by Peyton Banks
All that was left were three men who spread out with rifles. The weapons discharged several times as I moved around and tried to prevent them from closing in.
“If you think you’re going to rescue the girl, you’re wrong. I have big plans. Her rehabilitation is nearly finished. Right after I sink my cock inside her and break her worthless neck.”
Rage exploded inside my chest as I roared with fury. Bullets hit the ground as the two men next to the one with the loudmouth were frantic and missed their intended target. My claws ripped into the shoulder of the first man and sliced him to the bone. The second was tossed to the ground as I tore his limbs from his body and growled, blood dripping from my sharp incisors. The man who threatened to rape and kill my woman fled from the room and didn’t return as I turned toward the metal cage that hung suspended in the air by about five feet.
Something wasn’t right. This rescue attempt was entirely too easy. I didn’t voice my concerns aloud as I looked at Becca and released a shaky breath.
My wolf snarled and howled, sniffing out any further threats before I shifted into human form and yelled Becca’s name. She didn’t answer. I was unsure if she was conscious.
Scanning the room, I found the switch that lowered the metal cage to the ground. Once it was safe to do so, I approached. My wolf whined as fear crept up my spine. How badly was she hurt?
Dried blood coated a good portion of her naked skin. My wolf snarled as I caught a glimpse of ligature marks around her wrists and ankles. Bruises marred the perfect caramel color of her skin while burns and other recent marks proved the extent of The Society’s torture.
Inside, I died a little with the knowledge that she’d been harmed and abused in such a way. Afraid to move too fast or spook her, I approached slowly, my hands in the air. If her wolf reacted with violence things could get out of hand quickly.
“Bec,” I whispered, choking on her name as those familiar gray eyes tinged with violet stared up at my own. Lost and in pain, she appeared too weak to move.
Fuck.
If it was the last thing I did, I would come back and avenge her suffering with my dying breath.
6
Becca
Blinking, I was shocked to find Theo standing outside my cage. With a roar he ripped the door from the hinges and held up his hands as if he was afraid of how I would react. Overcome with emotion I darted forward and into his arms where he caught my naked body and held tight, his arms wrapping around my wolf and I in a protective cocoon. I thought I felt a soft kiss land on the top of my head, but I couldn’t be sure. His entire body trembled for a moment as he fought for control.
“There’s more of these fuckers coming. If we don’t leave this area quickly, they’ll find us again. I can’t allow that. You won’t be harmed any further.”
Nodding, I understood what he was saying but I couldn’t figure out how to explain it wasn’t possible for me to join him the way he would soon ask. “Theo, this is bad timing.”
His body went rigid as he stiffened and tried to hide his reaction. His hands clenched and then relaxed as a muscle in his jaw tightened. My gaze roamed over every inch of him greedily as my hungry eyes drank in the strong and muscular man before me. He hadn’t changed at all over the last year and I realized that I had missed him more than I allowed myself to feel.
“What do you mean? What’s wrong?”
“I can’t shift,” I confessed, my voice low. Blushing, the shame of those words nearly gutted me.
He stared at me like he was confused and didn’t understand the English language. Dammit.
“I can’t shift,” I repeated with emphasis, “something is wrong with my wolf.”
Theo’s eyes widened. “Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, his muscles rippling as he began to pace, his jaw locked as a plan formed in his head. I knew Theo well enough to figure out what he was thinking without asking a lot of irritating questions. “Did they . . .” he trailed off but shook his head as if the question didn’t matter. “We need to leave. Now. I’ll shift and you can ride me.”
My cheeks burned with his words as my gaze was tempted to dip below his waist. “Uh, I don’t –”
“This isn’t time for modesty. We’re going to sneak outside, backtrack to my clothes, and you’re going to ride my wolf to my truck.” He scooped up my weary body before I could protest further and held us close to one another. His familiar scent hovered above the sculpted planes and muscles of his body as I inhaled and pressed my nose to his skin. The heat of his flesh penetrated my soul like bright sunshine after months of gloomy darkness.
“Becca,” he murmured as he turned and nuzzled my cheek. “We need to run.”
I slipped my arms around his neck and buried my head into his shoulder as Theo moved with a fluid grace and speed that clearly proved he was much more than a simple man. His wolf was strong and proud, exactly the combination I would choose if I were free to pursue the mate of my choice. The stench of rotten flesh and dried blood assaulted my senses, but I never looked away to confirm the carnage. I knew he would remove any barrier to my rescue and these men deserved whatever punishment they received.
Theo stopped at a tree a few minutes later and retrieved his clothes, placing them into my arms as he shifted. Lifting his muzzle in the air he barked the command to climb onto his back. If I wasn’t so weak this would never be happening. Only small cubs played with their parents and siblings in such an intimate way. Cheeks burning with embarrassment I slid onto his wolf, one knee on each side of his thick torso. My core nestled beneath the bones of his shoulders as he lurched forward, and I had to scramble for hunks of gray fur to keep from falling off.
Theo’s chuckle was nearly infectious and sounded more like a snort. His wolf was amused but the man was enjoying our close contact. I could sense his receptiveness to my touch as my fingers gripped the soft coarse hair of his coat. Every motion of his body rocked my lower half against his back as the heat from his wolf seeped into my skin and chased away the bitter cold of the metal cage. Despite all the trauma, I felt my core clench with arousal. Desire permeated the air as his wolf stopped temporarily to sniff, catching my desire as it scented the breeze.
A low growl vibrated between my legs and I quickly inhaled. He sped off faster than before and I knew the powerful being between my thighs was exactly where I wanted him. Memories of the night we made love over a year ago assaulted my senses. Clenching my muscles tight I was tempted to rub against him as a wave of pleasure rippled through my lower body.
I wanted Theo . . . and I’m certain her knew it.
His wolf reached the truck in record speed as I slid off his back and backed against the side of the truck to watch him shift. Powerful muscles rippled along his body as he returned to human form. The taut flesh stretched across his towering height. His own arousal was so prominent I could taste it on my tongue as my lips parted. My eyes dipped below the perfect v-shaped juncture of his hips to the growing erection that hung between his sculpted thighs.
“We can’t stay here,” he blurted, his voice a deep rumble that caused a shiver to ghost down my spine. “Get in the truck.”
I obeyed quickly as he jumped in and started the ignition, shifting gears as we sped away from The Society’s lands and onto the main highway. Neither of us made eye contact for long minutes as we struggled with our overwhelming reaction to one another. I’d forgotten how attracted we were to one another and how my body hummed with a delicious anticipation when he was near. Silence continued to stretch between us until Theo’s hand reached for mine and squeezed once, lifting until he pressed a kiss to the inside of my wrist.
“I think we should stop and let you clean up before we cross into clan territory. I’m afraid your family would freak out if they saw you right now.”
Knowing he was right, I agreed. “Stop at a motel where I can shower and take a quick nap. I’m exhausted, Theo.”
He nodded, giving my fingers another squeeze before he released his hold and concentrated
on the drive. We found a place just outside of Cedar Creek that was close to the interstate but far enough away to be secluded. If you weren’t aware of the location, you’d miss it. Usually only shifters stayed here. Humans didn’t stop along this road often. Timber Mountain was home to a wide variety of shifter clans and not all of them were friendly to outsiders. The White Stag Motel was a cheap but clean place with outdated décor but a homey atmosphere. The owner was a panther and he kept a close eye on the place and its occupants.
“I think we should be fine but I’m going to request a room at the back where I can keep watch over my truck as you sleep. We shouldn’t have a problem since my vehicle was never spotted but I’d feel better if I can protect you without leaving us vulnerable.”
I waited in the truck until Theo hopped back in and drove around the back, parking so the bed was facing the windows. If need be, we could pull right out of the space in a hurry. Neither of us spoke as we exited the vehicle and walked to the room. Theo opened the door with the keycard, and we entered as he clicked the door shut.
“I have your backpack. There’s a change of clothes and all of your things, including your necklace.”
“Thank you.” Our eyes met as I reached for the pack. “You know how much that necklace means to me.”
“I remember,” he whispered, brushing his knuckles along my cheek.
For a moment I was tempted to lean into his touch but then I remembered how dirty I was and decided it wasn’t wise. Under the warm water of the shower I was cleansed of the blood, sweat, and grime of my captivity. By the time I left the bathroom I felt completely rejuvenated except for the fatigue that pressed in from all sides.
“You need food but I’m afraid to leave you for any length of time,” he confessed with a tight smile. “Even if it’s just the vending machine I can see from our room.”
“Well, I could use some sugar to help bring up my levels. I think you can chance the short walk,” I smirked, pleased by his thoughtfulness.
“Scream if you need me,” he offered as his towering frame ducked under the top of the door and practically ran toward his destination. Several minutes later he returned with enough snacks to feed a small army.
“Do we really need all of that?” I asked, stifling a laugh at his expression.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted so I covered all the bases.” To demonstrate his point, he dropped everything onto the bed and began separating the items into piles. “Sugar – there’s cinnamon snack cakes, Twizzlers, and Skittles. For salt we have popcorn in both butter and cheddar, BBQ chips, Doritos, and baked SunChips. For healthy snacks I found a pathetic bag of trail mix, a granola bar, and Raisinets. I managed to snag the last beef jerky and peanut butter crackers for protein. And then there’s mint gum since we don’t have any toothbrushes.”
Giggling, I picked up the jerky and ripped open the top, plopping a big piece into my mouth. “Yum.” After chewing for several minutes, I shot him a small smile. “You did good.”
Theo grinned as he shoved a water bottle in my direction. “Hydration is key. There’s several water bottles, Gatorade, dark soda, lemon lime soda, and a chocolate drink that will probably taste awful.”
Both of us began eating and soon almost everything was consumed. Whatever I didn’t finish Theo was quick to snatch up. Clearing away the trash, he jumped up and checked on the outside of the room and his truck.
“I can’t believe I ate so much,” I admitted, patting my stomach with a groan.
“I assume you haven’t eaten much lately,” he observed with a somber expression. “You’re just refueling.”
That was a true statement.
Yawning, I lay back against the comforter of the queen size bed and let my gaze fall on Theo’s broad shoulders. His presence meant everything to me. Even with my father’s constant interference Theo refused to walk away. I wasn’t sure if he would find that note and my backpack, but I was glad I had left the letter. I was almost asleep when I heard his voice penetrate the silence.
“Did you mean what you said?” His soft tone was reserved but I detected the hidden emotion behind the words.
“About us having unfinished business?”
“Yes.”
“I meant every word, Theo.”
His shoulders lost some of the tension as he turned, silhouetted by the faint streetlamps and their pale-yellow glow that filtered through the slit in the heavy drapes at the window. The faded floral print bunched in his fingers as he lifted a hand to close them completely. His heart was hammering in his chest, but Theo didn’t say another word except to tell me to rest. My wolf sensed his hesitation and unease, but my eyelids began to flutter as I finally fell asleep, no longer able to prevent the rest my body so desperately needed.
7
Becca
“Becca, wake up.” Theo’s deep voice penetrated the nightmare and brought my awareness fully back into the present.
“The cage,” I managed to choke out through a dry throat, “I don’t want to go back.” My words were slurred through the remnants of sleep and my disoriented mind.
“You won’t,” he whispered as a kiss pressed against my forehead, “I promise, baby. Come here.” Theo’s arms wrapped around me tightly as I practically crawled on top of him, shivering as tears escaped my eyes. In the dark I could pretend that he didn’t see how traumatizing the entire experience had been.
“Hold me, please.”
“I will. I am,” he promised.
“Tighter,” I begged as my shoulders began to shake from the sudden onslaught of pain, anger, and torment that zipped through my body faster than I could handle the rush of emotions.
“Becca, I’ve got you. I swear it. I won’t let go until you tell me.” His voice seemed so calm despite the way I was freaking out in his arms. “Do you remember the spot at the lake where we first shifted?”
Trembling, I had to focus on his words to comprehend. “Yes.”
“Do you remember what I said to you?”
Inhaling and then exhaling slowly, I forced my body to listen and obey my will. My wolf whined but lay down at the command. “You’d always be there for me. I was never alone.”
“That’s right,” he confirmed as his fingers began to slowly brush up and down my back. “Always is a pretty important word. It means forever, Bec. Always by your side. Never alone. We made that pact to one another.”
Relaxing for the first time I lay my head over his heart and listened to the steady thrum of the beats. “I remember.”
“Then you understand why I came for you. I won’t break that promise. It’s sacred.”
Sacred? “Theo, we’ve been through so much.”
“We have,” he agreed smoothly, “but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth it. Right now, this moment with you in my arms,” he gulped, “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
“Neither would I,” I whispered and actually meant what I said. How could I ignore the loving and fierce protector who wanted to shelter me from the world? How could I deny the way my heart raced, and my wolf longed for his presence whenever he was near?
Theo was my heart. He always would be, and the worst part of that knowledge was the fact that I couldn’t have him the way I wanted. Reality awaited us at home. My father’s wrath and my brother’s disapproval would quickly separate me from the man who held and cherished me in his arms. There was only one choice to make this night and I did so without another thought.
If we only had tonight, I wanted to make it count.
Lifting my head, I met his gaze and smiled. “Make love to me, Theo.”
The sharp intake of his breath was the only response before his lips met mine, crushing against my own in passionate fury. His tongue swept across my mouth and then thrust against the seam as I parted with a low moan. The kiss plundered the depths of my soul as Theo rolled us over and my back met the mattress. The familiar pressure of his lips skimmed across my bare shoulder as I fought to hold back a moan of pleasure.
; Bliss.
He smothered my body with his own. I didn’t feel overwhelmed or caged in but protected and devoured, loved and desired. Every hard inch of him from his chiseled stomach muscles to the strong molded biceps of his arms held me in place. Our breaths raced with excitement and need as the primal instinct to mate swept over both of us.
One hand captured both of my wrists and held them suspended above my head as those sexy full lips licked and bit along the length of my neck, peppering kisses across my jaw. The sensitive skin came alive under his touch and I burned with a fire so fierce I was afraid I would scorch us both. His mouth drifted back and forth as if he couldn’t decide which was more delicious – my mouth, my neck, or all the exposed flesh in between.
Struggling against his hold, he nipped at my neck when I tried to place my hands on his body. “Touch me now and I’ll come too quickly,” he rasped. “I want this moment to last forever.”
I think he sensed this night would have to suffice for many moons in the future. Sighing with delight, I ceased all movement and let him explore the hidden curves and valleys of my body. Soft mews escaped from my lips as I let the pleasurable sensations crawl across every nerve and cell.
Theo growled against my mouth as he claimed another kiss. “Don’t move. I want to taste you everywhere.” His tongue brushed against mine as his hand snaked its way underneath my t-shirt and boldly explored the bare skin of my stomach. Trailing upward the warmth of his touch reached the globes of my breasts as he kneaded the hypersensitive areolas. His thumb and forefinger pinched lightly as I jolted in his arms and a grin spread across that handsome face I adored.
My thighs clenched together as Theo began to move, rolling his hips seductively against mine even as we were fully clothed. When our eyes met, he winked as a devilish gleam twinkled in the dark azure depths. Tugging on the material he lifted my shirt over my head and set it aside. My bra quickly followed. For several moments he feasted on my naked skin until a feral and guttural sound escaped from between his lips.
