2#Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Shifter Romance (Deliberate Theft)

by Hartnady, Charlene

  “I told you that he came at my bidding.”

  Brant shrugged. “You know better. It just means I should punish you too.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  He shook his head. “I think you have punished yourself enough already.” He glanced at her stomach, which she clutched instinctively. “The procedure will take place tomorrow as planned.”

  Her eyes narrowed in horror. “I can’t possibly—”

  “You will. This whole fiasco needs to stop. The wolf must go back to his own kind and you need to…move on.”

  “By move on you had better not be talking about Lance, because if I ever see the male again it will be too soon.” Her hands curled into fists at her sides.

  “I would never force you to be with someone.”

  “But you would forbid me.”

  Brant sighed. “Everything I do is for the better of our species. It is mine and Zane’s jobs to keep the covens safe. It is why the wolf must pay and why you must stay away from him. I do not want our species to mix. What signal would that send to the rest of the coven? We are having a tough enough time as it is with keeping our males away from the humans. There is nothing I can do about Esral, but inter species relationships are asking for trouble. We are too good to be diluting our blood with those beasts.” He shook his head. “I won’t have it.” He swallowed hard, his eyes softening and turning more of a chocolate shade than the black that they had been up until moments ago. “Promise me that you will have the procedure, that you will let the wolf walk away and be done with this madness? In return I will spare your wolf. I will ensure that his penalty is minor, that he is let off easily.”

  She put up her hand, intent on arguing.

  “Don’t.” Brant’s eyes narrowed. She knew him well, but the opposite was also true. “That is my ultimatum. Think on it. I will want your answer at sunup. You cannot birth this child. If the wolf has tried to convince you otherwise, he is wrong. You know it and I know it.”

  Stephany had to look away. There were some choice expletives on the tip of her tongue. It would make her feel better to tell Brant exactly what she thought of him, but that wouldn’t help things. In fact, it would make them infinitely worse.

  His phone rang.

  “Yeah.” A pause, “Good. I’ll be right there.” Brant ended the call, shoving the phone into his pocket. It was only now that she noticed that he was shirtless and barefoot. “Your wolf is awake. The blade was only silver plated, so not only will he make it but he should be healed enough to be on his way by morning.”

  Stephany clutched a hand to her mouth, but a small sob still managed to escape.

  Brant narrowed his eyes. “Get yourself together. I’ve never seen you like this and quite frankly it’s unnerving. You’ll get over the wolf.” It was a command more than a statement.

  “You might be able to tell me what I can and can’t do, but you can’t tell me what I can and can’t feel or how to act. I’m disappointed in you, Brant. I have always seen you as fair and just.” She paused, watching his eyes turn a new moon shade of black. “I was wrong. You’re just as big of a bully as Zane is.”

  “Don’t you dare talk to your king that way!”

  “Someone has to tell you. I’m sure your female will agree.” Stephany knew it was a low blow, but she didn’t care. She was beginning to think that Ward wasn’t completely wrong in his assessment of the kings.

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “I’m in for a ton of grovelling. Good thing Zane still has those diamonds he procured before we mated Tanya.” He seemed to snap out of his reverie. “I’m going to go now before you say something I can’t un-hear. I like you, Stephany. I respect you. I want to talk further about this, but only once you are calm. I don’t like this view point you have taken on me or the way you are looking at me now. I value your opinion. I know it may not seem like it right now, but I want what is best for you.”

  She nodded, not trusting her own voice. As much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn’t.

  “Try and get some rest. I want your answer in the morning.”

  ****

  Sleep.

  As if. Stephany threw the comforter off with a disgusted groan. There would be no sleep for her tonight. Yet she felt too exhausted to get out of bed so she lay there, in the dark, eyes wide open.

  Her mind wandered to Ward. In the dungeon. He might be healing rapidly, but with a wound like that, he would be in a world of pain. Not just physical.

  She would never forget the look he had given her when he found out that she was mated to Lance. Disbelief followed by sorrow, which quickly turned into devastation. Not anger or disappointment, but complete devastation like she’d pulled out his still beating heart and smashed it under her foot.

  What the hell was she going to do?

  There was a timid knock at the door. Stephany felt like burying herself under her pillow and staying there indefinitely.

  “Steph,” Tanya’s voice sounded through the door.

  “Come in.” After her human friend had stood up for her, how could Stephany deny her? Besides, she needed a shoulder right now.

  Her friend turned on the light, closing the door behind her. Tanya’s hair was mussed, she wore a pair of flannel pajamas. Her face was a mask of concern. “How are you holding up?”

  Stephany laughed. It came out sounding a little hysterical. “I’ve been better.”

  Tanya sat down next to her on the bed and grabbed her hand. Stephany squeezed. “Thank you for trying to help.”

  Tanya’s eyes turned stormy. “Those two are in a world of freaking trouble. I can’t believe that they had me bodily removed from the room.”

  “They were afraid for your safety. It was for the best.” Stephany hugged herself.

  “What about you? You’re not chopped liver.” Tanya raised her eyebrows.

  What meat had to do with it, Stephany did not know. She remained silent.

  “It’s unbelievable that the alpha—”

  “Ward,” Stephany whispered. “His name is Ward,” she repeated more loudly.

  Tanya smiled sadly. “My bad…Ward is going to be punished while Lance will get away with a warning. I heard Zane beat his ass though. Is that part at least true?”

  “Yeah, although he did not beat his ass…” Stephany felt her brow crease. “He beat him on the face and torso.”

  Tanya giggled. “You vampires crack me up.”

  This was a phrase that Stephany had heard before…crack me up meant that it made her laugh. Stephany did not understand why she worded it that way or why she would feel any type of joy at a time like this. Humans were strange.

  Tanya’s face turned serious, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth for a few beats. “I’m very angry with them. Brant told me about the ultimatum as well. I tried to talk him into letting the wolf…Ward go…to let him be with you when”—she swallowed hard—“you know, but he refused. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. Thanks for trying.” Stephany paused. “Did Brant happen to mention what he will demand from Ward as punishment?”

  Tanya nodded. “I have to say that he is letting the…Ward off lightly. He will need to swear his allegiance to both kings. He will also need to agree to allow a group of our scouts to return with him so that we know where the wolves are staying, as Zane and Brant would like to visit.”

  She must’ve made a strange noise or it was possible that Tanya saw something in her eyes, because she stopped talking. “What is it?” she asked and then frowned.

  “Ward will never agree.”

  “Oh, no,” Tanya covered her mouth. “I’m not sure what Brant will do if he refuses.”

  It was so unfair. So cruel, so calculating. Stephany took a deep breath. “He will be forced to make an example of him. Ward is in grave danger.”

  “No,” Tanya paused. “Surely he wouldn’t hurt the wolf...”

  “Your kings love you, Tanya. They would do anything for you. I’ve seen the way they coddle you and giv
e in to your every whim.”

  “Not every.” Tanya pouted.

  “Okay...they mostly give in to your every desire but make no mistake, they are ruthless and in some cases heartless. I have watched both kill without remorse and on many occasions.”

  Tanya gasped, her eyes widened and her face turned pale. Stephany could hear how her heart sped up.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. They are right to keep you out of it.”

  “No.” The human shook her head, her dark hair flying about her face. “I know that they are all of those things. Knowing does not make me feel any less for them though.”

  “Good.” Stephany moved to a sitting position, she folded her legs beneath her. “It was not my intention to tarnish them in your eyes. I was wrong to have said anything.”

  “You think that Brant will have him killed?” Tanya asked, immediately chewing on her lip.

  “Or, they’ll leave him to rot in the dungeon until he concedes. They will not let him go.” Stephany picked at a piece of lint on the bed. “He will never agree. I was not permitted to walk within the shifter camp. I had to be blind folded when we left. The only card the wolves hold is the ability to disappear. Once Zane and Brant know the location of their camp, it will become more difficult for the shifters to hide. We will become all the more powerful against them.” Stephany shook her head. She wanted to tell Tanya about the ‘secrets’ Ward had alluded to, but she decided to keep that to herself.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I will do whatever Brant wants, just as long as Ward is not…” She clutched a hand to her mouth. A hot tear rolled down her cheek. “He can’t die,” her voice sounded muffled behind her hand.

  Tanya looked at her with concern. “I heard that Ward will make it. He won’t die.”

  “Not from that particular wound he won’t.”

  “I won’t let them execute him.” Tanya’s eyes turned stormy.

  Stephany knew that Tanya meant well, but her friend had no say in the matter. Not unless Brant and Zane disagreed and Stephany had a feeling that they would see eye to eye on this one.

  “I just wish that I could get a message to him. He needs to do as they say. Buy me some time to help him escape…” Oh damn, she shouldn’t have said that to the kings’ mate.

  Tanya nodded, her eyes wide, a solemn expression on her face. Maybe she really was on Stephany’s side. It still wasn’t right to put her in the middle like this. “He probably wouldn’t listen to me anyway, not after I deceived him.”

  “Deceived him?” her brow creased.

  “He didn’t know about Lance.” Tanya’s mouth made an ‘o’ and her eyes widened. “I had planned on telling him,” she quickly added.

  “It’s not like you and Lance are really an item or anything.”

  “We are mates. Ward doesn’t know the dynamics.”

  “I guess not…” She looked thoughtful for a few seconds.

  “He wanted to take me back with him. We planned on asking Brant and Zane.” Her lip quivered so she bit down on it. “Ward said that I didn’t have to terminate and he wanted to prove it to me. Begged me to trust him. He said if I went with him and still decided to end the pregnancy that he would bring me back.”

  “You believed him?”

  Stephany felt the tears roll down her cheeks. “I did. I think that he really believed he had the answer, but how could he possibly? I would be an idiot to allow myself to feel that kind of hope.” Problem was, she had been an idiot.

  “What if he does have the answer?” Tanya looked thoughtful. “Are you in love with the alpha?” Tanya looked her straight in the eyes.

  “Look, whatever crazy plan you’re hatching, stop now.”

  “Answer me,” Tanya pressed.

  “It doesn’t matter. Ward won’t speak to me again. Anything we might’ve had is over. I am a mated female, whether I like it or not. It doesn’t matter that I hate my mate.” She wiped away the tears and sniffled hard.

  “It matters a lot.” When Stephany didn’t answer, Tanya pouted her lips for a few beats. “Fine!” she huffed. “I’ll answer for you. You have major feelings for Ward. You want this child.”

  “I can’t give birth. I can’t. It doesn’t matter what Ward shows me…it won’t change a thing. Unless they have a magic wand to make my pelvis bigger…” Stephany shook her head.

  “You have to try, Steph. I don’t want you living with regret.”

  “What are you planning?” Stephany felt her heart rate kick up a few notches. “Please don’t do anything silly. Don’t get yourself into trouble or put yourself in danger.” She grabbed Tanya’s hand. “Just drop it okay.”

  Tanya narrowed her eyes. “I won’t drop it. You mean too much to me.”

  “You must, and you will, or I’ll call Brant.” Stephany reached for the phone on her side table.

  “Fine,” Tanya huffed. “I just wish you’d let me help you.” Frustration was edged into every word, which Stephany ignored for the good of her friend.

  “You have helped me. Stay out of it and keep safe.”

  Tanya threw her arms around Stephany in a hard hug. “I will, Steph. I promise, I will. I just wish I could say the same for you since this whole thing is eating you alive.”

  Chapter 7

  His chest was on fire. The closing wound still oozed blood. His breath came in pants, nausea rolled through him, causing him to dry heave. He felt his wound rip open again. The intensity of the pain caused another pang of nausea. He grit his teeth to stave off his body’s reaction, fighting to stay as still as possible. Sweat rolled off his brow. How could it be so hot and yet so cold and all at once? His teeth clattered, just as his blood ignited.

  An elderly female that smelled of vampire approached the cot. Her brow was creased and her lips were a thin white line.

  “Drink this.” She pressed a cup to his lips.

  He hesitated.

  She sighed heavily. “If we wanted you dead, you would be already.”

  This time when he hesitated it was because he was experiencing another grueling pang of nausea. His stomach clenched and he growled as the edges of his wound pulled painfully.

  “Stubborn wolf.” She tsked. “It will help against the pain and the nausea. Hopefully you will be able to sleep, which will help you to heal quicker.”

  The female held the cup to his lips again and this time he drank. The liquid tasted of spinach, there was a peppery undertone. Ward drained the entire cup, gagging painfully as he finished. Thankfully the liquid stayed down.

  Placing a chair beside the bed, the elderly female sat next to him. A bowl of steaming, fragrant water sat on her lap. Using careful strokes, she cleaned his chest and wound. It stung like a bitch, but he knew that she was only trying to help him. A clean wound healed quicker. Also, allowing the wound to first bleed and then to clean it helped to remove any lingering silver residue. He was damned lucky to still be breathing. Ward had never allowed himself to be blindsided like that before. That cowardly dickhead vampire had waited till his eyes were turned before stabbing him in the chest. If the bastard had had his way, Ward would be dead.

  He squeezed his eyes closed, hissing at the well of emotions as he thought of how Stephany had shielded him with her own body. Defended him.

  She’d also lied to him, not something he was sure he could forgive her for. It made perfect sense now why she didn’t want to be with him. Why she didn’t want to save the child. He must’ve made another noise, this time from a pain deeper than any wound could inflict because the healer tsked again. “You warriors are all such babies.” She paused for a few beats before continuing to lather his wound with a thick paste. “There, all done.” She paused, “Get some sleep. I will check on you in the morning.”

  If he was going to escape, this was his chance. Unfortunately, he was so weak that he could barely lift an arm, let alone stand. With two guards posted outside his cage, the situation was dire.

  There was no doubt in
his mind that the kings would make him jump through hoops before allowing him to go. If they ever allowed him to leave that was. The moment passed as his door clanged shut, a thick chain and padlock put in place. Silver infused, no doubt.

  His chest still throbbed, but at least the nausea had subsided. Ward resided himself to a long ass night. His last thought was that he would never be able to sleep before he passed out.

  “You will let me in right now.” A female voice roused him.

  “Our orders were not to allow anyone…anyone into this cell. That means you too, my lady.” One of the guards spoke with his head bowed.

  “You will open the door and you will do it now.” She stomped one of her little feet. From her scent, she was human even though there was a light vampire smell attached to it. Maybe he was picking up on the males that flanked her.

  Ward flexed his abs, there was still a dull ache in his chest but for the most part the worst seemed to be over.

  “If you make me wake up Zane, he will have you both lashed for insolence. I am the queen for blood’s sake.” Her hair flew about her shoulders and her little hands were on her hips.

  “We may be lashed if we let you in,” one of the males said.

  “We would be disobeying direct orders,” the other added.

  “From the kings themselves,” the first one continued.

  “I. Am. The. Queen.” Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. “You will let me in now!”

  Both males’ shoulders slumped further, their heads so bowed that their chins were almost on their chests.

  “Fine.” She huffed, fiddling in her pocket. “I’ll call Zane. Sort this out. It’ll mean fifty freaking lashes for the two of you…no make that one hundred.” She muttered to herself, and then finally pulled the phone free. “Going to be so freaking mad…I warned you.”

  The males exchanged a look. “Okay, my lady, but we will come in with you.”