by Delta James
“Never is a long time, Riley. I mean to take you to mate one way or another.”
He put the truck in gear and got back on the road. Riley turned away from him and tried to still the tears that threatened to roll down her face. She had no intention of meeting Cameron’s pack with her face showing evidence of her distress.
“Here,” Cameron said, offering her his handkerchief.
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“You’ve made that clear. I’ll put it on the seat. Use it or don’t, it’s up to you. I’m willing to listen to whatever you want to tell me. But once we’re home, I’m going to get some answers to some pressing questions such as who was your alpha...”
“Don’t you mean is?”
“I mean was. I am your alpha now. I want him to know you’re safe and that I am laying claim to you.”
“What if he won’t agree?”
“If I can’t convince him you are my fated mate and/or if he refuses to relinquish his claim, I’ll challenge him. He’ll lose.”
“God, you’re a bastard. First you beat and kidnap me and now you threaten to hurt my br—” She cut herself short.
“So, your alpha is your brother. Combined with that accent it shouldn’t take me long to track him down. Save me the trouble and I’ll be inclined to let the spanking you got earlier suffice for the worry you’ve caused him.”
“How very kind of you. How about you just let me go and I’ll agree not to slit your throat the first chance I get?”
Cameron chuckled. “You are a spitfire, Irish. Fair warning—you ever come at me with deadly intent, I’ll lay so many welts across your backside you won’t be able to sit for a month. Speaking of which, do you ride?”
“No. I don’t like horses,” lied Riley.
She figured the less he knew about her and what she was capable of the better. The fact was she could ride before she could walk and never felt more in her element than she did on the back of a horse.
“We’ll have to get you over that. I love to ride. My parents used to go out every morning and watch the sunrise.”
“Did you father try to force your mother into a pairing?”
Cameron’s eyes softened, reflecting the love he had for his parents. “As a matter of fact, he did. He laid claim to her. She refused and he gave her the choice of running or being put over his knee in front of her father. She chose to run. Took my father’s favorite horse and lit out. It took him two days to catch up with her. He brought her home slung over the front of his saddle and she took her vows in front of her father and our pack before he took her up to their room. The story goes they were in seclusion for a little more than a week, but when they came back down, my mother was deeply in love. They were together more than thirty years and that never wavered.”
“I always find it curious that you males seem to find those stories so romantic. I wonder what your mother or her mother would have said.”
“So, you intend to deny that we are fated mates?”
“I don’t believe that there is some biological imperative between two shifters if that’s what you’re asking.”
“The longer and harder you fight, mate, the sweeter your surrender will be.”
Cameron turned off the road and headed down the long drive passing under the impressive Wolf Meadow sign and through the massive iron gates. The front pastures were fenced with white vinyl fencing and framed the well-groomed driveway and lush pastures.
“We keep the horses up here. We raise appaloosa horses. Do you know what those are?”
“Some kind of spotted American pony?”
“They were the source of pride and distinction for the Nez Perce. They were the first ones to start gelding males they felt were inferior.”
“Smart people. Too bad they didn’t get to you... yet.”
Cameron laughed out loud. “There will come a day when I tease you about this conversation and you will regret how naughty you were. Back behind the major compound are the cattle pastures. We raise Wagyu, Angus, and a cross of the two.”
“Yes, the cross makes good hamburger... wonder how it would taste seasoned with alpha male shifter?”
He pulled into his parking space and chuckled. He leaned over and nuzzled her neck, inhaling her scent deeply.
“Try to behave, mate. These are now your people and the women will look to you for leadership.”
“And when I escape, I’ll take any of them that want to leave with me.”
“And when you are run to ground, you can expect to be brought back home slung over the front of my saddle. I mean it, Riley, behave. I won’t have you causing trouble just because you aren’t ready to yield.”
“Submit, you mean.”
He drew a deep breath. “Yes, submit. I thought that yield might be easier for you to swallow.”
He turned off the truck and got out. Gabe had approached the truck from Riley’s side and went to open the door for her.
Riley suddenly realized the door lock was no longer engaged. She unbuckled the seatbelt and slammed the door into the beta of the pack, slipping out and making a run for it. She knew that looking back would only slow her down.
Cameron reached into the back of the pickup and took his favorite lariat out. He made a loop and swung it over his head, increasing its size and speed. He let it fly, settling it over Riley and closing the loop tight so that it trapped her arms against her middle and then he jerked back on it, causing her to lose her footing and land on her butt.
Riley yowled from the pain the hard landing inflicted on her already punished backside. She scrambled to her feet, trying to loosen the lariat’s hold on her. She watched as Cameron kept the rope taut and simultaneously drew her to him as he walked up to her.
“Tsk, tsk, mate. That’s the second time you’ve managed to inflict pain on Gabe. It will be the last.”
He looped the lariat around her several times and secured it.
“Gabe? Do me a favor. See if you can get Marco DeMedici on the phone while I take my mate up to our room.”
“Do you want me to get him now or give you time to deal with her?”
“I don’t want to wait that long. I’m going to take her upstairs and let her make herself at home up there. I’ll also put a man outside the door.” He turned back to Riley. “Do I need to bother Marco or do you want to tell me who your brother is?”
“I want you to drop dead and go to hell,” she seethed.
“And I want you to settle down... guess neither of us will get what we want today.”
Cameron went to lead her into the house and Riley dug in her heels.
“Screw this, Riley.”
Cameron tossed her over his shoulder to the cheers and catcalls of their pack and headed into the house. He took the wide central staircase two stairs at a time and turned to the left, heading down the hall. He threw open one side of the massive and ornate double doors, walked in, and kicked it closed behind them. He tossed her on the bed.
“I’m done with this bullshit, Riley. You stay up here in our room. I’ll have them bring you up something to eat.”
“I won’t eat it.”
“Suit yourself. But sooner or later I’ll put an end to any hunger strike you’re planning to put yourself on.”
Chapter Seven
Cameron trotted back down the stairs. Riley was exasperating. He couldn’t help but smile. She was going to be a handful, but he was looking forward to taking her in hand and getting that wild streak under control. She would make a fine mate.
He entered his study to find both Gabe and Sam.
“What could you possibly be so happy about?” asked Gabe.
“I found my fated mate. Isn’t that supposed to make me happy? Made you happy and once Sam got over himself and acknowledged my little sister was his, he was over the moon.”
“So, Cameron, you have found your fated mate?” came Marco’s thickly Italian-accented voice over the speaker.
Cameron shook his head; the technology th
at allowed him to see Marco as clearly as he could hear him never ceased to amaze him. He always thought Marco looked exactly how one would picture the strong alpha of the DeMedici pack—tall, broad-shouldered with dark hair, dark eyes, and a hawkish nose.
Marco continued, “What could possibly be more important than claiming and marking her and then taking her into seclusion.”
“She’s not exactly enamored of the idea of being my mate,” admitted Cameron.
“The best ones never are,” Marco chuckled. “Is she human or wolf?”
“Wolf. Shifter-born, I’m pretty sure.”
“Well, that makes it easier. Try explaining our way of life to someone who hasn’t a clue we even exist.”
“Your Catherine adores you.”
“And I her. I’m just saying you have one less hurdle to clear. How can I help?”
“She’s Irish. I think her brother was her alpha and she bolted. I’d like to get in touch with him and make my claim before we go much further.”
“How far have you gone? Should we discuss this in private?”
Cameron glanced at Gabe and Sam and shook his head.
“No, I have no secrets from my beta or omega. I haven’t claimed her yet. I did have to spank her before dragging her home.”
Marco laughed. “Then you’re off to a good start. My Catherine got her bottom spanked before I took her to our bed. She also got her mouth soaped as I recall.”
Cameron smiled. “I mean to attend to that when I go back upstairs. If my pairing goes half as well as yours, I will be blessed beyond measure. Speaking of blessings, how are your beautiful mate and your daughter?”
“They are the most glorious creatures on the face of the earth. How may I be of assistance, my friend?”
“I have a sneaky suspicion that she is either our rogue she-wolf or heavily involved. I was hoping you could make some inquiries.”
“I don’t think I need to make inquiries. And if she is who I think she is, it would make a lot of sense. Her brother will be pleased that she is safe and furious at what she’s been doing. As for your claim, if he gives you any grief, remind him that his mate’s alpha acknowledged his right to claim his little sister.”
“You think you know who she is?”
“I do,” said Marco. “I believe we are about to become in-laws of sorts. I believe you have Colleen Byrne. She is sister to Aidan Byrne of Galway—my baby sister’s mate.”
“No, her name is Riley.”
“Let me get Aidan on the computer.”
A moment later, the alpha of Galway joined the conversation.
“Marco says he thinks you have my sister, Colleen.”
“She says her name is Riley.”
Aidan laughed. “Yes, Colleen Riley Gentry Byrne. Redhead with a bad attitude, worse temper, and an Irish brogue?”
Cameron grinned. “Curses roll off her tongue like honey?”
“Marco, if Cameron and I could speak in private. Cameron?”
Cameron nodded to Gabe and Sam.
“Gabe, make sure someone’s taken her some food.”
Gabe nodded and he and Sam left the room. Cameron turned back to the computer’s camera.
“Sounds like my sister. Is she all right?”
“Other than a tender backside, she’s fine.”
“I take it you’re responsible for that?”
“I am. She’s my fated mate, Aidan. I mean to claim her.”
“Have you told her that?”
Cameron looked at him and grinned. “Yes... she didn’t react well.”
“I would imagine not,” said Aidan. “As Marco once said to me, the best ones never do. You’ve probably already figured it out, but she is an alpha in her own right.”
“I recognized that. Hard to ignore when she had the wherewithal to knee my beta in the nuts... and he’s a former SEAL.”
Aidan shook his head with mirth. “That would be Colleen. I’m assuming you have her locked in a room?”
“It’s our bedroom and yes, I have a man outside the door.”
“Just one? Any windows or doors that lead outside?”
Cameron nodded, “Doors out to the balcony. Our room is up on the second floor.”
“You might want to go check on her. Colleen—or are you planning to call her Riley?”
“Whichever she prefers.”
“She’ll probably go with Riley. She’s never been fond of Colleen. She’s been going out second-story windows and doors since she was a child.”
At that moment, Gabe burst back through the door.
“My apologies, Alpha. I fear your mate has escaped.”
Cameron whirled around and headed out the door.
“Cameron! Cameron!” Aidan called.
Cameron turned back to him.
“Marco tells me you are a good man and I can entrust my sister’s care to you. If you say you are fated, I will believe you and give you my blessing to chase down and claim my sister. With one little proviso.”
“And what might that be?”
“The next time you have her over your knee, give her several good swats and tell her that they’re from me. And when she’s up to it, tell her I’d like to see her.”
“I’ll see that she speaks with you once I’ve fetched her home.”
“Good hunting, brother!” called Aidan, his amusement all too evident in his voice.
* * *
Riley watched the door close behind Cameron’s back. If he thought she’d just meekly stay up here and wait for the almighty alpha to return, he was about to learn a lesson. She opened the doors out onto the balcony and quietly looked over the railing. The fool hadn’t left anyone guarding the ground below. The problem was there wasn’t much cover between the house and the barn. Her chances of getting away would be greatly increased if she had darkness as a cover for her escape.
She climbed up on the balcony railing and managed to climb up onto the roof. She went to the end of the house and peeked over to ensure no one was below. They weren’t. She strained her hearing to see if anyone had discovered she was gone. They hadn’t. Looking over the edge, she grinned. There it was... a vent opening into the attic space.
Riley hung from the eaves of the roof and managed to pry open the vent grille before lowering herself into the dark space and closing the vent cover behind her. It was hot, but at least Cameron’s home had plenty of attic vent fans. That meant at least it wasn’t stuffy and the air was moving around her.
She heard it when they discovered she was no longer in the room. She could hear Cameron swear and smirked. Her ass might hurt, but she rather imagined at this point his pride was far more bruised.
She watched as they began a systematic search of the out buildings and could hear others going through the house. She figured by the time night had fallen, she’d be able to slip away. She planned to borrow a horse and head into the wilderness and disappear. She’d leave the horse some place it could be found and returned.
They searched for hours. Riley had to give it to them... they were persistent. Several times Cameron shouted her name. Twice he called to her and howled. The sound wrapped around everything inside her and squeezed. It took all of her willpower not to at the very least return his call. Her essence cried out to return to his side.
* * *
“Riley!” he shouted. He had shouted for her until his voice was becoming hoarse. Finally, he lifted his head to the sky and howled again. He called to her in the way of their kind. He was certain she could hear him; he could feel her near.
They hadn’t been able to find her. She couldn’t have gotten off the ranch, but just in case he sent a couple of his hands who were good trackers to see if they could find any trace of her. So far, they had found nothing.
Cameron walked under the balcony and searched the ground. There was nothing; no impression, no dirt moved around, no grass blades bent. He looked up. She hadn’t come down. She’d gone up.
“Gabe, get me an extension ladder. Have a group of men
on the other end of the house by the attic vent and several inside by the attic stairs.”
“You think she’s in the attic?”
“I’m pretty damn sure. My vixen has gone to ground to wait for nightfall. Clever girl.”
Gabe shook his head. “Not clever enough.”
Cameron nodded in agreement. “Too clever for her own good.”
Cameron got the ladder and put it against the house. He called up to her.
“Do you want to come down under your own steam, mate? Or shall I come up and get you?”
Riley kicked the vent so it came flying off the side of the house and Cameron had to jump aside to avoid being hit. Riley swung out of the opening and onto the ladder. She started down. Cameron’s gaze was riveted on her ass. It was round and full and well-defined. It had felt soft and supple under his hand earlier in the day when he’d spanked her. He imagined that when he spanked her again, it would have retained some of its heat from the earlier spanking.
She stepped down off the ladder.
“Didn’t you hear me call to you, mate?”
“I heard you shouting.”
Cameron rumbled at her and sent an alpha wave to wash over her. She shuddered.
“I spoke with Aidan. Your brother is happy you are safe, has given me leave to claim you, and wishes to speak with you. What do you say we go chat with him before we go upstairs and discuss your behavior this afternoon?”
“I don’t believe you,” she said simply.
“Unlike you, Colleen Riley Gentry Byrne, I haven’t lied to my mate. Something else to add to the list of things we need to come to a meeting of the minds about.”
Riley’s face had paled when he’d used her full name.
“I have nothing to say to him.”
“I don’t much care, Riley. Do you prefer that I call you Riley or Colleen?”
“I prefer Riley.”
“Then Riley it will be. Now let’s go call Aidan so he can see you are alive and unharmed.”
“I’m not unharmed. You beat me earlier today.”
“I spanked you earlier today,” Cameron corrected, “and once you’ve talked to Aidan, I mean to spank you again. I’m not going to argue with you, Riley. Do you want to walk in the house and speak to your brother or should I carry you? Perhaps,” he said, taking hold of her arm, “I should ask him to bring in his beta and claim you face down over my knee. “