by Victoria Sue
“You look tired.” Brett eyed her cautiously.
Lisa tried to nod and failed. Her eyes drooped shut, and she had to force them open. Brett had said something else. Lisa struggled to hear him. She lifted one hand. It was really heavy. She tried to sit up. Brett laughed shortly and pushed her back. She wanted to say something, but a buzzing had started in her head.
“Just relax, Lisa. We’ll be there soon.”
* * * *
Sometime later—Lisa wasn’t sure how long—she became aware of voices and the steady hum of a car engine. She could hear Brett and wondered exactly how far away this mall was. She must have dozed off for a few minutes and guessed by the sounds she was still in the car. Lisa was about to sit up when the next words shocked her into holding still.
“She’ll probably be out for hours yet.”
That must be one of the guys in the front as she hadn’t heard the voice before.
“Good job. The trip’s only usually about six hours, but we have to avoid all major roads, so it’s going to be more like ten, maybe more.”
She recognized Brett. What?
“Well, she’s out like a light now.” Someone laughed.
“If she starts waking up, I’ll just give her more water.”
“The Alpha will be pleased by his gift.”
Lisa concentrated on keeping her breathing steady.
“I’ll say,” the other guy chimed in. “Where’d you find her?”
Brett answered shortly. “Just drive, will you?”
She heard a snigger. “She’s his in with the pack, didn’t you know? Alpha let him in, even though his leg’s no good, because he brought him a present.”
Lisa thought she was going to be sick. Not again. Lisa kept still, ignored her dry throat and tried to figure out how she was going to get away.
The car hit a rough patch, and the driver swore. “Fuck. We’ll be out of these woods in about another twenty minutes.”
Brett spoke up. “The Alpha’s going to meet us with a full escort at Huntingdon. It won’t matter if she’s asleep or not then.”
Lisa focused on what the driver had said. Oh God, she had only another twenty minutes to be able to escape. She knew once the pack met them, she would have no chance. She nearly laughed, then wanted to cry. What on earth gave her the idea she had a chance anyway?
She had to do something. She moaned and blinked. Brett shuffled over to her, “Here, have a drink, Lisa.”
Not on your life. Lisa twisted her head and tried to play dumb. “I need the bathroom, please.” She groaned again, “Sorry I fell asleep, guys, but I urgently need to stop.”
Through half-lidded eyes, she watched Brett glance at the guys up front and then out of the window. They were clearly going through some sort of woodland area, and Lisa’s heart sped up. She’d have no chance once they joined the pack escort.
“We’ll be in town in a few minutes and find you a proper restroom at the mall.”
So they were still going with that one, huh. “Guys, I’m sorry, but I really need to stop now.” She laughed hoping she sounded embarrassed. “I’ll just duck behind a tree.”
Brett flushed as she gave him a pleading look and nodded to the guys in front. “Pull over.”
Lisa scrambled to get out of the car once it was still. The driver from the front walked around and solicitously put a hand under her elbow. She was glad of it when she first stood up, then she straightened her backbone. She bit off a sarcastic comment about privacy and walked a few paces until she got her sea legs. “Okay, I can manage,” she added and tried to smile reassuringly.
The guy looked hesitant and glanced at Brett. She pretended not to notice Brett’s imperceptible nod and walked a few steps on her own until ducking behind a tree. The guy was distracted by another car passing and Lisa shouted, “Just give me a minute.”
Lisa watched the guy walk back to the SUV and leaned on it with his arms crossed. He said something to Brett, who was standing by the open passenger door, and they both laughed.
Lisa lost no time. She didn’t think she had a hope in hell of losing the big guy. She could smell a wolf shifter, but she was going to give it her best try. At least, Brett couldn’t run after her. Okay, so that was only two gorillas chasing her then, much better. Lisa shook her head. She seemed to be acquiring quite a talent for sarcasm.
She scooted down a path. Realizing it would be the first place they would look, she ducked left to push through some dense woodland. Fear was making her clumsy, and she seemed to have developed two left feet. Swerving into thicker trees, she scrambled over a couple of logs. She could barely make out some traffic noises and veered toward it. Traffic meant people.
Shouts! Oh God, they’d realized. Her legs pumped harder. Harsh breaths pounded out, and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. Branches whipped her face and cut her arms. She ducked, trying to avoid tree branches and tripped twice. Sprawling, she pulled herself up and carried on. She could hear them. Her legs were tiring. Her lungs ached. Her arms felt heavy. Mac, Mac.
Shouts sounded awfully close, and she glanced around again to see. At that second, her foot caught in some creepers on the ground, and she cried out at the pain that rocketed up her leg.
Up, up, get up. Lisa tried to scramble up but nearly retched at the pain that shot up her foot. She bowed her head. She wanted to sob, but no tears would drown the desperation that pummeled into her. She heard the huge guy reach her, and felt an iron fist close on her arm.
It was too late, they had caught her. They had caught her, and she would be locked up again. Wicked.
A loud roar rent the trees.
She lifted her head to see the big guy’s look of sick panic and the other guy from the car running toward them. Huge thundering footsteps made the ground shake as three enormous bears pushed through the trees. The guys didn’t even have time to shift as they were swept up by hulking paws and flung into trees. Lisa gaped at the force. The hits caused the trees to bend so much, she thought the roots would lift.
One of the bears strode over to where the guys had been flung like discarded toys. The bear crouched and rippled, and Zack stood grinning.
Hot panting breath scalded her neck, and she whipped her head around. Lisa’s world narrowed once more. Everything grew quiet. It seemed like the birds in the trees overhead were even holding their breath. A huge head and a pair of brilliant blue eyes were calmly staring at her. Large arms, ever so gently, lifted her up, and cradled her. A soft muzzle pushed gently into her chest, and mild rumbling noises vibrated through her. She watched skin ripple, muscles contract, and hair vanish in wonder, all the time she was held, and hot breath bathed her face.
“Mac.” Lisa smiled and breathed in honey.
Chapter Eighteen
Mac had clearly demonstrated to everyone, including Daniel, that he had no intention of surrendering Lisa to anyone, not for a long time, if ever. She would have been thrilled before she had spoken to Brett. Now, she was just numb. She told Mac she was tired and managed to avoid Riley, although that was easy. Mac had refused to put her down.
They had to suffer through an F.B.I. debriefing. Lisa had been discovered gone within seconds of her following Brett. Zack had just arrived home and had seen the black SUV. It had only taken moments for them to pile into a car to give chase. Mac got Daniel on the phone, and he’d pleaded with them to just follow until the F.B.I. could get there. They hadn’t known whether anyone had guns, and stopping the car would have put Lisa in even more danger. They’d been in the car that had overtaken them when Lisa had managed to get Brett to pull over.
Lisa had felt sorry in the end for Brett. He’d risked everything for his chance to belong to a wolf pack. Apparently Angie hadn’t been as happy to live at Raleigh Point as everyone had thought, and when Killian’s attempt had been prevented, it had given him the idea. It looked like Miranda had been on the payroll for a while and explained why the team always seemed one step behind.
“So, that’s it then,
Daniel?” Mac had wanted definite assurances.
Lisa caught the slight hesitation from Daniel before he had admitted that apart from Brett’s testimony, they didn’t have any actual evidence yet to associate the Alpha from the pack in Erie with anything other than responding to Brett. Lisa was safe, though. Mac’s arms tightened around her at that.
When they were done, Mac had carefully laid her down in the bedroom and kissed her softly. He kept giving her puzzled looks, but she told him she was tired and had asked him to get her some water. The glass was on the nightstand. She pretended to be asleep when he brought it back. She wasn’t sure if she could have faced him then. She wasn’t sure she could face him now. Lisa sat in her bedroom back at Raleigh Point, alone.
She had been given another chance at living her life. For that she would always be grateful, but she couldn’t stay, not when she knew if he had any other choice, he wouldn’t be interested in her.
Maybe Daniel would help her? Cassie had told her she had up to six months before she had to worry about going into heat again and maybe by that time she could find someone else, someone safe and kind. Not someone with clear blue eyes you could drown in and definitely not a bear. If she ever smelled honey again, she thought she would be sick.
“Lisa?”
She jumped. She’d been so lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard the door open. She tried to fix a blank look on her face as Mac walked in. “How are you feeling, honey?”
Don’t call me that. Lisa shrank back as his hand came out to touch her.
Mac pulled his hand back and looked puzzled. “Are you feeling okay? You must be hungry. Riley was gonna have a look at you. I wanted to make sure you were awake.” He laughed. “I’m not sure I’m ready for even Riley to touch you yet.”
Lisa closed her eyes and felt another little piece of her heart break off.
“Lisa? Maybe I should get Riley up here?” Mac put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Talk to me, baby.”
She couldn’t help it. A strangled sob pushed its way out, and she jumped up. He couldn’t touch her. She couldn’t do this if he touched her.
“Lisa?” Mac sounded worried now.
She took a steadying breath and willed her voice to sound normal. “Would you call Daniel for me, please? I need to go.”
Mac shot up. “Go? Go? What the hell?” His arms came around her, and she shrugged them off.
“Don’t touch me.” Her body nearly vibrated with the need to be held by him. She couldn’t hold out if he didn’t let go. Silence descended. Lisa closed her eyes in desperation and took steadying breaths. Mac said not one word. He clearly was working through this mating compulsion and was probably incredibly relieved that he wasn’t going to be saddled with her.
“Lisa, what’s wrong?”
Lisa sighed. “It’s all right, Mac. I know. Brett explained it.”
“Brett? What the hell? What did he say?” Mac pulled her close forcibly. “Why would you believe anything he said? He was mad. I don’t know, obsessed.”
“Because it’s the only thing that makes sense.” Lisa nearly shouted the words. And it was. She screwed her eyes shut as if not being able to see him would make the pain any less. She was a nobody. She’d spent half her life locked up, doing nothing, being nothing. This guy practically went out with models for God’s sake. Lisa pulled at her sweater. She didn’t even own her own clothes.
“What makes sense, honey?”
She shivered and opened her eyes as that calm voice vibrated through her. She glanced at him. Warm blue eyes were fixed on her, as if they saw right through her.
“Mating compulsion,” she whispered.
“Mating what?”
She could feel heat rise in her face. “It’s what you’re feeling. It’ll go away.”
Mac’s whole length pressed at her, warming and protecting. “How long before this feeling of yours goes away?”
“No.” Lisa glanced up confused. “Not my feelings. Your feelings.” She could feel his lips lift in a smile through her hair. He was too close. She tried to step back, but strong arms enveloped her.
Mac’s voice murmured in her hair. “Why my feelings?”
Lisa stammered. She couldn’t think when he was so close. “B-because you’re a shifter.”
“Lisa.” Two warm fingers hooked her chin and brought her face up to his. “So are you.”
Lips met lips in urgent, gentle, possessiveness like he absolutely needed to do this thing right now, but he had all the time in the world. She pulled her face away. “It’ll pass. You’ll be sorry. When it’s finished and you realize—”
“Lisa. So are you.”
A tiny kernel of hope fizzled in her chest.
“Lisa, do you love me?”
No, No! Anything but that. She fisted her hands tight and shook her head. Warm fingers snaked under her chin and tilted her face. “Lisa, open your eyes.” She blinked away the tears that ran down her face. He brushed them away carefully with a gentle sweep of his thumb. “Lisa, do you love me?” More tears ran, and wide arms circled her pulling her close. “You’re not answering me.”
She couldn’t force words of denial past her throat. Strong hands smoothed her hair and soft kisses were dropped on her head.
“If you can’t answer me, you ask the question.” He pushed her away from him slightly and gazed at her face. “Ask me.”
Lisa gazed at him. She saw his eyes shining and marveled at a glint of tears that dared to cloud those beautiful blue pools. So quietly, she didn’t think he could hear her, she asked, “Do you? Do you love me?” Urgently, louder this time. “Mac, do you love me?”
Lisa waited for hours. Her whole life, while those lips that tasted so good, pulled unbidden into a dazzling smile that sought out every corner of her soul.
“I love you more than my life. I love you more than the air that I breathe. I love you more than I could ever say, and I will show you how much, every day, for the rest of our lives.”
Lisa jumped at him, heart and body and soul. Mac growled as she wrapped her legs around him, and she pushed him into the door. Wild hands and clumsy fingers tore off clothing. “Yes, yes.” Had he asked her a question?
God, he smelled amazing, and something inside her moved once more. Mac staggered to the bed, holding onto her like a drowning man. Open-mouthed, hungry, wet kisses pulled at her core and peppered her face. They mauled each other like wild animals. Clothes torn and flew off in all directions.
“Mac, need—”
“Yes, God, yes.” He lay down. “Ride me. Push your sweet pussy over me and take me.” He groaned. “Take me wherever you want to go.”
Lisa slammed down on him. Brief pain was nothing as incredible fullness wrapped her up. She lifted slowly, and then slammed down again, over and over, until he was groaning and trembling as much as her. Sweat streaked her thighs, and the heady smell of sex wove through her. With a roar, Mac rose up and forced her down. He flipped her over, and she screamed as her pussy clenched, frustrated, and empty.
“Soon, baby, soon.”
Lisa stilled as he leaned over the bed and in seconds cold gel trailed over her buttocks.
God, yes, yes. She needed. Lisa jerked as a cold finger pushed at her.
“Push out, honey.”
Burning, shaking, sweating. Like a predator, one arm across her shoulders pinned her down and the other used fingers to tease, open. Something inside her reveled at his speed, wanting, needed dominance. She struggled. Her wolf struggled. Howling inside. She felt a hot burning as he pushed at her. Sharp pain her wolf reveled in, then amazing fullness. So perfect, so right. Gasping, urging him on.
“Take me.” Now. Now.
Mac roared again. “Whose are you? Whose?”
“Yours.” She screamed as stars exploded in her body. On and on a vortex of pleasure and pain surrounded her, dragging her down. She breathed, once, twice, then Mac bent to her neck and sank his teeth in and pure white heat ripped her apart.
She b
arely heard his answering shout in the haze, and harsh breaths dominated the room. He leaned over and pulled her in. “Mate.”
One word, one satisfied, loving word that Lisa felt to her toes. Now she was branded.
Much later, Lisa stirred in warm arms. Mac smiled against her bare shoulder and leaped to the bathroom. He returned a moment later with a warm cloth and a towel.
“Not too sore?”
She hugged herself. She wanted the soreness. It stamped her as belonging to someone—finally.
“I think we should go for a run.”
Run? She wasn’t sure she could walk. “I, Oh—” Lisa smiled her understanding and acknowledged the urgency unfurling in her. He passed her a robe from the bed. “We’ll go down the back stairs.” He grinned wickedly at her. “I’m not ready to share you yet.” She let him help her with the robe and his hands brushed the bite on her neck. Desire ran through her so suddenly, she gasped.
“Later.” Mac smiled knowingly. “I’ve someone I want to meet first.”
They padded quietly down the stairs, out through the backdoor, past the empty basketball hoops and toward the trees.
He pulled her in close. “So, no more doubts?”
Lisa shook her head shyly.
“Just so we’re clear. Absolutely.”
Lisa stilled. Mac’s intensity doubled with his alpha power.
“You are the strongest person I have ever met. I’ve never faced any challenge like the ones you’ve put up with every day of your life. I am honored, Alpha Mate.” Mac’s alpha power swirled around her, and she sent her own out to meet it. Gloriously. Perfect. He tugged her closer.
“What do I do? Does it hurt?” Lisa was shaking. Nerves or something else?
Mac pulled her robe down. “You don’t need to do anything, someone wants to say hello, just relax.” She took two calming breaths and her body crouched as if she needed to be nearer the ground. Heat and awareness flooded her. Dust motes danced in the air, and the grass smelled so sweet. She wanted to roll. Mac bent down to his gorgeous gold-brown mate.