Free Lone Wolf's Captive (novella) by Sherilee Gray

dissolved into one of contentment and she wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the covers with him.
    Sneaking out felt wrong on so many levels, but this couldn’t wait. Despite what Fletch had said, in his current state he’d never let her go back alone. She didn’t doubt for a second that if he woke now and caught her slinking off into the night, that damn chain would be back around her ankle before she could blink.
    Not bothering with clothes, she stepped out the front door. Dawn was only an hour or so away, but the thick canopy of trees kept the surrounding forest shrouded in darkness. Tilting her head towards the cabin, she held her breath.
    Her mate was still asleep.
    “Sorry, Fletch.” Swallowing down her guilt, she shifted and headed towards home.
    It took little more than an hour to reach the strip of forest bordering her pack’s land. In an attempt to stay down wind, she took a longer route to avoid the sentries who guarded her people from picking up her scent. She didn’t want to deal with their questions right now. This was between her and her father. The need to return to Fletch increased with every passing minute.
    By the time she reached her father’s cabin, the sun was high in the sky. The front door was unlocked from his early morning run like it always was. Shifting, she entered the small hall and padded down to her old bedroom. Her cabin was on the other side of the compound, but she had clothes in her old room. Pulling on a pair of sweats, she headed towards the gurgling sounds of the coffee maker coming from the kitchen.
    Running a shaky hand through her mussed hair, she shoved down the sick feeling in her belly and pushed open the door.
    Her father froze, and so did the mug at his lips. “Delaney?”
    The uneasy sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. She’d been missing nearly two days, but he seemed more confused than relieved to see her. “Hey, Dad.”
    His mouth opened and closed a few times before he said, “What are you doing here?” He looked beyond her. “Where’s Brody?”
    The unease kicked up a notch. “Brody? Why would I…? I have no idea.” She avoided the creep as much as possible.
    His expression darkened and she fought the urge to take a step back.
    “I knew I couldn’t trust that idiot to do this properly.” He slammed down his mug, and black coffee sloshed onto the counter.
    The outburst surprised her. Her father rarely lost control. “Do what?”
    He shook his head, looking madder than she’d ever seen him.
    “Delaney, go to your cabin and stay there until I tell you otherwise.” He picked up his phone from the counter and keyed in a text.
    “No.” He wasn’t going to push her aside, not this time.
    His skin mottled before her eyes, turning an angry shade of red and his eyes went wolf. “Do as you are told.”
    She shook her head. “No, I’m not going anywhere. You owe me some answers.”
    “I don’t have time for your theatrics, girl.” Two males stepped into the kitchen, blocking the exits. “Alex, send someone to Oakwood. Brody needs to get his ass over here. Tell him I have Delaney. Blake, take her to her cabin and make sure she stays there.”
    What the hell?
    Her heart skipped a beat. “Why are you locking me in my cabin? And what does Brody have to do with anything?”
    Lifting a hand, he stayed Blake who had a hold of her arm and was in the process of dragging her from the room, and let out a long breath. “Daughter, you have pined for that deformed, packless mutt for long enough. It’s time you were mated.” His gaze darted away and his voice lost its edge. “And I’ve arranged it.”
    Laney’s legs gave out. If it wasn’t for Blake’s tight grip, her ass would have made friends with the linoleum. “No,” she choked.
    “Don’t be so melodramatic, child. If Brody had done his part correctly, you’d never know my role in all this and that’s something I’ll always regret. But that can’t be helped now.” He lifted a