by Morgan Fox
Her bedroom door creaked open, and she knew Ryken stood on the other side. The door only remained partially open for a minute, then closed soundlessly. She smiled, knowing he was checking on her. Having him standing guard on the other side of the door should’ve been a comfort to her, but it wasn’t.
A dinner bell hanging around her neck in the form of a skimpy negligee, she was standing in the lion’s den, unarmed. Was there truly anything that could comfort her? Not likely.
* * * *
Jonah stepped deeper into the woods, his eyes the silvery mix that hinted at the wolf hiding beneath the surface. His senses honed, he glanced around his surroundings, locking in on anything that moved.
Sebastian’s scent was nowhere to be found. Either he was not in the area or he’d found a way to mask his unique alpha scent. The thought that Jonah couldn’t track his brother made the fine hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. Sebastian was a fierce wolf prior to the virus ravaging his body and mind. With the virus, Sebastian was so much worse.
Jonah cringed, wondering what kind of beast he was about to face. Would Sebastian even be the man Jonah recognized, or would Sebastian be the monster, the murdering bastard he feared? Mason could’ve been an asshole prior to the infection. Jonah didn’t know for sure. He’d only hoped Mason had been which would mean there was still hope for Sebastian.
Gut twisting and rolling in a sea of knots, he crouched down to inspect the ground. Wolf prints were everywhere. Sebastian had been there—pacing.
Jonah stood five hundred feet away from Brie’s room. Broad canopies of trees stretched towards the heavens, casting shadows that played with his near perfect vision. Rustling leaves and scurrying animals filled his hearing. Nothing seemed different or out of place. If a feral wolf were present, the animals that lingered around him would be absent, seeking shelter to escape the danger.
A familiar scent drew his attention, and he rose to his full height. He sniffed the air, turning his head from side to side until he was sure he was being drawn into the correct direction. Like a moth to a flame, Jonah moved towards the thick, unique scent. His heart pounding wildly, his breath quickening, he took off in a sprint. Arms and legs pumping, he jumped over logs, stumps, and fallen brush. His mind caught on one thing—locking down on the scent of...blood.
The same blood he’d smelled on Brie earlier and again beside the fireplace. Yes, he’d kept his complete knowledge of the blood he found to himself. Before he could share with the others, he had to be sure what he smelled was animal blood. Giving Sebastian the benefit of the doubt was easier for him. They were as close as brothers could be, and Jonah would protect him, even from himself if necessary.
Dominic had picked up on the scent as well and stood hovering over something. As Jonah approached the scent grew stronger until the overwhelming pull of death filled his nostrils. His mind would forever be branded by the shredded remnants of a mutilated animal, large enough to be a wolf that lay at Dominic’s feet.
“The blood from the cabin,” Dominic grunted, his raspy voice erupted from deep in his chest. “Looks like Sebastian might’ve fought the beast inside the cabin only to discard of the animal out here.”
Jonah scowled, looking down at the remains—a twisted and torn carcass, an unidentifiable creature. “Wouldn’t there have been more blood?”
Dominic hiked his broad shoulders. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Great. So at least we know he killed an animal and not a person.” Jonah gave into a deep sigh, glad the creature before him was an animal, not a human or were-being.
“Yes, I would’ve hated to kill your brother, Jonah. I can assure you I would’ve taken no pleasure in it.”
Jonah nodded. Understanding that the man standing alongside him was one of the meanest and toughest bastards he’d ever come in contact with. He might have been his best friend, but he was no fool to think he was bluffing.
“Yes, but know this, Dominic—if it comes to it, the only person that’s going to kill Sebastian will be me.”
Dominic nodded, “Fair enough, my friend.” He turned on his booted heels, shoulders heavy with tension, and headed back into the darkness to track Sebastian, but turned suddenly to add, “But remember this, friend, if you are unable to fulfill the task, then I will.” He continued his trek into the woods.
Jonah stared a moment longer, watching as Dominic stalked away. His intimidating presence churned in Jonah’s gut. The shimmer of the silver blade tucked up against Dominic’s black shirt burned bright in the darkness of night. If Jonah didn’t know him personally, he’d have thought the understanding between them to be false. A man like Dominic took protecting the were-population as serious as a heart attack. No one would dare challenge Dominic. He was the epitome of badass—all six-foot-six of him—all the way into the marrow of his bones.
Jonah was glad for the help to capture Sebastian, but at the same time he feared for his brother and with good reason. The men that stood alongside him to find his brother were the only lycans, werewolves, he knew could destroy the fierce alpha. Sebastian might put up a hell of a fight, but they were trained assassins, trained to eliminate any threat to their species.
Jonah hoped that each of them—Ryken, Luken, Reyes, and Dominic would use their better judgment and call for backup when they faced Sebastian, rather than transform into werewolves themselves. Only to settle things like the wild and fierce beasts nature had made them. Not like the men they pretended to be.
Somewhere out there Sebastian lay in wait, hiding in the shadows of the night, a hunter, fierce and threatening. What exactly he was doing or thinking Jonah didn’t know, but he would do his best to ensure that Sebastian remained unharmed and in one piece—for himself and for Brie. Now all he had to do was find him. Preferably, before the others did.
* * * *
He crouched down, sniffing the dirt, the air, and the trees at his side. Sebastian’s heart beat fast in his chest. Bang, bang, bang. The sound was a thunderous explosion in his ears. Hot, blazing power flooded his body and crowded his mind, pushing most normal thoughts from the depths of his brain.
A war raged inside him—one he couldn’t control or conquer.
Instinct chewed at him, beckoning him to seek salvation—comfort. His only thought was to find a way to Brie. He needed her. Being without her was killing him. She was the only thing that took the pain away. The fever of the mating heat was nothing compared to the fire that burned inside his mind from the virus ravaging his body.
He knew his mind was not his own anymore. The unfamiliar voices that spoke to him assured him of that. Knew deep in his gut the urges he felt had been heightened by the mutation pumping through his veins.
Damn Mason Levi for attacking him. Damn him for allowing that bastard to get close enough to bite him. He absently rubbed his shoulder. Where was the fearless alpha he was supposed to be? The cunning wolf others feared and admired.
Too busy worrying about his damn dick and his beloved mate, that’s where.
Fucking mating heat was going to be the death of him, either that or the virus that commanded him to do wicked things to his mate. Things he knew he shouldn’t, but couldn’t resist.
Sebastian didn’t exactly hate all the changes occurring in his body. He was stronger, faster, and even though he stood less than a hundred feet from Jonah, he went undetected—another bonus to the mutating virus.
Dominic, the revered werewolf hunter, hadn’t even scented him. Sebastian wanted to laugh. A wave of strength and energy filled his body. He would make a fool of the lot of them, especially Dominic, the only one truly capable of challenging him for the title of alpha. A title he was not willing to relinquish.
Suddenly hopeful, he hunched over and crawled upon the ground as the wolf. Sebastian’s body still human, his movements sharp, aggressive and animalistic, his naked body bore down against the ground, claws from his hands and toes digging into the soft ground. He charged in the same direction as the infamous were-hunter.
Chapter Nine
Brie flipped the light switch off and lay flat on the bed. The black negligee rode up high on her thighs. The soft silky sheets felt cool and crisp against her skin. The caress of the cool linen gave her sensations she wished the men she loved were giving her, embracing her with a soft, sensual caress.
Tumbling butterflies swirled in her tummy—anticipation and fear was drowning out every other emotion. How in the hell was she supposed to masturbate when all she could think about was being confronted and possibly attacked by a rabid beast?
She didn’t want to believe it, that Sebastian would appear to her like that, but she remembered the look in Mason’s eyes when he’d attacked her. Smelled the blood on his body and clothes. Felt the strength her fear gave him, and knew he reveled in it.
Swallowing hard, she lowered her hand down her belly towards the groomed patch of hair between her legs. A moment of hesitation and she parted the folds of her pussy. Sliding her finger past her clit, she hoped she would find a hint of moisture. Nothing. She was drier than sandpaper.
No surprise there. The last thing on her mind was sex. Shaking her head, she groaned. Funny how the need for survival can eradicate every ounce of my sex drive—a sex drive that was normally more aggressive than that of a nineteen-year-old boy.
Grunting, she reached for the nightstand with her free hand, grabbing the bottle of lubricant. Emptying a good amount on her fingers she returned her hand to the folds of her sex and began smearing the lube around, grazing her clit several times.
Closing her eyes, she prayed their plan would work. Hoped that Sebastian would scent her need for him and come for her, so the men protecting her would safely capture Sebastian and return him to her, unharmed.
Brie’s fingers tickled and stroked her sex, smoothing the slickness around, caressing every part of her pussy, imagining it was her alpha. Visions of his masterful tongue swirled over the sensitive flesh in ways that had her toes curling and her mind going blank. She moaned, reveling in the coarse roughness of his imaginary large hands as they caressed her body, rolling her nipples between finger and thumb.
Sebastian’s mouth was truly a gift from the heavens. His touch, pure and tantalizing. Each time he touched her, tasted her, she felt nothing but sexual bliss. A euphoric sensation forcing her mind numb to every other emotion except desire, lust. Her hand moved faster against her throbbing clit. At this rate she was going to come like a volcano in record time.
Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me.
The image of Sebastian’s powerful body hovered over her, his full lips inches from her own. The smell of his spicy male scent filled her senses. The experience so real—her body craved more—needed more. She stroked faster, harder, pushing her finger deep into her channel.
Masturbating wasn’t so hard after all. Her mind created a picture perfect image of him, her memory pulling out the sights and scents of his body, driving her beyond passion, beyond reason.
In her mind she was truly making love to him, and he was buried to the hilt inside her soaking wet pussy.
The walls of her sex clenched tight, she was so close now. She could feel her body humming like an electrical wire, buzzing full of energy. Nipples as hard as rocks, she pinched the tips and groaned. Once again she imagined the sensual lips of Sebastian sucking and licking the tender tips.
Oh God, she cried in her mind, so close to release, so close to ecstasy.
“Argh!”
She shot straight off the bed and then froze, the feral cry of the beast erupted from beyond her room. Sebastian. What was happening?
Cringing in terror, she shivered, wondering if the cry she’d heard came from Sebastian or one of the others. Had they managed to capture him, or had he somehow been hurt or worse yet killed one of them?
Flinging the sheets off her body, she jumped from the bed, grabbed her robe, and charged from the room.
* * * *
Silence was his newfound friend. Sebastian was as quiet as a mouse as he trailed close behind Dominic. Even his heavy steps went unnoticed as he crushed his clawed bare feet against the fallen leaves. The intoxicating stealth power was addicting, as was the ability to mask his scent.
Amazed and exhilarated, he was unstoppable. The power surging through his body was unlike anything he’d ever felt. No one would be able to defeat him. Not even the cunning and illustrious Dominic Mercer would be able to stop him. He chuckled, thinking he’d bring the big guy to his knees and enjoy every minute of it.
He’d followed the barbarian for what felt like miles as the fearless hunter tracked him. How funny that Sebastian was the one doing the tracking and hunting, not the other way around. Sebastian could’ve easily closed the distance on the giant wolf and torn his neck from his massive shoulders—an effortless assault.
But where was the fun in that?
Hunting was an art, tracking a gift. Proving that he was better than the rest in his pack was the only thing Sebastian cared about, that, and finding his way back to his precious Brie. Nothing would stop him. He’d make sure of that.
Sebastian would dispose of these interfering wolves and have her all to himself. Taking out Dominic would be the hardest, so that would have to be his first move. The abnormally large, threatening bastard had to go. Sebastian couldn’t afford to have Dominic destroy his chance to claim his prize. Brie and McCarthy Ranch were his property, and he owned them both—nothing would change that.
Sebastian grinned, considering they all might assume he’d go after Jonah first—his baby brother. But did they honestly believe that he would be able to hurt his own blood? Those who didn’t would be dead wrong. He wanted to possess Brie, and eliminating Jonah would be a bonus. But he’d have to be careful with how he disposed of his brother, had to make it look like an accident—like one of the others had accidentally killed him. Sebastian would pretend he was there to save Jonah, that he was devastated by the realization that his only brother had been killed. Yes, that was what he would do.
Smiling, Sebastian felt his heart beat just a little faster. A perfect plan, he thought, a wonderful way to end the misery of sharing his mate and making sure McCarthy Ranch and his pack remained his and his alone.
A familiar scent on the wind caught his attention. The aroma burned hot within his body like acid. Inhaling the fragrance deep into his lungs, he knew the scent intimately. Brie. Mating heat throbbed in his loins and banged against his skull like a hammer.
A battle of wills sprang into action. He fought against his instincts—primal compulsions that commanded him to seek out his mate and satisfy her. She was aroused and in need of him. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth.
Damn, his mind wailed. What was he to do? Part of him wanted nothing more than to go to Brie, immediately. But the other had to kill Dominic, eliminate the competition.
Another blast of her intoxicating scent filled his senses. He grabbed his head, clawing at his scalp. He dropped to the ground, unsure of what to do. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t decide. Never had he felt so confused—lost. He felt as though his body was splitting right down the center and his heart was the first vital organ to be ripped from his battered body.
Images of Brie’s smiling, warm face filled his mind. He felt like he should love this woman, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember why. What had his life been like before tonight? Why was everything so dark in his mind now? Why was the thought of killing, and worse yet, possession, whirling around in his head?
Strangely, he didn’t care if Brie loved him, didn’t care if he hurt her. He just wanted her body, but damn it, things hadn’t always been that way. Had they? Something deep inside him told him she meant more to him than that, but how he knew it, he couldn’t figure out.
A sharp sting of pain rocketed through his body, and he howled. His legs gave out, and he crumbled to the ground. The blinding pain sucked the air from his lungs. Another slam of pain rocked through his back this time, and he growled as realization kicked him in the n
uts.
Sebastian twisted his body to see the towering mass of strength and power standing above him. A figure masked in total darkness. That stupid son of a bitch somehow got the drop on him. He blinked as his eyes focused on the gun pointed at his face. The black barrel teased him with the prospect of death.
He sucked in a sharp breath and waited for the final shot that would end his fucked-up and deranged existence. Ease his tormented mind and save Brie from a fate worse than death. Just then another shot rang out, and his life slowly drained from his fractured body. Cold and dark, everything went black.
* * * *
The hair on the back of Dominic’s neck stood on end, and he knew exactly who watched him from somewhere in the woods. He couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t smell Sebastian or why he couldn’t hear him even. Had to be something within the virus he carried. What else could it be? It was the only thing that was different about his old friend.
As unsettling as it was to think about, getting his hands on Sebastian seemed even more important. No one should have that kind of power—the ability to infiltrate the enemy with no chance of warning.
A great power if he was the one who possessed it—a man of stable mind and body. But not those of his enemies, and right now that’s exactly what Sebastian was.
Changing direction, Dominic moved back towards the house. In the same direction he’d sent Reyes. He had a plan to draw out Sebastian, one that didn’t include Jonah. Sebastian would count on them thinking he’d go after Jonah first, but if Dominic were the one hunting, he’d want to attack the strongest first. Get rid of the big guns and slowly take out the rest. That’s what alphas were trained to do, and even though Dominic didn’t have his own pack to claim, he was still an alpha wolf, the next in line to challenge for the title.
