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CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE
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The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER FIFTY SIX
Malcolm walks off, leaving me alone with Brandon, who’s looking at me like some kind of prey he can’t wait to sink his teeth into.“Make it convincing,” he orders, pointing to the notebook and pen Malcolm left me. “Say you never loved him, that you were just infiltrating his pack on our behalf, or something. Tell him to forget all about you, and let you move on with your true love and mate.” He grins. “That would be me, of course.”Then he leaves as well, and I’m alone. I can hear the soft chatter of the Arizona shifters as they hang out on the boat, but I can’t see anyone. My cage appears to be somewhere on the boat’s upper deck, facing out towards the ocean.The sun goes down, and the other shifters disappear below deck, presumably to their warm rooms and soft beds. The cool ocean air and the icy wet spray of the waves below make me shiver, and I curl up in a ball to try and keep warm. I shift into my wolf form, hoping my fur can protect me, but then it’s way too cramped in
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
NASHIt’s been over twenty four hours since the Arizona shifters attacked and my Luna disappeared. I’ve been doing my best to regroup and get things back together, with my ex girlfriend, Regan, at my side.She isn’t exactly my first choice for a partner right now, but Sarah is nowhere to be found, and I need someone. Regan has never served as a Luna, and as a stand in, she’s doing her best.Fortunately, most of the injuries sustained by our pack were minor. Whatever magical weapon or spell they were using to put us to sleep might be a terrifying prospect, but it also meant that they didn’t have to do all that much damage in order to render us helpless.I’ve decided, as the Alpha, to mount a search and rescue mission for Sarah. If she’s been taken against her will, or if she’s trapped and hurt somewhere, we need to find her, and fast. I hate knowing that my unborn child, and my wife, could be alone and in danger, and I know we need to move as quickly as possible in order to
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
After I hand over the letter to Malcolm and Brandon, they look over what I’ve written, and seem pleased. “Smart of you to cooperate, little Omega,” Brandon says, pulling a key out of his pocket and unlocking the cage.I hate that he calls me that. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life mated to someone who sees me, and treats me, this way. But that’s the choice I’ve made, in order to save the life of my true mate, the man I really love.Brandon grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the cage, holding tightly as he walks me down the boat’s deck. I see tables set out and various shifters eating breakfast. “Hungry?” Brandon asks, not waiting for an answer before he shoves me down into a chair.I am starving, actually, having missed dinner the night before. I’m eating for two these days, and it was awful being locked inside the cage with no food or water. I tear into the sausage and eggs that someone brings us, ignoring the way that everyone on the deck of the boat
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER FIFTY NINE
I’m tired and worn out from my failed escape attempt. All I can do is stumble along after Brandon as he takes me to his quarters below deck. It’s a relatively simple room, and it feels more like a hotel room, except for the fact that there are clothes and a few weapons strewn about. I sit down on the bed, studiously avoiding looking at any of the weapons. I don’t want Brandon to think I’m getting any ideas.The truth is, I already have one. And it’s a pretty good idea, as far as I’m concerned.Brandon gave himself away with the comment about wearing moon rabbit armor. It means he thinks he’s invincible, but he’ll lose all that power once his clothes are off.I sit quietly, playing up how drained I feel. Brandon can’t think I’m any kind of a threat. “Now,” Brandon says, locking the door behind us and sauntering into the room, “I know you’re carrying some mangy pup, but once that thing is born, you’ll be all mine. Do you understand?”I nod, my hands protectively resti
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER SIXTY
I slink down a hallway, sniffing the air as I go to make sure I don’t run into anyone. There are three girls, friends of Miranda’s, coming down the hall, so I duck behind a corner, pressing myself against the wall.They’re chattering loudly, so it’s easy to track where they are even without sniffing them out. “Did you see her at breakfast this morning?” “She’s just as scrawny and useless as she ever was. I don’t even know why we’re out here on this boat getting seasick just so we can haul her back.”“We never wanted her in the pack in the first place!”“Yeah, but it’s not like we have to live with her. Brandon will keep her at the ranch, and then whatever weirdo magic she has is ours.”“I heard she tried to jump overboard and escape!”“No way - she’s so preggo, I doubt she’d even be able to float.”I roll my eyes as I listen to them. Fortunately, they’re so caught up in their gossip that they don’t notice me, and I can easily slip out of my hiding place once t
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER SIXTY ONE
As soon as I’m sure that Malcolm’s guard has left the area, I scramble down and tug the door open again. “Arnold, are you okay?” “I admit, I’ve had better times while on cruises,” Arnold says, laughing before wincing in pain. “I do wish they had never acquired that electronic torture device.”“Is there magic in it?” I ask.Arnold shakes his head. “It’s simply a human technology. Brandon is quite keen on fooling around with those.”“I’ve got to get you out of here,” I say. “And I have a plan. I’ll go down to the engine room and sabotage something, and when they let you out and make you help, can you do something that will force the ship to crash onto the shore in front of our pack house?”“That depends,” Arnold says. “What type of sabotage are you able to do?”I shrug. “Anything you tell me. We just need it to seem like there’s something wrong with the boat, so they’ll let you close enough to the control panel that you can send us on a direct, speedy course into l
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER SIXTY TWO
Everyone on board is looking for me. I know I need to move fast. I shift into wolf form so that I can run more quickly, carrying Arnold’s notes in my mouth until I skid to a stop outside the door to the engine room.I shift back so quickly that it makes me dizzy, then launch myself through the door and shut it behind me. The noise of the angry shifters searching for me is drowned out by the roar of the ship’s engine.I unfold Arnold’s instructions, looking around to find the dials he mentioned. Everything in here is so complicated, full of pipes and wires everywhere. Finally, though, I locate the dials, each with a red “reset” button on top. I press those, then, remembering what Arnold said about needing to get out of there fast, shift back into wolf form and make my escape.Sure enough, red lights and sirens start sounding throughout the ship. The chaos only increases, and I can hear frantic footsteps and irritated shouting all throughout the ship. A door slams nearby, and I
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER SIXTY THREE
NASHEver since I read the letter from Sarah, all I’ve wanted to do is curl up in a ball and sleep, maybe forever. Even the amulet and my moon rabbit pelt can’t give me enough strength to overcome this grief.I’ve been in my bedroom, trying to make it through this misery, while the rest of my pack makes preparations downstairs. Although I called off the search and rescue mission for Sarah, we know we have enemies out there, and since they have Sarah working with them now, they know all of our secrets. Layla has temporarily moved back in to the pack house, lending her wisdom and care to the injured among us. She’s also been working with us to come up with a defense against that horrible wolfsbane weapon. Using all sorts of herbs and potions from her work at the clinic and spa, Layla is designing new methods for us to avoid being touched by the wolfsbane.Herbal smells waft up from downstairs, where I know Juliana and Amanda are weaving gloves and armored vests that can help
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The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED
Damian is a healthy baby, well loved, and by the time he’s a few months old, it’s obvious that Jasper and I don’t need to stick around in Serpent’s Creek. The mansion is nearly full to bursting with wolf and bear shifters excited to be part of this new family and to dote on the precious baby whose existence symbolizes a fresh start for everyone.Jasper mentions going home to Santa Cruz a few times before I’m happy about it, though. I tell him that Orsina could still use my help, or that there’s still some magic I want to learn from Clara. He sees right through my excuses, though. “Are you nervous and going back to live somewhere with those guys in the basement?” Jasper asks me one evening, sliding his hands around my waist to nibble at my earlobes as he asks. “Maybe,” I say. “Now that he’s not a rabbit anymore, and he’s seen me and spoken to me, and he’s already gotten out once -”“He didn’t get out,” Jasper reminds me. “We let him think he escaped.”“I know, but he th
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE
My eyes fall shut easily, after such a long day. But I don’t sleep very deeply. Instead, I get caught up in a long, complex dream.In the dream, I’m back in the celestial realm, standing in the same dungeon cage that Coello used to keep me in. Sterling is there, too, walking up to me with those piercing gray eyes and that familiar smile. “Hello,” he says. He leans in to kiss me, and I think that the bars will prevent him from being able to, but he just passes right through. I feel his hands on my face, his lips on mine, and he kisses me for a long time.When I open my eyes after the kiss, I’m no longer in the cage. Now, Sterling and I are standing on top of the massive tower where we found him, high up above the rest of the celestial realm. But when I look out, I don’t see the rolling, starlit darkness of the celestial realm. I see the golden yellow plains of Montana, the valley that stretches out around Serpent’s Creek.“Where are we?” I ask, feeling strangely dizzy.
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT
Clara and Zach arrive soon enough, and we all go careening up the mountain. With Clara behind the wheel, we get back to the house in record time. Orsina is sweating now, her breaths coming heavy and hard, and Zach has to help her out of the truck and into her room.“Can you shift?” Clara asks her, gently lowering the laboring mother down into her bed. “It’s so much easier if you shift.”“I think so,” Orsina says. She squeezes her eyes shut, holding her breath. It takes a few tries, but soon she’s a bear, curled up on top of the quilts in her bedroom.“Perfect, perfect,” Clara coos. “There you go, mama bear.”“Could that cause a problem for the baby?” Zach asks, hovering in the doorway. Clara asked him to bring towels, and he’s already brought twice as many as we’ll need, but he has yet another armful. I don’t even know where he’s getting them from, at this point. Even a mansion like this can only hold so many towels.“What do you mean?” Clara asks, her voice calm and unf
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN
When we call home to let Regan and Isaac know what’s going on, they’re thrilled to hear that Barrett is okay and that Zach and Orsina have a safe place to land. They tell us that Howling Wolf is doing amazingly well - after so many volunteers and friends came to help us with the battle, we’ve gotten tons more clients in the shifter world, and we’ve been able to hire a handful of new employees.Since they seem to have things well in hand, Jasper and I decide to stay in Montana. We set up in one of the westward facing bedrooms, next door to Zach and Orsina. Clara and Bennett take an upstairs bedroom, smaller but cozier and with more privacy. With Weston defeated and his supporters scattered after our Santa Cruz victory, the rest of the bear clan needs a leader and a place to stay. Through a peaceful process, Clara and Barrett become the Alpha and Luna for the bear clan. Bear clans don’t typically refer to their Alpha’s mates as a “Luna,” but Clara is a wolf, and the title just see
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX
“Barrett!” Orsina rushes to his side, laying a hand over his forehead. He lifts his head weakly at her voice, then his eyes spark with recognition.“Orsina…” he croaks, his eyes fluttering shut again. “Help…”Everything then happens in a flurry of activity. Clara sends everyone but Orsina out of the room, giving each of us specific directions. Jasper is sent to get a bowl of hot water and towels, I’m supposed to find a medicine kit under the sink in the kitchen, and Zach is told to go secure the perimeter of the house, especially the rear door.I return with the medicine chest in my arms. It smells familiar, full of the healing herbs and magical potions Layla often uses. It’s also got modern medical stuff like clean white bandages and stitching kits.Clara instantly sets about getting Barrett to sit up. She holds a glass of water to his lips, encouraging him to drink and take a handful of pills and capsules she’s picked out of the medicine chest. She works on Barrett fo
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE
We barely have time to process everything Clara has told us before she’s packing us a picnic dinner and ushering us out the door. We pile into her battered, ancient Jeep, which is almost definitely running more on shifter magic than gasoline at this point, and she heads out toward the mountains. “So, uh,” Orsina asks, after a bit of silence, “does that mean this is, like…you?” She rolls up her sleeve to show the tattoo mark of the wolf that appeared on her arm after the spirits from the carving gave their blessing.“It is perhaps an image of me,” Clara says in her cryptic way as she careens up the switchbacking roads. “Or, perhaps it is another manifestation of my spirit. There have been many over the years.”“What about your beloved?” Orsina asks. “The bear shifter you fell in love with. Where is he?”“That is a lovely question,” Clara says softly. “At times, we have found each other. At other times, our spirits have been far from one another. Since the curse took a deep
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR
It takes Malcolm and Coello a little while to accept the reality of their new situation - that Malcolm is irreversibly bound to Coello, and that Coello is bound to us by virtue of some very powerful magic Layla cooked up for us. They snarl and fight, argue and wheedle, and even try to bust out of their chains by brute force. But nothing works. We’ve won. Malcolm and Weston are both banished to cells in the basement, very far apart to prevent them trying to scheme together. Maybe someday we’ll have another use for them, but for now, it’s a breath of fresh air to know that my biggest enemy, and the biggest enemy of my pack, are both completely neutralized. I had hoped that we would be able to relax and settle down for a bit now that this problem has been solved. In fact, we had a lovely day after the battle, with all our friends and volunteers and former trainees lounging on the beach and splashing around in the cool water.But something is bothering Orsina. She paces, agitate
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE
The Moon Rabbit doesn’t waste any time once Malcolm agrees to the binding spell. With quick, almost spider like hands, Coello spreads the stalks and herbs out on the rocky beach, fluttering them into complex shapes. I stand on my tiptoes, peering out from behind my hiding place. Coello’s form of magic is rough and brutish, nothing like the delicate work Layla does. But it does the job. Malcolm steps over the edges of the intricate shape Coello has created on the ground, and even I can feel the burst of intense magic that snaps through the air as the spell takes effect. “I look forward to having you in my service,” Coello says with a low bow. “For now, however, I must depart. Do enjoy your newfound power.”Malcolm smiles, flexing his hands like he can somehow feel himself getting stronger. Then the two separate, Coello sneaking back into the tree house before anyone catches him outside.I’m surprised, but not entirely so. Some of us thought Coello would try to get as far a
The Alpha's Mate CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO
The various wolf shifters staying with us to help out have been instructed not to speak with the Moon Rabbit, but to keep a close eye on him. Coello soon gives up trying to draw them into conversation and instead just wanders around the busy tree house, doing what he clearly thinks is subtle reconnaissance in preparation for his escape attempt. What he doesn’t know is that his ability to slip out of here isn’t going to be the result of his own careful cleverness. It will be perfectly engineered by me and my team, right down to the very moment. It’s early afternoon when we get the signal. We’ve had scouts placed in inconspicuous locations all around the forest and the town of Santa Cruz watching for any sigh of Malcolm or Weston. Sure enough, they roll into town with a huge entourage of bear shifters and werewolves. Our scouts say that they’ve set up a campsite near the beach about a mile south from our location, and that Malcolm is heading our way on his own, apparently to chec
