Chapter 11

Lachlan

Talking to Tilly gave me hope that everything would work out in the end.

She'd called Aiden Campbell an arsehole. She clearly wasn't in love with him. It was a forced mating and that meant it was very unstable and potentially easy to break.

I had to admire her determination to see it through for her Tribe, though. I'd been briefed on the King-Campbell alliance situation. It was shaky at best.

King territory was being infringed by the humans. To survive, Tilly's father had been forced to sell off a piece of the land to a human group for the construction of a new neighborhood development. Not only did that hurt his pride, but it was a potential danger to his dingoes. I'd heard about the same things happening to my own family's Tribe before my birth. We were still thriving, but we'd been forced to evolve our human sides and suppress our natural animal instincts.

My Tribe had bought up land out in the bush as a sort of vacation spot where we could take refuge in emergencies and travel to for weekend runs and such. It was a very different lifestyle than our dingo cousins in the bush lived.

The Campbells were so far out in the Whoop Whoop that they were still many generations away from the effects of urban development, but the Kings were close enough to feel that pressure now.

I wondered if Tilly was fully aware of the situation and why her father was demanding she mate the next Campbell Alpha?

It was my understanding that a sizable piece of land was being promised to him for a King she-Alpha. I supposed the Campbells didn't really care which of the girls Aiden mated, as long as it was a King she-Alpha.

That meant that I needed to find Michelle King and find her fast.

My time was running out.

Tilly had already told me that she was expected to mate on the next full moon. I had less than a fortnight to pull this off and ensure my own happily ever after.

Maybe it was insane to even believe it was a possibility, but I had to. And I had to get moving and actively do something about this. But first, I had to know she was okay.

"Tilly, I need you to go into hiding while we find your sister."

"What? No. That's crazy."

"What's crazy is the fact that I will not be able to function without knowing that you are absolutely safe."

"Lachlan, I'm an heiress. I have security on me twenty-four seven. No one is going to get to me."

"You say that with a straight face, when I literally crawled into your bed and no one noticed?"

"That's not fair. You're an ally."

"And who's to say there aren't other so-called allies within these walls that would see harm to you?"

"That's being a bit irrational, don't you think?"

"Maybe, or maybe not."

"Aiden didn't travel with me. He and his goons are back in Campbell."

"Good. I would never be able to walk away from you if he were here and I will need to go if I'm going to find your sister."

"My dad already has every scapegoat and tracker in our territory searching for her."

"I know. I read the briefing on the plane. It's as if she's vanished. But what isn't public knowledge is that we have a good idea of who has taken her."

"You do?"

"Yes, and if we're correct, we will get her back."

"What aren't you saying?"

"Am I really that transparent to you already?" I teased.

She blushed. "I don't know how to explain it, but I know you're holding something back."

"I am, and because you are my mate. . ."

She started to protest, but I held up a hand to stop her.

"You can't deny it, Tilly. You are my one true mate. And that gives you certain privileges. I may not be an Alpha and can never offer you the position of she-Alpha. But Westin Force comes with it's own sort of privileges too and right now, that's knowledge."

"Tell me," she demanded.

"The Collectors are here in Australia."

She gasped and it was clear I didn't need to explain exactly who they are.

"That's confirmed? I knew there was a suspicion, but it's true? Are you saying what I think you're saying? But Chelle's not a witch."

"I know. But for their next auction they are advertising having the last few dingo shifters in existence up for sale. They have them listed on the extinct animal list."

"But that's ridiculous, we aren't even close to extinction. There's half a dozen Tribes, all with strong numbers."

"I know."

"So how can they even say that?"

"Because we feel they have a plan to make it happen."

She froze as the impact of my words sunk in.

"Wh-what?"

"You heard me. And if we're right about this, then you aren't safe in any Tribe territory right now and I cannot do my job knowing that."

"So what? You're just going to kidnap me or something?"

I snorted. "Yeah nah, that's more Michael's speed than mine."

I laughed to myself remembering the nightmare he'd caused with that.

"I can put you in a safe house though. One that I trust fully that will allow me to do my job while also knowing you are safe."

"Where?"

"I want to place you within my Pack." Well, my family, but I didn't mention that part, nor did I explain that she'd be living with them.

"I doubt anyone will agree to this."

"When I explain what's happening to your father, he will."

"You don't even know him."

"No, but I know the type."

I was a psychologist and damn good at my job. I'd sized up her father in mere minutes upon meeting him. He'd agree to this.

"You can't tell him we're um, well, you know."

"Mates," I finished for her.

"That," she squeaked uncomfortably.

"I'll be discreet about it. Only he and I would know where you are, and even then only I would know your exact location."

"So you're like throwing me in a dungeon or something?"

"No."

"Then how can you guarantee my safety?"

"Because I would trust them with my life."

"What Tribe?"

"Huh?"

"You said within your Pack. I assume they are part of a Tribe. So which Tribe, and if all the Tribe's are to be targets, why would this one be any safer?"

"I'm from the Sydney Tribe. We're spread out and live more in our skin than our fur. It would be much harder to find all of us than a community like this, Campbell, or any of the other Tribes. I'd place you with a family I trust that lives outside the rest of the Tribe. I've already gotten safeguards put on them so the odds of anyone finding them are extremely small. I trust you'll be safe enough that I can reasonably do my job, complete my mission, save the dingoes, and return your sister."

"That's it, then?" she asked sarcastically.

I grinned. "Simple as that."

"Do I get a choice in this?"

"No. This is my last ultimatum and the only concession I'll make."

She scoffed in defiance. I could easily see how spirited she was, and it only made me more determined.

"And if I don't agree?"

"Then I'll be forced to pull a Michael."

"Kidnap me?"

"Yeah, and get you the hell away from this continent quickly. Few would begrudge me if you prefer that option."

She snorted. "You aren't going to kidnap me."

"Try me."

I was dead serious, too. She was either going back to my home Pack or going home with me to my current one half a world away.

"Lachlan. . ." she started to protest.

I waited patiently.

"I can't just disappear."

"I'll talk to your father and make my offer. With any luck, he's a reasonable man and will see that this is for the best."

"And if not?"

"Then it's happening anyway. You are the most important person to me in this entire world. I can secure you and do my job, or I can take you away and make damn sure you're safe."

"Is that a threat?"

"No ma'am. It's a promise."

We were at a standstill, and I didn't know my mate quite well enough to know how she would react. Was she defiant by nature? I suspected there was some of that. But was she levelheaded enough to see reason? That remained to be seen.

"I want Kayla to come with me."

"Who's Kayla?"

"My best friend. We do everything together."

If that made her more comfortable, then I would gladly do what I could to make it happen. But first I need to ensure she was cleared to go.

"I'll talk to him and see what he says, but only after we have an extraction plan in place for you.

"Okay." she finally conceded.

The relief I felt was unreal.

I rolled out of bed and walked over to her, pulling her into my arms and kissing her before she could protest. She was still gloriously naked and I wanted to just take her back to bed, but something told me now was not the time for that. I was just grateful she didn't push me away this time.

Keeping the kiss short and sweet, I forced myself to leave her room and seek out my team. We needed to talk to her father and move quickly on this.

I was still angry with them for using the tranquilizer dart on me but I needed to know whether or not they'd brought me here knowing my mate was here or not.

I found them in the dining room eating a late snack provided by the she-Alpha. I'd officially met Tilly's parents, Leanne and Danner King, upon arrival, but this time I turned on the charm as I thanked her for the refreshments.

"What would you like to drink?" she asked me.

"Just a lemonade."

"Dude, warning, when you ask for lemonade around here, they give you a Sprite," Tucker warned me.

I laughed. "Yeah, American lemonade took some getting used to when I first moved there."

"Oh right. I forgot. You're from here."

"Where abouts?" Leanne asked.

"Sydney Tribe."

"Ah."

I knew there were many who looked down their noses at the Sydney Tribe, believing we'd caved to a human way of life. In truth we were also the largest and most prosperous of the dingo Tribes because of it, too. Still, I understood that people feared what they didn't understand.

"I honestly wouldn't have suspected even with the slight Aussie accent. You smell of wolf."

I smiled. It didn't surprise me that after spending years in America that locals here were think my accent was slight, while my American friends considered my accent strong.

"That's because I've officially given allegiance to Westin Pack."

She looked confused. "A dingo in a wolf pack?"

"Yes. I know it's not the norm, but I live and work there now. It just made sense. There aren't many dingoes outside Australia."

She scowled. I hated to see it because I very much wanted her daughter to move with me there and I didn't want to have to battle old prejudices in the process.

It did make me wonder what Tilly would say when she found out, but I knew that was a bridge to be crossed later.

"I suppose if you're out of country you have to do what you have to do."

"Is your mate around? I'd like to discuss something with him."

I noticed in my peripheral vision how the others looked around at each other and squirmed uncomfortably in their seats. Good.

I didn't know for certain if they knew who my mate was. I wasn't sure if they'd brought me here to get me away from her as they had said, or to her. There'd be time to sort that out later. The devil on my shoulder was satisfied that they were obviously uncomfortable with the situation. Still, they asked no questions.

"We should probably let Danner know you've been found safe and sound," Michael said.

"You told him I was missing?"

"Well, yeah. A mating male was loose in his territory and unaccounted for. Of course I forewarned him."

I scowled and walked away without further comment.

"You'll find him in his office, the door at the end of the hall."

"Thanks."

Without another word to my team, I turned and walked down the hall to face the one man that could hinder all my hopes and dreams.

Stay cool Lachlan. You can do this. Keep it logical and rational. I just prayed that's how it came across, but from my experience, there was no such thing as a rational mating male and I wasn't certain that I could discern my state clearly in this situation.