Fur, Fangs and All (The Elementals Book 2)

by Meredith Allen Conner

  “Where’s Livie?” Sela asked.

  “Chained to my bed,” he answered without thinking, raising the bottle to his mouth.

  Sela snatched the bottle back with a distinct growl. She tipped it so the potent liquid inside slid close to the opening. Well aware of what she could do when in contact with water, Roc cautiously held up his hands. “She isn’t hurt or in danger, but I had to chain her up so she wouldn’t escape.” He eyed Sela. She splashed some of the brew onto her palm. “Or try to kill me again.”

  Why hadn’t Livie used her Element against him?

  Maybe she hadn’t truly wanted to kill him. Her downward swing had lacked force. He’d put it down to her physical weakness, but maybe, just maybe, she hadn’t truly wanted to kill him. She could have done a lot more damage with her Element than with that pathetic swing.

  Maybe he was simply fooling himself, but he was willing to cling to anything that would give him hope when it came to his mate.

  The bottle smashed into tiny, glittering shards onto to the floor. Sela gaped at him. His cheeks turned a dull red. Damn, if she had been serious with her swing then what kind of a werewolf was he if his mate wanted him dead?

  “She tried to kill you?” Mac asked dubiously. He came over, wrapped his arms around the still silent and motionless Sela, lifted her onto the counter and out of the way of the sharp glass as he leaned against the counter, ignoring the mess on his floor.

  Roc rubbed the heated skin of his neck. It went against everything dominant and male within him to admit his troubles, but he knew that he would not get the answers he so desperately needed if he was not completely open with Mac and Sela.

  Livie wouldn’t talk to him. Plus he didn’t want to admit even a hint of his vulnerability to her. His pride had taken a big enough hit already. Not just his pride, he admitted to himself, rubbing at the ache in his chest.

  He noticed Mac frowning at him and immediately removed his hand. This was harder than he thought.

  “She used my sword,” he glanced at Mac, “the one I took from Dominic after I killed him?” Mac nodded. “She waited until she thought I was asleep and then tried to . . .” He struggled to breath for a moment. Saying it out loud somehow made it worse. “She tried to cut my head off,” he finished in a quick rush.

  Sela gasped, her eyes widening to horror filled circles. “Livie? Livie actually tried to kill you?” She shook her head in disbelief. “My sister, Livie?”

  “I grabbed the sword as she swung it,” he said stiffly. “I need to know why she would want me dead. She said if I was dead it would all go away. I don’t understand and . . .” He glanced down at his hands, curled into massive fists, “I don’t have the control I need to talk to her.”

  Mac rumbled deep in his chest.

  “No,” he bit out.

  “What did you ask him?” Sela shifted, placing her hand on Mac’s shoulder. A casual gesture between mates.

  Roc shoved his fists into his pockets.

  “I asked him if they had finalized the bond,” Mac rubbed Sela’s thigh. “If she had tried to kill him after the bond was in place . . . It would be almost impossible for Roc to recover from that.”

  “Really?” She said shocked. Roc knew she was still learning about werewolves as well as figuring out the full extent of her own power.

  Mac nodded to her, but kept his gaze fixed on Roc. Roc made certain his face revealed nothing of what he felt. Best friends aside, there were still some things too private to share.

  “Do you know what Livie meant?” Roc asked Sela.

  She sighed. “Maybe. It’s hard to say. I’ve been separated from her for so long that I don’t know her like I used to.” Dark shadows shifted in her deep blue eyes. “I don’t know everything she went through living on her own. We’ve spent a lot of time catching up, but . . .” Sela pressed her hand over her mouth.

  She swallowed convulsively then thrust her shoulders back. “I think she is completely worn down. You know what she looks like. She’s a damn bag of bones and I think it’s the same for her mentally. She’s used up everything she has just to survive.”

  She winced as she looked at Roc. “I don’t think she wants her power and as for you guys . . .” she waved her hand back and forth between Roc and Mac. “Werewolves, quite frankly, freak her out.”

  His pockets ripped as he began to shift. Mac moved to stand directly in front of Sela. He reached for control, pushing his beast back down. “Fuck.” He snarled. “That’s what I thought. She thinks that if she kills me, her power will disappear.” Sela slowly nodded.

  “And if I’m dead, she won’t have to deal with me either.” Flaming hot spikes of steel pressed into his flesh couldn’t hurt as bad as this.

  He knew this had been what Livie meant, he just didn’t want to face it. How could he bond with her, live the life he dreamed of, if his mate wanted him dead? She didn’t want anything to do with him and he couldn’t live without her.

  “Livie’s been through a lot lately.” Sela said in defense of her sister. “Knowing that we control an Element is not quite the same as discovering that there is an entire community of supernatural beings out there.” She flung her hand towards the window to indicate everything outside.

  “You didn’t have any problems,” Mac pointed out.

  “I wasn’t half starved and completely run down to begin with. Plus, the first time I found out that you were a werewolf, you had just rescued me from extreme torture.” She blew a kiss at Mac. “A girl can overlook a lot in that situation.”

  “Livie found out about you guys in the middle of my rainstorm.” She reminded Roc. “We were surrounded by the Order, afraid we would be captured and couldn’t see a thing after I started that storm. The sounds you make as werewolves can be pretty damn scary.”

  Mac frowned at her. She shrugged back at him.

  “Then, before she could adjust, she was shot. Kind of a lot to throw at a person, don’t you think?” She asked reasonably.

  Yes, but Roc didn’t want to be reasonable. After centuries of searching for and reading article after article to prepare himself for her, he now had his mate. He wanted to get on with . . . well, the mating.

  He’d always thought himself a patient werewolf. He’d thought wrong.

  “And now you’ve chained her to your bed?” Sela glared at him. “Probably not the best way to show her what a nice guy you can be.”

  Fuck it all. She was right. He’d been so caught up in his own torment, he hadn’t been able to think the situation through.

  “So now what?” he asked in frustration.

  “First you need to unchain my sister from your bed.” Hell, that did sound really bad. “Then . . .”

  The phone rang.

  Mac walked over to answer the call.

  “As I was saying, then you need to . . .”

  “What?” Mac snarled. His furious tone startled them.

  Sela tried to jump down from the counter. Roc caught her before her feet touched the ground. “Glass,” he reminded her. He carried her well away from the mess. Mac growled at him.

  He quickly set her down and stepped away, palms up to show Mac he no longer touched her. He watched as Sela dashed over to her mate, knowing how much she needed to touch Mac.

  Just like wolves, werewolves craved physical contact, especially in moments of extreme emotion. The fact that Sela was not technically a werewolf did not matter. Once the mate-bond took place, Mac would have passed along the fundamental elements of a werewolf to Sela.

  “It’s a fucking ambush and you know it.” Mac curled Sela into his side. Roc watched them, his chest tight.

  “I’m not letting Sela anywhere near . . . Damn it Cam . . .” Mac gripped the receiver with a claw tipped hand. Sela stroked his chest, her worried gaze met Roc’s. He shook his head at her.

  He hadn’t a clue as to what was going on. But Mac’s tone brought all his senses on full alert.

  “We’ll be there in half an hour.” Mac said stiffly as h
e slammed the phone down.

  His furious gaze met Roc’s across the room.

  “The fucking Order wants to meet.” Sela gasped. Mac rubbed her arms. “They’ve given Cam directions to a remote area in Wyoming.” Fucking ambush was right. “Cam has agreed to the meet.”

  Anticipation rolled through him. At last he could take them head on. He’d stalked them long enough. He was ready for the kill. He’d never truly enjoyed fighting before. He was a damn good warrior, but he hadn’t thrived on their battles like Mac did.

  The Order had tormented his mate, forced her to live a life no one should have to endure.

  Most of her fears were because of them.

  He couldn’t wait for the bloodshed.

  “The Order wants our mates to be there also.”

  Oh, hell no.

  “Cam has agreed.” Mac stated. Roc growled. No way would he allow Livie anywhere near these bastards. They hadn’t mated. She could be killed. He shook his head at Mac.

  “He made it a command.” Mac bit out.

  A command from their Wolven.

  Raw fury gripped him. His mate didn’t trust him, didn’t want anything to do with him and he had no time to change any of that. They hadn’t mated, which meant she was as vulnerable as a child, and if she ran, which he knew she would, he would not be able to lock in on her scent without that connection.

  And to bring her into danger? Force her to face the enemy she’d run from her entire life?

  It went against everything in him, as a man and as a werewolf.

  Chapter Ten

  “You really tried to kill Roc?”

  Livie flushed at her sister’s whispered question. If she had succeeded, Roc would have been the first innocent man she had ever killed.

  Make that the first person she had not killed in self-defense. She seriously doubted Roc could claim innocence in anything.

  “And he actually chained you to his bed?”

  She would not get over that anger for a long time. Like maybe when the devil created a charity for orphaned kittens.

  “Yes to both questions,” she muttered.

  Livie noticed Roc stiffening in the seat in front of them. She knew he heard everything loud and clear. She didn’t care. She wanted him to feel horrible. The beast had kept her confined to a two foot area for three days.

  And why was she even noticing anything about him?

  She’d promised herself the moment she had a chance she would find some weapons and take off. She’d call Sela later. She should be looking for any opportunity to escape, not paying attention to him.

  “But . . .” Sela darted a glance at Mac. She put her mouth to Livie’s ear, her breath tickling the sensitive skin. Livie rolled her eyes. She loved Sela to death, but honestly . . .

  “Seals,” she said in a normal tone. She nodded towards the suspiciously quiet men in the front of the SUV. “They can hear every word you’re saying.”

  Sela turned bright red.

  “Uh, yeah. Hah. I forget sometimes,” she continued to whisper. “Funny, even though my hearing is incredible these days, it still slips my mind. I’ll get used to it eventually.”

  Livie didn’t think she ever would. How could a person become accustomed to super senses or think turning furry was normal? Why would she even want to?

  Silence settled over the car, lost in their own thoughts and emotions, they’d spent most of the drive so far without talking. Livie went back to staring out the window. Golds, browns and the occasional hint of red flashed by. An hour ago they had traveled over a thickly wooded mountain pass, teeming with green pine trees and delicate Aspens. Now the landscape was dry and barren enough to have her throat swallowing in sympathy.

  An occasional tree fought for life in this high desert country and a surprisingly large number of deer grazed on low shrubbery in contentment.

  The deer probably felt safe with such a clear view for miles around. If only they knew, she thought dourly, staring at Roc’s leather bound ponytail.

  The Order claimed they wanted to meet near a place called Crowheart, which appeared to be situated in the middle of the most desolate spot in all of Wyoming.

  Ten to nothing the meeting place had lots and lots of rocks for bad guys to hide behind.

  “Fucking ambush” was right. What were they doing here? Werewolves did not put their mates in danger. She didn’t know much about them — didn’t plan to know more than she did right now — but she did know that much at least.

  So, why?

  “Excuse me, Cam, exactly why are we meeting with the Order?” This is what came of hanging around werewolves, not that she had much choice lately. She spent way too much time plotting revenge against one in particular and not enough time focusing on the important things.

  Roc and Mac swung around to stare at her. Wha-at? She could ask a simple question, couldn’t she? The image of Cam directing them in battle popped into her head.

  Hmmm, they probably had to be more like the military than not in order to survive all these years. Sela claimed the werewolves were immortal.

  All right, so asking questions of the Wolven didn’t happen too often. Livie eyed the stark disbelief in Roc’s expression. Like never.

  Better get used to it. I’m not a freakin’ werewolf.

  “One of the first lessons in battle is to learn as much as possible about your enemy.” Cam didn’t take his eyes off the road. “If you know their weak spots, you can use it to your advantage.”

  Don’t I know it.

  Sela muttered something quietly. Livie clasped her hand.

  We both do.

  “We can learn more in one meeting with them than all the second hand knowledge we’ve gained over the last few weeks.” Cam said. Roc swiveled forward. Glad to have his penetrating gaze off her, Livie saw him glance towards Mac. They both shrugged before crossing impassive arms over their chests.

  Men. Werewolves or not, the alpha ones were always the same. Never show emotion. She knew they had to dying of curiosity.

  When Cam had picked them up. He’d said they’d discuss the plan as they got closer. That was it. Neither Mac nor Roc had questioned him.

  Livie understood the principles behind the military. She did. You couldn’t have a discussion about a battle strategy when your enemy stood in front of you with a guy. One person had to lead and everyone else followed. She understood that. And even though the werewolves were not military, they’d obviously survived and stayed under the radar for this long by following the same basic principles.

  Which all made sense in theory, but irked her nonetheless.

  “And, unfortunately,” Cam continued, “we haven’t learned as much as we need to know.” He rubbed his neck in a quick, disjointed movement. “We protected the Elements for centuries. We will do so again and this time we won’t fail.”

  She could easily see why they made him Wolven. Still . . .

  “And you think the best way to do that is to bring Sela and I along on this ambush . . .uh, meeting?” She asked skeptically.

  Roc’s shoulders stiffened. “Livie didn’t mean to question your authority,” he defended her. What, did he think Cam would attack her?

  “Yes, I did,” Livie stated. Roc turned in shock.

  She ignored him. “We’ve been fighting these guys for years,” she indicated herself and Sela. “Our best strategy has been to duck and dodge, not rush out to meet them.”

  Roc uttered a strangled sound. He leaned over the seat with his hand outstretched as if he planned to cover her mouth. Livie slapped him away.

  She wasn’t chained up anymore. And she’d had three days to think about a few things. Werewolves didn’t hurt their mates. He could bluster all he wanted, but he would not hurt her.

  “And while your approach has kept you alive, it hasn’t done anything else.” Cam pointed out. “The Order continues to grow. Eventually they would have caught you.”

  Damn him, he was right.

  Roc raised his eyebrows at her. She re
fused to acknowledge him. Dominating, aggravating werewolf.

  “There is one more thing,” Cam said slowly. Sela squeezed her hand tightly. Crap, she heard it in his voice too. This could not be good.

  “How long has it been since you two have seen your sister?”

  “About a year, maybe a year and a half, or two,” Sela said quietly. Her fingers shook. Livie tightened her grip. Mac slammed a fist on his door. Livie could practically feel his need to hold Sela.

  Livie swallowed hard. “About the same for me I guess.”

  Time didn’t always have a lot of meaning on the run. She always knew when the holidays came around due to all the window decorations, but beyond that . . .

  Please don’t say it. Please don’t.

  “Would you recognize her if you saw her?” Cam asked.

  Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit.

  A small noise escaped Sela, sort of like the sound an injured animal would make. Livie couldn’t breathe.

  “They claim they have her.”

  Mac began a litany of vicious curses. Sela moaned softly and began rocking back and forth. Livie had seen Sela right after she’d been captured by the Order all those years ago. She didn’t know how Sela had been able to walk after what they’d done to her.

  What would they do to Rea?

  A large male hand appeared in her blurred vision. Livie blinked. Roc faced her over the seat, dark eyes swirling, his hand outstretched, palm up, offering her comfort.

  She stared at his hand.

  Large, strong and capable of unleashing deadly claws.

  The bastards had her sister.

  Keeping her grip on Sela, she reached out slowly and grabbed him. His fingers curled over her, the heat from his skin seeped into her. She closed her eyes. He rumbled gently.

  There were a lot of things out there much, much worse than a werewolf.

  ****

  Roc kept his grip loose. He didn’t want to spook her. She hadn’t spoken to him since he’d forced her into the Suburban a few hours ago. But she took his hand.

  He swallowed heavily.

  Damn, what a mess. He hadn’t taken Cam’s order well. For the first time since taking his place as clan beta, he resented the hell out of his position. He knew Mac felt the same as no one had spoken since they started driving. Fine lieutenants they were. They still didn’t know the damn plan.