Of course, sometimes it felt like the opposite, when she took betas away from their parents, their husbands, their homes, and basically imprisoned them in the SF. That didn’t feel very good.
Still, within three weeks, they were done. They brought in the last beta and crossed the last potential off the list just in time for the full moon. That was a good thing because there would probably be a regular rogue attack somewhere tonight, and she and Avery would be busy. They might be done with the list of potentials, but they’d have no chance to rest.
She and Avery got the beta through processing, and Julie there reminded her that Hollis had just finished his training and was being released.
She hadn’t seen him since the time he’d tried to kiss her, and she hadn’t succeeded at breaking her bond with Cole, but she decided she’d go down to see him off anyway.
“I can come with you,” said Avery.
“That’s okay,” she said. “I’m just going to say goodbye, and then I think I’ll go for a quick run.”
“A run?” he said.
“Just for exercise, not to stave off thoughts of Cole Randall,” she assured him.
“Good,” he said, pulling her close.
Their quick kiss didn’t hurt her.
She trotted down a level to Hollis’ room.
It was empty. He’d left his robe and a stack of newspapers behind. She’d missed him. He was already gone.
Well, maybe that was for the best, she decided. She and Hollis had a rocky relationship, especially lately.
She went back to her room and changed into shorts and a tank top. Then she headed outside to take a few laps around the inside perimeter of the fences.
As she ran, she contemplated the problem she was having with Avery. The past three weeks had cemented her affection for him, and she felt close to him in a way that only people who have shared intimacy can. Avery was more that a means to an end, but she wasn’t sure how much more.
If they could somehow get past her discomfort and actually do the deed, what would that mean for the two of them?
She would be mated to Avery. That was still a little terrifying. After all, it didn’t solve the problem of men around her being attracted to her. She’d still be an alpha.
She wondered if it would mean that Avery would suddenly be the alpha wolf to all of Cole’s wolves? Wasn’t that what Avery had said, that when a lone wolf mated with an alpha’s female, he took over the pack?
If so, that could solve all their problems. The betas would be free, because Avery wouldn’t force them to shift. They could let everyone go.
It had suddenly become doubly important that they do it.
And even if it meant that she and Avery would be thrust together by instinctual feelings for each other, being drawn to Avery was so much more preferable that being drawn to Cole. And it wasn’t as if she didn’t like Avery. She liked him a lot.
It had to be done, anyway. That much was clear.
She picked up her pace and ran into the breeze, feeling better about everything than she had in a long time.
Then there was a sharp pain in her thigh.
She stumbled, crying out.
She went down on the ground, registering the fact that there was a tranq dart sticking out of her leg. They worked fast. She’d be out in seconds.
“Help!” she screamed. “Help me!
No one came.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
She awoke to a familiar, but terrifying, sensation. Her arms were above her head, and she could feel the cold bite of chains against her wrists. She opened her eyes.
No. She couldn’t be here.
This had to be a dream. She couldn’t be back in Cole’s basement again. She’d gotten away from here. She remembered getting away.
* * *
Deep in the dank basement of Cole’s house all those months ago, Dana had been stuck to Cole after they mated. They were joined, and they couldn’t separate. The wolf had liked it, she knew, but she didn’t. She had remembered watching things on the Discovery Channel about wolves—wild animal wolves. It was called a coital tie, and it practically ensured pregnancy. The wolf thought that was a wonderful idea. The human part of her was frantic at the thought of having Cole’s child. She’d be stuck with him forever, then. The wolf hummed with joy at that thought. The human part of her recoiled in horror.
She wasn’t sure that she could actually get pregnant in wolf form. What would grow in her? A human or a werewolf? Hell, she hadn’t known that sex in werewolf form was even possible. But it clearly was. It had happened.
She didn’t think to shift back to human form. Apparently, Cole didn’t either.
When they could finally detach themselves from each other, he crawled into a corner of the basement and lay down.
The wolf in her wanted to follow. Dana held it back. She forced herself to remember the way that Cole had hurt her, remembered each tooth in her, each claw. We have to get away, she explained to the wolf.
The wolf whined, staring at Cole, and Dana could feel a deep pull toward him, something ancient and pure. She wanted to let the pull take her, like the tide. The wolf wanted it to. But she could tell the wolf wasn’t sure anymore either. Pain meant something to the wolf. Pain was as strong an instinct as the pull she felt to Cole.
Dana sat back on her haunches. She inspected her wolf’s stomach, and it was there. A scar that she’d received in human form. She ran her tongue against it and whimpered.
Cole’s ears twitched. He looked at her, clearly wondering why she hadn’t joined him across the room, why they weren’t lying together.
Dana leapt to her paws and took off running as fast as she could.
She burst through the door of the basement, skittered her way over the tile of Cole’s kitchen and dove through a window into the sweet outdoors.
Behind her, Cole howled.
She never stopped running. She never looked behind her. And he never caught up.
* * *
That hadn’t been a dream, had it? She had gotten away, hadn’t she? Her heart thudded in her chest. She looked down at her body. She was still wearing her exercise outfit.
She’d never been wearing this when Cole had her chained up here.
That meant she was here again.
The tranquilizer! She’d been running... What had happened?
“You’re awake.”
He was in the corner. He’d been motionless, so she didn’t see him until he moved and spoke.
“Hollis,” she said, her voice hoarse.
Hollis smiled, and his dimples popped out. “Seems like this is what a guy’s gotta do to make time with you, Dana.”
She shook her head. “No, Hollis.”
He laughed.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Thought you’d like it,” he said. “Thought this was your idea of flirting.” He crossed the basement to her and cupped her chin with one hand. “I’d do anything for you, Dana. Anything at all.”
He pressed his lips against hers.
She tried to struggle, but the chains held her fast.
* * *
Avery stalked into the conference room. “Where is she?”
For once, Cole Randall didn’t look smug. Instead his face had a wan look to it. He looked worried. He glared up at Avery. His voice was a growl. “Took you long enough to realize something was wrong.”
Avery yanked out a chair and sat down. “You did this and don’t pretend you didn’t. I know you’re communicating with those wolves outside. I’ve heard you. You snatched Dana.”
“She’s missing, then?” said Cole. “I can only feel that something’s wrong. She and I are connected, you know.”
“Oh,” said Avery. “I do know all about that. You’re the reason I can’t put my hands on her without her doubling over in pain. She still wants me to, though. She wants rid of you so badly.”
Cole’s jaw twitched. “You want my help?”
“Why else would I be here?”
“Then don’t taunt me.” Cole’s eyes flashed. He lifted his chained hands. “I’d rip you apart for touching her if I could.”
Avery settled back in the chair, folding his arms over his chest. “Now who’s itching to get in a scuffle?”
Cole sucked in breath through his nose. “We don’t have time for this. Something’s happened to Dana. I can sense that she’d frightened. We have to find her.”
“We?” Avery laughed. “I don’t think so. I’m only here because you’re behind it.”
He shook his head, his expression drawn. “I’m not.”
Avery regarded him through narrowed eyes.
“You’re a tracker, aren’t you?” said Cole. “Why aren’t you following her scent?”
“I can’t. She was running. At least, as far as I know. That’s the last place that she said she’d be. I tried to follow a scent, but she runs there all the time. Runs around in circles. All I can do is go around in circles after her.”
Cole leaned forward. “I could get her scent.”
“No.”
“I could,” said Cole. “You know that Dana can smell me. You know it’s different. That’s how you got my scent to bring the betas here, isn’t it? She could pick my clothes out of the laundry with no problem.”
“How do you know about that?”
“I know a lot of things,” said Cole.
“Your wolves on the outside,” said Avery. “The ones you whisper to. They’re reporting everything to you.”
Cole didn’t give any indication whether Avery was correct or not. “Thanks for bringing all my betas here, incidentally. That was quite a nice favor.”
Avery cocked his head. “Why do you say that?”
“Let me track Dana,” said Cole. “You can keep me in chains. I’ll be slow, but I’ll be able to smell her.”
Avery stood up. “This is all a trick isn’t it? This is a way for you to get out of here. I don’t think so.” He started for the door.
“Wait,” said Cole. “She’s in danger.”
Avery whipped around. “And you care?”
“Of course I care.”
“You tried to kill her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Cole. “I would never hurt her. You just don’t understand her. The girl needs a little danger to really get turned on. Someone like you is never going to be enough for her.”
Avery slammed the door in his face.
* * *
“I didn’t have access to the internet at the SF, it’s true,” Hollis was saying. He paced in front of her. “But I had access to a library. And there were some old Fredrich Sullivan collections there. I read up. Things started to make sense to me about what you’d told me, and about what I’d read in your psychiatrist’s files.” He looked at her, smiling sympathetically. “It’s not your fault, Dana. You’re Cole Randall’s mate.”
“I know that,” she said. “And that doesn’t explain why you’ve got me chained up here. Unchain me, Hollis, and we’ll talk. But this isn’t the way to get my attention.”
“Oh, I think it is,” he said. “See, I learned that there’s only two ways to break the bond between mated werewolves. One is death. If I killed Cole, everything would be okay. The other is to mate with you in wolf form myself. Then you’ll be mated to me.”
She blanched. “Hollis, please.”
“It has to be wolf form to work,” said Hollis. “That’s why I’ve waited. If I could do it in human form, I would have done it while you were passed out.”
She felt sick. What was wrong with Hollis? He’d always been overly persistent, intent on getting his way, but this seemed over the top. Possibly his wolf instinct to mate with her hadn’t added positively to the mix of his already volatile emotions. Still, maybe she could appeal to his better side. “The Hollis I know isn’t a rapist.”
He grinned. His dimples were demented. “After it’s all over, Dana, you’ll want me all the time. So, I don’t really think it’ll be rape. Not if you’re mine afterwards.”
She wanted to throw up. He was right. If Hollis was successful, she’d feel the same way about him that she now felt about Cole. It was unpleasant and annoying, but she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed being with Cole. Dammit. This was sick and disgusting. How could the animal world create something like this? Essentially taking a female alpha was rape, no matter how you looked at it. And afterwards, the female submitted.
Now that she thought about it, maybe that was the root of all rape anyway. Maybe it was that buried animal instinct in the human male brain, hoping that things would work out just like they did when they were all wild.
Well, Cole could sing the praises of nature all he wanted. This was one place where civilization had nature beat. Civilization didn’t condone rape. And if it meant that nature had to be unbalanced just to get that one benefit, Dana was all for it. Nature was cruel. She didn’t want any part of it.
“But I’ll hate you,” she said to Hollis. “I’ll look for ways to get away from you.”
“You won’t hate me,” he said. “You’ll want me. You’ll be obsessed with me. You’ll touch yourself and think of me. I’ll be your world.”
She hated him already. She spat in his face.
Hollis recoiled, wiping at her saliva. “You little bitch.” He slapped her face.
She was pushed back from the impact. She swung a little on the chains that held her, feeling the sting on her cheek. She tossed her head and smiled at him. “Cole never slapped me, you idiot. He tried to kill me, but he never called me a bitch.”
Hollis leaned close. “Let’s not talk about him, shall we? Look, Dana, I’m going to wait until the moon comes out, I’m going to shift into a wolf, and I’m going to fuck you. And there isn’t anything you can do about it.”
“I won’t shift,” she said. “I’ll stay in human form. You said it would only work in wolf form.”
“Then you’ll be dead,” said Hollis. “I’ve never let my wolf out unfettered by the walls of the SF, so I’m not entirely sure, but I’m pretty sure that if a werewolf sees a chained-up human girl, it’s chow time.”
Her heart sank. He was right. She was going to have to shift. She could try to fight him off then. After all, her wolf belonged to Cole, and it wasn’t going to want anyone else to take her. She might manage. But she was chained up, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to fight. He’d probably do it. She was going to be mated to Hollis. And he was right. There was nothing she could do about it.
* * *
Avery sat in front of Ursula’s desk, his head in his hands. “I don’t know where she is. I’ve tried everything I can to pick up her scent. I can’t find it.”
“You’re sure she didn’t run off?” Ursula said. “Isn’t that what she did last full moon? She killed that rogue.”
“I went to see Randall,” said Avery, lifting his head. “She hasn’t been near him in weeks, and he says he doesn’t know where she is.”
“You believe him?”
“I think I do. He says he can sense that she’s in danger, and he seems worried.”
Ursula furrowed her brow. “Why would he be able to sense that she was in danger?”
Avery sat back in his chair. “Right. You don’t know.”
“I don’t know what?” said Ursula. “What have you two been keeping from me?”
He sighed. “I don’t think she’d want you to know, but I don’t know what else to do about it.”
Ursula raised her eyebrows. “You know something, you better tell me, Avery Brooks.”
He took a deep breath. “When she got captured by Randall, something happened between them. It’s weird and kind of gross, but apparently, they have this werewolf bondy thing now. She’s his mate.”
Ursula made a face. “His mate? Is that why she was hugging him when I found them?”
Avery nodded.
“Well, that’s disgusting.”
“You think Gray doesn’t know that?” he said. “She can’t do anything
about it. It’s out of her control. It’s this animal instinct thing.”
Ursula got out of her desk. “You know, I never liked that aspect of Sullivan’s work. It turns us all into beasts with no free will.” She walked around the desk and leaned up against it. “I don’t believe that. I believe we have choices, no matter what.”
“But we proved that Randall was an alpha,” said Avery.
“I know,” she said. “I’m not denying that this sort of thing exists. There are alphas and mates and all that other crap, much as I don’t want there to be. You proved it to me. But that doesn’t mean that we have no control over ourselves.”
Avery shrugged. “Trust me, King. She’s not in control.”
“You think he made her leave, then?”
“I don’t know,” said Avery. “He said he could track her scent better. And it’s true, they have some weird scent thing. But I’m not sure if he isn’t just angling to get out. We use him to find Dana, how easy is it going to be to keep him on a leash?”
“Are you asking me to let Cole Randall out, Brooks?”
He spread his hands. “I’m asking what you think of the idea.”
There was a muffled crashing noise from beneath their feet.
Ursula straightened, looking at the ground. “What was that?”
Another loud noise.
Avery stood up. “Is that coming from the wing where the betas are being kept?”
Ursula started for the door to the tracker office, with Avery right behind her. She put her hand on the doorknob, but the door was flung open.
Kayla was outside, out of breath. “King, we’ve got a big problem.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
But wait, if that were true, if Hollis were going to be her alpha, that would break the bond between her and Cole, wouldn’t it?
Dana tugged on her chains, her eyes closed deep in thought. Hollis wasn’t around. He’d gone off to the upper part of the house hours ago when she’d stopped talking to him. She heard his footsteps overhead occasionally, and she watched the sliver of light under the basement door, trying to gauge how late it was.
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