I scoffed at his arrogance. “You mean it would be easier for you.”
He deftly slid a key out of his pocket and held it up in front of the cage for me to see. He clicked his tongue and smiled. I thought he was going to open my cage. I was wrong. He strutted over to Kesha’s cage and glanced at me before putting the key into its lock.
Kesha began shaking with such severity that I was worried she was having a seizure. I slammed my body against the cage door. I wanted to break free. I wanted to get his attention. Anything that I could do to save Kesha. I slammed my body against the cage again.
“Leave her alone!” I shrieked.
Cain laughed at my demand and opened the door to Kesha’s cage. I slammed against the bars once more. I tried to ignore the pain in my shoulder. I was certain it was dislocated. Cain grabbed Kesha by her ankle and dragged her from her cage. She clawed at the bars. She clawed at the ground. I needed to do something. I promised to protect her, and I needed to do whatever I could to keep that promise.
I shut my eyes and called to my wolf. My fingertips tingled and pain snaked through my body as bone splintered and reformed. Claws emerged from the skin of my fingers. I pressed them into the flesh of my neck and grimaced as blood blossomed at the site of penetration.
The scent of blood caused Cain to release Kesha. She scurried back into her cage and curled up in a corner against the bars.
“What are you doing?” Braelin screeched.
“I will rip my goddamn throat out if you touch her!”
He glared at me with his golden eyes. “I dare you.”
Blood spilled freely as I pushed my claws deeper into my neck. I suppressed the urge the scream. I met his eyes with determination. I was afraid for Kesha. I was afraid for myself. I needed Cain to take my threat seriously. Cain went to Kesha’s cage and for a second, I thought he was going to grab her again. He didn’t. He shut the door to the cage and locked it.
His expression was deadly. He would not forget this moment soon. “You have a choice to make. Choose me as your mate or I'll make the decision for you. I'll give you the night to think it over. Let’s go, Braelin.”
“I didn't know he would do this,” Braelin admitted.
“Braelin!” he hollered.
She hesitated only a minute before disappearing outside with Cain.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I wasn't typically claustrophobic but being held in a cage for several hours certainly pushed me in that direction. There was no way to discern the time, but I could hear the songs of robins in the nearby trees, so I knew it was sometime before dawn. Cain will be back soon. I knew I couldn’t give myself up to him, but I also couldn’t allow anything to happen to Kesha. Resting my head against the bars of the cage I inhaled sharply. There was no answer. No way to win except to hope that Tato and Toni had made it back to Rikki and the others.
My arm was healed, skin fully intact as if my flesh hadn't been torn and bleeding only several hours ago. It was remarkable how fast werewolves could heal. How fast I could heal now. I shut my eyes from exhaustion, only now realizing how tired I was from all the chaos and lack of food.
“Bonnie.”
Part of me thought I was in a dream. My eyes fluttered open, hearing my name called aloud. I looked over in the next cage and observed Kesha huddled in the corner, asleep. I squinted my eyes in the dark and shuddered from the cold air.
“Bonnie.”
I recognized the voice this time. Braelin.
“I don't have much time. Cain is sleeping.”
I stared at her, incredulous. “You want to help us?”
She nodded. A key was produced from her jacket pocket, and she unlocked the cage so swiftly that I wasn’t sure she had even done anything until the door swung open. I snatched the key from her hand and hastened to Kesha’s cage to free her. She was startled at the sound of her cage door rattling.
“Hey, it's me,” I whispered, trying to calm her.
Kesha flew out of her cage and into my arms.
“Are we free?” Kesha asked, her fingers pressing desperately into the flesh of my waist.
“We are getting out of here, Kesha.”
Most of the rogues were still asleep. We had to creep along in the cold morning air, being careful of our steps. Kesha had not let go of me since we left the tent, but she was holding my hand instead of my waist now.
Once we had reached a safe distance, Braelin handed me a flashlight. I passed it over to Kesha.
“When I tell you to run, do it. Don’t look back and make sure you use the flashlight to guide you down the trail.” I felt my resolve returning.
Kesha only looked back at me. She was ready to run. The silence between the three of us was short-lived. I heard leaves crunching several feet behind us. I could only catch the scent of one rogue. He must have been a dominant – submissives would never go hunting alone.
I turned to Braelin. “She can’t go alone, not while we are being stalked. You have to take her back to my pack.”
She frowned. “Fine. We will take one of the cars.”
“What about you?” Kesha asked, concerned.
“Someone needs to distract the hunter. Don’t worry about me.”
Kesha squeezed my hand and then let go.
I heard the snapping of branches and I knew the rogue was getting ready to attack. I shut my eyes, letting my wolf emerge as a low growl rumbled in my belly. My hands balled into fists and I grimaced, feeling sharp claws pierce the palms of my hands.
“Go. Now!” I barked.
Braelin yanked Kesha behind her, and the two of them disappeared into the surrounding woods.
I shifted in the space of a couple of heartbeats and raced to meet the rogue who was stalking us. He charged me, but I was ready for him. I rammed my fist in between his ribs, and the rogue flew backwards into the thick trunk of a tree. My heart pounded in my ears. My breathing was heavy and ragged, producing fog with each exhale into the cold air.
His fangs were exposed as he rose from the ground, his golden eyes darkening. His thick paws crunched over the leaves. There was no human reason left. Only the primal. Only the instinct. Only the wolf. He launched himself from his hind legs and used his forepaw to swipe a hit aimed for my neck. I barely dodged his massive claws and stumbled. I regained my balance as the rogue’s teeth caught my left foreleg, biting down through my wolf flesh. I felt the nearly fracture. I snarled as pain shot up my leg. I twisted my head and bit his neck, trying to wrench my foreleg free. It worked. He yipped and backed away, and I headed for the woods.
My stomach fluttered. The darkness of the early morning was giving way to the sun. I thought it was a good sign. Tato and Toni had made it home, and now the pack would be here soon ready to do battle and eliminate the threat of Cain and his rogues for good.
A low-hanging tree limb smacked me in the face.
I stopped to shake the loose tree bark dust from my eyes.
A loud snap spooked me, and I tried to run, but something around my neck wouldn’t allow it. The sick sound of laughter forced me to remain in place. Cain. As I turned around, I realized that I was wearing a collar connected to a long chain. The end of the chain was in Cain’s hand.
“When you act like a bad dog, you get treated like one.” Cain yanked on the chain, dragging me behind him back to the campground.
*
The afternoon sun made the tent feel like a greenhouse. The air was stifling. Whatever strength I had left was spent on each breath I took. I hadn’t really expected to escape but was stupid enough to let a tiny sliver of hope influence my emotions when I was running in the woods. I quelled the rush of oncoming tears, knowing that it would drain valuable energy to cry.
The tent flaps were pushed aside, and Cain sauntered inside the tent. He was angry.
“Someone is here for you.”
I knew instantly he was talking about Rikki.
“I just wanted to let you know so when we are finally mated on a beautiful fur rug, you’l
l know whose pelt it is.”
He was trying to bait me. I wasn’t going to bite.
He scoffed and then smiled. “I’ll be back soon. Then we can celebrate.”
He left the tent and snarls filled the atmosphere outside. I shuddered. Cain barked orders, but the canvas material of the tent muffled the words. It had begun. I needed to trust that Rikki and the pack would prevail against the rogues. I needed to.
He returned a few minutes later with one of his rogues still in human form. He pointed at my cage. “Bring her outside. Use the collar.”
I was restrained and dragged outside, my mind fuzzy and dizzy from the heat.
I blinked, trying to make out forms as my eyes adjusted to the light outside the tent. The rogues had shifted, except for Cain and the rogue at my side who still had a tight grip on the chain connected to my collar. I scanned the grounds in front of us. 30 yards ahead stood Tato and Toni. My heart nearly leapt from my chest. The rest of the pack emerged from the woods in turn, and finally Rikki stepped forward.
They were allowed to come within 10 yards of the rogue pack.
Rikki narrowed her eyes at Cain. “You know why we are here, Cain. Release Bonnie.”
Cain snorted. “I’m not in the business of letting go of my property.”
“But, is she really?” Rikki questioned.
There was a furtive look embedded in Rikki’s stoic expression that Cain didn’t catch. I did.
“He has a bad habit of not listening.” Braelin walked up, arms crossed over her chest. There was defiance in her posture. She saw me and winced. “You swore to never harm her. I was foolish to trust you.”
I hadn't taken the time in my capture to consider who Braelin could be. The idea of me being connected to her was not a thought I wanted to consider, so I put it out of my mind. I was good at hiding from my own thoughts. I only wish I had the ability to hide forever. But seeing her now, resembling someone I knew once, it was hard to pretend. I tore my eyes from her and back to Rikki, who had been watching me. My expression of confusion betrayed me, but Rikki said nothing.
Cain shook his head.
“I could have left you to be taken advantage of by so many dominants. I took you under my care and you,” he pointed at Braelin, disdain in his voice, “turned your back on all of us. Your family. She is mine.”
“Is she really?” Rikki repeated.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to read between the lines. Rikki glanced at me meaningfully and I knew she'd learned something I was unaware of yet. I peered at Braelin.
“If you’ve come to challenge me for her, let us get this over with then,” Cain said.
Rikki snarled. It was plain for anyone to see that she wanted this fight. There would be no talking her out of it.
“Wolf or human?”
“Human,” he replied smugly. “To the death. And when I kill you...your pack will be mine.”
The wolves made a circle in the middle of the campground. Rikki and Cain met one another in its the center. The atmosphere was thick and suffocating. My mind was foggy, but my eyes were focused on each movement of the two in the middle of the circle.
A roar.
A howl.
It began.
Rikki’s fists met the tissue and bone of Cain’s face with incredible force. He stumbled but did not fall. One of his rogues lunged forward to steady him before Rikki could land another blow. I tried to stand so that I might view the battle better, but a warning growl from the rogue holding my chain stopped me. I closed my eyes for a moment to tell myself that Rikki would win. She had to win.
I noticed one of Cain’s rogues prowling the outside perimeter of the circle. He was searching for an advantage, for some weakness in the line of our pack.
“Watch the rogues!” I yelled to Toni.
Upon hearing me, Toni turned to meet the rogue behind him. He gnashed his teeth threateningly. It seemed to work for the moment. The rogue backed away a few feet. My rogue warden snarled his disapproval at me. I ignored it and returned my attention to Rikki. She had already sustained a few injuries, but they were nothing serious. Cain’s leg raised to kick Rikki in her belly, but she caught his calf midair, and slung him into a nearby tree.
Leaves rained over their heads as Rikki slammed Cain’s head against the tree. I shook with anticipation and anxiety. I was glad to see Cain weakening under Rikki’s attacks, but I knew that my freedom wouldn’t be won until he was dead. He tried to fight back but was unable to because of Rikki’s relentless and hammering punches. A few of the rogues roared in anger, ready to join the fight.
Rikki jammed her claws in between his ribs. Cain howled and grabbed her wrists, then tried to pry them out. Blood gushed from his wounds, which only spurred Rikki to continue. She drilled her claws into him deeper, forcing more blood from his body.
A rogue leapt forward to attack Rikki. I struggled against my chain and was yanked back in place by my rogue keeper. More soon joined in the attack against Rikki, but the wolves of my pack were faster. Toni pinned a rogue underneath him and tore into his neck with barbaric intensity. I winced from the sight of exposed tendons and searched for Rikki in the messy scene that was unfolding in front of me.
“Bonnie!” Braelin’s voice echoed through the crowd of fighting wolves.
Two rogues hopped in her way as she tried to run to me. She brandished a long blade and crouched, ready to fight. One of the rogues tried to grab her when she attacked from its flank, but she cut through the rogue’s flesh with ease. The second moved in behind her while her attention was still drawn to the first. Braelin never gave them an opening.
Braelin moved swiftly, plunging her blade into the first rogue’s neck and then twisted to slam the pommel of her blade into the second rogue’s forehead. The first rogue died quickly, and the second merely staggered from the blow.
I could smell blood and death. All for control and power. I wanted it to end. I just wanted it all to end. I punched the soil beneath me.
“Enough!” I screamed.
No one stopped. No one heard me. Air filled my lungs and dissipated. I gritted my teeth. My wolf wanted control. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want death, or blood, or pain. I could feel the vibration of the wolf inside me as her heat warmed my body. Everyone continued to fight, their auras dark and knotted. Their energy flowed into me, and I realized then my true power as an Omega – I could manipulate that energy and use it to my advantage.
I needed to work quickly. I wanted to prevent more bloodshed. I could feel the Omega in me emerge as I immersed myself in the energies surrounding me. I connected them all together like weaving individual threads to create a fabric with a specific pattern. I was connected to all of them.
“Enough.”
They responded to my command instantly. The wolves shifted to human form before my eyes. Confusion rippled through both packs, and the thick anger in the air evaporated into the glaring rays of the sun. This is what I wanted. I wanted the fighting to end. I wanted every wolf to submit.
Cain stood slowly, surveying the scene. Rikki rushed to my side and threw her arms around me. I was thankful for her touch. I was drained.
“What did you do to my rogues?” Cain snarled. He called to all of them, “Shift back!”
Several tried to obey Cain's command but found themselves struggling to shift. Everyone looked to me, understanding that I was preventing them from being able to transform. I stripped them of their wolves. Temporarily. I stretched my limbs out in front of me and watched as Braelin approached us. I was finally allowed to stand.
Cain stood motionless in astonishment. Hatred saturated the colors in his eyes. It was clear that whatever he sought to use me for no longer mattered to him. Quickly, he launched himself toward me and Rikki turned to protect me as they collided like Titans. Their exposed flesh glowed under the hot sun as each blow landed. Cain tried to kick Rikki’s legs out from under her, but she was ready for him. She grabbed his leg and flung him aside. He nearly collided into one of his r
ogues.
No one stood to help him this time.
Rikki jumped on top, her knees buried in his stomach. A barrage of punches landed on Cain’s face, his features buckling under each blow. Blood mushroomed from his wounds and spilled across his head. He tried to fight back, but Rikki’s punches were relentless. Bones splintered, and the sound echoed in the circle. I turned my head to the side and vomited stomach bile.
As Rikki kept going, Cain’s cheekbones caved and then his skull. Then he was still. Then he was dead. Cain’s death didn’t register with Rikki for a few minutes. Her fists continued their war with his face until I found my footing and walked slowly to her. With just a touch, Rikki stopped and rose slowly.
When the gold melted from Rikki’s eyes, she pulled me into her arms. She ordered the rogue to release me from the collar, and he did without hesitation. I fell into her embrace and cried. Some of the rogues fled, but a few remained and offered their loyalty to Rikki.
I pressed my head against her chest and said so only she could hear, “Take me home.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
I didn’t know how long I had been asleep, but it didn’t matter. I was home. I was with Rikki. It had been two days since Rikki had won my freedom with the death of Cain. The horrific sight of his corpse haunted me still, but I knew I was truly free. Rikki was curled up against my back and I giggled as she tickled me with light kisses on my jaw. She got on top of me and her hazel eyes studied me lovingly.
She kissed me. Passionately. Purely. Eternally.
Feeling her teeth graze my lip line, I moaned, wanting to taste her. She was mine.
“I love you.” It was not hard to say.
She smiled, brushing her thumb over my cheek. “I love you too, Bonnie. You know…the pack is dying to see you.”
“Are they?” I grinned, pressing my lips against her neck. I heard Rikki inhale sharply. “I hope they can wait.”
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