The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) (12 page)

A sudden movement in the bushes made me jump. Two female shifters, in human form, stepped forward. Neither spoke. Instead, one placed a pile of clothes at my side. The other did likewise for Craven. He waited until they'd gone before shifting back to human form.

“We have to get to the city,” he said “You'll have to shift.

*********

C
raven lived mid-town. I'd expected a penthouse befitting an Alpha, but his apartment was modest in size and décor. But then I had to remind myself that his territory and pack strength was a mere fraction of mine. 'Mine'? It hit me like a hammer. I no longer had a territory or a pack. I was isolated—a lone wolf.

“You're not alone,” Craven said.

“You're reading my mind.” I'd only ever known shifters communicate telepathically when they were in wolf form.

“You belong to my pack now. You will be my mate.”

It wasn't a question. It wasn't an invitation. It was a statement of fact. He pulled me closer, and our bodies touched. I could feel the power of the man and of his inner-wolf. It should have been the worst night of my life: my father was dead, and I'd never been more scared than I had in Jesters. And yet, there in Craven's arms, I felt safer and more content than I'd ever felt before. I belonged with him—there wasn't a single doubt in my mind. We were fated to be together.

“I'll show you your room,” Craven said.

“My room? I thought you said I was your mate.”

“You are, but after the night you've had, I thought—”

I put my arms around his neck, and kissed him gently on the lips. “I want to stay with you. Take me to your bed. I need you to make love to me.”

*********

W
hen I woke the next morning, I was alone in the bed. I threw on pants and a tee-shirt, and went in search of Craven. I thought maybe he was making breakfast. The apartment was deserted. It was only when I went into the kitchen that I spotted a note taped to the fridge door:

Louise,

Couldn't bring myself to wake you – you looked so peaceful (and beautiful).

I have to nip into the office – I'll be back within an hour or two.

See you soon

Love Craven
.

'
Love Craven
' – two simple words, but they meant so much.

The sound of the main door opening snapped me back to the moment. I hurried out of the kitchen to greet Craven, but the hallway was empty.

“Craven?” I walked over to the door which was still open. “Stop messing around.”

The corridor was deserted. What the hell? Where was he?

A hand covered my mouth. Someone was standing behind me. I tried to pull the hand away, but it was too strong. I kicked back with my leg, but the impact had no effect. My vision began to blur. All the strength seemed to drain from my body. Everything went black.

––––––––

––––––––

W
e'd finished dinner and were drinking wine in the lounge.

“Can you remember anything at all about the day you disappeared?” Craven said.

“Nothing.”

“What about all of the years you were missing?”

“No. At least I don't think so.”

“What do you mean?”

“It's not really a memory, but I do have a recurring dream.”

He sipped his wine as he waited for me to continue.

“The dream doesn't make any sense. I'm in a dark passageway. It's a cave I think, although I'm not sure. As I walk deeper into the cave, I become aware there's someone in there with me. I can hear their footsteps, and then I see their eyes.”

“Then what?”

“Someone calls out 'Louise'.”

“They call you by name?”

“Yes, but I didn't know it was my name when I was having the dreams.”

“Is that all?”

“The person who called my name.” I hesitated. “It was you.”

“Maybe there's a clue in the dream.”

“I don't know. Maybe, but I don't want to think about those damn nightmares any more.  Will you tell me about our time together,” I said.

“We hadn't been together long before you disappeared. Less than a day in fact.”

Craven told me about the vampire attack on Jesters on the night my father was murdered. He told me how I'd fled my territory, and made my way to him. And then he told me how, that same night, he'd taken me as his mate.

“I wish I could remember my father. I wish I could remember anything. ”

“Have patience. I'm sure it'll all come back to you in time.”

“Where have I been for the last forty years?”

“I wish I knew. If we can find the answer to that, I think we'll have the answer to all of your other questions too.”

“Why did you continue to search for so long? You must have realised I could be dead.”

“If you'd been dead, I would have known. You're my fated mate. We have a connection that only death can break. I could sense that connection was still alive, so I knew you were too.”

He leaned over and kissed me gently on the lips.

“Do that again,” I said. “Like you mean it this time.”

He didn't hesitate. His lips pressed hard against mine. Moments later, our tongues played out a blissful duel. His hand teased its way slowly (too slowly) down my back until it cupped my butt. I pressed myself against him, and felt the length and girth of his cock. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. I wanted him inside me more than I'd wanted any man. I slipped a hand down between us, and began to rub his erection. He flinched initially, but then pulled me closer still. Grinding my hips against him, I managed to say, “Let's go to bed.”

“I want you right here, right now.” He said, as he pushed me back onto the sofa.

“No panties?” He feigned shock.

I smiled. All part of the plan.

He dropped onto his knees in front of the sofa, spread my legs, and then kissed me along the inside of my thigh. Delicious as it felt, I still wanted him inside me.

“Fuck me, Craven.”

“First, I have to taste you.”

“Oh god!!” Was all I could manage as his tongue traced a path slowly down my slit.

“You're so wet.”

“Fuck me! I want you inside me!”

“Not yet. I want you to come for me first.”

I tried to object, but the words died on my lips when his tongue found my clit, and began to tease it from side to side. I wrapped my fingers through his hair, and pulled him even closer.

“Come for me Louise,” he breathed.

He slid two fingers into my wetness, and began to finger fuck me. I was gyrating my hips—riding his fingers—wishing all of the time that it was his cock.

“I want you inside me!” I yelled, but it was too late, as my orgasm engulfed me.

“I've waited so long for that,” he said, as he slid his fingers out of my pussy. After sucking one finger, he offered the other to me. I tasted my juices, and then grabbed at his trousers. It was my turn to pleasure him now, and nothing was going to stop me. My hands were trembling as I released the button, and pulled down the zip. His cock was almost bursting from his shorts, as I slid my hand inside. He was huge, and so very hard.

His trousers and shorts fell to the floor, and he kicked them aside.

“I want to feel your lips on my cock,” he said, as he placed a hand on the back of my head by way of encouragement. I didn't need any encouragement. I flicked the head with the tip of my tongue—tasting his pre-cum. I placed one hand on the base of his cock—my other hand cupped his balls which squirmed to my touch.

He glanced down just as I took him between my lips. I heard, and felt, him groan with pleasure as I began to suck the full length of his cock in and out of my mouth.

“I want you to come in my mouth,” I said, as I allowed his cock to slip from my lips for just a second. I wanted to feel his warm cum fill my mouth and throat.

But he had different ideas.

Without a word of warning, he pulled me to my feet, lifted me in his arms, and carried me through to the bedroom. After lowering me gently onto the edge of the bed, he lifted my legs, so my feet were resting on his shoulders.

“Tell me what you want.” He was already well aware of the answer.

“I want you to fuck me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Fuck me or I'll...”

He thrust his cock deep into my wetness. For a moment, I struggled to catch my breath. He grabbed my buttocks and pulled me to the very edge of the bed, and then fucked me with every ounce of his strength.

Forty years worth of pent-up emotion was released at last. Our eyes locked as he reached his climax. As he did, I wrapped my legs around his back—pulling him even deeper into me.

We lay in silence—side-by-side on the bed.

“Don't let's wait another forty years to do that again,” I whispered.

“Don't worry. You won't have to wait another forty minutes.” 

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W
hen I woke the next morning, I was alone in the bed.

“Craven?”

There was no reply, and I couldn't hear any movement in the house.

“Craven?” I threw on the blouse and skirt I'd worn the night before, and walked bare-footed across the cool wooden floor. It took only a few minutes to establish he wasn't in the house. Maybe he'd shifted and gone for a run, but why hadn't he woken me?

I glanced through the window, and saw him about to get into the car.

“Hold it!” I positioned myself directly in front of the car. “Where are you going?”

“Morning beautiful.” He wound down the window.

“Where are you going?”

“Into the city. I need to check the lay of the land. My instincts tell me this might be the territory for us, but I need a closer look-see.”

“So you thought you'd go off by yourself and leave me here on my lonesome?”

“I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful.”

“Don't give me that pile of bullshit. You deliberately crept out of bed, so I wouldn't know you'd gone.”

“It may be dangerous—”

“I'm coming with you.”

“I want you to stay here.”

“I'm coming.”

For a moment, I thought he was going to stand his ground, but then he smiled.

“Okay. But you'd better get changed. I'm not sure you're going to create the right impression dressed like that.”

I'd thrown on my clothes so quickly I hadn't buttoned my blouse. Craven grinned as his gaze fixed on my breasts.

I pulled the open blouse together. “I need a shower. You can make me coffee.”

“Yes madam.” I could hear him chuckling, as I made my way back to the house. I turned around and gave him the finger. That only made him laugh more.

As the warm water ran over my face, my mind drifted back to the previous night. It had been perfect—much too perfect for it to have been our first time. There was a familiarity about his touch, his body, and our lovemaking. It pained me that I couldn't recall the first time we'd made love.

“Your coffee's going cold.” He pointed to the mug on the table. “I thought you'd got lost in there.”

“I haven't been that long. Do I look okay?”

“You look gorgeous, although I preferred it when you had your breasts out.”

He ducked just in time to dodge the cushion I launched at him.

“So, what's the game plan?” I sipped the coffee. It was tepid.

“Cold? Serves you right for taking an age in the shower.”

“It's perfectly hot, thank you for asking.” I drank down the rest even though I hated cold coffee. “What's the plan?”

“We'll take a ride into the city and hit them hard and fast.”

“Hard?”

“Yes.”

“And fast?”

“Yes.”

“So, hard and fast?”

He laughed. “It's the best way—trust me.”

“I do, it's just—”

“What?”

“When you say 'hit them hard and fast'—what exactly do you mean?”

“We need to get to the Alpha. He's the only one who can grant us permission to join the pack.”

“Can't we just ask to see him?”

Craven laughed. “Like, make an appointment?”

“Why not?” I shrugged. It sounded a reasonable idea.

“If we walk into his territory with our tails between our legs, and ask if we can see the Alpha
please
—even
pretty please
—we'll be torn apart. We have to show strength right from the get-go.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Look pretty.”

I scowled.

“Sorry—I was joking. You can watch my back. We should be safe in daylight, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.”

“What about Milton and Lassiter.”

“We can only worry about one thing at a time. We need to find out if this is the territory for us. If it isn't, then the sooner we know, and move on, the better.”

“Okay.” I tried, but failed to sound confident. Let's do it!”

*********

W
hen we set off, I was nervous as hell, and hoped it didn't show. It helped to have Craven by my side—he radiated a confidence and inner-strength. He'd been Alpha of his own pack, and had survived as a lone-wolf for forty years. That was no mean feat.

But it was one thing to survive while travelling
through
a territory—it was quite another to be accepted into a pack. The residents weren't about to welcome us with open arms.

“Is this a good idea?” I said. “Might we be better living like you have for the last forty years?”

“It would never work. Living without the security of a pack is a hard, thankless existence.”

“You did it.”

“I had no choice. I had to find you. But it's no kind of life. We need somewhere to call home—somewhere safe to raise a family.”

I was open-mouthed—lost for words. Raise a family? I'd never even contemplated that.

“What's wrong?” He'd glanced over to see my nonplussed expression.

“Nothing. I just never—nothing.”

“A wolf by himself might survive without a pack—although not forever. If I hadn't found you when I did, I'm not sure how much longer I could have survived. A mated pair and their family need the security of the pack around them. Plus, Milton will be much less likely to try anything if he knows we have the protection of a pack.”

I laughed.