2#Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Shifter Romance (Deliberate Theft) (5 page)

“I
wish you would agree to at least date me. I know I let you down. I can’t tell
you how I wish I could take back the years, do things differently.” He glanced
her way.

Stephany
took in a deep breath. “Things happened the way they happened. It won’t do any
good wishing differently.”

They
entered the long hallway that led to her suite. Lance moved a few steps ahead,
he turned, walking backwards so that he could face her. “One date. One last chance.
Please.” He reached for her, but she stopped so he missed.

“It
won’t change anything.” How could she make him understand?

He
stopped, and then took a step towards her.

“You
can’t deny that there was something between us. You
are
my mate.” His
eyes narrowed at hers. “Your denial won’t change anything. Lores are Lores.”

Just
because they were technically mates, didn’t change anything. For years he had
chosen to ignore that fact. She didn’t want Lance. Would never want him. Stephany
felt her heart rate pick up. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “It was sex…nothing
more, nothing less. I bit you and it happened to be a new moon.” She took a
step towards him. “Our mating was an accident. The sooner you get that through
your thick headed skull the better. I’m done with this whole back and forth.
You’re interest was flattering at first, but it’s become a huge irritation.”
Stephany lifted her finger, poking him in the chest. “Leave. Me. Alone.”
Poke.
Poke. Poke.

“Not
happening, Steph.” He grit his teeth. “You are mine and I will make you see
that, whether you like it or not. You. Are. Mine.” He growled.

Stephany
growled back, watching his brows furrow in confusion. Before he could say
anything about her strange behavior, she put her hands on her hips. “I’m done
with this, Lance. We may be mates according to the Lores, but there is no you
and me. There never was, never will be.”

“There
was a ‘you and me’. Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you looked at me at
gatherings.” He paused, “We didn’t see each other very often over the years,
but you wanted me. Something has changed. Damned if I can put my finger on it
though.”

“I
guess you must’ve rutted with one female too many. You even bedded females from
my coven. Do you think I enjoyed overhearing all about your conquests? How you
made Lucinda’s toes curl with your tongue skills and how your dick is so big
that Penelope swears she could feel you all the way in her throat when you
rutted her. Do you think I enjoyed hearing all about it? Although, I’ve never
felt that way about you.” Frustration welled in her. “We have never had real
feelings for one another, yet hearing those things still made me feel like the
village idiot. We may be mated, but I don’t want to be with you.”

He
at least had the good grace to look sheepish. “I’ve apologized and will keep
apologizing. I’ll go down on my knees if I have to. You know I haven’t rutted
anyone since you were taken. I refuse to take another female as long as I live.
I don’t care if my hand gets cramps or my balls explode. I don’t care if it
takes years. I will make it up to you even if it kills me.”

“Do
yourself a favor, Lance. Find a nice female, settle down. Forget about me. I am
sure that there is someone out there who will accept that you cannot take her
as a mate.”

His
face took on a pained look. “I want you…only you. You are my mate.”

“Trust
me, you don’t want me.”

His
eyes filled with tenderness. “I do…more than you know.”

“No!”
She said a little too harshly. “I’m broken, Lance.” Or at least she would be.
When this baby was removed, what was left of her heart would go with it.
Stephany pushed past Lance and thankfully he didn’t try and follow.

Stephany
dialed Ward again the moment her door closed behind her. She was weak.
Desperate. It went to voicemail.

It
was for the best. Her selfish need to have him with her would only cause him
unnecessary pain. She wished that she could be strong and leave him out of it,
instead she dialed again even though she knew it would go straight to voicemail
this time as well.

Tanya
entered her suite. The human smiled softly. She wore her hair in a ponytail at
the back of her head. Loose strands framed her face.

“Stop,”
Stephany said.

Tanya’s
brow creased. “Stop what?” She smoothed a hand over the long figure hugging
dress she wore. It accentuated the human’s voluptuous mammary glands and her
wide hips.

“Stop
treating me like I’m dying or something.” Stephany felt her eyes roll, trying
hard not to be too hard on the other female. Trying hard to fight the jealousy
clawing at her. Tanya was her friend, she was trying to help.

Tanya
cocked her head, looking like a school mistress. “I care. You’re going through
a tough time. I want to help you through it. That’s all.” Tanya’s eyes softened
up again. “Please let me.”

“Treat
me normally…please. It’s bad enough without you looking at me like that.”
Something inside Stephany eased.

“Fine,”
Tanya huffed. “News is in that you let Lance walk you to your room earlier.”

“You’re
going to talk to me about Lance at a time like this?”

Tanya
narrowed her eyes. “You asked me to treat you normally, so I’m treating you
normally. Out with it, sister.” Her friend put her hands on her hips and cocked
her chin.

“I
let him walk me—”

“Does
that mean that you’re going to give him a chance?” Tanya interrupted, her hands
still firmly on her hips.

“Absolutely
not.” Stephany shook her head for good measure. “He asked me in front of the
recruits and I didn’t have the heart to turn him down in front of his
subordinates.” Stephany let out a sigh. “Either this coven is too small or
gossip travels altogether too fast. I’m not sure which it is.”

Tanya
smiled. “Probably a bit of both. How are you holding up?”

Stephany
sank down into the nearest chair. “I’ve felt better. I would rather not talk
about it though. Tell me about your day.”

Tanya
shook her head. “I heard that Isla came to see you today. Brant mentioned that
she had to determine whether or not the…procedure was necessary. I heard it
wasn’t good news.”

“No.”
Stephany bit on her bottom lip for a few beats. “Not only has my pelvis been
deemed too small, but”—she swallowed hard, her eyes burning with unshed tears—“there
is no hope. I don’t want to talk about it.” Isla had measured her stomach and
had declared that the baby would be huge based on the circumference of her
belly this early on. The old female had
tsked
and shook her head as she
went about her work. Although Stephany knew what the outcome would be, there
was a small part of her that had still hoped and prayed that they had been
wrong before. 

“Oh,
hun…” Tanya pulled her in for a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

“What’s
happening with you?” Stephany was desperate for anything that would take her
mind off of tomorrow.

Tanya
smiled. “I still haven’t let the boys rut with me, so they’re not in great
moods.”

“Too
much information.”

Her
friend clapped her hands with excitement. “On the flip side, I interviewed
someone who would be perfect to manage the Book Corner for me. She’s in her
early thirties, single, so she lives for work and is really sweet. Did I
mention well organized?”

Stephany
forced herself to smile.

“She’s
totally overqualified since she owned her own store for that last five years.
Not sure why she would leave a thriving business, but who am I to ask?” Tanya
raised her eyebrows. “Anyway, she starts tomorrow so I can finally relax.”

Tanya
had used her inheritance money to purchase a little book store. Ever since the
shop had been refurbished, it had gone on to do really well. Brant and Zane
didn’t want their pregnant mate to keep working though, so they’d finally all
agreed that Tanya could hire someone to take care of the day to day stuff. It
had taken a month to find a suitable manager. “That’s great news. I’m so happy
for you.”

“I
can concentrate on growing a healthy heir…” She let the words die, she bit her
lip and took in a sharp breath. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t
be silly, I don’t mind.” She lied, refusing to put a damper on Tanya’s
pregnancy.

“No,
I promise to be more careful.”

“There
you go again.” Stephany huffed. “Stop! You can talk about the pregnancy. It’s
important to you.”

Tanya
smiled and nodded, her eyes filled with pity.

 “Can
you do me a favor though?” If she had any shot of getting Tanya to agree, it
was right now.

“Sure.
Anything.” Tanya reached out and touched her arm.

“Go
and rut with your mates. Do it now.”

Her
brow creased. “Why?” Her frown grew. “What is this about?”

“I’ve
been trying to get ahold of Ward.”

Tanya
clasped a hand over her mouth.

“Look,
I doubt I’ll succeed but on the off chance that I do…” Stephany made sure that
she locked eyes with Tanya before she continued, “I need him here.” She felt
her lip tremble and so she bit down on it.

Tanya
rubbed her arm. “Oh, honey…they already said that he could come.”

Stephany
took ahold of Tanya’s hand. “They’re not to ask anything of him. No terms and
conditions, no compensations, no fealty. If I…by some miracle…manage to get the
message to him, he will come for me…for the termination and nothing else…Am I
clear?”

Tanya
nodded. “Yes, of course. They already said that.”

“Once
it’s over, he must be allowed to walk away.” She squeezed Tanya’s hand. “I need
their promise.”

“Yes,
of course. You have my word. I will go and tell them now.” Tanya smiled.

“First,
you must rut them. Remember what I said…”

Tanya
laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I will give them a ride they won’t easily forget”—she
winked—“and then I’ll ask. Wait a minute, make that”—she cocked her head—“then
I’ll inform them.”

“Thank
you.” A nervous tension inside her eased a tiny fraction.

“If
you need anything, and I mean anything, you let me know.” Tanya held her gaze
for a few seconds until Stephany nodded. “Good,” Tanya said.

“I
will let the kings know if Ward is coming. I will make sure I have their
permission.”

Her
friend gave Stephany a hug before turning. The human fished a cell phone out of
her pocket as she walked to the door.

“Brant,
honey…I’m ready to take care of your blue balls now…”

There
was a low growl on the other end.

“Oh
yeah… dripping wet…” She turned and winked at Stephany as she opened the door.
“Please let Zane know.”

Another
growl on the other end.

“Honey
bun…you know my latest favorite saying…two cocks are better than one.” A pause,
“What if I told you that you get to go first?” Tanya shut the door. “Or, I
could suck you off while Zane ruts me?”

Sometimes
Stephany hated her enhanced hearing.

“I
know you like my little fangs on your dick.” Tanya giggled.

Oh
by the Gods, Stephany wished she could pull out her eardrums. Tanya’s voice
faded as she walked away. “One minute, you’ll be here as quick as that? I’ll be
waiting…yes naked…” Far enough away now that she could only just make out what
the human was saying, “…I’m going to start fingering myself as soon as I’m on the
bed, so make sure you don’t miss the party. You know how I cum really easily
and…” Stephany let out a pent up sigh. Thank blood her friend was finally far
enough away that she couldn’t hear any more of that awful conversation.

Her
phone rang.

She
recognized the number instantly. It had her heart racing so hard that she could
hear the rush of her blood in her ears.

It
rang again several times before she finally plucked up enough courage to answer
it. “Hello.” She had to force herself to speak up.

“It’s
you.” A female voice. Since there was only one female that she had spoken to
while with the wolves, Stephany’s blood ran cold.

“Luna.”
Why was the female wolf using Ward’s phone?

“What
do you want?” The female spat.

“I
need to speak with Ward. It’s”—she chewed on her lip for a beat—“it’s…” She was
going to say an emergency. How could she though? Ward had clearly moved on and
rightly so. She had known he would. The selfish part of her hoped that it was
out of obligation and not because he wanted to. The truly selfish part of her had
hoped that he wouldn’t be able to. It hurt.

Closing
her eyes, she cleared her throat before continuing. “It’s nothing.” She finally
managed to squeeze out. “Forget I called.”

“Leave
us alone.” Luna growled and then the phone went dead.

Stephany
must not have realized how hard she was holding the device, because next thing she
knew it was crumpled in her hand. The circuit boards cracked, the screen broken,
rendering it useless. Better that way. She had been tempted to call Luna right back,
to beg the female to get Ward to contact her, which would just complicate
things further. It wasn’t fair that she’d called Ward in the first place. The
jealous hurt that she felt was even more unfair. A part of her felt anger
towards the alpha. Yet he was only doing his duty towards his pack. She was
still convinced that he had felt just as strongly for her. She knew it deep
down inside. Stephany would force herself to remember how it had been between
them. How right, how beautiful. She wouldn’t allow this moment to erase that.

There
was a familiar vibration, a thudding noise. As planned, Tanya was rutting her
kings. Granting her a favor that Stephany would never need.