by Daisy Dunn
“Do you know who Simon is?” Flame felt a renewal of hope run through her veins.
“Yes, we do. He’s a scout for the hunters. He’s always searching for our kind,” Levi stated. A look of regret crossed his face as soon as he said it.
“Do you mean werewolves? Ivy told me, but don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. Now tell me about this Simon.”
“We’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him, but he has a reputation for being ruthless. I can’t imagine why he’s taken Ivy. He doesn’t know about us.” Luke looked perplexed while he ran his hands through his hair in a gruff manner. His frustration and worry were evident to Flame.
“Or does he? Maybe he picked up something about you two and has been keeping an eye on you. Do you turn into werewolves around the full moon? Could he have seen you?”
Levi paced the shop like a caged beast, seemingly half listening to Flame. “Changing during the full moon is a myth. We can change at will and always have dominance over our wolves. They try to break free, but we keep a tight rein on them.” Levi walked to the front counter and sniffed the air. Luke walked to the other side of Levi and started to sniff the counter itself.
“Do you smell it, Luke?”
“It’s subtle, but it’s there.”
“What is it?” Flame asked anxiously.
“Chloroform,” they both replied.
“Can you follow the scent?”
“Let’s go outside to where she disappeared,” Luke commanded, the tremor in his voice almost imperceptible.
Flame could feel the anger and worry rolling off both men. “Follow me.”
They all ran to the far end of the store and into the back lane. The men continued to sniff the air around them, walking up and down the lane as Flame stood nervously watching them.
Luke and Levi came walking back to Flame, looking even less confident as they did when they first arrived. “I can smell Simon and Ivy right here, but with the strong wind, it’s blown the scent all over the place. I can’t get a fix on it. Dammit, Luke, what are we going to do?” Flame noticed Levi swallow hard and ball his hands up into fists, as if he would explode with rage and distress.
Flame’s hope returned again, and she snapped her fingers. “I know someone who can help us solve this problem. Let me make a phone call.”
Chapter 8
Skye arrived at the shop about half an hour after Flame called her. She appeared rough around the edges yet still managed to look beautiful. Her long blonde hair hung down her back and in her face, covering quite a bit of it. She also wore large black sunglasses, which hid even more of her face.
“I’m here, and I came as fast as I could. Is Ivy still missing?” Skye asked while trying to look hopeful.
Even with Skye’s face nearly covered, Flame could see the pain Skye suffered, but nothing compared to the pain of losing Ivy. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”
Skye snapped her head up quickly and immediately placed her hands on her forehead. “Ouch. What exactly happened?”
“A man came in here not too long ago and lured her out into the back lane. She has disappeared, and Luke and Levi smell traces of chloroform.”
“Oh my God, poor Ivy. We have to find her.” Skye’s voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks. She began to wring her hands together while her body tensed.
“We will, sweetie.” Flame wrapped her arms around Skye gently, trying to stay strong for her. “This is where you come in. We need you.”
“Anything. You name it, and I’ll do it.”
“I knew you’d help. Come with me to the back lane. The boys are waiting for us.” Flame took Skye’s hand in hers and pulled her out the back door to the awaiting men. They still wandered in the lane, trying to pick up Ivy’s scent.
“Any luck?” Flame called out, hoping the scent remained.
“I can smell it, but it I can’t hone in on it. The wind is still not working with us.” The calm, confident façade on Levi’s face he seemed to so desperately want to portray started to crumble, and the faintest traces of fear crept in.
“Skye, this is Levi, and you remember Luke over there.” They all nodded at each other, the occasion not a happy one to be meeting new people. “We need you to direct the wind, calm it down, and help the boys pick up the scent. I know you’re hurting right now, but this is a matter of life or death.”
“Pain or no pain, I’ll do anything to get our Ivy back. Everyone stand back against the building,” Skye commanded, taking off her sunglasses and handing them to Flame. She walked to the middle of the lane, lifted her arms in the air, and closed her eyes.
The wind picked up slowly at first in short, strong gusts. The power of the wind grew stronger, blowing against Skye from all directions. Her hair blew straight up in the air as the powerful gusts circled her body. Paper cups, napkins, a plastic bag, and various other items the wind had collected from the back lane swirled in one direction around Skye and then in the other. Her hands moved with the direction of the wind, conducting nature’s orchestra.
Skye opened her eyes, and the wind stopped dead. An eerie calm came across the back lane. She dropped her hands to her side and turned to the men. “I had a talk with the wind, and she has agreed to help you.”
Flame couldn’t suppress a faint smile as the men stared in awe at Skye. “Well, boys, let’s find our Ivy.”
Levi slapped Luke on the shoulder and pointed north. “I’m scenting her in this direction.”
“Me, too. Whatever you did, Skye, it’s working.”
“We’re going to follow behind you two,” Flame stated.
“No, absolutely not,” Luke stated emphatically as Levi continued heading north.
“Why not?” Skye chimed in, her hangover seemingly forgotten.
“This man or men who have taken our Ivy are extremely dangerous. I don’t want anything to happen to you two women.”
“We can take care of ourselves. I can assure you,” Skye added.
“We don’t have weapons on us, we don’t know what we’re going to come across when we find Ivy, and we only have our beasts to aid us. I can’t guarantee we could protect you two.”
Flame stepped away from Levi and Skye. She held out her hand, palm side up. A burst of flame appeared on her hand. It flickered gently, mesmerizing Luke. She suddenly balled up her fist with the fire inside and threw the fireball at a garbage can, blasting a hole straight through the galvanized steel can. She glanced at Luke with her hands on her hips, daring him to deny her from coming with them.
Luke’s mouth gaped open briefly at Flame. “Okay, let’s go.” He ran after his brother, with Flame and Skye following right behind.
* * * *
When Simon arrived back at his rental house, surrounded by forest, he easily carried Ivy’s body inside without worry of anyone witnessing his crime. He took her into his bedroom on the second floor of the house and tossed her unceremoniously on his bed. His heart continued to pound with excitement, his erection painful against his jeans. “God, I want to fuck you so bad, but I love it when a woman struggles. I’ll wait until you’re awake.”
Ivy lay passed out on the bed while Simon started to remove her clothing, her jeans, socks, and T-shirt. He stood over the bed, staring down at his prisoner in her turquoise-blue push-up bra and matching lace boy-short panties. “I don’t know if I want to kill you right away. You’re the sexiest thing I’ve had in my possession for a while.”
He reached down and pulled her panties off, followed by her bra. She lay there, exposed to his lecherous gaze as he took in every inch of her body. He rubbed the crotch in his jeans, trying desperately to relieve the pulsing ache. She moved slightly, rolling her head to the side.
Reality crept back into his thoughts, snapping him out of his sexual fantasyland. He needed to secure her first before he could even think about touching her. He went into his closet and pulled out a coil of rope he kept on hand for these occasions. He also had a wooden chair in the corner he could use. He grabbed it, du
mping his dirty clothes piled on it onto the floor. He set the chair down at the end of the bed and went back to Ivy’s limp body. He picked her up, his hand squeezing her ass, and placed her sitting up on the chair.
She started to fall forward, but he grabbed her before she hit the floor. Holding her back against the chair with one hand, he clumsily wrapped the thick rope around her midsection. He continued to wind the rope around her firmly, with her hands behind her back. He knew she wouldn’t be able to move. He stood back and looked at his handwork. Her breasts were the only skin on her torso showing, her nipples erect from the cool air in the house.
He couldn’t take much more of the pressure in his loins. His cock pleaded for relief from its confinement, and his balls begged for release. He obliged the demands of his body, pulling his cock out from his newly unzipped jeans, and started to stroke his erection. He stared at her exposed nipples and imaged the multitude of sexual positions he planned to carry through with her, causing a wave of pleasure to shoot straight to his balls.
He felt his body getting higher, closing in on the pleasure awaiting him. His hand moved faster on his rod and, in turn, he pulled harder on her nipple. Suddenly, an alarm went off. Someone came into his yard. Instantly, his desire left him, and he shoved his withering cock back into his pants.
On high alert, he ran out of the bedroom, locking the door behind him. He needed his firearm full of silver bullets and a place to hide in line with the front and back doors. Whoever dared to come in wouldn’t be alive for long. This he vowed.
* * * *
“Shit, Luke. You stepped on a wire. I’m sure they’re alerted to us now,” Levi whispered forcefully behind his brother. They stood at the edge of a long driveway, looking at a two-story white house mostly hidden among the dense pine trees.
“Dammit! How could I be so stupid? I’m so worried for Ivy I’m not thinking straight.”
“Well, get your act together. We can’t afford to make any more mistakes like this.”
“Okay, Levi. What do you think? Do you want to take the front or the back?”
“I’ll stalk my way over to the front while you guys go around the back.”
“I’m coming with you, Levi,” Skye whispered. “I have a gut feeling that Ivy’s deep inside the house, tucked away in a bedroom or basement. My instincts about my Elemental sisters are always right.
“No, it’s too dangerous. I don’t even want you going to the back of the house, but your relentless arguing is wearing me down.”
“Then why don’t you let us help and stop worrying about our safety. You want in the front door? I’ll get you in the damn front door. Come with me.” Skye took off toward the trees, hiding behind them as she moved closer to the house.
Levi sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. “Alright, we’ll pound through the front door in a minute, distracting Simon while you two gain entry from the back and search for Ivy. We don’t know if Simon is alone or not. Be prepared for more hunters.”
“Come on, Flame. Let’s head to the back through the pine trees running alongside the driveway. Follow me.” Luke motioned Flame to follow with a quick wave of his hand.
Levi watched the two run into the trees, disappearing into the thick pines. He turned his attention back to Skye and ran after her. She moved slow, which allowed Levi to catch up. They were close to the front entrance, standing behind the same tree.
“What are you planning to do, Skye?”
“Let’s just say if he’s anywhere close to the door, he won’t be able to attack us in any way. Now, let’s move!” Skye ran for the front door, crouched down with her arms pointed up into the air.
Levi ran behind her, not sure about her capabilities but admiring her tenacity in the face of an ugly hangover.
“Stay behind me and off to the side, Levi,” Skye commanded with great authority.
Levi felt the wind pick up behind him, stirring up old rotting vegetation and dead pine needles strewn about the front lawn. He stepped aside into complete calm as the wind picked up behind Skye. He realized how much control she had over the air.
Skye’s arms flew forward, pointing straight at the door. It flew open, the wind rushing through the door as a cyclone, throwing furniture and tables around the room and shattering them all to pieces as they bounced off the walls.
Levi stood behind Skye, amazed at her powers and ashamed he doubted her abilities. In all the chaos, he managed to spot Simon crouched in a corner outside of the turmoil going on in the living room. Their gazes met, and a knowing grin crossed Simon’s face. He lifted and pointed his gun at Levi, only to have it whipped out of his hand, joining the turbulent air swirling close to him. He stood up and ran, heading for the back entrance.
The door burst open and crashed against the wall across the room. Black burn marks marred the door. Simon jumped, obviously startled from the most recent intrusion. Trapped in the house, he made a quick dash for the stairs, heading away from the group surrounding him.
Once he arrived on the second floor, Levi could clearly see Simon run to the room at the end of the hall, fumbling with his keys along the way. He quickly unlocked the door, with the four intruders barreling down behind him, somehow finding the right key on the first try. He rushed in, slammed the door, and locked it on the other side. The group of them ran to the closed door, and Flame yelled out, “Stand back!”
The three companions took a few steps back in unison while Flame raised her hands in front of the door only a few inches away. Levi watched in awe as fire burst from her hands and struck the door. He heard the sound of wood splintering as the door flung open from the force of her directed fireballs. These friends of Ivy’s amazed him. They had the ability to handle themselves and help with the rescue rather than hinder it. He promised himself to apologize to them at a more opportune time.
When the brief burst of smoke cleared, they ran into the master bedroom and noticed Ivy sitting in a chair, naked. Her ropes were in the process of being untied by some vines protruding through an open window. Levi’s heart caught in his throat, imagining what horrors Simon could have inflicted upon his mate. He ran to her side, helping the long arms of vines untie the rest of her bonds.
Luke and Skye cased the room, looking for Simon, while Flame found Ivy’s clothes scattered on the floor and gathered them together.
With the ropes finally untied, Levi tenderly placed his hands on Ivy’s face. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?” It ripped his soul out waiting to hear her reply.
“I think I’m okay. I don’t remember much. I woke up a few minutes ago tied up to this chair. I heard all the commotion going on outside this room, so I called the earth to my aid.”
Relief flooded through Levi’s body. He kissed her lips tenderly while he held her in his arms, never wanting to let her go. She let her body relax and fall into his embrace. “Whoa, I’m still a little light-headed.”
“I’ve got you, sweetie.”
Flame came over with her clothes and kissed her forehead. “Why don’t I help Ivy get dressed, and you guys see where Simon’s heading.” She nodded her head toward the window.
Levi let go of Ivy and ran to the window, where Skye and Luke stood.
“He must have shimmied down the vines as they untied Ivy’s bonds. The brush is dense, and the trees are so tight together, I can’t see him.”
“We can track him, though. His pungent scent is strong. Let’s go.”
Levi and Luke quickly removed all of their clothes and shoes. They proceeded to jump out the second-story window and transform into werewolves as they fell. They hit the ground on their ferocious paws, running at full speed toward their prey. Levi heard a sound behind him and turned his head slightly to see Skye running to catch up with them. Frustrated, he picked up the pace again to match Luke’s gait.
The dense forest slowed them all down, but they remained close to their goal. Within minutes, they caught up to Simon and watched as he ran into a small clearing and stopped short. His arms waved for
balance as he stood on the edge of a rocky abyss. He managed to stop himself from falling forward but turned to face his accusers.
He reached behind his back and, within a second, pulled out a knife and flung it at Luke’s werewolf. It punctured his thigh, and he went down with a furious howl. Simon tried the same trick on Levi’s werewolf, but this time, Skye had been prepared. As the knife sliced through the air, she held her hands up and used the wind to change the direction and trajectory of the knife. It now flew toward Simon at full speed. He ducked in time but stood too close to the edge, teetering on the brink of falling.
With a mighty leap, filled with rage and hatred, Levi bridged the distance between himself and Simon, placing his giant paws on his chest and pushing him over the edge. In Levi’s explosive fury, he misjudged the distance and sailed over side of the rocky ridge with nothing but Simon to break his fall. In those precious seconds he had left to live, he thought of his Ivy and prayed Luke would take care of her and treat her the way she deserved to be treated. His soul would forever be tied to Ivy’s, but he knew his brother’s would be, too.
Stillness crept over him, the sound of Simon’s horrific screams deadened in his furry ears. Am I dead? Did I hit the bottom and die instantly? The only sound returning to him were great gusts of wind surrounding him, cradling his body, and defying gravity by floating him back up to the edge of the ridge. Once his werewolf body safely hovered on land, the wind dropped him, and he crashed two feet to the safety of the ground.
He landed on his side and rolled onto his back, panting from his close brush with death, his heart practically bursting through his chest. He stared up at the sky in a daze, thankful to be alive. He turned his head slowly and looked at Skye, who also lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily. She gave him a brief smile then resumed staring off into space. He could only imagine the strength it must have taken for her to accomplish his rescue, and knew he would always be grateful for it.
