The Huntress and her Alpha

Chapter Twenty

The dance had worn me out. Well the dance and the extra activities that had ensued after hours in our bedroom. I had promised Lip he could rip that damn dress off of me and he didn’t disappoint. Not even a minute after we shut our door did he wait to grab the slit and the beautiful silk gown fell to the floor.

I slept so hard I didn’t even notice Lip slipping out of the bed to start his meetings with the many Alphas he had come visit. I slept in late, it was almost eleven by the time I pulled myself out of bed to get dressed.

My phone chimed as I brushed my teeth. It was Luca. I sighed, finished brushing my teeth and then opened the string of messages.

Your dad is planning something. I know he doesn’t plan on bringing you back, but he plans on capturing your alpha. Just be careful.

Travis is keeping his position so we can hear his plans on attacking you. So far his job is to recruit others for this cause.

I’ll try to keep you updated as much as I can.

Tears filled my eyes as I finally realized my father didn’t care enough to bring me home, instead he cared more about playing the role of Hunter. This wasn’t revenge for me or my mother. This was revenge for his pride. First the wolves took his wife, then they took his daughter.

I let out a breath and pulled my hair up off my neck. I secured it with a band on top of my head and then splashed some water on my face. I knew Lip was busy, but he had to take a break between meetings right? Maybe I could catch him before he started his next meeting.

It was lunchtime, he also had to take a break to eat.

I walked out of the suite and went towards his office. I took in a breath as I passed a wolf I had never seen before. He was huge, looked more like a bear than a wolf, his eyes were narrow and he looked at me like he was planning on grabbing me.

I slipped around him and went quickly down the wing where Lip’s office was. Once I was out of sight of the giant wolf I felt better. I listened at the door for a second, it sounded quiet on the other side which I was hoping meant I caught him at the right time.

I knocked lightly on his office door and then pushed it open. It wasn’t until the door opened that realized he was still in the middle of a meeting.

“Oh I’m sorry. I thought you might break for lunch, but I can come back.”

Lip waved his hand. “No it’s fine sweetheart, come in.”

He blew out a breath and met me at the door. He smiled, the tension leaving his face as he reached out and touched me. Then he looked away and back at the older man who stood there watching us.

“Max this is Alpha Andrew.” Lip didn’t seem to happy to be introducing us. “He’s alpha of the neighboring River Run pack.”

I shivered as the alphas eyes scanned over me and something about him seemed familiar. The scar that ran along his face stood out to me. I knew right away he had been the one staring at me last night. But there was something else that made me stop and stare.

That same nagging feeling that appeared last night came back as his eyes met mine.

“Max.” He said my name and I physically recoiled. I took in a deep breath and moved into Lip’s side. He wrapped an arm around me.

Lip pressed his lips against my temple and for once I was okay with his possessive side.

“Hello alpha Andrew. I don’t mean to interrupt but I need to speak with my mate.” I looked at Lip and he seemed concerned.

“Mate? You don’t smell like a wolf.”

He acted like he hadn’t been at the dance last night and heard Lip introduce me as his mate. But I remembered him staring. He gave me a smirk, like he knew I was remembering him. Like he was playing some kind of game and I was his only opponent.

Lip tightened his fingers on my hip. “She’s not. And if you had arrived on time last night you’ve would know that she’s my mate. Now excuse me for a moment while I see what my Luna needs.”

He laced his fingers through mine and we leave the other alpha in the office. I pulled him into the hallway and raise an eyebrow at him. “Luna?”

“I don’t like the way he’s looking at you. Now, what did you need? Or were you trying trying to save me from the horror that is being an Alpha and dealing with the other hot headed alphas?”

I blew a breath out my nose. “Luca told me my dad is preparing for a fight. She doesn’t know for sure if it’s with us, but what she does know is that Travis was tasked with recruiting fellow hunters.”

He nodded. “Okay. Keep me updated. I won’t let him take you back.”

“He made it clear he didn’t want me back. This isn’t a fight for me, it’s just a fight about me.” Tears filled my eyes and I touched his cheek. “It’s not a fight he intends for us to survive.”

Lip pulled me into him and hugged me tightly. I felt his nose against my neck and then he placed a kiss against my skin. When he pulled away his hands cupped my face and he kissed me. At first it was slow and sweet, but just like every other time the fire started between us and he deepened the kiss.

“I won’t let him take me away from you. And I’ll die before he takes you away from me. I promise you, Max.”

I nodded and took in a deep breath. “I don’t know why but I swear I’ve seen alpha Andrew before.”

“He was at the ball last night.”

I shook my head. “Yeah I saw him last night. But I’ve definitely seen him before.”

“He’s on the other side of your lands. I’m sure you’ve run into each other.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Okay I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt I just wanted to tell you as soon as I found out.”

“Don’t worry you’re always allowed to steal me away.” He kissed me again. Then he sighed. “I should get back so he can leave. Don’t worry about your dad okay? I’ll have someone keep an eye on them.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Hey.” He smiled at me, the tips of his fingers grazing my cheeks. “I love you.”

I couldn’t help but giggle. “I love you too.”

Ever since we had told each other I love you, Lip made it a point to always say it whenever we were parting. We could be leaving each other for minutes, even seconds, and he would tell me he loved me. Maybe I wasn’t used to someone caring so deeply for me, but I liked the fact that no matter what, our final words were always I love you to each other.

I watched as Lip went back into his office and I decided to go back to the kitchen. I passed that same bear like wolf on my way, he was watching me the same way alpha Andrew had been watching me. I shivered and then it hit me all at once.

He was there the night my mother died.

I turned and decided to go back to our room, I didn’t need any food. I closed the door behind me and tried to stop the panic that was spreading through me. The last time I saw that wolf he had been barreling towards my mother who had shoved me into a cupboard to keep me safe.

I blinked away tears and closed my eyes for a moment. My hands were shaking and I tried to steady myself so I didn’t call Lip with my panic. I took in a deep breath and let out a slow breath. Finally after I calmed down I texted Sarah asking if she’d be able to bring me some tea.

I sat down on the couch and tried to occupy myself. For some reason that memory, that wolf had caused more panic than I had ever felt before. Maybe because it took me back to the days when I didn’t know how to fight and protect myself. Maybe it’s because I had a feeling that’s why alpha Andrew looked so familiar.

Maybe it’s because this meeting with Lip was all a trap. What if my father wasn’t just recruiting hunters. What if he was also finding wolves to fight with them?

No. My father hated wolves. He’d never work beside the ones who killed his wife. Would he?

I shook my head as a knock sounded at my door. I opened it, expecting Sarah to be there with my tea. Instead there was no one there, just a tray with a teapot and a white teacup.

I pulled it inside and locked the door. I sighed, putting two sugar cubes into the warm liquid and then took a slow sip of the warm vanilla tea. I felt better as the liquid traveled down my throat.

I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes trying to relax. I thought about running a warm bath, but I didn’t like the idea of being naked while those strangers were in this house. I sighed, drinking more of my tea and feeling more relaxed.

I pulled my legs up under me, pulling one of my blankets up over my shoulders. Then I laid my head down on the arm of the couch. I finished one cup of tea, thinking of pouring another one. But my arm wouldn’t move, my body wasn’t listening.

My limbs felt heavy and my mind felt clogged. I closed my eyes as the room started spinning and then I slipped into the darkness that washed over me.

——

My mind was groggy, my body slow to respond. It took me a few tries to wake up. When I did, all I could focus on was a pain in my lower back. I shivered, my hands searching for my blanket. But there was nothing around me. I heard the clink of metal and then I opened my eyes to find myself somewhere new. I had fallen asleep on the couch and instead I was now… inside what looked like a dirty jail cell.

My ankle was chained to the wall. The pain in my back was another chain pressing into me from the wall. The room was dark, my clothes were too thin to keep the draft from affecting me. My mind cleared slowly and I tried to remember what I had been doing before I fell asleep.

The tea.

It had to have been that tea.

“Oh good the human mate is awake.” There was a big guy standing in the doorway watching me. He smiled and I felt that sense of deja vu. Because he was the one from the hallway, the one who made me panic and go to my room.

“Where am I?” My voice sounded horrible.

“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it? Doesn't matter, Alpha Andrew knows a prize when he sees one. Not only are you the human hunter mated to an alpha of one of the largest packs around here. But you’re also the little b***h that got his mate killed all those years ago. Which means you’re a prize he intends to keep.”

My eyes were wide and not for the first time I wished I had some way of contacting Lip. I wished for the mind talking ability like all the wolves had. Hopefully his meeting was over and he found the room empty.

Wait, the door had been locked.

“How?” I asked quietly trying to process what was happening.

“The balcony. And no your precious mate doesn’t know you’re missing yet. Andrew is doing everything he can to make sure your scent is gone.”

“Lip will kill you.”

“But not before we get to have our fun with you. And who knows maybe we’ll hand you over to your father. I heard there’s a nice large reward for anyone who returns you… and the alphas head.”

I shook my head. “No my father would never pay you. You killed my mother. You’re the reason he hates wolves so much.”

“Yes. But sometimes vendettas change. Now he’s focused on the wolf who claimed mate and took his little girl away.”

I glared at him. “Let me out of here.”

“Oh good one. I’ll just unlock the door now.” He laughed as he sat down on the chair across from the bars of the cell I was sitting in. “Get comfy girl, it’s gonna be a long night.”

“Lip will kill you.” I said again, more for myself than for him. I needed to remind myself that he would find me, he would come for me. He promised me always would.

I shivered as he laughed at me some more. “Believe what you want little human. Your alpha can always find another mate. You on the other hand, you can’t find another life.”

Tears filled my eyes and I turned away from him. I pulled my knees up and the held them against my chest, cowering into myself. I hadn’t felt this helpless and alone since that first day at the pack house.

Tears filled my eyes from the painful memories of losing my mom because of my helplessness. I squeezed my legs, trying to claim some of their warmth. The cold was too much and I knew I couldn’t find a way out myself.

For the first time in my life, I let myself need someone else. I wanted Lip to come save me. I could only hope that he felt my anxiety and my fear. Even though he hadn’t marked me, he could still feel me.

I clung onto the hope that just our bond, whatever it was that tethered us together, would be enough for him to find me.