Return of the Alpha (11 page)

Chapter 15

CRAVEN

Grosvenor and Craven had driven to the border crossing which was closest to the airport.

“I'm still not happy about you going alone,” Grosvenor said.

“I'll be okay. Just make sure you follow the plan to the letter. Is everything in place?”

“Almost. By the time I get back to Control, everything should have been finalised. Any news on Hill?”

“The doctor says it's only a matter of days. I wish I could be at his bedside.”

“He'll understand.”

Hill was one of Craven's oldest friends, and the thought of losing him was almost too painful to bear, but he had to go to Maja. Louise's life depended upon him

The Maja border guards were expecting Craven. A chauffeur-driven black Daimler was waiting to take him into the city. Craven checked his watch; timing was going to be everything. If he'd got this wrong, it would be the end for him and Louise. As they drove past the airport, his mind went back to the first time he ever saw Louise. They'd been on the same flight, and she'd been less than impressed with him. He'd known straight away she was the one. If he was being totally honest, he'd never really bought into the idea of
fated mates
until that moment. He'd heard the tales, but had assumed it was just one of the many myths that did the rounds. He could still remember how he'd felt when he'd returned to Terroun. He couldn't get her out of his mind. Why else would he have risked everything to sneak into Maja territory just to see her again? She'd been horrified when he'd walked into the travel agents where she worked, and even more horrified when he'd taken her in his arms. Louise had tried to pretend she hadn't felt a connection, but she'd been lying. He'd known their relationship was never going to be easy. Taking a mate from another pack was uncommon, and for an alpha to do it was almost unheard of. None of that had deterred him. If he'd had to give up his position of alpha to be with her, he'd have done it in a heartbeat. What he hadn't anticipated—couldn't have anticipated—was the journey that they'd been about to embark on. When her father had been murdered, she'd run to him. The very next morning, she'd been snatched away. Those who had been responsible for abducting her—Milton and Lassiter—were waiting for him now. One way or another, he and Louise would be together—whether in life or death—it no longer mattered.

The Daimler pulled up at the entrance to what Craven recognised as Milton's offices. No sooner had the driver opened the door for him, than Craven spotted a familiar figure at the top of the steps.

“Craven, How good of you to come.”

He'd have given anything to wipe that smile off Layla's face. “Where's Louise?”

“Charming. How to make a girl feel special.”

“I don't have time for your stupid games. I've done what you asked. I'm prepared to surrender myself to Milton. Now you have to keep your end of the bargain. Release Louise and Marlow.”

“All in good time. First of all Milton would like to speak to you.”

“That wasn't the deal. You promised to release them as soon as I gave myself up.”

“A few minutes won't make any difference. Come on.” She turned and began to walk back into the building.

Just then, a loud noise caused Layla to stop in her tracks. “What was that?” she said.

Craven shrugged.

A moment later, there were more sounds. Some kind of commotion—crashing noises and raised voices.

“Come on,” Layla said. “Let's get inside.”

“Sure.” Craven allowed himself a smile now.

“Things could have been very different between us,” Layla said as they travelled up in the lift.

Craven had no desire to waste words on this bitch, so ignored her.

“You and I would have made a superb pairing,” she continued. “Together we could have expanded this territory into the largest in the land. You'd have been the greatest alpha of all times, and I'd have been by your side.”

“There's one flaw in that plan.”

“What's that?”

“I'd rather cut off my own cock than mate with you.”

Layla's cheeks flushed bright red. “Fuck you Craven. You're an idiot. Why else would you throw everything away to wander around the country looking for that worthless slag?”

“Watch your mouth.” Craven almost went for her, but managed to catch himself.

The lift doors opened. “After you.” Craven waved her forward. Layla looked as though she wanted to tear him limb from limb.

The offices were strangely deserted. As they walked along the corridor, he managed to glance out of the windows. In the distance he saw smoke.

Layla held the door open for him.

“Where's Louise?”

“Wait in there. Milton will be with you in a few minutes.”

He did as she said. Milton's office was huge and ridiculously extravagant. Louise's father, Krell, would never have been so self-indulgent, but then he hadn't needed such trappings to boost his ego. Krell had been a true alpha. As if the office wasn't already large enough, the ego-maniac had a huge mirror on one wall, which gave the effect of doubling the size of the room. Craven walked over to the desk, and studied his reflection in the mirror. There was the smallest speck of grey on his temple. He hadn't noticed that before.

“Craven.” Milton glided into the room. “How good of you to come. How long is it now?”

“Where is she?” Craven had no time for his bullshit.

“All in good time. Have a seat.” He pointed to the deep leather armchair.

I'm good.” Craven stood his ground. It was taking all of his will-power not to launch himself at Milton.

“Do as he says.”

Craven hadn't realised that Layla had followed Milton back into the room. He glared at her with a look that should have struck her dead, but which she seemed to enjoy.

“If you've harmed a single hair on Louise's head, I promise I'll kill you both.”

“Brave words.” Milton's smile was barely clinging to his lips. “But then you always were way too sure of yourself.”

Craven heard footsteps, and turned around to see a line of shifters stream through the door. He recognised them immediately as Milton's elite guard. They stood with their backs to the wall—their eyes fixed firmly on Craven.

“Just in case you haven't already worked it out,” Milton said. “This is where it ends for you. Oh, and don't worry about Louise. I've made sure she has a grandstand view. Once you're dead, it will be her turn.”

Craven stared at the mirror. He'd sensed Louise's presence the moment he'd walked into the room. Was she still okay? Had they harmed her?

“After you're dead,” Layla said, “I'm going to take care of your mate. I promise her death will be a slow and painful one.”

A loud noise rocked the building; it felt like an explosion. Milton and Layla exchanged a worried glance. The guards looked around—unsure what to do. Another bang—even louder—even closer. This one sent ornaments crashing to the floor.

“What's happening?” Milton shouted to no one in particular.

Layla was staring at the door.

Only Craven appeared calm. He looked into the mirror and smiled.

Several more explosions followed. Numerous voices could be heard—screaming—shouting. Loud footsteps were pounding their way towards the room. The guards had forgotten all about Craven now—they were staring at the open door. They didn't have long to wait before what seemed like a thousand shifters piled into the room. Individually the shifters wouldn't have been a match for the elite guards, but their numbers quickly overwhelmed Milton's henchmen. The floor was soon awash with blood.

Craven spotted Milton who was heading for the far corner of the room. At first, he couldn't understand why Milton had gone that way—he'd be trapped for sure. But then he saw a hidden door swing open. Milton slipped through it, but Craven was already hot on his heels. They were in an ultra-narrow corridor which was only just wide enough for Craven to squeeze through. At the end of the corridor was a metal staircase. When Craven reached the last flight of stairs he saw Milton directly below him—he was about to make his escape through a fire-door. Craven leapt over the handrail, and landed on Milton's back, sending him thudding into the door.  To Craven's surprise, Milton shifted into his wolf—his clothes tearing and falling to the floor in the process. Craven had no option but to follow suit. Milton raised himself up onto his back paws, and was about to leap at Craven, but Craven was way too quick. He ducked low and leapt at the alpha. The two of them hit the fire-door with such force that it sprung open, sending them both into the alleyway outside. The two wolves faced one another—their eyes locked in a deadly gaze. It would be a fight to the death.

Chapter 16

LOUISE

Craven's smile was only fleeting, but unmistakeable. How could he smile at a time like this? I'd just watched the elite guard pile into the room. He was outnumbered at least fifty to one.

“We have to do something,” I said, more out of desperation than hope.

Marlow looked at me with sad eyes. I could tell he felt as impotent as I did.

“What the hell was that?” Marlow said when the first explosion rocked the room.

I had no idea, but instinct told me Craven was behind it. More explosions followed, and then dozens of shifters piled into the room where Craven was being held. It was a blood bath.  Craven was running towards one corner of the room—in pursuit of Milton. The elite guard were already beaten.

“Stand back!” A voice from out in the corridor. “Get away from the door!”

Marlow pushed me to the floor, and put his body between mine and the door. The explosion knocked the door off its hinges—splinters showered over us. I had to rub my ears to try to clear the ringing.

“Come on!” The two shifters who'd destroyed the door beckoned us out of the room. Once in the corridor, Marlow followed them, but I held back. I figured I needed to go in the other direction if I was to find Craven. By the time Marlow realised I wasn't behind him, it would be too late for him to do anything about it.

All around me I could hear the sound of fighting. I didn't know exactly what had happened, but I was absolutely sure Craven had been behind it. Amidst all of the pandemonium I'd noticed that the shifters who had overwhelmed the guard were a mix of Terroun and Maja.

I made my way to Milton's office which was now a scene of utter carnage. The fighting had moved elsewhere—all that was left was the dead and dying. I had to pick my path through the bodies as I made my way to the corner of the room where Milton and Craven had disappeared. As I got closer, I could see a crack of light in the wall. A small, concealed door was slightly ajar.

Something thundered into my side—knocking me clean off my feet. My head hit the ground—sending my senses reeling. Instinct took over. I shifted, and managed to roll to one side just in time to avoid the wolf which was following up its initial attack. It slid past me—giving me precious seconds to shed my clothes and shift.

The guard must have been skulking in the shadows. I'd been so distracted by the dead and injured that I hadn't seen him. He swung a paw as he leapt at me. I was too slow to duck out of the way. When his claws raked the side of my face, the impact sent me reeling. He was quick to follow up, and moments later, he had me pinned to the floor. I could smell his breath as he made a lunge for my throat. It took all of my strength to hold him at bay—his teeth were only inches from my throat. Saliva dripped from his mouth onto my face. His eyes were crazed.

I couldn't hold him off for much longer. I had only the one chance. If it failed, it would be all over. I planted my back right paw onto the ground, and pushed sideward. As soon as I felt him over-balance, I used all of my body-weight to tip him off me. In a flash, I was on him. The next thing I recall was the taste of his blood. My jaws were clamped tight on his throat. Beneath me, he squirmed frantically at first, but then more slowly as the life spilled from his body. His eyes met mine for a moment, but then the light left them.

Exhausted I managed to shift back to my human-form. As I did, I heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind the 'hidden' door. I waited—too tired to move. Had Milton come back in search of his mate? If he had, I'd be no match for him now. I was totally spent.

The door opened.

“Craven!” I gasped. A sense of relief consumed me. 

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I'm fine. Where's Milton?”

“Dead. What about Marlow?”

“He's okay. I left him to come and find you. How did you manage all of this?” I gestured to the carnage in the room.

“The Terroun guard followed me here. The plan was that they would make an assault on Milton's HQ. I hoped we might free you and Marlow, but I wasn't over-confident. I assumed we'd meet resistance from the Maja.”

“I saw the Maja fighting alongside the Terroun,” I said.

“I know. When the Maja realised that this was their chance to get rid of Milton, they joined forces with the Terroun. I don't imagine that accord will last for long, but it was enough to see off Milton. Maja will once again belong to its own people.

*********

   By that evening, all of those loyal to Milton were either dead or had fled. Once it had become apparent that the battle was won, Craven had ordered Grosvenor to lead the Terroun back to their territory. It would be up to the Maja to elect a new alpha. It was time for Craven and me to leave too. Although I was Maja by birth, this was no longer my home. I belonged by Craven's side—by the side of my fated mate.

“Louise!”

I turned around to see Marlow hurrying towards us.

“Thank god you're okay.” He flung his arms around me. “One minute you were behind me, and the next you'd gone.”

 “I'm fine.”

Marlow seemed suddenly aware of Craven's presence, so released his grip on me. “Sorry.”

“No apologies necessary.” Craven offered his hand. “You saved Louise's life and mine too. You have my never-ending gratitude.”

Marlow shook Craven's hand. “You're very lucky to have her.”

“I know that,” Craven said. “I'll never be able to repay you for what you did.”

“It was nothing. It was the least I could do after keeping Louise in the dark about you for so many years.”

“That's all forgotten now. What are your plans?”

“I'm going to head back to Semron,” Marlow said. “I can't wait to see Pirus, Jessie and the kids. Will you travel down with me?”

The question was addressed to both of us, but Craven got in before I had the chance. “We can't, I'm sorry. We have to go to Terroun. I have to see Hill, the alpha. I'm not sure how long we'll be there.”

Marlow nodded his understanding, gave me another hug, and then we said our goodbyes.

“Are you okay?” Craven asked, after Marlow had left.

“Yeah.” I choked back the tears. I'd wanted to find Marlow to make sure he was alive, but also to discover what my feelings for him were. I realised now that he was a friend—a very good friend. But nothing more than that. “I hope he finds his own fated mate one day.”

“He will. I'm sure of it.

*********

   It was dark by the time we began to head out of the city. The shifters we met in the streets were all jubilant. It was as though a dark cloud had been lifted. The humans seemed confused by all of the celebrations, and were oblivious to the power-shift which had taken place. And yet they too would benefit from the demise of Milton because no matter who eventually succeeded him, shifter-human relations were bound to improve.

“What's going on over there?” I pointed to a huge crowd which had gathered around a building to our right.

As we grew closer, we could see the crowd was made up of hundreds of vampires. It was almost unheard of to see such a large group. Normally they moved around the city alone or in pairs. They were all staring upwards. My gaze followed theirs as I tried to make out what they were looking at.

“Look!” Craven pointed.

“Is that—?”

“Lassiter? Yes.” Craven confirmed my own thoughts.

The head-vampire was hanging, lifeless, from one of the windows of the huge office block. It was difficult to see from where I stood, but he appeared to be tethered by a length of rope tied around one of his ankles. His lifeless body swung, upside-down, from side to side. A huge stake protruded from his chest.

A solitary figure broke away from the main group of on-lookers, and began to walk our way. I nudged Craven. The last thing I needed right then was a skirmish with a vampire.

Craven's reaction took me by surprise. He had no love for vampires, and yet he was smiling broadly at the female vampire. “It looks like you got your revenge.”

“We couldn't let you shifters have all the fun.”

It was the first time I'd seen a vampire smile, and it was pretty unnerving, but I now realised who she was.

“You must be Hesta,” I said.

She nodded. “Nice to see you again, Louise. The last time we met you weren't really awake.”

“Thanks for rescuing me,” I said.

“No problem. Don't go thinking we're friends though. Shifters, vampires—never going to happen.”

Just for a moment, I thought I detected a smile on her face.

“What happened here?” Craven gestured to the lifeless body of Lassiter which was swinging back and forth, high above us.

“I suspect you already know. In fact, I'd go as far as to say you had a hand in it.”

Craven shrugged, but I could sense he knew more than he was letting on.

She continued, “The Terroun vampires Terroun, launched an attack. Lassiter was forced to send his elite guard to try to repel them. The guards were badly outnumbered, and were slaughtered in a matter of hours. The Terroun vampires could have easily overrun us but instead then retreated to their own territory. Why would they do that?” She stared at Craven. “It doesn't make any sense.”

“How would I know?” Craven said. “The mind of the vampire is a mystery to me.”

“The opposition to Lassiter has been gathering strength for some time,” Hesta said. “But it never seemed like the right time to act. It was always too risky. But with Lassiter's guards dead, we had our chance.”

“Who will take over now?” Craven asked.

Hesta shrugged. “I don't really care. I only ever wanted revenge for Thomas and all the others who were killed in Jesters nightclub. My job is done now. What about you?” she asked Craven. “I hear the Maja have a vacancy for an alpha.”

“I'm not sure they'd welcome an ex-alpha of the Terroun pack even if his mate is the daughter of Krell. We're on our way back to Terroun.”

*********

  “I'm not looking forward to this,” Craven said, as we made our way towards Hill's apartment. Grosvenor had sent word to the border guard that we should go directly there because Hill
didn't have long
.  “What if he asks me to become alpha?”

“Do it. If it's what you want.”

“It isn't. I no more belong in Terroun now than you belong in Maja. Our home is in Darmoor.”

Hill had deteriorated badly, but he still managed a smile when we walked into his bedroom.  I hadn't been sure if I should go along too, but Craven had insisted.

“The fated pair,” Hill managed to say before being consumed by a coughing bout.

“How are you?” Craven asked, but I had a feeling he already knew the answer.

“So much better for learning of Milton's fate. Lassiter too, from what I hear.”