His to Play With (The Alpha Shifter Collection)

“But Natalie’s a mated wolf?”

“Who lost her mate. I think…” Holly pressed her lips together. “I think Natalie went to the human hunters to kill her mate. Her baby is not her mate’s. It’s one of the hunters.”

“This is a huge stretch.”

“No. Natalie always hated the fact she was a wolf. She was the first woman I knew who hated being mated. She wanted to do everything to stop it, and I think she wanted to rid the pack as well.”

“You think she approached the hunters?”

“Think about it. She’s the only person I can think of who would have a reason to want to leave the pack. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“And she’s the only one that hasn’t talked to us.”

“We’ve got to call my father. Warn him,” Holly said.

Damon was in agreement.

Chapter Ten

Holly stared at her father as he looked across the room, looking deeply hurt.

“But she … she was happy,” her father said.

“No, she wasn’t. Think about it. She had nowhere else to go other than to be mated.”

“Then how did she meet these hunters?” he asked. Christopher looked from her to Damon. “It’s a giant leap from a member in this pack to a highly pregnant, mated female.”

“Her mate didn’t make it. She smells, Dad. You know it. I know it. That can only mean that the child she carries is not her mate’s.” Holly shrugged her shoulders. “You think I don’t find this all a little upsetting?”

Her father sighed. “I … I should have known.”

“You can’t know everything,” Damon said. “These things happen.”

“Not in my pack. I pride myself on people finding happiness and peace.”

Holly went to her father, hugging him, ignoring the deep rumble of a growl Damon emitted. They’d called her father the moment she realized the person they were after was Natalie.

“Dad, you’re a good alpha.”

“I’m not feeling that way. Look at what happened to you. You were taken. Our entire town was destroyed. I lost good men and women. Now I’m being told the person responsible is a woman I’ve seen grow into a beautiful woman. A woman I thought…” He held his hands up and shook them. “No. I can’t.”

“She did this,” Holly said. “And if we’re not careful, she’s going to do it again.”

“We need to take action.” Damon not so subtly pulled her against him so her father had no choice but to let her go.

“What do you recommend?” Christopher asked.

She glanced back at Damon to see he looked surprised.

“You’re asking me?”

“I need all the help I can get, Damon. If she is responsible for those hunters, it’s only a matter of time before they come back. I can’t have her hurting more of our people.”

“Our people?”

Holly smiled, rubbing Damon’s hands.

“You’re one of us, Damon,” Christopher said. “I get that you don’t want to be part of a pack, and I accept that, but you’re one of us. My daughter loves you. We’re going to have to work together to make this work. I’m willing to do that if you are.” Her father held out his hand. “What do you say?”

Damon didn’t move.

“How about we decide this after we stop the hunters from showing up? Do you think we can do that?” Holly asked.

“We need to go tonight,” Damon said. “If she believes there is a chance we know, she could run. We can’t have that. We need to do this without the rest of the pack knowing what is going on.”

“Then we go tonight,” Christopher said.

“I think it best if Holly and I do this,” Damon said.

“Why?”

“Have you ever gone to her house late at night for any reason?”

“No.”

“Don’t you think that will set her suspicions off? She could phone her hunter,” Damon said.

Her father sighed. “You’re right. But I’m not going to be too far. You must alert me to deal with this. She is pack and until you make a decision about your future, some of the pack will not like me allowing you to make pack law.”

“I have no intention of doing that. You’ll deal with Natalie. We’re just going to make sure she doesn’t bring the hunters here.” Damon held out his hand. “Deal?”

Her father didn’t even hesitate.

“Looks like we’re heading out,” Holly said.

Within seconds, they were back in the car and Damon was already driving into town.

“How are you doing?” Damon asked.

“Awful. I liked Natalie. She was nice once.”

“She might still be nice.”

“She led a bunch of hunters to us. A lot of people died. You saw the bodies.” She released a shudder. The memory alone was scary.

Damon took her hand. “I’ve got you, okay? I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Who says I can’t keep them?” he asked.

“I don’t want to fight about this.” She gave his hand a squeeze and she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her go. “Damon?”