The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) (8 page)

“Where am—?” My mouth was so dry, I could barely speak. “Where am I?”

“You're in hospital,” the young woman said.

My vision was slowly clearing—I could see she was wearing a blue nurse's uniform.

“What happened?” I tried to sit up, but the nurse put a hand on my shoulder.

“Don't try to get up. Wait until the doctor has seen you.”

“Why am I here? What happened?”

“What's your name?” she said, ignoring my questions.

“It's—” My mind was a blank. I tried again, “My name is—”

“It's okay. Don't worry. The doctor will be here in a few minutes.” With that, she disappeared. I glanced around to find I was in a small, tiled cubicle. A white curtain was drawn—beyond it I could hear voices and footsteps.

I lifted first one arm, and then the other. I did the same with my legs. All in working order, and no pain.

“Ah good, you're awake!” A male voice this time. “I'm Doctor Mason.”

“What happened to me, doctor?”

“I was hoping you might tell us that.”

“I can't remember anything. Not even my name.”

He nodded. “That's okay. Don't worry. It isn't uncommon in cases like this.”

“How did I get here?”

“I believe someone found you in the park.”

“Park?”

“You don't remember going into the park?”

I shook my head.

“Do you know where you are?”

“Hospital.”

“Do you know which town this is?”

Once again, my mind was a blank.

“It's okay. It'll all come back in time. Right now, we need to run some tests.”

“What tests?”

“Nothing to worry about. All routine. We'll start with a scan of your head to make sure everything's okay inside.”

They did the scan, plus a million and one other tests. Everything came back clear—except my memory. Two days later, I was on an observation ward when I had a visitor:

“Hi!” The middle-aged woman smiled at me.

Did I know her? She obviously knew me.

“Hi?”

“They said it was okay to come see you. I hope you don't mind.”

“I'm really sorry, but I don't know who you—”

“My fault.” She waved away my apology. “They told me that you’d lost your memory. I was the one who found you in Toppers.”

“Toppers?”

“Toppers Park. Strictly speaking, it wasn't me who found you. It was Jack—my Akita. He's a well-behaved dog. He usually comes back as soon as I call him. That morning, he ran into the bushes, and wouldn't come back no matter how many times I called. I'd never heard him howl like that before. When I found him, he was standing over you.”

“Did you see anyone else nearby?” I asked.

“Who?”

“I don't know. The police think I might have been mugged. I just wondered if you'd seen anyone.”

“No. I usually take Jack out early—before breakfast. We occasionally see other dog walkers or joggers, but that morning the park was deserted. It was a Sunday though—people like to stay in bed on a Sunday.”

“Oh.” I tried to mask my disappointment.

“I'd better not keep you talking, dear. You need your rest. I just wanted to check you were okay. You look better than the last time I saw you.”

“Thanks for coming, and say thanks to Jack for me would you?”

Later that same day, I had another visitor.

“Do you have any news?” I sounded as desperate as I felt.

“Sorry. Nothing yet,” Officer Tamblin said.

Tamblin was the policeman who'd interviewed me on the day I'd been admitted to hospital. The police thought I might have been the victim of a mugging because I had no personal possessions on me when I was found.

“Surely someone must have missed me by now?”

“It's unusual,” he admitted. “Normally someone comes forward within forty eight hours in cases like this. A family member, boyfriend, friend, work colleague...”

I felt sick to my stomach. It was bad enough that I couldn't remember who I was, or anything else about my life, but it was even worse to realise that no one out there had missed me. Did I have family, a boyfriend, friend or work colleague? I had no idea.

“I've spoken to my boss,” Tamblin said. “We're going to make an appeal on local radio and TV. A photographer will come around later today—if that's okay with you?”

“Sure.” I tried, but failed to sound upbeat.

One week later, there had been no response to the radio and TV appeals. I couldn't have told anyone how desolate I felt at that point. Losing my memory was bad enough, but the thought that I had no one—absolutely no one—was horrible. The staff at the hospital had been marvellous, but it was obvious to everyone that there was no longer any reason for me to be there. Physically, I was fit—I'd had a million test results which said so.

Where would I go? I had no home, no money and no name. The police had arranged for a social worker to visit me:

“My name's Maxine. I've been assigned your case.” 

“Hi.”

“This is rather awkward.” She hesitated. “I need a name to use on your file, but—”

I laughed. I couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't help it. I had nothing—not even a name. Then, I cried.

“Sorry,” Maxine said. “I didn't mean to upset you. We can sort that out later.”

“It's okay.” I wiped my eyes. “I guess I should have a name.” I thought about it for a moment. The Akita that found me was called Jack.

“Jackie,” I said.

I was on Coleman Ward.

“Jackie Coleman.”

“Right.” Maxine looked uncertain. “That'll do until we know your real name.”

Maxine was a little too fussy, but did everything she could to help including organising a one-off payment from a social fund to cover my initial expenses. I had only the clothes I'd arrived in. She also organised a place at a hostel. Two days later, it was time for me to leave the hospital. Judy, the nurse who was the first person I'd seen when I came around, had been a regular visitor to my bedside.

“You leaving us?” Judy asked.

“I guess so.”

“Where will you go?”

“I've got a temporary place at a hostel.” I took the slip of paper from my pocket. “Dunston Hostel.”

I saw the reaction on her face.

“That bad, eh?”

“You shouldn't have to go there. It's full of drunks and addicts. Couldn't they find you anywhere else?”

I shrugged. “I'd better get going.”

“Wait!” Judy put a hand on my shoulder. “Me and my flatmate are looking for someone else to share. The last girl moved out to live with her boyfriend.”

“That's sweet of you, but I don't have any money or a job.”

“You can pay us when you do.”

“What will your flatmate say?”

“Alison? She'll be fine with it. You'll like her—she's nice. What do you say?”

“That would be brilliant. Thanks!”

––––––––

J
udy and Alison were great flatmates. The most difficult part about finding a job was getting the paperwork sorted. I had a
zero
identity. It took weeks and a lot of help from Maxine to get paperwork under my new 'temporary' name of Jackie Coleman.

Over the next two years, I did a number of jobs—bar work, shop work—most of it part time and/or temporary. Then I landed the job at Dexter Travel. Judy moved out a year later. Me and Alison never did get around to finding a new flatmate. I built a new life for myself in Camthorpe. I even managed a few brief relationships although they were short-lived and forgettable. At the back of my mind was always the hope that one day my memory might return, or that I might meet someone who knew me—the old me.

Now I had.

––––––––

I
was still lying in bed when there was a knock on the door.

“Yes?”

“It's me,” Craven said.

I was naked, so grabbed the white dressing gown provided by the motel. It was at least three sizes too big.

“Morning,” I said, but he'd already slipped by me into the room. “What's wrong?”

“Look!” He grabbed the remote control and switched on the TV.

The news item was using footage which appeared to have been taken from a helicopter. I recognised the stricken police car which I'd escaped from the previous day.

“What—?”

“Wait!” Craven held up a finger to shush me.

The reporter in the helicopter had handed back to the studio. The female news anchor was talking about the mass murder scene where two police officers and two other men had been killed, in what was described as a brutal attack. I was only half listening to the woman's words. I was too busy staring at the image displayed on a large screen behind her. It was a photograph of me.

“The police are appealing to anyone who knows the whereabouts of this woman. Her name is Jackie Coleman. Anyone with information should contact police on—”

Craven switched off the TV.

“Do they really believe I was responsible for all of that?” I asked.

“I wouldn't think so. It's more likely they think whoever did it has abducted you. It's going to make things a little more difficult though.”

“Why don't I just hand myself into the police. I haven't done anything wrong.”

“You know that, and I know that, but people do have a habit of dying around you. The police will have a lot of difficult questions.”

“So what do we do?”

“We stick with our original plan.”

“Which is?”

“To find a new pack. Once we have the support and protection of a pack around us, we'll be much safer.”

“How does that work? Do we just turn up and ask if we can join their pack?”

“Not exactly.” Craven laughed. “As soon as we turn up in another pack's territory, they'll know, and will do their best to drive us out or—”

“Or what?”

“Kill us.”

“So what's the plan then?”

“The only way for this to work is to defeat the current Alpha or to get his permission to join the pack.”

“You plan to kill him?”

“No. I plan to persuade him to let us join his pack.”

“Will he?”

“It's not common. Most packs will kill or chase off intruders.”

“Great! So either he'll kill us or he'll drive us out of his territory so Milton can do the job.”

“Are you always this optimistic?” He grinned, as he pulled me into his arms. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”

My head was resting on his chest. I'd never felt safer. I knew I could trust him. I was his mate—his fated mate. I belonged to him.

*********

W
e decided it was too risky to eat breakfast in the diner attached to the motel. The car park was almost full, and there was a good chance at least one of the guests would have seen my picture on the news. No one was looking for Craven, so he went down to the diner alone to buy take-way which we could eat on the road.

“We have to go.” Craven burst into the room.

“What?”

“The police pulled into the car park while I was queuing to be served. They were headed towards reception.”

“Do you think they're here for me?”

“Almost certainly. Someone must have recognised you.”

I started towards the door.

“Not that way.” His words stopped me in my tracks. “We can't take the car. There's more police in the car park. “This way.”

Jackie Coleman would have questioned him, Louise followed without hesitation. I said a silent goodbye to Jackie—she'd served me well, but I didn't need her any longer.

––––––––

“C
raven!” I was doubled-up with stitch.

He hadn't heard me.

“Craven! Wait!”

My heart was pounding, and my lungs felt as though they were about to burst. We'd left the motel via the fire-escape, and were making our way cross-country—avoiding all roads. For almost an hour, the pace had been relentless, and I was exhausted. Craven looked as though he'd hardly broken sweat.

“I have to rest!” I gasped.

For the last few minutes we'd been running through woodland, and were now in a small clearing.

“Sit here.” Craven kicked a small tree stump.

“I don't think I can go much further.”

“We have no choice. We have to keep moving.”

“I'll try, but I need to catch my breath first.”

Craven walked the perimeter of the clearing while I allowed my body to recover. The prospect of more of the same filled me with dread, but I didn't want to let him down.

“You have to shift into wolf form,” he said.

“How? I can't. I don't know how—”

“You can. You have to trust your body. You have to let go of your human form. I'll help you.”

“I'm scared.”

“There's nothing to fear. It's as natural as breathing.”

“It doesn't feel that way.”

“Do you trust me?” His eyes felt as though they had the power to touch my very core.

“Yes.”

“Get undressed then.”

“What?”

“Undress.” He was already removing his clothes.

I didn't react for a moment. Instead, I watched as he threw aside his jacket and shirt.

“Louise! You have to do this now. There's no time to lose!”

“Okay.” I began to undo my blouse.

“Quicker!” he urged.

He was naked now. I was stunned by his beauty and raw strength. I tried to focus on his chest, but my gaze kept drifting lower. Focus! I had to focus.

I stood naked in front of him. The pain in my side had been replaced by an ache between my legs. As Jackie Coleman, I'd had a number of relationships, but I'd never known a desire such as this. We were in mortal danger, but all I could think about was having this man inside me.

“There'll be time for that later,” he said.

I realised he'd read my mind, and my cheeks flushed.

Craven moved over to where I was standing. Our naked bodies were now only inches apart. My heart was racing again, but this time for a very different reason.

“Clear your mind.” He kept his voice low. “Let the inner wolf come to the surface.”

“I don't know how—”

He placed a finger on my lips, put his other arm around my back, and pulled me into him. My breasts were pressed hard against his chest. I could feel his erection against my tummy.

“Close your eyes.”

I did as he said.

Without warning, he pressed his lips against mine. He had his arms around my waist; it felt as though he was going to squeeze the life out of me. I tried to wriggle free, but he only strengthened his grip. I began to panic. I couldn't move and could barely breathe.