Return of the Alpha (4 page)

“I don't know.”

“What happened to him?”

“I have no idea. After you'd fled the enclosure, I lost track of you for several years. In the end, it was a vampire who told me where I'd find you. She—”.

“She?”

“Yes. Her name was Hesta. Her brother was killed in the vampire attack on Jesters night club, and she blamed Lassiter. She wanted revenge, and thought you could help her. That's why she helped me to find you. You were being held captive in Lawler territory.”

“I've never heard of the place. What was I doing there?”

“I'm not sure. Lassiter had put you in a comatose state. Hesta and her partner broke you out of there, but were forced to abandon you.”

“In Camthorpe?”

“That's right. I think your amnesia was the result of being brought out of the coma too quickly. The wender berries must have kick-started your memory.”

“You should have told me all of this before.”

“I know, and I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure if you'd be able to handle it. You've already been through so much.”

Chapter 5

LOUISE

I didn't know what to think. I wanted to be angry at Craven for keeping me in the dark, but I knew he'd done it with the best of intentions. And besides, how could I be angry with someone who'd spent forty years looking for me? He'd never spoken in any depth about the ordeals he'd encountered during that time, but I was sure it hadn't been an easy existence. Few shifters could have survived on their own without a pack or a territory for as long as he had.

“What did you tell Zema?” I asked at breakfast the next morning. “Did you accept his offer?”

“We didn't really get the chance to discuss it after you'd been taken ill. I said I'd let him know today.”

“When you speak to him, will you ask him to apologise to Olivia for me?”

“I'm sure that's not necessary.”

“All the same. I wouldn't want her to think her meal had anything to do with my fainting.”

“Did you have any more dreams last night?”

“Yes.” I hadn't been sure whether to share this. “I've remembered more about Marlow.”

“What?”

I didn't know where to begin.

“Louise? What did you remember?”

“I can't be sure. It's more of a feeling than a memory.”

“What? Tell me.”

“I think he and I were—”

“What? Mates?”

This is what I'd been dreading. I could see the devastated look on Craven's face.

“I'm not sure. If I knew, I'd tell you. I just have the sense we were together for a long time. I'm sorry.”

“There's no need to apologise.”

“I'm not even sure it happened or if it was just a dream. Marlow might be a figment of my imagination. My mind is all over the place. Anyway, this doesn't change anything. You're still my fated mate. You're the only one I've ever truly loved.”

“I know.”

“I did remember one other thing though.”

“What?”

“A word: 'Semron'. I don't know what it is.”

Craven went into the living room to do a search on his laptop. “There's a territory named Semron. It's to the north. Several hundred miles away.”

“It's probably nothing.” It was time to change the subject. I could tell Craven was still reeling from my earlier revelation. “Why don't you give Zema a call?”

“To tell him what?”

“That you'll accept his offer to become alpha of course.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. It's your rightful position. The one you gave up to search for me.”

“What do you intend to do about Marlow?”

Craven could read me much too well.

“I have to find out what happened.”

“The past is best left behind.”

“I can't. You know I can't. I won't rest until I know what happened. I have to try to find Marlow.”

“Then I'll come with you.”

“No. Your duties are here as alpha.”

“My duty is to be by your side. I lost you once; I don't intend to do it again. I'll go with you to Semron.”

“What will you tell Zema?”

“That you come first. If he's prepared to wait until we return, I'll take over as alpha then. Otherwise he'll have to appoint someone else.”

“There isn't anyone.”

“There's always someone.”

I was still in the bedroom when I heard Craven make the call to Zema. It was obvious, from the one-side of the conversation I could hear, that Zema was disappointed, but had agreed to wait for Craven to return.

*********

It was almost a week before we were ready to leave for Semron. Craven had to ensure that everyone knew what was expected of them while he was away. The last thing he needed was for the security measures, which he'd put in place, to lapse during his absence. Craven also wanted to ensure that I was fully recovered from my '
funny turn
'. I was absolutely fine, but had decided I would give wender berries a wide berth in future.

I hadn't told Craven that more memories had come back to me. Another name: Pirus.  I wasn't sure who he was or where he fit into the story, but I had a strong feeling he had a connection with Marlow. Family perhaps?

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Olivia asked when we were alone. She and Zema had come over to see us off.

“I'm not sure I want to, but I know I need to. I can't live the rest of my life without knowing what happened during those lost years.”

“Some things are best left alone,” she said gently.

“Not this. Once I know what happened in the past, I can begin to look to the future. If I don't do this I'll always be looking back—wondering.”

Olivia glanced around to make sure Craven and Zema weren't in earshot. “Aren't you worried what you might find out about this other shifter—what’s-his-name?”

“Marlow.”

“Aren't you worried you might discover you and he were mates? That would devastate Craven.”

“I've thought of nothing else, but what can I do? My gut feeling is that we weren't mates, but I can't be sure of anything. That's why I have to go.”

“Is there anything I can say to make you change your mind?” Zema said when he and Craven joined us.

“I've been trying,” Olivia said. “She's made up her mind.”

“In that case, I'll wish you both a safe journey and a rapid return. I'm tired of the responsibilities that go with being alpha. The sooner I step down, the better.”

“Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?” Craven asked me, once Zema and Olivia had left.

“I have to, but I want you to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Whatever we find out. No matter what. It won't change anything between you and me.”

“Nothing could ever change that. You're my fated mate. That's for life.”

Chapter 6

LOUISE

The most direct route to Semron took us through Lawler territory. According to Craven, that was where I'd been captured by Lassiter. But why had I been there?

Both of us were keen to travel in wolf-form. Once I'd shifted, I found my mind was much clearer. I'd shed the constant worry and doubt that had plagued me. The journey was long and hard, but exactly what both of us needed. Craven suggested we rest overnight in Lawler. He'd been there during his years as a lone wolf, and knew an unguarded border where we could slip into the territory.

“Keep an eye out for a stream,” Craven said. “That will lead us to the cave I told you about.”

We'd made our approach along the coastal road. Just as he'd predicted, there were no border guards to contend with.

“It's over here.” Craven led the way. I could already hear the sound of running water.

Both of us were exhausted, hungry, and extremely thirsty. After quenching our thirst from the stream, we began to walk along the bank. After no more than a few minutes, we reached the cave.

Craven shifted back to human form; I followed his lead.

“Wouldn't it have been better for us to remain as wolves?” I asked.

“If I remember correctly, the cave is very small. We'll have more room to stretch our limbs this way. Besides, if any humans happen by, I wouldn't want to alarm them.”

“Don't you think that seeing us naked might do that anyway?”

He grinned. “You wait here while I take a quick look inside.”

Craven walked over to the cave while I waited, a little self-consciously, by the water's edge. My stomach was crying out for food. We were going to have to shift again if we were to catch our dinner. A sudden noise caught my attention. I spun around, half-expecting to find humans gawping at the crazy naked woman. There was no one there. Probably a small animal in the undergrowth. I thought about calling Craven, but he already thought I was a nervous wreck. I didn't want to give him any more reasons to worry.

That's when I heard it. Something was running through the undergrowth, and it was headed towards me. It burst through the bushes to my left-hand side. A large, female wolf. There wasn't enough time for me to shift. It would have been on me while I was still transforming. I held my breath and waited for the impact.

“Coral!” Craven shouted.

The wolf planted its front paws in the ground as it tried to stop. The momentum caused it to slide closer and closer until it came to a halt no more than six feet from me. I glanced at Craven as I tried desperately to figure out what was happening. When I looked back, the wolf had shifted into a beautiful woman.

“Craven?” she said.

I glanced back and forth between them. My fated mate and this beautiful female.

“I thought you were dead,” Craven said.

For several moments, it felt like I was invisible. “Aren't you going to introduce me?” I glared at Craven.

Before he could speak, the female said, “I'm Coral.” The aggression which her wolf had displayed had been replaced by a warm smile. “I'm sorry if I scared you.”

“This is Louise,” Craven said before I had the chance to introduce myself.

“I often wondered if you'd found her.” Coral turned to me. “I've never met anyone so determined as your mate. You're very lucky.”

Right then, I was feeling far more confused than lucky. I had a thousand questions.

“Coral saved my life,” Craven said. His arm now around my shoulder. “I'd become careless, and had taken a terrible beating from a pack of border guards. She dragged my sorry arse out of this stream, and nursed me back to health.”

“He's exaggerating. All I did was clean his wounds, and give him food and water.”

All the time she was speaking to me, Coral was staring at Craven. I should have been grateful to her for saving my mate's life, but what I felt wasn't gratitude—it was jealousy.

 “Why don't we all go inside?” she said. “You both look as though you could do with something to eat.”

“We should get going,” I said—trying to force a smile.

“We can stay a while,” Craven said—his arm tightening around my shoulder. “It's been some time since we ate.”

Coral beamed. I fought back an irrational desire to tear out her throat.

It was much cooler in the cave, so Coral handed us a blanket each. I felt a little easier seeing her and Craven together now they were no longer naked.

“How did you escape from Lawler?” Coral asked Craven.

“I was lucky,” he said. “A male shifter broke me out of there.”

“Who?”

“I don't know—I'd never seen him before. He told me that Louise was still alive. I didn't get the chance to find out any more about him because we were forced to split up when we made our escape. He didn't make it.”

“Is that how you found Louise?”

“No. He didn't get the chance to tell me where she was—just that she was alive. That was enough to give me back the hope I needed to continue my search.”

“You'd have done that anyway.” Coral turned to me. “I've never met anyone as determined as Craven. Most shifters would have given up long before. Particularly an alpha who could have his choice of mate. I tried to persuade him to stay with me, but he wouldn't hear of it. He had only one thought in his mind. Finding you.”

I couldn't bear to listen to any more. “I'm going to take a walk.”

“I'll come with you.” Craven made to follow me.

“No!” I said more sharply than I'd intended. “You stay and talk to Coral. You obviously have a lot of catching up to do.”

I walked along the edge of the stream which was swollen from the recent downpour. Why hadn't he told me about Coral before? Surely if there had been nothing between them he would have. I'd been a fool to believe Craven, an alpha, would go four decades without any kind of female companionship. No male could have suppressed his natural urges for all of that time.

“Louise.”

I'd been so deep in thought I hadn't heard Coral come up behind me.

“Sorry.” She put her hand on my arm. “I didn't mean to scare you.”

“It's okay.” I turned away.

“I don't think it is. I can see you're upset.”

There was no point in denying it, so I said nothing.

“I don't blame you. I'd probably feel the same way too. I just wanted you to know that nothing happened between me and Craven.”

I turned to face her. If I looked her in the eye, I'd know if she was lying.

“Nothing happened—nothing at all.” She didn't flinch under my gaze. “That doesn't mean I didn't want it to, but his only thoughts were for you. Nothing I could have said or done would have stopped him searching for you.”

“I saw how you looked at him.”

“I was just so relieved to see him alive—I'd thought he was dead. Look, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have feelings for him. But it's never been more than friendship for Craven. You have my word on that. And now you two are back together, I can see you are a fated pairing. You have nothing to fear from me.” She held out a hand. “Can we be friends?

I knew she was telling the truth. I also knew that if it hadn't been for her, Craven might have died in the stream.

“I'd like that.” I took her hand.

“Have you two been talking about me?” Craven said when we returned to the cave.

“Of course.” Coral smiled. “Louise has been telling me all of your guilty secrets.”

From that point on, the atmosphere improved markedly. Of course Coral had been attracted to Craven. Practically every female shifter who saw him was attracted to him. But he'd proven time and time again that I was his only mate—his fated mate. How could I have doubted the love of someone who had given up everything for me? When everyone else had been convinced of the futility of his quest, Craven had continued his search.

“I didn't really expect to find you here,” Craven said to Coral. “When they took you that day, I feared the worst.”

“They held me for several weeks. I don't think they knew what to do with me. In the end, they kicked my arse out, and told me to get out of the territory.”

“And yet you're still here?” I said.

“I did move on, but after a few weeks I figured I'd sneak back in and take my chances. I'd grown attached to this place.” Coral hesitated. “To be honest, that wasn't the only reason.”

She glanced at me as though unsure if to continue, but I already knew what she was about to say.

“I heard you'd escaped,” she said to Craven. “I figured you might find your way back here one day.”

“If he found out that I was dead, you mean?” I said, as gently as I could.

Coral averted her gaze. “Sorry. I wasn't thinking.”

“It's okay.” I took her hand. “I owe you everything. If it wasn't for you, Craven would be dead, and I'd still be Jackie Coleman.”

“Who?”

I laughed. “It's a long story, and I won't bore you with all of the details, but I ended up living as a human. I had amnesia—I still do to an extent. I woke up in a hospital bed, and had no idea who I was. When no one came forward to
claim
me, I took the name Jackie Coleman.”

“Louise didn't even know she was a shifter,” Craven said.

Coral looked at me with something bordering on astonishment. “You actually thought you were human?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but yes. I lived as a human for several years until—”

“Until I turned up and began to stalk her.” Craven grinned.

“So you had no idea who he was?” Coral said. “Didn't seeing him jog your memory?”

“No. I thought he was some kind of crazy man. When he started talking about shifters and vampires that only confirmed it for me. It was only when—” I hesitated.

Craven squeezed my hand. He already knew what I was about to say.

“My flatmate was murdered. Those who did it had been after me. Even then I still had a hard time believing all of the stories about vampires and shifters. It was only while we were on the run that I realised it was all true. The scariest part was when I realised that
I
was a shifter. The first time I shifted was terrifying, but as soon as I was in my wolf's body, it felt like I was home.”

We talked late into the night. It was only when I told my story to someone else that I realised how truly incredible it was.