Pack Alpha

by Crissy Smith

  Once she was dressed, he held out his hand. “Then let’s go get this over with then so we can get back to what we were doing.”

  Marissa put her hand in his and he pulled her from the room.

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “He probably heard about the trouble.”

  They walked into the living room just as Logan handed Gage’s father a glass filled with brown liquid.

  “Father,” Gage greeted.

  The man stood and walked over quickly. “Son.”

  The two men stood for a moment before laughing and embracing in a big hug. The embrace lasted several minutes before the older man turned his eyes to her. Stepping away from his son, he took in Marissa.

  She looked practically ready to run. Gage knew his father would understand and put her at ease. Even before any of this happened, Gage had told his father about her.

  “You must be Marissa.”

  Marissa nodded and dropped her eyes. Gage wanted to tell her that wasn’t necessary, but his father moved first.

  “My daughter,” he said softly as he hugged her to him. “I welcome you into my family.”

  When he pulled away, Gage noticed the surprise on her face and knew his father hadn’t missed it either.

  “I am so pleased to meet my son’s chosen.”

  Marissa glanced over at Gage, and he smiled at her reassuringly. She relaxed visibly and looked at his father.

  “It is nice to meet you too.” Her voice was soft but strong. Showing her strength even when she was afraid.

  His father took her arm and headed for the couch. Gage followed and sat in a chair across from them. Logan remained by the door, still on watch.

  “We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other better, but first, let’s discuss this situation with the other Pack,” his father told Marissa as they sat.

  Thirty minutes later, Marissa was arguing with both men.

  “There should be no challenge!” Her voice rose above the rest.

  Gage shook his head. “He will challenge me. And I have to accept.” He knew she didn’t want him to, but she had to understand where he was coming from. Protecting her was his duty.

  “You don’t have to do anything,” she argued.

  “He must protect his mate.” His father spoke the words Gage had been thinking.

  Frustrated, Marissa stomped to the window and looked out. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me,” she said more quietly.

  Gage wrapped his arms around her, and rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “Baby, even if we weren’t mated, which we are, I would accept a challenge from him for everything he put you and your sister through.” He turned her around so he could look in her eyes. “I love you. I will make sure you are always protected.”

  Reaching up, Marissa cupped his cheeks. “I love you.”

  As their lips met in a soft kiss, all of their troubles seemed to melt away. As the kiss went deeper, he heard someone clear their throat from across the room. They broke away, but Gage held onto her.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled, embarrassed.

  Gage’s father’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “It’s understandable. I can remember—” His cell phone ringing cut him off.

  The conversation was quick and brief. Marissa knew Gage could hear what was being said on both sides of the phone. Her hearing, while good, wasn’t that good. When the phone call was over, Gage hugged her tightly.

  “There will be no challenge,” Gage’s father announced.

  Marissa relaxed. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Seems Brandon’s father stepped in and won’t allow him to take this any further.”

  “Oh thank God!” Marissa kissed Gage quickly. “What’s wrong?” she asked when he didn’t say anything.

  Gage smiled and kissed her back. “Nothing, baby. This is good. Why don’t you go upstairs and change, and we’ll take my father to town for a steak dinner?”

  Marissa nodded even while she looked suspiciously at him. He knew she would still worry, but he didn’t want her involved in the next discussion. She looked over her shoulder before she opened the door and he sent her what he hoped was a relaxed smile.

  Gage waited until he heard the bedroom door open before speaking. He looked at his father and then his Beta.

  “This isn’t over. No matter what they say. They are up to something.”

  Logan took a few steps from his post by the door. “I saw his face when he said Marissa belonged with him. It doesn’t matter what his father told him.”

  Gage’s father rubbed a hand over his face. “I agree with both of you. And since he is Alpha now, he doesn’t have to follow what his father says.”

  Gage thought of when Marissa had told him that she loved him. He hadn’t cared about the other Pack. He’d only cared about having her in his arms for the rest of his life. He wasn’t about to give that up.

  “From everything I’ve read and what Marissa’s told me, I don’t think he’ll come at me through proper channels.”

  “An ambush, maybe?” Logan suggested.

  “Or they may just try to take her,” Gage’s dad mused out loud.

  “They won’t get her,” Gage assured the men. “They would have to get through me first.”

  His dad nodded, but worry was etched on his face. “That doesn’t mean that they won’t try.”

  “Let them. I would love a chance to go after that entire Pack for what they did to Marissa.” He fisted his hands in anger just thinking about what his mate had gone through. He slowly unclenched them and ran a frustrated hand over his face.

  “You need to keep a calm head,” his father advised, walking over to refill his glass.

  “And what would you do?” Getting angry, Gage began to pace the room.

  His father took his time refilling his drink and took a sip before responding. “I’m no longer the Alpha of the Pack, so it doesn’t matter. What does is how you handle this threat to your Pack.”

  Gage took a deep breath before speaking. His father had always run the Pack fairly, and they’d thrived under his leadership. “I understand I can’t go looking for trouble. But if they bring it to me, I will be ready for them. The only way they’ll get to her is to come into my territory.”

  Logan cleared his throat and drew both men’s attention. “So she’s not leaving?”

  “Of course not!” Gage shouted.

  Logan nodded and dropped his eyes in a submissive gesture.

  “Damn! I’m sorry, Logan. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  His father walked over and threw his arm around Gage’s shoulder. “I think I’ll take a rain check on dinner. Logan can keep me company. You need to go see your mate.”

  Gage went without looking at either man. Who would have thought falling in love and claiming a mate would make him feel so out of control?

  Chapter Eight

  “Would you like to repeat that?” Marissa asked even though she was certain she heard Gage correctly.

  “You need to make arrangements to have your stuff sent here,” he told her.

  He currently prowled the bedroom floor, looking very much on the edge. He had been sweet and loving last night, and that morning when he’d woken her in the most pleasurable way. Now, fifteen minutes later, he was issuing orders.

  “My stuff?” Marissa kept herself calm, knowing one of them had to be. “I think we need to discuss this.”

  “What’s to discuss? You are my mate. I can’t leave my Pack or my territory, so you have to move here,” he announced, looking at her like it didn’t even need to be said.

  Marissa took in his demeanour and knew this could turn bad, real fast. “Gage. I don’t know that I want to live on Pack territory.”

  She saw the change in him immediately. His eyes went flat and cold, and his face hardened.

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  “I…I don’t have a choice?” Her voice rose and she knew she was just as close
to losing control.

  “That’s what I said. You are my mate!” he yelled.

  “I may be your mate, but I don’t belong to you, Gage Wolf!” she yelled back. Forget being calm. She wasn’t going to let him dictate to her about her future.

  “Actually, that is exactly what that means!”

  Gage watched as Marissa’s face fell and she jerked as if he’d just struck her. Damn, this was not going the way he wanted. He hadn’t meant to bring it up at all, but he just wanted her safe in his home, in his arms.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” he said and took deep breaths to relax himself.

  She turned away from him and he had to stop himself from reaching for her.

  “I think it is what you meant, Gage. You may not be like my old Pack Leader, but you are an Alpha.”

  “I am in no way like your last Pack Leader. This Pack is nothing like your old one. The sooner you realise that the better off you will be.”

  “Maybe,” she said softly, turning back towards him.

  He could see unshed tears and it broke his heart that he’d hurt her. “Baby, I’m sorry…”

  She held up a hand to stop him from approaching. “I know I have issues, Gage. You knew that coming into this. I can’t just forget everything in my past. And you can’t expect me to drop my entire life.”

  “You actually think that you can just walk away from me, from your mate? Marissa, think about this.”

  “I am. What happens ten years from now when I become too much trouble? Hell, it could happen in one year.”

  Ignoring the fact that she didn’t want him to touch her, Gage embraced her. “That won’t happen.”

  She tilted her head back and her eyes met his. “You don’t know that.” She moved from his arms. “I’m going for a walk, alone,” she told him as she started out of the room.

  “Marissa.” Gage stopped her with words even though he wanted to use force. “Don’t—”

  She sighed and interrupted him. “I won’t leave the territory, but I wasn’t asking for permission.”

  Gage watched her walk away. The woman who had stolen his heart and held it in her hands. He would love her forever. He could feel it and the wolf inside him agreed. He knew he needed to be patient with her, that she had a lot to get past, but he needed her to start making her way to him. To his Pack. He needed her with him. It was more than just sexual. He needed her like he’d never needed another person.

  And he wasn’t certain he could suppress that need for long.

  Marissa walked the woods behind Gage’s house. The farther she got, the more peaceful she felt. It was only yesterday that her life had changed. She had seen her old lover, taken a mate, and committed herself.

  She had no intention of leaving. She knew her place was here with Gage. It was the Pack she still wasn’t so certain about. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t help but compare them to the one she grew up in. As happy as she wanted to be, there was something in her head telling her that it wouldn’t last.

  Marissa walked farther into the woods until she reached the creek that ran through the middle of the property. She sat at the edge and stared into the water. It rippled and flowed past her as she let her eyes close and felt herself drift.

  It was beautiful here. Even though she couldn’t shift and run like the others, she could still feel at peace. She could be happy here, with Gage, with her sister. She was so tired of being alone. For the first time in her life, she had more than just her sister. She had a future, a chance, and an opportunity to have a family. Did she really want to chance walking away from that?

  A sound behind her had her opening her eyes and jumping to her feet. Marissa took in her surroundings, not seeing anything at first. When there was movement to her left, she turned and narrowed her eyes.

  A man stepped out from between the trees and she tensed. He waved and Marissa recognised the guard from the first day. She’d seen him a couple of times since and he had always friendly.

  “Steve,” she greeted after he walked to her.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” he said as he smiled at her.

  “No. No it’s okay. I guess I was lost in my own world.”

  “I could tell. You didn’t even hear us approach.”

  “Us?” she asked, looking behind him.

  “Us.” His voice was joined by several growls. Three wolves stalked towards her as Steve opened his arms as if in a welcome. “Meet my friends.”

  Marissa backed as far as she could without falling into the creek. Steve and the wolves crept closer, and Marissa frantically tried to find a way out. The wolves snapped and growled at her.

  “What’s going on, Steve?” Marissa asked.

  “It’s nothing personal. I actually like you.”

  “Well, I don’t think those wolves are the welcoming committee. Why are you doing this?” she demanded.

  “Because I paid him.”

  Marissa was so surprised when Brandon stepped from the trees Steve had come from she almost stumbled into the water.

  Brandon laughed once she had righted herself. “Easy there, Marissa. Don’t want you falling in now.”

  “Wh…what are you doing here?”

  “Did you really think this was over? That you were done with me?” He took a step towards her. “I decide when we are finished.”

  “You already did. If I recall, you decided and then I was run out of the Pack,” Marissa reminded him.

  “Yes, well, I changed my mind. Who knew that you would turn out to be such a hottie? Or that you would fall in love with another Alpha?”

  Realisation hit Marissa. “That’s what this is all about.” She glared at Brandon. “You don’t want me, you just don’t want anyone else to have me.”

  Brandon looked amused. His lips turned up and his eyes were shining. “Well, aren’t you just a little conceited bitch?”

  “Maybe, but I know I’m right.” She looked from him to the wolves. “So what’s your plan here?”

  “It’s simple. You come with me quietly or I’ll have the wolves tear you apart. After they are done with you, I will send them to your mate, and then your sister, and anyone else I think you care for.”

  “You wouldn’t…”

  He smiled again and flashed his canines at her. “Oh, I would. I would.”

  “All right. I’ll go with you.” Marissa could only hope that someone would see her and stop Brandon from taking her.

  Marissa walked from the creek in the direction of the house, being careful not to get too close to Brandon. The wolves followed behind her.

  Brandon let her pass between him and Steve. Marissa held her breath.

  “Not that way.” He grabbed her arm and yanked her to him.

  “What?”

  “Not that way.” Brandon started walking and pulled Marissa along with him.

  She tried to dig her heels in, but her strength was no match to his. He easily dragged her as he walked in the opposite direction of the house. Away from Gage. No one would see them if they continued to head this way.

  “Wait! What about my stuff?” Marissa tried to stall.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t need anything,” he assured her.

  “What are you going to do with me?” Marissa could feel the tears fall. She couldn’t go back with him. She had to trust Gage could protect himself, to watch over her sister. She just couldn’t go with Brandon.

  “Whatever I want,” he said as he continued to take her farther away.

  Desperate, Marissa did the only thing she could. She screamed as loud as she could. She didn’t stop even as Brandon turned, pulled back his fist, and punched her.

  “I told you to be quiet,” he yelled as he struck her again, knocking her off her feet.

  Marissa wasn’t going to be quiet. Screaming was the only way to let Gage know she was in trouble.

  “Shut up!”

  With a hit to the side of her head, Marissa felt her vision blur. She put her hands in front of her
, trying to ward off the blows.

  Brandon stopped hitting her but remained on top of her. “I should have known better. You never did listen.”

  Marissa struggled, but didn’t have much fight left in her. “Get off of me.”

  “I don’t think so.” He ran his hands over her body. “I should get to have a little fun with you before I feed you to the wolves.”

  Marissa didn’t have the strength to stop him when his hand found its way under her shirt. Her stomach turned at the feel of his hands on her skin, but she wasn’t dead yet and she would fight him with her last breath.

  “I think you’ll enjoy it too. Remember how good it was between us. How hot it was.”

  Marissa shook her head. “No. It wasn’t that great. I’ve had better human lovers. And you don’t even come close to Gage.”

  “You little bitch,” Brandon spat as he wrapped his hands around her neck. As he squeezed, Marissa tried to grab his arms.

  “You need to get out of here.” Steve’s voice barely reached her from somewhere to her right. “Someone would have heard her scream. You have to leave before they come.”

  “It’s too late for that.” Gage’s voice was the last thing Marissa heard before she passed out.

  Gage had been standing on his back porch with Logan, drinking a beer and staring into the woods when he heard Marissa’s scream.

  He didn’t remember jumping off the porch or running to her. He didn’t hear Logan behind him or Sam and the other guards change into wolf form.

  He just ran to his mate.

  He reached her and saw Brandon on top of her with his hands around her neck. She fought him like the true solider she was. Taunting him with words when her strength wasn’t enough. Hearing his guard Steve’s voice warn the other man barely registered.

  Brandon’s head snapped up and their eyes met. The other man looked at him defiantly, but Gage could also see the fear. It wasn’t enough for him. He wanted the other man’s hands off his mate.

  “Let her go, now!” he ordered in a low calm voice.

  Brandon looked down one last time before removing his hands from Marissa’s neck. He stood and faced off with Gage.

  “What are you going to do?” Brandon asked smugly, but his gaze flickered around.