5

Chapter 5 – Captive

Mac POV

As soon as I saw her Maverick started snarling at me for holding him back. I’ve never been attracted to a human and thanks to Maverick’s Alpha taste, there are very few she-wolves I’ve ever considered attractive.

There’s something about her I can’t seem to put my finger on. She’s absolutely beautiful with her thick black hair, bright blue eyes, high cheekbones, flawless skin, and full luscious lips. I stepped closer to try and scent her but picked up nothing, not even a human scent. I asked her name, but she was still incoherent from the wolfbane injection Stryker had hit her with. She closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

I stood watching her for a few moments, her chest rising and falling as she breathed. I fought the urger to reach out and touch her face. It dawned on me that wolfbane wouldn’t affect a human like this, she couldn’t be human. The amount prepared in the syringe was for a large male wolf.

We were expecting a high-level cyber security software programmer from LaRue Enterprises and ended up with a member of the LaRue family. Did she work for the family company? Was she the programmer they sent to the convention from the London branch? Stryker went through her belongings and she had a London address. We’d have to wait for her to wake up before we could question her.

It was just after midnight and I went down to the basement cell to check on her again. She was still in the same position on the bench, half her face was covered by loose waves of hair. Maverick was anxious and I couldn’t seem to understand why. I would have offered her a bedroom upstairs but she’s a LaRue and they hate rogues. Maverick on the other hand, wanted to take her upstairs and tie her to my bed. Keep her close.

“Good evening Alpha.” My Delta Chris greeted me as she walked into the basement.

“Hi Chris.” I nodded my head. “She’s still sleeping.”

“Yeah. I’m guessing she’s going to be out until morning. I’m going to keep watch tonight so Chase can have quality time with his mate.” She smiled.

With everything going on, I’d almost forgot about Chase finding his mate. We’d have to plan a mating ceremony soon and welcome our new Gamma female properly. I felt a small twinge of envy starting to creep up and pushed it back down. I knew the Moon Goddess would send me my mate when the time was right.

“Any luck with the Omega we picked up yesterday from Dark Moon pack? It’s not common for a young female to leave a LaRue pack.” I asked Chris.

“Turns out she was mated to the Delta of Dark Moon pack and he rejected her. He claimed her friend as his mate, and she left the pack. Her family was ashamed, and no one tried to stop her.” Chris told me with a hint of bitterness in her tone.

“Only a fool would reject a destined mate from the Moon Goddess.” I told Chris, who had been in the same position before. “Please notify me immediately when she wakes up.”

“Yes Alpha. Good night.” Chris said to me as I went back upstairs to try and get some sleep.

It was a long and restless night for me. As soon as dawn broke, I went downstairs for breakfast. Just as I finished my last bite, Chris mind linked me to let me know our captive was awake. I went down to the basement and dismissed Chris so she could go get some sleep. She had spent the night on guard duty.

I was alone with her and my wolf senses started going haywire. None of this was making sense and she seemed to be playing coy. Maybe she’s aware of the effect she’s having on me. I’m not going to be played by a LaRue. I had an interesting idea and mind linked Stryker who couldn’t wait to join the fun.

We’ll get her to talk, one way or the other. When Stryker arrived with the rope, Maverick started howling at me for being a jerk. It was a total dick move but I had nothing else.

We tied her to the chair and hung her upside down, spinning and swinging her back and forth as we asked questions. She did a good job resisting and mouthing back. She was also able to sense our ranks which confirmed she wasn’t human. I was still perplexed about her scent and I couldn’t sense her wolf even though Maverick was clearly picking something up.

She was deliciously charming and insulting all at the same time. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kiss this woman or punish her. All I know is that I need to know more about her.

Something fell out of her boot. Something that looked strangely familiar. I knelt down and picked it up. I turned it over and carefully examined it. It looked just as I remembered it. I never thought I’d see it again.

I opened up the knife and the blade still looked sharp. Chris walked into the basement and said something, but I didn’t hear it. All I could think about was the pocketknife and the angel who saved my life all those years ago. When I was seven, I had been abducted with Selene by poachers for the black market. A young she-wolf, who had also been taken, used this very same knife to save us all.

How did the knife end up here? With her? With a LaRue? I wondered if something happened to Syble and rage filled me thinking about it. I will kill anyone that harmed her. Even this beauty before me.

“WHERE DID YOU STEAL THIS FROM?” I roared. If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll come clean.

“Alpha.” She let out a faint whispered and passed out.

I immediately used the knife to cut the rope down. Stryker caught the chair and set her upright while Chris attempted to untie her.

“Leave her tied, I don’t think we could trust her.”

“She’s just a female, we can take her.” Stryker said.

“She’s also a LaRue.” I told him. “As soon as we let her go, we’ll be under attack.”

“Is she really? I thought she was the software programmer for LaRue Enterprises?” Chris asked.

“She could be both, I was expecting a male but there could have been a last-minute switch and the company sent her.” Stryker said.

“Is that what I think it is?” Chris pointed her finger as her eyes found the knife in my hand.

“Yes.” I answered.

“But how? Where?” She looked stunned.

“I don’t know, but if anything happened to her, I’ll kill every last one of them.” I told Stryker and Chris.

“I remember when your grandfather gave that to you.” Stryker told me.

I saw her head moving and she let out a soft moan. She managed to hold her head up and open her eyes. She looked a little flustered and her eyes couldn’t seem to focus. I felt a little guilty seeing her like this. Maverick was howling and I had to shut him out to focus on getting answers from her.

“Look at me.” I demanded and her eyes found mine.

“I need to know how this came to be in your possession?” I asked.

“It’s none… none of your business.” She said breathlessly.

“If you don’t answer my question, I’m going to inject you with more wolfbane and tie you to the tree outside like a dog.” I roared.

“Naked!” Stryker said. “He’s going to tie you up naked.”

“Stryker, when this is over. I’m going to kick your ass and I may even decide to kill you.” She boldly told him, and I suppressed a smile. She had some nerve considering her present position.

“I need to know where you got this from. It belonged to an incredibly special person.” I tried again and she just looked at me.

“I don’t know who MAC is exactly.” She told me.

“I’M MAC! My grandfather made this for me.” I snapped at her.

“Oh Goddess!” Her eyes got wide, and she looked at me with shock on her face.

“I’m going to ask you one last time before I have Stryker get the wolfbane injection. Where did you steal this from?”

“You’re Michael Anthony Crow!” She practically whispered.

“And how the hell would you know that? Very few people know my full name.” I snarled at her. She sat quietly thinking for a few moments, then she let out a crazy uncontrollable laugh.

“That’s it. She’s gone coo coo. Maybe hanging her upside down rattled something loose in her head?” Stryker said.

“Two Stryker. That’s two strikes and two ass kicking’s for you.” She told him.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but if you don’t tell me where you got this from, I’m going to jab it into your thigh over and over until you start talking.” I snarled in rage.

“This incredibly special person you gave your knife to, was her name Syble?” She asked.

“How do you know?”

“The world is indeed too small.” She muttered to herself and seemed to be lost in thought.

“What happened to Syble? I need to know.” I demanded.

“My mother is doing well, thank you for asking. Except, she’s probably already heard that I’ve gone missing and is going to be worried sick about me. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t stab you in the eye with your own knife to save me.” She smiled at me.

I was trying to process what I just heard. Did she just say what I think she said? She knew that Syble had used the knife to stab the poacher in the eye and save us. She said that Syble was her mother. My blood ran cold. I suddenly felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on me. My chest tightened up, as if all the air had just been sucked out of the room.

“What if she’s lying?” Stryker said.

“You’ve already gone through my purse Stryker, didn’t you look in my phone? I’m sure she’s called already.” She told us.

“Syble doesn’t speak.” I remembered.

“She got over her speech challenges when she met my father. There’s a picture of us on my phone screen saver, have a look.”

“Bring me her bag!” I said and Stryker brought the bag over. I sniffed the bag and could barely pick up a faint scent on the bag. Like warm honey and caramel, it smelled heavenly, and I could feel Maverick fighting for control. I reached into her bag and pulled out the phone. I tapped on the screen and my mouth fell open.

There she was, after two decades of wondering what happened to her and praying the Moon Goddess kept her safe. The brave young wolf who saved my life and went out into the world alone with nothing to start her own life. I smiled looking at the photo of her now, she looked healthy and happy. She had grown into a beautiful woman and was the mother of the young she-wolf I was now holding captive.

I felt deep shame wash over me as I stared at her smiling face. I had abducted her young daughter and treated her as a captive. What would she think of me now if she knew?

“Untie her.” I said and Chris was the first to move, working on the ropes.

“Ms. LaRue, It seems there has been a mix up and we regret having taken you captive. I’m sorry. We will not inconvenience you any longer and will gladly return you to Chicago when you’re ready. Chris can take you to a guest room upstairs where your luggage and instrument are. You’re welcome to take a shower or visit the kitchen for something to eat. My personal chef, Selene, will be happy to make you anything you wish to eat.”

“Alpha Crow, my name is Cassi and I’m a Theodorus.”

“Alpha Crow is my father. Everyone calls me Alpha Mac, or you may call me Alpha Michael.” I told her.

“Alpha Michael, I have some questions for you as well. Can we talk?” She asked. Hearing my name roll off her tongue sent a jolt of heat to my groin.

“Please accept my apology. This knife belongs to your mother, if she wishes for you to have it, then it belongs to you. I will be in my office if you want to speak with me later. I have some important business to attend to and I’m sure you may have some important phone calls to make.” I said as I handed her the purse.

“You’re giving her a weapon?” Stryker asked dumbfounded.

“Follow me Cassi, I’ll take you to your room. Selene will be so happy to meet you.” Chris told her and they left the basement.

Stryker turned to me with a shocked look on his face. “You’re just going to let her go. Like nothing happened. She’s a LaRue! Mac, what’s going on?”

“She’s Syble’s daughter. Her mother saved my life. I can’t repay her by holding her own daughter captive. I’m already ashamed of how I’ve treated her.”

“You may call me Alpha Michael, no one calls you Michael. Are you soft on her because she’s pretty?” Stryker teased and I glared at him.

“So, after her mother saved you and Selene, she went into New York City and eventually hooked up with a LaRue?”

“No. A Theodorus.” I reminded him.

“As in Raven LaRue Theodorus, the head of LaRue Enterprises. Cassi must be the granddaughter.” He said thoughtfully.

“That’s not all.”

“What do you mean that’s not all?”

“Maverick thinks she might be our mate!