Captured And Claimed (Wayward Mates Series Book 8) Read online

  They arrived at the targeted location shortly after nightfall.

  Chapter Eight

  Montreal, Quebec, Canada

  The women had left with time to spare and had made good use of the cover in the new rendezvous spot. They waited until the all of those invited had arrived. The time for their attack was drawing near. Riley and the others left Ava and Maddie with the van and the SUV and began to close in on the house.

  Night had fallen. According to the timetable, the reception and individual inspections—the very thought of which made Riley cringe—would soon be over. They had their eyes on the banquet hall and would be able to see when the men were seated. It was then that they would make their move.

  * * *

  James and the other invitees to the auction had arrived. As the limo had driven him to the house, James and his father had a confrontation over the phone. His father was insistent that he bid and win the girl whose sister had proven capable of bearing female shifters. That ability was said to trail through the female side.

  James had wanted to ensure he knew what his maximum bid should be. At this point he was still undecided if placing the winning bid fit into his plans or not. But he did not want his father to suspect anything was wrong. James knew he had to seem to be doing exactly what he was supposed to do—finally being the dutiful son and taking up his responsibility to his pack. Besides he thought that if he could execute his real plan to rescue the women, it would become a moot point.

  “What the hell is so special about this particular girl?” he’d asked.

  “Are you not paying attention? Her sister has proven capable of bearing a female shifter. She is the prize they are all after. The other two females have no great value except as a sort of consolation. Make sure you get the turned female. She should have the ability to bear female shifters. In the future, having proven females in our line will help with alliances and to ensure we are able to attract the best men to our pack. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, Alpha. I understand. I’ll do my best.”

  “Do more than your best. Get her bought, get her back here, and get her bred. I expect you to produce children to carry on and expand our name and wealth. That your mother only bore you has been a bitter disappointment to me. God knows I bred her often enough and deposited enough seed into her, but it only took root in fertile ground once. Although, I will say she gave me a fine son in you.”

  James was both shocked and a little nauseated at his father’s backhanded compliment. His father cared little for anything other than the power of showing the other packs that Ravenscar had the most money and would have the prestige of owning this girl.

  “Make sure when she’s fertile you knot her repeatedly. It was the only way I ever got your mother to take.”

  James rubbed his forehead. No part of this conversation was what one wanted to have with one’s father, he thought.

  The home he was escorted into was impressive. Opulent furnishings and views from every room. He joined the others at the welcoming reception. The views showed that the house sat in the middle of field with a lot of open ground around it. Getting the women out of the house might prove to be the easiest part of his goal this night.

  The women were displayed in large, gilded cages that hung from the ceilings. There were velvet ropes suspended between standards at each corner. The two shifter-born women were unrestrained in their cage, but too frightened to disobey the instructions to display themselves in order for the bidders to determine their worth. James had no trouble discerning which one was the turned sister. She was restrained by soft handcuffs attached high on the bars of her cage.

  Some of the wealthiest alphas from around the world had gathered to take part in this event. James paid cursory attention to the other two females. Both were great beauties. All three had been stimulated to arousal as the air was heavy with their scent. James smiled. There was little that compared to a she-wolf that was aroused to the point she could be easily scented.

  Those hosting the auction meant to get as much money as possible from this sale. Having a bunch of alpha males stimulated by the scent of aroused females would ensure they would forget budgets and bid whatever it took to win one of the women present. He hoped like hell his host had made some kind of arrangements to provide other women to be fucked once the auction was over. Having a bunch of frustrated and horny alpha males with no way to ease their need was a recipe for violence... especially given some of those who were in attendance.

  James thought that when he won the bidding, he could easily get his new mate away. But getting the other two separated from their new mates and to safety might prove to be difficult and/or deadly. Aroused and ready to mate, the other two alphas would not be inclined to relinquish their prizes. James, however, was committed to getting the women someplace they could recover from the ordeal they had been subjected to.

  The intoxicating scent of arousal that filled the air almost made him wish that his only plans were to win the bidding, take his new mate to his room, lock them in, and mark and claim her. His cock stirred as he continued to smell the fragrant perfume of the women’s arousal. That it was fed at least partially by fear did not negate its effects on those in attendance... James most especially.

  Finally, he was able to get close to the prize. She was a beauty and when James inhaled he thought he had never smelled anything as sweet. He found himself having to suppress a growl as another man got close to her. He was having a hard time controlling his own aggressive inclinations and wondered what was happening to him because he had never felt this way before.

  Her eyes shot fire and James saw she was bound so that she could be seen. He got closer and drew in her scent. Against everything he thought he had believed, he wanted nothing more than to bury his cock in her. More than that, he wanted to knot this woman and hear her scream his name repeatedly in ecstasy while he rocked her hard before spilling himself into her. He growled low as another male approached and again fought to control his temper. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her eyes widening and her gaze locked with his. He drew even closer and found himself growling again and saw what he thought was her responsive shiver. What the hell?

  The deepest parts within his soul began to stir to life and then burst to the forefront of his being. He knew what he felt and knew she could feel it as well. He shook his head to try to restore control. Was it possible that the tales of fated mates were not a myth?

  One of the armed guards standing at the corner of the individual cages stepped between him and his prize.

  “I’m sorry, sir. You need to step back. Only those who can make a deposit on a specific woman will be allowed some time with her for a more intimate inspection.”

  The thought of another male’s hands on his mate almost caused him to fly into a rage.

  “Who’s in charge? Tell him I need to see him... now.”

  The guard nodded to a server, who left ostensibly to look for their host.

  He heard a familiar chuckle and turned to see Ramon deMoncada approaching.

  “Your father said you would be here. You have cast your eye on the crown jewel of my collection. Magnificent, isn’t she?” deMoncada said in his heavily accented voice.

  “What do you want for her?”

  “She is to be auctioned with the others.”

  “No, she is mine. No one else will have her or get to have an intimate inspection. Name your price.”

  DeMoncada smiled. “I have no set price, the auction will be what the auction will be.”

  “I’ll give you a quarter of a million.”

  “Your father must see her potential as I do. But I don’t think that will get her bought.”

  “Fine, I’ll bid with the rest of them until I’ve made the top bid. But I’ll give you a quarter of a million so that I’m the only one allowed to get a closer look and touch her. She is off limits for the intimate inspection.”

  “Make it a half million and I will grant your request.”

>   “Done. I know you have our payment information. Take the money from our account and then get my mate out of here.”

  “That I will not do. But I will promise you that none but you will touch her. They will be allowed to look for the rest of the reception, but that is all... unless you fail to win the auction.”

  “I won’t.”

  James had never been more certain or confused by anything in his life. On the one hand, he could feel her distress and the arousal that it fueled. He could see the reaction of her body when he growled and was stunned. Was this the fabled reaction of fated mates? The fact that such a thing would happen to him almost unnerved him. No, it was a myth, he knew that and he didn’t believe in myths. His father had told him it was just a fairytale they told the females so they could convince themselves that they were called to their mates. But a part of him knew that what he felt, what he could feel she felt, was not a myth.

  Finally, the reception was over and the women were removed from the reception area. James heard several angry alphas arguing that they had sufficient funds to be allowed to more closely inspect the turned shifter... his mate.

  James waited until deMoncada himself came to get him to let him have his private inspection with his mate.

  “I must tell you, your preemptive bid has angered several powerful alphas. I think you did yourself no favors. I suspect you having circumvented their ability to be able to touch her may well drive them into a bidding frenzy. I would watch my back if I were you.”

  “I don’t care. My family is one of the wealthiest in the world. My father was quite explicit that I am to pay whatever I need to in order to take her to mate.”

  “She is a prize. It was very difficult not to sample her myself.”

  James growled low and turned to confront deMoncada.

  “But I knew one such as yourself would not be receptive to that,” deMoncada chuckled. “I did take to having a woman in position for my use as soon as I left your Shannon. At least that’s what she calls herself. Once she is yours, she is yours to name as you wish. I think you will find she is spirited and will still need a bit of mastering. Her body has learned to anticipate pleasure in all of her holes. She is not a virgin to human males, but has never been used by any of our kind. She has never had her ass fucked nor has she been breached by a knot.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I would hate to think I had to pay for her and then kill you for violating her during the time you held her.”

  “I assure you, my friend, such is not the case. I took great care with your mate. I know what a discerning alpha such as yourself wants in his mate. She has been turned, taught to shift, and is extremely responsive. She is also still a bit feral, but again, I figured whoever bought her would prefer to see her brought to heel as he saw fit.”

  They walked down the hall. James sensed they were getting closer and the confusing feelings swamped his senses again. Not only could he scent her arousal and fear but he could feel her distress and misery as well. But beyond her despair was a deep well of sensuality and strength.

  “What did you use on them to ramp up their arousal while they were on display?”

  “Nothing that will harm them. Simple topical aphrodisiacs and a bit of manual stimulation.”

  Seeing the violence just bubbling under the surface of James’ calm façade, deMoncada continued, “I assure you I attended your mate myself. I have never so much as probed her sweet honeypot, although she can be made to drip with need when properly motivated. Nor have I done more than rub a bit of peppermint cream just inside her back entrance and that only twice to discipline her. Now, while I am sure you will win the bid, I must tell you that I expect you to follow the rules for inspection.”

  “I have no need to violate your rules,” seethed James. Yet again he found himself battling to control his temper. This time it was the urge to kill this man because he was quite certain he had never hated anyone as much as he did deMoncada.

  “Good. Then you may touch her all over. Should you want to feel her dark channel or her cunt, you may use a single finger but be sure it is well-lubricated so as not to damage her in any way. The same is true of her nipples and clit. You may use your hands or your mouth but do not leave any marks. You may not have her suck your cock nor can you stimulate yourself and spray your seed all over her.”

  James shook his head. “I never understood why an alpha would find any pleasure in that. A man’s seed needs to be deposited in his mate—through whatever hole he chooses.”

  They entered the room. Shannon was shackled to the bed. She had been fairly immobilized so that she could have no escape from the alphas who were to have been allowed to touch her.

  “Remove her bindings. I have no need to have my mate restrained.”

  “James, I would not wish you to be injured. She is still somewhat feral.”

  “She is my mate and I will not have her bound.” He remembered his place and the role he needed to portray. “I can control my mate without her having to be shackled. She will learn from the get-go that she will submit to me.”

  DeMoncada inclined his head. “If that is your wish. As you have paid handsomely for the exclusive right to the intimate inspection, you may have the full time allotted to those wishing to inspect the other girls. Once you have finished with your inspection and have verified to your satisfaction that she is as described, she will be rebound until you have cast the winning bid.”

  One of deMoncada’s thugs approached Shannon to release her. James growled and wrested the man violently away.

  “You do not touch her ever again. I will have my inspection and will unbind her so that I can enjoy the full force and fury of her passion. When it is time, you will knock and not enter until I bid you to do so. That will allow me to make any adjustments needed to my own clothing and then I will place her back in her shackles until I come for her after the auction. If I catch you near her, I will rip your throat out.”

  Both of the men at deMoncada’s side backed away warily.

  DeMoncada smiled. “I am beginning to believe that perhaps I have been dealing with the wrong man at Ravenscar.”

  James forced himself to smile as he casually stroked between Shannon’s thighs. He locked eyes with deMoncada. The increased scent of her arousal combined with the silken feel of her essence caused him to bring his hand to his face, rubbing his fingers together, inhaling deeply and then tasting that part of her resident on his fingers. He sucked and licked them clean, watching as deMoncada’s eyes flared with arousal. The man needed to die.

  “Get out. There is much about my mate I wish to inspect.”

  “Remember, not to damage her and only minimal penetration,” said deMoncada.

  James chuckled. “I’ve never known a tongue lapping up a woman’s honey to cause her damage or be considered penetration. Her nipples may get pinched just a bit, but nothing long-lasting. And it won’t matter any way as she will be mine. And come tomorrow, she will have been well breached with my knot and marked as mine.”

  James turned to look at her, expecting to see fear. What he saw instead was rage. He could feel her arousal with all of his senses, but he could see what was fueling her arousal was anger in its purest form. He was quite certain that if she were capable, she would kill them all. Setting her free might prove to be more hazardous than he had originally thought.

  DeMoncada and his thugs withdrew. He turned back to his mate and rumbled soothingly to her.

  “There’s something rather pathetic about them, isn’t there?”

  “I find the whole lot of you contemptible and feeble. All these big strong wolves and not one of you can control me without having me restrained.” She snorted in derision. “Alpha males. Nothing but a bunch of sniveling cowards with nothing better to do than feel up she-wolves and stroke yourselves.”

  “Careful, mate,” he said, trying not to let her goad him. “If you aren’t careful, the only stroking that will be done is my cock in your pussy.”

  He shoo
k his head, trying to clear his senses. He was having trouble separating the role he was playing from reality.

  “Think you could get it up long enough to do me any good?”

  He grinned at her. “You are a very naughty mate. And at some point I’m going to have to curb you of your willingness to challenge an alpha male of our kind.”

  “Not my kind by choice, asshole.”

  James took a deep breath. “I know. What was done to you should never have happened. I mean to see those that did this pay.”

  He reached over her head and unbound her. James smiled as he watched her sit up on the bed looking him straight in the eye defiantly. She closed her legs and crossed her arms over her naked breasts with the regality of a warrior queen. She was going to make a fine mistress for his pack at Ravenscar.

  There was a primitive part of James that urged him to do as he had told deMoncada, sample and inspect his mate. Her fragrance was that of the wildflowers that grew in abundance at Ravenscar. He wanted desperately to gorge himself on her honey before drawing himself up her body and ramming his cock home in her cunt. And if she resisted, and part of him hoped she might, he wanted her on her knees in front of him, her backside painted with the evidence of his discipline, as he drove into her waiting sheath.

  Once more, James found himself having to suppress the knot that was trying to form. He didn’t just want to fuck Shannon, he wanted to knot her and hear her call his name repeatedly as he brought her to climax again and again before spilling himself in her and tying her body to his. He had enjoyed knotting other she-wolves in wolf form, but now understood the need of an alpha male to bury his knot deep in his mate and revel in her response.

  He fought to force himself to rumble at her in way that would bring her reassurance. Along with the knot, he was having to suppress an instinctive need to call to her and force her to respond. James had not known he could make either of the sounds that vied to be given voice. He finally emitted a sound that was a combination of both. He saw her shiver in response, but the sound seem to call forth more arousal from her than offer her comfort. Confused, he tried again. On some level, some basic, long-buried genetic memory, he knew he should be able to calm her. From deep within his chest came the sound that instead of easing her fear called forth a more sexual response. He was rewarded by her increased scent.