“Half-light comes,” said the woman.
“How did this happen?” growled Johnson. “I thought I was paying you to protect us here. How were you not able to warn us?”
“I can only do so many things at once,” explained the woman, her eyes narrowing in a mischievous manner. “I’ve been here renewing the spells you asked me to maintain.”
“What spells?” blurted Akala.
Johnson’s hand lashed out without warning, and the back of his hand cracked against Akala’s cheek, knocking her to the ground. She cried out and struggled to her knees, pressing her fingers to her lip and feeling the wet stickiness of blood on them. It took everything she had to stand up again, wearing her defiance on her face, but the truth of it was that she feared this man more than she could say. It wasn’t the slap or the threat of rape he kept teasing her with, but the complete unbalance he showed. Herbert Johnson was completely insane, and Akala worried that she risked death at any moment for saying or doing the wrong thing.
“I expect you to continue your work,” said Johnson, his attention turning back to the strange woman. “Get to a safe place, and keep up your spells.”
“As you command.”
The words were heavy with sarcasm, but Johnson kept his distance from her and showed respect that made Akala wonder at what this woman’s role in all of this was. Whatever she was doing for Johnson, it was enough that he seemed to fear her for her skills. A week earlier, Akala would have laughed at anyone who asked her if she believed in magic, but after everything she’d seen of these shifters and their world, the only conclusion she could draw was that this woman was some kind of witch.
A shove knocked her from her thoughts, and again, she felt the powerful grip of Johnson’s hand on her arm. He guided her away from the clearing and into the forest, his keen eyes picking out the trail even though Akala could see little of anything in front of her. Again she stumbled, but Johnson held her up, his fingers squeezing her hard enough that her arm began to feel bruised and sensitive. Her head ached from his smack, and she tasted the salt of blood on her tongue when she licked her lips. All she could do was try not to fall as he shoved her forward again and again, branches and undergrowth seeming to reach out and lash at her exposed skin.
“Where are you taking me?” she got up the courage to ask.
“I’m going to formalize this union and make you my mate. In order for my line to transfer properly, and to ensure that our child is a true werewolf, I need the magic of our medicine man. He will perform the sacred rites and then he’ll watch over us as we mate.”
“You… you’re insane,” she spluttered, despite her best intentions to keep silent. “I won’t let you touch me. I’d sooner die than let you fuck me.”
Johnson stopped and slammed Akala back up against a tree. He stepped in close to her and slipped his hand down into her pants, his fingers slipping violently into her sex and eliciting a cry of despair from her mouth.
“Do you think I care about what you want?” Johnson’s other hand closed over her neck and squeezed. “I will have what I require from you, or I will crush your throat and eat your heart. Believe me, I would much rather have you give yourself to me willingly, but I will take what is mine or you shall die as you so bravely wished for. Do I make myself clear?”
Akala tried to speak but her words were lost between the wracking sobs and the pressure of Johnson’s hand on her throat. A part of her wanted to die in that moment, to never have to think about this moment again or to endure what would surely come next, but a bigger part of her decided to live. Only through life could she seek her retribution on him, even if that meant waiting until he felt comfortable and exposed. In that brief instant, Akala hardened her heart and swore revenge against this man. She would do what she had to do, and then she would kill him so that he might never harm another as he did her.
Johnson pulled his hand back out of her shorts and practically threw her in front of him. She walked on her own now, stumbling over roots and rocks on the uneven ground, but still managing to make her way down the faint outline of a path. She told herself that she was on her own now. Even if Nashoba was in the compound, there was no way he’d know to look for her here. If he was looking for her in the village, he had no way of knowing that she wasn’t there any longer.
After a few more minutes of trampling through the dense underbrush and bare excuse for a path, they emerged into another small clearing where a large canvas tent sat against the edge of a cliff. It’s dark oil treated surface was covered with stitched patterns of animals and constellations, and it looked as though it had been standing in that spot for generations. It was more of house than a tent, and the wizened old man that stepped out of it looked like he’d been living in it since it was first erected.
“It’s time for the ceremony,” said Johnson as they approached. “I would have this bitch as my mate, and there is no more time to wait.”
“The moon and stars are not in their optimal alignment,” said the man. He leaned heavily on a wooden staff and seemed to think that would end the conversation.
“Listen to me, old man,” said Johnson. “I don’t care about the alignment of the stars or moon. This needs to happen now, and you will officiate over our mating ceremony, or I will beat you to death with that staff of yours.”
“Very well,” said the medicine man with a shrug of his shoulders that indicated he wasn’t threatened by Johnson’s words.
The man threw something on the fire pit and flames roared up on the half burned logs, illuminating the trees with a bright orange light. Akala’s stomach roiled with discomfort at the thought of what was about to happen, and she looked to the woods to see if there was any possibility of escape.
“Don’t even think about it,” said Johnson, grabbing her by the hair and forcing her to her knees. He knelt beside her and grabbed her by the back of her neck, ensuring that she had no chance of running. “Struggle all you want, but you are mine as a spoil of the war I wage against all who oppose me. We shall be joined through this ceremony, and I will plant my seed in you whether you want it or not.”
The medicine man began to chant words in a language Akala couldn’t understand. Hot tears spilled down over her cheeks and fell onto her mouth where they mingled with the blood that still trickled freely from her split lip. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about what was about to happen to her. The unintelligible words faded into the background as she tried to distance herself from her body.
Johnson’s fingers clenched on her neck, and she was yanked back to reality. It was too late for her to escape, and it was too late to expect a last minute rescue by Nashoba. There was nothing for her but pain and suffering from here on out, and Akala decided that she would find a way to die if she couldn’t fight back. Better that than to suffer this man’s touch for another moment.
EIGHT
There were so many conflicting scents in Johnson’s house that it was almost impossible for Nashoba to pick up Akala’s trail. He smelled her presence on several pieces of furniture, and he’d torn through most of the house in his wolf form, sniffing at every surface for a sign of her, but it was clear that neither she nor Johnson were still there.
It wasn’t until his third time running down one particular hallway, that he noticed the cleverly concealed stairwell that descended into some sort of sub-basement level. The further he ran along this path, the more powerful Akala’s scent became, and by the smell of it, she was traveling with only one other person. Nashoba knew that it had to be Johnson, and he pushed himself harder, burning through the effect of the clennestine leaf as he rushed towards Akala in the hopes that he wouldn’t be too late.
When he finally emerged into the small clearing in the woods where the smoldering remains of a fire still glowed in the darkness, he almost fell to his knees at the wall of energy that buzzed in that place. There was no sign of life, and he couldn’t find the source of the mysterious force that screamed in his brain and weakened his muscles.
Stumbling around the edge of the clearing, Nashoba struggled to pick up the scent he’d been following, pacing back and forth like a madman until he found what he was looking for and took off into the woods, putting as much distance between him and that unpleasant force as possible.
Dense undergrowth tore at his wounds and face as he rushed through in pursuit of the man who’d stolen his love and who’d given the order to kidnap the females of his tribe. His body ached from the fight in his village, and he’d taken several more hits as he’d fought his way through Johnson’s heavily guarded compound. If not for the clennestine leaf, he’d not even be able to stand, let alone run at such a fast pace. He tried not to think about what would happen to him once the effects wore off; Nashoba felt like he was barely holding on as it was.
The sound of someone chanting sacred words filtered through the trees, and Nashoba knew he was close. He also recognized some of the words in that chant, and he realized that a medicine man was officiating over a mating ceremony. The only logical explanation was not one that Nashoba was willing to accept, and he pushed himself harder, sprinting the last few yards until he reached the clearing where he saw Akala and Johnson kneeling before the medicine man.
“Johnson!” he called out, having shifted into human form as he reached the edge of the fire ring.
Johnson stood up quickly, pushing Akala back and knocking her to the ground in the process. The medicine man ceased his chanting and stepped back out of the circle, edging away from the rage he saw on Nashoba’s face.
“So you made it after all,” said Johnson with a sneer of his lips. “Just in time for me to beat some sense into you so you can watch me mate your bitch.”
“You’ll have to kill me if you want to take her,” growled Nashoba. “And I think we both know you don’t stand a chance in open combat.”
Johnson unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off, his broad shoulder and chest muscles flexing in the firelight. He was taller than Nashoba by several inches and his body seemed to ripple with strength while Nashoba looked like he might fall over at any minute. Calmly and methodically, Johnson removed the rest of his clothes, standing naked in the firelight to oppose his challenger.
“A formal challenge then?” asked Johnson. “For control of the tribes?”
“I do not seek to control any tribe but the Choctaw, but I will challenge you and win so that all the tribes might be freed from your tyranny.”
“So noble you are,” snarled Johnson. “I suppose you’re doing all this for that pathetic female over there, aren’t you.”
Nashoba looked to where Akala cowered against a large rock, too afraid to move or say anything. “I do this for her, and for every one of the girls you’ve kidnapped. I will destroy you for what you’ve done, and if you’re still alive to run away, I’ll ensure that you’re never allowed back on these lands again.”
“Enough talking,” said Johnson. “Let’s do this thing.”
The two men shifted into wolf form and circled each other slowly around the fire. Nashoba limped slightly from the pain in his side, and no amount of clennestine leaf could dull the pain that hammered at his ribs. In his current state, he was weaker than Johnson by far, but he couldn’t let that be the reason he didn’t save Akala. If he didn’t beat Johnson here, the man would only regroup and attack the Choctaw again. Even if Machk and the others got their girls out of there, Johnson wouldn’t give up until he’d snatched them up again.
The slow circling and assessing of each other’s strengths and weaknesses came to an abrupt end when Johnson leapt over the fire, his body flying through the flames to come crashing down on Nashoba. The move was completely unexpected, and Nashoba considered himself lucky to have taken the brunt of the blow on his uninjured side. He hit the ground and rolled free, regaining his feet just in time to fend off the next attack from his opponent.
Johnson came on fast and strong, striking and retreating, striking and retreating. Nashoba could barely keep his legs beneath him with each successive attack, and he worried for the first time that he might have been foolish to attempt this fight. Johnson was doing all the attacking, and Nashoba seemed to be able to do nothing more than keep himself from being pinned or mauled in a way that would prevent him from continuing the fight.
After several minutes of Johnson pressing hard with attack after attack, Nashoba managed to execute a last second pivot and kick his opponent into the fire, sending flaming logs and embers flying about the circle. Johnson whined and rolled about in the dirt, struggling to put out the embers that singed his fur, but rather than take advantage of this moment to make a move of his own, Nashoba stood panting, trying to regain his breath in order to survive the next round.
His eyes landed on Akala where she huddled against the rock. Fear shone in her eyes, and Nashoba nodded silently to her in an attempt to give her hope. He didn’t know if it was something he could follow through on, but seeing her brought his reasons for fighting to the front of his focus, and he knew he had to win at any cost.
Johnson was back on his feet only seconds after having been knocked through the flames, and once again the two wolves clashed in a furious whirlwind of teeth and claws. Nashoba abandoned his defenses and pushed his own attacks, lashing out where he could and feeling the satisfying connection of claws on hide. He broke away from Johnson and made as if to dodge to his right, exposing his weakened hind leg, hoping that his enemy would take the bait.
Sure enough, Johnson leapt in for an attack on what he perceived as a way to take down his opponent, but Nashoba had planned for that and he kicked hard off his good leg, sending himself up and around in a strenuous maneuver that resulted in him throwing his full weight against Johnson’s body. The large wolf clawed madly as he twisted and fell onto his side, but he was too slow to prevent Nashoba’s jaws from snapping in on his exposed throat, teeth clamping down hard and tearing away the soft flesh to expose a bloody patch of jugular.
Nashoba stumbled back and panted madly, shifting into his human form and collapsing to the ground, barely able to breathe through the pain that coursed through his body. He felt hands on him, and realized that Akala was there with him, her hands guiding his head into her lap as he fought to keep from passing out.
Johnson’s wolf form shifted slowly into human, and he lay there with one hand pressed against the deadly wound on his throat, his lifeblood oozing out to spill on the ground as he gurgled in his fight for air.
“Not… like… this…” said Johnson, his words barely audible as he shuddered and choked on his own blood.
“You deserve nothing less,” said Nashoba, finding the strength to sit up. “Your greed is what led to this moment. You broke the ancient truce between our people, and you went against the laws of our kind. No wolf should hunger for power as you did, and now you taste the reward of your lust for dominance.”
A bubble of blood formed on Johnson’s lips as he struggled for words, but nothing came out. A shudder passed through the man’s body one last time, and then he was still, his empty lifeless eyes staring at the man who’d bested him and the woman he’d tried to force into mating with him.
“Come,” said Nashoba, staggering to his feet and reaching a hand down to Akala. “Let’s get out of this place. It’s still not safe for us here.”
“Are you okay? Can you walk?”
“I’ll survive,” he said with an attempt at a smile. It came out as half a grimace, but the more he moved, the better his aching muscles felt.
“Lean on me.”
Akala slipped her arm around Nashoba’s waist and helped him walk into the woods and away from the medicine man’s tent. They heard shouts of fighting and confusion echoing from the village, and with Nashoba’s guidance, they were able to keep a safe distance and make their way around the cluster of buildings to the ridge where Nashoba had told Machk they would rendezvous if anything went wrong.
“You found her!” said the hunter as the pair stumbled up to the meeting place. “I wasn’t sure how much lo
nger I could wait for you here. You have no idea how glad I am to see both of you.”
“The girls?” asked Nashoba. “Did you find them all? Did you get them to safety?”
“My boys got them clear and they’ve been on their way back to our village for nearly half an hour now. We’re the only ones left.”
“Tell me we don’t have to go back through that,” said Akala, her eyes scanning the chaos in the village below. Armed guards were everywhere, and most of the village was out trying to put out the fire that had spread to several nearby cabins.
“We have a truck stashed in the woods. Nearby. Follow me and I’ll get us out of here.”
Machk set out a head to act as a scout in case any patrols still wandered the woods, and Akala and Nashoba followed behind at a distance. Nashoba had regained some of his strength, and he was able to walk without the help of Akala’s support. Still they stayed close together, looking for any excuse to let their arms or hands touch as they moved through dense bushes or climbed over fallen logs.
“Nashoba,” she asked quietly after he’d helped her cross a small by fast running stream. “What’s happening to your tribes? Why did Johnson want me so badly, and why are you so eager to find a mate?”
“It’s complicated,” grunted Nashoba. “I wish it didn’t have to be such an issue, and I would have preferred to not have put that pressure on you from the beginning, but it’s important to the future of my tribe that I produce offspring as soon as possible. I’ve already put it off for too long, and the elders have been pressuring me to do something about it.”
“Johnson said something similar about his reasons for kidnapping me and those other girls.” She hesitated and walked in silence for several minutes before continuing her thought. “You’re not… you don’t plan to take over the other tribes, do you?”
The Alpha's Mail Order Bride- The Complete Series Page 11
