The Society Series Box Set 2

by Mason Sabre

  Every step she took towards Raven’s bar, was heavier than the last. Every ounce of her body and mind screamed at her to stop this. This wasn’t going to work. But it had to. It really did … her life depended on it … so did Gemma’s.

  Gemma wasn’t at the bar when Louise arrived, and Louise didn’t know if she was more relieved or afraid. At least if Gemma wasn’t there, she wouldn’t have to face her. To look her in the eye and know she was about to hand her over. But not being there, thoughts swam into Louise’s mind that maybe Gemma had changed her mind. Cade had been right. She didn’t know Gemma, but she didn’t know Cade either, and maybe they had both just gone into hiding and left Louise to deal with it.

  “Oh God.” As soon as the thought entered Louise’s mind, she realised that maybe that was what she had done. Maybe Cade had just taken Gemma and hidden her, and let Louise take the fall.

  Raven was behind the bar. He grabbed her usual bottle, opened it and put it down on the bar. “Thanks for coming in,” he said, somehow pretending like this was a normal night and she was on duty.

  “It’s no problem,” she replied, feeling anything but normal. She kept her tone as steady as possible and her eyes on the door. They were to work this like it was just an ordinary night.

  Gemma wasn’t going to come, was she?

  Right then door opened, and Louise’s heart skipped. It wasn’t Gemma who walked in, but Marcus himself. Making sure the fucking job was done.

  He had some balls.

  Chapter 12

  Louise couldn’t stand it any longer. The nerves, the way her head was threatening to take her out if she didn’t breathe again. She stared at her watch, counting every second tick painfully away. It was like an entire minute would pass before the second hand would move again. Time was going backwards.

  Raven shot her a concerned glance as she tapped her fingers impatiently against her bottle.

  She nodded back and forced a smile to her lips. I'm fine.

  Marcus was somewhere behind her. She could feel him, like a fucking disease, germinating in the background. She had turned around so that she wouldn’t stare at him and give his identity away to Raven. All it needed was one wrong look, one wrong word, and maybe all the shit would explode in her face.

  She glanced again at her watch, annoying herself with it now. Her head swam and her body demanded she breathe or die in that second, but she didn’t know how. She choked out her anguish, her chest hurting. She couldn’t stand to even move. A whole minute had gone by, that was it.

  “I'm gonna do a walk around,” she shouted to Raven, slapping the bar to get his attention. “Make sure everyone is behaving.”

  “Be nice,” he threw back.

  She nodded and grabbed her beer bottle. Taking one long swig from it, before heading to the crowd.

  The crowd wasn’t so big tonight. Blue Blood didn’t have the following that other bands had, but they were good.

  Marcus was standing close to the main door. He had a glass in his hand. He must have purchased it at some point, but Louise wasn’t sure when. Probably when she was willing time to move faster. She avoided looking at him as she idled past–a blinker in the corner of her eye. She could feel his stare burning into the back of her, but she fought with everything to beat the urge to look. She didn’t want to see that leer in his eyes or the victorious smile on his lips.

  Come on Gemma. Fuck sake. Don’t let me down.

  She ground her jaw as she walked, giving herself one amazing headache, but she had to make herself take one step and then another. She tried to lose herself in the music and the crowd, anything that would make the time go faster, but she couldn’t focus. Her mind didn’t want to pick up the beat.

  She jumped when her phone vibrated in her pocket. I don’t see her, it read.

  Louise turned, catching Marcus’ eye as he held his phone in his hand.

  She scowled at him. She’ll be here,

  She better.

  Or what? What would he do if Gemma didn’t show? Being here meant that he could see it wasn’t Louise’s fault. She couldn’t predict what Gemma might do or might not do. Maybe Gemma was sick … or tipped off and left, her thoughts trailed off.

  Louise pulled the image of Cade to her mind, filling her head with him. He was a wolf … wolves were loyal. He had seemed sincere yesterday, angry, but sincere. He cared for Gemma, that was quite clear. He’d not leave her to this, would he? He was a wolf. He had honour, and even Raven had vouched for him. Raven wouldn’t do that unless he was sure.

  God, she was driving herself insane.

  It was during Louise’s third round of the crowd, and when she was all but ready to run home and collapse from just the exertion of waiting, that Gemma walked through the door. Louise stared at her with disbelief. She could have run up to her and hugged her right then.

  Gemma walked over to the bar, passing Marcus. He made eye contact with Louise, and they both watched as Gemma smiled up at Raven who almost jumped over the bar to greet her. His arms went around her back, lifting her off the ground. Louise nodded. Letting Marcus know, that this was it. She would do this.

  He nodded back, and then flashed at her an envelope; the same as the one she had got through the mail. She understood. He didn’t need to remind her.

  Walking over to the bar, Louise put herself next to Gemma. She didn’t speak to her or say, hi I’m Louise. You know the one about to get you assaulted. No. She wasn’t stupid. She was sure that Marcus would have someone watching her. He couldn’t be working alone.

  “This is Louise,” Raven said to Gemma. “One of my security staff.” This was the plan, let Raven introduce them as if they had no idea who the other was.

  Gemma smiled. She had beautiful green eyes that lit up. Louise had never seen eyes like that before. They seemed to shine. “Hi,” she said, offering her hand out to Louise. “Gemma Davies.” She cocked her head to one side. “I've seen you before?”

  “It’s possible. I work here, but I also work in town.”

  Gemma raised a brow, nodding. “Maybe that’s it. Not much action tonight,” she said tipping her hand to indicate the crowd. “Although, I do like Blue Blood.”

  “Maybe it’ll stay that way too,” Louise said, focusing her eyes on the band and not on Gemma. It was like Gemma didn’t have a clue what was about to happen. But Cade had to have told her, right? Maybe she was just a good actress. A better one than her.

  Louise leaned with her back to the bar and her eyes on the crowd. She didn’t know who she was looking for or what, but she was sure there would be someone out there. Someone else, who would report back to Marcus if she fucked this up.

  The band played an hour set, and there wasn’t another band on after them. A lot of the crowd stayed, though, just enjoying the evening out. They were calm, talking, happy. Louise wouldn’t normally work on nights like this. There was no need. “Okay if I get off soon?” she asked Raven pushing her empty bottle onto the bar. “I have work tomorrow.”

  “Of course. Head off now if you want. Not much going on here.” He came over and grabbed her bottle, tossing it into the bottle bin.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Everything is good to go.” He tossed her a couple of notes for her work. Good to go … she hoped that he meant their plan. “Thanks for coming in on such short notice,” he said.

  “You’re welcome.” She turned to Gemma, holding her hand out. This was it. This was so fucking it. “It was nice to meet you,” she said. Gemma took her hand and Louise was vaguely aware of her clammy palm. Or maybe it was Gemma … or both of them even. She raised her eyes to meet Gemma’s. She had never pretended to use her powers before. It was hard to call on them and not actually let them go to the target.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” Gemma said to her, her eyes locking with Louise’s a little too long.

  Louise felt her allure passing through her and into Gemma. Shit. She had to stop or she’d capture Gemma for sure. Gemma’s eyes half glazed and Louise ha
d to take a long blink just to reach the connection between them. Maybe it was her own fear feeding everything inside her and making it stronger, but Gemma sure as hell seemed like she was in a trance.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” Louise asked her, power vibrating along her words, making her voice deeper … such a deep sound that anyone close would probably get mesmerised by.

  “I’d like that,” Gemma nodded. Her words were a little slurred, and the world around them felt a little slanted. Shit. She had connected to Gemma too much.

  Louise kept hold of Gemma’s hand, though, despite the need to ease up so that Gemma would be able to think. This was how she would do it if it was for real. Power was always stronger when she had a physical connection with the subject. She could free her mentally in the woods.

  The silence had an edge to it when they got outside. Like Louise expected Gemma to speak or something, but she just held onto Louise as if she was really hers to control. She couldn’t ask her, though. All she could do was hope that Gemma was this good at pretending.

  Even through the woods Gemma was silent as they walked. It made Louise feel unsettled. What if she was really leading the woman to be raped?

  She had to steady herself. She had to remind herself that Cade was out there. He was waiting and no matter what state Gemma was in, he would not let Marcus have his way.

  Louise hadn't walked back through the woods since that other night and that felt like a lifetime ago, now. Her tree was a little farther than the house, but not by much. With every step she took, Louise felt her heart beat hitch up another notch, making her chest ache. She had to clamp her jaw down. She was so desperate to speak to Gemma and ask if she was ready.

  When the tree came into view, Louise stopped, holding Gemma still beside her and fighting off the urge to scream at Gemma to run. This was it. That last moment where Marcus would get what he wanted … would think he would get what he wanted. She tightened her grip on Gemma’s hand and much to her relief, Gemma squeezed back.

  Thank god. She was there … mentally.

  Louise nodded, not at Gemma, but mostly for herself. There was no one around, but she could feel eyes on her. She was sure Marcus wouldn’t be far away. “This way,” she said to Gemma.

  Gemma didn’t respond. She didn’t even seem to flinch. If Louise could have half of her calm, she would have been happy. She moved them forward and footsteps sounded beside her. Suddenly, there were men all around them, circling them. Marcus came in front. “Thank you,” he said to Louise. “I can take it from here.”

  Louise gripped Gemma’s hand harder and stepped back. “Wait.” Her eyes darted from Marcus to the men, there were six of them, including him. Louise’s heart was hammering so wildly that she was struggling to stay standing. “I don’t understand …”

  Marcus smiled. “That’s okay. Nothing for you to understand; your work here is done. Give me Gemma.”

  Louise clutched her tighter, holding her back. “I never signed up for this. Six of you.”

  “Funny,” he said. “I don’t recall you signed up for any of it.” He grinned at her, the bastard. “Now, give me the tiger, or we make this a double mating. Maybe you fancy some shifter?”

  Chapter 13

  Fuck. She couldn’t breathe. There was no way this was happening. No way she would have agreed to this if she had realised an entire pack was going to take Gemma. Fuck. No. She clutched Gemma’s hand, backing up, but there was nowhere to go. Two of the men were standing behind them, blocking them and laughing as Louise made them each take a step.

  Gemma clutched at her hand and Louise wasn’t sure if it was out of fear, or her own calming reassurance. But no way would they get out of this.

  “I can't let you do this,” Louise said. “Six of you …”

  “You can't stop us,” Marcus said, folding his arms across his chest. “Now, I will tell you again. Give her to me. I am running out of patience.”

  Louise wanted to rush over to Marcus and rip his fucking head off. She was sorry her cats were caged. It would have been a great pleasure to feed him to them. Gone was the woman who yesterday didn’t want to kill him. Gone was her conscience. Cade was right. Marcus was a monster, and needed to be put down. They all did.

  “Okay,” Louise said, her voice as shaky as she was. She pulled Gemma in front of her, holding her hand and her elbow with her other hand. She nodded at Marcus. “The allure only works a little while. She’ll come out of it soon.”

  “It won’t matter,” he said, angling his head at her. “We’ll have what we want.

  Louise swallowed hard, pushing Gemma. She hoped to god that Gemma was just acting … that she wasn’t really under nymph allure. They’d be screwed if their lives depended on her alone. As Gemma moved fully in front of Louise, Louise glared up at Marcus. “Fuck you,” she said. She pushed Gemma forward, shoving her out of the way and charging at the same time, slamming herself into Marcus and knocking him back. “Run,” she screamed at Gemma, as Marcus grabbed Louise’s arm and held her back. “Fucking run.”

  Marcus staggered, his eyes wide with alarm, not expecting this, clearly. He stumbled, almost falling, but caught himself. Bringing his hand up, he slammed the back of it across Louise’s face, making her cheek explode in agony, and making her fall. “You stupid fucking bitch,” he spat at her. He pointed toward Gemma. “Get her,” he yelled, grabbing one of the other men as the others ran. “Not you. You stay with this one.” His eyes fixed on Louise, pure rage and hatred burning though them. “Whatever happens tonight, you and I … you’ll be fucking sorry you did that.” He nodded at the man. “Keep her here.”

  The shifter held Louise, his iron fist grabbing her arm and yanking her up. She didn’t care. Gemma was gone. Gemma could run fast and she was ahead of them. Hopefully she had run to Cade or to Raven or whoever else they might have brought with them to help.

  “Get the fuck off me,” she said to the shifter, trying to snag her arm free, but he grabbed her wrist and pushed it up her back.

  “Move again and I will break it,” he said.

  She spat at him. “You're all so fucking disgusting.”

  The man laughed. “Perhaps. Come, this way. You can watch.” He winked and then shoved Louise toward her tree. In the direction that Gemma had run. She tried to shake him off, but he was bigger than her … stronger and she was no match for shifter strength.

  Pushing her hard, he forced her to her tree, slamming her into it. Her cheek sting with a second blow to the one Marcus had done. She went to twist and pull, but as she did, something cracked, and Louise was suddenly launched forward, landing with her face in the dirt. “What the …” she shot, looking for the shifter.

  “Shush,” Raven put his finger over his lips. He still had hold of the shifter, his head facing the wrong way, his neck twisted so that one of the tiny bones peeked out at the side of his throat. He lowered him quietly to the ground, his eyes and ears alert as he watched around them. “Come on,” he said.

  She took the hand he offered to help her get up. “It was a trick,” she sobbed out at him. “I didn’t know there would be six of them.”

  “I know,” he said, nodding. “We should have fucking expected it. Come on.”

  They ran through the woods, leaving the shifter at the foot of the tree. Raven kept stopping to sniff the air. “This way,” he said, pulling Louise with him. They were heading deeper into the woods, past her house and towards the part that led to the valley.

  Loud roars pierced the silence suddenly, bringing Louise and Raven to a stop. The echoing howl of an animal in distress rang out through the trees. Raven listened at first, waving for Louise to come and stand closer to him. She couldn’t hear like he could. But he was focusing, his face set in a stern expression. She followed him when he moved and Raven picked up his pace, racing through the dark with Louise behind him.

  They came to a clearing in the middle of the trees, and Raven ducked, pulling Louise with him. There was a tiger and wolf, caught mid-fig
ht, both such magnificent creatures. The tiger slammed into the wolf’s midsection, sending him rolling backwards. The wolf snarled and twisted, bringing himself back up again and growling at the tiger. Blood oozed from a wound on the wolf’s leg and he yelped slightly when he landed on it, but it didn’t stop him. He lopped around, spinning on the tiger, raging, his jaws open wide. The tiger leapt, and the wolf ducked, sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of the tiger’s belly and ripping. Blood spewed, covering the wolf’s face as the tiger roared and screamed. A sound that sent shivers lancing through Louise’s body.

  Raven put a hand in front of her, pushing her back. “This is their fight,” he said. “We—“

  Just then, someone screamed. “This way,” Raven said. They headed back in the other direction, running through tree after tree like the night and the woods were suddenly never ending. They stopped at a ledge. Gemma was on the other side. The gap between was too wide to jump across and too deep for them to climb down. She must have run across the bridge to get away, but they had caught her. She was surrounded by Marcus, another man and two shifters in tiger form. She was backing up, into a corner.

  “We have to go around,” Louise said, her eyes on Gemma. This wasn’t good. She didn’t want to leave her. It felt like if she could see her, they wouldn’t hurt her. But Marcus was closing in.

  “You stay here. It’s too dangerous,” Raven said.

  “Not a chance,” Louise said, shaking her head. “I’m part of this now. I’m coming.”

  “They’re shifters.”

  “And I’m Louise.”

  Raven huffed through his nose. He wasn’t happy, but Louise didn’t care about that. What she cared about was the shifter she could see across the gap about to get herself tied to fucking strays. She’d not stand here and let that happen, even if the men were stronger than her.

  They couldn’t follow the path to the bridge. Weather and time had made some of the path collapse, leaving big bites in the ledge that gave massive drops down to certain death. They had to back up, and when Gemma went out of sight, Louise almost tripped over Raven in desperation to reach the bridge and help her.