“Well, if you mate with my son on the next full moon, there will be no war with Hogsthorpe as there would be no point. Darius could take on his true role as Alpha of the pack and they would be of no threat.”
“Mother.” Darius scolded. “We’ve had one date. One. Please leave any further dating and mating stuff for me to discuss.”
“You’ve slept with her, and Jett hasn’t.” His mother stated clearly. “So once that news reaches the mutt’s ears, which it undoubtedly will, Kim will be in danger, as he’ll want to even the score.”
I dropped my fork. “You mean he might…”
“Attack you? He’s not allowed via pack rules to do that but he could just to spite Darius. However, he could use coercion, threaten other people to make you do his bidding. So the full moon is next Friday and I suggest we make an announcement as soon as possible.”
I slammed my fist onto the table. “This is my life you’re talking about. I get you have beef with Jett and his mother. What Darius’ father did to you was unforgiveable, but I’ve been on one date with your son. You can’t expect me to commit the rest of my life to him after one date.” I leaped up from the table and then I did what I always do when faced with difficult situations. I ran.
* * *
Heading past the rows of caravans I ran until I’d left the park. A bus was coming and I jumped on it, letting it take me to Withernsea centre. I didn’t feel like going home as I expected Darius would turn up there. I really did need to eat now. I was starting to feel faint with the lack of food because I had expended a LOT of energy the night before. It was my day off, and I’d thought after eating I would spend the rest of the day with Darius, getting to know him better—both his body and his mind—but no, here I was again all by myself.
I realised I’d walked up to work. Oh sod my day off, I needed to keep occupied. I unlocked and headed up the back stairs to find myself flung up against the stairwell wall tied in blue webs.
“Oh, it’s you.” My bestie let me back down gently, her eyes changing from a weird blue back to normal.
“What the fuck, Shelley?”
“Kim, when have you ever, EVER, come into work unless you were rostered? So forgive me if I thought we were being broken into.”
“You have me there I suppose.” I pouted.
“Anyway, what are you doing here?”
I climbed up the rest of the stairs. “Do you think I could actually get past the stairs and then I might tell you.”
I followed her into her office and took a seat. “I’m sorry to disturb you at work but I didn’t want to go straight home.”
“What’s wrong?” Shelley walked up to me and placed a hand on my arm.
“It’s Darius.”
“Oh, what’s happened now?”
“It’s the pressure. I didn’t know I’d set off this pack war thing. Then I find out Jett is Darius’ half-brother, and now his mother wants me to mate him on the next full moon in a week’s time!”
“Steady on there, rewind. Jett is what? Whose mother? Or is Jett’s mother also Darius’ mother? I’m lost.”
I went through everything bringing my best friend up to date.
“Flipping eck, Kim, you don’t half know how to fuck up spectacularly.”
“I know. So now what do I do about it?”
“As the current head of Withernsea, I’m going to ask for a meeting with Edon and Jett. They are the alphas of the pack. I need to discuss the situation and ask for it to be taken into account that you are not pack, and were not aware of pack rules and therefore events should be excluded, unless you commit to them with full knowledge.”
“You’d do that?”
“I would think it’s part of my duties. Even though you are my best friend, you are also a Withernsea resident and you are being held hostage to mate with a were shifter in order to avoid the repercussions from another shifter. I think in this day and age we should be able to choose our own partner, not be tricked into it or forced into it by arcane rules.”
Shelley took out a bottle of blood, drank it down, and then followed it straight with another.
I sat there with my mouth agog.
She wiped her mouth. “As you can see, my thirst is getting worse. Theo and I are proposing that I go to the Caves soon to be turned. I have an appointment there tomorrow for assessment. That’s one of the things I was doing here today, seeing if I could get through what I need to do in case I can’t make it into work next week.”
“Tell me what I can do to help.” I said. “I could do with my mind taking off things.”
We worked steadily all afternoon. Shelley had brought in a hamper full of food that Theo had supplied and insisted she take with her to satisfy any hunger she had so I had had plenty to eat. I was ready for a coffee from Jax’s though, so I decided that before I went home, I’d treat myself and get a coffee and a doughnut.
“Thanks for everything this afternoon, Kim. I’m hoping to be in this week but it depends what they say at the Caves tomorrow.”
“Well, keep me posted. I worry about you, you know? My best friend, the half-wyvern/half-witch, soon to be mixed with vampire. When I first met you at that dating event, I didn’t realise what a weirdo I was getting involved with.”
Shelley laughed. “There’s a way to go before we get as weird as some of that lot! Anyway, you can talk. You might yet become part-wolf.”
“I really do like Darius, you know?” I told her. “But I don’t like being rushed into things. This is potentially my first serious relationship. I can’t cope with the pressure. I just can’t.”
“There shouldn’t be any pressure. Leave it with me. If I end up being turned then my dad can step back in and help sort everything out. He’d probably love that, lording it over the wolves.”
Me and my bestie hugged each other.
“Take care of you and that baby first and foremost. I’ll manage to get myself out of the mess I’m in. It’s not like I haven’t had practice.”
I said goodbye and made my way down to Jax’s.
The best thing about a close friend running a coffee shop was that even if the sign outside said closed you could knock on the door and be let in, and if there was anything left in the baked goods section you got them for free.
Seth let me in.
“Hey, Seth. Where’s Jax?”
“I’m in the back, babes. Knee deep in invoices.” A voice shouted out.
“Can I get a coffee to go, Seth, please?”
“Sure thing.”
“Pack her a selection of cookies and cake, Seth, if you don’t mind.”
“Has she been this bossy with you all day?” I asked.
“Worse.” Seth winked. We both knew Jax was lovely. “Sit down, I’ll bring everything over.”
I waited until my coffee was prepared and a cardboard box filled with treats. Seth walked over to the table and hovered.
“Kim, I need to apologise for my behaviour last night. I’d had a bit to drink, and well, I got a little jealous seeing you with Darius. I’m really ashamed of myself now. Don't worry, I totally get you have me in the ‘friend zone’.”
“No worries, Seth.”
“Look, on Monday, can you get me some dates organised? I need to get myself back out there. Truth is, you remind me of my ex-wife, and I guess I’m still not fully over her. Maybe if I have some dates with other people, I can finally move on.”
“I’ll get you all sorted. Thanks for apologising, but there’s no need. We all do stupid things when we’ve had a few too many. Any idea why Lucy was being weird with me?”
“Lucy’s weird with everyone isn’t she? She keeps telling me she’s my guardian angel and sometimes follows me around.”
“Well that’s true enough.” I took a taste of my delicious coffee and then I stood and picked up that and my bag of goodies. “Ah, bliss. Tonight it’s just going to be me and my coffee and cake.”
Seth stood up. “It’s time for me to leave too. You not seeing Darius tonight
then?”
“No.” I didn’t elaborate. It was none of his business.
“I’m off, Jax.” Seth yelled.
Jax came out front. “Sorry, I’m being rude. I’ll catch you Monday, Kim. First coffee on the house because of my lack of manners. Seth, thanks once again for everything. See you Monday too.”
Seth saluted her then turned to me. “Right, seeing as I pass your house to get to mine, do you want a lift?”
“Yeah, that would be great. If you don’t mind.” I was tired after all my late night shenanigans. Maybe the coffee would wake me enough to cook a pizza.
I sat in Seth’s BMW and sunk into the seat. After having a nice big taste of it, I placed my coffee in the drink holder and put my bag of goodies on the back seat. God this was so much better than catching the bus. After a minute I felt my bum becoming warm and felt at the seat beneath me.
“Heated seats.” Seth laughed.
“Jesus, Seth, I thought my arse had gone into the menopause.”
The heat soaked into my back too and as the events of the evening took their toll. I closed my eyes.
* * *
When I woke up I did that ‘where am I?’ thing for a minute and then I remembered I was in Seth’s car. I turned to him. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. How long was I out?”
But while I asked the question I was staring out of the window trying to get my groggy, confused mind to work out where I was because it wasn’t at my house. I could feel sleep trying to pull me back under.
“What’s happening? Where are we, Seth? Just take me home will you?”
“Sorry, Kim. I’m afraid I owed a debt and delivering you was my payment. You’ll wake up soon. I only put a small dose of sedative in your coffee.”
“Wh- what are you talking about?”
My passenger car door opened, and I turned and looked into the face of Jett Conall.
“Well, hello there, Kim. You’ll have to forgive the way I got you here but I couldn’t see you coming willingly. Now the sedative is going to have made you all kinds of weak, so me and Seth here are going to help you into the building.”
My eyes went wide.
“I can promise you I’ve not brought you here to harm you. Just to talk to you. But please don’t try anything silly because I’d hate to have to change my stance on violence towards women.” Jett smiled but rather than create warmth it chilled me to the bone.
“What do you want? Just take me home, Jett. This is stupid.”
“I’m only taking you home once we’ve had a little chat. And as for stupid. Well the only one of us being stupid here was you when you slept with my brother.” He spat the word brother out like it pained him to say it. “Now he’s in front and I don’t like that, Kim. I don’t like that in our current challenge he is winning.”
“He’s not winning. I’m not a chess piece, ready to knock over, you know. I’m a human being.”
“Yes, you are.” He said. “So utterly human, but not for long, hey, Kim? Because soon you will be my wife, and a wolf.”
My mouth dropped open, but he held up a hand before I could speak.
“I suggest you keep that pretty mouth quiet for now, while we get you inside. Otherwise just like that chess piece you spoke of, I will knock you over.” He made a fist of his hand, leaving even a half-awake me under no illusion as to what he meant.
“So are you coming quietly?” He said.
I nodded and undid my seatbelt.
I was in so much trouble.
Chapter Sixteen
Kim
As I tried to get out the car, I looked at my surroundings. We were in an Industrial estate. I tried to find the name of it but all I saw from that moment on was Seth’s butt as he carried me over his shoulder and into one of the buildings. Inside I was taken into an office area where my bag and phone were taken away from me before I was lowered onto a ratty old sofa. I was starting to come around and did my best to glare at Seth and Jett. Seth sat at my side obviously to stop me should I attempt to get up, and Jett carried a chair in front of me. I watched as he sat himself down, a smug smile on his face.
“Kidnap. Really, Jett? You can’t get dates the old-fashioned way now, you have to have us bundled into cars?”
“Actually you got in the car willingly.” Seth said.
“To be given a lift home!” I yelled. “Now take me back.”
“You’re not going anywhere right now, Kim, so you might as well get comfy.”
I gave Jett the side-eye. “I’m telling you now, and you.” I glared at Seth, “you came between me and my coffee and I don’t know when, but at some point you will both pay.”
Jett guffawed. “Oh you’re going to make a brilliant wife. I’ll need to hone that temper so it's only in the bedroom though. I shall look forward to our fireworks.”
“If I get my way, I shall stick a roman candle right up your arse, and then I’ll give away wolf kebabs to anyone passing.”
Jett threw a scarf at Seth. “Tie her mouth with that will you? It’s time for her to start listening.”
I shot up from the sofa but Seth was a lot stronger than me and between him and Jett my hands were tied behind my back with one scarf and then another was fastened around my head and over my mouth.
I was pushed back onto the sofa. I could feel my wrists already going dead with the tightness of the scarf and I tried to move the one across my mouth by moving my lips but it was no use.
Finally I sat still and subdued. My heart thudded as I realised I was now powerless and in a warehouse with two strong burly men.
“Mmmm. I smell your fear. Good, maybe now we can get somewhere. So, now I have you compliant in front of me, let me explain what is going to happen. Firstly, I am going to cook for you and you will eat it and enjoy it. I have to demonstrate my ability to care for you and our cubs and although my wife is the one who will be in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant, I will follow the rules to be equal to my enemy.”
I could still glare at him so I did my best evil eye.
“And you will be pregnant. Continually. Because it is my intention to breed a whole new Conall clan. My sons will be strong and will rule Withernsea.”
I wanted to say that Shelley would never stand for that, but I still had the stupid scarves on. It was becoming plainer to me that Jett was almost feral. Whereas Darius was a man with an element of wolf; with Jett it was almost the reverse. His wolf ruled him. He barely seemed human at all.
“Now, Seth very kindly let me know that he overheard that your dear best friend, Shelley, is pregnant. Pregnant with the forthcoming ruler of Withernsea and well, I shall want to make sure my clan work very well alongside her child. So to that end this is what is going to happen, Kim. You will be released from here, later, when I feel like letting you go and feel I can trust you, and you will tell everyone that you are rejecting Darius and that on the full moon this following Friday you shall become my wife. I shall prepare the announcement and the ceremony. If you fail to do this, I will make sure everyone knows about Shelley’s secret pregnancy and I will raise a bounty on her head so that she’s too busy fending off death threats to help you.”
My eyes went wide.
“Oh good, it looks like this is being understood.”
He was insane. I tried to stand up but Seth just pushed me back down. Tears of frustration began to roll down my face.
“Look, she’s so deliriously happy, she’s crying.” Jett laughed.
Jett was a stunning looking man with his hazel eyes and dark hair, and yet while he basked in his victory plans he looked cruel and it gave an ugliness to his appearance.
“So, here’s what’s going to happen. We will leave you here for a while to get used to the fact you’re at my mercy, and then I’m going to make you something to eat, and I suggest you eat it all up like a good girl, because I don’t think you’ll like the consequences if you don’t. Now I’m not into rape, I just want what is mine fair and square and so even though I can smell that
dog has had his hands all over you and sullied you with his seed, I will be the bigger person and let you go home, once you’ve accepted our engagement. After we mate at the full moon, you will become mine anyway once I’ve bitten you.”
He stretched his arms above his head. “So that’s what’s going to happen, unless of course you start trying to play silly buggers, and I really suggest you don’t.” He tilted his head at me. “Because my bounty-on-Shelley’s-head post is ready to be sent. I just have to press the button.”
He laughed at me.
“Okay, Seth. Let’s leave her in here.” He looked at his watch. “It’s eight pm now. I’ll come back in the morning at eight am. See how amenable to my plan she is after twelve hours of no food or drink. You sit in the security office and watch her on the monitor from there. Don’t go in, she’s a clever lady. She’ll try to get free.”
And with that he walked out of the room. Seth following behind him. The door slammed, plunging me into total darkness and that was me stuck.
I laid back on the sofa for a moment trying not to let the panic seep into me. The last thing I needed to do was have a panic attack or for me to attempt something stupid and fall and hurt myself. As my eyes became accustomed to the darkness, I looked around the room, seeing if there was anything I could use to get my hands free. If Seth caught me, then of course I would have to face him but I had to try. I got myself off the sofa and walked around to the edge of the desk and backed my wrists and the material against the corner and tried to rub through it, but it didn’t work.
I guessed that Seth was watching me, probably laughing at my vain attempts to get free. Eventually I gave up and went back to the sofa. I’d just have to try to sleep away the hours until they came to me again. I was cold, hungry, and knew at some point I would need to pee. The saddest thing of all was that I didn’t know when anyone would actually realise I was missing. I mean would they? Shelley had said see you Monday and her mind was on her appointment with the Caves. Same with Jax, she wouldn’t know until Monday if I failed to turn up. Darius might try to contact me, I suppose, but it couldn’t be taken for granted. My family certainly wouldn’t care. That was one thing about a pack. A big group like that, they looked out for each other. I bet they’d notice if someone went missing.
The Complete Collection: Supernatural Dating Agency Books 1-6 Page 35
