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

lightly. He will need to
swear his allegiance to both kings. He will also need to agree to allow a group
of our scouts to return with him so that we know where the wolves are staying,
as Zane and Brant would like to visit.”
    She
must’ve made a strange noise or it was possible that Tanya saw something in her
eyes, because she stopped talking. “What is it?” she asked and then frowned.
    “Ward
will never agree.”
    “Oh,
no,” Tanya covered her mouth. “I’m not sure what Brant will do if he refuses.”
    It
was so unfair. So cruel, so calculating. Stephany took a deep breath. “He will
be forced to make an example of him. Ward is in grave danger.”
    “No,”
Tanya paused. “Surely he wouldn’t hurt the wolf...”
    “Your
kings love you, Tanya. They would do anything for you. I’ve seen the way they
coddle you and give in to your every whim.”
    “Not
every.” Tanya pouted.
    “Okay...they
mostly give in to your every desire but make no mistake, they are ruthless and
in some cases heartless. I have watched both kill without remorse and on many
occasions.”
    Tanya
gasped, her eyes widened and her face turned pale. Stephany could hear how her
heart sped up.
    “I’m
sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. They are right to keep you out of it.”
    “No.”
The human shook her head, her dark hair flying about her face. “I know that
they are all of those things. Knowing does not make me feel any less for them
though.”
    “Good.”
Stephany moved to a sitting position, she folded her legs beneath her. “It was
not my intention to tarnish them in your eyes. I was wrong to have said
anything.”
    “You
think that Brant will have him killed?” Tanya asked, immediately chewing on her
lip.
    “Or,
they’ll leave him to rot in the dungeon until he concedes. They will not let
him go.” Stephany picked at a piece of lint on the bed.  “He will never agree.
I was not permitted to walk within the shifter camp. I had to be blind folded
when we left. The only card the wolves hold is the ability to disappear. Once
Zane and Brant know the location of their camp, it will become more difficult
for the shifters to hide. We will become all the more powerful against them.”
Stephany shook her head. She wanted to tell Tanya about the ‘secrets’ Ward had
alluded to, but she decided to keep that to herself.
    “What
are you going to do?”
    “I
will do whatever Brant wants, just as long as Ward is not…” She clutched a hand
to her mouth. A hot tear rolled down her cheek. “He can’t die,” her voice
sounded muffled behind her hand.
    Tanya
looked at her with concern. “I heard that Ward will make it. He won’t die.”
    “Not
from that particular wound he won’t.”
    “I
won’t let them execute him.” Tanya’s eyes turned stormy.
    Stephany
knew that Tanya meant well, but her friend had no say in the matter. Not unless
Brant and Zane disagreed and Stephany had a feeling that they would see eye to
eye on this one.
    “I
just wish that I could get a message to him. He needs to do as they say. Buy me
some time to help him escape…” Oh damn, she shouldn’t have said that to the
kings’ mate.
    Tanya
nodded, her eyes wide, a solemn expression on her face. Maybe she really was on
Stephany’s side. It still wasn’t right to put her in the middle like this. “He
probably wouldn’t listen to me anyway, not after I deceived him.”
    “Deceived
him?” her brow creased.
    “He
didn’t know about Lance.” Tanya’s mouth made an ‘o’ and her eyes widened. “I
had planned on telling him,” she quickly added.
    “It’s
not like you and Lance are really an item or anything.”
    “We
are mates. Ward doesn’t know the dynamics.”
    “I
guess not…” She looked thoughtful for a few seconds.
    “He
wanted to take me back with him. We planned on asking Brant and Zane.” Her lip
quivered so she bit down on it. “Ward said that I didn’t have to terminate and
he wanted to prove it to me. Begged me to