“I have to go.” Before he would convince her to stay, she turned and ran away-literally.
Drake stood still watching her go.
“If you have your sights on that one, forget it.” A young man came up to him, beers in his hand instead of the fine wine. “No one is to get near Natasha Millard.”
Drake turned his head sharply at the young man. Looking at him closely he saw that he wasn’t as young as he sounded. A golden shifter. That was what they were called for the golden locks on top of their head. Not many were around, but one stood in front of him now.
He was the same height as Drake, the same built, only where Drake was darker, this one was golden. Hence, the golden shifter.
He smiled at Drake, extended a beer to him before offering his hand. “Jason Laswell.”
Drake took the beer then the hand. “Drake Draeger.”
“Ah, so your father is here also for the secret Cabinet meeting.” Jason nodded, taking a drink from the bottle. “So am I.”
“How do you feel about the subject at hand?”
He had to ask the question. Lately all of the shifters were split when it came to the Gathering. Half wanted to keep things the way they were and half wanted change. Drake leaned more to the change, but after seeing something he wanted he was once again torn.
“The change is needed,” Jason said. “If things keep going the way they are then we’re never going to have females at the damn Gatherings.”
Drake agreed. “So what’d you mean no one gets near her?”
James Laswell’s blue eyes lit up. “You’re interested in a very unattainable prize my friend.” He shook his head, taking another drink. “He keeps her away most of the time, guarded when here.” He shrugged. “No one gets near her unless Philip Millard wants you to.”
“Thought he was all about keeping the old ways.”
James snickered this time. “He is, as long as it has nothing to do with his daughter. Rumor has it he’s setting up a mating for her—one that benefits him, not her.”
Drake turned his attention back towards the large house where Natasha Millard had run. He could still smell her. Still pick up her scent and follow it.
But he didn’t follow it. At least not yet.
The meeting was about to start and Drake had to be there. As first born, heir to his father it was his duty to stand by his father’s side. The thought at first bored him. He didn’t want to be in this kind of meeting, but knowing now that the father of his desire would be there ranting about keeping things the same intrigued him. Drake wanted to see the man for himself and hear what he had to say.
Following James to the house, Drake kept his mouth shut, eyes, and ears open. His father waited for him with his usual scowl in place.
“Where’ve you been?” Allen demanded.
“Gathering information,” Drake answered, walking past him into the room.
The room they were all led to was a large ballroom of sorts. Tables, chairs, food, and drink were all lined up for them. Cards had also been placed along the large circle table, where all the families sat. Drake took his seat, looking around at all the different families. Half he didn’t know, others he heard of. Laswell, whom he’d just met, Vanderburgs, he’d heard of, and Jenaro had been mentioned a few times in the past. How those three families stood about the change he wondered.
“Thank you all for coming to this meeting,” Philip Millard stormed into the room like a man of power. Drake watched his movements, never taking his eyes off the man. “The business at hand is the change to not only the Cabinet but to the Gathering itself.”
Drake linked his fingers together, over his belly, slumped back in the chair and stretched his legs out crossing them at the ankles. He ignored the irate expression his father cast him. He knew he was acting like a punk, and he was doing it on purpose. Pushing people was what he did best, and it was what he was going to do.
“Now it has come to my attention that half of you all want a change to both, especially the Gathering,” Philip went on. “Now I ask you all, why mess with something that works?” He smiled at them all.
Drake glanced around the room. Some were mumbling to themselves, others nodded at the statement. Okay, time to stir things up then.
“If things work so well, then why is there a lack in how many females show up at the Gathering?” Drake spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “Including your own daughter.” He had him!
Philip Millard turned his full attention to Drake. “Young Draeger. I’m sure your father has explained how things work at these meetings.”
“He has a legitimate question Millard,” Allen added, coming to Drake’s aid. “Why is it that if change isn’t needed, why is there a decline in the females?”
“And his daughter,” Drake stood up, facing the man. “You really can’t expect us to keep you on the board, and keep the old ways going, if you don’t follow the rules.”
“The boy has a point!” someone yelled, and others agreed.
Drake caught James Laswell’s eye for a second. The man smiled his approval and nodded towards Drake.
“My daughter is currently spoken for, not that it’s any of yours or anyone’s business for that matter,” Millard added, gritting his teeth.
“That’s funny.” Drake shrugged. “I didn’t pick up another scent on her when I spoke to her earlier.” He crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his own dark eyes on the man.
Millard’s face turned red. Others stood up, speaking at once about the change and how everyone needed to follow the rules. Arguments began, but Drake was immune to it all. Instead, he had a silent face off with Millard.
The meeting was getting fast out of control. Millard came up to Drake, standing nose to nose with him. “Stay away from my daughter, Draeger,” he warned with a low rumble to his voice. “I’m warning you now.”
“Be careful, Millard,” Drake growled back. “I take threats as personal as I do challenges.”
Millard snarled and Drake lost his control. He showed his own teeth, let lose the pent up frustration. A deep, loud growl left his lips and he pushed Millard away. The older man went flying backwards, landing on one of the large tables with food. All the talk stopped in the room, all watched the scene.
Drake changed some. He didn’t let his animal completely out, but enough that his hands and face changed. What caused this kind of rage to erupt inside him he couldn’t say. But what he could answer for was the fact that he didn’t like this man telling him to stay away from his woman. That was what Natasha Millard was as far as Drake was concerned. She was his!
Millard came up to his face, snarling and changing. A pure animal fight was about to happen. But it didn’t. Someone shot a gun and Allen came up in front of Drake, backhanding him so hard that it seemed to knock the haze right out of him.
Drake cleared his head and pushed his father away. He was ready to kill and didn’t give a fuck who it was. But he also had enough common since to walk away, which is what he did.
He turned from the group and stormed right out of the room, slamming the door behind him. As fast as his long legs would carry him he went back outside, but he didn’t join the party. Instead, he walked around the house, following the scent that he was deeply falling in love with.
He found a tree he could climb, and he pulled his ass up it. He followed her sweetness all the way to the top. Her room it seemed was on the top. Drake positioned himself just right. He was able to see into her room, watch her pace the floor hugging herself like she did when he first saw her.
She was everything he never thought he would want or need. Soft, delicate, beautiful. There was nothing to keep him from her, not if her father was passionate about keeping the old ways going.
Drake stiffened when Millard busted into her room. He looked so pissed. In fact, Drake knew he was by the way the door bounced off the wall, leaving a crack in the plaster. Natasha jumped and took a few steps backwards away from him.
“I told you to stay out
of sight!” Millard yelled, rushing up to her, grabbing hold of her arms roughly. He shook her, pushed her back, and backhanded her so hard she went flying onto the bed with a scream.
Drake had to really hold on to his self-control. Every nerve in his body was ready to bust through that window and rip the bastard’s throat out for hitting her.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Natasha cried, holding the side of her face. “I came back to my room right after I saw you.”
“Lies!” He grabbed her again, his hand going up for another slap. This time, Drake was posed to pounce.
“You’ll leave bruises!” an old woman shouted as she came in, stopping Millard from slapping Natasha again. “And how will you explain that to the men who are demanding your attention and hers?”
Millard shoved Natasha away again. His breathing labored, anger speared all over his face directed at her. “Have her packed up, Elli. She goes back tonight.”
Millard turned and left the room. The older woman went to Natasha, but Natasha brushed her aside, coming to her feet. “Don’t touch me.”
“I told you, girl, what was expected from a lady and a daughter.” The woman took a large suitcase from the closet. She placed it on the bed, opened the lid, and went to work at packing things. “Obedience is required or punishment suffered.”
“I’m not a dog, Elli, I’m his daughter!” Natasha raised her voice at the woman.
“And being his daughter he expects more from you. Now change. You’ll be leaving within the hour.”
Natasha snorted. “Out the back door just as I came in. What a surprise.”
Natasha disappeared and Drake started his climb down. So Millard was sending her away again. Well that was just what he needed then.
“What the hell are you doing up there?” Allen demanded.
Drake dropped down to the ground, brushed his pants off and his hands. “Checking something out.”
He started to walk away, but his father grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him. “What scheme do you have planed this time Drake?”
Drake jerked out of his father’s grip, facing him. “You wanted me to take a stand, I did. You’ve hounded me for a mate, well prepare yourself, Father. I’m about to get my mate.”
“What’re you talking about?” His father frowned, clearly not understanding what was going on.
“Millard wants to keep the old ways, so we’ll keep them for now. And I’ll show him just what happens when you refuse to change a damn thing.” He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply of the night. He could still smell her, knew just where she was in the house. “I’m going to get my mate and I’m getting her tonight. The old fashion way.” He opened his eyes, and looked directly in his father. “I’m going to take her.”
Chapter Two
Natasha followed Elli down the stairs, to the back of the house and into the waiting car. She kept her head down, didn’t even bother looking at her father. He stood at the back door making sure she got into the car. He said nothing to her, only spoke low to Elli before she also got into the car.
The door closed, her fate once more sealed. She was heading back to the boarding school that was more of a home to her then this place. Granted it didn’t matter where she went at the moment. She didn’t have friends. Males seemed to be afraid to talk to her, and in truth, she was scared to be around them. Over the years growing up some with her father, she saw the hungers that fueled him—heard the way he took his women, and now she feared the mating altogether.
Even tonight, the male that had approached her seemed to either not know who she was, or just didn’t care about speaking to her. But he also frightened her. He was so dark, so forbidding. Now granted his hair appeared soft and she wouldn’t mind touching it, but the rest of him sent shivers down her spine. Large in body, shoulders as wide as her father’s, legs thick, his build lean and she wondered for a second about his chest and belly. Was he hairy, or only had a small amount on him. Below the waist, she didn’t even want to think about.
“It’s best for you to go back to school,” Elli said. Natasha turned from staring out the window to the old woman. “You’re safer there. No males to worry about tarnishing you.”
“You really think being locked up in a boarding school with no friends and no family is best?” Natasha asked her, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. “I have no life, Elli, no friends, nothing. I don’t even have a father.”
“He protects you the only way he knows how,” she said with a sharp nod. “And you should be thankful he provides for you as well as he does. An ungrateful child such as you should be thanking him for his kindness, not throwing it back in his face.”
“And just what did I do this time to deserve the treatment I got?” Natasha crossed her arms over her chest, taking a deep breath. “I dressed up like he wanted, showed myself to his party, and went back to my room. What do I get for doing everything he wants? Slapped and shipped off once more.” She took a deep breath, calming not only her nerves but the anger that threatened to spill. For so long now Natasha held in her anger, the resentment, everything, but she felt like it was all starting to crack around her. “This is the last time Elli. I’m not coming back when he decides there’s a use for me again.”
“Talking like that will only get you into more trouble.” The car began to slow down. “What’s wrong?” Elli demanded from the driver.
“Someone’s blocking the road,” the driver answered.
Natasha sat forward in her seat, looking out the front of the car. Sure enough, a large black limo was parked right across the road blocking all traffic.
The driver stopped the car and put it in park. She saw the limo driver leave the vehicle. Natasha couldn’t make out much about the man. He had a hat on, dark sunglasses and a black suit with leather gloves. He walked towards them, and something in her gut felt off. Something wasn’t right.
“Elli, I think we should get out right now and leave,” Natasha said.
Elli waved a careless hand at her. “Don’t sound like a child.”
Their driver rolled the window down. At the same time, the back door of the limo opened and out came another guy. Before Natasha could figure out who it was she heard someone cock a gun.
Natasha covered her mouth with her hand, holding the scream from coming out when she saw another man point a gun at the driver. The back door opened on Elli’s side, and a man jerked her out. For a few precious seconds time felt like it was standing still.
“Pop the back, please,” the man with the gun said to their driver.
A pop, and the trunk was opening. Natasha watched as her bags were taken out, and then Elli got shoved inside, the trunk hood closing behind him. Not being a brave girl, Natasha knew that if she stayed put then something very bad was going to happen.
She shoved her door open, knocking the one with the gun back a few steps. As fast as she could she took off running—away from whatever was happening back there. She stumbled to the ground when she heard a shot go off. She screamed, fearing that her driver was dead because of her.
Desperation took over. Adrenalin pumped fast and hard in her veins, giving her the strength to run, to get away. Hearing someone chase after her only fueled it.
Just when she was about to reach a pasture, a strong arm wound around her waist, and pulled her off her feet and back against a brick wall of a chest. She knew then a big, strong man held her—very easily. She screamed again, kicked her legs out, and twisted her body. But it was no use. His hold on her was too tight. She wasn’t going anywhere.
He stopped running with her, turned her around, and walked back toward the cars. As he walked, he wrapped his other arm around her, pinning her arms to her side. Fear overwhelmed her, but it also gave her the strength she needed to fight him to the end.
The walk back to the cars didn’t take as long as it took her to run from them. She saw her driver on the ground, holding his leg, which was bleeding. Natasha whimpered at the sight. She also heard banging coming fro
m the trunk of her car.
“He’ll live,” the driver with the gun said to the one hold her.
“Get the bags and let’s get the hell out of here.”
She knew that voice! Heard it tonight at the party, but couldn’t place a face or name with it since he was holding her against his chest facing away. The one holding her turned and walked back to the limo. The back door was still open, and instead of him, letting her go to get inside he kept hold and slid into the backseat with ease with her.
Another man was sitting in the back waiting on them. “I hope you know what the hell your doing?” he snapped. “This could start a war.”
“I know what I’m doing. Now you want to hand me the stuff?”
The older man took a deep breath and picked up a small bag on the floor. Natasha watched him, still struggling with the tight hold that gripped her. Her eyes widened when the man brought out a syringe and some liquid in a tiny bottle.
“No!” she moaned in desperation, twisting harder in the iron arms.
“You’re only going to sleep,” the one holding her whispered, brushing some hair from her face and away from her shoulder. She felt his warm lips touch her shoulder. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
That hand which just touched her face moved down to her waist. He pulled up her shirt, pushed her slacks down some to show her hip. His grip got tighter, his hold more snug as she felt the other man draw closer with the needle.
“Please don’t!” she begged again. It punched her skin and she jumped.
“Everything’s going to be alright,” she heard him say in her ear again.
Instantly things started to spin, her eyes became heavy, and they felt like lead. Natasha couldn’t fight anymore. Darkness was coming, sleep taking her away, just as the limo started up to take her away also.
“Make sure someone calls about the old woman,” the one holding her said. “Left her in the trunk.”
Natasha slumped back against him, weak, fighting the sleepiness. With another kiss to her shoulder and one to her cheek, she lost the fight and gave in to the peace of whatever drug they just gave her.
Shifter 08 - Draeger Legacy Page 2