Read Online The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) by Natalie Shaw - Free Book Online Page A

enjoyed them, but that was when I'd thought they were make-believe. Escapism—that's all they'd ever been to me. I didn't want any of this—I wanted my boring, mundane, no-boyfriend life back. In my mind's eye, I could still see those wolves as they tore the life out of poor Anne. I hated the idea that I was one of those creatures. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.
    “Louise? What's wrong?” Craven looked surprised to see me at his door.
    “Can I come in?”
    “Of course.” He stepped aside. “Do you want a drink?”
    “No thanks. Can we talk?”
    “Sit down.” Craven pointed to the solitary armchair.
    “I need to understand,” I said.
    “I know. I'll tell you whatever you want to know.”
    “Was that Milton? Back there on the road?”
    “No. They were two of his pack. He probably thought they'd be enough to see you off.”
    “Will he try again?”
    “Yes. He won't give up until you and I are dead.”
    “What are we going to do?”
    “We have to find a pack. The two of us alone don't stand a chance, but if we can be accepted into a pack, we should be safe.”
    I hesitated before asking the question I really wanted to ask. “Am I really like you?”
    “A wolf shifter? Yes.”
    “How can I be? I can't change into wolf.”
    “You can. You've just forgotten how. It'll come back to you once you allow your instincts to take over.”
    “But I don't want to. I don't want to be one of those dreadful creatures—”
    He frowned.
    “Sorry. No offence.”
    “It will feel like the most natural thing in the world. You're a beautiful wolf. Even more beautiful than your human form.”
    It was possibly the strangest compliment I'd ever been given, and I felt my cheeks flush. “Why don't I remember any of this?”
    “I don't know. You were missing for so long.”
    “How did I go missing? What happened?”
    “I have no idea. It's possible Lassiter took you, but I can't be sure.”
    “And you've been looking for me for forty years?”
    Craven smiled. “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “You're my fated mate. We were born to be together. I vowed I would keep on searching until I found you or knew for sure you were dead.”
    “What about your pack?”
    “I left them behind. I couldn't expect them to follow me. They wanted me to take another mate, but I would never do that.”
    His words hit me like a hammer to my heart. No one had ever shown that kind of affection or devotion to me before. Something stirred inside me—a long forgotten emotion—I tried to keep a hold on it, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. I wanted him to pull me into his arms, but he was waiting—waiting for me to feel the same connection he felt.

Chapter 9
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    B y the time I left Craven's room, my head was full of thoughts, questions and fears. I didn't expect to sleep, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light. It was almost eight o' clock when I woke the next morning.  As I lay in bed, I thought about my accident and the aftermath. My first memory was of waking up in A&E. I'd been found unconscious by a woman taking her Akita for an early morning walk. My mind drifted back to that fateful day:
    I opened my eyes—someone was looking down at me.
    “Where am—?” My mouth was so dry, I could barely speak. “Where am I?”
    “You're in hospital,” the young woman said.
    My vision was slowly clearing—I could see she was wearing a blue nurse's uniform.
    “What happened?” I tried to sit up, but the nurse put a hand on my shoulder.
    “Don't try to get up. Wait until the doctor has seen you.”
    “Why am I here? What happened?”
    “What's your name?” she said, ignoring my questions.
    “It's—” My mind was a blank. I tried again, “My name is—”
    “It's okay. Don't worry. The doctor will be here in a few minutes.” With that, she disappeared. I glanced around to find I was in a small, tiled cubicle. A white curtain was drawn—beyond it I could hear voices and