She winced. “Aiden, please, tone it down. I’ll find a way out, find a way to get you the gold. I need to pull my weight. I’ve been hiding away too long.”
“You need to do nothing. Stay there, stay safe. Soon as I get there…” he took a deep breath, “Heads will roll. This is war, and I’m not fucking around.”
“Don’t do this. Have to go. Love you.”
Kara hung up and tip-toed to the door. Hearing nothing, she snuck back to the guest bedroom.
Inside, she paced for several minutes, trying not to panic. Her big brother was loving, but strong-willed and stubborn. She’d only wanted him not to worry about her disappearing.
“Great,” she muttered. “Now he’s all set to storm the castle.”
The only hope lay in placating Ryder, and trying to thwart a war between their two packs that would result in nothing but bloodshed and misery. Ryder was equally stubborn and strong-willed.
A swift, hard knock came at her door.
She opened it, and Ryder strolled inside, his expression tinged with anger.
“Your brother called. Someone tipped him off about your arrival,” he said curtly.
Kara’s heart sank. “I gather it wasn’t a congratulatory call on your new alpha status.”
“Not exactly.” Ryder’s expression turned dark and dangerous. “He did congratulate me on having the balls for killing the old man. And then he warned he’s gathering all his forces. He threatened to tear off my head unless you’re returned to him in the same state as I found you. Untouched and unhurt.”
“An empty threat,” she suggested, keeping her tone light, praying she could diffuse Ryder’s anger. “Aiden’s blustering.”
“He’s declaring an official pack war upon me unless I deliver you back to him in 24 hours.”
“If you promise him money, he’ll back off. He’s only interested in money.”
Please believe me. Give him money, both of you cool your hot tempers…
“I offered money. He told me to stuff it up my ass. He’s only interested in your safe return.”
The alpha’s gaze became distant for a moment. “Can’t blame him. If I had a sister, I’d give every last breath to protect her, too. Aiden is a good ruler.”
She nodded.
He turned, his expression hard as iron. “But I won’t let him destroy everything I’ve worked so hard to rebuild. He’s not getting you back and if it’s war, it’s war.”
Air squeezed out of her tight chest. “You can’t fight Aiden. Your pack will divide. Those still loyal to my father, and I’m sure there are some who are, will side with Aiden. You’ll splinter your factions when you need unity behind you.”
“I have unity enough to fight him.” Ryder flexed his hands. “Your brother’s threat only accelerates my plans.”
Kara’s thighs clenched as his gaze caressed her. “What plans?”
“I had wanted to give you time, Kara, to grow accustomed to me once more, and gentle you to my touch. But your brother has left me no choice. War or not, he’ll never have you back.”
Dread filled her as his gaze grew determined. “Tonight, after dinner when I announce it to the pack, we will be mated. You will be mine and I will show you to the pack as my new queen. Then gather my forces in preparation to fight.”
“I can’t. Please, let me talk with Aiden, reason with him…”
“The time for reasoning with your brother has passed.”
“Don’t do this to me. I can’t mate with you,” she whispered, hugging herself.
Ryder ran a thumb down her unscarred cheek. “Don’t be afraid, sweeting. I may be a monster when it comes to defending my territory, but I can be gentle in bed and I will take very good care of you.”
A flutter of hope died with his words. She’d clung to hope for escape, to return to her brother’s ranch where everything was run down, but filled with dark places where a scarred and chubby Lupine could hide from the world. Now there was no place to run or hide, and she stood between two powerful males ready to declare a pack war.
Kara walked to the window. The pack had adored her, the cherished youngest daughter of their powerful alpha. Once she’d enjoyed running free and wild with them as wolf as they hunted beneath the full moon’s silvery caress.#p#分页标题#e#
Now she only wanted to hide from the people who’d once loved her. No doubt they hated her now.
“I will not resist you,” she said quietly. “Nor will I allow you and Aiden to break the peace, ruining his pack and yours. I can’t risk a war.”
“Go on.”
“I’ll call Aiden and tell him what is done is done. You know,” she gulped down a shaky breath, “that once you put your mating mark on me and we consummate the bond, your claim on me is final. It will be pointless for him to raid the ranch to get me back.” She sighed. “I won’t fight you, Ryder. I will submit, if you do two things for me.”