Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Wolf’s Forced Mate Chapter 11

Tanner

filled the void she left behind.

The neighbors told me that Leah had collapsed in the street. Leah was one of the most stubborn women I had ever encountered. I had tasted all sorts of women from Miami to Maine, yet none of them could match Leah by strength and steel. Not one of them had And none of them could have possibly handled the horror of discovering that Inez was missing from her bed.

As I hoisted Leah into my arms, my alpha jogged toward us. Jermaine, Milton, and Neil were behind him, each of them wearing a dark expression. And not because the sun had set.

But because the situation had just gotten that much more dire.

Fear clutched my heart, squeezing the life out of the chambers. "I thought you said the bond would protect the kid."

"It strengthens you, Tanner. You know that," Blake replied calmly. "It makes you more capable of protecting your family."

"But Inez can't defend herself."

My knees felt weak.

That was new.

Jermaine caught my shoulder while motioning for Milton to flank my other side. "That's not what he means."

I held Leah closer to my chest. "But Inez can't defend..."

Hard bones turned to gel in a matter of seconds. I would have dropped Leah had it not been for Milton and Jermaine picking up the slack. Blake walked behind us, urging his pack members to get back inside and lock the doors. News of the abducted child was making its rounds.

Any attempts to silence the gossip wouldn't deter it from spreading like wildfire. Soon, the whole pack would know.

And then, the whole pack would panic.

Leah mumbled in her sleep. She flung her arm over my shoulder and twitched, adjusting her position. I did my best to keep her steady as we headed toward the mansion. I didn't want to be in my house right now. I didn't want to be close to the scene of the crime. "Milton," Blake said in a low, urgent voice, "head back to the house and sniff around. As quietly as you can."

"Yes, Alpha."

Milton dropped back, allowing Neil to take his place. The trade was seamless, years of friendship putting us easily in sync with each other. The boys didn't leave my side even when we walked into the foyer. Confusion gripped me just as fear had earlier and I froze in place, gaping at the stairs, the available den, the hallway that would lead to the basement.

Where would she be safe?

Blake took my upper arm gently. "In here, man. Come on. Put her down."

"But she's-"

"She's sleeping. She'll be okay. I called Dr. Windsor. She'll be here in about three minutes, okay?"

My jaw flapped soundlessly. Okay. Alright then. Great. The words slurred through my brain like I was swimming through a sea of whiskey. A knot thickened in my throat as I set Leah on the couch.

Sweet gods, was I starting to lose my edge? Never in my life had I responded to a dire situation with this kind of panic.

But this was too close to home.

Gods, it was in my home.

Inez had been taken right out of her bed in broad daylight while Leah was in the other room. Or maybe even in the same room. I wasn't sure of the story. Milton would collect the evidence and get back to us.

Once Leah was on the couch, Neil draped a blanket over her. Jermaine pulled me away. Blake took my shoulders and forced me to look at him.

But I couldn't see anyone specifically. All I could see was red.

Fury ignited my soul, tempting my wolf to the surface. He wanted nothing more than to go after the assholes who had taken Inez. He whispered all the things he would do, how his vengeance would terrorize even the hardiest of men.

I gritted my teeth together. Alpha spoke. But my wolf didn't hear him.

It wasn't until Jermaine wrapped his massive arms around me and squeezed that sound finally broke through the haze of my rage.

"Deep breaths, buddy. That's it," he encouraged. "Just let the dust settle, dude. You're going to rage out if you don't get your wolf under control."

I growled and struggled against his grip. Despite my logical side urging me to chill out, my wolf refused to listen. He was intent on a rampage. He wanted to serve hell on a gold platter.

But that wouldn't do anyone any good. Especially not Inez. Her life depended on her protector staying in control.

Leah too.

My reddened vision fell on the woman who had become my life partner overnight. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically, breaths unbothered by the panic swirling in the room. Though looks weren't everything.

She was probably going crazy in her head right now.

"There you go," Jermaine praised while relaxing his grip on me. "That's it. Just let it pass."

I gasped when he set me on the ground. Fur that once covered my knuckles and hands was disappearing, nails retreating where they once protruded. If it hadn't been for Jermaine, my shift would have taken over completely and I would have ruined the house. Blake would have hated that. He would understand it, of course, but he would have hated it too. And I didn't want to destroy anything. Not when things needed so much to be fixed.

One more breath put me at ease. I shook myself out, willing the beast to go back to sleep. At least for a little while. I would call on him later when we needed to get shit done.

Just as my system went back to normal, Leah sprang from the couch. She darted across the room and jumped into my arms, babbling about how Inez wasn't in her bed. I gave her the Jermaine treatment-a bear-sized hug-and then guided her back to the couch where I sat her down.

Blake ushered Dr. Windsor into the room along with a servant carrying a tray. Tea was served as Dr. Windsor checked Leah's vitals and the lump on the back of her head. Once she was found to be healthy and mostly stable, Dr. Windsor moved on to me. I waved her away. "I'm fine."

Dr. Windsor gave me a reassuring smile. "Just to be sure. Bonds are tricky, Tanner. We can't take any chances here."

I frowned. "But I didn't bond with Inez."

She glanced at Blake and then back at me. Her smile widened. "Again, bonds are tricky. Just a quick check and a tonic for the shock will put everyone at ease."

I looked at my alpha. He nodded. That was all the encouragement I needed.

Once I was found to be in decent condition, I sat next to Leah and yanked her into my lap. I cradled her like I would my child-like how I would hold Inez. Because that was how Inez was looking right now. Like my child.

I closed my eyes. Gods, we almost argued about that on the damn beach.

When Leah came back into view, she was calm. Worried, but calm.

At least she was alright for now.

A knock sounded at the door. Neil jumped into action and went to the foyer. Within minutes, he was back with a tattered envelope in his hand.

"That was Milton," he announced. "He found a scent to track. Someone other than our members. A different sort of shifter scent."

I frowned. "What do you mean by different?"

He sighed. "Don't you remember the invasion? Those wolves weren't normal, Tanner."

"Yeah, but they were still wolves."

Blake stepped in. "What's that?"

Neil handed over the envelope. "Milton said it looks like a ransom letter."

"Did Leah miss it?" I asked.

She perked up. "What did I miss?"

Blake knelt in front of her, gently holding up the envelope. "Do you remember seeing this before you went into the street?"

She worriedly chewed on her lip while studying the envelope. After a second, she shook her head.

Blake looked at me. He handed the envelope over.

I gave him a weird look. "Why?"

"Because it's for you, Tanner. You and your family."

My family.

The paper mocked me, shuddering slightly from being held up for so long. My alpha wasn't shaking-it was just the air vent above our heads making the paper quiver. I knew because I could feel its healing chill on the back of my neck. I took the envelope.

Leah slithered to the cushion next to me and leaned close as I pulled out the page. Jagged letters exploded across the paper. The demands were simple: deliver the alpha's head or receive the head of the child. We had one week. Leah cringed and turned away. She covered her mouth, a horrifying gag coming from her that made me drop the note.

"Fuck," I groaned while helping Leah up. "Come on, princess. Let's find you a bathroom."

"Hallway," Blake instructed. He pointed it out. "I'll send for Dr. Wind-"

Leah waved off his offer. "Just ginger ale, please."

Blake nodded. "Ginger ale. Of course."

This wasn't happening. This wasn't even real.

How could things have gone south so quickly? It had only been an hour since I last saw Inez. Maybe a little bit more than an hour had passed. But truly, it hadn't been very long at all.

As soon as Leah was safely inside the bathroom, she bent over the toilet. I rubbed her back as she chucked up whatever was in her stomach. The shock had probably left her famished. This wasn't going to help either.

She sat up and flushed the toilet. For a while, she stared at the swirling mess disappearing down the pipe. "This is a nightmare, Tanner."

"I couldn't agree more, princess. But we'll get her back."

"How?" She rubbed her eyes. "When?"

What was I supposed to tell her? Probably the truth. "I'm not sure, Leah."

"I want her back. I want her in my arms." She hugged herself while tucking her chin into her chest. It was like she was trying to hide from me. "I can't believe this."

"Come on. Let's see what Blake wants to do."

She stood abruptly. "I know what I want to do."

She washed her hands, rinsed her mouth, and then walked purposefully into the hallway.

Yep, that was the Leah I knew-determined, intent, tenacious. Nothing could stop her once she set her mind on something. Even with the uncertainty of the situation, the way she handled it would be like she handled almost anything else. That's my woman.

The thought propelled me into the den after her. Blake stood with Neil and Milton near a board on the other side of the room. The squeak of the dry-erase marker as Milton wrote on the board was all that filled the room for some time. Once he was finished, he turned around and capped the marker.

He pointed to the amorphous blob he had drawn. "I traced the scent toward Edisto Island. I think they're heading to Charleston."

Blake frowned. "Charleston?"

"Yes, Alpha. The scent seemed to lead in that direction."

"I think we all know who's in Charleston."

None of us said a word. Sure we knew. Those were the fuckers who decided to invade our territory. And for what? To put Blake out of commission?

It didn't make any sense.

Milton tucked the marker into his suit pocket. The man turned into a massive reptilian creature yet wore the finest designer suits on the market. He played with the button on his sleeve, a tiny gold dragon winking in the electric lamplight.

I drew a deep breath and sighed it out. "What are they doing heading toward Charleston?"

"I could probably tell you that."

Everyone turned to the voice that came from the doorway. Blake's mate stood there with her hands in her pockets and a look of shame in her eyes.

Veronica crossed the room slowly, tentatively, as though the information she harbored might have been too much for her to carry.

She lifted a marker and began drawing. "There's a fortress hidden just outside Charleston. It's spelled to derail people." She outlined a floor plan. "This is what I remember of it. I went there for training some days, but I'm not sure if it's the same or if they're even heading in that direction."

I clenched my fists. "And why should we believe you?"

Blake stepped in. "Because she's our only hope. This is the work of her old pack."

"You got to admit, Alpha, that's what makes it the most suspicious," Neil reasoned. "No offense to you and your mate. We're just surprised by this. I mean, if they're after you, why take the kid?"

Leah hugged herself. "Exactly. I've been back for-how long? A week now? Inez hasn't done anything to anyone. And I don't think I have either."

"What about your husband?" I asked. "Edward-didn't you say he disappeared?"

She frowned. "Well, yeah. But he's human. What would he have to do with our enemy pack?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's just something to think about. Your husband disappears, you come back, and then Inez gets kidnapped. That's a lot happening in a short time span."

Blake hummed curiously. "He's right, Leah. That's plenty of strange events."

She withered physically, backing toward an available corner. "Are you saying I have something to do with this?"

Three people responded at once to assure her that wasn't the case. Veronica approached Leah with a calm expression, taking her hands gently.

"Not at all," she confirmed. "We're just laying out all the details so we can see them clearly, okay?"

Leah nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Alright then," I whispered.

Leah smiled weakly. "Great."

"We should come up with a plan," I suggested. "Wherever they've taken her, I think it's best that I head out with a team."

"I'm going with you," Leah insisted.

I shook my head. "No, ma'am. This is dangerous."

"I know what my daughter smells like." She released Veronica's hands and walked up to me. "I know what she sounds like. I'm responsible for her."

"I'm responsible for her too."

Veronica stepped in. "Great. You're both coming with me." She looked at Milton. "You too, scaly boy. You're our eyes in the sky."

Milton huffed indignantly. "Y'all always want to use my skills but never my style." He gestured arrogantly to his suit. "You really think I'm going to track a child in this?"

"It's a suit," Neil teased. "That means you should change, genius. I'll get you some civilian clothes."

While the two men bickered, I turned to my alpha. "We should head out immediately, Blake. I don't want to waste any time."

Blake studied us carefully. In this light, he almost looked like that teenager who got trapped with me in a cave at that beach festival. He squared his shoulders and nodded. "Take care of my mate, alright?" "You got it, Alpha." I took Leah's hand. "We'll report back as soon as we can."

A new rhythm overhauled my system. The feeling was quite literally electric, a current that traveled the entirety of my body several times. The more I held onto Leah, the more it intensified. Whatever it was, I knew it would keep us safe. I knew it would strengthen my defenses. No proof was needed. I just knew.

Just like I knew we would get Inez back in time.