by Kimber White
“Is this a private party, or can anyone join?” he said.
Chapter Five
Kane rose slowly, squaring his shoulders, and a long, sustained growl rumbled through him. The rest of the pack came out of the cabin and flanked Kane. All except for Christian, still in his wolf; he went to Cole and began sniffing his brother. Still ghostly gray, Cole managed to lift a hand and smooth back Christian’s ears.
“Alec Martel?” Kane asked through gritted teeth. “You lost?”
Alec. The white wolf’s name was Alec. I hadn’t wanted him to tell me last night for fear that Kane would get it out of me somehow and make me betray him. Heat shot through me at the sound of it. Who was he?
Alec kept that sexy smirk on his face and stepped forward. He stretched out his hand and offered it to Cole. Such a subtle gesture. An act of kindness. But also an open act of defiance and even disrespect to Kane’s authority. Whoever Alec was, he wasn’t here to make friends.
For the second time today, Cole acted without thinking. He reached up and took Alec’s hand then rose on unsteady legs. Christian stayed at his side. Kane hadn’t released him yet, so he couldn’t shift. But, he stood with his tail up and his back straight. Cole leaned on him for balance.
“Let’s just say I was in the neighborhood,” Alec said. “Seemed rude of me not to stop by and see you, Kane. We barely had a chance to talk the last time I saw you.”
Kane made a quick jerk with his chin toward Cole and Christian. Clearly, he wanted them out of sight.
“Is there anything going on I can help you with?” Alec said. “Your one man seems a little shook up. And your other man seems to be having some trouble shifting.”
“My pack is none of your business,” Kane said, struggling to keep his temper down. “And this isn’t a good time for visitors. Especially ones who don’t call ahead. You’re lucky things didn’t get out of hand before I realized who you were, Alec. That kind of thing is pretty risky, don’t you think? You could have lost your head over it.”
Alec barely reacted. He just tilted his head slightly to the side and leaned back against the hood of his car, hooking his thumbs through his belt loops.
“Sebastian’s worried about you. I’m not going to lie. You haven’t been to a board meeting in months. That’s not good for business. And Pat says she hasn’t seen you around the Bonner farm for a hell of a long time either. That’s the kind of thing that makes her worry.”
Kane shot a look back toward me. He flicked his hand backward and Wade nodded. He’d transmitted some message to him. Wade turned and shot me a hard look. He came and whispered low, his tone threatening. “Head back to your cabin and stay there. Kane will come for you later.”
None of it escaped Alec’s notice. My heart pounded in my chest. He could make trouble for me. But, he kept his face even, showing no signs of recognition in front of the others. His eyes flashed just for an instant before he turned his attention back to Kane. If he told Kane he’d seen me out by the water last night, God knows what Kane would do. For now, though, Alec seemed content to keep our secret.
Warmth flared through me as I looked at him. He was new. He was different. And, for the moment, he didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by Kane. It had been months since I’d been around anyone like that. I wished I could talk to him alone, just for a few minutes. If he were from Wild Lake, he’d have news about things happening outside Kane’s compound.
“Let’s go,” Wade said, his voice a menacing simmer near my ears. His fingers curled around my arm. “We’re discussing pack business that doesn’t concern you. Time for you to leave.”
Again, Alec’s eyes flicked toward me then narrowed as he saw Wade’s hands on me. A muscle twitched near his jaw, but he betrayed no other reaction to what he saw.
“I don’t answer to Sebastian,” Kane said, his voice barely more than a hiss.
I dragged my feet a little as Wade nudged me forward. That he and Kane wanted me out of the mix so fast made me curious as hell as to why. What didn’t they want me to hear? Or was it just the penetrating glance Alec gave me?
“Aw, come on, Kane,” Alec said, unfazed by the obvious menace beneath Kane’s tone. “Wild Lake belongs to all of us. That’s the deal. When you isolate yourself in one corner of it, it looks bad. Makes us start feeling like you don’t want to be friends anymore. That hurts our feelings, Kane.”
If Kane’s voice dripped with hate, Alec’s dripped with sarcasm. He spun a blade of grass between his fingertips. I couldn’t stop staring. Even his hands were sexy, with long fingers and tapered nails. And I hated myself a little for even thinking it. It’s exactly the kind of thing that got me into trouble with Kane in the first place. Whoever Alec Martel was, he was all werewolf, just like Kane. Just because he seemed to despise Kane didn’t mean he’d be any kind of ally to me. Still, I wanted desperately to hear more of what he had to say.
Wade shoved me forward but blocked the motion with his own body. Alec couldn’t see. I stumbled but kept my balance. Heart pounding, I put one foot in front of the other until we reached the threshold of my cabin just around the corner.
I’d hoped that would be the end of it. That Wade would go back to the little pow wow at the center of the compound and leave me alone. Maybe then I could still hear dribs and drabs of what Kane and Alec talked about. But Wade wouldn’t have it. He closed the door behind him and pulled a chair up the wall next to it. He sat down and crossed his arms, staring at me through eyelids narrowed to slits.
“Just where do you think I’m going to go, Wade?” Some of Alec’s and Cole’s defiance rubbed off on me a little. “I didn’t invite you to stay, anyway.”
“You know, one of these days, Kane’s going to realize you’re not worth all this trouble.”
I wouldn’t take his bait. Whenever Wade had me alone, he’d say things like this. He wanted me to believe I was worthless. The truth was, I think it bothered him that since Kane had brought me here, Wade had far less of a say in pack matters.
“Lucky for me, today’s not that day, huh?” I sank down on the edge of the bed and crossed my arms in front of me. With Wade here, I couldn’t do anything but wait. I wanted desperately to hear what was happening out there.
Wade shook his head and raked his eyes over me. He drew his lustful gaze up and down, and his wolf eyes flashed. A sick pit formed in my stomach, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of reacting more than that. We both knew that Wade couldn’t touch me unless Kane gave him permission. And that was never going to happen. At least not today.
“So, it sounds like you’re in trouble with the big dog,” I said, pointing with my thumb toward the east where the rest of the pack still was.
“Alec Martel?” Wade shook his head and huffed. I realized in an instant that this might be even better than trying to eavesdrop through the window. Wade was big, dangerous, and loyal to Kane. But, he was also sort of a dumbass. If I played it just right and goaded him enough, he’d probably tell me everything I wanted to know.
“He’s no fucking big dog,” Wade said. “He’s Sebastian Lanier’s lackey.”
I bit my lip to stifle the obvious retort. You mean just like you are for Kane? Sebastian Lanier. The name rang a bell. If memory served, he was one of the Alphas who controlled pack lands west of here. So Alec must belong to his pack. That seemed strange to me. I surely couldn’t sense these things as well as a shifter could, but Alec felt . . . Alpha to me. He had that commanding air about him. Like no matter who you were, your head would turn when he walked into a room. It had nothing to do with his looks, but rather the way he carried himself.
“So why would Sebastian send Alec down here? Is there some trouble in Wild Lake you need to know about?”
Wade shrugged. “Nothing we can’t handle, princess. Don’t you worry. Whatever it is, Kane will have that asshole run out of here before too long.”
“You think so? Mr. uh . . . Martel, is it? He didn’t seem like he was in too big a hurry to leave. Plus, isn�
��t it customary for you to offer to hunt with other pack members when they come to visit? I mean, I’m no expert, but it would seem like a pretty big slight if Kane just chased him off. Very bad form.”
“What do you know about it? You’re just a bear whore.”
That got an actual laugh out of me. “That’s not even a thing, Wade. Don’t hurt yourself.”
He kept his arms crossed and glowered at me. “No. It’s what you are. I trust Kane, but I don’t see it. You’re not even a shifter. You’re just . . . ordinary. You must be such a disappointment to your father.”
Rage shot through me like acid. Wade wasn’t smart enough to know how to play me. But, he’d just taken a lucky shot. He was smart enough to realize it. His lips curled into a sneer. He leaned back in his chair and hooked his hands behind his head. “All that werebear DNA coursing through your veins and you can’t shift. You’re a dud. You know, in the olden days, some wolf packs would just put a baby out of its misery for that.”
“Too bad they don’t still do it for idiocy. You wouldn’t have made it past your first birthday, Wade.”
“And Kane says it’s even worse where you’re concerned. Your mama didn’t even survive having you. So why again does your big, bad bear dad think you’re worth negotiating for? Seems to me Kane did him a big favor taking you off his hands. Well, don’t worry, sweetheart. This will all be over soon for you anyway.”
My blood ran cold as his expression darkened. He’d said more than he meant to and more than I really wanted to hear.
“Bet you thought your brother was going to come charging through those woods to save you. That’s what you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but he’s been dealt with too. Squealed more like a pig than a bear when I shot him.”
I rose off the bed, though it felt like my legs had turned to rubber. White rage made dark spots swim in front of my eyes. If I could shift, I would have done it then. Even though it would have likely meant a fight to the death with Wade. I would have welcomed it.
“That’s right. About a month ago it happened. Didn’t Kane tell you? He came charging through those woods one night. All brave and big. Thinking he could take on the whole pack. Looking for your sorry ass, I guess. But we were waiting for him. It was Kane’s idea. Told him we were finally ready to make a trade. Him for you. Caleb, your dad, told him not to come. Your brother should have listened.”
Wade lifted his arms and pantomimed holding a shotgun. He licked his lips and closed one eye as he pretended to squeeze a phantom trigger. I swear I heard a shot crack and sear through my heart when he did it.
“Lights out, sister,” he said. “Dead as a doornail. Nobody’s coming for you now, Olivia. You better hope Kane thinks you’re worth more alive than dead for a good long time.”
I tasted bile in my throat and my whole body shook. Jax wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. Wade didn’t know Kane had shown me that picture of him in chains on some dingy cement floor. If Wade were telling the truth, my brother had survived the shooting. I knew he was alive. I would have felt it if Jaxson died. I know I would. So either Wade was lying to me or Kane was lying to Wade. Either way, it caused me physical pain to keep my mouth shut and sink slowly back down to the bed.
I had to bide my time. Keep my wits about me. There’d be a chance. I had to believe that. I concentrated on slowing my heart and letting calm wash over me. It worked until the door burst open and Kane came in. His face flushed red with anger as he looked from me to Wade and back again. Wade jumped to his feet and stood at attention.
“Is he gone, boss?” Wade said, swallowing hard.
Kane shook his head. “No. I’ve invited him to hunt with us tonight only. He’ll be on his way in the morning.”
“Motherfucker,” Wade muttered. “So we’ve gotta put him up too?”
Kane nodded. He kept his eyes locked with mine. He sensed something. I tried to clear my mind. Had Alec told him about meeting me last night? My mind raced. They were going on a hunt. The whole pack would have to join. It might be a chance. Kane would have no choice but to leave me alone. Maybe for hours.
Wade looked back at me with a smug smile on his face. “What are we going to do with her in the meantime? We can’t very well leave anyone from the pack behind if we’re going on a hunt.”
My heart dropped to the floor. Kane crossed the room and opened the closet near the bathroom door. He pulled out a set of metal shackles just like the ones I’d seen him use on my brother. Before I could even muster a protest, Kane tossed the shackles to Wade.
“You know what to do,” Kane said. He slammed the door behind him, and Wade turned toward me, his wolf eyes flashing. Then he grabbed my wrists and clamped the shackles around them then looped the chain through the metal bed frame. Unless I planned on dragging the bed with me, my hopes of escape were gone.
Chapter Six
Cole brought me lunch and dinner. He’d made a remarkable recovery from this morning’s torture session. He looked miserable, though. His sad eyes traveled to the metal cuffs around my wrists. They didn’t hurt. Not really. And we both knew Kane didn’t really need to use them to keep me here. Jax’s picture bound me more than any chains could. Until I knew he was safe, Kane could keep me from running, and he knew it.
“I’m sorry about this,” he said as he put a tray of sandwiches and fruit on the nightstand.
I reached out and put a gentle hand on Cole’s shoulder, feeling along his collarbone. He was whole. The bone, so grotesquely misshapen this morning, had reknitted, leaving only a slight bit of swelling behind. “I’m sorry about this.”
Cole tried to shrug, but the effort made him wince. “He could have done a lot worse.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. You’re pretty much the only friend I’ve got out here. Well, you and Christian.”
Cole squeezed my hand and smiled. I reached up and brushed a chunk of hair from his eyes. He reminded me so much of Jaxson sometimes. They had the same soulful gaze. The same restless spirit. Each of them chafed under the yoke of a powerful shifter who had different ideas about the way they should live their lives. In Cole’s case, it was Kane. In Jax’s case, it was our father. But bears are different. They aren’t bound by pack rules. Still, my father was king of the territory where he lived. Until Jax found a place and mate of his own . . . I choked past a lump in my throat. Jax might never get the chance to do any of those things if I couldn’t find a way to get to him and set him free.
“Hang in there,” Cole said.
For what? Cole tried to be kind, but I couldn’t help feeling my own anger rising. Cole and Christian could do something if they wanted to. They could rise up. Take Kane out. But, even as I thought it, I knew the futility of that plan. Kane was Kane. I’d learned over the last months his leadership over his pack was different from other wolves. He exerted total control. A tyrant. There was a name for it. Tyrannous Alpha. Linked as he was to the pack, he would sense their betrayal the second they formed the thought. And he had Wade and Brandon on his side. They would tear Cole and Christian to pieces, just like he’d tried to do this morning.
“You too,” I said, touching his cheek.
A chorus of howls rose outside my window. It was late afternoon, and the pack grew restless. I’d not seen Kane since this morning but could feel his urge to hunt. My skin blazed hot from it.
“I should go,” Cole said. “You’ll be okay here?”
I held up my wrists, jangling the chains. “What else am I gonna do? My chains reach to the bathroom, at least. And I’ve got this nice buffet of PB&J and iced tea. I can go nuts.”
I’d tried to say it lightly, get a smile out of Cole. But, his eyes seemed to grow even more hollow and haunted. The howls rose and his back stiffened. His wolf eyes flashed gold and the hairs on the back of his hands rose.
“Off you go,” I said. “I’ll be fine. Let’s just both put one foot, er, one paw in front of the other and keep moving forward. It’s all we can do for now, Cole.”<
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He nodded and leaned forward, pulling me into a quick embrace. “We’ll bring you back something delicious,” he said.
I waved my hand at him, rattling the chains again. “Fat chance. If all six of you are going, there won’t be anything left.”
Cole shot me a sheepish smile then closed the door, leaving me in my silent prison alone. I drew my knees up and looked out the window. The pack gathered in the center of the compound and shifted together.
Alec’s wolf came through the brush and joined them. He stood inches taller than the others, his white coat gleaming under the setting sun. Kane raised his head and howled. The rest of the pack, except for Alec, joined him. Instead, Alec looked pensive, side stepping. He swung his head left, then right and sniffed the air. Then, he turned toward my cabin, his blue eyes shining like sapphires. He seemed to see straight through me. My blood simmered and my breath caught. Kane sensed it. He didn’t see Alec looking but turned his head toward me too. I squeezed my knees against my chest to still my pounding heart. Then, Kane led the charge and the rest of the pack followed as they disappeared into the tree line.
For as much as it should have caused me stress to wait chained to the bed, a new peace settled over me. In the six months since Kane had brought me to the compound then marked me against my will, I hadn’t been alone this long. The quiet solitude with the bright moonlight outside settled over me.
I slept. I dreamed. I thought I heard the white wolf’s howl rising above the others far in the distance. But they were distant. Kane must have taken them to the farthest reach of the territory he claimed. Maybe they’d even ventured beyond it. They’d gone so far I couldn’t feel Kane’s pulse beating alongside mine. Though the heavy chains made my shoulders ache, my heart felt lighter. At least for a little while.
