “I don’t know what you went through, Tora but I am here for you. Tell me you know this.”

  “I know, Alpha.” She took a deep breath and listened to the birds flying through the dark sky, she couldn’t see them but knew they were there. She heard the wind moving along their wings.

  “I need you to head to the Western Clan and talk to their Alpha, Adams.”

  She searched her memory and nodded when she realized she had a to-go bag already prepped. “By your leave, Alpha.”

  He gripped her shoulder and she froze, wolf within her lifting its head.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “My bag is packed. I will be there by morning.” She deliberately ignored the true meaning of his question.

  “Tora.”

  “I hardly think this is the time to question my state, Alpha. I’m fine.”

  He released her and she waited until he moved before she did. “Call me when you arrive.”

  “As you wish, Alpha.” Still, she waited. She wouldn’t leave until he gave her permission to head off.

  Beneath the star-studded sky he observed her, and she remained stoic, not giving him any indication of the numerous threads, she was thinking.

  “Go, Tora.”

  The leash had been unclipped and she slid into the darkness without another word, the two wolves following her instead of staying there with Casimir. She shifted and stretched out to run with the local pack who gathered. The alpha howled first and the others, including her, joined in.

  On the crisp air, she heard the song from her Pack as well, including that of her Alpha, bathing them all in his love and respect. She finished the distance alone, the others peeling off to continue their run.

  At her house, she strode through to the bathroom and stared at her reflection before drawing her black hair up off her neck and securing it into a ponytail. In front of her closet, she drew the double doors open and stared in at her black canvas to-go bag before swiping it up. It didn’t take her long to pack and slip behind the wheel of her older model GMC Jimmy. Its tan exterior had dents and scratches, but she refused to let them take it and smooth them out. The engine was new and ran like a well-oiled machine, but she didn’t want to have to worry about someone trying to break in and steal it because it looked pretty.

  This was an outdoor vehicle, stick shift, four-wheel drive, luggage rack and more often than not, she used it as a bed so she had a bedroll in the back which was perfect for her to crash with. Turning the key, she shifted into gear and pulled out of her drive and got on the road, as she turned a corner before the edge of the property line a large black wolf stepped into view along the road.

  She didn’t slow, for s
he wasn’t concerned it would suddenly dash in front of her, it was her Alpha. Tora raced by him, heading for her next adventure.

  αβ

  He picked up the drink and put it to his lips as the cute fox shifter bartender shook her ass before stepping back behind the scarred but smooth wood. This was a small bar, but it had a steady stream of customers. They were all shifters, no straight humans were there.

  Checking his watch, he shook his head and stretched out his legs before once again hooking the heels of his combat boots to the bar of the stool. The man was late.

  Didn’t bode well for his contact but he’d allow him a few more minutes before left. This getting information bit wasn’t his favorite thing to do in the world. A lot of sitting and waiting while the leopard and he preferred the action.

  However, when the Alpha decreed he go meet someone, it wasn’t in him to disagree.

  He lifted his head at the familiar rumble of an engine. Even his cat woke up and chuffed with anticipation. The bears in the bar quieted down and all looked to the door as it opened and in walked his every wet dream come to life.

  Tora.

  Every instinct within him hollered for him to pick her up, kiss her, mark her and lock her away from the world. It wasn’t to be, despite them having fucked when she was at his Clan for a while, now when he saw her, which admittedly was more than it had been since his best friend Dyana had mated Tora’s Alpha, Casimir Lars, this woman was cold as ice.

  Colder than.

  Across the room, he could see the faint circles beneath her eyes and frowned.

  What’s keeping you up at night, Tora?

  It wasn’t a man. He knew that as sure as he was breathing. He didn’t smell anyone on her and had there been, he would know. This was his woman and he just had to wait for the right time to let her in on this fact. It wouldn’t be as easy as it would with another leopard, not that the females of his kind were easy, but they knew and recognized the signs.

  As did he with Tora, but she remained blissfully unaware.

  He watched, not moving from his seat at the bar, as she scanned the room with those amazing gray eyes. She found him, ran an impersonal look over him then moved on as if he hadn’t had his cock buried so far within her pussy he would have sworn they were one. Small though it may be, he took pleasure when she moved toward him, every stride, lithe and coiled.