I yanked away from him. “I'm not going anywhere with you. Just tell Dane if he doesn't lay off, I'm turning pack's evidence against him. I love you guys, but I won't sacrifice my family for your hunter's pride."
"I'm not leaving you here,” Riley said. “If you want to talk to Dane, then come with us."
"You don't need me. Just give Dane the message."
"We can, but he'll want to confirm the 411. You know how he is on double-checking before things get out of hand."
"They're already out of hand.” I started back towards the house.
Riley grabbed my arm and whirled me around. His fist drew back before there was anything I could do about it.
Chapter 30
Opening my eyes, I found myself staring at yet another ceiling. For once in my life, I would have liked to be conscious enough to know how I got there. My left cheek throbbed. I blinked several times, focusing on the blurred, ivory-swirled ceiling. Dane's fuzzy head eased into view, giving me something closer to focus on while regaining my vision's crystal clarity. He sat next to me, dabbing a cool cloth at the lump on my face.
"If you want to hit Riley, I'll hold him for you,” he said. When I moved to sit up, he put a hand on my shoulder, forcing me back down. “Would you do me a favor and stay still for once? Just take a time out."
"Those bastards kidnapped me,” I groaned.
"Wrong. Riley kidnapped you. Fisk went along because he didn't have a choice.” Dane lifted my newly bandaged hand. “You want to tell me what happened?"
"I'd say ask one of those jackasses you stationed on Georgia Pack property, but Decker killed one of them ... that I know of."
He sighed. “I brought those three on board when I reopened our doors. They had enough time in the field to know how to handle themselves."
"Well, one of your recruits went juvenile because he let his zipper get in the way of his job."
"I know. I talked to Decker about last night after speaking with Riley. He told me Jack made a pass at you and it ticked him off. The orders were for no one to engage our hits if a human were present. They didn't know what you looked liked and I didn't know you'd be there. Ralph, the older guy, was in charge. He followed orders, but Jack didn't. He wanted a closer look at the pack and when he saw the blond wolf, he chased you guys, thinking it was Russo."
"He shot the wrong wolf."
"And he paid for it with his life."
"No, he didn't,” I snapped. “The only thing he paid for was making a pass at me. No one paid for shooting Danielle. And as long as we're on the subject of payback, who's going to pay for the screw-up that killed that your bonehead hunter?"
"I don't have a cell to put Decker in, so I've put Scott in charge of keeping an eye on him. When this mess is over, he'll return home with us and we'll start his training all over again."
I shook my head in disbelief. “What's wrong with you? You're not this sloppy. What kind of hold does Decker have on you that you're letting him push your buttons like this?"
Dane rose to his feet and sauntered to the window. Keeping his back to me, he gazed out into the night sky. “Maybe you didn't hear me before. I told you a few days ago that I can't stand to lose even one of you, Angel. I meant it. When I found out some bastard rogue had broken into your room at the hotel ... I can't begin to tell you what went through my mind. A real leader wouldn't have let anything bad happen to you."
"Nothing bad would've happened,” I replied, though not feeling that convinced. “That was the reason why you, Dad, and Uncle Graham trained me. So that you wouldn't have to watch over me twenty-four-seven."
"But a real leader wouldn't have had so many deaths in a short period of time either."
I knew Dane had issues, but in the back of my mind, I wondered when he'd started blaming himself for Alan, Jocelyn, Chris, Pulaski, and all the others that died in less than a year. As far as I was concerned, this was nothing more than a wake-up call and a fluke that would never happen again because we'd be on guard next time. So why didn't Dane see that? That rationale was the only thing that got me through the last eight months. Whether I believed it or not, I planned to put it into practice.
He sighed and leaned against the sill. “I've always been a leader, but Decker's never seen me as a real Alpha. He didn't understand what that meant as a human. As a werewolf, he does, and he expects something more. With everything going on, I haven't spent enough time conditioning him to obey me. Without the discipline, he's one step away from going rogue. Every time he looks at me, there's this deranged look in his eyes, like he's pushing me to prove that I'm fit for the Alpha position."
You are, you jackass. All you need to do is claim the title. But I couldn't tell him that. If Dane wasn't ready for the promotion, then it wasn't my place to tell him to take it.
"This trip is the quickest way to earn his loyalty,” he continued. “Otherwise I'll have to kill him for dissent. I can't stand to see another person die under my watch when I should've been watching them better. Riley would do it for me if I asked, but what kind of leader would I be if I couldn't do it myself? Believe it or not, Angel, I don't want to hurt anyone in your pack. Not if it means hurting you too."
Swinging my feet over the edge of the bed, I stood up and approached him, maintaining a soft voice. “You're doing this to prove yourself to some mindless idiot who found his courage at the ass end of a werewolf bite. He's manipulating you like a mound of clay, Dane. You're stronger than this—everyone knows it. Do something about Decker so the rest of the living can go on living."
"We can't back away now,” he said, walking passed me. He slumped on the edge of the bed, fingers lightly touching each other. “I may not want to hurt your people, but I can't ignore the fact you're sleeping a few doors down from murderers. I can't blindly hand you over to them knowing that you could be in danger. Enough people have died over this. From here on out, I'm setting my sights on the guilty. And your newfound pack has two of them."
"They wouldn't hurt me, Dane—you weren't in that house last night. They bandaged my hand, kept me from freezing to death. I mingled with the pack. I may be the omega, but they were ready to kill to protect me from your hunters. What makes you think they don't care?"
"Because you're riding your husband's back."
My eyes narrowed. Why did he have to go there? I got that much from Seth last night, so I sure as hell did not need to hear it coming from him.
But as true as his words were, that didn't make them any easier to hear. Saving Danielle may have gained me respect, but I'd never be an equal. When it came down to business, physical strength had the final say, just as it always had. Better than human but not good enough to be a werewolf. Perhaps bigoted Parry had a point.
Dane continued, “Unlike them, we know who you are. That's why I trust you to watch over your den. If they had any inclination about your skills in the field, they would have taken notice and give you a rank by your mate's side. If Seth considers you the omega, then you've already heard this conversation and figured the rest out on your own."
A knock came to the bedroom door before I could respond. Riley stuck his head inside. A strand of long hair flopped in front of his solemn face.
"Something's stirring in the den,” he said. “Our lookout thinks they're planning another search for Angel. Now is the time if you want to go after this Russo guy."
Dane stood. “Then we're leaving. I don't want anyone going after him until the rest of us get there. It's going to be hard enough grabbing him with his entire pack in the woods."
"I'm coming, too,” I said.
Riley closed the distance and looked at Dane. “You can't be serious about her coming, too. I love Angel, but I don't trust her. She'll give us away, because she's got pack on the brain."
"Fuck you, Riley.” I faced our leader. “I'm coming with you. One of your stupid hunters got out of hand before and shot the wrong person. I need to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Dane shook his head. “Not this time,
Angel. Riley's right. You'll compromise our position.” He leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. “I'm sorry."
A thud from the other room shook the walls and made us flinch.
Decker stormed into the bedroom and slammed Riley against the wall before stomping across the room with his eyes dead set on me. Clenching his jaw into a growl, Dane yanked me behind him as he backed away from the terror raging inside the room. He opened his mouth to say something, but Decker shoved him so hard that it sent him flying across the bed.
Great. Both of my self-appointed bodyguards were on the floor gathering their senses, leaving me to the whim of a madman. Can you tell how much I enjoyed these odds?
I stood with my heart pounding in my throat. Decker looked me up and down. Without warning, he grabbed my wrists and tackled me to the floor. Using his powerful legs, he forced mine open, spreading them while he laid his groin against me. I screamed every obscenity I could think of, even spat in his vehement face. My legs kicked, ankles jabbing at the backs of his legs and thighs. He held my hands above my head with one hand and used the other to grab his fly. The zipper whirred and his manhood sprung out like a diving board.
I stopped struggling.
He glared at me before plunging his mouth into mine, tongue slicking across my cemented lips.
My knee came up, and hammered his crotch. His eyes widened so that I thought they might roll out of his skull. Decker dug into my wrists and his face flushed red, veins popping up on along his temples and neck. He struggled for a breath that wouldn't come. To make my point clear, I rammed my knee upwards again. His eyes closed and his head slumped down on my chest. Deep, hot breath steamed up my shirt. Decker wrapped his hands around my throat and squeezed.
He didn't get far.
Riley snagged him in a headlock and yanked him off me. He and Dane threw Decker against a nearby wall and pounced on his back. A primal scream bolted from Decker's lungs. Riley slugged him into unconsciousness until blood splatters dotted the carpet. He drew Decker's arms behind his back. Scott hurried into the room with a bloody nose, carrying bindings.
"You all right?” Dane asked, helping me up off the floor.
"I'm fine,” I said, bitterly. “What the hell are you teaching that maniac?"
"He's five times the man he was, Angel,” Riley said, busy holding him down. “That includes his sexual appetite. Smelling like a barbecue rib doesn't help, either."
"Ignore that idiot,” Dane seethed. “You're the only female werewolf he knows, and you have an unnatural scent at that."
"Just call me Ms. Milk Bone."
"Well, if it's any consolation, Decker would have raped you first, then eaten you. I'm surprised it took him this long to smell you in the room."
"It didn't,” Scott panted while tying the last knot. “He picked up her scent from the moment these guys brought her back. He's been playing possum."
I turned to Dane. “I'm not staying. You can't keep me tied up next to that nut with Scott acting as the only buffer. The two of you could barely contain him."
"Then what are we suppose to do with you?” Dane asked. “You're not leaving here to go tell your pack about us. And don't deny it. You made that much clear when we met up for lunch."
"Then take me with you. How can I alert them in time if you guys are constantly watching me?"
Not saying another word, they left the room and took a limp Decker with them.
Chapter 31
Scott had double baby-sitting duty tonight and didn't seem the least bit bothered about it. During the last hour, he ordered up dinner and we sat on the couch watching TV. He did most of the eating because I was too busy plotting. My escape, that is. Scott left me alone once to use the bathroom, but even then he kept the door open while he asked me questions. He knew I would call the den and warn them about the Hunting Club the moment I slipped from his sight. Whenever he checked on Decker in the other bedroom, he made me stand in the doorway while he ran his fingers over the tight bindings. With the strong sedative that Dane had given him, he would spend the rest of the night on his back. Everyone agreed that I should be able to defend myself in case Decker got away again, so Dane decided to shoot him up with three times the normal Thorazine dosage to be sure.
Minutes ticked away on the clock. The Club would be in position by now, waiting for the right moment. I bet the pack had caught wind of my scent and tracked it back to the woods where I met up with Riley and Fisk. They would note Riley's scent, so Dane would use him as bait to break up the pack while the rest of the Club scanned for Adam's whereabouts. I knew the ruse all too well. We had used things like that to keep the rogues distracted while we picked them off one by one. Because the Georgia Pack was the largest stumbling block they had ever come across and only two contracts were on the list, Dane would scan first. Divide and conquer the moment they get the chance.
Not waiting any longer, I left the couch and headed to the bedroom. Scott followed me a few steps behind. Spotting his whereabouts from the corner of my eye, I rushed inside and slammed the door shut. After triggering the lock in place and ramming the desk chair under the knob, I scanned the room. Scott rapped his knuckles on the door.
"Come on, Angel,” he said, putting on a smooth voice. “Play fair and open the door."
"I am playing fair,” I yelled. I liked Scott and hated getting him into trouble, but I loved my pack brothers too.
The window caught my eye as Scott's knocking grew louder. I tried sliding the window back, but it wouldn't budge. Checking the sill, I noticed small metal brackets screwed into the window tracks from the outside. Hotel management probably didn't want people jumping three stories to their death. Not a bad assessment, considering I planned to do the same. Minus the dying part.
I gripped the raised edge and used everything I had to slide it open. Sweat trickled down my back. Tension tightened the muscles in my arms and shoulders. A pop from the window tracks. Scott's constant banging forced me to apply more pressure on the window. Adrenaline pumped into my bloodstream by the bucket load.
Then, the door went quiet. I stopped pulling and listened. The doorknob twisted back and forth, metal clicking inside the golden knob.
Throwing my hands back on the window, I got on the other side and pushed like a madwoman scrambling for her life. Scott was picking the lock and could have it open at any moment.
The second metal bracket popped off and the window slid back, smacking against the wall. Cold air rushed into the room.
Another click from the door forced me to look back. Scott had the door open, but the chair stopped him from gaining complete access. He peeped through the small crack.
"What the hell are you doing?” he screamed, about to explode into hysterics. “Don't do it, Angel! We can talk about this. Just don't jump!"
Did I listen? No.
I hoisted myself onto the windowsill and sat, dangling my feet over the side of the building. My heart pounded, threatening to explode out of my chest. I'd never jumped three stories before. Two was my max because I never had the guts to try one more. Shit, was I scared. Suppose I broke my back? Was my pack worth this much? Oh man, was I scared. The bushes loomed below, but they would only slow my fall right before the ground smashed me into tiny pieces.
Scott shoved his way into the room, sending the chair crashing into the opposite wall.
Green light. I leapt three stories down.
My feet struck the grassy area, shock waves riding up both legs and into my hips, the rest of me smacking hard onto the ground. I lay there for a moment while pain corkscrewed its way through my bones and joints, sending tiny points of light into my vision. Had I hit my head on something? As I blinked wildly, the stars came into focus and I realized I was on my back.
A shout. Someone was shouting at me.
Following the voice, I noticed Scott hanging out the window from three stories up. He must have tried to grab me at the last second. His frantic eyes settled on mine. Without warning, he jerked inside the build
ing.
The pain riding my body couldn't fizzle away fast enough. Struggling and grasping, taking hold of the bushes and the side of the brick building, I tried standing.
Bushes? Good thing I missed those.
Lightening bolt pain zipped through my right foot and ankle, the kind so fierce that it cutoff your breath and made screaming impossible. Almost unable to bear weight, I clenched my jaw and dragged my bruised and battered body around to the front of the hotel. Muscles and joints ached, torturing the rest of my sweaty body. If I hadn't known before what it meant to give my life for my pack, I knew now.
A taxi waited in the passenger drop-off area. I limped to the back door and settled in. Down the long hallway, I saw Scott hauling ass towards the sliding glass door. After giving the driver my address, I promised him an extra ten bucks if he got me there in record time. Not saying a word, he skidded out of the driveway.
* * * *
When I got home, I gathered up my crossbow and my vest. I thought about calling the den, but the situation still had a chance at being contained. If I called them, they would have too many questions that would accomplish nothing except wasted time. I grabbed a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, duck-taped it to my ankle, and limped out the door.
Few cars travel down the road where the den sat, so I pulled the Mirage off to the side and parked it so close to the woods that nobody would see it unless they got out of their car. After putting on my gear on, I limped into the woods fully loaded and waiting for anything. Finding Adam or the Hunting Club would be impossible, so I headed towards the den on foot. Eventually they had to come home, so this was the best place to wait for Adam, assuming the Hunting Club didn't catch him first. Besides, my swollen ankle pretty much capped off any running for one night.
While I was waiting behind the copse in the far corner, several people exited the den. Seth, Adam, Jared, and Stephan were standing around and talking to each other about forming another search party when the others came back. They had no idea they were sitting ducks out there. With the last screw-up freshly documented in my brain, I couldn't trust the Club to get it right this time. Hell, I didn't want them getting anything at all.
Half-Breed Page 24
