| Hunt You Down

The night was cool, dark, and silent. The earthy smell, the little sounds of small animals, the wonderful night breeze, the rustling of the tree branches… all of it called to Raven. She wanted to explore this new woodland, wanted to find out what those unfamiliar scents and sounds were around her. But Natalie couldn't indulge her because she was currently hiking up several narrow flights of steps that had been carved into the mountain wall.

They came to a large door that appeared to be at the center of the other entrances. Then they went through an indoor maze of tunnels that took them deep into the mountain. Natalie was pretty sure she would get lost if left to wander anywhere alone. Eventually, they came to a jet door that led to the same kitchen she had sat in only a few days ago.

Realizing that she had been pretty much dismissed as unimportant right now, Natalie hopped onto the black marble counter and grabbed herself an apple from the fruit bowl. Munching happily on it, she listened as all five wolves sat around the table discussing strategies for when Dominic's brother made his challenge. They were so cool about it that anyone would think they were referring to an X-Box game or something as opposed to an actual life-or-death situation. There was even a kind of child-like excitement there. 

Rolling her eyes, she dug out her cell phone from her purse and read the dozens of text messages she had received from several members of the pack. All were asking if the rumor that she had mated Dominic Crane was true. Shirley and Zane had also sent several, both expressing concern about his reputation and trying to convince her that she was wrong about him being her true mate. She knew she would have to respond to them soon, but right now she was feeling too raw. 

Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, she looked up from her cell to find several pairs of eyes focused on her. Surprised, she pulled her finger from her mouth had sucked off the apple juice. "What?" 

Dominic cleared his throat. "Nothing." It was almost as if he didn't like the thought of the other males ogling her, he shot them all a cautioning look. She couldn't understand it though. Was she so damn sensual and so damn unaware of it? 

"By the way," said Davina, grinning from ear to ear, "welcome to the pack, Natalie." 

She snorted. "You will not say that when Mark appears on your territory." 

"Are you kidding? We're looking forward to it." 

"Yeah, we have to thank you for bringing a bit of life to things round here," agreed Happy as he leaned back in his chair – or Matt, as he had introduced himself on the drive here. Although he didn't seem any more accepting of her than the others did, he wasn't as antisocial toward her as they were. 

"You have to understand, Natalie," Davina grinned, "we don't get a lot of challenges. This is the most excitement our pack has had in a while." 

"Why were your dad's enforcers following you around?" Dominic cut in. 

"When Mark came to visit I wasn't very nice and they considered me a flight risk. The mating ceremony was supposed to take place in a few days." 

"Do you think her dad will keep fighting this?" asked Big. Natalie remembered him introducing himself as Paul.

Dominic shook his head. "He might be pissed off and wish things had happened differently, but it's like Natalie said. He'll be worried I'll defeat him and make him look weak to the rest of his pack. He recognized that my wolf was more dominant than his." 

"And the alliance? Do you think we have any chance of getting it?" 

Dominic looked at her. "What do you think?" 

"I'd say yes," she said. "I saw the look on his face when you asked if an alliance with you wouldn't have meant anything to him. It gave him something to think about." 

Davina tilted her head at her. "He'll switch loyalties that easily from Mark to Dominic?" 

"As long as he gets an alliance with a powerful alpha out of this, he'll be content. Give it a few weeks for him to finish sulking and he'll make contact, wanting us to meet up. I'll put money on it." 

"You're that confident?" 

"He's that fickle." 

"Well, we'll know for sure on Sunday," said Dominic. "If he comes along with Mark, he's stating that he allies himself with him, no matter the outcome." 

"Do you think Mark will come as soon as he realizes you've mated Natalie?" Davina wondered. 

"Yep. What time's he due to arrive on Sunday?" Dominic asked her. 

"Early in the morning." 

"Grace's not due back till after dinner. She'll be disappointed she missed the confrontation." 

"She called earlier to say she'd be arriving in the morning," Troy informed him.

"Grace?" Natalie was glad that none of the possessiveness and jealousy had leaked into her voice. Her wolf snapped to alertness, wondering at the mystery female. 

"My Aunt," Dominic explained. 

Natalie didn't like the way he was grinning. It said he was aware of her wolf's immediate response to him having said another female's name with such familiarity. She shot him what she knew was a petulant scowl. He laughed silently. 

"She doesn't go out much," Davina chipped in, "but occasionally she goes to stay with her cousin who mated into another pack. I think she might be hoping to try and secure an alliance between that pack and ours. It could have been done a long time ago but Dominic was never interested in making them until now." 

"Does the Alpha of that pack have many alliances?" 

"Not really, but it would be more than what we have now." 

"Then I guess it's a good thing my dad's so fickle." Sighing, she smoothly slid off the countertop. "Where's my bag?" 

"Your mate's room," Talon replied, his tone was cold and Natalie couldn't understand why. "It's the same room you woke up in the last time you were here." 

Davina gestured with her hands. "Just take a right at the end of this tunnel. You then need to take left after that. Then go straight until you come to a junction and take a right." 

Natalie's eyes flicked to Dominic, and as if he saw the hesitation behind her eyelids, he growled, "Go anywhere else, Natalie, and I'll just hunt you down and drag you to bed."