“Humor me,” Wade said, taking a drink.
“I guess it’s because I don’t know if I’m actually innocent or not. Just seeing those murders through my dreams was enough to make me sick to my stomach. I don’t want to be that kind of monster. If by some chance I am killing, then being locked up is what’s best for everyone.”
Wade tipped his head to the side and gave me a sideways glance. “That’s very…mature of you. Most bloodthirsty werewolves we deal with aren’t so accepting.”
I shrugged. “I’m sure most of the murderers you guys deal with don’t have morals.” I snorted. The idea was ridiculous—a murderous werewolf with a conscience.
“That’s why I’m thinking you’re not the one who’s killing,” Wade replied.
“What about the DNA test?”
“We didn’t test the other speck of blood we found. The fact that the victims’ blood was on you was enough for the rest of the leaders,” Wade explained, looking away.
“I’ve been having visions,” I blurted. There had to be a connection between the dreams and the strange episodes yesterday. Maybe it was something that would prove I was in fact innocent.
Wade shifted in his seat, crossing a leg over his knee. “When did this start?”
“Yesterday. It first happened when I was taking a shower and when we were in the woods looking for Eve.” I studied Wade’s face to judge his reaction. “This isn’t normal.” I hadn’t said those words out loud yet and now that they were out, acceptance filled me. I’d be in denial, shucking them off as just dreams. Now, however, they weren’t just happening in my sleep. I couldn’t ignore their importance anymore.
“Perhaps you’re a seer,” Wade said very calmly. In my mind I envisioned a woman draped in gaudy silks, long fingernails, dramatic eyes, and crystals hanging around her neck as she waved her hands theatrically over a crystal ball. Wade had to be screwing with me.
“I was hoping for some real answers,” I said with exhaustion. I eyed my drink and pushed the glass away. I wasn’t a big drinker. I was what people called a lightweight, until I became a werewolf. Now I could drain every sip from this bar and walk out of here without so much as a stumble. Okay, that wasn’t true. I could get drunk it just took a hell of a lot more liquor. Still, the alcohol wasn’t sitting well with me tonight, and I’d only had the one shot.
“Who says what I say is not the truth?” Wade countered. “You can’t be so naïve as to think magic does not exist. You’re living proof that it does—a werewolf. Plus after sleeping with Adam, you’re branded—fate saying you belong to each other. Add to the fact that Nicholas has his own sordid magic. Plus, you’re a white wolf.”
First off, how did he know I was a white wolf? “And that means I’m some mystical fortune teller?” I snorted, my sleeplessness catching up with me. “I’m ready to head back home.”
Wade finished his drink and stood. “Denial only lasts for so long before you’re forced to see the truth, Anna.”
I followed him out of the bar, making sure to stay far away from Puck as we exited. I didn’t respond to Wade because a nagging voice in the back of my mind told me maybe he was right.
“I’ll let you have first dibs,” the woman teased, laughter following her words. The man…I couldn’t breathe as I looked at him. I recognized both of the people standing over my bleeding body, but the man….oh God…the man. His eyes, blond hair, and the hard lines that made up his angry face
“You have to stop this,” he barked at the woman, his eyes filled with remorse. He didn’t know who I was. I was still a stranger to him, a woman he’d feed a story to, to hide a nasty secret.
My eyes snapped open, and I stared at my bedroom ceiling as I tried to calm the sporadic rhythm of my heart. The day I was attacked rushed full force into my mind. I remembered everything. I was such a fool, a puppet, and Adam was the puppeteer. I danced on his strings and walked the path he guided me down. How could I have been so stupid?
I checked the time and saw I wasn’t alone in my bed. Adam slept on his side, facing the door. Everything I thought I felt for him turned sour, wilting and dying within me. How could I have not known? There’d been so many of the puzzle pieces right in front of me, yet I didn’t put them together.
First, Adam found me after the attack. It hadn’t been luck, he’d been there the whole time. Second, Adam found me after I had the run in with the bear trap. “How’d you find me” I’d asked him. “I’ll always find you.” There’d been a promise in his words, a declaration that I’d misunderstood for passion. Could he find me so easily because he was the one who bit me? No, I was sure that had been Eve. Third, he gained my trust, fooling me into thinking he felt something for me. This one hurt the most. Did he just want to know what I remembered? Or to be close to me when I remembered so he could silence me?
A whirlwind of emotion filled my mind and fiery heat rushed through my veins. Anger, betrayal, and depression made me dizzy. My heart jackhammered and my palms turned sweaty. Inching out of bed, I tiptoed out of the door. I took a moment to lean against the wall to catch my breath. My chest rose and fell heavily, and I choked on the sobs that tried to escape my throat. I had to be quiet. What would I say if Adam woke up and saw me like this? Making my way down the hall, I slipped on my sandals and headed outside. The cool morning air helped clear my head a little, but my body was wracked with indecision. I fisted my hands, closed my eyes, and bit back on the scream that lingered on my lips.
Was I overreacting? Making something out of nothing? This was the second dream I had about Adam and Eve and my attack. Was it my subconscious’ way of telling me something I didn’t want to believe? Shit, this whole thing is so confusing. After the first dream I’d let the nagging feeling go because Adam had tempted me to spend the night with him. Stupid.
I wanted to run away as much as I wanted to stalk back into the house and demand answers. My choice was made when the front door opened and Adam leaned against the doorframe.
“Anna, what are you doing out here this early?”
I looked at him over my shoulder, my hands fisting at my sides. Adam’s eyes widened, and he stepped out of the house, walking over to me. “What is it?”
I cursed when tears welled in my eyes. All I could do was shake my head and stare at him.
“Jesus, Anna, what’s wrong?” Adam’s eyes searched my face and body as if looking for injury. “Say something.” Adam’s hands rested on my shoulders, shaking me.
“You knew all along, didn’t you?” I finally said.
“Knew what?”
“How long has Eve been killing humans? How long have you been covering for her?”
Adam’s face fell, his mouth agape in stunned silence. I turned around and walked towards my truck. I needed to get away from him, away from her, and off the mountain. She’s weak right now. You could kill her easily. I stopped in my tracks and turned, a thought occurring to me.
“Did you attack Eve to throw us off your trail?” Adam stood in the same space, a lost look on his face. His hair was ruffled from sleeping, and his bare chest was highlighted by the rising sun. It should have been a crime to look that good and be evil.
“Anna, we need to talk about this,” Adam pleaded.
“Here I am, talk.”
“It’s not what you think. I didn’t know—.”
“Stop lying, Adam,” I interrupted. How could this man be my other half, my chante? The mark on my hand was a brand of stupidity—for believing in something when all the warning signs were right in front of me. Stupid. I ignored Adam and walked around my truck, opening the door, and slipping inside. Adam ran forward, and I slapped my hand down on the lock. He fought with the handle, his eyes wild.
“Anna, please don’t leave. I can explain.” I flipped the visor down and caught the keys that fell, slipping them into the ignition, and starting the truck. I spared Adam one last glance before putting pressure on the gas pedal and driving away. The death grip on the steering wheel turned my knuckles white
. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I watched as Adam’s body got smaller and smaller. Once away from him, I allowed the tears to fall.
It must have been true. Why else would he react like that? I slammed a hand against the steering wheel in frustration, flipping on the radio to tune out the screams in my head.
Not knowing where to go, I headed up the mountain to Trigger Lake. It was far enough away and rarely had tourists due to the rough terrain. I was still in my pajamas and hadn’t grabbed my purse on the way out. I checked the ashtray. I usually kept a few spare bills hidden inside. There was only ten bucks, not enough to do anything with. How the in hell was I supposed to flee when I was broke?
Anna, please come back. I swear I can explain. Adam’s voice penetrated my mind, causing me to swerve. Reaching out, I turned the radio knob all the way up, the music filling the cab, but it didn’t drown out Adam’s voice like I hoped.
I didn’t know Eve was responsible, I promise. I knew she was up to something, but I swear I didn’t know it was this. The strain of his inner voice nagged at my heart like a knife slicing through butter.
Leave. Me. Alone. I closed my eyes for a split second. When I opened them Adam stood in the middle of the road, ten feet away. What in the hell? Slamming on the breaks, my truck fishtailed. The tires squealed against the asphalt. I fought to get the steering wheel under control, but in my state of panic and distress, I turned it the wrong way and then I was rolling. A blood curdling scream ripped from my lips and filled the cab of the truck. My head bounced off of the driver’s side door, and stars danced within my vision. Metal against road screeched and groaned as my truck slid along the road. When the truck stopped moving, I worked with clumsy hands to unlatch the seatbelt. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. My heart raced and my body shook. The truck landed on the passenger’s side, so once I got the seatbelt undone, I stood up as best as I could. With my elbow, I pushed forward and the sheet of glass fell outside. Bracing my hands on either side of the window, I hoisted my body up, sitting on the door and bringing my legs up. Hopping down, I stumbled away from the truck and rested against the guardrail.
My entire body shook uncontrollably and tears and blood streamed down my face. Reaching up, I touched the gash on my forehead and winced from the pain. There was a cut on my right arm and my pajama pants were torn. Remembering the reason for the accident, I tried to find Adam. What was he doing in the middle of the highway? And how had he gotten up here so quickly? Smoke rose from the hood of the truck, but just beyond it I could make out the silhouette of a body. A breeze swept the smoke away giving me a clear view of Adam. His jaw was set in stone, and he walked with purpose towards me, a sickening smile transforming his face from beautiful to sinister. I swallowed around the lump in my throat, afraid of what he’d do. I couldn’t fight back, not after tumbling around in my truck like clothes in a washer.
Adam stopped in front of me, his eyes regarding me with anger. I watched him, speechless and afraid. The man who stood before me wasn’t the same man I’d slept with. Gone was the loving gaze and in its place was ugliness. As I opened my mouth to say something, Adam lifted his hand and swung. His fist connected with the side of my face, the impact knocked me over the guardrail and then it was lights out.
*
I came to with a nasty headache and dry mouth. When I opened my eyes, I was shrouded in darkness. My arms were above my head and I couldn’t move them. The rattling of chains echoed through the room with each movement I made. The cold metal bit into my wrist, not giving an inch of space.
It took my eyes a little longer to adjust to the darkness; my head still throbbed. Adam had stripped me down. I didn’t wear underwear or a bra to bed, so I was naked. With my foot, I felt around on the floor that was made of lose dirt. Inhaling, I tried to capture the scent of anything that might give me a clue where I was. Mildew, rodents, and blood hung in the air. Looking to my left, there was a sliver of light piercing through the darkness underneath what must be a door. Footsteps sounded behind it. I fought against the chains, but to no avail.
The door swung open hard, causing me to jump. Adam stood in the doorway, that same sickening smile on his face. This had to be a nightmare. There was no way this man and my Adam were the same person. Wake up…wake up! I repeated the mantra over and over in my head, but my pleas went unanswered. Stalking into the room, Adam flicked a switch on the wall and the room lit up with dim light. I closed my eyelids; even the subtle light hurt my eyes. The clang of the door being shut urged me to open them again. Adam paced in front of me, his hands tucked behind his back as he kept focus on my naked body.
Oh how I hated him and myself. How had he fooled me so cleverly?
“I bet you’re confused,” he said, smiling as if there was some inside joke I wasn’t privy to.
I stared, too angry to engage in a conversation with this monster.
“The fact is, I’m a purebred, and you’re beneath me in every way. Packs used to kill your kind—when times made sense. Now, packs are full of half breeds…mutts,” He said half breeds and mutts as if they tasted bad on his tongue. “The only thing you’re good for is a fuck every now and then.” He stopped pacing, his eyes dropping to my bare breasts.
I cringed under his insinuating stare, my stomach nauseous from learning the truth of who I fell in love with.
“Did you really think you were worthy of an alpha?” He laughed. “So naïve.”
He paced back and forth, his eyes regarding me with hatred. Well the feeling was mutual.
“Eve,” he called. The door opened and in stepped the other person I hated, Eve. Her short auburn hair was perfectly styled, her face made up, and she wore black cotton shorts, a white tank top and red heels. It didn’t look like she’d been attacked by a werewolf. What in the hell?
“Now this,” Adam continued, holding out his hand towards Eve. She grasped it and stepped into his embrace. “Is a woman worthy of an alpha. She’s beautiful, ruthless, and fucks like an angel.” They shared a seductive laugh before their lips found each other and kissed passionately. I closed my eyes to shield myself from the pain. I may not have been able to see them, but I could hear them. Moans and the rustling of clothes beat against my eardrums. It was my nightmare coming true. Please don’t let them have sex.
“I warned you,” Eve’s voice replaced the smacking sounds, and I opened my eyes. She wiped her mouth with her thumb, a smile on her red lips. “I told you to stay away from him, but like the whore you are, you just couldn’t help yourself. I can’t blame you, though. He is tempting.” She glanced at Adam and he winked.
“Now, here’s what’s going to happen,” Eve said, stepping towards me and kneeling down so we were eye level. “We’re going to keep you alive for a day or so and have some fun with you. After that, well, use your imagination. We’ll tell the leaders we caught you feasting on another human, and in our attempts to subdue you, you fought against us. We had no choice but to put you down. The case will be closed and the leaders will leave.” She smiled, her eyes alight with excitement. “I thought for sure the leaders would kill after finding the blood on your face.” Eve shook her head, annoyed. “Looks like I’ll have to do it myself.”
None of this made any sense.
“You won’t get away with it,” I bit back.
“Did she talk back to me?” Eve asked, turning to speak to Adam.
“She did,” Adam answered with a smile. “Maybe you should show her what happens when mutts get mouthy.”
“Gladly,” Eve grinned.
My head snapped back against the stone wall as Eve slapped my face, hard. My cheek burned, tingling in the aftermath of her assault.
“You know how long I’ve wanted to do that?” she asked. “Please say something else. I dare you.”
I glared, but kept my lips sealed. When I didn’t respond, Eve frowned.
“Fuck it,” she growled, landing another slap against my face.
“Easy,” Adam said. “We don’t want her too bruised for when w
e give her body to the leaders.”
Eve’s fingers flexed against her knee, itching to land another blow. I released the breath I’d been holding when she stood back up.
Walking over to Adam, Eve hooked a finger in his jeans and tugged him closer. “Come on, you know how violence gets me horny.” They shared a seductive look and without another word, left the room, flipping the light switch off as they went.
I leaned my head against the brick wall, overwhelmed and panicked. Were they planning on torturing me before they killed me? That’s what it sounded like. How in the hell was I going to get out of this? My mind was numb, to full of deception to think straight. Adam and Eve had played a good game. My arms were sore. I didn’t know how long I’d been chained up before I came to. There weren’t any windows in the small room. It could have been hours or days, time didn’t exist here. I tried, in vain, to fight against the shackles, but the metal bit deeper into my flesh the more I struggled. What kind of person has a torture chamber just waiting to be used? A sick bitch like Eve, that’s who.
Giving up, I became lethargic and my eyelids heavy. Moans sounded from somewhere, floating into my room and abusing my ears. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and let sleep take me away from the painful melody.
“Wake up,” someone ordered. Frigid water splashed across my body. I fought myself back to reality, shaking my head to fling the water off of my face. Adam stood in front of me, an empty bucket in his hands.
“Dinner time.” He smiled, nodding towards the right. Looking in the direction, a dog bowl sat filled with what looked like wet dog food. I wanted to scream and cry, unable to believe someone could be this heartless. But I held the emotions inside, not allowing Adam the pleasure of seeing me break.
“It’s a little hard to eat with my hands bound,” I told him. He dug in his pocket, pulling out a small silver key and holding it up. This was good. All I needed was my arms free and then I could shift and fight.
01 Taming the Wolf - Anna Avery Page 19
