The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  “Like I said, she must be important. Maybe they’ll give us the human in return for her.”

  This time the other male all out laughed. “No way. They’ll never give up the future queen. The whole species depends on her. I think you may’ve just wasted your time.”

  “Let’s see what our alpha has to say about it.”

  Her hip really hurt. She knew the silver was slowing her healing. Trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, she moved forward easing the pressure on her side.

  “Let’s get her up.” The other male said moving towards her. So much for not getting noticed. She chided herself for moving in the first place. “I want to tie her legs. I don’t trust vampires. Strong, sly bunch, even the females.”

  Rough hands clasped her upper arms hoisting her up. One of the males held her while the other moved away. The rope slapped the ground as he dropped it next to her. “Such long legs.” Her abductor said, his voice filled with awe. His disgusting wolf breath fanned her face. She had to fight the urge to turn away. Next thing his hand was on her outer thigh sliding up the side of her leg. She tried to move away but his grip on her upper arm tightened. “She’s really firm and toned for a female.” The hand cupped her ass and she reacted instantly throwing her head forward in the direction of his breath.

  Crack.

  A high pitched yowl was followed by a low growl. Her abductor sucked in a breath. In the next moment, she sensed the movement coming towards her but couldn’t quite get a handle on where it was coming from. She tensed right before the hand made contact with her face. Her neck snapped back from the force of the blow. Heat, searing pain, ears ringing. His vice like grip on her arm was the only thing that kept her from being flung backwards. In that moment, she was thankful for her gag. It had stifled her reaction as his hand had made contact.

  “Quit messing with it.”

  “The bloodsucker head-butted me,” her abductor whined.

  “I saw you pawing her, Hayden.”

  There was silence for a few beats. “I’m just curious, never saw a vampire female this close before. I just wanted to see if it has…you know…normal female parts.”

  “Ward won’t like us touching it.” A growl. “He really wouldn’t like you fucking around with it.”

  Her heart rate picked up and she tried to keep her breathing even. Need to stay calm. Wolves enjoyed a good hunt. They might get a thrill if they smelled her fear. This could spiral out of control quickly.

  “I just want—”

  “No.” The other male moved towards them and crouched at her feet. He wrapped the rope around her ankles several times.

  She’d just started to relax when her abductor’s free hand moved to the buttons on her blouse. Oh gods! Her heart pounded in her ears. She moaned and shuffled trying to alert the other male.

  Rip.

  “What the fuck, Hayden.” The other male said as he fiddled some more with the rope. It was tight, almost to the point of pain. The chances of being able to fight off two wolves while bound with silver was little to none.+

  “I just want to look. There’s no way I’m fucking a bloodsucker.”

  “One quick look before Ward gets here. You’d better make it fast though.”

  Her shoulders sagged in humiliation. At least they weren’t going to rape her. That was something.

  Her blouse was shoved roughly to the side. “What the…she’s wearing one of those human contraptions.”

  “Just leave her, Hayden. You can see she has tits, now leave her alone.”

  “Not bad. I’m semi hard.”

  If she wasn’t wearing a gag, she’d puke for sure. Her stomach churned.

  “Too much fucking information.” He inhaled sharply. “Put your claws away, I’ve just about had it with you.”

  “I want to remove the covering. I want to take a look at—”

  “I said no!” the other male bit out.

  “You’re such a suckling pup, Sawyer. I didn’t realize that you were such a vampire lover.”

  Sawyer snarled. “Say that again and I’ll make a blanket out of your hairy ass.”

  “Are you going to let me finish looking at the vampire?”

  “No. You’re done.” Sawyer’s voice had dropped a few octaves.

  Just then the door opened, a gust of chilly air blew in with whoever had arrived. Slam! “Please tell me that whatever is going on here isn’t what it looks like.”

  “I can explain,” her abductor said. Stephany could scent his acrid fear. There was a sound of flesh hitting flesh. Hayden yelped. There was another meaty thud.

  “Please…” Her tormentor begged. Another hard whack sounded.

  “Why should I listen to you, Hayden?” A vicious snarl that had her pulse racing and adrenaline surging. “It’s not like you were able to listen to this female beg you to stop. Not like you would’ve listened even if you could hear her.” Whack. Yelp. Whack. “You’re a poor excuse for a wolf.”

  Stephany could not muster any sympathy for the male.

  There was a dull thud. The shifter must’ve fallen. “Please…” His voice resonated from the ground confirming her suspicions.

  The newcomer snarled, rough and mean. The sound causing goose bumps to break out all over her body. Everything in her screamed to drop to the floor. To cover her head and beg for her life. It was only her experience in dealing with all-consuming dominance that stayed her. The snarl turned to a low growl. Vampire males also made such base noises, but this was different. This was raw, untethered, so animal that she had to bite down on her gag to stop herself from whimpering.

  “Explain yourself.” His gruff voice was low.

  “I…” It was Sawyer.

  “Not you. You.” The newcomer growled and her insides quivered in utter fear.

  Hayden whimpered.

  “Get up.” The dominant male growled.

  There was a rustling noise as the male complied. “I just wanted to look at it.”

  “Her.” A low vibration. “She may not be our species but she is a female. Did she give you permission to open her clothes?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “I didn’t think so. Who hit her?”

  “I didn’t mean to…”

  Another slap, by the softer sound, the impact was less hard. The male still staggered. “At least be a wolf and admit it,” the newcomer said.

  Hayden took a deep breath. “Fine, but only after she head-butted me first.”

  “Yeah?” Gruff and impatient. “Why did she feel the need to do that to you?”

  “Um…” her abductor said followed by silence.

  “Are you sure that’s all you have to say?” A low growl. “You didn’t do anything to deserve the retaliation.”

  “N…no,” he stammered.

  Another low growl. “Untie her.”

  “I wouldn’t recommend—” It was Sawyer.

  “Do it.” His voice so low that she could barely understand him.

  Her gag was removed. Her lips were so dry that they seemed to stick together at first contact. Her blindfold was next, the light hurt her eyes rendering her momentarily blind. A male who she suspected was Sawyer fumbled with the ropes at her hands.

  “You’d better speak quickly because if her story is different than yours, your penalty will be much worse. As it stands you are in deep shit.”

  Stephany rubbed at her wrists trying to get the blood flow back.

  “Fine,” Hayden huffed. “I hit her so that I could get her away from the vamps.”

  “Why did she head-butt you?” A low growl.

  “I touched the side of her leg. I just wanted to look at it.”

  “What? Look at it with your hand?” There was another loud crack and Hayden yelped.

  “You will apologize to the female.”

  “I don’t see why I—”

  “I’m losing patience with you, pup. You touched and unclothed this female without her permission. You are lucky I came in when I did.”

 
Her eyes finally managed to focus on the male in front of her. He was naked so she looked up. His eyes were narrowed, angry, filled with hate. His lip was bleeding, his right eye swollen shut and there was a small cut on his forehead, it oozed blood.

  He clenched his jaw. “I’m sorry I hit you and touched you.” Her tormentor looked anything but as his one good eye narrowed on her.

  “Don’t you ever forget your place in this pack.”

  “I won’t, Ward.” The male, Hayden, lowered his head.

  “Why did you take the female?” Her eyes drifted to the one she now knew to be Ward and the air threatened to seize in her lungs. The male was huge. Taller than Brant and that was saying something. His shoulders were broad, his biceps bulged. Unlike vampire males, the wolves had some hair. The shirtless male had a light smattering on his chest, as well as in a line that led from his belly button down his rock hard abs…thank blood he wore jeans. Low riding, faded encasing narrow hips and thick thighs.

  “She’s important, Ward. You should’ve seen how they fought for her. One of them gave his life trying to save her.”

  She closed her eyes at the memory of Lance falling to his knees, his face contorted in agony, his eyes pleading. They were locked with hers.

  “I asked you to bring me the human. This female is useless to us.” Her eyes snapped to his face. This was the alpha. She swallowed hard to prevent herself from sucking in a sharp breath. His hair was cut tight against his skull with a five o’clock shadow on his hard jaw. Fierce looking. His entire frame radiated raw energy. Pent up aggression like nothing she’d ever seen before. When he looked her way, the greenest eyes she had ever seen swept over her and then locked with hers for an instant before he turned his head back to Sawyer.

  “I’m sorry, Ward. I’ll get rid of it…her.” His words were tinged with excitement. If this asshole got his way, she was dead for sure.

  “I refuse to go with this male.” Her voice cracked from lack of use.

  “I will take her.” Hayden threw her a look that had daggers attached.

  Ward grunted. “Like hell. Haven’t you listened to a word I just said? You won’t be permitted anywhere near a female anytime soon. Maybe never.”

  “But…that’s not fair.” Hayden whined.

  “What wasn’t fair was you touching this female without her consent. I don’t trust you period. Let alone with the life of a female. I’m not sure what to do with you. You disappoint me, Hayden.” The alpha sighed.

  Hayden looked down at his feet, his throat worked. “I’m sorry, Ward. I will do better, I promise.”

  “Next time I will not take your excuses. If this had gone any further I would have exterminated you. Taken you the fuck out”—the alpha paused, his muscled bulged—“I can’t have a male in my pack that does not know how to treat a female, regardless of species.” He didn’t wait for the male to respond. “There is a cabin that needs repairing, the two of you can head over there now.”

  “But, it’s night-time.”

  Muscles bunched and roped. Ward’s hands fisted at his sides. “Go, before I change my mind and beat you some more. You sure as hell deserve it.”

  “It means we’ll have to cut down a tree in the dark.”

  Ward shrugged. “Last I checked, wolves could see in the dark.”

  “What about dinner?” Hayden whined. It never ceased to amaze her how bullies always ended up being the biggest babies.

  “You’d better get to it then,” Ward said. Hayden grumbled an agreement, his shoulders slumped.

  “You should’ve put a stop to that,” Ward addressed Sawyer.

  “I tried.” The male frowned.

  “Should’ve tried harder. Go with him.”

  “What about the female?” Sawyer glanced her way.

  “You really fucked up this time, Hayden. In more ways than one.” Ward ran a hand over his scalp. “We’ll have to hold onto her until I decide what to do with her.” He shook his head.

  “Should I send her to the other females?”

  “No,” Ward snarled. Stephany’s breathing hitched and she bit down on her top lip to keep from making a noise.

  The big alpha paced across the room. “There are things about us that this vampire is not to find out. Things that will weaken our position amongst the species. Use your head.” He turned his icy green shards on her. They narrowed making her feel like she was to blame for this predicament, like she’d somehow asked to be here.

  Utter nonsense.

  Stephany squared her shoulders and narrowed her eyes right back at the alpha. There was no way she was going to take the blame for this. She outright refused.

  His stare softened somewhat although his mouth remained a white slash. “I want the repairs completed before you turn in,” his eyes stayed on hers as he spoke. “You are to report in on time tomorrow morning. Get out.” He sighed. “You can inform the pack that I will take personal responsibility for the female.”

  Chapter 2

  What the fuck.

  Although his decision was the right one, he didn’t have to like it. Truth was, he didn’t trust anyone else with her. A vampire female? In the middle of his pack amongst women and children? The weak were his to protect. Yet, it was important that nothing happened to this female either. She was in danger. His wolves didn’t take kindly to bloodsuckers. The pain from the loss of one of their own still fresh.

  They were at war.

  Their alliance with the elves was in tatters, it looked more and more like those bastard vampire kings were going to retain their dominance over the rest of the species. A bitter taste filled his mouth.

  Turning his eyes on her, he looked at her properly for the first time since walking into his cabin. Her wounds were minor and already healing. Tall, although his first thought was skinny, it was incorrect; she was lean, athletic even. Covered in dirt, blood and grime from head to toe. She wore what looked like had once been a business suit. Her sheer stockings were torn. Her blouse gaped, her breasts concealed in a thin fabric casing. Definitely female. Of that there was no mistake.

  Ward grit his teeth forcing his gaze back to her large, blue eyes. The female was a sorry sight yet she still stood tall, a slight lilt to her chin sparking an instant respect.

  “What are you going to do with me?” her voice was parched. Her lips dry. Her demeanor was unflinching, even when he narrowed his eyes at her. In fact, she squared her shoulders and stood even taller.

  “Right now…tend to your wounds, get you cleaned up and fed. What is your name?” Ward snagged a bottle of water and handed it to her. The vampire opened the lid and drank her fill using the back of her hand to wipe her mouth.

  Her eyes narrowed in distrust. Ward waited patiently, keeping his eyes locked with hers the whole time. She finally sighed softly. “I suppose it won’t make any difference if you know…I’m Stephany.” She paused as if she expected it to mean something to him. “My wounds are almost healed. Though if you are going to insist on holding me prisoner then a bath would be appreciated.” Her eyes drifted around his small space, landing on the two doors on his back wall.

  Despite himself, he felt his lips draw into a smile. His personal lodgings were not meant for non-shifters. “I’m Ward. It’s the one on the left. Wait a moment while I fetch you a towel.”

  The female took a step towards the exit but halted at his bidding. He rummaged in a cabinet, hoping he still had a clean one…thank hounds. He grabbed the fabric, stepping in front of her in order to open the door.

  She made a sound of disgust. Ward had to work to keep from chuckling.

  “What the…?”

  “It’s an outdoor shower. Cold water only I’m afraid. I would’ve lit the fire that heats the tank for it if I had known I was going to be having a guest.” Ward had been a part of the team that had breached the castle earlier today. In what was an attempt to get their hands on the future vampire queen. His blood ignited at his knowledge of their failure. In the end, the elves had run. Yellow-bellied cowards
. The wolves had been forced to flee. Somewhere in the chaos, Hayden had taken this female. He suppressed a sigh. As if he didn’t have enough to deal with.

  She shook her head, stepping into the small space outside. It was closed in with a seven foot makeshift fence made from fine, stripped branches tied tightly together to form a screen. He had made it himself.

  “I’ll manage.” She didn’t look at him as she spoke, dismissing him with her body language.

  Ward folded his arms across his chest.

  “Um…this is kind of private.” Her eyes widened.

  “A few quick rules before I allow you to shower. For your own good.” he added when she narrowed her eyes and cocked her head.

  “You stay at my side at all times…when I say at all times, I mean it. There are males out there that would see you dead in a heartbeat. The fact that you are a female means nothing. Your kind is not welcome in my territory.”

  “Listen, Mister…wolf.” She remained polite, her voice even. “I didn’t ask to be stolen away from my people. I didn’t ask for you to attack us in the first place. As to my being female, I just had a very definite taste of what your males would do to me.”

  Ward felt his blood ignite. A knot twisted in his belly. “What happened with Hayden was inexcusable. The male worries me. It is something I will deal with. You need to know that you are in no danger of being rutted against your will by one of my males, but make no mistake that they will not hesitate to remove your head or burn you at the stake.”

  Stephany kept her composure, which impressed him.

  “I apologize for the way you were treated. It should never have happened. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  She pursed her lips. “Okay so let me get this straight, my only crime is that I am a vampire? For this I deserve persecution? There is no love lost between our species, but I would’ve thought that being a non-human species in general meant that we were somehow on the same side at the end of the day.”