“Kyle?”
“I will fight for her.”
“Duncan?” He still has his back to me. I see his shoulders stiffen. Then he turns to face me. He steps up to stand beside Rufus. He looks me up and down.
“Cara, how could you? How could you go to warn him? Do you hate us that much? Do you want him to get killed? Or did you think he would win against all of us? Tell me, damn it, why?” He waits for me to talk. I look up and see father waiting. I look out over the room. Mad crowd.
“I don’t know what I want. I don’t know what I was thinking, other than I didn’t want you all to kill him. I don’t hate you, any of you. Why do I have to hate him when he has done nothing to me?”
It is Rufus, who speaks. “I hear you saw him today. I hear you talked to him. I hear you stopped Marcus from killing him. Tell me, Princess, would you have tried to stop us from killing him had your father not intervened?”
“Yes,” I said it like I meant it which I did. I stood tall and proud of myself. I wasn’t expecting it when Rufus hauled off and hit me hard across the face.
Duncan growled at him. Kyle was ready to jump him had my brothers not caught hold of him. I wiped the blood from my lips with the back of my hand.
“You ever hit me again and you will see just how much I am willing to kill you.”
“Don’t threaten me little pup. You would never win.”
“Want to bet? I am willing to show you now.” I was ready to take him out back in the yard and let him have it. That is when father stepped between us.
“Enough. Duncan, I ask you, do you still want to fight for her?”
“I will fight for her and show her just who is the better wolf to be her mate. Once we have mated my dear Princess, you will find out just who you’re dealing with. No outside wolf is going to ever compare to what I can do for you.”
“Then it is settled. The three of you and anyone else who wants to fight for her will get their chance. You will fight one on one the last wolf standing will have her for their mate. We will start first thing in the morning. Anyone who wishes for a chance come sign up at the office. Marcus, take her back to her room. She is not to be let out of your sight. Cane you will watch from the yard. The rest of you will also keep an eye on her. If she makes it out of the house, then I will come after the one who lets her get away. You will fight me!”
I am dragged off. I am complaining and screaming, I won’t take a mate. But no one hears me. I have run out of choices. I have run out of time.
I pace the floor in my bedroom all night long. I don’t want to take one of them for my mate. I don’t want them to kill each other. I want to run away and never look back.
Chapter 8
Morning seems to take forever getting here. I am pacing my bedroom floor all night long. I have no idea how many are going to be fighting or how long they will fight before I am turned over to my mate. The mate I do not want. I check outside every little bit just in case I have a chance at taking off. That is the only thing that will save me.
The sun rises and I stand before my window wondering what I am going to do. I don’t want to be with any of the wolves in our pack. I can’t do it. I won’t.
My father shows up to get me at eight. He says I will watch each and every fight. I will see just how much the males want to be with me. Then I will accept the one who wins. I will no longer be his problem.
The first up to fight, is Rufus and Duncan. The pack surrounds them in a huge circle. Father and I stand on the porch. He stands beside me.
Rufus and Duncan walk into the center of the ring naked then bow to my father and shift. I wasn’t expecting them to show up naked. Not that I was curious or anything, but they are both pretty well hung.
The minute Rufus has shifted, he is on Duncan. Duncan was still in the process of shifting. It didn’t seem quite fair. Rufus grabs Duncan by the neck and they start ripping each other apart. I see blood pour down Duncan’s neck.
Duncan manages to get loose from Rufus and turn on him. They snap at each other, teeth biting at the air, then at their fur. Duncan gets a hold of Rufus’s hip as he turns around. He rips out a good size chunk of fur. I see some blood. Not as much as Duncan lost.
Rufus hits Duncan in the side, sending him flying through the air. Then they charge each other. Standing up on their hind legs, biting at each other’s face.
I feel sick just watching them tear each other apart. It shouldn’t have to be this way. It’s all my fault they are killing each other. Father looks at me from time to time to see how I am taking it. I am looking down at the ground. I don’t want to watch it. I want to run away and never come back.
Father reaches over and lifts my chin. “You will watch. After all, it is you who wouldn’t choose your mate. This fight is because of you. Stand up straight and pay attention.”
I look up to see he is dead serious. I pretend to watch. But I think inside my head about Max. I think about how close we were standing when we talked. About how the heat and desire stirred deep inside of me. How much I wish he were here to save me.
I have to wonder if he is somewhere watching this. If he will wait till they are sidetracked to rescue me. I hear bones breaking. I hear a wolf howling. It brings me back to the fight in front of me.
Duncan is on the ground Rufus has his hind leg in his mouth. The leg is distorted. It is badly broken. Father calls it to a halt before Rufus can kill Duncan.
“This fight is over. Rufus has won. Duncan is out of the running for his right to be her mate.” He points to me. He hasn’t said my name since I talked to Max. He has disowned me as his daughter. I get that. I hate that Duncan had to get hurt so bad. He has a broken leg, and his right arm is broken in two places. He is carried up on the porch, then father forces me to look at his mangled body.
Father holds the back of my head to make sure I take in all of Duncan. I mouth to him that I am sorry he looks away. Duncan doesn’t want to look at me. He blames me for this.
I hang my head when father lets go of me. He has Duncan carried into the living room. Marcus will set his bones and start taking care of his other wounds so he can start to heal.
Rufus stands with his head up staring at me. I see the look in his eyes. He thinks he has already won. I guess he thought Duncan would be the hardest to beat. Father calls for a wolf I know but can’t say I have paid much attention to him. Rufus is ready the minute he walks into the ring, but father tells him to wait. Then he turns to me.
“You will look at this young wolf. He wants to be your mate. He is willing to die for you. Shift.” That is all it takes the fight is on. This wolf shifted a lot faster than Duncan had. I guess he had seen how Rufus attacked before Duncan was ready.
Rufus attacked first, but this wolf is big and strong and very fast. It seems at first to be a more even matched fight. Rufus has a hard time pinning him. The wolf who has challenged Rufus manages to get a few good bites. Then Rufus has him by the ear. He nearly rips his ear completely off. The wolf doesn’t howl. I know it has to hurt, but he doesn’t make a sound just goes after Rufus. While Rufus has his head up to grab the ear the other wolf goes for his throat.
Rufus yelps when the wolf sinks his teeth into his neck. The young wolf can’t hold on to Rufus. Rufus pulls away ripping his own fur out in order to get a hold on the other wolf. I look away, I can’t take it. I slowly step back a step or two.
Father is watching the fight as is everyone else. Father doesn’t notice me moving away. I manage to get back several steps and slide sideways across the porch. When I reach the end of the porch, I jump the rail and take off. I am out of there.
No one seems to have noticed. I run down the drive and onto the road. I will head to town I guess. I have run four or five miles, when a truck speeds up beside me. He slams on his break right beside me. I look thinking it will be my father, but it isn’t. Max smiles slinging the passenger door open. I don’t know how he knew I had run off, he had to have been watching the fights. I climb in and he speeds off.
“Well, that was interesting. I suppose I can guess what the fighting was about. So, had you picked one of them to be your mate?”
“No, that is why they were fighting. That and the fact my father found out I talked to you.”
“Sorry about that. I had hoped I could talk you into leaving with me that day before your brother noticed us. How are you doing?”
“I am pretty confused. I mean here I am getting into a truck with the enemy. What is wrong with me?”
“Nothing is wrong with you, my dear. Have you not ever wanted to be with another wolf before?”
“No. I have been fighting taking a mate for a very long time. My father wanted me to choose one of our pack, but I just wasn’t interested. Then the ones who tried to almost force themselves on me just made me want them that much less.”
He laughs. He speeds out past town and keeps going. I guess I should be worried where he is taking me, but I can’t seem to think straight. All I can think of is Rufus tearing the others apart.
We drive for a couple of hours in silence. I start to think he has no intentions of stopping. He looks at me from time to time. When he gets to the state line of Oklahoma he slows down. “You hungry? We could stop and get something to eat.”
“Sure, I guess so.”
“We don’t have to stop if you don’t want to.”
“No, I want to. I just didn’t get a chance to grab my money. I sort of had to bolt.”
“Yes, I know. I was watching. I can’t believe they didn’t notice you leaving.”
“I think perhaps my father is glad to be rid of me. I have caused a lot of trouble lately.”
“No, that isn’t so. What is going on with your pack is normal. Whenever there is a female coming of age all males who are eligible will fight for her. It is perfectly normal. It isn’t anything you could stop. It is how most mates are chosen. The strongest male gets the female.”
“So, I have heard.”
“Cara you seem to be very upset about things that are totally natural. I don’t understand. Most females would be happy to see the males fighting for them.”
“Maybe if I wanted to be with them it would be that way. I have never loved anyone of them in that way. I mean I always thought I would be in love with the one I wanted to mate with. Doesn’t love have anything to do with spending the rest of your life with one wolf?”
“No, not usually. Once a pair has mated it seals that part of their relationship. It is like you fall in love instantly. Or at least that is what I was always taught.”
He pulls off the main highway to find a diner. He parks behind it so no one can see the truck I assume. Then he turns to look at me. He stares at me and I feel like I am going to explode. Not in a bad way, but in a very sexual way. Heat and desire! “Shall we go in?”
He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He gets out. He waits for me to follow him. I slowly open my door and step out of the truck. I feel a little odd.
“Are you coming?” I look at him and wonder what have I done? What am I doing with a wolf I don’t know? Why do I feel like I belong with him? I am lost in thought looking at the ground when he takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. I didn’t even see him walk around the truck.
“You’re so beautiful. Come, let’s eat.”
“I don’t have any money.”
“Did I ask you for money? Come now, I will take care of you.” What is it about this female that makes me want to please her so badly? Why do I feel like I should do whatever it takes to make her happy? I have never cared in my life if I made anyone else happy. When I took her hand, it felt like we belonged together. Like she is mine. Like I would do anything to keep her by my side.
We go inside and find a booth in the back. He sits facing the door. I understand that is a very wolf thing. You never want to let another wolf sneak up on you. I sit across from him. The waitress brings us menus. I stare at it. “Order what you want.” He tells me.
I feel sick. No werewolves don’t get sick. Being with him makes me nauseous. He looks at the menu, then lays it to the side so he can watch me. That makes me nervous.
“Have you even looked at the menu? They might not have what you want, but they have a pretty good selection.”
“I will have a burger or whatever you’re having.”
When the waitress comes to get our orders, he orders for both of us. He orders two large stakes rare. Then he orders a basket of chicken fingers. No vegetables.
“So, tell me a little about yourself?”
“What is there to tell. I am the only female in my pack that has been born in the last sixty years and am expected to mate with one of them.”
“Do you go to school?”
“Yes. I go to a public school with humans. I have several friends there. I am in the eleventh grade. Obviously turning sixteen soon.”
“Yes, that is pretty obvious. Your scent is very strong. But that is not what attracted me to you. I saw you long before I got close enough to get a good whiff of your scent. It was your eyes that first caught my attention.”
“What do you plan to do with me?”
“That is a very good question. I wanted to get to know you. At least that was my first intentions. Now that you’re here with me I don’t have a clue. I just know that I am fascinated by you. I don’t know what it is, but something about you makes me… horny.”
I look around quickly to see if anyone heard him. Then I look down at my hands in my lap. I am embarrassed. Even if that is what I am feeling.
“Don’t tell me your embarrassed that I am being so forthright? Tell me why you got in my truck if it wasn’t that you felt it too?”
“I was trying to get away from them. I mean my father mostly. No, that isn’t it. I tried to find you yesterday to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“My father was planning on setting a trap for you. He didn’t know I was listening. I overheard him telling one of my brothers that he was going to let me be the bait. That he would have me sit out on the sidewalk alone. Then the pack outside the area, so that when you came to me they would surround you. They plan to kill you. I couldn’t let them kill you. After all, you hadn’t at that time done anything wrong.”
“Have I done something wrong now? Something that made you change your mind?”
“No, I still don’t want them to kill you. If they do, it will be my fault. I shouldn’t have left with you. They won’t stop till they find me. I think anyway. I know for sure if Rufus wins the fights he won’t stop. He has been trying to force me to choose him for a long time. He has plans to hurt me. He doesn’t want me to just be his mate he want’s…”
If she keeps telling me what they want to do to her, I will turn around and kill them all. “Why don’t we not, talk about them. Tell me more about you.”
“There isn’t anything to tell.”
“How does your mother feel about you not choosing your mate from the pack?”
“She died giving birth to me. She had Zeke first, then two minutes later I started trying to come and well they say she was too weak to deliver me. She died and my father cut me from her womb. I guess after having seven pups the eighth one was just too much.”
“You have seven brothers? No sisters if I am right.”
“You are. Only Zeke and I are twins. I should call him. He will be hurting. I can feel him already going crazy trying to find me.”
“You can’t call him. He will tell the others where to find you. I am not ready to let you go.”
“I can block the number so he can’t figure out where we are. Zeke is my other half. I have to tell him that I’m ok.”
“I guess we could block the number. Here tell me the number and I will dial it.” He pulled out his cell and called the number I gave him. I told him Zeke’s cell phone. I didn’t want to talk to the others. Then he handed me the phone. Zeke answered on the first ring.
“Where the hell are you?”
“Nice to hear your voice too. Sorry, Zeke I had to lea
ve. I couldn’t take it. I don’t want to be one of their mates. Zeke, you understand, don’t you?”
“I do, but…” The phone is ripped out of Zeke’s hand.
A very angry voice comes on the line. “Where are you?”
“Rufus?” Damn, I should have known they would all be waiting for me to get a hold of Zeke.
“My mate where are you? Tell me and I will come get you. No hard feelings.”
I hung the phone up and laid it on the table. Max watched me. I know he heard everything that was said. I wanted to call back and talk to Zeke, but I understood he wasn’t alone. He wouldn’t be left alone now either. They would be watching him knowing that our connection would force my hand.
“I take it that wasn’t the way you saw that going?”
Our food arrived a few seconds later. He scarfed his down, I stared at mine. It smelt good. I was just too upset to eat. He seems to be trying to be patient with me. He waited to see if I was going to eat.
“Do you want to take your food with us?”
“Where are we going?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I just wanted to get far away so they wouldn’t find you yet. I wanted to spend time with you. I have never wanted to be with anyone before. I find this new development a challenge. I tried to stay away from you at first, but my curiosity got the better of me.”
I stare at him, wondering if he is telling me the truth. I can’t see him ever having a problem getting the girl. He is very attractive. I would have noticed him anywhere.
“You should try to eat. I don’t know how long before we get a chance to eat again.”
I pick up my fork and knife. I cut the meat up into pieces then I use the fork to move it around my plate. He tells the waitress to bring a to go box. She puts my food in the box and hands him the check. He pays her then stands up.
“Shall we go, my dear.” He waves his hand toward the door. I stand up and lose my balance. So not a wolf thing. He catches me before I hit the floor. He holds me close to him. I stare into his eyes. I see the desire there. It is like a red-hot sun burning in his eyes.
One Princess One Pack One Villain Page 8
