Alpha in Disguise

by Afton Locke

  “I’ve got to learn to control my emotions better.” His deep—usually clear—voice sounded as raw and rough as broken wood.

  “Have you always had your shifting malady?”

  He shook his head. “Not in the beginning. It started after my parents….”

  “Maybe suppressing your dominance is causing it,” she said. “It could be dangerous.”

  She was glad he had no desire to go to Yellowstone. He’d be a liability to her.

  “Didn’t happen near as much until you showed up.” Slipping free of her arm, he stood, grabbing the tree trunk for support. “You can go to bed. I’ll be fine.”

  She stood, too. “I didn’t want you to find out that way.”

  Or at all.

  He held up a hand. “I don’t need an explanation.”

  Fine with her. They were parting anyway, but her conscience niggled against her spine. He was her mate, and what he thought of her mattered…a lot.

  “Despite what those pictures might lead you to believe, I’m not a whore. I’ve found putting men in their most vulnerable position is the most effective weapon I have.”

  He answered with a grunt, not even looking at her.

  She wished she could say she’d never slept with any of them, but she didn’t want to lie. Why did he have to be so wholesome and honest? It made her feel dirty and question everything she’d believed for the last several years. She didn’t even know who she was anymore. All the more reason to get the hell out of here.

  “The men I target have ranches, families, and respectable positions in their community. When they hear my voice and see my—”

  His fist hit the tree trunk. “Spare me the visual details.”

  “You need to know something. I didn’t want you to put your mouth on me because I had to use the act as…a tool once.” When he started to object, she raised her hand. “You made it good, Ogden. No other man gives me pleasure.”

  But his stony face didn’t soften from her words, making her regret saying them. How could she have been stupid enough to let herself trust a man?

  “Basically, you blackmail these men, right?”

  She clasped her hands in front of her. “Pretty much.”

  “And one of them gave you the nice SUV?”

  She nodded.

  He finally looked at her, piercing her with his intense, blue gaze. “Do two wrongs make a right?”

  Her scalp prickled under the red streak. “I don’t need to justify myself to you.”

  “Maybe not, but you should have told me before we mated.” He rubbed his face again. “Then I’d have known you’re a whore, like my mother.”

  Lara took a step forward and slapped his face. “Have you no respect for the woman who bore you?”

  “Not much,” he said, grabbing her wrist in a steely grip. “She ruined her family, thinking of no one but herself.”

  “Did you ever ask her side of things?”

  He dropped her wrist and looked down. “I didn’t get the chance.”

  “Maybe you need to forgive her so you can be a real man and Werewolf instead of some half-assed whelp.”

  His eyes flashed. “Keep talking and I might slap you.”

  “Go ahead,” she gritted out. “I don’t fear anything.”

  “No, you don’t, do you?” he asked, his voice softer. “I’m afraid your bravery will get you killed.”

  “Then I’ll be one less thing for you to worry about, won’t I?”

  His hands, gentle now, rested on her shoulders. Despite herself, she wanted to melt under them and rewind back to the peaceful interlude in his bed.

  “Don’t. I care about what happens to you, which is why I forbid you to go back to that kind of life.”

  She set her jaw. “You forbid me?”

  “Damn right.” His grip tightened on her shoulders. “You told me to be a man. No more strange guys, Lara. No more blackmail.”

  “You know I can’t,” she said slowly.

  “If any other man touches you, I’ll know.”

  She closed her eyes, realizing she’d sentenced him to a life of torment. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything before we mated. If you focus on your work here, our bond will loosen.”

  His lips brushed her forehead, and then he released her. “I doubt it.”

  “Good-bye, Ogden.” She touched his cheek and pulled her truck key from her jeans pocket.

  “You’re not leaving now. It’s almost dark.”

  “I can’t stay here a minute longer.”

  He slapped the tree again before stalking back to his cabin.

  ***

  At the mill the next morning, Ogden wiped the sawdust off his forehead and took another swig of coffee. He already had enough caffeine in him to run the saw on nervous energy alone. Sleep was out of the question since Lara had left last night.

  She’d be in Yellowstone now—assuming she’d made it safely. Yes, he was sure she had. He would have felt it if anything had happened to her. Unfortunately, she faced more danger when she got there than on the drive itself.

  As he gazed around the mill, he felt a hundred years old. Lumber was getting low and the orders were piled up. For the first time in his life, he didn’t want to be here. Usually, the thought of traveling, leaving his home unattended, gave him the willies.

  Today, he longed to be in Yellowstone, watching over his mate. As a result, he couldn’t concentrate worth a damn. He’d ruined two logs already and had narrowly missed cutting himself on the saw blade.

  And he couldn’t even go inside the office and look at the file cabinets without picturing Lara leaned against them, her sweet, curvy body swallowing his thrusts. He’d give anything to see the wild, red streak in her hair again. To touch it. To tame the wild Wolf in her.

  When he heard the crunch of tires on gravel, his heart jumped out of the heavy bog it had been stuck in all night. Had she come back?

  He didn’t manage to hide his disappointment fast enough when Drew ambled into the yard.

  “Nice to see you, too,” the Alpha said, hands on hips.

  Ogden jumped up from his seat, sloshing coffee over the rim of his mug. “Your order is coming along. I stayed up all night.”

  “You look like hell, Woods,” Drew replied. “I wish you’d take better care of yourself. Frankly, I’m worried about you.”

  “No need to worry. I’m fine.”

  “Where’s your sexy helper today?”

  The hairs on the back of Ogden’s neck bristled, and he barely suppressed the growl in his throat. He didn’t want to talk about his mate’s departure. Why did the pack leader have to show up now? Short on sleep and befuddled by Lara, he was in no shape to deal with this impromptu meeting.

  “She went back to Wyoming,” he said.

  “Sorry to hear it.” The other man scratched his cheek. “Did you two have an argument?”

  Ogden stood and put his hands on his hips, too, even though a little voice inside him reminded him he hadn’t displayed the correct submissive posture.

  “What can I do for you, Drew? I’m sure you didn’t come by to discuss Lara.”

  “You’re right, I didn’t.” He pulled a sketch out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Ogden. “I’ve decided I want the fancier crown molding for the conference hall after all. The one with the wolf carvings.”

  The pack leader might as well have dumped a load of bricks over his head. Frustration inflamed every nerve as it made a path from his torso to his fingers and toes. His muscles tensed, ready for fight or flight.

  “You’re talking about highly detailed, custom-milled stuff,” Ogden protested. “There’s not enough time, damn it.”

  Was he really glaring at the Alpha straight in the eye? What had gotten into him? He usually did a better job at acting submissive. Mating with Lara must have released the Dominant in him. He wished he’d kept his cock in his pants. Gee had warned him mating would change everything and it had. It had changed him.

  With his distinctive
limp, Drew stepped closer. “It’s not like you to be hostile, Woods. Are you having a bad day?”

  Ogden sighed. “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound crabby. Too little sleep and too much coffee, I guess.”

  Drew’s body relaxed. “You really need to consider getting some help, even if it’s temporary. Lara helped out, didn’t she?”

  “I suppose so,” Ogden admitted. “If your heart is set on the fancier molding, you could install it after the hall is in use.”

  “Let me think about it,” the Alpha finally said, turning away to leave.

  “Wait.” Ogden followed him until he stopped. “I know this is the worst possible time, but I-I need a few days off to take care of some personal business.”

  The other man smiled. He must have assumed Ogden was joking.

  “Please. I’ve never taken a sick day or a vacation. I’ll make it up when I get back, I promise.”

  He rounded his shoulders and lowered his head. Years of practice had perfected his submissive posture.

  “Does this have anything to do with your mate?”

  Ogden’s mouth twisted. He couldn’t lie to his pack leader. “It does.”

  “Sure, Woods. Your timing isn’t great, but you need time off once in a while.”

  “Thank you,” Ogden said, ready to kiss the man’s boots if necessary. “I’ll have one of the high school students hold down the fort while I’m gone.”

  “Try to enjoy it,” the other man said before leaving. “Some things are more important than work.”

  ***

  Ogden neared Yellowstone National Park late that afternoon, still unable to believe Drew had granted the time off. Within a few days, he hoped to have Lara slung over his shoulder so he could take her home to the Black Hills where she belonged. The scenario wasn’t too likely, so he’d settle for keeping her safe.

  According to his map, the park was huge and had multiple entrances. Trying to locate her in it, or outside it, would be worse than finding a needle in a haystack. Before he left, he’d researched Tyler Brooks online, knowing Lara would be wherever he was. The guy had a big ranch near Cody, Wyoming, east of the park, so he stopped to investigate.

  Surrounded by a sun-bleached landscape, the town was nothing like the sheltered oasis of Los Lobos. Although it had an old-time feel, the town was more commercial. It even had paved roads and traffic lights. The mountains here appeared craggy and bare except for patches of vegetation and trees growing on them like pimples.

  He missed home already, but he reminded himself this was Lara’s home. She wouldn’t fight so hard for it unless it meant a lot to her.

  Knowing she played music, he drove around, looking for bars where she might perform. He hoped to see a flier of her out front, but she probably operated with more secrecy.

  After he’d driven to three of them and asked the staff about their performers, he felt like an idiot for coming. Those who had heard of her hadn’t seen her lately. Cody was a bigger town than he thought.

  The last place on his list, R. McCain’s Bar and Grill, doubled as a restaurant with a log motel on the premises. Feeling hopeless as he drove around the lot, he finally spotted her red SUV.

  “Yes!” he cried, slapping the steering wheel.

  He got out and blinked in the bright sunlight. After stretching his stiff muscles from the long drive, he approached the motel door nearest the truck. What if the vehicle wasn’t hers? To come so far and have her slip away would be more than he could take. The sound of guitar music drifting out the open window, however, told him his mate was inside.

  Knowing it stiffened his cock. The first thing he intended to do was rip her clothes off and lay her on the motel bed. He knocked on the door, grinding his boot heel into the dust as he waited.

  When she answered the door, she looked sexier than ever in a tight, black tee shirt with her snug jeans.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “I told you not to follow me.”

  “My home is wherever you are now, Lara.”

  “How did you get away from the mill? I thought you were backed up.” The sexy lilt in her voice blocked out the annoying traffic in the background.

  “I am. Drew kindly granted me a leave of absence.” He held his hand out. “Can I come in?”

  The bed was unmade and rumpled. Had another man been in it already? Her gaze followed his, but caution filled her gray eyes, not guilt.

  “I don’t want to talk here,” she said. “Let’s go for a drive. I’ll show you the park.”

  He headed toward his driver’s-side door, but she shook her head.

  “I’ll drive. I’m surprised your tired piece of junk even made it here.”

  The urge to throw her across his knees to give her a spanking needled his lower body. Damn if the woman wasn’t as much a Dominant as he was. The thought made his groin as stiff as the rock-encrusted mountains around them.

  They headed into Yellowstone’s east entrance, heading west. The evergreen trees reminded him of the Black Hills.

  “This is the Shoshone National Forest,” she said. “Did you know it’s the country’s first national forest?”

  “Can’t say I did,” Ogden replied. “Lara, I don’t need a guided tour. We need to talk.”

  “So talk. I’m showing you the park so you can understand me better.”

  Breeze from the open windows made the red streak in her hair ripple as if it were alive. He fought the urge to stroke it. Would he care about her as much if she weren’t so strong and independent? He wasn’t so sure. Suddenly, he was as tongue tied as a schoolboy. Because he was in her territory, the mixed up Dominant inside him struggled to find its feet.

  “Tyler Brooks has a ranch near Cody,” he began. “I assume you’re going to play in the country-western bar next door to the motel tonight and he’ll be there.”

  “Sounds as though you’ve got it all figured out,” she said, staring straight ahead at the curving road.

  Then what? Would she invite him to her cozy motel room and bare her body for him? Would the creep run his hands all over her curvy flesh—flesh which belonged to Ogden? Part of him didn’t want to know.

  “This mission you’re on,” he began. “You can’t do it alone.”

  “What choice do I have?” she shot back.

  “You can stop fighting. Your enemies are like gnats. If you get rid of one, a hundred more will take its place.”

  “Unlike you, I loved and respected my mother. I can’t let her death go unpunished. I’ll die myself before I let that happen.”

  “No matter what you do, you can’t bring her back.”

  She set her jaw. “I can make her death stand for something instead of being a senseless waste.”

  Strong and logical. What was the use in arguing with her? He wished he could kill every wolf hunter so the problem would be done with.

  “Where are the geysers I’ve heard so much about?” he asked. “I see nothing but woods.”

  “We’re not there yet,” she said. “After Yellowstone Lake, you’ll see plenty.”

  He threw up his hands. “This place is enormous. Why can’t your people stay inside the borders? Put up a secret fence so no one gets confused.”

  “It’s not so simple.” A frown accentuated her red streak. “Shifters need to have pack communities with houses and schools. We can’t build anything inside the park.”

  “Even though I run a mill, I hadn’t thought of it.”

  “Werewolves like to go out their back doors at night and roam around in wolf form. It’s who we are.”

  “Even though I can’t shift worth a damn, I know the feeling,” he agreed. “But I still don’t see why they can’t relocate.”

  “Relocate?” A feminine growl raised the hair on his arms. “This is our territory. We refuse to be ousted from our home like our Crow ancestors.”

  “I didn’t realize we had Crow blood in us.”

  Maybe their ancestry accounted for the territorial streak in both of them. Being away from Lo
s Lobos made him appreciate it even more because he had everything the Lamar Canyon Pack didn’t. He hoped Drew wouldn’t regret granting his leave of absence and take everything away.

  He sure wasn’t winning this argument. Sighing, he decided to clear his mind and enjoy the scenery. If nothing else, he did want to understand her better. Maybe it would make leaving her easier, but he doubted it.

  Eventually, they skirted Yellowstone Lake, which was as huge as everything else around here. The scenery changed as dense forest melted into flat areas—some grassy and others baked hard and brown. Tendrils of smoke drifted into the air at odd intervals as if the entire earth were on fire.

  “The geysers, I see them!” His nostrils flared from a strong, acrid scent. “And smell them.”

  “Pretty awesome place, huh?” She grinned, looking completely in her element. “They’re not all geysers, though. Some are mud pots, fumaroles, and hot springs.”

  “If you say so.” He turned and looked out his window. “Look, there’s a buffalo! I bet we could bring it down in ten minutes or less.”

  “You beast,” she said, laughing. “This, from the man who can’t bear to cut down a tree.”

  “You’re right. It is a magical place,” he admitted. “Can we stop somewhere and explore?”

  “I know the perfect spot.” She avoided a touristy overlook and headed down a lonely road, which must be used for park maintenance.

  After several miles, suspicion churned his gut. “Where are you taking me, anyway? It’s getting kind of late.”

  “We’re almost there. The view is spectacular, and the tourists don’t know about it.”

  Why did she keep combing her hair with her fingers? She looked jumpier than a cat. Maybe she was nervous about performing tonight. So was he. He didn’t care to be arrested for murder, but if Tyler Brooks put his hands on her, Ogden might be driven to kill.

  She finally pulled off the side of the dirt road. Across a barren plain littered with gray driftwood and plumes of mist, a stand of dead evergreens guarded a stream. The evening sky reflected on the water, turning it to a sheet of silver. The spot was beautiful, but haunting. The unease in his belly dug in with deeper claws. The Wolf in him knew something wasn’t right.