The WereGames
Page 16
She heard grunts and snorts, and she knew it was Ryker. He came back, adjusting the dirty pair of pants he had removed prior to shifting. Alexia didn’t look at him. Ryker sniffed the air.
“I smell human blood, and it isn’t mine,” he said in a quiet voice. “You didn’t tell me you were injured.”
“I wasn’t. It’s just the cold,” she told him. “It’s just a nosebleed.”
“How often do you have these?” he asked, sitting across from her, his head nearing the ceiling that was filled with roots.
“Only when the temperature changes too quickly…” she replied. She’d had those once a week at least in the lab.
“Well, you’d better learn to adjust. I don’t care how you do it, but try. The others can smell this a mile away,” Ryker told her dispassionately.
She nodded.
“You hungry?” he asked her. In his hand were a few wild mushrooms. “I cleaned these up.”
She looked at them questioningly. “Why does it look like a-?” she stopped, not quite sure how to describe it.
“It’s called lion’s mane in some parts. These are pretty good. I survived on these as a kid,” he told her.
“Survived?” Alexia began, taking it from him. She quickly put one in her mouth, tasting its meatiness and mild taste, with a rubbery texture. She didn’t care, she chewed on one quickly and swallowed it, feeling the hunger. Her stomach growled, as if it asked for more food.
Ryker let out a snort. “So, you really are hungry.”
She paid no attention to the comment. “I like these. Is this what a lion’s mane really looks like?”
Ryker shrugged. “I saw one once; there was a small zoo I went to. The lion looked sad, and its hair wasn’t as grand as I imagined it would be. Maybe because it was imprisoned.”
“Maybe that’s why I look like this…” Alexia said, pausing for a moment.
“Look like what?”
“I look sad, and my hair looks dead.”
“You were locked up for a while. I guess that’s what the lack of sunshine and fresh air does to you.”
“I have sunshine and fresh air now…”
“Let’s put it this way. We’re still trapped; we aren’t truly free. All this sunshine and fresh air is on loan. We don’t even have proper food; I can’t even give you good, human food unless we steal from houses or something.”
“You’ve done more than enough,” Alexia said, “and you don’t even know me.”
Ryker took in a deep breath. “Yeah, sure.”
He didn’t know her, and he didn’t see the need to get to know her better. But had he done more than enough? If he had, they wouldn’t be here. If he hadn’t taken her out of that lab, she would have had three square meals a day with a change of clothes and her own private quarters. He observed her as she ate her meal while she stared at the floor. She was thinner than she had been in the lab. Her pallor hadn’t improved much, but at least her cheeks were a bit flushed as opposed to last week. Had it only been seven days since they had escaped? It felt like months, and he felt helpless. He didn’t know where they were or what he was going to do. It was different now that he was in charge of another person’s welfare and life.
Back when he had been a recent orphan, it was easy to shift and digest meals fit for wild animals. He had been a smaller werebear back then, and he had looked every inch lovable, despite his maiming and killing tendencies. People took pity on him as a boy, but when he shifted, it was an altogether different story. Control was something that had taken years, and Ryker had all the isolation he had needed back then. This isolation was for survival, and it slimmed with Alexia in tow. She had no survival skills whatsoever, and any knowledge she had learned was gleaned from the adults that had performed tests on her.
“Ryker,” she began.
Ryker looked up, surprised that his name had come from her mouth. She barely called him by his name. A sudden draft of wind rushed into the small cave.
“I’m cold,” she told him.
Ryker swallowed. It had come across his mind, but he didn’t want to entertain it. She was shaking; he had seen it early on. What month had it been? He had won the games mere months ago… He took a deep breath and crawled for Alexia, sitting beside her.
She inched for him, now just millimeters away from his body. She could feel the heat emanating from Ryker, and she felt relief from the frigidness that had begun to envelop her body. Ryker rested his head against the dirt wall, closing his eyes. He felt Alexia’s arm brush against his own, and he held his breath momentarily. A discomfort rose in him at the fact that a stranger was so close to him. He could hear every breath she took, he could hear her heart beat, and slowly but surely, he could feel the cold in her body dissipate.
Alexia closed her eyes and leaned against Ryker this time.
Ryker’s jaw hardened, and he knew he didn’t need to move. She was too comfortable, so he let her be, swallowing the strange feeling coming over him. No one had been this close to him since his parents had died. Alexia was a complete stranger, and yet here she was, her head rested on his arm, her body snuggled close to his.
The whores in the capital couldn’t even hold his hand. The lab scientists had forcibly done so. But he could not find it in himself to push Alexia away. He looked down at her as she closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep. He saw her thick eyelashes and saw the scars on her arms and even on her head. Her wrist was still healing; he could smell an infection growing where he had taken out her microchip.
He knew they had to find medications soon. No hospital would take them in without alerting authorities; no home would give them a roof over their heads, even just for a night. He was in too deep to leave Alexia alone…
Ryker saw her brows furrow in her sleep. She was probably dreaming. He had kept still for over an hour now, just staring at the small hole that gave their cave subdued daylight. The snow would thicken soon, and he would need to shift once in a while just to survive the cold. His plans to reach Washington in less than two weeks had become a dream. He felt his hopes for emancipation ebbing away…
Ryker closed his eyes once more, knowing that worrying wouldn’t get him anywhere close to Washington. Their scents would have strengthened by now, after staying in the same place for two days. Ryker remembered what his father had taught him. Follow the stars, Philip had said. And he would.
He would follow those stars to safety, or at least to a better direction. He needed Alexia alive and well. Dr. Delaney had told him she was as important as he was for the country’s future. Not everyone was a werebeing. Why, Dr. Delaney? he thought.
He moved a bit, trying to get some blood running back to his arm. Alexia stirred a little, but she continued to sleep. She was as exhausted as he was, only hers showed prominently. He looked back at her again, and he saw her lips move, as if she were murmuring someone’s name.
Ryker wondered who it was. He couldn’t make out the words. They both dreamed every night, and he didn’t want to ask her what it was about, but he could hear her crying in her sleep. It was not his business to ask her about what plagued her in her dreams. He had his own demons to face, and there were more coming for them.
“What’s going to become of us?” he wondered, looking at her face. The both of them were too young to go through what they had gone through, all the torture, the alienation, and the losses of loved ones. Both of them had numerous scars, physical and mental. They both had been alone, and now they were alone, together.
His heartbeat began to sync with hers, and he found himself closing his eyes, tired from his earlier hunt. He felt his muscles relax and his breathing deepen. He and Alexia were safe for now, something he wished would last for even just a couple of hours. He felt Alexia’s head burrow deep into his arm, and he gave a small smile as he closed his eyes, his first smile -- no matter how minute -- in many, many months.
To Be Continued.....
* * *
Ready for the next part of the story?
&nbs
p; Dear Reader,
I want to personally thank you for taking your time to read “The WereGames” I really hope you enjoyed it and you are hungry for the next part in the story.
This is the first book of a TRILOGY and you can get the final 2 books at the links below. Discover how it all ends!
The WereGames 2 – Salvation
The WereGames 3 – Game Over
See you in the next book :)
Jade x x
Get Yourself a FREE Bestselling Paranormal Romance Book!
Join the “Simply Shifters” Mailing list today and gain access to an exclusive FREE classic Paranormal Shifter Romance book by one of our bestselling authors along with many others more to come. You will also be kept up to date on the best book deals in the future on the hottest new Paranormal Romances. We are the HOME of Paranormal Romance after all!
* Get FREE Shifter Romance Books For Your Kindle & Other Cool giveaways
* Discover Exclusive Deals & Discounts Before Anyone Else!
* Be The FIRST To Know about Hot New Releases From Your Favorite Authors
Click The Link Below To Access Get All This Now!
SimplyShifters.com
Already subscribed?
OK, Turn The Page!
ALSO BY SIMPLY SHIFTERS....
SIMPLY ALPHA WOLVES
A TEN BOOK WEREWOLF ROMANCE COLLECTION
50% DISCOUNT!!
This unique 10 book package features some of the best selling authors from the world of Paranormal Romance. Well known names such as Amira Rain, Jasmine White, Ellie Valentina and more have collaborated to bring you a HUGE dose of sexy Alpha goodness. There will be love, romance, action and adventure alongside some hot mating in each of these 10 amazing books.
1 The Alphas Unwanted Mate – Ellie Valentina
2 The Alpha's Surrogate – Angela Foxxe
3 Legend Of The Highland Wolves– Bonnie Burrows
4 The Next Alpha – Jasmine White
5 Chained To The Alpha – JJ Jones
6 The Alphas Mail Order Mate – Jade White
7 The Wolf's Forbidden Baby – Ellie Valentina
8 The Real Italian Alphas – Bonnie Burrows
9 Fated To The Alpha – Jasmine White
10 The Island Of Alphas – Amira Rain
TAP HERE TO START READING NOW!
SIMPLY VAMPIRES
A TEN BOOK VAMPIRE ROMANCE COLLECTION
99c or FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited
This unique 10 book package features some of the best selling authors from the world of Paranormal Romance. The perfect blend of love, sex and adventure involving curvy, cute heroines and their handsome vampire lovers.
Book 1 - JJ Jones – The White Vampire
Book 2 – Samantha Snow – A Lighter Shade Of Pale
Book 3 - Amira Rain – Melted By The Vampire
Book 4 - Serena Rose – Prince Lucien
Book 5 – Ellie Valentina – Red Solstice
Book 6 - Bonnie Burrows – The Vampire's Shared Bride
Book 7 - Jade White – Never Have A Vampires Baby
Book 8 - Angela Foxxe – A Billion Secrets
Book 9 - Samantha Snow - Spawn Of The Vampire
Book 10 - Jasmine White – Bitten By The Bad Boy
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NOW!
SIMPLY BEARS
A TEN BOOK BEAR SHIFTER ROMANCE COLLECTION
50% DISCOUNT!!
This unique 10 book package features some of the best selling authors from the world of Paranormal Romance. Top names such as Amira Rain, Amy Star and more have collaborated to bring you a HUGE dose of furry shape shifting goodness. The perfect blend of love, sex and adventure involving curvy, cute heroines and their loveable WereBear lovers.
1 The Bear In Me – Amy Star
2 Bear In The City – Amira Rain
3 The PlayBear Billionaire – Maria Amor
4 The Bear's Mate – Rosa Foxxe
5 Taken By The Bears – JJ Jones
6 The Bears Baby – Jade White
7 The Bears Shared Bride – Amy Star
8 Her Bear In Mind – Maria Amor
9 The Bears Princess – Ellie Valentina
10 Sold To The Bears – Amira Rain
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NOW!
SIMPLY WERE-DRAGONS
A TEN BOOK DRAGON SHIFTER ROMANCE COLLECTION
50% DISCOUNT!!
Themes include forbidden romance, forbidden pregnancies, menage a trois, surrogacy and more!
This one-off package features some of the most well known names from the world of Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance. Bestselling names such as Serena Rose, Amira Rain, Jade White, Ellie Valentina and more have collaborated to bring you a HUGE dose of sexy Dragon Shifter action. There will be love, romance, action and adventure alongside some RED HOT mating in each of these 10 full-length novels.
Book 1 - Bonnie Burrows – Shared By The Dragons
Book 2 - Amira Rain - Sold to the dragons
Book 3 - Ellie Valentina – Unleashing his dragon
Book 4 - Serena Rose – Dragons Arranged Mate
Book 5 - Jasmine White – One night with a dragon
Book 6 - Amira Melted by the dragons
Book 7 - Jade White – The Dragon's Mail Order mate
Book 8 - Angela Foxxe – The Dragons Surrogate
Book 9 - Serena Rose – Dragons Reluctant Bride
Book 10 - Maria Amor - PlayDragon
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NOW!
SIMPLY WERELIONS
A TEN BOOK WERELION ROMANCE COLLECTION
50% DISCOUNT!!
Love Hunky WereLions? This is an excellent opportunity to own 10 Best Selling Lion Shifter Romance Books In One Limited Edition Digital Boxed Set.
1 Bonnie Burrows – The Lion's Shared Bride
2 Jade White – The Lion's Love Child
3 Jasmine White – The Roar Of The Lioness
4 Lilly Pink – The Lion's Heir
5 Angela Foxxe – Lions Surrogate
6 Maria Amor – The PlayLion
7 JJ Jones – Chained To The Lion
8 Ellie Valentina – Shared By The Lions (unreleased)
9 Lilly Pink – A Wild Time
10 Amira Rain – Melted By The Lion
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NOW!
WEREBABIES
A TEN BOOK PARANORMAL PREGNANCY ROMANCE COLLECTION
50% DISCOUNT!!
WereBabies is a collection of Shapeshifter romances featuring one common theme, producing a BABY!
There is something for everyone as the box set includes WereWolves, WereBears, WereDragons, WereTigers, WereLions and even Vampires!
1 The Lions Love Child by Jade White
2 The Spawn of The Vampire by Samantha Snow
3 The Alpha's Surrogate by Angela Foxxe
4 The Seed Of The White Tiger by JJ Jones
5 The Tiger's Pregnant Bride by Jade White
6 The Seed Of The Dragon by Serena Rose
7 The Billionaire Bear's Baby by Amy Star
8 The PlayTiger Billionaire by Maria Amor
9 The Tigers Baby by Jade White
10 The Wolfs Forbidden Baby by Ellie Valentina
TAP HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NOW!