by Lily Graison
Chapter Seventeen
Rayna was dazed. Her vision was blurred and the voices around her echoed as if she were in a tunnel. She blinked and tried to focus her eyes on the shapes hovering above her and managed to see one face clearly. Carmen. She was staring down at her, laughter shining in her eyes.
The other faces slowly came into focus. Victor, Thaddeus and two men she didn’t recognize. There wasn’t any amusement on their faces. Just the opposite. Anger was etched into harsh lines around their eyes and mouth. They were all talking at once, yelling to be exact, and Rayna closed her eyes again to try and drown them out. It didn’t work.
Someone grabbed her arm and jerked her upright. “What did you think you were doing?”
It was Thaddeus. His voice scraped along Rayna’s brain like razor blades. She opened her eyes to look at him and realized for the first time, the wolf hadn’t come like she’d thought it would.
She wasn’t sure what happened. The last thing she remembered was the mind-numbing pain, the fire that consumed her body and the sensation of not being in control of herself. Then… nothing. She sighed. It hadn’t worked. She wasn’t able to call her wolf like the others could. Not without help. Mitch had needed it. Apparently she did too.
Pulled to her feet, she was pushed back down into the chair she’d been in earlier. The ropes were tied again. When she was trussed up so tight she could barely breathe, she lifted her head.
“Are you that eager, Ms. Ford?” Rayna looked at Victor when he spoke. He was smiling but there wasn’t anything amusing in the gesture. “I promise you,” he said, “once everything is set into motion, you’ll be able to shift without delay. With my help, it’ll only take moments.”
Moments? Surely he was exaggerating. The pain Rayna felt when she tried the shift herself was beyond anything she’d ever felt. A normal shift, for someone new, took time. Long minutes of torture from what she’d seen and felt. If Victor could make her shift in “moments” as he suggested, she’d be lucky to survive it and him prolonging the inevitable was torture enough. “When?” she asked.
“Excuse me?”
“What are you waiting for? You’ve done nothing but threaten me since I walked into your house but so far, that’s all I’ve seen. Threats. Do you even have a plan?”
Victor smiled before looking at Thaddeus. “It seems Ms. Ford is eager to get started. Call the others and see if everything is in place. Those lagging behind will just have to catch up.”
Thaddeus turned to do Victor’s bidding. Rayna watched him go with a resigned sigh. If this were going to happen, she’d just as soon get it over with. The longer she had the wait, the longer her growing fear would escalate.
“Where will this take place?” she asked.
“In the city park. I’ve been told there’s a festival being held there.”
A festival? Rayna tried to think of what festival he was talking about. The date, she wasn’t clear on, but she knew it was August and with that, the realization of what he meant became clear. The annual Founders Reunion. A week long festival that commemorated the settlement of Bluff’s Point. She’d covered the event every year as a reporter and had even been coerced by her old boss to jump on a parade float once or twice.
The entire town would be there and Victor was going to loosen her newly born wolf on them. Hopefully he was able to control her once she shifted. If not, it would be a bloodbath. “How will you be able to keep me from eating the first person that moves?”
She looked up at him when he didn’t answer and something in his eyes set off alarm bells inside her head. He looked too—eager. But eager for what, exactly? Just for the world to know that they existed? To peacefully join with the human’s in some twisted idea of shared harmony? Or was it something else.
The look on his face told her it was. She remembered then something Malcolm had told her. She’d thought it absurd at the time but it made sense. Why would a shifter like Victor want to live peacefully with humans? He liked controlling people. Why not control the human population as well?
His smile, and the look in his eyes, let her know she’d connected the dots. The sinister gleam shining there said it all. “You have no intention of letting the world know we’re here and mean them no harm, do you?”
“I often wondered if Malcolm had chosen the right person for this but you continue to amaze me, Ms. Ford. You’re very perceptive. And correct.”
“And what exactly do you have in mind?”
He straightened to his full height, his cane used to hold him there, and smiled down at her. “Once you’ve told the world about us and shifted, there will be no need for me to do anything but sit back and watch. That wolf of yours will do what all new wolves do. She’ll feed on anything that moves.”
“And if I’m shot before that happens?”
“You won’t be.”
“How can you be so sure?”
His smile brightened. “Don’t worry, Ms. Ford. Everything has been taken care of.”
Thaddeus walked back into the room, his steps having a bounce to them. She could tell by his posture alone they were ready. When he told Victor the same, the moment she’d been wishing for, and dreading, was there.
She was untied from the chair, walked back to the car and headed for town. When the music from the festival was heard, Rayna sent up a silent prayer. One she knew wouldn’t be answered.
* * * *
Garrett ran into a dozen people he knew within the first ten minutes of venturing into the park. Despite his flimsy disguise, which consisted of a ball cap and a dark jacket, his old friends recognized him within moments. They all seemed happy to see him and the first question they all had was, “Where was Rayna?” It was a question he’d asked himself numerous times as he scanned the crowd.
According to Nicolas, Victor’s plan was simple. Put Rayna in front of the town and force her to shift. Her wolf would take care of the rest. And just as he feared, Victor’s plans weren’t for a peaceful transition amongst the humans. He wanted to conquer them. A plan he’d pull off if Nicolas were right.
The other Breed leaders Victor brought would share in the bloodbath once Rayna shifted. The town would be in chaos within minutes. Those who weren’t killed would cower to the shifters and Victor’s battle would be nearly won.
Bluff’s Point was a dot on the map but once other preternatural creatures learned what had happened here, they’d take to the streets in every city in the country. The ramifications would be devastating.
He spotted Dillon running his way and stopped, waiting for him to reach him. “What is it?”
Dillon drew to a halt and took several moments to catch his breath. “They’re here. They just pulled up on the other side of the park.” They both turned and ran, meeting up with Nicolas and the others. When Garrett saw Rayna, his wolf shifted restlessly at seeing her surrounded by men twice her size.
He pushed his way through the crowd, intent on getting to her but stopped when Nicolas grabbed him. “Don’t be a hero yet, Garrett. Those drugs are still in your system. You don’t even know if you can shift.” Nicolas released his hold on him and nodded his head toward the stage. “If they know we’re here, Victor will do something stupid and get Rayna killed before we can get to her.”
Garrett’s irritation grew. He ground his teeth and tried to keep an even tone of voice. “Then what do you suggest?”
“I suggest we wait until the moment is right.”
“And when will that be? When she’s shifting? When the police are trying to control the crowd and they shoot her to ensure their safety?”
Nicolas looked back across the park at Rayna and Victor’s men. “Look, I know this isn’t how you want to play this, but trust me. My friends are scattered all over this park. They know what to do. Just play it cool and everything will be all right. Just watch for the signal like we discussed. Trust me. This will work.”
Garrett seriously doubted that but what choice did he have? If he walked up to Victor and took Rayna
like he wanted to, it was hard to tell what the old man would do. He was unpredictable. Victor knew what he wanted and would do anything to get it, even if it meant killing every person in Bluff’s Point. He had no choice but to go along with Nicolas’ plan, especially if he wasn’t able to call his own wolf. And if he couldn’t, then what?
If he couldn’t get to Rayna, there would be no way to control her. The ramifications of that would be devastating to her. She loathed what she was now. How would she feel if she took countless number of lives and had no way to stop herself? He had to get to her and force her wolf to obey him, regardless of the fact Victor called the beast. It was the only way to ensure they all came out of this alive. He had to reach her and get her out of town.
He spotted Chad out of the corner of his eye and made his way to him, Dillon following closely behind. When he reached his old friend he said, “Do you remember that clearing up by the lake? The one I told you I was going to buy and build a cabin on?”
Chad nodded. “Yeah. Why?”
“When all of this is said and done, that’s where you’ll find us tomorrow morning. Bring clothes for Rayna and myself.” He walked off then, toward Victor and Rayna.
“What are you going to do?” Chad yelled at his back.
“What I have to!”
* * * *
Rayna felt the beast pushing against her bones and the pained howls ringing inside her head were disorienting. Victor was luring the wolf to the surface without even looking at her. Or she thought it was Victor.
She glanced at him and wondered if he could draw her wolf out as easily as he’d said. Surely he’d have to look at her to do it. Then again, she knew next to nothing about Lycanthropes or how their genetic makeup worked. For all she knew, the wiry old dog could be in the next room and call her beast.
The crowd gathered in the park was the largest Rayna had seen. The festival drew most of the town but for some reason, today, it looked as if everyone had turned out. She wondered if Victor was the reason but dismissed the notion. He wasn’t someone well known. Well, not beyond the preternatural crowd, that is.
There were a few news crews stationed around the park, most of them taking random footage. She wondered if any of those cameras had a live feed running. She really hoped not but, according to Victor, the world would see her shift. If he said it would be, she had no reason to doubt him.
She was led to the far end of the park where the stage sat. The town council used it for announcements and the bands featured during the week used it for their shows. It looked as if today, she would be the main attraction. When they reached the steps leading up, she dug her heels into the ground and jerked on her arm. “Victor, please, don’t do this.”
Carmen stepped into her line of sight. “You’re in no position to demand anything.”
Rayna turned to look at her, the smug look on the woman’s face baffling. She still hadn’t figured out Carmen’s role in this, other than to just be a pain in her ass. Ruling the pack, Carmen had said was her goal, but she would have had that anyway. Leaving the mountain accomplished that for her, so why would Carmen play a part in this beyond that?
She studied her for long moments before asking, “What’s in this for you, Carmen? Surely being Victor’s lapdog isn’t reward enough.”
Carmen growled low in her throat and stood to her full height. “The benefits are well worth any trouble I’ve endured. When all of this is said and done, I’ll have everything. I’ll have your worthless pack of wolves and Garrett.”
Rayna stared her in the eye. “He’ll never have you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. He’s already accepted.” Rayna’s blood ran cold then, her pulse jumping to rapid life. She stared at Carmen and the woman’s smile was near blinding. “He’ll be Breed leader of our territory once this is all said and done and I’ll be right by his side. His rightful mate to rule over our region as true leaders.”
Garrett a Breed leader? Rayna had no doubt he could accomplish anything he set his mind to but he didn’t even want to be a pack leader. Why would he want to be a Breed leader? Responsible for hundreds of lives, most of which he would never even see.
Rayna’s momentary fear that Carmen was telling the truth gave way quickly. She knew enough about her to know the woman lived in a world of her own and was surely making this up. Rayna knew Garrett, and she knew how he felt about the Collective.
A laugh bubbled up Rayna’s throat and she gave it air enough to be heard by any standing close enough. “You’re just as delusional as ever, Carmen. Garrett didn’t want you twelve years ago. He doesn’t want you now and he for damn sure isn’t interested in being a Breed leader.”
“Are you sure about that?” Carmen took a step closer, the perfume she was wearing filling Rayna’s lungs until she was nauseated. “Do you honestly think you’re more important to him? Power is an intoxicating thing, Rayna. One taste and even the strongest Alpha’s fall to the lure of it. Garrett did regardless of what you believe. You think he showed up and gained access to the house because of his need to save you?” Carmen laughed and her eyes shifted to wolf amber. “He came because of what Victor can give him. To be a Breed leader. He came to stand beside me, his true mate.” She looked down at Rayna’s body before snorting another laugh. “You’re just too pathetic to realize you’ve been played.”
Rayna saw Victor walk to one of the news crews and speak with them briefly before turning back to their little party. He glanced at Carmen and Rayna had to wonder if she’d been telling the truth. Had Garrett sold her out to be a Breed leader? He’d been beaten and thrown into the pit with her but had it all been an act? And if so, why?
The gleam in Victor’s eyes was frightening and Rayna knew she didn’t have the time to figure it all out. Within the hour, the world would know preternatural creatures existed.
The news crew Victor had spoken with now had their cameras pointed in her direction and she knew without being told, that feed was live somewhere. Victor’s plan would go off just as he’d said. The world would watch as she shifted. They would see, in living color, that the monsters they thought were figments of the imagination were real.
And she would be dead. The outcome wouldn’t matter then. Not to her.
She watched as Victor spoke to another man she didn’t recognize and waited, ignoring Carmen, and turned her head to scan the crowd. Familiar faces met her gaze and the nausea she’d been fighting for the last hour intensified. A tug on her arm was all it took for her stomach to roll. “Let’s go, sweetheart,” the man holding her in place said. “It’s Showtime.”
Rayna was led up the stairs behind Carmen to the front of the stage. There, she gazed out at the sea of faces staring back at her. Shouts and disembodied voices yelled her name, the applause rang out over the park and for once, she wished she’d chosen a career path that didn’t allow her to be so visible to the public.
When Victor took center stage, Rayna watched him smile, his gnarled fingers wrapped around his cane as he stood and waited for the last of the applause to die. When the people staring up at them were silent, Victor gave her a brief look and the malice in his eyes caused a shiver to race up her spine. “I’m sure I don’t have to introduce this lovely young lady to you but for those who don’t know, this is Rayna Ford.” He turned his body toward her and the shouts once again rang out over the park. “We’ve come today to share with you something that will change the world. Rayna has graciously offered to be the one to enlighten you all.”
He turned to face her and held out his hand. “Ms. Ford, if you would be so kind.”
Rayna glared at him before turning her attention to the crowd. She watched their eager faces as they stared up at her. So many of them looked familiar. Old acquaintances and friends lined the front of the stage, all of them waiting for her to enlighten them, as Victor had said, and the only thing she could think to say was, “run!”
When Victor gave her a disgruntled look and shook his hand at her impatiently, she heaved a
sigh and crossed the stage to where he stood.
She scanned the crowd, wondering what would happen to those friends she saw once the wolf was loose. She knew enough from what Judith told her to know once she turned, the wolf would act instinctively. It would hunt and with this many people, it was a sure bet someone would get hurt. All those people staring up at her would be nothing but food once she shifted. The wolf would see them as nothing else.
Tears burned her eyes as she stared at them. How would she be able to control the wolf alone? It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. She was supposed to be on the mountain, surrounded by her pack. With Garrett by her side.
The law enforcement officers she saw on the fringes of the crowd brought another fear to light. Being shot wasn’t a pleasant prospect but if it saved one person from her wolf, she’d take a bullet gladly.
Victor nudged her in the back, leaning in close to say, “Tell them everything, from the beginning.”
She threw him a look over her shoulder before clearing her throat and approaching the microphone. She smiled, hoping it looked genuine, and grabbed the microphone stand to steady herself. “Hello.” She cleared her throat again and took a deep breath. “I’m Rayna Ford.”
The cheers rose again, claps and whistles and a few shouts of her name. She continued to scan the crowd, peering into those eager faces staring up at her. “A year ago a story so unbelievable crossed my desk that I ignored it for six months before finally going to check it out. The man who contacted me was persistent and to shut him up, and to expose his claims as fake, my partner, Mitch, and I, hit the road in search of our story. What we found was something so amazing I still have a hard time believing it.”
As difficult as the story was to tell, it flowed in a steady stream. Her voice quivered at times and her knees felt too weak to hold her up but she managed to keep talking. There wasn’t a sound other than the wind blowing through the trees and the occasional baby crying. Every person there was enraptured by what she was telling them. She tried to smile but failed as she said the words she’d been dreading. “Werewolves are real.”