Latent Desires (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Rebecca Airies

  “The same thing they planned to do to the chief of police when they tried to dart him. They’ll rile him up. They’ll make him as angry as possible. Since the mating is new, they’ll make some threats against you.” Tony’s voice was flat.

  “What are the police doing to find him? How will they keep him safe?” She glanced over at Tony, hoping he had some kind of good news here.

  “This won’t be easy. Not with what’s in his system now. He’ll be shifted into a bear. His thoughts will be muddled and cloudy. His instincts will come to the fore. He’ll be out of his mind with worry for you and in a rage. The last thing they’ll say is that they’ll kill you after they rape you. That’s what will make him the angriest, because of how new our mating is.” Tony’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel.

  Her mouth went dry. “Do they have a plan to save him?”

  “Every available officer is out there looking for him. If they find him, they’ll keep others out of his way. Jase will go through anyone who crosses his path. They don’t want to have to kill him.” Tony drove, but it wasn’t toward their house.

  “Where are we going? I know it’s not home. I can’t wait for them to find him. We have to do something.” She wouldn’t let Jase die. If they could keep other people away from Jason, perhaps someone could get through to him. She couldn’t lose him. Something had to work.

  “We are doing something.” Tony nodded. “We’re going to the police station. When someone spots Jase, we’ll go to him. If anyone can get through to him, it will be you. Your protection is the only thing on his mind. If he sees you’re safe, he’ll be calmer.”

  “But I’m with you. Won’t he know that you’ll keep me safe?” She frowned at Tony. Jason, Tony, and Logan trusted each other.

  “Yes, but he’ll be in his most primitive state when they find him. He won’t believe you’re safe unless he’s with you. He won’t object to us with you, but he’ll want you by his side.” Tony’s jaw clenched.

  “He’ll be untrusting and insecure if I’m out of his sight.” She bit her lip. “What will they do if they find him and we manage to get him calm?”

  Tony pulled into the police station. “Their primary concern is protecting the public from him, but they’ll do everything they can to make sure their comrade is safe. If we can calm him, they’ll find a way to get us either home or to a secure location.”

  She put a hand on Tony’s arm when he moved to get out of the car. “You said he’d be in animal form. Why would he change if he knows what it would do? He’d do much less damage in human form.”

  “There are drugs which would induce the transformation. It’s not something we advertise, but some of our enemies know of it.” Tony shrugged. “Now, let’s go inside. Maybe we’ll learn a little more.”

  She nodded. She hopped out and joined him at the front of the car. He took her hand and led her into the police station. She glanced around her, curiosity rising when they entered the lobby area. There was a row of seating next to the wall. Across from the seats, a large desk was manned by an officer. Tony led her toward the desk and the door near it.

  The door opened and the chief, John Dark, strode out. He looked relieved. He paced over to meet them.

  “I have my SUV at the front and waiting. Let’s go.” John stopped beside them long enough to say those few words to them.

  “Have they found him?” Chloe asked.

  She hoped they had some clue. Damn, they had to find him.

  * * * *

  Anger clouded Jason’s mind. He curled up on his side. Dirt scraped against his cheek. Sandy soil covered the floor of the ramshackle cabin. Rope bit into his wrists. It wound tight around his skin. He pulled, but it held strong, keeping him tied in human form.

  The drugs coursed through his veins, making it harder to think past the pain of his wrenching body with each moment. He didn’t want to tap into the bear’s strength. It would put the animal in control. He couldn’t let that happen now.

  He couldn’t allow himself to shift. He had to fight it. In this form, he wasn’t as strong. He might be bound and vulnerable, but he had some control. If he transformed, he would lose that.

  His heart raced. He had a difficult time stopping the panic. The animal within focused on Chloe. The longer he remained tied, the more time they had to get to her.

  He clenched his teeth against the pain. As he wriggled, he pulled at the ropes. He exhaled and leaned his head against the ground. He couldn’t hold back much longer.

  They said they would go after Chloe. He hoped to protect her. He knew she was safe. Tony would stay with her.

  If they knew about his disappearance, Logan would be at her side, too. She would be safe. He couldn’t convince the bear of that though. Until the bear could see her, he wouldn’t believe it.

  He had to fight the effects of the injection. His muscles twitched and his bones ached. The drugs stimulated transformation. The other medications pumping through him made it tough to focus enough to hold the urge at bay.

  He could feel the need of the animal to protect his mate rushing through him. The primitive drives grew stronger. He never wanted to get this close to efferus fever again. The illness was also called savage fever. It ripped away reason and brought base instincts to the fore.

  The whyr illness often led to injuries. There had been deaths. Most of the time, fatalities occurred when the whyr couldn’t be contained and became a threat to others. The animal instincts within them only ruled under the drug’s effects and in throes of efferus fever.

  A wrenching of muscle and bone in his legs sent pain streaking up his body. He curled into a tighter ball, but he knew he would lose control soon. To survive, he had to hold on to his restraint. He had to give the police time to find him. He didn’t want to hurt anyone while he was in bear form.

  He clenched his hands into fists and tried to keep his focus. Keeping one thought at the front of his mind was becoming more difficult. He focused on Chloe and his desire to get back to her.

  Jason couldn’t think about the danger those people had talked about. That made the primitive urges surge. He didn’t have the strength to fight them.

  The cowards who brought him here had left after they’d injected him with the damn drugs. He’d heard them running away. The anger rose within him when he thought about those men. He’d recognized one of them.

  His car had been at the far end of the parking lot. He wasn’t sure if the cameras had picked up the altercation. If he survived, he’d tell them who distracted him and helped carry him to a waiting van. He wanted to throw the man in the jail cell himself.

  He’d do his damnedest to keep away from populated areas when he changed into a bear. He wouldn’t have his normal control. With luck, he could make the bear understand they couldn’t hurt anyone.

  The muscles in his back seized, pulling his arms tight to his body. He grimaced. The cramps tightened, wrenching his legs. Pain shot through him. He felt the muscles contracting and fought the change. In normal circumstances, the transformation didn’t hurt, but this wasn’t voluntary. His resistance made the pain more intense.

  He screamed and drew in gasping breaths. Oh, shit. The thought filtered through his mind when he felt his bones wrench with the change.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The bear ripped forward, pushing past Jason’s consciousness. His body transformed into a bear. The rope tore, freeing him to move. His heart pounded. The bear grunted, his ears pulling back. Anger pulsed through him. His mate!

  The animal’s anger and fear beat through him. For the first time in his life, Jason couldn’t make a complete connection with his bear. A mental wall stood between him and the bear, blocking the link between them. At the moment, it was as if they were two different beings, instead of one joined entity.

  Frustration began to build in Jason when the bear headed straight toward town. That’s what the bastards wanted. They’d planned for him to encounter someone and for trouble to ensue. Although there had been
problems before, very few people would expect to find a drugged bear charging through the city.

  We can’t help her if you get us killed. You have to slow down. Jason focused his thoughts at that animal now stalking the streets of the city.

  Mate! The bear huffed and kept heading down the street.

  She isn’t in danger. They lied. They can’t get to her. She’s with Tony and probably Logan by now. They’ll be looking for me. Jason kept trying to push his will toward the animal who now had them moving into the city.

  The animal resisted and kept walking. Anger rolled from the animal. Frustration and fear for Chloe pushed at the beast. It didn’t like that Jason tried to keep him from protecting their mate.

  I’m not trying to stop you from protecting her. But she’s not in danger. She’s with the other males of our den. You can keep going. Slow down and relax. Not everyone is a threat. He hoped the animal listened to him.

  It craved Chloe’s protection above all else. He prayed he could get through the rage induced by those parting words. While they made his blood run cold, they infuriated the bear.

  We’ll find your mate. After we take her, we’ll slit her from belly to chin. The threat had been made right before the men left. It had an effect. The transformation almost happened then and there. He’d managed to hold back.

  Jason wouldn’t give them what they wanted most by ripping into them in bear form. While it would be justifiable because of the drug, the rage probably wouldn’t fade. It might be directed at anyone who happened to get in his way. Regardless of their intentions, if his bear felt threatened, it could end badly.

  Fucking foxes. Most of them never seemed satisfied. It wasn’t in always looking for the next promotion way. No, the worst of them weren’t happy to earn their step up the ladder.

  They tried to get their next advancement by removing the competition. Sometimes the foxes couldn’t get rid of the person. When they couldn’t, they schemed and sabotaged to make the other person appear incompetent or corrupt.

  The bear clacked his teeth together, a sure sign of his agitation. Jason reined in his thoughts. He was amping up the bear’s anxiety with the thoughts of foxes and what they’d done.

  He concentrated. The drugs affected his thoughts, but not in the same way. He couldn’t keep focus without a large amount of will. Instincts and emotions ruled, urging him on.

  If you see anyone, go around them, please. I plan to live to hold my mate again. Jason pushed the thought at the bear, but he couldn’t impose any of his will. This time, the bear half was stronger.

  The bear huffed, but it didn’t reject it. The bear wasn’t ready to die yet either. It wanted time with its mate. The bear dreamed of cubs.

  Jason grabbed onto that. Perhaps he could use it to ensure the bear didn’t do anything that ended with them shot by the men they worked with. If they thought he was a threat, they’d protect the public. That was a hard thing to live with.

  We can have a family with as many cubs as she’ll give us if you walk and we can avoid hurting anyone. I’ll make sure they pay. Jason coaxed the bear. Damn, he wished he could make those men suffer and rip the men to pieces. He respected the law enough to let it do the work.

  Cubs. This time the bear relaxed a little. The pace slowed, but his muscles remained tense.

  Jason heard cars coming. He didn’t know why he hadn’t encountered any before now. Even stranger, he hadn’t seen any people. What had they done? Made an announcement on the emergency alert system?

  Beware. Drugged bear. Stay indoors. Do not approach. The thought sent a surge of amusement through him.

  Maybe they could get help here. By help, Jason meant Chloe. The bear would settle and stop wandering once she was here. Although Jason would rather have reunited in the security of a building himself, the bear wouldn’t negotiate.

  From the sound, three or more vehicles rolled toward him. He kept his attention on the road in front of him. They approached from that direction. When the cars neared the street he was on, he heard the difference in sound, indicating they slowed down.

  That gave him a little hope that someone knew he was here. The police would bring Chloe. They were familiar with what these drugs did and how they’d have to handle it. Transport for a bear would be different than for a wolf or cat.

  Our mate might be with them. Jason tempted the bear with the possibility. The animal might remain calm enough to pause and see what the people in the cars were doing.

  Police cruisers came into view, followed by John’s SUV. The bear didn’t advance any closer. It didn’t sit down though. It couldn’t. Not with the vehicles blocking its way. The animal paced back and forth. His eyes went to the cars and the people, getting more agitated when he didn’t see Chloe come out of yet another vehicle. His eyes locked on the sheriff’s vehicle as the passenger door opened. Tony stepped out and moved to the back door. He pulled it wide and helped Chloe down.

  The bear stopped. His eyes locked on his mate. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did at this moment. Within the bear’s body, Jason waited, tense. He hoped the bear didn’t charge toward her. That would freak everyone out and maybe get him killed.

  Tony guided Chloe around the cars and down the street toward him. The bear remained unmoving, but a low, anxious whine-like sound came from it. Jason recognized the sound and could feel the anxiety that burned through the animal. The closer she came, the more it wanted to rush to her.

  Chloe must have been feeling something close to how the bear felt. She ran the last few feet between them. Her arms wrapped around the big animal’s neck.

  Jason relaxed now that she was close. They’d have to get him off the streets. Most of the danger had passed, but a few things would set the bear off. If someone tried to get between the bear and Chloe, that would cause a problem. Although any strange male approaching would raise suspicion, the bear shouldn’t do anything more than show some teeth. It might voice a warning sound or put its body between them.

  “I was terrified something would happen to you. They said you’d be out of control.” The words emerged somewhat muffled against his fur because she didn’t lift her head or loosen her hold on him. He felt the tremors shake her body.

  He was out of control. The bear’s focus centered on protecting his mate. He knew she’d pictured him running through the streets and attacking anyone in his way. If he could have grimaced, he would have.

  It had come much too close to that. Luck and persistence allowed him to convince the bear to be cautious. It saw they couldn’t protect her if they died. The knowledge that Tony was with her had helped.

  He pressed his head against her to reassure her. The bear relaxed, content with its mate right beside it. Now, he wanted her out of the open. He looked to Tony. Jason hoped Tony realized what the bear felt.

  “Hey, Jase, good to see you in one piece.” Tony eased in closer, but he gave Jason a little space.

  Jason appreciated the extra room. He wasn’t threatened by Tony standing close to him or Chloe. Jason didn’t think he could stand being crowded.

  “Logan is on his way here with a trailer. We could fit you in a van. You in bear form with Chloe right beside you is another matter. The confinement and separation would send your bear out of control. With a trailer, we can get you both in and give you room.” Tony reached out and put a hand on Chloe’s shoulder.

  Yeah, being crammed anywhere would not be a great idea. The thought of being separated from Chloe sent his anxiety spiraling upward. Larger would be better. They also had to consider Chloe’s safety. She could be bounced all over the place if something happened. He looked up at Tony.

  “Logan shouldn’t be long. They were putting in the last bolts on the seat and belts that will keep her safe while she’s back there with you. Matt, at the police garage, joked that they shouldn’t bother taking the rig apart considering that the last time a man was drugged was a month ago.” Tony grinned.

  They hadn’t used the trailer for the wolf a month a
go. The van they did use would take a lot of money to refurbish. A nervous whyrwolf could rip the interior of a vehicle to shreds in moments.

  That one had done it in less than five minutes, all while fighting a tranquilizer. His mate had been in the hospital, unable to be brought to him. The officers hadn’t approached until the enraged growls died away and the van stopped rocking.

  Jason sat down on the pavement. Chloe’s arms fell away, but she remained right beside him. Her jeans-clad thigh pressed against his front leg. He waited. Although it probably wasn’t long, it seemed to take forever for a moving truck to arrive.

  When it pulled onto the street behind him, Jason’s head whipped around with such force that he almost knocked Chloe over. The van stopped a good distance away from them, and Logan hopped down. He paced toward them.

  Jason relaxed and nudged his head under Chloe’s hand, unwilling to lose contact with her. The bear demanded she stay right with him every step of the way. Well, the bear had a big part in that need. Jason had to admit that he wasn’t unaffected by those threats.

  Not for her safety now, but he worried about the future. Although the men who’d kidnapped him would be caught, he wasn’t naïve. There were more people behind this than those two. These people wanted something other than making a few people act crazy.

  There had to be a larger plan in mind than that. Foxes engineered his kidnapping. Did they have someone else working with them?

  “I’m glad you were able to keep your bear in check, Jase. Let’s get you loaded into the back of this truck. We have a nice seat all ready for Chloe.” Logan stepped out of the way and waited for Jason to rise to his feet.

  In check. He’d had little control, and he’d tell them about it later. Right now, he planned to get Chloe somewhere safe. Until the drugs left his system, he’d be stuck in this form.

  Jason couldn’t wait until he did regain his human shape though. He wanted to hold Chloe close. His body craved intimate release, but he hungered for simple physical contact, too.