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Chapter Fifteen - Issues of Trust
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Sixteen - Pure Pleasure
Byron’s POVHer shocked gasp meant she’d taken me literally.We saw no-one on our way to the library, which was unusual. It was probably a sign that the Moon Goddess approved. Did this mean pups were on the horizon? I’d always told myself I wasn’t ready. With someone like her, it would be an added bonus.“That’s a relief. I thought you meant … ”Her voice tailed off.“Quite the little exhibitionist, are we?”“Hardly,” she panted, looking at me as if she wanted to eat me up.So I’d done the right thing. Gregor was a canny old wolf.‘I heard that!’‘It was meant as a compliment.’I pointed to the door. “Locked or unlocked?”She hesitated. “Unlocked.”“Closed or ajar?”“Closed.”I wasn’t going to push it. Someone could still catch us at it, though a partly open door was akin to an invitation. Many a tryst had taken place in here, with my permission. Though only I could take a woman into the playroom.Using the hidden lever, I watched the bookcase move, revealing the second door.“I take
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Seventeen - The Mistress
Liz’s POV Byron asked me if I was up to going down to dinner or if I wanted to be excused. “I’m ravenous,” I told him. He smirked, as if that was something to do with him and his prowess. The truth was I’d missed too many meals recently. That could only be good for my waistline. Every woman’s bothered about that, right? “I could have something sent up.” “You said you’d see Mo down there,” I pointed out. “For you, I meant.” It was sweet of him to spare my blushes, but I had to face her sometime. Why not now? I didn’t want the anxiety of postponement. “I’m good, thanks. So long as I don’t have to kneel at your feet and get fed scraps.” “Now there’s an idea,” he said. I had given no thought to the seating arrangements, other than my humorous comment. Byron was at the head of the table and Mo was to his right with Beta Lucas on the left. The only Omegas present were serving. I found myself next to a strikingly attractive woman with blonde hair. That red lipstick was too much, tho
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Eighteen - Acting
Liz’s POV It was quite a relief that Byron’s sister now knew the truth about us. As far as the rest of his pack was concerned my position was somewhere between that of a hostage and a mistress. There was an added complication in that those originally from Moon Tides still saw me as their acting Luna. I was continuing to advise the Alpha as to who should make the transition here or remain in my former home. When I learned he was sending Philip to oversee them for the next few months I rested a little easier in our bed. The big man was unmated as yet but the Moon Goddess can deliver a fated mate at any point in a werewolf’s life and his mom hadn’t given up hope of that for him. Hard to believe he was only twenty-nine. He’d seemed to be about forty to me. I hadn’t seen much of Gavin since that night. He was a regular patroller of the pack’s borders and it suited him, a loner who wasn’t looking for love. There are exceptions to every rule. Ned, on the other hand, I saw almost every da
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Nineteen - Tensions
Byron’s POVLiz was standing up well to my correction sessions to the point where she really was my pet. Though she mingled rarely with my pack members, I knew there was resentment building among those formerly of Moon Tides, especially since they’d been forced to leave their home.Vanessa was different. She’d left us for them and come full circle. I decided to enlist her help.“Swear them to secrecy,” I said. “Lizzy is playing an important role for me as part of an ongoing investigation. Anything you see or hear which seems derogatory is not what it seems.”She eyed me doubtfully.“It might be better coming from her own lips. And it’s Liz, Alpha. With respect.”The Omega nursemaid bobbed her head. She had a point.“You hold her in high esteem, don’t you?”“We all do, Alpha Byron. Even Alpha Richard relies – relied – on her so much.”“I’ll let you into a little secret. Me too,” I told her.“Is she your mate?” The question floored me. How should I answer? Vanessa smiled. “I thought so.
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty - Noticed
Byron’s POVAlpha Joe cleared his throat. “Let’s cut to the chase, Bryon.”“Byron,” I corrected, pleasantly, raising my glass.“Alpha, you have some prime grazing land, and we will pay top dollar to use it.”“Go on,” I said, taking a sip of pinot gris.“Do you have the infrastructure to accommodate us?” the billionaire asked.“It can be arranged. I take it you’re partners in this?”Beneath the table, Liz tugged at my pants. She was shaking her head. What didn’t I know?“Not exactly. I have a different, more universal request,” Max announced.“Yes, well, we’ll come to that, Maxie.”“Now, Joe!”They didn’t hit it off. Divide and conquer. I wished I’d done my research but, as ever, so much was happening to distract me.This was going to be a minefield if I wasn’t careful. I didn’t want to get on the wrong side of either of them.The beef arrived then. Probably a bad choice since they were bound to make a comparison with their own prime stock. Except that was Joe’s baby.“Let me get this
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-One - A Dangerous Game
Byron’s POVThe ballet dancer wasn’t what I’d anticipated seeing when I re-joined the others. She was accomplished as well as entertaining and I had to pinch myself. Was this really Liz? I reckoned she was making a point.Was that for my benefit?I had already clocked what the escorts were wearing and decided the enterprise would be decidedly sleazy. Did I want to be associated with such a company? Not in the least, though I could play along.While Mo and I chatted with the males and females, my slave was back where she belonged for the evening: at my feet.“By the way, we’re throwing a party tomorrow in your honour,” I told our guests. It will be an Asian-themed night, though dressing up is optional.”“I’d like to see Miss Bell in a sarong and nothing else,” Joe said, snickering.The Lycan glared at him, saving me the bother.“You’ll have to wait and see. Isn’t that right, Mo?”“What? Oh, yes. We’re serving fusion food, not just sushi.”“Will there be a tea ceremony?” Max asked. “If
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Two - Bait
Byron’s POVCounselling caution, I ran through the steps of what was essentially a need-to-know operation. Goddess knew what the pack members must think. Security had been informed to heighten their awareness. They must assume it was about the VIPs we were hosting.In a way, it was.They were leaving in the afternoon as something had come up. I arranged the pet demo around brunchtime in one of our larger meeting rooms. Liz played her role magnificently, while Mo spiked the drinks she handed out.It takes a lot to knock out a werewolf but a Lycan, no chance. I wasn’t aiming for that, just to disorientate them a little.Then we held the auction-cum-raffle and I won. Though I wanted to titillate them further and asked her to change into her final costume with only my broad back as a shield in lieu of a screen.How fitting she had chosen to look like a warrior woman.The trap I’d set was about to be sprung. Only one more thing would make it complete.We never reached the dungeon proper. B
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Three - Not Quite A Minefield
Liz’s POVI didn’t get much sleep that night, following the pattern of recent weeks. Yet I felt safe here at Wild Horses, except that a vital key to my future happiness was missing.This time last year I hadn’t even known he existed, despite being our near neighbour. He’d shot to fame on the TV when one of his hotels was endorsed by several celebrities. Humans set store by such things; we tend to be more practical.Running the merged packs helped to stop me fearing the worst.Michael had said he would look into what had happened with Beta Ian and I was all set to recompense his widow when she took her own life. I thought that was strange, too, because they hadn’t been getting on.Maybe his sudden demise was nothing to do with the missing Alphas, all of whom were male as far as we knew.Why hadn’t Maggie gone to Alaska with her husband? Had they had yet another quarrel?I’d been too absorbed with keeping Ricky on the straight and narrow to really notice her distress. Though he’d seemed
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The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Fifty - The Deal
Byron’s POVThe Lycan was heading in the same direction as my Delta and me. It was a free country yet I found it all too convenient. Was he keeping an assignation with my Lizzy? Had she been coerced?Max offered up no explanation though I saw immediately he was spruced up. Released, obviously, and not just on some sort of bail. I knew that anyway, courtesy of a call from the ever helpful Ms Dodds.I couldn’t resist.“Been shopping?”“Not personally, no.”That brief who’d apparently swanned in like he owned the place must have excellent contacts for the Lycan to be kitted out like this and smelling of cologne in such a short space of time. Though I knew they had showers in the Council building and, rumour had it, not just for meetings which concluded late.It was Philip who spotted the pair of them and headed Caitlin off as she was making for the toilets.Liz put her hand to her mouth. “I forgot Mo’s present,” she gasped.Those didn’t sound like the words of a would-be adulteress but S
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Nine - Alpha King
Byron’s POV I ordered Philip to follow Liz, not because I didn’t believe her when she said she was going to sit in on the interview with the Lycan, rather for her own safety and my peace of mind. I knew I could trust him to be discreet, so I cast all worries to the back of my mind and began to write my speech. Being Alpha King elect was such an honour, though the position had yet to be ratified. Was I tempting Fate? I preferred to think of it as being prepared and hoped my late parents would continue to be proud of me, especially as I’d fathered an heir and started to tame the sadistic tendencies. At least I was attempting to change and my sister had told me more than once how proud she was. Even Alphas like praise, especially from a hard-to-impress sibling. I kept protesting that it wasn’t necessary, but she saw right through me. “I hope we can put this business with the Lycan and his sidekick behind us now,” she said, preening herself in the mirror. “Trevor wants to take me to Eu
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Eight - Endgame
Liz’s POV I couldn’t believe my eyes for the second time in a week. Our pup had arrived, prematurely but otherwise healthy, and he was the spit double of my brother. From what I could remember of him at that age. Up again and nursing Rufus Alexander – I’d insisted on the middle name – I peered out of the misted-up window and had to use my sleeve as a makeshift leather in order to observe the scene which was unfolding. Was Byron really going to shoot Michael? Something glittered in the sunlight. Was that a silver bullet? He had to be kidding, didn’t he? I struggled with the catch until I realised there was a better way to attract his attention and one far less dangerous to my old friend’s health. What if shock caused Byron to fire without warning? ‘Have you gone mad?’ There was no response to the mind link initially, other than that our son began to wail. Did he have the bond this early? How should I know? So I made my way carefully down the stairs, crooning softly to my pup, o
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Seven - The Spy
Byron’s POVI had wondered how come the Lycan knew so much about what went on in the general shifter world and especially at Wild Horses. After a few mild ‘chastisements’ and some rather disjointed calls with Liz, in which we were like strangers who had just met on a dating site, I was told to get ready for an outing.Imagine my surprise when we took a chopper all the way to my home. Things were only compounded when I witnessed my mate becoming hitched to my ultimate rival.This couldn’t be right.In fact, it wasn’t. When she lifted her skirts and ran – and I thought she looked gorgeous in the taffeta dress – I was overwhelmed to see she wasn’t heading for the hills. Or, more accurately, the desert beyond our borders.Liz was making a beeline for me and soon flung her arms around my neck.Beside me, Caitlin was scowling as my mate welcomed me home and said now she could “do it all again” with the real bridegroom.I glanced at Max.“What’s he doing here?”“I told you, we have a spy in
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Six - Entranced
Byron’s POV Cedar, such a lovely name. Unusual, too. I felt as if I were floating on air. Then the necessary hormones or whatever kicked in and I had to control my very real rage which emanated from Gregor and something even more supernatural. Her mother had once told me she was a chemistry student who went the extra mile. I supposed that wouldn’t be frowned on here at an academy now run by a witch. Yet it was about to backfire big style. And the joke was on me. For the dozenth time I wished I hadn’t set off on this mission alone. What had I been thinking? Even Alpha Richard wouldn’t have dreamt of doing something as crazy as this. The other girl, Poppy, resembled Carla more. Strange, because they were twins though not identical. I saw her out on the running track and could tell she had talent. But I had yet to set eyes on Faye. That was a concern. Maybe I should just ask my new accomplice. If that was what she was. Because when I approached Cedar, I saw the fear in her eyes.
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Five - Strange Beliefs
Byron’s POVI have to admit I wasn’t worried about Liz initially. Until the news came in from my Beta that she believed she’d given birth and that the females weren’t premature. Did that mean – ? Was she feeling guilty because she had slept with another or, more likely, consented to artificial insemination in order to fool me?I shook my head as if to be rid of the same infection confusing my mate. Illness inevitably brings out the truth and she hadn’t been well for some time.“So, is she still pregnant, or not?” I barked into my cell.“Keep your fur on, Alpha. I was just apprising you of the situation.”“Well?”I began pacing up and down, attracting the attention of the pretty gas station employee who was currently filling up my truck. There’d been an issue with the pump or something. I wasn’t complaining. Those legs were mighty fine.“The medic has confirmed she’s expecting a male.”“Great news, Beta.”I was intending to call my heir Rufus without really knowing why. An outside infl
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Four - The Revelation
Liz’s POVThere’d just been something in the way he said it which led me to think Michael might know more than he was letting on about our new quarry. Well, new to me anyway.And I was right.What did he want in exchange? Only for me to say I forgave him.That came easy in view of the significance.“It’s been bothering me for a while,” he admitted.“You’re saying Lycan Max wants to have all female Alphas? Incredible.”I couldn’t take it in. How was I going to ‘sell’ this to Byron? Because an idea was forming. I could contact this witch person and claim I aspired to more.But how to break the ice?Hi, I’m a spy for a well-known Lycan wasn’t my finest thought, so I kept it to myself. Though having been an acting Luna who was doing almost everything and might as well take over could work. It would be awful to betray my brother like that yet I would only be telling the truth in order to fool her. And I had no desire to become Byron’s equal in name even if, secretly, we both knew I was.Ot
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Three - Honesty
Liz’s POVThat was the first I’d heard of Caitlin Spencer.“Go on,” I said, encouraging openness in my mate. Especially since he’d told me she’d once been obsessed with him.“We met in England.” He looked out of the window. “If you must know she stalked me when I made it clear I wasn’t interested in seeing her.”“Is she a shifter, this Brit?”“Yes, and it gets worse. She obtained a secondment to the Werewolf Council over here, advising them on tech issues. That’s probably why she had access to your contact details.”As an acting Luna, I had to report my number to them each time I changed it. That had only happened once, to avoid taking Ernest’s calls.“And the message? What do you make of that?”“How loud does a peal ring out when it is being peeled. Isn’t it obvious? Cait is threatening your life, Miss Bell.”“Then you’d better make an honest woman of me, quick,” I joked.“Let me do some digging, starting with your friend, Randy.”“He’s no pal of mine,” I snorted.The following day h
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Forty-Two - Begin Again
Byron’s POVI decided to woo my mate rather than question her and even ordered some flowers. Keeping her close was no hardship and I wanted to demonstrate to Liz that I was a worthy husband. Not the usual Alpha behaviour but I owed her one. Several, in fact.So why wouldn’t she meet my eyes during dinner?Had she fallen for Max?If so I would have to prove myself over the coming weeks or we would have unrest here at Wild Horses – and not for the first time. Ours was a troubled history, though it didn’t prepare you; nothing did. Mo was fond of repeating that to my intense irritation. Though she was quite correct. Especially since our parents were a loving couple who rarely raised their voices in argument.At least, not when I was around.Had absence made my feelings stronger? Time would tell.That night I expressed my joy that she was expecting again but restrained myself from physically proving my love. Our relationship needed work and I wanted to show my rarely seen tender side.Stra
