Reggie woke up from his slumber and the first thing he noticed was the darkness. It stretched as far as the eye could see and that was far, seeing as he couldn't tell where one wall started and another began. Even with his wolf's eyes, he could see nothing. The only light coming in under what he assumed was a door. He was also bound to an x- cross, with Legs, and arms stretched out. He slowly became aware that he was soaking wet and freezing.
The rope that bound him would not break, and that was pissing him off. The more he pulled, the tighter they seemed to get. That only enticed his anger. He welcomed it. Even as he fought, a shiver of fear that went through his spine. His wolf surged forth, a low growl rumbling in his throat. He was an Alpha dammit and these bitches really didn't know who they were dealing with.
In hindsight, he realized he didn't know who he was dealing with, either. He had been chased through an unfamiliar land by a beast of a wolf and for the first time in his adult life, they had made him feel fear. Now he was bound by what appeared to be rope, that he could not break, even with his strength. He was captured at their will and mercy. They apparently were hoping to freeze him to death.
He was sure they would kill him. He had captured no one just to release them after interrogations. He always killed them sometimes fast, but more often, he liked a slow death. What would they do with him? His instincts alerted him that someone was approaching the room. He posed himself for calmness. He had done nothing wrong. He would make that clear, and he meant them no harm. Unless they were the reason, his members were missing.
The door opened and natural light shone in. So he was outside, in a shed maybe, or a barn. The light was blinding, but he made out four figures as they entered the room, and the door closed. Suddenly, light filled the room and when his eyes adjusted, he saw they were all women. Beautiful women. All powerful wolves. But one stood out among the rest, even as she tried to hide.
She was the shorter of the women, probably about five-five, with dark chocolate skin, and almond eyes that were currently shooting daggers at him. She was beautiful and shapely, with curves in all the right places. She wore a dark yellow pants-suit kind of thing with a blazer. She looked like royalty. His wolf surged forward, letting him know what he had already begun to realize. He ate her up mentally as the scent of roses and water lilies surrounded him. He knew it was her. Even with his hands bound and the threat of torture looming, his canines elongated and his dick hardened until it hurt.
What the fuck. He thought, looking into her eyes. Her hard eyes softened for just a second before she looked away. Now staring somewhere over his left shoulder. He briefly wondered if this goddess could be his mate or if was this the type of torture they were into. He had heard of the mate bond that two wolves could have, hell he had even seen it happen in his pack before his very eyes. It was described as a sense of knowing, the wolf's first connecting and then the humans half finding out upon the first kiss, sometimes a touch, sometimes a smell. Usually the kiss.
His wolf whispered to him to take this female and claim her. No way was he going to argue with that. He had been captured by his mate. Maybe that would save his life, but it was a bad sign that she would not meet his eyes. Neither was she overcome with joy. He noticed a strength in her. Definition dominant. Was she the Alpha? Female alphas were rare, hell a female wolf was becoming rare, and he was stretched out in front of four of them.
*****
Shanice was having palpitations. Her heart was definitely beating too fast, the world seeming to come to a halt as she neared the sheds. There were five of them, but she instinctively knew he would be in the third. Not only because the first two were occupied but also because the scent of coffee and honey led her on a beeline straight for shed number three.
She led the way, her sisters and gamma behind her didn't see the anxiety on her face. She was sure they missed the way her steps became shorter the closer they got to their destination. Shanice knew with every fiber of her being that her mate was in that shed. The feeling she had during the chase hadn't lessened at all, only heightened.
She had sat quietly as her pack debated what to do with the man in the shed. They had discussed different ways to torture an Alpha. Her mate was an Alpha. She has listened and cringed at every tortuous act they discussed, not that she was worried. No one was going to touch him. She and her wolf had agreed on that.
But what if he's the enemy?
Shanice halted at the thought. The door within her grasped. Yes, what then?
"Neicy," Imani asked, placing a hand on her, as they all came to stand before her. A look of concern in their eyes. "Are you okay?"
Shanice bit the inside of her cheek and gave a short nod. She had to be okay. The pack came first. Mate or not, they came first. At least, that's what she had always been told. So if he was their enemy, she and she alone would deal with his punishment.
Still, her head hung low as she entered the room. Shanice quietly hid behind a towering Raven as she took in her mate. He looked good and angry. His head low as hers was, an amused smile on his lips as he tracked her movements. Eye contact hit her like a bolt of lightning as his eyes trailed down her body. A warmth flowed through her and pooled in her center as her muscles clenched.
It was so overwhelming that she stubbornly looked away. However, it was only a moment before she found her eyes back on him. His shirt was soaked and clung to each muscle like a second skin. It left little to the imagination. The gym shorts were no better and did nothing to hide his excitement. No doubt the same excitement that was rushing through her veins.
Her wolf wanted to go to him, untie him, and put all the women currently surrounding her mate out. He was her mate, she was sure of it. What happened next was totally up to him.
"Mate, look at me," He demanded. His voice was like velvet on her skin and, for the love of the goddess, she wanted to hear it again. The effect was almost enough to bring her to her knees and break down the stoney appearance she was trying so hard to keep.
There were sharp inhales and hisses from her sisters and Asia. Shanice squared her shoulders and looked at the unknown alpha. It was heady to hold his eyes. It was as if she were drowning.
"Lies," Hissed the Raven to her right as she reached for the knives on her armband.
Shanice was at her side in the blink of an eye. Her hands were firm as they held Raven's in her place. Meeting her eyes, Raven seemed to have seen the truth, but still, she glared.
"He's not lying," Asia said, smiling at his Shanice. "at least he believes what he is saying. Although there is only one way to be sure."
"But how?" asked Imani.
"Shit," Raven growled from deep in her chest. She threw up her arms and did a full one-eighty. She stopped before Shanice, her eyes pleading. "Does this mean no torture? I was so ready for some torture."
Despite her mixed emotions, Shanice managed a small smile before looking back to the bound man. "Simmer down, little sister, there may still be torture. Mate or not, he is trespassing. If his intentions are not to our liking, then I will carry out his punishment. No one else will touch him."
The finality in her tone told them all there would be no exception. She meant that shit. Already she was feeling a pull and her wolf urged her to figure out who he was so they could untie him, but business first.
"But what about the thing," Imani said, insistently.
"We will deal with that later, one problem at a time, Imani," Shanice spoke with authority.
"Ladies," he spoke, his voice amused and intrusive. "I will tell you whatever it is you need to know. I am sorry for trespassing, but my intentions were good. It was by accident, or maybe fate since I am sure you are my mate. I am Reginald Thomas Alpha of the Adolfo Pack. Ask me whatever you need to."
Shanice took a step, just one step in his direction, and introduced herself. "I am Shanice Williams, Alpha of the Louve Pack."
Raven was next as usual, "I am Raven William, Alpha of the Louve Pack, and your worst fucking nightmare. If you are fucking with our pack, my face will be the last thing you ever see." He gulped, but he just smiled and nodded as best he could.
"And I am Imani Williams, also Alpha of the Louve Pack. Nice to meet you. I have always wanted a brother," She spoke with a welcoming smile.
Asia glided forward, her feline ancestry shining through her Cheshire smile. "I am Asia Jones, Pack Gamma, and probably the only one who can save your ass. Be straight up with a minimum on the bullshit and you will be fine. But if you lie, I will know it, and a lie will equal an extra hour of torture."
Imani stepped forward and looked him in the eye, her smile gone. "Alpha Reginald Thomas, you are accused of Trespassing on private lands. Using dark magic on private lands, Kidnapping, and possibly murder."
"How do you plead?" Raven asked.
"Not guilty of that shit, except the trespassing, and that was purely by accident," he yelled.
They all looked to Asia, who nodded her head.
"Ok," Shanice said, "trespassing it is. It alone is punishable by death. What were you doing on our lands when we found you?"
"Looking for my missing pack mates," he stated simply.