“So, what do we do now?” she asked, turning to Thor, who put an arm around her possessively and glowered at the rest of them.
“I don’t know,” he said darkly. “All I know is that none of you are taking her from my side.”
Fifi tilted his head to the side pensively. “Well, if you want to keep her, that attitude is exactly what you are going to need to do it.”
“And stop trying to attack my cousin,” she said.
“Sorry,” Thor muttered, stroking her hair. “But when I see a male touching my female, I don’t care who he is. My wolf wants his blood.”
“Well tell your wolf I’m not his female yet, and I won’t be if he doesn’t calm down.”
That shut him up.
15
While Lock talked to Fifi, Thor guided Matt over to a hall where they could be alone. Then he pressed her up against a wall, hands planted on either side of her head.
She didn’t feel intimidated. She knew him too well by now to be afraid that he would hurt her. But she did find herself afraid of the deep longing in his eyes. The possessive intensity there.
“Remember that time we were playing football at the mansion and you tackled me?” she asked, reaching up to stroke his hair. He shook away from her hand with a snort and pinned a firm gaze on her again.
“I was a douche, I know. But I thought you were a dude, like everyone else did.”
“I know,” she said. “It’s just funny thinking of moments like that.”
“I need to know you won’t leave me,” he said, stroking her hair back and looking down her body as if to make sure she was okay.
“Leave you?”
“You picked up the phone and you were gone. And when you didn’t come back in right away, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to give you space to come to terms with things. I know it feels like I’m rushing you, but I can’t help it. Not many people know you yet. When they do, things will get more complicated.”
“So you want to claim an alpha female before others know about it?” she asked, vaguely offended. He put a hand in his hair and pushed off the wall to pace back and forth in front of her.
“If you think that’s all it is, you don’t know me at all,” he said. “I have feelings for you. You know that. I think you’re my fated mate. I think you’re my red thread. I don’t care that it’s going fast. I just want to mate you soon so you can’t run away, thinking it’s for my own good.”
She swallowed. She understood what he meant. Once they were mated, leaving him would never be the right thing. They would be only with each other for life. Leaving him would be cruel, dooming him to be alone.
Thus she wasn’t ready to mate him yet.
“I don’t know,” she said. “For me, it’s almost been enough just being here. Loving you, knowing there’s someone I could have loved, in a different life.”
He frowned and pinned her with a glare again. So tall, so upset. “And why not this one?”
She swiped at a tear that threatened her eye. “Fifi called because they’ve found me. They know where I am.”
“Oh,” Thor said gravely.
“He doesn’t think they would do something drastic and make things overtly public in front of your family, but at the same time, he doesn’t think I should go back there. But thinking about it, the only thing I can think of now, is that Fifi and I should move on.”
“Why not stay here?” Thor asked, keeping his hands on either side of her head, pinning her there. She could still hear the others in the next room, arguing quietly about what they knew.
“Fifi told me about the Tribunal. How much did Lock tell you?”
“Everything,” he said. “That your parents arranged to have mine killed.”
“Did he tell you it was because your parents and a few others were planning to uproot the Tribunal?
“No,” he said, his brow crumpling in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Apparently they were upset about some plague leak or something, and they wanted to expose it to the rest of the shifter world. But it was all an accident.”
Thor let out a deep sigh. “Why doesn’t anyone get that this doesn’t matter to me?” He held out his hands for her to see. “All I want is to protect what I can with these two hands. All I want to do is see my pack mates, my family, and my mate safe.” He shook his head. “That’s all I can do. I can’t go back and change the past. I can’t overthrow our ruling system. Maybe Lock could, if he rallied enough wolves around him. But that’s not for me. I just want to make those around me happy. I just want to forget and move on. Can you do that with me?”
She touched his face. “I loved what we shared before. Maybe I even love you. But as long as I’m with you, that simple future you crave just isn’t possible. They will come for me eventually.”
He shook his head vehemently. “I won’t let them.”
“You won’t have a choice.” She cupped his chin but he avoided her eyes. “Thor, what would stop them from doing something like they did last time, and hiring someone to off me because I’m a problem, like they hired someone to off your parents?”
“I’m here, that’s what,” he grumbled. “You don’t get it. I would die for you. If you leave here, it’s meaningless for me.”
‘You have your pack, you have to think of that. I’ll be safe. Fifi is one of their assassins…”
“That explains why he beat me,” he said. “Did he actually put me to sleep? I didn’t even know that was an alpha power.”
She nodded hesitantly.
“Your family has some crazy abilities,” he said.
She nodded again.
“But mine does too. I do too. And your family doesn’t even know about them. So why don’t you believe me when I say you can trust me?”
“I’m safer with Fifi,” she said. “After all, he beat you, didn’t he?”
“I would be ready for him this time. And what are the chances another wolf has that gift?”
“How can you be ready for that? What exactly are your alpha powers anyway?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I’m not telling you. Not until you agree to mate me. Not until you trust me.”
“That’s going to be a while then,” she said. “Because I’m not going to walk into your life and ruin your dreams and everything you’ve worked for. Not for a little sex.”
“Is that what this is to you? A little sex?” he snarled. “Don’t lie. We both know it’s so much more.”
She turned away. If it was, she wouldn’t admit it. There was no point getting her heart broken over this. She had a few days of safety and freedom with him to remember. But when shit hit the fan and the Tribunal made their move, there was no telling what would happen.
But she’d never wished harder that her life was her own. That she was one of her sisters rather than the one chosen to be raised as a boy.
More like a slave.
She blinked away tears and tried to hide them from Thor. There was no point crying at a time like this. Besides, she never cried. She’d been numb for a long time, pushing her true self down below the surface.
So why couldn’t she do that now, so she could walk away from him cleanly? He was asking her to stay, and she found herself wanting to.
“You won’t give me any promises?” he asked quietly, tilting her chin to look into her eyes.
She nodded.
He sighed in resignation and took her hand. “At least stay with me tonight?” he asked. “Let me know you’re safe one more night? And then you and Fifi can make plans in the morning.”
She nodded. She was too tired to travel tonight anyway. Everything had happened so fast. With the wolf fight and Lock appearing, she hadn’t had much time to adjust to the news Fifi had told her on the phone. Or him appearing to guard her.
Everything would change tomorrow. But tonight, she would sleep in his arms as if she’d never left him after they’d made love. It would be the last good day. The last one they had for sure. She let him take he
r hand and lead her to his bedroom. Let him hold up the covers while she got in. Let him go out and tell the others they were going to bed and weather their teasing.
Then she let him come back in, turn off the lights, and curl around her, giving her warmth and holding her like she was the only thing that mattered to him.
The rest of the world could wait.
16
She woke to a loud knock on the door. Thor was still quietly snoring, so she lifted his heavily muscled arm so that she could sit up and look around. It was early morning and sunlight was just beginning to stream through the drapes. She tried to gently get out of bed but Thor’s hand shot out and caught her shirt.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Someone knocked,” she said, gesturing to the door.
He groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I swear, every day is an adventure with you.” Then he looked at the door again, this time with a new look in his eyes. “Oh wait, Fifi is here.”
“His real name is Felix, you know,” she said, smiling slightly. “Just so you know that he has an actual name that isn’t ridiculous.”
“I don’t mind the name Fifi,” he said. “It suits him. Kind of like Matt suits you.”
“How does Matt suit me?” she asked, folding her arms and waiting for an explanation.
“Um, you’re…I don’t know. It just does.” He rolled out of bed and grabbed a robe from the edge of a chair, putting it on as he went to the door. She loved the sight of his wide back and muscled legs.
Thor opened the door and someone spoke to him in a low voice. He responded and she cleared her throat, keeping the covers drawn up over her as she tried to see who was at the door. It was Lock.
He gave her a long, slow once over and then winked. Thor let out a growl. “Easy, bro,” Lock said. “Calm down, she’s yours.”
“Not yet I’m not,” she said.
Lock raised an eyebrow and then turned back to Thor. “There’s news. Fifi got a call early this morning. From someone in the Tribunal, asking him to meet with them.”
She jumped out of bed, reaching for her jacket and sliding her arms into it and zipping it up as she joined them at the door. “What do you mean?”
“He went out early this morning and hasn’t been back,” he said. When she turned to him with wide eyes, he put up a hand. “Fifi told me not to bother you. He said he could handle it himself. And frankly, I didn’t need you and Thor walking into a trap with him if that was what was happening.”
“He knew they were on to me, but I don’t think he knew they would be out here this fast. Maybe they followed him.” She tried to push past them. “I need to go find him. I don’t want him in trouble because of me.”
Thor grabbed her arm, stopping her. “I don’t want you in trouble because of him.”
“They can’t hurt me as much as they can hurt him,” she said. “He never should have come. I’m the one who ran away. I had nothing to lose. He had everything.”
“What do you mean?” Thor asked, holding her by the shoulders. “What do they have on him?”
She shook her head. “I can’t say, but I have to go to him. He can’t be out there alone. How long as he been gone?”
Lock looked at his phone. “About five minutes longer than he said he’d be gone. That’s why I knocked.”
She put a hand on his shoulder. “You did the right thing. I’m going to go get my breast wraps on. Then we’ll head out.”
“We will do no such thing,” Thor said angrily. “Lock and I will head out to save your cousin, and you will stay here.”
“You might need my powers,” she said.
Thor and Lock looked at each other and smirked.
“No,” Thor said. “I think we’ll be fine. Between the two of us we can take nearly anyone. Trust me, Matt. You haven’t even seen the beginning of what I can do yet. I fought Fifi the other night fairly, carefully, because I knew he meant something to you. But if you or someone you care about is in danger, I can be a whole different wolf.”
“That he can,” Lock said, flashing a fang. “And I can back him up.”
She sighed. “I’d feel better if you could tell me what you can do.”
“No,” Thor said. “Trust me or don’t. But you are staying here.”
“I could use my alpha power on you,” she said. “Stop you from going.”
“But that would stop you from going as well,” Thor said. “And who would save Fifi?”
She growled. “He might not need any saving. Honestly, all they want is me. If you let me go out there, all of you, including Fifi, can avoid being hurt. He is my father. It’s time to talk to him.”
Thor shook his head. “No. We will talk to him. Or whoever he has sent. But I need you here. I need to know you are safe.”
“You’re not being reasonable,” she said, feeling her throat tense. “Lock, tell him.”
Lock sighed and folded his arms. “I can’t. He’s decided you’re his mate. As his brother, I’m here to back him up and protect you.” He and Thor walked to the door together and he turned back at the last minute. “Welcome to the pack.”
“You can’t just go out and fight for me. I haven’t even agreed to mate you,” she said, exasperated that these males were going to override her wishes. Sure, they had more brute strength, and sure, it was for her own good. But she was allowed to be protective too, and now everyone she cared about would be out there at once, with men she knew to be ruthless.
“We’re going,” Thor said. “Promise me you’ll stay inside.”
She sighed. “Fine.” There was no going around it. Hopefully whomever the Tribunal sent wouldn’t harm Fifi. Maybe he could even negotiate. Reassure them that she was no threat. Tell them that letting her stay here with Thor, mated, wasn’t a bad idea.
Mated. Weeks ago she couldn’t have imagined it. Now she didn’t know how to live if it didn’t happen. She paced inside the cabin until Thor and his brother left, and then watched them change into wolves and scent the air before darting off together into the grass.
She locked the door behind them and went to her room to change. She pulled a fresh pair of breast wraps out and sighed heavily as she started to put them on. Being free for a while had been liberating, and they really were uncomfortable.
A knock sounded at the door. “Thor?” Was he back already? She tied her wraps hastily and threw her tee shirt over her head and was halfway into her jacket when the front door burst open.
She stopped dead when she saw who was there. Not Thor, Lock or Fifi.
It was Ernie, Thor’s second in command.
His gray hair was mussed, and his young face was harried. “Are you alone?” he asked.
A tingle went down her spine. He was Thor’s second, but he was still an alpha male. Maybe she should lie.
He scented the air. Too late. “You are.”
She didn’t like the gleam in his eyes so she took a step back from the entryway, folding her arms and trying to look calm while she tried to think which direction would be the best to run away. Should she bolt past him out the door? Should she jump through a window? Lock herself in Thor’s bedroom? She didn’t know his alpha powers, so it was possible he had super strength, like Lindon’s family had.
He watched her like a snake eyeing a mouse. What was his angle?
She looked to the window, but Thor and Lock were no longer in sight. Her heart pounded. She’d have to get out of this herself. Ironic that Thor had made her promise to stay here and be safe, but she wouldn’t be safe if she stayed.
“What do you want?” she asked. “Thor’s not here.”
He nodded. “I know.”
Her heart sank. Was he a part of all of this? Connected with the Tribunal? He hadn’t been around since the first time she’d seen him, so she’d forgotten to ask Thor more about him.
He walked forward, something in his hands, and she looked down to see he was holding a rope.
“What’s that for?” she asked.
&
nbsp; “To make sure you come with me. Your father sent me,” he said.
“My father?”
He nodded. “You know, the one who killed Thor’s parents and left my father to run the pack here. My father, whom Thor threw out. Not that I like my father, I don’t. But I also know that you don’t want to cross the Tribunal. So I got in touch with them to let them know there was an alpha on the loose.”
She took another step back, trying to buy time. “Traitor. You betrayed your alpha.”
“He put the whole pack in danger,” he said.
“But that’s not why you’re doing this,” she said, moving back again.
He took a step forward, coiling the rope slowly. “You’re right. I don’t want to live here as beta all my life. When I deliver you to the Tribunal and solve their problems, they’re going to solve some of mine. I’ll finally have the life I deserve.”
“What did they promise you?” she asked.
“Whatever I wanted. Money. Advantaged access to an alpha female.” He looked her over. “Though, now that I think about it, maybe I would be better off just taking you. If I mated you, their problem would be solved anyway and I’d be mated to one of the most powerful females in the species.”
She swallowed. Hell no. Hell no would she mate with this man and let him hide her from the world like her father wanted for the rest of her life. Hell no would she be his ticket to happiness while he was her ticket to misery.
She got into a light boxing stance with one foot behind the other, ready to fight him if she needed to.
He waggled a finger. “Not so fast. I saw how you fight. I didn’t want to deal with it.” He pulled something from his pocket, lifted it to his mouth, and she didn’t have time to dodge before it launched right into her abdomen with a sharp pain. She hissed and looked down to see a small dart. She pulled it out as dizziness waved through her.
“What have you done to me?” she asked, as the room started to wave in front of her. An incredible sense of vertigo came over her and she fell forward, catching herself on her hands and knees. She could hear her own heartbeat, pounding in her ears, as she looked blearily around, waiting for the world to stop spinning.
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