The Alpha (The Pack Book 3)

by Kristin Coley

  Hank Navarre came over in his sheriff uniform, his gaze sweeping over us. “Son, you need to go on home. Jess’ Dad will take her back.” Dom let out a low growl, pressing closer to me, and I sank my hand into the fur of his neck.

  “Your Dad is right,” I told him. “You’re covered in blood.”

  “Some guy gets mauled in the forest, I’d rather not have to get a hunting party together for my own son,” Hank admonished and Dom lowered his head, his ears flicking, before running into the woods.

  “Is it going to be a problem?” I questioned, my gaze going toward the spot where we’d left the dead man.

  Hank shook his head, mouth pursed. “Nah, people get lost in the woods, come across wild animals. It’s a tragedy, but what can we do?” He lifted his hands, palms up and I nodded.

  “What can you do,” I echoed, a vaguely unsettled feeling coming over me at remembering the ease in which I’d watched the man die. My gaze fell on Leah’s car, the metal twisted and bent, and then to Liam, whose face was exhausted, and the feeling disappeared. “People should really know better than to go into the woods unprepared,” I stated, unsmiling and Hank gave me a respectful nod.

  “Come on, Bunny, let’s get you to the hospital,” Dad urged, tugging my arm. His words brought every cut and bruise to life and I winced at the sudden onslaught of pain. I groaned as my ribs gave a deep throb.

  “No,” I told him, shaking my head. “Take me home. Dom can heal this.” Dad’s hand hovered uncertainly for a second, but my expression was resolute and he finally gave in with a sigh.

  “Fine, but he better make sure he heals every scratch,” he declared, guiding me to the Jeep. I pulled myself up into the oversized four wheel drive with a groan. Liam followed me up, his expression not giving any indication his leg pained him as he crawled in the back with Monster, but the Pack bond told me differently.

  I closed my eyes, resting my head against the seat as Dad got us on the road. My connection to Dom hummed, a continuous vibration reassuring us both that we were okay. When we pulled into the lot, Liam jumped down first, reaching up to help me down. “Your leg,” I protested.

  “Is something I’ll have to live with,” he answered doggedly. “I’ll adapt.”

  I wanted to cry at his words, at the pain he attempted to disguise, but I could feel his resolution and knew my tears would do nothing for him. “I admire your strength,” I said instead, accepting his hand as I pushed away the threat of tears.

  A smile flickered on his lips as he nodded. “I’d like to go check on Leah,” he told me and I nodded in agreement. I wanted to go too, but as I stepped forward, my ribs protested, the sharp pain telling me going anywhere wasn’t a good idea.

  “Please let me know how she’s doing,” I asked, squeezing his wrist.

  “I will,” he replied and I glanced over at Dad.

  “Can you and Monster go too?” I questioned and waved at Dom’s Jeep. “Take the Jeep,” I offered and Dad shook his head.

  “We’ll go to the hospital with Liam, but I’ll take my car,” Dad replied, handing me Dom’s keys. “A little less noticeable,” he explained, before adding, “And easier to get into.” I chuckled, then winced at the jolt of pain. “Go and have Dom take care of you,” Dad said, shooing me. “I’ll take care of them.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” I said with a smile, shuffling to the motel room I shared with Dom. “I love you,” I called over my shoulder, my gaze catching his and Monster’s before it ping ponged off Liam. “You too,” I added as an afterthought, but his expression was so astonished by my casual words, I couldn’t let it go. “You’re family now, Liam. Get used to hearing it.” Dad slung his arm around Liam’s shoulder and guided the dazed teenager to the car.

  I met Dom at the door, he was still in wolf form as I opened the door and I muttered, “Do not think you’re kissing me with that mouth. Not until you’ve gargled with a gallon of Listerine.”

  He let out a low bark, following me as I headed straight for the bathroom. I peeled my clothes off, dumping them on the floor to wash later, as I set the shower to scalding.

  “Listerine, huh?” Dom repeated, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. I glanced at him in the mirror and flinched at the macabre sight. Blood coated his face and neck, and his hair based on its matted appearance.

  “The blood doesn’t disappear with the magic of the shift,” I stated, faced with the obvious.

  “Unfortunately, no,” Dom answered, going to the sink and splashing water on his face. “But I need to heal your wounds so one gallon of Listerine coming up.” He poured a ridiculous amount in his mouth and started to gargle as I stared at him in disbelief. He swished it around, his cheeks ballooning and a laugh caught me off guard at the sight. I leaned against the shower door as steam billowed around me and laughed as he made a fish face and chipmunk cheeks for my amusement.

  When he finally spit the liquid out, my sides ached from my laughter. He stalked toward me, opening his mouth for my inspection, exhaling a minty breath in my face.

  “Good enough?”

  “Yes,” I said fighting a grin as I informed him, “But you still need to wash the rest of the blood off.”

  “You wash my back and I’ll wash yours,” he offered with a cocky grin.

  “Who can refuse an offer like that?” I responded, shrieking as he scooped me up and set me in the shower. Hot water poured over us and he shook his head, slinging water. I grabbed a bottle of shampoo and filled my hands, reaching for his head. He ducked so I could scrub his scalp, letting out a moan as I scratched behind his ear.

  Pink tinged water flowed down the drain as I scrubbed the blood out of his hair and off his face. He returned the favor, his movements careful as he lingered over bruises and cuts until my skin was flushed pink. He cut off the water and carefully wrapped me in a towel, patting me dry before knotting a towel around his hips.

  “Now, let’s get those tended to,” he murmured and I nodded mutely, my body relaxed by the heat and his careful ministrations. He led me to the bed, his mouth brushing my cheek and I felt his tongue stroke over a cut I didn’t even know I had. He worked his way slowly over my body, careful to inspect every inch as he licked and soothed my injuries.

  When he finished, he eased down next to me, a prominent bulge nestled against my butt and I wiggled, my hand reaching for him and he stopped me.

  “No, sleep,” he urged, guiding my hand back to my chest as he wrapped himself around me. “I want to hold you while you sleep.” His need to take care of me pulsed over our bond and I knew this more than anything would reassure him I was safe. I nodded sleepily, the adrenaline I’d felt long gone as exhaustion sank though me.

  When I woke up, I was alone. A glance at the clock told me I’d only slept a couple of hours. The bond told me Dom was outside with Caleb and I hurried to pull clothes on to meet them.

  “He’s safe at home,” I heard Caleb say as I stepped outside the room. “Anna managed to calm him enough so we could walk him through shifting back.”

  “You initiated him?” Dom asked, as I padded toward them.

  Caleb shook his head, “Not yet. He was practically falling over in exhaustion,” he made a soft sound of amusement, “That first shift is a doozy, if you can remember that far back, old man.”

  “Careful who you call an old man,” Dom rejoined accompanied by the soft sound of a brotherly punch. “You should respect your elders, pup.”

  “Oh, that’s how it is?” Their teasing brought a smile to my face as notes of the old Caleb came through. “Trent escorted them back home,” Caleb told Dom, sounding more serious. “With my blessing,” he added when the silence lingered. “You know when I told you Trent was welcome to join the Navarre Pack…I meant it for all of you, for your Pack.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Dom answered quietly, the words sounding painfully final.

  “I know,” Caleb replied, “I think I knew it when I offered, but I had to try.” Darkness had fallen as I slept and
I could barely make out him shaking his head in the dim glow of the security lights. “A last ditch effort to keep you in the Navarre Pack.”

  “And I appreciate it,” Dom responded, his voice genuinely appreciative. “I don’t know another who would make the same offer.” He paused as understanding washed over him. “My decision not to stay with the Navarre Pack has nothing to do with you being Alpha.” Caleb cleared his throat disbelievingly. “It’s true. It’s the opposite in fact. I don’t want to stand in your way, Caleb. You have the right instincts, if not the desire to lead, and I know you’ll make the right choice for the Pack as a whole.” He grasped Caleb’s shoulder tightly. “Sometimes the burden of leadership falls to those who don’t want it but who are needed.”

  I hesitated at bottom of the stairs, not wanting to interrupt, but Dom reached back and pulled me forward. He wrapped himself around me, his body a furnace driving away the chilly night air.

  “Jess,” Caleb greeted me with a nod, his expression telling me he wasn’t sure how he’d be welcomed.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I replied, rocking slightly in the cocoon of Dom’s arms. “We’ve missed you,” I told him, seeing a glimmer of the old happy go lucky Caleb as he relaxed at my welcome.

  “I’ve missed you all too,” he said tightly, emotion choking his voice. “It’s been a rough few weeks and you’ve stood by me when I didn’t deserve it,” he acknowledged.

  “We don’t abandon our friends,” I reminded him. “Pack is life.”

  He gave me a wry grin. “Pretty astute for a girl not raised Pack.”

  “I’m a fast learner,” I replied, feeling Dom’s chest rumble behind me. “But don’t pull that shit again,” I warned, pointing my finger at him and he chuckled, ducking his head as he nodded.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he promised, smiling ruefully. “I can’t say I’m as quick at learning as you are, but I think I’ve learned the importance of communicating.” His eyes flicked up to Dom, “And trusting in friendship.”

  I glanced up to see Dom nodding above me. “I think we’ve both learned the importance of those lessons.”

  A soft scrape drew my attention and I leaned forward slightly, glancing to the side to see what it was, when Dom jerked me back, twisting us so his body covered mine.

  ATTACK!

  The single word thundered through my brain as Dom issued the warning through the Pack link. He caught Caleb by the neck and hauled him closer to the wall, trying to protect us both.

  Sharp awareness alerted me to Trent and Liam’s presence through the bond as they scrambled to get to us, but I knew they were too far away. We were essentially defenseless as Dom and Caleb searched for cover.

  They want Jess, Dom shouted, impotent rage coursing through him and into me with the bond. We should have annihilated them already. His growl was ineffectual as he remained in human form, not wanting to risk leaving me uncovered.

  He lifted me and started to run toward the apartment, but a quiet popping sound filled the air and I felt the pinpricks of needles as if they pierced my own flesh. He released me, trying to shift into his wolf to fight the effects of whatever they’d shot him with, but it was too late as we both fell, my link with Dom disappearing as his eyes closed when he hit the cold earth.

  “Dom!” I heard someone screaming, not recognizing it as myself as my body jerked and I tried to reach for him. The sounds of a distant fight barely penetrated my brain as I stared at Dom’s still form, trying desperately to connect to him, horror filling me at the thought that he might be dead.

  He’s not dead, Trent’s sharp voice penetrated through the haze threatening to consume me. He’s only unconscious. Trust me, we’d know if he was dead.

  The Bond….It’s absence felt as if someone had cut off one of my arms and I started to shake as I stared at him, willing the connection to reform.

  God, this is bad, Trent muttered, an impression formed of wolves running. We’re coming. You need to hold on.

  My eyes glazed as my body slowly shut down, and my last sight was Caleb’s body jerking convulsively as he fell to the ground next to me.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jess

  I moaned, my mouth full of cotton, as I blinked into awareness.

  “Jess?” The familiar voice was a relief as was the tiny string of awareness that was my connection to Dom. It was enough to let me know he was alive and I almost whimpered in relief.

  “Caleb?” I managed, my tongue trying to lick my lips but there was no moisture. I rolled my head in the direction his voice came from and he attempted to smile but the effect was ruined by his split lip and the bruising on his face. “You look like shit.”

  A rough chuckle escaped him that quickly cut off with a groan. “You’re not looking so hot yourself.”

  “Thanks,” I replied, trying to get my bearings. It was cold, I concluded immediately, and I sat on something itchy. Moonlight filtered in through cracks in the wall, the large space empty except for some box like structures. “Where are we?”

  “A barn,” Caleb answered, trying to wiggle closer to me and I realized his hands and feet were tied as he awkwardly scooted toward me. “The Hanley compound is my guess.”

  “Hanley,” I spat, not disguising my disgust. “How did they get us,” I tried to swallow but my mouth felt like the damn Sahara, “And why is my mouth so dry?”

  “They brought Dom down first,” Caleb answered angrily. “After that, it was easy enough to get me,” he added bitterly and a vague memory of his jerking body came back to me.

  “They hit you with something,” I muttered, positive I hadn’t made that up. “Dom too. He went down so fast.”

  “They tased me. You and Dom got hit with tranqs.” Caleb glanced at me, his shoulder pressed against mine. “I think that’s why your mouth is so dry.”

  “I…” I stopped, sighing, as I stared at the wall, baffled by the idea of the Hanleys being smart enough to use Tasers and tranq guns to bring us down. “I hate to say I’m kind of impressed and a little pissed we didn’t think of doing it.” A laugh shook Caleb’s chest. “Also, they kidnapped me again.” Outrage filled my voice and Caleb’s laughter trailed off.

  “Actually, they kidnapped me. You’re feel to go,” Caleb announced and I jerked forward as shock reverberated through me. He nodded toward my body and I looked down, realizing my hands and feet weren’t bound. “Maybe they thought you’d be out longer but they didn’t tie you up.”

  I scanned the area around us, belatedly realizing Dom wasn’t there. I’d assumed they’d dumped him with us and he was still unconscious based on our bond. “Where’s Dom?”

  “I’m not sure,” Caleb answered. “Not here, I know that much.”

  Trent?

  Thank God, he answered instantly. Are you okay?

  Define okay.

  Alive and unhurt?

  I’m okay then. Dom? I questioned. He’s not here with me.

  No, they didn’t take him, Trent answered and he must have sensed my puzzlement. Oh, they intended to, but Dylan stopped them.

  Dylan, I repeated, dumbfounded.

  He heard what was going on and attacked them, driving them away from Dom, but I don’t think he comprehended they had you and Caleb, Trent explained. Dom is still out. He took several rounds from a tranq gun.

  He’s okay though? He’ll wake up? I verified, as I nervously worried the tenuous link I had to him.

  He will….eventually.

  It was the eventually that almost broke me as I wondered how long that entailed, but I sucked up the tears and forced myself to consider our options.

  The Hanleys have us, I reported and sensed Trent reaching for a sucker. We’re in a barn, probably at their compound.

  He cursed. Dom is out of commission, Liam – he didn’t finish the thought. The Navarre Pack is skittish, understandably, because their Alpha has been kidnapped and their Beta is out for the count.

  Caleb cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. He lifted h
is hands. “Untie me and let’s see if we can get ourselves out of here.”

  I nodded to him, starting to pick at the thick ropes they’d used. We’re going to try and sneak out, I told Trent and felt a sudden spike in his anxiety. You have a better idea? I asked him, knowing he’d just crunched down on a sucker. I don’t want to risk any more lives.

  He better protect you, Trent fumed. And we’re still coming. I’ve got Anna, Hank, your Dad – he stopped abruptly.

  And me, Liam added determinedly.

  Liam….

  I can fight, he said forcefully. Let me do this. His words gave me the impression that I could order him to back down, but doing so would crush any trust he had in us.

  Fine, but bring guns, I ordered, my tone demanding obedience. I’m fucking tired of being kidnapped. It’s time we finished off the Hanley Pack.

  Yes, they echoed in unison, reassuring me they’d do as I said, and I forced my attention back to the ropes holding Caleb hostage.

  “They’re coming. Anna, Hank, Trent and Liam. My dad,” I told Caleb. “We need to meet them. I’d rather not get caught in the crossfire.” I tugged at the rope in frustration, afraid I was only making them tighter, and Caleb rotated his hands, giving me more access.

  “You can do this,” he assured me, his tone soothing. “We’ll make it out and you’ll see Dom again.” Tears clouded my vision at his words and I roughly brushed them away, blinking until my I could see again. “You know I envied him.” One of the knots loosened and I grasped at it gratefully. “He found you and there was never any question you were it for him. You belong together.”

  I focused on the task at hand, not glancing up as I told him, “It’s terrifying, you know. To belong so completely to someone, to need them so much that it feels like death is the only answer if you lose them.” My fingers unraveled the first knot and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I had him free. “When Dom collapsed there was a void where our bond should have been. I’ve never been more scared in my life and it wasn’t even for myself.” A mirthless chuckled escaped me. “This is what…my fourth kidnapping? And the only thing that scares me is losing Dom. Of knowing how he would feel if he lost me.” I shook my head as the rope fell at last. “And the crazy thing is….I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’d do it all again.” I leaned back, looking at him for the first time since I’d started to speak. “You’ll find her. And it will be exactly right.”