Leader of the Pack by Leighann Phoenix Page A

this. He needed more numbers and the only way to do that would be to take on a pack. He didn’t like direct confrontation. Staring at Jenna at Cullen’s feet calling out his name, he realized that he needed the bitch. As Cullen began to argue with Brennus, Rafe extended his influence over the lycans’ minds to hide Jenna from them and to bring Jenna to himself.
    “You tell me Brennus. Your daughter seems to be following in her mother’s footsteps,” Cullen growled back.
    “She’s done nothing save try to please you,” Brennus replied coming toe to toe with Cullen.
    “She has a knife,” someone yelled. Cullen turned to see what was going on but Jenna seemed to vanish.
    Jenna braced herself for the attack that never came. “Come here girl,” Rafe said to her in annoyance. “I can’t have you killing him now. This plan will have to be changed. Complications have arisen. If we want your father to believe that Arnauk was the cause of the bad ending here then you have to leave him to be the target of Brennus’ anger. That will make it easier for me to convince him that you should be mine and that we need to go to war.” Jenna smiled at him dully. He hated the simpering look they got when he had to use his influence on them. He couldn’t wait until he was done with this one.
    * * * *
    With Jenna’s disappearance the mating ceremony was over and when the attack never came the pack was generally confused. Everyone seemed to have a headache or felt sick. No one even considered looking for Jenna. They all took turns being angry about her disappearance for different reasons, but a search party was never even suggested. The Tairneach left with promises of retribution for the embarrassment caused this night and threats should Jenna not reappear in short order. If Brennus hadn’t been standing there when she vanished, arguing with Cullen, he would have blamed it on Cullen and possibly started the war right then. As it was, Brennus figured it would be best to remain on tentative terms at least until Jenna was home safe.
    Cullen had his hands full explaining away the events of the evening. There were at least a dozen people who claimed to have dreamt that Jenna was going to knife Cullen with a stiletto that she had hidden on her person. No one said exactly where, but the implication had most everyone chuckling.
    By the time everything was sorted out and calmed down dawn, was on the manor. Cullen took one look at the rising sun, felt his body begging for sleep, and looked around at the tired faces of his men. The best he could do was pray that Aislinn was safe.
    It took a great deal of convincing and then finally an order to get a set of keys handed over so that he could drive back into town without sleep. He just had a bad feeling and knew that he wouldn’t rest until Aislinn was safe inside the den. Keith insisted on going with him, but fell asleep halfway there. Cullen let his friend rest. It had been a long night for everyone.

Chapter 6
    Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes.
    -Lucius Annaeus Seneca

    Aislinn could feel herself falling through darkness. The black was throbbing around her. Somewhere in the void there was a pounding. The echo became more and more insistent, louder. Then she felt herself being moved. She was aware of the black shifting around her. Someone was trying to reach her. Aislinn could feel an urgent voice pulling at her. Suddenly the black turned into the street outside of her apartment. She felt drunk as she watched the street lights pass above her. The lights passed over her one at a time. Where am I going? She thought. Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh. I need to get to Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh. But she couldn’t make her body obey her mind. She was so tired. She closed her eyes and drifted into the black again.
    * * * *
    Rafe sat in the back of the long black limo. Jenna lay naked and prone across the seat opposite and