Her Forbidden Alpha

by Tabitha Conall

  But right now, they needed to deal with the fallout from the failed peace negotiations, not least of which included bringing his new mate home–a mate who would have to be guarded so she wouldn’t try to escape.

  His housekeeper, Ivy, met him at the door as he and his fourteen warriors strode through with Aislinn in tow. “What happened? You aren’t supposed to be back so soon.” Ivy was human, and while in her fifties, she’d aged well. Her trim figure and unlined brown skin made her look no older than forty.

  “Ambush.” Darius pulled Aislinn forward. “And I brought home trouble.”

  Aislinn gasped. “I’m not trouble.”

  “I beg to differ.” Turning back to Ivy, he said, “This is my mate. She’s also the General’s daughter and wants to go home to him. I want you to provide her with every comfort but also post guards at her door so she can’t escape.”

  “Darius…” Aislinn said.

  At least she was speaking again. “I need to go deal with some pack business. Have something to eat, take a nap, watch TV, read a book–whatever you like. Just don’t even think about leaving.”

  “Yes, yes, I know–I wouldn’t get far.”

  He grinned. “Good. You’re learning. I’ll be back to have dinner with you.” He handed her off to Ivy but watched them disappear down the hall before he turned to his other business.

  If only there weren’t so many barriers between them, he could be seducing her right now. As it was, he needed to figure out how to avert a war. Seduction would have to wait a while longer.

  Darius entered the long room dubbed the “war room.” He’d half-heartedly tried to get people to call it something else–“peace room” or just “conference room”–with no luck. Jennalynn had explained to him that “peace room” just wasn’t sexy enough.

  As though there were anything sexy about war.

  Killion was still explaining the situation to Cael, Darius’ third-in-command, as Darius joined them. He waited until Killion finished speaking then said, “Has there been any word from the Humans Firsters? Threats, demands, offers?”

  “Yes, sir,” Cael said. “A Colonel Gideon Lidano contacted us an hour ago asking for our demands. At the time I didn’t understand what he meant, so I told him we’d get back to him.”

  Darius hadn’t even thought about letting Cael know the situation while they fled from the Humans First compound, but he should have. He wouldn’t admit that now, though. “We aren’t giving her back. Killion explained this?”

  “Yes, sir. She’s your mate.” Cael paused. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. I need suggestions on what we can offer them to keep them from attacking the Holding to get her back.”

  Killion clapped his hand on Cael’s shoulder. “I need to speak with my brother.”

  Cael nodded and left the room, taking the handful of other wolves with him.

  As soon as the door closed, Darius said, “I’m not giving her up.”

  “You need to consider it. Maybe there’s a way to break the mating.” He leaned forward. “I heard what she told you on the plane. If the Humans Firsters attack, there will be deaths on both sides. How well do you think your mate will like you after you wipe out her family?”

  “It would be their fault,” Darius snapped. But Killion had a point. “No. We need to avoid an all-out fight. That’s why I want to make an offer to the General–something to make up for keeping Aislinn.”

  “You really think he’ll care that she’s your mate?”

  “He won’t care about that. But that doesn’t mean we can’t convince him to let her go.”

  “I heard what she said about her father’s pride, too. What do you think you can give him that would make him willing to let his daughter go?” Killion stepped back. “Check with the Elders. Maybe there’s a way to break the mating so you can let her go back to her family and we can all go back to normal.” The Elders kept track of pack history and knowledge.

  Darius’ breath burned in his throat. “I won’t let her go.” His fingers sprouted long, sharp nails, his wolf pushing to the surface.

  “Darius…”

  Darius paced to the tall window that looked out past the moat and over the green countryside. He had to pull himself together. Right now, his wolf wanted to rip his brother’s throat out. His human half knew that if he did that, he’d never forgive himself. “Finding your mate is monumental. How can I even think about giving her up?”

  “If you can break the mating, you can find another.” Killion wisely stayed on the other side of the room.

  Darius didn’t want another. As always, the fates had matched him with the perfect mate for him. He couldn’t imagine there being anyone else who could compare.

  “Just think about it.” Killion waited a few minutes longer, but when Darius said no more, Killion left.

  How many of his wolves would die if he didn’t break the mating? Would Killion? Jennalynn? Could he handle having their blood on his hands?

  ***

  As they left Darius, the slight black woman he’d left Aislinn with led her down a stone corridor in the castle. She immediately jumped on her cell phone to order guards for Aislinn’s room.

  Aislinn still couldn’t believe they were in a castle–a real-live castle, in Connecticut of all places. But as they walked, she saw the modern upgrades–the wall sconces were electric, the floors were covered with plush rugs that could only have been made by machines, and unobtrusive heaters were placed every few feet at the bottom of walls.

  “I’m Ivy,” the other woman said. “As usual, Darius forgot to introduce us.”

  Ivy was right; Darius had neglected introductions altogether. All he’d told Ivy about Aislinn was that she was ‘trouble.’ “I’m Aislinn.”

  “That doesn’t sound like the name of a troublemaker.” Ivy gestured to the right as they reached an intersecting hallway. “Now, have you had lunch? Or maybe you’d like a snack?”

  The mention of food reminded Aislinn that she’d only had some peanuts on the plane in the past several hours. “Lunch would be wonderful, but I don’t want to put you out.”

  “It’s no trouble at all. How does a sandwich sound?”

  “That would be lovely.” Aislinn couldn’t believe she’d been kidnapped and was now ordering lunch.

  Ivy pulled out a cell phone and called in her lunch order. “Someone will bring it to your room as soon as it’s ready.” She stopped in front of a tall wooden door, pushing it open. “And this is your room. It’s our best guest room.”

  Aislinn stepped into a room meant for a fairy princess. Ornate tapestries on the walls gave the room bright blues, pinks and purples which were picked up in the fluffy comforters and top on the canopy bed. Several tall arched windows flooded the room with light while the largest fireplace she’d ever seen took up part of one wall.

  Ivy showed her how to adjust the heat on the baseboard heaters and gave her phone numbers to call to reach the kitchen or Ivy herself. The phone was locked so the only numbers it would dial were those inside the castle. All the while, Aislinn couldn’t get enough of the room. Fluffy white rugs covered the floor and an intricately carved wood wardrobe stood next to a large bureau, just waiting to be filled with clothes. A bear rug lay on the floor in front of the fireplace.

  “I’ll have a television brought to the room, since you’ll be spending a lot of time here. Now, is there anything else I can get you?” Ivy said.

  Aislinn hated to ask for anything else, but once Ivy left she’d be stranded. “A bathroom? And Darius said there was a library?”

  Ivy stalked toward the corner by the outside wall. “The bathroom is here. They had a devil of a time putting indoor plumbing into a stone castle, let me tell you.” She flung open a door to reveal a large bathroom worthy of any five-star hotel, complete with a deep tub that could double as a whirlpool. “As for the library, you’ll need to have the guards take you there when you want to go.”

  Just as she said that, a blond-haired man stuc
k his head inside the door. “Ivy?”

  “And here they are. Come in.” Ivy walked toward the door, Aislinn following behind.

  The tall, formidable blond man stepped further into the room, followed by an even bigger man with jet-black hair and dark skin. Was every werewolf a behemoth?

  “Meet Heath and Zack,” Ivy said, indicating the blond man first. “Boys, this is Aislinn, Darius’ mate. You’re to make sure she doesn’t escape but otherwise treat her with the utmost respect.”

  A crease formed between Zack’s eyes. “Escape? Why would a mate want to escape?”

  “It’s complicated. But those are Darius’ orders. Do you question them?”

  Zack took a small step backward. “Of course not.”

  Interesting. The huge werewolf deferred to tiny little Ivy. Aislinn would have to remember that.

  After a pause, Ivy said, “Aislinn would like to go to the library to get some books. After that, bring her back here and guard the door to make sure she doesn’t leave. Any questions?”

  Both men shook their heads.

  Ivy touched Aislinn’s arm. “Call me if you need anything.” She swept out of the room.

  As soon as she left, the men straightened up, seeming to get their power back. Zack headed out of the door while Heath held his arm out for Aislinn to follow. The walk to the library was short and quiet, but as soon as she got there, she couldn’t hold back her gasp.

  The room, at least three times the size of her over-large bedroom, had bookshelves lining the walls, going all the way to the ceiling, stacked full of books. In the center of the room, couches and tables and chairs held a scattering of people. Students, perhaps? They seemed young.

  “Is there an order?” Aislinn said softly. “The Dewey Decimal System?”

  Heath shrugged, but Zack said, “Yep. Standard Dewey Decimal. There’s a computerized card catalog over there.” He motioned to a small table that held an old-model computer.

  Aislinn went to the computer, only slightly disturbed when both men followed her. Did they think she was going to jump out of one of the floor-to-ceiling windows? Or race out of the door when they weren’t looking? She couldn’t even find her way back to her room, much less out of the castle.

  Whatever. She spent the next fifteen minutes searching through the catalog, then another fifteen collecting books. For the first time ever, she climbed one of those sliding ladders to get books from the top shelves.

  Afterward, the men escorted her back to her room. Along the way, Heath broke the silence. “Where did you and Darius meet?” Before she could answer he said, “Only place he’s been lately is the Humans First meeting. You meet there?”

  “He was at the airport,” Zack threw in.

  “For what, two seconds?” Heath said.

  “That’s all it takes.” Zack steered her down a hallway to the left.

  Maybe she didn’t need to even participate in this conversation. They seemed to have it covered.

  “So you’re saying he scented her at the airport and instead of staying and talking with her, he grabbed her and ran. And that’s why we have to guard her?” Heath nearly stopped walking as he talked.

  At this rate, it would take forever to get back to her room. At least the men were carrying her books for her.

  “I don’t know, man. But do you really think he found her at the Humans First meeting?” Zack said.

  Silence fell as they walked the last few steps to her room. Aislinn pushed open the door and held it open for the men to carry her books in–nearly ten each.

  As Heath stepped inside after Zack, he paused next to her. “Well? Where’d he find you?”

  Did he need to know? Did she have to tell him? Was she afraid to tell him–or embarrassed? As those thoughts raced through her mind, Heath gazed at her.

  What did it matter? They’d find out anyway. Fourteen warriors were with Darius at the compound, and he hadn’t sworn them to secrecy. “At the meeting,” she said.

  Heath’s face hardened. “What happened there?”

  Chapter 5

  Aislinn let go of the door so he quickly stepped the rest of the way inside. “Someone else can tell you.”

  Zack put her books on a table that sat not far from the fireplace. A covered plate and cup lay on the table; probably the sandwich Ivy had ordered.

  “Why can’t you tell me?” Heath said.

  Zack took Heath’s stack of books and added them to the others on the table. “Leave her alone.”

  Heath continued to stare at her. “I just don’t understand why this Humans Firster can’t tell me what happened this morning.”

  Zack clapped his hand on Heath’s shoulder. “Remember what my Mom said. Aislinn’s Darius’ mate, and he wants her treated with respect. So stop browbeating her.” He pushed Heath toward the door.

  It took Aislinn a second to understand what Zack meant by ‘his mom’–Ivy. Things started to click into place.

  Heath shot Aislinn one more glance before allowing himself to be pushed from the room. Zack closed the door behind him.

  Aislinn took a deep breath. Heath’s reaction probably wouldn’t be far from what she could expect from all of the werewolves. How did Darius think they could stay together? Everyone here at the Holding would hate her, and with good reason.

  She sat down to eat, determined to find a way to convince Darius to let her go. She had tried asking, and that hadn’t worked. Maybe she could negotiate. There must be something he wanted. Peace? Could she promise to bring her father to the table again?

  Not likely. Even if her father agreed initially, he’d be unlikely to keep his promise–today had shown that. Money? Information? What could she give Darius that would be enough to convince him to release her?

  She ignored the little voice in the back of her head that said the answer was ‘nothing.’

  ***

  Darius listened while Killion talked to Colonel Gideon Lidano about brokering Aislinn’s release. He wanted to handle the negotiations himself, but the General had relegated the task to his second-in-command. Protocol dictated Darius do the same, lest he reveal how important the talks really were to him.

  All the same, it galled him that the General wouldn’t handle this personally–wasn’t Aislinn his daughter? What could be more important?

  “We don’t want money,” Killion said. “We want an indefinite cease-fire.”

  They had talked about this–with Darius still hell-bent on keeping Aislinn, they decided they might as well ask for what they really wanted, knowing they’d never get it.

  “I don’t have the authority to agree to a cease-fire,” Colonel Lidano said. “The General has authorized a large sum of money—”

  Killion cut him off. “Insult us by offering money again and I’ll ask for a cease-fire and an apology for this morning’s attack.”

  Lidano’s voice dropped. “If it were up to me, I’d agree with anything you want in order to get Aislinn back. But the General has the final say.”

  Darius didn’t like what he heard in Lidano’s voice, though he couldn’t put his finger on why.

  “When am I going to get to talk to her?” Lidano said. “I need to verify she’s all right and that you’re not hurting her.”

  Darius couldn’t keep the growl from erupting from his throat.

  Killion speared him with a glance. “She’s on her way. We’re taking good care of her.”

  “You said she was on her way fifteen minutes ago.”

  “It’s a big castle,” Killion said. “Surely you know that.”

  Lidano mumbled something that even Darius’ wolf hearing couldn’t make out.

  The door to the war room opened, and two young pups, Heath and Zack, led Aislinn inside. As soon as he saw her, Darius’ skin felt hot and tight. The urge to go to her felt almost overwhelming. He contented himself with gazing at her as she walked to the table where Darius and Killion sat next to the speaker phone, the rest of Darius’ top wolves arrayed around them. Aislinn said nothing,
just looked around with a question in her eyes.

  “She’s here,” Killion said. “Go ahead and talk to her.”

  “Ash?” Lidano said.

  Aislinn stepped closer and rested her fingertips on the edge of the table. “Gideon?”

  Lidano’s voice sounded breathy. “Are you okay? Have they hurt you?”

  “I’m fine.” Her eyes met Darius’. “They’ve treated me very well. What’s going on?”

  “I’m going to get you back, honey. Just hold tight. I’m going to figure this out.”

  Rage shivered through Darius’ body, his wolf pushing to the fore. Honey?

  Aislinn winced.

  “Honey?” Killion snapped. “What’s your relationship?”

  “I’m her boyfriend,” Lidano said.

  In the same moment, Aislinn said, “Ex.”

  “Come on,” Lidano said. “You can’t hold last night against me. Not at a time like this. I’m going to save you, Ash. Just hold on.”

  Darius growled. Not a human growl, either. He’d changed to the point his vocal cords emitted a purely wolfish warning.

  “What was that?” Lidano’s voice sounded a little high. “Aislinn?”

  “Everything’s fine,” she said. “Don’t worry. They won’t hurt me. And you won’t hurt them. Don’t make this an excuse to start a war, Gideon. I mean that.”

  The wolves around the room shifted, eyes a little wide. Darius felt his change recede, just a bit. From the most powerless position in the room, Aislinn argued for peace and mercy instead of pleading for herself. He’d never felt more proud.

  “You’re too soft-hearted,” Lidano said. “If they won’t give you back, war will be the only option.”

  “No!” Aislinn leaned toward the speakerphone. “Don’t let Father drag us into war. I’m not worth it.”

  Darius ground his teeth together. He hated hearing her say that. She was worth it, no matter what she thought. He motioned to Killion with a slash across his throat.