Return of the Alpha by Natalie Shaw Page B

over-confident. I assumed we'd meet resistance from the Maja.”
    “I saw the Maja fighting alongside the Terroun,” I said.
    “I know. When the Maja realised that this was their chance to get rid of Milton, they joined forces with the Terroun. I don't imagine that accord will last for long, but it was enough to see off Milton. Maja will once again belong to its own people.
     
    *********
     
       By that evening, all of those loyal to Milton were either dead or had fled. Once it had become apparent that the battle was won, Craven had ordered Grosvenor to lead the Terroun back to their territory. It would be up to the Maja to elect a new alpha. It was time for Craven and me to leave too. Although I was Maja by birth, this was no longer my home. I belonged by Craven's side—by the side of my fated mate.
    “Louise!”
    I turned around to see Marlow hurrying towards us.
    “Thank god you're okay.” He flung his arms around me. “One minute you were behind me, and the next you'd gone.”
     “I'm fine.”
    Marlow seemed suddenly aware of Craven's presence, so released his grip on me. “Sorry.”
    “No apologies necessary.” Craven offered his hand. “You saved Louise's life and mine too. You have my never-ending gratitude.”
    Marlow shook Craven's hand. “You're very lucky to have her.”
    “I know that,” Craven said. “I'll never be able to repay you for what you did.”
    “It was nothing. It was the least I could do after keeping Louise in the dark about you for so many years.”
    “That's all forgotten now. What are your plans?”
    “I'm going to head back to Semron,” Marlow said. “I can't wait to see Pirus, Jessie and the kids. Will you travel down with me?”
    The question was addressed to both of us, but Craven got in before I had the chance. “We can't, I'm sorry. We have to go to Terroun. I have to see Hill, the alpha. I'm not sure how long we'll be there.”
    Marlow nodded his understanding, gave me another hug, and then we said our goodbyes.
    “Are you okay?” Craven asked, after Marlow had left.
    “Yeah.” I choked back the tears. I'd wanted to find Marlow to make sure he was alive, but also to discover what my feelings for him were. I realised now that he was a friend—a very good friend. But nothing more than that. “I hope he finds his own fated mate one day.”
    “He will. I'm sure of it.
     
    *********
     
       It was dark by the time we began to head out of the city. The shifters we met in the streets were all jubilant. It was as though a dark cloud had been lifted. The humans seemed confused by all of the celebrations, and were oblivious to the power-shift which had taken place. And yet they too would benefit from the demise of Milton because no matter who eventually succeeded him, shifter-human relations were bound to improve.
    “What's going on over there?” I pointed to a huge crowd which had gathered around a building to our right.
    As we grew closer, we could see the crowd was made up of hundreds of vampires. It was almost unheard of to see such a large group. Normally they moved around the city alone or in pairs. They were all staring upwards. My gaze followed theirs as I tried to make out what they were looking at.
    “Look!” Craven pointed.
    “Is that—?”
    “Lassiter? Yes.” Craven confirmed my own thoughts.
     
    The head-vampire was hanging, lifeless, from one of the windows of the huge office block. It was difficult to see from where I stood, but he appeared to be tethered by a length of rope tied around one of his ankles. His lifeless body swung, upside-down, from side to side. A huge stake protruded from his chest.
    A solitary figure broke away from the main group of on-lookers, and began to walk our way. I nudged Craven. The last thing I needed right then was a skirmish with a vampire.
    Craven's reaction took me by surprise. He had no love for vampires, and yet he was smiling broadly at the female vampire. “It looks like you got your revenge.”
    “We