The Alpha's Mail Order Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance

by Jade White

  “You really intend to try to tame that beast?” Night chuckled. “She never does as her father says, so what makes you think you could succeed where he has failed?”

  “Because he hasn’t got nearly the arsenal of enticements that I could employ,” Dane chuckled. “Besides, it was your idea to find me a wife, wasn’t it? Might as well have a bit of fun into the bargain.”

  “So you intend to seduce her into submission I take it?” Night inquired with a smirk. “What do you need me for? You’re a good looking enough bloke to get the job done.”

  “I want you to demand that something be done about Katie’s misdeed, of course,” he said. “Then I could begrudgingly offer to take her home with me to keep an eye on her. That’s going to prompt an argument, so then you say ‘yes, he’s the chief of security, and this is an issue of security. I think that’s the best idea’, or something along those lines. Dawson is sure to agree, she’s certain not to, and I’ll haul her back and lay my claim. Women love that sort of thing.”

  “You make it sound so cut and dry,” Night pointed out.

  “Well, isn’t it, when all is said and done?” he pointed out. “So, will you help me out?”

  “You’ve been a great help to me since I turned you, Mr. Dane,” Night said. “Of course I’ll help.”

  “Great,” he said. “Will you meet me at the base of the main tree in half an hour?”

  “Yes, I can,” Night agreed, and did just exactly that.

  The two men took the company car over to the mines and demanded to speak to Mr. Dawson. Even though she had no idea what they wanted, it was obvious that Katie was already feeling somewhat guilty. She’d been waiting for a confrontation, however, since she had betrayed them some weeks earlier, she was just as likely to have become a bit complacent in her guilt.

  “Come on, then,” she said, leading the way to her father’s office door.

  “You may as well stay here, Katie,” said Night gravely. “This visit concerns you as well.”

  “Does it?” she asked, licking her lips nervously. Then she realized Dane had been watching her tongue as she did so, and blushed slightly as she looked down at her hands.

  “Father? Night and his security chief are here.”

  “Aw, yes, bring them in,” he said with a welcoming smile. “Good to see you, gentlemen.”

  “I hope you will still think so after you’ve heard what I’m about to say,” Night replied, making both father and daughter frown with concern.

  “Well, then perhaps you’d best get it said,” he replied, his eyes darting to Katie suspiciously. She flushed under the scrutiny. “Especially if it involves my daughter.”

  *

  “I really don’t think I need to stay for this,” Katie said blithely as she headed for the door. “There’s absolutely nothing these two could have to say that will make any difference to me, since I’m sure I haven’t done anything of importance where they are concerned.”

  “Haven’t you?” Night inquired. “So then you don’t think that telling a government official all about the colony and endangering the lives and well-being of everyone there after vowing you would never do it to be ‘anything’?”

  Dane stepped in front of the door and Katie crashed right into his chest. He caught her about the shoulders to keep her from falling, but then instead of letting go, he held her fast.

  “Let me go, you great oaf!” she complained, pummeling his chest. Instead, he simply turned her around to face the others and held her fast.

  Seeing this, Dawson’s eyes went wide, but before he could say anything further, Night continued. “It would seem, my dear, that we simply cannot trust you, and I’m afraid that means you’re in dire need of a babysitter.”

  “What?” she gasped, trying to break free of Dane’s hold. Her father’s jaw had gone slack as he watched what was happening.

  “She broke her word?” he asked.

  “Yes, she did,” Night replied. “Thankfully, it turned out well this time, but I’m afraid we cannot possibly risk her doing it again, and you’re a busy man. My security officer is willing to take on the duty of keeping your daughter true to her word. It’s his intention to take her along with him so he can keep an eye on her. I hope you understand the necessity and allow it?”

  Dawson’s eyes narrowed, and his cheeks went red, but then a light of understanding dawned in his eyes. “You say he’s wanting to take her home with him, then? That’s the only possible way he could keep a really good eye on her, don’t you think?”

  “I’ll be taking her there directly, sir,” said Dane sternly.

  Katie shrieked with outrage. “You’ll do no such thing!” she protested.

  “You know I can’t let him do that,” said Dawson, purposely pausing before he added, “Unless he intends to take the girl to mate. Otherwise, it would be most unseemly.”

  “What! Father, you’re not going to let him do it? You can’t mean that!”

  “Katie, how many times have I tried to teach you to behave as you would like others to behave towards you?” he said then. “You’ve endangered the lives of one hundred and two people with your careless words. By rights, the Alpha could do anything to you he pleases. We pledged loyalty to Night and to the pack, and we cannot allow your actions to go unpunished. I have spoken, and you will comply. Go with Dane and do as he says. You belong to him now.”

  “You can’t just give me to him, you beast!” she bellowed. “We’re not living in the Middle Ages. I thought you meant to bring the pack into the future, Night. This is the oldest trick in the book.”

  “Be glad that I didn’t send him to eliminate your behavior in any other way,” Night commented. “This way, you may still have a chance at happiness, if you’ll just allow yourself to accept it.”

  “So none of you cares how I feel?” she said, her jaw falling slack as she shook her head. “Fine, take me then, but don’t expect me to like it.”

  “I’ll be sending you her things directly, Mr. Dane,” said Dawson, trying not to smirk.

  “Oh!” she growled, so angry her face began to morph slightly to wolf form. “Keep it. Keep it all, you traitorous bastard. I won’t be needing anything from you.”

  “I’ll expect it within a day,” Dane said. “I intend for her to be comfortable, whether she likes it or not.”

  “You can let go of my arm, you know,” she complained. “I already said I would go.”

  “And risk you trying to run away?” said Dane in her ear. “I hardly think so, my dear. Now come along and tell your father good-bye.”

  “I won’t be speaking to him again, just take me away,” she snapped.

  “And mind you don’t wolf out in front of the miners,” he added. “You’ve done enough damage as it is.”

  ***

  When Night returned to his family and imparted his tale, his sleepy wife was beside herself with mirth. Chastity held her gut as she tried not to laugh too hard, and finally said, “Oh, Night, please, you simply must stop. I’m too exhausted to hear anything more. But it is such a delight to know Katie will be tended to at last.”

  “In more ways than one,” Night added with a smirk, making Chastity chuckle again.

  “That’s it, if you don’t stop it, I’m sending you to sleep on the couch,” she told him firmly. Then the pair burst into giggles again.

  “How long do you suppose it will take her to give him what he wants?” Night asked then.

  “Oh, wow, you’d know better than I would,” Chastity said. “She would have been all over you the day you met if you would’ve let her.”

  “Maybe, but only because I was the Alpha,” he said.

  “No, I’m sure that wasn’t the only reason.”

  “What makes you say that?” he wanted to know.

  “It certainly wasn’t my only reason,” she pointed out. “You have no idea how much I wanted to pounce on you in the caves the first time we bathed behind the waterfall.”

  “The caves behind the waterfall,�
�� Night repeated speculatively. “Did you know there’s a network of waterfalls all through them? Wouldn’t it be grand if we really could generate all the electricity for the colony in there, where nobody would be able to see?”

  “Rick seemed to think it would work,” she answered tiredly. “And I think it’s an awesome idea myself.”

  “Yes, love, I think so too,” he agreed. “Why don’t you get some rest and I’ll give him a call, see what he thinks of the idea.”

  “Hey, I didn’t really mean it about the couch, you know,” she mentioned. “I’m sure there’s plenty of room in this bed for three.”

  “Where is Jaimie, anyway?”

  “Boris should be bringing him back any time now,” she said. “He took him to the medical building to weigh and measure him and all that.”

  “Well, that’s fine.”

  “Yeah, and Tess said she’d keep the girls for a few nights so we can get used to our son,” she said. “But make sure you visit them so they don’t think we’re playing favorites, okay?”

  “Oh, don’t worry, babe,” he said. “I’ll be there with bells on.”

  *

  Hope and Julie were piled on top of their father in the middle of Tess’s floor while the others watched. Little John had a snarky smirk on his face as he asked, “Hey, why don’t we take that down to the forest floor? You promised me we’d go again.”

  Night glanced over at the boy, slightly annoyed as he replied, “Well, if you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been a bit busy the last couple of weeks. Besides, haven’t you and Hope got that school project you’re supposed to be working on?”

  “Yeah we do,” he grumbled.

  “Besides, Julie isn’t big enough to go down there just yet,” Night pointed out. “She hasn’t hit her growth spurt like you two have done.”

  “It won’t be long now, Jules,” he told her.

  The little girl made a face at them all and climbed off her father, stalking away from them without a word. Night cast John a confused look.

  Hope said, “Johnny’s been telling her all about our adventures the other day just to make her jealous.”

  “And it appears to be working, too,” the boy chuckled.

  “How very unpleasant of you,” Night reprimanded him. “Are you simply predisposed to be mean, or do you have to work at it?”

  “A little of both, actually,” he said. “I don’t mean to do it, but somehow with her, it just happens. She just brings it out of me.”

  “Interesting,” Night said. “Wonder if you two will mate one day.”

  “Mate Julie?” he gasped. “Now that is disgusting. She’s—she’s maddening. She’s always got to have her own way and—“

  “And?”

  “And I’d rather not have this discussion in front of a room full of people, that’s all,” he said with a blush.

  “Well then how about just you and I go on down to the forest floor?” Night offered.

  “Truly?” he asked, somewhat surprised.

  “An Alpha’s got to know what’s on the mind of his pack members, right?”

  “Then let’s go!” he excitedly agreed.

  Hope climbed off her father so he could get up and smiled up at him. “You two have fun, okay? And if you happen to see the bears, do say hello from me won’t you?”

  “So you’re okay with this?” Night wanted to know.

  “Of course I am, father,” she said. “This little talk needs to happen, if you ask me.”

  Night chuckled. “Well, all right then.”

  Night and Little John walked companionably out the door and headed for the elevator that would take them down to the forest below. They did not speak until they had reached it, and as the door closed, Night asked, “So, what did you not want to say in there?”

  “It’s kind of embarrassing,” he said.

  “Go ahead, it’s not likely to shock me,” he said. “I was a boy once, too.”

  “Julie makes me feel funny,” he said, blushing. “I mean, you know me, I’m a rather gruff person. But she makes me want to bring her flowers and stuff. And my body feels funny when I get near her. Is that normal, sir?”

  Night laughed. “Well, yes, I think it is,” he replied. “Your body is getting ready for puberty, and so it’s beginning to search for a mate. It’s happening a little earlier for you and Hope than it did with my generation, though. I hit my puberty around ten years old, and you’re not quite six. Perhaps the supplements are at fault. My only real concern is whether or not you’re ready for it at such a young age. You are, after all, still very much a boy in your attitudes and behaviors, are you not?”

  They hit the bottom and stepped out. John appeared to be giving Night’s question some serious thought. “Sir, I’m sorry that I am often so mean-spirited. I really do want to be a productive member of the pack. It’s just sometimes I feel restless, you know? Like I need to get outside and run through the grass, or maybe hunt down my first kill. Anything other than sitting primly in school.”

  “It’s to be expected, of course,” Night said. “A young male always has these feelings. Perhaps you would like to have a job down at the resort? The place is sorely in need of another janitor. But, you can only go down to work if you finish your homework first. I’ll arrange it so your father can take you. Maybe three days a week?”

  “Anything,” John said desperately. “I’ll do anything you like, so long as I get out and about. Thank you, sir.”

  “No problem,” he said with a smile. “Now, what do you say I show you the land we’re about to clear to make the path? You might even be useful doing that as well, come to think of it. No sense wasting perfectly good man power.”

  “My brother ought to come do that as well,” he mentioned.

  “Yes, you’re right,” Night agreed. “He’s probably feeling even more restless than you.”

  John tramped happily along with Night as he showed him the path he wanted to clear. The two of them even decided to sit down and begin to pull some of the weeds out by the water. The sun glinted on the water, and the air was crisp and clean, and the bears discovered them about an hour later.

  “Well, go on then,” said Night with a grin. “We can’t spend all the time working, can we? You can learn that lesson all around you out here. Once the work is done, it’s time for play.”

  “Sir?” asked John shyly as he got ready to stand up. “Do you think Julie hates me? I mean, because I’m always picking on her. I don’t think she would ever want to mate with me.”

  Night laughed. “She’s always talking about the things you do, son, both the good and the bad. She always scrunches up her little nose and rolls her eyes almost the same way her mother does when she is mad at me. I think it’s highly likely that she does hate you right now, but you’ve got her attention either way. So, if you really want to mate her someday, perhaps now is a good time to start treating her with a bit of respect. Also, I would not tell her about the plan. Women love to resist before they give in, and you don’t want to start her resisting you too soon, or it’ll be one hell of a ride.”

  “And you wouldn’t mind?” he clarified. “I mean I’m only a half-breed.”

  “John, you’re the smartest boy I know,” said Night seriously. “If you manage to get one of my daughters to become your mate, I’ll be proud to call you my son.”

  “Thanks,” he said with a smile. “That really means a lot, coming from you. I’m going to straighten up my act, Night. Be more productive and less naughty and everything else. You’ll see. Even if I don’t mate one of them, I still aim to make you proud.”

  *

  Night smiled as he looked out on all the work they’d accomplished so far on the path. Ever since the paperwork had cleared he had been bringing down people in sets of ten to work on it. Five near the resort; five near the lake. Now, however, all ten people were within visible distance. Very soon, they would be closing the gap and their path would be completely cleared.

  “It’s really happening,”
he said to Chastity with a satisfied smile.

  Chastity was sitting on the ground with Jaimie strapped to her chest, pulling weeds as she smiled up at him. “Yes, it is,” she said. “This place is going to be perfect! If ever there were a utopia, this would be it. Only, I have been thinking about that. You know that utopias always have the capacity to fail due to lack of proper planning. For example, what if the forest caught fire. We might all be trapped in the tops of the trees with nowhere to go. What would we do then?”

  “You make a very good point,” Night agreed. “In fact, Rick and I were just discussing that very contingency, and he has a few thoughts on the matter. I suppose if we wanted to, we could devise some sort of escape pods that we could fill with people in harnesses, and then drop them from the trees. It might not be pretty, but we’d at least be out of the trees.”

  “That can’t have been your own idea,” Chastity smirked.

  “Not in a million years,” he agreed. “But if done properly, it sounds like it would work.”

  “Rick could probably make it sound feasible that he might build a spaceship and we could all fly to a planet of our own, if you let him,” Chastity mentioned, laughing at her own jest.

  “No, I think even I might need to tell him to tone down his expectations if he did that,” Night assured her.

  “You might be right,” she chuckled. “But does he really think he’s going to build these pod things?”

  “I told him pods are all well and good, but preventing the trees from catching fire to begin with might work a bit better,” Night replied. “It’s got his wheels turning, to say the least.”

  Night joined the workers as they continued to pull weeds, remove rocks and otherwise clear the pathway. By the end of the day, the two groups had become one and the fine-tuning had begun. To celebrate their accomplishments, Night sent out twenty of the best hunters to catch some deer and they laid out a feast in the common area at the center portion of the tree colony, where all the socializing now took place.

  “This is so exciting!’ said Grindelle as she joined Chastity and the other women at their table. “By the time the baby is born, he or she will be able to crawl along the finished path someday. Just imagine, none of this was even here five years ago, but this child will never know what the world was like without it.”