“Everyone else is gone. It’s just you and me, Jossy, but there isn’t anything wrong with what’s between us. You’re pack. I’ll kill any wolf who insults you or doubts the validity of my protection. I don’t think you should sleep before dawn. Keep the gun close. I want to stay in this room with you tonight.”
Joslyn chuckled. “Maybe I can teach you how to play fetch?”
Kane’s mouth twisted into a wry grin. “As usual, you can’t take anything seriously.”
“Life is too short.”
The grin slid off his face. “Not for you, not if I have anything to do with it. Damn it, Jossy. I refuse to lose you!”
“Well, the universe had better behave because you say so.”
“There’s no talking to you when you’re like this. Not everything has to be a joke.”
“Yes, it does. It’s how I cope.”
Kane growled and pulled her into his arms. “I love you. Stay alive until morning, and I’ll show you how much I appreciate you obeying me.”
Desire slammed into her and the breath caught in her throat. Her little exhale put a smile on his face.
“You have no idea how sexy you look right now. I can smell how much you want me. If I were a human, I’d have you on a plane and in Las Vegas tonight. Seriously, if you need a human ceremony, we can do that. Whatever it takes for you to accept my protection, it’s yours.”
“Stay safe,” she whispered. Her throat was so tight it was hard to get the words out. “Just come back home.”
His beautiful blue eyes lit the room with the supernatural wolf glow as he gathered her in his arms. Kane nuzzled her neck, groaning. “This is hell,” he whispered. “I lost a lot of sleep this year thinking about you, worrying about you. Now that you’re home and you know how I feel all I want to do is hold you.”
Joslyn didn’t want him to stop holding her, but she could see the strain on his face. She caressed his bearded cheek. The normally trim goatee was gone in the mass of bushy growth. The hair on his head and arms were longer too. The changes he tried to hold back were happening, and strain and pain were stark on Kane’s face.
She rested her cheek against his chest for just a moment. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re damn right you aren’t. You’re mine. I love you.”
“Go do what you have to do. I’m here, and I have that.” She pointed to the gun on her dresser.
“It’s not enough.” Kane pressed his lips to hers.
Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let him kiss her. Groaning against his mouth, she relished the sensation until he pulled away.
“I’ll be close. I swear.” He turned to go. “Lock the door and don’t leave the room.”
When he shut the door, she stood in the center of her cozy space.
“Lock it!” he called from the other side.
The bereft trance ended, and she rushed to the door and turned the lock until the bolt snicked in place. Joslyn pressed against the door as she listened to Kane’s brief agony. The transformation was easier on a born, but it wasn’t without pain. Adrenaline helped ease some of the agony, but she hated knowing he hurt. For a long time she stood by the door, but then she reached over to flip off the light. Another distant howl made the hair on her neck and arms stand up. She shivered.
“What am I doing cowering in the corner?” She backed up and shook her head.
For a sense of security, she grabbed the gun and took it with her downstairs. Normally, when she was home she cleaned up the kitchen for the staff during the full moon. They always prepared an elegant meal but had no time for clean up because they had to run like the rest of the pack. She’d seen them exhausted but cleaning the morning after, and then one night there had been nothing good on TV and she’d finished her book, so she cleaned up the mess to distract herself. Sissy was so grateful that Joslyn just kept doing it. If there were ever a night she needed to be distracted, it was tonight.
She set the gun on the long buffet before clearing away the bowls of cold soup. She didn’t turn on too many lights in case Kane was lurking anxiously outside.
“It must be awful to be controlled by the moon,” Joslyn muttered to herself as she turned on the faucet and then the garbage disposal. She dumped the bowls of uneaten soup; the loud gurgle was preferable to the tomb-like silence. She poured the congealing leftovers into a dish and covered it before putting it in the refrigerator. If the situation hadn’t been dire, Sissy would never have left so much to do.
Joslyn shivered. I wonder if she’s safe, if they’re all safe. An image of Kane broken and bloody filled her head. He was a silver wolf when he changed. His fur was beautiful, soft. Once, when she’d been fourteen and dying of curiosity, he’d changed for her. She’d marveled at the wolf, and when he let her pet him her heart had thundered. No experience in her life had been as memorable.
Closing her eyes, she relished the memory of his thick pelt. Kane. She fell in love with him that day. Her teenage heart had kept the secret, and she’d never whispered her feelings to another soul. Now he could be mine. She pushed the thought away as she stacked dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
Something crashed, causing Joslyn to jump. Another horrendous cacophony followed by a bang told her something had broken through Michael’s locked office door.
The gun. Terror sent cold spikes down her body, and she shook so badly she had trouble running. When she entered the dining room, her weapon wasn’t on the long buffet where she’d left it.
“Hello there.” The male voice came from the shadows to her left, and she whirled around, stumbling as her knees wobbled. This wasn’t a wolf or a bitten. He had an accent. Boston maybe?
“If you want money, I don’t know the combination to the safe.” Joslyn tried to keep her voice level, but the fluctuation in volume gave away her fear. “Take anything you want, but go.”
The man stepped into the dim light, and she noticed he had very dark eyes and black hair. He would have been handsome if it wasn’t for the fact he had a puckered scar down his face. The wound must have been nasty. Whatever happened to him must have been terrible.
“If you’re in trouble, let me help you. Instead of robbing us and making things worse, let me see what I can do to help you get work and a place to stay. I’ll tell them the damage came from someone else.”
His eyes widened, but then he laughed. “I’m only here for one thing.” He paused and smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his angry eyes. “You.”
Joslyn had begun backing out of the room.
The interloper took a step toward her. “Boo!”
She shrieked and rushed toward the door. Even with the full moon, it would be safer outside. If any of Kane’s pack saw the man chasing her, he wouldn’t live long.
Pushing the door open, Joslyn ran down the dark hall. Goosebumps rose on her arms. The only sound was her heavy breathing from fear and exertion. Turning the corner, she rushed into the foyer and skidded to a stop. Three big gray wolves blocked the door. The middle one, he was the biggest, growled. She backed up, and when her back connected with the intruder’s chest she jerked and lunged forward.
He grabbed her arms in a painful vise grip. “Gotcha. You’re coming with me.”
“What do you want? Why are you doing this?”
Laughter was his only reply. He pulled her along through the door and outside.
“Help!”
A backhand across the face left her lip bleeding. He laughed again. “Shut up, little girl.”
When she opened her mouth to scream again, his dirty palm suffocated her. She struggled because she couldn’t breathe. He pushed her into the back of a dark blue van. She gasped for air, but didn’t get another chance to shout as the door slammed closed in her face. She tried to open the door, but another man was waiting in the van and grabbed her. She struggled, but he was too strong. A wolf howled outside. She tried to get out the door. If she could just get out her pack could help.
> The sound of duct tape yanked from its roll made her turn, and her kidnapper’s accomplice pulled her down and overpowered her enough to wrap her hands together tightly. She kicked out at him and screamed as he taped her ankles together. Then he gave her a wicked grin and taped her mouth. She could still breathe, but the claustrophobic sensation made her heart leap with panic. Tears rolled out of her eyes, but she couldn’t wipe them away.
“It’s done. Drive.” Kidnapper Number Two left her lying there as he moved to the front and sat in the passenger seat.
Why are humans helping werewolves? I should have listened to Kane. He’ll feel so guilty about this, but it’s my fault.
The first kidnapper slapped the steering wheel. “He said to leave her in the barn, but that’s too exposed.” He emitted an irritated groan. “Damn it! We’re going to get caught.”
All she could do was listen to the men talk in hopes some of her questions might be answered.
The second kidnapper grunted. “We won’t get caught.”
Kidnapper Number One huffed. “We might. And I’m not a killer. I just need the money. He promised he wouldn’t bite her.”
The second one didn’t reply, and the first one grew sullen and silent. Joslyn lay looking at the dingy roof. She wished she could rub her eyes; they were uncomfortable from crying.
“He’s going to give her his protection.”
Protection? Joslyn struggled in earnest. I have to get out of here. I know he isn’t my Kane. She stilled momentarily at the thought. My Kane?
Chapter 5
Kane watched his woman suffer. Feeling Joslyn’s fear through the bond was incredibly painful. He started to go to her.
“Stop!” his father commanded, using the telepathic pack bond. “You’ll get yourself killed.”
Kane saw it then—the man had his gun with the silver bullets in his back pocket. “Damn it. What are we going to do?” He just wanted to do his duty. She might not accept him, but he’d given her his protection. She was his, and he’d get her back.
“We’ll get her back. I promise we will.”
His father’s promise rang hollow as Joslyn’s terror escalated. He’d make them pay. Whatever they were doing to her in that van he’d do to them, but worse. They’d learn what real pain was.
In the distance, his mother howled, a signal the women were safe. But not my woman. I’ll kill to get her back.
“Kane, you can help her, but only if you’re alive.”
As much as he hated it, his father was right. “I offered her my protection. I’m failing.”
“Did she accept?”
“No.”
“That may be for the best. We will get her back. I care for her too.”
When the truck pulled off they ran after it, but quickly fell behind and lost them. Even a wolf couldn’t match highway speeds. Kane howled in the darkness, determined to get his woman back.
* * * *
The barn floor was cold. Joslyn shivered. Dawn light streamed through the decrepit, abandoned barn. She’d slept fitfully, but at least she’d slept enough to function. During the night she’d tried to work the tape off her hands by rubbing it against cracked boards, but all she’d gained for her efforts were splinters and bleeding wrists.
I wish I’d listened and stayed in my room behind a locked door holding that gun!
Footsteps made Joslyn gasp, and she pulled her hands away from the board, obscuring the area of tape where she’d made some small progress.
Tobias came close enough that she could see him in the dim morning light. He wore jeans and nothing else. His broad, muscular chest bore scars from wolf fights. He was handsome, but he was such a jerk that she found him repugnant.
“Hello, Jossy. It’s good to see you again.” Tobias crouched down in front of her. “I’m sorry for the rough treatment, but I needed to give your pack a good show. You’re going to be my mate.”
“No.” Joslyn glared at him. “Why would I ever do that?”
“Because of this.” Tobias stood up and looked at the doorway. “Bring her in!”
Mary! Her best friend struggled against Kidnapper Number One’s hold.
“Are you okay?” Joslyn tried to stand, but the tape on her feet kept her seated.
Mary nodded.
Tobias laughed. “But for how long? That’s the big question here, and only you have the answer, Jossy. I know Kane cares about you, more than brotherly love, and that makes me want you. You’re beautiful, but I’m not usually interested in humans. You’re going to be my mate, but only until I get bored and kill you.”
“Why do you hate Kane so much?”
“It’s not just Kane—I hate them all. The whole family will suffer when you’re mine, but Kane most of all.” Tobias cut the tape holding her feet. “You’re not going to misbehave because I won’t punish you, I’ll punish her.” Then he removed the bonds from her arms. He took her hand and studied her damaged wrist. “You’re a feisty one. I’ll enjoy breaking you.”
“I’ll enjoy kicking you in the…” Joslyn stopped talking as Mary screamed. Kidnapper Number One was pulling her head back and held a knife to her throat.
“You’ll behave unless you don’t care what happens to Mary.”
Mary screamed again, and Joslyn saw blood running down the blade.
“I’m sorry. Please stop. I’ll do whatever you say!”
Tobias smiled. “I thought you would. Now we’re going into town to make things official. I know humans need an elaborate ceremony. You’ll enjoy what I have planned.”
“Are you planning to expose your kind to the humans in town? How stupid are you?”
“You’re going to find out just how smart I am soon. Besides, after my new friends are finished there won’t be any humans left alive in town.” Tobias smiled, but his eyes narrowed so much the malice was almost a physical entity in the room. “You’re going to accept my protection publically, or I’ll have my friend cut Mary down the middle after they’ve had some fun with her first.”
Joslyn got up and took a step toward Mary. “Just let her go, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
Tobias stopped Joslyn and pulled her in the direction of the door. She reluctantly followed. She gave Mary a final look and tried to convey that she was going to keep her safe. The sight of tears running down her friend’s face tore at her heart. Tobias yanked Joslyn so hard she stumbled. Pain radiated through her shoulder.
They went outside, and she saw a large group of men she didn’t recognize. They regarded her with open hostility, and she shrank back. Tobias yanked her again. He led her to a rusty pickup truck and shoved her in the passenger side before getting behind the wheel. She slid as far away from him as she could in the confined space. Loud pounding resounded in the cab, and she turned around to look as the men hopped into the bed of the pickup. The truck was full, and her heart sank. How am I going to escape all these men? Only two stayed behind to guard Mary.
Tobias glanced at her, grinning. “Our souls will be one, very soon, but I suppose you don’t understand because you’re human.”
Joslyn glared at him.
He laughed and cleared his throat. “I’ve never offered a woman my protection. I will be in your head, and you’ll be in mine.”
“The last thing I want is to be in your head.” She turned away and looked out the window. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her palms were slick with sweat. “Why do you hate him so much? Even when we were young I could see how much you hated him.”
“I’ve never told anyone this, but soon I won’t be able to keep secrets from you very easily so I might as well tell you.” He paused.
Joslyn turned to look at him. Tobias stared straight ahead. He had the strangest look on his face, a mixture of anger and peace.
“Kane is my half-brother. Michael seduced my mother. He and Barbara hadn’t mated yet, but my mother wasn’t good enough for him. She came from a pure line, but he turned his back on us.”
“Does Kane know?” Joslyn rea
ched out and touched Tobias’s arm gently. I never liked him, but what happened is inexcusable.
Tobias’s eyes widened. His brows drew together. Then anger replaced his surprise. He jerked away from her light touch. “Don’t fucking pity me. After today I’ll be the alpha and take my rightful place. I never understood how he could ignore me, a pure-blooded wolf, but claim a human as family.”
A burst of pain hit Joslyn in the heart. “It was Barbara.”
Tobias looked at her then, and he paled slightly. “Barbara? Not Michael?”
“It was Barbara who wanted to take me in. I didn’t know about werewolves, but when I was twelve, Michael gave a speech and an assassin tried to kill Barbara with a silver bullet. I was standing next to the gunman in the crowd. I saw him raise his gun and I pushed him. That action was what led to my family’s murder. I think Michael would have had me killed if it wasn’t for Barbara.”
Tobias was silent for a moment. “I remember that.” He glanced at her. “You’ve always been...different. Don’t try to sway me with your sweet act. I will kill you.”
Joslyn frowned. “I’ve never acted a day in my life. I really am sorry. I know what it’s like to feel excluded. Michael should have done the right thing, but you can’t blame Kane for what his father did.”
With unexpected violence, Tobias backhanded her. Joslyn cried out, and her head snapped back.
He turned his attention back to the road. “I can do anything I want.”
Her throbbing face proved his words. She shrank away from him and fought the tears that threatened to fall.
* * * *
Kane growled as he watched Tobias pull his woman from the truck. He remained hidden from view and downwind of the rogue wolves. A large group of wolves had ridden in with Toby and now stood around the truck.
Joslyn looked terrified, and Kane could smell traces of her blood. He fought the urge to rush from his hiding place, but counting the number of men in the rogue pack gave him pause. A few of his father’s militia were scattered around the area, hiding with him, but not enough to save Jossy. He cursed under his breath. He’d gathered the few men he found on his way, but now he wished he’d taken the time to bring the pack.
Untamed Shifter Love Page 10
