by Jane Jamison
He turned her hand loose, leaving her bereft, as though she’d lost a part of herself. “There’s another thing we need to explain.”
“Oh, hell. I’m not sure I can take any more.”
How much did they think she could handle? In a short time, she’d gone from a girl who hadn’t had much experience to one who had slept with three men she barely knew. Then, on top of finding the men she’d grown to care for, to even possibly love, she’d found out they were werewolves. And now there was something more?
She closed her eyes, regrouped, then opened them again, ready to take whatever they threw at her the best way she could. “What is it now?”
“We want you to be our mate—”
She waved her hand, hurrying Jamie along. “We’ve established that. Get on with the rest.”
“I will if you’ll stop interrupting me.”
“Give her a break, Jamie. It’s a lot to take in,” muttered Case. “She has a right to be grumpy.”
“I’m not grumpy.” She paused and tried to figure out how she was feeling. Thrown? Confused? Frightened? Excited? Stressed out? All of the above? “Okay, I guess I am a little grumpy. Along with a whole lot of other things. But get on with it.”
“Fine. Here it is. We want you to come live with us in Forever.”
“Where all the sexy cowboys live?”
Case chuckled. She couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t meant to make a joke, but at least one of them found the situation humorous.
“Yeah. But you have to know something about Forever.”
“Oh, hell. What now?”
He lost his smile, replacing it with a wondrous expression that made her wish she could feel whatever he was feeling. “You’re going to love it there, baby. The town is filled with other shifters. It’s a place where we can be ourselves. Everyone looks after each other, and we have family there. They’re going to welcome you with open arms.”
“Are you sure you’re not describing Utopia?” She hadn’t meant it as a joke, but they laughed anyway.
“It kind of is to us,” promised Jamie.
“It’s a beautiful place that we want to share with you. In Forever, we can live our lives together however we want. Two or three mates for one woman are very common there.” Ham opened his door and slid out of the pickup. He opened her door then stood waiting with an outstretched hand. “If the situation were different, we’d let you make your decision. But it’s not. Thanks to the hunters, you don’t have much of a choice.”
“So you’re kidnapping me again?” What was with these guys? Couldn’t they let a girl make up her own mind?
“Yes and no.” Jamie got out of the truck as well as Case. They joined Ham on her side. “We can’t leave you alone in case we were followed. For now, you need to go with us whether you want to or not. But I promise. Once we’re headed to Forever and the danger has passed, we’ll take you wherever you want to go. If that’s what you want to do. I just hope you’ll decide to stay with us.”
Her mind felt like scrambled eggs. She couldn’t make a decision right now. “Okay. Until we start heading to Forever then.”
“Right now, our priority is that we keep you safe.”
She still wasn’t sure they were telling her everything, but she had the impression that, for once, maybe it was better she didn’t argue with them. She could get the rest of it later once she’d stopped suffering from the shock waves already rippling inside her.
“It’s not like you’re giving me much choice.”
They appeared apologetic, even Jamie. “We know. And we’re sorry about that, but there’s no turning back now. We can’t leave you here alone. Not when the hunters could be tracking us. Besides, we don’t want to leave you. Not ever.”
That was the biggest shock of all. They wanted her. Not only for a short time, for some fun, but forever. But at least that surprise was a good one. “Do you mean it? Is this all real?”
She cringed and hoped she hadn’t taken it too far. Who knew? Some men told a woman anything they thought she wanted to hear. She studied the men one at a time. No. She couldn’t believe they were like that.
“Yeah. We do. You’ve felt that thing that’s between us. We know you have, because we’ve had the same sensation. It’s that bond that pulls our mate to us. You’re the one for us.”
She understood what he’d said, but did her heart get it as well? Were they saying that they loved her? If anything could’ve meant the world to her, hearing those three little words would. But she didn’t want to make them say it. Not until they were ready.
But am I ready to say it to them?
She’d be damned if she wasn’t going to find out. Taking the biggest leap of faith of her life, she took Ham’s hand and let him help her out of the pickup. “Okay, I’ll go. I’m with you for now.”
Ham swung her around, making her happy with her decision. She giggled then smoothed her clothes down once he put her back on her feet.
“Let’s get moving before it gets dark.” Jamie strode toward the dense brush and disappeared behind a barrier of green. Case went after him, pausing a moment to wink at her before he pushed through the same spot.
“Come on, baby. Daylight’s burning. We have to hoof it to the place where our friend left the other truck. He’ll be here soon enough, but we can’t hang around for him.”
Ham was already pulling her along with him, holding the branches out of her way, when she asked, “What does ‘daylight’s burning’ mean, anyway? Or is that just something cowboys say?”
But she didn’t get an answer as she tried to keep up with his long legs eating up the ground. The forest grew even denser, making her concentrate on where to put her feet. Talking was too much effort with her breath hitching in her throat.
I should’ve asked where the other pickup is. Hopefully, it’s not that far or I’m not going to make it.
Although she wasn’t out of shape, she wasn’t used to trekking through the underbrush at the quick pace Ham and the others were making. She wasn’t a country kind of girl, but now she was going deep into the wilderness.
Several minutes later she had to stop. “Guys, hold up.”
They swung around to stare at her. Ham squatted next to her as she sank to the ground. “Are you okay?”
She pulled off one boot, dumped a pebble out, and rubbed her foot. “Yeah. But give me a break. We walk a lot in New York, but not over rough terrain. Unless you count walking around a homeless person or two. And even then I take a break to give them money.”
Jamie paced a couple of feet away then turned back to her. “We have to keep moving. I know we lost the hunters, but something’s got my neck hairs up.”
Case rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m getting the same impression. We need to push on.”
Ham stood and helped her to her feet. “I’ll third the feeling. But my question is, because we’re getting this weird vibe, if we should be heading toward the truck. Maybe we should hang back until we know for sure that it’s safe or take measures to cover our tracks. We wouldn’t want to lead anyone else there.”
Maya wiped the dirt off her bottom. “Fine. We keep moving to wherever you want. But I need to visit the ladies’ room first.”
Their expressions were priceless. It was as if they didn’t understand her. “‘The ladies’ room’ is a euphemism. You know I’m not really expecting to find an actual bathroom out here, don’t you?”
“Good, because there isn’t any.”
“So what would you suggest, Case?” She had a good idea but couldn’t help teasing them.
“Um, baby, you’re going to have to do it the natural way,” offered Jamie.
She glanced around as though expecting to find a toilet. “The natural way for me is to hold my bottom over a porcelain throne and use the softest tissue made, if you get my drift. I don’t need to get any more graphic than that, do I?”
She was afraid Ham might lose it if she took the joke any further. He darted his gaze away from hers and kicked the dirt.
“Guys, relax. I’m only razzing you. For Pete’s sake, you can change into ferocious animals, but a little personal-hygiene talk makes you squeamish? Wow.”
They didn’t answer except to shoot her a few scornful looks. “But the part about needing to take a break is true.” She stepped closer to the bushes. “I’ll go a little ways from you to take care of things. Don’t run off and leave me behind.”
“Not a chance.” Case held back a large branch. “But choose the leaves you, uh, wipe with carefully. Remember, don’t touch leaves grouped in three.”
“Oh, right. Poison ivy. As my dad always said, ‘Leaves grouped in threes? Leave them be!’” But she was glad Case had reminded her.
“And watch out for snakes.”
She glared at Jamie. “That I didn’t need to hear.”
She pushed ahead, watching where she put her feet and hands. Smaller branches lightly scraped her arms, but, for the most part, she made her way with little trouble. At last she found a spot that she thought was far enough from the men that they couldn’t see or hear her. With another quick glance around her, she located a group of safe-looking leaves and wadded them into makeshift natural toilet paper. Dropping her jeans, she hunkered down and tried to pee.
Oh, come on. When I need to go, I can’t.
She blew out a breath and closed her eyes. Bringing up the image of a waterfall didn’t help. Next, she tried thinking about a running faucet but got the same results.
Figures. Watch. As soon as we get to hiking, I’ll get the urge again.
She gave up and started to fix her jeans.
“Case!”
She twisted up, still holding her unbuttoned jeans. A gunshot splintered the air and shouts joined with growls. Hurriedly zipping and buttoning, she whirled around and pushed through the underbrush.
Branches scratched her this time, but she didn’t bother to take care. Her men were in trouble, and that was all that mattered. With her breath hitching in her throat, she froze as she came close to the path where she’d left the men. Ducking, she hid behind a bush and gaped at the terrible sight in front of her.
Case lay on the ground with his eyes closed. A trickle of blood slid over his forehead and ran into his dark hair. Ham and Jamie stood next to each other with their hands tied behind them. Three armed men stood around them while one bent over Case and bound his hands, too.
Were they shifter hunters? They weren’t the same men they’d encountered outside the motel. Were there other hunters who had picked up their trail?
The tallest of them, a handsome Hispanic man, turned to glance her way. He squinted and stared. She scrunched down, trying to make her body smaller, and held her breath. Had he heard her coming? What would she do if he started her way?
She let out a slow and very quiet breath as he pivoted back to grab Jamie by the hair. “Where were you going, dogface?”
Jamie didn’t answer. Instead, he stared straight ahead as though he hadn’t heard the man. The hunter slammed his fist into his head. Jamie stumbled backward but stayed on his feet.
“Damn it, you son of a bitch. When I ask you a question, you answer.”
Jamie lifted his head and, turning just enough that she could see his profile, spoke. “Fuck you.”
The man hit him again, but this time Jamie was ready and stood his ground without moving. Maya slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out.
“How about you, wolf man? You got something to tell us?” The other hunter, an African-American man who sported a goatee and stood about a foot shorter than his friends, pushed his chest against Ham’s, daring him to respond.
Ham chuckled. “Seriously? Wolf man? What have you guys been smoking?”
The Hispanic man clutched Ham by the throat. “Don’t try and deny it. We saw your fangs and we heard your growls. We would’ve known what you are even if our friends hadn’t called us and told us about you.”
“Wow, really?” Ham acted surprised.
The African-American man frowned. “What’s so strange about that?”
“I’d have never guessed that you had friends.”
The hunter laughed, but it was devoid of all humor. “You mean friends like yours? Yeah, that’s right. We met one of your friends. The guy that came to get the pickup? What was his name again, Bates?”
The African-American man called Bates shrugged. “Hell, I didn’t ask him his name. Who cares? Besides, he’s got a new name now. He’s called Dead Meat.”
“We should’ve named him Cry Baby, Gomez, because that’s what he did. He cried his eyes out and begged us not to kill him.”
“Well, we did say we’d let him live if he told us which way you went.”
Bates cackled, reminding her of the witch in a fairy tale. “Too bad we lied.”
“You assholes!” Jamie snarled, showing his fangs.
Gomez punched Jamie in the gut, making him bend forward with the blow. “Watch your tongue, dog, before I cut it off.”
“Turn us loose and fight fair,” shouted Ham. “Then we’ll see who comes out on top.”
Gomez shoved Ham backward. Ham hit the ground hard and let out a grunt. He twisted around and kicked out as Gomez lunged at him, but Ham missed.
The momentum turned him around so that Ham faced Maya. He blinked then almost imperceptibly shook his head, warning her to stay back.
She nodded that she understood.
Case kicked out from his position on the ground, and Jamie tried to fight back, but the other two men grabbed them. They were both Caucasian and disheveled. They’d remained silent, and she wondered if they were taking orders from one or both of the others.
“Hold on, men. Save it for later.” Gomez bent next to Ham. “Where’s your bitch?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ham ground out his words.
“Bullshit. We know you had a woman with you at the motel.”
Ham snorted. “Yeah, we did. But we got rid of her after we finished with her.”
“Did you change her?” Gomez snarled as he grabbed Ham by the shirt and lifted his upper torso off the ground.
“Hell, no. She wasn’t good enough.”
Gomez backhanded Ham, knocking him flat on the ground again. “No woman deserves to be fucked by a damn animal. You’d better be telling me the truth. If you changed her, we’ve got to take her out of her misery.”
Ham remained quiet, his face stoic as his brothers looked on. Their faces were set, their eyes glittering orbs of steel.
“Fuck this. Then let’s get them to the cabin, Bates.” A muscle worked in Gomez’s jaw. “One way or another, I’m taking their hides.”
Bates called to the other two men to take Jamie and Case. They pushed her men ahead of them as Bates and Gomez hauled Ham to his feet and followed.
What the hell do I do now? Should I try and make it back to the pickup? If I did, I’d have to drive down the mountainside to call for help. But then what? The hunters and my men will be long gone by the time help can make it here.
She was out of her element and in over her head. Shaking, she stood, taking care to make as little noise as possible. Unwilling to let them get too far out of sight, she started after them.
Chapter Eight
Maya followed them for what seemed like hours. Her feet hurt, and the bushes she hid behind left scratches on her arms, but she was relieved that they hadn’t heard her.
All at once, the men broke into a clearing. A small cabin rested at the far end of the space, the far side of the building only yards from where the forest began again. A pile of firewood rested against the wall toward the rear of the house and an old pickup was parked closer to the woods. She hunkered behind a bush and watched as they pushed and dragged her men toward the front door.
“When was the last time anyone was here, Gomez?” The skinny white man who had hold of Case wiped sweat off his brow. “I’m hungry enough to eat a bear.”
The other white man, whose long blond hair looked as if it hadn’t seen sham
poo for months, slapped him on the arm. “You’re an idiot, Slanter. The saying goes, ‘I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.’ Not a bear, stupid.”
“And where are you going to find a horse to eat, Johnson? A bear in the woods, sure. But a horse? Not so much.”
“Both of you shut your traps and get these three in the cabin.” Bates bolted up the steps to the front door and fished out a set of keys hidden under a barrel. He opened the door and stood back as the other hunters took her men inside. As soon as they had, she scurried toward the side of the cabin, keeping as low to the ground as she could. She squatted under a window, hoping to hear their movements to pinpoint their location. Thankfully, they made a lot of racket, including the noise of someone dragging chairs across the floor while another door was slammed toward the back of the house.
Gathering her nerve, she peeked through the window. Ham, Jamie, and Case sat on chairs in the middle of the living area. Their hands were tugged around the backs of the chairs and still bound. The hunters had added strips of rope to tie them to the chairs. Gomez, Bates, and Slanter stood around them, but she couldn’t see where Johnson was.
It was a typical hunting cabin with rustic furnishings and a large fireplace. One large couch with sagging cushions dominated the room that led to the adjoining tiny dining room. A wooden table along with four chairs took up all the space and sat close to the door that she assumed led into a kitchen. A bunk bed was shoved against one part of the wall. Since there were no other doors and no second story, Johnson had to be in the kitchen.
Gomez jerked his arm back then punched Case in the jaw. She covered her mouth to stifle her cry as Case’s head whipped to the side. The force of the blow almost toppled him backward. Jamie and Ham growled and struggled against their restraints, but it did them no good. Case didn’t cry out, didn’t moan, but instead faced Gomez again and gave him a shit-eating grin.
“Is that all you’ve got, asshole?”
Gomez’s face grew darker as rage swept over him. “Bates, give me that knife over there on the table.”
Bates chuckled and snatched up the butcher knife. Its sharp edge glowed under the overhead light. “Are you going to skin him? Hell, the knock we gave him earlier is already healed.”