by Terra Wolf
Ben was keeled over, trying to catch his breath now.
“Up by the Seer Lake farmhouses. It’s abandoned now. They used to store the weapons there before but they don’t use it anymore. If they were talking about it last night, they must have been planning something with it.”
I reached for him again and he winced and shifted away from me in fear. I squeezed his shoulder.
“Thanks, Ben. You’re a fucking star,” I told him.
Then I was gone. If Ben was telling the truth, that was exactly where the coyotes were holding Skylar.
Chapter 14
Skylar
Liam Mason was gone, and I was in the dark, by myself again. The binds they had used to tie my hands to the bed posts were tight and digging into my wrists. I was all cried out by now, I couldn’t cry anymore. All I could do was hope for all this to be over soon.
I didn’t want to be used as leverage. I wanted them to just kill me and be done with it. It was my fault they were going to use me to get to the clan. I had put all their lives at risk. I never should have come back to Nashville. I should have stayed away from here and out of Jackson’s life.
I hoped he didn’t come looking for me. I hoped he didn’t find me.
I’d stopped struggling against the ropes and ties some time ago. I wasn’t going anywhere. Even if I managed to somehow get myself free of the binds that tied me to the bed—then what? Where was I going to go from there? I was sure that the coyotes were outside the door. They were keeping an eye on me.
If I managed to escape, they were going to hunt me down like a wild animal. And then what? Kill me anyway? Or worse, teach me a lesson?
I’d seen the way Liam Mason had looked at me. At my legs and breasts and the spot between my thighs when my dress rode up. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to take me, or set his sons on me. I would die of sickness if they touched me like that. I couldn’t stand the thought.
But even then, despite everything that was happening; I couldn’t cry.
I tried to press my eyes closed and think of Jackson. Of how peaceful and beautiful it was to finally be with him. It almost seemed worth it…to come back to Nashville. To finally get my chance with him after all these years. Even if it was for one night.
I hoped that he would be safe. My fate was sealed, but I hoped he might have a long and contented life. But I knew Jackson. I knew how badly he wanted to protect me. If something happened to me tonight, and if he couldn’t save me—it would haunt him for the rest of his life. He would never be able to let it go.
So, either way, Jackson and I were going to be bound forever and I wished things were different. I wished my father had never died. That we’d never come to Nashville and he’d never joined the clan. That way, none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t have known a love like Jackson’s, but that was a price I was willing to pay for his safety.
I heard loud growls outside.
I struggled in the bed, trying to get free again. I had no idea where those growls had come from. They could have been outside. There was more fire and a ringing sound in my ears.
I screamed from fright.
I was fearful that it was Jackson. That he was outside trying to get to me. That he’d found me somehow! More growls and I could hear men’s voices outside. I could sense something was happening. I screamed more, till the back of my throat felt chaffed.
I hoped Jackson would be able to hear me. Suddenly, the spirit of life was revived in me and I wanted to survive. I wanted to be rescued.
“Jackson!” I screamed his name as loud as I could.
Then the door was opening. Someone was coming in.
I recognized him straight away. It was the guy I’d seen in my father’s office. The younger one. This had to be Braden, the son Liam was talking about being soft. The one who had looked directly at me in the cupboard and then looked away.
I wriggled and pulled as he stormed towards me.
“Stay quiet you bitch!” he growled and loomed over me. His eyes roamed all over my body. I knew he was thinking the same thing his father had—that I was a piece of meat available to him for the taking.
“Jackson!” I screamed his name again, and this time, Braden slapped me across the face.
“There’s nothing your boyfriend can do, so just fucking shut up!” he growled. He stretched himself over me and I thrashed my head from side to side. I could smell him, feel the weight of him pressing down on the bed.
His hot breath fell over me as he pushed himself down. I could feel his cock between his legs. He was turned on. There was some sort of a fight brewing outside! How was he turned on in the middle of this?
I tried to struggle against him, push him off, but he opened his mouth and sucked on my chin. I felt a wave of revulsion spark through my body. I thought I was going to be sick, but in the next instance…I bit him. I bit the top of his left cheek and he howled like a little girl and jumped away from me.
“Bitch!” he growled and slapped me again. Sending my face sideways.
“Braden! What the fuck are you doing? Get her out here!” There was someone else at the door now.
Braden was still standing over me, clutching his cheek where I’d bit him, glaring at me.
He reached for me again and I spat at his face, but this time, he slipped a knife out of his pocket and cut the ropes. I jumped up, thrusting myself into him but he caught me by my hair.
“Where do you think you’re going, bitch?” he growled and dragged me by my hair off the bed.
He dragged me outside. I could feel a sharp piercing ache in my skull from the pull of my hair. I was on the ground, being dragged behind him while Braden stalked outside.
It was dark outside, pitch black but I could sense people there. It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the lack of light.
Then I saw him.
It was Jackson. He was kneeling on the dusty ground with his hands up in the air in surrender. I cried out for him when I saw him like that. A group of five coyotes were standing around him in a circle. All of them in their coyote forms and they were each hunched over growling at him.
Jackson stared at me. I could see a gash on his forehead and what looked like a bite wound on his shoulder. His clothes were gone. He must have shifted. But then I noticed a handcuff on one of his hands. They had forced him back in his human form. There was fire in his eyes, even though there was no escape now. We were outnumbered.
“Jackson! I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” I cried.
Braden tightened his grip on my hair, yanking me to stay quiet.
Liam walked over to the coyotes standing over Jackson, and he looked at me, then at Jackson. There was an amused expression on his face. He was having fun.
“Reunited at last. How does it feel? Ah…to be young and in love!” Liam said and then laughed at his own sick joke.
I was crying again. Clutching at my cheeks as tears poured down. I couldn’t bear to see Jackson like this. On his knees, completely helpless surrounded by coyotes.
“Just let her go, Liam, and we can talk—man to man,” Jackson said, dragging his gaze away from me.
Liam threw back his head and laughed.
“You think I’m an idiot? The only reason I have you here now is because of her. So, first, I’m going to get what I want.”
I could see Jackson clenching his jaw.
“Don’t give him anything. Jackson, please!” I screamed.
Braden yanked me by my hair again and I saw Jackson flinch. He was doing the best he could to not lash out at the men. I shook my head at him, pleading him with his eyes.
The last thing I wanted was for the coyotes to win.
“What do you want?” Jackson looked at Liam again.
“Complete surrender. Give up all your territory and back out of the business.”
“No! Don’t give him anything!” I screamed.
“Skylar! Don’t. Just be quiet!” Jackson shouted at me and I clamped my mouth shut. Above me, Braden was sniggering.
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“Just let her go and I’ll tell you everything,” Jackson said and Liam shook his head.
“You want me to let her go so she can get your family to storm this place? I’m not an idiot, Jackson. How many times do I have to remind you?” Liam answered, through gritted teeth.
I sobbed, bawling as I sat kneeling on the ground with Braden still gripping my hair tightly.
“If you don’t let Skylar go, you’re not getting anything from me.” Jackson replied.
Chapter 15
Jackson
I didn’t care what happened to the clan’s business anymore. I needed to get Skylar out of here and to safety.
Liam was glaring at me, refusing to budge on the deal.
“Meet my demands, and then maybe I’ll let your little girlfriend live,” he said.
I was regretting coming here by myself. I shouldn’t have been so confident to think that I could storm this place by myself. I was clearly outnumbered now, and I had no choice but to either meet their demands or watch Skylar killed, before I met the same fate.
“How am I supposed to trust you’ll let her go after I give you everything?” I hissed at him and Liam laughed.
“I guess you’ll just have to take a gentleman’s word,” he replied.
“The last thing you are is a gentleman, you fuck!” I growled at him.
Liam arched his eyebrows, then he turned to his son Braden who was holding Skylar by her hair. He gave him a nod and Braden whacked her face.
Skylar screeched and fell to the side and he picked her up again. She had a split lip now and I felt like choking every one of them to death.
“Is there anything else you would like to say to me, Jackson?” Liam turned to me again.
I was glaring at him, wishing death on him and his pack—but I knew I couldn’t physically do anything. If I did, they were going to hurt Skylar. That was the control they had over me now.
“Good. That’s what I thought. Now, should we all go inside and sit down and have a little chat?” Liam asked.
I grunted a response. There was no other choice. My best bet right now was to do what they told me to, and hope that eventually, they’d let Skylar live.
I was about to stand up off the ground when there was a loud growl behind us. I had no idea where it had come from, but I took the opportunity of distraction to stand up and rip the cuff from my wrist.
“Fuck!” I heard Liam growl as I shifted and let my bear take over. The coyotes growled in front of me.
“Take her inside. Kill her if you have to!” Liam shouted at Braden and I swiped one of my large claws at Liam as he shifted to his coyote form.
Braden started to pull Skylar back by the hair. I let out a loud roar as I stood back on my hind legs. All of the sudden, I watched Skylar’s body start to shake. Braden stared down at his hand as he tried to hold on to her hair. But her body was changing. In a second Braden lost his grip as Skylar shifted into a small brown bear. Our eyes connected for a second and I could see her almost smile, before she let out a roar and turned to swipe Braden with her claws.
Braden stood there in shock. No one believed a half shifter could go through the change.
With one large swipe Skylar knocked Braden to the ground. Once he hit the pavement she lunged for his throat before he even had a chance to shift. I turned back towards Liam as I heard the distinct sound of Braden’s neck snapping in Skylar’s jaws.
Liam let out a loud growl and lunged at me, but I was too quick for him. I braced myself and swatted at his face when he got close. I felt another coyote try and bite my heel but he was quickly pulled off. I turned slighty and saw Lincoln’s bear fighting with the coyote.
My brothers had brought the entire clan with them. There were growls and howls coming from everywhere, and we all realized that the clan outnumbered the pack.
In the commotion, despite taking swipes at him; Liam had run away. I looked up to see that Skylar was still shaking Braden’s body in her jaws, but she didn’t notice Liam’s coyote behind her.
I was running through fight. As I ran coyotes tried to stop me but my power behind my paws was stronger than they were.
I weaved towards them. Skylar had dropped Braden and I noticed the anger and fear that had forced her change was dissipating. She transformed back into her human form and she dropped to the ground. As she did, Liam transformed and grabbed her again by the hair. Skylar wasn’t crying anymore. She was glaring at me, trying to plead me to leave her, to back away now that I had the chance. I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Jackson!” I heard my brothers shout at me while they continued to battle the last standing coyotes.
Liam had Skylar in front of him. He was had his hand wrapped around her neck. I knew he would easily snap it, given the chance.
“What are you going to do now, boyfriend?” he sniggered. I reared back up on my hind legs and let out a loud growl. He’d shielded himself completely, including his head with Skylar’s body. If I attacked, I would end up hurting her. His back was to the warehouse. I knew that if he managed to back into it, he’d shut the door on us and he’d kill Skylar.
I could feel my body shaking now as I tried to decide what to do.
“Jackson, please, just leave me and go!” she pleaded.
“Listen to the girl, Jackson. Go.” Liam shouted.
“Jackson. Now!” I saw Grant flash in front of me. He was running sideways, in Liam’s direction. Liam made the mistake of reacting and he turned to the side. I swiped him in the arm first and he growled, releasing Skylar who fell to the ground. I lunged at him and let my jaws sink in the side of his torso.
Skylar screamed, dragging herself away from him.
“Fuck you Jackson!” I heard Liam spat out.
I dropped him out of my jaws, and I shifted into my human form.
“This is for killing Michael Adams.” I hissed and I reached down and snapped his neck.
The world seemed to stand still around me. I’d never killed so many coyotes. Who had I become? What was I capable of doing to protect Skylar?
I couldn’t even see her anymore. She’d dragged herself away from the site. When I turned to her, she was sitting on the ground, rocking herself with her arms around her knees.
“Jackson…Jackson…” she was mumbling my name. I loved this woman. I would do this all over again if I had to, to keep her safe.
***
I went to Skylar. Placing my hands on her shoulders, I pulled her up and tangled my arms around her. She buried her face in my chest, holding on to me like she never wanted to let me go.
“Jackson, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I dragged you into this,” she sobbed as I stroked her hair.
“You have nothing to be sorry about, Skylar. None of this is your fault. I’m the one who led the coyotes to you. It’s my fault!” I spoke to her tenderly. My face was buried in her soft chestnut curls.
She shook her head, drawing herself from me.
“I shouldn’t have come back. I should have listened to you and stayed away from Nashville,” she cried. I stroked her soft cheeks with my thumbs.
“If you hadn’t returned, we would never have found each other again. I love you, Skylar. I’ve always been in love with you. You are my true mate.”
I didn’t want to waste another moment in telling her the truth. I wanted to tell her exactly what I’d always wanted to say. Skylar’s mouth fell open. She was peering into my eyes.
“I love you too, Jackson. I came back for you, because I wanted to see you again,” she said.
I kissed her then, holding her tightly in my arms. She sank into me, kissing me back as wildly as I was kissing her. My fingers were in her hair, my mouth was everywhere. It didn’t matter where we were, what had happened before this moment. All I cared about was having her in my arms right now.
When Skylar drew herself away from me, she was breathless but her eyes were bright.
“It’s over now, Skylar,” I told her and she nodded her head. Her eyes were wate
ry again, and I could see she was struggling to stay brave and not cry.
“Thank you, for everything you’ve done. Finally, my father’s soul will rest in peace.”
I kissed her forehead and she smiled weakly at me.
“We should get some clothes on,” she said, looking at my body. I hadn’t even realized it all this while that she was in my arms.
“I’ll get us some. Are you okay?” I asked and she nodded.
“I’m fine now,” she replied and sank into my arms again. I couldn’t get enough of holding her. Of finally having Skylar in my arms. I never should have forced her to leave Nashville. I should have taken care of the problem right away. Liam and Braden should have been dead a long time ago.
“Skylar!” It was Lincoln’s voice behind us, and he threw us both some pants and a shirt to throw on.
She slowly drew herself away from me and looked at my clan. Grant and Lincoln were standing there—staring at her like she was totally unreal.
“Hello boys!” she exclaimed and I watched as a wide smile broke out on her face. She quickly got dressed and stood up.
Grant threw his arms wide open and she ran into them. I stood back as I watched them hug her tightly.
“We had no idea where you were. Are you okay? We’ve all been so worried for you!” Grant said, still holding her. She was like a baby sister to them. They’d watched her grow up with me, and then she’d disappeared. And I’d always known they were worried for her.
Skylar looked at me.
“I sent her away, to get away from the coyotes ten years ago,” I replied and my brothers looked at me, shocked.
“You have a lot of explaining to do!” Lincoln said and thumped my back. We were all wounded, but not severely. Our healing abilities would take care of things shortly. The rest of the can was clearing up the mess around us, taking care of the coyote’s possessions inside the warehouse.
“I’ll explain everything,” I told them with a smirk. “Why did you follow me?”
Grant shrugged.
“We knew something was up. We went to Tin Roof and beat up Ben some more till he told us what he told you,” he explained. I shook my head. Poor Ben. He was probably the only half-decent coyote, even though he was a useless junkie.
