Lost Wolf

by Stacy Claflin

  Over to the side of the room lay a human skeleton, still in chains.

  That didn’t offer me much hope. The only thing I had going for me was that Brick, Sal, and Jet knew I’d gone into the club. But was I even still there? Surely this room wasn’t advertised in their brochures.

  My right eye throbbed, reminding me of the beating I’d received after being chained. The owner had sucker punched me a few times before unleashing a couple of his men on me.

  I coughed, which only made sharp pains shoot out from my ribs. At least all the pain distracted me from the hunger and thirst.

  The doorknob jiggled.

  My head shot to attention. Was I in for another beating, or would they give me something to drink finally?

  The door opened, and in walked the owner. He looked at me and laughed. “How’s it going?”

  I clenched my teeth, refusing to give him the pleasure of an answer.

  “The strong, silent type, are you? We’ll see how far that gets you. If you want any water, you better answer my questions.”

  I groaned involuntarily.

  He laughed again. “That’s what I thought. What were you doing inside my building?”

  “Looking for answers.”

  “More specific.” He punched me across the face.

  Blood gushed from my nose. It dripped down my face and onto my bare chest. Instinctively, I tried wiping it, but the chains stopped me. Sharp pains shot through my shoulder.

  “Why were you here?”

  “Victoria.”

  “Ah, now we’re getting somewhere.” A slow, sly smile spread across his face. “My son had a nice make out session with her last night.”

  I lunged at him, not that it did any good.

  “I’ve got the video to prove it.” He pulled out a phone and slid his finger around the screen. “One of these days, Carter will find out about the cameras I have everywhere and be pissed.” He chuckled. “But what can he do?”

  I turned away from him, ignoring the shooting pains in my neck.

  “Here we go. Look at this.”

  “No,” I grunted.

  The jerk grabbed my face and forced me to look at the screen. It showed Victoria with the guy she’d been eating with the night before. They sat at a candle-lit table surrounded by plants, just talking.

  “Wait for it.”

  Carter turned to my Victoria and ran his hand along her face. She then kissed his fingertips.

  I closed my eyes, refusing to watch anymore.

  My captor made a noise in his throat and then something wet hit my eye. “I said to watch,” he growled. “Should I turn the volume on?”

  I opened my eyes and glared at him through the spit hanging on my eyelashes.

  He squeezed my chin and shoved the screen closer to my face.

  Carter ran his hands through Victoria’s hair. She had her hand on his arms as he flexed. From the expression on her face, she was enjoying herself.

  My stomach twisted in knots. The wolf inside me raged, eager to escape. I averted my eyes, unable to watch.

  The fingers around my face tightened. I brought my gaze back to the screen.

  Now Carter kissed her face. Her neck. The look of enjoyment on her face made me sick.

  “What have you done to her?” I demanded.

  He laughed. “I didn’t plan on this—but it worked out nicely. Carter was just supposed to keep an eye on her. I didn’t expect a jaguar to fall for a lowly wolf, but I’ll take it for now.”

  I lunged at him, not caring about the metal digging into my flesh.

  “Watch the show.” His fist hit my temple with a sickening crack.

  On the screen, my captor’s son passionately kissed my love. His hand went for the zipper on the back of her shirt and he started unzipping.

  The screen turned black.

  “You’ve seen enough. I suppose you’ve earned a sip of water. I’ll let someone know. Have fun imagining what’s on the rest of the video.” He smirked and left the room, slamming the door behind himself.

  Bile rose from my stomach as I tried not to think about the rest of the video. Had that sleazy jaguar…? I couldn’t even finish the thought. Victoria and I had decided to save ourselves for marriage—back in those days, there was honor in such a decision.

  Images from the video replayed over and over in my mind. The harder I tried not to think of them, the more vivid they grew. I thought of Victoria’s sweet scent, her soft hair, those supple lips…

  And now that jerk knew them as intimately as I did. Maybe even more.

  Vomit rose into my mouth and I threw it up onto the floor until my stomach could only dry heave. Once I escaped, I would tear that conniving, greedy bastard to pieces—in front of his father. They would both pay. Heavily.

  I fought against the chains as my flesh ripped all the more. Fresh droplets of blood dripped down my arm. I shouted, allowing my wolf to release all his anger along with me.

  Once my throat was raw, I stopped. I’d exhausted myself.

  A few minutes later, the door opened again. A different jaguar came in carrying a glass of water. “Finally quieted down, I see.” His face turned green. “It reeks in here. What did you do?”

  I stared at the drink, longing for even just a sip.

  “What did you do?” he shouted.

  “Only what’s natural, given my circumstances.”

  He gagged. “I’m glad I’m not on janitorial duty tonight.” He plugged his nose and walked around my vomit. “Disgusting.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t lock people in here.”

  “Like I have any say.” He shoved the glass to my mouth. “Hurry up before I puke all over you from the stench.”

  I drank as quickly as I could. The water had a funny taste, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to quench my thirst and get the horrible sourness leftover from vomiting out of my mouth.

  He yanked the glass from my mouth before I’d finished it. “I can’t do this.” He ran out of the room, gagging.

  The inside of my mouth felt better, but I was growing dizzy. Everything spun around me. Maybe that was a good thing. At least it kept me from thinking about Victoria and that jaguar making jaguar-wolf hybrid babies.

  Everything turned black.

  Chapter 22

  Victoria

  I climbed into my car, sure Yurika would fire me. It had been the worst day ever. I couldn’t concentrate, worried about Toby and agitated by my run-in with Soleil. I kept trying to convince myself I’d imagined everything from her drinking my essence to her bright green eyes and wings. But I could still feel the strange purple mist leaving my body.

  My only saving grace was that Carter probably wouldn’t allow Yurika to let me go, despite my having spilled crimson nail polish on a lady’s silk dress, making it look like she’d had a monthly mishap. If that wasn’t bad enough, I’d also put the wrong lotion on another lady’s hands, leaving her skin red and irritated.

  After that, Yurika had given me papers to file and she’d worked double-duty with the clients.

  Sighing, I started the car.

  My phone buzzed, indicating I had a text.

  Carter: Sry. Stuck in mtg still

  Victoria: Can I cu l8r?

  Carter: Hope so

  Victoria: Having the worst day

  Carter: :( Ill try 2 get out asap

  Victoria: Thx

  Carter: <3 Sry

  Victoria: Me 2

  I hadn’t seen him all day because I’d skipped my next two classes, hyperventilating in the woods. Alex, the friendly wolf who always seemed to find me, had found me yet again and helped me to calm down. But by then, I was due at the spa.

  My body ached, and I didn’t want to see anyone other than Carter. Well, and Toby. But if there was any truth to what Soleil had told me, no one would see him anytime soon.

  Guilt shot through me.

  What if they really did need me to help find him? No, that was ridiculous. What could I do? It wasn’t like I had any su
perpowers. No hero was half as clumsy as me. Either she was crazy or I was. Whichever it was, I couldn’t help Toby no matter how much I wanted to.

  I pulled out of the parking spot and onto the road, heading for the Waldensian. I’d just claim to have a headache—it wasn’t far from the truth—and then I’d climb into bed, sticking my earbuds in. Hopefully that would make the rest of the world disappear for a while. At least until Carter was able to get out of his dad’s meeting.

  When I got to the campus, groups of people were posting fliers on utility poles. I slowed to look at one. It had the word Missing in large letters and a picture of Toby with information about him.

  Someone turned to me. “Have you seen him?”

  Tears stung my eyes. I shook my head and pulled back onto the road. My vision blurred, but I blinked the tears away.

  Once I got home, a couple dozen people were crowded into the living room, watching the news. Toby’s face flashed on the screen. It was the same picture as was on the flier.

  Sasha ran over to me. “Can you believe it? That professor seems to have disappeared into thin air.”

  “I know.” I cleared my throat. “It’s crazy.”

  She leaned closer. “I heard he was involved in a cult.”

  I gave her a double-take. “Huh?”

  “It makes sense if you think about it. He lives in a huge house in the middle of the woods.”

  “And that makes him a cult member?”

  “Leader.” Sasha nodded her head knowingly. “Their whole compound is blocked off with an electric fence. My friend heard they shoot visitors on sight.”

  “That doesn’t sound like him.”

  “How would you know?”

  My face warmed. “I’m in one of his classes.”

  Sasha pulled me into the next room. “Why are you blushing? Do you know something?”

  “I’m not blushing.” My face heated all the more.

  “Liar. Tell me everything.”

  “Nothing to tell. He’s my professor and a nice guy, that’s all.”

  “So, cult leaders can’t be nice?” She arched a brow. “How do you think they lure everyone into—oh my gosh!”

  “What?” I asked.

  She stared at me.

  “What?” I demanded.

  “He’s luring you in!”

  People in the living room turned and stared.

  I grabbed her arms and dragged her into the kitchen. “No, he’s not. Stop talking crazy. He’s just a professor.”

  “A really hot one. He doesn’t even look old enough to be a teacher.”

  “Obviously, he is.”

  “He really has you under his spell.”

  “No, he doesn’t!” I spun around and marched up the stairs.

  “Hey,” Sasha called. She caught up to me. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Then stop making wild accusations against someone who’s missing. What if he’s in danger? Maybe he’s dead!” Hot, angry tears blurred my vision. I blinked and they fell to my face. “Just think before you gossip about nice people.”

  I ran past her, went through our room into the bathroom and slammed the door, locking it. I dropped my backpack on the floor.

  She knocked. “Hey, I wasn’t trying to upset you.”

  “Too late.” I leaned against the wall and stared at my reflection. My eyes were red and puffy, my hair was coming loose from the ponytail, and my scratches were hideous. I slid to sitting.

  “I’m sure none of it’s true,” Sasha said. “People say stupid things for attention all the time around here. Have you noticed that?”

  “Yep.” Including my roommate.

  “Look, I’m sorry. I should’ve stopped once you said he was your teacher. I’d probably be upset if one of mine disappeared. Come out, please?”

  “I have a headache.”

  “We’ll talk about something else. Are you going back to Carter’s place tonight?”

  “Do I look like it?”

  “He doesn’t care about that. Have you seen the way he looks at you?”

  “Go away.”

  “If you won’t come out, will you at least let me in? I hate talking through this door.”

  “I just need to be alone. Nothing personal, but I don’t want to be around anyone right now.”

  “You need a friend. I’ll just sit with you. I promise to shut it.”

  I shook my head, too exhausted to argue.

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Fine.” I reached up and unlocked the door.

  She came in and sat next to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were so… attached to your professor.”

  I sighed. “It’s not that, okay?”

  “Not that I would judge.”

  “Great.” I put my forehead on my knees.

  We sat in silence for a few moments.

  “So, how long are we going to sit here?” she asked.

  “No one’s making you stay.”

  “I know. How are things going with Carter? That’s not why you’re upset, is it? You guys didn’t have a fight, did you?”

  I shook my head. We might have, if he’d have been upset about me wanting to slow things down. “He’s practically perfect.”

  “Good! See, you don’t need to worry about the professor.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” I turned and looked at her like she was crazy. “He’s a nice guy, and nobody knows where he is.”

  “If there’s any truth to—”

  “There’s not.”

  “How would you know?” she asked.

  “I thought you came in here to be supportive.”

  “Sorry. Tell me about last night again. Carter’s home sounds as impressive as the Jag—which I still haven’t seen any pictures of, by the way.”

  I counted silently to ten. “Can you go downstairs and see if there’s anything new about T… Professor Foley on the news?”

  “You think there might be?”

  “Never know.” I shrugged.

  “Sure. You okay?”

  “Yeah, I think I’m going to jump in the shower.”

  Sasha gave me a hug. “I’m sure he’ll be just fine. Maybe he’ll show up in class tomorrow, ready to hand out gobs of homework.”

  My inner annoyance perked up. I tried to ignore it. “That would be one time tons of homework would make me happy.”

  “I’ll let you know if they’ve found him.” She got up.

  “Thanks. Speaking of assignments, I’d better get started on tonight’s work. My psych professor is probably already mad at me for skipping today.”

  “Massaro?” she asked. “I heard he’s the devil.”

  “Pretty much.” I closed the door and climbed in the shower, letting the water get as hot as I could stand it. I just stood there, letting it run over me for at least five minutes before reaching for the shampoo.

  Not that I had anything to compare it to, but it wouldn’t have surprised me if this had been the craziest week of my life.

  When I got out of the shower, I had a new text from Carter.

  Carter: Sry. Stuck here l8.

  Victoria: Its OK. Tons of HW

  Carter: Ill make it up 2morrow

  Victoria: No worries

  Carter: I promise <3

  Victoria: Thx <3

  Carter: Sweet dreams

  Victoria: u2

  I got comfortable on my bed and spread out all my stuff, starting with psychology. According to the syllabus, we were just supposed to read. I could handle that.

  By the time I finished all my studying, Sasha still hadn’t returned. I took that to mean Toby was still missing. My heart sank a little as I pulled my covers up.

  I closed my eyes, and my interaction with Soleil replayed in my mind. Something was seriously wrong with me since I was more freaked out by finding that picture of me than I was by the whole essence-sucking thing. Her temporary electric-green eyes and wings should have shot fear through me, instead the relaxed feeling ret
urned as if she were pulling the purple mist from me again.

  It helped me to drift to sleep…

  Toby and I sat on a blanket next to a pond. A wicker picnic basket sat between us. He gazed into my eyes, holding me happily captive. He reached over the basket and took my hand. “I can’t believe we finally got away together.”

  I squeezed his hand and smiled. “I think we’re alone now.”

  The only sounds around us were of birds singing in the distance and some frogs in the pond.

  He pushed the basket away, scooted closer, and pulled me onto his lap. I squealed with delight.

  Toby put his mouth next to my ear and brushed some hair out of the way. “What would our parents say if they could see us?”

  His breath tickled my skin. I shivered. “My father would kill you.”

  “Mine would join him.” He kissed my ear and laced his fingers through mine.

  “Aren’t you afraid?” I turned and brushed my lips across his. He smelled so good—so masculine and woodsy.

  “No. Being with you is worth any risk.” Toby deepened the kiss. He tasted even better than he smelled.

  He pulled back, and I had to catch my breath. “Are we going to spend our lives sneaking away to see each other?”

  “We might have to start our own pack.” He pressed his lips on mine again, pulling me closer.

  “Mmm… but how?” I ran my hands across his rock-solid chest. “We’re both the eldest children of alphas.” Rival alphas. My father had sworn to take out all of Toby’s pack if it were the last thing he did. I shuddered.

  “We’ll run away together. Just you and me.”

  I leaned my head against his. “Nothing sounds better.”

  Footsteps sounded.

  “There they are!”

  Sasha’s alarm woke me up. I bolted up. I’d forgotten to set mine. It took me a minute to realize I was no longer in the woods with Toby.

  “What time is it?” I demanded.

  She mumbled something incoherent. I flew out of bed, threw on the first clothes I grabbed, ran a brush through my hair, and pulled it into a ponytail. No time for makeup. I grabbed my backpack and headed for my car, with my heart racing.

  I slid into my seat next to Grace. “Please tell me it’s Friday.”

  “It’s Friday.”

  “Is it really?” I exclaimed.

  She nodded. “I can’t wait to sleep in.”