Taken By The Alpha(15)

“Everybody can see us. You. Me. The enemy. Together.”

Maddox threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Sweetheart, you know that every wolf pack is like a high school full of teenaged girls when it comes to gossip, right? Everybody knows. And they’re fine with it.”

She stared up at him. “Are you fine with it?”

“If you are.” Now his expression turned serious, with maybe the faintest hint of worry.

She bit her lip. The Death Challenge was getting closer and closer. “Is there any way that you’d consider seeking an alliance with my stepfather?” she finally asked him. “He might be open to it. It’s worth a shot.”

He sighed. “It’s not possible. Even if he would agree to it, I wouldn’t. I’m sorry.”

“Your two packs would be stronger together.”

“For me to form an alliance with someone, I have to be willing to defend them and their actions, and stand behind them. I can not defend or even tolerate your stepfather’s actions.”

She nodded. She wished she could talk to Maddox about whatever the hell was going on with the gophers, and with everyone in town for that matter, but that would be betraying her own pack. It sucked not being able to confide in him. The more time that she spent with him, the more she felt like they were melding together, like two halves of a whole.

Across the common area, she saw Peony and Alexander walking hand in hand. They were smiling. Peony caught her eye and gave her a happy wave.

“Hello, check that out,” she said.

“Yep. I had a few words with Alexander and his mother, both. His mother won’t be moving in next to them – I let them know that I personally was forbidding it, for the sake of pack harmony, which took some of the responsibility off Alexander – and Alexander actually stood up to her.”

“Well, praise the Lord and pass the pudding. It’s a miracle.”

He laughed. “See, I do have my uses.”

Her tone turned lascivious. “Plenty of uses.”

“Really? Would you like to use me right now?”

She wanted to, but she couldn’t let this death match thing go. It was nagging at her like a sharp splinter she couldn’t quite reach.

“Maddox, you do realize, and I am not questioning your abilities as an Alpha, I’m being completely respectful for once – enjoy it while it lasts, which will be about sixty seconds – that it is possible that my stepfather could win? He has not lost a single Death Challenge. Ever.”

“Neither have I. And I will win.” He met her gaze, and he’d gone dead serious. “Believe me when I tell you that I’m very, very good. There’s a lot that I’m fighting for. I won’t lose.”

She could tell what he meant. Her. He was fighting for her. Not just for his pack, but her.

“He’s up to something,” she blurted out. “There had to be some reason why he set the death match in a month.”

“I’m sure he is. That’s your stepfather’s nature.”

For once, she didn’t lash out and defend the honor of her pack. Maddox was right, she knew it, and she’d probably sensed it on some level for a long time but loyalty to her pack had prevented her from acknowledging it to herself. “He’ll find a way to cheat.”

Maddox shook his head. “He can try. You know how much the Council of Elders has tightened the scrutiny on the Death Challenges.”

There had been a terrible cheating scandal a couple of years back, when it turned out that one of the officials who oversaw the Death Challenges was actually being blackmailed by an Alpha. The official had pretended that the Alpha tested clear of magic enhancement, but the Alpha was doping himself so he could win.

The cheater and the official had both been put to death. Now an entire five person panel did the testing. There would be no magic, no steroids, no drugs, no way that Roman could cheat.

“I thought I saw him moving a little stiffly a while back,” Katrina ventured. By telling Maddox that, she was stepping so far over into pack treason territory that there was no going back.

“It had occurred to me that he might have some kind of injury, and he was giving it time to heal completely.” Maddox didn’t look at all concerned. “Although his healer really should be able to take care of most injuries. Anyway, it won’t help.”

She sighed. She dreaded the Challenge and desperately wanted it to be over with, at the same time.

“Listen, if you want…and this is not what I want at all, but I’m telling you that I’d understand…if you want to move back to your room and wait until after the fight, I’d understand.” Maddox’s voice was pained as he said it, and he tensed, waiting for her answer.

Katrina considered it. If she had any common sense that’s what she’d do. Then again, if she had any common sense, she would have resisted her overwhelming, burning attraction for Maddox. What kind of repercussions would there be for her if Maddox lost?

She sighed and considered it. To be away from Maddox…to wake up to an empty bed…

“I’ll stay with you,” she said, and she felt the tension flow out of Maddox’s body.

He bent down and swept her in his arms and kissed her passionately, a kiss that was hot and hungry, his tongue probing deeply. She whimpered into his mouth and melted up against him. Her heart thudded in her chest, and her knees went weak and wobbly.

When he finally released her, he looked down at her with a wide, satisfied grin. “In case there was anyone on the entire property who didn’t know, I’m pretty sure they’re all clear now. And if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to brush up on my ass kicking skills, so I’m off to the training center. I pity that poor punching bag.”

Katrina headed back inside to take a shower, and as she walked down the hall, she passed Carver.

“Hey, I saw your cousin Virginia the other day,” he said.

Katrina raised an eyebrow. “Really? How did that go?”

“Violently.” Carter had a half baffled, half amused look on his face. “She’s got some quick reflexes, that girl.”

Katrina through back her head and laughed. That sounded about right for Virginia, who was probably thoroughly cheesed off about Katrina’s abduction.

“Serves you right. Where did you meet her?” she asked. Katrina didn’t see Virginia that often, since she lived two hours away.

“She came to town to inquire after your welfare, shall we say. She must give her boyfriend absolute hell.”

“She doesn’t have one,” Katrina said as she headed off to her room, and she was already getting ready for her shower when she suddenly realized that Carter had said that because he was fishing to find out if Virginia was single.

Later that day, Teresa approached her in the kitchen at the rec center, as she rolled out pie dough for homemade apple pies they’d be making later. “I hate to say I told you so, but no I don’t,” Teresa said, smiling. “Has he asked you yet?”

“Who asked me what?”

Teresa glanced around and lowered her voice. “You know. Maddox. To marry him. To be his mate.”

“Oh, good God, no.” Katrina actually found herself blushing as she rolled the dough out. “It’s hardly the time for that. I mean…well, death challenge, and all that fun stuff coming up.”

“Oh, well, after he wins, I’m sure he’ll ask you,” Teresa said confidently. Katrina could only pray that Teresa was right – about winning, at least. And, if she was being honest with herself, about the rest of it too.

The longer she’d come to stay with Maddox, the more she’d realized that she’d grown up with a false image of him and his pack. Most of his pack were decent, just like most of her pack was decent. Maddox was known as a strong Alpha and a harsh disciplinarian, but she’d never seen him behave like the brutal, abusive bully that her parents had described.

Violet wandered by, holding a rolling pin and looking confused. “What am I supposed to be doing, again?” she asked Katrina.

“You came to help me roll some dough, remember?” Katrina moved out of the way for her.

“Oh, yes. Now I remember. We’re making pie for your baby shower. What are you and Maddox going to name her?” Violet settled in next to her and dumped some flour on her rolling pin.

“Oh, uh…still thinking of names,” Katrina said, blushing again. Violet sure was eager to have her start pumping out those cubs.

“I don’t remember your wedding at all,” Violet confided in her. “I must have been thoroughly sauced. Shame on me.” She let out a demure titter, hiding it behind her hand.

“See, Miss Violet called it from the beginning,” Teresa said, winking at her. “She knew Maddox was sweet on you. Speaking of Maddox…” Teresa looked through the big picture window. Maddox was striding towards the kitchen, and he didn’t look happy.

“What?” Katrina said as soon as he walked in the door. “What’s happened?”

“Heather’s father. Hit a tree while drunk, last night. Didn’t survive.”

There were exclamations of dismay throughout the room.

“Oh.” Katrina went pale. She felt mingled pity and fury for Heather’s father. Of course he was heartbroken. She got that. Now that she’d started to have real feelings for Maddox, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose a mate – but how could he abandon a perfect little girl like Heather?