by Olivia Arran
“Ahem.” A pointed cough and a chuckle sounded from the doorway. “Am I interrupting something?”
Jason ripped himself away from me, shielding my body as he turned in the direction of the voice. “Leave us alone,” he ordered, his tone cold and unforgiving.
“Sure thing, Jay. Give me a shout when you’re ready to share…”
Jason’s hand bunched, twisting the bed sheet next to my face. “I will not share—”
“Aw, come on! You always say that, then when you get bored, you pass them around. Fine, I’ll just wait until you’ve had your fun. Though maybe I should go find myself some fresh meat. I don’t know why Bert says it’s fine that you leave the camp and go hunting, but the rest of us have to stay here, or even worse, up at location two. Like we’re well trained dogs or something,” Mr. Average, I could recognize his voice anywhere, whined.
“You are dogs,” Jason stated, as though commenting on the weather.
“Hey! Just because you’re Bert’s favorite! You’re only the Alpha because he says so, and you know it!”
Jason was the Alpha? And Bert’s favorite? My head spun, overloaded with all the new information.
“Leave us,” Jason growled, and turned his back on the smaller man.
The door clicked shut, plunging the room back into darkness.
I heard the rustle of fabric, then a light clicked on, just behind my head. Blinking furiously, water blurring my vision, Jason’s handsome face swam into view.
“I believe you. I believe in us,” he whispered, then the first cuff fell open. Then another.
He had sliced through the metal with a single claw, freeing me.
I called on my wolf one more time. This time, she grumbled deep within me, sluggish and weak—but she was there. Finally, I could feel her again.
Sitting up, I met his eyes, massaging the circulation back into my poor, abused hands.
“Let’s do this,” I whispered.
For this, I needed him.
After? I couldn’t think that far ahead. Couldn’t bear it.
CHAPTER TEN
Jason
She was in pain. Like an animal licking her wounds, she stared at me.
She said she trusted me, that she believed me. I could only hope she did, because getting out of here without getting caught wasn’t going to be easy.
The pack was cowed by Bert’s men, meek and subservient. We weren’t getting any help from them, but I didn’t think they’d stop us either.
Reaching out a hand, I helped my mate to her feet, concern rocking me as she swayed, her lashes fluttering as her eyes rolled back.
“You need to sit back down—”
“I need to get out of here,” she snapped back, gritting her teeth and starting toward the door, each step deliberate and careful.
“Let me go first, check to see who’s hanging around.” I brushed past her, and was about to open the door, when she stopped me with a small hand on my arm.
“We do this together,” she murmured, searching my face.
For what? Signs of deception? She wouldn’t find any.
I traced her cheek with a finger. I would do anything for this woman. I still couldn’t understand how she had become so important to me, so fast. But she had, changing all my plans and causing me to question my beliefs.
I couldn’t lose her. No matter what.
“Together,” I agreed, pushing the door open and stepping out into the hallway, her hand caught in mine.
***
Jason
We had traversed the corridors easily. A little too easily. The thought niggled at me, stirring unease in my gut.
Just the courtyard to go, then we would be in the forest and able to run.
Macey hovered behind me, anxious energy pouring off her. She was struggling, the effects of the drug not having worn off yet, but she was determined.
I had underestimated how strong she was. How fearless. Most women in her situation would have given up hope, but she hadn’t. She was still fighting.
“Can you shift yet?” I asked, her answer clear in her grimace.
“It’s like she’s in there, but we can’t reach each other. Another half an hour, maybe?”
We couldn’t stand in the corridor for half an hour. “On two feet then. We’re going to walk, nice and normal, not attracting attention. If anyone speaks to us, let me answer. Okay?”
She nodded, for once quiet.
I decided then and there that I would give anything to put the spark back into her eyes. She had been drugged like an animal, and it fucking killed me to see it.
I shoved open the door, and taking her arm in mine, led her along the side of the single story building we had just exited.
“What is this place?” she hissed under her breath, casting furtive glances around.
I tried to see the camp through her eyes, but failed miserably. This place had been my home as a pup, and not much had changed. “Sunclaw doesn’t believe in comfort, or family values,” I offered, scanning the small spattering of people for threats.
Nobody met my eyes, everyone quickly looking away.
“It looks like a military camp. All basic and regimented. Has it always been here, like this?”
“Always. It’s well hidden and is designed to look like government buildings to outsiders. The fence—” I tipped my head toward the tall, wire fence that ran around the perimeter of the camp, “—it’s scattered with warning signs. Government testing, keep out, and such.”
“Fence?” Her mouth parted a fraction as she followed my gesture. “More like a cage, you mean. Are the packmembers free to come and go? Mr. Average mentioned no one being allowed to leave, except you and Bert.”
“Mr. Average?” I couldn’t help but smirk. She was always surprising me. “And it’s not me that is allowed to leave, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Sure,” she replied, her tone vague and unconvincing.
Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. If she didn’t believe me now, then why would she believe me once we escaped and got back to Colstone?
“Macey—”
“Talking about Mr. Average, isn’t that him, over there?”
Damn, it might be too late to try and change her mind. “Just act natural,” I murmured, securing her arm in mine.
“Natural? I think in this kind of situation, scared shitless and pissed off might be natural. Is that what you’re aiming for?”
“Okay, not your kind of natural. How about act meek and scared? Weak.”
“Not in my vocabulary, but for you, sweetheart, I’ll try.”
I knew it was sarcasm, but I couldn’t help but grin at her term of endearment. I’d noticed she only gave nicknames to those she loved. Or at least liked a lot, I chided myself, recalling that she hadn’t echoed my heartfelt declarations earlier.
We were on a path that intersected with Mr. Average, and I couldn’t see any way of deviating, not without arousing suspicion.
I could only hope Macey’s acting skills were as good as her sass skills.
“Jay! I didn’t expect to see you outside, not so soon after acquiring another plaything. And look, you’re exercising her, isn’t that sweet. Making sure she doesn’t stiffen up after the latest ramming? Aren’t you feeling kind today?”
What did a man say to that? Yeah, sure. Good ramming, just walking it off? I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I was doing a pretty good impression of a goldfish.
Mr. Average squinted at me, his brow furrowing. “You okay, Jay?” His eyes darted to Macey, then back to me.
Turned out it was me who needed the acting lessons, not Macey. I sized up how far away the opening in the fence was. Screw it. Time to talk with my fists.
***
Macey
Jason tensed under my hand, and I could see his eyes flicking over Mr. Average’s shoulder, toward the fence.
Damn it! We were nearly there!
I called on my wolf, relief flooding me when her ears pricked up. I was nearly back
to normal. I just needed a few more minutes. Ten at the most.
Jason shifted his weight, and without thinking, I slumped against him, forcing him to grab me and cushion my fall.
Wise move. I would have been pissed if he’d let me drop like a sack of potatoes.
I forced a feeble moan, fluttering my eyelids for added effect.
Was Mr. Average buying it?
“Looks like you wore her out, Jay. Better take her back inside. Weird though, the drugs should have been wearing off by now.”
“I gave her another dose, topped her up. I didn’t want her getting feisty on me,” Jason muttered, hoisting me up into his arms, curling me into his chest.
Hiding my eyes from view, I let another breathy moan escape, only this time it wasn’t too hard to fake, not with Jason’s smoky-vanilla scent filling my nose and invading my senses.
“Sounds like you need to take her back and give her another seeing to.”
“I think I might.” Jason’s voice rumbled against my ear, and his hands tightened, squeezing my ass and shoulder where he held me.
No! Not a good idea! We’re going the wrong way, I wanted to scream, when he turned and strode in the opposite direction, back the way we had come.
“We’ll give it five minutes and try again,” he whispered into my hair.
I wanted to scream. We had been so close.
“Just hang in there. I promised I’d get you out, and I will.”
Every step he took scraped away another layer of hope.
“No,” I whispered, tensing in his arms.
“Relax, he’s still watching us,” Jason murmured, his voice soothing.
“I just— I can’t!”
“You can. You just need to trust me, like I’m trusting you.”
I wanted to. It would be so easy to let go of all my doubts. So much easier than staying on guard, questioning each and every little thing that didn’t add up. To just let go and enjoy having found my mate. The one who could complete me.
I whimpered, the thought so appealing it hurt.
“You! Stop right there!” a deep voice boomed from across the courtyard, ringing with authority.
Jason kept walking, not turning around, but his back had gone rigid, his arms like steel bands.
“I said, stop!” A low growl filled the air.
Okay, he was definitely talking to us.
“It might be Bert!” I hissed, trying to look around Jason’s wide shoulders and failing miserably.
“It might be, but what good would that do us? We’re still outnumbered, remember?” He was still moving forward, but his pace had slowed.
“At least let me look.”
“Do you know what he looks like?”
“Like an older version of Sean, I’ve been told.” I nearly added, but you do, but bit my tongue.
Jason stared down at me, his face twisted with indecision. “You pleaded with me to get you out of here. I swore to do just that, and to protect you. Now you’re asking me to let you face someone who could hurt you?”
“I don’t see how we’ve really got a choice. He could follow us inside anyway.”
“Inside is more defensible.”
“And we could also be trapped.”
I could see him trying to find a way around my logic.
“If you want me to trust you, then turn around.” It was a low blow, but I needed to see with my own eyes, and I was still too weak to force Jason to put me down.
He winced, and I immediately regretted my words. So far he had shown me nothing but kindness and respect. And love.
The question that I had been asking myself ever since we had met gripped me, this time not letting me shy away. Should I judge him by the circumstantial evidence that was pilling up against him? Or should I judge him by his actions, which had so far been honorable?
What my eyes could see? Or what my heart could feel?
His soul called to me, connecting us heart to heart. Once fully joined, our hearts would beat as one.
I knew his heart, as much as I knew my own.
“I trust you, no matter what,” I whispered, locking eyes with him, willing him to see into my soul. To believe me. “I’ll stand by you, whatever happens, here and back at Colstone. I believe in you.”
If we had been alone, I would have covered his face in kisses, the look of pure joy that spread over his face erasing any shred of lingering doubt that I had made the right choice. The only choice that mattered. The dark weight of crushing indecision lifted from me, leaving me feeling free for the first time in what felt like forever.
He kissed the tip of my nose. “We stand together,” he said in a low voice, then turned around.
A man stood with Mr. Average, tall and broad.
My mouth dropped open in shock, words failing me.
“What the—”
“—fuck!” I finished Jason’s curse.
The man had ice-white hair. And he was the double of Jason.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Macey
Jason relaxed his grip on me and I slid to the ground.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the man in front of us. No wonder he couldn’t.
Identical pale blue eyes clashed across the courtyard, twin mouths hanging open in shock.
“Who are you?” Jason’s voice was hoarse with disbelief.
“Bert said I had a brother, but he didn’t say he was identical,” the other man muttered, shaking his head. He turned to Mr. Average who was cowering next to him. “How could you think he was me?” He gestured toward Jason with a look of disgust.
“But…but…he looks just like you! He smells like you! And he answered to Jay…I mean, how was I supposed to know there were two of you?”
“You’re a fool, Bob. He’s nothing like me, just look at him!” Jason’s mirror image roared, leaning over the smaller man, his face turning a shade of purple.
Bob? Huh, figures.
Jason was still silent. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what was flying around inside his head. He had a brother. One that was obviously a twin, and he hadn’t known about him. How did that even happen?
Then Jason took a step forward, drawing everyone’s eyes back to him. “Who are you?” he asked again.
“Jacob, you?”
“Jason.”
The courtyard fell silent again as the two brothers stared at each other, each weighing the other up.
“How—?”
“Bert took me in when our mother died, when I was just a pup. He raised me as his own son.”
“Our mother didn’t die until I was fourteen.”
“Liar!”
“Bert killed her with his own hands. I was there, I saw it happen.”
Jacob strode across the courtyard, indignant fury lighting his eyes. He came to a stop a couple of feet away. “You’re a liar! Bert said my brother was a weasel, a traitor to the cause—”
“How did he explain why he didn’t take me, too?”
“You were placed with another family, but you were weak. He said he’d put you down.”
“All lies—”
“He should have put you down! You’re not needed.” Violet swirled in Jacob’s eyes, the tendons in his neck standing out.
“But if we’re brothers—”
“Would you join me?” The offer was flippant, but Jacob’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Jason.
As Jason hesitated, my heart stuttered. This was his brother. I sucked in a breath, the air burning my lungs. Could he just walk away?
“Join you in drug running, kidnapping and abuse?”
“Small things, but all part of the bigger plan. If you join us, we’d be unstoppable! We’d crush the other packs and clans, destroy the Council!”
It was like he had a split personality. One minute, he hated Jason, the next, he wanted to rule the world with him.
I was still holding my breath, waiting for Jason’s answer. How far would he go for the brother he had just met?
Jason glanced down
at me, his eyes brimming with sorrow.
Please! No—
“We stand together, remember?”
Ignoring the fact that my heart was cascading out of control, that my lungs felt like they were going to burst, I nodded at him. “Together, always.”
Jacob tutted, his mouth twisted in a mockery of a frown. “And now, you’re not my brother. Any brother of mine wouldn’t be working with the Colstone Pack. Yes, I know who she is, little Miss Council Brat.”
What? How?
My questions must have been plain on my face, because he answered, his voice a high pitched sing-song. “We have eyes and ears everywhere. Bert will be pleased when I bring you to him as a prize. Oh, and my brother’s head.” He giggled, and that was the moment I was certain he wasn’t sane.
Whatever Bert had done to him had damaged him deep inside.
“You’re not taking her anywhere,” Jason growled, lurching forward a step, his teeth bared.
“I will, and you can’t stop me.” Jacob whistled and cocked his head expectantly. When nothing happened, he gritted his teeth, muttering, “Where are they?”
Bob swallowed hard, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but here. “They went up to the cabin at location two, as requested. I thought you were back!” He pointed weakly at Jason in explanation.
“I obviously wasn’t back, you imbecile!”
Bob was nodding so hard I might have worried that his head would fall off, that is, if I didn’t already despise the little twerp.
“It doesn’t matter. I can handle this myself.” Jacob was muttering to himself, oblivious to Bob’s groveling apologies. He started to tug off his t-shirt, his movements rough and jerky, like a puppet without all its strings.
Movement beside me alerted me to the fact that Jason was doing exactly the same, his lips set in a firm line.
“What are you—?”
“When we fight, I need you to promise me that you’ll run.”
“Jason—”
“Run, Macey! Please. You can’t let Bert get his hands on you, or brother dearest over there,” he hissed, his hands working on his jeans, his eyes never leaving Jacob.
“I won’t leave you!”
“If I lose, then I need to know you’re safe.” He grabbed my hand, pressing it hard against his chest. “Feel it! My heart beats for you. I would rather die, here and now, than have you abused by these animals. Promise me you’ll get out of here.”
