Authors: Janet MacDonald
“Beth will be by
soon. She’s bringing you some clothes to wear,” he told Anya before heading out
the door.
As he walked to
the docks where they keep their fishing boats, his mind was a flurry of mixed
thoughts. If Mitch knew where Cora was and brought her back then Dante would
have to let Anya go. It felt so wrong. He wished he’d let his wolf nature mate
her. But without her as leverage, the Silverback pack would never deal with him.
If his sister was there and mated to one of them, he would keep his word and
foster the male. Now he knew for a fact the Silverback pack had her just by the
way Anya had spoken. Tomorrow night if she wasn’t returned he would then have
to follow through with his threat.
Chapter Seven
Mitch had just
stepped into his home as the phone rang. He heard his mate answering it as he
wearily pulled off his coat and then removed his boots. They’d just paused the
search long enough for people to go home to rest as the rotation switched.
Everyone was tired, the last few days draining his pack both emotionally as
well as physically.
“Mitch, it’s for
you,” Kari called from the kitchen.
“Who is it?” he
asked as he walked in.
“I didn’t ask.”
She passed him the phone.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“I know where
your sister is,” the male voice said on the other end of the line.
“Where is she?
Who is this?” he demanded.
“Meet me in the
parking lot of the Brookville general store in twenty minutes. I’ll fill you in
when you get here.” The line went dead.
Kari stared at him
as he held the phone, his whole body shaking in both fear and anger.
“He says he
knows where Anya is.”
“Is she okay? What
happened?”
“He didn’t say.
Look, I have to go. Call Reese and tell him to meet me at the Brookville general
store in fifteen minutes,” he ordered as he raced to grab his boots and coat
again before bolting out the door.
The drive took just
under fifteen minutes, and as he pulled into the parking lot, he saw his beta’s
truck pulling in behind him. Brookville was afforded neutral territory by the
surrounding packs. Therefore, no blood could be shed by a werewolf there
without breaking the laws. Whoever had called him must have known that, and
Mitch assumed it was another werewolf.
As he got out of
his car so did Reese and both of them looked around. Mitch had filled him in
when he’d called him on the way there. Movement from across the street caught
both their attentions as a large mountain of a man crossed toward them. Mitch
knew who it was—the Temple Island pack’s alpha, Dante, and the hairs on the
nape of his neck bristled. He had both his hands stuffed into his coat pockets,
and he wasn’t alone. Four of his pack members were with him, and they walked
toward where Mitch and Reese stood.
The other alpha
eyed him and snorted slightly. He smelled heavily of salt air and cologne.
“Where’s my
sister? Is she all right?” Mitch demanded.
“She’s fine for
now.”
“What do you
mean for now?” he asked as he his rage built.
“I’ve come to
make a trade.”
“What?” Mitch
snapped.
“Bring Cora back
to Temple Island before tomorrow’s sunset, and you can have Anya back.”
“How do I know
you even have her?” he demanded with a growl.
“Here, this is
for you,” Dante said as he pulled his right hand from his pocket and threw something
at Mitch.
Instinctively he
grabbed the object that was tossed at him. Mitch looked at the long, thin
blonde braid and his eyes widened. He brought it to his nose and sniffed. It was
Anya’s scent, and it was laden with her musky heat as well. His eyes narrowed
at Dante. Horrible thoughts filled him of the things this alpha may have done
to his little sister.
“If you so much
as even think about touching her, I will kill you,” he said with a growl.
“Anya trespassed
on my lands. You know what that means, Mitch. I was being courteous making this
deal. All I want is Cora back. If she’s mated I’ll foster him, but I want her
home,” Dante demanded in a stern tone.
“If not?” Mitch
asked, unsure if he would be able to convince Cora to go home. After all, the
girl had run away to elope with Alex.
Dante stood
staring at him. He slowly pulled his left hand from his pocket, and Mitch
looked to it. The braided strands of Anya’s hair were tied around his wrist. He
knew what that meant to the Temple Island werewolves.
“You have until
sunset tomorrow night or I will claim Anya as mine.” Dante snarled, turned and
stormed back across the street.
A cold rage
flowed over him. If Anya had really trespassed there would be little he could
do. What the hell was she doing on the island? She knew it was off-limits. He
cursed out loud as he stormed toward his vehicle. This was the last straw. Anya
had left his pack in a panic, no one knowing where she was or what had happened
to her.
It was time she
settled down, grew up and started being responsible. Her flights of fancy had
gotten her into more trouble than he would be able to get her out of this time.
Dante could do what he wanted to her. As a trespasser on his territory, she no
longer was protected by pack law. Anya was lucky. Dante was willing to trade
for her, which meant he hadn’t mated her, yet, as his words also attested to.
Now all Mitch had to do was ensure he got her back safely.
* * * *
For the
millionth time Memphis apologized for shooting her. The guy was a bit awkward-looking.
Every male she’d seen so far that was a Temple Island member was tall, broad
and attractive. Memphis’ face was extremely attractive, and he was also very
tall, but he seriously lacked the bulk the rest of the men had. The guilt also
showed on his face as well as his actions as he tried to dote on her all
morning before Beth had showed up.
“Please, just
deal the cards,” she said with a grin. So far, she’d slaughtered him in every
hand of hearts.
“You know we
could use a gal like you on our bridge team,” Beth said as she eyed the hand
she was being dealt.
“I’ve never
played bridge,” Anya said as she looked her hand over.
“It’s easy.”
“It’s an old
woman’s game. Now, me and the guys play poker…you’d like that, Anya,” Memphis
said, and earned a glare from Beth.
Despite herself,
Anya was having fun. She liked both of them and found herself laughing at the
hard look Beth had given Memphis. Not once did they ask anything about her
pack, Cora or what she knew. Instead they had normal conversations about the
weather, the coming winter, and soon the day had flown by. She’d almost forgotten
she was a captive. The two treated her as part of their pack, and she was made
to feel right at home.
The soft sound
of the door opening drew all three of their attentions. Dante stood in the
doorway, looking at them all.
“What are you
playing?” he asked.
“Hearts, and Anya
is kicking our asses at it,” Memphis said, the young man’s grin showed he didn’t
mind.
“Is she now? Well,
it seems our Anya is full of talents,” Dante said as he took off his jacket and
hung it on the wall.
“Yeah, glad she
doesn’t play poker with us,” Memphis said in a chuckle.
“Mmm, well, we
all know how badly you play poker to begin with, Memphis. She would take you to
the cleaners,” Beth said, and Anya couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey!” Memphis
huffed, with a mock look of hurt on his face.
“Did Chris get
my order from the store?” Beth asked, ignoring the younger man.
“Yes, do you
really need that much cloth?” the alpha asked as he pulled up a chair beside Anya,
and she got a heavy smell of sea air from him.
“Baby diapers
are something one can never have enough of,” Beth said sternly.
Anya saw the
look that passed between Beth and Dante. The moment the word baby was said
Dante’s eyes softened greatly, and she had a sense that he was very happy about
becoming an uncle.
“Well, I hate to
be a sore loser, but I got to go. Tessa and I are planning on going for a run,”
Memphis said.
“Tessa?”Anya
asked with a slight smile.
“It’s his
sweetheart.” Dante chuckled.
“She’s my best
friend. We are not a couple,” Memphis said, sounding defensive.
“Really, then
why did you make her a necklace?” Beth asked with a giggle.
“Cause she likes
my jewelry.” The young man’s face turned a little red.
“Uh-huh, right.
Well, make sure after your run you let your father know we’re to patrol later,”
Dante told him.
“Will do. I’ll
see you then,” Memphis said as he was headed out the door.
“I should go too.
I need to make supper and get a head start on making cloth diapers.” Beth
attempted to raise herself out of her chair.
Dante stood and
helped Beth up, a loving smile on his face as he did. “You know you should be
taking it easy, Beth.”
“I will after I
get what needs to be done finished.” She gave Anya a quick, warm smile. “I had
fun today, Anya. I hope we get to do this again.”
“Me too,” Anya
told her as Dante walked Beth to the door.
Now it was just
her and Dante, and as he sat back down at the table, Anya tried not to stare at
him. She silently cursed herself for feeling this attraction to one of her
enemies, and now she was making friends among them as well. This place and
these people were having an effect on her. One which would most likely have her
brother in a more than pissed off state of mind.
“Did you see my
brother?” Anya asked as she looked at Dante.
“Yes. Did you
eat supper yet?” he asked in what seemed an attempt not to talk about the
meeting.
“You know this
isn’t fair.”
“Look, Anya, I’m
not the one who came here. You’ve made your bed.” He stood looked down at her.
He glared at her again, but his eyes showed no sign of the edge he had in his
voice, and it now seemed forced.
“So let me go
then,” she demanded, her voice steady. As the words left her mouth, her mind
pictured leaving there and part of her didn’t like the idea. That had her
baffled.
Dante looked suddenly
sad. He turned his back to her and went to the stove, lifted the grate and
prodded the fire to a full flame again.
“Please, just
let me go. I didn’t do anything to you,” she said, and he slammed the grate
back into place. She sensed his whole body go tense, and he turned to look at
her. Dante’s eyes nearly glowed with the inner light of his beast. She trembled
in spite of her desire to remain calm in his presence.
“You are mine,
Anya.” He snarled.
“I’ll never be
yours,” she snapped back, but a part of her knew that really wasn’t true. The
wolf in her wanted him, willingly bowed to him, and now she didn’t know what
that would mean for her.
*
The wolf in him
was furious. She denied him after submitting to him. He stood and stared at her,
his muscles tensed as rage washed over him. His hands shook as he fought to
regain his human self and suppress the urges the wolf demanded of him. It took
him several long moments to quell the beast in him, turning his attention back
to cooking. He tried to keep calm. It didn’t help much as he burnt their supper
and had to fight not to chuck it and the frying pan out the front door. He growled
to himself and settled on making a few sandwiches now that the meal he’d been
preparing was ruined.
Anya sat there
quietly, not saying a word as he placed her sandwich in front of her.
“You will stay
here tonight,” he told her. The words he uttered made more intimate images
float through his mind. As pleasant as they were, he kidded himself they would
happen.
Without moving
her head to look up, Anya slowly peered up at him. Her eyes seemed stormy and
full of anger. She pushed the small plate away and turned her face toward the
door.
“I don’t need
your food.” She growled. It made her sound more like an obstinate child. Dante
pushed the plate back toward her.
“You need to eat,”
he said.
With an icy
sideways glare, Anya again shoved the plate away. Dante couldn’t be passive
with her, no matter how much his heart wanted him to. After all, he was the alpha,
and no matter what she may want to think, she’d submitted to his wolf last
night. That meant she was more or less his.
“Fine,” he
snapped as he moved toward where she sat. Dante grabbed her and tossed her
effortlessly over his shoulder, then stormed off to his bedroom.
“Let go of me,”
she screamed. She thrashed about like a child having a tantrum. He had to hold
her tightly so she wouldn’t slip out of his grasp.
“If you don’t
want to act like a civilized adult, I’ll treat you like you’re acting.” He
growled.
“You have no
right to touch me,” she screamed as she pounded on his back with her fists.
“I can’t put you
back in the shed so this is where you will stay.” He made it to his bed and
unceremoniously flopped her onto it.
Anya scurried to
the back of it, the fury in her eyes letting him know he had more than pissed
her off. Well, too damn bad, he thought. If she wanted to act like an
adolescent wolf, he was going to treat her like one.
“Now stay,” he
roared as he turned and headed back out. He slammed the bedroom door behind him
and heard her throwing a fit in his room.