Pack Alpha (11 page)

Marissa peeked up to see his furious eyes boring into her. The muscle in his cheek jumped as he clenched his teeth. Marissa immediately dropped her gaze. This was all her fault. She couldn’t control herself, Brandon, or anyone else.

“Sam, go to my office,” he told his guard, keeping his voice even, not giving away what he was thinking.

Sam picked himself up off the ground, looking one last time at the man he’d taken down. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Marissa, come here,” he ordered next.

Marissa moved quickly to obey. It would not be good to leave Gage waiting when every single person had their full attention on him. Wrapping his hand around her wrist, Gage held her next to him. She leaned against him, relieved that it was him touching her. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to pull away from him again after having Brandon’s hands on her. Logan stepped into the middle of the group and nodded at his Alpha.

“I believe our guests have overstayed their welcome. Now that the happy couple has left, they shall be escorted out.” Gage’s voice was low and deadly. Daring anyone to challenge him.

“I’ll see to it, Alpha.” Logan nodded and reached for Brandon, who pushed his hands away.

Standing on his own, Brandon faced off with Gage. “I agree we should be leaving. We’ll just be taking Marissa with us,” he said smugly.

Marissa stepped behind Gage, using him as a shield. She wasn’t going with Brandon. She didn’t think Gage would make her, but, if what Brandon had said were true, he might not have a choice.

“I don’t think so.” Gage didn’t sound amused as Brandon stood in front of him.

Brandon smiled. “As her Pack Alpha, I will be returning her home.”

“Pack Alpha?” Gage looked over his shoulder at her. Marissa shook her head. He faced Brandon again. “I think not.”

“She was born into my Pack.”

“And left your Pack at the request of your Alpha.”

“Really?” Brandon challenged, crossing his arms over his chest. “I have no paperwork supporting that.”

“Of course not.” Gage nodded as if he understood.

Marissa panicked. “Gage.”

“Hush,” he ordered. She fell silent. “Well, then I suppose you have the paperwork stating that she does belong to your Pack.”

The smile faded on Brandon’s face. “I do. Not with me, though.”

Gage shook his head. “I cannot in good conscience turn over a female who I don’t know truly belongs with you.”

Brandon took one step forward. “You would start a war over this slut?”

Marissa gripped the back of Gage’s shirt. She didn’t think Gage would turn her over to the other man, but doubt still made her stomach tighten with nerves.

Gage didn’t move but met the other Alpha’s stare. “Would
you
? You are in my territory now.”

Brandon relaxed his stance. “We’ll see about this.” He turned and walked away, his Pack members following him.

“Make sure they all leave, Logan. Then I want you in my office.”

Logan nodded first to his Alpha then to the other Enforcers who had surrounded them. They all left silently.

After turning, Gage grabbed Marissa’s arm and pulled her toward the house.

“Party’s over,” he threw back over his shoulder at the other members of his Pack, having them disperse quickly.

Marissa remained quiet as Gage led her away. In the shoes she wore, she kept tripping. Gage didn’t slow his steps. However, he did tighten his hold. Even though he was really towing her along and his hold was strong, it didn’t hurt. Because Gage wouldn’t hurt her. Not physically. But if he gave her over to Brandon, it would break her.

Sam jumped up when Gage walked into his office with Marissa. Gage pointed to the couch and waited for Marissa to sit before turning to his Enforcer.

“I apologize for my action, Alpha. I have no excuse for starting a fight with another wolf without your permission.”

Gage nodded. “Yes. Especially another Alpha.”

Sam’s eyes widened. He hadn’t known that Brandon was an Alpha. If his guard couldn’t detect the power, Gage knew he’d been correct about Brandon not carrying the authority needed to lead. That was valuable information.

Sam wiped his dirty hands on his pants. “I can only say that I was protecting the woman that my Alpha has taken as his own. He had his hands on her and she was protesting.”

“And for that I thank you. Stand down, Sam, you are not in trouble.”

Sam relaxed. He glanced from Marissa back to him. “Is everything okay?”

Gage shook his head and walked behind his desk. “I don’t know. But I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything, Alpha,” Sam agreed without second thought.

“We have a problem with the other Pack. Marissa will be staying here at the main house. I would like for you to go to Elizabeth’s house and bring Marissa’s belongings here.”

Marissa opened her mouth then closed it quickly.

“Then we are on high alert. I want a full watch. Especially around the house.”

Sam nodded. Logan knocked and entered the office. Gage acknowledged him with a tilt of his head.

“Then I would like you to stay here at the house with Logan and me, in case there is any trouble.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

Gage dismissed Sam and turned to Logan.

“They’re gone. The gate is closed and locked. I have four men on guard there,” Logan informed him.

“Good. Make sure Sam has the others doing rounds,” Gage told him, even though he knew Logan would take all the precautions that were needed. Still, he felt better knowing everything would be in order to protect Marissa.

“Yes, Alpha. No one will get in without permission.”

Gage wanted more security than that. “I want no one else leaving.” He wouldn’t put it past Brandon to take someone from his Pack to try to trade for Marissa. “Also call Greg and warn him. Preferably without Elizabeth knowing. I want them to enjoy their honeymoon but also be careful.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Logan promised and Gage knew he would be taking care of things personally. “Anything else, Alpha?”

Gage looked over at Marissa. She had been silent the entire time. “Get me what you can, Logan. I want these files that he’s talking about. Also anything on the Alpha position transfer. I want what was sent to the Council. Call my father if you have to. ”

“I’ll get started right away.” Logan glanced at Marissa before he nodded and silently left the office.

Gage stalked to Marissa and wasn’t surprised when she leaned away from him. He’d done his duty to make sure his Pack was safe and now was the time for comfort.

“Come here,” he said.

Slowly Marissa stood and took his hand, keeping her eyes down at her feet. Gage gently led her from his office and up the stairs. Once they reached his bedroom, he let her enter first. Marissa walked into the large room then sat on the edge of the bed.

Dropping to his knees in front of her, Gage gripped her hands. “Talk to me,” he demanded softly.

Marissa didn’t hold back her tears any longer. “I’m sorry, Gage! I’m so sorry.”

Getting up and sitting next to her, he wrapped his arms around her. It broke his heart to see her so upset. “Shh.”

“I… I…don’t know what to do!”

Gage held her close to him and tried to make her feel protected. “I’ll take care of it. Take care of you,” he promised her and meant every word. She would never have to go through that again. She belonged to him now and Gage would spend the rest of his life showing her how loved and wanted she was. No one would ever put their hands on her again.

He was so pissed off at himself for letting it happen in the first place. He’d thought that Logan was with her when he’d allowed one of his Pack members to engage him in a conversation. He should have kept a better eye on her. “It’s going to be okay.”

“He’ll start a war. I don’t know why. But I know he will,” she managed to get out between sobs.

“Shh. Baby, let him try,” Gage said as he stroked her back.

“I don’t want anyone hurt because of me. I don’t understand why he’s doing this.”

Picking her up, Gage then took her to the head of the bed and pulled the covers back. He placed her gently down. “Please don’t worry, Marissa. I will take care of this.”

Tears still streaked her face. “I won’t go with him.”

“I know, baby. I wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to.” He allowed her to wear herself out with the tears and sobbing. Gage hoped that would help her clear her mind and let go of her fear. It went on for several minutes before she quieted.

Gage wiped the tears from her face before bending down and kissing her cheeks, nose, eyes and forehead then placing a light one on her lips.

“Sleep now. I’ll be here when you wake.” Gage waited until her eyes closed. He stood and thought about what to do next.

* * * *

Gage stood from where he sat at the table in his room. True to his word, he’d worked up here instead of his office. Marissa was still deep asleep as if she couldn’t handle any more stress. He wanted to take her away from all this but he knew that the best way to protect her was breaking any bonds that still remained with her old Pack.

He’d studied the papers he’d gotten when he’d first looked into Marissa. Logan and Sam were in his office trying to find something else—anything else. Brandon had been correct that the proper paperwork for Marissa’s dismissal from her birth Pack had never been filed. That was a problem.

Luckily Gage had resources.

A phone call to another Alpha—Lamont from three territories away—had helped. He had even offered to send Cain, his son—who was also the same man Gage had been thinking about earlier—down if Gage needed any help.

Grateful to have the older Alpha behind him, Gage relaxed. As Lamont had stated, there had always been something wrong with Marissa’s original Pack. And while they would probably find papers to claim Marissa as theirs, Gage could turn around and file a claim that Marissa had been thrown out and had not been protected by her Pack. Gage knew he had a good case for that. Marissa had been on her own for the past ten years.

It also meant that Gage would have to take her into his Pack to file those papers and keep her from Brandon. He didn’t mind having her there. She’d be a good member, but he wanted more. He wanted a commitment from her. He’d found his life-mate. Marissa would be the obstacle that they’d have to overcome for that to happen.

The light knock on the door took his attention from his thoughts. Walking quietly to the door, he opened it to Hannah, one of the older females who helped with his house. She had worked for his father before him and had always been a surrogate mother to him.

“I brought you both some bread and soup. And made her some tea,” she told him.

Gage opened the door wider to let her come in with the tray. She placed the tray on the clean side of the table before looking up at him. Hannah had been with the Pack for fifty years. She had come to his father after a member in her old Pack had assaulted her. Her Alpha hadn’t done anything and Hannah had run away. Gage’s father had gladly taken her into his Pack and his home. She had cooked for the wolves and kept his house ever since.

“You’re doing a good thing,” she said, tears in her eyes.

Gage shrugged. “I’m not only doing it for her.”

“I know.” She placed one hand on his cheek. “She wouldn’t make it there. It would take everything out of her until she slowly died.”

Gage placed his hand over hers, sharing comfort with her. “I will protect her. Even if it costs me my life.”

“I know.” She smiled sadly. “And that is why I choose to follow you like I did your father.” She left him with that.

Gage walked over to Marissa. She was curled up and had dried tears on her face. Running his fingers over her cheek, he watched her blink awake.

“Hi,” he greeted once her eyes opened.

She blushed and looked away. “Hi.”

Leaning over her, he took her lips. Marissa opened for him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Gage moaned into the kiss and pressed her back into the bed. The power and control she held shimmered beneath the surface. She pulled at his shirt, finally getting it over his head and her tongue on his chest. The muscles under her mouth quivered and his breath brushed against her cheek.

Gage used his lips on her shoulders, then pulled the straps of her dress down her arms. She still wore the dress from the ceremony and he wanted it off her. Reaching behind her, he unzipped it, baring her to him.

The rest of the clothes were quickly removed while they touched and kissed each other’s skin. When he positioned himself over her, he held her legs open with his own. He entered her slowly, as they watched each other.

Being together like this always made Gage feel complete. He didn’t understand how Marissa could push him away after they’d made love.

Marissa lifted her hips up to allow Gage to slip in smoothly all the way. He filled her, and she started to move under him. Gage kept his strokes slow and deep, watching the emotions in her eyes as he brought her pleasure. Her mouth opened and small sounds came from her. Gage grunted, the natural pace picked up, his body demanding he take her, the wolf demanding he claim her.

The sounds of their flesh slapping together was loud in the quiet of the room and sounded erotic. Her pussy was tight and her inner muscles tried to hold him in each time he withdrew. Gage thrust inside her faster and harder. He gripped her hips and lifted her up off the bed to change the angle and really slam into her.

He loved the fact that she not only took everything he had to offer but was begging him for more.

Crying out, Marissa wrapped her legs higher around his waist, taking him deeper. “Yes. Gage. Oh yes.”

“Mine,” he growled. “Mine.”

“Yes.” Marissa eyes glowed, showing the rare glimpse of her wolf. “Yes, Gage, take me.”

Gage plunged into her over and over. “More. I want more.”

“Yes,” she cried out. “Anything!”

“Tell me you’re mine. Mine.”

“Yes. I’m yours. Take me Gage. Claim me.” The words came out, flowing from her without hesitation.

That was all Gage needed to hear. He pulled out and turned her over. He placed her on all fours and entered her quickly, going all the way until she could feel his balls against her thighs. His cock was buried deep and she was moaning while pushing herself back.