Bride of the Alpha (3 page)

“Fine. If you want her, take her. My family and I will be leaving at once; we will not be

attending the wedding. As soon as the nuptials are complete, you will notify me. Then our packs

are officially allied, and you will not be returning her to me. I don’t take used goods,” Kray

sneered at me, and turned and left the cabin, still buck naked.

“Are you all right?” Maxwell asked me, scowling after him.

“I’m fine,” I assured Maxwell. “Thank you for rescuing me.”

He stuck his hand out, as I concentrated very hard on looking him in the eye and not noticing

anything else.

“I’m Maxwell Battle,” he said. “We haven’t yet been formally introduced.”

“I’m Camille,” I muttered, unable to meet his gaze. All of a sudden I felt badly about lying to

him.

He was still the jerk who had pretty much bought Camille without regard for her wishes, and

he had just been fighting for me as if I were livestock, but he’d also just stood up for me against

a very scary Alpha, and I was having a hard time hating his guts as much as I should.

Also I was afraid that I’d somehow complicated things with him. I hadn’t really given much

thought to how my deception would affect Maxwell’s pack. Would the alliance be off? Probably.

Would I somehow cause the packs to go to war with each other?

Hopefully the Renker family realize that it wasn’t Maxwell’s fault, and only be mad at me.

“So, uh, are you going to change into a tux?” I asked him.

He threw back his head and laughed, a warm, rich sound.

“You apparently don’t know that much about Timber Valley traditions,” he said. “We do

things a little differently around here. I was wondering why you were wearing a wedding dress.

It’s not really suited for the day’s activities.”

Interesting. What kind of activities could he be talking about? I wasn’t sure I liked the

amused smirk on his face.

He grabbed me by the hand and led me out to the truck. He was still stark naked, but shifters

are used to that. One of the men standing there raised an eyebrow, and reached into the bed of

truck. He pulled out a pair of pants and handed them to Maxwell, who stepped into them and zipped them up. Shifters always carry spare clothing with them.

Now he was just standing there barechested, with that leather strip of a necklace and the

jeans. His abs looked as if they’d been carved with a chisel. Looking at him sent ripples of heat

through my body.

“Sounded like things got a little loud in there,” the man said. He was a dead ringer for

Maxwell, but looked maybe a few years younger.

“He left with his tail between his legs,” Maxwell shrugged. I could see a truck driving very

quickly off into the distance, followed by several cars; it looked as if Kray and family was leaving

the property.

I imagined he’d brought his younger brother Kimball, who was always by his side and who

also had a terrible reputation, and various cousins and uncles. Now that Kray was an Alpha, they

all had started throwing their weight around, bullying other shifters and picking fights, from what

I’d heard. Kray’s cousin Roberta, for instance, had a shoplifting habit, but whenever a

storeowner caught her, she’d call them a liar and threaten that Kray would issue a death challenge

to them and they’d back down.

The men looked me over curiously. “She’s not going to be able to run too fast in that getup,”

one of them observed.

Run? Why would I need to run on my wedding day? I suddenly felt very out of place in my

illusory gown and veil. I thought this was a perfect wedding day outfit. Should I have had the

shaman conjure up jeans and a tank top?

“She’ll change later,” Maxwell said. “There’s been a change of plan. I’m taking her to the

parson to be married right now, and then we’ll come over to the reception hall in a couple of

hours. Don’t worry, we’ll be at the feast, and we’ll still do the Running and Claiming this

afternoon.”

Running and Claiming?

I knew that every pack had their own unique wedding traditions, especially for their Alphas. I

hadn’t bothered to study up on Timber Valley, because I refused to acknowledge this as a real

wedding day. Maybe I should have done a little more research.

I barely had time to wonder what I’d gotten myself into, when all the other wolves threw

back their heads and howled their approval.

“He can’t wait to get her back to the bridal chamber!” one of them bayed.

“Maybe she’ll outrun him. I’ll claim her any day of the week, if he can’t catch her!” another

one howled.

“Watch it,” Maxwell growled at him. “And don’t worry, I will catch her and I will be Claiming

her.”

The shifters kept whooping and hollering their approval. I blushed furiously as he held the

passenger door open for me and helped me into the truck.

We pulled away, and he stuck his arm out the window and waved at his relatives, who were

still baying happily. “Don’t mind my brothers and cousins,” he said. “An Alpha wedding is a big

deal around here.”

“What’s Running and Claiming?” I demanded.

“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.” He flashed me a taunting grin.

No, I wouldn’t. I’d be calling for a ride soon enough, I thought, feeling oddly disappointed. Whatever

Claiming was, I had a feeling that I wouldn’t mind having Maxwell do it to me.

“So what are we doing now?” I asked, as we headed down the road in his truck.

“Well, normally, we’d go introduce you to everybody, then we’d have the ceremony in front of

everybody, and then we’d commence with the next part of the marriage ritual. “

Which involves what, for heaven’s sake?
I wanted to scream.

“Given how your uncle acted this morning, I’ve decided on a change of plan. We’re going to get

married right away. That way your uncle won’t get the chance to change his mind,” Maxwell said, pulling up in front of a log cabin style building . A white gravel path led to the front door, and there were pretty flower beds lining the pathway.

Yeah, yeah, wouldn’t want the business deal to go south, I thought, as he rushed me inside.

“Aren’t there a bunch of people waiting for us?” I protested.

“Yep. I’m the Alpha, it’s my wedding. What I say, goes.”

“Won’t they think it’s kind of weird? I mean, I don’t want to be rude…” The thought of actually going

through with this fake wedding suddenly filled me with panic. It would really have helped f Maxwell hadn’t been turned out to be Mr. Sex on Four Legs, and also if he hadn’t just saved my butt from a psycho.

“I’m a maverick. I do things my own way. They’ll just think I was overwhelmed with passion and

wanted to rush the ceremony.” Again, he flashed me a wicked grin.

The pastor’s secretary looked puzzled as Max ushered me into the office. She stared at my dress as if I were a space alien, then looked questioningly at Max.

Great. I most definitely should have had the charm conjure up a pair of jeans and a t shirt instead of a fancy wedding dress.

“I’d like the pastor to perform the ceremony now,” Max said.

“Now?” she echoed.

“Right now,” he said firmly. “Right here.”

She got up and left the room, clearly bewildered. “You’re going to get married barefoot and shirtless?” I asked.

“Why, you don’t think it’s a good look for me?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

I sighed. “It’s not a terrible look,” I conceded. Understatement of the century.

The pastor, an older shifter with thick silver hair parted on the side, came rushing through the door into the office a minute later, adjusting his tie. “Maxwell! You don’t want to go to the reception hall first?” he asked, confusion wrinkling his face.

“We want to get married right now, Reverand,” Maxwell said firmly.

The pastor forced a smile. “Of course. Young love. Well, let’s get you hitched, then, shall we?”

The wedding ceremony itself was pretty anti-climactic. It literally lasted about two minutes.

The pastor went through what sounded like a typical Alpha ceremony to me – I’d been to a couple of

Alpha weddings at home. Respect the Alpha’s authority, love and support your mate, never publicly

challenge your mate because it undermines his authority, put the pack first at all times, honor, cherish, and so on. The Alpha had to promise he would love, honor, cherish, protect, never let anyone disrespect his bride, and so on, and so forth.

I was barely listening, mechanically uttering my “I do’s” at the right moment.

I was in a daze. Nothing was going how I’d planned it today.

“I now pronounce you Alpha and Bride,” the pastor said, jerking me out of my reverie.

Maxwell reached down, swept the illusory veil off my face, placed his hand behind my head, and kissed

me passionately.

At the touch of his lips on mine, I felt a bolt of desire shoot straight down my body, ending up in the cleft between my legs. My panties were instantly soaked. His lips were soft, but his grip was firm and

strong. He placed one hand on my chin, cupping it, and I felt my lips part for him. His tongue probed my mouth and he tasted like maple syrup pancakes and passion. Our mouths melted together, and I stifled a

low moan.

His tongue swirled around mine, deeper, leading my tongue in an intimate dance.

Then I realized we were making out in front of a pastor, and I pulled away from him in shock. As I did, my body cried out in protest. More. I wanted more.

“Um, we’re in a house of God, making out in front of a man of God. Lightning might strike us or something,” I said.

“It’s okay, honey,” he smirked. “We’re married.”

Yes, we were.

I was actually starting to panic now. How could I possibly have thought that this would be no big deal?

It’s worth it, I told myself firmly, especially after I saw what Camille had been living with over the last year .

“So, uh, we should go to the reception now?” I said weakly, feeling a little faint.

Maxwell flashed me a grin that was filled with pure mischief. “Absolutely not, darling. We’re going

straight to the bridal chamber.”

*

Tell him! Do it now, I urged myself.

Unfortunately, I’d been struck dumb when I walked through the door of the bridal chamber and saw

what was waiting for me there.

We were in a big stone lodge on a hill overlooking the vast spread of the Timber Valley property, and

the bridal chamber would have been big enough to stage an orgy, with room to spare.

Apparently the kinky reputation of the Timber Valley pack was well deserved. The bed was massive,

and there were leather straps attached to all four posts, with cuffs dangling from the ends. There was a table next to the bed which was literally filled with sex toys. Vibrators. Feathers. Butt plugs. Nipple clamps.

Floggers. Paddles. Riding crops. Ben wa balls. Bottles of flavored lubricant. Jars of flavored body butter.

Implements I didn’t recognize.

“Cat got your tongue?” Maxwell said from right behind me. He was standing too close; I felt a

dangerous magnetic attraction pulling me towards him. A wave of heat rippled over my body, and my brain went fuzzy.

I struggled to find words. “Um,” I said. “My goodness, Maxwell. You certainly prepared for your

wedding day.”

“Oh, you can call me Max. No need to be formal.”

I really didn’t want to tell him the truth. I wanted to stay there with him in the bridal chamber. I wanted to find out what all those toys did.

“So, not what you expected for your wedding day?” he asked.

Then, before I could answer, he grabbed ahold of my wrist, yanked the bracelet off, and dropped it on

the floor. I gasped in shock. Instantly, I looked like myself again.

“Now, what’s your real name, and where is Camille?” he demanded.

Chapter Four

I swallowed hard. “You…you knew all along?” I asked.

“Name.”His expression had turned serious.

“Josephine.”

“Last name? I like to know the maiden name of the woman I’m marrying. I’m old fashioned that way.”

He was tapping his foot impatiently on the floor.

“Southpaw.”

“Where is your home pack from?”

“Fool’s Gold Gulch. Northern California. I moved out here to go to college, though, and when I

graduated I never went back.”

“So where do you live?”

“A few hours from here, in a town called River Run. By myself. Studio apartment.” I was babbling.

Sheer panic had taken over my brain.

“Oh, good, so you’re single,” he said sardonically.

“Of course I’m single!” I spluttered furiously. “What do you take me for?”

“My lawful wedded wife, among other things, but we’ll discuss that later. Where is Camille?” My new

hubby was quite the smartass.

“I don’t know,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow at that. “Are we going to play the game where I make you talk?” he asked. “It’s

our wedding day. I like those kind of games.”

He began moving towards me and I backed up. I realized he was maneuvering me towards the bed.

“But I’m warning you,” he continued, “I spank very hard.”

I was a little scared but also very, very turned on. I was tempted to keep my mouth shut just so he’d

spank me, but he actually looked pretty mad.

“I really don’t know where she went, and we did that on purpose,” I said. “It’s not personal. She

doesn’t even know you, and she didn’t want to be in an arranged marriage.”

He frowned, appearing to consider what I’d told him. “Who are you, exactly? Why are you here?”

“I was just trying to help her out. We were room-mates at college.”

“And the reason for concocting this elaborate scheme was…?”

“To distract you and everyone else so she’d have time to hightail it out of the state. The second her