Lone Wolf's Captive (novella) (9 page)

He drew back a hand and she braced for impact. But he stopped suddenly and leaned in, running his nose along the column of her throat, taking in her scent. His touch made her want to gag. “That son of a bitch. I will fucking…”

A vicious growl filled the room, stopping Brody midsentence. “Take your hands off my mate or I’ll tear them off at the wrist,” Fletch growled from across the room.

Laney’s legs threatened to give out at the sight of him, but her relief was quickly replaced by fear. Her father wanted him dead. Fletch met her gaze. “You okay, sugar?”

Her mate’s large frame filled the doorway to her cabin, butt-naked and utterly gorgeous. Gabe, one of the local Guardians, stood at his back looking grim. Fletch looked deceptively relaxed, but she could tell by the rigid set to his broad shoulders that he was ready to fight if the other males in the room made one wrong move.

Brody stepped away from her. “I hired you to bring her to me. Not keep her for yourself.”

“I lied. Laney’s always been mine,” Fletch said simply.

Fletch knew about this and didn’t tell her? Laney’s heart squeezed painfully. “He hired you? That’s why you came for me?” She couldn’t disguise the pain in her voice.

Her father moved towards her and grabbed her wrist. “Is that the kind of male you want to be tied to? A common thug.”

“Would you have come for me otherwise?” Her voice shook.

Fletch took a step forward as well. Agony lined his handsome face. “I was a coward. I let my fear and doubt rule me. I’ll never forgive myself for that, for the time we lost. I’m so fucking sorry, Laney.”

“I should have left him to starve in the woods. You’re nothing but a pay packet to him, angel. A way to get back at me.” Her father’s voice had softened and he gentled his hold on her.

Fletch seemed to grow bigger, the veins in his arms and thighs popping, expanding like he was about to shift. Rage burned behind his eyes. “You know that’s bullshit. If I didn’t take the job, someone else would have. And that wasn’t happening.” He held her gaze. “But yeah, it was the kick in the ass I needed. Brody’s fucked up plan just gave me an excuse to move past the shit I’ve been carrying around, holding me back from you.”

He’d kept this from her, and he shouldn’t have. But he loved her. She didn’t doubt that, couldn’t. Yes, he should have trusted her, but in the end he’d done it to protect her from the truth, to shield her from her father’s betrayal. She held his gaze, and he released a breath when she returned his heated stare with one of her own, letting her heart shine through, telling him without words that she trusted him.

Fletch held out his hand. “Come here.”

The grip on her wrist tightened painfully. “You’re not going anywhere with him,” her father hissed, staring at Fletch.

“What? No welcome to the family, son?” Fletch drawled.

“You know each other?” Brody said, looking between Fletch and her father before taking another step back. The two packs had always kept their distance, this new alliance being only a couple of years old. If Fletch hadn’t told Brody where he’d come from, his connection to the Black Hills pack, there was no way he could know his history with her father.

“Oh yes, Anthony and I are well acquainted,” Fletch said.

“This isn’t what I signed up for. You can keep the bitch.” The Oakwood alpha turned and headed for the door.

“Brody,” Fletch growled, his voice was pure wolf now, deep and full of power. Her own wolf wanted to go to him, rub against him, mark him. But Fletch’s wolf coming to the surface had a very different effect on the other males in the room.

Brody froze inside the door, gritting his teeth as he struggled to keep his head from bowing. Her father did have his head bowed and all colour drained from his face as the reality of what had just happened sunk in. The only one holding their own was Gabe.

“If you ever touch Laney again, I will rip your throat out. Do you understand?”

Brody gave a stiff nod, and strode from the room.

Fletch turned to her father. “Same goes for you. You betrayed the one person who gave a fuck about you, old man. Now you’ve lost her.”

He held out his hand and she went to him. He pulled her into his body and wrapped her in his arms, nuzzling her jaw before kissing her in a way that both claimed and soothed.

“Let’s go,” he whispered.

She pulled back and stared up at her mate. “You want to go?” she asked, stunned. “You do realise what just happened here don’t you?”

Fletch stared back, frowning. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I promise I’ll bring you back to visit your pack whenever you want. But I don’t belong here.”

Gabe stepped forward. “Shit man, after what I just witnessed?” He shook his head. “You’re wrong.” Then he grinned wide. “Welcome home, alpha.”

Fletch paled. “Shut the fuck up.”

Gabe chuckled. “Look outside.”

Her father sat on the couch, shoulders slumped, head resting in his hands. Sadness welled inside her. He was no longer the man who’d tucked her into bed at night. She didn’t know that male, not anymore. He glanced up. “Delaney…”

She turned from him; it hurt too much to look at him and she tightened her grip on Fletch. He squeezed back and led her to the open door. He faltered at the threshold, staring out in stunned silence. The pack had sensed the shift in power and now stood gathered in her front yard.

Laney threaded their fingers. “Come on. They’re waiting for you.”

“I can’t…this can’t be happening,” Fletch choked.

“This is the reason my father kicked you out. He knew you’d challenge him one day. He was afraid of you, Fletch. You were never weak, you were too strong.”

He gripped her hand tighter as they stepped outside. The smiles on her pack mates’ faces made it clear the change in power was more than welcome. Why hadn’t she seen how unhappy her people had been all this time?

“I didn’t ask for this,” Fletch said beside her.

“Look at them, Fletch. They’re glad you’re home. They’ve missed you. You’re their alpha now.”

He shook his head in disbelief.

“Believe it,” she whispered.

Then the pack came forward to welcome him home.

Fletch hated being away from his mate for too long and was pleased when he finished the perimeter check. His transition as the new Black Hills alpha had gone smoother than he’d thought. The pack was more than ready to embrace change after Anthony’s leadership.

Their former alpha had disappeared and no one had seen or heard from him since that day in Laney’s cabin. Fletch hoped it stayed that way for his mate’s sake.

Head down, Fletch increased his pace. Home was close and he was desperate to see Laney. As he entered their yard, the front door opened and his beautiful mate stepped out, a warm smile on her face.

Bounding up the steps, Fletch circled her legs once then stopped in front of her, rubbing his head against her thigh. She chuckled. But didn’t do what he wanted, teasing him. She did that a lot and he loved it. He bumped her leg again then buried his nose in the palm of her hand and whined.

She laughed, and the wonderful sound caused his chest to tighten. “My God, you’re shameless.”

Relenting, she threaded her fingers through his thick fur and petted him like he loved. “I’m glad you’re home. I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

Shifting back to human form, he cupped her precious face and backed her into the cabin. “I missed you more.” He looked down at her in wonder. How had he gotten so damn lucky? He didn’t deserve this amount of happiness, not after everything he’d done. But he’d take it and kill anyone who tried to take it from him.

Her eyes radiated warmth and love as she stared up at him. Bending down, he kissed her hard and claiming. She moaned into his mouth. A low growl rumbled from his chest in response. He wanted her. He always wanted her, but first…

Dropping to his knees, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Nosing her shirt higher, he buried his face against her warm skin, loving that he could smell his scent mingled with her own.

Laney threaded her fingers through his hair. “Can you hear anything today?”

He pressed his ear against her still small, but rapidly growing, belly and listened. They’d been told that with their advanced hearing, as the baby grew bigger, Fletch would be able to listen to their tiny cubs heartbeat this way.

Laney giggled.

“Shh, woman. I’m trying to listen.”

“Your whiskers are tickling me.”

He growled low. “If you be quiet and let me listen, they’ll be tickling something else in a few minutes.” He chuckled when Laney went completely silent. “Thank you, baby.” He turned so his lips brushed her skin. “Hello in there. This is your daddy. We can’t wait to meet you.” His mate’s fingers continued to gently run over his scalp when he turned and again rested his ear on the firm, little bump.

A faint, but steady thump reached his ears. He froze, afraid to move in case he lost the precious sound. Joy and…shit, words couldn’t describe the way he felt in that moment. His mate wrapped in his arms, listening to his cub’s strong heartbeat. It stole his breath. The rush of pure, untainted love that poured from him and washed back in return, was something he never thought he deserved. It was more love than one man had a right to.

“Well?” Laney whispered.

“I…I can hear him.” His voice broke several times trying to get the damn words out.

He couldn’t move, too overcome by emotion in that moment to stand. Laney eased back and lowered to her knees in front of him. She cupped his face, her thumbs running over his cheeks, wiping away his tears. He was stunned and to be honest, too damn happy to care about the show of weakness. Laney would never see it that way and that was all that mattered.

“What did I do to deserve this? How did this happen?” he breathed.

She rubbed her nose against his. “Well, when a mommy and daddy love each other…”

“Smart ass.”

Her fingers slid along his jaw then moved up to outline his lips before her gaze lifted, catching his. “I feel the same way every morning when I wake up and you’re lying beside me.” Tears pooled at her lower lashes and slid down her cheeks when she blinked.

His heart literally skipped a beat at her quietly spoken words. “Jesus, baby. I’m trying to pull my shit together here,” he choked.

“I love you, Fletch, so much.”

“I love you, too. More than you’ll ever know.” Then he fisted her hair and kissed her with all the emotion welling inside him.

When he finally pulled back, he said against her lips, “But I’m going to spend the rest of our lives proving to you exactly how much.” Then he slid his hands under her ass and stood. She wrapped her body around his and laid her head on his shoulder as he headed to their bedroom.

Nuzzling his ear, she whispered, “You already have.”

The End

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