by Michelle Fox
“I don’t know. He was gone when I got here.”
She heard the sound of Tao hitting something, the steering wheel of his truck maybe, and winced.
“Damn it. He was out cold when I left.” His voice vibrated in her ear, a low dangerous growl.
“When was his last sedative dose?” Her mind raced. Maybe his body had started metabolizing the drug faster. Perhaps one of the medicine vials was expired. Something had gone wrong, she just didn’t know what.
“Four hours ago,” Tao said after a long silence.
“What?” Audrey shrieked into the phone. “I know you said you were holding off, but you skipped two doses.”
“He was dead to the world, Audrey. Snoring even. I didn’t want to overdose him,” Tao said, his voice tight. “I figured he could wait.”
“He ate my animals, Tao. Smeared their blood all over my house in one giant fuck you.” She was shouting now, unable to contain her anger.
“I’m sorry. I screwed up,” he said quietly.
Tears dripped down her cheeks and she gave a harsh laugh. “Sorry doesn’t fix a damn thing on this one. There’s no room for error. Not even an inch. We all pay the price in blood.” She looked down at her bandaged hand as she spoke. Nick had to be stopped. Next time she saw him, there would be no sedative, no cage, just a bullet aimed straight between his eyes.
“I-I can’t go on like this,” she said, biting back her sobs. “It has to end. Now.”
“I’m working on it,” Tao said. “And I’ll make it up to you.”
She ignored his platitudes. They didn’t mean anything. Her animals couldn’t be brought back. Nick was out of the cage and the damage was done. So she focused on the task at hand. “What should I do?” While her nose was more sensitive, she didn’t think she could track Nick by scent alone.
“Stay put. I’ll handle it.”
Audrey sniffed back tears. “I can’t stay here. The house is a bloody mess. I need something to do.”
Tao sighed. “I guess you could patrol in your truck. Just don’t confront him again, not unless you have a clear shot. I don’t think he’ll stop with a finger this time, not after what we did to him.”
She tried not to think about what more Nick might do to her. “Okay. I’ll do that. Where will you be?”
“I’m headed to Glen Vine Point,” Tao said. “I figured it wouldn’t be too busy this time of day.”
Audrey glanced at her phone’s screen, checking the time. Two o’clock, early afternoon. Glen Vine Point, otherwise referred to as the Point by locals, was a massive sand dune that soared over the lake. It served as the local sunset spot, and remained relatively deserted during the day when the tourists would be busy at the beach or shopping in Glen Vine. “Yeah, there won’t be anyone there.”
“Good. We’ll need the privacy.”
“I hope we figure this out.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
Audrey hung up and just sat there for a moment, taking deep breaths to try and pull herself together. A floorboard creaked somewhere in the house and she went utterly still, her heart beating triple time. It sounded like a footstep, but she was alone…right?
“Hello? Is anyone there,” she called out. There was no one there, it was just her imagination. Had to be.
“Hello, Audrey.” Nick stepped out from the hallway leading back to her bedroom, naked except for a self-satisfied smirk.
Audrey’s jaw dropped. She was so stunned she didn’t even think about her gun, but Nick did. He scooped it up with one deft movement and twirled it around his finger.
“Why are you still here?” Audrey asked, stupefied. The fact he had her gun was just beginning to register.
Nick shrugged. “There’s unfinished business between us.”
Audrey’s eyes narrowed as she collected her wits. “Is there now?” She wanted to lunge for him and rip him apart with her bare hands. To treat him like he had her animals, but she held back. Above all, she wanted to win, wanted the nightmare to end and that meant playing smart. “What do you want?”
“To end this once and for all so I can live in peace.” Nick came over to her and she averted his eyes, not wanting to see him naked and up close. He bent over and stroked a finger along her cheek. “With you and the other wolves of my pack.”
Audrey recoiled from his touch, her face twisting with revulsion. “Fuck you.”
He chuckled, his green eyes dancing with amusement. “You know, if I tell you to spread your legs, you won’t be able to say no.” His cock stiffened a bit at his statement. Apparently, rape turned Nick on.
“Don’t mistake control for a lack of fight,” she snapped, still refusing to look at him. A naked, aroused Nick was not something she wanted an eyeful of. “You’ll never own me, Nick. No matter what you make me do.”
“I can tell you what to think, did you know that?” He continued to twirl the gun, watching her with a nonchalance that rankled. “I did it with the first person I bit. Had him thinking no one wanted him except me. Told him they all hated him. I wanted to be sure of his loyalty, you see.”
“You’re a sick bastard,” she spat as she pulled herself to her feet.
“Maybe, but one you’ll love because I told you to.” He extended his arm toward her and crooked his elbow. “Now come, we have business to attend to.”
Audrey hesitated and eyed his arm. She felt no compulsion to do as Nick asked. Did that mean that Tao’s claiming had worked? Had he taken Nick’s place? Or was Nick not issuing a command?
“I said, come.” He beckoned her forward and Audrey felt an unseen force flick over her skin. A mild compulsion hit her, but it was nothing like what she’d felt before in the tavern when Nick had forced her to kiss him.
She repressed a smile and moved toward Nick. She’d play along and bide her time. Then, when he least expected it, Nick was going down. It was over and he didn’t even know it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tao pulled into the parking lot at the Point at full speed, truck tires squealing as he turned the wheel hard and whipped into a parking spot. Dan’s Dodge pick-up, its teal blue paint spattered with mud, was already there.
This is it, he thought. Closing his eyes, he said a quick prayer, asking for a peaceful resolution, for lives to be spared. Although how Nick was getting out of this alive, he didn’t know.
He stepped out of his truck and sniffed the air. Dan’s pepper strong testosterone hit his nose first, faded somewhat by distance and the diffusive force of the wind. He also caught a whiff of Sam, Dan’s second. Nick’s scent was missing, and Tao couldn’t decide if he was relieved or worried. On the one hand, dealing with Dan was going to be hard enough without also fending off Nick. On the other, who knew what trouble Nick was causing elsewhere? It would be better to have him where he might be contained.
With a sigh, Tao trudged toward the Point. The mountain high sand dune featured a sheer drop off to the lake below. The dune had the kind of height that could make you dizzy, especially once you realized it was all sand underfoot, sand that could shift at any second and cast you down to your death.
The late August day was bright and sunny and just hot enough to make Tao sweat. The wind danced over him, cooling him somewhat as he made his way to the deck the state park system had built at the dune’s peak. It jutted forward from the dune to hover directly over the lake.
Dan and Sam sat on a bench, preoccupied with their phones. Both men stood and turned toward Tao when a gust of wind sent his scent to them. Tao nodded. They nodded back. There was a long, tense silence while they waited until he was close enough to talk.
Dan was big as always, his dark features full of menacing shadows. Tao had always wondered if being alpha inflated him somehow. It seemed with each passing year that Dan led the pack, he became taller, his muscles bigger. The alpha’s jaw moved as he worked over the tobacco he always chewed. Sam, his second, was smaller and thinner with sandy blond hair.
Dan didn’t waste any time with pleasa
ntries. “Where’s Nick?”
Tao gave a mental groan. The one question he couldn’t and didn’t want to answer, but he couldn’t lie. It would smell. “I don’t know.”
Dan’s dark eyebrows went up. “I thought you had him?”
“I did.”
“Did? What do you mean did?” Dan’s voice was gruff.
Tao held his hands up, showing they were empty.“I don’t have him anymore.”
Dan tensed and a scowl made deep furrows in his face. “What the fuck, Tao?” The alpha’s lip curled in a snarl. “Seriously. What. The. Fuck? What have you been doing up here? Playing footsie with your brother?”
Sam cleared his throat and said, “Are you protecting him?”
Blood thundered in Tao’s ears and he fought the urge to curl his hands into fists. “I’ve been loyal to my pack,” he said stiffly.
“While telling me ‘no’ every time I ask you to do something.” Dan glowered at Tao. “You can say the word loyal all you want, but it don’t mean shit unless there’s action behind it.”
“It’s wrong to kill people just because they’re bitten,” Tao said hotly.
“It’s wrong to let Nick build a pack that has to do everything he says,” Dan shot back. “And now you’re telling me he’s on the loose again? Shit on a full moon.” He sucked on his chew and spit into the sand. Looking at Sam, Dan said, “We’re going to have to shift and track this asshole fucker.”
“He’s still my brother,” Tao said, hating the way Dan called his brother names.
Dan frowned. “Well, he’s not part of my pack anymore. Watch that you’re not the next one cast out.”
Tao lifted his chin. “I already told you I’m not going back. There are people here who need me.”
Sam snorted. “Humans made into wolves? You’re going to stick around for that mess?”
“Yeah, I am.” Tao stared Sam down, pleased when the second was forced to look away. He’d always been more dominant than the second. This seemed like a good time to remind everyone of that fact.
“Well it figures. You were born different and now you’re siding with the misfits.” Dan laughed and shook his head. “I have to say I didn’t see this coming. I thought you were a pack man through and through.”
“I am until the pack thinks murder is the way forward.” Tao crossed his arms. “If that’s how the Deerton Pack is going to roll, you’ll have to do it without me.”
Dan made his fingers into a gun. “You going to stand between them and bullets, son? Going to die for them? Because I’ll shoot you and not even blink. Listen, boy, this is about our survival. It’s us versus them and I’m going to make damn sure we’re the ones who come out on top.”
Tao just stared at his alpha wondering if he’d ever known the man. Because his father had been absent since before his birth, he’d looked up to Dan, admired him and emulated him. Once, as a kid, he even tried chew, but couldn’t stick with the habit no matter how much he wanted to be just like his alpha. It hurt to find the man he’d idolized for so long wasn’t worth his admiration.“What would be so wrong with folding the people Nick bit into our pack? Why can’t we extend them hospitality? After all, it’s our fault Nick’s on the loose.”
Dan rolled his eyes. “Because they’re not wolves. Not like we are. It would be like dogs adopting tigers. They all have four legs, but the stripes are different. It wouldn’t work.”
“Besides, what if they have Nick’s bite and can control their victims?” Sam added.
Dan nodded solemnly, agreeing with his Second.
“What if they don’t? Are you even going to find out before you execute them?” Tao asked. “And my brothers and I weren’t wolves like you either, but you took us in.”
“And see how that turned out.” Dan waved a hand at Tao, his lips pinched in a frown of disapproval.
“I always knew you boys would be a problem,” Sam said. “But the pack thought you were a sign from some ancient wolf god. Otherwise we would’ve broken your necks before you took your first breaths.” He shrugged, palms up. “And here we are, clusterfuck central thanks to you and your brother.”
“I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Both men just looked at Tao, clearly disagreeing with his statement.
“Ah, here they are. Doesn’t look like a happy reunion,” came a familiar voice from behind Tao.
Tao spun around on his heel and confirmed that the voice did indeed belong to his brother. The tall, blond man strode toward them, naked and nonchalant. A hand wrapped possessively around her upper arm, he dragged Audrey after him as he came to join them on the lookout.
Tao’s heart sank when he saw Audrey was with him. Damn it. Why did everything have to go wrong? Why was Audrey always the one in the line of fire? At this rate, she was more likely to end up dead than survive. Tao grit his teeth as his hands clenched into tight fists. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He would protect Audrey even if that meant giving up his own life.
Dan spit. “Finally, something goes right.”
Sam looked pleased, a malicious smile thinning his lips. “Yeah, now we don’t have to chase him down.”
Tao nodded grudgingly. That was true. Nick had delivered himself into their hands, now it was up to them to contain him. Or, he grimaced, kill him if Dan had his way. Reality and wishes warred within him for a second. He didn’t want Nick to die, but he couldn’t let him live either.
Nick raised his hands as Dan whipped out a gun from where it had been tucked at the small of his back.
Flashing a smile full of easy charm, Nick said, “Easy there, big alpha. I came to talk, not fight.”
“The time for talking is over,” growled Sam, his voice so deep it rumbled in his chest like an earthquake. The second tensed, ready to spring on Dan’s signal, his hands balled into fists.
“Fighting me will get you nowhere,” Nick said. “But talking might solve all our problems.”
Dan narrowed his eyes and gestured with the gun. “So talk then.”
Nick gave a curt nod, his blond hair whipping in the strong breeze that came off the lake. “I’m not going to attack the Deerton Pack. I’m making my home here.” He squeezed Audrey against him, not noticing the look of disgust on her face. “Let’s face it, us wolf-born wolves never fit in at Deerton. Now I have a pack to call my own and,” he inclined his head toward Tao, “my brothers are welcome to join me.”
“He’s lying,” Audrey said. “He told me he’s going to...” Whatever she was going to say next was cut off as Nick slapped her. Audrey’s head snapped back and her hazel eyes became unfocused.
“I told you to be quiet,” Nick growled.
Tao lunged for Nick intent on prying Audrey away from him, but his brother danced away with a snarl. “This is between me and my mate. Stay out of my business.”
“She’s not your mate,” Tao said, stopping short of saying ‘she’s mine.’
“Says who?” The giant blond challenged.
“Me,” shrieked Audrey as she shoved a shoulder into Nick in an effort to break his grip.
“Okay, enough bullshit,” Dan said, raising his gun. He pulled the trigger and the gun fired with a roar.
Time slowed as everyone sought cover. Nick ducked, dragging Audrey with him while Tao stepped to the side just in case he was in the way of the bullet. Dan and Sam stood still, watching to see if they’d hit their target. When Nick appeared unhurt, Dan fired again and then again, but either his aim was bad or Nick was too fast for a bullet because none of them ever touched him.
While Dan reloaded his gun, Nick scrambled to his feet and pulled Audrey in front of him. “If you want to kill me, you’ll have to go through her.”
“My pleasure. I’m all for efficiency.” Dan said brightly. He aimed the gun and squeezed.
Tao caught the way Nick’s eyes widened in surprise. He wasn’t the only one shocked by Dan’s willingness to murder. His brother had miscalculated, thinking the pack would care about an innocent human.
<
br /> Audrey screamed and Nick slammed them both to the ground as the bullet whined overhead.
“Stop it,” Tao shouted, waving his arms. “This is insane. We are not having a shootout, okay? Can we please just talk for a minute?”
No one listened to him so he did something he never thought he would do: Attack his alpha. Tao tackled the burly man, easily dropping him to the ground. Dan lost his grip on the gun as he fell and it skittered across the wood decking of the lookout.
In the background, he heard Nick say, “You stupid bitch” followed by the sound of Audrey being hit.
She screamed and then sputtered, “Fuck you.”
Sam fired a gun at Nick, something Tao caught out of the corner of his eye. When the bullet didn’t strike home, the Second ran to get closer to his targets.
Tao moved to go help Audrey, but stopped short as Dan wrapped his hands around his neck and began squeezing off his air supply. With a few deft movements, the alpha flipped Tao onto his back, taking the top position. Tao aimed for Dan’s eyes, requiring him to choose between choking Tao or keeping his eyeballs in their sockets. Predictably, the alpha opted to protect his eyes and the second Tao could breathe again, he jabbed Dan right in the throat. He followed up with a punch to the solar plexus. The alpha stopped breathing and made an awful gurgling sound as he rolled off Tao, giving up the fight for the moment.
Tao sprang to his feet and dashed over to where Nick was beating Audrey. She cowered under a tree, her back to the trunk, body turned to the side as he rained blow after blow on her. Sam lay on the ground, unconscious with a purple bruise blossoming on his temple.
Focusing on his brother, he said, “Leave her alone.” Not waiting for a response, he jumped on Nick, giving his brother a punching bag that could take the hits. They rolled to the ground, fighting for the top position, their fists landing crushing blow after blow.
“Run, Audrey,” Tao yelled between hits. Then Nick clocked him a good one in the head and the world faded to black.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Audrey sniffed back tears and snot as she struggled to breathe. Nick had slammed a fist into her stomach so hard he’d knocked the wind out of her. Seeing Tao crumpled on the ground like a broken doll hit her heart harder than any of Nick’s punches. Worse, she was alone with two werewolves, none of whom seemed too interested in her continued health.