“I don’t know,” Brianna replied slowly, and Daya heard it in her voice.
That bothered her, not knowing what was going on with Garin.
Downstairs in the office, Alec stared at the man Leonardo’s pack captured his eyes narrowed.
His unkempt hair fell in his face, but the eyes glaring at them was filled with fury.
“Bringing in another,” he mocked with a snide smile.
“The wolf you injured wasn’t from my pack,” Leonardo infirmed him leaning back in his chair. “Alpha Trevor doesn’t take lightly to one of his pack members getting hurt.”
The man sneered at his words although there was no surprise at the information Leonardo revealed which didn’t escape anyone’s notice.
“No reaction,” Alec commented crossing his arms over his chest leaning back against the edge of Leonardo’s desk. “Which tells us that you were probably aware that he wasn’t from this pack.”
The man stilled eyes darting to Alec to meet his narrowed gaze.
“Which makes us wonder.”
Leonardo leaned forward hands clasped together loosely above the desk, but when he spoke although softly, it seemed to vibrate loudly through the whole house.
“Why are you really here?”
The man’s jaw tensed even though something flashed in his eyes. “And if I don’t tell you?”
His words were said with a snarl, but Leonardo slowly smiled a terrifying look on his face.
“I don’t condone torture,” Leonardo remarked in an indifferent tone. “But I also don’t like having someone in my territory who has malicious intentions on my pack.”
“Only one.” The man gritted out face filling with fury and anger. “If he had done the right thing, and chose his mate, then I wouldn’t be here right now.”
Confusion ran through the three man since Ralph was standing near the window although he hadn’t said word, and they shared startled looks.
“Exactly, who are you talking about?” Ralph asked now his tone cold.
Dark eyes swayed to him and the man’s face tightened with hatred.
“You, Alpha Ralph.”
Ralph straightened away from the window and took too strides to the man yanking him up off the chair as if he didn’t a weigh a thing. Neither Leonardo or Alec flinched at the strength he portrayed although their visitor’s eyes widened in shock.
“My mate,” Ralph bit out eyes mere slits in his face, “disappeared three years ago. I looked for her, and then marked another hoping to draw her out.” His hands tightened on the man’s clothes. “What do you know about my mate?”
The shock on the man’s face was fading away to bewilderment even as pain filled him from Ralph’s grip.
“But…” he stuttered meeting Ralph’s hard eyes. “I was told you didn’t want her.”
“Want her?” Ralph’s voice was still a mere whisper, and yet Alec lowered his head while Leonardo gave a single shake of her head both hearing the heartache in those two words. “If I didn’t want her, do you think I would have handed my pack over to another and search for her?”
He dropped the man without a word and the man crumbled on the floor while Ralph stood back fury vibrating through him.
“Ralph.” Leonardo’s voice was rough, but there was a stern note which echoed around the room.
Ralph took a few deep breathes. “My wolf is under control although I admit barely.”
Leonardo shifted his gaze to the man who climbed back to his feet shifting eyes over the three of them.
“I think,” Leonardo began getting to his feet and walking around his desk, “you should tell us everything you know.”
“And it better be the truth,” Ralph warned eyes cold and tone harsh.
The man swallowed eyes on Ralph and the sneer from earlier was gone, and it’s place was a confusion along with a hint of fear aimed at the shifter standing in front of him.
“All right,” he said slowly meeting Ralph’s eyes. “What is the first thing you want to know?”
Leonardo and Alec didn’t utter a word while Ralph stared at the man in front of him.
“Although I should say start from the beginning,” Ralph began hands clenching at his sides, “but there is something pressing on my mind even more.” He paused eyes closing briefly before snapping open.
“Where is my mate? Where is Natasha?”
In the room she shared with Ralph, or had until about a week ago, Whitney paced the floor nibbling on one of her manicured fingernails.
“I need to get pregnant,” she muttered her face paled remembering the conversation between her and Ralph, and his ultimatum before he decided to break their mating.
Whitney scolded swinging around to look into the mirror above the dresser. “I would be pregnant by now if he wasn’t shooting blanks.”
She dismissed the fact that she slept with plenty of men within the last few years since she mated with Ralph and never gotten pregnant.
“Garin is my last, and only, hope,” she whispered staring at her reflection when a thoughtful look crossed her face. “But if I don’t get pregnant, then I can fall back on Garin. He isn’t an Alpha, but if I play my cards right and a few words of encouragement in Garin’s ear, then maybe I can make my dream a reality again.”
A cunning smile drifted across her face dismissing the sudden intrusion of wolf’s thoughts.
What about that woman, Daya?
“She’s a human,” Whitney spoke aloud never talking with her wolf like others did. “She has nothing to offer him. Besides, compared to me, there is no other choice for him since I’m the most suitable one as it has been decreed.”
Ignoring her wolf’s words, Whitney went to lay on the bed while her wolf stewed inside her an anger that started to burn and yet her human half took no notice of it just like with everything else concerning her other half.
You can’t expect everything to go back the way it was just because it has been predetermined. You disregarded what we were given and aimed for such much more, and now because it is falling apart, you think that we can go back to the beginning.
Her wolf gave a low growl.
It isn’t going to end the way you want…and I’m going to suffer right along with you. There was odd note of pain in the low growl and yet there was also acceptance, one that her human half would never understand.
Chapter 19
Two days later, Brianna stepped out of the room closing the door behind her a frown settling on her face.
“What’s wrong?” Alec asked meeting just as she headed for the stairs.
“I can’t understand what’s wrong with Garin,” Brianna admitted. “Alpha Female Dena did a good job with the wound and all his vitals are normal with the exception of an elevated heart rate.”
From the first day they arrived, his vitals had stayed normal except for the heart rate which Daya found unnerving and yet Brianna had a suspicion that Garin knew she was there even though it wasn’t conscious.
“Daya’s fault,” Alec surmised correctly watching a smile briefly shift across Brianna’s face.
“I believe so, but…” Her words dropped off the frown returning. Shaking her head and pushing away the summation away for the moment, she turned her attention to Alec seeing a hard look in his eyes. “I’m guessing that Alpha Ralph hasn’t returned yet.”
Alec hadn’t divulged everything that was said in the office on their first day, but he had admitted that Ralph had left with their ‘visitor’ taking two fighter wolves with him.
“No, not yet, but Alpha Leonardo is speculating that he will return any day,” Alec confirmed shaking her head and giving Brianna a smile. “Where is Daya?”
Brianna’s lips pinched together tilting her head to the door behind her. “She hasn’t slept since we’ve arrived except for brief catnaps. She eats what I bring her, but hasn’t gone down stairs although Alpha Female Dena…”
“She’s dying to meet her, but she gets that Daya is worried about Garin,” Alec inputted ga
thering Brianna against him giving her a kiss. “But I’m sure you will figure out what’s wrong with Garin.”
“If I don’t, I know who may have an answer about it.” Brianna stated leaning against him feeling her wolf sigh with contentment before Alec ushered her downstairs and outside so she could get some air.
Inside the room, Daya gave Garin a sponge bath talking to him quietly the entire time.
“I missed you, Garin, but it’s nice having your wolf come visit me when I sleep. I’m a little nervous about being here, but Alpha Leonardo and Alpha Ralph remind of Trevor and Uncle Jordan in a way. I haven’t met Alpha Female Dena yet…” she winced knowing that her aunt would chide her about forsaking manners, but her concern for Garin overrode everything else and she bit her lip. “I met Alpha Female Whitney and I can see why she was your mate. She is beautiful.”
She paused slightly before she continued her rambling about anything and everything that came to her head.
Once she was done, she replaced the wash cloth inside the basin Brianna had found for her and after making sure Garin was covered, she went into the bathroom to dump the water.
Leaving it to dry, Daya went back out into the bedroom stilling when she saw Whitney just closing the door eyes on Garin.
“I do believe,” Daya’s voice was soft, but the woman jumped shifting her gaze to her, “Brianna told you to leave Garin alone until he woke up.”
Whitney scowled before she shifted it to a smug smile.
“Since you seemed to be unaware,” her tone was filled with a hint of superiority, “I’ll let you know that I’m an Alpha Female…”
“And,” Daya replied with a lifted eyebrow.
“Watch yourself, human,” Whitney growled giving her a narrowed look.
Daya stared at her. “Alpha Female Whitney, although I may be human, even I know that outfit isn’t one you wear to take care of an unconscious individual.”
Daya let her eyes drift over the skimpy outfit and Whitney flushed pulling the brief robe tighter.
“Maybe, but Garin does enjoy seeing me in these,” she cooed giving Daya a smug look.
Daya walked over to the bed feeling her stomach tighten at the woman’s words, but she didn’t let it show on her face.
“As does every other man I’m sure who has seen it,” she remarked absently eyes on Garin.
“Why you…” Whitney shouted hands clenching into fists.
“As an Alpha Female, you should be more respectful to your position and other pack members,” Daya replied cutting her off directing a cool look over her shoulder.
Whitney was trembling with rage, and yet Daya didn’t fear her which was bewildering since her aunt could make her freeze with a mere look and she had a feeling Kala when riled would be able to do the same.
She wondered why when a suddenly a voice sounded in her head.
Because she isn’t a true Alpha Female.
Gasping her eyes going wide Daya swung back to Garin catching his eyes start flutter hinting that he was waking up.
Without hesitation, Daya got up and rushed to the door pushing passed a startled Whitney. Ignoring the woman who had started to stutter at Daya’s disrespect, Daya threw open the door, and without leaving the room, shouted loud and clear.
“Brianna, Garin is starting to wake up!”
She flung around and hurried back to the bed briefly catching the startled, and at the same time apprehensive, look on Whitney’s face. Daya had a feeling that Whitney was worried about what Garin may have heard, and Daya could care less as long as he was all right.
Reaching the bed, Daya’s breath left her when she met Garin’s blue eyes and tears began to slide down her face.
“Garin…” It was whispered softly, and Daya allowed her eyes to drift over him before going back up to meet his eyes. “You scared me.”
Garin’s hand lifted, but Daya never knew who he was reaching for when suddenly Whitney grabbed it and pressing it against her breast.
“Garin!” Whitney cried out in excitement having regained her composure. “I was so worried about you.”
Daya found herself holding her breath even while tears still slid down her face watching the slight frown shift cross Garin’s face, but before he could react another rougher voice echoed around the room.
“It is about damn time, Garin. You had one worried woman waiting for you to awake up.”
Daya sighed heading downstairs for the first time since their arrival her brown eyes slightly troubled, but she hooded them when she met Alpha Leonardo just as she reached the bottom stair.
“Daya.” Leonard greeted her with a smile. “I hear Garin finally woke up.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Daya confirmed one hand going to down to rub her leg.
Leonardo studied her for a second before he lightly took her by the arm. “Dena has been dying to meet you and she’s been patient because of Garin.”
Daya found her mouth dropping open, but she didn’t have time to utter a word finding herself being maneuvered down the hall.
“Besides, you should eat and then get some exercise,” Leonardo suggested, and Daya wondered if he caught her sudden movement since her leg was aching from being inactive the last few days except for walking from Garin’s bed to the bathroom.
“Dena.”
He escorted her to the kitchen where his mate was baking something delicious from the smell wafting toward them.
“I thought a cake would be a good welcome back for a stubborn fighter wolf,” Dena remarked without turning around.
“He’ll probably wouldn’t mind a piece,” Leonardo commented winking at Daya who stifled a laugh. “But I’m sure his doctor wouldn’t advise it.”
Dena frowned. “Probably not, but,” she turned around and stopped her mouth dropping open when she saw who was with Leonardo.
“Well, it’s about time,” she exclaimed wiping her hands on a towel before hurrying over to Daya and giving her a hug which surprised the young woman who shot Leonardo a shocked look.
“Dena, sweetheart, don’t hug her too tight,” Leonardo advised after chuckling. “She needs to eat something, honey.”
Dena laughed stepping back and ushering Daya over to the table asking a million questions at once, or so it seemed.
Daya answered them without hesitation a soft smile on her face while Dena fluttered around her.
They had been chatting for over twenty minutes when Alec stormed into the kitchen his mouth tight with anger.
“Daya.” His sharp tone got all their attention. “Brianna would like you to help her.”
Daya nodded her head a blank look settling in her eyes and turning to Dena, she gave her quick hug. “Thank you, Alpha Female Dena.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie.”
Daya walked out of the room passing by Alec who touched her lightly on the shoulder.
He didn’t follow and when he turned back to Leonardo, there was a hardness on his face.
Leonardo frowned while Dena gave him a searching look.
“Alec, what happened?”
Alec scowled running a hand through his hair. “Alpha Female Whitney was in Garin’s room when Brianna and I hurried up after Daya’s call.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw before continued. “She was in a see-through negligee, and once we came into the room, she started giving out orders to Brianna even to the extent of telling Daya to get out.”
“What?” Leonardo’s voice was a mere whisper, but the one word was coated with anger.
“We don’t know happened before we arrived since Daya got up so Brianna could examine on Garin.” Alec started to smile his eyes crinkling up at the corners. “Daya left, but my mate didn’t wait to kick Whitney out of the room. She threatened to come to you since she was merely being with her ‘mate’.”
Dena sucked in her breath while Leonardo let a low curse.
“When does Ralph return?” Dena asked her tone waspish.
“In a few days, hopefully,” Leonardo replied in a hard
voice. “Alec, did Whitney go back to her room?”
“Yes, Alpha.” Alec gave a grim smile. “I followed her myself to make sure she did and pardon my disrespect, but I asked Paul to stand guard in the corridor and let me know when she leaves.”
He paused when Paul’s voice echoed urgently in his head.
“And she is on the move.”
Dena started out of the kitchen before either could stop her. “I’ll deal with Whitney until Ralph returns.”
She was almost out of sight when Leonardo called out to her. “My dear.”
She shifted a look over her shoulder to meet his eyes.
“Try to be civil until Ralph returns,” Leonardo cautioned with a chuckle seeing how his mate’s eyes darkened at the remainder. “Or, at least, don’t be so mean to her until we can do it without offending Ralph.” He stopped briefly the smile drifting off his face. “We still need to talk to Garin and hear his side of what happened before the attack.”
Alec gave them a questioning look.
“Whitney said that Garin was asking her for a second chance even though she was already mated with Ralph,” Dena revealed absently eyes on her mate, and she shook her head a brief laugh escaping her lips turning back and continuing out of the kitchen. “I don’t think Ralph would care if I kick her out right now, but I’ll wait. Besides, I want to see what happens when Ralph does return and the look on Whitney’s face at that moment.”
She exited the room without another word.
“It should be interesting,” Alec agreed turning back to Leonardo with a raised eyebrow. “What did Dena mean about Whitney claiming Garin wanted to get back with her?”
A glacier look swept over Leonardo’s face. “According to Whitney, she was out there at the time of the attack because he asked to meet her so he could ask to accept him even though she has a mate.”
“Bullshit,” Alec uttered without hesitation. “Even if it was true, which I highly doubt, Garin would’ve never put her at risk especially if that was how he felt. She is part of our mission and our mission is to keep her safe. Garin wouldn’t put her in harms way because he is one of the best and even if he did want to get back with her, he would wait until our mission was over before saying anything.”
His Wolf's Choice Page 24
