Alpha King: Adult Fairy Tale Romance, Red Riding Hood Book 2

By Joanna Mazurkiewicz

Can be read as a standalone adult fairy tale romance. 18+

Red Riding Hood runs a local Tavern with her grandmother, Ruby. She doesn't need a man in her life to be happy, and she prides herself in being an independent woman. During a busy night, a highwayman named, Robin One Eye, shows up offering her protection as a pack of werewolves in the area have become a threat to the local public. He requires a fee, but Red refuses; she's ready to to take her chances with the wolves. 
Unfortunately, One Eye keeps coming back, sabotaging her business and threatening clients, forcing Red to seek help with the one and only, Alpha King. A hot, arrogant werewolf who's had his eye on her since he stepped foot into Farrington. 
But Red's been independent for far too long to get tied up again, especially when William not only wants her soul, but heart as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joanna Mazurkiewicz
• Release date: Sep 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393066118

Book preview

Chapter 1

Y eah, yeah, just like that. Harder, Carlos, I'm just about to come, Red screamed, knowing that she was ready to climax. Panting for breath, she slammed her eyelids shut. Seconds later, she arched her head backwards while her body convulsed in ecstasy as she couldn't hold her orgasm any longer. Heat ravaged her skin, jolting through her like millions of tiny volcanic explosions.

Carlos Amara began showing up in her tavern only last week. The man was handsome enough. He made a few hilarious jokes and he had the kind of outgoing personality that she liked, so she decided to sleep with him. Red had long since broken up with the forest ranger, Charles, and she was tired of going to bed alone every night. Sleeping with Carlos made her feel liberated, and she liked the change in her usual routine. Over the past several months, the tavern had become her life, she was constantly there working and she didn't have much of a social life. Her only friend, Cinderella, had married King Caspian and now she was enjoying her happily ever after, living in a huge castle and having mind-blowing sex every single day.

Carlos was panting and moulding her breasts, while she was in the zone of her orgasmic pleasure. A wave of electric current jolted through her body as he continued to penetrate her harder.

A few months ago, Red slept with a baron in another kingdom, but the sex had been very disappointing. After breaking up with Charles her life wasn't the same anymore and she wanted to believe that men still found her attractive. She felt lonelier than ever before, and the baron was into her, so that night she’d decided it was time to take back the reins of her life and stop allowing Charles to hold power over her. She was free!

Seconds later, she collapsed on the bed next to Carlos who whistled loudly, obviously satisfied. She enjoyed having sex with the highwayman more than she’d anticipated. And Carlos knew how to please her in bed. He wasn't selfish like most of the men she’d slept with in the past.

She flopped to the side, closing her eyes for a moment. She told herself that tonight she wouldn't think about the tavern or her gran. This was her evening, and she needed to relax. Carlos started kissing her naked back, and she giggled when he reached out to the most sensitive parts of her body.

It was such a refreshing experience, and the main thing was that she was finally over Charles. The truth was that the forest ranger was lousy in bed. Red had to fake her orgasm on multiple occasions.

Even worse, she found out that Charles had helped Cindy’s stepsisters kidnap her. Susan and Teresa gave him a fair amount of gold just so he would keep Cinderella busy. Then apparently he slipped a sleeping pill into her drink. Red couldn't believe Charles would do something like that, especially to someone she considered a friend. At the time they were still together, but after Red discovered the truth about what he had done, she ended their relationship immediately. Things had been bad between them for a while, and that incident only confirmed that she needed to part ways with him.

You look so hot, babe. It’s such a shame that I have to head back to the village in a minute. I’d love to do you again, Carlos said, then pulled her to him, kissing her intensely.

Red giggled, thinking that she wouldn't mind him staying the night, but he was already putting on his T-shirt.

Red had invited Carlos to her home when she finished working earlier that night and now it was just after one a.m. Ruby, Red's grandmother, had moved into the small flat above the tavern a few months ago. She liked keeping an eye on things, and only recently sold her own house that had grown too big for her. Red inherited a house after her parents died, and preferred living alone.

When a chance to purchase the rundown tavern from the previous owner presented itself, Red knew that she couldn't turn it down. Ruby offered to help her as much as she could. Her gran had been telling her for months that Red should have invested in some kind of business. Other people often told her that she had potential and was very business savvy. Months later, they began working together, serving customers and making sure the entire place ran smoothly. Things were going well, and the cash was flowing. Her grandmother loved interacting with the locals and travellers who stopped by now and again for a warm meal or maybe something stronger.

Soon Red realised that her dreams were finally coming together. She had her own profitable business.

That's fine with me anyway. I need to get up early tomorrow. There’s stock arriving from another kingdom and we’ve been waiting for it for weeks now, Red replied, already thinking about all the errands she had to take care of over the next few days.

Her schedule was always full. Running a business had proven to be challenging for Red, but she didn't mind. She liked being busy. The tavern had become Red's life. For as long as she could remember she’d wanted to be independent; she never wanted to rely on a man for money.

Her parents died when she was only eight years old and it turned her life upside down, altering everything that she’d ever believed in. She was never truly able to move forward after that, believing that God had taken them away from her far too early. She didn’t think that it was fair—Red loved them very much and she couldn’t come to terms with the fact that they weren’t around anymore.

Red got up from the bed and walked naked towards the chair. She picked up her black dress and quickly put it on. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, then dragged her fingers through her messy dark hair. She could see part of the castle from her window. For a second she thought about what it would be like to take Cindy's place, but then realised that thought alone was silly. That wasn't her life or her dream. Red wasn't interested in being married to a royal. She was happy to be alone for now, and maybe eventually she would find a man who supported her independent nature.

It looked like Carlos had changed his mind about leaving, because he was still lying on the bed, watching her. He was handsome, tall, muscular and so far a decent lover too.

Red and her grandmother were very similar. Ruby encouraged her to have fun, and always let her serve the hot and interesting men when they showed up in the tavern. Ruby wanted her to settle down, but she would never push her to do anything she didn't want to do. It was just her way of supporting her.

Are you throwing me out, Red? I must say that I'm a little disappointed, Carlos said, not taking his eyes off her. People are saying that wolf men have been seen in Farrington Kingdom lately. Apparently, they’ve been kidnapping children and robbing travellers on the road.

She placed her hands on her hips and turned around to face him. She wasn't sure where the highwayman was going with this. Surely he didn't expect her to believe in those kinds of stories.

You're a grown, well-built man, and I can’t believe you're afraid of a few wolves. Besides, it might not even be true. Everyone knows that werewolves don't exist, Red stated, looking down at her nails. Except when she thought of King Caspian her confidence faded away. She knew that if vampires were real then the werewolves might be too, but she wasn't ready to admit it.

She was quickly getting bored of this conversation with Carlos. Although he was very handsome and good in bed, she couldn't help feeling that there was something missing—like when she was with Charles.

You got me there, Red. Carlos chuckled and then got up from the bed, still staring at her like he wanted to kiss her again, but added instead, There’s a group of highwaymen in Farrington right now who can protect you from the wolf men. The king isn't going to do anything. He just remarried and he’s enjoying his new wife. Our leader can offer you protection for a small payment.

Red couldn't believe what she was hearing. Of course, she should have suspected that Carlos wasn't sleeping with her because he actually liked her—he must have had a hidden agenda from the start. Hot anger started moving through her veins. Payment? No, she wasn't planning to pay anyone just so she would feel safe in her own tavern. She was willing to take her chances. She’d heard about the werewolves but didn't think she had anything to worry about. Her customers were still coming in, and no one was afraid to leave their home after sundown.

Payment? Are you kidding me? I work hard and you think that I'm just going to gift you a few gold coins because you’ve given me a decent enough orgasm? she asked, laughing, but deep down she was furious with him that he even dared to offer her something like that.

I'm not joking, Red. Who knows what might happen to the tavern? Werewolves are dangerous. What if they try to attack you or even rape you? I don't suppose that you’d be too happy then. Carlos stood, and started putting the rest of his clothes back on.

Red's blood pressure was rising fast. More potent anger flashed through her veins. She’d thought that Carlos was different, not like the other men out there, but obviously she’d been bloody wrong.

Get out! she shouted and started pushing him out the door. Get the hell out of my house right now. I don't need some asshole’s ‘get rich scheme’ on my account. If I ever need your help I’ll surely ask for it, but right now I'm perfectly fine on my own.

Red wasn't even sure why she was so furious, but Carlos was already walking downstairs. When he was finally outside on her porch, she started throwing his shoes at his head.

Jesus, Red, calm down. It was just a small suggestion. You're making plenty of money and sooner or later you’ll need proper protection.

Yeah, I earn my money by working hard. You should try it sometime, then maybe you’ll realise that gold doesn't grow on trees! she shouted, losing control and then slammed the door behind her. Her breathing was erratic, and she stood with her back to the door a few minutes, telling herself to calm down. Carlos had wound her up.

Red, darling, come on, he shouted back at her from outside. I was only joking. We had a good time, and I can make you come really quick again. The next orgasm is going to be spectacular.

That only made her even more furious. She opened the door again and shouted back, Get lost, and if you must know, I faked my orgasm exactly like I’ve done the past two nights that we spent together. You were just okay, Carlos.

She watched how his jaw tightened and his face fell. Red laughed to herself, shut the door and then started walking upstairs again.

You’ll regret this, bitch, and soon, she overheard him saying, before he vanished into the forest.

Red thought about Carlos’ warning, being aware that she didn’t really know anything about him. They had spoken a few times, but now she realised that she’d been careless, trusting someone who wasn’t from Farrington. Maybe he was dangerous after all and only intended to give a clam impression until he got what wanted from her. She knew from early on that he was a highwayman, but never thought that she had anything to worry about.

Besides, she wasn't the kind of girl who took any kind of threats seriously, but right then she had to think about not only her future, but her grandmother’s as well.

Even Ruby would’ve agreed that the tavern didn't need any protection. Highwaymen and other travellers were always passing through Farrington, but Caspian made sure that his people were safe.

Red stretched her arms, and slipped under the covers after she took off her dress, thinking that she was going to deal with Carlos tomorrow if necessary. She kind of lost her temper and now she was regretting shouting at him. When Red was angry, most of the time she couldn't control herself, and tonight was one of those nights. She was glad to be finally be alone, then drifted off to sleep, hoping that she really had nothing to worry about tomorrow morning.

The next day, Red showed up in the tavern early, but it seemed that the local merchant she’d been expecting was running late. She started cleaning the bar, then checked the rest of the stock. Ruby was chatting with a few travellers outside, as usual, trying to kill some time.

Hours later, the merchant finally arrived, but without the promised stock, and he looked like he’d been beaten up. His clothes were torn, and he had bruises and cuts all over his face.

What the hell happened to you? she asked, helping him inside the tavern. She noticed that he was limping too. Ruby rushed to the bar, most likely to make him a warm cup of tea, but the merchant looked like he needed something stronger.

I was burgled while I was travelling here. Those scumbags attacked me just outside Farrington. They covered my head so I couldn't see their faces. They took all the wine—it's a complete disaster. I have no idea how I'm going to get back home now, he cried out, shaking his head.

Red clenched her fists. How could she be so unlucky? She’d been waiting for that stock for weeks now and the wine she ordered was pricey.

That's terrible, her gran said. Red, come on. We have to help this poor man. He’s badly wounded too. That cut needs to be disinfected straight away. She placed a cup of tea in front of the merchant, who was shaking his head, staring blankly out the window.

Red needed to get to the bottom of what happened on the road. Someone must have known that the merchant would be passing through that particular area. Red pursed her lips in a thin line, thinking about last night. Carlos told her that she needed protection, and now all her newly ordered stock had been stolen from her. She wasn't stupid; she didn't believe in coincidences at all.

Do you remember anything? How many of them were there? she started asking the merchant, but Ruby shot her a sharp look, basically saying