The Alpha's Mate (36 page)

“If you’ve changed your mind, you can always
lose the Chase,” she shouted.

His answer echoed through the trees. “Like
hell I will, Lizzie Reynolds. Like hell I will.”

Chapter 38

It looked like they were getting ready for a
circus rather than a war. A huge dining tent had been erected along
the fence at the edge of the horse’s field. It looked like the type
the country club used for its outdoor weddings except instead of
pristine white, this one was a faded red and blue stripe. People
arrived with tables and chairs, some folding, others straight from
the kitchen. Sawhorses with planks laid between them and covered
with an assortment of cloths rounded out the display.

Other canopies popped up around the yard;
blue plastic, white nylon and a few heavy canvas army surplus
contraptions. Bluegrass poured from a dozen radios all tuned to the
same staticky station.

Behind the house was a different atmosphere.
Old army tents, with bare ground beneath, were set up like a field
barracks.

“Enemy accommodations,” Max explained with a
snicker. “Normally, when a crowd visits from another pack, like for
a wedding or something, anyone who has a spare room and even some
who don’t, takes someone in. We would have let these guys sleep in
the mud, but Marshall said it wouldn’t be hospitable. The Alpha and
the Witnesses will sleep in the house. It’s only for one night.
Tomorrow night, they’ll all be running down the mountain with
they’re tails between their legs.”

“Them that can still run.” Vickie walked
beside them with a pile of sheets in her arms. “You seen
Junior?”

“He’s got a group of kids up the mountain
trampling the undergrowth. By the time they’re done, you won’t be
able to tell one track from another,” Max told her. “And you,” she
pointed her finger at Elizabeth, “Before you come to the frolic
tomorrow, you shower and shampoo with Ma Gruver’s fixin’s and rub
yourself all over with her salve. None of that fancy smelling
stuff. We don’t want you standing out once the Chase is on.”

“I thought wolvers hunted by sight.” Not that
she would mind using the salve. Her aching muscles could use all
the help they could get.

“That don’t mean they don’t have noses. They
smell better than humans, but not as good as their canine cousins.
So no fancy soap, no powder, no perfume.”

“Gotcha.” Elizabeth gave her a thumbs up.
“Can I use some now? I’m going home to shower and change.” And her
legs were screaming for comfort. She’d run that mountain three
times again today. She could run it in her sleep and if she didn’t
get some sleep tonight, she might have to.

“No!” Both women looked horrified. “Today you
make sure you smell like the perfume department.”

Without the healing salve, Elizabeth was
forced to resort to a long, hot bath laced with lavender bath oil.
After polishing her nails in a soft, creamy pink, she put her hair
up on top of her head, applied more makeup than she’d worn since
she arrived in Rabbit Creek and donned a knee length linen dress
with hose and low heeled pumps. Tasteful gold earrings, a single
strand of pearls and a diamond accented gold watch completed her
ensemble. This was almost a uniform in her mother’s world. She’d
worn it in various subdued colors in wool, cotton, linen or silk
since she’d graduated college and took her place in society. She
felt ridiculous wearing it now. Maggie had insisted.

“You need to look like a country club lady.
Someone who has no business running in the woods.”

“That’s true enough,” Elizabeth said to her
reflection as she checked her hem. It wouldn’t do to have the lace
edge of her slip showing.

“Stop it,” she scolded herself, “You have
every right to run through those woods and you’re going to run that
old man’s ass right into the ground.”

She couldn’t tell Marshall where she was
running, but he would know. Where else would she be heading if she
was running up the mountain. He would know and he would take a
shorter route to cut between her and the pursuing Everest. Her job
was to stay ahead of Creepy Eyes until Marshall found her. He would
take care of the rest.

Elizabeth heard GW’s pickup pull up to the
house and she shook her head at the irony of it. She’d have to hike
her ladylike dress up to her butt before she could lift her leg
high enough to climb in. Max must have seen the problem, too.
Through the windshield, Elizabeth saw her slap GW’s shoulder, saw
GW laugh and raise his eyes in what was clearly a leer and then
kiss Max on the nose. Still laughing, he hopped out and came around
to open the door and lift her up onto the seat.

They all had a good laugh at her expense, but
the laughter stopped when they pulled up to Marshall’s house. All
the morning’s hustle and bustle had stopped. Now, in the fading
light of the day, people stood in small clusters, talking quietly
or staring at the five SUV’s parked neatly in a row. Two of
Everest’s thugs stood on the porch to either side of the door.

Harmony ran over as GW helped Elizabeth from
the truck. She held a white cardboard envelope out in front of
her.

“This came just a bit ago,” Harmony said,
“And Arthur Douglas brought this in just as the delivery man left.”
She held out another envelope, this one manila, with wide clear
tape sealing the flap. “He said I was to deliver them to you
myself. They’re important legal documents.” Her chest puffed out
with pride.

“Thanks, Harmony. I had them delivered to you
because I knew you’d take care of it and get them to me as quickly
as possible.” And if Creepy Eyes had spies out there, they’d see
nothing suspicious in a Fed Ex truck or a lawyer at the court
house.

“You can always count on me, Miz Elizabeth.”
Harmony agreed.

Elizabeth tore the sealing strips from the
first envelope. It was exactly what she’d asked for. Thank you,
Charles.

“The Alpha will want to see these.” She
started for the house.

“But you can’t go in there. No pack allowed.
Only the Alphas and their seconds.” Harmony looked to the crowd for
support. No one stepped forward, though there were a few nods.

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not pack yet,”
Elizabeth said with a lot more confidence than she felt. She
brushed a speck of dust from the skirt of her dress, squared her
shoulders and walked to the door, every bit the grande dame who
expected to be obeyed. “Showtime,” she said to herself.

The guard to the left eyed her warily and she
looked him up and down, then rolled her eyes and sighed
impatiently.

“Are you going to pretend to be a gentleman
and open the door or stand there like the puppet you’ve been
trained to be?” she asked haughtily. This wasn’t her mother
speaking, but the trusty ghost of Cassandra. Who knew Elizabeth
would be using her again. Elizabeth could almost see the words
forming in the wolver’s mind.

“I’m no one’s puppet.”

“Then don’t just stand there, open the door.”
The door opened and she paused long enough to pat the other guard
on the cheek. “You should ask him to give you lessons.” She winked
and almost laughed at the startled look on the guard’s face.

The four men sitting at the dining room table
looked up when she entered. She recognized the one to Everest’s
right from the restaurant. All but Marshall frowned.

“You don’t belong here,” Calvin Everest
intoned. “You need to leave.”

Elizabeth’s stomach churned at the sight of
him, but she laughed lightly. “I could say the same of you.” She
turned her back on him. “Have you two come to an agreement?” she
asked Marshall.

“We have,” he answered. “Five Witnesses and
both Challenges stand as issued. Winner takes all holdings
specified.” He handed her two papers and pointed to the map. ““The
red outlines Rabbit Creek land. The blue is Calvin’s. We were just
about to shake on it.”

“Then I arrived just in time. I have the
papers you requested. All neat and tidy and legal.”

“This is none of the woman’s business,”
Creepy Eyes snapped. He glared at Elizabeth. “We’ll do it as it’s
always been done. A gentleman’s handshake is binding.”

“Which would be fine if you were both
gentleman.” Elizabeth smiled sweetly. “But since one of you is
not…”

Creepy eyes was on his feet. He snarled and
the sound wasn’t human. “Watch your mouth, woman.” He reached for
her and she stepped away. He smiled at the look of revulsion she
couldn’t quite hide and that smile was worse than his snarl. “When
you’re mine, you’ll learn to show some respect.”

Marshall was on his feet, too. “She’ll never
be yours.”

Elizabeth had never heard him speak with such
force. The air in the room seemed to tremble with the power of
these two Alphas.

“She will,” Everest growled, “And I’ll let
you live long enough to witness the taking.”

“Ah, Henry?” Elizabeth asked loudly, “Can you
ask the Witnesses to come in?”

“No.” Everest eyes snapped from Marshall to
Elizabeth. “The Witnesses are here for the Challenge and the Chase,
nothing more.”

Henry was waiting for Marshall’s permission.
When he nodded, his jaws still clenched in anger, his Second said,
“There’s only four. Zeb Trehune won’t be here until morning.”

“That’ll be fine, Henry.” Elizabeth watched
both Alphas carefully. It wouldn’t do for either of them to lose
control now. “I only want to adhere to Pack Law,” she said
reasonably.

“You know nothing of Pack Law,” Everest’s lip
curled in derision.

“You’re right, I didn’t, but I took a crash
course in it yesterday.” Arthur Douglas Esq. was not only a member
of the state bar. He was a wolver with a broad knowledge of Pack
Law. “A Witness’ purpose is not only to give testimony to the
fairness of the contest, but to attest to the agreement between the
two parties. The Law requires they sign or make their blood mark on
the prepared agreement.”

“That’s not how it’s done. This is Alpha’s
business. We choose how it’s conducted. Not some ancient Law and
not some damn woman.”

Henry came rushing back in, obviously worried
about what might have happened while he was gone. He was followed
by three men she didn’t know and Charles, sauntering behind with
his hands in his pockets. He wore, of all things, tennis whites,
complete with sweater tied around his neck. He looked ready for an
afternoon on the courts.

There were glares all around and no one
introduced her or the arriving wolvers. She didn’t mind. The power
in the room was palpable and she was busy fighting the urge to
cower.

“You don’t have a problem following ancient
Law when it comes to the Chase, though, do you Everest. It makes me
wonder if you only follow the Law when it’s to your advantage.”
Marshall looked at each of witnessing Alphas, frowning when he saw
Charles. “I invoke the Law. Witnesses must sign or make their blood
mark on the Challenge agreement. It isn’t how it’s usually done,
but it is the Law and therefore my right.”

Marshall’s fists were still clenched and
Elizabeth saw he was fighting for control. Was Max right? Was her
presence as an Alpha’s Mate adding to the hostilities?

The Alpha dressed in olive drab spoke first.
“This is what we fight for; a return to the old ways. It’s why I’m
here.”

She’d expected support from Marshall’s
friend, not from the Idaho militiaman. She looked up through her
lashes and smiled shyly. The ‘old ways’ weren’t partial to pushy
women. She could do shy and retiring.

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one to be
surprised. Everest looked like he was about to have a stroke. She
felt a nudge from behind.

“I think that’s your cue,” Charles
whispered.

“Uh, my lord Alpha’s,” she began hesitantly,
unsure of how to address this many at once.

“It’s all right, child,” Idaho assured her,
“Just say your piece.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” The Idaho Alpha looked as
hard as stone and she’d assumed he was like Everest. He wasn’t. His
eyes were kind. Okay, calling her child was a bit patronizing, but
she could live with that. She nodded and took a deep breath.

“This document states that upon losing the
agreed upon contest, you relinquish all your personal holdings in
regards to this mountain, not entailed by federal, state or local
control, to the winning party. Both Alphas promise to have no
further contact as individuals or on behalf of their pack.” She
passed out copies to the Alphas, their Seconds and the four
Witnesses. “Read them carefully, please.”

The document was simple and clearly stated as
she’d requested. They didn’t need anyone’s request to consult
council.

“Marshall, are you sure you want to risk all
this?”

The man looked genuinely concerned and
Elizabeth understood that this pleasant faced man was Max’s former
Alpha. Marshall nodded and the man shrugged. “So be it.”

“We both agreed to it,” Marshall said. His
look dared Everest to say otherwise.

The militiaman looked to Creepy Eyes. “I see
no reason not to sign, Calvin. It’s more than what you wanted.”

Everest threw his hand out and pointed at
Elizabeth accusingly. “It isn’t the signing. It’s this woman has no
rights here. She has no right to ask for anything. She needs to
learn her place.”

“She isn’t asking for anything, Everest,”
Marshall jumped to her defense. He looked at Mr. Idaho. “These are
my terms. She merely arranged for the paperwork, Roger.” And back
to Everest. “Sign it or forfeit.”

The Witnesses said nothing, but the wolver
who looked uncomfortable in his ill-fitting suit, took out a
pen.

“Give it here,” Everest snarled. He snatched
the pen from the man’s hand.

He scribbled his name so fiercely Elizabeth
thought the paper might tear. She waited until Marshall and the
others signed before she withdrew the other papers. She handed them
to Marshall with a wink.