Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (33 page)

Ronan shifted, sprinting away.

Kane followed, automatically transforming, his feet going through the motions of running. He stayed on Ronan’s tail as they blazed through the meadow, his mind numb. Lia couldn’t be lost. She couldn’t. Shade would give her back. Surely there was something he wanted more than Kane’s mate.

The forest passed by in a blur. All Kane could see was Lia’s face when he had told her to leave. If she got hurt, he would never forgive himself. And surely Ronan wouldn’t either.

He found himself at the place where the rivers met.

“What do you think?” Ronan asked. “Should we—”

Snarling, Kane leapt forward. Once his paws were on the far bank, he took off running. He didn’t need plans or plots. Just show him Shade. Anyone who stood in his way would be sorry.

Ronan was on his heels, panting. Kane knew what he would say. They should cool their blistering pace, and arrive at Shade’s den with more energy and maybe with the element of surprise. Kane didn’t care. He wanted Lia back now.

For all of Cougar’s twists and turns, he hadn’t fooled the Alphas. Kane cut through thick forest, to the heart of Shade’s territory. He wasn’t afraid of Shade’s cavern, of the dark. Shade should be afraid of him.

They were close now. Kane’s tongue lolled. He could almost taste Shade’s blood. He would teach Shade a lesson he wouldn’t forget—if Shade lived to remember it.

His paws led him unerringly to where they had treaded earlier that day. Soon the air would cool, the earth would open up, and Kane would bite and claw until he had Lia back.

He slowed. This was the place, he knew it. But the earth was smooth, grass and a gangly tree growing out of the flat ground where an opening should be.

Kane shifted. “It’s here,” he said, “I know it’s here.” Kneeling in the dirt, he dug up a clump of grass.

Ronan stood beside him, looking into the trees. “Something’s wrong.”

“I can see that,” Kane snapped. “We need to get underground. Lia’s down there!”

Ronan walked backwards in a wide circle, studying the ground. “This is bad, Kane.”

Was Ronan going to keep stating the obvious, or was he going to do something? “Start digging,” Kane barked. Shifting, he set his paws to the task. He heaved clumps of dirt out of the way, not caring that Ronan was right behind him. Maybe a rock to the head would get his brother to help instead of moan.

“I don’t like this, Kane.” Ronan paced around the tree. “We can’t stay here. We’re too vulnerable.”

Kane tore into the dirt so he wouldn’t be tempted to tear Ronan’s head off.

“I want to save her too, but look around. Shade had this all planned out from the beginning. He knew we’d come here. Hells, he might even want us here. If he killed us in his territory, no other pack would help ours seek vengeance. We’re trespassing. He could have his wolves waiting to ambush us.” Ronan gazed into the trees. “We need to leave.”

Without realizing it, Kane shifted. He pounded a fist into the ground. “I’m not leaving without Lia!”

“You are. Now.” Ronan gave two short barks. “We can’t save her if we’re dead, Kane.”

“We also can’t save her if she’s dead.”

“Shade doesn’t want her dead,” Ronan said nervously.

“Can you be sure of that?”

His silence was the only answer Kane needed.

“I’ll think of something,” Ronan said. “Just give me some time.”

“Lia doesn’t have time!”

“We can’t stay here, Kane.”

“Leave me, then.”

There were footfalls behind him. Kane turned to see Huck and Orion.

“Don’t think I won’t fight you,” he growled.

“That won’t help any of us,” Ronan said. “I’ve been coming at this the wrong way this whole time. Shade is far more cunning, and far more dangerous, than we’ve given him credit for.”

“So why would we let him keep Lia?” Kane snapped.

“Because if we stay here now, we’ll fail. Right now, we have to go back to our den, for the good of all our pack.”

Kane stared Ronan down. “Don’t think you can give me orders. And don’t think I’m going to let you leave without her.”

“You’re not thinking straight,” Ronan said. “I know you feel this is your fault, but we can’t fix it without a plan.”

“Damn your plans! This is our mate!”

Ronan nodded to Huck and Orion, who closed in.

“I like you two,” Kane said, “but if you try to touch me, you’d better protect your necks.”

“Grab him,” Ronan said.

Huck and Orion each took an arm. Kane clawed, bit, shifted. They might be larger, but he was more than a match for them.

Ronan slipped an arm around his neck, pressing on his windpipe. “This is for your own good,” he said. “We tried your way, and it won’t work. Now we try mine.”

Even without sufficient air, Kane put up quite a fight. In the end, it took all three of them to drag him away. Ronan clamped down on his throat, putting an end to his struggles. As Kane slipped into unconsciousness, the last thought he had was of Lia, alone in the dark. He tried to reach out to her, but she was lost to the blackness.

Chapter Two

It was so dark she couldn’t tell if she was awake or dreaming. She wished there was something, anything to ward off the total blackness, even the faint light of a far-off star.

Drip. Drip.

Even the dripping didn’t mean she was awake. That sound could just be Magda, endlessly dropping stones into the scrying pool. Drawing in a ragged breath, Lia ran her hands over her belly. She felt empty inside. The place where her magic came from was cold and dead. In the haze left by the everwort, she couldn’t even find the wolf within her. Maybe she had breathed too deeply of the flowers, and her wolf would now slumber forever.

There was a sound in the dark. Lia’s breath hitched. She could feel someone watching her.

A lantern flickered on. Lia winced, covering her eyes. It felt like they were burning. She never wanted to open them, and not just because of the light. Even though she knew who was there, she didn’t want to see.

There was the click and thunk of a key turning in a lock. The creak of the barred door opening, then the screeching wail of it closing again. Horror bubbled up her spine. He was in here with her. She was trapped with him.

“Don’t be frightened,” said the silken voice. “There shouldn’t be any need to harm you.”

Lia opened her eyes. While she knew Shade would be standing there, her stomach still turned with revulsion. The lamplight reflected in his eyes, making them gleam. He looked at her like she was a feast, and he was famished. It made her want to retch.

“What are you going to do to me?” She wished her voice didn’t sound so weak.

He smiled. “Nothing yet. There’s no need to rush. I’m going to savor you.” Shade padded forward until he reached her cot. “No use wasting the day away.” Roughly, he grabbed her shoulders. He sat her up against the wall, like she was a doll he could pose for his amusement.

Lia whimpered, clutching her head. It pounded so much that she barely felt the trickling damp on her back. She pressed herself against the rough cavern wall. Shade raised his lantern, and the light felt like hot pokers in her eyes. She found herself wishing for the darkness.

“This won’t do,” Shade said, his voice laced with concern. “You’re going to need your full strength to be my mate.”

She would never be his mate. Ever. But all she could do at the moment was hold her head and gasp.

Shade took a pouch from his belt, swinging it in front of her. “I was told the everwort would give you quite the headache. Claw makes the most wonderful headache remedy. He won’t tell me the secret, but I do know it has willow and feverfew.”

He opened the pouch, showing her little clusters of crushed herbs. “All you have to do is chew one up and swallow. Quickly, because they’re quite bitter. But your headache will disappear almost instantly. Would you like one?”

She would do anything to stop the thudding pulse in her head, even risk that his herbs weren’t a headache cure at all. But as she reached for the pouch, Shade pulled it away.

“Not so fast. First, I want your assurance that you’ll behave.”

Lia crumpled onto the cot. It felt like her head was splitting open. She didn’t have the strength to beg, even if she wanted to.

“There now, pet.” Parting her lips with a thumb, Shade pushed two of the herb clusters into her mouth. “Chew those, that’s a good girl.”

He rubbed her back as she forced them down. They were so bitter, and her mouth so dry, that she almost heaved them up again. Shade’s repulsive touch didn’t help matters.

Shade pulled her closer, so that her head rested in his lap. “That’s better. Give it a few minutes.” He stroked her hair with one hand. “I want you to know that I can be merciful.”

He hadn’t lied about the herbs. Within seconds, Lia felt the ache in her head recede. The relief almost made her cry. Shade’s hand strayed to her shoulder. She sat up instantly, moving to the other side of the cot. She would have gone farther, but she didn’t trust herself to stand just yet.

“Don’t be afraid of me,” Shade said. “If you cooperate, you have nothing to fear.”

He reached out a hand, brushing her thigh. Lia scooted back, almost falling off the cot.

Shade’s eyes flashed with anger. Then he took a breath and smiled. It seemed he was trying to be charming. Lia wished he wouldn’t. He might make her sick.

“You’re going to have to learn to get used to me, pet. I don’t want you to ever be far from me. Don’t make me leash you.”

Lia took quick stock of the bars, the stone walls, the damp. How was she going to get out of here? Though her head felt better, she was weary down to her bones. Shade seemed to have a set of keys to her cell on him, but how could she ever hope to overpower him?

Her captor moved closer, caressing her face. His hand was rough on her cheek. “No harsh words today, I see. I knew I could gentle you.”

Gathering what little saliva she had, Lia spat at him. Shade didn’t even bother to wipe it off. Rising, he went to retrieve something from the other side of the room. Lia heard metal scrape against stone.

He stood before her, then whipped a hand around her throat. She had no time to react. He slapped something cold around her neck, and she felt it click near her nape. Shade stepped back, a small smile playing over his face as he watched her. For a moment, Lia thought he meant to strangle her. The metal was so tight, and it hurt when she swallowed. Her fingers scrabbled over it, but she couldn’t loosen it.

“Don’t fret,” Shade purred. “I won’t keep you collared forever. Just until you prove you can behave. And I suggest you do. You’ll find that life with me is a lot nicer when you’re obedient.”

He pulled a flower out of his belt, twirling it in his fingers. Lia gulped. Everwort.

“I see you recognize it,” he said. “It should give you another reason to behave. Besides obedience, all I want from you is pups. And according to the woman who sold me these flowers, you don’t even need to be awake for any part of that.”

“I’ll never give you pups,” Lia rasped. “And I’ll never be your mate.” She brought her hand up to her throat. It hurt to talk. Shade probably intended it to hurt.

He bent down, until he stared straight into her eyes. “You will be my mate, whether you want to or not. Scream, if you like. No one who cares can hear you. Resist if you want, that just makes it more fun for me. I don’t care if you don’t want me. You’re mine. I’ll do with you what I want.”

Shade leaned forward, and Lia braced herself for a blow. Instead, he kissed her forehead. “Like I said, I am merciful. You’re ungrateful, but you’ve spent too long under the corrupting influence of the Twin River Alphas. In time, you’ll come to see what a real Alpha is like. Eventually, you’ll be glad that I rescued you. And then you’ll be happy to obey.”

Lia did her best to hide the shudders that coursed through her.

“Where are my manners?” Shade asked. “You must be thirsty. As your mate, I will always provide for you.” He fetched a silver goblet that stood outside the bars and brought it to Lia.

She stared at the golden liquid inside. It didn’t smell like any drink she’d ever encountered before. All her instincts screamed at her not to drink it.

“Drink,” Shade said. “Nothing but the finest wine for you, my pet.”

She set the goblet down. “No thanks.”

“My dear, you sound parched. Surely you’re thirsty?”

Lia swallowed, once more feeling the collar’s constriction. She was incredibly thirsty. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, but her tongue seemed to have turned to sawdust. She would kill for a glass of water.

Shade picked up the goblet, moving his hand in a circle and letting the liquid swirl. As thirsty as she was, she didn’t want to drink from the goblet. She didn’t trust what Shade had put in it.

“No wine, then?” Shade asked. “Are you sure?”

“Could I have some water, please?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely…” Shade clapped his hands. “Boy!”

The mage boy emerged from the shadows. Though he stood on the other side of the bars, he was just as trapped as Lia. She wished she could catch his eye, see if he had any fight in him, but he kept his eyes firmly on his feet.

“Fetch me the pail, boy.”

The mage boy retrieved a bucket from the shadows and placed it by the cell door. Then he disappeared into the dark. Shade unlocked the door, dragged the bucket inside, then locked the door again. Lia saw that he put his keys near his right hip, though she doubted that would help her.

Shade presented the pail to her. “Here you are. Fresh water.”

Lia was desperate enough that she would have happily drunk water from the pool at the center of Shade’s den where he drowned those who displeased him. She looked inside the pail. It seemed to be mostly mud. Murky brown pond water filled the rest, dead leaves floating on the surface. Lia saw a flash of brown that might even be a tadpole.

It smelled like something had died in there. Lia blanched.

“I’m feeling generous today,” Shade said, “so the offer of wine still stands.”

Gingerly, Lia set the pail on the ground. She didn’t want it to spill over, and be stuck with the smell.