Imprinted By The Alpha (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (The Marked One - Book 1) (14 page)

Her heart throbbing anxiously, she slid down the tree to sit on the floor, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She rested her chin on top of her arms, more huddling in on herself than resting, and she wondered what could possibly happen next.

She listened and watched for any sign of life in the woods that might strike her as unusual, but she couldn’t find any. She didn’t even hear Caleb’s wolf wandering around. Whatever Caleb had seen couldn’t be good, or he wouldn’t have phased, she was sure of it. Another stalker? A supernatural come to collect her? A poacher searching for werewolves? Or maybe, whatever had attacked the people in Addis. She was willing to believe any of it at this point.

The threat was a dangerous one, and as her mind raced with the possibilities, Ava tried to remember to keep her breath steady. But she was alone here, with only a tree and the moonlight for shelter. Ava held back her tears at the lack of knowledge and screamed in her own head,
Caleb! Where are you?

******

C
aleb quickened his pace, claws digging into the earth as he ran. The distance between him and his target was only a hundred feet now, and the gap was closing quickly. He knew this wolf was in the wrong territory; it didn’t belong to his pack and, therefore, had no right to be here. No rogues inhabited his territory, and Caleb wouldn’t have intruders.

Within seconds, Caleb was on the wolf’s tail, and he lunged, taking the unwelcome intruder to the ground. Instantly, the wolf began to fight back fiercely. But Caleb was stronger, and though the wolf tried desperately to overtake him, Caleb had it pinned to the ground in moments, his teeth gripping tightly at its neck.

The intruder froze, and Caleb could smell the musk of fear rolling off him in waves as he cowered in submission. Caleb glared at the wolf for a long moment before he slowly backed off; making sure the warning was loud and clear. If the wolf tried anything he didn’t like, Caleb would kill him in an instant.

Scanning the area around them to be sure they were alone, Caleb shifted his weight off the wolf. Almost immediately, the unwanted guest phased into human form, sitting on the ground and still panting heavily. Caleb followed suit, still growling as his human shape took form. “This isn’t your territory. Who are you, and why are you here?” Caleb hulked over the man, speaking in deep, guttural tones.

The man winced and cowered further, but Caleb was unmoved, recognizing the wolf in sheep’s clothing act. He wouldn’t be fooled. No wolf would cross the boundaries of his territory without reason, and Caleb meant to find out what that reason was.

He watched the man; still panting from his effort to run away, tilt his head up as a slow, twisted smile curled his lips. “I’m your worst fucking nightmare,” he spat.   Caleb met his stare head on, unflinching and not the least bit afraid. He wanted a name and whatever secrets the wolf was hiding. He remained silent and threatening as the man continued, “That lady of yours looks pretty damn special. It would be a tragedy if anything happened to her.”

Alarms sounded in Caleb’s head as his thoughts swirled. If Lil had only just figured out that something was going on between him and Ava, how would an outsider know?

“Blaez sends his regards.” The statement caught his attention as the man stood and brushed the dirt from his nude body, and Caleb bristled.

“How do you know my brother?” he seethed, stepping closer with his nostrils flaring.

The man chuckled. “Blaez has been watching you. We all have. And this pretty little town of yours is about to get ripped to shreds.” The man suddenly phased again, and the wolf bolted into the woods.

Caleb didn’t follow and stood for a moment with his fists clenched. Blaez had always hated him for usurping the Alpha position that Blaez felt should be his. But he’d stayed away for over a decade now, and this was an unexpected turn of events. Whatever had drawn Caleb back to Willow Falls must be pulling at his older brother as well.

It wasn’t good news; the last time Caleb had seen his brother, before Blaez left the pack, he’d been virtually unrecognizable, practically psychotic. As a rule, their pack was non-violent, killing only in self-defense. But Blaez had become sadistic, torturing and killing humans for the fun of it. His return wouldn’t be for reconciliation, and Caleb and his pack needed to be ready for him.

As Caleb returned to the present, the scent of the wolf was fading in the wind, drifting outside the borders of his territory, and he would be long gone in minutes. Phasing back to his wolf form, Caleb sprinted in the direction of the tree where he’d left Ava waiting. He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her, and he knew the wolf’s threat to her was serious. He couldn’t ignore it.

As he closed in on her position, Caleb could feel her need for him, and he rushed to her side as fast as his legs would carry him. She was sitting under the willow tree, visibly shaken and curled into a ball. Physically, she was unharmed, untouched, and for that, Caleb was relieved as he slipped back into his human body. He quickly drew on the clothes he’d left here and scanned the area, confirming they were alone. He knelt beside her and put a hand on her knee. “I’m here now, Ava. Are you alright?”

She nodded, her eyes darting around in fright. “What happened? What did you see?”

He stood, drawing her to her feet with him. “It was a wolf from my brother’s pack. We need to get you home. It’s not safe here now.” She looked at him in question, but he walked with her to her house in silence, trapped in his thoughts.

Blaez was dangerous, not someone to underestimate. If the disturbed man had decided to come for Ava, he wouldn’t stop until he succeeded or died, and Caleb was the only thing that could stand in his way. He had to talk to Lil and the rest of his pack, let them know that the threat had been leveled and Blaez was returning.

******

A
va felt Caleb’s tension in his silence and the way he held her hand so very tightly in his own. As they approached her house, Ava could see her mother sitting in the living room. It was a relief to see Sarah up and about, but it also meant she had to get the answers she needed from Caleb before she entered the house. As they mounted the steps to the porch, she stopped and turned to him, determined to find the reason for Caleb’s odd behavior and overwhelming anxiety.

“What aren’t you telling me, Caleb? I need to know.”

He studied her face as she raised an eyebrow and waited, determined not to let him blow her off. He sat down on the top step and patted the wooden planks beside him. Ava sat down, as close to him as possible, with her side pressed against his. His warmth helped her stay calm and rational, and she felt that it would encourage him to be honest with her, too.

“Blaez was only ten when we found him. His whole pack, his family, had been brutally murdered by vampires, and he was alone and scared. He didn’t trust anyone, and my father adopted him as one of our own. He really was like a brother to me, but there was always something slightly off about him that I couldn’t put my finger on.   And then, shortly after he realized he wouldn’t be made Alpha, I caught him savagely killing a group of teens partying in the woods. He was vicious, with no remorse, and when I traced our trail back, I realized it had been going on for almost two years.”

Ava watched the pain in his expression as he inhaled deeply and ran his hand through his hair. “It got worse when the official announcement that I would be my father’s heir was made to the pack, and afterward, confronted Blaez about his behavior. He left that night in a blind fury.”

Ava watched the memories float through Caleb’s mind as he stared out into the field beyond the trees. She could only imagine the distress of that sort of betrayal, especially because he’d obviously been so close to his adopted brother. He’d told her part of the story before, but she sensed he was really confiding in her, so she remained silent, not wanting to interrupt.

A thoughtful expression clouded Caleb’s eyes, his brows wrinkling, and he mused, “I wondered for a long time why he would harbor that kind of hate and resentment. I mean, he wouldn’t have been Alpha in his own pack, and we treated him as family from the start. He would have been like a prince. I would have kept him at my side to help me.

“But I think there’s something desperately wrong with Blaez that goes beyond the anger he feels at losing his family so violently. He’s a killing machine, a sociopath, and he’ll stop at nothing to feed his thirst for blood.” He shook his head and sighed, “I just don’t know what’s inside him that makes him that way.”

Ava swallowed hard. She was torn between her sympathy for Caleb and her fear of his brother. “You think the killings over in Addis were Blaez and his pack.” She made it a statement rather than a question.

“I can guarantee it.” Caleb stood, his energy changing, and she sensed anger. There was obviously more to the story, but Ava had learned enough and wouldn’t push him. He turned to face her. “I have to go, Ava. I have to call a meeting with my pack and decide how to deal with this.”

She nodded in understanding, and he leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you soon then,” she said in a hopeful tone.

He nodded as he descended the steps. “I want you to stay in the house after dark, okay? No late night walks, no late hours at the bar. It’s not safe right now, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Ava shivered at his tone, but she nodded her promise to him as he started down the dirt driveway. She turned to go inside, never more thankful for the peaceful feeling of home and the presence of her mother.

––––––––

C
aleb didn’t wait for her to go inside, desperate to get things under control. He’d left out the details of the direct threat toward Ava, knowing she was already frightened and not wanting to terrify her any further. Before he could allow himself to include her in his inner circle of confidence to that degree, he needed a plan of action.

Needing to see her again, Caleb turned at the edge of the trees and watched Ava enter the house and move toward where her mother was seated. Then, he headed up the trail toward the center of town and the Coyote to warn Lil. Together, they would gather the rest of the pack.

He had no delusions about this – it was going to incite a war between him and Blaez. He didn’t want innocent people harmed or killed, but he had no qualms about the fact that things would get bloody between packs. He hated being enemies with his brother, but he had to put a stop to this maniacal behavior once and for all. If that meant killing his brother, then so be it.

******

T
hree more days, Ava thought bitterly as she sipped her coffee at the kitchen table and stared out the window. She felt like the victim in a horror movie, always checking over her shoulder and never knowing who was coming or when. She peered around every corner cautiously, and after dark, she locked the doors and windows tightly, as if a werewolf or vampire couldn’t bust through the glass.

In three days, Ava would celebrate her birthday. The last four had flown by as if they had never occurred as she worked to absorb everything her mother could teach her while still making sure Sarah didn’t overextend herself. Ava looked at it as cramming for finals to keep her sanity intact, and no matter how much she learned, she knew there was far more to come. She was beginning to think it was impossible to be prepared in time.

She jumped at the knock on the door, having been so deep in thought she hadn’t seen Kelly approach the house. Now, her friend walked into the kitchen and sat across from her, a concerned look on her face. Ava had gone through the information dump with Kelly a few days ago, and for the first time in their entire friendship, Kelly had nothing to say to ease Ava’s anxiety.

Still, Kelly posted a smile on her face and poured a cup of coffee before returning to the table. “Hey, girl. How’s your mom feeling today?”

That, at least, warranted a positive answer. “She’s a lot more energetic and getting around the house again.”

“That’s good.” Kelly took a sip from her cup. “So, I know you’ve been busy, huddled in here getting your education. Have you heard about these killings in Addis? The police are saying it’s an animal attack, and they’re concerned that some sort of rabies is spreading.”

Ava paused and leveled a somber glare at Kelly. “It’s not rabies, but it is an animal.”

Kelly raised an eyebrow, and then realization spread across her face. “It’s supernatural, isn’t it? How do you know?”

Ava didn’t beat around the bush. What was the point? “Caleb believes it’s his brother’s pack. It’s a long story, but the guy’s a nut job and hates Caleb, so he’s leveling a threat.”

“Shit,” Kelly breathed, looking down at her cup. “So, they’re headed this way, I guess. Is there anything we can do?”

Ava appreciated her offer of help, but she shook her head. “Just be safe and stay indoors after dark. Don’t put yourself in danger unnecessarily.”

Kelly nodded, accepting the advice, and Ava retreated into her silence as the two sipped at their hot drinks. In a quiet voice, as if she was afraid speaking too loudly would break some sort of spell, Kelly asked, “Are we still having a party for your birthday?”

Ava shook her head and answered in the same low tone. “I told my mother I didn’t want one. She started out insisting, but with everything that’s resting on my shoulders right now, I can’t handle it, and she relented.”

“We’re still celebrating, though,” Sarah announced as she strode into the kitchen and poured her own coffee, having obviously overheard them. She leaned against the counter and looked at the two girls. “We’ll make it small, with the three of us and maybe a couple of other people, inside the house.”

Annoyance made Ava scowl at her mother. “I’m seriously not in the mood, Mom. Why should I celebrate what I’m about to become?”

“You’re acting like a child,” Sarah chided in a harsh tone. “This is who we are, and you have to accept that. As for the celebration, it’s something I’m just compelled to do. I don’t always understand my own reactions, but they tend to mean something, and I’m going to put this together.”