She still huddled in a little ball when the truck slowed and made a right turn. She sat up and wiped her eyes. Something within her, a courage, or perhaps, a stubbornness, she didn’t know she possessed, demanded she not allow her captors to see her fear. Carly was tired of being a victim. And she was damned tired of the strong oppressing the weak.
Well, she refused to be weak anymore. Carly McGowen was the product of her practical and brave Scottish parents, and she would go down fighting if it was the last thing she ever did.
Grabbing onto the metal cage, she got mad. She had just escaped from one monster, and dammit, she wasn’t giving in to another without a fight.
Allowing her rage to simmer, she waited for an opportunity.
“They have to let us out of these cages at some point. If they don’t tranquilize us again, that’s our opportunity for escape.” She looked at her fellow captives. “I’ll get at least one of you out of here, or die trying.” She hoped her suspicions were correct. If they were more than they appeared to be, they could bring back help. It was her only hope.
She looked between Kyle and the panther. “Kyle, Sasha, it has to be one of you. I hope you’re feeling up to it.”
Kyle yipped, pawing at the floor inside his cage, and Sasha just stared at her, curling her lip in a silent snarl, her yellow eyes glowing bright in the soot black of her face.
Carly closed her eyes and prayed that was an agreement, otherwise, she was just plain screwed.
The truck came to a lurching halt, the squeal of the door opening carried to the back, and she listened while their captors walked around and opened the back gate of the truck.
“Come on, Harry! I don’t wanna lug all those kennels inside. They’re all still groggy.” A relatively young man with greasy black hair pointed at them all. “See?”
Bosco was the one that worried them the most. Yet, he was still sleeping, while the others hung their heads, appearing listless.
“I never saw a were-bear before,” Harry said, turning his head to spit tobacco juice on the ground. “Do ya suppose they’re as strong as everyone says?” He scratched his nearly bald head, wiped the spittle from his chin and pulled up his baggy overalls to hook one strap over his shoulder, leaving the other strap to hang down to his knees.
“I don’t know and I don’t much care, either,” the younger man said, looking around them as if ready for something to jump out of the woods and attempt to eat him. “Let’s just get ‘em into the building before they wake up.”
They poked and prodded at Bosco until he finally stood and staggered out of his kennel and followed the two men into the building.
They did another inspection when they returned. Carly let her eyes droop and leaned against the side of her cage, allowing them to think the sedative hadn’t yet worn off.
They pulled the cages from the truck, one at a time, lifting them with a forklift and setting them on the ground side by side.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, Billy. Let’s get the girl out first,” Harry said, grabbing his crotch. “Maybe we can have some fun with her before we take her inside.” He gave her a thorough once over.
His lewd assessment burned a trail over Carly that made her feel dirty everywhere he looked. She fought the urge to gag at the cloying smell of their cheap deodorant, which while liberally used, still didn’t disguise the fact that they both needed to bathe.
Harry reached out with his grubby hands and unlocked the padlock. Swinging the kennel door wide, he reached in and pulled Carly from the small metal box by her hair. She staggered, giving them the illusion that the powerful drug was still in her system.
Stumbling, she fell in front of Sasha’s prison. Hoping for an edge on the intimidation factor of the large panther, Carly reached out and released the latch.
Sasha, wasting no time, pounced from the cage and landed on Billy, her mouth on his throat, her back paws raking mercilessly over Billy’s vulnerable middle. Harry ran screaming toward the building as Carly released Kyle, then Malcolm. They would have to leave Bosco since they had already taken him inside. That worried her. What would they do to the loveable lump once they realized he wasn’t what they expected?
She looked at the others. “What are you waiting for? Get out of here!” She shooed them with her hands. Giving one last glance to the building where she had last seen Bosco, Carly knew she had to run. Run or die, because surely they would kill her for this.
Deliberately ignoring Billy’s prone and bloody body, she half-hoped he was still alive. Another, more bloodthirsty part of her didn’t really give a damn. Looking up at the moon, she turned and ran up the narrow dirt track that had brought them here. Carly ran as far and as fast as she could, before she finally collapsed.
Her lungs felt like they would explode and she fell to her knees on the damp forest floor, clutching her sides. Never having been a runner, she was sorry now that she hadn’t exercised more.
Sasha jumped into a nearby tree and Carly watched, amazed, as she climbed higher with the effortless grace of the predator she was.
Shivering, Carly knew that shock was setting in. Between that and the biting cold, she wouldn’t make it back. She was freezing and scared, and for the first time, she realized that wild animals surrounded her. Wild animals that no one had fed today.
Something crashed through the bushes, startling her, and she jumped. “You scared me half to death, Malcolm.” She held her hand over her heart.
He limped over and flopped down on the ground next to her, panting. Carly reached over and stroked his fur, careful not to rub too low on his chest. If the animal really could turn into a man...
Well, she just plain refused to go there.
She barely had time to catch her breath when Kyle’s ears perked up and he stood. The panther leaped down from its branch, stretching lazily before she pinned Carly with a stare and lifted her lip.
“Well, Malcolm, I guess it’s time to go. I hope you’re up for it.” Carly knew she wasn’t. She’d be done for the night after a few more miles. After that, she’d be on her own because they would leave her and, frankly, she couldn’t blame them a bit.
Malcolm nudged the younger wolf in the side. Kyle snapped at Malcolm, the sound of his teeth coming together when he closed his powerful jaws was loud, startling Carly out of her exhausted stupor.
Plodding forward a few more steps, she dragged her feet through the composted leaves on the path they made. She stumbled over to a rotted log and sat down, looking around with wide eyes, surprised to find herself sitting there.
Carly put her head in her hands. “I’m done, guys.” She said then waved them off. “I can’t go any further.” Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to conserve her body heat as the temperature dropped. “Go on, save yourselves.” She sat there on the rotted, bug-infested log and finally gave up hope. She bent forward, placing her head on her knees. “Why does everything have to be so hard?”
She rocked back and forth as she cried, feeling sorry for herself. “Couldn’t something be easy, just this once?” The distant sound of baying dogs crashing through the brush carried to her, and she sobbed harder.
Looking up, she yelled at Kyle. “Get the hell out of here! Do you hear me?” Her breath caught on a sob. “Go. If you really are more than you seem, go. Bring back help.”
Kyle stood staring at her for a few more seconds, then dashed south before turning around to trot back to Malcolm. They gave each other a meaningful look, then Kyle and Sasha ran off together, an unlikely pair in the Michigan woods.
Malcolm sat at Carly’s side, leaning against her, the stub of his right leg resting on her lap as he shared his warmth, trying to comfort her.
Bastien will come, daughter. He will come for you and those who would try to harm you. Anyone who stands in his way, will die.
Carly heard Malcolm’s words of comfort and sobbed harder. She really was going mad!
Chapter Sixteen
Three enormous wolves raced up the side of the
road, keeping just inside the tree line. When they reached a crossroad, they crawled from the cover of the trees and sniffed the air in every direction, searching for a scent that would tell them which way the vehicle had gone. They disagreed once, fighting over which way they should go.
This way, Luke said, turning to the right, heading north up a steep grade.
They didn’t go that way, big brother. They went west, I am sure of it. I’m surprised you can’t smell them. Their stench is as strong as any rotting cesspool.
Luke turned to his brother, lifted his lip, and nipped at his shoulder. I said this way. The two started wrestling, growling and snarling at each other. Until Luke, who had finally had enough, grabbed his brother by the throat. Follow me, cub, or go off on your own.
Stop it, you two! Bastien was already nursing a killing rage. His cousins’ antics only put him more on edge. He turned, pinning Marcus with a glare. We will follow Luke’s lead because I know his nose.
You don’t trust me.
You don’t have Luke’s experience, and I am not about to bet the lives of my friends and loved ones on one of your fucking hunches.
They continued north, following Luke’s lead.
Bastien and his cousins found Sasha and Kyle late the following day. Kyle was limping and bitching, Sasha was silent, as usual.
Sasha had not changed since her mate had died. He had gone out for a run and a car had hit him. The poor female hadn’t even gotten a chance to see his body. The authorities had informed her that they had disposed of a big cat’s remains.
No amount of investigating on Sheriff Blackstone’s part could produce a body. The officials involved had informed her they’d cremated Dimic and had his remains interred in a mass animal grave.
Sasha hadn’t shifted or spoken since. She’d been living in Bastien’s barn, content to be alone in her panther form.
Your mate helped us escape, Bastien. She knows about us, she told us to bring help.
Where is she? Bastien trotted back the way Sasha and Kyle had come, looking for his mate. He turned to Kyle. Don’t tell me you left her alone.
We left her with your father.
My crippled father. Bastien snarled, itching to rip out Kyle’s throat. Just how do you expect him to protect my mate? He laid his ears back against his head and snarled, ready to do battle.
Kyle sighed and shook his head. He refused to leave me to protect her. Two of us had to make the escape in case they recaptured one of us. Your father sent you a message. He said, your mate knows about us and she is strong. It is up to you to save her. He also said he would protect her with his life.
THE NEXT MORNING BASTIEN sat with his sister and berated himself while she sipped her coffee.
“I should have gone after her.”
“And what would you have done, Bastien? You would have been one man against many.” Natalia rested her hand on his arm. “Think this through. The reason she is still there is that she cannot outrun their dogs on foot. She knows this, which is why she sent Sasha and Kyle to bring help. We have to go in with vehicles, or at least have them close.” Her eyes grew flat, and she pressed her lips together. “We’re going to need an army to defeat those monsters.”
Luke walked in. “We have one. Every were-being who has ever been a recipient of your hospitality has pledged to join us with their packs, prides and clans.”
Bastien swallowed thickly. “Where are we meeting them?”
The doorbell rang and Luke grinned, leading Bastien to the front door. “I could be wrong, but I believe they’re already here.”
Chapter Seventeen
Bastien’s mouth dropped open when he stepped out onto his porch. At least thirty cars, trucks, Haven Sheriff vehicles and vans lined the edge of the driveway. Men and women exited their vehicles, some of them rentals, and approached the house.
Deputy Sam Reid and Darren Murphy accompanied the mill owner, Tiny, and some of the Haven loggers and mill workers.
Bastien rested his hand over his heart and bowed. “Welcome to my home, friends. May you all find a place to rest your weary bones in my presence after this siege has ended. I...” Pausing, he looked out over the crowd and swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “... I find I’m quite speechless.”
One man, about six-and-a-half-feet tall, with long, black hair and glittering green eyes, placed his hand over his heart, giving the formal reply to Bastien’s greeting. He raised his voice, so all could hear him.
“We accept your generous offer of hospitality, Honored Healer, as you have helped many of us in our time of need.” He swept his free hand out behind him, indicating the others. “We, too, are here in your hour of need. Please accept the offer of our assistance.”
Bastien bowed again, “I thank you.” He looked out over the crowd of were-beings gathered on his front lawn and his throat closed for a minute. “I thank you all.”
“No,” the man said. “It is we who should thank you for your help, generosity, and unfailing devotion to assisting those in need.”
Another man stepped forward. “Many of us would be dead now, if not for you. We will follow you and your family to retrieve your mate and your father.”
These were his friends, his family... his people. What a surprisingly mixed-up conglomeration of species his family had turned out to be.
Natalia stepped up beside him and wrapped her right arm around his waist. Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked over the crowd of were-beings he called friends. “We are in your debt.”
“No, we are in yours,” several people called from the crowd.
The tall, green-eyed man stepped up onto the porch in one stride, ignoring the three steps in front of him. He held his hand out to Bastien. “It is good to see you, old friend.”
Bastien took his hand in a firm grip. “It’s good to see you, as well, Dimitri. What are you doing here? I thought you’d returned to Siberia to be with your family.”
Dimitri grinned. “A funny thing happened on my trip back. I had a layover in Chicago.” Reaching back, he pulled a woman and infant up beside him. “Meet my mate and the child who would not have been born if not for you.”
Bastien bent down a little to study the blue-wrapped bundle in the woman’s arms that smelled a bit like milk and baby powder.
“My son, Bastien, named for the man I would call, brother.” Dimitri leaned down and whispered in his mate’s ear. She nodded and kissed him on the cheek, then turned to walk back to their minivan. “She is going to visit her parents in Chicago. I would ride with you if you have a spare seat in your vehicle.”
Bastien cleared his throat, barely trusting himself to speak, and blinked the burning threat of tears from his eyes. “There is always room for you, Dimitri.” He turned to look out over the lawn, amazed that so many people were willing to help him. That so many were ready to risk their lives to rescue his mate because they remembered and appreciated his efforts to make a difference.
Luke clapped him on the back. “Don’t look so surprised. You must have known you had many friends.”
Natalia smiled up at him, the pride showing in her eyes. “Look at all the lives you’ve touched. I hadn’t realized there were so many.”
“Yes, Bastien. The difference you have made in our world is astounding.”
Bastien turned around, his mouth agape, and stared at the beautiful, amber-eyed woman. Her ebony hair fell down her back in silky, blue-black waves. Her face held a hint of sorrow, laced with hope.
“Sasha, you honor me.”
She shook her head. “No, you’ve honored me by putting up with my endless despair. You cared for me even when I refused to care for myself.” She proudly lifted her head. “For that I will be forever grateful.” Her eyes glittered with an inner fire Bastien had missed the past eighteen months. “Dimic lives. His scent was all over the man I killed while we made our escape.” She smiled softly. “I thank you for giving me hope.” Then she raised her head, her expression hard. “We must return to that place and r
etrieve our people.”
Bastien could do little more than stare at the woman who had lived in his barn as a black jaguar for the last year and a half. “I thought his disappearance seemed a bit too convenient.”
Tears streamed down Sasha’s face. “He’s alive, my mate is alive, and we must release him and the others.”
A couple of the men had driven fifteen passenger vans, which he knew would come in handy to transport all these people. After figuring out who would ride with whom and what the plan would be when they arrived at their destination, they grabbed their supplies and headed north.
Chapter Eighteen
Carly woke in a room with a glass partition for a wall. Groggy, she sat up, and wiped the sleep from her eyes. “Well, there’s no privacy here, I guess.”
Beyond the glass wall was something she had previously only seen in science fiction movies. There were several rooms like hers, all with the same glass fronts, surrounding a center island of computer banks. Several people in lab coats bustled around the monitors and punched keys on keyboards, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding activity.
“You’re awake. Good.”
Carly spun around at the sound of the voice. She was alone.
“Look through the glass.”
She turned to face the large glass partition and scowled at the petite blonde woman standing at a nearby computer bank, waving at her. “Can you see me?”
Carly nodded.
“Oh, no need for that. You can speak. I’ll hear every word you say as long as I’m monitoring you.”
“What do you want?”
The woman’s smile faded. “They brought you here to study you.” She looked around at the people surrounding her. All of them were busy doing their jobs, paying no attention to their conversation. “They want to see how a female wolf changes. And they want to...” she pressed her lips together with obvious distaste, “... impregnate you, eventually.” She leaned closer to the microphone and whispered, “I’d help you if I could.”
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