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Chapter Twenty-Two - Bait
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
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
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Four - Doll
Liz’s POVThat was how we ended up meeting Lycan Max’s representative in a city a hundred miles away. I was wearing a wig and fake tan, my look a bold one including winged eyeliner.Michael had permitted me to cut his hair. I wasn’t much of a stylist but it would have to do. Then we went shopping for suitable gear.All of it took me back to a place I didn’t want to be. Yet some of my memories had been replaced by Byron’s take on discipline.“Can we pull this off, do you think?” he asked.“Please don’t get carried away in the scene,” was my reply.We’d decided to do a live demo in front of the lycanthrope, involving spanking and the use of certain props.“You’ve always been gorgeous,” he said. “How could I hurt someone as lovely as you?”The spectre of Ernest was there between us. Yet I had learned something I didn’t know before. Michael was sweet on me. Was that why he’d absented himself for so long?He didn’t ask me to talk about it but soon I was telling him the sordid details: no s
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Five - Pseudo Geisha
Byron’s POV As it happened, Carla was her aunt. We ended up together the following week. I’d wondered if she would behave the same with me as with my brother-in-law. His pock marks can be off putting. But she acted even more scared around me than Robin. I made her the same promise. We were due to work in the copper mines shortly and I asked her if she had any tips. “I’ve heard it said there are lots of explosions in the area. Come back safe, honey. We’re counting on you.” I wished she hadn’t chosen to share that with me. To make matters worse there was a thunderstorm the next day. Each cloud collision was unnerving and then there was that shaky descent in a cage which seemed on the point of collapse. Ricky seemed to have cheered up recently. He’d met Sally. “My chosen mate,” he confided. “An Omega?” “Who cares? She has a good heart and very big – ” “Okay, I get the picture,” I said, hoping his sudden crush would pass. I chose her next time, knowing she wouldn’t want me to li
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Six - Cheating
Liz’s POVI overheard them talking, some of the women, and grew uncomfortable when I heard them mention Byron.“He’s the best.”"Those abs."“I think he’s hot.”A pity I was unlikely to be assigned – internally or for external “clients” – as I would have given him a roasting.Then I thought about it. There’d been no pains other than a mild tummy cramp which I put down to the change of environment and different food.So he hadn’t gone all the way with them, just made it look good.Michael came into the common area holding two mugs.“Thought you might appreciate this,” he said. “Extra strong coffee.”“Thanks,” I murmured. “What did Ricky say?”He glanced around at the empty chairs before telling me, “Alpha Richard says not to put yourself in further danger.”I huffed. He was the one who had contributed to putting me in harm’s way in the first place. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be free to meet you.”“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get a message to you.”I’d noticed that about hi
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Seven - Not What I Was Expecting
Byron’s POVTrevor reported that he’d given my message to Liz. In turn, I received a communication from her via Michael who gave it to Sally.It was frustrating not to be able to read some of her handwriting but I got the gist. She was going nowhere. I became incensed. Not because I learned she was with pup but that she was disobeying a direct order to join our co-ordinated escape.There was a time and a place for my admittedly unacknowledged Luna to be assertive. This wasn’t one of them.Or maybe she hadn’t seen my instruction at the time of writing. Though I doubted she would change her mind.Another blow had already fallen with her brother being isolated in the infirmary. I was really tempted to leave him behind, with her, but that would be cruel.Then there was a rumour which seemed to gather momentum. I couldn’t believe it initially.Until I saw her seated beside the Lycan at that function.It was a statement of intent if ever I saw one.I tried to catch her eye, but she stared s
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Eight - Feeling Torn
Liz’s POV A strange thing had happened: a sea change in my feelings. I couldn’t believe I was warming to Max. His presence was like a drug. Had he hypnotised me? That didn’t mean I would ever be disloyal to Byron. I just wanted to be around the Lycan. Constantly. It was what I had agreed to do, after all. And at least I didn’t have to perform escort duties. I hadn’t thought it through. It wouldn’t have been nice fending off strangers and perhaps succumbing to their base desires. What would my mate think of me then? Would he want me back? I could tell he wasn’t pleased at that dinner. Fortunately, Alpha Joe was gone by then. Sourcing fresh meat, he claimed. I didn’t like the sound of that but wasn’t going to influence the Lycan this soon. In time, I wanted his visits to be restricted and sporadic in nature. Sure, they were business partners but I could sense Max’s dislike of this venal Alpha. When I heard about the accident at the mine I realised, by the way my heart was beating
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Twenty-Nine - Freedom Comes At A Price
Byron’s POVHotwiring a truck wasn’t part of my skill set. Ricky proved alarmingly knowledgeable about it, thankfully. I wasn’t about to judge him.Part of me wanted to go back – Gregor had changed his mind about the importance of what Liz was doing; he missed Tanya! – but I had to think about the bigger picture, like my mate.We had a long journey ahead of us but I was confident we would make it. I had to be.Trevor spent most of the time worrying how Mo would react. No wonder he’d relinquished his Alpha status. Yet I couldn’t think of a better husband for her.“Wait until you see your pups,” I said, wincing because I sounded like a doting female myself.“Zane and Zoe. I hope they won’t be hostile.”That was something I hadn’t even considered.There was one scary moment early on when we were stopped by the human police. I had no way of knowing if they were in the pay of Lycan Max. It seemed we’d been speeding but my celebrity status came good unexpectedly and we had an escort to the
The Alpha's Collateral Chapter Thirty - Is This A Sign?
Liz’s POVI’m not sure exactly when I began to feel dizzy. Had I been overdoing it? Hardly compared to when I was acting Luna. Yet the emotional turmoil of being apart from Byron was taking its toll. I think my pup could sense it.The medic had checked me over and said I was only carrying one. I began to obsess about fertility. Only Max’s presence calmed me down.“The doctor says you’re otherwise healthy. Maybe single births run in your family?”That was probably true. I just hadn’t thought about it before. Ricky was my younger sibling and nobody had ever mentioned any miscarried pups in either ‘litter’. Maybe there was a predominantly human element in our genes. Wouldn’t that go down well with the conservative Wild Horses pack?I hoped the Moontiders would have my back. Yet how must it look? As if I’d stayed voluntarily with the Lycan while pregnant with their new Alpha’s heir.I wasn’t even showing yet.Perhaps that was why I couldn’t bring myself to feel anything after I lost our p
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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
