by Unknown
“Go to hell,” she replied, yanking her head away from his hand. He released her, watching as
the driver moved to open their door. When he did Carlos shoved her, indicating she should get out.
She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the cool night air. The semi was moving to a warehouse type of metal building in the distance. How was she going to save the others before Carlos hid them? In this area, he could have another research facility anywhere.
“Where are you taking them?” she demanded as he turned to face her. The limo driver tipped
his hat to Carlos, moving back to the driver's door. Taylor ignored him. “I want you to let them go, Carlos. They have nothing to do with this.”
He wrapped his hand around her upper arm, pulling her resisting body to the sidewalk that led
to his front door. “You silly twit. Do you really think you have anything to do with me keeping them? I don't care what you want. I'll have you and them, regardless. You're in no position to make any demands. If it weren't for your reproductive organs, you'd quickly find yourself in there with them.”
The limo driver backed up and drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. All of the guards were with the rest of the vehicles, busy at the buildings around them. It was now or never.
She trembled inside, grabbing at her fleeing courage with everything she had in her. It was very likely she'd find herself dead tonight, but there was no other option. Enough innocent lives had been affected from the horrors of the man in front of her. It had to stop.
She threw her head back and laughed bitterly, digging her heels in with the power of her wolf.
He couldn't pull her any further. “You silly bastard,” she said mockingly, leveling her eyes at him.
“What makes you think your weak sperm would ever be enough to do anything with my reproductive organs?”
He stared down at her silently, his face blanching at the preternatural glow within her eyes.
“What are you talking about? Why do you look so different?” His hand fell away from her arm, coming to rest limply against his side.
“Do I?” she replied, answering his question with a question. “I can't say the same for you.
You're still the same bastard you've been your entire life, aren't you? You took thirty-one years of my life, but that wasn't enough to satisfy you. Oh no, a man like you never stops. How many lives have you ruined, Carlos? Hundreds? Thousands? You walk around with a God-complex, destroying innocent people as if you have the right to.”
She leaned her face closer to his, rage pushing her fear aside. “Guess what? Your sick, sadistic reign of terror ends, now.” Calling to the wolf inside of her, she brought about the change.
His dark eyes went wide with shock as he gaped at her. Taylor didn't give herself time to think.
Fueled by the rage beating within her heart, she leaped, knocking him flat on his back on the sidewalk with her powerful frame.
Preparing to rip his throat out, Taylor was stunned to realize Carlos was knocked out cold. She hesitated, pulling her teeth back from his throat. Freeing the others was of the utmost importance.
Finishing him off could wait.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, enveloping her body with a warmth that could
only come from one person. “Shh, Taylor,” a rich, masculine voice whispered in her ear. “It's me, Marrok. You're safe now. If you back away, the guardians will take care of the rest. They are already moving in, rescuing the others in the truck. You were amazing, but it's time to let someone else handle it. Come back to me, baby.”
She shifted and threw herself into his arms, raining kisses all over his face. “Oh God, Marrok,”
she cried out, burying her face into his muscled chest. “I didn't think I'd ever see you again.”
“That would have never happened again,” he replied, carrying her away from the unconscious
male. “I will never let you go again, Taylor. Never, not so long as this body still breathes.” Two guardians ran up and secured Carlos before dragging his prone body into the house.
“Did he hurt you?” Marrok asked, staring down into her face.
“Not really,” she replied, shaking her head. “There wasn't enough time. He did inject me again with the mind-numbing drugs. I didn't let on that they weren't working.”
The events of the night unleashed the dam she'd placed on her emotions. She pushed her face
back against his chest. “You have been so mad at me since the night I told you about him,” she said softly, her tears soaking the front of his shirt. “I wasn't sure you'd even want to find me after that.”
He stood her up and pulled his shirt off before sliding it over her head. “Foolish thoughts,
woman,” he growled out, smoothing the shirt down her body. Despite her voluptuous build it swamped her, ending well below her thighs. “And I should know all about those. I'm a fool for letting my pride interfere with our relationship. After the night of the conference, I knew he was obsessed with you.
Believing you didn't trust me enough to protect you is what broke me.”
She looked up at him, missing the sight of his face. Marrok was everything to her, the love she felt for him beyond compare. “Never in my life have I ever felt safer than I do when I'm with you. I knew you'd protect me, even if you lost your own life in the process. That's what I didn't want to risk, Marrok. I couldn't risk you, or the pack, dying for me.”
He grasped her shoulders and leaned his face down to hers, his expression firm. “You can't
control something like that, Taylor. Nobody ever knows what the future holds, but I can guarantee that neither one of us would fare very well apart. I love you, Taylor, but I have to know you're not going to try to run off out of some misguided fears.”
“Never,” she replied, her voice catching on a sob. “Even then, I didn't have the strength to walk away from what we have. I love you, Marrok. I can't bear ever living without you again.”
He smiled, his expression pleased. “I'm glad we've got that settled. Now, there's something else I want to get locked up tight, right here and now. As much as you keep coming and going, I figure I better get a ring on your finger to anchor you down.”
Taylor gasped, watching as he dug in his pocket. He pulled out a jewelry box before dropping
down on one knee. Opening it up, he presented it to her, grinning wryly as he said, “Taylor Moore, will you make a honest mate out of me by marrying me? I know it's really not the time or place, but I can't wait a moment longer. Although we're already mated, I want to make sure I have you bound to me in every way possible.”
She pursed her lips, teasing him as she pretended to think about it. Finally, she schooled her features into an uncertain mask before saying, teasingly, “I'm not sure if I want to. I kind of like the decadence of having just a lover. What if I marry you, and you end up staid and boring?”
He half-growled in response, pulling her hand to him before sliding it on her finger. “Just wait until all of this is over. When I get you alone again, I'll remind you of how exciting and adventurous I really am. That's one thing you will never have to worry about with me.”
His sensuous eyes slid slowly over her body, lingering on her breasts and the area between her legs. “The day will never come that I'm not looking for an excuse to get in your fine body, every chance I can get. I vow that to you, a hundred times over.”
She leaned over, wrapping her arms around his neck. “In that case, yes, yes, and yes.” They
kissed deeply, finding their own little piece of paradise amidst the horror of the night.
“Ahem,” a deep voice interrupted behind her. Breaking way from Marrok she spun around,
blushing when she saw Alexander, Carole Anne, Ivan, and Elena watching them. Marrok stood up,
slinging an arm casually around her shoulders as they waited to hear what he had to say.
Taylor was relieved to see they were unharmed. Ivan's
neck was severely burnt but healing. All of them looked weary and unkempt, exhausted by the ordeal they'd been through. Taylor was sure she looked the same.
Alexander smiled at her kindly, but his voice was grim when he said, “It's time to question the commander. I thought you'd want to be there when we did.”
She felt Marrok's body stiffen next to her at his words, but his voice was calm when he replied,
“Thank you. We wouldn't miss it for the world.”
Alexander nodded, leading Carole Anne to the front door. Elena gave her a smile of
encouragement before they followed him in.
“Just remember, Taylor, I'll be right here with you. You don't have to be afraid of him, anymore.
He won't get the chance to do this again. It's all over with. Carlos has no power over you, or anyone else, ever again.”
“I know,” she replied, swallowing hard. It was easier said than done. She couldn't have done it without Marrok by her side, supporting her with his natural and easy strength. Her eyes met his, taking in the wild, masculine features that were so dear to her. She took his hand with her smaller one, grasping it tightly as he led her to the front door.
Chapter 13
Marrok's eyes were cold as he stepped into the house, his expression harsh and drawn tight. He locked onto Carlos, immediately. The other man blanched in fear from the chair he was tied to. His evil deeds had caught up with him. It was time to pay the piper.
Taylor moved through the door behind him. Her hand felt cool and clammy in his own, but her
outward appearance gave none of her fear away. Pride rushed through him. His mate was strong and loyal, a true gift from fate.
Carlos was in the center of the room, his hands tied neatly behind his back. Alexander and the others watched him silently. After a moment, the king walked forward to rip the tape off of his lax lips.
Carlos flinched and whimpered in agony.
Alexander crossed his arms as he stared down at him. His expression was unrelenting when he
said, “Commander Carlos, your crimes against us are numerous. You've held countless shifters against their will, torturing and murdering as you please. We've got a bone to pick with you.”
Carlos swallowed tightly, locking his lips together without replying. He looked away, his flaccid skin set in hard, stubborn lines. He was refusing to answer, but the guardians would have ways of making him talk.
Alexander leaned over, pushing his face directly in his as his multicolored hair swung forward.
He was animalistic, his powerful frame pulsating with an energy that everyone in the room could sense.
In a cold whisper he said, “I wouldn't recommend attempting to hold out. We've got teams outside, rousing your captives from the stupor you placed them in. When they come to, they will be thirsting for your blood.”
“You're going to kill me regardless of what I do,” Carlos spat out, as he glared back at him.
“Why in the hell should I talk?”
Alexander stood back up. “Because this animal is a bit more humane than you are. In my hands,
I'll make it quick and painless.” He threw a thumb back over his shoulder, gesturing to the front. “If you don't cooperate, I'm bringing them in. They will prolong it, wanting you to pay for the years of torment you put them through. Who knows? Maybe they will give you an eye for an eye, keeping you alive for years as they practice what you preached.”
Carlos trembled, despite the condescending look upon his face. “Fine, I'll talk. Are any of the guards that were with me still left alive?”
Alexander and Ivan exchanged looks. “Well, there was that one,” Ivan said to his grandson,
right before a man's scream echoed in through the front door. “Never mind.”
Carlos squealed in rage. “How dare you?”
“How dare you?” Alexander roared back, his eyes flashing in rage as he gestured at Carole
Anne. “You chose to do these things to innocent people, you chose it and made it happen. There's no way anyone could ever make you suffer enough to equal what you've done to others. The question is, does it all end with you, though? Or were you working with others, ones with far greater power than you could ever have?”
His words enraged the bound man. “Nobody could ever have greater power than I do. My
family is the brains behind this operation, and we've always been. It started a hundred years ago when a female shifter decided to leave my grandfather for one of her kind. He spent his life tracking down and destroying you ungodly shifters, disposing of the bodies to make sure others didn't find out about you.
He took no chances, not wanting your existence known on the off-chance you'd find alliances within the human race. Then, the work passed to my father, who began the first research facility.”
He stopped and laughed, his eyes flashing cruelly. “My father was a military man clever enough to manipulate those around him. He was able to secure the funding, but the government wasn't
completely aware of what the funding was for. My father told them it was for the exploration of the caverns of New Mexico. He performed the study and completed it, officially. The government never knew of what we really built within the mesa. With our money, we were able to continue it. I followed in his footsteps, joining the army and working my way up. Upon his death, I took over. My own
military connections allowed me to find the right men to staff it.”
“So you basically tortured us for fun?” Ivan hissed out, his powerful muscles bulging in rage. In fifteen years, Marrok had never seen him close to losing control. He was seeing it now, and it was impressive enough to make Carlos cringe back in his chair.
“Not just fun. I was going to create a whole new race of hybrid humans, sired from my very
own seed. They would have been trained and conditioned, answerable only to me. When the time was right, I would have moved through the ranks, elected to various government positions until I held the one I wanted. President.”
His dark eyes were alight with madness. “Then, with my own personal army, I would have
ruled the world. Every pure-bred shifter would have been destroyed, and finally, my grandfather would have been vindicated. You bastards don't deserve to breath the same air we do. You're nothing more than wild animals that need to be put down. You've destroyed the facility and taken all of my captives.
Because of you, everything is ruined.”
“You really had it wrapped up all neat and tidy, didn't you?” Alexander asked silkily, his voice razor sharp. “You forgot one thing, though.”
“Bullshit,” Carlos snarled out, “I haven't forgotten anything.”
“That's where you're wrong. All the eggs, sperm, and data you harvested from our kind is out
there somewhere, just waiting for another man to find it and pick up where you left off.” Alexander's voice lowered. “One day, some man will breed that army you were wanting, and it will be his seed to create it.”
“No,” Carlos screamed out, furious at the thought. Alexander had led him cleverly into the trap he'd laid, and he never even realized it. “Between the stupidity of my soldiers setting off grenades and your invasion into my facility, all of my specimens were destroyed. They weren't irreplaceable, though.
Once I had Taylor back in my hands, I would have recreated all of it.”
He relaxed, his expression smug. “Without me, there will never be a hybrid army. I'm the brains behind this operation, and I've kept it all locked tight in my mind. There could never be another as brilliant as I am.”
Marrok spoke up. “What made you pick Taylor?”
Carlos giggled, “I just lucked out with her. The lake was a popular place for us to find our test subjects. My father was in charge of the facility back then, and he was only interested in capturing supernaturals or women. He sent a group down to investigate, killing the human men. They saw Taylor leave with a man and followed him. In the end, they decided to take her as well. So they g
assed his house and walked straight out with her, the man being none the wiser.”
“I wouldn't say that, asshole. That man was me.”
Carlos looked at him, his expression full of speculation. “It's a pity that they didn't realize you were dual-natured. I would have enjoyed testing a specimen such as you.”
Marrok bared his teeth at him, trembling with the need to rip his throat out. “Why did you pick New Mexico?”
Carlos shrugged. “Why not? It's isolated, with an extensive cavern system underneath the
ground. It suited our purposes, perfectly.”
Alexander looked over his shoulder at Taylor, with a question in his eyes. The wolves had all
the information they needed. Taylor responded with a quick nod, her features set into a mask of relief.
The nightmare would soon be over for her, and she'd never have to fear that he'd do this to others ever again.
Turning back to Carlos, Alexander surprised them all when he said, “Release him.” Two
guardians moved to obey him without question, slicing the ropes free. Carlos stood up hesitantly, his expression caught somewhere between smugness and suspicion.
Alexander's lip curled up in disgust. “You make me sick. I've decided that I don't want your
blood on my hands, after all, so there's the door. Have at it. Unlike you, I don't have any desire to play God. It's not my place to determine a man's time.” To the guardians, he said, “Throw him out.”
Despite Carlos protests, the guardians pulled him to the door. The area outside of the house was alive with activity, with members of the New Mexico and Missouri packs helping to load supplies and the injured. They all stopped at the sight of the most hated man of both packs standing in the doorway, their eyes glowing with rage in the darkness.
“Get the hell out of here,” Clark growled, giving him a rough shove. He landed in the dirt face first, sliding along the rough, rocky ground. Flipping over, he hurriedly jumped up. His eyes were large and filled with fear as a growl from one of those outside tore through the silence.
