Jordan's Marked Mate [The Ward Brothers] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Mackenzie Williams

  Jordan looked back down and his eyes stalled on her wrists. She knew that he was looking at the redness of her skin from the harsh rope the men had used earlier. When his eyes came back up to hers, she saw remorse in them. Riley quickly tried to cover her wrists with her hands. She didn't need any other emotions circling their current situation.

  Maybe it would be a grand adventure to live here and serve such a powerful man. Maybe it would be hell. She had a feeling that it might be a bit of both. Finally, Jordan stepped back. She was free. Riley’s eyes flicked to the front door before they returned to his face.

  He wasn’t oblivious to her uncertainty. Jordan folded his arms over his bare chest, eyeing her. Again, Riley’s gaze worked its way down his chiseled chest and abs. It could be worse. She stopped herself from snorting.

  “Do you want to take a shower? I have clean clothes for you.” Jordan unfolded his arms and put his hands on his hips.

  Riley rubbed her hand up her arm. Those simple things seemed so foreign in this situation. Something so simple as a shower and fresh clothes seemed like an unlikely comfort when you were a shifter’s slave. Did she have this man all wrong? Did she have shifters all wrong?

  She slowly nodded her head and Jordan took a step back from her. Riley stood from the chair and took a small step. Her legs started to cramp instantly and her next step was stiff and jerky.

  “Pet, a nice warm shower should do wonders for you. Let me help you to the bathroom.”

  “No, I’m good.” Before she could take another step, though, Jordan closed the distance between them.

  He towered over her in both height and demeanor. He gracefully picked her up. Riley started to push against his chest, showing him she didn’t want this, but after a second, she stopped. What was the point of fighting him? Did she want a warm shower? Yes. What did it hurt if he helped her there? Maybe I’m being a fool. Maybe I’m surrendering too easily.

  That thought swirled in her head as Jordan carried her down a hallway. She took a moment to look around the house. It was sparsely decorated. Nothing more than a few candles and empty vases. Then again, how did she expect a bachelor wolf to decorate?

  This time she couldn’t stop the sarcastic snort. Jordan stopped just as they reached the bathroom door. He stared at her with questions in his eyes. In that moment, Riley felt as if she had known him forever. His stare penetrated her and a warm feeling started in her stomach.

  Jordan’s gray eyes swirled with emotions and it was too much for her. Riley pressed against his chest and tried to squirm out of his arms. Thankfully, he allowed her to. When she was on her feet, he kept his arms wrapped around her for several seconds. She stared down at his chest so she didn’t have to make eye contact.

  “I’ll take it from here.” She pressed against his body, but he still held her with his strong arms.

  “I want you here. I want your mind, heart, and body.”

  His words seemed to come out of nowhere. Riley almost choked on her next breath. Her hands trembled against his hard chest. Finally, she looked up at his face. She had a feeling he wouldn’t let her go otherwise.

  “Jordan…Sir…” What was she allowed to call him? All those years ago, her grandmother had said 'marked slave' which indicated a Master title. “I have a life that’s not here.”

  “Yes, but is it the right life?” His stare became melancholy.

  Jordan’s saddened stare had a deep sob rising in her throat. His sadness was bleeding into her body. Was that their connection? She shook her head, closing her eyes. Riley again pushed against him and Jordan finally let go of her.

  The loss of skin contact was dramatic. She inhaled sharply as coldness ran through her. She needed to be alone. Riley felt as if she was losing her mind. And maybe her heart.

  “Thank you.” She swiftly stepped all the way into the bathroom.

  Riley began to shut the door and was worried that he’d stop her. Jordan didn’t. He stood still and quiet in the hallway, watching her. When the door was fully closed, she immediately locked it. Although, she knew that he would easily be able to break the door down if he wanted. No generic door lock would stop a powerful man, let alone a shifter.

  With unsteady legs, Riley clumsily stepped back a few steps, grabbing onto the sink for support. She sat down on the toilet lid with a loud plop. She looked at the door, waiting to see if he’d burst in. After watching the door for a minute, she exhaled and placed her face in her hands.

  This is really happening. I’m kidnapped, bound to a shifter.

  Chapter Seven

  After a long and refreshing shower, Riley was wrapped in a towel and contemplating what to do next. Earlier, he said he had clean clothes for her.

  “He’s been getting ready for me?”

  She was unsure if that made her feel special or sick. Riley took a deep breath before opening the bathroom door. Steam seeped out around her and she gripped her large towel harder. Riley expected Jordan to be standing in the same spot, staring, but he wasn’t.

  She took a timid step out into the hallway and searched. She didn’t see him. Riley was unsure if she was allowed to call for him. What is wrong with me? She took a few more steps out into the hallway and then noticed that there was a light on down the hall.

  Riley turned and walked toward the lit room. When she looked inside, she found a large bed with several articles of clothing laid on top. A small smile lifted her lips as she entered the bedroom. It did seem slightly sweet that he had laid out clothes for her.

  “Sir? Jordan?” Riley walked into the room and looked around.

  She saw no signs of him. Riley turned around to shut the door and jumped at the sight of him standing behind her. She gasped and lost hold on her towel. It started to fall away from her body. Riley fumbled with it.

  “Shit!”

  As it slid off her body, Jordan stepped to her, grabbing the towel. He was faster than she was and he quickly brought the towel back up. Her breasts were exposed for just a split second before he tightly wrapped it back around her body.

  A tremble ran through her as she stared at him. It suddenly hit her just how venerable she was. She was a young, weak girl compared to this strong, wolf-man. If he wished to rip the towel off her and fuck her right there, he could. If he wanted to lock her in his basement for the rest of her life, he could.

  The only thing saving her was his kindness, but how long would that last? What if she pissed him off? A panic ran through her and she exhaled a shaky breath. Riley did her best to keep her fear off her face, because she had just made a decision. The moment he left her alone, she was running.

  “Are you all right, pet?” Jordan tilted his head to the side.

  Shit. Play along. “Yes. Yes, you just startled me.”

  Jordan searched her face while still holding the top of her towel against her chest. Riley did her best to portray calmness. Her Master narrowed his mesmerizing eyes on her for what seemed like a lifetime. Riley stood there, simply trying to even out her breathing.

  She inhaled sharply as he surprised her, leaning in closer. Her eyes widened as Jordan pressed his lips against hers. Riley’s first instinct was to fight back, but she forced herself to stay calm. Her eyes fluttered shut as he pulled on her towel, making their bodies come together.

  Jordan intensified the kiss, rubbing his lips over hers a bit faster. For a few seconds, her body betrayed her mind. Her nipples hardened and she thoughtlessly relaxed her body into his. The kiss felt so familiar. It felt like home.

  When he pulled back from her at last, a strange calmness settled in her chest. Riley momentarily forgot about her plan to flee. She gazed into his eyes and saw his kindness and happiness. Was she really meant to be with him? It seemed her body thought so.

  Riley lifted a hand to his, which was still holding her towel. She shivered as his warmth took her over. A crooked smile lifted his lips and she almost leaned in for another kiss. Suddenly that panic was back, however. I can’t get lost in him.

  “I
laid out some things for you, but there are more in the closet and dresser. Wear what you like.”

  Riley took a deep breath and slowly tried to pry his hand off her towel. She was worried that he would become offended, but Jordan merely released it. He moved his hand down to her waist as she took over holding the towel tightly shut.

  “Thank you.” She searched his face hoping to only find happiness. She did. “How long have you had clothes for me?”

  “Years.” Jordan leaned in and kissed her forehead.

  Riley closed her eyes for a second. She felt like crying. Her life was going to be fucked up no matter what happened from this point on. Finally, he stepped back from her, taking his hands off her.

  “I’ll let you get dressed, love.” Jordan turned toward the door but stopped just short of leaving. “I’ll be waiting for you in the living room.”

  Riley sensed there was more to the sentence than she understood. Does he suspect I’m going to run? Is he testing me?

  “Ok.” Her voice was almost a whisper.

  Jordan nodded and exited the room, closing the door behind himself.

  Riley let out a shaky breath. Her hands trembled against the towel before she turned to look at the clothes more closely. Jordan had laid out a pair of white panties. She had a brief, mental image of the white fur of the brothers. She shook her head as she picked them up.

  The other items on the bed were a pair of blue flannel pajama pants with a matching long sleeve t-shirt. He expects me to be ready for bed. She was tired, that was true, but she needed something else to wear. Riley was going to make a run for it in the dark, damp woods.

  She walked over to the closet to find it was completely full of clothes, ranging from jeans and sweaters to formal dresses. Riley stood there fascinated for a while. This man… She didn’t know what to think, so she decided not to.

  Riley hastily grabbed a pair of jeans and a gray zip-up hoodie. She dropped the towel and grabbed the white panties. Riley opened the top drawer of the dresser to find several bras and pairs of underwear. She grabbed a white bra and put it on after she put on the underwear.

  The second drawer was full of socks and she grabbed a pair. After putting on the long sleeve t-shirt, the jeans, the hoodie, and the socks, she went back to the closet. There were several pairs of shoes on the floor and shelves. Riley grabbed a pair of brand new sneakers.

  Again, the thought that this man was special and that he obviously cared for her filled her head. Riley started to cry as she sat down to tie her shoes. I’m making a mistake. He cares for me. I could be happy here. What am I running back to?

  Riley wiped her wet face with the back of her hand before standing from the bed.

  “Fuck me,” she whispered to herself.

  She looked at the bedroom door and then turned her head to look at the window behind her. More tears ran down her face as she exhaled a rough breath. She turned and walked to the window and unlocked it in a hurry.

  “Fuck me.”

  Chapter Eight

  Riley crutched behind a tree a few feet from the window she had just climbed through. She waited there for a few minutes just listening. She prayed that she wouldn’t hear the front door of the cabin open or someone at her bedroom window.

  After a short while of only the sound of the wind in the leaves, Riley stepped back from the tree. She had a good idea of which way town was but was unsure just how far it was. If she had to run and walk until daybreak that was what she’d do. Eventually she was sure she’d run into a road.

  Riley took a few steps backward, watching the house. Her heart sped up as a bit of gloom clouded her mind. Was this the biggest mistake of her life? And how was she going to stay safe once she got home? Jordan had abducted her once. She was sure he wouldn’t simply give up now.

  I’ll have to worry about that later, once I get home. For some reason, the word home no longer meant the same thing it had just a few hours ago. Her empty house in Broken Willows seemed anything but home. A fast breeze whirled around her and she shivered. A soft moan came off her lips by accident.

  Riley lifted her hand to her mouth and froze, staring at the cabin. She thought she heard movement inside so she made the decision that it was now or never. She turned away from Jordan’s home and started to run.

  It was extremely dark out with only a sliver of light coming from a few stars now poking through the clouds. It certainly wasn’t enough for her human eyes to do much with. Riley had to run at a pretty slow pace with her arms outstretched. After only a few minutes of jogging, she had already bumped into several trees and bushes.

  “Shit!” she swore to herself after she tripped on a fallen branch.

  She stumbled a few steps before stilling. Since she was far from city lights, it was far darker than she’d ever seen it. Riley bent over, resting her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. She was stressed which didn’t help with her breathing or her heavy heartbeats.

  Riley turned and took a few steps, and then screamed. She was falling. She slid down a muddy hillside for several feet before hitting a hard rock at the bottom. She screamed out again as her body came to an abrupt stop against a rock.

  “Goddamn it.”

  Riley sat up and started to rub her ankle. She moved it and could tell it was mildly sprained. Not broken, though. She grunted through clenched teeth and pushed herself up to her knees. I should just hunker down here until the sun starts to rise. It has to be after midnight already.

  She sat back down, leaning her back against the large rock her ankle had twisted on. Riley huffed out a stress-filled breath and closed her eyes. What a fucking mess. Being Jordan’s captive was starting to sound not so bad as another colder breeze ran over her.

  A nearby sound soon had her eyes flying open and her heart in her throat. A deep growl came from above, where she had been before slipping down the hill. Riley held her breath and listened. Her first thought was it must be Jordan or maybe one of his brothers.

  The growl came again and it mixed with the sound of rustling leaves. I don’t think that is a Ward brother. She let her held breath out, trying to stay as quiet and still as possible. More rustling noises came from above and then a few small rocks slid down the muddy hill.

  One hit Riley in the shoulder. She winced, closing her eyes tightly while biting her bottom lip. She tried to breathe slowly through her nose, but it was difficult with her panic rising. There were several seconds of silence and she finally stopped biting her lip and opened her eyes.

  Riley turned her head to look up but saw nothing. It was probably just a fox or something. She hung her head and sighed. She was just going to sit here in the cold darkness for the next few hours and as soon as a slice of sunrise peeked over the horizon, she would start running again. Plus, the rest would be good for her ankle.

  She wrapped her arms around her body and slid her back down the rock farther to try and get a bit more comfortable. As comfortable as a person could be sitting in mud against a rock. A realization then hit her. Jordan would soon notice that she was gone. How easy would it be for him to track her? I’m a fucking idiot. I can’t just sit here for a few hours. He’ll probably be here any minute.

  Riley leaned to her side, starting to push herself up off the ground. She huffed out a pained groan as she put some weight on her sore ankle. It was going to hurt, but she could still walk. Riley hobbled up onto her feet and stumbled back a few steps.

  “Damn it.”

  Movement not far in front of her had Riley stilling. Something was crawling around on the ground. The animal soon growled and she knew what it was. It was a large dog. Maybe it was a wild dog or maybe it was just a farm dog that was out and about at night. She hoped it was a tame family dog, but when it slowly came closer with a snarl, she doubted it was.

  “Sshhh, good boy.” She took a step back and moaned when the pain from her ankle shot up her leg.

  The dog growled again and stalked even closer. Riley looked around for a large stick or something t
o throw at the animal. She found one a few steps away. Riley looked back up to see the dog was still slowly crawling toward her. She wasn’t sure if it was just curious or if it wanted to attack. She couldn’t take the chance, though.

  She took a step to her left side and grunted as more pain ran through her leg. “Fuck.”

  Riley exhaled a shaky breath and took another step toward the stick. When she finally got close enough, she bent to retrieve it. She stood back up, shaking the stick at the dog.

  “Shoo. Get out of here.”

  The dog growled again and she let the stick fly. It was hard to see if it hit him or not, but the dog yelped and jumped back.

  “Sorry.”

  The dog took a few steps backward, still yelping. Riley bent down to retrieve a second stick in case the dog was angrier now, but she didn’t need it. With a soft whine, the dog turned and ran the opposite direction.

  Riley sighed with relief. She took a step to her right, still holding the stick. Another growl had her stilling, but this wasn’t the same animal. This noise was much more powerful and much deeper. Just then, a sweet smell filled the forest air and she knew she had been found.

  Chapter Nine

  “Jordan? Who’s there?” Riley nervously took a step back.

  Her foot came down awkwardly on a small rock and she stumbled. Riley landed on her ass on another rock with a loud exhale. She groaned in pain. Her ankle felt swollen and now her ass hurt. Her attention was drawn away from her injuries, however, as a faint blue orb lit up the forest.

  It was behind a tree so the glow was limited, but it still showed her what she needed to see. There in front of her, mere feet away, was a large white wolf. Riley’s eyes widened and her mouth popped open. This creature was the most beautiful and most terrifying thing she had ever seen.

  His completely black eyes were trained on her. The breath from the animal came out in bursts of vapor against the cold air. Riley began to shake all over as the enormity of her situation hit her. This creature could easily tear her limb from limb, if it so desired.