Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

M ariah followed the right-hand wall of the hedge that made up the maze. She continued to scan the barrier for weaknesses. If she could find a spot that was less dense, perhaps she could find a way to cut through. She stopped once, standing on her hind legs, looking for a way to scale the foliage in order to make her way along the top. But while the greenery seemed solid, her paws found no purchase.

She felt trapped and wondered if entering the maze hadn't been a decidedly bad idea. The only advantage it gave her was that even though she could feel his presence behind her, the twists and turns of the labyrinth diminished his ability to use an alpha roll to slow her progress.

Focusing on what she needed to do helped to calm her jumbled nerves and feelings and keep her on task. If she thought of all of the ramifications of his lordship trying to claim her, she would become overwhelmed and unnerved. Her father had always taught her that when faced with a complex problem, she should break down the solution into distinct parts and focus on one piece at a time. The first thing she needed to do was to get off this stupid estate. And in order to do that, she had to evade capture in a hedge maze.

Simon had so many advantages, chief among them being he was the heir to the London pack which had controlled this area for centuries, if not longer. Given the size and opulence of this estate, he had a wealth that could rival her own, and he'd probably grown up here and knew the grounds and maze like the back of his hand. And unfortunately, wolfen society would back his claim to her. That she had answered his call might be the most devastating fact of all. She repressed the shudder of desire that washed over her when she heard him call again.

There were many things that could tip the scales in his favor, but she thought about all the advantages on her side. It was now getting dark—that had to even the score a bit, right? The only other thing she had on her side was the fact that she had no desire to become his, or anyone else's, fated mate. But there were so many obstacles: the gala tomorrow night, the actual gallery exhibition of her newest work, and not being sure of her parents' reaction when—or if—she gave them the news.

That wasn't true. Mariah knew damn sure how her mother would react, and Simon Howard would find her to be a formidable foe. The unknown part of the equation was her father. The man was a scion in their society—feared, respected, revered. Her father and mother were a study in contrasts. Roz Halsey was a free spirit from the wrong side of the tracks. Oliver Halsey, on the other hand, was old money, what passed for nobility in the United States, and tended to be traditional when it came right down to it. But her father had also shown a tendency to favor and indulge his mate's more anarchist leanings.

A long, mournful howl accompanied the rising of the moon. She could feel its song seeping into her being and taking up residence in the marrow of her bones. The sound heated her blood and sent desire pinging along her synapses like an old-fashioned pinball machine. She shook her head. No, she wasn't doing this. She would not be caught up by an ancient curse and forced to follow a path not of her own design.

Mariah stopped for a moment to catch her breath. She could hear his feet pounding along the path; he was gaining on her. She shifted back. She wasn't going to be able to outrun him, and instead needed to think her way out of the situation. She looked again at the wall of the maze. Her paws had sunk through it, but maybe her hands and feet could displace enough of her weight that she could at least get to the top to get her bearings and see where he was. If she was lucky, the damn hedge would hold her weight, and she could escape.

She grabbed onto the strongest branches and winced. The greenery might not have thorns, but its sharp edges and rough texture made small lacerations on her body. Mariah scrabbled up to the top, moving on her hands and knees to test the hold of each step. In the center of what was essentially a three-foot wide hedge, she found a ladder buried within the very top of the shrubbery. It couldn't be seen, unless you were looking for it, but would provide her with a pathway of sorts along the top of the maze. By getting above the barrier, she could see the damn thing laid out and figure the shortest way to escape. She grinned. The evening was looking up. It would be difficult to traverse as a wolf, but as a wolf, she would have improved eyesight and could move faster. She would also be shorter and so closer to the top. Combined with her coloring as a wolf, she might be able to avoid being seen.

The wolf howled again, and she lifted herself up just enough to catch sight of him. Simon was still in wolf form and had his nose to the ground. The bastard was tracking her. As a wolf, his sense of smell was heightened and every time he called to her, she could feel the slick that formed in her pussy begin to seep. He had slowed in order to not lose her, so she continued to quietly crawl away from him as fast as she could. He howled again and her body trembled with need. But she kept moving. Being on top of the hedge ensured she had a more direct line of sight toward escaping. She could see the grounds surrounding the maze and surprisingly, still no one seemed to be trying to assist Simon.

Mariah moved to the edge of the maze and jumped down, stopping to scent the wind and listen closely. No one seemed to be approaching and Simon had been headed in the other direction. No doubt he would figure out what she had done, but at this point, she had the advantage and she intended to make the most of it.

Avoiding the ribbon of moonlight that shone through the parted clouds, she kept to the edge of the property and came to a cobblestone path that seemed to lead to the boundaries of the estate. This was most likely the servants' or delivery entrance. There must be a way out nearby. She trotted alongside the drive until she heard a lorry behind her, coming from the main house. She scrambled into the shadows and thanked the gods that one of the doors in the back of the damn truck was open. As soon as it passed her, she galloped up behind it and jumped in. She might be jumping into a trap, but if luck was with her, she might be hitching a ride to freedom.

A minute later, the truck slowed and then came to a stop. She heard the driver call out from the window to say goodnight and let someone know he was leaving. A beep and then the slow drag of a gate opening caused her pulse to quicken. She stayed hidden behind some large boxes but was thrilled when the truck pulled through the gate and turned right, back toward central London.

Once they were moving along, Mariah nosed through the boxes, finding some filled with cleaning supplies and others with food. As her eyes adjusted to the dim interior of the truck, she noticed three jumpsuits hanging on pegs on the wall. No shoes were visible, but each jumpsuit had a matching cap and would at least allow her to take human form without having to go naked. She shifted back from she-wolf to woman and found the jumpsuit that came closest to fitting. It was still too big, but better than trying to explain why she was nude.

When the lorry stopped at a light, Mariah peeked out and saw what she thought to be Hyde Park to her right. Quickly and quietly, she slipped from the back of the truck and made her way into the greenspace. A large sign confirmed that she was in Hyde Park, which meant the Savoy was about two and a half miles to the west. However, she wasn't entirely sure she'd be safe at the Savoy.

The only other place she thought might offer her sanctuary was Baker Street, the famed BDSM club. She had playing privileges there and the staff knew her. The club was known to be protective of their subs. The owners were human and didn't know of the existence of her kind, but numerous shifters of her acquaintance played there. Even if Simon was a member, he wouldn't be allowed to drag her out of there by the roots of her hair. Baker Street was a bit farther from her location than the Savoy, but infinitely safer.

Mariah headed northwest, moving as quickly as she possibly could without attracting any undue attention. Her bare feet might be an issue, but the coveralls disguised her shape and she'd put her hair up under the cap. After what she guessed to be little more than an hour, she approached the club. She'd taken her time, doubling back every so often to ensure she hadn't been followed. She still fretted about what tomorrow would bring, but each time her mind drifted, she reminded herself to take everything one step at a time.

Upon entering the alley behind Baker Street, she walked up to the back entrance and knocked, praying whoever answered might be someone who knew and remembered her.

"Good heavens, Ms. Halsey!" said Adam Wheldon, the chief of security, as he ushered her inside.

"Thank God it's you Adam… I mean, Sir," she replied, quickly remembering she was in a club that had a defined protocol. Here, she was a submissive, and Adam a Dom—that meant she had to speak to him respectfully and address him by an honorific.

"Are you all right?"

"That's kind of a complex question."

He quirked his eyebrow at her. Even in his sixties, the Dom was a powerfully built and fit man who she was quite certain intimidated a great many of the subs who played at Baker Street. But she wasn't one of them.

"How about you uncomplicate it for me?"

"Well, Sir, I need a place to stay, no questions asked, for a few nights."

"So, you're in trouble," he assessed quickly.

"In a manner of speaking, but nothing that would harm Baker Street. No one has a clue that I've come here, and I'd like it to stay that way. It's a long story that I'm not willing to share. I'm hungry and tired, but if you feel I'm asking too much, I'll leave," she said, turning to put her hand on the door handle and praying that Adam's protective Dom nature would win out over his dislike of a sub not giving him a straightforward answer.

"Knock it off, Mariah. You and I both know I'm not going to turn you out on the streets in coveralls and bare feet. If the authorities are after you, we can call Harry. He's retired, but still has some pull at the Yard."

"No, it's nothing illegal. Just a misunderstanding. The short version is that I found myself in over my head with a guy earlier tonight and decided that discretion was the better part of valor and left."

Adam nodded. "I suspect without informing the fellow involved."

"It seemed like the thing to do at the time," she said brightly.

He shook his head. "Let's spirit you up the back stairs into one of the private rooms. Tell me what you'd like to eat, and I'll see that it's brought to you. If you want to come downstairs, you'll need the proper clothing, but I'm sure we can find something to fit you. In the morning, we'll figure out what to do next."

"Thanks, Sir."

"But Mariah, I want your word that you won't try to sneak out of here before we have a chance to talk. Break that promise, and there will be discipline the next time you come to the club. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

He led her up the back stairs to one of the privacy rooms that could be reserved for intimate play if someone didn't want an audience. Each room was large and well-equipped with all manner of kinky toys and apparatuses. There was even a private bath, complete with shower.

"I want you to go into the bath and get a robe. Put it on and hand me that filthy jumpsuit. If you want, I can have something brought up for you to sleep in."

Mariah did as instructed, wondering why she didn't mind Adam ordering her around, yet objected so strenuously to the idea of being mate to a wolf who would do exactly the same thing. It was the safeword, she mused. If mated to an alpha wolf, a she-wolf couldn't safeword out.

"If I could get fish and chips and a microbrew in a bottle, I'd appreciate it. But could I get that in half an hour? I really would love to take a shower first."

"I'll see to it. You'll find make-up remover, shampoo, and the like in the bath. If you need anything else, use the house phone. I'll tell the other lads in security you're here. Fitz and JJ are vacationing in Corsica." Robert Fitzwallace and Jordan James were the owners of Baker Street. Adam stopped at the door and turned back, "Mariah, I take it you would prefer your father not know you're here?" She nodded. "That's all right for now, but we might want to let him know at a later time. If you're in trouble, we can protect you, but your father is a long-time member, and I would be hard-pressed not to tell him."

She smiled. He was such a kind man. "I promise, Adam, no one's looking to string me up—either in the fun way or the not fun way."

He chuckled. "Good to know."

"I just need a night to think about some things and figure out what I want to do."

When he left, she went into the bath, removed her make-up, turned on the water, and stepped into the enclosure. She collapsed against the back wall of the shower. Shit, what am I going to do?