Darkness Unleashed

by Belinda Boring

  I bolted upward with a start. “How long was I out?” Inwardly I prayed it wasn’t for very long.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall, Devlin squinted slightly as he mentally calculated. “I’d say ten . . . fifteen minutes. Not as long as earlier.”

  Sitting up, I blushed at finding my head had been in Vlad’s lap. “She drugged him. She has him strapped down like an animal and she still pumped her filth into him.” The very thought of it angered me.

  “If you’re awake, there’s a good chance he is. Try and see if you can reestablish your connection with him. I have Enforcers already visiting some of the places we keep on file. So far, no one’s spotted anything unusual.”

  “What about Michael?” Now that I had my bearings and my head was clearer, it was all about business. The last thing I remembered was Daniel on the phone with the Silver Canyon Alpha. That was before I passed out.

  “He didn’t answer. Which tells me he either didn’t hear it or he’s screening his calls. The last one makes me nervous,” Daniel admitted.

  It made me worried, too, because it wasn’t normal for Alphas to ignore calls from other Packs, especially leaders of those Packs. Daniel would’ve called the emergency number that was a direct line to Michael, so his not answering sent up all kinds of red flags. With Ross involved, there was a strong possibility he was acting on behalf of his Alpha.

  “How is his relationship with Mason?” Devlin asked. He was back to standing over the map, a Sharpie in his hand, as he leaned over and marked out a location.

  “As far as I know, fine.” Daniel shrugged. “Granted, he hasn’t spoken to Michael since the last fiasco with Amber over her claiming asylum, but after the way he disowned her at her trial, I don’t think he’d care.”

  Something about the whole thing didn’t feel right. “We’re missing something. Something important.”

  “I agree,” Devlin stated. Addressing Daniel, Devlin pointed at the stack of maps he’d pulled out from the draw. “Any of these show the Silver Canyon territory?”

  Nodding, Daniel pulled on the bottom map, flipped it open, before handing it to Devlin. “This is it. Mason thought it was wise to have it on hand when we were going through the drama with Amber. He didn’t know whether her accusations against her father were real or whether Michael was trying to claim the Mystic Wolves territories for himself, again. He didn’t want to be caught unprepared.”

  Placing it on top of the one already unfolded, Devlin smoothed out the creases, and motioned for Daniel to come look. “This is just a hunch, but I’ve learned to trust them. Something tells me that Mason’s somewhere here. My Enforcers will continue to search the other locations, but it won’t hurt to send them to some of these properties, as well. Is there anywhere you’d think Helena could be holding Mason? Anywhere that has a basement dungeon like Darcy described?”

  Daniel scanned over the boundaries that contained the Pack’s territory. “Nothing’s jumping out at me. Mason’s the one who spent more time over there when he was dating her.” His finger traced over the surface until it came to a stop. “If we’re following our gut, then I’d send someone here.” He pointed to the edge of the paper. “And here.” Moving slightly, Daniel gestured to a second spot. “I would guess they’re on the outskirts and where our properties meet. It fits the timeframe of Mason’s abduction.”

  “Done,” Devlin responded, quickly dialing his phone to give the order.

  “No!” I exclaimed loudly, suddenly focusing on the connection that came blazing back. Gone was the room surrounding me as Mason’s mind captured mine, placing me where he was. Things had taken dramatic turn for the worse as he watched Ross bring in torture instruments, utensils designed to hurt him. Clutching on to whoever was beside me, my nails dug in as I screamed again, this time as the pain sizzling through Mason’s skin locked on to my mind.

  “What’s happening?” someone asked . . . Devlin, his voice distant. I couldn’t reply, however, as it felt like my own skin was sliced open. Clutching my chest, I gasped for air, agony spilling out of my mouth.

  Mason was being tortured, each cut from silver blades setting his senses on fire, yet he didn’t cave into Helena’s demands. I could hear his thoughts, his refusal to let her see him weak. On and on, Ross hurt him, each strike done to break him.

  But my mate was strong. Even though he was confined, unable to fight back, he was determined. Even as Helena took a knife to his throat, tormenting him with promises that she held me captive, also, he didn’t utter a single sound.

  “Darcy!” The voice was louder now, overshadowing my connection with Mason. Someone shook me, rattling my mind, threatening to shatter the fragile link.

  “Stop,” I cried, tears streaming down my cheek. Although he didn’t show how each brutal slice frazzled his nerves, I gave voice to it all, screaming for him.

  “You need to disconnect. Now!” Devlin ordered, the room returning into focus.

  “No, he needs me!” There was no way I was leaving my mate alone—making him deal with such cruelty by himself.

  “Your bond is too strong,” he fired back urgently. “Look at your chest.”

  His request puzzled me, forcing me to open my eyes. The shirt I was wearing had a scooped neckline, but I didn’t need to lower it to see what he meant. A thick, angry welt rose above the ribbing and, judging by the way my skin burned as though acid had spilled over it, I knew it wasn’t the only one.

  “Your face, as well,” Vlad gasped, causing me to gingerly touch my cheek. Sure enough, the brief contact made me flinch.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, finally giving over to the panic that had been waiting in the shadows.

  “I’m not a hundred percent certain, but I’m guessing the link you and Mason share is a lot stronger than we ever realized,” Daniel answered, a look of horror covering his features.

  “Get certain!” I retorted, my body shaking from the agony it was experiencing. Gritting my teeth, I had no idea how much longer I could endure this.

  “It’s not like we could ever test it, Darcy,” Daniel responded. “Torture isn’t something we deal with on a daily basis. We know the mating bond is powerful, but never knew to what extent until now.”

  “You need to let Mason go, love,” Devlin urged, grabbing my hand. “I know you don’t want to leave him alone, but he’d want the same thing.”

  My heart broke over my dilemma as tears continued to spill from my eyes. “I can’t . . . I.” My body flinched as a new pain obliterated the previous. Blinding heat scorched my insides as I caught a glimpse of a hot poker. “Fire. They’re hurting him with heated metal. The bitch . . .” I couldn’t finish my sentence as the pain robbed me of all thought. Screaming over and over, Mason became aware of me inside his head and with the little strength he had left, shattered our connection.

  “Maaaasoooon!” I yelled, silence filling my mind. Try as I might, I couldn’t reach him again, his action leaving him to face the horror by himself.

  Burying my face into my hands, I sobbed for all I was worth. Grief overflowed from me, but it didn’t last long. Following closely behind was rage—fury for my mate bringing me crystal clear clarity.

  “Find. Him. Now,” I ordered, staring at everyone in the room. “Find him and destroy whoever stands in your way.” Clenching my trembling hands into fists, I willed my body to obey me. My wolf howled for vengeance inside, ready to come forward and shift. I stilled her with the promise that when the time came, she’d get her pound of flesh.

  Devlin’s phone rang, jolting the room back into razor-sharp focus. Answering it, he nodded, listening to what was being said before replying. “Go inside and see if you can find anyone. No, don’t hang up. Keep me on the line and report back.” Seeing he held everyone’s attention, Devlin mouthed that an Enforcer had arrived at one of Michael’s properties and found cars outside the building.

  Be there, I murmured to myself, praying that our suspicions had been correct. With what I’d experienced through our
connection, if we didn’t get some kind of break soon, Mason could be dead before we found him.

  “Yes, I’m here. What they say?” Devlin asked, his body tense. Uttering a few ‘uh huhs’, his look of disappointment spoke volumes. It was a dead end. Mason wasn’t there and we still had no idea where he was.

  “Fine, go to the next place and call me when you arrive.” Before he could hang up, Devlin paused, his face draining of all color before it filled with an anger I’d rarely seen from him. His eyes blackened as a storm of emotions clouded them.

  “What?” I asked, standing up and tipping the glass of water that was by my foot. I ignored it, however, my gaze strictly on Devlin.

  “I think we found Mason,” he replied through a clenched jaw.

  “But I thought . . .” Daniel interrupted, sounding as confused as I was.

  “I might be wrong, but judging by what I just heard, it’s a safe bet, Mason’s being kept there.”

  “What sound?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

  “The sound of someone’s neck snapping.”

  The room exploded into action as everyone headed to the door.

  “Not you,” Devlin ordered, pointing at me. “Or you.” Vlad was the next one he turned to. “You both stay here where you’re safe.”

  “But . . .” I tried to argue, but Daniel nodded.

  “I agree. It’s dangerous enough going there to reclaim Mason. We can’t focus on him and worry about your safety as well. Vlad will stay and protect you, just in case this is a trap.”

  “I need to be there,” I added.

  “Sorry, but as acting Alpha, I’m ordering you to stay.” The pain in his eyes told me he hated issuing that command.

  I understood the sense in what they were saying, and I knew that time was of the essence. The last thing I wanted to do was get in the way and complicate things. “Then make sure you bring him home, Daniel. Don’t stop until you return with him, do you hear me?” I stepped up to him, holding his gaze with mine. “That’s an order from me.”

  Gently squeezing my arm, he nodded. “As you wish.”

  There was nothing left to do but wait as the room emptied and I heard one of the vehicles out front start.

  We had a lead—a good one.

  My only hope was that when they arrived, Mason would still be alive.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Mason

  “It’s always fascinating to watch a wolf heal.”

  It was the voice reminding me this wasn’t all some sick figment of my imagination or a horrible nightmare I was waking up from. Opening my eyes, my lips dry, my throat sore from screaming, the first thing I saw was Helena’s sneer. There was no way of telling how long she’d been watching me, but as her eyes scoured my half naked body, I felt like a lab experiment.

  My skin crawled as she touched me, her fingers prodding at the wounds on my chest. I couldn’t see whether the damage Ross had inflicted was healing yet, but judging by the look of disgust on Helena’s face, I’d say my brief respite had allowed my body to begin repairing his mutilation.

  “Even pumping me full of drugs, you can’t fully stop who I am. I’m a werewolf. It’s my nature to reverse any vulnerability.” Even though I croaked out my response, there was still strength underlying each word. She obviously thought she’d won, that she’d reduced me to a broken man.

  If she thought it was that easy, then she was a fool. It didn’t matter what she did to my body. My spirit was a lot harder to break.

  “True.” She pondered out loud, leaning to the side for a moment. “But that simply means I can enjoy marking your beautiful body more.” To prove her point, she lifted a silver blade, and sliced a hard, deliberate cut across my bicep. “I so love making you bleed, Mason.”

  Glaring at her, my lips curled into a snarl as she twisted the point of the knife so it pierced my flesh. “And I’ll enjoy ripping your throat out.” And I meant it. Hatred boiled in the pit of my stomach, crowding out the responsible part of me that whispered she would need to be tried by the Council, first. My thirst for justice, for vengeance, had been reduced to something a lot more primal during the last torture session.

  I was a man of honor—but that only went so far. It would take an act of Congress to bring me back to any kind of reason. There was only one outcome for someone who acted against an Alpha—add to the fact Helena had harmed my mate and the woman was a dead witch walking.

  She had the nerve to tut at me, like I was a naughty schoolboy being reprimanded by the principal. “Now, is that any way to talk to a lady, Mason O’Connor?”

  “You’re no lady,” I growled back. “You’re a betrayer and traitor.” My gaze bore into her, my head still strapped down. “And you will be dead within seconds of me getting free from these restraints.”

  “That’s right. You keep up your spirits, dear. I’d hate to see you fall apart so quickly. That temper of yours will make what’s to come much more fun.” As if she didn’t have a care in the world, Helena checked her reflection in the blade’s surface, brushing her hair from across her eyes, and letting out a low sigh. “Now where was I before you were rude?” All softness drained out from her features as anger replaced it. “That’s right. You need a lesson in manners and respecting those better than you.”

  The knife struck quickly and blood trickled down my cheek, pooling by my neck. She’d opened up the side of my face. “You don’t deserve any respect,” I retorted.

  This seemed to please her. Grabbing my face roughly, her thumbnail gouged into the deep gash and sent bolts of pain through me. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  She didn’t call Ross to return, instead taking it upon herself to see her plans through. With a steady hand, she picked each instrument up, making sure I saw each one, before placing it back down—moving along the line until she settled on the sharp tongs. Without another word, her lips pursed as though what was about to happen next was distasteful. It was easy to recognize the gleam in her eye. I’d seen it before in wolves that thrilled in the kill and those who became killers in every sense of the word.

  When the line between necessity and sadism was crossed, and the choice to feed the brutality that lurked in the dark corners of their souls was made, there was no longer opportunity for reaching the person. There had been several times I’d been forced to confront Pack members who’d confused their wolf nature with a thirst for violence. Most hadn’t ended well.

  Some became sloppy, their tendencies dictating their actions. But there were a few who were cold and calculating. Their emotions could be triggered, but it only served to infuriate them, making them even more dangerous.

  Helena fell into the latter category. She was beyond logic. She was beyond merciful intervention. Once this was over, her life would end, as well. While I hated knowing the outcome, I didn’t fight against it. Sometimes, despite everything you did, life still went its course.

  “Don’t tell me I’m boring you, Alpha,” Helena snapped, slapping me across the face hard.

  I couldn’t help it. I yawned, and in doing so, rattled her cage. It was never smart taunting a hungry lion, but as a wolf, I didn’t always claim to know what was good for me.

  “Then I guess I’ll have to try harder to keep your attention.” Anger laced her tone, followed by another cut—this time my chest.

  Closing my eyes, I lay still as she took her frustration out on my body, my muscles tensing as I struggled to keep myself from flinching. The coppery scent of my blood permeated the air, yet I managed to tune it out as I thought about somewhere else—anywhere that would distract me from the torment Helena was inflicting. It wasn’t easy, but when Darcy’s face flashed in my mind, I held on to her tightly, her loving smile my lifeline as I quietly endured.

  “I think I liked it better when you were screaming,” Helena announced after what seemed like forever. I’d managed to keep tight-lipped while she reopened Ross’s handiwork, biting on the inside of my mouth when screams rushed up through my body and threaten
ed to burst outward.

  “I don’t give a shit what you like,” I uttered.

  “It would go better for you if you did. You should be thinking of ways to please me. You know,” her tone dropped from the cloying superior one she’d spoken with, to one much more seductive. Vomit rose up my throat at the sound of it. “Look at me, Mason,” she ordered.

  When I refused, she jabbed one of the cuts on my chest, the pain forcing my eyes open.

  “That’s better.” It was just as I suspected. Hunger now shone from her features as she bent forward, her face mere inches away from mine. “You really are handsome. I didn’t understand why Amber was so fascinated at having you. She was practically obsessed with you. Did you know that? She didn’t care what I asked her to do . . . as long as it meant you would ultimately belong to her. Of course, she enjoyed the killing that was required. Now there’s a wolf who reveled in blood shed. She all but glowed after each sacrifice we made. Anyway, I’m getting distracted. What was I saying?” She cocked her head to the side as if waiting for me to answer. “Oh yes. You. You’re definitely easy on the eyes. Makes me wonder what it would be like to have all that power beneath me.”

  All my self-control evaporated the moment her hand reached between my legs and cupped me. If it were possible, I would’ve recoiled into the table before letting her manhandled me. Her touch made me physically ill.

  “Answer me this, Mason. If I were to chop this off, would it grow back?” She squeezed my groin roughly, the movement making me gasp as my eyes watered.

  “Let. Go,” I growled through my teeth.

  “Of course, I’d have to see what all the fuss was about, first. It would be a shame to miss out on what I’ve been told is ‘a ride to remember’ without seeing whether you were worthy of the praise.” Her vulgarity revealed her true character. “So how about it? Think you could rise to the occasion?” She seemed pleased with her pathetic attempt at humor.

  “Not if you pumped me full of Viagra. Nothing would ever convince me to look at you with anything but revulsion.”