CHAPTER 3-CAPTURE AND DEMOTION TO A PET-RAVEN AND DOMINIC

      “Raven? Come out, you’re not in trouble. We’ve directions to not hurt you. All we’re to do is secure you. Come have a coffee.”

      Raven’s jaw hung open at this. The voice belonged to the Pack’s Beta. WTF? Her world turned upside down with this. She was sure Paul Grouse didn’t know her. Why would he? She’s an unranked wolf.

      “I’m not crazy. So, I’m sorry, I won’t leave this room. Tell Alpha Jones you couldn’t find me.”

      “No can do. He’s coming here. We’ll guard the door while we have coffee. If you reconsider you can join us.”

      Raven closed her eyes and shook her head. Had she fallen into an alternate universe? The Pack didn’t treat her like this. He must think she’s stupid.

      She heard his heavy footsteps walk away. Defeated, Raven slid to the floor, unsure how to escape this fate.

      Her life was messy, and her future was uncertain. “Liam, what have you gotten me into?”

            ~                            ~                            ~

      The call came within hours. His Enforcers still looked for Liam Miller, but they’d found his sister. They’d almost missed her when she left her apartment by a fourth-floor window. They’d given chase, and she holed up in a diner washroom. Dom was heading to the diner.

      He and his two Deltas pulled up. They were his bodyguards. He had others who managed his Gamma or Enforcers. Dom was out of the vehicle before it stopped. He pondered why Raven hid her brother and believed she was unwelcome in the Pack. Dom must learn the reason.

      Whoever told her this, had a death wish. She would grasp it soon enough, and he’d relish reminding her, he won’t tolerate insults.

      The clock struck four in the morning on the drive here, and the city’s downtown core showed signs of waking up. They must move with care. Dom couldn’t afford a run-in with the human police. Because Raven chose a diner run and frequented by humans to hide in. She didn’t play by the inferred rules either. Next time, he’d choose his words with more care and establish his own rules.

      He’d fix that now. Raven would feel disoriented after he finished with her.

      Dom and his wolves entered the small diner, spotting only a few scattered humans and four of his enforcers. One stood guard in the corner where he assumed the washrooms were. Paul and the other two sat in a booth, watching and drinking coffee. The fifth would be with their vehicle.

      “Did you verify she’s in there? Did you try to get her to leave?” Dom asked his Beta as he approached their table.

      Paul stood as Dom approached. “Yes, Alpha Jones. She declined every time. To avoid confrontation and another incident, we sat and watched the door. Paul said to Dom, his eyes averted out of respect.

      “Right.” Dom said nothing further. He stalked toward the bathroom door over the blue and cream tiled floor. The enforcer guarding the door bowed his head and stepped aside.

      Dom didn’t stop to knock. His palm slapped the door, and he pushed his way in. What greeted him was not pleasant. The washroom reeked of failed attempts to eradicate years of grime with bleach. The fixtures were outdated by decades and looked it. He’d no interest in staying there any longer than he must.

      “Alpha Jones, what a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to encounter your Enforcers let alone you. Are all bets that irresistible? Or is this a special case?” Raven sat on the floor with her knees bent and her elbows on her knees. Her hands hung at her wrists and the look of defeat struck something deep inside him. A bag sat discarded by her side.

      Dom grunted, grabbed one of her wrists with one hand and the bag with the other. With both in hand, he turned to leave, pulling her along behind him.

      “Hey, aren’t we going to have a friendly chat first?” Raven asked. She tried to smile as he hustled her along. Of course, she’d resist him. He pulled her to him and growled a warning into her ear. No words, just a deep growl, which had her halting in her tracks.

      “Not here. We’ll talk when we reach the Pack house. Move.” He twisted her wrist behind her back and pushed her toward the door. When they stepped out of the bathroom, she tried to resist him. So, instead of forcing her to walk, he tossed her over his shoulder. He never broke stride.

      “Hey, not fair.” Raven renewed her struggle.

      “You disregarded my command. Now you’ll learn.” His wolves responded with a rapid response, standing as they all moved to the door of the diner. Paul dropped some money on the table and held the door open for Dom. The staff and patrons of the diner watched in helpless horror.

      “Put me down. I can walk.” Raven struggled and tried to kick and punch him. She even tried to pinch his butt, which made him smile. He realized that’s the first thing he found humorous in days.

      Now halfway to the vehicle, he slapped her butt to surprise her into stopping her foolishness. Paul hurried and unlocked the vehicle’s back door for prisoner transport.

      “Hey! Come on. You cheated involving others.” She was scowling over this. But Dom had won this round.

      “I said we’ll talk at the compound.” Dom slammed the door closed, locking her and her protests in. Everyone returned to their respective vehicles for the return to the Humber Valley Pack’s compound.

      “Why can’t we talk now?” She asked. She spoke through the mesh divider behind Dom and Paul.

      Paul said nothing. He looked to Dom for direction. Dom smirked. He was enjoying this petty revenge. Raven was about to become the focus of his attention. Whether she liked would be something else. They owed him much more than money or an apology.

      He had his pet. Now she’d learn some manners.