2#Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Shifter Romance (Deliberate Theft) (8 page)

Brant
narrowed his eyes. “Get yourself together. I’ve never seen you like this and
quite frankly it’s unnerving. You’ll get over the wolf.” It was a command more
than a statement.

“You
might be able to tell me what I can and can’t do, but you can’t tell me what I
can and can’t feel or how to act. I’m disappointed in you, Brant. I have always
seen you as fair and just.” She paused, watching his eyes turn a new moon shade
of black. “I was wrong. You’re just as big of a bully as Zane is.”

“Don’t
you dare talk to your king that way!”

“Someone
has to tell you. I’m sure your female will agree.” Stephany knew it was a low
blow, but she didn’t care. She was beginning to think that Ward wasn’t completely
wrong in his assessment of the kings.

“Yeah,”
he sighed. “I’m in for a ton of grovelling. Good thing Zane still has those
diamonds he procured before we mated Tanya.” He seemed to snap out of his
reverie. “I’m going to go now before you say something I can’t un-hear. I like
you, Stephany. I respect you. I want to talk further about this, but only once
you are calm. I don’t like this view point you have taken on me or the way you
are looking at me now. I value your opinion. I know it may not seem like it
right now, but I want what is best for you.”

She
nodded, not trusting her own voice. As much as she wanted to hate him, she
couldn’t.

“Try
and get some rest. I want your answer in the morning.”

****

Sleep.

As
if.
Stephany threw the comforter off with a
disgusted groan. There would be no sleep for her tonight. Yet she felt too
exhausted to get out of bed so she lay there, in the dark, eyes wide open.

Her
mind wandered to Ward. In the dungeon. He might be healing rapidly, but with a
wound like that, he would be in a world of pain. Not just physical.

She
would never forget the look he had given her when he found out that she was
mated to Lance. Disbelief followed by sorrow, which quickly turned into
devastation. Not anger or disappointment, but complete devastation like she’d
pulled out his still beating heart and smashed it under her foot.

What
the hell was she going to do?

There
was a timid knock at the door. Stephany felt like burying herself under her
pillow and staying there indefinitely.

“Steph,”
Tanya’s voice sounded through the door.

“Come
in.” After her human friend had stood up for her, how could Stephany deny her? Besides,
she needed a shoulder right now.

Her
friend turned on the light, closing the door behind her. Tanya’s hair was
mussed, she wore a pair of flannel pajamas. Her face was a mask of concern.
“How are you holding up?”

Stephany
laughed. It came out sounding a little hysterical. “I’ve been better.”

Tanya
sat down next to her on the bed and grabbed her hand. Stephany squeezed. “Thank
you for trying to help.”

Tanya’s
eyes turned stormy. “Those two are in a world of freaking trouble. I can’t
believe that they had me bodily removed from the room.”

“They
were afraid for your safety. It was for the best.” Stephany hugged herself.

“What
about you? You’re not chopped liver.” Tanya raised her eyebrows.

What
meat had to do with it, Stephany did not know. She remained silent.

“It’s
unbelievable that the alpha—”

“Ward,”
Stephany whispered. “His name is Ward,” she repeated more loudly.

Tanya
smiled sadly. “My bad…Ward is going to be punished while Lance will get away
with a warning. I heard Zane beat his ass though. Is that part at least true?”

“Yeah,
although he did not beat his ass…” Stephany felt her brow crease. “He beat him
on the face and torso.”

Tanya
giggled. “You vampires crack me up.”

This
was a phrase that Stephany had heard before…crack me up meant that it made her
laugh. Stephany did not understand why she worded it that way or why she would
feel any type of joy at a time like this. Humans were strange.

Tanya’s
face turned serious, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth for a few
beats. “I’m very angry with them. Brant told me about the ultimatum as well. I
tried to talk him into letting the wolf…Ward go…to let him be with you when”—she
swallowed hard—“you know, but he refused. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s
not your fault. Thanks for trying.” Stephany paused. “Did Brant happen to
mention what he will demand from Ward as punishment?”

Tanya
nodded. “I have to say that he is letting the…Ward off lightly. He will need to
swear his allegiance to both kings. He will also need to agree to allow a group
of our scouts to return with him so that we know where the wolves are staying,
as Zane and Brant would like to visit.”

She
must’ve made a strange noise or it was possible that Tanya saw something in her
eyes, because she stopped talking. “What is it?” she asked and then frowned.

“Ward
will never agree.”

“Oh,
no,” Tanya covered her mouth. “I’m not sure what Brant will do if he refuses.”

It
was so unfair. So cruel, so calculating. Stephany took a deep breath. “He will
be forced to make an example of him. Ward is in grave danger.”

“No,”
Tanya paused. “Surely he wouldn’t hurt the wolf...”

“Your
kings love you, Tanya. They would do anything for you. I’ve seen the way they
coddle you and give in to your every whim.”

“Not
every.” Tanya pouted.

“Okay...they
mostly give in to your every desire but make no mistake, they are ruthless and
in some cases heartless. I have watched both kill without remorse and on many
occasions.”

Tanya
gasped, her eyes widened and her face turned pale. Stephany could hear how her
heart sped up.

“I’m
sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. They are right to keep you out of it.”

“No.”
The human shook her head, her dark hair flying about her face. “I know that
they are all of those things. Knowing does not make me feel any less for them
though.”

“Good.”
Stephany moved to a sitting position, she folded her legs beneath her. “It was
not my intention to tarnish them in your eyes. I was wrong to have said
anything.”

“You
think that Brant will have him killed?” Tanya asked, immediately chewing on her
lip.

“Or,
they’ll leave him to rot in the dungeon until he concedes. They will not let
him go.” Stephany picked at a piece of lint on the bed.  “He will never agree.
I was not permitted to walk within the shifter camp. I had to be blind folded
when we left. The only card the wolves hold is the ability to disappear. Once
Zane and Brant know the location of their camp, it will become more difficult
for the shifters to hide. We will become all the more powerful against them.”
Stephany shook her head. She wanted to tell Tanya about the ‘secrets’ Ward had
alluded to, but she decided to keep that to herself.

“What
are you going to do?”

“I
will do whatever Brant wants, just as long as Ward is not…” She clutched a hand
to her mouth. A hot tear rolled down her cheek. “He can’t die,” her voice
sounded muffled behind her hand.

Tanya
looked at her with concern. “I heard that Ward will make it. He won’t die.”

“Not
from that particular wound he won’t.”

“I
won’t let them execute him.” Tanya’s eyes turned stormy.

Stephany
knew that Tanya meant well, but her friend had no say in the matter. Not unless
Brant and Zane disagreed and Stephany had a feeling that they would see eye to
eye on this one.

“I
just wish that I could get a message to him. He needs to do as they say. Buy me
some time to help him escape…” Oh damn, she shouldn’t have said that to the
kings’ mate.

Tanya
nodded, her eyes wide, a solemn expression on her face. Maybe she really was on
Stephany’s side. It still wasn’t right to put her in the middle like this. “He
probably wouldn’t listen to me anyway, not after I deceived him.”

“Deceived
him?” her brow creased.

“He
didn’t know about Lance.” Tanya’s mouth made an ‘o’ and her eyes widened. “I
had planned on telling him,” she quickly added.

“It’s
not like you and Lance are really an item or anything.”

“We
are mates. Ward doesn’t know the dynamics.”

“I
guess not…” She looked thoughtful for a few seconds.

“He
wanted to take me back with him. We planned on asking Brant and Zane.” Her lip
quivered so she bit down on it. “Ward said that I didn’t have to terminate and
he wanted to prove it to me. Begged me to trust him. He said if I went with him
and still decided to end the pregnancy that he would bring me back.”

“You
believed him?”

Stephany
felt the tears roll down her cheeks. “I did. I think that he really believed he
had the answer, but how could he possibly? I would be an idiot to allow myself
to feel that kind of hope.” Problem was, she had been an idiot.

“What
if he does have the answer?” Tanya looked thoughtful. “Are you in love with the
alpha?” Tanya looked her straight in the eyes.

“Look,
whatever crazy plan you’re hatching, stop now.”

“Answer
me,” Tanya pressed.

“It
doesn’t matter. Ward won’t speak to me again. Anything we might’ve had is over.
I am a mated female, whether I like it or not. It doesn’t matter that I hate my
mate.” She wiped away the tears and sniffled hard.

“It
matters a lot.” When Stephany didn’t answer, Tanya pouted her lips for a few
beats. “Fine!” she huffed. “I’ll answer for you. You have major feelings for
Ward. You want this child.”

“I
can’t give birth. I can’t. It doesn’t matter what Ward shows me…it won’t change
a thing. Unless they have a magic wand to make my pelvis bigger…” Stephany
shook her head.

“You
have to try, Steph. I don’t want you living with regret.”

“What
are you planning?” Stephany felt her heart rate kick up a few notches. “Please
don’t do anything silly. Don’t get yourself into trouble or put yourself in
danger.” She grabbed Tanya’s hand. “Just drop it okay.”

Tanya
narrowed her eyes. “I won’t drop it. You mean too much to me.”

“You
must, and you will, or I’ll call Brant.” Stephany reached for the phone on her
side table.

“Fine,”
Tanya huffed. “I just wish you’d let me help you.” Frustration was edged into
every word, which Stephany ignored for the good of her friend.

“You
have helped me. Stay out of it and keep safe.”

Tanya
threw her arms around Stephany in a hard hug. “I will, Steph. I promise, I
will. I just wish I could say the same for you since this whole thing is eating
you alive.”

Cha
pter
7

 

His
chest was on fire. The closing wound still oozed blood. His breath came in
pants, nausea rolled through him, causing him to dry heave. He felt his wound
rip open again. The intensity of the pain caused another pang of nausea. He
grit his teeth to stave off his body’s reaction, fighting to stay as still as
possible. Sweat rolled off his brow. How could it be so hot and yet so cold and
all at once? His teeth clattered, just as his blood ignited.

An
elderly female that smelled of vampire approached the cot. Her brow was creased
and her lips were a thin white line.

“Drink
this.” She pressed a cup to his lips.

He
hesitated.

She
sighed heavily. “If we wanted you dead, you would be already.”

This
time when he hesitated it was because he was experiencing another grueling pang
of nausea. His stomach clenched and he growled as the edges of his wound pulled
painfully.

“Stubborn
wolf.” She
tsked
. “It will help against the pain and the nausea.
Hopefully you will be able to sleep, which will help you to heal quicker.”

The
female held the cup to his lips again and this time he drank. The liquid tasted
of spinach, there was a peppery undertone. Ward drained the entire cup, gagging
painfully as he finished. Thankfully the liquid stayed down.

Placing
a chair beside the bed, the elderly female sat next to him. A bowl of steaming,
fragrant water sat on her lap. Using careful strokes, she cleaned his chest and
wound. It stung like a bitch, but he knew that she was only trying to help him.
A clean wound healed quicker. Also, allowing the wound to first bleed and then
to clean it helped to remove any lingering silver residue. He was damned lucky
to still be breathing. Ward had never allowed himself to be blindsided like
that before. That cowardly dickhead vampire had waited till his eyes were
turned before stabbing him in the chest. If the bastard had had his way, Ward
would be dead.

He
squeezed his eyes closed, hissing at the well of emotions as he thought of how
Stephany had shielded him with her own body. Defended him.

She’d
also lied to him, not something he was sure he could forgive her for. It made
perfect sense now why she didn’t want to be with him. Why she didn’t want to
save the child. He must’ve made another noise, this time from a pain deeper
than any wound could inflict because the healer
tsked
again. “You
warriors are all such babies.” She paused for a few beats before continuing to
lather his wound with a thick paste. “There, all done.” She paused, “Get some
sleep. I will check on you in the morning.”

If
he was going to escape, this was his chance. Unfortunately, he was so weak that
he could barely lift an arm, let alone stand. With two guards posted outside
his cage, the situation was dire.

There
was no doubt in his mind that the kings would make him jump through hoops
before allowing him to go. If they ever allowed him to leave that was. The
moment passed as his door
clanged
shut, a thick chain and padlock put in
place. Silver infused, no doubt.

His
chest still throbbed, but at least the nausea had subsided. Ward resided
himself to a long ass night. His last thought was that he would never be able
to sleep before he passed out.

“You
will let me in right now.” A female voice roused him.

“Our
orders were not to allow anyone…
anyone
into this cell. That means you
too, my lady.” One of the guards spoke with his head bowed.

“You
will open the door and you will do it now.” She stomped one of her little feet.
From her scent, she was human even though there was a light vampire smell
attached to it. Maybe he was picking up on the males that flanked her.

Ward
flexed his abs, there was still a dull ache in his chest but for the most part
the worst seemed to be over.

“If
you make me wake up Zane, he will have you both lashed for insolence. I am the
queen for blood’s sake.” Her hair flew about her shoulders and her little hands
were on her hips.

“We
may be lashed if we let you in,” one of the males said.

“We
would be disobeying direct orders,” the other added.

“From
the kings themselves,” the first one continued.

“I.
Am. The. Queen.”
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
“You will let me in now!”

Both
males’ shoulders slumped further, their heads so bowed that their chins were
almost on their chests.

“Fine.”
She huffed, fiddling in her pocket. “I’ll call Zane. Sort this out. It’ll mean
fifty freaking lashes for the two of you…no make that one hundred.” She
muttered to herself, and then finally pulled the phone free. “Going to be so
freaking mad…I warned you.”

The
males exchanged a look. “Okay, my lady, but we will come in with you.”

“No,
you can stand outside the door. I need two minutes. He wouldn’t dare harm the
queen.”

“Yes,
my lady.” One of the guards moved to the door and undid the lock.

Ward
could feel that much of his strength had returned. He was nowhere near full
capacity though. The female was still crazy to enter his cage alone. A lessor
male would definitely use it to his advantage. He should damn well use it to
his advantage. It just didn’t feel right to do it. He would find a way to
escape, just not like this.

The
female was smaller up close. She definitely smelled of vampire even though she
was clearly human. So, the human queen was with child. The next heir to the
vampire throne. He should so use her to escape. Ward inwardly sighed…
all the
more reason not to use the female.

“I
said to stay at the door.” The female shouted over her shoulder. The males
instantly obeyed. If not for his dire situation, he would have laughed. That
such a puny female had such menacing, killer vampire males by the balls
astounded him and he wasn’t talking about the two at the door. Then again…his
thoughts turned to Stephany, but the ache inside him was too much so he
concentrated on the human instead.

She
rolled her eyes before looking down at him. “Hi, I’m Tanya. Stephany is my
vampire bestie.”

Her
what?

“I
don’t have much time, so I’ll make it quick. How are you feeling? Do you think
you’ll be okay to stand trial in a few hours?” For some unknown reason, she
glanced at her bare wrist before closing one of her eyes suggestively at him.
Ward had spent enough time with humans to know that the action was called a
wink. The female was telling him a secret.

He
felt his brow knit in confusion.

“I
hope you are healing up.” She winked at him again.

“I
am much better. You shouldn’t be here.” Temptation rode him hard. He wanted to
use the female to escape. “You should go. Now.” He grit his teeth.

“Stephany
is in her room. She is very upset. She’s booked in for surgery tomorrow.”

He
growled softly. “I said to go, human.”

The
vampire males were instantly at her side. His racing heart slowed as the
opportunity passed. There was no way he was going to use the pregnant female to
escape. No way. Even if she was the queen and his best bet right now.

“I’m
fine. Get out!” her hands flew back to her hips. “We’re having a quick chat,
I’m almost done.”

The
males narrowed their eyes at him. “One wrong move and you die. Are we clear?”
The larger of the two males growled. He nodded once.

“You
have one more minute, my queen, and then you will have to call Zane.”

“I
don’t like it.” The other male grumbled as they moved back to block the exit.

The
human locked eyes with Ward. “She trusts you explicitly, which means that I
trust you. They will be terminating the pregnancy and sterilizing her tomorrow.”

He
had to fight back a snarl. It angered him further that he still cared so much.

“You
need to save the baby.” Her eyes burned with determination.

“She
doesn’t want it.” A low rumble.

“You’re
wrong, wolf.”

He
moved to a semi reclined position. The newly formed ugly pink scar pulled but
the healing wound held. The pain was manageable. “She is mated.”

Tanya
shook her head. “It is for her to discuss with you. Use your brain, it’s not as
it seems.”

“She
lied to me.”

“Stop
being such a big baby. You males are all the same.”

Why
did these females insist on saying that? Ward shook his head.

“She
is in her room. Waiting.” Another long wink. It was the last warning he got
before she turned and moved backwards until she was against his chest. She was
careful not to hurt him. His first reaction was to push her away, but he didn’t
want to accidentally hurt her so he clamped down on the urge. The female
grabbed his arm, pulling it across her chest. “Man up, wolf.” It was a weird
thing to say since he wasn’t a man, but he knew that she was giving him
permission to use her to escape. “There are two more at the end of the hall.”

Ward
made to stand. He didn’t have time to feel light headed because the males
turned, both their faces contorted in rage.

“Do
not move,” Ward growled. “Do not even so much as breathe or the female dies.”
He locked his arm around her throat, feeling like a total asshole for his
actions. What choice did he have though?
It was her own fault.

“Do
as he says,” Tanya pleaded. By claw she was a good actress.

“Get
into the cage.” Ward said, motioning with his eyes to the far end of the cell.

“Don’t
harm her,”
the
bigger male begged, hands in the air.

“If
you hurt her, the kings will hunt you down and kill every shifter. Male,
female…even the children. Your species will be massacred.” The male’s hands
fisted at his sides.

“Total
extinction.” The other male added, his eyes filled with hate.

Ward
didn’t doubt it for a second. “I don’t plan on hurting the female, just do as I
say.” Once the males were on the far side of the cell, he exited with the human.
He had her padlock the cage.

“There
are two more down the hall.” She turned to face him. He nodded once. Ward slid
his arm around her neck, pretending to use her as a shield. They secured the
males in the adjacent cage. Quickly and quietly, they made their way to
Stephany’s room. “If I had known you were naked, I would’ve brought you some
clothes.”

“No
need,” Ward whispered. His chest burned, his energy levels were depleting by
the second. “I will shift soon and the clothes would just get in the way.”

The
human made a soft snorting sound. “She wasn’t lying when she said you had a big
dick. Sheesh! I think you might be bigger than my males.”

“Damn
straight!” he growled softly.

“Wait
a sec. I need to say something before we go any further.” The human put a hand
to his arm. It wasn’t exactly the best place for a conversation, but he would
indulge her for a few seconds.

“You
will need to make it quick,” he growled under his breath.

“Please
give Stephany a chance to explain. Once you get out of here. Hear her out,
please.” The human kept her eyes on him until he finally nodded. He wasn’t sure
there was anything Stephany could say to him that would undo everything that
had happened in the last few hours though. It was kind of fitting that the
blade had cut a deep hole into his chest, across his heart. He would have scars
that would run deep.

Tanya
put her finger to her lips as they neared the north wing of the castle.
Stephany’s scent was strong. So was that of the kings. Part of him was tempted
to leave Stephany, but he couldn’t turn his back on his child.
Wouldn’t.

The
human knocked on a door. “It’s me, Steph, let me in.”

Nothing.

“Steph,”
The female whispered. “I know you’re in there.”

The
moment the lock disengaged, he pushed through hearing Stephany gasp as he
entered. Her hands were clasped over her mouth. She wore a pale blue nightgown
that accentuated her eyes, her raspberry lips, her breasts…perfectly. Ward
wished that he could gouge out his own eyes. He shouldn’t still find her
attractive, dammit. Didn’t want to.

The
human followed in behind him closing the door.

****

“Oh
my god.” Stephany started to move towards him, but stopped when she caught the
hard look in his eyes. She dropped her hands at her sides.

The
ugly red slash across his chest looked painful. He had to still be weak from
the blood loss. The sabre may only have been silver plated, but some of that
silver still had to be in his system.

“You
should be resting.” She said, immediately feeling like an idiot for saying
something so stupid. “What did you do?” she turned to face Tanya.

“What
I had to do.” Her friend locked her jaw while tilting her chin.

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