“Ervin hid this key under the table with his tools,” she murmured.
He didn’t want anyone to find this key easily. Which meant that…
“He didn’t want his victims to find it,” Marie whispered.
Her hands were shaking so badly that she almost dropped the key.
It took her three tries before she could insert the key into the lock. She was panting hard as she turned the key and opened the cuffs.
With a cry of relief, Marie crawled frantically away from the cuffs. It was as if she thought that those horrible handcuffs would come after her if she didn’t get away quickly enough.
Marie got to her feet and rubbed her wrist. She could hardly believe that she had managed to free herself without losing a limb.
She went to the door and jerked the handle.
To her shock, the door opened. Ervin hadn’t bothered locking the door. He thought that since she was securely cuffed to the heavy table, there was no need to bother with the lock.
No one would find the shed anyway.
And he believed that there was no way Marie would be able to run from him.
Marie stepped out of the shed and turned around in a circle.
All around her were trees. She was in the middle of a dense forest.
Where should she go?
She had no idea. She would just have to blindly pick a direction and start running.
She had to get as far away as possible before Ervin came back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Marie stumbled and tripped over a tree root but she picked herself up and continued running.
She didn’t know where she was or if she was going in the right direction.
All she knew was that she couldn’t stop. She had to keep moving, keep running and put as much distance between Ervin and herself as possible.
The forest became denser and the trees seemed to close in on her as she ran.
Her blouse got snagged on a tree branch, and Marie wrenched away forcefully, ripping her blouse. That torn piece of cloth waved in the breeze as Marie staggered away.
Marie had no idea how much distance she had covered. The trees all looked the same to her.
She was tired and scared, and the initial burst of adrenaline had worn off. Her legs ached and her lungs burned as she gulped down air. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep this up.
Pressing her hand against a tree trunk, Marie stopped and bent over, trying to catch her breath.
She froze when she heard a howl.
“Wolf,” she whispered, her eyes widening in panic.
Was it Ervin, or was it a wolf in the wild?
Either way, it wasn’t a welcome sound.
Marie pressed her hand to her mouth to stifle her whimpers. She slid quietly between the trees, trying not to make a sound.
The snap of a twig made her spin round wildly.
She heard the howl again. This time, it sounded much nearer.
“No...no...”
Her eyes flew all around, but she didn’t see any movement. The innocent sounds of insects and small animals now sounded ominous and eerie.
Marie backed away, scanning the woods frantically.
She caught a movement at the corner of her eye and whirled round.
A huge black wolf stepped out from behind a tree.
Marie bit down a scream. “No...Ervin...”
Ervin had been in his wolf form when he killed Karen. His black eyes glittered menacingly and she saw an evil red glow in the center of those dark, pitiless eyes.
“Get away from me, Ervin,” Marie said as loudly as she could. She refused to let him see how frightened she was.
Swiftly, she stooped down and grabbed a handful of dirt and stones. She flung the stones at Ervin and snatched up a rock. She wasn’t going to just let him rip into her without a fight.
Screeching, Marie hurled the rock at the black wolf with all her might.
As the rock bounced off the wolf’s shoulder, Marie picked up more stones to throw at the beast.
“Take that! And that and that!” she yelled, flinging the stones at him. “That’s for Karen! And for all the other women you’ve tortured and killed! Go to hell, Ervin! That’s where you belong!”
Ervin bared his deadly teeth at her as he stalked towards her. Marie backed away, but kept throwing stones and broken twigs at him. “Get away from me, Ervin,” she panted. “You fucking psychopath!”
The black wolf growled and the red dot in his eyes grew and spread until his eyes looked like glowing coals.
This was what evil looked like, Marie thought with a shudder.
Desperately, she snatched up more dirt and pebbles from the forest floor and faced the wolf.
What looked like a savage grin appeared on the wolf’s face. Ervin snarled and crouched slowly.
Marie gasped and whirled round. She knew that the wolf was preparing to leap at her. She had to run. Once that monstrous beast brought her down, she would be dead.
Before she could take two steps, the huge wolf flew through the air and smashed into Marie’s back.
She felt claws raking across her shoulders and she screamed in pain.
Wildly, she kicked out and smashed her fists into the wolf’s enormous body but it felt like she was punching a wall.
She felt Ervin’s hot breath on her face and when she looked up, she saw that he had shifted to human form.
“I knew you were a cunning little slut,” Ervin snarled, digging his claws into her arms.
“Let me go!” Marie shrieked, trying to pummel him. “Take your dirty hands off me!”
“You’re a mouthy one. Feisty too.” Ervin sighed dramatically. “Why can’t you just stay put? You never learn, do you? I’m going to have to teach you a harder lesson this time, Marie.”
Marie screamed as Ervin shredded her blouse with his claws.
“You have to be punished, Marie,” he said, breathing into her ear. He smiled and his tone became low and seductive. “And I’ll punish you very, very slowly. I’ve been looking forward to this. Come on, let’s go back to the shed.”
Marie struggled and screamed as Ervin began to drag her through the forest. Ervin hummed softly to himself and smirked at her. “Scream all you want, Marie. You’re making me so hard.” He cupped the bulge in the front of his pants and laughed.
Marie tried her best not to succumb to the drowning sense of hopelessness as she listened to the echo of her own anguished cries.
The trees watched her in silence.
There was no one to hear her screams.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Gage tore out of his truck and let his bear out. He could scent Marie now. He could scent her fear and her blood, and a red haze drenched his vision.
His bear reared up and sniffed the air. The stink of wolf filled his nostrils. Gage growled as his fangs lengthened. There would be no mercy for that vile, evil wolf.
“Gage! Wait...”
Gage turned and saw Huck and Ray tumbling out of their car. They started to run to him but he couldn’t waste another second. He simply pushed into the woods, following the trail of Marie’s scent.
He passed a huge, gnarled tree and stopped when he saw a piece of pink cloth stuck on one of its branches.
Gage took a whiff and froze.
Marie!
This was Marie’s blouse.
He locked onto her scent and moved faster. Furiously, he hurtled through the forest. His killer instinct rose as Marie’s scent became stronger and more distinct. He could scent her terror and pain. And he could scent that stinking, evil wolf!
Gage slowed down when he caught sight of a shed in the middle of the forest.
There was the smell of blood and death surrounding the shed, and Gage suppressed a snarl.
A scream sounded from the shed and Gage roared.
It was Marie.
He charged towards the shed and rammed his shoulder into the door.
The door splintered and Gage rushed into the
dim, putrid shed.
He saw Marie strapped down on a long table, and Ervin was holding a saw over her leg.
Marie lifted her head and met his eyes. “Gage!” she gasped.
Her face was covered with bruises and her lip was split. Her blouse had been torn open and there were cuts and claw marks on her torso and arms.
Ervin’s mouth twisted as he dropped his saw. He shifted into a huge black wolf as Gage flew towards him.
Snarling, Gage slashed his claws down and swiped viciously at the black wolf. He tore into Ervin’s side and blood splattered across the floor.
Ervin twisted away and came at him again, jaws snapping savagely. He bit down on Gage’s hind leg before Gage managed to kick him off.
With blood dripping down his leg, Gage charged at Ervin, slamming him into the wall. Knives clattered onto the floor and the grappling hooks hanging from the ceiling swayed and clinked against one another.
Gage clamped his jaws around Ervin’s shoulder and ripped out a chunk of flesh. The wolf let out a howl of agony and clawed at Gage’s eyes.
When Gage released him, Ervin scrambled to the door and raced out of the shed.
Gage wasn’t going to let the wolf go. He ran after Ervin and tore through the forest in pursuit.
Ervin wasn’t getting out alive today.
Gage growled when he saw the wolf running between the trees.
Ervin was a dead wolf.
He was dead the moment he laid his foul, slimy paws on Marie.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Marie watched the wolf and the ferocious grizzly bear explode out of the shed. Their growls and snarls faded as they ran further into the forest.
She closed her eyes briefly and laid her head back down on the hard, cold table. She knew that Gage wasn’t going to let Ervin get away.
Ervin had dragged her back to the shed and strapped her down to the table. He had tormented her with his claws and used his collection of knives on her. There were shallow cuts all over her body.
Marie had refused to cry out as he cut her. She knew that she was going to die. She wasn’t strong enough to fight Ervin, but she would not give him what he wanted. He wanted her tears and her pleas. He wanted to hear her scream and beg.
She would remain silent unto death.
Marie opened her eyes when she heard shouts and running footsteps. Quickly, she jerked her head up and saw two men push into the shed.
She recognized them.
They were the men who had spoken up in the restaurant in support of the Sheriff’s firm stance against having humans in Bear Ridge. It took her a moment before she recalled their names. “Ray and Huck,” she whispered
Her eyes bugged as the two brothers ran up to her.
“What…?” she said hoarsely.
“How do you get these off?” Huck growled in frustration as he tugged at her restraints.
“Don’t be afraid,” Ray said, noting her expression. “We’re here to help you.”
“You are?” Marie wondered aloud. “Why? I thought...”
Huck winced. “Marie, I owe you an apology,” he mumbled.
When Marie blinked at him, he said, “I saw you being dragged away by that wolf shifter, but...I didn’t do anything. I...I should have helped you. You wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been such a dickhead. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Marie.”
Marie opened and shut her mouth. She didn’t know what to say.
“We’re suspicious of humans, with good reason,” Ray added. “But you’re Gage’s mate. You’re one of us, and...you belong in Bear Ridge. We would never sit on our hands and do nothing when one of our own needs help.”
Marie gaped at Ray and Huck. “T-thank you,” she managed at last.
The brothers nodded and unsheathed their claws. They slashed at the tough leather straps holding her down and helped her sit up.
Marie gripped the shreds of her torn blouse and tried to cover herself up. Ray and Huck released her arms and quickly averted their eyes from her body.
“Someone’s coming,” Marie said, hearing sounds outside the shed.
A shadow fell across the doorway and an instant later, the Sheriff walked in.
Lincoln was holding a blanket in his arms and he went over to Marie and draped the blanket around her. “You okay?” he asked.
Marie nodded and held onto the blanket gratefully. “How…?” she began.
“I called the Sheriff,” Ray spoke up. “I grabbed my phone and called Lincoln on our way here.”
Marie managed a shaky smile as she stared at the three men standing protectively around her. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I thought...I was going to die here. Thank you for coming for me.”
“Of course we’ll come for you,” Lincoln said with a slight frown.
“I just thought that...” Marie paused. “You’d be glad if I was gone.”
The Sheriff chuffed and Ray and Huck sucked in shocked breaths.
“We don’t want you dead, Marie,” Ray said at last. “We might be a bit rough around the edges, but we’re not monsters.”
“Yeah. We care for our town,” Huck said, rubbing his nose.
“I guess you’re a part of our town now,” Ray said simply.
Marie understood what they were trying to tell her.
They cared for her too.
They weren’t wrong to be wary and suspicious of strangers and newcomers. It was clear that these men had very strong roots in Bear Ridge. They were fiercely protective of their town and their townsfolk.
Lincoln, Ray and Huck had come for her even though they had their reservations about her. But they had put all their differences and prejudices aside and rushed to rescue her.
And they had come to accept her as Gage’s mate. One of their own.
“Where’s Gage?” Lincoln asked, looking around. He helped Marie to her feet and kept his hand on her shoulder to steady her.
“He’s gone after the wolf,” Huck replied.
The three men exchanged glances. “That’s one dead wolf,” Lincoln stated flatly.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Gage sped up as he closed in on Ervin. The black wolf was fast and strong, but Gage was bigger, stronger and way deadlier.
He wasn’t going to let Ervin escape this time.
Growling, Gage charged forward and pounced on the fleeing wolf.
Ervin snarled and fought back as Gage snapped his powerful jaws around his leg.
There was a loud howl as Gage bit down hard and heard the satisfying snap of bone.
Ervin managed to roll away and scrambled to his feet. He limped away, blood oozing from his wounds.
Glaring at Gage with hate and rage, he turned and stumbled into the shadows.
Silently, Gage tracked his wounded prey.
He knew that Ervin wouldn’t get too far.
He could already scent another grizzly bear just up ahead.
A familiar roar sounded and Gage answered. A flash of golden fur appeared between the trees.
Ervin came stumbling back, trying to get away from the second grizzly bear.
A few seconds later, Gage saw his brother, Steve, prowling towards them. Steve’s fangs glinted like daggers and his eyes glowed as he nodded at Gage.
Ervin’s eyes darted between the two grizzly bears. He knew that he was trapped.
Steve stepped back as Gage advanced towards the black wolf. This was Gage’s kill and he wasn’t going to interfere. He was only here to support Gage.
In desperation, Ervin snarled and threw himself at Gage, his jaws aiming for Gage’s throat.
Gage reared up and slashed violently at the wolf’s belly. He sliced the wolf’s belly wide open and snarled as the black wolf toppled to the ground.
With a thunderous roar, Gage decapitated the wolf cleanly. He stepped away and watched Ervin’s blood seep into the ground around the headless body.
Gage spat and shifted back to human form. He turned to Steve and asked hoarsely, “How did you know…?”
His brother shifted and straightened up. “The Sheriff called me,” Steve said. “Told me what happened. He said he’d just received a frantic call from Ray Smith.”
“Ray and Huck...” Gage growled. “They’re with Marie.” He started to run.
Steve ran with him back to the shed and they burst into the shed together.
Gage saw Marie with the Sheriff and the Smith brothers, and the men were speaking to her in gentle, calming voices.
Marie was smiling at them and when she saw Gage, she gasped and tried to run to him.
Gage caught his mate in his arms and held her tight. “Marie! Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she said, burying her face in his chest. “Yes! I’m okay. I thought I’d never see you again!”
“I will never leave you,” Gage said, stroking her hair. “Never.”
She smiled through her tears. “I’ll never leave you too.”
Steve put his arms around Gage and Marie and said gently, “Let’s go home.”
“Yes! Let’s all go home. This place stinks,” Ray and Huck mumbled.
Gage nodded at the Smith brothers, and they nodded back. He turned to the Sheriff and said, “It’s over.”
“I know,” Lincoln replied, betraying no emotion as he received the confirmation of Ervin’s death from Gage. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Gage hugged Marie to his side and led her through the forest to his truck. He saw the Smith brothers’ car, the Sheriff’s cruiser and Steve’s car parked in a crooked row behind his truck on the dirt track.
Marie gazed at the row of vehicles and her eyes filled with tears again.
“What’s wrong?” Gage asked worriedly.
“I thought I was all alone.” She sniffed. “But I wasn’t. Look, look at all these vehicles. So many people came out here to help me...”
Lincoln overheard their conversation and said over his shoulder as he walked to his cruiser, “Let’s get Marie home to Bear Ridge.”
Marie smiled. Her face was bruised and battered but her smile was radiant. “Bear Ridge,” she whispered. “My home.”
Saved by the Alpha Page 8
