Freya's Mates

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2011 Stacey Espino

  ISBN: 978-1-926950-60-0

  Cover Artist: LF Designs

  Editor: Marie Buttineau

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  This one goes out to all the lovely Evernight Publishing authors. What a talented, supportive group to be a part of. I'm truly honored.

  FREYA'S MATES

  Pack Seduction, 2

  Stacey Espino

  Copyright © 2011

  Chapter One

  After spending the frigid night hiding behind rancid dumpsters, and the day in various sheds and garages, Freya grew desperate and hungry. She only wore tattered clothes she'd found on a clothesline in one of the backyards she'd used as a refuge. This city was new and unfamiliar to her, but at least she was free. Life on the run was preferable to fulfilling a destiny she wanted no part of. Her mother had sent two shifters to try and bring her back to the royal palace, but she'd gained her freedom once again. Next time she may not be so lucky, so she needed to be more careful.

  She didn't know where to turn at this point. Her sister, Carna, was mated to four alpha shifters. Freya wished her the best, hoping she'd found the happiness and stability they'd all sought for so many years. Now it was just her and Delia on the run, and Freya lost track of Delia years ago.

  "What have I gotten myself into?" she muttered to herself. Maybe she should have stayed with Carna when she had the chance. Gods it had been good to see her sister again, but Freya wouldn't be a burden to anyone. She wasn't the responsibility of Carna's mates, not theirs to protect and care for. This was for the best, she tried to convince herself. She was meant to be on the road, alone, and on the run—a free spirit, a phantom wolf. It's what she knew and what she grew accustomed to over the years. If she returned home, she'd be the target for every shifter eager to mate with one of the last royal females. Or her mother would set her up with a list of pre-selected suitors. She wanted no part of a forced mating.

  She crept out of her hiding place as the sun set, following the scent of food on the breeze. Walking in a crouch, she used her senses to try and detect any potential threat, but the coast appeared to be clear. She followed the narrow alleyway, trailing the scent to the rear of a large brick building. A single metal door at the rear of the establishment was closed tight, but she could hear and feel the deep bass of music coming from inside. Her curiosity was piqued. She imagined a room filled with sweat-glistened bodies, losing themselves to the techno beat. But even in a crowd she wasn't safe. There were shifters everywhere—not just in the forests and backcountry, but living amongst humans in towns and heavily populated cities. If there were shifters, they'd recognize the scent of her royal blood within seconds. Then they'd want her. Not for the woman, the wolf, or any deep seated longing—just for her pedigree and what she represented. Male shifters would kill to mate with one of the three Demori sisters, only two left unmated now that Carna had found her fate.

  "I'm sure they'd let you in the main entrance. You're cute. They'll send you to the front of the line." The male voice originated in the deep shadows along the building. "Not sure about the get-up, though."

  Her hackles rose. Why hadn't she sensed him? A billow of sweet-smelling smoke surrounded his face, still hidden in the darkness. He leaned against the building, one jean-clad leg bent up. When she realized he wasn't a shifter, her defenses lowered. Just another human. Not a threat. Only shifters went crazy from the scent of her blood.

  "What's inside?"

  "Club Frenzy. You'll find everything you're looking for in there." He took a drag on his cigarillo. The human was tall, but that's about all she could gauge besides the deep tone of his voice.

  "I just want food. I'm not looking for a good time, if that's what you're suggesting." Freya spent her fair share of time moving from one city to the next. Sometimes nice hotels, other times little shitholes frequented by drug addicts and prostitutes. She didn't want this stranger mistaking her for one of those ladies of the night. If anything, Freya still had her dignity.

  "Well, it's not my first choice for a decent meal." He pushed off from the wall, stepping into the dim glow of the outdoor lighting. The human had narrow eyes, dark as the night sky. His hair was black and tousled. Freya froze as he moved toward her. He scrubbed a hand over a neatly trimmed goatee, a devilish smirk on his lips.

  "I'm not picky. Do you have a key?" She took a step back, not eager to get so close to a man she knew nothing about. Unlike Carna, she wasn't as comfortable with her sexuality. Her raging monthly urges were a source of dread.

  This human's size and rugged good looks tempted her in ways she'd never known. She didn't feel threatened. Her wolf could rip him apart, and he'd be helpless with no teeth or claws to protect himself. What she feared was her own desire.

  "No, but I can get you in." He took another step forward, and reached out to lift a section of her hair, feeling it between a thumb and finger. Everything about him was calm and unrushed. "What's your name?"

  She almost leaned into his heat, somehow enamored by the human. "Freya."

  "Well, Freya, I'm Darius. Get ready for a wild ride," he said before banging a fist on the metal door. The echoing boom was rewarded with a quick response. "Mind if I bring in a guest?"

  The oversized shifter looked her up and down before nodding.

  Darius stepped into the club, pausing for her to follow. Should she go? She had no clue what awaited her inside. The kidnappers her mother had sent for her could be waiting just past the threshold. But her basic need for food overpowered any logical thought. Freya followed behind the human, putting as much distance between her and the imposing shifter as possible. Once inside, a different world awaited her. The music drowned out every other sound, beating in her chest like a living force. Colored lights zigzagged around her, adding to the chaos and confusion of the bustling nightclub. Women and men reveled in the sex-laden atmosphere, dancing, making out, and drinking. It was the perfect place to blend in, to get lost when she didn't want to be found. Surely the male shifters wouldn't be able to pinpoint her scent amongst the flood of stimuli around them.

  She zeroed in on her target—the grill near the back bar. The rich scents enticed her, beckoned her. Gods her stomach protested violently. A nice steak, medium-rare, would hit the spot about now. She hadn't eaten anything in nearly two days as she remained in hiding. Freya turned to the right, moving fast, twisting in and out of the dancers, hoping to lose her companion as she moved closer to the bar. Her stealth had aided her in many escapes over the years.

  "Do you have a menu?" she asked the bartender, leaning over the counter on her elbows. Freya had to shout just to be heard. The shifter was busy mixing drinks, serving several customers at once.

  He paid her no heed, dealing with the others ahead of her. His blond hair was casually brushed off his face and his blue eyes were dominant in the dim lighting. When he glanced in her direction, he did a double take, and chose to offer his undivided attention. "Can I help you?" He flipped the two bottles he handled with expert skill, setting them on the lower counter in front of him.

  She looked over her shoulder to make sure the human still hadn't found her. "I want to order food. Do you have a menu?" she repeated.

  His e
yes narrowed. "Menu? This ain't a restaurant, sweetheart. The best I can do is chicken strips and French fries. We have a fryer. That's about it."

  "Fine. I'll take whatever you have." She was ready to dumpster-dive with the stray cats if she didn't get a meal soon—or perhaps shift and make a meal of the cats themselves.

  He stood there for a moment, assessing her. Did he detect her true identity, or was her request really that unusual? She took note of the patrons sitting at the counter to her left and right. The people were drinking and mingling, not eating.

  After his pause, he disappeared into the kitchen at the end of the bar. Freya fidgeted, not comfortable around so many potential fortune-seekers. She couldn’t count the number of male shifters that had tried to entrap her in the past, hoping to become a part of history by mating with one of the legendary sisters of royal blood. Just because she carried the future for all shifters in her veins, passed on from select female to select female in the royal family, didn't mean she would be forced into a loveless mating. She'd choose a man when she was damn good and ready.

  The fact her sister had given up the good fight, mating instead of continuing to run like her and Delia, had forced Freya to think about her own future. As she holed up for the past couple days, waiting for her captors to give up their search, she had more than enough time to think. Maybe she should settle down and stop running. But how could she choose a mate when she had no life? It would be impossible for her to develop a normal relationship. She had no home, no roots, and no job. All she did was wander, determined to stay single…to what end? Her determination had been so one-sighted that she didn't notice her life slipping by. She wasn't getting any younger. What did the future hold for her?

  "Here you go, blondie." The bartender dropped a plate in front of her. A couple fries spilled off the side onto the counter. She frowned, but was too hungry to say a word in protest. Freya began to shovel food into her mouth. She knew she must look classless, but the grease and salt on her tongue was sheer heaven, and she couldn't eat or swallow fast enough. "You're hungry. How about a drink?" Freya only nodded, not willing to answer when all that mattered was filling her stomach. The shifter watched her with interest, as if she were a freak show he couldn't pry his eyes from. Was that a grin? With her plate half finished, she began to slow down her frantic pace. She became more aware of her surroundings and took stock of the man staring at her from behind the counter. He really did have the bluest eyes. A cougar. Wild cats had distinctive eyes, and he was close enough for her to scent him.

  But if she could scent him, then he could scent her. Shit! She bolted from her seat and disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor. With her hunger satisfied, her focus was on getting the hell out of the club and back into the open air. She'd hitch a ride with some unsuspecting humans and find a new city to hide out in.

  Freya pushed through the throngs of people, their flesh warm and moist from perspiration. The front doors were here target, the symbol of freedom from the stale air suffocating her. She felt trapped, watched, and had to escape. The lit exit sign drew closer with each step, but when she emerged from the dance floor a heavy set of hands shackled her upper arms, barring her retreat.

  Freya struggled to no avail. "Let me go," she ordered.

  "Ah, ah, ah, sweetheart. We don't take kindly to dine and dashers at Club Frenzy." He spun her around, still holding her secure. It was that cute bartender. Instead of concerning himself with her pedigree, he only wanted her to make good with her bill? The news was a relief, but also a problem considering she had no money. When she'd been captured, days earlier, she'd shifted and lost all her identification, along with her clothing.

  "I don't have any money," she said, hoping he'd let her go.

  "Well, that's a problem, then. You'll have to talk with Gideon about that."

  He began to tug her along, pushing through the dancers. If he wasn't so tall and built, she'd have put up more of a fight, but knew it would be useless. His arms were thick with muscle, and she could imagine the rest of him was just as strong. "Who's Gideon?" She didn't like the idea of being taken anywhere. Her sister, Delia, always taught her not to allow a man to take her to a secondary location if she had a bad feeling about him. She had a bad feeling about this Gideon, whoever he was.

  "He owns the club. If you can't pay, he's the only one you can appeal to."

  "Or what? You call the cops?"

  He chuckled, but didn't answer. Her hackles rose as she followed stiffly behind him. Was Gideon a shifter, too? She had a hard time understanding why the cougar hadn't hit on her. Couldn't he scent her royal blood? She'd guess he was mated, but Freya had a good look at his tanned neckline and saw no love bites. If felt odd being so close to a man without having to fight them off.

  They neared a lonely doorway at the far wall of the club, marked private. The cougar knocked on the door before opening it. With his hand still clasped around her arm, he pulled her in after him. She felt like the worst sort of criminal, but all she'd done was skip-out on a bill, and even that wasn't intentional. If they knew the kind of money she had in her bank account or about the royal blood flowing in her veins, they certainly wouldn't be treating her like a common thief.

  The room was not what she expected. It was night and day from the darkness, and depravity of the night club. Everything was a warm tan color with hints of yellow, and a bit of red. She couldn't help but admire the African inspired artwork adorning the walls of the large room. An oversized oak desk, with intricate details carved into the wood, sat at the far wall with an Adonis of a shifter sitting behind it. Was this Gideon, the club owner?

  He stood up, his brow lowered as he assessed her. "What's the problem, Vincent?"

  "Another one trying to skip out without paying." He released her arm and gave her a little shove, landing her in the center of the office. "Thought you might want to deal with it personally."

  "Thanks, Vincent. I'll take it from here." Was he a lion shifter? She had only met one in the past. They were a rare and revered race. His alpha aura was so potent that she couldn't help her body's response. Her stomach fluttered with sexual yearning from just his scent. Her little wolf would be helpless against the size and strength of a full grown, male lion shifter. The mere idea of being at his mercy brought out her base desires. She shocked herself from the wicked thoughts flitting in her head. The moon wasn't full. She shouldn't be in heat, but in the span of an hour she'd been devastatingly attracted to three separate males.

  Gideon's hair was a mix of brown and blond, hanging just past his shoulders. His eyes were more yellow than green, so dominant against his golden skin. Damn was he ever huge. He'd make an excellent protector, not that she needed one. She'd learned well from her sisters on how to survive alone in the cold, cruel world. It was only in times of weakness that she craved a respite, a chance to stop looking over her shoulder and have a male take charge of her safety.

  The door clicking shut brought her back to the present. The lion was staring at her, like a predator sizing her up as he walked around to the front of his desk. He sat on the edge and crossed his heavily muscled arms over his chest. Such strength. "What should I do with you, little wolf?"

  "You know what I am?" Of course he did. Then why was he not responding like every other shifter she'd come across? Was there something about this club that kept her unique scent masked? Was the fact these men appeared disinterested the reason she craved them so intensely?

  He took a couple steps toward her, taking deep breaths to inhale her scent. She didn't move a muscle. Even though she felt alone and threatened standing in the middle of the large room under his scrutinizing gaze, she would not show weakness. "Do you know what I am?"

  "Of course. You're a lion. Only a fool would mistake you for another race." Was she too eager in answering? It had to be true, though. Any shifter, male or female, must be able to sense his overwhelming aura. Even now it lulled her into beautiful submission, such potency and power.

  He chuckled. "
Then it only makes sense I'd be able to detect what you are. Don't you think?" Gideon circled her, but she remained in place. "You're far from home, aren't you?"

  He had a knowing look in his eye. How did he know she was far from home?

  She had to get free. The longer she stayed in his presence, the less chance she'd have at leaving—ever. If this lion shifter decided he wanted her as a mate, she'd have little say to the contrary. She may have a wicked bite, but he could snap her like a twig and demand her obedience. "Look, I have no money. Do you want me to wash dishes or something?"

  "Now why would I let a princess scrub dishes? No, I have better plans for you." When he began to unfold his crossed arms she flinched and then mentally cursed herself for showing her fears. "Do you think I'd hurt you?" He scowled before returning to his desk. He sat in the oversized leather chair and began shuffling papers, effectively ignoring her. "Because I'm a lion I'm capable of harming a female?" The shifter nearly growled the words.

  A knock sounded at the door behind her, and then opened before Gideon could reply. "Hey, Gideon, let me pay her tab." The human from the alley stepped into the room, leaving the door ajar. Heat and music drifted in, killing the tense silence within. She eyed the open entry, ready to make a dash for freedom at a moment's notice. Her heart beat triple time. She'd been discovered for who she was by the lion and had to get the hell out of Dodge.

  "Sorry, you won't be able to save this one." Gideon continued to sort his papers as if discussing the weather. "Don't come in my office uninvited again."

  "I said I'd pay for her. Fuck, I'll pay double. What's the problem?"

  She may have tried to lose the human when she first arrived at the club, but now she felt drawn to him. Gideon suddenly stood, his hands braced on the desk as if he held onto control by a thread. "Don't test me, Darius. I already give you more leeway around here than I should."