Bullied by the Alpha (The Alpha Shifter Collection Book 9) Read online

  Her pack had banned her from using the kitchen at her old pack house. Her own parents ordered to keep her away from it, and she hadn’t been allowed to fix herself a snack, let alone cook. Several of the pack members here had held their hands up, giving her the room for her to do what she liked in there.

  Since she’d started cooking, she’d made friends. They had come in to greet her, and a couple of the men had sunk to their knees saying they were not worthy and asked if she could cook all the time.

  The bell on the alarm by the oven rang, and she pulled open the door, the scent of cinnamon raisin cookies filling the air.

  It had been years since she’d baked one, or tried one. Her mouth was watering so badly. She’d already made herself a cup of coffee.

  Placing the cookies on the countertop, she prepared the cooling trays, and after a few minutes began to transfer the cookies. Once that was all done, she placed the baking trays on the counter near the sink, took a seat, held a cookie, and tasted.

  She closed her eyes as the flavor exploded on her tongue, and she let out a little moan.

  “I like that sound.”

  Cassie squeaked, coughing on the cookie in her mouth. She quickly swallowed and patted her chest as she did.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this was a private thing,” Abel said.

  “You’ve never come to the kitchen.”

  “I’ve never smelled oatmeal raisin cookies before.” He moved toward the counter where the cookies rested. He picked one up and took a bite.

  She watched him close his eyes and savor the bite. “They are fucking fantastic,” he said.

  “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me. You baked these? They were not out of a package?”

  “No. Carl told me they purchased all the stuff to bake, but no one ever got around to it. They kept throwing out the old baking stuff and restocking the shelves. I figured it was okay to use it up. It’s kind of a waste otherwise.”

  He took a second one. “Can I have a cup?” He pointed toward the coffeepot, and she laughed.

  “Of course. It’s all yours.” She sipped her coffee.

  Abel joined her, placing a cookie beside her. “I didn’t mean to spoil your enjoyment of a cookie.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “It’s not, and you should stop taking crap. Accept an apology when you’re due one. Even better, demand one.”

  His voice snapped each word at her, and she nodded, taking it.

  “Thank you.”

  “Good. You’ve been avoiding me.”

  She didn’t even try to deny it. She couldn’t.

  “I don’t accept you trying to hide from me. You’ve got to learn to handle your strength, and if you can’t show me your best, then this pack is not for you.”

  Her heart began to pound. “I don’t want to leave.”

  “It would be difficult to get rid of you. I’ve heard the pack talking. Your food over the past three days has won them over. Some of the women are not happy, but don’t take shit from them. I don’t accept it. Learn to stick up for yourself, understood?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve really enjoyed the food as well.”

  “You have?”

  “Yes. I’ve not had good home cooking like that since my mother was alive.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  He nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “What if you can’t control me?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “If I go feral or if you can’t control me, and I can’t be brought back. What … how … I don’t want to die.”

  He nodded. “Follow me.”

  When she saw that he picked up his coffee, she followed him, eating her cookie as she did. They moved toward the gym, and she’d noticed a door that she’d assumed led to a storage room.

  It didn’t.

  Abel opened the door, switching on the light and allowing her to enter. The instant they were inside the room, she became aware of the warmth. Her wolf moaned against it and seemed to bask in the sudden flush of heat.

  He didn’t say anything as they moved down a long, old-fashioned flight of stairs that led to a dungeon.

  “You’ve got a heated dungeon?” she asked.

  “A long time ago I realized that with a lot of wolves who’ve been hurt and struggle between packs, warmth helps to soothe them. Calming them is always a challenge, but in these rooms, it helps to relax them, to draw them out. The cold only makes them more violent, and their rage is always in full force. Heated rooms are expensive but necessary. When it comes to the pack, I don’t spare any expense.”

  He opened one of the doors, and she stepped inside. There was no window, just walls, and as she moved toward the wall, she saw the chains. They were so thick.

  She lifted them up, feeling the weight within them. “You’ve kept wolves here?”

  “Yes. After sedating them, even when they try to change, the wolves stay shackled to the wall. If they do break free, I have reinforced doors. Everyone will be protected at all costs.”

  Cassie felt relief as she stared at the chains and the room. “This is amazing.”

  “Thank you. I will protect you, Cassie. That I can promise you.”

  “I believe you.” She held the chains in her hand, wondering if they could hold her.

  “Would you like me to try?” Abel asked.

  He stepped toward her, opening one of the chains. Her heart once again was racing as he held it there. “Put your hand inside, and you’ll be able to feel it.”

  She placed her hand in the chain, and he snapped it closed, doing the same with the next. Completely chained, she stared down at her hands. The weight was there, and to most pack, that would be enough to keep them still, to not fight. In fact, if she wasn’t so strong, she’d have collapsed to the floor just to take the pressure off.

  It wasn’t even hard for her to hold the chains up.

  “Try and pull free.”

  Taking a deep breath, she jerked forward. She kept on pulling the chains, trying to get free. Nothing budged, and she breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how hard she pulled, she wasn’t going to get away.

  People were safe, and she wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  Smiling, she turned toward Abel.

  “Feel good?”

  “Yes. I feel a little weird that I’m really happy about that.”

  “Do you like to cook?” he asked.

  She frowned. “Yes. It … soothes me.”

  “I’ve really enjoyed the meals you’ve been cooking. That’s what I want you to do every single day, and to bake for me and the pack.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yes, that will be your job. From now on, I don’t want you to hide from me. You’ve got to learn to deal with your anger, and to keep your strength under control.”

  “I’ve never lashed out in anger.”

  “You haven’t?”

  “It takes a lot for me to do that, and no one has ever been able to do so. I don’t think that will be a problem.”

  He stared at her, and she didn’t like the way he did. It was as if he was assessing her, trying to find a weakness.

  “You’ve only lost control during fear?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.”

  He moved toward her, removing the chains that bound her to the wall.

  She picked up her coffee that she’d placed on the floor as she’d looked at the room.

  They left the room, and she looked around, seeing at least six rooms. There was a room beneath the stairs.

  “Are all of these rooms for wolves?”

  “No. There’s one that is my personal room.” He turned toward her. “You don’t get to see that yet.”

  The promise in his words made her frown. Why would Abel have a room in the dungeon? And why would he be willing to show it to her?

  ****

  “Send this shit back. There’s too much salt!”

  “There’s not enough sugar i
n these cookies?”

  “Tell that woman she’d better clean that kitchen properly.”

  Abel didn’t relent in his mission to annoy, to frustrate, to anger Cassie. She’d been so sure in the dungeon that she had everything under control, but she didn’t. She’d never been pushed to the breaking point, and he was determined to make her snap, to see how much control she actually had, and if she even knew that she was holding on by a thread. His complaints were pathetic. The dinner was oversalted because of him. He’d kept sprinkling and sprinkling. The cookies were more than fine, but he’d also dunked them into his drink so that they splashed everywhere.

  He complained about the cleanliness of the kitchen as he’d heard she liked things to look just right.

  “I don’t like peanut butter. Tell her she cannot cook that crap in my house.”

  Each person would give him that horrible look, but he didn’t give a shit. It was his job to make the bad decisions, to push his pack so that they were better. Cassie was … impressive.

  In over a week, she hadn’t snapped.

  On Sunday, he’d demanded lunch, and that his pack was to visit so there were more people to see.

  The scent of chicken was amazing. From the orders he’d been sent, there were ten chickens being roasted for the pack to enjoy a nice, long Sunday lunch. His mouth was watering, and it hadn’t stopped since Cassie went into the kitchen.

  His morning toast wasn’t even burned.

  Sitting at the table, he watched as, one by one, his pack joined him.

  They sensed something was going to happen today. He hadn’t told them what he was doing, and they didn’t understand his sudden acts of cruelty toward the new woman in the pack. He didn’t give a shit what they thought right now.

  Cassie had been poked all of her life. She’d been hurt, and not once had she allowed that rage, that anger, to explode within her.

  He wanted to break her, to see her snap, and once it was done, he intended to help her, to draw her closer to him, so that he could show her he meant her no harm. All he wanted to do was to help her, to give her confidence within herself. He hated seeing this negativity or the fear.

  Every day he found himself drawn to her file, and he wanted to know as much about her as possible. Not a moment went by that he didn’t think about her. When he went to sleep, she was there in his thoughts and the same when he woke up. There was no break.

  She’d even starred in many of his fantasies. His need for her was constant within him, and he couldn’t turn it off, not that he wanted to.

  He’d taken many a cold shower, which had resulted in him taking his cock in hand and dealing with his arousal. She was the first woman to ever intrigue him like this or to capture his attention so surely.

  Jessica sat at the opposite end of the table. Her gaze was on him even as three men were watching her. She still thought there was an opportunity for them to be together. He’d been mean, blunt, and if she wasn’t careful, he’d be cruel to get his point across.

  One by one the pack arrived at the table just as some of the volunteers came out of the kitchen. Down the plates went, and he smiled. The food looked amazing. The pile of roasted potatoes was golden, crisp, and steam rose from them.

  She’d also done some leafy greens, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, and then the chickens came out. He noticed they were all carved and displayed on the plates for everyone to enjoy.

  Cassie was the last one to enter the main dining room, carrying two pots of gravy.

  The only seat available was the one near him, and he’d done it on purpose so that he could be near, to watch her reactions to him.

  Not all of the pack was present today, but that was okay.

  She nibbled her lip as she sat down.

  He was the one that made everyone say grace before they started to dive in. Holding out his plate in front of her, he saw her lip twitch, but she didn’t say anything as she began to put the food into his plate.

  Her hand shook a little.

  “Is it all cooked?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What about the chicken? I know we’re wolves, but even we can get stomachache from food.”

  Her hand was white as she clenched her knife, and he saw that it had also bent just a little.

  “Do you have a problem with my food?” she asked.

  “I’m just making sure you’re not serving substandard stuff to my pack.”

  “I would never do that.”

  “I don’t know that, do I?” he asked. “I don’t even know you, and you are a newbie here.”

  He saw the pain flash in her eyes, and he hated himself for his words, but it had to be done. This had to be done.

  Taking a bite, he wrinkled his nose even as his mouth watered. “Too much rosemary.”

  She didn’t say or do anything, just took a bite.

  He was aware of the pack watching his every move. Pushing some of his food around his plate, he took a bite of carrot. “That’s too sweet.”

  It was fucking heavenly.

  This woman could cook, and he felt spoiled for choice on what to eat.

  Again, she just took a deep breath and kept on eating. Her hands were shaking though at this point.

  His wolf sensed hers beneath the surface, pacing, waiting to strike. Waiting for a moment that he’d mess up just so she could pounce on him. His own wolf liked it. He wanted her to pounce and to play.

  Poking at his chicken, he wrinkled his nose, and this time added more pepper then more salt.

  “Bland,” he said.

  Everything tasted amazing, but he wanted to play with her, to push her.

  “Why do you keep messing with the food?” she asked. “If you don’t like it then stop me from cooking.”

  “Someone’s got to do it even if it’s badly.”

  There was silence at the table. They all knew the food was excellent. They hadn’t eaten so well since his mother’s passing, and that was some time ago. In fact, there were people here who hadn’t eaten his mother’s cooking.

  “I can’t do this.”

  She stood up and was about to take her plate as if to move. Before she could do that, he grabbed her wrist.

  “You will not move. You will sit at this table and do as you’re told. That’s what good little wolves do, as they’re told.”

  “Stop it,” she said.

  The violence was there.

  Years of rage at being kept locked up with no way out.

  Fear keeping her in place.

  You don’t need to be afraid, little wolf. I’m here.

  “Stop what? You’re lucky I’m even allowing you to eat. They didn’t let you, did they? You must’ve cost a fortune to keep.”

  That unleashed the fury. He couldn’t contain her arm as she pulled back, and then she threw her chair at him.

  “Leave!” He yelled for everyone within the room to go as he grabbed Cassie and threw her across the room away from his pack.

  She landed with ease on her feet, throwing her head back. He saw the amber of her eyes as the wolf came so close to the surface. She probably wouldn’t turn, but the risk was there. The beast was close within her, and wanted out.

  Her wolf wanted to attack.

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw his pack leave the room, taking as much food as possible with them.

  She didn’t wait for the last person to leave as she charged toward him. He had no intention of hurting her.

  He simply dodged her attack, making sure to keep her safe in the process. When she pulled away, she lifted up the table and threw it out of her way to come and get at him. He noticed broken plates, shattered wood, and other items that could hurt her.

  Finally, catching her in his arms, he pressed her down onto the floor, knocking the wind out of her.

  Straddling her waist, he caught her hands and pressed them above her head, keeping her down.

  Cassie didn’t let up easily. She kept struggling against him, convinced that she could get away, but h
e wouldn’t let her.

  She was at his mercy, and now he was the one in charge.

  After several minutes of fighting, she finally gave in, and only when he saw the amber of her eyes retract did he know she was back in charge of her wolf once again.

  Tears shone in her eyes, and she stared up at him in shock.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

  Then she burst into tears, curling up on her side and sobbing into her hands.

  Chapter Four

  Cassie’s throat hurt from the crying, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at anyone as the shame was just too much. She’d known he’d been trying to draw out her wolf, to make her attack, to make her do something she didn’t want.

  Today had been a bad day, a really bad day. Standing in front of the large swimming pool overlooking the night sky, she breathed in deeply, feeling her chest tighten from the pain. She couldn’t remember a time she’d cried so much in her life. She’d never been more embarrassed than right now.

  The water looked so soothing that she began to remove her clothes. No one had come near her since she lost her shit at dinner. Part of her wondered if she should risk being alone. Maybe death by becoming feral wasn’t such a bad thing.

  Once she was completely naked, she stepped into the water and sighed, loving the calm that came over her.

  Dipping down into the pool, she closed her eyes before coming up to the surface with a moan.

  At least Abel had kept her and his pack safe. She’d not hurt anyone, and that meant a great deal to her.

  “You know I was lying.”

  She dropped down into the water and turned to see Abel in the room. He wore a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else.

  “What?”

  Nakedness was something she’d been accustomed to, but around this new man, a man she had tried to hurt, it didn’t feel right. Abel would be well within his rights to demand her death.

  “Your food is delicious. I couldn’t fault it.”

  “I knew you were lying.”

  “You’ve got to learn to control your anger. Bottling it up is all fine and noble and shit, but there will come a point where you can’t control it. Where all of a sudden the littlest thing makes you mad, and that anger builds. It drives you to do things you wouldn’t do.” He knelt down near the pool, and she moved a little closer.