His to Play With (The Alpha Shifter Collection)

“Not letting you go. I’m your mate.”

“Yes, and we’ve still got to decide what we’re going to do,” Holly said. “Are you willing to work with my dad’s pack?”

He sighed. “Why don’t we just focus on one problem at a time?”

Holly agreed.

He let go of her hand. She missed his touch and pressed her hands between her legs, clenching them together.

They hadn’t spoken about … their feelings. They were mated and together, but it wasn’t the same as her parents.

Pushing those thoughts to one side, they arrived at Natalie’s apartment, which also happened to be above the daycare facility they’d set up.

She climbed out of the car and went to the door, giving it a knock.

Natalie opened it seconds later.

“Holly, hey, how are you?”

“I’m fine. I just came to see how you were doing,” she said. “You work way too hard.”

Natalie looked pale. There were dark rings around her eyes, and she seemed to have lost a little weight.

“Come in. Come in,” Natalie said.

They stepped over the threshold and there was the scent again. This time, she recognized the smell. The hunters. Natalie stunk of them, or at least one of them.

Damon placed a hand on her back, making her aware he scented it too.

“A drink?”

“Please,” Holly said.

They entered Natalie’s apartment, and Holly noted the lack of personal touches. They’d only been there for a little over a month, but there was nothing to show for it in her place.

“Do you not like the place?” Holly asked.

“Ah, it’s great. I love it, but I’ve got the baby to consider.”

“Yeah. Are you thinking of a little place with a garden?”

Natalie chuckled. “How did you know?”

“Just a hunch.”

Natalie returned holding two mugs, and as she held them out, Holly saw the way her hands shook.

“You’re nervous,” Holly said.

“It’s nothing. I’ve been having some pains in my back.”

Holly stared at Natalie. They’d never been close like best friends, but she thought she knew her.

“Why?” Holly asked.

Damon grabbed her shoulders.

Natalie sighed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Holly!” The warning came from Damon as Natalie took a step back.

“We know,” Holly said. “We know about your hunter. We know you organized the attack.”

This time, Natalie looked up and shook her head. “No. I didn’t organize the attack. You can hate me all you want and blame it all on me but … I swear … I had nothing to do with that.”

“Then why don’t you tell us what happened?” Damon asked. “You’re scared. We can all see that.”

Natalie started to cry. She put the cups down and shook her head. “Talking doesn’t resolve anything.”

“Tell us why,” Holly said.

“Do you love him?” Natalie asked, pointing at Damon. “Does he make you feel like you’re on top of the world?”

Holly didn’t look back at Damon. Her gaze stayed on Natalie. The pain in the woman’s face hit her hard. “Natalie?”

“That’s what mates are supposed to be like, right? Love each other. Take care of one another. Not … hurt them?”

Tears filled her eyes. “He hurt you?”

Natalie pushed some of her hair off her face. “Holly, you have no idea the kind of man he was. I refuse to say his name. I can’t.” She put her hand to her stomach.

“That’s not his,” Holly said.

“No, but I … I had no choice.”

“Did you go to the hunters?” Damon asked.

“No. I didn’t even want this.”

Holly was getting more confused by the second. “Natalie, what the hell is going on?”

“From the moment we were mated and I accepted it, he changed. My mate. I can’t … I won’t say his name.”

“We get it,” Damon said.

Holly wanted to go to Natalie and comfort her. She had sunk down onto the sofa. Hands clasped together, looking so broken.

“It started with him not being happy with the way I dressed. He would pick my clothes and tell me how to do my makeup. If I didn’t do it exactly how he wanted, he started to hit me. A slap here. He always brushed it off as playful but it escalated quickly until he punched me hard.” Natalie frowned. “He would be so kind and loving one moment and then he’d hit me. I wouldn’t see it coming. He felt that your dad shouldn’t be alpha, and when we finished at town meetings, he’d come home and take it all out on me. It was my fault that everything was going wrong. I was the bad person in his life. I didn’t want to be a wolf, Holly, but I love the pack.”

“You didn’t go to the hunters,” Damon said.

She shook her head. “No. He went to them. He told them every single detail. Even where he could hang out and…” Natalie shook her head.

“We know the baby isn’t his,” Holly said. “Did you … fall in love?”

Natalie burst out laughing. “Love? You think this came from love? No. the leader wanted to know what it was like to be with a female wolf.” She snorted. “I had no choice. He held a gun to my head. My mate did. He forced me to have sex with another man.”