Lone Wolf's Captive (novella) (8 page)

Her father had found her—a broken, inconsolable mess a few miles from home. He’d picked her up and carried her home. He’d wiped her tears, sympathised, all the while pretending to be concerned over Fletch’s whereabouts.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. In time you’ll feel better, I promise. This was the way it was always going to be. Fletch is a lone wolf. He could never truly belong here. It just isn’t in him.”

“But he was my mate.”

“You didn’t…has he marked you?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Thank God for that.”

“But we love each other…he wouldn’t just leave me.”

“I know his rejection hurts, but the sooner you accept the fact that he didn’t return your feelings, the better.”

Those final words from her father had cut like a blade. He’d lied to her face.

The dreams started that first night.

Until she confronted him, she couldn’t move on with her life and those nightmares would continue to haunt her.

Fletch wanted her to wait. She understood where he was coming from. She also knew as a newly-mated male, his instincts to protect and keep her close would cloud his judgement, at least until he grew accustomed to their new connection. She’d seen it many times among the males in her pack. Growling, scowling males acting like overbearing asshats with their females. Ready to maim any male stupid enough to come anywhere near their mates. It was the only reason she hadn’t put Fletch in his place the minute he told her she couldn’t go alone. Right now it would be a waste of breath.

Her father was many things, and a saint wasn’t one of them. But she couldn’t believe he would hurt her like that, not intentionally. She needed to hear it from him, had to believe that no matter how incredibly wrong he’d been, his actions had been the result of some misconceived notion about Fletch, that someone had fed him a pack of lies.

If not? She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to think about what that might mean. That level of betrayal would tear her apart, would mean the one relationship she’d trusted in when everything had gone to hell and her world had fallen down round her, was nothing but a lie.

Lifting Fletch’s heavy arm from around her body, she slid from beneath the covers. He growled low in his sleep and reached for her.

Shit, shit, shit
.

Grabbing her pillow, she thrust it down beside him. He immediately dragged it against his big body, growled again softly then drifted back to sleep. His fierce expression dissolved into one of contentment and she wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the covers with him.

Sneaking out felt wrong on so many levels, but this couldn’t wait. Despite what Fletch had said, in his current state he’d never let her go back alone. She didn’t doubt for a second that if he woke now and caught her slinking off into the night, that damn chain would be back around her ankle before she could blink.

Not bothering with clothes, she stepped out the front door. Dawn was only an hour or so away, but the thick canopy of trees kept the surrounding forest shrouded in darkness. Tilting her head towards the cabin, she held her breath.

Her mate was still asleep.

“Sorry, Fletch.” Swallowing down her guilt, she shifted and headed towards home.

It took little more than an hour to reach the strip of forest bordering her pack’s land. In an attempt to stay down wind, she took a longer route to avoid the sentries who guarded her people from picking up her scent. She didn’t want to deal with their questions right now. This was between her and her father. The need to return to Fletch increased with every passing minute.

By the time she reached her father’s cabin, the sun was high in the sky. The front door was unlocked from his early morning run like it always was. Shifting, she entered the small hall and padded down to her old bedroom. Her cabin was on the other side of the compound, but she had clothes in her old room. Pulling on a pair of sweats, she headed towards the gurgling sounds of the coffee maker coming from the kitchen.

Running a shaky hand through her mussed hair, she shoved down the sick feeling in her belly and pushed open the door.

Her father froze, and so did the mug at his lips. “Delaney?”

The uneasy sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. She’d been missing nearly two days, but he seemed more confused than relieved to see her. “Hey, Dad.”

His mouth opened and closed a few times before he said, “What are you doing here?” He looked beyond her. “Where’s Brody?”

The unease kicked up a notch. “Brody? Why would I…? I have no idea.” She avoided the creep as much as possible.

His expression darkened and she fought the urge to take a step back.

“I knew I couldn’t trust that idiot to do this properly.” He slammed down his mug, and black coffee sloshed onto the counter.

The outburst surprised her. Her father rarely lost control. “Do what?”

He shook his head, looking madder than she’d ever seen him.

“Delaney, go to your cabin and stay there until I tell you otherwise.” He picked up his phone from the counter and keyed in a text.

“No.” He wasn’t going to push her aside, not this time.

His skin mottled before her eyes, turning an angry shade of red and his eyes went wolf. “Do as you are told.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m not going anywhere. You owe me some answers.”

“I don’t have time for your theatrics, girl.” Two males stepped into the kitchen, blocking the exits. “Alex, send someone to Oakwood. Brody needs to get his ass over here. Tell him I have Delaney. Blake, take her to her cabin and make sure she stays there.”

What the hell?

Her heart skipped a beat. “Why are you locking me in my cabin? And what does Brody have to do with anything?”

Lifting a hand, he stayed Blake who had a hold of her arm and was in the process of dragging her from the room, and let out a long breath. “Daughter, you have pined for that deformed, packless mutt for long enough. It’s time you were mated.” His gaze darted away and his voice lost its edge. “And I’ve arranged it.”

Laney’s legs gave out. If it wasn’t for Blake’s tight grip, her ass would have made friends with the linoleum. “No,” she choked.

“Don’t be so melodramatic, child. If Brody had done his part correctly, you’d never know my role in all this and that’s something I’ll always regret. But that can’t be helped now.” He lifted a hand and took a step towards her. “This is for the best, angel.”

The use of that name cut her to the quick and she jerked away from his touch. “How can you do this to me?”

The anger returned, his dark gaze hard and unyielding. “Love is a weakness. This will save you heartache in the long run.”

No!
Laney fought to remain calm. How could her father do this to her? But then she’d always worn blinders when it came to him. She’d never wanted to see the truth. Her father was a selfish, greedy bastard. “So, what do you get out of this?”

Something flashed cross his eyes, something she’d never seen before. Shame maybe? “You’re a clever girl, always were. You’re like your mother in that respect.”

“I know the day Mom died a part of you died with her. But aren’t you glad, if only for a short time, that you had her in your life?”

He shook with rage. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, I think I do.”

He turned away. “Take her to her cabin.”

“You don’t want to do this, Dad. I know you don’t.”

Jesus, she’d known her mother’s death had altered him. She’d noticed the difference, even as a little girl, but never this. This heartless monster capable of bartering off his own flesh and blood. She didn’t know who he was, if she ever had.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him it was too late, that she belonged to Fletch, but the unhinged look in her father’s eyes caused the words to stick in her throat. He wouldn’t let anything derail his plans at this point and she couldn’t risk him sending someone out to follow her scent back to Fletch.

She looked up at the male holding her. “Come on, Blake. You know this is crazy.”

Blake appeared uneasy, his gaze darting between her and his alpha. “I’m sorry, Laney,” he whispered.

He wasn’t going to help her. Gripping her wrist, he led her out of her father’s home and into the bright midmorning sun, ushering her towards her temporary prison.

***

Fletch tightened his hold around the warm bundle in his arms and buried his face against Laney’s thick locks, but instead of her soft, warm hair, he got a face full of pillow.

His eyes flew open. She wasn’t in his bed. Cocking his head, he listened for sounds of her moving around his cabin.

Nothing.

“What the hell have you done, Delaney Jones?” Shoving off the covers, he sprinted straight through the cabin and out the front door, shifting mid run. He knew where his mates scent would lead him before his paws hit the forest floor. He should have seen this coming. His stubborn female intended to confront her father. On her own.

Head down, he tore over dead leaves and fallen logs. Fear increased his pace. Branches tugged on his fur and slapped him in the face, but he barely felt it, so focused on getting to Laney.

Still, he knew the minute he’d picked up a tail. He’d just crossed into Black Hills territory. So far there was only one, but that could change any minute. They seemed happy to hang back and observe. Whatever, he wasn’t worried. Nothing would stop him from getting to Laney.

His old friend didn’t show himself until he was about to breach the pack’s boundary.

Fletch skidded to a stop in front of the butt-naked male casually leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his wide chest and a wary expression on his face.

“Never thought I’d see you back here,” Gabe drawled.

Fletch shifted as well and stood to his full height, eyeing the other male, waiting for his next move.

“Why’re you here?” Gabe asked.

“I’m here for my mate.”

He pushed away from the tree. “That so?”

Fletch took a step forward as well. Gabe was one of the few people he trusted. He didn’t know the other male’s story, didn’t need to. They’d taken each other’s backs more times than he could count. He was a wolf hybrid and Fletch had never asked what the rest of his DNA was made up of. It didn’t matter.

“Yes.”

“About fucking time. Perhaps now you’ll quit being such a surly bastard.” Then he stepped forward, grinning and held out a hand.

Fletch took it. “Not likely.”

“I’d give you a hug but, yeah, I’d prefer not to bump junk.”

“You and me both.” Fletch ran a hand over his hair and caught his eye, “I need your help.”

Gabe grew serious. “You’ve got it. You know that.”

He guessed he did. It felt good having someone at his back that he could trust, and he knew he could trust Gabe. He gave him a shortened version of events.

Shifters were pretty much left to deal with their own affairs, but there were laws to make sure everyone played by the book, preventing their kind from taking stupid risks that might expose them. Gabe was a Guardian, and he and his partner enforced those laws in nearby Cleaverton and the surrounding areas.

He growled. “Knew that old fucker was up to something. Still, never thought he’d treat Laney that way. Come on, I’ll get you in.”

The two of them had no trouble breaching the boundary, Gabe was a regular visitor and Fletch knew the place like the back of his hand. As they ran into the clearing at the front of Laney’s small cabin, Fletch picked up several familiar scents. The strongest belonged to his mate and went a long way toward soothing his frayed nerves.

But then he identified the others: Anthony and that fucking asshole, Brody.

They were inside with his female.

Her father stood over her, face red, eyes burning bright with rage. The Oakwood alpha, Brody, stood by his side scowling.

“Whose stink is all over you?” Her father barked.

Shocked, she stared up at the male glaring down at her, disgust distorted his features. Pain lanced her chest. This wasn’t her father. This person was desperate and ugly. He didn’t care about her or her happiness.

“Answer me, girl!” He roared.

She flinched. She’d never seen him this angry.

“What the hell’s going on, Anthony?” Brody sounded confused and more than a little pissed.

Enough time had passed that her scent trail back to Fletch would have dispersed. Laney lifted her chin, refusing to break eye contact.

“What the fuck have you done?” Her father’s voice was low, dangerous. Sweat slid down his temples and he lifted a shaky hand to rub across his eyes. When he lifted his gaze again he was her alpha. There was no affection in his golden gaze. “You’re mated?”

Her wolf tucked its tail between its legs and she fought a whine from breaching her throat. He may be her father, but he was still her alpha. She kept her lips clamped shut. Dammit, she would not show weakness.

“We had an agreement,” Brody growled. “She’s meant to be mine.”

Oh my god
. Laney’s stomach lurched. Her father had sold her off like a piece of meat.

“Calm down. We can fix this.” His gaze slid back to her. “Who did you give yourself to?”

“The deal’s off, old man. Nothing can be done now,” Brody spat then turned to leave.

“Wait.” Desperation tinged her father’s voice. “I can get rid of whoever this male is.” His gaze darted between her and Brody. “This isn’t a problem.”

He intended to remove her mate from the equation. Acid burned the back of her throat. He would kill Fletch if he got the chance.

Brody shook his head. “Forcing a mating is one thing. Murder is something else entirely.”

Laney threw the guy a disgusted look. “How noble of you. As long as it’s just rape, huh? You repulse me.”

Brody moved so fast, she barely saw him coming. One minute she stood in the center of the room, the next, she was slammed into the nearest wall.

“Woman, I don’t see this mate of yours here. So I’d hold my tongue if I were you.”

“Go to hell, you lowlife piece of shit. He’s twice the male you’ll ever be”