A Wolf's Duty Read online

  She turned her head away from him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “You may not want to talk to me about this now, but Tobias is going to demand an explanation when he gets back.”

  “Why should you care, like I said we’re strangers, what happens to me is no concern of yours.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Tobias asked us to keep an eye on you while he was away and we’re going to be taking the blame for this.” He waved a hand over her injured frame. “So I’ll think you’ll find that your health is very important to us.”

  “He didn’t have to do that; I can take care of myself.”

  “Clearly.” He smiled.

  “I’m usually a lot better at this. Today was a one off,” she responded defensively.

  “I’m sure it was.”

  She smiled at him, beginning to feel comfortable in his presence before the whispers flooded her mind. She groaned at the onslaught. Hush! For the love of God if you insist on coming into my head then at least have the sense to be nicer about it. The voices quieted at her request, but still whispered intently at the back of her mind demanding her attention.

  “Tobias gets back soon, why don’t you have a wander about. We don’t want you to think that we’re trying to keep you prisoner here. You’ve got to understand that we’re doing this for your own good you know.”

  “Of course you’d say that, it’s probably in your best interests that I start to trust you.”

  “Look Alex, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to stay here until Tobias gets back that’s the end of it. But if, when he gets back, he says you can go home then Ryan and I will personally walk you back, am I clear?”

  “What if someone comes looking for me?” There’s no way in hell that Fred would even care that I’m missing. But I wasn’t worth anything before, he probably cares now that there’s a chance he can get money out of it.

  “Well if they come looking for you then Tobias will deal with it. Are we clear on the rules?”

  “When exactly is he meant to be getting back then?”

  He quickly glanced at his watch before turning back to her. “He should be back anytime now, so have no fear you won’t have to put up with us for much longer.” He stood from the bed, heading towards the door. “You have free run of the place so treat it like your own home.”

  Looking around at her luxurious surroundings she snorted. Like I could ever call a place like this home. Immediately after Sebastian left the room, she shot out of the bed and began a frantic search for her shoes. He seemed nice enough but it never hurts to take precautions. The search for her shoes came up empty and she resigned herself to being bare foot. Eyeing one of the now open draws speculatively she smiled. He did say I have free run of the place and if they’re telling the truth then this stuff belongs to Tobias anyway and it’s not like he’s ever denied me anything, I’m not sure he’s even physically capable of saying no to me. Her acquisition now mentally justified, her hand dove into the drawer claiming a pair of what she hoped was clean socks. Quickly covering her feet in case she needed to run outside, she eased out of the bedroom, eyes quickly searching the next room for signs of danger.

  The equally plush dining room showed no signs of potential harm and so she cautiously entered, strolling around the large mahogany table, fingers trailing along the dark wood. I can’t believe he lives here, what was he doing going out with someone like me? she sighed as the thought entered her mind, taking a seat in one of the large wooden chairs and allowing her head to fall into her palms. He should have one of those gorgeous, posh girlfriends. He shouldn’t even be associating with me let alone calling me his girlfriend. The bracelet he had given her caught her eye and she gently fingered the intricate metal, images of Emily flooding her mind. Well that’s his problem, she concluded, her head snapping up. If he wants to be with me over one of them, then that’s fine; I’ve got him for now and I’m going to keep him. She smiled, relieved at the outcome of her mental musings and even more pleased that the voices within her mind had quieted to a barely audible hum.

  “Tobias. Tobias are you here?” The distinctly female voice floated through the dining room, causing Alex to turn her head in an attempt to discover its location. Easing herself out of the chair she inched her way down the corridor, quickly emerging in what appeared to be the living room. “Tobias, sweetheart where are you?”

  Her heart clenched upon hearing the endearment, anger and jealousy quickly rose within her before she had even laid eyes on the woman. Her anger allowed her to stride casually into the room, all traces of caution gone. As she entered the room, she eyed the woman’s tall and willowy frame with disdain, mentally wishing her to turn around. As though feeling Alex’s gaze upon her the woman turned, her ice blue eyes fixing her with a piercing stare. Long blond hair framed her angelic features before cascading down her back. Oh God, she’s beautiful, my worst nightmare come to life. If this is your doing... she grumbled at the voices, whilst hoping that they were innocent of her accusation. Grow a backbone woman! she yelled at herself, straightening her spine and lifting her head to stare at the perceived intruded.

  “He’s not here,” she sneered, praying the woman would get the message and leave.

  Her eyes narrowed and the ice blue of her eyes became distinctly frostier, she moved so fast all Alex could perceive was a blur before she felt a hand at her throat pressing against the injured flesh, causing the healing wound to split and bleed while she was forced upwards against the wall. “And who the hell are you?” she snarled, her beautiful face twisting into a visage of fury.

  I knew there had to be something about her. She may be beautiful but she’s a bitch. Just what I need another one of those. I’m beginning to think someone up there has a grudge against me.

  Chapter Ten

  The pressure against her throat increased and she could feel blood dripping from the now open cut on her flesh. The stunned shock quickly wore off as the pain in her body multiplied and her arms and legs began to flail in an attempt to get free.

  “I asked you a question.” The woman smirked, digging her nails into Alex’s neck and increasing the throbbing pain.

  And I would answer you if you weren’t trying to fucking cut off my air supply.

  “Who are you and what are you doing in my Tobias’ flat?”

  “Your Tobias?” She managed to splutter, her tone incredulous.

  The woman’s smirk widened and her grip tightened. “Yes. My Tobias.”

  “Lucinda?” Tobias’ voice floated to her ears and despite the situation, Alex felt her eyelids grow heavy as they closed to enable her to better savour the sound.

  “Tobias.” Lucinda’s voice suddenly lost all malice and a wide smile appeared on her face. The hand at Alex’s throat tightened, before she was carelessly tossed aside as Lucinda hurried towards Tobias.

  Landing hard against the opposite wall, Alex cried out as pain bloomed within her. I know I’m small but still… How the hell did she manage to toss me like a rag doll?

  “Xandria?” Tobias’s voice seemed confused as his eyes flickered between Alex and Lucinda, shock momentarily freezing him in place.

  “Tobias, I was looking for you,” Lucinda chuckled, reaching up for one of his arms.

  He turned to face her, his expression thunderous. “What the hell did you think you were doing? How dare you come to my home and lay hands on my mate! Sebastian! Ryan! Where the hell are you?” Shrugging loose of Lucinda’s grip, he hurried towards Alex, surprised and infuriated when the smell of freshly shed blood assaulted his sensitive nose. “Xandria?” Reaching down, he gently lifted her into his arms, concern flaring upon seeing the ugly and bleeding gash at her throat.

  “Tobias? I was wondering when you’d get back.” She smiled, her gaze unfocused.

  “Tobias you’re back,” Sebastian chuckled entering the room, his light gait faltered when he saw Alex cradled in Tobias’ arms. His gaze wandered to Lucinda, understanding rapidly dawning.
Fuck. Ryan strolled in, not long after his brother, his thoughts immediately echoing his twin’s as he became aware of what had happened and what was probably about to happen.

  “Ryan, Sebastian, what exactly is going on? I leave you for three days. I only ask you to do one thing. I ask you to look after her; it shouldn’t have been all that hard. But I come back and I find her here in my home not hers, and not only is she not where she should have been, she’s hurt!” His voice rose with each word until he was bellowing at the pair.

  Raising her hand to touch his cheek, Alex smiled warmly at him undaunted by his anger. “So you do know them then, I gave them a hard time over nothing then. Don’t yell at them Tobias. Ryan saved my life you know; you should be nice to him and his brother,” she muttered, her voice now barely audible.

  “Fine, I won’t yell at them anymore ok?” She nodded, the hand at his face falling weakly away. “I won’t yell at them, but what about her? Did she save your life too?”

  “No, you can yell at her all you like. Don’t tell anyone this, but I don’t think she’s a very nice person,” she whispered conspiratorially to him.

  A small smile tugged at his mouth, but any laugher he might have had died the instant he turned his gaze towards Lucinda, his eyes amber as his inner wolf demanded retribution for their mate’s spilled blood. “You did this?” His tone brokered no compromise; everyone present knew it wasn’t a question.

  Her head held high, Lucinda refused to back down “Yes, I did your highness. There was an intruder in your home and I took the necessary measures to deal with it.”

  “She isn’t an intruder. What’s wrong with you? I marked her. Anyone of our people would know that she’s mine after one whiff. You must have known who she was and you attacked her anyway. You assaulted my mate.” His fangs had lengthened and he could feel his muscles tensing in anticipation. “I could deal with you now and no-one would question it, would they?” He turned to Ryan and Sebastian, the murderous look in his eyes causing them to tremble with fear. They had seen that look only a few times in all their lives and it had never ended well for those involved. They shook their heads in response to his question and Lucinda gulped as dread filled her.

  “Tobias? What are you talking about? What’s a mate?” Alex’s small voice broke the tense silence as Tobias forced his body to calm its reactions before turning his head to face her. His eyes were once again grey, although flecks of amber were still visible, his fangs receded and the claws that had threatened to erupt from his fingers ceased their demands. He smiled at her, slightly concerned at the dazed expression on her face.

  “Ryan, Sebastian, take her out of here and then come back, we need to talk.” Lifting his head once again, he quickly strode out of the room, fully expecting his orders to be carried out and entered his bedroom, gently placing Alex in the middle before coming to sit beside her.

  “You still haven’t told me Tobias, what’s a mate?”

  “You’re a mate, dearest. Mine. Don’t talk anymore, I’m just going to get something to clean you up and then we can talk.” Standing up quickly, he headed to the bathroom, returning with a damp cloth to wipe away at the blood.

  Sitting up in the bed, she smiled warmly at him as he returned, concerned at the frown on his face. “Tobias what’s the matter?”

  Moving onto the bed, he remained silent as he carefully wiped away at the blood at her throat, struggling to stay in control while his wolf was howling for him to spill Lucinda's in retribution. “Care to tell me what happened?”

  She winced as she remembered what had started this train of events, the whispers coming back in force. “It’s kind of hard to explain.”

  “Try me. I think you’ll find that I’m not all that hard to talk to.”

  “You probably won’t believe me; I’m having problems believing it myself.”

  “Just tell me the truth Xandria. Start from the beginning.”

  “Don’t say anything Tobias; just wait until I’m finished ok?”

  He smiled as he remembered the conversation they had had on their first date where he had said something very similar. “I swear I won’t say a word.”

  “Well it all started this morning, I had a fight with Fred, my dad, my mum had left me some money and he wasn’t happy about it. Anyway, so I was mad but I went to uni anyway and Emily was there.” She sighed at the memory. “You probably don’t remember her but she was there on Friday when you came to meet me. We had a bit of a disagreement. She wanted my bracelet and I didn’t want her to have it, so we had a fight. I was already sore from that morning with Fred.” He opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him with a look and continued her story. “Then the bloody whispers came, God save me from the whispers. The whispers are plants, from what I can tell, and they felt they should take it upon themselves to help me. Good lord, if you saw what they did to the building on campus… It looked like a rainforest when I left. They attacked Emily but I told them to let her go, I ran away. I ran back home and there was a man waiting for me. He grabbed me from behind, put one hand over my mouth and a knife over my throat.” She faltered as her body began to tremble, the memories threatening to overwhelm her, a hand rising to her healing throat.

  “I dealt with him,” Ryan inserted, both him and Sebastian apparently finished escorting Lucinda out. Her shaking increased as she remembered the large wolf, which Ryan was capable of transforming into.

  “In front of her?” Tobias demanded.

  Ryan nodded, meeting Tobias’ stare directly unashamed of what he had done. “She saw me change.”

  “What on earth is wrong with you? I told you under no circumstance were you to do that. You’ve terrified her.”

  “I had no choice. I couldn’t move in wolf form, she wouldn’t let me. She told me to stay and every muscle in my body responded. I was trying to help her and I couldn’t do that when I was a wolf.”

  “Alex?”

  “I suppose the whispers weren’t just the plants then.”

  “You know what he is?”

  She nodded. “He’s a wolf, but that doesn’t change the fact that he saved my life Tobias. Thank you Ryan, I’m sorry about earlier, I was just a little paranoid.”

  He smiled in response, the simple movement of his lips transforming his once harsh face.

  “Get out. Leave us alone.” Tobias groaned, his head falling into his hands, the long strands covering his face.

  Alex watched as the pair quickly left, closing the door firmly behind them. “Tobias, are you ok? Are you mad at him? Didn’t you know what he was?”

  “Of course I knew; I’m his cousin,” he groaned.

  “Then what’s the matter?” She moved, lightly resting a hand against his back.

  “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

  “Do you mean about Ryan? I didn’t even know him before today; there was nothing for you to be worried about.”

  “I don’t mean about him, I’m talking about me.” He turned to face her, his eyes completely amber, sweat beading across his forehead as his wolf struggled for dominance.

  She gasped at the shift in his appearance, reaching a hand forward to caress his cheek. Leaning into her touch, he smiled at her apparent acceptance. “You’re like him.”

  “Yes. So is Sebastian. We were born this way.”

  “Is your entire family like this?” He nodded. “That woman, Lucinda, she called you your highness, why?”

  “I’m the Prince of our people, soon to be King.”

  She frowned, “Oh, I suppose that means that you’ll be leaving soon. Going home to be King and all that yeah?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, I guess it couldn’t have lasted forever,” she wheezed, her heart stuttering within her chest at the news.

  “And why exactly can’t we last forever?”

  “Well you’re a wolf Prince and I’m…, I’m nothing, really, or at least nothing that special.”

  Cupping her chin with his hand he lifted her head so she was f
orced to meet his gaze. “You’re mine. You’re my mate.”

  “And what exactly does that mean?”

  “In your terms, I suppose the equivalent would be wife.”

  “Wife? Wife? I’m sorry but I don’t remember a wedding. We aren’t married.”

  “You’re right about that, at the moment the right word would be fiancé. We’re not quite mated just yet, but soon...”

  “Soon what?”

  “Soon I intend for us to be.”

  “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “No,” he laughed amused by her response to his declaration. “The bracelet I gave you has been passed down through my family for generations, it’s a sign of commitment, like an engagement ring. I gave it to you and you accepted it, we’re promised to each other.” A look of shock came over her features and she raised the bracelet to eye level, seeing it in a whole new light. The movement brought her exposed skin to his attention and his eyes quickly landed on the dark bruises on her arms. Reaching forward he grasped both arms lightly examining the injuries intently. “What are these Alexandria?” His voice had roughened and she shivered at the sound. “You will tell me what these are, Xandria, and this time I want the truth.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “What exactly do you mean by the truth Tobias?” she murmured, stalling for time before the inevitable confrontation.

  “You know what I’m talking about Xandria. There’s been something off since the first day I met you and you’re going to tell me what that is right now. I told you my biggest secret and now you’re going to tell me yours.”

  “You’re going to be angry Tobias, I’ve seen enough of that side of you today; can’t we just leave it?”

  “No.” His abrupt response killed any hope she might have had that he would simply let the matter slide.

  “You have to promise me one thing though.”