A part of him wanted the female to be Maia, that maybe the shifter just had a rough day and was out of it when he and Brice approached her. But the other part of him didn’t want it to be Maia, because…because he kind of liked the human’s scent.
He also liked the fire in her eyes, and their color. A vivid emerald, a green so pure they were startling. She was small, but she was beautiful. Fiery beneath her purple hair. And her name was Violet—how ironic. Everett wondered if her name really was Violet, or she’d chosen it to go along with her hair color. Or maybe she’d chosen the hair color to go along with her name…
He knew he shouldn’t think about her. She wasn’t his, and she’d never be his. Not with Fletcher. Not while Ivy was still under his thumb. Everett shouldn’t think about Violet while his sister was still in captivity. Violet would…well, she’d meet the same fate Ivy would’ve.
The thought made him the opposite of happy.
Brice had stopped for gas, getting out to pump. Everett sat in his seat, staring at his lap. His hands looked strange, foreign, as if they didn’t belong to him. The things they’d done in order to save Ivy—terrible, terrible things. Would Ivy even respect them after they got her out? Would she hate them for sentencing other women to the same misery?
Probably. But like Brice, Everett wasn’t willing to let Ivy go. They were a family, and they’d do anything for each other.
“So, Violet,” Everett spoke, glancing at her in the back seat. They were in the mountains now, not too far from their destination. The back windows were too tinted; no one would be able to see inside and look at the girl underneath all the rope and duct tape. “Tell me about you.”
Violet gave him a look. The kind that could kill if he wasn’t careful. “Why the hell do you want to know anything about me? You’re handing me over to another guy so you can get paid.”
Brice would not want him to disclose anything to her, but Everett was not like his older brother. With a glance out of the car, he spotted Brice heading toward the station to pay and hopefully grab something to drink; he was parched.
“We’re not getting paid,” Everett spoke quickly. “Well, I mean we get paid, but not that much money. We have to do this, because Fletcher…” He didn’t want to come off sounding weak and pathetic, but that’s what he felt like every time he pictured Ivy in that house, how helpless he and Brice were to save her. To get her out of that mess. “He has our sister.”
Violet stared at him. Did she appraise him in a new light, or did she not care? Strange and pointless as it was, Everett wanted her to care, so he kept going.
“He gave us a list of names and locations, and said once we bring them all in, we can get her back.”
“How did he get her?”
“His wolves attacked our pack. Killed our elders, our fathers. Took the females. He left only a few of us alive, the ones he knew he could use. Our sister is…she’s like us. Fletcher says the price packs would pay for her is high, so…”
“And the others?” Violet asked, her breath caught in her throat. As a human, she probably had no idea how brutal some shifter packs could be. She was lucky to be human…although her luck had run out the moment Everett laid eyes on her.
“Some of them just abandoned their family. Others decided to keep working with him. We…we just want Ivy back.” Everett locked gazes with her, and something inside of him stirred. His wolf? His inner wolf was reacting to Violet almost like she was a shifter. His wolf wanted her.
Something he would never have.
Living with himself was already hard enough. Even if Fletcher gave them another chance, there was no telling they’d ever get Ivy out. Everett and Brice would be sentencing Violet to a horrible fate—and his wolf whined inside when he thought about it.
Violet frowned. “I’m sorry. That’s terrible. I hope when you get your sister back, it was worth it.” She leaned back, her eyes falling to the floor. Her purple hair was a mess in its ponytail, little wisps sticking out here and there, some of the shorter strands held back by small black pins. She smelled, still, human.
Human and tempting all the same.
Why did his wolf feel like this? Why did his wolf want her? She was human. While it was true humans and shifters mated, it wasn’t something he should focus on right now anyway. She would never be his. If they let her go, it would only put Ivy in danger.
Everett didn’t know what to say or what to do. All he knew was that he wanted to make her smile, liven up her doom and gloom mood—even if her heavy emotions were warranted. He wanted to make her feel better, which was stupid, because it was him and his brother who dragged her into this situation in the first place.
“I’m the sorry one,” Everett said. “I’m the one dragging you into this mess. You don’t deserve this. You should be free and happy, like other humans.” Female shifters should be free too, but those were radical thoughts for some male shifters. Too hard for others to comprehend.
Violet smirked at that. “Do you really think humans are all happy and free? We’re not. Some of us are still looked at as lesser. Some of us are still hated by a lot of people. Some of us…aren’t happy.” Her green eyes closed, as if she was blocking out something from her mind.
“If I could, I would change it,” he whispered softly, causing her eyes to snap open and stare at him. “I would help you.”
“Then don’t take me to Fletcher,” she started, then sighed sharply. “But your sister. Ivy. A pretty name.” Violet shrugged as much as she could beneath her restraints. “I understand why you’re doing it, I just…it doesn’t make it right, you know.”
Her words stung, even though they were the truth. Her words practically bled truth, and as Everett glanced to Brice heading toward the car, he sat back in his seat, spirits slumping along with his shoulders.
“That guy was eighty fucking years old in there, the slowest person I’ve ever met,” Brice growled, getting in the car and slamming the door after him.
But Everett was too lost in his own thoughts, too busy overthinking what Violet had said. It wasn’t right. Everyone had a choice. If he knew of any other choices, he would’ve made them, as long as Ivy would be safe. As long as Violet would be safe.
For someone he’d just met, for someone he’d kidnapped, he felt oddly protective of Violet. She wasn’t the first one they’d taken; more like the last, and yet none of the others had ever evoked a similar reaction with his wolf. And the others were shifters. Actual shifters, some of them unclaimed.
What made Violet so special? Why was he drowning in regret?
Everett didn’t know. Turned out, he didn’t know a lot of things, but the one thing he did know was his wolf wanted her.
His wolf wanted her badly.
Chapter Five - Violet
Violet wasn’t sure what to make of the whole situation now. Yes, it was awful their sister was basically imprisoned and used as a bargaining chip against them, but still. She wasn’t going to be thrilled about being handed over to some psycho who sold female shifters like they were objects and not people.
But…she did feel something for them. Violet never had a sister, but she could imagine what it was like. Having someone in her life, always kind and understanding, someone who accepted her with all her flaws included. Maybe she wouldn’t have hated her childhood so much if she’d grown up with someone else. If she’d had a friend, a buddy, someone whom she could’ve shared her misery with.
After Everett had told her about Ivy, Violet found herself appraising both albinos in a new, slightly less insulting light. It was clearer now neither of them enjoyed what they were doing; Everett wore his heart on his sleeve more openly than Brice did. Brice was the kind of man who rarely showed emotion, unless it was the stereotypical manly anger or annoyance.
If she had to choose one, she’d definitely choose Everett.
Not that Violet would ever choose, because she wasn’t into guys. Okay, very rarely was she into guys. Girls were all around nicer to look at, and softer, too
. But seriously—if she was put under knifepoint and forced to choose, she’d choose Everett.
What Violet really wanted to do was have them turn this car around and let them take her home, but it was out of the picture. She couldn’t possibly think these two would ever choose her over their sister. She was a stranger to them. Still…they were bringing the wrong person to this Fletcher guy. He’d be pissed, probably, and Violet doubted he’d give them Ivy for bringing him the wrong person. A human, not even a damn shifter.
What if he sent them back for Maia? Maia was in no state to help or to fight…to do anything, really. Violet didn’t exactly have experience in childbirth, but she’d heard it was a doozy. Painful and all that. Tiring.
No, Maia had to stay out of this.
That left Violet and these two fuckers, and Ivy—not to mention the other females who were currently at the facility, or the breeding grounds, or whatever the hell these shifters were calling it—
God. Listen to her damned thoughts. Female. Breeding. Shifter. Violet was insane. She had to be. Her life was so much less complicated before she knew about the existence of shifters. She felt like pulling her hair out again, but oh yeah, she couldn’t, because she was still tied up like a hostage.
Violet didn’t think of herself a hero, but at this point, what did she have to lose? It wasn’t like she was coming from higher ground here, lowering herself to their level. She was already as low as she could be, practically rubbing cheeks with the ground, and she literally had nothing left to lose. It was all or nothing.
She leaned between Brice and Everett, tossing them each a meaningful glare. Everett’s was a nicer look. “Why don’t we take down Fletcher?”
They both glanced to her and stared at her like she’d suddenly grown a third eye, though Brice’s glance was cut short, since they were currently driving along thin, winding roads with no concrete below. Only dirt. Yes, they were on a dirt road, which probably meant their destination was around here somewhere.
“Look,” she went on when neither man responded, “like you said, he’s going to take me anyway, and since you two fucked up, he isn’t going to give your sister back to you—not yet, anyway.” Violet pretended to overlook the anger seething from Brice; he was upset with Everett for telling her their business, but he’d get over it. Maybe. “So why don’t we all come up with a plan to take him down?”
Brice bared his teeth to the windshield. “I have a plan.”
“Being?”
He shot her a fast glare before returning his blue eyes to the dirt road. Right. His grand plan was handing her over to Fletcher and hoping for the best. Well, he’d be disappointed, wouldn’t he? Not that Violet knew much about Fletcher, but from what it sounded like, he wasn’t a good man. There was no hoping for the best when it came to him.
“So you two are A-Okay with Fletcher continuing his activities? Which, by the way, are very illegal activities. As long as you get your sister back, who gives a shit about the rest of us?” Violet frowned. “Would Ivy even want you to do all of this for her?”
“Don’t you dare say her name,” Brice growled out.
Violet shook her head. “Is that growl supposed to scare me? Buddy, my boss is an alpha, and my other boss is his beta. Or his second, whatever. I’m not scared of you or your stupid growling.”
And she wasn’t. Not really.
She was more scared of Fletcher and what would happen to her if these two didn’t see eye to eye with her.
“You should be,” Brice said, still growling, like a two-year-old who didn’t know when to stop crying. “Because I could tear you apart, Violet.”
She blinked, moving her gaze to Everett, who was busy staring at the both of them as if they were each insane. Maybe they were, in their own way. Violet probably looked ridiculous anyway, being all tied up and still trying to act tough.
“Is he always like this?” Violet asked.
“Not normally,” Everett answered measuredly, tossing a quick look at his brother. “Only when someone he cares about is in danger. He’s actually pretty nice.” He spoke the final two words strangely, as if he’d never once called his brother nice before.
Violet took it with a grain of salt. “We don’t need him. What about you, Everett?” She thought about begging him, but again, her begging would be impeded by the rope and duct tape wound around her body.
Speaking of which, she really had to pee.
But, anyway, she wasn’t the kind of person who begged anyone. She took whatever life threw at her and moved on, even if she wasn’t happy about it. There was no point in lingering, in dwelling on the past.
Meaning, in short, if these assholes didn’t help her, she’d do it herself. She’d try to, at least. Violet knew she couldn’t stand against a shifter based on brawn alone, even with self-defense classes under her belt. Shifters were stronger and faster, but she liked to think she had a hell of a spirit, and she’d fight until she drew no more breath.
Everett took his time in answering, and his answer both shocked her and didn’t surprise her. She’d hoped for the best but expected the worst, so she really shouldn’t have been surprised at all when he said, “I follow my brother.”
Behind the wheel, Brice looked way too haughty.
Violet let out a harsh sigh, sitting back. By herself it was.
They were balls-deep in the Appalachian Mountains now. The trees were large, thick and green, their trunks all gnarled and weathered. The mountains were more like giant hills, nothing compared to the Rockies out west. While Violet wasn’t a mountain person, she found she much preferred the air here. At least it wasn’t perpetually dry, like it was back home.
Home. A place she might not ever return to, thanks to Brice and Everett.
If she spent the rest of her life in a fucking breeding ground for shifters, she’d spend every spare second of her life cursing the brothers’ names. Maybe some curses would stick. Maybe they’d get their comeuppance. After all, if shifters were real, other things had to be real too, right? Like magic and vampires and shit.
She…wasn’t sure whether that was a comforting thought or not. Maybe she just wouldn’t think about it.
“What’s going to happen?” Violet whispered, revealing traces of fear in her tone in spite of herself. She didn’t want these two to know how badly she was freaked; they didn’t seem to care much anyways. Even Everett, who seemed the most sympathetic of the two, could hardly look at her now, after he’d said he would follow his brother.
It was Brice who replied, “I’m going to bring you before Fletcher. I highly suggest you reign it in when you’re in his presence. He’s not afraid to use his hands, or his whip. Be obedient, and I’m sure you’ll last.”
Wow. Cold words. So cruel and callous they washed over her like a blanket of knives. Violet wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Was there a correct response? Everything she thought of to say in that moment involved a whole lot of swearing, which apparently she had to tone back, otherwise Fletcher would whip her.
Like…what the hell?
“I hate you,” Violet muttered. “Both of you.” In fact, as of that moment, she’d never quite hated anyone the same amount as she currently hated both Brice and Everett. They could both suck her dick. Her metaphorical dick, obviously.
A structure came into view ahead of them, a giant metal gate that broke through the forest. As Brice slowed down, allowing the gate to open after he’d pressed something hanging on the car’s dashboard, Violet realized it wasn’t just a gate. It was a fence. Ten feet high, at least one foot thick, all crisscrossing metal and wholly intimidating.
It was a large space, most of the trees cut down inside, though a few of the larger ones still stood, blocking out the sun overhead. Violet spotted a single grand building; it looked like a goddamn mansion.
A mansion. A mansion in the middle of the Appalachians with a huge, surrounding fence.
Just…Violet didn’t know what to think.
It didn’t look like he had much
security. A few guys, standing around. Ten that she could see at the moment. Most were big and burly, letting her know they were all shifters and they could all easily snap her in half.
Didn’t bode well for her future escape attempts.
Brice pulled the car up to the house, and Violet tried her best not to stare. Three stories tall. Bricks and multi-story windows and columns. The works. It looked like a fucking plantation house, taken straight out of the eighteen hundreds. How did someone build a house here, in the middle of nowhere? How did he get electricity to run all the way up here? This was the only house for miles; its driveway was ridiculously long.
Violet waited as Brice turned off the car and got out, Everett soon following. Brice was the one who yanked open the door to the back seat and dragged her out, his fingers holding onto her roughly.
Time to meet Fletcher.
Also time to put on a brave face.
Chapter Six - Brice
Brice held onto Violet’s upper arm with an intense strength. It was not a grip a human could escape from, especially when the human was already tied up and restrained. As they walked up to the mansion’s front doors, up the marble steps, he threw his younger brother a look.
Everett seemed to only have eyes for the human, which he found intensely peculiar. It was obvious they’d done some talking while he’d paid for the gas, but how much? How much bonding was done? Regardless, it was too little, too late for Violet. She was in Fletcher’s hands now.
All Brice wanted was Ivy free. That’s it. It wasn’t too much to ask, because he’d seen Fletcher release a couple of others. Not many, but a few. Enough that he had hoped he would eventually get Ivy out. Maybe not today, maybe not with Violet, but soon.
The inside of Fletcher’s house was like something out of a movie. All fancy draperies, glass chandeliers, carpets that probably cost more than the car outside. It reeked of newness; Brice himself could never live in such a fancy dwelling. He’d much rather live in a tiny shack than have more rooms than he knew what to do with.
Her Wolves: A Reverse Harem Romance Page 3
