Alpha Bait (8 page)

“You’ve got a story to tell. I want to hear it, and you’re not leaving this room until you tell me the truth.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” She stared out across the distance hating Chain for doing what he did.

“You’re my mate, Tori. When we turn you’ll know our wolves are destined to be together.” He leaned against the doorframe stopping her escape.

The window is still my way to freedom.

“I won’t let you jump. I’ll stop you before you can even take the plunge,” he said.

“Are you a mind reader?”

“No, I want to know the truth about the woman who I would do everything in my power to protect her. David knows there is something about you that doesn’t add up. I agree with him. Answer my questions. You haven’t forgotten anything about your past, have you?” he asked.

Running her hand up and down the window frame she battled with her own thoughts about what was to come. Scorch and the Fire Pack had been nothing but nice to her.

Don’t let Chain win. Defeat him. Stop him from getting what he wants.

“Over ten years ago my parents wanted me to be part of a pack. Everyone knows that young wolves need to be around their own kind during the first turning.” She smiled, staring out across the view. Lying to him was tearing her apart. The only way to find any solace would be to admit the whole truth to him. “I hadn’t turned yet. My mom knew it was only a matter of time. She told me my monthly cycle was the first indication and then my changing mood not to mention my eyes changing color, getting darker somehow. She knew it was only a matter of time before I went through the change.” Gripping the back of her neck, Victoria remembered the conversation with her parents.

“You want me to ask you questions?” he asked.

“No, this is my story. I went to junior high one day, and one of the guys was teasing me. I got so angry. I tried to ignore him, and then at gym he pretended to touch me up. I flipped and threw him against the wall. I smashed the brick work and almost killed him. I caused him a back injury. My parents decided it was the last straw. They went searching for a pack away from humans. My temper was all over the place. I couldn’t stop it, and they knew I wasn’t doing it on purpose.”

“All wolves handle their change differently. Our moods and our strength come in at different times. In rare occasions like yours, they come in together. Your anger fed your strength and vice versa.”

“Either way, we couldn’t stay at home. I was the cause for us moving. There was nothing anyone could do.” She turned around, keeping her back to the window. “For several months they went searching until they discovered The Clan. It’s a pack east of here. It’s not covered in mountains, but it’s ruled by a man named Chain.”

“I know who Chain is. I’ve never met him before, but I know who he is.”

“When we first arrived everything was fine. The pack
was loving
and accepted us without question. I found friends and was able to flourish. I had my first turning at the age of thirteen. I’d been having the mood swings and monthly cycles close to a year by the time of my first turning.” She licked her lips. Remembering the early years with Chain was difficult. Her parents really thought they had hit the jackpot. “I got through my first turning with about five others.” Victoria stopped when she realized three of the five were already dead. “Erm, then I hit eighteen, and everything changed. Chain was never the easiest man to get along with, but he wasn’t always difficult either.” Running fingers through her hair she couldn’t believe she hadn’t run when she had the chance. “He found a way around hurting his pack.”

Scorch tensed. “What the hell do you mean? It’s impossible. No alpha can hurt their pack.”

“Chain tried, and many times his wolf took over stopping him. Then he simply stopped lashing out. We all thought he’d gotten over his problems. He didn’t.” Closing her eyes, she felt herself shake recalling the first time Chain hurt a pack member and the shock as all realized they were not safe. “Those cuts and bruises were caused by him. Chain did everything to me.”

“Okay, I think you need to start from the fucking beginning with Chain. I get everything about your pack, and you couldn’t leave because you believed you had to stay to show loyalty, right?”

“Yes. He came out to the barn where we were all working. We were harvesting food to get ready for the winter. He entered carrying this long silver chain. It was thick with each link coiled together. I watched him come inside.” She chuckled even though she found no humor in what she was talking about. “There was a man, Gus I think his name was. He was joking around, having a bit of fun. Chain walked up to him and told him that none of his pack slacked off with jokes.” She stopped as the memory swamped her. Rubbing her wrists, she stared at Scorch to try to ground her. “He raised the steel and used it as a whip. I remember expecting his wolf to come out, but it didn’t. Chain found a way to hurt everyone.”

“How?”

Looking at Scorch she saw the paleness of his face.

“Providing he didn’t touch us, skin to skin, then his wolf didn’t come out.”

“Why didn’t any of you run? Find another pack and report him?” Scorch stood and started pacing.

“A man and a woman did. They got about ten miles out when Chain caught them. He wrapped the steel around their necks and dragged them back to us. While we watched, terrified, he hurt them stripping them of their flesh without once touching them. He warned us all that if we thought we could leave him without a consequence then he would do that to every member of his pack.”

Scorch had his hands on his hips. “This is fucking insane. Chain is fucking insane.”

She wasn’t going to argue with him. He was sort of preaching to the choir.

“What did he want you to do with me?” Scorch asked.

Tears filled her eyes. “I couldn’t do it. You should have let me fall out of the fucking window.” She turned back looking out over the scenery.

In the next instant, she was pressed down on the bed with Scorch over her. “You’re not going to kill yourself. I won’t let you. I’ve let you deny everything else, but it’s time for you to know that we’re fucking mates.” His touch soothed her rioting nerves. “Now, tell me why you were tied to the tree.”

“He wants me to lure you out at some point so he can kill you.”

“Why you?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It’s punishment because I wouldn’t have sex with him. He tried to be with me, but his touch disgusted me. The wolf wouldn’t let him get close to me at all.” Tears fell from her eyes as she looked at him. “I’m supposed to distract you so he can kill you. I can’t do it. He said you were a danger to his pack. I don’t know why. All I know is that I’m to get you to fall for me and lure you out to him.”

“When?
Where?”

“I don’t know. I swear
,
I don’t know the answer to anything else. He scares me, Scorch. I will do anything he says, but I can’t put your life at risk.”

He stared at her for several minutes. “Where are your parents?”

“He killed them. I’ve got no one.”

“You’re wrong about that. You’ve got me.” He climbed off the bed, leaving her to look after him. “Follow me.”

Scorch opened the door, and she had no choice but to follow him.

****

Walking down the hall, he knocked on the door to David’s room. His friend opened the door so only his head was visible.

“I’m kind of busy, alpha.”

“We’ve got pack business to handle. Mandy is in charge of looking after Victoria.” Scorch kept hold of the woman by his side. He was angry at her and at the life she’d led without him even knowing it. Chain made him even angrier. Scorch had heard of the alpha but never actually met him. Some of the other alphas believed there was too much danger and anger inside Chain. What were they going to think when he told them all the truth?

There was no easy way to deal with the situation he’d stumbled into.

“Let me get dressed.”

David closed the door. He heard Mandy asking questions. His friend tried to keep the answers cryptic.

Seconds later David opened the door, and Mandy stood there looking worried.

“Keep an eye on her. She’s your responsibility.”

“Yes, alpha.”

Taking the lead, Scorch headed toward the privacy of his study. The people they passed looked somber the moment they looked at him. Closing the door he headed to the window to stare out over his grounds.

“What is going on?” David asked.

“I started asking questions, and she gave me the whole story.” Running a hand down his face, Scorch couldn’t believe the danger she was in. He believed her when she said she didn’t want to hurt him or cause any problems for his pack or for him. “It’s bad, David. Really fucking
bad
.”

“Maybe it will help if you tell me about it.”

Hands on hips, he turned back to his friend and told him everything Victoria told him.

“Holy fuck.”

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly,” Scorch said, taking a seat to try and clear his head.

“What would he achieve in killing you?” David asked.

“There is a loophole in everything. We’re paranormal beings, and there are witches and shit out there. Fuck, I can’t think clearly.” Opening his desk drawer he pulled out the file that he kept on the other alphas’ contact details. His father had kept a file on everything, which had been passed down to him when he took over as alpha. “So, I’m bound to my wolf. He’s the alpha, and I’m a vessel for him that binds me to all of you. Anyway, that connection between wolf and man can be broken, but it requires an alpha to shatter their soul, which will break the connection.”

“Which is?”

“Killing another alpha.
No one has even tried to do it that I know of. We’re bound by our wolves, and they make us better alphas. Our pack is our main priority.”

“Chain wants to kill you in order to separate his wolf so he can do what?”

Standing back up, Scorch needed to think. “Tori mentioned the fact he couldn’t force himself on her or other women. I’m guessing he wants to separate the two so he can do whatever the hell he wants. I’ve never met him. I know people who have.”

“Then get them on the phone. He can’t hurt you, Scorch. This is too fucking important.”

Scorch agreed. He opened the file and started dialing the first number.

“He hurt Tori and ordered her to come here?” David asked.

“Yeah.
I never told you this, but she wanted to kill herself that first night. She was ready to jump out of the window to end it all. I know you don’t trust her.”

“She’s been through a lot. The fact she’s told you the truth puts her back up in esteem in my book. I’m sorry for causing this shit-storm.”

Scorch nodded. “I don’t want anyone treating her differently.”

“No one will know what happened until you tell them.”

For the next half an hour Scorch got in touch with over five alphas from packs in the surrounding areas. They all agreed to make their way north for a meeting in three days. He would need to set off tomorrow to make it there in time. Going back to David’s room, he took Victoria back to her room, making sure the window was closed before going to his own.

David was rounding up three more men to go with them for protection. Staring outside of the window, he downed two glasses of brandy one after the other. The expensive taste didn’t register with him.

When he heard his door opening, he knew Victoria was the one responsible for invading his peace.

“I’m sorry,” she said, whispering the words.

Turning to look at her, he saw she wore a long nightshirt. On closer inspection he recognized it was one of his old shirts.

“What are you sorry for?” he asked, pouring himself another drink.

“I didn’t want to do what Chain asked. I wanted to tell. I just didn’t know how.” She wrapped her arms around her body as if she was trying to ward off the pain.

“I don’t hold you responsible for what happened, Tori.
Far from it.”

“You won’t even look at me.”

He held her gaze letting her know he didn’t have any problem looking at her. “I’ve not got any issues with you, baby.”

“Then why are you holding yourself back? I know David hates me, and I bet all of the pack hates me.”

The glass he’d been holding crushed in his palm. She yelped, jumping back.

“None of the pack will be saying a word to you. David knows the truth, and he’s aware of the fact you didn’t want to do it. I’m trying to process everything you’ve told me, Tori. It’s not like you’ve told me you prefer women to men. What Chain is doing and what he’s got planned is fucking serious.”

Looking out of the window he tried to stop the anger from developing into something more.

“I know.”

“No, you don’t understand. Chain hurting his pack and then wanting to kill another alpha goes against everything that makes us leaders. If he succeeds in killing another alpha then we’re all done for. It’s a natural balance for us to lead without inflicting harm on another pack member.”