by Sara Dailey
Looking up at him, I tried my best to appear confident even though I was feeling less and less so as each minute passed. “I will. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Leaning down, his lips laid claim to mine as he kissed me fiercely. Cupping my face in his hands, he tilted my head to the side to deepen the kiss. It was hard and demanding and full of promise, the kind of kiss a girl could get lost in, and never in my life had I wanted to lose myself more than in that moment, but all too soon it was over, leaving me completely breathless.
When he pulled away, there was fire in his eyes as he said, “I’ll be waiting here for you when you return. Please don’t make me wait long.” Unable to find the right words, I simply nodded my head and then turned to sneak out into the night.
I took the same route I did before to get to the Wrights’ home, and Teagan was waiting at the mudroom door. Lilly and Paul couldn’t hide the worry written all over their faces, but whispered good luck and be careful as we headed out.
It’d be a bit trickier getting all the way to the gates this time, and also having to worry about Teagan didn’t help matters, but I knew the guards’ routes by heart, and if they were anything, it was predictable, especially the night guards.
I checked my watch and motioned for Teagan to duck down behind a large bush a few houses down from the Wrights’. A guard would be passing through any minute, and sure enough, like clockwork, a flashlight lit up the road and the guard wandered by. After he was out of sight, we ran past a few more houses, staying as far away from the main road as possible. Then I motioned for her to follow me behind Ryder’s home. This would lead us to the edge of the estate, and from what I could tell the guards weren’t patrolling behind the houses nearly as much as the front.
Without any problems, we made it past my house, but were on the opposite side of the road. This was where it got a bit more complicated. The CH guards were keeping a pretty close eye on the entrance and exit to the estate. However, I didn’t plan on going through there. All I could do was hope that Teagan knew how to climb a fence, a really tall fence, and quickly. We couldn’t afford for her to have any girlie, I-can’t-do-this moments.
When we ducked down in a covered area, I whispered, “We can’t go through the drive-thru exit. The fence is our only option. Are you up for it? You have to be fast because this is the only area that the guards actually seem to be paying close attention.”
Teagan nodded her head. “Yeah, I can do it. Trust me. Nothing is going to stop me from getting to Aiden.”
Her eyes told me everything I needed to know. This girl was determined, and if she had to scale a damn mountain, she wouldn’t hesitate. I glanced down at my watch. We had about three minutes before a guard passed through. “Okay, we need to wait here for a couple of minutes. Then on my go, run like hell for the fence, right there in that patch that is covered in darkness, and climb like a freaking chimpanzee on crack. Got it?”
Again she nodded, and after I watched the guard go on his merry way, I motioned toward the fence, and we took off running. That tough, little domestic beat me up and over the fence and was running into Aiden’s arms within minutes. Aiden pulled her into the car and then turned to me to offer a weak, “Thank you.”
Knowing they needed to get out of there as soon as possible, I told Cade to call the next night, and he too offered his thanks for my help as well. Seconds later, they were gone, and I was on my own. I headed back, but checked my watch first. I had about three minutes to get over the fence and back to my house before the guards made another pass.
Shit! That wasn’t near enough time, but I had to make it work. I was over the fence in record time, and my feet barely had time to hit the ground below before I was running like the devil himself was chasing me.
CHAPTER 26
Gavin
My eyes darted back and forth between the surveillance cameras and the stopwatch on my phone. Cami had the trip planned down to the minute, so when the timer went off and I still didn’t see her on the camera, I started to panic. Images of Cami being caught, dragged off to my father, and beaten in front of her pack, haunted my head and my heart. A sick feeling settled in my stomach. I had to do something.
Holding my breath, I watched the clock, determined to give her two more minutes to get here before going after her. It would be the longest two minutes of my life, but I couldn’t go storming out of here prematurely. With thirty seconds left, I heard the back door open. I quickly grabbed the remote to the TV and switched to the interior camera system.
“Oh, thank God!”
I released the breath that I didn’t even realize I had been holding when I saw her in the mudroom. I dropped the remote and raced out of the safe room. As soon as I saw her with my own eyes, I froze. I couldn’t move; hell, I could hardly even breathe, but seeing her there, standing in front of me, all in one piece caused something inside of me to light up.
She was beaming, obviously proud of herself for safely delivering Teagan to Aiden. She wasn’t the only one. I felt it too. I was feeling a lot of things: relief, pride, joy, lust…love. Holy shit! I love this girl. The realization probably should have scared the shit out of me, but it didn’t. Not one bit. Because I knew in that moment that she was mine and I was hers.
I waited until Cami took her first step toward me to reach out and take her in my arms. As I pulled her to me and meshed her body up against mine, something strange happened. We had been living together for a while now, and sure I’d noticed Cami’s scent, but for whatever reason, this time when it invaded senses it practically dropped me to my knees.
I breathed her in, and my were-senses went into a frenzy. I buried my face in her hair, trying to inhale all that sweetness. She smelled like coconuts and sunshine and fresh summer air, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Needing her closer, I lifted Cami up and her legs immediately wrapped around my waist. I ran my hands under her shirt and felt her skin grow hot under my touch. As my hands roamed over her perfect back, the warmth of her body seeped deep into my bones.
We were face to face now, and I could tell that she was feeling exactly as I was. Looking into her eyes, holding her that close was killing me. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I stepped forward until Cami’s back was pressed against the closest wall and rubbed my face in her neck before my lips found hers.
Our kiss began as a slow and gentle tease as I slowly traced her lips with my tongue, tasting the remnants of her cherry lip gloss and Cami’s own unique flavor. Letting my kiss say all the things that I was feeling but wasn’t ready to say out loud, I took my time worshiping her soft, supple lips.
Cami’s arms snaked around my shoulders and up to the back of my head. As her fingers toyed with my hair, chills shot straight down through my body. When she tugged my hair roughly, my lips pressed harder against hers, and our kiss took on a whole new energy.
Cami ran her hands around to my face. She cradled my cheeks in her palms, her touch soft yet demanding, causing our lips to part. The intensity in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. She wanted me too. Whether she loved me or not, I didn’t know, but I’d spend every day for all of eternity trying to convince her that she should. I needed this girl. This girl somehow made me whole, and I didn’t even realize anything was missing from my life until this moment.
The heat in her eyes seared my heart, and I couldn’t look away. I was trapped by her gaze, yet I had never felt so free. Shifting Cami up higher on my waist, I walked us out of the room and up the stairs to her bedroom.
“I can walk, you know,” Cami said, smiling.
I shook my head. There was no way I was going to let her go. Instead of putting her down, I kissed her again. In fact, I didn’t stop kissing her until I had her lying on her bed, and I was hovering over her.
Damn, she is beautiful.
“Well, are you just going to stare at me or what?” she asked just before a wicked grin spread across her face.
“Maybe,” I answered. “Maybe not.”
I covered her mouth with mine and felt her body soften beneath me. Cami had me completely wrapped around her finger. I loved that she was so tough one minute and sweet and vulnerable the next. And how perfectly our lips melded together. And how the air in her lungs sort of whooshed out every time I got close to her.
I had to figure out a way to help her help her pack. The sooner this whole ordeal was over the sooner we could really be together. I was thinking of all the ways I could help when Cami’s hand slipped under the waistband of my sweatpants. That was it. All coherent thought left the building. And there was only one thing left for me to do: just go with it.
CHAPTER 27
Kendall
To say all hell broke loose at the Red Ridge rec time today would be an understatement. I wasn’t there of course since Drew practically lost his freaking mind when he found out about my little visit yesterday, but when the emergency sirens went off for the second time in a under a week, I knew some serious shit was about to go down, and there was no way in hell I was going to miss it.
I tugged on my boots and grabbed my coat before rushing out the front door of the place I now considered my own private hell. It wasn’t long before I was in front of the lodge watching the members of Red Ridge being herding inside once again.
I spotted a guard I recognized, a sleazy douche bag who took every available opportunity to eye-rape me, and figured he’d be my best bet to figuring out what was going on, so I wandered over and turned on the charm. “Oh my God! What’s going on? This is crazy!”
James or Jason or something that starts with a J looked me up and down as he flashed me a heated grin. Gross! “Hey, Avery—I mean Kendall. Word is that the little blonde domestic is missing. I guess she managed to escape. I’m sure we’ll find out more here in a few, once Nathaniel addresses the pack.”
Un-fucking-believable! Teagan Rhodes escaped! I certainly didn’t see that one coming. Without bothering to reply to the creepy guard, I rushed off in search of Drew. I couldn’t wait to see what he had to say about this. One thing was for sure. A shit-storm was brewing in Red Ridge.
After wading through the crowd, I finally made it through the lodge doors and caught sight of Drew just before he disappeared down the hallway. Where the hell was he headed? I took off in that direction and called out his name, but there was no reply. Once I made it to the hallway, I called out again, but I can’t say I was all that surprised when it went unanswered.
I glanced in every open doorway as I made my way down the hall, but no one was around. Moments later, he walked out of one of the rooms at the far end of the hall carrying a stack of papers. “Drew! I’ve been calling your name.”
“I don’t have time for this right now, Kendall,” he said as he stormed my way.
I stood there in the middle of the hall, knowing he’d either have to stop and talk to me or he’d have to literally move me out of the way to get past me. “What are you talking about? What’s going on?” I asked, pretending I had no idea.
His pace slowed and his eyes narrowed as he looked down to meet my gaze. “Get out of the way. I mean it, Kendall. I don’t have time for your shit right now.”
Oh hell no! Drew stopped directly in front of me, but I wasn’t backing down. I stared up at him and said, “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me why the sirens are going off.”
His hand reached out and grabbed my arm. His fingers bit into my skin as he forcefully shoved me into the wall. He held me there and said, “I’m not fucking playing with you, Kendall. When I say to get out of the way, I mean get the fuck out of the way.”
He let go and stepped past me, but this wasn’t over just yet. Drew Barnes had pushed me too far this time. Taking full advantage of the element of surprise, I grabbed him by the back of the hair and pulled his head back until it was even with my mouth. “Now it’s your turn to listen to me, you stupid piece of shit, because I’m not fucking playing either.”
Knowing he could easily get out of this position, I took my other hand and grabbed him by the balls and squeezed until his legs gave out. He dropped to his knees, but I hung on tight because I didn’t plan on letting go of his precious jewels until I finished what I had to say.
“Drew, you don’t have to love me, you don’t even have to like me, but you will fucking respect me. Do you understand? You’re not going to push me around, treat me like your whore, or ignore me anymore. I will be the alpha female of this pack, and you are going to start treating me as such, or so help me God, I will cut off your dick, shove it in your mouth, and then slit your throat. After you’re out of the way, I’ll hook up with the next in line to be alpha and still run this pack. You will start treating me right, Drew, or I’ll be the death of you. You can count on it.”
Before I let go of his balls, I gave them one more good squeeze. Then I walked away. I didn’t give him the chance to respond. He didn’t deserve it.
CHAPTER 28
Cami
When the sirens went off this time, I wasn’t shocked, but that by no means meant that I wasn’t scared shitless. I may have known why my pack was being rounded up and forced into the lodge, but I had no idea what we were in for. Or what Nathaniel had in store for Mr. and Mrs. Wright—and that was what worried me the most. Surely, they would be blamed for Teagan’s disappearance, and it killed me to think that they would have to suffer the punishment.
The last thing I wanted to do today was leave Gavin’s arms, but there was no way I could skip out on rec time, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before one of the guards noticed the gorgeous blonde human was nowhere to be found. I’d seen a few of the guards drooling over Teagan like they couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into her, and just as I’d assumed, only minutes after rec time began, the sirens sounded.
As I entered the lodge, I looked around for Mr. and Mrs. Wright, but didn’t see them anywhere. I noticed all of the elders and the majority of the other higher-ranking members were being escorted off to the side and forced to sit in a specific area. The rest of us were directed to our usual spot.
Shari caught my eye and discreetly waved me over. Trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible, I focused on the ground and made my way toward her. Surprisingly, it worked. From one side of her mouth, she whispered, “What the hell is going on now? My parents were forced to sit over there.”
I considered playing dumb, but if Shari was going to be a part of this, I needed to trust her, and thankfully, Becca was nowhere in sight, so I decided to just spill. “I snuck Teagan off the estate last night. I had to get her to Aiden before he got too sick.”
Shari’s face remained completely impassive. “Good for you, but Nathaniel’s going to shit a freaking brick. Any word on what we’re going to do to get out of this mess?”
“Not yet, but after this, I have a feeling we’re going to have to figure something out quick or—”
Our conversation was cut short by the banging of a gavel. The ever-psychotic and exceedingly irate alpha of the Crescent Hills Pack took his place at the podium, but as soon as he began to speak, chill bumps broke out over my entire body. The man was far too calm, and as far as I was concerned, that wasn’t a good thing.
With a clear and concise voice, the CH alpha began his speech. “People of Red Ridge, I have called you here today with a heavy heart. I very much wanted to work together. To join forces peacefully, without hostility or resistance or bloodshed. But it seems you leave me no choice. Again last night, another of your pack escaped. Teagan Rhodes, one of two domestics living on this estate, has disappeared, so I am quite sure that she had help. As a result, Paul and Lillian Wright have been detained in the cell below this lodge, and all other elders and high ranking members with a controlling interest in your pack’s business are being sequestered.
“It is a shame it has come to this, but you leave me no choice. In three days’ time, the Crescent Hills Pack will be in full control of this estate and your business. Suffice to say, there will no longer be a Red Ridge Pack. If you choose
to stay, you will recognize me as your alpha and Crescent Hills as your pack. In three days, the Red Ridge Pack will be no more. From now until then, the members of Red Ridge will remain in their homes. There will be no rec time. And let me be clear; if anyone is caught outside of their homes, they will be shot on sight. If anyone else comes up missing, my men will be instructed to begin killing members of the council one by one, at the top of each hour, until the missing party returns. This is your last warning. If any more blood is shed on this land, it will be on your hands.”
CHAPTER 29
Gavin
After watching what went down at the lodge after the sirens went off, I was all prepared to comfort a very upset girlfriend, but when Cami came through the front door of her house she was anything but upset. She was extremely pissed and more determined than ever to do something to stop Nathaniel. Her face was flushed, and a thin sheen of sweat glistened on her skin. I could tell that she was fuming mad, so I took a step back to give her some breathing room.
Cami didn’t say a word as she stormed passed me. Hell, she didn’t even seem to notice me standing there. She slammed her door shut, not bothering to lock it behind her, and all but ran into the master bedroom. Letting out a breath, I locked the front door and followed her into the safe room.
“Let me talk to Cade,” Cami said, already on my phone and sitting on the loveseat. Great. Hello to you too, Cami. I walked over to the surveillance TV and began flipping through the camera angles, just to have something to do. Cami put the phone on speaker and set it down on the small coffee table in front of her.