Taken by the Alpha Wolf (2 page)

Damn, could this hollow ache in his chest get
any worse? “Adjusting to being in a Cajun family, instead a wealthy
one?”

“Stop making assumptions. This is difficult
for me to leave. My life is here. I love my family and this is hard
on my parents. It’s hard for them to let go.”

When he’d taken tea, sweet mercy, tea, at
their South Beach home a few months ago, he’d seen their glow of
affection for their only daughter. It made the afternoon bearable
as he’d struggled to balance that ridiculously small china cup in
his big hands. They disliked him, but adored Cindy.

“It has nothing to do with money or
privilege…”

“What then?”

“I don’t know how to say this.”

Something warned him to keep his mouth shut.
He closed his mouth, tried leashing all his own anger and
frustration.

“Look at me. I’m not what I seem,
Etienne.”

His eyebrows shot up. He gave the contours of
her body a long, appreciative look. “A girl?”

Cindy gave a gurgling laugh and shook her
head. “You always make me laugh.”

Etienne brushed a finger across her cheek. “I
want to make you laugh, always. You come first, Cindy.
Promise.”

She looked so sad, he wanted to haul her over
his shoulder and spirit her away and spend the next week coaxing a
bright smile to her face. Make her laugh again, chase away the
shadows haunting her eyes. Then tumble her into bed and spend long
hours making love to her, sealing his claim in the flesh.

Later. He concentrated on her, what she
wanted to say to him, what kept her at arms’ length. If not her
family’s objections, and his Cajun roots, what then?

“I’ve lived too long in the human world.”
Fire faded from her gaze and she turned, biting the curve of her
lower lip. “I’ve made my own life. I can’t adjust to yours.”

Troubled, he slid a hand over her nape,
stroking gently with a thumb, needing to maintain contact with her.
“I’ll teach you, Cindy.”

She shook her head and her slender shoulders
slumped. “I need more time.”

Time. Just what they did not have.

“I’d like to stay here and have a nice
conversation, but we’re burning sunlight. You’re coming home with
me, where I can keep you at my side. It’s safer there.”

Cindy pushed a shaky hand through her long
hair. “What about my father? I can’t just leave him. He’s in
danger, too. I have to warn him.”

“Already did. He has to deal on his own.
Let’s go.”

“Etienne, has anyone ever told you how
controlling you are? I’m not leaving without my father.”

As a Navy junior lieutenant, he’d led
missions and commanded squads of SEALs into dangerous
assignments.

Far easier to control an enemy operative
brandishing an AK-47 than his rebellious mate. He gave her a long,
steady look. “Your father is on his own. Now, are you coming or do
I have to toss you over my shoulder?”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Don’t test me,” he said softly.

“Yo, lover birds.” Gabriel’s low voice came
from the trees. “Got company.”

He stilled, pulling Cindy close. “Diaz
brothers?”

“Nope. Dozen wolves. And a guy leading
them...” Alex sounded incredulous. “In a suit. In the swamp. Who
does that?”

A certain wealthy and arrogant Miami lawyer,
Etienne thought grimly. He clasped Cindy’s arm and began herding
her down the pathway. “We have to leave, now.”

“I can’t go with you. My father…”

“Send him an email,” Etienne said.

“Robichaux. I knew I’d find you sniffing
around my daughter.”

Etienne whirled, instinctively tugging her
close. At the bayhead’s entrance stood the very man in
question.

Robert Parker.

And he wasn’t alone. A dozen Draicon
werewolves stood at his side. Lips pulled back into snarls, they
bared their very white and very sharp fangs.

Ready to kill him.

Chapter Two

His brothers charged down the path. The shift
was fluid and smooth, his brothers transforming at the same time.
The two powerful, muscled wolves growled at the intruders, who
snarled back.

“All this, just for me? A touch of overkill,
n’est pas
, Parker?” Etienne kept a protective hold on Cindy,
feeling her tension.

“Dad, stop this. This is between Etienne and
me,” she snapped.

Stunned, he watched a wolf shift into a
patrician woman in a black skirt and a red silk shirt. She swept
through them with cool indifference. Her blue eyes icy as Cindy’s
were warm, she gave Etienne a disdainful glance. Blonde hair swept
back in an elegant chignon, she looked ready for tea at the country
club.

As if she hadn’t been a snarling wolf a
minute ago.

With his silk black suit, crisp white shirt
and tie, Cindy’s father resembled a banker, not a blooded Draicon
werewolf.

“A real Alpha stands on his own instead of
cowering behind his pack, Parker.”

“Robichaux. I’m here about my daughter.”

Suspicious, not ready to lower his guard,
Etienne gave a slight nod to his brothers. Alex and Gabriel shifted
back, training their hostile gazes on the wolves, who shifted into
glowering men.

“All these bodyguards, Parker. I’d say you’re
afraid of me,” Etienne said softly.

“I was in the middle of a business meeting
with their employer, George, when I received word an intruder was
in my territory. They offered to accompany us here. You’re
trespassing.” Contempt dripped from his voice. “Not that you or
your brothers are a threat.”

“Oh?”

The older male snorted. “You think you can
take me, Robichaux? Just because you’re a Navy SEAL? You think
jumping out of planes, shooting people makes you a real male? A
SEAL who thinks he’s invincible, always coming to everyone’s rescue
to play the hero because you have a gun and you enjoy using
it?”

Cindy’s face settled into a stubborn look
Etienne recognized. She got her dander up and was about to let
loose. He bit back a grin.

“Dad, you don’t know much about SEALS. It’s
not violence that makes them what they are. It’s intelligence and
the courage and discipline to use strength sparingly, acting always
with honor.”

Touched by her loyalty, Etienne rubbed a
thumb over her flushed cheek. “Easy,
chere
,” he murmured. “I
don’t like seeing you upset. I told you, Parker, I resigned my
commission from the Navy after meeting Cindy. I wasn’t going to
risk any more deployments when I knew I couldn’t be here to keep
her safe.”

A lanky Draicon with olive-toned skin and a
sullen mouth gave a low growl. “Enough wasting time. Get on with
it.”

“Silence.” Parker said. He locked gazes with
Etienne. “I want you out of Miami. Take her with you. She’s no
longer my daughter. I’ve disowned her.”

Silence draped the air, broken only the
distant cackling of a crow.

Stunned, Etienne stared. “You’re joking.”

“I will not subject my family to your tainted
bloodlines. She’s your destined mate? Fine. I can’t fight biology.
But get her out of my sight. Now. I never want to see her
again.”

Blood drained from Cindy’s face. “Why are you
doing this?”

Parker did not look at her. “You’re a
disgrace to our family. I no longer have any association with you,
Cynthia.”

In the past, Parker had been coldly polite to
him. But no matter how cold he’d been to Etienne, he’d shown only
deep affection for Cindy. This outright hostility was shocking. The
man had done a 180.

He glanced at Cindy. If he was stunned, she
was reeling. Etienne took her hand, gave a comforting squeeze. Her
skin was cold and clammy.

Cindy looked as if papa dearest had stabbed
her in the guts. “You can’t be serious. Mom, do you agree with
this?”

Cool as Arctic ice, her mother did not blink.
Did not meet her gaze. “It was my idea to get rid of you. I refuse
to have a strumpet associating with my good name.”

Cindy made a small choking noise. Etienne
squeezed her hand again. “How dare you call her that,” he said a
soft voice that could make his team of SEALS quiver in their boots.
“Try it again and I’ll take that silver spoon out of your mouth and
shove it…”

A gentle touch of Cindy’s hand. He inhaled,
steadying himself.

“I’m not…” A furious blush covered his mate’s
cheeks. “We’ve never, Etienne’s always been a gentleman.”

“He’s trash. That makes you trash as well,”
her mother retorted. “I want you out of the house, Cynthia. Don’t
stop to pack. I’ll send your things later.”

Gabriel growled softly. Etienne felt a tingle
of alarm at the deadly flash of amber in Gabriel’s eyes. His
brother was pissed, and when he got really pissed, his dark side
came out. No one wanted to mess with Gabe’s dark side. Anyone who
did ended up looking like shredded hamburger.

“Easy, Gabe. They’re not worth it.”

Relieved, he watched his younger brother reel
in his emotions. But his own emotions were reeling. A heavy weight
compressed his chest. He could feel Cindy’s grief and shock. She
stood, chin lifted, stance rigid. Moisture glittered in her eyes.
Two bright spots of color flared on her cheeks. But she did not
move or look at her parents. He sensed the struggle for
composure.

Then she shrugged her slender shoulders.
“Thanks for letting me know how you feel,
Mother
. I really
appreciate it when you open up like that. Makes me feel all warm
and fuzzy inside.”

Small chuckles from Alexandre and Gabriel.
Etienne felt a flare of deep respect for his mate, and deep disgust
for her parents.

He wanted to shift, charge her parents and
shake sense into them. How the hell could they do this to her? She
was so soft, sweet, pretty and loyal. Didn’t they realize how much
they humiliated their only daughter?

Didn’t they care?

Etienne showed no emotion as he regarded her
father. Parker stepped closer, contempt twisting his handsome
face.

“Get out of my territory right now,
Robichaux. Take her with you and don’t look back. I’ll give you
until five to get out of Miami. Don’t stop at the house. I don’t
want anything precious to fall into the wrong hands. Now, get your
scent off my land. Or does a hot dog SEAL like you have a hard time
understanding English?”

Etienne clenched his hands to keep from
swinging a hard right to Parker’s chiseled chin. But he couldn’t
let this pass. Much as he wanted to bash the bastard’s head in, he
couldn’t do that either. He was still Cindy’s sire.

Etienne glanced at Cindy, biting her bottom
lip, her lovely face pale as milk.

He cupped her cheek, needing contact fused
between them, needing to provide a little comfort. “I’ll be right
back,
chere
. Gabe, Alex, stay by her.”

As his brothers flanked Cindy, Etienne
stalked to the path’s edge. Unfastening his pants, he stamped his
scent permanently into Robert’s face by urinating on the trees. He
zipped up, faced the outraged Draicon.

They stood, bristling at each other like the
wolves they were for a minute. But instead of fury, something else
flickered in the older man’s eyes.

Etienne hesitated. Opening all his Draicon
senses, he sorted through the various scents. Earthy swamp, Cindy’s
delicate fragrance, the bristling hostility, and a touch of…

Fear.

It came from her father.

And then it vanished, replaced with the same
cold contempt.

“You have until five, Robichaux. If you’re
not out of Miami by five, there will be consequences.”

Parker, his mate and the other Draicon left,
not looking back. Etienne slid a palm around her nape to soothe
her. Cindy flinched.

“Don’t touch me.” She looked away.
“Please.”

His hand fell to his side. Damn he felt so
helpless and he hated it. He wanted to tug her into his arms and
reassure her. This was unfamiliar ground. He could charge a pack of
snarling, rabid werewolves without blinking, and yet he couldn’t
even comfort his own mate. He didn’t know what to do. Cindy hurt
badly. Etienne flexed his fingers, resisting the urge to face after
her father and punch him solidly in the jaw.

And haul him back and demand he apologize to
his daughter for those cruel insults.

He drew in a deep breath. He’d maintain his
tight control, as always, and things would work out fine.

Alex gave him a sympathetic look. “We’ll take
off now. Give you both some privacy.”

“Take the Jeep. I’ll drive back in Cindy’s
car.”

Gabriel ‘s jaw hardened. “We’ll see you back
at the house in a couple of days.”

His expression softened as he glanced at
Cindy. “Welcome to our family. We’ll do our best to try to make you
feel at home.”

She did not look at either of them as they
left.

Mission accomplished. Cindy was his. But at
what cost?

Chapter Three

She wanted to scream, shift into a wolf and
tear after her parents, clawing at them for answers.

Why?

Cindy swallowed past the cloying lump in her
throat. After all the months since meeting Etienne, of trying to be
Draicon, she wanted to hide behind her human façade.

It was all she had left.

“Despite what my father said, I have to
return to my house,” she finally said.

All her life, her parents had adored her,
loved her. Her father had even hired her as his office manager.
Cindy had managed clients, sought out new business and turned the
firm into a multi-million dollar business and one of Miami’s most
respected law firms.

And now they’d turned their backs on her
because she was the destined mate of a Cajun. A former Navy SEAL
who’d risked his life many times.

Her father thought of him as nothing more
than a hot dog, no make that a hot
wolf
, because he jumped
out of planes and helicopters, swam in enemy-infested waters and
brandished weapons big as a car to keep their country safe.