by Alexa Riley
“Fine. If this is how we need to do it.” Dominic turns to Stone but neither of them speak. Finally, Dom rolls his eyes and begins talking. “I knew Gwen was your mate after the first time you saw Ruby and you tried to claim her. You said you scented your mate at the time, and Gwen worked with Ruby. Gwen makes all the cookies and that’s why you always like those best. Her scent is on them.”
I see tension flow through Stone but I don’t care. Hearing about my mate makes my need rise in me, and I start to whine.
“You can’t have her,” Stone growls.
I lunge at the bars of the cell, and Stone takes a step back. I feel a little satisfaction in the fact that I can rattle him.
“Everyone, calm down!” Dom yells, and I take a breath.
I need to get out of here, and I need to relax to do that. If I can somehow convince them that I’m docile, maybe they’ll let me out and I can escape.
“Stone, you know he’ll go crazy if he can’t get to her. He’ll go insane, and some wolves don’t come back from that.”
Stone gives me a cold look and then turns to Dom. “Would you give him over to Ruby?”
“She’s my mate. That’s different.” Dominic snaps.
“Gwen is my little sister. She’s all that I have left. I have to protect her.” Stone looks over at me and his eyes narrow. “Just like you should have protected your little sister.”
I snarl and lunge at the bars again, this time I throw my shoulder against them, and I feel some give. I snap at him, wanting nothing more than to sink my teeth into his flesh to punish him for his words. Pain rolls through me as the loss of my mother and sister hits me hard. He’s right. I should have protected them. What kind of mate can I be to Gwen?
“Goddamn it, Stone. What is wrong with you? That was an accident. There wasn’t anything anyone could have done and you fucking know it.” Dom looks at me, and I’m sure they can both smell my pain. “That was a long time ago, and we’re all still hurting for your loss.”
Stone lets his arms uncross and drop to his sides. “I’m sorry, brother.” I look into his eyes and I can see the remorse. He would only bring up something so painful if he was hurting, too. “She’s all the family I have left. I’m unmated, and if she’s mated to you, then I have nothing.”
I feel the weight of his words and I understand. I know what it was like to be lonely for so long. Even if I put the isolation on myself, it wasn’t easy. I have things I need to say to Stone, so I rein in my wolf and shift back to human form.
Once I’m in control of my skin again, I lock eyes with Stone and try not to challenge him. “You never liked me looking at her. Even before I went into isolation.”
“She was too young.” He grits the words out and clenches his fists. There’s something odd about the way he says it. Like he’s angry with himself as well. “She wasn’t of age, and you were looking at her wrong. You should have controlled it. You should have walked away from her.”
“Wrong? I never crossed a line with Gwen. My wolf knew she was special to me. We didn’t know at the time she was my mate, but yes, I was drawn to her when she was young.”
“You watched her sleep.” Again, Stone’s words are saying one thing, but guilt is pouring from him. “It wasn’t right. You shouldn’t have looked at her when she was underage. Even if you never acted on it.”
I want to question it, but I’m trying to control myself. I’ve been away from my mate for too long and the need is rising.
“I was with Gwen the day I lost my family. I felt so guilty because I was with her instead of protecting my family. I couldn’t bear to be around anyone again after that. If I couldn't protect my family, how could I protect her?” The confession makes my heart ache, but it’s the truth. I need Stone to understand my pain and let me out of here.
“And now that you’re mated to her, will you be able to protect her?” Stone’s jaw tics, and I can feel his anger. “Because I will let you die in this cage before I allow her to be with someone who can’t protect her.
Wrapping my hands around the bars, I step close and let Stone see the full size of my body. I’m naked, but no one is fazed by that; it’s normal for shifters. “I will die for her without hesitation. But don’t forget, alpha,” I say the word with emphasis because we both know I could take him in a fight, “if you keep me from her, not only will I go mad, but so will she. Gwen will feel every ounce of pain you’re willing to inflict on me.”
He raises his chin mockingly. “I’m prepared to drug her until you’re gone and the need passes.” My eyes go wide and a growl erupts from my chest.
I hear Dominic’s intake of breath. “Stone, you can’t be serious.”
He turns to the Dom and crosses his arms again. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
I let go of the bars and step to the back of the cell. It won’t do me any good to lose my shit right now. I take deep breaths and keep calm as I try to think of a way out of this.
“Stone, the pack won’t let you do this, alpha or not. You’re going against nature by keeping them separated. You can’t do it.”
I feel my heartbeat pick up speed, and my wolf pushes forward. The need is coming over me and it’s getting out of control.
“Look at him. He’s already hurting and it’s only been a couple of hours. Gwen is going to be feeling the same pain as him. Is that what you want to do to her?”
I can’t look up to see his response. I’m too taken over by the pain. I let my wolf push forward, letting go of my skin and feeling him take control. It lessens the pain some when I’m fully shifted and all my senses are at their peak.
I start to prowl the cage again, going from one side to the other, keeping my eyes locked on Stone. I growl low in my chest, feeling the vibrations run through my body. It’s a challenge to Stone and to anyone else wanting to stand in my way.
He may have me caged, but at some point I’ll get free, and when I do, I’ll claim Gwen. Nothing will stand in the way of me and my mate.
“I’m getting the tranquilizer gun again. I think he needs to calm down before we can talk to him again.” Stone turns to leave, and Dominic looks at me with panic in his eyes.
He watches Stone go up the stairs, and he turns back to me. “I’ll do what I can to protect you, friend. He’s gone a little crazy himself, and I don’t know what’s going on. Be patient and try to stay calm. I know the mating is pulling you, but it won’t be much longer, and I’ll help you get out of here.” With those words, he walks up the stairs and shuts the door, locking it behind him.
Feeling a warmth in my chest, I close my eyes and let it flow through me. My eyes snap open and I feel her. My mate is here.
Chapter 6
Gwen
“Gwen, you need to slow down. We don’t even know where they’ve taken him,” Ruby says from the doorway of my little apartment. I’m flinging clothes out of my closet and stuffing them into a bag, not really caring what I’m grabbing.
“Call him, Ruby,” I bite out before dashing into the bathroom and just doing a sweep with my arm to push stuff into my bag. Stone and Dominic loaded my mate into Dominic’s jeep, not letting me get in with them. I was sure they were headed to the police station, or maybe Doc’s house, but both places came up empty without a trace of their smells to be found.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I should’ve followed them instead of just assuming where they were going. But I’ll find them, no doubt about that. The only question is if I’ll still have a brother when I’m done, because with the way I’m feeling at the moment, I’m not sure I won’t go for his throat. I can’t control myself right now. I’m starting to understand how Dominic acted when he first spotted Ruby. At least my mate feels the pull, too.
Heading back into the main room, I see Ruby still just standing there. Winnie’s standing behind her, looking like she’s not quite sure what to do with herself right now.
“Well?” I snap, annoyed that Ruby isn’t doing what I asked. Okay, maybe
I didn’t ask, per se, but still, now is not a time for pleasantries.
“Okay, maybe I do know where they are.” She bites her lip, and I can tell she’s debating something. Maybe Dom told her not to tell me or something and she doesn’t want to betray him. Ruby’s a sweetheart, and as much as it sucks to have to do this, I’ll go straight for her weak spot. Compassion.
“Ruby, if you wanted to know where your mate was and I knew and didn’t tell you, what would you think of me?”
Her mouth falls open, and I can see the battle going on inside her. As sweet as Ruby is, she’d rip my head off if I kept her from Dom. Even as a human, she’s protective of him and with his mate mark on her, she now has a little bit of wolf in her, too.
“They took him to the alpha’s house,” Winnie chimes in, and Ruby lets go of a deep breath she must have been holding. I’m sure she’s probably happy she didn’t have to break her word to Dom, but I don’t care. I’m happy I got the answer I needed.
“How do you know that?” I ask, wondering how she got that tidbit of information. Winnie’s been by my side this whole time, even when Stone tried to send her home. If I wasn’t so worried about my mate, I’d be cheering for Winnie standing up for herself for once. She got right into Stone’s face and told him he could shove it. A nicer phrase than I would have used, but she was probably still raw from his comment about her being different.
“I don’t know.” She shifts from foot to foot, and it takes everything in me not to growl at her. It’s the last thing Winnie needs. I’m probably her only friend, and so I try to control my frustration. Getting these girls to talk right now is like pulling freaking teeth. “Sometimes Stone just texts me and tells me not to go somewhere, and I normally don’t.”
That doesn’t even make sense, but I don’t care enough right now to try to figure it out. My brother’s house was going to be the next place I checked anyway, knowing he has a few cages on our family’s land. Sometimes things get a little sticky when unmated, out-of-control shifters show up in town. You can’t just throw them into a holding cell down at the police station. I’m going to have to find out which one he’s put him in. Shouldn’t be hard now that I have a scent to track. A scent that for some reason seems familiar, but I can’t place it. It’s at the corner of my mind, but I can’t grab it.
The biggest problem is going to be getting him out of whatever cage he’s in. There’s no way I could break it and I’ve seen some of the shifters Stone has thrown in them before. If they couldn’t break out themselves, no way can I. I might have to sneak in and get a key, but it’s not something I’m sure I have the time to do.
The reminder of my mate’s scent sends desire shooting through my body, and the potency seems to be growing by the second. I think my adrenaline and fear held it at bay, but now Mother Nature is making herself known, and my body has come alive.
“Maybe we should just wait. Just let Dom get X under control first and calm him down a little.” Ruby’s making her best effort to get me to stay. I can see the unease in her eyes. It pisses me off that she seems to know my mate along with everyone else. How is that possible? I have no freaking clue, and it doesn’t sit well. In fact, it’s really starting to get under my skin.
Ruby gasps and takes a step back from me. It takes me a moment to realize that my eyes have shifted. I take a deep breath to pull myself back under control, trying to calm down. Letting my wolf out isn’t going to get me anywhere right now.
“How do you know my mate and I don’t? I’ve lived here my whole life. You’ve been here months.” I try and keep the anger out of my voice, but it’s hard. I’m frustrated and, well, I’m guessing this other feeling is horny.
“He kinda lives in the woods behind the bakery. I’m a little shocked you haven’t seen him by now. I give him cookies and treats all the time.”
My heart clenches. He lives in the woods? That has to be lonely. I can’t go ten minutes without wanting to talk to someone. I’d go crazy in the wild. I’m starting to think the differences between my mate and me are going to be ginormous. We haven’t even gotten a chance to talk to each other and it’s like the world is already against us. It doesn’t matter, though. We’ll run if we have to. I won’t let my mate and Stone come to blows. All I can do is get my mate and leave. Maybe some time away will calm Stone down and we can return. He won’t be able to do anything once were mated and I’m carrying our pups.
The thought of our pups has me in motion again. I can get details about my mate later. Right now I just need to find him. I throw my bag over my shoulder. “Please move.”
They both step out of my way, and I go down the stairs and out the back bakery door with them hot on my heels. I throw my bag in the back seat of my car and slam the door before pulling my car keys out of my purse.
“If you’re my friends, you won’t tell them I’m going to get him.” I give them both a pleading look, and I know Winnie won’t tell a soul, but Ruby might tell her mate.
“But Gwen. X can be a little…” Ruby’s words trail off, but I just stand there waiting. I want to know what she was going to say. “Much,” she finally finishes, not really giving me anything at all.
“Same thing could have been said about Dom, Ruby. We had to chain him.” I remind her of her own mating. “Did he hurt you when you got into that cabin?”
“I won’t tell them,” she says instantly at the truth of my reminder.
I nod at both of them, hop into my car, and take off towards our family land. It doesn’t take long to get there. With most of the town still at the fair, the roads are clear.
I park on the south side of the property, making sure I’m downwind. I’m hoping Stone doesn’t catch my scent as I track through the woods. When I don’t find him in the first cage, I start heading towards the one closer to the main house.
It doesn’t take long before I start to smell him. A loud howl rings out and I pick up speed, running as fast as I can while staying in human form. I don’t want to shift and lose my clothes. If I have to drive us out of here, I don’t want to have to do that naked.
Breaking through the trees, I see the back of the house. I quietly sneak onto the back porch and open the back door silently. I’ve had enough experience sneaking in and out of this house to know exactly where I’m going. I didn’t think Stone would bring him here to his home. He must really have a problem with my mate if he wanted to bring him here instead of some of the other cages on the property.
Inside, my mate’s scent is stronger, and I make my way to the basement door. It’s locked, but it only takes me a second to get it open. I roll my eyes. This dinky lock isn’t going to keep any shifter in or out.
I take the steps quietly. As I travel down farther, I pick up only the scent of my mate. When I’m at the bottom of the stairs, I round the corner and see a cage. Inside it is the biggest black wolf I’ve ever seen. I know it’s him because just like his human form, his wolf form is massive.
My mate.
I run to the bars but stop short when he charges the cage, shifting to human faster than I knew was possible. He must be more in tune with his wolf than most, or has spent a lot of time in that form to shift so easily back and forth and with such fluid movements.
His big arms reach through the bars, grabbing my face and pulling me towards him. I moan at the contact as he presses against my body as much as he can. His hard cock digs into me, and my body feels like it’s buzzing with awareness.
“Mine,” he whispers, his voice so low I almost don’t hear him. He repeats it over and over. If I wasn’t pressed so close to him, I wouldn’t be able to hear him chanting the word. He rubs his face against me as best as he can, and I can see he’s still part-wolf. He looks so familiar, but I can’t seem to place him.
As he keeps rubbing me, I can’t help the moans that pour from my mouth at his touches. Wolves run in packs by nature. We are touchers and huggers but I’ve never felt anything like this. His gentleness surprises me. Then I realize what he’s doing. He’
s trying to get my scent on him and his on me. I push into him, wanting the same thing, until he suddenly pulls back from me. This time it’s me who grabs through the bars, trying to get him back.
“Someone’s coming,” he growls. I hear the distant sound of tires on gravel. He’s right. We don’t have much time. A whine slips past my lips, and his eyes shoot back to mine. “They won’t keep you from me.” He reaches for the bars and pulls. They grind and screech as he starts to rip them from the concrete floor, sending shards of cement flying.
“Holy shit.” I step back, giving him room, completely shocked at what he’s doing.
I watch with wide eyes, and then suddenly he’s on me. Flipping me over his shoulder, he runs up the stairs with me.
“That way.” I point over his shoulder and he sprints in that direction. In half a second, I feel cool air on my cheeks as he runs us through the woods.
“I can run on my own.”
He slides me down his chest, and I think he’s going to put me down, but he just cradles me in his arms.
“No,” he grunts, like his word is final.
“We can move faster if I run myself,” I try to protest, but he just pulls me closer to him, his intent clear. A spark of anger flares inside me, but his words wash it away instantly.
“I know how to care for my mate. I can make everything perfect for you. You’ll never want to leave me. I’ll never be alone again.”
I let my body mold into his, resting my head on his shoulder as he continues to run. I breathe in his scent, and it finally soothes the ache inside me.
After about twenty minutes and no sign of him slowing down and the last of daylight fading away, I try again. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
Ruby said he lived in the woods. I’m all about being with my mate, but I don’t think I can live in the woods. A few days maybe, but living there full time? Not so much.