by Celia Kyle
“Wh-Who?” she rasped.
“You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?” He ran his nose along her neck, breathing deep. Then his wet lips brushed her ear as he dropped his voice to a whisper. “The families. Too many accepted it, but not me, not us.” He licked her cheek, tongue sliding over her skin, and she cringed, jerking from the touch. “You taste like them, too. I have you, and I heard there are more. Just wait until we capture those, as well.”
“Look, I don’t know what you want, but—”
“We won’t have any more of you mating into our lines. Old bastards fucked up, but we have it right.” His voice cracked, his volume rising and falling in a crazed shift.
Why hadn’t someone gotten on the fucking elevator?
“I don’t know anything about anyone. I was hauled here and maybe you have me confused with someone else.” She tried again. She didn’t think she’d have luck reasoning with a crazy person, but she had to try. “You wrote the note, right? About my Mark? I don’t have one. I’m not mating anyone. I’m a chick who got sucked into the wrong black hole thing. Why don’t you let me go and then we can forget this ever—”
Rebecca didn’t get to finish, not when his hold tightened once again, and a soft ding filled the small space. There, they were on the first floor, and now someone would come to her rescue.
“Remember, not one word or your mates die where they stand.”
Unfortunately the closest loiterers were too preoccupied with getting into another elevator to worry about two people coming out of this one. God, they needed to work on this oblivious behavior. Really.
“C’mon. Keep your mouth shut, and we’re getting out of here. The rest should join us soon and then we’ll line you all up in a row and—”
“Rebecca? What the hell—?” A shout, a familiar voice, rose above the chattering crowd. And yeah, she may be mad at the man, but she’d never been so thankful to hear his voice.
Carson.
Crazy guy swung her around, and the thing that had poked her back pressed against her temple. A gun. Perfect. Of course, a werewolf would use a firearm rather than the teeth and claws nature gave him.
“Don’t come any closer.” The wolf holding her captive snarled, and she spotted Carson, noted his sudden halt.
Immediately her eyes scanned the area looking for someone who might have a weapon aimed at Carson, someone who could harm him from afar. No matter her anger, she didn’t want anyone hurt on her behalf, least of all him. Her body still burned for his touch and nothing, not even harsh words, could banish that need.
“What’s going on? Why do you have my ma— What are you doing with her?”
Yeah, not the time to ask questions. She didn’t see anyone paying attention to Carson, or her. Mr. Crazy had to have been lying.
Her mate needed to attack the stupid wolf already.
“We’re not letting another one of them mate into the families. It’s not happening. We stopped it then. We’re stopping it again.” The muzzle of the gun dug into her skin.
Every wolf surrounding them froze as if suddenly realizing a kidnapping was in progress. Dozens of yellow eyes focused on them, fur sprouting and covering faces while others flexed claws. All the while Carson seemed to grow, his shoulders broadening and stretching.
“Release her and I’ll let you live.” Growls from the crowd followed the statement, but a glare from Carson had the sound ceasing in an instant.
“No, she has to die. Her and the others. It’s what will stop all this. We had to wait, but now it’s time and we’ll have them all and then—”
The male holding her didn’t say another word because while Crazy McCrazyton ranted at Carson, someone else crept up behind them. Rebecca was yanked left, the gun leaving her temple, while the assailant was shoved right. Immediately following the rush of movement, a racing blur of brown fur roared past her and right at the man who’d held her captive.
A familiar scent encased her while large, warm arms encircled her waist. Aidan. He must have noticed her missing and raced down the hotel stairs to reach her. He drew her close, hugging her tight and burying his face in her hair. He inhaled and then shuddered, his hold tightening slightly.
Snarls and growls echoed off the walls, pounding her ears with the rising sounds. Rebecca jerked against Aidan’s hold, not wanting to get away, but to turn and hunt for the source. He allowed the move, cradling her while letting her watch the macabre play unfold before them.
Two wolves battled in the center of a loose circle the crowd formed. One was much smaller than the other, but the slighter of the two continued to fight despite the lost cause. The larger swiped, catching the other across the snout, slicing into fur down to bone. The bigger did it again, hitting the male’s chest, baring his muscles. The small one tried to retaliate, but another strike scraped its side while the fourth hit his flank.
Blood coated the cream-colored marble, soaking the ground and slickening the smooth surface. While the larger of the two remained solid on the wet floor, the other scrambled for purchase.
Rebecca gasped when yet another blow connected, practically gutting the tenacious shifter.
“The male deserves it, Rebecca. He touched you, planned to harm you. We may have our problems, but Carson still believes he’s your mate. He has a right to get his vengeance. As your mate, he is entitled to retribution,” Aidan whispered in her ear and her heart clenched with the emotions that accompanied his words.
The smaller wolf was her kidnapper.
The massive wolf battling for her was Carson. And they did have problems lingering between them. Even if they’d kicked Carson from their room only moments ago, her body yearned for his and she held her breath as she waited for the fight to end.
The wolves snarled and leapt at one another, drawing more blood with each shift of muscle and fur. One swipe sank into Carson’s chest, spilling more of the animal’s blood, and he snarled in response. His determination renewed, he attacked his opponent with a scary ferocity.
Snap, swipe, scrape, bite. It continued, Carson going after the male again and again. His focus was on his adversary, the wolf intent on ending the man’s life. He fought on and on and… for her. His rage was palpable, his determination easily visible, and each wound brought forward emotions she wanted to bury in the sand.
Because those feelings called for him, urged her to go to him and forget every cross word they’d shared. Her mate fought and she ached to welcome him with open arms. No. She couldn’t, not after…
One last swipe ended the encounter, Carson dealing the killing blow that practically beheaded the male.
What should have disgusted her, thrilled her. She didn’t like to rejoice in someone’s death, but he hadn’t spoken about just killing her, but others. Plus, during her “orientation,” Scarlet told her werewolves had a violent structure and justice system, but it’s what kept the beasts from destroying everything they came across.
Carson nudged the dead body, probably ensuring the man was well and truly deceased, before turning toward her. She read the question in his eyes, noted the hope that lingered nearby and the fear that overshadowed it all.
With hesitation and uncaring of what lay unsettled between them all, she held a shaky hand out for him. While she accepted the violence, she still harbored a hint of unease when it came to the power he wielded, especially in animal form.
Aidan leaned down once again. “He won’t hurt you.”
Carson closed the distance between them, glaring and baring his teeth at a few men who eased too close.
When he was within touching distance, and despite the blood, she sank a hand into Carson’s fur, resolving to banish the tumultuous emotions that floated between them. The man had protected her, and stood by her even when the past threatened to shove them apart.
She stroked his fur, fingers sliding beyond the blood to the skin beneath. “Let’s go back to our room. We have things to talk about, and you need to get clean.”
Aidan’s voice was
low when he agreed with her. “Yes, we do. We can leave cleanup for others. Carson, once you’ve showered, we’ll speak with the Ruling Alphas about this.”
Carson whoofed, and she assumed that was his agreement. He stepped forward, seeming to wait and see if she remained alongside him. When she kept pace, he continued toward the elevators.
Right, wrong, or indifferent… this was where she belonged.
Chapter Seven
No one would pull, or push, Rebecca from Carson’s side again. No one. He’d stick to her like glue. The rage at almost losing her to some psycho burned him and enraged his wolf further. Even after destroying the male who’d taken his mate, the fury seared him.
Mate. Mate. Mate. God, he’d fucked up in so many ways, but he didn’t want to let her go, let them both go. He needed to fix things.
Except, right now, his beast wanted more blood. It wanted the man’s accomplices. The “they” and “them” he’d muttered about.
They’d taste so good on his tongue, his teeth ripping their flesh.
The only thing that kept him from hunting down the bastards was the woman beside him. Rebecca needed his protection even if Aidan lurked on her other side.
Rebecca’s fingers remained buried in the fur on his back, sinking deep and fisting his strands. The hold, the sting of her tugs, kept him grounded, focused on herding her toward the elevator and not tearing into the dead wolf once again.
She reached for the button with a still shaking hand, missing twice before Aidan reached past her and depressed the metal disc. Carson leaned against her, offering his wolf’s comfort until he was able to shift, shower, and embrace her with his human arms. Rebecca returned the press and stroked between his ears with her free hand. She didn’t seem to mind the blood and gore, but he figured fear could make a person overlook a lot.
Finally, a soft ding announced the elevator’s arrival. It wasn’t until that moment he realized silence continued to reign behind them. No shuffle of cloth or thump of shoes on marble. Nothing.
He’d shocked them with his ferocity and rapid destruction. Good. Maybe that’d teach others a lesson. They shouldn’t touch what belonged to him. He glanced at Aidan, at the fury coating his partner’s features. They shouldn’t touch what belonged to them.
The low clunk and whoosh of the doors opening cut through the quiet of those gathered in the lobby remaining motionless. When the metal panels fully parted, they were faced with a familiar group of men and women. It didn’t matter that the human recognized the occupants. The wolf refused to allow others near Rebecca.
Snarling, he pushed Rebecca aside with his shoulder, shoving her past Aidan until she was tucked into a small corner of the hallway and he was able to block the path of others. He growled low, the noise echoing off the walls and increasing tenfold. They needed to know she was his, and he would protect his at all costs.
“Carson?” Aidan’s shout overrode Rebecca’s, but he didn’t care. Protect. He needed to protect their mate. Why wasn’t Aidan at his side?
One of the males slowly emerged, stride fluid and body relaxed as he stepped out of the elevator and turned toward him.
The wolf weighed the man, his nose drawing in the male’s scent and evaluating his innate power. Alpha? Definitely. Stronger than him? His beast paused, inhaling again and searching past the blood to find his opponent’s true scent. Yes, stronger than him. But was he a safe male? One who would help him protect Rebecca? Or would he turn on them as well? Was he one of the “them” and “they”?
The Alpha dropped into a squat, putting him eye level with the wolf. “Hey, Carson. Little bit of trouble down here, huh?”
Carson narrowed his eyes and didn’t lower his lip. The amiable tone annoyed him for some reason, and the wolf wanted to claw the Alpha’s patronizing smile from his lips. As if sensing Carson’s thoughts, Rebecca tugged on him, forcing him to ease closer to her. Force? No, it was more like a silent request he answered with his movements. He was a few hundred pounds of massive male. She wouldn’t move him unless he allowed it. He realized that he’d allow anything should she ask.
The Alpha looked over his shoulder. “Hey, Madden? You and Berke talk to Aidan. Figure out why one of my wolves decided gutting another wolf seemed like a good idea.”
Madden. An Alpha. A Ruling Alpha. Right.
And the one before him was Keller. Strong male.
They were mated to Scarlet, his mate’s cousin.
These could be trusted. Trusted to protect and care for Rebecca. Trusted not to hurt her.
Some of his tension eased, his wolf releasing a relieved huff.
“That’s it,” Keller murmured and extended his hand.
Even though Carson accepted and recognized Keller as his Alpha, he couldn’t let down his guard. Others still lurked. He trusted Keller’s strength, but Rebecca was his responsibility, his mate. The thought had him curling his lip again, exposing his long fangs in a silent threat.
The Ruling Alpha sighed and dropped his hand. “It’s like that?” Keller pushed to his feet. “Fine. Jack, Emmett, and Levy are in the elevator along with our mates. It was a tight fit, lemme tell you, but the women wouldn’t be left behind.”
One of those women, Scarlet, poked her head out of the elevator, drawing Carson’s attention. “Can we come out now? I mean, I can see the Field-o-Death from here. The guy is really, really dead.”
No, that couldn’t happen. The evil male…
Carson fully curled back his lips, exposing all of his teeth, and his rumbling echo caused a charged silence to overtake the area.
Keller tilted his head in question, his gaze never leaving Carson’s, but he refused to back down. The females needed to stay safe, should remain with their mates. Joining the increasing crowd was dangerous.
The Ruling Alpha glanced over his shoulder at the Alpha Mate. “That’s not a good idea.”
“But—”
Carson released a snapping bark and then upped the volume of his growl.
“No, you stay put.” Keller’s voice left no room for argument and Scarlet disappeared into the elevator. Good. The Ruling Alpha focused on him again. “Okay, we’re keeping the mates away and you look like you want to keep yours safe.” Another ding, another elevator arriving had the male pausing to look toward the new arrivals. Carson recognized them as men from the Ruling Alpha’s personal guard. “My men are here. Join the mates in the elevator. I’ll grab Madden, Berke, and Aidan. We can all go up and discuss this.”
Carson didn’t want to move, didn’t want to budge an inch. No one could sneak up on him as long as he remained in place. No one could surprise him and take Rebecca again. No one could…
“Carson,” Aidan cut into his thoughts. “I know what you’re trying to do. Let’s get her safe in the Ruling Alpha’s suite. They need you both to talk about what happened so they can level judgment. That’s the safest place in the hotel.”
“Judgment?” Rebecca gasped, and Carson glared at Aidan.
The male held up his hands. “We both know nothing will come of it, but we also know we need to get her out of here. The wolves are getting restless and curious. How long is it before one of them decides they want to figure out what makes her special, Carson?”
Carson pulled his glower from his friend and focused it on the growing group. Yes. Curious was one word to describe the crowd. Lustful and desirous were others.
With a low chuff, he stepped away and gave Rebecca enough space to walk beside him, his body acting as a barrier between her and the gathered werewolves. Aidan took a step toward them, question in his gaze, and Carson didn’t object when the male took up a protective stance.
Aidan was one to be trusted with Rebecca. He was her mate, his partner, his friend. The male wouldn’t allow harm to come to her, the wolf understood that.
The men and women shuffled in place and Aidan met more than one pair of glowing yellowed eyes. Their wolves were near the surface, the scent drawing forward the beasts of the weaker attendants.
When they reached the opened doors, Carson urged Rebecca into the space. It wasn’t long before Madden and Berke returned, murderous glares in place. The rage rolling off them wasn’t directed at Carson, so he didn’t give a damn about their emotions. He was concerned with getting his mate safe. Not much time passed and the doors swooshed closed. He’d never been more thankful for freight elevators in his life. It allowed some of the most powerful males in all the packs to accompany them to the penthouse.
Protection in droves.
No one said a word as they made their ascent, their travels unimpeded by stops at other floors. He imagined the Ruling Alphas were able to override certain functions. That seemed to include bypassing all floors and allowing them to rise uninterrupted.
It didn’t take long for the elevator to ding. The doors spread once again and the riders spilled into the entryway.
Keller took control right away. “Living room. Carson, the spare room is to the left. Shift and shower. I won’t have my rooms smelling like wet wolf and blood.”
He would have snorted had he a human nose. Instead, he merely grabbed a portion of Rebecca’s robe with his teeth and led her toward the open doorway. He didn’t have a claim to her, but he couldn’t let her out of his sight. He just… needed her close.
He was halted by Keller’s next words. “I need her here. She needs to give testimony.”
Fuck that. He didn’t hesitate to voice his objections, wolf releasing an audible threat.
When Madden stepped forward, Scarlet intervened. “Hey, if it were me, you wouldn’t let me out of your sight, would you?” She glared at Keller and then directed her anger at Madden. “And if I remember correctly, you didn’t last year when that wolf brought me food and you snarled and growled.”
Both men turned their frustration on their mate for a moment, and then Madden focused on him and Rebecca. “Fine. Make it quick.”
That had Carson going back into action, tugging his mate along. He sensed Aidan following them, hot on their heels.
