by Stormy Glenn
Before he could come after me, I brought the metal bucket down on his head again. When he dropped to the ground, I kicked him in the face. It wasn’t nice and it wasn’t pretty, but it had the desired effect. The guard was unconscious. That meant there were only two guards left.
Fuck!
One of them was coming after me. I took off running, making a wide circle around the fighting pit. When I raced past Samson and the guy he was fighting, Samson swung out his hand and sank his claws into the guard chasing me.
Without even blinking, he went back to fighting the guard. My jaw dropped as I watched my guard slid to the ground in a puddle of his own blood. There might have been some guts in there too.
And that would be why I was not an assassin.
I raced over to the wall and leaned my hand against it as I emptied the contents of my stomach. By the time I was done and lifted my head, the arena had gone silent. I wiped my hand across my mouth as I glanced toward Samson.
I found him staring at me with a look so intense it made me think about running, which would have been a really bad idea. I knew that. Samson would be able to catch me before I could even put the thought into action.
“Are you hurt, Samson?”
The man grunted.
I supposed that was an answer, but damned if I knew what it was.
I pushed my hand through my sweat-drenched hair, moving it back from my face. I needed a bath something fierce. It wasn’t on the top of my priority list, but it was in the top five.
I blinked and Samson was standing right in front of me. I swallowed tightly. This would be a defining moment for us. If he killed me, I really had nothing to worry about.
I’d be dead.
If he didn’t kill me, well then, I had a few things to worry about.
Like how in the hell we were going to get out of here.
When Samson continued to stare down at me with those intense ice-blue eyes, I slowly—very slowly—reached up toward his face. I winced when he caught my wrist in a crushing grip.
“Samson,” I whispered.
A stiff wind could have blown me over when the man turned his head and took a long sniff of the skin at my wrist. Samson shuddered, leaving me to wonder if he liked what he had smelled or hated it.
Once again, I found myself hoping.
Hope was a new concept for me, one that had only come to life when Samson found me. Before then, despair had been all I felt since the moment I had been taken and realized I couldn’t escape.
“Mine!” It was a growl, nearly a shout.
“Yours,” I replied.
When the man pulled me to him, I tilted my head submissively to one side, baring my throat. My action had nothing to do with the fact that I was an omega. I knew who was the top predator in the room, and it wasn’t me.
Samson’s pupils were huge. His blue eyes almost dominated his face. I could still see the clenched jaw and the angled cheekbones. Adrenaline was running rampant through the large man, making him tense and anxious.
“We need to go, Samson.”
I hoped he understood my words.
Samson inhaled a large breath. When he exhaled, some of the tension left his body. “Yes, go.”
Well, two words were better than one, and he obviously understood me even if it was only on a basic level. I’d take what I could get.
When I tried to pull away so I could search the bodies for keys, Samson grunted and pulled me back to him. I almost laughed at his possessive gesture. “We need keys, Samson, so we can open our cells and get out of here.”
That was the plan anyway.
Samson patted his chest. “Me.”
I lifted an eyebrow, not quite sure what Samson meant until he walked away from me. I frowned when he squatted in front of one of the guards and started patting him down.
Oh, he was being literal.
Chapter Five
Samson
Mate.
Keep mate safe.
Protect mate.
Mate.
My brain pounded those words over and over again in my head. Nothing else mattered. Not my erratic pulse. Not the bloody bodies on the ground. Not the rage flowing through my system so quickly I found it hard to control.
I needed to get my mate to safety. He wasn’t safe here. Danger was everywhere. The five bodies on the ground proved that. The blood on my hands backed that up.
Must keep mate safe.
I wasn’t sure everything I found on the bodies would be useful, but I took it all anyway. When I turned back to my mate to present him with what I found, I was taken in by the man’s big luminous brown eyes.
I was pretty sure I could stare at them forever.
“Samson?”
I held out my hands, showing my mate my finds. He lifted his eyebrows before dropping his gaze to the bounty I had found.
“Well, some of this will be useful.” Henry began searching through the items cradled in my hands. He picked up the wallets and riffled through them, pulling out the cash before tossing them aside. He grabbed whatever loose cash there was, as well.
Most of the rest of the stuff he dropped to the floor. He did grab all of the keys, then held them up. “Maybe one of these will unlock the doors.”
I grunted.
The corner of Henry’s mouth lifted, almost as if he was amused by my grunt.
I would have to think on that.
“Is your mind clearing?” he asked as he laid a hand on my arm.
It was, but not as fast as I would have liked.
I nodded anyway.
“You were right, Samson. You did know who I was.”
Duh.
Mate.
I didn’t understand how he could think I wouldn’t know him.
“Come on.” Henry headed for the gate leading to one of the cells. “We need to get out of here before more guards show up.”
I agreed.
Of course, I’d kill any guards who came after us. That was a given. Until Henry wasn’t in danger anymore, I’d kill anyone who threatened him.
When he started to walk down the tunnel, I grabbed him and pulled him behind me. Until we knew what we were facing, I would go first. I was better able to handle any threats coming at us.
I was surprised the gate was still up when I reached the entrance to the tunnel. I lifted my nose, sniffing at the air. The stench of decay and cooling blood in the air was too thick to smell anything else.
I walked slowly down the corridor. I wanted to run, to find an escape route out of this hellhole, but that would be a stupid move. It was better to be slow and cautious than fast and foolhardy.
The gate at the other end of the tunnel was up. I stood in the doorway and searched as far as my eyes could see, looking for anyone or anything that might bring us harm. When I figured the coast was clear, I glanced over my shoulder and then held out my hand.
It settled the beast in me when Henry took it without hesitation.
Keeping a tight hold of his hand, I stepped inside the cell. I held my breath as I waited for the gate to lower behind me as it always had in the past, but it never did. After a few seconds—and Henry giving me a questioning look—I walked over to the locked cell door.
“I think one of these keys might unlock it,” Henry said as he held out a small handful of them. “I’m not sure which one, but…”
He shrugged.
Damn, that was cute.
I took one set of keys and started trying them in the lock. It was a little hard to maneuver because I had to stick my hand out through the bars and then turn it back toward me to get the key in the lock.
The first set of keys didn’t work.
Neither did the second set.
The fourth key on the third key ring turned the lock. I heard a distinctive click and then the cell door slid open.
“Yes!” Henry said in a hushed shout of excitement.
I didn’t blame him. This was the first time since I’d arrived here that I had the opportunity to escap
e this hellhole. I was excited, too.
But I was also wary.
Granted, I had killed the guards in the pit, but that didn’t mean there weren’t more of them, or that this wasn’t a trap. I wouldn’t put it past the asshole who set this all up to try and play those types of mind games.
“Come.” I beckoned to Henry with my hand. Trap or not, I couldn’t pass up this chance to get my mate out of here. After Henry grabbed my hand, I turned. A sense of something lifting off my chest swept through me when I stepped out of the cell.
Henry must have felt it, too. I heard him whimper. I pulled him close to my side and continued walking, keeping my attention on the corridor in front of us. The drugs were still messing with my system, but my mind had cleared enough to know fighting wasn’t our best option right now. I would if I had to, but escaping was better.
Besides, I didn’t want Henry to have to go into battle.
My mate should never have to fight. He was an omega. Not only did it go against his nature, but the mere thought of one hair out of place on his beautiful little head made me want to kill something.
Big surprise there.
We made our way down the dimly lit hallway to another door. This one was thick and made of steel. I hoped there was a key to the door because I wasn’t sure I could break it down if there wasn’t.
I glanced at Henry, but smiled when I saw the bit of lip he had caught between his teeth. There were many facets to my mate. Each second spent in his presence showed me that. I had been truly blessed by the gods when Henry had been given to me.
I would not allow anyone to take him from me.
“Stay close.”
“Whoa, two complete words.” Henry chuckled. “You must be feeling better.”
I grunted.
Henry rolled his beautiful brown eyes. “Or not.”
I was amused by Henry’s reaction to my grunt. I’d have to do that a little more often.
Amusement. That was not something I’d thought I would find with my mate. Arousal, possessiveness, intrigue. Those emotions I had expected. Humor, not so much, but I couldn’t say I was averse to it. There had been very little laughter in my life.
Until now.
“I think this is it.” Henry held up a key.
I took it and tried it in the lock.
Perfect fit.
I turned the lock and then opened the door. Somehow, I wasn’t surprised to find another tunnel on the other side. It was a little better lit, but it was still a tunnel. I stepped into the narrow corridor and then held the door open for Henry. Once he stepped through, I pulled the door closed and relocked it. No sense alerting people to our escape until the very last second.
“It smells clean in here,” Henry whispered.
He was right. With the door behind us closed, the stench of sweat and blood and decay was gone. Desperation still filled the air, but it was faint.
I didn’t think it came from Henry.
“Are there others here?” I couldn’t leave anyone behind to be tortured like we were.
“I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. Westcott was complaining to the guy in the white suit that they didn’t have any more fighters.”
“Keep an eye out. I don’t want to leave anyone behind.”
“Oh.” Henry grabbed my arm. “I heard the guards talking. They’re expecting another shipment of fighters on Saturday.”
Since I wasn’t sure what day of the week it was, I couldn’t be sure how far away that was.
“Just keep an eye out. There might be others here we don’t know about.”
Henry’s sandy-blond hair flopped over his forehead when he nodded.
I reached out and brushed it back from his eyes. “You need a bath.”
Henry smirked. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”
I lifted an eyebrow until Henry flushed and his gaze darted away. I didn’t know if his time in this hellhole had brought out this snarky side to Henry or if it was there before he was kidnapped, but I liked it.
I didn’t want a rug for a mate.
I tugged on Henry’s hand and started down the corridor again. My need to get my mate out of there was riding me hard. My ability to care for more than his basic needs was severely hampered at the moment.
Henry deserved to be spoiled. To get a haircut and a bath and whatever else he wanted in this world. I wanted to be the one to provide those things for him, and I couldn’t do it while we were in hell.
“Oh, look, stairs.”
I glanced ahead. Henry was right. A set of concrete stairs led up. Hopefully, they also let out of wherever we were being held.
There was a landing and a set of closed double doors at the top of the stairs. The doors were made of the same metal material as the one leading out of the cellblock. I prayed we had the right key.
I started with the ones in my hand. With each key that didn’t fit, my faith in our eventual escape began to wane. I wasn’t sure we were going to find the right key, and I didn’t want to tell Henry we were screwed.
I stilled when I heard movement on the other side of the door. I stopped trying to unlock the door and cocked my head to one side, listening. I could hear just a whisper of movement, and strangely enough, it seemed to be coming from the lock itself.
I carefully pulled the key free and then took a step back, making sure Henry was behind me. I was glad I had when the door was suddenly kicked open. Henry’s scream was loud, but not nearly as loud as the sound of the metal doors crashing into the stone walls.
I dropped the keys and flicked out my claws when a shadow filled the dark doorway, ready to defend my mate—to the death if need be.
“Whoa!” someone shouted. “Peace, dude.”
“Fuck!” The tension drained from my shoulders. “Took you long enough, you bastard.”
Stone grinned. “Yeah, well, that link thing works great for telling us you’re in trouble. It sucks as a GPS. Took us forever to follow your trail.”
I was kind of curious how long “forever” actually was. “How long?”
“Three weeks, man.” A chagrined smile crossed Stone’s lips. “Sorry.”
“Samson?”
I turned at the small voice behind me. I gave Henry what I hoped was a reassuring smile as I reached for him and drew him into my arms. My smile grew when I turned and found Stone staring at us with his mouth hanging open.
“Can’t say I’m real sorry it took you so long to find me, Stone. Gave me time to find Henry here.”
The man lifted one eyebrow as his gaze fell to my mate. “Henry?”
My grin stretched my lips to the point of pain. “My mate.”
Chapter Six
Henry
I stared at the huge man standing in front of Samson and me. I’m not ashamed to say I was a little frightened. He was huge, but he wasn’t as huge as my Samson.
The way he stared at me was also a little disconcerting. You would have thought he’d never heard the word mate before.
I almost stuck my tongue out at him.
Did I mention he was huge?
“You found your mate?” the man asked.
“I did,” Samson replied. “The guards tossed him into the pit for me to kill. I mated him instead.”
“Oh, I bet that went over well.”
“Not as well as you’d think.”
I glanced between the two men as they talked, not really sure what was going on. Why weren’t we running for our lives? The freaking door was open. Wide open.
Well, except for the huge guy standing in it.
“Um, Samson?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I know you probably want to catch up with your friend and all since it did take him three weeks to find you, but can we go now?”
I didn’t know whether Samson would be angry at my blunt suggestion or not. There weren’t a lot of people—shifters—out there in the world who took suggestions from omegas.
It was unfortunate I had been raised to use my brain for m
ore than a placeholder for my hat. My parents valued my opinion. Others tended to hand me my head, after they smacked it around a bit. It remained to be seen which camp Samson fell into.
I held my breath as I waited.
Samson grunted, which so wasn’t an answer.
Stone seemed amused by it. He chuckled and nodded toward the double doors. “Come on, the guys are waiting for us.”
Guys?
I swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared in my throat. “Who’s waiting for us?”
“Nothing to worry about, Henry,” Samson said. “It’s just the guys from my pride.”
Wait.
I frowned in confusion. “You belong to a pride?”
My dad would be thrilled.
“Yes, I do,” Samson admitted. “I told you that before.”
He seemed proud of that fact.
I glanced between Samson and his friend. “But you’re both panther shifters. I didn’t think panthers had prides.”
Stone’s grin was just as confusing. “You’ll understand when you meet my mate. He’s our alpha.”
I shivered with dread. Stone might not be nervous about meeting an unknown alpha, but he was huge. He would survive it. I wasn’t so sure about me.
“You have nothing to worry about, Henry,” Samson assured me. “In our pride, mates mean something, even omega mates.”
I nodded, deciding to reserve judgment until I met this alpha. My mate accepted me, but experience had shown that not all shifters did. More than one visiting alpha had disdained my very existence.
My alpha usually ripped them a new one when they didn’t treat me with respect due to a member of his pride, but it was still a fact of life I lived with.
I doubted either of the big men standing in front of me even conceived of the idea that someone might disrespect them simply because of something that happened to them at birth, something they had no control over.
Yeah, I was a tad bit bitter.
Sue me.
All this talk of alphas reminded me I had someone else who might be pretty worried about me right now. “Can I call my parents?”