All blood fled her torso and pooled in her feet. She’d put the battery in to check it and had forgotten to take it out again. Maybe her father’s pack had found the signal too.
“The signal went dead about a day later, but I was able to track it down before then.”
Anger rose inside her. “I’m not leaving with you. I’ll never be your mate. You already took everything I cared about when you killed my parents. There isn’t anything you can do to hurt me now.”
“What if I told you they were still alive?”
Natasha gasped. Her mind moved as fast as Liam’s motorcycle.
She searched his eyes for the truth. “I don’t believe you,” she whispered. “You’d say anything to get me to go with you.” She watched for it, waited for it. But he didn’t lick his lips.
“Ask Cole.” Daniel gestured to his brother.
Cole looked at Natasha. “It’s true. Jared and Troy are with them.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Our pack would be looking for them.”
“They have been,” said Daniel. “Which is why we have them hidden.” Daniel laughed. “You’ve been a lot of trouble, Nat. It’s been tricky. All of us having to take shifts watching them, covering their scents, waiting to see when you’d show up. Right before I left, even my dad started getting suspicious, and you know how little he’s paid attention to me over the years.”
Natasha’s heart thudded hard against her chest like it was begging to be let free. She sucked in a deep breath and straightened her spine. “I want to talk to them.”
“You can call them—” Daniel smiled again, “—if you promise to come nicely.”
She’d only just begun to come to terms with the fact that they were gone. She couldn’t bear it if this was a trick. And this was her home now. She had friends who’d fought to keep her safe. Liam.
Her soul felt drawn and quartered. She couldn’t risk losing her parents.
Natasha nodded.
Daniel grabbed his cell off the nightstand and punched in a number. “Jared, put Nat’s mom on the phone.”
Natasha’s fingers shook as she took the phone from him. “Mama?”
“Natasha! You’re safe!”
Her chest and throat squeezed so tight she could barely speak. “Mama,” she sobbed.
“Natasha, you stay where you are. Don’t worry about us, we’re just—”
“Mama? Mama!”
Daniel yanked the phone away. She reached for it and beat on his chest for him to give it back. He pushed end and shoved the phone in his pocket.
“So now you know it’s true.”
She stepped up to him. “Let them go.”
“As soon as we are mated and safely in Virginia.”
Natasha’s gaze narrowed. “My father will kill you.”
“No. You’re more precious to your parents alive than I’m worth dead. If you come home as my mate, and possibly pregnant, my pack will do everything to protect me. Sure, I may get reprimanded for what I did. Maybe I’ll be banished for a few years, but you’ll have to come with me, once we’re bonded. And so I’ll bide my time until your parents give in and decide that keeping you and our children away isn’t worth the cost. They’ll welcome me back with open arms.”
Whether or not he forced her to marry him, he would never be her mate, and she wouldn’t follow him anywhere. “If you truly believe that, you’re crazy. As soon as you step foot into Virginia, my father will kill you and deal with the consequences. And even if you do marry me, we will never bond.”
He gaze flickered for a moment. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe he will try to kill me. But seeing as how I have the upper hand and he is the one in chains, I’m not too concerned. Besides, if you don’t go with me, he’ll be dead before my feet hit Virginia soil again and no one will know the difference.”
He walked to a bag in the corner and pulled out the pink sundress he’d bought her for her eighteenth birthday, a pair of panties and a matching bra.
“Put this on, shower and fix your hair. Today’s your mating day.” He set the dress on the bed, moved in close and wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head. “I’ve dreamt about this for a long time, Nat. It may not all be as I envisioned it, but one thing is for sure.” He pushed her to arm’s length and locked his gaze on hers. “I can’t wait to finally feel your body under mine.”
Her eyes focused on Cole as Daniel pulled her in for another hug. Cole refused to meet her gaze. He’d been her friend once too. But no more.
* * * * *
Twenty minutes later, Natasha emerged from the bedroom. She’d showered in the adjoining bathroom, using the men’s scented items that Clint used. Then she’d brushed her hair and blown it dry. The whole time she’d tried to think of a means of escape, but in the end decided she couldn’t.
Cole stood outside the bedroom door. She glanced at him, numb as if she’d been shot with another tranquilizer dart. He walked with her in silence down the stairs to an open family room and kitchen. How had they gotten to this point?
A slender woman set a stack of pancakes on the table and looked Natasha over, her tired eyes holding concern.
“Here she is. My beautiful mate.” Daniel strode to Natasha and put his arm around her.
“Hello, Natasha,” said the woman. “I’m Constance Judd.”
“Hello,” Natasha managed.
Constance pointed to the table. “Would you like something to eat?”
“No, thank you.”
“She’s rather shy.” Daniel pulled her in tight to his side. “Maybe we should get on with the ceremony and then we can be out of your hair and on to the honeymoon.”
Mrs. Judd smiled. “Why don’t you let me get Natasha some shoes and some makeup? You boys eat, and I’ll make sure she’s absolutely radiant for her mating day.” She took a step toward them, but Daniel pulled Natasha closer.
“That won’t be necessary. Nat’s already beautiful.”
Mrs. Judd’s smile remained kind, but the heavy stare she leveled at Natasha spoke volumes. “Is this what you want?” she asked.
“Let’s get on with this and then we’ll be gone.” A hard edge crept into Daniel’s voice.
Protest snaked its way up Natasha’s throat, but she was too frightened of what might happen if she gave it a voice.
“Until I’m sure she wants this, I won’t allow my husband to perform the ceremony.” Mrs. Judd’s eyes flashed.
Daniel growled low in his chest. “You have no right to refuse us. I came to your husband as Alpha of this area to mate us. Now if you won’t do that, then I’ll go somewhere else. But know the East Coast packs will hear of your inhospitality and we don’t take lightly to unfriendly packs.”
“You don’t scare me, boy.” Mrs. Judd turned toward the back of the house and yelled, “Frank!”
“I think we should go,” said Cole.
“Yeah, maybe we should.” Daniel grabbed Natasha and dragged her toward the front door. “Cole, get the bags.”
She had to do something. She swallowed hard and prayed for her parents’ safety.
“I don’t,” she yelled over her shoulder. Her eyes lit on Mrs. Judd. “I don’t want to be mated to him!”
Daniel whipped open the front door as Frank Judd came running into the front room to his wife’s side.
The bright morning light seared Natasha’s eyes. They stepped out as a giant black Escalade pulled up and behind it a black-and-chrome motorcycle.
“Liam!” Natasha shoved Daniel, forcing him to let go of her, and ran out to the driveway. Liam jumped from his bike and scooped her up in his arms. “Liam!” she cried. His powerful arms crushed her tight against his solid frame.
He kissed her cheeks and forehead and then set her on her feet. “Did he hurt you?”
Relief shot through her, mixing with the adrenali
ne and causing her to laugh and sob at the same time. Heavy footsteps strode toward them, and a strong hand propelled her backward.
“Get off her.” Liam shoved Daniel in the chest.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Daniel yelled. “Putting your hands on my mate will get you killed where I’m from.”
“Your mate? I don’t think so.” Liam slammed his helmet to the ground.
“Stop!” She ran to Liam, and he wrapped her in his arms again.
Clint, Rock and Buck appeared from the sides of the car and stepped in between Daniel and Liam. “Back off,” Clint ordered.
“What’s this about?” asked Frank Judd.
The four males stood like a wall against Daniel. He looked from one to the other, calculating.
“Looks like you’re outnumbered this time.” Rock crossed his arms over his chest.
“No buddies to distract us, like last night,” said Buck.
Daniel turned to Clint’s father, who stood on the steps to the house. “Are you going to allow this? I told you she’s mine. Promised at the age of fifteen.”
Natasha moved from the safety of Liam’s protection. She needed to do this herself. “I was a child, Daniel. You were a different person. I’m not that naïve girl anymore.”
“You promised. It was witnessed. Your father agreed.”
“Dad, you can’t allow this,” said Clint. “They aren’t bonded. Send him packing.”
“Nat, you don’t want us to fight, do you?” Daniel’s gaze was like an ice-water shower.
For the first time, she noticed his phone in his hand. The seconds ticked by on the screen as the person on the other end waited.
He held his palm out to her. “People are waiting for you back home.”
She swallowed. The deadly look in Daniel’s eyes told her that he’d kill them. Her heart shattered like stardust as she turned to Liam and hugged him tightly.
“He has my parents,” she whispered.
Liam shuddered and squeezed her against him. He couldn’t let her go. But if what she said was true, how could he force her to choose? She reached up on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
“My heart will always be yours,” she whispered.
Daniel marched forward. A lump caved Liam’s chest inward. He had to decide. Was he a lone wolf or was he hers?
Natasha let go and backed away from him.
“No!” Liam bellowed. He ran at Daniel, pushing him away. Clint grabbed Natasha and sheltered her from the fight. “You can’t have her. She isn’t property. You’re going to let Natasha and her parents go.”
“Never.” Daniel spat on the ground.
“I challenge.” Liam’s gaze met Frank Judd’s. The man who’d approached him four years earlier to join his pack.
Daniel’s gaze raked Liam up and down. “Only an Alpha can challenge a promised mating.”
Everything in Liam’s vision took on a yellow hue as his eyes flashed Alpha golden. “I am Alpha.”
Daniel looked at Clint’s father. Frank Judd jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “In the back.”
Liam nodded, and the group headed around the house. His anger pooled inside him and spread out over his limbs, strengthening him. He’d spent years trying to fight the anger, but today he couldn’t wait to use it to rip Daniel apart.
Clint fell in step beside him. “You don’t have to do this. We won’t let him take her.”
“He has her parents. It’s the only way to force him to free them.” Liam’s muscles twitched at the thought of the impending fight. He hadn’t been in a brawl since leaving Los Angeles. But that didn’t mean he’d forgotten how to fight.
“Then let me challenge him.”
Liam stared at Clint for minute. He showed genuine concern for the situation. “No.” Liam shook his head. “I need to do it.”
Clint watched him as they rounded the corner to the backyard. “You love her.”
Liam locked eyes with his one-time enemy. He hadn’t planned on it. Hadn’t looked for it, hadn’t wanted it, but there it was. A warm spot in his heart that had her name tattooed over it so deep that not even a jackhammer could erase it.
“Yes.”
Clint nodded. When they stopped on the large lawn, Liam took off his tank and handed it to Clint. “If something goes wrong, promise me you won’t let him take her.”
Clint’s hand fell on Liam’s shoulder. “That’s a promise.”
Anxiety rooted in Natasha’s gut and twisted its thorny spikes through her entire body. Her stomach rolled and flopped like a rollercoaster car at the scene around her. Daniel removed his coat, shirt and shoes and waited for Liam in his jeans. She walked to Liam’s side, her gaze roaming his bare chest and arms. In the sunlight, all his tattoos were visible. Skulls and motorcycles, words and flames, some black, some color. And underneath them lay the scarred remains of his father’s abuse. A silver nipple ring matched the one in his ear.
She slid her hand down his skin, feeling the taut muscles, and then met his gaze. His tight smile didn’t match the intensity of his golden Alpha gaze.
“I don’t want you to do this,” she said.
He cupped her cheek with his large palm. “I promised I’d take care of you. I want you to be free.”
“But not like this. I don’t want this.”
“If you tell me he’ll let you and your parents go without me beating him, I’ll call it off.”
The lie tied her tongue. She wanted to tell him Daniel would let them go. But she couldn’t.
“I’ll be fine.” Liam held her close and kissed her on top of her head.
Doubt crackled in her mind.
“Why don’t you get your paws off my girl and get on with what we came here for?” called Daniel.
“Liam?”
He looked down at her.
“I just want you to know—”
He placed his fingers over her lips and then pressed his warm lips to hers. Her breathing quickened as he walked out onto the grass where he and Daniel circled each other. Daniel moved forward and stomped his foot, making Liam back up. He did it again, and this time Liam held his ground.
Clint stepped next to her.
“Kick his ass, Liam!” called Rock.
Liam glanced at Rock, and Daniel moved in, picking Liam up at the waist and slamming him to the ground. Natasha jumped forward, and Clint held her back. Daniel punched Liam in the gut over and over, until Liam locked his legs around Daniel and rolled him onto his back. Swinging hard, Liam connected with Daniel’s face in rapid succession. Daniel raised his knee and caught Liam in the groin. Liam rolled off him onto the ground.
“Hey!” she shouted. “Fight fair, Daniel.”
Daniel advanced. Liam kicked out and connected with Daniel’s chest, sending him sailing into a cluster of bushes. Liam flipped to his feet and advanced. Daniel was already up and tackled Liam to the ground. The two large males were almost equally matched in size and skill. Liam punched Daniel in the kidney twice. Daniel twisted around and flipped to the ground underneath Liam with his arm around Liam’s throat. Liam slammed his elbow into Daniel’s ribs until Daniel was forced to let go and grabbed Liam by the elbow. He wrenched Liam’s arm behind him. Liam grunted and tried to twist out of Daniel’s grip, but Daniel wrapped his legs around Liam’s waist, flipped him over and pinned him down.
“Daniel, don’t!” Natasha cried. Daniel locked eyes on her and jerked Liam’s arm backward. A resounding pop exploded from Liam’s arm, and he let out a roar of pain. She rushed forward, leaped on Daniel’s back and pulled his hair until he let go of Liam. He stood and she fell off. When he turned she punched him in the face, bloodying his nose.
“Stop this,” she yelled.
“You can stop this anytime, Nat.” Daniel panted heavily, covered in blood. He wiped his nose and spat blood onto the ground
. “You just say the word.”
Natasha raised her chin. Anger coursed through her like a forest fire searing everything in its wake. “I don’t love you.” She took a step closer to him and set her shoulders. “You used to be someone I looked forward to spending my life with. But you became like all those who bullied you growing up. That’s not the boy I loved and you’re not the man I want to be with.” She advanced on him again. “You’re more of a coward now than you ever were as a boy. You think those idiots who follow you respect you? They fear you now but one day, they’ll stop and then you’ll have nothing.”
Daniel’s eyes turned icy and he balled his fists.
“Go on,” she said. “Hit me.”
He raised his fist but she didn’t flinch. He swung in a downward arc and Natasha refused to move. Just as Daniel was going to connect, Liam tackled him and attacked with his good arm, pummeling him. Daniel did little more than cover himself from the blows that Liam rained down with his right fist. Cole stepped up to help, but Buck and Rock stood between him and the fight.
When Daniel stopped moving, Natasha ran into the fray.
“Liam. Liam stop.” She knelt beside him. “It’s over.”
He punched Daniel twice more. She grabbed his fist and held onto his wrist, staring up into his face. His eyes were golden and wild. He locked his gaze on her but didn’t seem to see her. She cupped his face, his whiskers scratching her palms. His left eye was swollen shut, his lip was split and his cheek gashed. Blood trickled down onto his chest, staining his tattoos.
“Hey. It’s over.”
She pulled on him gently, getting him off Daniel. Liam’s left arm hung limply at his side. His knuckles and torso were splattered in blood.
Daniel lay unconscious on the grass, his chest wheezing up and down.
Liam rounded on Cole, being restrained by Rock and Buck. “Release her parents.”
Cole’s gaze traversed the group and he nodded. He dialed a number on his phone and then spoke into it. Natasha held her hand out and Rock passed the phone over.
“Papa?”
“I’m here, bebe.”
Promised at the Moon: Shifter Rising, Book 1 Page 11
