by Alisa Woods
Mace took two bounds to land next to Mia and Beck. Mace was alpha—Mia guessed it before, but now that they were wolf, she could feel it. His power radiated from him. Beck eased off, relinquishing his hold to give her over. She tried to roll away during the changeover, but Mace just sunk his teeth into her shoulder and hauled her back.
She yelped, but before she could even try to fight him, he had her pinned again, his teeth buried in the fur of her shoulder and chest. He hadn’t pierced her skin—at least, she didn’t think so—but it still hurt like hell. She whimpered, and her heart thudded erratically, but she wasn’t afraid he would kill her. She was afraid of something much worse. Growling through the pain, she tried to wiggle out of his grasp.
He kept hold of her shoulder with his jaws, then pressed a paw on her muzzle, forcing her head to twist over and shove against the floor. She couldn’t see him with her face mashed against the luxurious carpet—all she could see was the driver standing by the door with his arms crossed, watching. Beck and the other wolf, Alric, stood to the side, out of her line of sight. She heard Jupiter sobbing quietly somewhere nearby, but Mia couldn’t see her either.
Submit.
The command came like a blanket smothering her. She was lost in it for a moment, but then she fought free.
She growled and thought, Fuck you.
Mace’s muzzle moved slightly against her neck, and a small huffing sound was coming from his mouth. Soon enough, Mia Fiore. Very soon. And I’m going to so enjoy it. But first you must submit.
His command washed over her again, worse this time. She was drowning in it, like thick honey had been poured down her throat. She struggled, then yelped again when he bit harder.
Go ahead, fight me, Mia. Fight hard. Mace’s tongue dragged across the fur of her neck, tasting her while still holding her with his jaws. It will make your submission all the better.
Panic was a black cloud choking her. She couldn’t submit to him—he would claim her right then and there, she knew it. And then she and Jupiter would never get out, never get away… worse, Mia would be magically bound to Mace for the rest of her life. Or the rest of his. Either way, she would be mated. And trapped.
Submit to me. This time he growled with the command.
Her stomach heaved, and if wolves could cry, tears would be running down her face… but her will to fight was slipping away. She was smothered by her alpha’s power, his command, his touch, his bite… no! He was not her alpha. Mia raged on the inside, even though Mace had her pinned, and she was unable to move. If only she hadn’t run away from Lucas…
Then his voice came back to her. Shift, Mia. Shift now!
Her heart leapt at the idea like it was a lifesaver ring thrown in a drowning sea. She closed her eyes and focused every thought on shifting, shifting, shifting…
Mace tightened his hold on her neck No! Submit! Submit now!
But she could feel herself changing under the grip of his teeth. He growled and shook his head, as if he could stop her with his frustration… but then his grip loosened. He was shifting, too, and they were a tangle of human limbs and fur and teeth, all of which quickly sorted out as they completed the transition. The power of Mace’s command faded once she was in human form, just as shifting before had broken her submission to Lucas.
She couldn’t even attempt to scramble away before Mace’s human hands were on her throat. And if being pinned in wolf form by Mace’s teeth and paws was bad, having his naked human body lying on top of her, human fingers digging into her flesh and choking her was worse. Much worse. Especially when she realized his erection was pressing into her leg. He was panting against her lips, even as she gasped for air.
“I don’t have to be a wolf to kill you, Mia.” His voice was soft, but he was laboring to breathe.
She couldn’t tell if his heaving breath was anger or excitement… or maybe both. She was too focused on trying to pull in a breath herself. Black spots swam in front of her eyes. She dug her fingers into his hands, trying to pry them from her throat, but he was far too strong. Mia heard Jupiter crying and felt Mace’s heated breath on her face, but other than that, everything was starting to dim.
Suddenly the pressure on her throat eased. She gasped in air and coughed, but she still couldn’t move—Mace’s naked body weighed her down. Her stomach heaved, and she gagged, but nothing came up. Then his hands were in her hair, gripping it and pulling her head back, exposing her throat to him.
“This is how I want you.” A soft danger had crept into his voice. He lowered his lips to her neck, as though he might sink his teeth into her, but he only whispered, “Submit to me, Mia. Or I will kill you.”
Her heart hammered in her chest. She was sure he could feel it, with his bare chest mashed against hers. Or possibly he could see the vein pulsing in her neck—he was that close.
Would he really kill her? He was certainly evil enough. But the other wolves—the rogue pack in the forest, Llyr’s beta Colin, all the other drooling wolves in the SparkTech office—they all seem to want her alive. Lev had explained how rare unmated females apparently were, and they all seemed to want her for their own purposes, some good, some decidedly not… with the notable exception of Lucas. Even Mace seemed to want her for mating—would he actually kill her if she refused him? It didn’t seem like she was any good to him dead.
It was a helluva gamble. But Lucas knew she was here. He may not want her for a mate, but he’d already saved her life twice. She couldn’t imagine him not at least trying to come for her. But would he reach her in time? She had to stall… find some way to put Mace off… fight me, Mia. Fight hard. Mace’s thoughts came back to her as he once again ran the tip of his tongue across her neck. It will make your submission all the better.
He got some kind of sick thrill out of her resisting. She flashed back to the alleyway, when he and his two beta wolves had first tried to capture her. Back then, he had wanted her to run. To chase her… and then do whatever torments he got off on. Maybe that thrill of the chase would be enough to keep her alive a little while longer.
She struggled against the weight of his body and his grip on her hair, twisting around to defiantly face him. “I’d rather die than submit to you.” Her lips were trembling, but her voice was strong. It helped that she mostly meant it. Submission to him would quickly be followed by mating… and the idea of having sex with Mace, not just once, but an endless life of being bound to him, at his sexual whim, something that she had no doubt would be dark and painful… death was a reasonable alternative to that.
Mace’s eyes flashed, and his hand gripped her hair tighter, but she could feel his erection pulse against her, and a tiny, cruel smirk took up residence on his face. “I see why Lucas would kill for you. Not just a female shifter but an alpha, too. Which, of course, only means I can’t possibly let you go.” Then he ran his hands down her side, feeling her naked flesh, while running the tip of his nose up her throat, taking a long whiff. He exhaled across her skin. “I’m going to so enjoy breaking you, Mia Fiore.”
Then he pushed up from her, and the sudden lack of weight made her gasp. She felt even more naked, as Mace stood over her, his gaze ravishing her body. She lay there, trembling for a moment, unsure what to do.
Mace turned to Beck standing behind him and said, “Bring me a witch.”
Mia’s mouth fell open, and her heart lurched.
What had she done?
Jupiter and Mia perched on the edge of the guest bed. Mia couldn’t tell which of them was shaking more, but it was Mia’s arm around Jeeter’s shoulder that was keeping them somewhat together. That and the blue-feathered purse in Jeeter’s hands, a reassuring sight for both of them. Mia had gotten it, along with her own purse, back with her clothes—minus the bra that had broken in her hasty shift. The left-over jitters were bad, but at least for the moment, she and Jupiter had escaped the leering looks of Mace and his two betas. The betas had left in search of a witch—that thought made Mia shudder again as she hugged Jeeter harder.
Mace had told Jak he had something to take care of and sent him off to guard Mia and Jupiter in the guest bedroom upstairs. That something was apparently Mace having loud, wall-banging sex in the bedroom next door, if the screaming and moaning were any indication. At least she hoped the shrieks were of pleasure. From her brief encounter with Mace so far, he definitely walked on the sadist side of crazy. Mia was just glad it wasn’t her on the other side of the wall… at least, for now. When Beck and Alric returned with the witch… Mia swallowed hard, wracking her brain to remember everything Lucas had told her about witches.
Other than they cut the hearts out of female wolves.
Mia remembered the most valuable ones were female wolves who were mated to alphas. Or something like that. Her brain was still swimming in fear hormones and residual, shaky panic. She rubbed Jeeter’s arm to reassure herself as much as her roommate. They were still alive. She had somehow managed to buy them some time. And she was sure Lucas would find a way to help them.
Maybe. If he didn’t hate her for running away and getting in this mess in the first place.
Jak-the-driver, for his part, seemed supremely annoyed about his guard duty, sending them dark, glowering looks from the doorway. Mia’s sympathy was far less than zero, but there was something off about him. He hadn’t been lining up to leer or grope or threaten her the way the others had. He hadn’t really spoken at all. Now, he stood next to the door with his arms folded, studying them, like they were causing him some kind of trouble.
Maybe he was late for his golf game.
He probably worked for Red Wolf, just like the rest. That made him a creep almost by definition, even if he wasn’t as bad as the worst of them. At the moment, he was the only thing standing between her and Jeeter and freedom—except they were so far inside the Red pack’s compound that even if somehow she could knock him over the head with a lamp or scratch his eyes out, they still wouldn’t make it far without being caught.
Jupiter hiccupped so violently that the whole bed shook. Her sobs had settled a little. Mia held her tighter with her one-armed hug. “Jeeter, it’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Jak lifted an eyebrow at her words, but said nothing.
Her roommate hadn’t said a word through the whole ordeal, but somehow Mia speaking directly to her unlocked her mouth. And then she did nothing but stream out a babbling incoherency of words that all ran together.
“Oh my god, Mia, I can’t believe it, I can’t, they’re just… they’re wolves. And you’re a wolf. And he’s probably a wolf.” She flicked a hand toward Jak at the door. “What in the ever-living hell… I can’t believe it… why… why are they doing this? What’s going on!” Jeeter took a breath and held it, tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes again.
“Oh, Jeeter.” Mia wrapped both arms around her roommate, glad that she didn’t resist or shirk away from her. Of all the ways to find out your roommate is a shifter… “I’m so sorry. I’m going to take care of everything, okay?”
“How?” The one word escaped her on another hiccup.
Well, Mia didn’t know how, and even if she did, she couldn’t discuss it in front of Jak, the glowering driver. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. About being a shifter, I mean.”
Mia wouldn’t have thought it possible, but Jeeter’s eyes grew wider. “You could have told me, Mia! I’m your friend!” Her roommate balled up her fists and pounded them on the bed, one on each side of her, as if this was the ultimate betrayal on Mia’s part, not ensnarling her friend in a shifter pack war. It seemed slightly ridiculous, given the situation, but if it was possible to overreact to something, she could count on Jupiter to find a way to do it.
“You’re right,” Mia said, holding back a smile. “I should have told you I have fangs and claws because, you know, that might have been relevant before now.”
Jeeter gave her an outraged, I know, right? look.
Mia dropped her gaze to the sleek white comforter that covered their bed. “I am sorry, Jeeter, for getting you in this mess.”
“Hey.” Jeeter took Mia’s hand, and she was surprised to find her roommate wasn’t shaking anymore. “You don’t apologize for anything. Holy crap, girl, you were…” Jeeter glanced at Jak, then dropped her voice so it didn’t carry quite so easily over the banging and moaning coming from the other side of the wall. “You were awesome.”
Mia snorted a short laugh. “I don’t think awesome is the word you’re looking for. Maybe stupid. Or stubborn.”
Jak didn’t even try to hide that he was listening in. In fact, he pushed away from the door, grabbed a chair from the corner by the lamp and the dresser, turned it backward, and sat directly in front of them.
Mia narrowed her eyes. Maybe the driver had decided it was his turn to leer and grope. But he didn’t make a move toward them, and the chair was a pretty effective blockade anyway. Still, she gave him a glare, just in case.
The noise next door reached a crescendo, and then suddenly stopped. The silence that followed was almost more creepy… if only because Mace’s attention might soon be circling back to her.
Mia was running out of time.
She needed options. And information.
But Jak spoke first. He tilted his head toward the wall-banging wall. “Mace is determined to claim you. It will go easier if you cooperate.” But the way he said it was off… he wasn’t threatening her or trying to bully her. It was almost as if he wanted to see if she was serious about resisting.
Mia frowned. “It’ll go easier on him if he lets us go now. Before Lucas shreds his throat.”
Jak nodded once and ducked his head. She had the feeling he was hiding a smile, but when he looked up, it was gone. “Even if the Sparks wolf comes for you, he’s not going to get in the compound.” Again, it was more of a test or a warning than a threat.
Mia scowled. “I think you might be underestimating him.”
She couldn’t decipher Jak’s solemn nod.
“If you resist the witch, it will take longer,” he said cryptically.
Mia swallowed. “What will take longer?” She shuddered again as she imagined the witch plunging a knife into her chest to carve out her still-beating heart, bloodthirsty-Aztec-style. Maybe that wasn’t what Mace had in mind, but Mia couldn’t think of anything worse he would need a witch for.
This time, Jak seemed genuinely surprised. He leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised. “The shifting, of course.” He looked askance at her, as if trying to figure her out anew.
“The shifting,” Mia echoed, still warding off visions of blood-dripping hearts. But, of course, that made sense. Mace couldn’t force her to shift on his own—he’d already threatened her life, and she’d called that bluff. And Mia knew witches were used to force the shift, but somehow she’d forgotten that in all the trauma.
Jak was examining her closely. “You don’t really understand what’s going on here, do you?”
Mia pursed her lips tight. She’d probably been talking too much. Jak worked for Mace—just because he wasn’t actively assaulting them like the rest didn’t mean he was their friend. Far from it.
When she didn’t answer, he glanced at Jeeter, then back to her. He slowly nodded. “You’ve been hiding it,” he said.
Mia had a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had let loose information that was going to somehow hurt them. She kept her mouth shut, and Jeeter’s hand slowly found hers and held it. Mia gave it a squeeze.
Jak stood up from the chair and slid it back to the corner. Then he stood before them, arms crossed, a dead serious look on his face. “If you resist the witch, you can delay the shift. If you resist submitting to Mace, you can delay that, too. But once you submit, there’s nothing that can stop him from claiming you.”
Then he turned and strode back to the door, taking up his station there like he had never left. His words made shivers crawl up her back, but he wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t already know. Or was he? The part about the witch was both relieving
and terrifying. She knew the police used witches to get wolves to shift so they could take DNA samples in both forms. They wouldn’t do that if it didn’t work. Mia might be able to delay the shift, but she wouldn’t be able to stop it. Maybe that’s what Jak was telling her in his cryptic way.
But why?
Maybe he was telling her to hold out as long as she could. Because once she succumbed to Mace as her alpha, nothing would stop him from claiming her. But she already knew that. Or at least suspected it. Yet… something about Jak’s words nagged at her. Before she could think on it too hard, a sharp rap at the door made her and Jeeter both jump.
Jak opened it. In the hall outside the door stood Mace, his face still flushed from his wall-banging activities. Behind him, a tall, drop-dead gorgeous woman smirked and devoured Mia with her eyes.
Mia had never seen her before, but there was no question in her mind: she was a witch.
“I’m not waiting until evening,” Lucas growled. “I know where she is. I’m going to get her now.”
He slammed his fist down on his father’s desk, just because he had nowhere else to put the anger building inside him. His father wanted to wait… all while Lucas knew what had to be happening inside the Red Wolf compound: that bastard Mace was putting his hands on Mia, and Lucas wasn’t there to bash his face in for it. He had been such an idiot before, mired in his own head and the past and his own damn guilt about Tila. If he had just claimed Mia before, she would at least have some protection. But now… by the time he got her back… it might be too late.
Lucas’s father straightened up and examined Lucas’s clenched fist. They had been arguing for twenty minutes, circling and circling around the same issue of timing. The rest of the packs—his father’s and Llyr’s—were crammed into the office with them. The room stank of too many wolves and too much impatience as they spent precious minutes arguing how to get Mia out, rather than heading there to actually do it.