“I do apologize for this,” Michael said. “Unfortunately, it was either this, or allow the other pack to have you. And I am quite certain you’d have chosen to come with us if you knew what they were like. They would not have been gentle with you, nor would they have complied with pack laws. You would probably be dead right now, or at least in a great deal of pain.”
Michael’s voice was dull and resonating inside Allison’s head. Her stomach lurched, and she tried not to vomit. The color drained from her face.
“Michael?” Logan interjected cautiously.
Michael turned to face Logan without a word.
“Maybe we should let her get some sleep,” Logan suggested. “She looks really exhausted.”
“Perhaps that would be best,” Michael agreed. He turned back to Allison and said, “Please, get some rest. We will discuss this tomorrow.”
Allison nodded weakly. Logan took the tray away. He shot her an apologetic glance, but his eyes quickly shifted away from her gaze. He headed out of the room, and Luke followed him. She lied down and pulled the blankets over her. Michael remained in his chair.
“You’re not leaving?” she asked.
“I must stay… for your protection,” he said.
“I see.”
She closed her eyes, and tried not to think of the events that had transpired. She thought of Kyle, and almost wished, for just a moment, that she were back with him. At least living with a cheating bastard was better than being forced into a sexual relationship with a pack of werewolves, wasn’t it?
Before long, she somehow managed to fall asleep.
Chapter Two
Evil, reflective eyes stared at her in the darkness. A resounding, guttural growl erupted, sending chills through her body. Her heart began to thump rapidly in her chest, and she could feel her pulse pounding in her head.
Lips curled savagely, revealing rows of sharp teeth that glinted menacingly in the moonlight. A flash of fur and teeth lunged at her.
“No!” she cried, shielding her face with her arms.
She gasped, shooting up in bed. Beads of sweat trickled down her face and neck, and her heart thudded harshly.
“Hey!” Logan said, quickly moving from the nearby chair to sit on the bed beside her. “It’s alright! You’re safe.”
His arms folded around her protectively, and she dissolved into them a trembling wreck. The dream had been so real.
“Where’s Michael?” she asked.
“Sleeping,” Logan said. “It’s my shift.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t worry, I can protect you just as well as he can,” he puffed up defiantly.
“No, I… I didn’t mean anything by it,” Allison said quickly. “I was just wondering.”
Logan relaxed a little.
“Michael and Luke think I can’t do things because I’m so young,” Logan confessed. “I may be young, but I’m not weak.”
“How old are you, anyway?” she asked.
“Nineteen,” he answered. “Luke is twenty-three and Michael is twenty-seven. They think they’re so much better than me because they’re older.”
“I don’t think that,” Allison said, managing a weak smile.
Logan puffed up again and grinned.
“My sister thinks the same way,” Allison told him. “She’s always thought she was better than me because she was older. You know, smarter, more successful, all that.”
“You have a sister?” Logan asked.
“Yeah. Her name is Andrea,” Allison said. “I’m twenty-one, and she’s twenty-nine. She’s married, has two kids, college degree, nice job… I’m single with a cheating bastard boyfriend, no kids, and I work as a waitress.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Logan said. “It’s who you are as a person that matters.”
“Well, everyone thinks Andrea is perfect,” Allison lamented. “In fact, I doubt anyone will even notice I’m gone for a while.”
“I’m sorry,” Logan said gently.
“It’s alright, I’m used to it,” Allison lied. “I was bullied a lot in school because I’m not skinny and beautiful like everyone else.”
“I think you’re very pretty,” Logan said softly, his cheeks coloring pink.
“Thank you,” she said simply.
“Hey, do you want some breakfast?” Logan suggested. “I make great waffles!”
“I’m not really hungry,” Allison said.
“Come on, you need to keep your strength up,” Logan urged her. “At least let me bring you some fruit or something.”
“You know what? I’m actually having a craving for something,” she said slyly. “You don’t happen to have any bacon do you?”
“Sure we do!” Logan chirped cheerfully. “How do you like it cooked?”
“Oh, nice and crispy,” she said, the hamster wheel suddenly revolving in her brain. “Cook it for a long, long time… until it’s nearly burned.”
“Got it!” Logan said. “You can count on me!”
Logan rushed off to make her breakfast, and she watched as he left the room, closing the door behind him. As soon as she heard the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen, she grabbed the post to which her shackle was attached and began to wiggle it back and forth, attempting to loosen it.
The noise continued in the kitchen, and she finally managed to loosen the post enough to remove it. She slid the chain off the post and slipped off the bed. Her eyes scanned the room, but couldn’t quickly locate her shoes, so, moving as quietly as she could with a chain jingling around her ankle, she crept out the door.
She slowly, cautiously closed the door behind her. Just as she turned around to flee, she smacked into something.
“Going somewhere?” Michael chuckled.
“Michael!” she gasped. “I… uh…”
He grabbed her by the arm and ushered her back inside. He slammed the door behind them.
“Oh, Looooo-gaaaan!” Michael called, his voice laced with irritation.
Logan appeared at the door. His face blanched white as soon as he saw Allison standing beside Michael, her arm grasped in his iron grip.
“You were supposed to be watching her,” Michael growled through gritted teeth.
“I’m sorry. I was making her some breakfast,” Logan explained sheepishly.
“And you wonder why Luke and I don’t trust you,” Michael snarled.
“Don’t blame him,” Allison interjected. “He was just…”
“Enough!” Michael shouted, his fingers gripping her arm so firmly she shrieked. “Sit down!”
She immediately sank into the chair and closed her mouth. Michael turned his attention back to Logan.
“If you ever disobey a direct order again…” Michael warned Logan.
“It won’t happen again,” Logan promised.
“It better not,” Michael muttered. “Go. Get out of my sight. Finish her breakfast.”
Michael waved his hand, shooing Logan away. Logan bowed briefly and backed out of the room. Michael turned his eyes back toward Allison, who was busy gnawing a fingernail. He sighed heavily and sank down onto the bed in front of her.
“Allison, did you listen to nothing I said last night?” he asked.
“Of course I did,” she replied. “But you really didn’t think I was just going to sit here and let it happen without trying to escape, did you? This is just ridiculous! I just went for a simple walk last night, and I got caught up in a bunch of stuff that isn’t even any of my business!”
“I understand it’s not ideal, but…” Michael started to say.
“Ideal?” Allison shouted. “Are you kidding me? This is insane! This is totally unfair!”
“I promise you, this isn’t what we wanted, either,” Michael insisted. “What would you have preferred we do… let the other pack have you?”
“No, but…”
“Then you’re going to have to deal with the situation the best you can, just as we will,” Michael said.
“Yeah, how
convenient for you,” Allison muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Michael snapped.
“Well, you get a little slave who has to do your bidding, and what do I get?” she snapped back.
Michael suddenly looked hurt, and Allison almost regretted what she said.
“Allison, listen to me,” Michael said, leaning forward and placing his hands on the arms of the chair. “This isn’t what we wanted to happen. If we could change it… if I could change it, I would. But we had to save you. There was no other option.”
Allison softened slightly. “Alright, I get it,” she relented.
“So no more escape attempts?” he asked.
“No more escape attempts,” she mumbled.
“Good,” Michael said. “Then I will leave you unshackled, but you’ll still have to be guarded twenty-four hours a day.”
“You can trust me, Michael,” she implored. “I’m not going to run away again.”
“That may be true, but we still have your safety to worry about,” he argued. “The other pack isn’t likely to give you up without a fight.”
“What? You mean, they could seriously still come for me?” she gasped.
“They could, and mostly likely will,” he said seriously. “Now it isn’t just you at stake, but also their honor. They will feel we’ve dishonored them by stealing you from them.”
“And what will they do to me if they get me?” she asked nervously.
“In all likelihood, they will force you to submit to them,” Michael said. “And if you do not, they will kill you. They may kill you even if you do.”
“How is that any different from what you said you were going to do?” she challenged him.
“We will not make it painful for you,” Michael said. “In fact, in time, you may even come to enjoy it.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it,” she muttered, scoffing and looking away.
Michael chuckled. “Perhaps not,” he said. “But we shall see.”
She narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
“What can we do to make your stay more pleasant?” he asked.
“How about removing this shackle for starters?” she asked.
“Of course,” he said, and he removed a key from a chain around his neck and unlocked it.
Allison rubbed her ankle, which was quiet sore from the heavy metal that had been rubbing against it. She noticed the smell of frying bacon wafting in from the kitchen and she felt a twinge of guilt for tricking Logan, and for getting him into trouble.
“You were awfully hard on Logan,” she commented.
“That is not your concern,” Michael spat.
“I beg to differ,” Allison argued. “If I am to be your mate, then don’t I have a say in anything?”
“Not in this,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because I am the Alpha, and I said so!”
“If you ever expect me to comply willingly, then I don’t accept that!” she argued.
“Whether you comply willingly or not is of no consequence,” Michael said firmly.
“I thought you didn’t want to hurt me,” Allison said.
“I don’t, but I will not have a woman making demands of me and undermining my authority!” he shouted.
“Oooh, listen to the big, bad man yelling at the poor, defenseless woman,” she spat at him. “Boy, you think being Alpha really makes you something special, huh? It sure takes a big man to kidnap a woman, hold her hostage, and tell her she has to submit to you or die!”
“I don’t want it to be this way!” Michael insisted.
“So you keep saying, but you’re not doing anything about it!” Allison shouted.
“You just don’t understand,” Michael argued.
“No, I certainly don’t,” she snapped.
Allison crossed her arms defiantly in front of her and threw her head back, thrusting her nose into the air.
Michael sighed heavily, standing up and moving across the room to plunk himself heavily into a dusty old armchair in the corner of the room. He, too crossed his arms in front of him, and he glared at Allison from across the room.
A little while later, Logan sheepishly entered the room carrying a tray of food. He’d brought Allison several slices of well-done bacon, a croissant, some fruit, and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.
“Wow, thank you, Logan,” she gushed. “At least some of you have some manners.”
Logan blushed. Behind her, Michael gritted his teeth, but he said nothing. Allison quickly ate her breakfast, even managing to choke down the nearly black bacon lest she hurt Logan’s feelings.
“Is there anything I can bring you to do?” Logan asked. “I know you must be getting bored.”
“I am, to be honest,” Allison agreed. “Do you have a computer?”
Before Logan could answer, Michael interjected, “No computers. No outside contact at all.”
“I already told you I’m not going to tell anyone about you,” Allison said. “I just want to…”
“I said no!” Michael’s voice resonated through the room like thunder.
“God, fine!” Allison hissed at him. She turned back to Logan and said, “Magazines or books would be fine.”
“What kind?” Logan wanted to know.
“Fashion magazines, romance novels, horror… no scratch that, I don’t think I’m in the mood for horror… maybe a mystery,” she said.
“Hmm, I don’t think we have a lot of fashion magazines or romance novels around here,” Logan admitted. “None of us really reads those. But I think Luke may have some mystery novels.”
“That would be fine,” she said.
Logan left the room to locate something for Allison to read, leaving her alone with Michael. She frowned and stared at the wall in the corner opposite from where Michael was sitting.
“Why are you so disagreeable?” Michael wondered aloud.
“Why are you such a control freak?” Allison snapped.
“I’m protecting my pack,” Michael spat. “You have no idea what it’s like for us. Do you have any clue what would happen if people found out we’re werewolves?”
Allison said nothing. She hadn’t thought about that.
“I’ll tell you what would happen,” Michael went on. “People would hunt us down and it would become a situation of kill-or-be-killed. We don’t want that. We don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“So you don’t kill anyone?” Allison asked seriously. “I thought werewolves were supposed to lose control during a full moon or something.”
“Some do,” Michael admitted. “The pack we saved you from is savage, cruel. They do kill humans now and then, which is why we felt the need to save you from them. We don’t do that. We’ve learned to control ourselves.”
“Oh.”
“So you see why I have to control the situation the way I do?” Michael asked. “I’m not a control freak for the fun of it. I’m protecting my family, my brothers.”
“So your pack is like your family?” Allison asked.
“It’s the only family we have,” Michael said.
“Did you ever have a real family?” Allison wondered.
“My pack is my real family,” he snapped.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” Allison quickly apologized. “I just meant… well… where are your parents?”
“My parents are human,” he said flatly, but he refused to say any more than that.
“How is that possible?” Allison asked. “Did you get bitten by a werewolf or something? Is that how…”
“No, that’s not how it works,” Michael interrupted her. “The werewolf gene runs in some human families, but it’s extremely rare that it manifests.”
“So your parents know about you?” she asked.
“I don’t wish to talk about it,” he snapped.
Allison opened her mouth to argue, to demand he talk to her, but she quickly closed it. Clearly, this was a touchy subject for him. She decided to let it go.
/>
“What about Luke and Logan?” she asked.
“You’d have to ask them,” Michael said flatly. “I’m not in the habit of divulging the personal information of others in my pack.”
Allison scrunched her face up in frustration.
“Alright, fine. Is there anything we can talk about?” she sighed.
“Must we talk at all?” Michael asked, clearly growing more annoyed.
Allison clenched her jaw and fought to stay silent. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to fly at him and strike him. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She crossed her legs and started to swing her upper leg furiously.
The silence hung thick and deafening in the air. The icy chill between the two of them was nearly palpable, and Allison’s annoyance was just as much so. She was just about to start chewing her fingernails when Logan returned with a stack of books and placed them on the table beside her.
“This is all I could find,” he said apologetically. “There are a few thrillers and mysteries, but most of them are pretty old.”
“Why thank you, Logan!” she gushed dramatically. “It’s so refreshing to see a polite young man who is so willing to be kind to a lady.”
Michael snorted behind her and muttered, “Lady. Yeah, right.”
Allison’s eyes narrowed into slits, but she chose to ignore him. She simply gritted her teeth and looked up at Logan with the most sincere smile she could manage.
“I really appreciate this, Logan,” she said.
“No problem,” he answered, smiling happily. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, this is great,” she told him. Logan turned to leave, but she stopped him by saying, “Logan, would you mind staying for a while? I think Michael’s getting rather tired. He’s turned quite snarky.”
With that, Michael stood up so quickly that his chair squeaked across the wood floor and banged harshly against the wall, sending flecks of drywall and paint clattering to the ground. With his fists clenched into white-knuckled balls and his jaw muscles rippling, he stormed from the room.
“What… was that about?” Logan asked. “Never mind, don’t answer. Luke will be here to relieve me soon so I can get some sleep. I’ll stay with you until then.”
Mated to the Pack Page 2