“Let me help you,” I implored, trying to convince him this was the only way. “Declan won’t ever stop using you if we don’t beat him. It’s now or never for you. If I die, so does your chance of having a normal life again. Your family will always have to look over their shoulders if Declan lives.”
He stopped pacing. “I don’t care if I live, but you have to promise my family will be safe. I know what I’ve done is unforgiveable. All of it. But they shouldn’t have to pay the price for my mistakes.” He pleaded with me as if he was already dying.
I leveled my stare on him. “I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make sure your mother and sister are protected. Aiden will listen to me. Nobody will touch them in the pack house.”
He sighed and pulled out his phone. “They haven’t left yet. When they do, only a handful of guards will still be here. We can make the call as soon as they do.”
I held back my smile. I was going to get out of the hell hole. I sent all the love and longing I could to Liam. I fully opened our bond back up, not wanting to hide any of the happiness I felt for him. I hoped he felt some peace at knowing I was okay. I would see him soon.
I could feel Liam’s response. He was confused and still rightfully angry. I’d call him as soon as we hung up with Aiden. As much as I wanted to call Liam first, I had to give Shawn a reason to continue to trust me. Calling my mate before securing his family was not the way to do that.
A short time later, Shawn slipped from the room to check if Declan had left. I’d have to find a way to warn the pack as well. Maybe they could leave before Declan’s crew arrived.
When Shawn came back in, he was sheet-white, nerves getting the best of him. “It’s clear. Are you sure about this?”
I nodded. “Everything will be okay if we can get outside these walls. Did Sam go with Declan?”
I really wanted a chance to gut that asshole.
“He was sent somewhere the first night you arrived. I haven’t seen him since.”
Shit. I hoped he hadn’t gone back to the pack. I didn’t want him anywhere near my family.
Shawn began to undo my restraints. Once my hands were free, he handed me his phone. “Make the call. We won’t leave this room until I know my family is safe.”
I dialed Aiden without responding.
“Where the fuck are you, Shawn?” Aiden’s dark voice snapped.
“It’s Taya. Shawn is helping me, but we need you to do something first.”
“Where are you? Liam is losing his shit. I was almost ready to fly out there. Does he know you’re okay?”
“Not yet. I need you to go get Shawn’s mother and sister. As soon as they’re safe, we can leave here. I’ll call Liam next, but you have to promise me you’ll go get them now. Text his phone as soon as you have them.”
“Taya, he’s our traitor. You know that, right?”
“I do, and it’s a long story, but I don’t have time. Just go get them. Please.”
He sighed. “Fine, give me ten minutes.”
“Make it five.” I hung up the phone before he could argue and glanced at Shawn. “Where are we? I want to call Liam and have them meet us.”
He rattled off an address that I texted to Liam before dialing his number. I held my breath, anxious to hear his voice.
“This is Liam.” His voice was broken. All happiness sucked from it.
“Don’t say or do anything that tells anyone I’m on the phone before you answer this question. Is Sam with you?”
He snarled. “Taya, where are you? Sam hasn’t been here since you went missing. We assumed he had taken you after Jessica woke up and told us the truth, but we had no proof. Are you okay? Whose phone is this?”
I smiled. “I can only answer one question at a time, dear. I’m okay. I texted you where we are, but don’t come here. Meet us south of here. We only have a small opening when we can leave.”
“Who is we?” He didn’t sound happy that I was with someone else.
“Shawn. He’s from your old pack.”
“Get the fuck away from him! He’s working for Declan.”
I rolled my eyes. He was so overprotective. “I know that, babe. He’s been guarding me. It’s a long story, but we need to leave. I’ll call you when we’re in the clear. If you don’t hear from me within the hour, feel free to charge in like the bull in a china shop I know you can be.”
His voice lowered. “I love you, Taya.”
“I love you, too. Now, hurry up.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
I almost forgot. “Wait. I’m going to text you another address. You need to send some of our teams there. It’s where Declan is headed next if he hasn’t already arrived.”
He gave me his word he’d take care of it and then we hung up. I handed the phone back to Shawn. Aiden still hadn’t texted back, but I wasn’t worried about it. I knew he was hurrying.
Shawn checked his phone, and I stood from the chair for the first time in almost a day. My muscles screamed at me as I stretched, but it felt amazing.
I walked around the room, enjoying the freedom to move limbs. Several minutes later, Shawn’s phone sounded from a text.
He opened the screen and smiled. “He sent a picture. Let me go do more checking and see where the others are. If we can avoid them, we will, but you may need to fight your way out of here.”
I grinned. “That’s not a problem for me.”
He slipped from the room as I waited impatiently. I was ready to smell the outdoors, feel the wind against my skin. Shift to my wolf form. All the things I wasn’t certain I would do again after I woke up tied to that chair.
The door cracked open, and Shawn motioned for me to follow him. “I only saw two guards. I’m going to put cuffs around your hands behind your back, but I won’t lock them in case things go sideways. I think it’s our best chance of getting out of here without having to fight our way out. Try not to look happy about leaving.”
I laughed. “I’ll play my part. Don’t you worry.”
I reached my hands behind my back and flinched as the cold metal touched my skin. He pulled my arms tight together as he gripped my hands with one of his and put the other on my shoulder.
“Sorry, I’m going to be rough.”
“Just get us out of here, and I won’t care one bit,” I said.
He directed us down a hall, then through a living room of sorts. There was no traditional furniture. Just chairs and plastic tables with papers spread out on them. When we left that room, a man I hadn’t seen yet stood sentry at the door.
“Where are you going with her?” he demanded.
I struggled to get out of his grasp, pretending I didn’t want to be anywhere near Shawn.
His grip tightened. “Declan needs her at the other pack. He wants to move the fight there. I said I’d take her.”
The guard eyed me, then Shawn. “They took all the vehicles. How are you going to do that?”
“Declan said there was another one on the east side of the property, an old farm truck. I’m going to drag her through the field and use that.”
“Alright, do you need help?” The guy raked his eyes down my body. “I wouldn’t mind taking her off your hands while you got the truck.”
I snarled and ripped myself from Shawn’s grip. No need to pretend there. Before I could get very far, Shawn snagged me by my hair and threw me back. I landed on my ass and one of my cuffs slipped off. I rolled sideways and fixed it before the guard could notice I wasn’t actually locked up.
“I think I’ll take her,” Shawn said as he yanked me up.
I winced and lowered my head into submission. It killed me to do so, but I just wanted to get out of the house.
The guy moved out of our way without another word and we walked right outside. Shawn didn’t loosen his hold. We kept up the show until we were out of sight from the house and any of Declan’s guards who might have been watching.
I slipped off the cuffs. “Is there really a truck?”
He shook his head. “We need to shift and run. Call Liam first and then we don’t stop until we find them.”
I took the phone from his out stretched hand. As I hit dial on the phone, a voice had me stopping from putting it up to my ear. Instead I slipped the phone in my pocket and hoped Liam would hear and they’d hurry.
“Nobody is going anywhere,” Sam barked. “Did you really think it would be that easy? Declan’s not stupid. Tonight was a test, and you failed.”
I turned to find Sam and three others, including the man who had just let us walk out the front door, standing before us.
We were outnumbered, and I was weak, but I refused to go back into that house. I would fight my way out of our current situation or die trying. I mentally said my goodbyes to my loved ones. There were no other options for me.
Chapter 22
Shawn stepped in front of me protectively. It was sweet, but not necessary. I moved next to him as we both stared down Sam and the others. Liam was likely still at least an hour away from us. No help was coming, and my resolve was wavering.
“If you both come back in willingly, then the torture won’t be as bad,” Sam taunted. “I’ll treat you right, Taya. You know me.”
I gagged. “I thought I knew you, but I was obviously wrong. The good man I thought I knew would never stand before me with threats.”
“That Sam was a weak little bitch who never took what he wanted. Declan showed me how to be a better man. Now, I’m going to get what I want, just like he always does. You think any of you are here by accident? He’s always ten steps ahead.”
Shawn shook his head. “What do you mean?”
Sam smirked, enjoying the fact he knew more than us a little too much. “You were the easiest of all. Young and naïve. All it took was a pretty face to bat her eyes at you and you fell for the trap. You becoming a guard was a bonus he hadn’t expected, though.”
Shawn’s body quaked with rage. He was ready to snap, and I was done listening to Sam.
I called on my wolf and forced a shift quicker than I’d ever done before. My body screamed at me, but my wolf pushed through. She was just as ready. She hadn’t liked being drugged and tied up. Sam would soon realize he messed with the wrong wolf.
The others followed my move and began to shift, but none of them had the motivation like I did to turn as fast. I charged for Sam in my wolf form and managed to take a chunk out of his right leg before his shift was complete.
Shawn followed my moves. He went for a wolf who hadn’t completed their shift yet, slamming his massive jaws into the guy’s spine. There was no quick recovery from that injury, but he’d survive. One down, three to go.
I refocused on Sam while Shawn took on the other two. The odds were more in our favor now, but I still wasn’t going to assume for a second that we would get out of this safely.
Sam slammed into me, lunging for my neck. His mouth only caught fur, but it was too close of a call for my comfort. I got back up and charged him next.
Our wolves met in the middle, front legs lifted up, looking for blood. We were an even match. I’d trained with Sam for years. He knew my fighting skills and I knew his. I needed to step up my game and surprise him with something or we’d just keep exchanging blows and tire ourselves out.
I checked on Shawn from my peripherals and saw he was down to one wolf. I debated waiting until he could help me, but I wanted Sam for myself. He had betrayed our pack and deserved to die by our pack.
I let the rage build within me, thinking of the lives lost because of him. How we almost killed Rick instead. Blinding wrath quickly consumed me, and my wolf howled deep before making our next move.
Sam was bigger than me, but I prided myself on being quicker. We charged Sam, sliding low to the ground at the last second, then swiping at his belly. I drew blood, but not nearly as much as I had hoped for.
He didn’t stay down for long. Instead, he snapped his muzzle back at me, getting a good grip on my front leg. I took advantage of his position and latched on to his neck as best I could. I couldn’t hold on for long, but I hoped it was enough to get him to release me.
I was wrong. My feeble grip on his neck did nothing to phase Sam. He yanked hard on my leg and, without me realizing it until it was too late, had the upper hand. His wolf loomed over mine, not the least bit worn out, ready for blood.
I glanced at Shawn, but he was still preoccupied and wouldn’t be coming to help me anytime soon. I bucked and twisted as hard as I could, but nothing released Sam’s hold on me. I reached out to Liam through our bond, trying to call on his strength for a hail Mary. Anything that would get me out of my current situation.
Sam let go of his bite on my front leg only to move it to my neck. His teeth pierced my skin, and I held still for a moment to see just how far he’d go. He said earlier he wanted me. Maybe I needed to submit, and he’d back off. If he thought I was giving up, I might have a chance of getting out of this alive and without being his slave.
I calmed my wolf, trying to assure her it was the best move. She didn’t like being submissive but saw my reasoning and was willing to give it a shot.
Sam released his hold on my neck when he felt my wolf relax beneath him. He nipped at my snout, but I kept my wolf head down as a show of respect. I wouldn’t fight back again until he completely backed off. I needed a moment to get my bearings.
Before Sam could fall for my trick completely, a howl tore through the trees. It was one I’d recognize anywhere, but not the one I expected.
I turned toward the sound just in time to see Augie’s wolf fly through the opening. He was practically foaming at the mouth with rage as he charged Sam. I held still as Augie slammed into Sam’s side, throwing him off me.
I got back up on all fours and was quickly flanked by two other pack mates as a third went to help Shawn. I watched Augie snap Sam’s neck with ease and it almost frightened me. I’d never seen him this angry before, but then again, his best friend had never gone missing before.
I shifted back to human form when I realized there were no more threats in the area and went to Augie’s side. I hugged his wolf with everything I had, whispering my thanks. He nudged me away and shifted back as well.
When he was on two legs again, his arms wrapped around me. “Taya…”
His voice was gruff as he held back tears.
“I know, but I’m okay. You saved me.”
“I’m going to kill them all. Nobody takes my best friend and gets away with it. I’ve been searching and moving this direction for the last two days. I refused to go home until you were found. I would have found you soon if you hadn’t gotten out on your own.”
A growl tore through our moment, and I turned to find Liam in his wolf form shifting back to human. Augie nodded at me, understanding I needed to go to my mate.
I ran for Liam and fell into his arms as he finished his shift. Tears fell from my eyes as he held on to me tighter than ever before.
“Augie was closest, but I did everything I could to get to you. I’m so sorry, Taya.” His words were muffled against my neck, but I could hear the heartbreak in them.
“You have no reason to apologize,” I whispered. “You’re here now and nothing will separate us again, okay?”
He nodded, but still didn’t let go. I didn’t know how much time we had left before Declan arrived back, but I’d take this moment with my mate regardless.
“It looks like an orgy gone wrong.” Caleb laughed as he and Jamie appeared. “Anyone want clothes? We come bearing gifts.”
Liam took a set, covering me first in a shirt and sweatpants, then throwing on his own pair of pants.
Jamie hugged me as Liam got dressed. “You scared the shit out of all of us. Don’t do that again.”
“Get drugged and kidnapped by a psycho? I’ll see what I can do.”
She smacked my shoulder and I winced, still not healed from the fight with Sam. Liam was at my side again in an instant.
“Are you okay?”
; I nodded. “Just a little sore, nothing to worry about. We have more pressing issues. Did anyone make it to the other pack I warned you about?”
“They did, but nobody was there,” Augie said. “Guards are still hiding out and most everyone has left that pack just in case, but I think you had wrong information.”
Oh, God. The whole thing was a set up. From start to finish, Declan had been one step ahead of us.
“Where is my dad?” I asked, frantically.
“He stayed with the pack. He knew Augie and I would find you and didn’t want to leave the pack without a leader.”
No, no, no. Declan was headed there, or he had already arrived. He didn’t want to use me as bait. He had used me as a distraction. Fuckery! I would not lose my father today. Declan would not take any more of my family away.
“I need a phone,” I demanded. “Augie, can you feel my dad? The pack? Is everything okay?”
Caleb slipped a phone into my hand as Augie answered.
“I’m not picking anything up that would cause alarm. What are you thinking, Taya?”
I dialed my dad’s number as I explained. “It was all a set-up to get to my dad. Declan was never headed to the other pack. He’s going to ours.”
“Shit. How did we not see that?” Augie yelled. “Tie up the shifters who survived and let’s go.”
The phone was still ringing in my dad’s office with no answer. I hung up and tried his cell phone, but it went straight to voicemail. My stomach sank as commotion went on around me.
Liam pulled me into his arms. “It’s going to be okay. There are still plenty of guards left at the pack. We’ll be there within an hour.”
Augie joined us. “I’d feel it if something was wrong. Liam’s right. Try not to stress. Let’s just focus on getting back.”
Shawn joined our group after securing Declan’s guards. He reached a hand for Liam but was ignored.
“I know I need to be punished, but I would be honored if I could see this through. I may not even deserve that much, but I’m asking for it. Please, let me fight by your side one last time.”
Shades of Deceit (Raven Point Pack Trilogy Book 3) Page 15