Pack Wars Complete Box Set: Paranormal Menage Werewolf Military Heroes

by Vella Day

  She grabbed a pair of pants and a modest top then stepped to the chest of drawers, hoping to find underwear. Yes! Her cheeks heated as she pictured them buying the lingerie. Maybe a female operative had handled that chore. She pulled out hip-hugging panties and a bra her exact size. Wow.

  Shower time!

  She rushed into the bathroom and once more stopped. A large walk-in shower took up the back wall, and the jetted tub in the middle of the room was something she dreamed of owning one day. On the countertop sat some grocery store brand blush and lipstick, along with a toothbrush, toothpaste and a new razor. Who were these guys and what did they really want?

  Enjoy it.

  She turned on the shower and locked the door before she undressed. Although she’d never wear this tawdry outfit again, perhaps someone more needy could use it. Her thoughts raced to Barbie. Poor girl. Elena had no idea if either of her cage-mates was sold. If they had been, she hoped they were as lucky as her.

  The shampoo and conditioner on the shower shelf were a brand she’d only seen in upscale department stores, and the bar soap smelled of mint and lemons. Yum.

  As soon as she stepped into the shower and the warm water blasted her face, her body relaxed. Don’t get used to this. Why not? The men seemed to want her to feel at home. After two weeks of imprisonment, right now that was exactly what she was going to do.

  She scrubbed her face, and as she rubbed the bar of soap over her body, lurid thoughts skated through her mind. Were the men in the living room talking about how they’d like to touch her or were they making plans to send her on her way?

  Dirk, while quiet, had brushed against her a few times, almost as if he wanted to test whether she’d be receptive to him. She was attracted to both men, and that wouldn’t do. It didn’t matter. In a few days, she wouldn’t see them again.

  Her body sagged. What’s wrong with me? Those days of confinement must have messed with her morals. Or maybe being tossed in a cage and then threatened had made her realize that life could be cut short at any time. Enjoying the moment needed to be her new philosophy.

  After washing her hair and body, she turned off the water and towel dried. She drew on her new outfit and checked herself out in the mirror. Except for hair that curled every which way, she looked like herself and not some floozy. She opened the door to the bedroom, and the rich aroma of tomato sauce permeated her room. Her mouth watered.

  Shoes? She checked the closet but found none. Well, they couldn’t think of everything. She didn’t relish walking around in four-inch heels. What the heck. Going barefoot never hurt anyone.

  Elena headed down the hall. She heard her name and slowed, but couldn’t make out what they said. She entered the living room. Dirk was stirring something on the stove, and Clay was emptying vegetables into a bowl on the center island.

  “Good timing.” Clay’s eyes widened. “I see the clothes fit you. You look good.”

  She wasn’t used to getting compliments, but maybe it was because she’d lost some weight while imprisoned. “Thank you. They’re perfect.” She smoothed her hands down her shirt and over her hips.

  “Have a seat while we serve dinner.”

  “Can I help?” When she’d visited her big family in Costa Rica last year, there were at least four people running around trying to get the food out for the hoard of relatives.

  “We’re good.”

  She couldn’t exactly insist. Two beers and one glass of water were already at the table so it was easy to tell where they wanted her to sit. A ton of questions raced through her mind about her situation, but she figured they would let her know when they saw fit.

  She sipped her water and watched the men. Clay gave Dirk directions, and his hands tightened as if he didn’t like it when Clay took control. Interesting. She’d pictured Dirk as the one who took what he wanted. These men intrigued her and kept surprising her in good ways.

  They brought over spaghetti with meatballs, a vegetable medley, a green tossed salad, and garlic bread to the table. It looked divine. “Do you always eat like this?”

  Clay shrugged. “More or less depending on whether we have time to cook.”

  Dirk shot him a glance. “We? I cook. You pour.”

  She always thought macho men only knew how to microwave frozen food. “I’m impressed, whoever made the food.”

  Clay smiled and Dirk’s lips softened.

  “Elena,” Clay said, almost whispering. “I know you’re in a difficult situation, but before you insist on leaving, we need to explain a few things to you.” He handed her the bowl of veggies, and she scooped a spoonful on her plate.

  Their solemn tone dashed her high. For those few minutes while she watched them work their magic in the kitchen, she’d remembered how important family was and how much she missed them. “Okay.”

  “The men who took you are not ordinary men.”

  She placed her hands on her lap and wove her fingers together. “I’ve been brought up to believe most people are good at heart.”

  “That’s not quite what we meant.”

  Dirk’s brows furrowed as he turned to Clay. She caught the small shake of his head. Clay faced Dirk. “We have to. She’ll find out sooner or later.”

  They acted as if she wasn’t there. “You can tell me.”

  “Once we do, will you hear us out?”

  “Yes.” After what she’d been through these last few weeks, she could handle anything.

  “Harvey Couch and the men who took you are werewolves.”

  While their demeanor appeared about as serious as it could get, the idea was so preposterous she dropped her head back and laughed. The pent-up fear and frustration from this whole ordeal just bubbled out, and it was only when she couldn’t get enough air that she calmed.

  Tears brimmed on her lids, and she wiped them away. Neither man smiled. Her heart hitched. “You were kidding, right?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Clay said.

  She failed to comprehend this concept. “There’s no such thing as a werewolf.” Moisture pooled under her arms.

  “Do you know that for sure?”

  She hesitated. “No.” She had no proof either way, but if they existed, the world would know about them. Right?

  Dirk pushed back his chair and came over to her side of the table. He swiveled the seat next to hers, placed it backward, and straddled the seat facing her. “That’s not the only part we need you to understand.”

  There was more? He’d blown away her reality and now wanted her to accept something else. “What it is?”

  “Clay and I are werewolves, too, but we’re the good kind.”

  She pushed back her chair. This couldn’t be true. Stay calm. Growing up, her cousins always played practical jokes on her. She wasn’t good at realizing it until too late. “Show me.” She swallowed hard.

  Dirk glanced at Clay. Their mouths twitched and their brows rose and lowered as if they could communicate silently. What she wouldn’t give to have that talent.

  Clay walked to the middle of the living room. “Please don’t freak out by what I’m about to do.”

  This had to be some parlor joke to lighten the mood. She inhaled slowly to steady her nerves. Werewolves indeed. To think they had her questioning her core beliefs. “Are you going to turn into a wolf right before my eyes?” She didn’t know whether to smile or be horribly afraid.

  “Yes.”

  She glanced behind at Dirk, but his lips were pressed together as if he didn’t approve. “Let me see you do it.”

  Dirk placed his palms on her shoulders but didn’t squeeze. A quick tremor of fear raced down her body, but she dismissed it immediately. When she focused on Clay, her vision blurred, and he appeared to spin. She rubbed her eyes, and when she lowered her hands, things like arms, legs, and fur bundled together. She blinked a few times and out of nowhere, a wolf appeared.

  She screamed, and as she tried to stand Dirk pressed on her shoulders. She slapped her hands over her eyes and gulped in air. The wor
ld as she knew it had just gone dark.

  Chapter Four

  Damn, damn, damn. Dirk never should have let Clay shift in front of her. It was too soon. Their poor mate had not even recovered from all that had happened to her. He pulled Elena up and held her tight. Her sobs were like daggers piercing his heart. Thankfully, she didn’t pull away.

  As her back heaved, his thoughts shot to when he was six and his mother had held him like this saying his dad would never be coming home again.

  He rubbed her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. Look.” He turned her. “Clay is back to being Clay.”

  Elena lifted her head and hiccupped. “Clay?”

  “Yes, sugar. It’s me.”

  “How did you do that?”

  Clay didn’t come near. Instead, he sat back in his chair and poured the meat sauce over the pile of spaghetti as if he’d done nothing unusual. Dirk hoped his friend’s casual actions would calm her.

  She sat down and clasped Dirk’s hand. As soon as their fingers touched, his fear disappeared. Maybe she would accept them.

  “Drink some water,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I want some answers.”

  He appreciated the strength in her tone. They owed her that much. To him, reassuring her they didn’t intend to cause her any harm was the primary task.

  He glanced up at Clay. Let me talk.

  Clay’s brows rose. Go ahead.

  Dirk picked up the hand she’d placed in his and kissed her palm. “There is something else you need to know about us.”

  She licked her lips.

  He doubted she had any clue what that did to him.

  “How can there be more?” Her voice cracked.

  This wasn’t going to be easy. “It’s about werewolves in general.”

  “You like to eat women who wear red?”

  His chest caved. “Sweetheart, if you can make light of the situation after what you’ve seen, I know everything will work out.”

  She sniffled. “Go on.”

  He thought he caught a smile. “Werewolves have this thing inside them—I’m not sure what it’s called—but when they see the woman that’s meant to be theirs forever, they know it.”

  She searched his eyes, but his comment didn’t seem to register. “Meaning what?”

  He told her what happened physically when they met their mate. “I’m twenty-nine years old and I’ve never had that kind of reaction until I stepped in the room with you.”

  She glanced at Clay. “Are you saying I’m your mate?”

  “Yes. Clay and me both.” His gut twisted as he awaited her response.

  She slipped her hand from his, stood and walked over to the kitchen island, her movements jerky. She faced them. “I’m a good girl.” Her bottom lip trembled and she wove her fingers together.

  Dirk wanted to grab her and hold her. Was she upset by their werewolf status or that both of them wanted her? “We know.” Or maybe it was the idea of having sex that troubled her.

  Clay twisted around in his seat. “Elena, we would never do anything you wouldn’t want.”

  She nibbled on half of her bottom lip, and Dirk looked away from the tempting sight.

  “I’m really confused and overwhelmed.”

  Dirk slammed a hand on the table and she jumped. “I’m sorry.” He hadn’t meant to hit the table so hard. “We’re telling you all of this so you don’t think we don’t trust you with the truth.”

  Clay held out his hand. “Please come, sit. We have a lot more to tell you.”

  She rocked back and forth looking like they’d sprayed her with a round of bullets. “More?”

  “It’s about your abduction.”

  Her shoulders sagged and she slowly eased past Clay and sat in her seat. “What about my abduction?” Her voice sounded stronger.

  Dirk nodded to her plate. “Eat first. You’ll need your strength.” Both he and Clay dug in and hoped she’d follow.

  For the next few minutes, all three finished their meal in silence. Dirk composed his thoughts and set down his fork. “Werewolves have a lot of unique characteristics.”

  “Is this about my abduction?”

  “In a way. You need some background information first.”

  “Okay.” She’d taken a moment before responding. “Like what?”

  “One is that we can read each other’s thoughts when they are directed at each other.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You know what I’m thinking?”

  “No, sweetheart. Not your thoughts. It has to be between werewolves. It’s like talking, only it’s quiet.”

  “Oh.”

  Clay put down his silverware. “Are you ready to learn what we do for a living?”

  She finished her glass of water. Dirk didn’t like how her hand shook. She nodded.

  “Dirk and I work for an organization called the Pack.”

  “Because they’re werewolves, too?”

  Clay smiled. “Yes. You catch on fast.” He drank his beer. “We’ve been aware of Harvey Couch’s connection to human trafficking for months but hadn’t made much traction until he lost his life in a skirmish over dealing drugs.”

  She clamped a hand over her mouth. “How could I not have known he was into drugs?”

  “Many were fooled. As soon as he died, we went back into your office and confiscated your computer.” He held up a finger. “Or rather the one you used at the office.”

  “There was no sensitive information on there.”

  “To you, maybe.”

  She shook her head. “I was just a secretary who processed applications for au pairs and paired them with families needing nannies.”

  “We gave the computer to one of our experts at our headquarters, and he was able to piece together a pattern of girls applying for those jobs with those reported missing from Europe.”

  She slid down in her seat. “You mean he lured the girls over to the US and then kidnapped them?”

  Dirk wanted to smooth the worry lines, but if he moved too fast, she’d resist. Her potential reaction made him ache even more.

  “Yes,” Dirk answered. “We also found a link to his appointments on the Cloud.”

  Her brows pinched. “What good could they do now that he’s dead?”

  “It’s who they were with that interested us.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment. “What does this mean to me? Are you thinking these men who sold me might want me back because I might know something?”

  While her words came out slowly, Dirk was impressed with her calm appraisal of the situation.

  Clay leaned forward. “It’s possible. That’s why we’d like you to stay here a while.”

  She glanced at Dirk and when their eyes met, the connection was so strong his heart nearly burst. He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’d like you to.”

  She had no place of her own. They’d spoken with her neighbors who said as soon as she returned from her visit with her family, she’d be looking for a new rental. She’d stored all of her furniture at a local facility.

  “I guess I could for a little while.”

  Relief filled him.

  Elena edged toward him. “Could you do me a favor?”

  “Anything, sweetheart.”

  “Could you look for Cheryl Johnson?” She told them about her cage-mate. “A third girl who was rather nasty to us was there for a short while, too, and I don’t want to see any harm done to anyone. Her name was Barbie Lassitor.”

  Dirk lifted her hand. “We’ll try.”

  He and Clay cleaned up while Elena leaned against the center island. They discussed what they knew about Couch’s organization, but Elena wasn’t able to add much. She yawned and her eyelids looked heavy.

  Dirk didn’t want her exhausted. Tomorrow would be a long day. “Are you ready for bed?” She stilled. Damn. Why couldn’t he think before he spoke? “Alone. We won’t bother you.”

  He figured she would be happy, but she sucked in her cheeks. “Do you think I could stay i
n your room? I don’t want to be alone.”

  Help me, Clay.

  * * *

  Dirk’s eyes turned a pretty shade of amber. Okay, so she probably shouldn’t have asked to stay with him, but after what happened, Elena feared she’d have nightmares if she slept by herself. She never would have asked had they not proclaimed she was their mate. She might not be ready to address the concept of being with two men at one time, but Dirk intrigued her. His gentleness spoke to who she was on the inside. Maybe she was lying to herself, but she had this sense that this was where she should be right now.

  After she entered her room, she looked for some pajamas but found nothing that would work other than a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. That would have to do. Since both men said they’d head to bed later, she had no idea which bedroom was Dirk’s. She decided to stay in her room and hope he came to her. She’d offered, but he hadn’t responded. That should tell her something.

  The little voice in her head, that seconds ago had urged her forward, now said it was wrong to be with a man before marriage. The little voice apparently had forgotten about those weeks in the cage.

  I only want to snuggle and be held.

  Liar.

  She lived in the twenty-first century. Sex was everywhere. She’d been tempted before but never like this. Being near them made her skin sensitive to their touch. When Dirk ran his gaze over her body, her pulse rose and moisture seeped between her legs. Ever since she turned eighteen, she’d wanted to explore her sexuality but her mother and father had harped on it being wrong. In her mind, it was just a matter of timing. Sooner or later she would be married. If she were to spend the rest of her life with a man, wouldn’t it be wise to see if they were compatible in bed before the final marriage decree? Whether they had sex right before the ceremony or shortly thereafter, did it matter?

  Her friends were right. She was the queen of rationalizing.

  After she brushed her teeth and washed up, she crawled into bed. She turned off the light and the bars of the cage materialized. Instinctively, she curled into a fetal position. A whimper sounded. Had she cried out? Enough.