Captured And Claimed (Wayward Mates Series Book 8) Page 5

  “Oddly enough, I did. I have to tell you, Griffin always spoke of you in the best of terms. He took full responsibility for what happened between you. I’ve never been more grateful to anyone than I was to you when you made him accept that you had forgiven him. You lifted a huge burden from him.”

  Ava laughed. “You know Roz told me that you wouldn’t hold a grudge. She said you were like Skylar and Lacey—always willing to see the best in people.”

  “Whoa, that’s pretty heady company to be kept in. If it’s all the same to you, I think I’d rather wallow in all the fun you, Darby, Catherine, and Riley seem to have.”

  “So, you enjoy getting your ass beat?” teased Ava.

  “No, silly girl, that’s what corner time is for... figuring out how to have fun and how not to get caught the next time.”

  Ava laughed. “Oh, my God, you’re another Bethan... all sweet and a good girl on the outside and just as naughty as the rest of us on the inside.”

  “Did it really surprise you that Bethan came when you were found in Maine?”

  “I’m ashamed to say it did. Looking back, it shouldn’t have.”

  “Griffin was shocked; I wasn’t. I thought it extremely funny that he has so little understanding of what makes his big sister tick. When we got back from the Netherlands, he made the comment that I should try to be more like his sister. He has since retracted that statement.”

  “I’m glad you two found each other. I think you make his life a lot happier and more peaceful than I ever would have.”

  “Of course I did; we are fated mates... as are you and Declan.”

  “I know,” Ava said quietly. “He just completes me in ways I never knew were possible. I only hope that someday these three women will know that kind of perfect union with a man. But oh, lord, is he going to be pissed... and on so many levels.”

  Maddie nodded. “Griffin too. I wish I thought they were not intelligent enough to know they’d been played...”

  “Fat chance. For Declan it’ll be a toss-up about which one pisses him off the most—me putting myself in danger, me playing him, and the ever-popular me disobeying him. Although you’d think by now, he’d have given up on that one.”

  Maddie laughed. “As I understand it, that’s one they never give up on.”

  They arrived back at the warehouse and discussed their observations with the rest of the women, including their recommendation for a new rendezvous spot.

  Riley looked over the plans and smiled up at both of them before saying, “And you two thought we were giving you busy work. This is excellent. It’s why I always tried to get a look at a place in person before moving in. You know, I’m really kind of starting to like this whole idea of working as a team.”

  Skylar said softly, “I’m not sure how much longer men such as the ones we have will be willing to sit back and let this kind of thing go on. I can’t believe that the Council didn’t know about what deMoncada has been up to. They had to. This auction tonight? There’s no way they didn’t know about it.”

  “If they didn’t before, they sure as hell will after tonight. Any ideas where we should take them?” asked Riley. “This is my first North American job. In the past I’ve had established packs I knew would be safe.”

  “I know both Declan and Griffin have talked about wanting to offer them safety. Part of me thinks a smaller pack might be easier.”

  Darby shook her head. “I don’t agree. I think being surrounded by a large, loving pack with a lot of women who they can talk to and can help them learn or relearn to negotiate life in a pack would be better. Maybe start out in a larger one, but then transition to wherever they want to be.”

  “And what if they don’t want to go to a pack at all? What if they want to be on their own? I have to tell you, I won’t be party to forcing one of these women into a pack. We can advise and tell them what we think, but they don’t need to go from feeling like a hostage in one situation to feeling like a hostage in another,” said Roz.

  Riley reached out to her. “No one here will see them forced into anything. I think you’re right, we can advise and give them our best opinion, but they have to be free to make that choice. As overbearing as he can be, it’s one of the reasons I took so many to Marco and Catherine. If they wanted to go, he made sure they had what they needed and then let them go on their way.”

  Maddie giggled. “You aren’t laboring under the illusion that he didn’t have them followed and made sure they were safe, are you?”

  “He didn’t,” exclaimed Riley.

  “He did. Part of why Catherine loves him so. He wanted them to have a choice, understood they needed it, but wanted to ensure they were safe. He also made a formal declaration to the Ruling Council that they were under his protection and he would act accordingly should anyone violate them again.”

  Riley shook her head. “I’ll be damned. Catherine never told me that.”

  “Well, Catherine is every bit as Machiavellian and practical as her mate,” said Maddie. “I didn’t like Marco at all when I first met him and could not understand how Griffin and he could be such good friends or how Catherine could adore him. But now I completely understand it.”

  Darby laughed. “I always understood Marco... he’s the noble, Italian version of my pirate king!”

  The others joined in her gaiety.

  Riley said, “Well, ladies, there’s nothing left to do now but stay here until nightfall. I want to be in position once they’ve welcomed all their guests and sealed off the entrance. Then comes the hard part... waiting for the right moment. If you can, try and get a bit of sleep.”

  Riley smiled grimly as she passed around the pictures that she had taken from Cameron of the three women to be auctioned off. “I doubt we’ll have trouble figuring who it is that’s being sold, but I wanted everyone to at least know what they look like.”

  Maddie gasped as she held the picture of the turned female.

  Skylar was concerned and reached out to her. “Are you okay, Maddie?”

  Maddie nodded slowly. “This woman... the turned one...”

  “What?” asked Ava gently.

  Maddie looked up and made eye contact with each of them. “I know her. It’s Shannon. That bastard has Catherine’s sister.”

  * * *

  Galveston, Texas, USA

  Cameron was not surprised when word came to him that the horses were safe and were waiting to be picked up. He had one of the stock trailers hitched up and headed out to get them. Jean-Michel insisted on coming along.

  “I swear, Jean-Michel, I can’t decide whether to be proud of what she’s done or want desperately to take my belt to her backside so she never does it again.”

  Jean-Michel chuckled at his friend’s discomfiture. “The two are not mutually exclusive. You’d best get used to it. Mates such as ours are rare. They do not conform, they do not submit, and they do not obey. And we love them all the more for it. I will tell you the secret when one is mated to a woman such as your Riley. You need not make a choice between the two. You can be proud of everything she does and still welt her pretty behind for doing it.”

  Cameron chortled in spite of himself. “You make it sound so easy.”

  “And you try to make it difficult. You love your Riley. Just do that. Love her with everything you are but part of that loving her is knowing that she is who she is. And yours is worse than mine, she is alpha.”

  Cameron nodded. “You’re right, but...”

  “There is no but, mon ami, there is only loving them, keeping them safe as best you can, and disciplining them when they need it. As Dylan said, having a woman such as your Riley or my Darby choose to submit to you most of the time in most ways is a tremendous gift that should be treasured. But the ones who are the strongest, who seem to have the least need for discipline and structure, are the ones who function best when it is there for them. Our Summer, who was with them at Bae Diogel, once confided in me that she has never seen my Darby happier or more at peace.”
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br />   “I know you’re right. The past two weeks, Riley has seemed so relaxed and happy. The nightmares were less frequent, but then she pulls this stunt and makes me question if it was all a lie.”

  “What does your heart tell you? Do I think we got played? Absolutely. Do I think it changes anything other than they outsmarted us this time? Absolutely not. Wherever they are right now, I guarantee you that Darby is convinced she is right and I was wrong. She knows when I get my hands on her, that I will ensure she doesn’t sit or fuck comfortably for the foreseeable future, but she also never doubts my love for or belief in her.”

  “Part of my issue is that I keep coming back to thinking Riley is right. We should have done more and done it more quickly.”

  “That’s a rabbit hole you don’t want to go down,” offered Jean-Michel. “We were right to maneuver this minefield in the way we have, but Riley was also right to get those girls. I have thought at great length about this. I don’t think we could have proceeded any other way. I am only glad those girls had Riley to save them before we could.”

  They pulled up to the boarding barn where the horses had been left. Cameron assured the owner that those who had left the horses were just playing a game and all was well. He went in to get Echo. He brought the big horse out and saw the note Riley had woven into his mane:

  Cameron, I know you’re going to be pissed. I had to go. I couldn’t live with those

  women they are auctioning off being sold as some kind of prize. They need to be freed.

  They’ve been saved for this occasion. One of them is the woman in Belfast who

  sacrificed herself to give me and the other women there a chance to escape.

  I promised her I would come for her at the auction and swore I would save her too.

  Those monsters that have come to bid on them will not be gentle when they go to

  claim their new mate. We will be as safe as we can. I will come home to you. Please

  try to understand. I left the best part of myself in your care. I love you.

  Riley

  “You’d damn well better come home to me,” he muttered.

  Jean-Michel took the note and read it. “You see, mon ami, all is as it should be. Doesn’t your brother from Ireland hold the one who once ruled in Belfast?”

  “He does,” said Cameron slowly.

  “Then I suggest we contact Galway and ask Aidan’s beta to get every scrap of information he can.”

  Cameron and Jean-Michel finished loading the horses. Once back in the cab of the truck, Cameron dialed Aidan’s beta, Liam, and asked him to use any means necessary to get the information they needed.

  Returning to the ranch, they waited. As Cameron had predicted, none of those who had any knowledge as to the whereabouts of the collected wayward mates would give the others up. Cameron took a certain amount of satisfaction in seeing that each and every woman involved was sitting on a pillow or was absent from lunch. His sister was among the latter.

  “It seems the Bae Diogel loyalty oath extends beyond the bounds of those women who were actually there.”

  Reluctant agreement was heard as each of the men shared what the women of their own packs would do but turned to Jean-Michel, who laughed before answering.

  “Oh, they’re all on Darby’s side. I’m not sure that most of the men aren’t as well. I fear my beloved has won all of them over. Half the time when she earns herself a spanking, I have my omega advocating on her behalf. On the other hand,” he said, his tone turning serious, “if it came to a fight to defend our people or our land, my men would fall in lock-step behind her should I not be there. Don’t get me wrong, they would keep her safe, but they would not question her ability to lead them to victory... nor would I.”

  It took little time for Liam to get the needed information and the men quickly headed into the study where a link was established with Galway.

  “Alpha,” said Liam, nodding toward Aidan. “Cameron asked me to find out what that bastard from Belfast might know about this auction.”

  “I take it you persuaded him it was best to give you that information?” asked Aidan rhetorically.

  “I did. I got a lot of alpha attitude at first but eventually he gave me what you need to know. Of course, I’m going to have to give our cook instructions that he can only eat through a straw.”

  Aidan grinned. “Our Liam can be a most persuasive fellow.”

  “Yes, I sensed that about him,” chuckled Cameron.

  “The auction is tonight and it is in Montreal. He confirmed deMoncada is behind it. Three women, two shifter-born, one turned. They say the turned one has a sister who has borne a female shifter.”

  Griffin’s head came up. “A turned female who has given birth to a female shifter?”

  Liam nodded. The alphas all looked at him.

  “Liam, are there any pictures?” asked Griffin.

  “We have pictures of the two shifter-born. We have found nothing on the turned one.”

  Cameron asked, “Do you think you know her, Griff?”

  “I can’t believe there are a lot of sisters who have been turned who have borne a female shifter recently,” Griffin answered, looking at Jean-Michel.

  “I agree,” said Jean-Michel. “Liam, is there anything else known about the last one?”

  “Not much. Only that she is beautiful and from America.”

  Cameron thanked Liam and the link blinked off. “What do you know?” he said to Jean-Michel and Griffin.

  “Suspect, not know, but we need to get Marco on the link and without Catherine. I would not have her hopes built up.”

  The link was quickly established.

  “I am surprised that you are calling me. You do not look as badly as I thought you might after such a celebration. Apparently, I should have sent more wine!”

  “That’s not why we called, mon ami.”

  “Is there trouble?” asked Marco.

  “I’m afraid so,” replied Griffin. “It would seem that the auction we’d heard rumors about? The girls were able to ferret out more. It’s in Montreal tonight. We think that Maddie, Ava, Skylar, Roz, Darby, and Riley have all gone to put an end to it.”

  “How may I be of assistance? Whatever I have that you need is yours.”

  “We will be making a move to ensure that we can get to them and have their backs, but we think one of the women to be auctioned off may be Shannon.”

  Marco looked as though someone had gutted him. “Please God, let it be so,” he whispered. “What makes you think that?” he said, afraid to let himself hope.

  “She is said to be beautiful, American, and sister to one who has been recently turned and has borne a female shifter. I didn’t bring my files with me as I foolishly believed this was just a gathering of friends to celebrate a new bonding.”

  “One moment,” said Marco as he sifted through the papers on his desk. “Here, here it is. I will scan and send it to you.”

  He held up a picture showing two smiling women, one of whom was his Catherine, the other obviously her sister.

  Cameron paled. “No need. I saw her in Belfast. That’s the woman who let herself be recaptured to give my Riley and the others the time they needed to escape. I would never forget her face.”

  “You are sure?” Marco asked.

  “Absolutely. It’s Shannon. They have Shannon. We’re about four hours away by plane. I’ll get my men together. We can be there by the time this thing starts. Riley will pick the best time and will use the cover of darkness to aid them.”

  “I would be another six hours behind you,” said Marco despondently.

  “Marco,” said Declan quietly. “Get Catherine and go to my home in Maine. I’m the closest to Montreal. I don’t know what the girls have planned, but we’ll catch up with them and all head there. I’ll alert our housekeeper, Bess, that you and all the rest of us are coming.”

  “My friends, I don’t even know how to express my gratitude. Just to know for certain that Shannon was recently seen
alive will be a great gift to my mate. I am forever in your debt.”

  The link was disconnected.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything rattle him like that,” said Griffin. “Even when we discovered Skylar, Maddie, and Catherine were in the Netherlands. He was pissed at Catherine to be sure, but not thrown for a loop like that. I knew he’d been concerned, but I don’t think I understood how much so.”

  Jean-Michel shook his head. “I’ve known him longer than you, and you’re right. Nothing rattles the alpha of the DeMedici.”

  “Declan, call your housekeeper. If she needs help with preparing for so many...” started Cameron.

  “Not an issue,” said Oliver. “I’ll get my people headed up there including our doctor. Some to help with getting your home ready to host so many and others to supplement your men so they can rest once we are all safely in Maine.”

  “I will get my men ready. We have Jean-Michel’s plane but that won’t hold us all...”

  “Not to worry,” said Dylan. “I have avionics connections not too far from here. I’ll get us a large enough plane. Do we need a pilot?”

  “No,” said Jean-Michel. “My pilot is cleared to fly everything up to one of the big jumbo jets. Depending on the size of the jet, he may need a copilot.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” said Cameron. “I have a couple of guys who are certified pilots.”

  The men disbanded with Cameron calling his pack together to let them know all that had transpired. After giving information and assignments he spent time with Gabe making sure Gabe knew the importance of someone trustworthy to guard their pack territory and ensure they had a home to return to.

  Cameron checked his pocket watch as the plane lifted off the airstrip. They would be in Montreal right about sunset. They had arranged transport from a private airstrip to the house where the auction was to be held.

  Cameron had convinced the others that they should set themselves up to be backup and step in to help with cleanup once the women who were to be auctioned off had been liberated. His plan was to send his men out in small groups to take up positions around the estate, but also to find where Riley would have stashed her getaway vehicles.