Eric had never experienced such intense rage before, but knowing that bastard had Gemma almost pushed him over the edge. He stood with his pack waiting for the motherfucker to text him back. His first text was a selfie of the bastard and Gemma. Her face was a bloodied mess, while the fucker wore a large, proud smile.
He paced, holding his phone, feeling more helpless than he had ever felt in his life. No one said a word, the silence deafening. Even the wolves stood at attention in their enclosures, watching him as if knowing something was amiss.
He glanced down at the phone again, his eyes narrowing on Gemma’s battered image.
“We’ll find her, Eric,” Kile said, the pack mumbling their agreement.
Eric stopped pacing as he noticed something in the picture. With a tap of his fingers, he enlarged it. “Fuck!” He looked around, spotting Larry. “Do you know this building?”
Larry leaned in and squinted before recognition opened his eyes wide. “That’s one of Lance’s barns.”
“Are you sure?” Eric glared at him, keeping his hope at bay.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Larry eyes went to Gemma’s image and welled up with tears.
Eric stuck his phone in his pocket and headed for his truck. “I’ll get her back, Larry.” Eric said over his shoulder, ignoring the older man’s tears. He would get her back and destroy the man who dared touch what was his.
“Wait a fucking minute.” Cole followed him. “We need a plan.”
“Shift and follow my truck.” Eric didn’t have time to form a plan. His plan was simple. Kill the son of a bitch in the most painful way he knew how. One thing was for sure; he would approach the bastard as a man, but he would end his life as a wolf.
He didn’t care who followed him, but he knew his pack wouldn’t stay behind. They had his back, but he wouldn’t need help killing this fucker. Pulling through the opened gates, he sped up the long driveway. After he had slammed on his brakes, he jumped out of the truck and looked around for the barn in the picture. He saw the sheriff’s car parked behind a few work trucks and swore if the sheriff was involved, he would die also. He didn’t like killing cops, but if they were bad, he didn’t give a shit.
He headed toward the barn, but something drew his attention to the main house. A strong uneasy feeling hit him, he cleared the steps in one quick motion, raced across the porch, and kicked the door in. What he saw turned his blood cold.
“So I see you couldn’t wait for my next text.” Foster walked toward Gemma, who was tied to a chair next to Lance. Foster then grabbed her hair yanking her head back, then placed a wicked-looking blade against her throat. “You were always so impatient, Eric.”
Eric didn’t say a word as he took in the situation. He sensed his pack had arrived and were outside, but they wouldn’t make a move until he gave the order. Lance was also tied to a chair, indicating he wasn’t involved with taking Gemma, so he would be safe from his wrath… for the moment.
“Jesus, is it that hard to put two and two together?” Foster sighed with a shake of his head. “I want your pack. You kneel before me and she lives. You don’t, she dies.”
“They will never follow you.” Eric laughed, but there was no humor coming from his lips. “You sealed your fate the day you raped two of our women.”
“Rape?” Foster spat, then laughed loudly. “They were both whores who were asking for it. They just didn’t want to get kicked out of the pack, so they cried rape.”
“That makes no sense,” Gemma said through clenched teeth. “You’re disgusting.”
“Didn’t I tell you no talking?” Foster forced her head back further, then nicked her skin with the knife.
Gemma hissed. The fear and pain in her wide eyes were enough to send Eric into a killing rage, but he controlled himself. That was what Foster wanted, and he’d be damned if he gave the bastard anything.
“A true alpha takes what he wants. You’re a weak and pathetic alpha, Eric.” Foster sneered, spit shooting from his mouth. “I take what I want. I do whatever it takes to get what I want. Do you know that because of you, no pack will invite me in? I finally came here to form a plan of revenge against you, and then one day, I hear my boss and the sheriff talking about a new man at the wolf sanctuary. I knew it was you. So I did some snooping, and you didn’t even know because you were too busy sniffing around your bitch.”
“Let her go,” Eric demanded, his eyes staying on Foster. He ignored his words, but once he got his hands on him, he would make him eat every single one of them. “She has nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, she has everything to do with this.” Foster leaned down, biting her earlobe. “She’s what’s going to bring the mighty alpha Eric to his knees.”
“Don’t do it,” Gemma gritted out, her neck at an odd angle.
“Awww, such a brave bitch.” Foster cocked his eyebrow. “You’ve got good taste, Eric my man. When I heard how you acted, I knew she was your mate and my master plan to make your life as fucking miserable as you’ve made mine began. You are a pathetic piece of shit, Eric, letting a woman bring you to your knees.”
“I’m not on my knees, motherfucker.” Eric swore then and there if he got hold of that knife, the first thing he would do was cut the fucker’s tongue out that once again licked against Gemma’s skin.
“Oh, but you will be.” Foster flicked the knife again, and a trickle of blood seeped from the small wound on Gemma’s neck.
“Cut the bullshit, Foster.” Eric sneered. His eyes watch the blood of his mate trickle down her neck and it took everything he possessed not to attack. His wolf wanted free and the battle not to shift was fierce. He knew if he did either of those things, the knife at Gemma’s throat would cut deep. He couldn’t chance it, wouldn’t chance it. “Stop hiding behind a woman and face me. If you want alpha status, you need to take me out, not a woman.”
“Not just any woman.” Foster clicked his tongue like he was talking to a little kid. “Your mate. Now kneel. I want to see you on your knees, or I’m going to slit her throat from ear to fucking ear right in front of your eyes.”
“Fuck you!” Eric growled, knowing the next few seconds were going to be crucial. He started to go down on one knee, his eyes glancing first at Lance, who was watching him intently and then Gemma, who was begging him with her eyes not to do it. As he knelt, his hand slowly edged toward his back pocket. The bastard wasn’t the only one with a weapon.
Chapter 13
Gemma watched in horror as Eric was about to kneel in front of this man, giving up his alpha status for her life. No! This was not going to happen. She felt Foster’s grip on her hair loosen as well as the pressure of the knife to her throat. She briefly wondered what Lance was doing since he hadn’t said a damn word. Probably pissing himself, but she was done being a pussy.
With no thought to her own safety, she slowly grabbed the seat of the chair with both hands, thankful that the bastard was too busy gloating over what was about to happen than worrying about what she might do. Working her feet into position, she gave a quick prayer as she used her feet and arms to propel herself backward into the unsuspecting asshole, knocking him back and sending her flying to the floor.
Everything happened at once as Eric flew over her, tackling Foster to the ground. She watched as they fought while she tried to untie herself from the damn chair. The wolves at that moment ran inside with Larry racing in behind them.
“Larry!” she screamed, catching his attention. He ran over, grabbing the knife that had been knocked out of Foster’s hand and cutting her loose. He then went toward Lance.
A wolf next to Larry growled low in its throat, stopping Larry from cutting Lance free. Gemma crawled to her knees and then stood. She watched as Eric and Foster fought with a fury that sent them both toward the front door. Eric got the better of him and shoved him out the door. She raced toward them but was surrounded by wolves.
“Move!” she ordered, but they ignored her, so she stood at the open doorway and watched in fear.
Foster’s howl of rage echoed in the night as he shifted. Eric’s smile was sinister as he also shifted. The wolves paced back and forth watching each other intently. Foster nipped at Eric, who easily jostled out of the way.
Them sizing each other up didn’t last long. As some of the wolves formed a protective circle around Gemma, the rest formed a circle around Eric and Foster. Gemma realized that one person would not be walking out of the circle alive. Even though she had confidence in Eric, her overwhelming fear made her shake. She cried out when Foster made a sudden move, catching Eric off guard and biting him in the flank with an aggressive head shake. Not seeming fazed, Eric shook if off, then howled before attacking. Once Eric started, there was no stopping him. It wasn’t even a fair fight. Eric was relentless in his attack on Foster, as if his patience had been worn thin and he was done with the game.
A few times Gemma had to turn her head away. Even though she was used to the wolves, seeing two fight each other was almost too much, especially when one of those wolves concealed the man she loved.
As Foster lay whimpering on his side, Eric, the wolf, turned to look at her and then dropped his head as if in a bow before finishing with the killing blow.
The wolves that had circled her moved away, heading to Eric. As a pack, they all rose their heads toward the sky and, as one, howled. It was a sight she would never forget. To her dismay, Eric then left the group and disappeared into the darkness.
She started to run after him but was stopped as she was once again surrounded by wolves. “Please let me go after him,” she said, but none budged.
“He’ll be back,” Larry said behind her. “Gemma, are you okay?”
She turned toward him, then reached out and went into his arms. “Yeah, I’m okay,” she replied, then shook as the tears broke free.
After Larry released her she stood feeling more alone than she ever had in her entire life. It seemed like hours she stood there, but in reality it was only a few moments before she was turned and wrapped into large strong arms.
“I’ve got you.” Eric’s voice washed over her and she suddenly felt safe. “I’m so sorry, Gemma.”
She shook her head, but the words wouldn’t come. All she could do was hold him tight and cry into his chest. Finally getting her voice, she pulled back. “You were going to kneel,” was the only thing she could say.
“To save the woman I love…” Eric stared down at her face with a frown. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do. You are my mate, my life.”
“You love me.” She didn’t ask it as a question, but just stated the fact she had doubted.
“More than anything in this world.” He accidentally touched her rashed face making her hiss. His frown deepened. “I swear if I could kill him again, I would.”
“Hey, can I get a little help in here?” Lance’s voice shouted out from the house.
Gemma walked inside with Eric. When Lance found her and Foster out in the barn, Lance had tried to help her. Foster had knocked him out cold, and after tying her up in the chair, he had dragged Lance inside and tied him up too.
“He tried to help me,” Gemma told Eric as they got closer to Lance.
“How did you get involved with that bastard?” Eric asked Lance, his tone indicating he wasn’t playing a game and was deadly serious.
“He was just a hired hand,” Lance answered with a frown. “I swear I had no idea what he was about.”
Eric gave him a hard glare. “If I find out you’re lying, I will kill you.” He nodded at Larry, who started to untie him.
“No matter what you think of me, if I’d known he’d raped a woman, he wouldn’t have been working here,” Lance replied, rubbing his wrist as he stood. “Even though I’ve wanted to kill some of your wolves, I never would have hurt you, Gemma.”
“Well, I think your attitude toward wolves should change since it seems a few saved your ass tonight.” Larry glanced around at the wolves staring at them.
Lance gave a shaky nod, eyeing the wolves nervously.
“Sheriff Brennan is dead,” Gemma replied with a shiver as she swallowed hard. “He’s in his car.”
“Jesus,” Lance said, then grabbed his phone. “I guess I need to call the police. Did you kill Foster?”
“I did.” Eric nodded without apology.
“Shit, okay.” Lance pointed toward the door. “Go on. I’ll get this handled.”
Both Gemma and Eric hesitated.
“Trust me.” Lance held out his hand toward Eric. “I appreciate what you did because now knowing about Brennan, I’m sure my fate was going to be the same as the sheriff’s. Now go on and take your wolves with you so I can get that piece of shit off my front yard.”
“Thank you,” Gemma said sincerely.
“Yeah, well, keep those wolves away from my livestock,” Lance said, then gave her a grin followed by another nod at Eric.
“It wasn’t my wolves,” Gemma shot back with a smile, then grimaced. Damn, her face hurt.
Eric lead her out the door, and she knew he was leading her away from where Foster lay, but she turned to look anyway. Foster lay naked, in human form.
“He’s not in wolf form?” she asked.
“When shifters die, we return to human form,” Eric replied, opening the door for her.
Once she was inside, he shut the door and climbed into the driver seat. He started the truck and took off. The wolves had disappeared into the woods, and Larry drove behind them. The ride was silent, but Eric had reached over and pulled her next to him as his free hand lay on her leg.
By the time they arrived back at the sanctuary, her face throbbed. She knew she probably looked horrible, but she was so exhausted she didn’t really care. Okay, that was a lie. She did care, but what could she do?
Still, neither she nor Eric said a word as they reached her small home.
“I’m going to grab a quick shower if that’s okay,” Eric said, his eyes searching her face as his frown grew.
“Of course. You don’t have to ask me if you can take a shower, Eric,” she replied, then watched as he nodded before disappearing toward the bathroom.
The sight of him going down to kneel kept playing around in her mind. She knew the shifter way, and an alpha never gave up their status without good reason. At that moment, she knew he loved her, and she was being a fool. Turning, she glanced toward the bathroom, then squared her shoulders and headed that way. She was done being a fool. Gemma knew she was ready to start her life, a new life with the man she loved.
Passing her bed, she noticed papers next to Eric’s keys. Without thought, she picked them up and gasped. She knew the property next to hers had been up for sale; she dreamed of owning it so she could expand. And there she was, staring at the deed to that property with her name on it. She didn’t know how he’d done it, and she didn’t care. What she did care about was that he did it for her.
Putting the papers down, she made her way to the closed bathroom door, took her clothes off, then opened it and stepped inside. Without hesitation, she pulled the shower curtain back to see Eric with both hands on the wall, his head bowed as hot water poured over him. His head turned slightly to look over his arm at her, his eyes red.
“I love you.” Her voice was strong and sure.
In one fluid motion, he pushed off the wall, grabbed her to him, and held her tightly as the water washed over him. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you tonight.”
“You didn’t, Eric.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. “I’m right here because of you.”
“Being a mate to an alpha can sometimes be dangerous.” Eric tilted her chin up so they saw each other clearly. “I guess I should have warned you of that sooner.”
“I don’t care,” Gemma answered truthfully. “I know you’ll always have my back as I will always have yours.”
“I would
understand if—” Eric started to say, but she stopped him.
“Shut up,” she whispered as she clasped his face with her hands. “And truly make me your mate.”
“You’re already my mate, never doubt that.” With a growl, Eric picked her up in his arms and headed to the bed to do just that.
Gemma pouted. “You mean there isn’t something special you have to do with your hands, or mouth, or… you know, to make it legit.”
Eric’s head fell back as he laughed loudly before he looked down at her. “For you, Gemma, I will perform our own little ceremony to truly make you my mate.”
“I like the sound of that.” She grinned up at him, then licked her lips slowly. “Maybe I have a little ceremony of my own to perform.”
“Jesus.” Eric moaned before kicking the door shut, blocking out the world. He gently laid her on the bed, staring down at her. “I love you, Gemma.”
Gemma smiled. “The wolf-man and the wolf-woman. We sure do make a pair.”
“Maybe we can make little wolf people,” he teased, but she could see a seriousness in his eyes.
“Kids?” she asked as a small smile played across her lips. “I never thought….” Gemma couldn’t finish as her secret dreams came to light. She had always wanted kids, but pretty much had her mind set that it would never happen.
“I would be honored to give you children.” Eric leaned down as he whispered, “I will give you anything you want, Gemma.”
“Two boys and two girls?” She sighed as a tear slipped down her cheek.
He nodded as he cleared his throat. “I would give you a whole pack if you asked.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she brought him close and held him tightly with her eyes squeezed shut. She prayed she wasn’t dreaming only to wake up disappointed. “Is this real?” she voiced.
Eric was silent for a minute before he raised his head to stare down at her. “Yes, Gemma. This is real.” His kiss was both hard with purpose and soft with promise. “I’m about to show you how real this really is.”
Gemma’s laugh soon turned into sighs as her wolf-man did exactly that.
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