by Victoria Sue
Lisa blew a harsh breath out. She felt increasingly nauseous, and it wasn’t just because of the heat.
“Jesse, is that what the ceremony is? A mating ceremony?”
Lisa watched fascinated as a dull flush crept up Jesse’s face. “I need to know. Please.”
Looking anywhere but at her, Jesse explained. “The mating is going to be very traditional—in front of the whole pack.” The last words were but a whisper, and Lisa wished she hadn’t heard them. Fumbling for some more water, she sat down heavily. He was going to rape her in front of the whole pack. She had to get out of here.
“Jesse, you can come home with me. I live in a lovely family of shifters. You would be welcome.” She added firmly, “No one would hurt you,”
Jesse’s eyes rose hopefully. “My Queen?”
Lisa smiled. “Okay, so again, I’m not your queen. Call me Lisa.” When Jesse looked confused, she added. “Well, maybe not in front of Badass. Killian,” she added at Jesse’s puzzled look. She swiped a hand over her head again.
“My…Lisa?” Jesse changed it shyly. “Are you okay?” He lowered his head. “Sorry, stupid question,” he mumbled.
Lisa leaned back against the wall. She was a lot less than okay. Sweat poured off her, and her stomach was starting to cramp.
“Jesse, I’m kind of sick.” She smiled gently at his alarmed face. She sure as hell wasn’t going to explain this. “I need to get out of here. You know he’s real bad, don’t you?”
Jesse nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, but I have people I need to get back for, so we need to go.”
Jesse looked hopefully at her again.
“You know how to get back to where you found me, right?”
He nodded again. “But My…Lisa, it’s over ninety miles. You were carried. If you’re sick…” He suddenly stood determined. “I can carry you.”
Lisa swallowed the lump in her throat. “Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Our biggest problem is how to get out of this cellar.”
A slow smile on Jesse’s face amazed her.
“Actually, I may know how to do that.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mac was climbing out of his skin. His bear wanted out, and out now. He’d failed her. She was his, damn it, and now she was gone. He stared at everyone. “We need to get going.” He looked at the sky and clouds heavy with snow. “Snow will make it harder to track her scent.”
They all started to strip. Mac caught a faint scent and tried to zero in on it. It was no use, there were too many of them. “We do this my way, guys.”
The sheriff raised an eyebrow, but didn’t make any comments. Mac’s reputation as a tracker must have got to him. He assigned pairs. Split bears and wolves. Different skills. He gave each pair an area to hunt and set Brett up in the truck, as their central contact point. Brett had all the first aid supplies with him, food, water, and blankets.
Mac sent everyone off to start a sweep. Riley stood by him as he hadn’t assigned him into a pair.
“You’re with me.”
Riley’s eyebrows rose. “But I thought—”
“I’m better at tracking than any wolf.” Mac sighed. “I already caught her scent. Did you notice none of the others did? Too many shifters were mixing it up. I just need them at close points as back up. That way I know where they are if we need them, but they’re not close enough to confuse the scents. I’m gonna shift. I want you to fasten that pack on me before you shift.” Mac nodded to a pack on the ground.
“Mac, I don’t think it’s because you can scent her. The sheriff is an experienced tracker, and he hadn’t a clue. How come you can find the kids when no one else can? Especially when wolves are better than bears at tracking?”
“I don’t know.” It wasn’t something he’d ever questioned.
“I think you find people the same way I can heal. You didn’t smell her. You just know.”
Mac pulled a frustrated hand through his hair. “God, Riley, I hope so.” Within seconds, they had shifted and were running, Riley close on Mac’s heels.
In a little over an hour, Mac brought his bear to a standstill. Riley crept up behind him. He smelled wolf and every instinct he had told him Lisa was here. Bears weren’t exactly silent, and he couldn’t afford to get any nearer. In a few seconds, he had changed and was grabbing for the pack. They both grabbed some clothes and got dressed silently.
“What do we do now?”
Mac glanced at Riley and held his phone up, cursing silently that he couldn’t get a signal. “You have to head back toward the others. As soon as you get a signal, call them.”
“What are you going to do?” Riley looked urgently at his brother.
“I can’t risk leaving Lisa until everyone else gets here. You heard Brett. I have to go in, Riley.”
Riley put a hand on his brother’s arm.
* * * *
Lisa was starting to panic. Jesse had to leave her after giving her more water and the clothes she was expected to change into. She’d glugged the last of the water some time ago, and had to spend a very embarrassing two minutes in the corner with a bucket they’d left for her. Some royalty she was. She bent over as another hard cramp seized her belly and wiped more sweat off her face. With shaking hands, she looked at the white shift he had brought her. It would cover her mostly, and she thought she would die if she didn’t get out of these jeans.
She had barely slipped it over her head when the door opened at the top of the steps. God, she hoped it was Jesse and more water. The sound of heavy feet chilled her insides, and she scooted to the ledge again, schooling her face.
Killian stomped in followed by his guards. Where was Jesse?
“Good.” He nodded at the dress. “The ceremony starts in one hour.” He took two paces toward her, and Lisa tried not to cringe when his hand snaked out. One finger ran down the side of her face. He pulled his hand away and frowned. Black eyes pierced her, and it took all she had not to drop her gaze. He nodded to his men. “Restrain her.” His two henchmen pulled at each of her arms. They both had weapons everywhere, long knives tucked into their belts.
Lisa’s heart sped up. “What?”
The two goons roughly pulled her upright and pinned her arms, so she was immobile. He leaned toward her and unable to cringe away, she suffered his long tongue licking the length of her neck up to her jaw as he inhaled deeply.
Lisa tried not to vomit. She hadn’t realized she was shaking.
A wicked gleam lit his hard face. “This will be a good night, My Queen. You will bear me many alpha pups.” Horrified, Lisa watched him start to undo the buckle of his belt. “I don’t think we need to wait for the ceremony, not now, I know you will be so willing.”
Lisa shook her head helplessly. She didn’t know what to say, what to do. All her hopes had been pinned on Jesse getting them out, and he seemed to have disappeared.
She vaguely heard snarling and a click of heels. Open-mouthed, she gazed at the woman that descended the steps. She was clearly not a captive, and clearly knew exactly what she was doing. Miranda.
Green eyes glared, so cold they could freeze. “Well, well, what did you manage to catch Killian?”
“Miranda?” Lisa stared incredulously.
“You don’t really think you were good enough for Mac do you?” Miranda ignored the low growl that came from Killian. She calmly flicked a speck of imagined dust off her suit “Luckily, as I have fairly expensive tastes, we were able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.” Miranda stood in front of her. “I know Daniel is getting ready to shake the team up.” She laughed. “He doesn’t like that the F.B.I. are always one step behind, and his suspicion is proving tiresome.”
Lisa was dumbstruck. “How could you possibly put kids through that?”
Miranda’s expression changed. Lisa saw a second of something not defined enough to be regret, but then it was immediately masked by hardness, and the shutters came down again.
“Kid
s have to toughen up. Being soft in this world will get them nowhere. Once they learn that lesson they can make it work.” She straightened her sleeve casually as if inspecting herself once more and smiled. “I wasn’t always able to afford Prada, you know.”
Lisa gaped at the cool blonde. “How long have you known?”
“About what? Mac’s little zoo?”
Lisa shook her head. Miranda seemed oblivious to the grumbles and snarls around her as the insult registered. She wondered if she could turn it to her advantage. “Yes, about Mac and his family.”
“And Daniel?” Sculptured eyebrows rose disdainfully.
Well, that answered that question.
“I overheard Cassie saying something to Daniel that, shall we say, piqued my interest? It wasn’t too hard to find the rest out. Obviously, I will be a great comfort to Mac when everything falls apart for him.”
Miranda turned impatiently to Killian. “So, are we done? I will expect payment in the usual way.”
Killian made a signal to his guards, and they immediately surrounded Miranda. Her haughty expression changed to fear and then back so quickly, Lisa thought she had imagined it.
“Killian, what is the meaning of this?”
Killian laughed and waved to one of the guards who immediately grabbed Miranda. “Tying up loose ends.”
Miranda struggled as the other guard grabbed her too. “Are you mad? I’m an F.B.I. agent. They won’t ever stop hunting you.”
Killian laughed harder as Miranda was dragged up the stairs, kicking and screaming, alternating threats with promises. “I don’t need you anymore.” He stood in front of Lisa again. His look changed once more to lust, and Lisa wanted to cower, but didn’t. “I have My Queen.”
Lisa desperately tried to avert her face away from the stench of his breath.
“Now, before we were so rudely interrupted.” Killian grabbed her in a punishing hold and mashed his mouth onto hers. His teeth dug into her lip, and she could taste blood. She twisted her head, and he laughed again as he pulled back. Incensed, she couldn’t move as the guards still held her, she spat right in Killian’s face.
So fast, she hardly saw it, he backhanded her. If the guard wasn’t holding her, she would have gone flying. Pain flashed from her cheek straight into her head, and she wanted to gag once more.
Killian snickered again. “I’m going to enjoy taming you, My Queen.” He eyed all his guards, who dutifully laughed. As he laughed, the one at the side of her let her go. Desperation making her quick, and all thought leaving her muddled brain, she lunged for the knife in the guard’s waistband.
She grabbed the handle of the knife in her clammy hands and backed up to the ledge. Killian raised two arms to stop them from grabbing at her.
“I am glad to see you have spirit, My Queen.” Killian smiled cruelly and slowly slid a knife from his own belt. It was huge and gleamed wickedly. “Now, what exactly do you think you are going to do with that?”
Shaking, Lisa looked down at the pathetic little blade. There was nothing she could do, and her heart sped up as he started to undo his belt once more. Oh God. He was going to rape her. Sudden clarity flashed into her mind. She had to buy some time, had to. “Keep away from me!” She screamed and raised the blade to her throat.
Killian’s features changed from amusement to anger. He lifted his arm to stop one of his henchmen who had taken a step toward her, and she pressed the blade closer.
“Go get the prisoner.”
Lisa shook. Oh God, not Jesse. What would they do? She couldn’t let them hurt him anymore. She hoped the threat of losing his queen would buy her some more time to see if Jesse could come up with a way of getting them free.
Harsh grunts and dragging noises came from the steps. Two more guys dragged in another one, bent over double and clearly barely conscious.
Lisa silently screamed. The knife fell from her numb fingers.
Mac.
Killian smiled as one of the guards retrieved the knife from the floor. He gestured to the wall. “Tie him up.”
Lisa was shaking so hard she didn’t know how she was still upright. Confused thoughts all warred, trying to get out.
Killian took the knife from the guard and with one arm, slammed her against the wall. Lisa didn’t even gulp and closed her eyes in defeat. The metal pricked her skin. “You may die one day, My Queen, but it will only be by my hand.”
Giving orders to check Mac’s bindings, they turned and left, the door clanging shut.
Lisa curled up on the floor where she had dropped when Killian let go. Short gasps crowded out of her throat. Hard walls closed in on her. She was trapped—trapped again. Wicked.
Chapter Fifteen
“Lisa?”
“Lisa?” A strong voice pushed at her. No.
“Look at me.”
Walls receded. She heard her gasps and slowed her breathing. Oh God. Mac. “Mac.” The harsh cry was out of her throat, and she flung herself over at him. She pulled at the metal ring he was fastened to. Aghh. Her fingers stung.
“It’s silver. Don’t touch, sweetie, it’ll burn.”
“Oh, Mac.” Lisa wailed, taking his poor face in her palm. “What did they do to you? What are you doing here?” She looked at his closed, puffy eye and cut lips. He had lumps and grazes all over him. Her eyes followed down his bare chest covered by more cuts and marks.
“Never mind me. I’ll heal. Lisa? Are you okay? Did they? Did he?” Mac swallowed, unable to ask.
Lisa shook her head. “But they’re coming for me in less than an hour. Some sort of ceremony. Can’t you just shift?” She eyed his scraped raw wrists encased in silver chains.
“We can’t shift when touching silver. It’s our Achilles heel. All shape-shifters struggle with it. It’s worse for wolves though. It’ll burn your skin. It just means I can’t shift.”
“How did you get caught?” She stumbled and sank to the floor, panting.
“Lisa, listen to me. Do you have any water? You need to cool down fast.” Lisa lifted blurry eyes to him and smiled. The shaking didn’t seem so bad now, and she was getting used to the cramps.
“No water, but I’m okay. It’s not so hot anymore.” Her voice sounded funny, like it belonged to someone else.
“Lisa, this is very important.” He yanked at the chains and lowered his voice. “Look at me.”
Lisa smiled again and rested her head against his chest. “You’re doing your alpha thingy on me. You don’t need to you know.” So safe, almost as if she could sleep.
“Baby, look at me. Lisa?”
“Mmm?” She wanted to sleep for a little while.
“Lisa. Do you love me?”
Her eyes popped open.
“That’s better. Now give me those gorgeous lips.”
He took her mouth ferocious and demanding. All thoughts of sleep were chased away by the onslaught that was Mac. Her insides coiled, and both her hands grabbed for his chest. Panting, aching, she needed, needed him closer.
“That’s it, baby. Now turn around. I need you to listen to me.” Shivers slammed into her pussy as smooth lips brushed the back of her neck. She leaned back into Mac’s chest. Her head lolled back exposing her neck to his fiery touch.
“That’s it. All yours. Touch.” Mac hissed as she moved against him. “Baby.” Mac’s voice was haggard, raw. “I need you to be my hands.”
Lisa faltered slightly.
“You love me. Do this for me.” Hot lips snaked around her neck and with a gasp she opened her mouth. Licking and biting he continued onto her shoulders.
Mac’s voice continued, low, deep, filling her up. “I’m going to tell you what I want to do, what I want you to do. Put those hands on your thighs. No, move them to the inside. That’s right. Just there. Where your skin is so soft, it feels like silk. Now trail your fingers up and down. That’s right. Softly, smoothly, just the tips, a little higher. There, just so you can touch your panties.”
Lisa whimpered. Needy little sounds coming f
rom her mouth followed her fingers. It was like Mac’s fingers were there, touching her, teasing her.
“Now, close your eyes and hook your fingers into those panties. I don’t need them. Pull them down. Yes. Now bring your fingers back. Feel those curls? I’m going to shave those tomorrow down to beautiful smooth skin. Nothing to stop even the tiniest touch.”
Lisa was beyond speech. Arching her hips as if to push herself nearer into his hands.
“Now, baby, just tease those lips open for me. That’s right. Feel how hot you are? Feel how wet? Just for me. Let’s find that little—”
Lisa gasped as she touched her clit and pulled away.
“No, my hands, not yours. I want to touch. Put them back, gently, firmly. One finger, up and down. Feel my fingers? Feel how wet they are? Dripping from you, slick and soft. “Let me taste them.”
Lisa’s breath caught as Mac’s eyes—beautiful eyes, pupils blown, lust blazing out—narrowed on her. She hesitantly brought her hand to his lips and shuddered when his warm mouth closed over her wet fingers. His eyes closed, and he groaned, low and deep. Her insides contracted. His eyes flicked open, and his tongue curled as he sucked.
“Again.”
Lisa imagined Mac’s fingers, sure, gentle, and touching what was his. She had no control. Lightly, firmly, teasing her little nub. Talking, he was still talking.
“Pull that little hood down, babes. Can you feel it swelling, peeking out because it wants my touch? It’s throbbing, isn’t it? Throbbing so hard. In time with your heart. Feel it, listen to it. Now push my fingers in harder, swirl them up and down, nearer that gorgeous hole. I can feel you tighten around me. I want to be in there. You want me to be in there.”
Harsh pants and mewls filled the air as Mac’s fingers pressed down. Nearer, she just needed him nearer. Wet and hot.
“Now push in Lisa. I want my fingers in there. Feel that pussy close around me. Aghh yes, grip me tight. Thrusting, pulling, in and out. You’re so tight. So ready. Feel that pressure building. Now, move your other hand, back to that clit and pull it out. One hand in that gorgeous pussy and the other teasing, pulling. You can feel it building, getting closer.”