Rouen Chronicles Box Set

by Raven Steele

  "Are you going to be a good little wolf and come with us? Or, are we going to have to muzzle you?"

  Groaning, I shifted into my human form.

  My very naked human form.

  Covered in shit.

  They both chuckled. The biggest one spoke again. "I didn't think it was possible, but you look worse than you smell."

  "And I didn't think it was possible to see a monkey's ass on someone's face, but there you are!"

  He balled his fat fingers into a fist and swung it at my cheek. I easily ducked and rammed my closed hand into his gut. He expelled a fast breath, gripping his stomach.

  His short, fat friend laughed out loud. "She just got shit on you, Terrence!"

  I turned to him, smirking. "There's plenty of that to go around."

  He raised his hands and stepped back.

  "Let's get this over with, shall we?" I put out my hand in his direction. "Give me your jacket."

  "No way. You'll get crap all over it."

  "I will anyway when I jump on top of you and choke you out in a second."

  Tubby looked at Terrence for backup, but Terrence, who had finally straightened from me hitting him in the stomach, motioned with his hand. "Just give it to her. We can beat her up later. Boss is waiting."

  I huffed. Clearly Terrence hadn't learned his lesson.

  As soon as the jacket was wrapped around me and zipped up good, I stepped into the clearing.

  Don't bend over. Don't bend over. Flashing my cooter to a pack of wolf shifters probably wasn't a good idea. The cool breeze gusting up my nether regions would be a good reminder.

  The pack, Dominic and Silas included, watched us approach. My breathing picked up as I got closer, and I struggled to keep it steady.

  I was so close, so close to my enemy.

  I wanted to rip them to shreds, right here in front of their own pack. Just as they'd done to me.

  But I had to keep my cool. Otherwise, I'd be wolf meat by the end of the night. I forced myself to chill the hell out so, instead, I put on a snarky grin.

  I'd hoped my first meeting with the Silver Claws would be a little more respectable, but at least I would be memorable. Naked and covered in horse shit. I knew I wouldn't be forgotten anytime soon.

  I didn't mean to catch Luke's eye. His jaw was flexed tight, and he stared at me with an intensity that made the breeze on my ass even colder. Yet as I returned his glare, my heartbeat picked up. I forced my gaze away.

  Planting a practiced grin, I approached the pack, holding out my hands. "I heard this is where the party's at. I hope I'm not late." When no one said anything, I added, "Shoot. Am I too dressed down?"

  Silas chuckled but Dominic's thick eyebrows pulled together, and his dark brown eyes stared down at me. "We don't take kindly to shifters who spy on us. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

  "I'm just a new gal in town scoping out the local packs. I heard this one was really banging and wanted to check it out." I gave Luke a pointed look. "I was told to come pay my respects." I turned toward my uncle, eyeing him curiously. His head was slumped to the side. Blood dripped from his chin onto his bare chest, but he was still alive. "A little extreme for what I'm used to, but I'm kind of digging the whole aggression vibe you got going on."

  "Shut up." Dominic frowned. "I hate lone wolves. They have far too many opinions, and they always feel the need to share them."

  "Jeez. What's up your ass besides gimpy here?" I motioned at Silas who was standing next to him. It made me happy to insult them both. A few of the shifters behind me chuckled.

  "Enough! Tie her up and put her in the basement. We can question her later, after the blood trial."

  "What the hell? I was told to come here."

  "You came here to spy."

  Luke cleared his throat and stepped forward. "I would like to question her now. I fear she may be spying on us to give information to the Greybacks."

  This got Dominic's attention. He looked from Luke to me, the wheels of his brain turning painfully slow. I glared at Luke. He takes me for a snitch? One more thing to put on his shit list.

  "Fine. Take her over there and get what you can out of her. Be quick about it." Dominic moved toward me, his movements slow and deliberate as if treating me like prey. Little did he know I was the real predator here. "I don't know why you've come, but let's hope for your sake this is all just a big misunderstanding."

  "A big fat misunderstanding."

  Behind him, Luke was retrieving rope from the rear of the house. All the while keeping his eyes on me.

  Dominic reached up and brushed my cheek with the back of his fingers. I didn't flinch, knowing that's what he wanted—to see fear in my eyes. If it weren't for the witch standing nearby, or the more than two dozen shifter wolves, I might've killed him right then. I'm pretty sure I had enough strength to ram my fist right through his chest, crushing his heart.

  He studied my face, his eyes narrowing. "There's something about you..."

  "It's my bitch face," I said quickly, hoping to stop his train of thought. I doubted he would recognize me. I had been ten the last time he saw me, but still. "It probably reminds you of one of your ex-wives."

  "I was never married."

  “Damn. A damn shame.”

  "Listen, if you truly want to join the pack," he was circling me now, his voice a purr, "I can find a position for you." His eyes dropped to my bare legs. "You just have to be open to it."

  Blood rushed to my face, and I clenched my hands to my side, ready to smash them into his perfectly formed nose.

  Before I could do anything stupid, Luke was beside me, pulling me roughly from Dominic. "Let's go."

  I jerked free from his grip, so mad I could barely walk. There's no way in hell I was going to let that dickface victimize me again. I had to get Dominic alone somehow.

  Dominic faced the crowd again. "Let's continue the blood trial."

  As I walked alongside Luke toward the side of the house, he wrinkled his nose and blew out air. "You smell terrible. What did you do?"

  "What any self-respecting woman would do when trying to sneak up on a pack of wolves. It just happened to backfire in my face."

  "More like exploded." He guided me to a tree far from the group, but still within view of my uncle. "Let's get this over with. Sit down."

  "Is this really necessary? I will answer your stupid questions."

  "I prefer you tied up."

  "I bet that's how you like all your women."

  "Only the good ones." He winked and took hold of my arm. I managed to enjoy the warmth of his fingers for just a few seconds, before he jerked me to the ground.

  My butt hit the ground hard, and I became very aware of the dirt on my nether regions. I snarled and resisted the urge to kick him in the crotch, but the witch was still watching me intensely. She saw too much. I might need to find a way to take her out before I could get to Silas or Dominic. Maybe my new witchy roommate could offer some assistance—as soon as I told her what I really was.

  Luke stood over me, the rope in his hands. "Lean back."

  I pressed my back into the trunk, eyeing the rope nervously. I hated being tied up. It made shifting into a wolf near impossible, plus it made me feel claustrophobic. But if this is what I had to do to get the pack to trust me, then bring on the panic.

  “I don’t like doing this,” he said as he began wrapping the rope first around my stomach and the tree, then slowly moved up and around my upper torso. I sucked in a large breath, hoping to give myself some room, but he pulled it against me tightly. Alarms rang in my head, and my breath came out in shaky puffs. He wrapped it twice, three times. “If only you would’ve listened to me.”

  The air caught in my throat. I couldn't breathe.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I like tying up my women but not like this.” He moved the rope around me another time until I thought I was going to explode.

  "Please." My voice cracked and hell, heat warmed my face. I was simultaneously embarrass
ed and panicked at the same time. My hands began to shake.

  "Please, not around my chest."

  He hesitated and searched my eyes. I hated that he could see even a flicker of weakness in me, but the fear was near debilitating.

  His gaze dropped and instead of continuing to wrap it around my chest, he unwrapped it a few times so the rope was just around my stomach. I inhaled a deep breath, relieved.

  So, little soldier boy had a heart after all. Or was he the tin man? I'd yet to determine how big of a heart he actually had.

  Moving behind the tree, he grabbed one of my arms at the elbow and slowly slid his hand down to mine. He did the same to the other until both my hands touched. There was something about the motion that calmed my racing pulse. Gently, yet tightly, he tied my wrists together. It was uncomfortable, but a lot better than the alternative.

  When the task was done, he appeared in front of me. I pressed my knees together, wishing they'd let me dress first. The jacket came three fourths up my thighs. Any higher and we'd be playing peek-a-boo.

  "Why are you here?" he asked.

  I gave him an exasperated sigh. "Are you mental? You invited me."

  "Not like this. You were supposed to come escorted. You know pack rules. Spying on one another is bad form."

  "I'm not part of the pack so I don't have to follow your rules."

  "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If you had any genuine interest in joining, you would've followed protocol. I have a strong impression you came here tonight for a completely different reason."

  "Are you psychic now? If so, you suck at it."

  "How's that?"

  "The truth is, I am interested in joining. I just wanted to see how the pack really is and not some dressed up version of it put on for my benefit." My gaze flickered to my uncle. A woman was shouting at him. "And by first impressions, I'd say this is a pack that demands loyalty and respect. They thrive on torture to get what they want and use fear to silence its members." I looked up at him. "Does that sound about right?"

  His jaw muscles rippled as he ground his teeth together. "Why are you really here?"

  "I already told you. I'm interested in joining. I've always wanted to see what it felt like to be team bad guys."

  He lifted his hand as if to hit me, but lowered it just as quickly. "You have a big mouth. It's going to get you into trouble."

  "Tell me something I don't know." I flattened my expression, realizing I had to be convincing. "Look, Luke, I just want to join your stupid pack. So tell your little Alpha to release me so I can cheer on the others as they torture an old man." I gave him a meaningful look, hoping the fire in my eyes would burn right through him.

  "You shouldn't feel sorry for him." He looked toward my uncle, his expression unreadable.

  "Now why would I feel bad for an old dude who's tied up while thirty people take their turns beating him up? Only a caring person would do that, and I don't see any of those around here."

  “You could be right about that.” The way he said it, his voice flat and distant, made me think he didn’t want to be here either. He straightened. "I'm going to tell them you weren't honest with me. There are others a lot meaner than me that know how to get information out of stubborn shifters."

  "I can handle myself."

  "Suit yourself."

  "I'm suited."

  He stared down at me, a storm raging in those deep blue eyes. He shook his head and walked away. Good riddance. I'd been in tougher situations.

  Luke approached Silas and said something in his ear. Stupid asshat tattle-tale. I continued to murmur to myself as I looked around me, pretending to get comfortable.

  Meanwhile, my uncle was being punished all sorts of ways. I had never heard of a blood trial, but I hoped it didn't mean death.

  I fought against the restraints. Luke had made them ridiculously tight. I sighed and dropped my head to the side, glancing to the ground near my bum. There was a foot-long stick. If I could push it back—

  My uncle screamed in pain, and I jerked up. I looked over just as a woman withdrew a knife from his side. I yanked at the rope, now thrashing against them. I didn't care that I looked like a maniac. I had to stop them. I pulled and yanked, but couldn't get out of Luke's stupid restraints.

  Blood poured from my uncle's chest, and he slumped forward.

  I stared in agony, tears sparking my eyes.

  Just like when I was a kid, the feeling of absolute hopelessness washed over me. I couldn't believe this was happening.

  I was being forced to watch my family die. Again.

  Chapter 8

  An hour later, I leaned back against the tree. My breathing had calmed, and my cheeks had dried. Groaning, I stared up at the night sky. The moon had already dipped below the tree line and dawn would be here soon.

  My uncle was still alive. When I saw him move, I was so relieved, I’d nearly passed out. I thought he would be dead within minutes but amazingly, he’d healed.

  I was also proud. Us Morettis were tenacious bastards.

  It also meant they hadn't used a silver knife. He was still tied to the pole but the pack, now done, had moved back into the house. Most of them had left, and I was ready to get the hell out of here. How much longer were they going to keep me tied up?

  I’d expected someone to come out and question me further, but no one ever came. Many times, I tried to free myself from my bonds, but Luke fucking must’ve been a sailor or a Boy Scout or something. The knots weren’t budging, even with me using my wolf strength.

  This wasn’t my first rodeo with being tied up, and after a while I realized there was something different about the rope. Possibly something supernatural that prevented me from breaking free. I thought about this a lot during the night, having nothing else to do. My guess was one of the witches had screwed with them.

  Since when did packs start using magic to conduct business? It sure changed the rules of the game. I’d have to be more careful going forward.

  I dropped my head back against the tree and closed my eyes. I inhaled a great breath but instantly regretted it. I did smell like shit. I couldn't wait to go home and shower, assuming they were going to let me go free. Luke may not have believed me, but I felt confident that whoever else came to question me would be easier to fool.

  It wasn't me I was worried about anyway. It was my uncle. He must have gotten himself into some deep trouble. I thought I had spotted him looking in my direction once or twice, but it had been such a fleeting glance that I wasn't sure if he had even seen me.

  A branch snapped behind me, and then another. Someone was coming.

  "Who is that?” I asked.

  A second later, I heard the sound of a knife running through the rope. The bands fell from my hands, and I slumped forward. My muscles complained as I brought my hands in front of me and rubbed at my sore wrists. They were surprisingly red and swollen, with parts of my skin bleeding. I didn’t think Luke had tied me that tight, but he must have. Prick. Unless it was the magic…

  "Leave now. Hurry."

  I jerked my head around at the familiar voice. Luke stood in the shadows, a knife gleaming in his hand.

  "Don't say anything. Just go."

  I opened my mouth to argue because, well, that's what I do, but a cool look from him silenced me. Whatever. I could stay silent. He was freeing me, after all. Plus, this wasn’t the time. If I had any chance of saving my uncle, this was it.

  Remembering to keep my cooter covered, I slowly got to my feet. I kept an eye on Luke, waiting for some kind of trick or something. When he remained still, I took off into the forest.

  I glanced back at him briefly, wishing I could read his thoughts. His face was different, almost soft, wistful. Damn, he was so confusing. But there was something else about him, something familiar. It was almost like looking into a mirror.

  I pushed those thoughts away. I didn’t have time for psych evaluations.

  As soon as I got the blood flowing through my body, and my mus
cles working again, I sprinted through the forest for a good mile. Then I cut through the woods and circled back from a different direction. Even though I was mostly sure everyone had already left, I was fairly certain one of the witches still remained in the house. She had walked into the back door, her arm linked through Dominic’s. She had leaned against him, giggling, and I got the sensation they were dating.

  But ewww. How anyone could see anything sexy in that disgusting man was beyond me. Maybe she liked evil and cheap cologne.

  I reached the opposite side of the clearing. My uncle was still tied to the pole. Luke hadn’t freed him.

  There were no sounds within the house and no one outside on the grounds. I sniffed the air to make sure. The place was dead. I considered shifting into a wolf to free my uncle, but it would be better to remain human, in case I was caught. I could simply say I had gotten myself free and wanted to take a shot at the old guy like everyone else. They might even like that.

  Ducking low, I ran across the clearing toward a shed. I darted behind it, then moved to another small outbuilding. I kept an eye on the back windows of the house, looking for any movement, but all was still.

  I reached my uncle and quickly untied the knots on his hands. When they were undone, he dropped to his knees and slumped over. I didn't say anything as I picked him up in my arms and briskly walked away. He was heavy but not unbearably so. He was smaller than the other male shifters I’d seen, even some of the females. I bet he got picked on a lot.

  At one point, as I hurried through the forest, he opened his eyes from all the jostling motions and whispered, "Who are you?"

  "A friend." Wow. Eloquent. But they were the only words I could think of to say. I didn’t want to reveal my identity until the time was right.

  When we were a safe distance from the house, I stopped and laid him in the grass just long enough to assess the knife wound. It had clotted some but still oozed. Being a shifter, he had some natural healing abilities, but with all his many other cuts and bruises, it would take him a while.

  He groaned and lifted his arm to his head.

  "I think you’ll survive. I know this is going to hurt like a mother, but we have to keep moving."