The Alpha Of The Shadow Pack And His Mute Luna (by Beatrice Putnam) novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Vanessa was sleeping, sitting up. I could tell that she was not sleeping well. She was

shaking and shaking her head back and forth. I took a shower and put on some boxers.

Then I climbed into bed with her. She startled awake when I touched her.

“I’m here, baby, I had patrol to do and rogues attacked.”

Before bed, I’d booked a breakfast reservation at a downtown restaurant because I wanted to surprise Vanessa and help her relax after everything we’d gone through. When we woke, I sensed Vanessa’s unease. She hadn’t slept well either. After reassuring her she was safe, she started toward the dining hall, still caught in her old routines. I stopped her, asking where she was going, because I wanted the morning to be different and special for her. I hadn’t told her about the breakfast plans before we’d left for the cabin. Once I explained, her excitement made me smile, which was exactly the reaction I’d hoped for.

She worried she wasn’t dressed appropriately. But her outfit was completely suitable. Most of the women there came with their hair in curlers. She was actually overdressed, though I’d never tell her. She looked beautiful in everything. I couldn’t wait to get her to the cabin and make love to her endlessly. Our reserved table was in the back for privacy. She was already nervous about the cabin. We enjoyed breakfast.

I hadn’t returned to the cabin in years. I’d sent a few trusted maids to clean, dust, and stock it for a woman. But I barely remembered the decor–just bachelor trappings. That didn’t matter. It was for getaways. I knew the hot tub, bathtub, and shower worked. As we got into the car, I mind–linked Chris for a reminder of the cabin’s interior.

Boss, it is a bachelor pad.”

He didn’t need to say more. Once he said it, I remembered: a couple of deer heads, a twelve–point antler–mounted, camouflage curtains, black bedsheets, a matching bedspread, and a stool by the bed. It was a four–hour drive to the cabin. We could’ve gone faster as wolves, but I wanted us to enjoy the trip and give Vanessa a sense of normalcy after her stressful night. I wanted her to see the countryside, to visit the jewelry store and choose something for herself, because making her happy was important to me.

An hour into the drive, the tire went flat. Chris got out to change it, then I heard a struggle followed by silence. When I got out, Chris was unconscious, knocked out by a dart. I quickly got him back in the car and locked the doors. The road was busy; it was

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impossible to tell who had attacked. Maybe someone was after Vanessa’s powers–they wanted to exploit them. But she could only share them with her true mate. We sat in the

car for an hour until someone stopped to help.

“Alpha, what is going?”

”

Henry, it’s you.”

”

We were attacked on our way to my cabin.”

“Is anyone injured? Chris got knocked on the head.”

“He ok just has a bad headache now.”

inutes a

Chris woke up minutes ago, complaining of a throbbing headache. He was okay. Vanessa was safe but eager for the trip to come to an end. This wasn’t how I wanted the journey to go–I wanted her to enjoy the countryside. That wasn’t possible now. Whoever ambushed us would pay. After Henry helped with the tire, we resumed the drive. Henry followed us to the cabin’s turnoff, then I made sure he continued onward. Only Chris knew the way. The maids who cleaned were always blindfolded at a certain spot. I never brought

Veronica here.

She was not that special. I had come here when I was fooling around with her because she had gotten on my nerves and I needed a break from her. But now my mate’s scent is going to be all over this cabin. I was going to make sure that I made love to her in every room in that cabin, both to claim the space for us and to show Vanessa how much she means to me. I wanted her scent everywhere as a sign she belonged here with me. Chris had a smile on his face, as if he understood. I knew he knew what I was thinking of. I had blocked Vanessa from being able to read my mind because I didn’t want her to think that intimacy was all that I cared about; I was planning to show her more than that. I had mind–linked my father about the attack, and he was already working on who did it. I will know more in a couple of days. We finally arrived at the cabin.

Vanessa had fallen asleep from the car ride. I carefully carried her into the cabin and laid her on the bed. I then went to the kitchen to make dinner. I was going to make steak and potatoes. It was one of my favorites, and Vanessa seemed to enjoy it as well. I was in the kitchen cooking when I heard the bathroom door shut. I walked out of the kitchen with a towel over my shoulder. I waited a moment, and then Vanessa came out.

Hey little one, I have dinner going and I lit a fire.”

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The cabin was drafty. It had a heater, but I probably needed to relight the pilot light. I hadn’t run the gas in a while, though I kept it filled in case of emergencies. I’d asked the maids to stock clean towels and essentials. I wanted Vanessa to have everything. She sat on the couch, wrapped herself in a blanket.

“I’m sorry, little one, I will go check the pilot light and light it. ”

I went to the cabin’s basement, where I used to gut animals after hunting and prepare food. It was also where I stuffed the deer. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t had the maids make sure the heater was on; I had assumed everything would be perfect for Vanessa. It did go out from time to time, but I still should have checked since her comfort was my priority. I did not like leaving Vanessa upstairs by herself. After everything that had happened, I needed her safe and protected–her safety was always foremost on my mind, especially out here. Chris was staying in a cabin a little ways away, positioned there specifically to keep an eye on the road and help guard us. He volunteered to keep watch while we enjoyed ourselves, and I trusted him to ensure nothing would happen to us. I mind–linked him to come to the cabin and watch her through the windows now, because I did not want any surprises, given what we’d just experienced.

at we’d ju

He agreed, and while I fumbled around in the dark looking for the damn heater, my hand touched something, and it stank. I fumbled around some more in the dark and finally found a lantern. When I got it lit in the middle of the room, there was a half–eaten carcass of an animal. I immediately froze. Had someone found my cabin and tried to make it a home? I quickly lit the pilot light and ran up the stairs. Vanessa was still sitting on the couch. But in front of her was a giant gray wolf. I let out a loud growl, and Chris burst through the front door. Vanessa is going to think that Chris hides in the shadows and is weird, but at that moment, I do not care.

To my surprise, when I growled, the wolf looked at me. Then I remembered who it was. It was my brother. When he realized that it was the Luna of the pack that he was staring at, he immediately dropped into a lying position and crawled toward her. He had not come to the ceremony. But that did not surprise me. He was the oldest of my brothers and chose to live in the woods in isolation.

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