“Do you really think that could work? I haven’t even met his wolf yet.” I knew that wasn’t exactly true as soon as it left my mouth. I know his wolf. He’s there with Theo all the time. He’s part of him just like my wolf is part of me.
“Alyssa and I can do it and we’re not true mates like you and Theo are. Your bond is one of the strongest bonds I’ve seen. Everyone in the pack can feel how much he loves you. When Theo falls, he falls hard.” He rolls his eyes. “What have you got to lose? You might as well try it.”
All three of them stare at me, hopeful. How could I let them down? Plus, if I can get Theo back tonight that would be wonderful.
“Okay. You’ll need to talk me through it. Remember. I’ve never done this before.”
“All you have to do is shift and talk to him in your head. If it’s going to work he’ll hear you and you’ll hear him reply, his voice in your head…It’s odd at first but you’ll get used to it,” Wes informs me.
Here goes nothing.
I stand up and crouch behind the sofa. I don’t like the idea of getting naked in front of Wesley and Billy, let alone Theo’s teenage sister, Ruby. I strip with great difficulty; the dress is the easy bit. It’s the underwear that causes me trouble. You try taking undies off while crouching down!
Naked as the day I was born, I take a calming breath to relax. I don’t even need to call my wolf to come forward. The instant my defences are down, she’s there taking over my body. Her anxiety over Theo isn’t helping my pain during the change. I can’t stop myself from grunting. Once I feel the change is complete and the pain starts to ease, I open my eyes and see furry paws in front of me. I try to shake out the remaining tingles before I walk around the sofa into the view of Billy, Wesley, and Ruby.
A gasp comes from Ruby and I whine in response. I don’t want her to be scared of me. Her gasp confuses me, being brought up with werewolves, surely she has seen plenty of them in the fur before.
“She won’t hurt you, Ruby. You don’t need to be scared,” Wes calmly reassures her.
“I’m not scared.”
She is telling the truth. I smell no fear. Billy and Wesley should sense that too.
I start to walk over to her slowly, so she can touch me if she wants to. That might make her feel more at ease.
She moves to sit forward on the chair and reaches out to stroke me, starting with my shoulders. “Theo hasn’t let me be around you guys in wolf form for such a long time. It was a shock to be so close to the beauty of you,” she says, as her stroking hand works its way behind my ears. She knows how to stroke a wolf. That’s the best spot to scratch. She could scratch me there all day if she wanted to.
“Our Bel here is some beauty,” Billy says. He’s the sweetest, scary biker, werewolf I have ever met.
“Let’s find Theo. Focus people.” Wesley sounds anxious.
He’s right!
I lie down on the floor in front of the sofa and close my eyes.
“Theo, can you hear me?” I ask in my head, feeling like an idiot. Nothing. I knew this wouldn’t work.
“Theo…Theo…It’s Bel.”
“Bel…you’re…here?” He gasps and grunts and pauses between each word, like it is taking a great effort to speak.
I’m suddenly hit by an immense wall of pain. Great. My empathy even works this way. I suppose it’s all through telepathic connection in a way so I don’t know why I am so surprised.
“I…can’t…see…you.” I feel his hope; no doubt at the thought of rescue. He must think I’m there and not realise I’m only in his head.
“No. I’m not in the room, Theo; I’m in your head, like when you communicate with Billy and Wesley in wolf form.”
I feel him deflate as the hope in him vanishes in a split second.
“We’re coming to get you. You just need to tell me where he’s keeping you,” I say quickly, hoping to lift his mood.
“Was unconscious, don’t know,” he stumbles.
“What can you see around you now?” I ask hoping he can pick something, anything, up.
“Black. No eyes,” He’s not making much sense.
I reach through the bond hoping to pick up something better, but I get the shock of my life, he’s so close to death.
“Theo, baby, we have a plan—a trap for whoever has you. We’ll have you back tomorrow night.” I hope he can hang on until tomorrow.
“Danger. Can control pack. Can’t confront him,” he warns.
“It’s okay. The Pack will be safe, I promise.”
I hope!
“Why aren’t you healing? You shouldn’t be in this much pain now.” He should have been healing. If anything, he feels like he’s getting worse as I talk to him.
“Need meat.” His anger hits me like a physical punch to the gut.
“What? He’s not given you any?” I can’t believe he’d starve an injured werewolf. He must be insane. Wolves are dangerous as it is but an injured wolf is even worse. All they can think about is healing and meat gives us the energy to heal.
“N…” I take that as a no.
“Please stay with me. Hang on until tomorrow night. We’ll come and get you. I need my Teddy bear to hug remember?” Nothing.
Oh god, please!
“Babe, you’re my mate. I’ve only just found you. Don’t leave me now. I need you.”
“Bel…I…love…you!”
“I love you, too. You’re going to hang on for me, aren’t you?” I beg.
“I’ll try.” He feels uncertain. “He’s coming.”
“Can you smell him?” I feel a sharp pain in my neck.
“Tran.” He disappears. I can’t feel him anymore.
Tran? Tran? Tranquilliser!
My anger and sadness fills me.
I open my eyes and the scene before me is really confusing. I am standing at the bottom of the stairs, growling at Billy and Wesley, who are guarding Ruby half way up those stairs.
Chloe barges through the door to the hall on my left shouting, “What is going on d…” the second she sees me, she changes her tone to a whisper, “Wes. What’s happening?”
My attention instantly changes from the three on the stairs to Chloe. My wolf has been dying to tear her apart.
Wes doesn’t answer her and addresses me instead. “Bel. Did you talk to Theo?” I can feel him coming back down the stairs.
I stalk closer to Chloe. She is backing up against the wall. The fear coming from her is making me enjoy this all the more. I growl at her.
The terrified scream behind me catches my attention.
Ruby.
“Bel. Where’s Ted? Let’s go get Ted.” She sounds terrified.
Ted, my Teddy.
I instantly shift back to human. I’m naked in front of the four of them.
Wes grabs my clothes and brings them over warily.
“I’m sorry about all that. I didn’t realise it was happening, I wasn’t aware of the things here. I was with Theo. Did I hurt anyone?” I look at each of them inspecting for injuries.
They all stare at me in silence.
I can still feel Chloe frozen in fear behind me as I slip the dress over my head. I shift the position of my body slightly so that my back is to the sofa and Chloe is to my side; in case she decides to attack. She has her head down in a bow towards me.
“No, Bel. You just scared us for a minute, that’s all.” Ruby sounds shaken.
“Ruby. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you,” I plead.
“It’s okay.”
“What made you so angry? Is Theo okay?” Wesley asks, even he sounds shaken.
I look at Ruby wondering what to say? How much can she take? It doesn’t take her long to guess what I’m thinking.
“Just tell me. I need to know, even if he’s dead. Please just tell me.” I hope she really means what she’s saying.
“He’s not dead, but he’s in a real bad way. I’m not sure he’ll last the night.”
The whole room fills with everyone’s sadness
.
“He wasn’t making complete sense, but he knows we are coming for him tomorrow night and he said he’ll try to fight, to hang on until then. He’s not getting any meat and he isn’t healing.”
They are all listening in silence but their emotions are speaking loud and clear. They’ve all gone from sadness over his imminent death to raging anger over the controller not giving him any meat.
“He can’t see anything. I don’t know if his eyes are injured or he’s blindfolded. He just said black, when I asked him what he could see. He was unconscious between Misty’s and getting there so he doesn’t have any idea where he is. The controller just shot him with a tranquilliser dart and that’s when I lost contact with him.”
They are still staring at me in silence, but the rage is speaking loud and clear.
Billy is the first to break the silence. “Fuck! I can see why you became so aggressive.”
“Okay. So tonight’s rescue mission is a no-go but we still have tomorrow’s plan of attack.” I think Wesley is trying to reassure us all so we keep our hopes up, but maybe he is just reassuring himself out loud.
“Since I know we’re not being ambushed and the growling has finished, I’m going back to bed, good night.” Chloe turns and leaves out the same door she just entered, shutting it behind her.
“I’m off to bed, too,” I say. “We’ll need as much energy as possible for tomorrow. It’s going to be physically and emotionally draining. Billy. You’re staying here the night, aren’t you?”
Billy nods in response.
“Bel, you might as well stay, too. There are enough rooms. You’re acting leader. It would probably be best to be where the Pack can get in touch with you,” Wes suggests.
“Plus, the more weres in here the safer since someone broke the door and deemed it unlockable.” A smarty-pants Billy adds, making us all laugh.
“I’m not sure. I need to eat.” Shifting takes energy and makes me hungry. “I don’t have any other clothes here and I can’t really sleep in this,” I say, gesturing towards my dress.
“Ted has heaps of food. He’s always eating. I’m sure we can also find you a spare t-shirt and sweats. Please say you’ll stay,” Ruby begs, with an eager look on her face.
“Okay. I hope there is a lot of food because I’m going to be shifting a number of times over night to check in on Theo; remind him to hang in there. Where are you sleeping Ruby?”
“I’m in the room next to Ted’s. You could sleep in the room on the other side of mine,” she offers.
“Okay. Sounds like a plan,” I agree, with a smile.
“I guess that means I’m your next door neighbour, hey?” Billy says, as he nudges Wes in the ribs.
“Ow, Billy. If you’re scared of sleeping downstairs on your own, you can be my neighbour. I’m off now. Do you want me to walk with you, Billy, to keep you from getting scared?” Wes jokes making us all burst into laughter.
“Fuck off, mate,” Billy says.
“We can ring the pack members we decide would be best for the job after breakfast; about ten o’clock. All three of us will need to be down here to discuss it at eight thirty,” Wes says more seriously.
I frown. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that Wes wants me in on the decision or if it’s the fact that he was referring to eight thirty in the morning. I haven’t seen that time of the day in years!
“Why do I need to be here that early? I wouldn’t have a clue who would be good for the job.” I complain.
“You need to ring and give the order to do the job. It comes with the role of the alpha’s mate. Well in this situation, it does anyway.”
“Then I can come down at nine forty-five,” I suggest, more cheerful at that thought.
Billy starts to laugh. “Are you not a morning person by any chance, Wolfy?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve not seen that side of noon for the last two years,” I say, shaking my head. It’s too bloody early.
“Eight thirty,” is all Wes says, as he opens the door leading to the hall.
Billy waves bye to us and follows Wes, closing the door behind him. Leaving me and Ruby alone in the lounge room.
Twenty-Three
REUNION
THEO
Hearing Bel’s voice gave me a boost. I don’t know how she knew but I was desperate for something to cling on to—to make myself live. She reminded me that I have a pack, a mate, and my baby sister relying on me. I need to get through this. The tranquilliser wasn’t fun, but it’s wearing off now. I need to focus.
“Look, he’s coming around.” Is that Alyssa?
“Don’t get too excited. He might be too out of it to recognise us. He might attack us.” That is definitely Paddy.
He must have knocked me out so he could bring them in here.
“At least he might recognise you. I’ve only met him twice. He’ll eat me first,” says who I can only assume is, Jared. Since I saw his lion attacking Dominick earlier I know he’s under the kidnapper’s control.
I need to shift back to human. I can’t exactly talk to them in my wolf form. They are right. An injured werewolf is dangerous. I rein the wolf in. He comes willingly, knowing it’s the best thing for all of us. He may be injured but he knows I would never put us in danger while we’re so vulnerable. It’s one of the most painful changes I have ever made. The intensity of the pain takes my breath away. I lay as still as possible once I’m human, not wanting to irritate my already sensitive skin and nerves.
“Theo, it’s Alyssa. Can you hear me?”
“Yes,” is all I can manage. The shift took it out of me. I will heal better in wolf form. The sooner I can talk to them and get back, the better. I honestly don’t feel like I am going to make it until tomorrow night.
Someone covers me with a blanket.
“Someone needs to take those bullets out of you. You’re never going to heal if those stay in you,” Alyssa says, rubbing at a sore spot on my upper arm.
“Bullets?” I ask, trying to inspect my arm.
“I’m betting silver by the way you’re not healing,” Jared says, as he steps closer.
I can’t control the warning growl that comes out of my mouth.
He holds his hands up in surrender and takes a step back. “Sorry. You’re injured and your wolf doesn’t know me. I’ll stay over here.”
“I can smell your lion. My wolf doesn’t like that you are a predator. I’m sorry. I’m not normally so grouchy.”
“It’s understandable. You have at least three silver bullets in you and numerous injuries that aren’t healing,” Jared admits.
“I have your blood on me. I can smell it. Did we do that to you?” Alyssa asks, sounding distraught.
I sit up, ignoring the pain that rolls through my body, and pull her into my arms. “Alyssa, you did not do this. You may have been the weapon but whoever has us was wielding that weapon. Do you hear me?” I command.
“Yes,” she whispers against my chest.
I look over at Paddy and he must see the pain on my face. He walks over and pulls Alyssa against his own chest.
“Go sit with Jared whilst I try removing the bullets out of Theo,” he says, guiding her towards Jared.
Paddy turns back towards me and starts poking at my arm. “If I could shift just my claws, I could probably dig them out, but I can’t do that. They’re too deep. I need something…” he says, as he looks around the room for anything that could be of use.
I look around, too. The room is sparse. Three camping beds against different bare walls and a bucket in the corner. I guess the kidnapper doesn’t want us to find anything we can use as a weapon.
“Can you shift just your claws, Jared?” Paddy asks, as he looks at Jared.
“I can but Theo’s wolf won’t let me near him as it is. There is no chance in hell he will let me near him with my claws out,” he says, from his seat on one of the beds, with Alyssa tucked into his side.
“It’s okay. I’ll be able to hang on until tomorrow night. I spo
ke with Bel before he knocked me out.” I tap my forehead to clarify how I spoke to her. “They have a plan.”
“Bel is always the one with the plan. You’re a lucky man,” Jared says.
I am feeling weaker by the second. The silver isn’t doing me any favours. I need to get it out. I shift just my hands, hoping to be able to dig them out myself. I reach around to the one Paddy was poking at and I can just reach it. I cut a cross through the wound to make it bigger and then dig my claw into the newer larger hole. I feel the silver. Not only does the arm it’s in sting like a bitch, but it stings the claw that touches it too. Trying to ignore the pain, I keep digging. I add another claw to the wound hoping to pincer it out. It works! I drag the bullet through the wound and drop it to the floor with a grunt.
Feeling slightly faint and nauseous, I give up any thought of removing the other bullets and lay down where I am sitting. “That will have to do. I can’t do anymore.”
“You did good, mate. I honestly don’t think I could have done that if I was in your shoes,” Jared praises. “If you shift, I will watch over your wolves whilst you sleep.”
I don’t even bother thanking him. I give my body over to my wolf and fall into a deep sleep.
Twenty-Four
SEEKING CONTACT
ROSABEL
“Okay. First things first. Where’s the food?” I ask Ruby, as my stomach grumbles in agreement.
Ruby leads me to the kitchen and starts pulling food out for a sandwich. I manage to stop myself from eating the ingredients before the sandwich is made. But once that sandwich is in my hands, I eat in total silence, enjoying every mouthful.
Once I’m finished we both head up to the bedrooms. Since I have to get up so early, I should get as much sleep as possible. I also need to ring Misty and Benji; he should be home and I haven’t heard from him yet. I understand why he was so mad when I didn’t ring him after arriving here.
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