Fated Legacy Complete Collection

Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

O nce downstairs, Simon wasted no time reaching into his kit in the back of the SUV, withdrawing a sufficient length of cord, and tying a simple ladder pattern which bound her legs together. He would have preferred the prettier mermaid pattern, but expediency was the rule of the day. At first she struggled, but as she felt the cord being wrapped around her and he rumbled soothingly, she relaxed. When he placed her into the padded cargo space in the back of the SUV, she was quiet.

“Are you with me, love?” he whispered.

She nodded and he arranged her so she was comfortable with her head on a pillow. He tucked her under a blanket, kissed her forehead, and closed the hatch.

“Did you know she would react that way?” asked Harry.

“Yes. I studied her Baker Street file. One of the Doms had made a notation that he thought for Mariah to truly relax and accept pleasure, she had to feel as though she had no choice. Shibari provides her with a place she can just let go—without any pressure or stress. She is forced to just feel, and the right Dom can get her to give over.”

“Are you driving?”

“No. You never leave your sub bound where you can’t keep her under observation. You drive while I sit in the back so I can watch over her.”

Mariah seemed to settle easily and when he rumbled to her and kept his hand on her shoulder, she was soft and compliant.

“Simon, how long will that last?”

“Subspace is different for every sub and aftercare is essential, but I would imagine as strong willed as Mariah is, once I remove her bindings, the pattern won’t have time to fade before she’s back to her feisty self.”

Simon watched the familiar landscape glide by. Although it was dark and there were no streetlamps, the clear and starry sky provided enough light that his heightened wolfen eyesight could make out familiar shapes along the way. Harry understood his alpha’s need to attend to his mate and to have a bit of quiet time, so he didn’t engage in idle conversation.

A little less than an hour later, they pulled into the drive that led to the castle. Tanglewood had been built by some of the earliest wolf-shifters in England. It sat on over three hundred acres of land and was completely self-sustaining, by design. At various times in its illustrious history, it had withstood war and sieges, keeping the pack safe through it all. Its main keep was elevated and secluded with sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

The upstairs main keep contained four enormous master suites, three of which were the same size and configuration. The rooms that comprised the alpha’s suite were immense, even by most castle standards. In addition, there were eight more bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bath. The ground floor was comprised of an enormous dining hall for the pack, plus kitchens, utility rooms, two drawing rooms, a massive library, and the alpha’s study.

The last section of the drive, which was lit all along its length with lanterns, terminated in a huge circular drive with grass in the center and surrounded by a flower garden. In the center of the circle of grass was a large stone fountain featuring a sculpture of a howling wolf.

The pack waited for them on the steps leading into the castle. The SUV pulled up and Simon lifted Mariah out of the back—bound and gagged in her beautiful shimmering dress—and tossed her over his shoulder. He headed up the stairs to the front doors, where he stopped and turned to address their people.

“Thank you one and all for your help in my ascension to Alpha of our pack.” The pack began to cheer, clearly happy with the day’s turn of events. Simon had to raise his free hand to quiet them. “I’m sure you have many questions and I promise you we will figure out the answers together. For right now, I would ask your indulgence as I claim my fated mate, Mariah.”

He shifted his mate on his shoulder slightly before continuing. “I would also ask that in light of the rash of murders we’ve suffered the past few weeks, that no one leave the estate by themselves, and she-wolves are not to be out of sight of the keep without an appropriate escort. I promise, my first order of business after taking Mariah to mate will be to find those who have struck at our pack and ensure that they pay for their crimes.

I have named Harry as my omega, Archie as my beta, and Graham will remain with us as consigliere. And in news that may or may not surprise all of you, he will be taking my Aunt Cecily to mate.”

A cheer went up once again as he steadied Mariah on his shoulder and entered Tanglewood Castle for the first time as alpha. Waiting for them at the foot of the stairs were Bryson and Mrs. Bryson, the major domo and head housekeeper for the castle.

“We took the liberty of preparing the alpha’s suite for you and your mistress,” said Bryson. “We moved your things into there. We can change anything you like and once you’ve rejoined us, we can install the mistress’ things as well.”

Mrs. Bryson stepped forward. “We’re all very happy about today’s events. Might I ask if you have determined the length of your seclusion?”

“It won’t be nearly as long as I’d like,” admitted Simon. “There’s much work to do and finding out who is killing our people has to take precedence. Tonight is Friday, we will rejoin the pack for Sunday brunch. Don’t go to any trouble.”

“No, Alpha. Your people have been waiting for you and we have cause to celebrate. You tell your mate I won’t let her down and she will be embraced by her new pack,” said Mrs. Bryson, who was the quintessential English housekeeper, the kind seen in those BBC series—short and round with a cheery face and smiling eyes.

Simon nodded. “Good. I’m assuming you’ve already given Graham one of the master suites.”

“No, Alpha,” said Bryson. “Your mother had him moved into one of the en-suite bedrooms.”

Bryson was a tall, robust wolf with a full head of hair and a stern face. As a young wolf, Simon had been intimidated by him, but Bryson was devoted to the Howard family. Both he and Graham had taught him what it was to be alpha.

“Move him back,” said Simon, suspecting that his mother had far more to answer for than he knew. “And set up the other two for Archie and Harry.”

“Very good, Alpha,” said Bryson with a smile. “Will you or the Mistress be in need of any help this evening?”

“No, Bryson. I think I can manage to claim and mark my mate without assistance,” Simon said, chuckling as Mariah began to stir. It was as if she was struggling to maintain her anger and outrage, and he admitted to himself she had every right to both. “But if you could have a tray brought up this evening and left outside the door and do the same throughout tomorrow, we would appreciate it.”

“Either Mrs. Bryson or I will see to it personally. And may I say this is a glorious day in the history of this family.”

“Thank you, Bryson. I’m trying very hard not to feel guilty for having allowed things to go as far as they did but I promise to see this pack led back to greatness and find those who are responsible for the deaths of our people.” Mariah began to fight, and Simon delivered a stinging blow to her backside. “Enough, mate,” he growled.

He took the steps two at a time and almost turned to the right to head to his old room, but stopped himself just in time and turned left, walking down the hall to the expansive doors which led into their suite of rooms.

Once inside, he closed and locked the doors behind him and lay Mariah on the enormous hand-carved four poster bed. He’d always been fascinated by the thing. It was gorgeous, and so high off the floor that most people would need stairs to get into it. It was also larger than a king size and all the bedding for it had to be custom made.

Simon removed a small blade from the scabbard attached to his ankle. “You’re not the only one with a penchant and preference for blades,” he said, smiling down at Mariah. He quickly and efficiently released her from her bonds and walked backwards to stand against the doors, waiting for her to remove the gag from her mouth.

“Mother fucker,” she snarled, throwing the impromptu gag at him.

“Language, mate. You are now Mistress of London, and you will not curse at people, especially me. If you forget, I will remind you and when we are alone, there will be discipline. It’s such a shame that your gown is full length and has long sleeves. I so enjoy seeing the pattern the bindings leave behind.”

“You can’t just kidnap me and install me here as your mate.”

“I think you will find, my beloved, that I can and will do pretty much as I please.”

Seeing her irritation and upset, he rumbled to her soothingly.

“Stop that,” she growled. “It’s annoying.”

Simon laughed. “No, it’s distracting and arousing, which is precisely how I want you—distracted and aroused.” There was a soft knock on the door and Simon opened it to find a lovely tray filled with a variety of things to eat. “I think Mrs. Bryson is worried I’ll deny you sustenance or that you won’t like what she has made. She’s an excellent cook and if there’s something you particularly enjoy, let her know. Also, if there’s anything you want to change at any of the properties we own, you should feel free to do so.”

“What if I want to toss you out on your ass and take over as alpha?”

“Interesting idea, but I think not. I have far too many deliciously, nasty plans for you, mate, starting with knotting and tying you as I mark you as mine.”

“Shit, Simon. You don’t even know me,” she said, her voice beginning to take on a desperate edge.

He rumbled to her in a low, seductive tone.

She threw a pillow at him. “I said don’t do that.”

“I really can’t help it. I see that you’re upset, and I want to comfort you.”

“You asshole. You want to seduce me and I’m telling you it won’t work,” she growled.

Simon blatantly sniffed the air. “Liar. We both know if I put my hand between your legs, you would be soaking wet. I imagine when I get you naked, your nipples will be ripe for suckling as will your swollen clit.”

Mariah backed across the bed from him, lowering herself until her feet touched the floor. “I will not submit.”

“You will and worse for you, you will revel in my embrace. You will scream my name and beg me to use you again and again.”

“You are fucking delusional,” she snarled.

“What I am, is done warning you about your language. You are a beautiful, intelligent, artistic woman with an advanced degree in fine arts and now Mistress of the London pack. That kind of language is beneath you.”

“Fuck you.”

“Not your safeword,” he said calmly, rumbling to her seductively once again.