TerrIIItory (9 page)

Chapter 16

Kane snarled and fisted his hand tighter in Royce’s shirt.  The vamp had been harder to find than Kane had anticipated, and the Alpha was eager to get back to his mate.  Bethany needed answers Kane didn’t have, but he knew where to get them.  He stalked down the hall toward his room with Royce in tow.

Shoving the door open, the fist in the front of Royce’s shirt dropped when his eyes landed on the empty bed.  Motion caught his attention and his gaze jerked to where the curtains billowed in the open window.  Bethany was gone.

***

With everyone down at the fire pit, it had been easy for Bethany to sneak out the front of the house.  She’d half expected and had fully
hoped
that Evander would catch her and make her stay.  It didn’t happen.

Once the front door of the house clicked closed behind her, she’d run hard.  Even now, with tears still blinding her, she was pushing hard and fast to get as much distance between herself and Evander as possible. 

He doesn’t want me! 
The stark realization played over and over in her head. 
I’m not pack.
  Well, what in the hell had been up with all the sexual energy they’d shared when marking each other?  She’d begun to hope it was more than just her wolf attaching itself to a strong male.  Apparently, she’d been wrong.

Reaching a break in the tree line, she stepped out onto the shoulder of the highway, cramming her hands into her jeans and ducking her head.  She’d swiped a jacket from the hook behind the door on her way out, and wouldn’t you know it?  Evander’s scent enveloped her, taunting her with all she couldn’t have.  She was tempted to take the thing off and leave it in the woods, but it was too cold.  The dreary, overcast sky matched her mood.

A semi sounded its horn loudly as it passed and she walked a little closer to the tree line, eyeing the small gas station that lay up ahead.

Within minutes, she entered the store and put on her best helpless-female face.  “Uh, excuse me.” She eyed the young man behind the counter and felt a slight victory when his eyes flared with interest.  “Can I borrow your phone?  My car broke down up the road, and my cell is dead.”

“Uhh.” The young man fumbled for the phone on the counter behind him, keeping his eyes on Bethany.  “Sure.”  He thrust the cordless phone forward.

Bethany smiled gratefully and turned her back on the kid for a little privacy before dialing the only number she knew by heart.  After two short rings, the line picked up.

“Hello?”

“Charin?”  Bethany’s tone hiked in excitement.

“Beth? Oh my God!”  Charin spoke all in a rush, as if afraid she wouldn’t be able to get it all out.  “I knew you’d call me on my birthday!  Where in the hell are you?  I’ve been calling and calling and when you never answered I went to your place.  Your landlady says she hasn’t seen you in weeks!  I thought you were dead!”  There was a scrapping noise and then Charin’s voice sounded muffled as she yelled in the background.  “It’s Beth!”  Then her voice was back clear as ever.  “Where are you?  Are you okay?  We’re coming to get you!”

Appreciative tears filled Bethany’s eyes.  Her friend Charin was the closest thing to a sister that she had, and the familiarity of her voice had Bethany aching to be in her friend’s arms.  “I’m…” Bethany turned to eye the kid behind the counter only to catch him ogling her ass.  “Where are we?”

His eyes snapped to hers as his cheeks reddened.  “We’re at mile marker 568 on Highway 70.”

“Shit,” Bethany hissed.  “Is there a motel nearby?”

The kid pointed.  “Your best bet would be Georgetown; it’s about five miles east.  If you’re heading west though, Silverthorne’s further, about nine miles.  Both cities are about the same size, and you’ll find lodging at either one.”

What? 
Shaking her head in confusion, Bethany’s brow furrowed.  “Silverthorne?  Georgetown?”  She hated to ask but, “Is this Wyoming?”

The kid looked confused.  “No.  This is Colorado. North Central Colorado,” he clarified, staring at her as if she were an idiot.

Shock was swift, then her heart quickly plummeted at the realization that she wasn’t even in her home state.  She masked her dejection and turned to blow out a pent-up breath before speaking into the receiver.  “I’m in Colorado, near a place called Georgetown.  Apparently, there’s a city just west of here called Silverthorne.  Can you meet me there?”

When Charin asked where, specifically, Bethany palmed the phone to ask the clerk.  “Is there a bus depot in Silverthorne?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.  “Just the one.  It’s just on the eastern edge of town.”

Turning her back on him again, Bethany spoke into the phone.  “Meet me at the bus depot.  It’ll be on the eastern end of town.  I can’t stay here,” she eyed the store.  “I’ve gotta keep moving.”

She could hear movement on the other end of the phone.  “We’re on our way,” Charin assured.

The line went dead, and Bethany felt a weight settle in her chest with the figurative and literal disconnect from her closest friend and pack mate.  For the first time since knowing her, she was disappointed with Charin’s penchant for action.  She knew there’d be no questions asked now, no demand for details.  No, Charin would get to her as fast as she could, and
then
they’d clear up the details.  Already, Bethany missed the warmth that had enveloped her at the mere act of speaking to her friend.

It’d been nearly a month since she’d been abducted while out jogging.  A whole month since she’d seen Charin or either of the two males from her pack.  She smiled ruefully at the prospect of finally getting the opportunity to wrap her arms around any one of them and with Charin’s assured, ‘We’re on our way’, there was no doubt in Bethany’s mind that all three pack mates would arrive.

Charin and Bethany had grown up in a small Wyoming town.  No.  Small was being generous.  The town was so minuscule that their high school graduating class consisted of only four individuals, Bethany, Charin, Charin’s younger brother Bobby, and Clint, who was two years younger than the girls were.  In small towns, age didn’t matter.  The kids were lumped together to assemble a sizeable enough class, and they’d all learned together.  Now, as adults, their meager four-person pack didn’t draw much attention, and that’s how they liked it.

Thinking of her pack, Bethany quickened her pace as she handed the phone to the clerk without acknowledging his curious gaze.  “Thanks!”  She hurried from the store.

Walking swiftly to the trees just behind the store, she trekked deeper into the forest and tried to force a shift.  Nothing!  If it was going to happen for her,
now
was the time.  She needed the aid of her wolf to get as much distance between herself and Evander as possible, and still her wolf wouldn’t come forth.

Closing her eyes, she tried again, urging her body to morph.  She knew it hadn’t worked before her eyes opened.  Tilting her head back she looked up at the overcast sky and screamed, “COME ON!”

And just like that, a loud crack of thunder rumbled overhead and a fat drop splattered on her upturned chin.

Of course!  Why the fuck not?
  She let her head fall forward dejectedly as tears threatened.  Her whole life, nothing had ever gone her way. 
Why should things change now?
  Sucking in a deep breath, she forced herself to move lest she give in to her urge to drop to her knees and wallow in self-pity.  Cramming her hands into her stolen jacket, she set off through the woods, intentionally shadowing the highway from the cover of the forest.  The last thing she needed was Evander finding her. 
Yeah, like he cares!

Part of her hoped he was searching for her, but a bigger part of her believed what he’d said.  He was an elitist, and went to great lengths to surround himself with shifters, which she wasn’t.  Hell, he hadn’t even been able to remain in the same room as her.

As the rain began to pour down, she kicked herself for picking Silverthorne over Georgetown.  Her intention had been to go to the further city in the event that,
if
Evander came after her, she knew he’d assume she’d go to the nearest town and not the furthest.  Now, with her wolf still failing to cooperate, it was going to be a long and torturous nine-mile walk.

Chapter 17

Evander paced the large living room.  He was livid, enraged both with himself and with Beth. 
He
should have consoled her before going after Royce, but
she
should’ve stayed put!  Worse, she couldn’t have picked a shittier time to run off.  He’d been charging out of the house to find her when Clay stopped him.  Evander’s brother, Barron, had arrived and, in typical Alpha fashion, had challenged Weston after Evander’s Beta had refused to permit him near the compound.

Barron was a lone wolf, but still an Alpha, and didn’t take orders from anyone, especially a mere Beta.

Crashing through the trees on the southern-most end of their property, Evander snarled impatiently at the sight that met him.  His brother, Barron, was staring Weston down while Lincoln paced agitatedly behind his pack mate with Raina’s fear-filled eyes watching from a few feet behind Lincoln.

A flash of pride bubbled forth at the fact that his Beta—while not outright attacking—wasn’t lowering his eyes or head in submission either.

His pride was short tempered though, his impatience to go after Bethany overwhelming.  He knew it couldn’t happen now.  An Alpha didn’t run from his territory for any reason, and he most especially didn’t do it upon the arrival of another Alpha.  It would be considered relinquishment of his title, his pack, and his lands.

“Barron!” Evander hissed impatiently.  He should have known.  The scentless footprints near the creek were typical Barron.  “What in the fuck are you doing here
now
?” He’d known his brother was coming, and in typical Barron style, he arrived at the most inopportune moment.

Barron kept his eyes pinned on Weston.  “Brother. Tell this pup to lower his head before I detach it.”

“Weston!” Evander growled in irritation, stalking forward to grab his Beta’s arm and forcibly pull him back.  “I need you to go after Bethany. She’s gone.”

“Bethany?” Barron smirked, then turned to eye his brother.

Evander ignored him.  “She’s my mate, Weston.  Bring her back to me!”

Weston didn’t move at first.  “You sure?”  His query was clearly concern over the fact that he wasn’t comfortable leaving his Alpha with Barron.

“No.”  Evander plowed a frustrated hand through his hair.  “I’d rather it were me chasing her down, but I need to stay here and deal with my brother, which means you’re going after my mate.  The longer you stand here, the further she gets, so move your ass!”

“You can go.” Barron smirked, crossing to prop himself against a tree as he watched the scene with clear amusement.  “I don’t mind entertaining myself.”  His gaze slid to Raina, and when she flinched and backed up Lincoln snarled and crossed to block her from Barron’s view.

Barron’s penchant for women was the exact reason Evander wouldn’t be going after Bethany.  Evander had a duty to protect his pack, and he obviously couldn’t rely on Weston or Lincoln to keep things calm while he was gone.

Fuck!  This
was what he despised about being Alpha.  He hated having to put his own needs, his own wants, and his own
life
on the back burner to do what was best for his pack.  He quickly went over the options in his head.  There were none.  He could not run from his territory upon the arrival of a new prime Alpha.  It’d be deemed acquiescence, consent,
submission
.  Regardless of the reason, their wolves wouldn’t understand.  If he left now, he’d be ceding his territory to Barron.

For a moment, he considered just going after Bethany and letting Weston defend their territory, but one look at his older brother and the thought was quickly discarded.  Barron Kane wasn’t a man, or wolf, to be trifled with.  He’d spent the past seven years in a pack of Alpha males.  They lived full-time in the wilds of British Columbia.  It was an arrangement they’d tried to get Evander to join them in.  All Alpha’s ruling a huge territory.  They spent their days hunting and fighting and at night, they’d travel to the nearest towns and take up willing females for nights of meaningless sex.  No ties, no bills, no burdens, and most importantly no subordinate wolves to care for.  Wild wolves.

Evander had refused to join the Alpha pack because he’d been certain it would fail.  The idea of five Alphas tromping about in the wild like lost boys with no purpose but fighting, feeding, and fucking hadn’t appealed to him.  Besides, the odds of that many Alphas peaceably co-existing were destined for failure.

Evander had been wrong.  For seven years, the Alpha pack comprised of Delano Bowden, Gray Kincaid, Wren Prime, and Evander’s older brother, Barron Kane, had successfully forged their own existence in the forests of British Columbia.  But as is life, all good things must come to an end.  When Barron contacted Evander a few months back to inform him the Alpha Pack was disbanding and that each Alpha would be looking for new territory, Evander knew he had to get to work trying to place the Alphas.  If not, several of the existing Alpha’s in the Northwest would be facing challenges, close friends and allies included.  Hell, Evander wouldn’t put it past Barron or any of the other three Alphas to show up in his territory and issue a challenge to him.  While Evander was as strong an Alpha as they came, the four from the Alpha pack would be unbeatable in their current state.  They’d spent the past seven years honing their fighting and hunting skills, living off the land in wolf form, and no doubt battling each other on a daily basis.

Looking at Barron now, Evander was surprised at the physical changes in him.  His brother had always been slightly taller, but he’d nearly doubled in muscle mass.  His chest was thick and his thigh and arm muscles bulged, making him look like a professional body builder.  Dark black hair was recently cropped short, but the full beard and mustache were homage to the untamed nature of the man.  The thick scar that sliced through one brow and down onto his cheek gave Barron an even more sinister appearance.  Dark eyes caught every movement, every subtlety, and there was no doubt that, with his heightened senses, Barron knew exactly how many wolves were near, their sex, and what each had eaten for breakfast.  No, Weston would be no match for Barron, and Evander didn’t have the time or the energy to deal with him either, but it couldn’t be put off.

“Go!”  Evander growled turning raging eyes on his Beta.  “Take Mateo, Clay,
and
Lincoln.  Bring her back, Weston.”

Weston nodded once.  “I understand her significance.”  He gave a meaningful look to his Alpha before he turned to leave.  Weston paused when Lincoln didn’t follow.  “Link?”

Lincoln still glared at Barron where he stood crossed-armed and relaxed leaning against a tree.

“It’s fine,” Raina whispered, walking up to rub a reassuring hand on Lincoln’s back.  Just go.”

“Lincoln!”  Evander’s voice was strong and full of command.

Lincoln’s eyes left Barron to land on his Alpha.

“I’ll protect
your
mate.  Go find
mine
.”

Lincoln’s wolf flashed in his eyes.  He was reluctant to leave Raina, and he was just as reluctant to acknowledge Evander’s words.  He’d never admitted to anyone, not even himself, that Raina was his.  Until now.  Turning, he reached for her, pulling her to him.  His wolf rejoiced that she came to him willingly.  Cupping the back of her neck, he leaned down to rest his forehead against hers.  It was the most intimately he’d ever touched her, but it had to be done.  His wolf couldn’t leave her in Barron’s presence without letting her know his intentions, and neither could the man.  He leaned lower to trace her cheek with his lips before they found the shell of her ear.  “You’re mine, Raina.”

She didn’t deny it, she didn’t protest, she didn’t struggle.  Instead, she did the only thing that could get him to obey his Alpha and leave her side.  Slight fingers curled around his wrist and she pulled back to stare up at him.  Crystalline blue eyes held his before she whispered, “Yours.”  Then she tiptoed and kissed him gently before pulling back.  “Go, Lincoln.  I’ll be here, waiting for you.”

Fisting his hands against the urge to take her, Lincoln nodded solemnly before turning to scowl at a beaming Weston.  He stalked to the Beta’s side, and Weston clapped him on the back. “’Bout fucking time, brother!”

Lincoln snorted, and Weston jerked his head toward the forest.  “You and Mateo on me.  Clay, follow us in my truck.”  The three men shifted, racing from the compound while Clay hurried for the truck.

“She left for a reason.  Be gentle!”  Raina yelled, even though she knew the pack should know better than to harm the Alpha’s mate.

Evander turned an irate gaze on his brother.  “Let’s go inside.  Raina.”  His eyes shifted to the woman.  “Why don’t you and Swan start dinner?”

Raina nodded knowingly.  It was too early for dinner, but Evander was letting her know that he wanted the two women together, and he wanted to know where to find them.

Evander led his brother, the packless Alpha, into the house.