Authors: Susan Bliler
Slapping the shower handle, Eleanor reached out of the stall and snagged the towel hanging on a hook just outside the door. As she dried she could feel Riss’ eyes on her, waiting.
Finally dry, Eleanor reached for the underwear sitting with the pile of clothing Riss brought in. “When I get where I’m going, I’ll send word. You can either join me or stay here.”
Riss fidgeted nervously, then glanced away. Eleanor knew it meant her sister didn’t want to leave the territory. She’d remain with the pack.
Figures!
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know.” She knew better than to give out too much information. Riss would blab to the pack and Eleanor was seeking anonymity. She didn’t want Delano to find her…
EVER!
Chapter 23
“Where.
Is
. She?” Delano snarled, eyeing the circle of wolves, knowing that one of them knew where Eleanor had gone. Damn them and their allegiance to her.
No one made eye contact as he slowly stalked in a circle, eyeing each of their bowed heads. When he got to Riss he stopped. “Riss stay here. The rest of you leave.”
They were happy to oblige and scattered quickly, leaving Riss standing in submission before the Alpha.
Alone, Delano sighed and let his head fall back, pinching the bridge of his nose. He let his Alpha authority recede so that it wasn’t clotting the air. “Where is she, Riss?”
Keeping her head bowed, Riss whispered, “I don’t know.”
Delano’s head dropped and his brows speared down. “Risssss,” he growled in warning.
“She didn’t tell me, Alpha. She didn’t know. She said she’d send word when she got wherever she was going.” Riss lifted her head and burst into tears. “It’s been weeks! Something musta happened, or else…” Her bottom lip quivered as huge tears slipped from her eyes. “She forgot about me!”
Riss burst out sobbing and Delano rolled his eyes with a snarl before pulling her in for a hug. “Easy,” he crooned, attempting to hide his disappointment that she didn’t have more information. He hadn’t even known Eleanor was gone until a week after she’d left. Riss had covered for her and, wanting to respect her privacy, Delano bought the bullshit story that she was still recovering from the effects of the tranq. By the time he broke down her door, her scent was nowhere to be found. He’d searched locally on his own, but after two more weeks and no success, he decided it was time to go Alpha on his pack.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” he soothed, hoping it was true. His wolf had been restless since their mating and he knew it was because Eleanor was theirs. He had tried to hold back for her sake, to give her time to heal and to come to him willingly. He’d been a fucking fool, and Eleanor? She ran. God, how he regretted his actions. He should have stayed when she’d asked him to leave. He should have staked his claim, but Eleanor had a say too, and if she’d run then it was because she clearly wasn’t interested in being his mate. Still, she was his pack and as Alpha he had a right to know where she went.
“She has anxiety attacks,” Riss sobbed.
“Shhh.” He rubbed her back. “I know. She’s…” He wanted to say fine, but he couldn’t know for sure.
“If you would have just wanted her, she woulda stayed.”
Delano’s hand stilled in its rubbing. “What?” He pulled back, holding Riss at arm’s length to frown at her. “What did you say?”
Riss used a finger to swipe under her nose. “She said you didn’t want her here. That’s why she left. It’s your fault, so I don’t see why you’re so mad at the rest of us!”
“What do you mean, she said ‘I didn’t want her’? What did she say, Riss?
Exactly
!”
Sniffing back her tears, Riss calmed her breathing. “She said you didn’t want her here. I told her what happened between the two of you wasn’t a big deal, and that the pack wouldn’t care. She said you didn’t want her here. I asked if you actually said that and she said no, but that you didn’t need to. She knew you wanted her gone.”
Delano released Riss with a hiss as he turned and buried a hand in his hair. “Fuck!”
“May told me Eleanor threatened to come back to hunt her and June. I thought she’d come soon. She said when she healed, but she should be better by now. Something’s wrong.”
For the first time since Eleanor had run, Delano believed something actually might have happened to her. “Summon the pack!” he commanded, then jerked his cell out of his pocket.
He had visited the outlying packs when Eleanor was first hurt by the rogues, but he didn’t have their contact information. However, he knew someone who did. Evander Kane picked up on the second ring.
“Kane.”
“Evander, it’s Delano Bowden. I need your assistance. My mate’s gone missing.”
***
“You still scent of him,” Joley chastised. “You’re sure you weren’t mated?”
Standing before the Alpha of the Lexington, Kentucky pack, Eleanor shook her head. “No. It was just sex. I’ve mated before. He died. I know a true mating. This wasn’t that.” Although, she couldn’t explain to Joley why Delano’s scent still remained imprinted on her. Whether she was carrying his child or not, his scent should have dissipated weeks ago.
Joley’s lips pursed as he regarded her. He was a handsome Alpha, and young. He reminded her of a baseball player, with his boy-next-door good looks. His body was lean with the musculature of an athlete, different from the thickly corded muscle of Delano, who looked like he could have led the ancient Spartans into battle. Crystalline blue eyes regarded her. “I don’t want trouble here. If you belong to another, say so now.”
In a bold move for a newcomer, Eleanor lifted her head so he could read the truth in her eyes. Regardless of what she’d wanted, she didn’t belong to Delano Bowden. “No. I am no wolf’s mate.”
After long minutes of pinching his bottom lip, Joley waved his hand. “Fine. I’ll offer you up, but I make no promises. We may be short on females, but a pregnant she-wolf reeking of another shifter is still going to be a hard sell. And no offense, but regardless of your beauty, you’re older than most of the males here. Hell, you’ve got me beat by six years.”
She’d had no choice but to tell him of her pregnancy. It wasn’t like it was something she could hide for long. Even if they couldn’t yet scent the child, she’d soon begin to show. She nodded in relief. “I understand. I’m only asking for a chance. Thank you, my Alpha.”
“Not yet,” he admonished. “We
do
need females. Let’s see if one of my males can overlook the fact you carry another’s offspring and will claim you.”
She nodded again, hoping someone in his pack would find her worthy. Desperate times called for desperate measures and she was determined to find a new pack even if she had to do so at the cost of her pride. Swallowing hard she found the courage to ask, “When?”
The Alpha’s brow crinkled. “I’ll announce it to the pack today. Give them a day or two to sniff you out, get used to you, see if they could be interested. We’ll hold the challenge in three days.”
She swallowed hard. Why did it suddenly feel like a death sentence?
Three days to live!
“Thank you. I am hopeful one of your males will claim me and I can integrate into your pack.” It was all ceremony. She had to flatter the Alpha and make it sound as if there was no place else she’d rather be than in his pack. Nothing was further from the truth. She wanted to be back home in Hickory. Summer was in full swing, which meant that it was a time of rebirth in her beloved Appalachian Mountains. This was the first time she’d been so far from home and she’d never been west of her mountain range. The longing for her own territory tugged at her heart, but it was nothing compared to the pull of agony that suffused her with memories of Delano Bowden.
Standing there she felt hollow with loss. She was in turmoil. She hated herself for not being strong enough to resist Delano, but if she was being truthful, she had to admit that even without the lust tranq she was inexplicably drawn to him.
No!
She chastised.
The truth!
It wasn’t inexplicable at all. She’d wanted Delano from the moment she’d set eyes on him and she’d done everything in her power to fight against her desire for him.
Even after what they’d shared she’d foolishly allowed her heart to hope. She’d let expectations build despite her own insistent warnings against such stupidity. And it was stupid. Her being here now and about to do what she was about to do was proof of that. Against her better judgment, she’d allowed herself to hope that there could exist something between herself and Delano, but there was not…and there never would be.
She made her way back to the main compound then silently up the stairs to the small room that would be hers until she was claimed. Simply furnished with only a small bed, three drawer dresser, and wooden chair, Eleanor crossed to the bed and sat. Springs creaked under her slight weight and she smoothed a hand over the cream-colored quilt that smelled stale, as if it had spent several months in a linen closet. Tears burned at the back of her eyes as homesickness and heartsickness battled for dominance. If she were younger, she’d have let them come forth, but not now. She was too old for self-pity and she certainly didn’t deserve it. She’d gotten herself into this mess. She should have been smart enough to steer clear of Delano, she should have been fast enough to avoid the lust tranq, and she should have been strong enough to resist her own urges. She hadn’t been enough of anything and it was no wonder that Delano didn’t want her. Who would ever claim such a worthless mate?
Tears slipped free and she brushed at them angrily, her self-loathing skyrocketing. Even now she couldn’t control her own weakness! She curled her hands into tight balls of rage and dropped her head to scowl at them. Seconds later she let the rage, the pity, and the self-loathing seep from her until all that was left was a dull ache. Turmoil wouldn’t do her or her wolf any good.
Chapter 24
Three days later, Eleanor stood in the line of Lexington wolves as they formed a circle in the center of their encampment. It was much like how matters were handled back home in Hickory, except there most pack business was handled at night. Here in the light of day, she felt more vulnerable, more scrutinized.
“Today,” pack Alpha Joley spoke ceremoniously, “we take challenges for the mating of our newest potential pack member, Eleanor Harwood.” He held out a hand and Eleanor stepped tentatively into the circle. She refused to look down. She wasn’t a submissive, yet she still couldn’t bring herself to meet anyone’s eyes as Joley continued. “As you are aware, our females are few. Eleanor is healthy and viable, as is proven by the fact that she is carrying a child at this time. She is willing to continue to contribute to the bloodlines of our pack. The claiming of her means claiming the child she carries as well. It will be raised as your own and she has agreed to sire you your own child as well.”
She felt her cheeks flame. Butterflies flitted in her belly and she couldn’t decide what was more unnerving, the idea that within the hour she’d be fucking one of the males in the circle, or the possibility that no one would step forth and willingly take on the burden of her and her child.
“Several of you have expressed interest, and now is your time to step forth and issue challenge.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Eleanor saw several males take a step forward before she heard a bellowed, “STOP!”
Her head snapped toward the source, but she didn’t need to see him. She’d recognize that voice anywhere. Her eyes landed on Delano as he stalked through the camp heading straight for her. Her world seemed to spin and for a second she thought she was going to pass out.
An enraged Delano stepped into the circle, shoving several males out of his path. “I claim Eleanor Harwood.”
“Who are you?” Joley asked in clear incredulity. Nobody ever just walked into another pack’s territory and issued a challenge. It simply wasn’t done. Joley’s wolves stirred and postured up, prepared to eliminate the outsider.
“I am Delano Bowden. Alpha of the Hickory pack.”
His proclamation had recognition flashing to life on the faces of several of the men in the circle, but one man turned to Joley, aghast. “He can’t claim or challenge, this isn’t his pack!”
Joley held up a hand to silence the man before turning to Delano. “I know who you are.” Joley nodded. “I’ve heard of your Alpha pack.” He turned to eye Eleanor. “She came seeking asylum. We need females, so I offered to take her into my pack with the contingency that she mate one of my males. She said she had no mate.” Joley’s tone turned accusatory as he frowned at Eleanor.
“I apologize for intruding on your domain, Alpha Loring.” Delano’s words spoke of acquiescence, but his posture was all Alpha. Undeniable command exuded from him as he eyed each man in the circle in succession until his eyes stopped on Eleanor and held her captured in his furious gaze. “This woman belongs to
me
!”
Eleanor felt herself pale.
Delano turned to eye the circle of men. Power was no longer simply humming around him, but was pouring out of him in waves, nearly tangible in its strength. Eleanor shivered at his display of primal supremacy. “Know now.” His voice had dropped to a feral timber. “Any man who steps forward will be decimated! I accept no challenges for what is already mine. Any attempt to do so will be treated as a threat against my family.” Clearly, the Alpha wanted all challengers to know that any attempt at laying a claim to what he already deemed his would be fatal.
Eleanor eyed the circle and noted that several of her potential suitors fidgeted, eyeing Delano and clearly sizing him up, while a few simply stepped back into the line of the circle, relinquishing their intent to battle for her. She felt a few pairs of eyes shoot to her and then back to Delano. The men were gauging whether or not she was worth the risk. Tense moments passed and Delano turned to square off against one large suitor who began a low rumble deep in his chest.
Delano took a step back and ripped off his jacket, his eyes never leaving the other man. He was silently daring him to step forward; calling the man out. While the suitor was large, he was no match for Delano. Thickly-corded muscle flexed and bunched, veins standing out as Delano tensed and waited.
The rumble died to a low hum and finally disappeared before the man eyed Eleanor with a look of undisguised lust before he turned and left the circle.
Satisfied, Delano relaxed his stance, but Eleanor could still feel his wolf pacing just under the surface, prepared for battle and ready for any attack.
He turned to the Lexington Alpha. “Eleanor is mine!”
Joley simply nodded. “We want no quarrel with the Hickory pack, but,” his eyes turned disapproving. “It’s a serious matter to offer a female to a pack only to have her stripped away. We need females.”
Delano’s eyes flashed dangerously. “You
can’t
have her!” After several tense moments, his expression relaxed a fraction. “My pack has two females who wish to leave Hickory. They want mates and though they are young, they are ready for mating. With your permission, I’ll send them here. Two for her.”
Joley considered the words before nodding once. “How long are you staying in my domain?” The unspoken question was whether or not Delano intended on making his stay an extended one. If so, there would be the matter of issuing a challenge for the position of Alpha. No domain could have two ruling Alpha’s housed within, and if Delano was going to challenge Joley, it’d need to be taken care of before anything else.
“I’m not.” Delano allowed some of the authority to leave his tone. He respected Joley for permitting him to challenge his pack for Eleanor when he didn’t have to. He could have viewed him as an outsider and permitted an outright full-pack attack. Instead, Joley had permitted Delano to assert his claim for his mate. “I appreciate your acceptance of my claim.” Delano inclined his head in gratitude. “I’d like to stay only long enough to mark my mate and then we’ll be gone.”
Eleanor took an involuntary step back and it drew Delano’s dark gaze. He shook his head once. “Don’t you
move
!”
“We have guest quarters,” Joley stated, drawing Delano’s gaze back to him. “My Mira will take you to them.” He stepped forward and extended his hand, knowing that Delano was an Alpha he wanted as an ally. “Mark your mate then go in peace, and know you are always welcome here.”
Delano nodded, accepting the Alpha’s proffered hand. “Appreciated. You too are welcome to visit my territory, and your females will be delivered once I return home.” Without any further word, Delano turned to pin Eleanor with stormy eyes.
Unable to hide the shiver that coursed through her, Eleanor eyed the circle of wolves. Delano had announced to them all that he would stay long enough to mark her, which meant claim her. They all looked at her. The men stared with envy and glee while the women’s eyes were more sympathetic. In their eyes, she was opposed to a union with Delano, but it wasn’t for the reasons they believed.
“Follow me,” a soft female voice spoke from behind Eleanor.
For a moment she considered running, but knew that Delano had recognized the thought when his Alpha authority came back full force. She could feel it pressing in on her, challenging her to defy her Alpha even before he warned, “Don’t.”
She drew in a shaky breath. Her heart was beating so rapidly it was a wonder the whole pack couldn’t hear it thundering it’s staccato of fear and excitement. Eyeing her Alpha, she knew he expected her to cower and do his bidding. It’s what all the other members of the pack would have done, but she wasn’t just any other member of the pack. She was older, Delano’s own age, and she was currently carrying his child. No, she wouldn’t slump her shoulders and submit. Hoisting her chin, she turned and stalked haughtily after Mira as she was led to her fate.
Behind her, Delano’s lips nearly quirked in admiration, but the adrenaline and fight coursing through him still had him too primed. He’d been mere seconds away from losing her. He needed an outlet, and claiming his mate and having her submit to him promised to be a much more enjoyable option than any battle for her could have been.
Watching her hips sway as she was led to a small cabin near the outskirts of the encampment, he growled as his wolf surged to the fore and leapt at the surface, baying for release. The wolf wanted to do the claiming, but Delano refused to relinquish the pleasure he knew he was about to endure. After more years of solitude then he could remember, his life was about to take a drastic turn. He was claiming a mate, and not just any mate. No, he was claiming his true and rightful mate. The scent of her fury and anticipation heightened with each step closer to the cabin, and before they arrived at their destination, his body was humming with barely contained need.
Mira broke off after pointing out the cabin and Delano smiled when Eleanor’s steps quickened in pace. She wanted to run from him, but knew better. Stomping up the stairs to the cabin, Eleanor didn’t slow her pace as she stormed inside and left the door wide open behind her.
Whether it was because he was so focused on her, or because her body was instinctually preparing itself for what was about to occur Delano didn’t know, but the scent of her grew so strong that he had to stop in the doorway and grip the frame. When the scent of new life hit him, it felt like a ton of bricks smacking him right between the eyes. His vision swam as he inhaled again. It wasn’t just a child. It was
his child!
Elation was swift and for long moments he had to continue to brace himself in the doorway for support. His seed had taken root that unforgettable night. Jubilation surged, then waned, and he had to clench his teeth with the realization that his pregnant mate had been traveling the country without his protection. Anyone could have taken her and his unborn child. The realization was both infuriating and terrifying.
Hearing wood break he looked up and realized his clawed hands had ripped both sides of the door frame. He turned to peer into the dark depths of the cabin, catching two amber eyes watching him from the darkness. Eleanor was waiting for him, and the sudden spike of her fear made him realize that she had no idea that he would never,
could
never hurt her.