Ch. 2

THALOR

In all my work, I've never failed or seen a better fighter than her. It was easy tracking her but subduing her has been hell so far. She fights like she's seasoned and I've been more on the defensive than on the offensive..

Time to end this.

"You're good," I say, circling her in the cave. "But you're lagging because you are exhausted. If I have to fight you so that you would fall from your last breath, then so be it."

"Go to hell," she snarls, and lunges.

I sidestep, catch her wrist and twist. She's already moving, using my momentum against me, and before I can blink she's driving her knee toward my ribs. Air wheeze out of my lungs as I try to block her. I don't underestimate victims but I did this one and now she has warrior training.

Who taught a Gamma's daughter to fight like this?

She comes at me again, and this time I'm done playing. I duck under her strike, sweep her legs, and we both go down. She doesn't stop fighting even as we hit the ground, twisting, clawing, trying to get the knife between my ribs.

I pin her wrist above her head, and use my weight to hold her down. My other hand catches her free arm before she can claw my eyes out.

We're both breathing hard, faces inches apart.

"Done?" I ask.

Her eyes twinkles stubbornly. "Never."

And I believe her. This female would fight until her last breath. Something in my chest tightens at that thought. I was asked to bring her alive and not dead. She seems to be somebody who would rather die than go with me. 

"The contract says alive," I tell her. "It doesn't specify undamaged. Keep fighting and I'll make sure you arrive with a few broken bones. Your choice."

Her breathing is ragged, her pulse hammering against my palm where I hold her wrist. Rain from earlier has made her dress cling to her body, and I'm suddenly very aware that I'm pressed against her in an intimate way. 

I shove that thought away violently. I have to stay professional. Rule number two; never have a conscience or fall in love with the victims.

But then a sweet smelling fragance slams into my nostrils and my wolf, the one I've kept on a tight leash for five years, howls a word that shakes me to my very bones.

MINE.

I badly want to shift to a wolf, stretch my canines and sink it in her pretty flesh so I can claim her as mine, immediately.

But, no. This can't be happening.

I've spent five years avoiding this exact situation, I don't need anybody close to me. My efficiency as a bounty hunter has been 100% because I've had nothing to lose, having a mate meant collateral for my enemies. I didn't want that. 

And fate, cruel twisted fate, gives me her

The runaway bride my brother was supposed to marry. The female I'm contracted to deliver.

My mate.

She feels it too. I can see the shock in her eyes.

"No," she whispers. "Not you. Anyone but you."

I didn't want her either but that didn't stop the rejection from hurting as bad as it did.

She kicks me with her knee and I was caught off guard so much that I'm coughing violently, tears in my eyes.

Before I could stand up and recover she is already running away and even though, I'm supposed to chase her, I don't move. 

My wolf is going absolutely insane, demanding I go after her. I need to catch her and claim her as mine. But I...let her go. 

This is the worst thing that could have happened.

She's the most valuable target I've ever been contracted for. How could the moon goddess make her my mate?

Even worse, she's the female my brother wants and he wants her so bad because she is the first thing he's ever wanted and never gotten. He's ego won't let him be defeated.

Remus will kill me if he finds out that she is my mate. But he'll make sure he gets her first and kills her slowly in front of me, make her suffer because he can't have her.

That's the kind of sadistic Alpha my brother is..

My little brother, the Alpha who orchestrated my exile, who destroyed my life, who took everything from me, he's the one who wants her.

I should walk away or complete the contract, hand her over, take my payment and disappear. But even worse, if I pretend this bond does not exist, it will drive me slowly insane.

On the other hand, if I give her over to Remus and let him *take* her, I'll rip his throat out with my bare hands.

I morph into a wolf, my clothes ripping off my back and sniff into the direction she ran. I'll be able to track her scent trails and follow her from a distance.

I need time to think about what is should do. It's not like she's gonna agree to elope with me, she hates me just as well.

I morph back into a man and pick my phone that's ringing on the wet forest floor. It's Lyanna and I consider not answering. But Lyanna has a reputation for making people who cross her disappear.

"What is the status on the target?" Her voice is sharp.

I sighed into the phone. "I've located the target but making contact went complicated."

"Complicated how?"

I hesitate. Lyanna's a smart, perceptive woman and if I say too much, she'll figure it out. "She's more skilled than her profile suggested. She's too trained a fighter but she'll be in your court after today."

There was a cool silence on the other end. "This is odd, Caine. You've never needed an extension before." 

"I've never tracked someone this good before." I snap back, they should give me time, jeez.

"The client is getting impatient. Alpha Remus has increased the bounty twice in the last week."

My jaw clenches at my brother's name. "The contract says alive and unharmed. If I rush it, I any bring her back dead. Unless you want to explain to your client why his bride arrives broken?"

"Fair point." She pauses. "There's been a development you should know about."

"What kind of development?" My ears immediately perk up.

"I'm doubling your rate." She says casually but all my hairs stand on end, Lyanna doesn't offer more money without reason. "Why?"

"Because I want you to bring her to me and not Alpha Remus."

What?

"That wasn't the contract."

"I'm amending the contract," she says smoothly. "I'll triple your original rate and then give you the information you've been looking for. The truth about who really set you up for exile."

I tried not to act so interested because if I did, she would use it to her advantage.

"You're lying." I say simply.

"I never lie, Caine. It's inefficient." Her voice softens slightly. "Your brother manufactured evidence against you. I have proof. Bring me Astra Ashford alive and unharmed, and I'll give you everything enough to clear your name if you want it."

I always suspected that Remus betrayed me but hearing it opens old wounds I thought would have healed. 

"Why do you want her?" I ask carefully.

"That's my business." She sounds impatient.

"If I'm changing contracts, I need to know what I'm walking into."

She debates for a long time. "She carries rare Gamma bloodline. Do you know what that means?"

"Breeding stock," I say flatly.

"No, more than that. Gamma bloodlines produce stronger, agile wolves and faster healing. There are maybe fifty Gammas left across all territories. Most are already bred like prize livestock." Her voice hardens. "Astra Ashford is one of the last unclaimed Gammas. Multiple Alphas want her. Your brother is just the loudest about it."

"And you want her why?"

"Your brother Alpha Remus really wants her and I want to dangle it over him as bait. I need something from him."

Oh. Leverage.

"So bring her to me instead of your brother. I'll pay you five times your original contract, plusthe evidence that clears your name. And then one more thing."

My stomach sours. She's promising too much. "What?"

"You'll get safe passage out of pack territories entirely because I know Remus wouldn't forgive this. You'll get a new identity, clean slate, and enough money to disappear and never look back." Her voice is pure business now. "Bring her to Shadowveil, and you can finally be free of all this. Free of your brother, free of your past, free of everything."

It's a good offer. A great offer, actually. Everything I've wanted for five years, to disappear and start a new life where nobody knows me, except she's my mate. And handing her over to anyone, even someone who claims to want to help her, feels wrong now. My wolf snarls at the very thought.

"I'll think about it," I say.

"Don't think too long. My offer expires in seventy two hours. After that, I'll send someone else, and they won't be as careful with her as you are."

The call ends.

I stare at my phone for a long moment, then shift into a wolf. She's moving fast and heading east, toward archive territory.

The archive territory may be neutral territory but still very dangerous as the wolves there do not ask questions, they just attack on sight. 

My wolf demands I go after her and protect her.

My mind reminds me she's a contract, a job, a means to an end and nothing more.

I'm moving before the decision is conscious.

"Damn it," I growl, and run.