Stolen

A day. She promised to stay for one day. Following the Alpha tackling her during her escape, which on reflection was maybe ill thought out, she'd been formally introduced to the Alpha, his beta and a few of the other pack members, including one of the wolves who'd tried to save her.

She'd explained she had to leave, for their sake and hers, but the Alpha, Jake, had convinced her to stay, stating that Doc, who was also a Doctor, wanted her to stay for one day, just so that they could keep an eye on her. By the surprise that flickered across Doc's face, Cassidy would place money on the fact that it was the first time Doc had heard that, but she let the alpha off. Despite needing to find her girls and wanting to put distance between this pack and her, Cassidy knew these people had saved her life, and that although she was healed, she was still tired, so staying one day to appease a worried Alpha, what harm would that do?

"You have a healer?" She asked casually, as they continued the walk back towards the Alpha's house. She'd been leant a jacket by the Beta, Liam, when he'd noticed the Alpha getting annoyed at the staring eyes. That was the one problem with transforming from human to wolf and back again, clothes never made it in one piece.

Jake, the Alpha, turned his attention to her, as he had done many times whilst they walked. He seemed hesitant to respond, blowing a long breath out between his teeth. "Yeh. We do."

Talkative, this one. She nodded in response and kept walking, her wolf keeping a mental record of the layout of his territory.

"I'd like to thank them. They saved my life." She admitted, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Yeh, we'll-er, yeh." Jake stuttered, a chuckle from Liam stealing her attention.

The house came into sight and a whisper of home echoed through Cassidy's wolf. She was surprised really, at how good she felt. Sure, the healer had done a great job, but there was something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

As they reached the front door and Jake opened it, letting her go in first, a realisation hit her. She felt safe. She, Cassidy Alma, actually felt safe.

_

His wolf remained hyper aware of the she-wolf, as she walked absently around his living room. The pack had finished the hunt alone, whilst Jake and Cassidy returned to his house, Liam by his side.

Every now and then, a bolt of need would shoot through Jake, right to his core. His wolf, despite being quiet now, kept lunging to the surface, demanding that he go to the she-wolf. What his wolf wanted him to do when he got there, he didn't want to know.

Now they sat in his living room, a few other pack members had joined them, not trusting the new wolf. Jake relaxed back into his arm chair, one leg kicked up over the other, his ankle resting on his knee. A cool beer was slowly going warm in his right hand. Normally an ice cold beer would solve anything, yet today it wasn't quite scratching Jake's itch, but he had a damn good idea what could.

She paused her pace around the room, lightning fast eyes seeking him out, a mischievous smile seemed to find its place permanently on her face. Temptation in human skin. Jake could not shake the memory of her, naked beneath him in the forest, only them and nature. Jake adjusted his position in the chair and forced himself to look away from the she-wolf and check on his pack. Doc stood in his kitchen, a tea towel hanging from his weathered hands. Routinely, his mate, Darcy, would pass him a mug or plate, which he'd dry up and then place beside him. Every now and then, Doc's eyes would drift to Darcy as they continued their private conversation. Each time Darcy's laugh carried across the room, Jake could feel the wave of love emanating from Doc. He liked seeing them like this, relaxed and happy. A darkness that Jake could never escape briefly stole his attention, absorbing him entirely until the room had drifted to nothing more than background noise.

A face flashed past him, as lightning bolts struck the sky. It was midnight black and a cold air whipped around him. Jake was back to being the ten year old boy that he'd been the night that Doc and Darcy had whisked him out of his father's territory and disappeared. For months they'd lived on the road, settling where and when they could. His father had hunted them fiercely and due to Jake's unruly, powerful alpha wolf, most packs refused them sanctuary, fearful of Jake trying to take control later in the life.

Their escape hadn't lasted long, a couple of years at most, before finally his father cornered them. Doc had been injured, very injured, Jake didn't think he was going to survive. Bile rose in his throat and his hands curled into fists. The bite of pain as his nails broke the skin on his palms failed to derail his trip into his past.

The same panic he'd felt that night began to claw at Jake's throat. As though he was drowning, the driving rain had hit his twelve year old self so hard, as though it was one giant sheet of water, that he feared he might never get dry again.

He'd watched on, helplessly, as Doc limped in front of both him and Darcy, before challenging Jake's father to a fight to the death.

Seeing Doc, the man who'd practically raised him, who'd saved his life, weakened and at the mercy of his father, it was too much to handle. So, doing the only thing he could think to do, Jake had stepped forward, pushing his way past Darcy. Eyeing up his father, he'd declared his intention to fight on Doc's behalf, the old man's wail of 'no' still haunting Jake's dreams.

His father laughed at him, as he took Doc's place. Darcy's crying filling his ears. His father had underestimated him.

A hand, warm, delicate and soft stole Jake from his memories. Worried eyes watched him, as he blinked and returned his attention to the real world. The screams of pain were gone, and instead the gentle murmur of his pack remained. Jake watched the she-wolf as she studied him, eyes ghosting over him. She reminded him of strength and an admiration settled inside him. He'd bet she was a good alpha to belong to. She nodded at him, waiting for him to respond to prove he was OK, before she moved away, her eyes sliding over Doc and Darcy as she did, a pang of jealousy filtering through her gaze.

Darcy and Doc re-joined the group in the living room and sat down on the sofa. Liam sat to the right of Jake, and Trevor and a couple of the other pack enforcers sat on his left. A few other pack members were littered around the room, each enthralled in their own conversations.

"Cassidy?" Darcy asked, causing the she-wolf to flinch. "Won't you come sit with us? I know your wolf must feel so uncomfortable in our company, what with all these wolves around, but please, rest a moment."

Jake felt as though he could see the indecision in the she-wolf, before her shoulders slumped a little and she moved around to sit beside Darcy, who, sunny as ever, patted the seat next to her with a smile.

"Thanks." The she-wolf said quietly, ducking her head slightly.

The conversation seemed to die and silence filled the room. A million questions whizzed through Jake's mind. He wanted to know about the she-wolf, he wanted to find out who she was, where she came from and why she was here, but equally he didn't want to share that information with the rest of his pack.

If nothing else, Jake was relieved that his wolf had calmed a little bit, it seemed that once the she-wolf had agreed to stay for another day, his wolf had backed off and stopped riding him quite so tightly. Back in control, Jake could finally enjoy being in his family's company. A tinge of pity shot through Jake, he knew that Cassidy was probably finding it really hard to be around this many wolves that were foreign to her. He wanted nothing more than to kick everyone out and just spend time with her, but he knew that after his behaviour earlier, his pack needed to be near him, to reassure themselves that he was fine. Even the other twenty wolves under his control, were lingering not far away. Wolves and cubs alike so in tune with their alpha's feelings.

Jake took a long swig from his warm beer, his eyes never leaving Cassidy. He realised he was probably staring. A nudge on his knee took his attention from her and onto Liam. He held his phone in his hand, a call in progress.

Leaning forwards, Liam whispered "It's Alpha Woolen, he's reporting the presence of strange wolves in his territory. He wants to know if it's anything to do with us." Jake's heart slammed in his chest and without meaning to, he slid his eyes to Cassidy, who was watching him wide eyed; she'd heard.

"How many?" He asked, keeping his voice as low as possible so as not to worry his other pack.

A tightness around Liam's eyes appeared as he replied, "four".

"Male?"

Liam nodded and lifted the phone back to his ear. His eyes focused on a spot across the room as information was fed to him. Occasionally he'd grunt a yes or no. Finally, he hung the phone up and leaned back towards Jake.

"Grant and Bry are going to go and check it out. You want me t-"

"Go with them." Jake ordered curtly, Liam nodded once in response and got to his feet, silently leaving the room.

Not many people had noticed their exchange, but Cassidy had. She watched Jake intently and when their eyes met, he felt as though she was staring straight into his soul. He signalled to the door with his head, and understanding his meaning, the she-wolf stood and moved around the sofa, heading for the door.

As Jake pulled the front door shut, his eyes sought the shadows for Cassidy. He relaxed when he saw her, not having realised how tense he'd been since she left the room.

Her mouth was set into a hard line, her eyes echoed pain. Jake knew what she was going to say before she said it.

"I need to leave." She stated, not meeting his eyes.

"No." He didn't' mean it to sound as gruff as it did, and he certainly didn't mean for the wave of power that followed, but it seemed that his wolf had come out of hiding.

A flicker of anger shifted across her face, "if they've found me already, and know I'm alive, then I'm not safe here and you aren't safe with me here." She promised, finally meeting his eye line.

"It might not be them." Jake soothed, taking an unintended step towards her.

"But, it might be." She whispered.

His hand reached out and brushed her cheek, eager to chase the pain that filled her features. He hated that she wanted to leave and hated it even more that she felt like she'd put his pack in danger.

Without thinking, she leaned into his hand, and his heart damn near stopped beating for a moment.

Standing up straight, she put distance back between them, as though she'd realised what she was doing. "You don't need me here, you're an alpha, you know I should leave." She accused, but it did nothing to dissuade Jake's resolution, and his wolf was in agreement too, she was staying.

"As Alpha, I know you should stay. If you go out there on your own, then they'll kill you. If you're here, you can be protected. You promised me you'd stay until tomorrow, so unless you're intending to go back on your Alpha's promise, then you're stuck here. With me." He didn't mean to add that bit on the end, but the possessive growl that followed it up had been far more intentional.

A challenge flashed in her eyes and Jake's wolf lunged to the surface. He wanted this she-wolf. Jake fought to hold himself back, fought to ignore his wolf's demands, but it was a losing battle.

"Fuck it." He growled as he slammed into her, hands wrapping in her hair, tangling themselves up. His lips crashed onto hers, in a possessive and brutal kiss. If this had been a human, he might be worried that she'd be hurt, but this was no weak human, this wasn't even a standard wolf, this was a she-Alpha.

With impressive strength, she grabbed his shoulders and wound her arms around his neck, pulling herself flush against him. Parting her lips, she gave him the access he so craved. A hand on the back of her neck kept her in place, as her own hands held him close to her, her nails accidentally breaking his flesh, sending a growl reverberating through his chest as his hands tightened in her hair.

Finally, after moments of endless bliss, they pulled apart, breathless and surprised, they stayed partly wrapped in each other still, staring into each other's eyes. "Wow." She whispered, a sentiment he could only echo.

Even in the silence of the night, there was only one thing that Jake could hear. His wolf repeating 'mine' again and again, and again.