“That’s for the blood to drain,” Harley informed him.
Steven gulped.
“When Lucien is down here with his ‘guests’, it can get very messy. We just hose down the tile walls and everything goes down the drain.”
Steven paled.
“I don’t think he’s eaten yet,” Harley said, as though thinking out loud. “Gonna be a messy night.”
“E-e-eaten?” Steven stammered.
Harley turned away so Steven couldn’t see his wicked smile.
This is going to be too easy.
He left the basement, shutting off the lights when he reached the top of the stairs.
Chapter Six
Serena watched her mate investigate their bedroom. After sniffing every piece of furniture, he went to the window and whined. She pulled back the curtains. After several tries, he managed to place his front paws on the window sill and press his snout against the window pane. His hot breaths made frost on the window. He tapped his snout against the window then glanced at her.
She frowned.
He pawed the window.
“You want me to open the window?”
He barked softly.
She dropped the curtain and sat on the bed.
He barked again. A little louder this time.
“We aren’t prisoners here, Robert.”
He trotted to the bedroom door and barked.
“I don’t have anywhere to go. Do you?”
He turned around and padded over to her. He shoved her leg with his snout.
“I’m tired of running. I miss being part of a pack. I’m tired of being alone.” She ran her fingers through his fur. “Until you can figure out how to shift back, you can’t leave here, either.”
He rested his head on her lap.
She laughed.
“I can just imagine you trotting down Main Street like this.” She rubbed his fur vigorously. “I suppose I could take you on a leash.”
He growled.
“No? Won’t be my pet?”
His eyes changed, from golden yellow to dark blue. Soft fur receded and her fingers slid along smooth, taut skin. Her fingers trailed down his chest. His cock twitched as it began to fill. He gripped her wrists, stopping her from exploring his body.
He pushed her hands away and stood, walking briskly to the window. Peering out he asked, “Where are my clothes?”
“I left them on the couch.”
He returned to the bedroom door and eased it open.
“What are you going to do?” she whispered.
“Get my clothes. Then we’re leaving.”
“I told you, I don’t have any where to go.”
He shut the door.
“I killed a man, Serena. The police will be looking for me.”
“They won’t find you here.” She got up and stood in front of him. “You don’t know what it’s like to be on the run, always looking over your shoulder. It’s no way to live, Robert.”
She hugged herself.
“I don’t have much choice, Serena. If I stay, Lucien or another wolf will kill me.”
“Not if you’re my mate.”
“I don’t need your protection,” Robert replied tersely.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Tell me about your Alpha mate. Is he abusive?”
“Remington? No. He’s like any alpha. Tough. Aggressive. Protective of the pack. He’s not a bad person.”
“Then why did you run from him?”
“Because I don’t love him, Robert.”
“Then how can you accept me as your mate?”
“I don’t exactly have a choice, do I? It’s either you or…Remington.”
Her voice quivered with fear when she said his name.
His eyes narrowed.
“You are afraid of him. Why?”
“According to Tarchannen Pack Law, running away from him has…specific punishments.”
Her stomach tightened in knots and she felt bile rising to the back of her throat.
“What will he do, Serena?”
“He can sell me to another pack.”
“Sell?”
“Or he could kill me.”
“Kill you?”
“The worst thing he could do is beat me and rape me in front of the pack to reestablish his dominance. Then he could keep me as his mate,” she whispered. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling. “Death is my preference,” she confessed.
His fingers brushed away her tears.
“I won’t let that happen, Serena. I’ll take you far away from here. He won’t find you—”
She pulled away from him, her laughter as bitter as the bile she tasted.
“Remington will find me no matter where I go.”
She went to the dresser and opened each drawer.
“The only reason he didn’t find me yet was because he was busy with his duties as Alpha.”
She pulled out a pair of jeans and tossed it at him. She walked to the window, pulled back the curtain and pushed up the window.
“Go. You are not responsible for me anymore.”
***
Lucien flipped on the light switch.
His captive yelped.
The potent stench of urine assaulted his nose as he descended the steps.
He growled aggressively as he stomped over to the cell. Steven Ellis pressed against the back wall, trying to get as far away from him as possible.
“I’m rich. I—I have money. I can get you as many steaks as you want. Top of the line. Just, please, don’t eat me!” Ellis squealed.
His voice cracked as he pleaded for his life.
Lucien paused, as if he was considering Ellis’ offer.
“Why should I believe you? How do I know you have money?”
“My name is Steven Ellis. Ch—check my wallet.” Ellis withdrew his wallet and tossed it out of the cell.
The wallet hit him in his chest and dropped to the floor.
“I own several companies. I’’m rich. People will look for me if I go missing.”
“Prove that you are Steven Ellis. Tell me about Genesis 23, a company you own,” Lucien demanded.
Steven gave him a blank stare.
“It’s a lab. I—I don’t know what they do there.”
“Two of my wolves were found there earlier tonight, in a cell much like yours.”
Steven glanced around. He ran his fingers through his hair.
“Dr. Jessup keeps wolves down there. He—he studies them.” A bead of sweat formed on his upper lip. “Sometimes he implants this little device in them to—to make them…compliant.”
“What does he do with the wolves afterward?” Lucien growled.
Steven drummed his fingers against his thigh.
“He…sells them.”
“How many wolves did he sell?”
“Three.”
“You’re sure about that?”
Steven nodded.
“I can give you the money we were paid for the wolves,” Steven offered. “Let me out of here and I’ll get it for you. Cash if you’d like. It will take a few days for the banks to get that much cash together.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, then asked, “How much cash?”
“Three hundred and fifty grand,” Steven replied.
He considered his options. Bankrupting Genesis 23 is one way to put them out of business. But not nearly as satisfying as ripping their heads off.
Harley went into one of the rooms and returned a minute later carrying a manila folder.
“How did you find out about us? About Werewolves?” Lucien asked Steven.
“Dr. Jessup approached me one day. He showed me a grainy video of a man who transformed into a wolf. Then he showed me a photograph of a man that was heavily sedated and told me—he told me—” Steven laughed nervously. “—the man was a Werewolf.”
Several beads of sweat appeared on Steven’s forehead.
“I didn’t believe him of course.
After all, the video was so…it could have been faked. But Jessup insisted it was real. He told me that we needed a secure place to hold……it. Once the Werewolf was secure, he would wake him up and we would see him transform. I had a large cage in my Genesis 23 lab, so….”
“What was the name of the wolf?”
“Name? Wolves have names?”
Gritting his teeth, Lucien reached for a piece of paper that Harley removed from the manila folder. He held up a photo of Lucas Tarchannen.
“Is this the wolf?”
Steven studied the photo for a minute then nodded.
“Yes. He’s the one.”
“What did you do with him?”
“He changed once, after we told him we knew what he was. I think he was hoping to get out. He rammed against the cage bars. There was blood everywhere. So much blood.” Steven shook his head before continuing, “He knocked himself out. Jessup decided he was too dangerous to keep. And we didn’t have an appropriate holding area.”
“What did Dr. Jessup do?”
“He—he wanted to see—to understand—how it was possible for a human to change into a wolf. He had to see…the inside….”
“The inside? What the fuck are you saying?” he growled.
“Dr. Jessup sedated him. Then…he…p-p-performed s-s-surgery on him.”
“You dissected a wolf?” Lucien roared.
“I didn’t do anything,” Steven denied in a high, shrill voice. “It was all Dr. Jessup. He did everything. He organized the group and made deals with the Trapper. I just let him use my lab. That’s all I did. I swear!”
A fresh stream of urine ran down the front of Steven’s pants.
“Bring me Dr. Jessup,” Lucien snarled.
Chapter Seven
Hours later, Dr. Jessup sighed with relief as the last paper disappeared into the shredder. He stood and stretched, massaging the pain out of his aching neck.
He glanced outside.
Everything still seemed normal.
He listened carefully.
No sirens wailed, disturbing the peaceful morning.
Feeling silly, he chuckled.
Did I really think those animals could be intelligent enough to find me? I gave them far too much credit. Still, they deserved some credit. After all, they had found Genesis 23.
His belly grumbled.
Maybe my cleanup efforts were warranted, maybe not. Either way, when someone finds Evans’ dead body, the police will be notified and they will want to investigate. Having purged the evidence, they would be unable to accuse me of anything untoward.
He picked up his gun and headed to the kitchen for a quick meal.
After a quick shower, I will take a plane to the facility to see how things are going there. Maybe we don’t need to destroy that facility at all. After all, no one knows it exists. There is no reason for anyone to suspect what I have been doing out there. Perhaps my work can continue there….
He showered and dressed, his mind preoccupied with tasks he needed to complete at his research facility. Intending to pick up his rolling suitcase, he returned to his office. As he reached down to grasp the handle, his office door closed with a soft click.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
He withdrew his gun as he spun around.
A stranger in a black leather jacket stood behind the closed door.
Leather Jacket moved closer and he pulled the trigger. Leather Jacket stumbled back, roaring in pain.
His gun recoiled and he lost precious seconds. He held the gun correctly this time, his left hand steadying his right as he aimed.
His pulse raced as adrenaline coursed through his body. Leather Jacket snarled as he advanced.
He fired again.
Did I get him?
Leather Jacket kept coming, his claws extended.
He fired a third time as Leather Jacket pounced.
This time, the bullet went into the ceiling.
His body landed on the carpet with a ‘thud’. Leather Jacket lifted his upper body with his left arm and head butted him.
Blinded by starburst and yelping at the pain in his forehead, he released the grip on his gun.
Another wolf appeared.
Leather Jacket rolled off him with a grunt then the other wolf removed a zip tie and secured his hands in front of him.
“Fuck,” Leather Jacket swore as he examined the hole in his black leather jacket. “That asshole ruined my jacket!”
“Harley?”
“This is handcrafted from the finest Italian leather,” he continued.
“Harley.”
“They don’t even make this style anymore. I’ve had this jacket for nine years. Nine fucking years!”
“Harley!”
Harley grunted in frustration before replying, “I’m fine, Zane. Let’s get out of here before the police show up.”
Nodding in agreement, Zane pulled him to his feet.
“If you scream, we will wait until the police arrive and tell them about your illegal research on helpless humans. I don’t think anyone will sympathize with you when we tell them what you planned on doing with the woman.”
He paled.
I don’t stand a chance with the law or the public if the woman testifies. She is fragile and petite.
She will ruin me.
On the other hand, if I go with them, I might learn more about their kind. I’m sure I can outsmart them and escape when the time comes.
Mind made up, he nodded to Zane.
Harley pulled the rolling suitcase behind him as they left the house.
***
Officer Jansen passed through the doors, gun drawn. He swung his arms to the left then to the right.
“Put that thing away before you hurt yourself, Jansen,” Officer Tyson ordered.
Five minutes before my shift ends and hotshot has to go and take the call.
The basement was barren.
Except for two cages—no cells.
And the dead body lying in a pool of dark red blood.
He checked his Timex wristwatch.
Five minutes. Five fucking minutes and I would have been at home.
With Maggie.
He stifled his sigh and joined his partner, who was kneeling beside the body.
Jansen looked up as he approached.
“Dead,” Jansen said.
“No shit,” he replied. “Call it in, Rookie.”
Jansen squeezed the microphone attached to his shoulder and called Dispatch. After notifying them of the dead body in the basement, he nodded to the bars.
“What kind of animals do you think they kept in here?”
“Only one kind of animal I know of that sleeps in a cot,” he replied.
***
Lanie paused outside Serena’s bedroom door. No sound came from their bedroom. It was nearly noon and no one had seen Robert or Serena.
Taking a deep breath, she rapped softly on the door. She waited a few minutes before turning the knob. Opening the door slowly, she peeked in.
Robert lay sprawled across the bed, his body nearly smothering Serena’s smaller frame.
At least he returned to his human form.
She knocked loudly on the door, waking them.
“Sorry to interrupt your much deserved sleep, but Lucien wants to see you. Shower and meet me in the kitchen. I’ll have brunch ready for you.”
She pointed to the dresser.
“Take whatever will fit. It’s yours.”
***
A half an hour later, Robert and Serena followed the scent of freshly brewed coffee into the kitchen.
Lucien was busy nibbling on his mate’s neck. With a heavy sigh, he stepped away from his mate.
Lanie set a large plate of pancakes on the table.
“Eat. Then you’re going on a trip,” Lucien said.
Robert dropped his head. His shoulders sagged.
He knew this would happen.
“Not hungry. Are they here yet?”
He couldn’t bear to turn around and face Serena. Once again, he’d failed her.
Lucien leaned against the counter.
“Who?”
“The Police. I’m sure they’ve looked at the security video by now and discovered that I killed Evans.”
“Why would the Police go to Genesis 23? Do you think Dr. Jessup called them?” Lucien asked.
He held his breath, unwilling to believe it could be true.
“The last thing he wants is the police investigating his illegal operation. He didn’t call them,” Lucien stated.
Then they won’t know I killed Evans. They won’t be looking for me.
Feeling lightheaded, he leaned against the kitchen table.
My hand. It healed.
Overnight.
He studied his hand as if it were foreign to him.
“So you are free to leave, Robert,” Lucien said as he pulled out a chair for Serena.
Serena sat wordlessly, unwilling to meet his gaze.
“Leave? You’re sending me away?”
Lucien nodded.
“What about Serena?”
“Not your concern,” Lucien replied. “Unless you’re willing to claim her as your mate, I have to send her back to Tarchannen. Back to Remington.”
He growled.
His claws pressed against his skin and his wolf raged inside him, clawing for release.
Lucien held his gaze.
“You cannot fight your wolf, Robert. It has already chosen her.”
“He is undeserving of a mate,” someone snarled.
A very large, scarred man stood by the kitchen door. His muscles rippled with tension as he struggled to contain his anger.
“Do you remember Kane?” Lucien asked.
He shook his head.
“Give her to Harley,” Kane suggested.
With a snarl, he attacked Kane. He landed a solid punch that seemed to have no effect on the giant.
Kane smirked before returning a punch. He fell against the kitchen table. Plates crashed to the floor, breaking into tiny pieces that crunched under Kane’s boots.
A fist to the ribs made him groan. He struggled to stand, his feet slipping on syrup coated tile floors.
He fell to the floor.
Covered in sticky syrup, he lunged at Kane, knocking him to the ground. They wrestled around on the floor, each man delivering a painful blow to the other.
Soul Mates Box Set 2 Page 24