Alpha's Arrangement (Troubled Fork Shifters (Book 2)) (11 page)

“At last…” he said as he exited.

Albondiel and Emma got out of the vehicle and followed behind Theodore. As they walked up towards the large crowd of people, Emma could see that Alexander was there. But to Emma’s surprise so was Millie… and Trina. As they approached, one of the police officers turned in their direction.

“Theodore Malthorn?” he asked.

Theodore looked at the policeman and replied, “Yes, I am Theodore Malthorn.”

“Sir…” he said. “I am going to have to ask you to place your hands on the trunk of this vehicle and spread your legs.”

“What!?” Theodore roared. “What is the meaning of this?”

The officer stepped towards him with his right hand on his service revolver. “Sir, you are under arrest.” He said. “Now, please, do as you are told.”

“Arrest! Arrest for what? He is the criminal here!” he exclaimed as he pointed in Alexander’s direction.

Emma
felt lightheaded. What the hell just happened? None of this was making any sense. One of the officers frisked Theodore, cuffed him and turned him back around to face the assembled group.

“He’s clean.
” the policeman said.

Theodore was in a fit of rage. “What is the meaning of this
?! I demand to know what is happening!”

Albondiel stepped towards him and as he did, Alexander and the rest of his family followed behind.

“Calm down my old friend.” Albondiel said. “It’s quite simple.”

Theodore’s face was bright red. How he hadn’t shifted yet was beyond Emma. “What is!?” he
exclaimed. “This is an outrage!”

Albondiel nodded. “That’s true. You’re right, Theodore.
” He said. “It is an outrage and you should be ashamed of yourself.”

“What?!” he shouted. “What do I have to be ashamed of
? It’s him.” he said as he motioned his head in his nephew’s direction. “It’s his fault. It’s always been Alex’s fault!”

“Oh shut up, Theodore!” Millie excla
imed. “You always were a whiner.”

Albondiel chuckled at the old lady’s admonition of her son. He then closed the gap between hi
mself and Theodore. “By the way
his name
is Alexander. That is the reason your
almost perfect
plan failed you…”

“Alex? What about him?” he said.

“Exactly,
Alex.
” Albondiel said. “Except that no one else ever calls him by that name. No one that is,
except you
. And so, when I got a call from two members of my pack who told me someone named Alex from Silver Gulch was trying to sell them stolen merchandise for delivery in six weeks, well, let’s just say it wasn’t too hard to figure out who the real culprit was…
Theodore.
”

Theodore struggled against the handcuffs, but didn’t speak.

Albondiel continued, “I was suspicious so I phoned Alexander at once. I’ve known him his entire life. He’s every bit the man his father was and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that none of them are criminals. When I told him about what had happened we both became convinced that you were trying to set him up.”

“Ridiculous!” Theodore exclaimed.

“At first, I didn’t want to believe it.” Albondiel said. “I mean, Theodore, you are the
alpha
, the leader of your pack, that is a
sacred
position.”

Theodore’s eyes narrowed as Albondiel circled him.

“But you always were
greedy
weren’t you, Theodore?” he said. “You violated an age old bond between our clans for your own selfish ends. You were willing to put everything and everyone at risk for your own glorification.”

Theodore shook his head.

Albondiel moved closer and pointed his finger. “What you do with your own clan is none of my affair but when you involve my kin, you will involve me.”

Alexander walked up next to Albondiel. As he did, Emma stood between Millie and Trina. They hugged one another.

Alexander looked at his uncle and said, “This is my pack now, as is my birthright. I will protect it and lead it. You will be treated with fairness. That much, I promise.”

Theodore exploded. “What! Your pack! I’ll see you in hell first!” he yelled.

He yanked against the restraints but as he did the police officers grabbed him and within seconds, he they’d thrown him into the back of the car.

***

Not long after the police cars, which included the car that contained Theodore, drove away. After fifteen minutes or so, only Alexander, his family, Emma and Albondiel were still in the parking lot.

Albondiel signaled for Emma to approach him.

“I never trusted that rat in all the years I’ve known him.” Albondiel said. “Alexander’s father on the other hand, he was a great man. Our pack did owe the debt but it was to Alexander, not Theodore. I had no choice but to do whatever it took to repay it. I am sorry it had to happen this way my dear. I hope that you aren’t too angry with me.”

Emma hugged him close and looked
up at him. “Maybe just a little.” she said.

Albondiel smiled. “Fair enough.” He said. “I de
serve that.”

After a few seconds, Alexander walked toward where Emma and Albondiel stood.

He extended his hand towards her uncle and said, “I am indebted to you Albondiel.”

The leader of the Troubled Fork pack smiled. “No, Alexander. No more debts.” Albondiel said. “Let there be no further obligations between our clans.”

Alexander nodded. “Very well.” He replied. “You are a great leader. I can only hope to aspire to your level of wisdom some day.”

“I have no
doubt that you will, Alexander.” Albondiel said. “Your father’s blood runs strong in your veins. Your clan is in good hands.”

The men smiled and shook hands with one another.

As they finished, Albondiel turned to his niece and said, “Are you ready to go?”

Emma wasn’t, but
what choice did she have? With reluctance she replied, “Yes.”

“Um, Albondiel…” Alexander said. “May
I speak to Emma for a second?”

She turned to her uncle and said, “Do you mind?”

“No not at all.” Albondiel replied.

“Walk with me, Emma.
” Alexander said.

She nodded and the pair headed down a path that led away from the warehouse and into a wooded area behind it.
For nearly a minute, they walked in silence.

Finally, Alexander said, “Look,
Emma…”

Emma interrupted him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I mean that I know that you don’t really have feelings for me.” Emma said. “I know that you were only going along with your uncle’s plan for our ma
rriage to catch him. It’s okay. I’m alright with it.”

“What?” he said. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.” she lied. “ I am.”

Alexander stopped in the middle of the path and grabbed her by the upper arms.

“Well, I’m not okay with that Emma.” He said. “Not at all.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I mean, don’t go.” Alexander said. “Stay here with me, in my pack, as my mate.”

“
Alexander, I don’t…”

“What? You don’t what, Emma?”

“I don’t understand.” She said. “Why me? You are the alpha now. Any female in the pack is yours to do with as you see fit.”

“Right, s
tay with me.” Alexander said. “Become part of our pack so that I can do with you as I please…”

A sly grin came across his face.

Emma shook her head and smiled. “Alexander, I…”

He strengthened his grip on her upper arms and focused his eyes upon hers.

“Emma, you are my true mate. In my heart, I know this to be the case.” He said. He dropped to his knees. “Don’t make me beg.”

Emma laughed at him.

“Get up off the ground, silly.” she said.

Alexander stood and moved close. Emma looked up into his eyes and for the first time, she saw it. He
was
in love with her. There was no question in her mind any longer.

With his right hand, he reached down and pulled a stray lock of hair from her eyes. Alexander tucked it behind her ear and then began to lower his mouth toward hers. B
ut, just before he reached them he stopped and said, “Emma, there’s something I need to say.”

She looked
at him. “I know, I love you too.” she replied.

Alexander smiled
and they kissed. It had all the passion of the first time but with all the doubt and angst stripped away. After several seconds, their lips separated.

“What am I going to tell my uncle? Your family?” she asked.

“I will speak with Albondiel and seek out his blessing.” Alexander replied. “As for my family, they’ve already accepted you as one of their own. After all, anyone who would do what you did for me, well, let’s just say that you’ve got nothing to worry about when it comes to them.”

Emma smiled.

“Shall we?” he said.

After they walked back up th
e path, Alexander and Emma stopped a few minutes and chatted with everyone.

Alexander
pulled Albondiel aside and asked if it would be alright with him if he were to drive Emma back to Troubled Fork later that week.

“I tell you what Alexander.
” Albondiel said. “That’s fine as long as she comes back with a ring on her finger.”

Alexander nodded. “Well…
” He said as looked over towards where Emma stood. “This much I can promise you. If you agree, I will ask. The rest of this is in Emma’s hands.”

Albondiel slapped Alex
ander on the back. “Of course, nothing would make me happier.”

Alexander smiled. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

***

They arrived back at Alexander
’s house about an hour later. Once inside, he closed the door behind them. Emma stopped just near the entrance and from behind she felt him close in upon her. Alexander reached up and pulled her hair to one side. Her entire body flushed as he drew close until at last his warm breath was upon her exposed neck.

Alexander hovered there for what seemed like hours. Emma trembled with excitement as he lowered his lips to her flesh and began to pepper her skin with soft, moist kisses. Emma’s head fell back into him and his thick arms wrapped her around her plush midsection. After a few moments, he spun her around to face him.

Emma looked up at him. Her first instinct was to speak, to say something. Her nerves were alive with anticipation and her whole body quaked with nervous energy. Emma’s lips parted as she prepared to say the first words that came to mind.

But as she did, he pressed his finger into her lips and then in one swift movement, he picked her up into his arms. Emma had forgotten how strong he was and for
a brief instant it startled her.

A new fear soon replaced that one as she realized the bedroom was the next place he intended to take her.

Emma pulled back.

“Alexander, w
ait…” she said.

But rather than acknowledge her request, he continued to walk across the living room. Next, he went beyond the threshold of his bedroom until at last he reached the edge of the mattress.

As he held her, he looked down and said, “Emma. This is what you want, isn’t it?”

“Yes b
ut I…” she replied.

As she spoke, he laid her down and then moved over top of her.

“But?” he said as he stroked her hair.

“I’
m just nervous.”

Alexander smiled. “Emma, you are my true mate. I have sensed it. I am in love with you and I want you here in Silver Gulch, with me, as my wife, forever and
…”

She reached up and pressed her finger against his lips.

“Shh, no more talk.” Emma said.

A satisfied grin came across his face. Alexander’s clear blue pools flickered as he gazed down up her. Hypnotized by them, Emma wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and parted her lips in open invitation.

He descended towards her.

Where their first kiss had been rough, unexpected and harried this was its reverse. He began with a subtle brush of his lips against her hers. Alexander’s wolf was in no rush but rather seemed content to extract the full amount of pleasure from
each moment.

With his right hand, he moved the hair from her eyes and traced the outline of her cheek. For several minutes, Alexander ravished her with patient affection. His hands traced the outline of her plump curves as the intensity of their kisses began to grow. The seconds passed and Emma’s wolf’s need began to grow. She started to wriggle beneath him and moan into his mouth as his tongue engaged in a much more forceful assault.