The Shepard's Agony

by Mandy Rosko

  Gwen had prominent scars as well as some that had faded over time; all were either products of deep bites from other werewolves while play fighting or real fights to protect the pack. However, not one scar took up residence on her face and she wasn’t thrilled with the idea of having her first one.

  “It won’t be so bad,” he said when he noticed the look on her face.

  “I wouldn’t have it in the first place if it weren’t for you!” she yelled, remembering to be angry over everything that he’d done. “Untie me.”

  “No. And, I saved your life,” he said with a growl.

  “By doing what? Kidnapping me?” Gwen asked, sarcasm dripping in each word. “Well, I can take care of myself, thank you! People are going to come looking for me. My father, John, Bill, and everyone else you attacked,” she said, hoping to scare him into releasing her.

  Didn’t work one bit. “Don’t you mean your pack?”

  Gwen’s eyes bulged. She tried to loosen the bonds on her wrists and squirm away from him, but she couldn’t summon the strength to move.

  “How could you know that?” Then she shook her head.

  She felt like an idiot. He’d taken her in her wolf form and tied her to a bed as a human, of course he would’ve put it together. But, there was no surprise radiating from him that usually came with the emotions of people who’d just discovered that werewolves did indeed exist. Just a calm, collected, shadow about him; a darkness she’d never seen on his face.

  He was looking at her like she was the enemy.

  “Don’t be stupid. I know what you are. I saw the birthmark the last time we were together.”

  The words were like a physical blow. Gwen’s throat constricted and she couldn’t breathe. Despite the extreme urge to not believe him, she couldn’t help but put together what had happened in her mind.

  That was why he wasn’t surprised or shocked about her condition. He already knew what she was. The first time they’d made love was also the last time since David Shepard was nowhere to be found the next morning, leaving the left side of her bed cold and empty. No sign of him was left, not a message on her machine, not even a note to say he’d be back, and she hadn’t heard from him since.

  The crescent moon birthmark on the inside of her thigh, a sign of Lycanthrope found only on those who were born werewolves, was inches away from her panty line. John had one just like it on his upper right shoulder.

  Of course David would end up seeing it, but, at the time, she was sure he wouldn’t have known what it meant, just like her other boyfriends before him who assumed it was a little tattoo in an odd place. But, he’d seen it, he knew what it meant, and he left.

  Gwen wanted to cry. Hell, she wanted to bawl her eyes out. Finally knowing the reason for David’s departure was something she didn’t want to deal with. If he’d just been another jerk who left that would have been one thing. But, to know that a man she’d sincerely loved couldn’t handle what she was, something completely unchangeable, was something else entirely.

  Instead of crying like she wanted, Gwen swallowed painfully and glared at him. “So you ran away like a scared little boy?”

  David sneered. “By then they were already planning the attack. I had to work around it and get you out of there!”

  “You couldn’t have warned us?”

  “Of course not!” He abruptly got up and went back to the bags on the table, taking out the contents and slamming them on the table just to be away from her. He tossed several things to Gwen even though she couldn’t catch them. Clothes.

  He leaned over to untie her.

  “The second I’m free, I’ll kill you,” she warned. She was so consumed with rage that she wanted to tear her claws into him and make him feel the pain that she was feeling.

  David jerked away. “I guess I won’t untie you then.”

  Thinking quickly, Gwen said the first thing that came to mind. “I need to use the bathroom.”

  “No you don’t.”

  “Just untie me.”

  David hesitated and then smirked before leaning over her. “What would you be willing to do to get me to untie you? Or, maybe I should just keep you tied up like that?”

  Gwen jerked into the bed, shocked with the suggestion his voice gave away, but also with her own reaction. Her heart was pumping and her breathing sped up. “You … you wouldn’t.”

  He grinned wickedly, tickling his rough fingers along her arm. “I’m not talking about doing anything you wouldn’t want me to do. I think you’d like it. We’ve never done bondage before.”

  Without meaning to, Gwen found herself responding to his touch; tiny shocks of pleasure and anticipation tingling from her arms to the rest of her body. Everything was hyper sensitive and her nipples hardened.

  He pressed his lips to her neck and she groaned, pressing herself closer to him. As much as she hated him, she wanted him to put his hand between her legs.

  Why would he be touching her like this when he made it clear they were over? Gwen couldn’t think straight anymore.

  Okay, so maybe she still missed him, but only a little. Even the little things that used to annoy her like his playful grin or the goatee that he insisted on keeping were becoming endearing now. But, that was normal considering she was still getting over him. She also couldn’t help but notice an electric pull between her and David that never existed with John.

  The memory of John and the promise she’d made to him was a hard shake back into reality. Gwen pulled back her arms, freshly insulted that he could think of doing something like this at the worst possible time.

  “Don’t touch me! And the only reason we never got a chance to do anything else was because you took off as soon as you got what you wanted!”

  At those words, David snarled again. “That’s what you think? Why you—” He stopped himself before he could say anything regrettable. He took off in the middle of the night while she slept off the buzz of their sex after he promised her he would never hurt her. She did have a right to be angry, but she wasn’t listening to his explanations either.

  “Whatever, if that’s what you want to think,” he said. He got up and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

  Gwen let out a frustrated growl.

  "You don't have anything to be angry about!" she yelled, but since she could plainly hear shower water running, she wasn't sure if he could hear her.

  Gwen searched around the room again, looking for a clock and hoping that not much time had passed. The longer she was away from her pack, the worse the situation could be.

  Gwen gasped when she saw that it was half past midnight.

  ***

  “Hey!”

  John turned, Di was running to him.

  “Are you alright?” she asked, her red hair in frizzy tangles from the fight and dirt smudging her face. She didn’t look so great.

  He shook his head. “I still can’t find Gwen.” The last time he’d seen her she’d been fighting off some human, an easy job considering he was practically killing himself for her. John was then distracted by two identical men with guns, and when he turned back, Gwen was gone. He’d thought nothing of it at the time, but now she was missing and he was buzzing with guilt and frustration.

  If he found her alive, he swore he would kill her!

  Di’s eyes widened. “You mean you … no one …?”

  John eyed her suspiciously. “What’s wrong?”

  She nearly exploded in despair. “I saw one of those humans carrying her off in the middle of the fight!”

  John swore and pushed passed her. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

  She trailed behind him. “I thought someone already went to look. I didn’t think no one knew! I would’ve helped her, but that vampire kept getting in my way.”

  John could sense her sincerity by the guilt in her emotions, but he was in no mood to be sympathetic. “Did you get a look at who took her?” He’d already committed the faces of his own attackers to memory, but it
would help to know the number of people they had to deal with as well.

  “He was tall, about the same size as you, I think. He had blond hair and a beard-thing, like he hadn't shaved in a few days. When he carried her off, she was still a wolf. Do you think she bit him?”

  Some hunters still believed that killing the wolf that bit them would cure them. But, if that particular hunter thought such a thing, why carry her off? Why not just kill her right then and there?

  John went to the cars and trucks on the property and began checking for keys. “It doesn’t matter, the point is he has her. Anything else?”

  She ignored him. “Are you going to tell Larry?”

  John stopped. That was right, he still had her father to think about. Where was Larry’s truck anyway? Maybe he could borrow it and wouldn’t have to worry about driving a dead man’s vehicle.

  He hesitated. “No, he has enough to deal with, but you should tell him I’m leaving. Can you at least do that?”

  Di flinched. “Shouldn’t the pack be involved in the search?”

  John stopped and looked up, his pack mates were still dragging heavy bodies away to be burned. He could still smell fresh blood in the air from both the attackers and pack. “They have enough work to do without worrying about this.”

  “Alright, fine, but I’m going, too.”

  “Like hell you are.”

  Di crossed her arms. “If you leave without me, I’ll tell Larry she’s gone.”

  John’s entire body jerked back in surprise. It wasn’t often he saw Dianna in a commanding mood, much less having any power to back it up.

  “Just come with me and we’ll both tell him that we’re leaving to get supplies or something. We’ll say that we’re going to bring Gwen home so that he won’t worry. It’ll give us an excuse to be gone, then we can go and find her,” she said.

  John blinked at her dumbly.

  “You need someone with you anyway. What if you run into a trap full of hunters? These guys were professionals, I wouldn’t be surprised if we found out they were Shepards.” She stopped abruptly, as though the mere mention of the name were a curse in itself. Rewards were placed on their heads. The rumor was that it was ten million per Shepard, set up by a wealthy vampire who’d survived an attack.

  John glared hatefully at her when he gave in. “Fine, but only because you’re blackmailing me into this. But, I don’t want you in the way. You can’t even fight.”

  Di nodded and quietly followed him into the cabin.

  She broke the silence when they were outside of Bill’s room. “He’d have a right to know she’s missing, so would Bill. Please, don’t be mad.”

  “It’s not just that.”

  “What is it then?”

  John’s hand was on the door handle, he looked up and down the halls to make sure no one was near and leaned closer to her. “Bill was shot. Apparently, he made Larry the new pack master.”

  He didn’t bother looking at the surprise on her face when he opened the door and let himself in to see the new alpha in charge.

  Chapter Four

  Shepard fought the urge to punch the shower walls. The hot spray couldn’t even calm him, and it certainly wasn’t doing anything to help with the way his cock was standing up straight, almost like it was looking at him expectantly.

  Gwen’s accusation stung. What was worse was that she was completely justified, and he knew it.

  He couldn’t explain why he’d touched her on the bed, pressed his lips to her neck and felt the heat of her body. When her legs had parted for him just a little, he almost gave in.

  Christ. He'd promised himself he would keep his distance when he had her, but he hadn’t expected the truck he’d stolen to break down on him. He’d pushed it all the way to this motel; the closest place he could find.

  The plan was supposed to be simple. He’d take her while she slept and bring her someplace safe; a hospital or the police station. Then, he’d be gone before she knew he was there. Now, he was stuck, with her wide awake in the other room. And, even though he fought it, all he wanted to do was touch her.

  He’d left his family to fight on their own for her. He hadn't even used his gun except to smack someone in the head that’d gotten in his way. That someone being his brother, Allen, who’d been pointing his gun at her at the time.

  To tell her the truth about who his family actually was would be to have her hate him for the rest of his life. He would rather they part on civilized terms, at least. As long as she was a werewolf and he was a Shepard, they could never be together, but at least she would be alive.

  Shepard breathed deeply, still trying to get ahold of his body. When that didn't work and the ache got to be too much, he reached down and curled his fingers around his heavy erection.

  He bit his lower lip and groaned, squeezing tight as he pumped his fist back and forth. He had to be quiet and hope Gwen couldn't hear him doing this.

  He put his hand against the wall and spread his feet just a little, gaining more balance as he pressed his thumb to the underside of the head.

  "Fuck," he said, gasping the word as his cock swelled in his hand, his body shaking as he came.

  Shepard gasped and breathed heavily, watching the evidence get washed away. Everything seemed so much louder now, even with the water running, and there was the momentary fear that Gwen had heard him.

  He finished what he was doing and got out. Even if she had heard him, he couldn't stay in here forever. With her strength, she'd eventually break free of the ropes and handcuffs.

  Shepard quickly dressed and left the bathroom just in time to see Gwen clawing at the ropes still retraining one hand. The other hand was free, the cuffs broken apart.

  He lunged across the room and grabbed her wrist, yanking it back up to the bedframe to tie and tighten them back into place. His heart pounded. Not with the effort, but with the fear of what would happen if she were to get loose. Fear for her. The handcuffs were ruined. He would have to make due with the rest of the rope.

  “Stop it! Let me go!” Gwen yelled, struggling against him. He climbed on top of her to keep her legs from kicking at him. Despite her strength, his body weight was enough of an advantage. Werewolf or not, she was still a relatively tiny woman, and he was a trained hunter.

  Still, in the back of his mind, Shepard couldn’t help but find her behavior to be strange. Werewolves didn’t scream for help or release. They fought to the bitter end, gnawing off limbs if necessary. Gwen’s reactions to her captivity were nothing at all like that, too human, and he hated to admit it, but they brought a fresh stab of guilt over his treatment of her.

  Gwen’s breathing was erratic, her chest rapidly rising and falling with adrenaline. She was so close to escape! Why did he have to walk out of the bathroom at that last second? She wondered what he had planned for her. Her pack needed her and she was stuck; frightened by the fact that she didn’t know what his intentions with her were.

  She didn’t trust him anymore.

  When he had the ropes tight again, he gave her a hard shake to stop her squirming. “Listen! I can’t let you go because I don’t know if they left yet!” If he let her go then she was sure to go back to her pack. If the Shepards were still at the cabin, she would be walking into a trap. He couldn’t allow that.

  “Who? Who are those people? Why are you doing this?” she demanded, terrified and angry at the same time.

  Only then did Shepard see how flushed her face was from her near escape and struggle with him.

  He couldn’t look away from her. Her white-blonde hair was wild and her breasts were heaving. She looked like she always did after they argued, and he liked that. His eyes moved lower, looking at her body. He was guiltily pleased to see that her bathrobe had come loose. While it still covered her body, it opened between her breasts and went all the way down to her navel.

  His hand found its way to her exposed stomach and rested on her bare skin.

  Gwen went still and her body throbbed expectantly, he
at spreading from her belly to the rest of her body. She swallowed hard and forced herself to jerk away, trying not to pay attention to her own vulnerable state. Damn him, it felt good to have him touching her again.

  Shepard didn’t move his hand despite her attempt, so she held still and let him keep it there, for now.

  He hadn’t been so close to her, right on top of her, touching her, since before his shower and the last night they were together. She was nearly ashamed to admit it, but being tied up was only making her more excited. Her hands had a life of their own and they squirmed against the ropes in an effort to touch him back. The ropes were too restricting, something she was partially glad for. It gave her an excuse to enjoy herself.

  She chewed her bottom lip to keep from making any noise and squirmed helplessly into his touch. It was unbelievable! He was only touching her stomach! She shouldn’t be reacting like this.

  He brought his eyes up to look into hers. His blue eyes filled with lust just before he covered her mouth with his. Gwen moaned happily and pressed her lips back, forgetting everything around her, including how his stubbly goatee tickled and scratched her skin. She always used to tease him about it and bug him to shave it, but it didn’t seem to matter anymore.

  She let out a choked groan under his kiss and shivered. It was as if her body had said, Finally! She was deliriously happy.

  He used one hand to keep himself propped over her while the other slid under her robe, touching her stomach and feeling her ribs before cupping her breast in his hand.

  She couldn’t get enough. Through the fog of lust, she was pleased to note that his hand felt just as she’d remembered. As soon as he touched her nipple, she groaned and snapped her eyes open.

  What are you doing! Are you forgetting what he did to you?

  Gwen jerked her face away from the kiss before it could go any further. It pained her to do it, but she refused to start anything with him while being held as his prisoner.

  Shepard was so caught up in the feeling of simply touching her again that for a few seconds it was like he couldn’t understand why she would stop him. He leaned down to kiss her again when she spoke.