Evander snarled. “I know what a true fucking claim is!” Part of him was upset at Clay’s clear belief that he was attempting to take something that wasn’t his, but a bigger part of him was furious at the fact that he couldn’t fault the younger wolf. Evander had always believed that his pack would excel with a mated pair at the helm. Problem was; he hadn’t been able to give that to them. After years of searching, and sniffing out every female shifter in the state, he’d reluctantly admitted defeat and vowed to give up the search in favor of re-focusing on his pack and being the leader they needed. Now, with his mate dropped squarely in his lap, it was no wonder Clay doubted that Bethany was truly his. Hell, the circumstances were unbelievable to Evander, and he was the one who’d been stricken. Evander finding Bethany was fortuitous, but he knew his pack would have a difficult time believing it.
Drawing in a deep breath, Evander calmed himself then held out a hand to Clay. Pulling the young healer to his feet, Evander explained. “When I found her in the bunker, I just knew.”
Clay nodded without looking up and, while angry at his pack mate’s affront, Evander felt guilty for having acted so harshly.
“She woke only briefly in my jeep when I took her from the site. It was enough. I was stricken.”
Clay’s head raised a fraction and he looked at Bethany.
Shaking her head, Bethany’s eyes were imploring. “I didn’t…” She swallowed hard. “I wasn’t stricken!”
Evander growled, low and hard. Her denial of him was infuriating, and it made him look like he was still on the hunt for any female to claim. He knew when Clay dipped his head that the younger wolf still didn’t believe him. Clay thought Evander was simply staking claim on Bethany…why? Because she’s injured and too weak to defend herself? His growl deepened. Or is it because they think I’ve taken advantage of her unconscious state to fabricate being stricken? He had to admit, it looked and sounded bad even to him and there was no one else to blame for it. He’d been the one who’d neglected his pack to search out his mate. What were the odds of her landing in his lap after he’d given up that search? Almost as improbable as his pack actually believing that he’d been so lucky.
“It is painful to touch her,” he defended himself. He stalked across the room with a lethal grace. He had every intention of touching her to prove to Clay that he was still stricken, but when she flinched back he stilled mid-stride.
What in the hell am I doing? Rising to his full height he snarled, “Tend her!” Then, without another word, Evander turned and exited the room, slamming the door firmly behind him. He tromped down the hall and hurried down the stairs. He needed a good run to work off some of his aggression.
I’m the fucking Alpha! I don’t need to prove myself to Clay or any of the rest of them for that matter. Still, the circumstances were frustrating. Bethany couldn’t even verify his claim, and in his selfish need to prove to Clay that he wasn’t lying, he’d frightened his mate. He was really screwing things up. First, he shouldn’t have just taken her from the bunker. Second, he should have waited to verify his suspicion that she was his. He’d have had witnesses…well, if they didn’t think he was simply acting.
Lincoln! How had he forgotten? The shifter had been there when Bethany had woken in her room. Lincoln was the witness. He knew Evander had been stricken. Turning, Evander was halfway back up the stairs when he stalled. Even the straightforward act of finding a witness to verify his claim was asking his pack to accept his and Bethany’s mating. As Alpha, he didn’t need to do that. What he said was law, and if any of them didn’t like it then they could take it up with Evander.
At the bottom of the stairs, he ran into Raina.
“Hi, Kane. How’s Bethany?”
Evander eyed the tray in her hands and knew she was going up to Bethany’s room. “She’s not healing.”
“Not healing?” Raina gasped.
The pack thinking that Evander was taking advantage of Bethany was the least of his problems. Right now, he needed Clay to find out why she wasn’t healing and to, more importantly, fix it! When she’d recoiled from him in the room, he’d left not out of shame but out of concern. Bethany’s wolf wasn’t present. As Alpha, Evander could sense another shifter’s wolf. Always close under the surface, and even more so in an Alpha’s presence, a shifter’s wolf was always at the ready for defense. Bethany’s wasn’t. He’d approached, and she’d shied back, but there was no wolf in her surging to the fore. No, it had been all terrified woman attempting to avoid him.
“Get up there and see if Clay needs help,” he growled and eyed the tray of food. “And make sure she eats it all. Tell Clay I want a full report at dawn.”
Raina nodded and hurried up the stairs.
Chapter 8
Evander had gone for a long run and then roamed the woods outside the compound until the sun peeked over the horizon. He watched from outside, lying on a bed of newly fallen leaves, as the lights in the house slowly came on one by one. Sniffing against the crisp bite of fall frost, he paid particular attention to the light in the guest room. It’d been two full days of rest and nourishment now, and Bethany should be fully healed. Standing, he stretched while keeping his eyes glued to the window.
Once Bethany healed, he could begin the process of courtship. It was something he was greatly looking forward to. Heading toward the house, he shifted mid-stride and clothing rippled as it regenerated over his strong limbs. It wasn’t a gift all shifters carried. It was a testament to his pure blood lines, and a trait he’d easily learned from his friend, Dell. Wolves of the North—the original Glacier Park and Yellowstone Park packs—had honed the ability. Even now, some Eastern shifters and those in the South still weren’t able to regenerate clothing with a shift. Some lone wolves and ferals had completely lost the ability.
Booted feet hit the front steps, and he entered the back door leading into the compound’s large kitchen. Scents hit him instantly and had his belly growling in anticipation. He’d been so concerned with Bethany the night before that he’d forgone his own dinner, and his wolf was grumbling at the fact.
Entering the dining room, he watched as several heads snapped up.
“Morning, Kane.” Raina greeted him without her usual warmth, while Swan and Clay refused to lift their heads. Lincoln watched Raina fix him a plate while Mateo and Weston smiled at him knowingly. He knew what their reactions meant. Clay had told them.
He crossed to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup before claiming his seat at the head of the table. He cleared his throat and scowled at Weston. “And what’s got you grinning like an idiot?”
“Congratulations!” Weston clapped him on the back with one hand while the other flipped his sliver through the air then caught it as it fell. Weston’s sliver was a weapon that looked like a large knife with a liquid mercury blade. The molten silver blade appeared solid, but a closer look revealed a shimmering, liquid blade that never solidified. To date, the pack still didn’t know all the powers the blade held. Evander only knew it was a possession passed down in Weston’s family for centuries.
“I’m glad you’ve finally found her.”
Evander stilled to eye Weston. He could scent jealousy, and wondered if Weston had some interest in Bethany, or was simply deflated that the Alpha had finally found his mate while Weston still hunted his own.
At the other end of the table, Swan snorted, which drew a frown from Evander and his pack Beta.
“Problem, Swan?” It was Weston that did the asking, but Swan didn’t get a chance to reply.
“She’s fine,” Mateo interjected. “No problem. Right, Swan?” His coal-black hair fringed nearly to his clear blue eyes. Eyes that were warning Swan not to offend the Alpha or the Beta.
“Fine, Kane.” Swan’s tone was brittle. “I’m glad you finally found her.”
Swan wasn’t jealous. She was upset. As the youngest member of the pack, she relied heavily on Evander for patronly support. She didn’t need him for protection; she had Mateo for that. Bu
t it had been hard for her when Evander had all but abandoned the pack to hunt down his one. As pack Beta, Weston had asserted control in Evander’s absence, but Mateo was nearly equal in strength and enjoyed fighting more than any of them. It had been hard to watch the in-fighting between the two. Worse, Swan and Raina had abandoned their own pack to avoid a ruthless Alpha. Swan had always feared retribution and, with Evander gone, she’d lost many nights of sleep as well as her sense of security. Now, with the claim that Bethany was his, he knew there’d be fear that he’d neglect the pack again.
“I have been stricken,” he announced, shoving away the plate of bacon, eggs, and toast that Raina placed in front of him. “This is going to be a good thing. I’ve long professed how a mated Alpha pair will strengthen this pack. Now, I get the chance to prove it.”
The reaction to his news wasn’t what he’d expected. Weston continued to smirk, but Swan, Clay, and even Raina bowed their heads in clear disbelief.
“Lincoln was witness.”
Raina’s head snapped up, and her eyes jerked to Lincoln. The man rarely spoke, so when he did it wasn’t to waste his breath on lies. Lincoln nodded, and Raina’s eyes flooded with tears as she faced Evander.
“Oh Kane!” She was out of her chair and across the kitchen in an instant. Arms wrapped around him, she sniffed, ignoring Lincoln’s rumble of displeasure at her show of affection toward the Alpha. “I’m sorry I didn’t…” She sniffed again as she pulled back, smiling affectionately at Evander as she squeezed his shoulders. “I’m happy for you.” Raina turned and eyed the table. “We’re all happy for you.” She eyed Swan and lifted her eyebrows in expectation as she nodded, silently prodding the other woman to show her support.
Mateo reached beside him and grabbed Swan’s hand as her face flushed. It was good news and bad news. Good, because Evander’s claim was true. Bad, because Swan feared he’d abandon them again. “I’m…” Swan’s voice trembled as her eyes flooded. “I’m glad…” Shoving back from the table, Swan jerked her hand from Mateo’s. She didn’t finish as she raced from the kitchen.
Mateo was on his feet in a flash.
“Let her go, Mat.”
Mateo turned to snarl at Weston. “She’s just afraid. She has a right to that.”
Weston made to stand at Mateo’s challenging stance, but Evander’s hand on his Beta’s arm kept the man in his seat. Evander eyed Mateo. “Go to her. Tell her I’m not going anywhere.”
Mateo nodded once. He appreciated his Alpha’s understanding. Then he was out the door chasing after Swan.
Reclaiming his seat, Weston smirked in his charming, playboy way. “Better you than me, Kane.” He leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. “Imagine all the broken hearts if this,” he let his eyes swipe down his frame, “was relegated to pleasing only one female.”
Raina rolled her eyes with a lady-like snort, but Evander knew something the rest of the pack didn’t. His Beta, Weston, spent his nights jumping from partner to partner because he too was seeking out his mate. He just didn’t have the heart to admit it. Both men longed for that missing piece of their soul, the piece that would make them whole.
“Kane.” Clay’s voice was apologetic as he plowed a hand through his short, blonde hair. “I’m sorry.”
Ignoring the other man’s apology, Kane demanded, “How is she today?” Part of him had hoped she’d join them for breakfast, but he knew his pack needed to deal with the initial shock of his new circumstance first.
Clay looked up at the ceiling overhead as if he could see Bethany’s room and shook his head. “It’s the same. She’s the same.”
“Same?” Shock hit hard, followed by fear; a rare emotion for the Alpha. “What do you mean, the same?”
“She hasn’t healed at all. It’s like…It’s like she’s not even a shifter.”
The legs of his chair screeched as he shoved back from the table. Raina rose as well, but Kane waved her off. “Stay here.”
“Kane?” Clay offered. “We need to talk. I’ve got an idea.”
“With me.”
Clay followed Evander out of the kitchen, talking as he walked.
Chapter 9
Bethany was officially freaking the fuck out! Since arriving at Evander’s compound, she’d slept, eaten, slept, eaten, and slept. It should have been enough for a full healing, but nothing had changed. Earlier, the pack healer had come and gone, and even without the aid of her wolf, she could sense the healer’s confusion. Bethany didn’t know what was wrong, and the pack healer didn’t either. It was terrifying. Clay had instructed her to get dressed and that he’d be back to do some tests after Raina brought her some breakfast, but she hadn’t been able to eat. The plate of food Raina had brought sat cold on the dresser.
I’ve traumatized my wolf. It’s the only reason she could formulate for why her wolf had withdrawn. How do I fix it? What do I do? She paced back and forth, eyeing the room for some tool, some useful hint to draw her wolf forth. She knew she needed to fix things, and do it quickly. She had to get her wolf’s head right before Evander claimed them under false pretense.
Closing her eyes she attempted to shift. It was the first time since she’d been captured that she’d actually tried, but nothing happened. Dropping to her knees in the middle of the room, she squeezed her eyes tighter and tried to force a shift. She regressed all the way back to her very first teachings.
Come on! She imagined her limbs, ears, and nose elongating as her mother had taught her at her very first change. She envisioned hair springing forth as her bones shifted and crunched into new locations, but no surge of power rippled through her, no pain bit, and no change came.
On her knees and panicking, her head jerked to the window. She could jump. The danger would pull her wolf out. Wouldn’t it?
She crossed to the window and hitched it open to eye the ground below. They were on the third story, and it was a long way down. If her wolf didn’t come out, she’d definitely get hurt.
Taking a deep breath, she hiked one leg over the sill and stalled out on mustering up the courage. It’s how she was poised when the door to her room opened.
“Hey!” Evander instantly held his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. Any shifter worth his salt would have instantly scented Bethany’s panic and fear.
“Easy, baby.” Evander inched into the room with Clay close on his heels. “Calm down. Take it easy.”
Bethany knew the sight she must make. Straddling the windowsill, with her long, dark hair in a fuss and her bright gray eyes drowned with fear. She knew she looked the wild thing.
“It’s three stories,” Clay interjected anxiously. “Without your wolf,” he shook his head. They all knew what he didn’t say. Without her wolf, she could be seriously injured.
“It’s not that bad.” Evander took slow steps closer to her.
Not that bad? She tried to slow her erratic breathing to snarl, “I’m not trying to hurt myself!”
“Good.” Evander’s tone was placating but he kept his hands up and moved even slower. He didn’t believe her.
Rolling her eyes, Bethany’s hands tightened on the windowsill. “I’m trying to scare her into coming out.” She gnashed her teeth before continuing. “She wouldn’t let me get hurt.” She turned to eye the ground and spoke more quietly to herself. “Would she?”
Strong arms wrapped around her in an instant, jerking her from the window. She squeaked as the nearness of Evander did more to pull her wolf forth than any attempt at jumping could have.
Evander lifted her into the cradle of his arms and pressed his lips to her hair. He hissed, “Don’t try that again.”
“I wasn’t trying to hurt myself,” she repeated, but her attempt at bravado failed with the hard trembling of her slight frame. Her wolf hadn’t come forth. For the first time in her life, her wolf had abandoned her, and it was terrifying. “I don’t…” her voice broke on a sob, and she could only shake her head. It took a few moments to collect herself before she
was finally able to say, “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. “M-my wolf,” she clarified. “She’s confused and scared, and I can’t…” She couldn’t finish. To admit inability to control one’s wolf was humiliating. Her entire youth was spent forming an inexplicable and—what she had previously thought—an unbreakable bond. “She’s just traumatized. Those…things feeding off us did her in. She just needs time.” She was speaking in a rush, and she peeked up in time to catch the exchange of sorrowful glances between Evander and Clay.
“She’s just frightened.” She rushed on, wincing at the fact that she was repeating herself. Every shifter knew that a wolf’s emotions were a direct reflection of their humans. “She just needs a minute.” Dropping her head, she babbled on. “It’s why she’s attached herself to you.” She peeked up at Evander, then quickly dropped her head. “She’s seeking out protection, strength.” Her head jerked up when Evander’s chest rumbled. Had she offended him?
“It’s not personal, Alpha Kane, she just…”
He didn’t allow her to finish as he strode to the bed and set her down gently. “Your wolf has attached herself to me because she is mine. Don’t tarnish that by claiming that she’s merely seeking strength. She knows what you still haven’t come to terms with. She’s looking to me to protect her because it is my duty and honor to do so.” He rolled his head on his shoulders as if attempting to force himself to relax. “Take a minute, and then come down to the kitchen. Clay’s got a plan.”
Hope bubbled forth. A plan!
***
Bethany took a moment to collect herself. She couldn’t help the giddy thrill that tore through her at Evander’s declaration. ‘Because it is my duty and honor to do so.’ Who talked like that? She didn’t know, but it didn’t keep the smile from curling her lips. Evander believed they were true mates. If only! She still thought her wolf was attaching itself to him because she was traumatized and was seeking out an Alpha for guidance, but a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to belong to Alpha Evander Kane.
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