Connors Pursuit (Amber Woods Shifters) (4 page)

Connor shook his head at Lizzy across the cafe table. He wanted to make sure they had a good breakfast before they left for her old pack. She had said it was another thirty five miles away, and he wanted to get an early start. He scented her unease and her anxiety as she pushed her bacon around her plate for the umpteenth time.

“Baby you need to eat something, it’s going to be a long day”

He had noticed that she had lost some weight, dark circles graced her pale skin, even more apparent with her new brunette shade. He was so pissed that his mate was feeling this way and he had not been there to provide for her. Well no more, even if he had to use super strength super glue he was not leaving her side.

“I’m not hungry, can we just go”

“Not until you finish your breakfast Lizzy”

“
For god’s sake, I’m not five years old Connor!”

He smiled, there was that spark that he loved, her wonderful sassy nature just sitting below the surface.

“Ok, I’ll get takeout then we can go, how does that sound?”

Lizzy beamed up at him, such a transformation from minutes before.

“Sounds like a plan”.

Ten minutes later they were driving in Connor’s SUV
. Lizzy tried to replay every possible scenario in her head. Maybe this was not such a good idea. Even if the seer could reverse things she still had her old alpha and his son Oliver to deal with. As if reading her thoughts, Connor broke the silence.

“Tell me about the Oakfield pack”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, hands fumbling with the hem of her shirt.

“Not a lot to tell really”

Connor growled low and she sneaked a glance at him. His wolf was pacing below the surface.

“If there was not a lot to tell, then you would probably not have ran in the first place. It’s my job to act as protector and part of that its having all the facts before I go in there, so I am asking again tell me about the Oakfield pack”

Lizzy debated how much to tell him, if she told him about Oliver he would kill the guy as soon as they entered on pack territory and that would only incite a fuckin pack war. That would lead to amber woods being involved, Marcus would be pissed at her for involving them and even more pissed that she had potentially but Brianna and their cubs in danger. She really did think too much sometimes. The tapping of Connor’s fingers on the steering wheel reminded her that he was waiting.

“They are kind of archaic” she started.

“How far archaic?”

“Like Neanderthal archaic”

“Shit, ok so they follow very old traditions”

Lizzy nodded then realised he could not see the action as he was concentrating on the road ahead.

“Yes, very old pack laws. Duncan, the seer I told you about, is ancient, Lawson, the alpha, is over three hundred years old. They still practice the rite of
many of the moon”

“What? That practice was dissolved out over five hundred years ago”

Connor visibly recoiled when she mentioned this. The practice of many of the moon allowed the males of the pack to
have their physical release of any females in the pack, regardless if they were mated. The practice had been wiped out because of the self-destruction of packs, fighting was a common side effect of the rite.

“Yeah I know, somehow it still exists there, thank god I left when I did,
who knows which male I would have ended up with every night”

“Don’t you ever say that baby
girl, just thinking about it makes my blood boil, you are mine, no fucker has the right to interfere with another’s mate, its suicide”

His voice had dropped an octave, man and beast struggling against each other.

Ok maybe not a good idea to mention Oliver then

“When I left
, the pack was forty strong, but that could have changed. Look Connor maybe I should go in myself, it’s been five years I am not sure of the reception I am going to get”

“Not worth discussing Lizzy, we are going to get your wolf pack, I promise you that, what type of mate would I be if I let you deal with this on your own?”

Lizzy smiled and settled in for the rest of the journey, she only hoped that by tonight she would be running in her wolf form, sharing the experience with Connor.

They stopped at a service station
, five miles outside of Oakfield pack territory. Lizzy had gone to use the rest room, so Connor took the opportunity to contact Marcus.

“Alpha, I am going to be gone a few more days longer than I expected”

“Did you find her?” Marcus rumbled

“Yes,
it’s kind of messed up, but we have to go back to Oakfield pack”

“Oakfield? As in
Lawson Oakfield?”

“Yes
, why, you heard of them?”

Connor could hear Marcus shutting his office door, the sound so familiar and routine it was if he was there.

“Shit, that pack belongs in the dark ages, I never knew she was linked to them, why the hell you going?”

He knew he had to tell his alpha the reason, for a beta of another pack to even contemplate entering different territory was risky.

“It’s a long story, but Lizzy had her wolf bound by the pack seer five years ago because of their fear of her gift. She ran because she thought she was not good enough for me as a bound submissive wolf, which is crap, she is mine regardless and I am going to help her to undo the damage he did”

“Fuck, a seer? That’s definitely old school, how the hell she has managed to hold it together for so long is admirable, it would drive any shifter crazy to not have the freedom to run”.

“Yeah, she’s pretty amazing”

Connor smiled as he watched her walking across the parking lot toward him. She was more than amazing she was the most incredible person he had ever met. His alphas voice cut into his thoughts as she gave him a coy smile and slipped into the passenger seat.

“I’ll have Luke do some background checks on the pack, see if he can come up with anything. At least Brianna can be a little calmer now that she has been found”

“I will contact you soon and await any further information”

“No problems Connor, speak soon”.

Marcus ended the call, rubbing his two day old stubble with his hand. Shit the Oakfield pack were the last of the old ways, he had heard stories over the years and hoped that’s all they were, stories, myth and legend to be passed down in folklore. He sent a quick text to Luke to meet him as soon as he could. The office door opened and his petite mate came waltzing in.

“Did he say anything?”

Ever since they had mated the link was strong between them, feelings were magnified across distances.

“Yes he found her baby, come on sit down”

Brianna took his offered hand and sat on his lap, his large hands rubbing her stomach only a small bump was obvious at the moment.

“Thank god, is she ok?”

“Seems to be, but she’s going back to her old pack to talk to the seer”

Brianna rolled her eyes at his words.

“Yeah that fucker was supposed to be mine to take down, he was a bastard for binding her wolf”

Marcus nuzzled his claiming mark, growling low.

“Not anymore baby, you are not to get involved with this, do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly oh alpha mine”

She yelped as he nipped her neck, knowing he was stating his position, the caveman thing once more. Brianna squirmed on his lap, feeling his growing erection pressing into her. His hands went to remove her jeans but a knock interrupted them. Sighing he kissed her cheek.

“Later baby, I promise, but I have pack business to do”

“Well do it whilst you are taking me from behind”

Marcus eyebrows shot up, fuck did she does say that, images of the scene were incredibly hot. Jumping off his lap she giggled as she went to open the door.

Something to think about my alpha

You are such a tease, my sexy little nympho

Doing a mock curtsey she opened the door to find Luke smiling at her.

“I’m going over to help Cora to do some baking, pack business can be so boring”

She winked as he stood to let her past.

“Really Brianna? You are going to bake? What happened to the party animal that danced on tables?” Luke laughed

“Still in here, just waiting for a reunion” she tapped the side of her head.

“It will be a long wait baby, no
w go bake, I have to talk to Luke” Marcus glowered.

Luke shut the door after Brianna and stepped into the masculine alpha office. His nose twitched
at the scent of arousal in the air. That could have been a close one.

“Have a seat”

Marcus nodded at the chair opposite the oak table.

“What can I do for you alpha?”

Luke still felt in unfamiliar territory to address the powerful man in front of him as he did. Only a month ago he was working for Lunar Securities with Brianna as a combat warrior, but after recent events he had become very close to the redheaded she wolf, Anna. Just the thought of her had his cock twitching, with an ache that only her warm body could relieve. They had done nothing more than gentle kisses, a passing caress as they passed each other. His wolf was edgy and needed her so bad, but unlike his previous encounters of bed and move on he wanted this to be for life with her, the strong feelings of protectiveness could only mean she was his mate,
mine!
He was actually just on his way to stake his claim to her when he got the text from Marcus. That fucked things up for a little while.

“Connor found Lizzy”

Luke sat forward, hands clasped in front of him.

“Thank god, how is she?”

“Ok for now. We know that her wolf is bound, but I’m guessing you already knew that from your friendship with her over the years?”

“Yes, it was not for me or Brianna to relay that story, it was very
personal. So they are on their way back?”

“No, they are going to her old pack, the Oakfield clan. She hopes to find the seer that did this to her and have the process reversed. I know some things about this pack but
need to know more. I want you to dig around, see what else you can find.”

“No problem, I’ll get started straight away”

Marcus nodded his dismissal to the warrior. He had really shown his loyalty these past few weeks and was glad to have him as a member of amber woods. He knew that a certain redheaded she wolf had caught his eye, so it was likely that another mating ceremony may be on the agenda soon. The night of his own mating ceremony had his canines descending and his cock aching, pre cum already leaking out of his throbbing shaft.

You better be waiting in bed baby

Curled up and naked, the cookies can wait

Get ready to be uncurled baby.

Adjusting himself, he quickly left his office in search of his mate.

4

Luke stepped out
into the cool November air, he much preferred the winter climate, the white frosted ground, clear starry nights, all seemed to calm his wolf. He needed a warm she wolf to curl up with in front of the fire. Sighing, his thoughts tracked to Anna again, hell, he had only been out of her presence for two hours and he was missing her already. Deciding to take a quick detour he went in search of her. He found her in the alpha house, chasing some of the cubs around the living room. Her unique smell of honeysuckle tickled his nostrils, he had to use every strength of willpower to command his canines to retreat, his wolf obviously eager to claim.  The smallest of the cubs four year old Calum, squealed and ran under Luke’s legs.

“Anna says she will eat me up”

Luke ruffled the blond hair of the cub.

“Did she?
do you want me to eat her first?” he whispered

“Yes please”

Calum spotted Anna and ran into the kitchen to get some cookies off Cora.

“Traitor” Anna laughed.

“Hey, sometimes males just have to stick together on some things”

Anna picked up some toys off the floor and placed them into the storage box. Even on her day off she was dealing with kids. Her job as a teacher at the local junior school was hectic but she loved it.

“What you been up to then?” she smiled

Her long red hair was loosely piled on top of her head, a few wayward strands lay at the nape of her neck. God, his fingers itched to caress the silky curls.

“Just been to see the alpha, new project to work on”

She came to stand in front of him, hands on hips.

“Oh that sounds busy!”

“Hopefully not. You free to catch a movie later?”

Anna looked to the ground, her submissive side coming out.

“I’m really sorry Luke, I have plans tonight, but maybe tomorrow night?”