Hunted And Claimed (Wayward Mates Series Book 7)

by Delta James

  “Easier unless you’re one of the men mated to one of the women who’s going to be the most pissed. I think, with your permission, I’ll take Heather aside and let her know beforehand and that I expect her to behave when the announcement is made.”

  Chapter Four

  Riley was in her element. She was back in Galveston having decided that the prize money was not worth the risk of the DeMedici finding out she was there. She was on a roll getting the kitchen staff doing the prep work for the evening seating. Typically, her restaurant was open from eleven a.m. to two p.m. and then from five p.m. to eleven p.m. That gave the staff, both wait and cook, time to get cleared away from lunch before starting for dinner. This was her second favorite part of the day. Her favorite was after they had escorted the last dinner guest out for the evening and the remaining staff sat down for a meal together.

  “Riley? Phone!”

  “Take a message. I’m kind of busy.”

  “I tried telling the caller that, but she said it was urgent.”

  Riley put down her carving knife, cleaned her hands, and picked up the phone, walking out of the kitchen and into her office for some privacy.

  “Riley Gentry here. State your business; I’m busy.”

  “Oh, that’s nice, Riley. No time to talk to an old friend?”

  “Sky? Oh, my God, is that you? Well, of course it’s you. Who else would it be? What’s up?”

  “They know, Riley. They know what you’ve been doing. They don’t know who you are, but they’re starting to track you down. They’ve narrowed it down to Galveston and New Orleans. Ava is trying to stall, but Declan is no fool.”

  “Protect the network, Skylar. Tell her to figure out a way to separate my information from all the rest. We need to know what’s going on. Damn sure the men aren’t going to be straight with us.”

  “Riley, I keep telling you. They aren’t all like your brother Aidan. And in fact, Catherine says she doesn’t think he’s as bad as you believe him to be. But as I pointed out to her, she’s married to Marco and nobody is that bad.”

  Riley giggled. It was good to hear Skylar’s voice.

  “What made them think of Galveston?”

  “Jean-Michel. That pirate is wicked smart and he can smell a plot before it ever takes hold. They’ve been able to figure out that you’re operating out of the Gulf. That kind of limits it to Galveston or New Orleans. Heather told Darby that the women of Cameron Nichols’ pack are geared up and can help defend their home. But Nichols will be pissed. If he finds out who you are, he’ll bring you into his pack.”

  “He might try.”

  “No, Riley, he will. He’s a former SEAL. Those guys don’t mess around. And a lot of the guys in his pack are ex-Special Forces of some kind. A lone female alpha will not sit well with him, especially when he realizes you’ve been operating under his nose for a while now. That’ll tweak his pride. Darby doesn’t think that will serve anyone’s best interest.”

  “I can handle Cameron Nichols or anyone else who thinks they’ll pull me back into a pack. I know you and the rest are happy with your new lives and I’m happy for you. But that’s not for me.”

  Skylar sighed.

  “Sky? Have you heard any news about my brother and Gia? Has she had the baby yet?”

  “Yes. She had another boy. Apparently, Aidan is quite enraptured with his second son as well as his first and most especially their mother. Catherine says he dotes on her. You really should try to find a way to get him a message that you’re alive and well. Catherine related to me that Gia says that every once in a while, she can see a shadow cross his face. Gia is fairly certain it is when he thinks of you.”

  “I just couldn’t stay. You understand.”

  “I do. But you should also know Ava’s discovered that there is a price on your head. The Ruling Council wants you alive. The rogue group would prefer alive but will settle for dead. They all want you stopped. Dylan is afraid that some of the human hunters have decided the bounty on you is worth trying to take you on so be careful. Those bastards don’t fight fair and you would be quite the prize... alive or dead.”

  “I won’t let them just wait, Sky. I can’t. You haven’t seen them. The ones I’ve been able to get to are just wrecked. Some of the turned humans are so deeply in shock that they’re hard to help as they can’t seem to help themselves. And the born shifters don’t understand how their kind could turn on them. I can’t just leave them. I can’t. I won’t.”

  “I know, Riley. The Coalition is working on a plan...”

  “Not fast enough. Damn it, Sky. They were able to make preemptive strikes in several places and then they sat back, congratulated themselves, and let the ball drop.”

  “They didn’t let the ball drop,” Skylar said with a hint of annoyance. “They regrouped to try and make sense of what they’d learned and how to proceed. Not everyone can just become an avenging angel.”

  Riley barked a bitter laugh. “I’m no angel.”

  “You are to them,” said Skylar quietly. “I know you want to save them all. But even if you can’t, be proud of yourself for saving those you did.”

  “I wish I could find more of them and more quickly than I do. Although your network has certainly helped in that regard.”

  “We’ve got your back, Riley. But I’m telling you, watch yourself. My guess is Cameron Nichols or people from his pack are going to start sniffing around.”

  “I will. Thanks for the heads up.”

  “Take care of yourself, Riley. Stay safe.”

  “I will, Sky. You too.”

  Riley disconnected the phone as one of her line cooks poked his head in her office.

  “Bad news, boss?”

  Riley shook her head and painted on a bright smile. “Nothing I can’t handle. Let’s get back to work, we’re running behind.”

  The dinner service went well. Riley’s restaurant was now highly regarded and reservations were usually needed to get in for the evening meal.

  Riley had seen Gabriel and Heather Hayes on the reservation list and planned to avoid going out during their time in the restaurant. She didn’t need the beta to the Wolf Meadow pack catching her scent and blowing the whistle on her. She’d managed so far to avoid ever having to be around anyone from that pack and she didn’t intend to change things now.

  * * *

  “What is it, sweetheart? You seem distracted... and not by me,” said Heather to her mate. She was very concerned that he had caught the slight scent of a female wolf in the restaurant. Heather wanted to get him out of the restaurant before he figured out the owner was one of them... and not one of their pack.

  Gabe looked at his mate. “Who is she, Heather?”

  “Who is who?” she asked with as innocent a tone as she could muster.

  “Whoever’s scent that is.”

  “I don’t smell anything except wonderful food,” Heather said, turning her attention back to her dinner.

  Gabriel’s face held a trace of amusement but no warmth. “You need another taste of soap, mate?”

  “No, Gabe. I hate that.”

  Gabriel leaned across to his mate. “Then don’t you lie to me. You can smell her as can I. Who is she?”

  “I don’t know,” said Heather truthfully. She knew that there was a rogue she-wolf running the restaurant, but that’s all she knew.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, Gabriel.”

  Gabe got out his cell phone. “Cameron? I’ve picked up the scent of a she-wolf. She’s not one of ours.”

  “She’d better not be,” he replied. “None have been given permission to leave the ranch.”

  Gabe grinned. “That’s gone better than I thought.”

  “Better is a relative term. I think they’d all like to lynch me.”

  “Probably, but I was concerned they might get the job done. What do you want me to do about the she-wolf here at the restaurant?”

  “Find out who she is, if she’s just passing through or a reside
nt. If she’s just passing through, offer her our hospitality. If she’s a resident, insist that she accept.”

  Gabe finished his dinner with Heather as the restaurant began to close. He paid their bill and escorted her out to their truck, helping her in on the passenger side.

  “You stay put. I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, kissing her lightly.

  “Gabe, come on. I want to go home.”

  “We will. Cameron needs me to find out who this girl is and what she’s doing here. Shouldn’t take me long.”

  “Losing interest in me already?” she asked provocatively.

  Gabe turned back to her; cradling her skull with one hand, he pulled her forward and his mouth captured hers for a passionate kiss as he slipped his other hand under her dress and between her thighs. Growling seductively, he pushed her panties aside and stroked her pussy. Heather caught her breath and sighed into his mouth.

  Lifting his mouth from hers, he whispered against her lips, “You know better. Now, you sit here and behave. I want you to think about whatever it is that you know about this woman that we don’t. If I don’t get some straight answers when I get back, when we get home, you’ll spend some time over my knee before I put you on yours.”

  He tweaked her clit before petting her pussy and withdrawing his hand. Kissing her lightly, he confiscated her cell phone, closed the door to the truck, and headed into the restaurant.

  Gabe made his way through the restaurant and slipped into the kitchen. He scented the air, searching for her. It was difficult as the kitchen smelled divine. Gabe also noted there was a relaxed, happy buzz... something absent from the back of the house in most successful restaurants. He closed his eyes and scented again. He was finally able to isolate her and watched as she finished preparing dinner for her staff.

  “As usual, you all were outstanding. Sal says we were completely booked tonight and are so for the rest of the month. I can’t thank each of you enough, but you’ll find a little something extra in your paychecks this week.”

  “Aren’t you staying, Riley?” called one of the waiters.

  “I’m beat, guys, and have, as they say, miles to go before I sleep.”

  Riley picked up her jacket and headed out the door. It had barely closed behind her before she detected the smell of a wolf hiding in the alley.

  “Whoever you are, show yourself,” she challenged.

  Gabriel stepped into the dim light that shone from the restaurant’s back entrance.

  “I’m Gabriel Hayes, beta for the Wolf Meadow pack. And who might you be, little wolf?”

  “Don’t patronize me, asshole. I don’t like it.”

  “You didn’t tell our alpha you were here or ask to join us.”

  “I’m not a joining kind of girl and your alpha has no authority over me... nor does anyone else.”

  “Galveston has been our territory for more than three centuries. You don’t just take up residence in a pack’s territory without seeking the permission and protection of its alpha.”

  She laughed. “Says who? A group of old male wolves who couldn’t fight their way out of a paper sack? You’ll forgive me if I don’t recognize their authority either. Now if you’ll excuse me, Beta, I’m tired and going home.”

  “I don’t think so. My alpha would like a word. Let’s go.” He reached for her, wrapping his strong hand around her upper arm.

  Instead of pulling away, Riley stepped into his personal space, punched him in his solar plexus, and as he let go and dropped any kind of defensive stance, brought her knee up into his balls. Having staggered him, she moved past him quickly and started down the alley that led to where she was parked. Once out of the alley, she picked up a run to get to her car with as much haste as possible.

  She got to her roadster, hopped in, and was able to speed by him as he made it to the street. She flipped him off as she roared past.

  Gabe shook his head and quickly snapped a picture of her license plate on his phone before calling Cameron.

  “Gabe? What’s your status?”

  “Blue balls, a hard cock, and a crushed ego.”

  Cameron laughed. “That does not sound good. What the hell happened?”

  “I’m fairly sure Heather knows more than she’s let on. I left the truck with visions of a quick visit with our mystery girl and then being able to take my mate home and to bed. I was anticipating spending the rest of the night with my cock encased in her warm, wet sheath. But it seems our trespasser had other ideas. The she-wolf is a resident, in fact she either owns or is the head chef for the Sea Wolf. I informed her you wanted to talk, she kneed me in the balls to the point I couldn’t breathe from the pain, and sped off in her vintage MG.”

  “Sounds like a real charmer,” chortled Cameron.

  “Laugh it up, buddy. Wait until you have designs on having your own mate underneath you calling your name as she pleads with you to come and some nasty-tempered she-wolf knees you. I’m telling you if we bring this girl into the pack, the first thing that happens is she and I have a long discussion about the inappropriateness of nailing the balls of one’s beta.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. We’ll make inquiries in the morning as to how we can find her.”

  “I have a picture of her license plate. If someone can run it through DMV, I’ll go pick her up.”

  “Come on home, Gabe. Get your lady to look after you. I’ll go invite our guest personally.”

  “I can do it, Cam.”

  “I’m sure you can. But it sounds like she’s going to have to get a crash course in manners and she may as well get it from me. Besides, as you so often like to point out since we returned from New Orleans, I have no mate to warm my bed.”

  Gabe laughed. “What can I say. I am a complete and total convert to finding one’s fated mate and bringing her to heel. I’ll send the license plate and head back to the ranch. When I find out what Heather knows, I’ll give you a holler.”

  Gabe disconnected and got into the truck.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” Heather asked quietly.

  “Oh, I found her, but she got away. Cameron’s going after her. What do you know about her?”

  “What makes you think I know something?”

  He chuckled. “Because for a naughty little wolf, you are an incredibly bad liar. I’m not playing this game with you, Heather. Either you tell me what you know on the way home or when we get home, I’ll spank you until you decide to do so.”

  He started the truck and headed back to the ranch. They rode in silence.

  “Gabe?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  “I don’t really know anything.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what you do know and I’ll decide if it’s useful. But you do know something, don’t you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Heather, I’m pretty damn sure that when you were part of Jean-Michel’s pack, if you maybe knew something and kept it to yourself, you got spanked. I can assure you that mated to me, keeping secrets of any kind will ensure your fanny gets turned bright red. Now, let’s hear it.”

  “Some of the girls at Rivière Du Loup were whispering about a lone she-wolf who’s been getting some of those girls who have been kidnapped away from their captors and to safety. I know Darby said that Catherine DeMedici said they’ve had five or six left at their villa. Marco has wanted to question them but Catherine and Ashley, that’s their medical person, have said they were too traumatized. That’s really all I know.”

  “What’s the speculation amongst you girls? Is she working alone? If so, why? Why isn’t this she-wolf being stopped by her pack? Where’s she getting her information?”

  “I really didn’t hear anything more than that.”

  They had pulled into the ranch and Gabe stopped the car.

  “That’s it?”

  “Yes, Gabriel. You aren’t mad, are you?”

  “I’m disappointed that you didn’t tell me what you knew until you were afraid you�
�d get your backside paddled. And I really don’t like that you tried to do a Texas sidestep when I picked up that woman’s scent at the restaurant. Is she the lone wolf behind these raids?”

  “I don’t know for sure.”

  “But you think she is, don’t you?”

  Heather started to cry softly. Gabe reached over and pulled her close.

  “I don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” she said.

  “I know, baby. It’ll be all right. Cameron is going to bring her out to the ranch where we can keep her safe. You know what she’s doing would be dangerous at any time, but right now with some kind of focused effort to kidnap potential mates, we want to keep all of you safe.” He kissed her nose. “Whether you want us to or not. Anything else?”

  Heather shook her head.

  “You go upstairs. I’m going to go call Cam and then I’ll be up.”

  “Shall I just get undressed and wait for you in bed?” she asked hopefully.

  He grinned at her. “You go upstairs, get naked, and wait for me in the corner.”

  “Gabe, please?”

  “Heather, you know better than to keep secrets. You go upstairs and I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

  Gabe helped her out of the truck and they walked into the house together. He started her toward the stairs and gave her backside a light swat. He watched her go up the stairs. She was a good girl and he was fairly sure she’d come clean.

  He dialed Cameron.

  “Gabe?”

  “Cameron, apparently there’s some speculation among the girls about the girl that’s conducting the raids. From what Heather says, it sounds like our chef may be a good candidate for the job.”

  “Any idea of her background? Where’s she from? Why she’s out here on her own?”

  “I don’t think the majority know that.”

  “Why the use of the term majority?” asked Cameron.

  “She’s got to be getting information somewhere... where better than from those of us who share our cause?”

  “You’re right, but it wouldn’t be the men, so most likely the women. And if Heather knows anything, she learned it from Darby. And if Darby is involved, my guess is the Bae Diogel girls at the very least know more than they’re telling and more likely are actively working with whoever it is.”