Free The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) by Natalie Shaw Page A

responsible for all of that?” I asked.
    “I wouldn't think so. It's more likely they think whoever did it has abducted you. It's going to make things a little more difficult though.”
    “Why don't I just hand myself into the police. I haven't done anything wrong.”
    “You know that, and I know that, but people do have a habit of dying around you. The police will have a lot of difficult questions.”
    “So what do we do?”
    “We stick with our original plan.”
    “Which is?”
    “To find a new pack. Once we have the support and protection of a pack around us, we'll be much safer.”
    “How does that work? Do we just turn up and ask if we can join their pack?”
    “Not exactly.” Craven laughed. “As soon as we turn up in another pack's territory, they'll know, and will do their best to drive us out or—”
    “Or what?”
    “Kill us.”
    “So what's the plan then?”
    “The only way for this to work is to defeat the current Alpha or to get his permission to join the pack.”
    “You plan to kill him?”
    “No. I plan to persuade him to let us join his pack.”
    “Will he?”
    “It's not common. Most packs will kill or chase off intruders.”
    “Great! So either he'll kill us or he'll drive us out of his territory so Milton can do the job.”
    “Are you always this optimistic?” He grinned, as he pulled me into his arms. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”
    My head was resting on his chest. I'd never felt safer. I knew I could trust him. I was his mate—his fated mate. I belonged to him.
    *********
    W e decided it was too risky to eat breakfast in the diner attached to the motel. The car park was almost full, and there was a good chance at least one of the guests would have seen my picture on the news. No one was looking for Craven, so he went down to the diner alone to buy take-way which we could eat on the road.
    “We have to go.” Craven burst into the room.
    “What?”
    “The police pulled into the car park while I was queuing to be served. They were headed towards reception.”
    “Do you think they're here for me?”
    “Almost certainly. Someone must have recognised you.”
    I started towards the door.
    “Not that way.” His words stopped me in my tracks. “We can't take the car. There's more police in the car park. “This way.”
    Jackie Coleman would have questioned him, Louise followed without hesitation. I said a silent goodbye to Jackie—she'd served me well, but I didn't need her any longer.

Chapter 11
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    “C raven!” I was doubled-up with stitch.
    He hadn't heard me.
    “Craven! Wait!”
    My heart was pounding, and my lungs felt as though they were about to burst. We'd left the motel via the fire-escape, and were making our way cross-country—avoiding all roads. For almost an hour, the pace had been relentless, and I was exhausted. Craven looked as though he'd hardly broken sweat.
    “I have to rest!” I gasped.
    For the last few minutes we'd been running through woodland, and were now in a small clearing.
    “Sit here.” Craven kicked a small tree stump.
    “I don't think I can go much further.”
    “We have no choice. We have to keep moving.”
    “I'll try, but I need to catch my breath first.”
    Craven walked the perimeter of the clearing while I allowed my body to recover. The prospect of more of the same filled me with dread, but I didn't want to let him down.
    “You have to shift into wolf form,” he said.
    “How? I can't. I don't know how—”
    “You can. You have to trust your body. You have to let go of your human form. I'll help you.”
    “I'm scared.”
    “There's nothing to fear. It's as natural as breathing.”
    “It doesn't feel that way.”
    “Do you trust me?” His eyes felt as though they had the power to touch my very core.
    “Yes.”
    “Get undressed then.”
    “What?”
    “Undress.” He was already removing his clothes.
    I didn't react for a moment. Instead, I watched as he threw aside his jacket and