2#Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Shifter Romance (Deliberate Theft) by Charlene Hartnady

as Zane is.”
    “Don’t
you dare talk to your king that way!”
    “Someone
has to tell you. I’m sure your female will agree.” Stephany knew it was a low
blow, but she didn’t care. She was beginning to think that Ward wasn’t completely
wrong in his assessment of the kings.
    “Yeah,”
he sighed. “I’m in for a ton of grovelling. Good thing Zane still has those
diamonds he procured before we mated Tanya.” He seemed to snap out of his
reverie. “I’m going to go now before you say something I can’t un-hear. I like
you, Stephany. I respect you. I want to talk further about this, but only once
you are calm. I don’t like this view point you have taken on me or the way you
are looking at me now. I value your opinion. I know it may not seem like it
right now, but I want what is best for you.”
    She
nodded, not trusting her own voice. As much as she wanted to hate him, she
couldn’t.
    “Try
and get some rest. I want your answer in the morning.”
    ****
    Sleep.
    As
if. Stephany threw the comforter off with a
disgusted groan. There would be no sleep for her tonight. Yet she felt too
exhausted to get out of bed so she lay there, in the dark, eyes wide open.
    Her
mind wandered to Ward. In the dungeon. He might be healing rapidly, but with a
wound like that, he would be in a world of pain. Not just physical.
    She
would never forget the look he had given her when he found out that she was
mated to Lance. Disbelief followed by sorrow, which quickly turned into
devastation. Not anger or disappointment, but complete devastation like she’d
pulled out his still beating heart and smashed it under her foot.
    What
the hell was she going to do?
    There
was a timid knock at the door. Stephany felt like burying herself under her
pillow and staying there indefinitely.
    “Steph,”
Tanya’s voice sounded through the door.
    “Come
in.” After her human friend had stood up for her, how could Stephany deny her? Besides,
she needed a shoulder right now.
    Her
friend turned on the light, closing the door behind her. Tanya’s hair was
mussed, she wore a pair of flannel pajamas. Her face was a mask of concern.
“How are you holding up?”
    Stephany
laughed. It came out sounding a little hysterical. “I’ve been better.”
    Tanya
sat down next to her on the bed and grabbed her hand. Stephany squeezed. “Thank
you for trying to help.”
    Tanya’s
eyes turned stormy. “Those two are in a world of freaking trouble. I can’t
believe that they had me bodily removed from the room.”
    “They
were afraid for your safety. It was for the best.” Stephany hugged herself.
    “What
about you? You’re not chopped liver.” Tanya raised her eyebrows.
    What
meat had to do with it, Stephany did not know. She remained silent.
    “It’s
unbelievable that the alpha—”
    “Ward,”
Stephany whispered. “His name is Ward,” she repeated more loudly.
    Tanya
smiled sadly. “My bad…Ward is going to be punished while Lance will get away
with a warning. I heard Zane beat his ass though. Is that part at least true?”
    “Yeah,
although he did not beat his ass…” Stephany felt her brow crease. “He beat him
on the face and torso.”
    Tanya
giggled. “You vampires crack me up.”
    This
was a phrase that Stephany had heard before…crack me up meant that it made her
laugh. Stephany did not understand why she worded it that way or why she would
feel any type of joy at a time like this. Humans were strange.
    Tanya’s
face turned serious, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth for a few
beats. “I’m very angry with them. Brant told me about the ultimatum as well. I
tried to talk him into letting the wolf…Ward go…to let him be with you when”—she
swallowed hard—“you know, but he refused. I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s
not your fault. Thanks for trying.” Stephany paused. “Did Brant happen to
mention what he will demand from Ward as punishment?”
    Tanya
nodded. “I have to say that he is letting the…Ward off