The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) (9 page)

“Let out the wolf.” I heard his words, but I'd no idea what I was meant to do.

He lifted me, so my feet were off the ground. I tried to kick myself free, but to no avail. I thought I was going to die.

A familiar, but long forgotten sensation came from somewhere deep inside me. Heat rushed through my veins. I pushed aside his arms, and then dropped to the floor on one knee. Craven took two steps back. The pain was excruciating. Every muscle, fibre, and bone screamed. I let out a sound the likes of which I didn't know I was capable of making. My eyes felt as though they were about to explode.

Then, it was over. I was on all fours—my transformation complete. My senses were suddenly overloaded. A thousand smells and sounds competed for my attention.

Craven had shifted too. He nodded to me, and then set off across the clearing, towards the trees. I was at his shoulder. Whereas in human form, I'd been stretched to the very limit, my wolf took it all in its stride. The miles fell away as we made our way cross-country.

A cool stream provided welcome refreshment. I could feel Craven's gaze on me as I drank.

“You're beautiful.” It took me a moment to realise it was his thoughts I'd heard.

“Thank you,” I thought in reply. “It feels good, but is it always so painful to shift?”

“It'll get easier. It's been a long time for you. We'll continue west for another hour or two. Then we'll need to find somewhere we can hold up for the night.”

*********

W
e'd been travelling for just under an hour when Craven pulled up without warning.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

He didn't reply. Instead, he sniffed the air. I did likewise, and caught the scent.

“Another pack?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Where?”

“Close by.” He scanned the horizon. “There aren't many of them. Two, maybe three.”

“What do we do? Run?”

“No. We wait.”

We watched and waited. My senses told me they were almost upon us.

“Will you be okay?” Craven asked.

“Yes.” I should have been terrified, but I wasn't. Adrenalin was pumping through my veins.

There were two of them. They looked down on us from a small ridge to our right. First one, and then the other howled. Inside my head, I could hear the abuse they were directing at us. How dare we set foot on their territory? We must leave now or suffer the consequences.

One glance at Craven told me we wouldn't be going anywhere. He began to walk towards them. I followed his lead. The two wolves howled again—more warnings. Craven returned the howl, and I joined in. There was no going back now. The two wolves raced towards us.

Neither wolf was as large as Craven, but both were bigger than me. The first launched itself at Craven. It was a fatal mistake. Craven caught it in mid-air by the throat. I was winded by the impact from the other wolf as it hit me side on. As I tried to regain my feet, it leapt on top of me—its teeth only inches from my throat. I managed to get my rear paws under its underbelly, and thrust with all my might to send it flying over my head. I was back on my feet, and now face to face with my opponent. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Craven. I thought he might have come to my aid. Instead, I heard his thoughts: 'All yours'.

I was flattered by the vote of confidence, and hoped it wasn't misplaced. The wolf lunged forward—I sidestepped, but its teeth still gashed my side. I could smell my own blood. He tried another lunge, but this time I anticipated it, and copied the manoeuvre I'd seen Craven perform a few moments earlier. My first bite missed its mark, and he almost slipped away. My second found the target. His blood filled my mouth. He struggled for several more seconds, but it was all over. I released his throat only when I felt the last breath of life leave his body.

“My Louise has returned.” Craven howled.

*********

I
t was almost dusk when we came across the house. Overlooking a small valley, it was the first building we'd seen for several miles. The house was in good repair, so obviously hadn't been abandoned. There were no lights on and no vehicles parked outside.

“Holiday home?” Craven mused. “We'll stay here tonight.”

As much as I'd enjoyed rediscovering my wolf, I was ready to return to human form. I was hungry and desperate for a bath.

“Come on.” Craven set off up the hill.

Once at the house, he immediately shifted back into human form.

I found shifting back to human form much easier, and nothing like as painful. The two of us were now naked on the porch.

“I hope no one comes back,” I said.

“Me too.” He smiled. “I don't want us to be disturbed tonight.”

As he spoke, his gaze ran up and down my body. I felt a tingle and the now familiar ache between my legs.

“Food first,” he said, as he forced the catch on the window. “Wait here.”

I'd expected Craven to open the door immediately, but there was no sign of him. I listened, but could hear nothing. What was he doing? Was there someone inside? Had they heard him? I was beginning to worry, and wondered if I should go in through the open window.

Before I could, the lock turned, and the door slid slowly open.

“You'd better come in. You'll catch your death out there.” Craven was wearing jeans and a lumber jack shirt.

“What took so long? I thought something had happened to you!” I snapped.

“I had to find something to wear. I didn't want you to get over excited.” He laughed. “Not until we've eaten anyway.”

“You're taking rather a lot for granted aren't you? I've seen plenty of naked men before.”

He grinned. He could see straight through my words. He knew exactly the effect he'd had on me.

“There are plenty of clothes in the bedroom,” he said—still grinning. “It's through there to your right.”

There were two bedrooms. In the larger of the two was a huge walk-in wardrobe. The clothes were almost a perfect fit. I chose a plain white blouse and denim skirt.

I found Craven in the kitchen.

“Something smells nice,” I said.

“There's a freezer full of food. I thought steak would go down well. With potatoes and veg of course.”

“I'm vegetarian,” I said.

“What?” He looked at me in horror.

“Just kidding. Make it rare. The bloodier, the better.”

––––––––

––––––––

“L
ouise?”

“I'm in here,” I called from the kitchen. It wasn't yet eight o' clock, and very unlike my father to visit at such an early hour. Unless—. “What's wrong?”

He smiled when he saw me, as he always did.

“Nothing's wrong. At least it won't be if you make me a mug of tea. I'm parched. Toast wouldn't go amiss either.

I was keen to know why he'd come around, but he wasn't about to tell me anything until he'd finished his breakfast.

“So?” I asked—impatient now. “Why are you here?”

He took another bite of toast, and gestured to his mouth to indicate it was full. Sometimes he could be infuriating, but I loved him deeply.

“You make superb toast.” He took a swig of tea. “Just like your mother.”

“Father! Why are your here?”

“You're impatient like your mother too.”

“Are you okay?” I put my hand on his.

“Of course. Don't I look all right?”

I nodded. My father was still strong, still fit, and still mentally agile. If he'd been any other member of the pack, I wouldn't have had a moment's concern for him. But he wasn't just any member of the pack—he was the Alpha. “You look great.”

He finished the toast, and I noticed a change in his expression.

“Milton is garnering support against me,” he said.

Milton was the pack's Beta.

“Who would dare support him?”

“It's best you don't know that.”

“Tell me and I'll rip their throats out.” I thumped my fist onto the table.

“No, Louise. That isn't going to help.”

“It would make me feel a whole lot better.”

“As I said, you're just like your mother.”

“You have to confront him,” I said.

“He'd only deny it. He may be many things, but he isn't stupid. There's no proof.”

“To hell with proof. You have to kill him.”

“No!” It was my father's turn to thump the table. “You know me better than that.”

It was true. My father had been Alpha since the turn of the century—over seventy years. During that time, he'd been challenged on only four occasions. Each time he'd seen off the challenger without any difficulty. Two had been exiled; the other two hadn't been as lucky. The reason he'd had so few challengers was due in part to his physical strength, but also to the respect he'd earned. The pack members respected my father's strength, but they also valued his judgement. Under his leadership, the pack had gone from strength to strength. Unlike many other packs, we had very few problems with the humans who we lived and worked alongside. Occasionally, a loose cannon in the pack might do something stupid, but when that happened, it was always '
taken care of
' before hysteria could set in. It helped that we had pack members working in senior posts in both the police and media. My father made it his business to ensure the loose cannons did not get the chance to embarrass the pack more than once.

“We can't sit around and do nothing,” I protested.

“That's precisely what we
are
going to do. We have to wait until Milton shows his hand.”

“Then what?”

“Then, I will attend to the problem.” My father smiled.

I was nervous. I hated the idea of waiting around while knowing that piece of scum, Milton, was plotting against my father. I still preferred my plan—to take him out now. One phone call and I could have it done. “Why did you bother telling me if there's nothing to be done?”

“I wanted to warn you what was happening. I wouldn't put anything past Milton. He might get it into his head to try to take out the Alpha's daughter.”

“He wouldn't dare.”

“You may be right, but still I want you to be careful.”

“I'm always careful.”

He laughed. “Since when?”

“I can look after myself.”

“I know. Even so, I've arranged for—”

The penny dropped. “No way!” I shouted.

“You don't even know what I'm going to say.”

“Yes I do. You want one of your lackeys to baby-sit me. I won't have it!”

“You'll do as I say. Would you defy your Alpha?”

I was stunned. My father never played the 'Alpha' card. He normally relied on my respect as a daughter. Most of the time, he got it. This was different. I might occasionally go against my father's wishes, but I could never disobey my Alpha.

“Who have you asked to baby-sit me?”

He walked over to the door, opened it, and called, “Come in.”

My heart sank when I saw Drake. He'd been the bane of my life for years. According to him, I was his fated mate. It was never going to happen; I'd have rather mated with a human.

“Not him!” The words had escaped my mouth before I'd had the chance to check myself.

Drake gave me that smile of his which made me want to tear the lips off his face.

“Louise!” my father bellowed.

I turned to face him.

“You'll do as I say. Do you understand?”

I was trapped. There was no way I could disrespect my father—my Alpha. Not in front of Drake.

“Yes.”

“Good. Drake will be by your side day and night until further notice.”

“Great,” I said under my breath.

*********

“D
idn't I say that you and I were fated?” Drake said, as soon as my father had left.

“You don't know the meaning of the word. I only agreed to this out of respect for my father. I don't want or need your help. Stay out of my way if you know what's good for you.”

“Feisty? I like feisty.”

“I have to get ready for work. I'm running late.”

“Do you need any help? I could pick out a nice outfit for you.” He began to follow me towards the bedroom.

“Stay right where you are! If you as much as step into my bedroom, I'll tear your head off.”

“You are so fiery. That's why we're fated. Our mating will be spectacular.”

“Never going to happen!” I slammed the bedroom door in his face.

How could my father have done this? Of all the male wolves in the pack, I detested Drake the most. It seemed that I was the only one who was unaffected by his so-called charm. Every other eligible female in the pack would have agreed to be his mate in a heartbeat. He was well respected by the other males too, and was often talked of as a future Beta. He didn't impress or fool me, and I didn't trust him an inch. The sooner my father put an end to this Milton nonsense, and I could get shut of Drake, the better.

“My car's outside,” he said, once I was ready to leave.

“I'll take my own car.”

“As you wish.”

“I wish you'd go fuck yourself.”

My words appeared to have no impact on him.

“I'll follow in mine,” he said. “Do you still work at the travel agents?”

I nodded.

“How come you don't work in the
business
?” he asked.

“What's that got to do with you?”

“I just don't understand why you'd choose to work alongside humans. You could have a really good job in the
business
.”

“Oh do shut up!”

It was the same question that my father asked all of the time. The pack had a string of businesses: night clubs, restaurants, casinos and many more. Collectively these were always referred to as the '
business'
. My father could have guaranteed me a senior position of my choice, but I'd never been interested. I'd been determined to make my own way. I didn't want to spend all of my time surrounded by pack members. I actually liked working alongside humans. It gave me a well-rounded perspective. I wasn't the only pack member to work with humans, but most shifters preferred to remain with their own kind. I'd started at the travel agency working as a general admin assistant, and had worked my way up. I was on the sales desk now, and regularly had the chance to travel abroad to widen my 'product-knowledge'. My father had never been keen on my excursions, but had never stopped me from going. I was scheduled to take a trip to the States in a month's time. That wouldn't happen if the Milton problem wasn't resolved by then.