Bryce Evans

by Big Bad Alpha [Ashland Pack 2]

  Mace didn’t like it. He didn’t want his mate anywhere near the crazy fuck, but he knew if they were going to catch him then they needed Lexy’s help. He looked over at Reece for an answer.

  “I don’t know about this. I don’t want you anywhere near him. What if he is out there hiding, just waiting for a chance to get you alone,” said Mace.

  “Then lets give him a chance,” Lexy said.

  “No!” both Mace and Reece yelled.

  “At least give me a chance to tell you my plan. We need a plan. Listen, boys, I know this will work. He will believe it hook, line, and sinker. We just need to make him and everyone else believe it.”

  Mace and Reece were intrigued. They didn’t want their mate anywhere around, but they knew her well enough that she would go off and do something stupid and get herself hurt or killed—and that was not going to happen.

  “Okay, we’re listening.”

  Lacy smiled.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Oh, Lexy, look at this bed. I love it. It looks like the bed in the Salvaton Brothers. Well that’s how I picture it in my mind,” Star described. Mace and Reece both sighed at the same time. Both were grateful that Star loved her bedroom.

  “Look, Lexy, I have my own bathroom, too. Oh I love it.” Reece walked over to Star and kissed her on the head.

  “I’m glad you love it,” said Reece.

  “Can we go pack my stuff and bring it over tonight?” Star looked anxiously at Reece and Mace waiting for her answer.

  “Of course you can. We can move in here tonight, but we have to wait until tomorrow to paint. I need to go and get some supplies to paint the bathroom and the baseboards. Plus I bet my girl here will want to paint our bedroom also,” Mace explained as Lexy looked up at her mate with her bottom lip stuck out.

  Mace wrapped his arms around his mate, sticking his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent. “Don’t act like I’m lying. Tell the truth. You want the color to be different.”

  “Yep,” Lexy answered.

  Reece and Mace burst out laughing. Mace patted Reece on the back, “I told you so. You owe me now, bud. You get to paint the baseboards.”

  “You bet on me?” Lexy asked as she giggled.

  “Oh yeah. He said you would like the blue color, but I told him that you would want to paint it and now he gets to paint the baseboards, which is a bitch to paint,” Mace said laughing as Lexy hit both him and Reece on the arm then went over to the bed and sat with Star.

  “Okay, here is what we will do. I will go help Reece get some of their stuff so they can stay the night, then tomorrow, we have a cookout and ask everyone to help paint and move Reece and Star and you, too, baby. Are you okay with that?” Mace asked as he turned and looked at Lexy.

  Lexy didn’t want to lose her independence she had established, but she also knew they were a family and she wanted to start her life with her mates and new sister. “Yeah, I’m happy with it.” Mace and Reece looked relieved that Lexy said yes. She could see the tense look on their faces waiting for her to answer.

  Mace was about to walk out when he realized they still haven’t found Cain yet. They couldn’t leave Lexy and Star here without protection. “Wait, let me call Damen and some of the Protectors to stay here while we go get Reece’s and Star’s belongings.”

  “Look, guys. I’m not without protection here. Hellooo, I’m still a witch and a powerful one at that. I think we can stay here in your house, Mace, while you leave for what, thirty minutes. I mean Reece just lives around the corner and through the woods.” Lexy burst out laughing. “I crack myself up.”

  Mace and Reece started laughing. They loved their little mate. She had opened up more then ever. She cussed some and told jokes, too. Both walked over to hug her then began to kiss up and down her neck and on her face.

  “Umm, hello, the sister is still in the room,” Star muttered, standing up.

  Reece smiled at his mates and whispered, “Are you sure you want us living here?”

  “I heard that. Wolf hearing you know.”

  Mace laughed at his new sister.

  “Of course we do,” Lexy blurted out as she walked over to Star, putting her hand around her new sister. “Come on, let’s go see what Mace has in the refrigerator.” Lexy and Star walked out of the room leaving her two mates.

  “You’re not really going to leave them here by themselves for thirty minutes, are you?” Reece asked.

  “Nope.” Mace smiled then winked at Reece.

  “Didn’t think so,” Reece said as he watched Mace call Damen.

  “He said he would be here in ten minutes and he is bringing Jacob.” Mace and Reece walked down the stairs and into the kitchen as Lexy dished out chocolate ice cream into two bowls.

  “Looks like you guys found the ice cream.” Mace and Reece watched as their mate struggled to get the dipper into the frozen ice cream. They watched as Lexy chanted something under her breath, then the ice cream dipper seemed to glow. The ice cream melted as it touched the spoon allowing Lexy to scoop the ice cream out.

  “Cool.” Star giggled.

  “Okay, go to Reece’s and get the stuff. I know you called Damen to come look after us. He will be here in a minute so go get this done. Remember, Adrianna and the others will be here tonight to make the plan. Hey I looked in here and you may want to go to the store to get some steaks and potatoes. It’s looking kinda bare in here,” said Lexy.

  Mace knew they had so much to get done tonight and so little time to do it, and they needed to get going if they were going to get the food and their belongings before everyone got here. “Okay, look, come lock this door, Lexy, and yes, Damen and Jacob are coming, he said in ten minutes but five of it is gone now so they should be pulling up any second. Don’t go to the door for anyone, and I mean anyone, but Damen,” Mace said then frowned at Lexy.

  “Yes, master. Look, I got this,” Lexy said then softened her tone when she looked at Mace’s serious face.

  Lexy followed Mace and Reece to the door and when the door closed, she heard Mace yell, “Now lock the door.” Lexy sighed then locked the door, walking back to the kitchen with Star.

  “What kind of movies does Mace have?” Star asked as she stuck the spoon in her mouth then pulled it out. “Do you think Jacob will want to stay and watch a movie with us?”

  Lexy looked over at Star. “I don’t know, let’s go check to see what he has.” As Lexy and Star walked into the living room, Star asked where the bathroom was. “I think right in there.” Star put her bowl on the table then went to the bathroom. She couldn’t help being excited that Jacob was coming, too. She turned to go into the bathroom and stopped dead in her tracks.

  Lexy leaned over to look at the DVDs on the bottom shelf when she heard a whimper. She looked up and her heart dropped to the ground. Amanda and another girl were standing at the door Lexy thought was a bathroom, holding Star by the neck. The other girl had a robe on, too, so she must also be a witch.

  “Well, well, well, look what we have here. We only wanted you but since I hear she will be your new sister, then she comes with us. Now, Lexy, walk to me or I will break her fucking little neck.” Star whimpered as Amanda put more pressure on her neck. Lexy dropped the DVD to the floor and walked over to Amanda.

  “If you try anything, Lexy, I will break her neck so fast you won’t have time to think. Do I make myself clear?” asked Amanda.

  “Crystal,” Lexy answered and Amanda snickered.

  “I should get more points from my man when he sees how pathetic you have become. I thought you would put up more of a fight than this.” Brandi led the girls out the back door. They walked through the woods until they got to a dirt road where a black SUV was waiting.

  “Get in the car now.” Brandi got in the driver’s side and Amanda sat beside Star in the back, Lexy had no choice but to get in front with Brandi. Lexy was shocked at how calm she was. Brandi drove until they hit payment. They turned down a dirt road then another one going further and further into the
woods.

  “Where are we going?” Lexy asked. Amanda started laughing. Lexy always hated this bitch and she would zap the shit out of her if Star weren’t in the car. Brandi slowed down to a clearing beside a black BMW SUV. Brandi got out of the car and came around to Lexy’s side, jerking her out. Lexy didn’t know whom the new girl was but she was going to beat the ever-lovin’ shit out of her when she got Star to safety. Amanda continued to hold Star by the neck as they walked down a path to a big farmhouse. Lexy’s heart started beating faster as she watched the man whom she feared the most walk out onto the porch. Lexy felt her walls going up. It dawned on Lexy that this was what Mace saw in his vision.

  Lexy thought her heart was going to beat out of her chest. She watched as Cain stood at the end of the porch watching her. Then she felt it, a slight tingling around her neck. It was the necklace around her neck. Lexy could feel herself calming down even when Cain smiled down at her.

  “Lexy. I have been waiting for you.” Cain walked up to Lexy and reached out to touch her hair when Lexy jerked away from Cain.

  “Still so touchy. Well you won’t be soon. You will crave my touch and yes, Lexy, I will touch you. I’ve wanted you for such a long time. I’ve allowed my father to tell me what to do for far too long. Now it’s my turn to rule the council. I will do what he didn’t have the guts to do.”

  Amanda gasped then shoved Star over to Brandi as she ran up to Cain grabbing him by the shirt. “You love me, Cain. You will never have that thing. She is an animal lover. She has mated two werewolves.”

  Cain used his magic and pushed Amanda back so fast that she flew off the porch crashing onto the ground. “Remember, Amanda, who you are talking to. I fucked you because you were convenient but I never wanted you. Keep your hands off me or you will find yourself without my protection.”

  The look on Amanda’s face said it all. She was beyond mad. The girl was crazy and you didn’t mess with a crazy woman.

  Come on, Amanda, do something. Give me a chance to get to Star. If I could just get the trees to help me in some way, but Lexy never got the chance as Amanda picked herself up and walked over to the porch.

  Lexy could tell Amanda was thinking of doing something. She was too selfish a bitch not to.

  “What do you want me to do with the wolf, Master Cain?” Amanda snarled sarcastically as she took Star again by the neck, jerking her down to the ground.

  Lexy knew that she couldn’t chance it. Amanda would hurt Star out of spite and Cain could care less either way. He thought werewolves were slaves anyway.

  “Stop hurting her, Amanda,” Lexy yelled.

  Cain could feel the anger coming off Lexy. Amanda started toward Lexy when Cain bellowed, “Tie her up in the barn. That’s where the animals go anyway.” Amanda jerked Star up again then slung her forward, making her fall to the ground on her hands and knees.

  Lexy gritted her teeth knowing that when she got the opportunity she was going to kill Amanda.

  “Go with her, Brandi, and make sure she doesn’t kill the animal. I may need her.” Brandi bowed her head at Cain as she ran to catch up with Amanda.

  Cain grabbed Lexy around the neck and pushed her up against the wall. “I’ve been waiting for you, Lexy. Watching and waiting for that perfect opportunity. I can hardly wait. I can feel your power and it’s stronger. Together we can rule. Don’t you see that Lexy. You will be my mate.” Cain grabbed her by the hair, pulling a strand of curls until it bounced back. Cain smiled with satisfaction, and then jerked Lexy’s hair back as he held her head hostage. His mouth licked down her throat. “You smell so good. You always did. You will be mine and when you see things my way, you will stand by my side.”

  Lexy could feel her stomach churning. She wanted to vomit. “You will never have me, Cain. My mates will come for me and when they do, you will regret it.” Lexy tried to jerk away from Cain, but he was so strong that he didn’t even flinch when she hit him in the chest.

  Cain narrowed his eyes at Lexy. “Did you spread your legs for them, Lexy?” Cain sniffed her body and reached down between her legs. “I can smell the filthy animals on you. I can’t stand that smell on you. You will never see them again, Lexy. This I can promise. Nobody else will touch you but me. Do you understand me? You are mine.” Lexy struggled, trying to free herself from Cain. “I like it when you fight, Lexy. It turns me on. You will learn this.” Cain grabbed Lexy by the hair and then dragged her into the house, kicking and screaming at him. He laughed, and the sound was pure evil.

  ***

  Damen and Jacob pulled up the driveway leading to Mace’s house, waving at Mace and Reece as they pulled out, then continued on the driveway, stopping in front of the big house. They jumped out of Damen’s truck and thundered up the front porch knowing the door would be locked so he knocked, waiting for Lexy to answer. A few minutes went by so he knocked again. Nobody came to the door. Damen listened to see if he could hear anyone in the house. Nothing, no noise was heard inside the house. “Stay here,” Damen snapped.

  Fear ran through Damen as he ran around to the back of the house only to see the back door wide open. He immediately pulled his phone out and called Mace. “Get back to the house. Nobody came to the front door and the back door is wide open.” Damen hung the phone up and opened the back door to an empty kitchen. He slipped inside without making any noise, taking his shoes off then his blue jeans and shirt, and shifted into his wolf, going from room to room, checking the house for Lexy and Star. Just as Damen came down the stairs, he heard Mace and Reece running up the front porch. Damen changed back and opened the front door.

  “Where are they?” Mace yelled.

  “They’re not here. I smell two other people beside Lexy and Star but no one else,” Damen reported.

  “Mother fucker. I should have never left them. It’s my fault. I knew better,” Mace bellowed as he punched the wall with his fist, breaking the drywall.

  “Listen, Mace, I left, too. They must have been in the house while we were here. They had to have masked their scent. We saw Damen coming in the driveway as we were driving away. Look, call everyone, Damen, and get them out there looking for them. They had to have a car nearby. What is out back?” Reece said tightly.

  “Let’s go.” Mace and Reece took off out the back door tearing their clothes off as they ran then shifted into two wolves. Jacob followed on foot as Reece stopped and sniffed the ground trying to pick up any scent. Star’s and Lexy’s scent was here and two others. Reece closed his eyes then began following the sweet scent of strawberries. Mace followed as the scent led to a clearing where a vehicle had once sat. No communication was needed between the Alpha and his Beta as they ran back to the house to meet up with everyone.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Amanda pushed Star into the barn. “Get the rope, Brandi.” Amanda reached down and grabbed Star by her hair, dragging her toward a pole that was stuck in the ground. Star growled at Amanda when her hand got near her mouth. Amanda jerked her hand back then slapped Star across the face. “Don’t you ever growl at me again. You should all be kept tied up in the barn like the filthy animals you are.” Brandi brought the rope over to Amanda. “Put your arms around the pole and if you try to bite me again then I will knock all your teeth out. Understand me?” Amanda snapped.

  Brandi grabbed Star’s arms and jerked them around the pole so Amanda could tie her hands together. Amanda pulled a knife out of her pocket then cut the end of the rope off using the other piece to tie her legs together around the pole.

  ***

  Declan walked in the house with Samson and two other guards. “We went by Malcolm Holliday’s house and...” Declan hated telling Mace because he knew he was going to go on the warpath.

  “What, Declan. Tell me?” Mace growled, his wolf very close to the surface.

  “We found Malcolm Holliday dead in his house. His throat was cut. His wife was knocked out and tied up in her bedroom. When we got her awake, she said her son had gone crazy. He said he was going to take
over the Twisters Council and make Lexy his mate. His dad slapped him when he told him what his plans were, yelling that he was going to mess everything up. Patricia Holliday said that Cain went crazy, slamming Malcolm into the wall, and using his magic then pulled out a knife and cut her husband’s throat. He told Amanda and Brandi to tie her up in her bedroom. She said Amanda was the one who hit her knocking her out.

  Reece started to panic after hearing what Cain was capable of. Reece grabbed Mace by the arm. “Let’s go, Mace. Send everyone out looking.”

  “Okay, let me think, where would they take them? It would need to be somewhere secluded. Some place no one would see or hear them,” Mace murmured, turning himself around, looking out the window.

  “He would need shelter so what abandoned houses do we have around here. He was near this area when he took them.” Mace looked at Damen for any suggestions.

  “Well, I know of about seven old farmhouses that are for sale,” Damen declared.

  “That’s it. In my vision, I saw Lexy walking up a path to an old farmhouse. I couldn’t see much of it so we check all the old farmhouses in town. It has to be close by.” Mace blurted out.

  “Split up. We will have to check them all,” Reece, shouted instructions.

  ***

  Cain pulled Lexy into a bedroom that had candles lit all around the room. “You like? I did this all for you.” He gestured at the room.

  Lexy looked around the room and then over at the bed that had straps on each end of the bed. She knew what Cain was going to do. He was going to rape her. “What are going to do, Cain?”

  “Well, what does it look like, Lexy. You are going to put up a fight,” Cain proclaimed, “and as much as I love the fight, I want some time with you, and with you strapped down, then I can wipe that filthy animal smell off you. You see, Lexy, I need my scent all over you and in you and then they will know whom you belong to. ME!”