Bitten By the Alpha Read online

  Tregarrak hummed, and Gareth couldn’t get a read on whether he was satisfied with that answer or not.

  The moment Cam set his empty plate on the table, Tregarrak said, “Alpha Harley, I’d like a word in private.” He gestured to the rest of them. “We’ve readied one of the barns for you and your pack members. It’s fully soundproofed; they can feel free to talk openly. Rachel can show them to it when they’re ready.” He glanced over in his daughter’s direction, getting a sarcastic smile in return.

  “It’d be my pleasure.” She made it sound as though it was the very last thing she’d like to do, but Tregarrak ignored her. Gareth glanced between them, wondering what the story was. With any luck, Cam was about to find out, because they couldn’t take her back with them without knowing the truth about why she needed to leave her pack.

  Cam stood, pushing his chair back. “Shall we?” He glanced over at Gareth and then Mike. “I’ll join you shortly.”

  The idea of leaving Cam alone with Tregarrak didn’t sit well with Gareth, no matter how hospitable he’d been so far. From the hard set to Mike’s jaw, he wasn’t too happy about it either. Alec would have a fit if he knew they’d let Cam out of their sight in another pack’s territory.

  He cleared his throat. “With respect, I don’t think that’s—”

  “Gareth.” Cam let some of his alpha power bleed into the words. “I said I’ll join you shortly.”

  Bristling at being reprimanded in front of everyone, albeit only slightly, Gareth gave Cam a short sharp nod. “Yes, Alpha.” He glanced away quickly, not wanting to meet Cam’s gaze right at that second.

  The scrape of another chair signalled Tregarrak’s departure, and Gareth looked up as he and Cam disappeared into the hallway off the back of the kitchen. Another door shut with a heavy thud.

  Rachel sighed and looked around the room. “We’ll take you to the barn when you’re finished eating.” Four other members of her pack remained with them, and no doubt there were more close by. All Gareth could smell was their pack scent, heavy in their own territory. He couldn’t identify how many of them were around.

  Having better manners, Mike smiled at her, either oblivious to her salty demeanour towards them or ignoring it. “Thank you.”

  Gareth’s appetite left with Cam, and he pushed his plate away, slumping in his chair a little. Nathan gave him a curious look but didn’t comment. A wariness filled the room, making Gareth uncomfortable. The two packs clearly didn’t trust each other, and with their alphas gone, no one was prepared to make polite small talk.

  He glanced down the hallway, straining to hear any of Cam and Tregarrak’s conversation.

  Apparently his intention was obvious.

  “Don’t bother,” Rachel offered, entertaining herself by flicking her claws in and out. Affecting boredom. “The room’s soundproofed, obviously.”

  Gareth was starting to see why Tregarrak wanted to offload her onto his pack. She might be older than a teenager, but from what he’d seen so far, she didn’t act like it. Spoilt brat was an apt description and Gareth curled his lip at the thought of having to put up with her daily.

  When the rest of his pack had finished eating, Rachel stood, along with two of the Penwith shifters.

  Gareth didn’t miss the eye-roll she gave them.

  “Come on, then, I’ll take you to your barn.” She led them back out the front door and around the side of the main farmhouse. Six barns—of varying sizes—had been built in a rough semicircle a way back from the house. They seemed larger than they had when he’d spied them on the drive up to the house.

  Curiosity getting the better of him, Gareth forgot about Rachel’s frostiness towards them and asked, “Do these house your pack’s betas and their units?”

  She snorted, not bothering to look at him as she spoke. “This is nothing like the packs in the cities.” She cast her arms wide, turning around in a circle. “We’re way out in the countryside. Our territory spans miles of fields and farmland, all the way to the coast, and the nearest pack has its main building about an hour from here.” She walked backwards, glancing from Mike to Gareth. “We don’t have units as such. We don’t need them.”

  “But there are betas, yes?” Mike asked.

  “Yes, four of them.”

  Gareth wondered why none of Tregarrak’s betas had been at the meal. They’d done introductions at the start. Cam had mentioned Gareth and Mike’s beta status, but Tregarrak hadn’t done the same. It’s seemed odd that he’d greet an alpha without at least one of his betas present.

  Figuring he had nothing to lose, he asked, “Where are they? I would’ve expected to see them tonight?”

  Rachel laughed, the sound harsh to Gareth’s ears. “You did. I’m one of his betas. At least I used to be.” She sighed, the sound laced with regret. “My brother, Leo, is another, as is Charlie. Both of them are out on an overnight patrol, won’t be back until morning. That’s where your friend Felix is, in case you were wondering.”

  Gareth wasn’t. He hadn’t given Felix a second thought since they’d got there. Cam might want to check on the rogue shifter, but Cam was an alpha. The instinct to care about his pack, no matter how tenuous the connection to it, was in his blood. Gareth was, however, more than interested in why Rachel was no longer a beta. But Penwith intra-pack politics were none of his business, and he knew better than to ask.

  Hopefully Cam would find out about that too.

  “And oh look, there’s beta number four. Clive.”

  Gareth followed Rachel’s gaze to see a lone figure standing outside the smallest of the barns.

  As they got closer, she said, “I’d say it was a pleasant surprise, but we both know I’d be lying, on both counts.”

  With the level of animosity rolling off Rachel, Gareth expected to see the same from Clive, but he appeared calm, resigned even: no tense set of his shoulders, only a tired expression as though this was an ongoing ball of contention, whatever it was.

  “We have guests, Rachel.” His tone held a hint of admonishment, and Rachel’s back stiffened.

  “I’m aware.”

  Their group came to a halt in front of Clive, and he gave them a quick once-over. “Alpha Tregarrak asked me to make sure they get settled into the barn and then escort you back to yours.”

  She gestured to the two Penwith shifters behind her. “As you can see, I already have an escort, so no need to linger.” She made a shooing gesture with her fingers, which Clive ignored.

  Instead he glanced between Gareth and Mike, clearly aware of their pack status. “We’d ask that you remain inside the barn until morning, but if you need anything, then please don’t hesitate to call. The relevant numbers are listed on the fridge door.” With a nod, which Mike and Gareth returned, he was gone, marching in the direction of the main house.

  It wasn’t unusual for visiting pack members to be asked to remain in one place and not wander round. Far from it, and they’d done the same back at their own pack buildings. But something about this whole situation struck Gareth as odd.

  The sooner Cam returned, the better.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The room Tregarrak led Cam to appeared to be a study. A desk sat against the back wall, while two of the others housed bookcases that reached the ceiling. The centrepiece of the room was the log burner, lit and filling the room with warmth. Two armchairs sat either side of it, and Cam took the seat he was offered.

  Tregarrak sat and waved a hand around the room. “The soundproofing is sufficient that we won’t be overheard.”

  Cam motioned for him to continue. While he didn’t believe Tregarrak or any of his pack to be a danger, he was eager to get back to his own pack. To Gareth especially. Not that he regretted speaking to him as he had. Gareth should know better than to question his decisions in front of another alpha, concern for his safety or no. He wanted to clear the air, though, put it behind them.

  “Alpha Harley—”

  “Cam, please. If your daughter’s going to join my
pack, I think we can dispense with formalities, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Tregarrak smiled. “In that case, please call me David.” He shuffled in his chair until he faced Cam. “I’ll get straight to the point. We’ve had some issues with a neighbouring pack. I won’t go into details; it’s pack business and not relevant to this discussion. But for Rachel’s safety, and to some extent the safety of my pack, I think it’s best if she’s far away from here. For a few months at least.”

  Cam stared at the fire, letting the dancing flames capture his attention while he mulled over David’s words. He could push for details, argue that his own pack’s safety was of equal importance, and he should be the judge of what was relevant or not. But they were alphas, etiquette dictated a modicum of trust. An alpha’s word carried substantial weight, or should. Newell was the exception, thankfully, not the rule.

  Cam needed to tread carefully so as not to insult him. “I appreciate your position. But with my own pack’s best interests in mind, I must ask, can you guarantee that whatever troubles you’re experiencing here aren’t going to follow Rachel to London? We all have our own issues to deal with. I’d rather not add to them if I can help it.”

  “Understood.” David sat forward, elbows resting on his knees. “I can assure you your pack will be in no danger. The matter has been taken care of. I would rather Rachel be away from here for a while, until tempers cool, and the whole thing can be forgotten.” He sighed, and Cam had a feeling he wasn’t going to like what he said next. “I will add that Rachel was also one of my betas but, in light of what happened, has been stripped of that honour. As a result, she’s somewhat…”

  “Pissed off?” Cam supplied.

  David laughed, before letting out another deep sigh, some of his alphaness slipping away. Cam warmed to him immediately. “Yes. That’s one word for it. She might appear hard on the outside, but it’s only because she’s hurting. I’ve done all this to protect her, but she feels like I’ve let her down, and this is her defence mechanism. I hope you can see past her walls.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Cam tried hard not to see the resemblance, but the more he learnt about Rachel, the more the similarities tugged at him. When he’d first met Mia, she’d been prickly on the outside, sarcastic and quick-tempered. Just like Rachel. But as he’d got to know her, he’d discovered that was her armour, her defence against a world that had given her a shitty start in life. Underneath all that, she’d been beautiful, warm, and loyal to a fault.

  His heart hurt with every day that passed, every day where he missed her vibrant presence in his life. The ache had lessened over time, but it would never go away. And no woman would ever replace her. He didn’t know if Tregarrak knew of their similarities and was attempting to use it to his advantage, but if he thought Cam could be swayed by it, he was mistaken.

  For now he’d give them both the benefit of the doubt.

  Tregarrak met his gaze. “I would ask you not to mention this to the council. We’ve managed to avoid involving them so far, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  Cam sighed, but nodded. “Your quarrel with another pack is not my business.” He had no wish to deal with the council again either. The less he knew about the affair, the better. He’d offer refuge for Tregarrak’s daughter for as long as she needed it, as long as his pack were in no danger. That was all the involvement he was interested in. He had enough on his plate already.

  Tregarrak stood, so Cam did the same, assuming their meeting was over. “I’d also appreciate it if you could keep it on a need to know basis within your pack. Rachel doesn’t need people speculating about what happened and why she’s there.”

  Cam raised an eyebrow. “That’s going to happen regardless of what I do or don’t say. And I make no promises as to what I tell my pack.”

  Tregarrak’s smile was a touch resigned. “Understood. It was worth a shot.” He walked towards the door, glancing back at Cam. “I imagine you’re eager to rejoin your pack?”

  “I am.” Being apart from them in unfamiliar territory made Cam’s wolf uneasy. He rolled his shoulders in an effort to ease some of the tension. “If you’ll direct me, I’ll be on my way.”

  “I’ll show you myself.”

  Cam would rather have had a little time on his own to gather his thoughts and collect himself—thoughts of Mia always left him off-balance—but refusing Tregarrak’s offer was out of the question. “Thank you.”

  Sunset was almost upon them, the sky a stunning mix of red and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. Cam stopped for a moment to admire the view. “It’s a beautiful place you’ve got here.” The fields surrounding the farm backed onto a forest area thick with trees. Cam pointed to them. “Is that why you chose it?”

  “Yes. This part of Cornwall isn’t known for its forests. And although the locals are aware of our presence, I suspect they wouldn’t be so keen on a bunch of wolves running around the fields. It’s not a huge wooded area, by any means, but it suffices.”

  Cam nodded. He glanced up at the sky. The stars would be so easy to see out here with little to no light pollution. A pang of longing took him by surprise. London was his home, had been for a long time now, but it hadn’t always been. What would it be like to have all this space? No neighbours for what seemed like miles.

  But that thought was for another time.

  They reached the barn, and all appeared quiet inside. “Soundproofed, you said, right?” he asked, turning to Tregarrak.

  “Yes. Rest assured anything you and your pack discuss will remain private.”

  “Thank you.” Cam reached for the door handle, pausing. “And thank you for your hospitality. Goodnight, David.”

  “Sleep well.” With a smile, Tregarrak turned and walked back to the farmhouse.

  Cam waited a few seconds before entering the barn. The rest of his pack sat around the large rectangle table taking up most of the kitchen and dining area. They glanced up as one as he entered.

  Gareth was the first to move. He set his mug down and stood, walking towards Cam with a mixed expression of frustration and need.

  Cam knew exactly what he wanted. Gareth was the most sensitive of his betas, and sometimes Cam felt the urge to give him that extra bit of attention and comfort that the others didn’t seem to require. Not that he’d ever say so, but he secretly liked that Gareth was different to the others in that respect. Although far from the same thing, it made him feel needed in a way he hadn’t since Mia died.

  He drew Gareth in close as soon as he got within reach, wrapping his arms around Gareth’s back.

  With a sigh, Gareth sank into his embrace, his forehead resting on Cam’s shoulder, sandy-blond hair tickling Cam’s chin. “Sorry for questioning you in front of Tregarrak.”

  Sliding his hand up to grip the back of Gareth’s neck, Cam gave it a gentle squeeze. “Apology accepted.”

  “I still think it would’ve been prudent to take either Mike or me along with you.”

  Laughing softly, Cam pulled away enough to look Gareth in the eye. “Noted. I’m sure Alec would whole-heartedly agree with you. But sometimes, the rules can be bent a little, and as alpha you should trust me to know when that is.” He ran his nose along the side of Gareth’s neck, scenting him, and Gareth relaxed into him a little more, his whole body resting against Cam’s for a second before he stepped back.

  The others looked a little antsy so Cam walked around the table, soothing them with a few words and a hand on their shoulder or neck until the atmosphere in the room was considerably more relaxed than when he’d first entered.

  Taking the empty chair at the head of the table, Cam motioned for Gareth to sit. “So, what are everyone’s thoughts on the Penwith pack?” No one spoke, and Cam wondered if they were wary after what he’d said to Gareth at the farmhouse. “Feel free to speak candidly. We’ll be taking Rachel Tregarrak back with us, I’d like to be prepared for any eventuality.”

  Cam hid a smirk when Nathan opened his m
outh to speak. He’d never been one to hold his tongue or be cowed by authority.

  “There’s no delicate way to put this, so I’m just going to say it.” Pausing, Nathan bit his lip, an uncharacteristic show of uncertainty. “She bears a striking resemblance to your late wife.”

  All eyes shot to Nathan, then Cam, then back again. Almost comically.

  “Nathan.” Gareth sent him a glare, his tone a touch harsh.

  “It’s fine.” As much as he appreciated Gareth’s desire to spare him from talking about Mia, Cam was glad Nathan had brought it up straight away. He doubted any of the others would have done so, and it needed to be addressed. They were all obviously thinking it. “I would have mentioned it anyway, if someone else hadn’t.” Sitting back in his chair, Cam pushed away all the hurt that came with thinking about her and focused on his pack, drawing strength from them. “Nathan’s correct. For me at least, Rachel Tregarrak does bear an uncanny resemblance to Mia at that age. Both in looks and temperament.”

  “Are any of the Penwith pack aware of this fact?” Mike spoke up, from Cam’s right.

  “I don’t know.” Even though Mia died ten years ago, there were probably pictures out there of him and his wife, and Cam lost track of who they’d run into during the pack wars. The possibility of Tregarrak knowing what Mia looked like was maybe a thirty percent chance. Enough for it to be a consideration. “But I think it’s something we should be aware of.” He glanced around the table. “I give you my word as alpha, no matter the similarities, Rachel is not Mia and if she tries to use that to gain favour with me, it won’t work. The result will be an immediate trip home to her pack, regardless of what the consequences might be.”

  Gareth sat back in his chair and looked around the barn. Cam watched him, knowing him well enough by now to recognise his thinking face. “Did Tregarrak tell you why he wants his daughter to stay with our pack?”

  Tregarrak’s words rang in his head, but Cam had made no promises where his pack was concerned. “Only that they’ve had some issues with a neighbouring pack and that this course of action was the safest for all involved.”