Callie's Captors [Mountain Men of Montana 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jane Jamison

  Blue cursed a blue streak and stalked away from the pit. Pete could see Raine trying to think of something to say, but what could that be? He strode back to the pit. “You’re out of your mind. We told you. It’s dangerous.”

  “Maybe some of the others of his kind are, but not Scrunch.” She drew closer to the thing, adding another painful twist to Pete’s gut.

  “Callie, be reasonable. What do you expect us to do?”

  “I expect you to treat him with the same respect you treat everything and everyone else.” She tossed her hair back over her shoulders. “I expect you to help him.”

  “He’s one of them,” added Raine as though that would sway her.

  “Tell me, Raine, what if it was something else down here? Like maybe a deer or a wolf? Would you leave it to starve to death?”

  “That’s not the same thing. Deer and wolves aren’t our sworn enemies.”

  “So you’d help them? And who says The Cursed are your enemies? So far, I haven’t seen them do anything to you.”

  Pete held up his hand to his brother. “You haven’t been around long enough to know. They’ve attacked our people, even killed them. What else would you call them except enemies?”

  She turned to Scrunch and Pete hoped she was starting to see the creature through clear eyes. But his hope died when she faced him again. Her clenched jaw told him that her determination had grown even stronger.

  “What if they want a truce? What if it’s time for peace?”

  “Shit. Our mate is fucking delusional,” muttered Blue.

  Pete shot Blue a stern warning to keep him quiet. “That’s not the case.”

  “You don’t know that.” She crossed her arms. “What if Scrunch trying to contact me is a first step? What if he’s trying to connect with me? With everyone?”

  Blue scowled. “You’re a dreamer if ever I heard one.”

  “But what if she’s right?” Pete could feel the wrath of Blue’s anger as he turned on him. “Take it easy, bro. I’m only asking. After all, they haven’t done much to bother us lately.”

  “That’s because they don’t have Burac to lead them.” Blue stalked to the other side of the hole. “Trust me. They’ll strike again.”

  Blue was probably right. But if so, why was Scrunch trying to contact Callie? If he’d wanted, he could’ve easily taken her.

  “We’re wasting time, guys. Prove that you care about me. What’s it going to be? Are you going to help us or not?”

  “Kill it.”

  Pete pivoted in sync with his brothers to find Wesley, one of the many werewolves in The Hidden, striding toward the pit along with two other werewolves.

  “How’d you know we were here?”

  “Tina saw Callie and that thing and asked us to see what was going on.” He peered at Callie. “Has it bitten her?”

  Pete’s mouth was open, ready to say anything except the truth when Callie offered it up instead.

  “He hasn’t and he’s not going to. He’s my…friend.” She darted her gaze away only to bring it back. “And why are you people running around butt-naked?”

  Wesley’s black eyes filled with amber. “She’s kidding, right? Or is she off in the head?” He made a circling motion in the air next to his head, the universal sign for mental illness.

  “She’s neither one. She and Scrunch are…okay with each other.” Pete planted his feet apart, ready for their reaction.

  “Are you saying she’s made friends with it?”

  Mikea, Wesley’s co-mate with Shira, snorted. “You can’t make friends with those things. What are we waiting for? The Cursed made the pits to catch animals and even some of us. It’s only right that one of them dies there.”

  “I agree. Let’s get it.” Shira, a small, yet fierce werewolf, snarled, bringing out her fangs as she started shifting.

  “Our mate’s right.” Wesley followed her, the sound of his bones breaking and reforming making an accompaniment to the noise Shira’s bones made.

  Mikea growled and shifted his attention from Pete to a horrified-looking Callie. “You haven’t told her yet, have you? I’m sorry about jumping the gun, guys, but my mates are right. We’re taking that thing out of this world and sending it straight to hell.”

  Less than a minute later, the three had shifted into their werewolf bodies. They split up, each pacing to a side of the pit.

  “Oh, my God.”

  Pete hated to see the fear on her face. What The Cursed hadn’t done, their friends had. They’d terrified their mate.

  She backed up as Scrunch snarled, baring his fangs, his red eyes hooked on the wolves above. “Guys, run while you can. Get away.”

  Her eyes grew as realization hit her. “They’re like the ones that surrounded me in the other hole. Holy shit, they’re werewolves. Please run, Pete!”

  “This wasn’t the way she was supposed to find out.” Blue slid beside him.

  “No, but it’s the way she did and we have to deal with it. After we decide if we’re going to let Wesley and his mates take the thing.”

  Callie, recognition showing on her face as she began to understand, begged them. “Please, don’t let them hurt him.”

  He’d do anything for her, but could he do this? He glanced up to find Wesley hunkering down, ready to pounce.

  Yes, I can.

  The world shifted and took on an amber hue. The familiar pain rushed through his body as he changed. His inner wolf howled with relief mixed with exhilaration as he transformed then crooked his head to stare at his brothers.

  Blue grumbled another curse then shifted, too. But Raine stood fast, shaking his head. “She doesn’t understand about them. Maybe this is the way to make her get it.”

  Callie whirled and grabbed Scrunch’s arm. Together, they huddled against the dirt wall, trying to get into a protective position. Not that it would help. Wesley and his mates would tear them apart with one swipe of their claws, then take their lives with a crunch of their massive jaws on their necks.

  But Pete wasn’t about to let that happen. Snarling, he rushed at Mikea. Hurling his body at his friend, he knocked the wolf over. They rolled several yards before each of them got to their feet.

  Mikea’s eyes burned with anger. Although he didn’t have to say anything, Pete knew his friend felt betrayed. No one had ever chosen one of The Cursed over their own.

  Snarls and growls erupted behind them, telling him that Blue had joined in the fight. But he couldn’t take a chance to see. Instead, he had to watch for Mikea’s next move. If he didn’t, he’d leave himself open for attack.

  Mikea jumped at him, his jaws open to sink into Pete’s flesh. Pete didn’t want to hurt his friend, but he couldn’t allow Mikea to harm Callie even if it meant protecting one of The Cursed. He tried to duck, but Mikea struck him in the side, knocking him down.

  Desperation swamped him as the big wolf pounced on top. Fighting from the bottom was never a good thing, but he bit and clawed at the wolf’s underbelly until, at last, Mikea jumped off. He scrambled to his feet, coming up a foot from his friend’s face.

  “Callie, now!”

  Raine’s voice proved he was still in his human form, leaving him vulnerable to the wolves’ attacks. Had he stayed that way to help her out of the hole? He wanted to see, but couldn’t take his eyes from his opponent.

  Mikea gazed past Pete and a howl ripped from his throat. He started to get around Pete, but he stopped him, using his body as a wall. He’d give Raine and Callie the time they needed.

  “Shit! Shit!”

  Raine’s curses didn’t make him feel any better. Come on, bro, get it done.

  Mikea backed up, snarling, his focus clearly on what Raine and Callie were doing. With Mikea far enough away, Pete dared to look.

  Blue was playing guard against the two other werewolves while Raine held Callie close to him. Scrunch crouched at the edge of the forest, his red eyes blazing, then, with a low growl, he scurried into the trees.

  Mikea and the others revert
ed to their human forms. Pete and Blue did the same after getting closer to Raine and Callie.

  “You chose that thing over your own kind.” Mikea spit out the accusation.

  “You gave us no choice. We chose the safety of our mate. If you’d tried to hurt it, then she would’ve tried to defend it.” He doubted his argument would change their minds.

  Wesley shook his head, but it was the way he regarded them, his face a mask of disdain, that hurt the most. “The Council will hear about this.”

  Blue stood tall next to him with a trickle of blood running down his chest. “We don’t doubt it. And when they call for us, we’ll come.”

  Shira narrowed her eyes at Callie. “I don’t understand how any woman could do this to her mates. You brought shame to yourself as well as to your men.”

  Pete was proud of Callie as she held her head high and didn’t cower under Shira’s criticism. He could smell the fear wafting off her body, but she wouldn’t buckle under. “That’s not how I see it. I didn’t want anyone hurt. Not Scrunch, not us, and not you.”

  “Scrunch? You gave it a name? It’s a fucking animal.”

  Wesley spat on the ground at Pete’s feet, but Pete ignored the disrespectful gesture. He couldn’t blame his friend for being upset. If Callie hadn’t gotten involved, he would’ve stepped aside and let Wesley and his mates kill Scrunch.

  Aw, hell. She’s got me calling him by his name.

  Callie’s curt laugh surprised him. “He’s an animal? You’re werewolves.” She clutched at Raine’s arm. “Every last one of you.” Her accusatory eyes landed first on Blue, then him.

  “Callie, we meant to tell you.” Blue blew out a breath. “Just not this way.”

  She tightened her grip on Raine. “I can’t believe it. They’re werewolves.”

  Pete waited, knowing that his brother couldn’t keep the truth about himself quiet any longer. Raine put his hand on top of hers. “Callie, please don’t be frightened. None of us would ever hurt you. Not them, or Pete, or Blue. And not me, either.”

  She lifted her gaze to Raine’s. “Oh, my God.” Turning him loose, she backed away. “You’re a werewolf, too?”

  Rained nodded, his body slumping against her obvious alarm. “Yes.”

  “Fuck this. Let’s go. We have to tell Tina and the others.” Casting one last glare at them, Wesley motioned for Shira and Mikea to follow him. They turned on their heels and stalked into the darkness of the woods.

  Pete watched them in silence even after he couldn’t see them any longer. But he wanted to delay the moment he turned to face Callie. Would he still see fear in her eyes? When he did confront her, he found she’d put more space between them.

  “Thank you so much.” Callie clasped her hands in front of them. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there.”

  Relief swamped him, but it was gone with her next words.

  “But I can’t…I mean, you’re werewolves.” She backed up another foot. “I can’t believe it.”

  Pete shot a warning look at his brothers. After seeing her eyes change, they knew that she had to be part werewolf. But now was not the time to tell her. She already had too much to deal with.

  “Callie, please. You have to know we’d never do anything to hurt you. If we’d wanted to, we could have attacked you a thousand times before now.” Pete eased closer. He didn’t want to, but if they had to tie her up and drag her back to camp to keep her from running off into the woods, then he’d do it.

  She stood her ground, glancing at the woods with longing. “Take me back to the camp.”

  “Sure, Callie.”

  “But nothing else is going to happen.” She scanned them one by one, then eased around them, keeping her distance. “No more physical stuff until I can get my mind wrapped around this. I still can’t…It’s impossible.”

  “If that’s what you want.” He didn’t have to check with Blue and Raine. He knew they’d do whatever it took to get her back safe and sound.

  “Good. But if I see one tiny bit of amber in your eyes or I think your teeth are getting longer, then I’m gone.” She stopped, and searched the bushes, then waved them ahead of her. “I don’t know which way to go. You first.”

  He relaxed a little. At least she was coming with them. They headed back to camp and had gotten halfway there when the first question came.

  “Are there more werewolves here? In the camp?”

  He answered without looking back. “Yes. And more than werewolves. There are werebears, werecats, and other supernatural beings.”

  She remained quiet for several minutes before asking, “Other supernatural beings? Like vampires?”

  “We’ve had a few of them from time to time. But they’re not much on joining with others, especially were-people like us. We do have fairies, elves, trolls, and others.”

  She let out a ragged sigh. “No wonder a lot of them seemed strange with long teeth, strange eyes, and the rest.”

  “We were going to tell you.”

  Pete cringed and wished Raine hadn’t brought that subject up. “When the time was right.”

  “I get that. But I’m telling you now. The right time would’ve been before we had sex.”

  He almost chuckled. If he turned around, would he see a smile on her face? But he didn’t risk it. Instead, he kept walking, giving her the time she needed.

  * * * *

  Unable to sleep, Callie had waited for the morning to come inside the cabin where she’d had sex with the Deacon brothers. But now that the time had arrived, she wished that the morning had never come.

  She stood off to the side as the men faced The Council and attempted to stay calm. But it was hard when so many people were against her. The hard glares of The Council aimed at the Deacon brothers were nothing compared to the angry looks the rest of the people sent her way.

  The clamor of everyone talking to their neighbor came to a stop as Charlton slammed his hand on the table in front of The Council members. “Come to order. We’re here to decide what to do about the situation the Deacon brothers and their woman have put us in.”

  Their woman. No matter what had happened, she couldn’t deny that those two words gave her a thrill. She raised her hand, not knowing what the proper etiquette was. “It’s not their fault. I was the one who made friends with Scrunch.”

  Laughter as well as curses broke out around her and Charlton lifted a white eyebrow. “You can’t make friends with one of The Cursed.”

  “I don’t mean to be argumentative, but yes, you can. I did.”

  Tina waved her hand in the air, dismissing her statement and quieting the crowd. “It doesn’t matter what she thinks she’s done. Only what has happened matters.”

  Callie had liked Tina with her big smile and beautiful silver eyes when she’d run into her earlier that morning as Luke had escorted her to the cabin where The Council met, but now she couldn’t help but feel like the tiny fairy was out to get her.

  “I don’t know if Scrunch is different from the rest or not, but he’s trying to connect with me. Each time I’ve seen him, he hasn’t shown any indication that he wanted to do me any harm.”

  She looked around her. Most of the others’ expressions hadn’t changed. They couldn’t forget their past with The Cursed. Yet a few people, mainly the younger ones, leaned forward, wanting to hear more.

  “What if they’re trying to change? What if Scrunch is the first of more to come? What harm can it do to try?”

  A small woman, her golden hair in curls around her head, stood and spoke. “I don’t know if what she says is true, but if it is, then shouldn’t we give it a chance? Maybe Callie and this Scrunch are the ones to finally make peace between us? I, for one, would love to live in a world where we didn’t have to fear The Cursed.”

  A clamor rose then, with disagreement ringing out loud and clear. Yet a few of the others remained quiet, their silence giving her hope.

  Charlton lifted his hand, signaling them to stop talking. “
Whether The Cursed are attempting to make contact is a question for another day.”

  Xnax bounced a fire ball in his hand then made it disappear in a puff of smoke. “As usual, Charlton is correct. We have to decide what to do about their breaking our rules. Not only did they allow her to take up with the creature—”

  “No. They didn’t allow me. No one allows me to do what I want to do. Contrary to what everyone might think, I’m not their captive and I don’t take orders from them. I did this all on my own.”

  Why weren’t the Deacon brothers sticking up for themselves? Instead, they stood straight and tall, their hands by their sides, mutely waiting for whatever decision came down.

  Xnax conjured another ball and tossed it her way. Fortunately, it fell a few feet short of her. “If I can finish my statement…”

  He paused as she nodded her head. Maybe she was doing them more harm by opening her big yap.

  “The Deacon brothers also fought our own kind to protect her and the creature.”

  Another round of noise came from the spectators as they expressed their displeasure.

  Charlton lifted his hand again and everyone quieted down. “We’ve never faced this situation before, but I think our choices are clear.”

  She swallowed, dread stiffening her spine. Would they make her leave? The thought of never seeing the men was awful. Could she leave if they made her? Yet, as much as she wanted to see the world away from the mountains, she wanted her men more.

  She’d thought about it long and hard during the night. At first, she was sure she’d leave, sure that she had no place in their world, but when she imagined a life without the men, she’d broken down and cried. But would they let her stay now that she wanted to? Could she love men who could change into wolves? And yet a part of her reveled at the thought.

  “Our first choice is that of banishment.”

  Callie sucked in a hard breath. For me? Or for the men I love?

  She wavered, the world suddenly spinning. Oh, hell. I love them so much. Please don’t punish them for my actions.

  “The Deacon brothers will leave The Hidden and take Callie with them, never to return.”