When The Fur Flies (13 page)

“I never said I wanted to move in here with you. You never once asked me to, and why would you think I’d want strangers going through my personal things?” Her temper burned hot as he looked surprised. The oaf didn’t have a clue what he’d done wrong!

“There was no other way to get your things here.”

“I could have packed up and moved here...again, if I’d been asked and accepted your invitation to move in with you.” She crossed her arms over her towel-covered breasts.

“There wasn’t time. Besides, I thought it was a far-gone conclusion that my mate would live with me.” His dry sarcasm only added fire to the flames of her indignation. He just didn’t get it! She wanted to pull her hair out, but he didn’t give her a chance. He placed both hands on her face and kissed her. There was possession and passion swirling in his kiss. It pissed her off, but she felt herself softening, her mouth opening in an invitation to deepen the kiss.

“Stop!” she commanded as soon as she pushed back from him.

“What is wrong with me wanting my mate here with me? So, I didn’t ask you. There was no way I was going to let you go anywhere near that apartment on your own.”

“You wouldn’t let me...?” Her voice rose as she hissed through her teeth.

“You know what I mean...” Reginald heaved a sigh as he wrapped a towel around his waist. “It wasn’t safe for you to get your things. I did what I thought was best. I arranged to have your possessions brought here.”

“I owe my landlord rent for this month.” She chewed at her lower lip, feeling guilty for jilting sweet, little Mrs. Geary.

“I took care of it...and, before you swipe at me with those claws of yours, I paid her for the next six months, holding the apartment in case you want to keep it. Don’t smile like that, Kitten. You are living here with me.” He showed her he was brave as he captured her chin with his hand and dropped a soft kiss on her lips before he turned to leave the bathroom.

Allison blushed as she heard and felt his thoughts. Reginald wanted her with a need that scared the hell out of him. She had to keep herself from sinking into his possession. He was a Wolf, and to make matters worse, he was the Alpha. One sign that she accepted his possession, gloried in his claiming, and she would be lost. Her independence and ability to hold herself apart from him would be lost to her forever. He would be her focus, the reason for her existence. It was a risk Allison couldn’t take. Too many human lives depended on her ability to act alone without fear of losing her life.

Tearing her stinging eyes from his, Allison forced herself to look about the small bathroom. Allison honestly marveled at the craftsmanship of the Wolven. She never imagined the Wolves as anything but primitive animals just barely on the cusp of manhood. Yet, here she’d found a civilization with a strict set of rules, using modern conveniences far below the earth’s surface. Most astonishing was the low instances of crime and if his mother were to be believed, every member of the pack, no matter how far down on the chain of importance was cared for and looked after by the man she’d been tied to.

Reginald Leclair was an honorable, good-hearted man. One who made her wish for things she knew she could never hold on to. The happily-ever-after wasn’t for her. She’d given her life to her cause. Humans deserved so much better than to be unknowing prey for those who held an unfair advantage. As their self-appointed guardian, she wouldn’t stop interfering where injustices were bound to remain.

Not even for a mate who made her wish when wishing was impossible.

Chapter Ten

“So, I’m just supposed to take you to Elaina? You want me to jeopardize her safety, her very life’s blood, in exchange for my life?” Allison glared defiantly at her cousin who was sitting on the leather couch next to Yasmina. Alexa sat forward, placing her teacup on the table with a calm control.

“Allison, you need to think about this. Elaina’s safety is in question every second of the day and night. Do you really think Wilhelm Chambers is going to give her up that easily? I’d bet my best set of crystals that he already has his minions looking for her everywhere. How long do you think it will take for him to find her?” Alexa demanded calmly.

“He won’t find her. She’s safe.” Allison crossed her arms over her chest, the jut of her chin telling her cousin that she was wasting her time and breath.

“He may not find her, but he knows where you are.” Reginald stood against the wall. His dark blue gaze directed at her with an intensity that made her want to squirm. “You have placed yourself in harm’s way. I can’t allow the situation to continue.”

“You can’t allow it?” She shook her head, unsure how to react when his honest feeling of worry hit her. He wanted only to keep her safe. Would lock her in the bedroom, tie her down if he had to, in order to keep the Vampires far away from her, but even he knew it was in vain. If the ancient Elder wanted her blood, he would have it at the expense of every Wolf in the Den. She sighed and focused on a loose thread in her favorite pair of jeans. “I should leave this place before they come for me.”

“I won’t allow it.” His growl was quiet, but forceful. “Alexa needs to speak to Elaina Dunt. She must be able to hear the young woman denounce a commitment to Elder Chambers.”

“Once Elaina tells me she was held against her will, then the Coven and the Wolven will be behind her. If she wishes, she can even come back with me to live her life as she chooses under our protection. You know she will be safe, then. The Elder will have to let her go, Alley Cat.”

“Even so, he’ll never forgive Allison for taking this woman from him. I know if our roles were reversed, I would do anything necessary to find and exact revenge upon anyone involved in the harming of my mate. Chambers won’t be stopped easily. Peace may not be an option, Keeper.” There was a dangerous spark to Reginald’s blue gaze that placed a lump in Allison’s throat. This man would go to war to protect her. Was he crazy? His gaze swung toward her in that moment, and she wondered if he could hear her thoughts as well as he gave her a smile that warmed her clear to her toes.

“You will not put yourself and this pack in danger.” Allison’s nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fingers into tight fists. She could hear his angry thoughts, knew he took quick offense to her giving him orders. He was Alpha! Well, that would not stand with her. “I’m the Alphina. Don’t try to pull rank with me, Wolf Boy!”

“Stop reading my mind, mate!” He stepped away from the wall with a menacing shake of his strong shoulders. She was out of her chair with a speed that spoke of the Wolven, not of a Witch.

“Stop making decisions for me! I’m not a child!”

“Hold!” Alexa stood as the two faced each other with an antagonism born of their emotional bond and a fear of losing each other. “Allison, you have a mate and a pack to consider now. You are no longer alone. Every decision you make from now on affects every member of your pack right on down to the newest baby.” Allison turned to study her cousin. There was something in Alexa’s eyes that hinted at a secret, but damned if she could reason out her mysterious cousin.

“You’re right.” Allison heaved a big sigh as she bit her lower lip. “I can’t put Elaina in danger, Alexa. Please don’t ask it of me. She’s been through enough already.”

“I know why Wilhelm wants her. She’s been tortured from birth when her mother died giving life to her. I know her father held on to her only as a bargaining tool with Wilhelm for riches. He misused the child and gave her up as soon as she came of age.” Alexa’s hand went to her stomach as she looked down at her bare feet. “I don’t wish to add to her hurt, either. You know I wouldn’t even suggest it, if it weren’t absolutely necessary. Even we can’t keep fate from playing out before us as the Goddess wishes.”

Allison tilted her head, her eyes narrowing at her cousin. “Words that came from my own lips.” She frowned as she looked from Alexa’s serious stare to her mate’s angry blue eyes. He was going to fight her on this. Already he was getting suspicious of her silence. “We must go alone.”

“No!” Reginald’s tone allowed little room for argument, his authority absolute. She shook her head at him sadly. Poor Reginald. He was the Alpha Wolven, used to getting his way in all things. This was going to be quite the shock to him. He might not forgive her.

“I’m no ordinary mate, Alpha. I’m a Solitary Witch. I choose to follow my fate alone.”

“You are no longer just a Witch. You are my mate, and you are no longer alone.” He towered over her, his blue eyes deepening in color as he attempted to enforce his will over her. She felt the wildness inside him wakening at her rebellion. She placed one hand on his chest gently.

“I will not put you in danger, my mate.” Her eyes met his as she silently begged him to understand her. “Only women can go where I lead. You must let me go, if you wish me to be safe.”

“What are you talking about?” The flesh beneath her hand rippled with his disapproving growl.

“Oh, Allison.” Alexa covered her mouth. Allison nodded her head in silent answer as the Keeper seemed to realize the only place women were allowed and men were forsaken. “Have you lost all sense? They can’t be trusted.” Her cousin’s exasperated hiss was almost overridden by the Alpha’s menacing growls.

“Stop doing that! I didn’t have a choice. They will keep her safe.” Allison spoke without taking her gaze from Reginald’s narrowing eyes. An angry mate was a dangerous thing, but an enraged Alpha, well, that was something she didn’t want to experience too often.

“They, who?” Reginald was quickly losing his patience. He obviously didn’t appreciate her trying to assert her strong will against him. His thoughts were menacing.
His mate was standing against him, and the way Alexa’s face lost all color could only mean she was putting herself in danger to speak with Elaina Dunt. What had his little Alphina done?

“I’m not just your little Alphina, Wolf. I’m a Witch. I do what I must to protect those that need my protection.”

“Who did you go to?” He demanded with dominance and authority ringing in both his thoughts and his deep voice. Allison shivered and almost looked away.

“The Sisters of Fate.” All eyes turned toward the couch where his mother sat. Her head shook as she frowned up at her new daughter. “The Sisters are older than most, and neutral, Allison. They hold allegiance to only the Goddess herself. If they feel this young woman is supposed to be with the Vampire Elder, then they will release her to him.”

“You made a bargain with them.” Alexa gasped. Reginald’s hand gripped her arms to haul her up closer to his intense face. Anger was barely controlled there, and his teeth ground together as he held back the rage of his Wolf.

“What did you give them?” he demanded gruffly.

“What was already theirs to possess. My fate will come to pass without my free choice.” She felt too regret as his expression softened in concern for her safety. “You will not bemoan your choice in mate for long, Alpha.”

“What the hell does that mean?” He shook her so hard her teeth snapped together.

“Reginald!” Yasmina was off the couch quickly. She placed a restraining hand on her son’s shoulder to still his rage.

“The less you know—”

“Allison Carver! He deserves to know the truth,” Alexa cut in. Reginald’s angry, dark gaze turned to her as she sighed. “When I was being tested—”

“
Tortured
, cousin. If you are forcing me to be honest, so too must you.” Allison hissed at her. The pain quickly flaring in the Keeper’s green gaze vanished as she raised a dark eyebrow at her cousin. Allison felt guilt stab into her as Alexa efficiently hid her memories. Alexa’s testing was a taboo subject, one sure to bring the painful past to light. Hurting her beloved cousin was not her intention. Allison opened her mouth to apologize, but Alexa stopped her with a raised palm.

“I know. What Allison doesn’t want me to tell you is I catch glimpses of the future. What is possible for the future. None are written in stone, as she is so inclined to believe. I have had several premonitions.”

“Ones that have come to pass exactly as the Goddess showed you,” Allison pointed out.

“Allison, if I have to gag you, I will,” Alexa threatened with a look.

“As if you could.” Allison smiled because it was their age-old fight.

“You never learn, cousin.”

“What kind of premonition of the future did you see?” Reginald was very close to losing his patience with their girlish bickering.

Alexa sighed as she looked up at Reginald with compassion. “I saw...your mate’s death.”

Silence filled with tension and unasked questions followed. Allison couldn’t stand to hear Reginald’s chaotic thoughts. His disbelief, his fear of the truth. “I will pay for freeing Elaina with my life, with my blood. Otherwise, war will come to our world. After war, the end of all things.” She met his eyes, silently pleading with him to understand and let her go. “I told you I wouldn’t make this mating easy on you.”

“There must be another way—”

“There was. In my vision, another offered to take her place,” Alexa whispered softly. She stopped when Allison’s head snapped toward her. Moss-green eyes widened as Allison’s silence spell actually stopped her beloved cousin from saying more. She had enough trouble dealing with her incensed mate. If he knew everything, he’d never let her out of his sight.

“There is no other way.” Allison hissed. “I’ve made the deal. I will pay for my deeds, and in doing so, I follow my fate and hold to my vow with the Sisters.”

“Fate can be changed. There was an option, Alley. You just won’t allow yourself to take it. What you fail to realize is that other’s actions also affect your fate. Again, you do not walk this world alone,” Alexa argued, finding her ability to speak on her own.

“You are the one who offered to take her place.” Reginald nodded at the Keeper. Allison’s entire body hummed in pleasure as he suddenly pulled her against him. His mind jumbled with needs he couldn’t fight any longer. A wilder being was taking control of the powerful Alpha. Allison was stunned to realize she was hearing the thoughts of an ancient being, his Wolf. The animal’s focus was on protecting her, its’ chosen mate. He could not lose her. It had taken him far too many years of loneliness to find her. It no longer mattered who or what she was. She was his mate. He would not allow her death.