Chapter 11 - Thea

My heart pounded as my eyes darted from the blocked doorway to Tannen on the floor to Viktor strutting toward me. He had the same sickening smile on his face that he'd had the first time he'd found me in the woods. My stomach churned, dread and fear running through me. I swallowed, forcing myself to get a grip. Panicking now wasn't going to do me or Tannen any favors. I had to keep a level head.

Viktor's smug smile turned into a scowl as he glowered at me. "You two really know how to stir up trouble, don't you?" he snarled. "Do you wanna know how much those girls getting away cost us?"

I tried to keep the fear out of my expression, even as memories of our first encounter continued to swim in my head. I remembered how weak I'd felt, how pathetic, how afraid I'd been. I pushed those thoughts away. They weren't going to do me any good.

"Glad to know they got out," I said evenly. "And trust me, where they've gone, you're never getting near them again."

He gave a low, menacing growl that I knew was supposed to be threatening, but it washed over me. I'd dealt with enough bullies in my lifetime not to flinch from one, even if I was terrified and knew how easily things could go south. But show any lick of fear, and you're done for.

Keeping my eyes locked on him, forcing my hand not to tremble even though I knew the odds were stacked against us, I pulled out my knife.

He laughed, his mockery grating. "You really think you can beat me?" he asked. "I beat you once, sweetheart. I can do it again." He stepped forward. "You're coming with us. Damien wants a word. After that, we'll decide what to do with you. But first, we have to deal with your friend over here."

I snarled, fingers tightening around the knife. Glancing at Tannen, I saw him struggling beneath the other shifter. There was no way in hell I was going to let them do anything to Tannen, not after he had saved me.

I darted forward, narrowly missing him as my knife arced through the air inches from his face. He sidestepped, laughing, hand lashing out for my hair but grabbing air instead, and I was on the other side of him, nothing between me and freedom.

The door was dangling on one hinge. I could make a break for it. There was a chance I could outrun Viktor and get away. I knew I could get to the door first, at the very least. I might be able to escape unscathed.

I looked over at Tannen again. I could tell by his expression that he wanted me to run, to get out and save myself. But I couldn't do that. It wasn't in my nature. I may have been an absent, but I wasn't a coward, and I wasn't about to let him die for me.

I spun back to face Viktor, who laughed.

"You must be dumber than I thought," he jeered.

"Thea, run—" Tannen spat, but I barely heard him. I focused on Viktor as he continued to loom nearer. I only had one shot at this.

My hand darted out, knife swiping toward him. Viktor's hand clamped around my wrist, crushing it as he yanked me toward him.

He jerked my arm behind my back, twisting my wrist until I cried in pain and the knife clattered to the ground. It flew across the floor as he kicked it away. His free hand clamped around my throat as he pressed me against him, steering me around so we were facing Tannen and the other wolf. His fingers lengthened to claws, pressing into my flesh, making it hard to breathe.

"I want you to watch as my friend rips out his throat," he hissed. "Once that's done, you'll be fair game again, and we'll sell you off. Get back some of that money you lost us, hmm?"

I squirmed and writhed, trying to break free as the other wolf loomed over Tannen. I struggled, trying to worm out of Viktor's grasp even as his hold on me tightened. His hand snaked around my waist, jerking me so my body was flush against his.

"Granted, I guess it isn't a total loss," Viktor mused. "We got fifty grand from your friend, and when we sell you again, we'll get some more from you. And it won't be long until we get some new girls." His reeking breath brushed against my hair and filled my nostrils as he pinned me against him.

"Go to hell," I spat as I tried to wriggle away.

He laughed, and there was something in the laugh that made my stomach crawl even more. Just out of the corner of my eye, my stomach crawled as I realized he was looking down my shirt, an amused, hungry look on his face.

"Have you broken her in yet?" he jeered at Tannen. "Because if you haven't, maybe I will. I'm sure Damien won't mind after all the pain you two have caused us. She probably needs to be taught a lesson or two."

The words sparked something in Tannen. He snarled, shoving the wolf pinning him to the floor off him and launching him into the air. He jumped to his feet, leaping toward the stunned wolf, jaws snapping. Tannen's teeth sank into the other wolf's jaws. The crunch of bone echoed through the cabin as the other shifter let out a gurgled whimper, then went slack.

Tannen shook the wolf like a ragdoll, then dropped the body the instant he knew he was dead. The corpse collapsed to the floor. Tannen snarled, then shifted back to human. Blood covered his mouth and teeth, making him look even more menacing. His eyes locked on Viktor, filled with hate as he stalked toward us.

"Let her go," he snarled.

Viktor breathed heavily in my ear, ragged, panicked pants pushing my hair. His heart pounded against my back.

Tannen growled, taking another step closer. It was like seeing him in an entirely new light. I'd never seen him this… fierce. Something about it made my heart pound even harder, and my wolf growled in approval, despite the danger.

"Maybe you didn't hear me correctly," Tannen snarled. "Let her go, before I tear you to ribbons."

I couldn't see Viktor, but I could imagine his face looking simultaneously afraid and angry, his beady eyes darting everywhere as he looked for an escape even when he knew there wasn't one.

Letting out a furious growl, Viktor shoved me forward with so much force that I nearly slammed into Tannen. I stumbled, and strong hands gripped my arms as Tannen steadied me. By the time I turned to see where Viktor was, he had already disappeared, running back outside.

"Are you all right?" Tannen asked. His eyes darted across my face, his thumb stroking my cheek as he cupped my face.

"I'm fine," I promised.

He searched me up and down, looking for any injuries. His eyes locked on my neck. They narrowed as he let out a feral growl.

"He bruised your neck," he said. His other hand went to my throat, his fingers tracing the area where Victor's had been minutes earlier, sending new lines of fire running along my skin.

I gasped, unintentionally leaning forward a little. My heart pounded. Did he really care that much about me? I wouldn't have expected him to care that much. Why did that make me feel like a blushing schoolgirl? Heat rushed into my face, and my mind drifted to the way his hands had felt when they'd run up and down my body, and the way it had felt when he had…

I pushed the thoughts away, willing the fire between my legs to die and my pulse to get a grip again.

"I'll live," I said, still unable to tear my gaze away from him.

He snarled, taking a step back and stalking toward the broken door.

"We need to find somewhere else to stay," he said. "I know of another safehouse not too far from here. If we leave now—"

"We can't just keep running from place to place," I argued.

"I know," he said. "But right now, I intend to make sure you stay safe. And that involves getting you somewhere with an actual door."

"I'm not going to keep running and hiding like a frightened rabbit," I said. Shame and frustration radiated off me as the fight ran through my mind again. It hadn't been much of a fight. I'd be halfway back to Damien by now if it weren't for Tannen. Yet again, I hadn't been able to protect myself.

Tannen snarled, his eyes flashing, and he stalked toward me. He loomed overhead, staring down at me, radiating power and strength. My wolf stirred in excitement. Something about the way he stared down at me sparked something I would rather ignore.

"You'll do what I say," he growled.

"Like hell," I snapped. "You can't dictate my life."

"I'm doing this to protect you," he said.

"You shouldn't," I fired back. "This is my life. I'm not going to sit in the corner and wait for the next guy to break in to scoop me up and carry me away."

"What do you suggest, then?"

"Fight back," I said.

He stared at me as if I had two heads. "You want to fight back. After everything?"

"The assholes kidnapped me once, tried to kidnap me a second time, and have tried to sell off dozens of women at this point. Of course I want to fight back."

"You can't shift," he pointed out.

I bristled, a growl rumbling in my throat as my wolf snarled her own protestations. "Just because I can't shift doesn't mean I'm incapable of wanting to stand up for myself or for other people."

"You've made that perfectly clear," he said. "But no. It's too dangerous."

"Tannen—"

He growled. "I can carry you off without too much trouble, you know. At this point, I should just haul you back to Brixton so we can take care of this whole mess."

"We can't let them keep doing this," I said.

Something in my tone must have registered. He looked me up and down, the intensity in his gaze heating my entire body. I felt trapped by his stare. Finally, he sighed, shaking his head in frustration. "All right, you win," he growled. "But we can't just go up and fight him."

"I never said that."

He raised a perfect eyebrow with something like interest, maybe even admiration. "What do you suggest?"

"Strength isn't the only way to beat someone," I said. "Outthinking can be just as effective."

Tannen grumbled, rubbing his face as he continued to pace back and forth. After a moment, he glanced in my direction, curiosity plain on his face as he scrutinized me.

"Can I ask one thing?"

"You just did," I retorted playfully. At his annoyed glance, I gave a sly grin. "But one more question won't kill me. What is it?"

"First rescuing the girls, and now this. Why? Why do you want to put yourself in danger?"

"Because I want to help people," I said.

He shook his head. "I'm sure that's part of it," he said. "You definitely seem the type. But there's more to it than that. You keep insisting on getting in trouble, almost to the point of being reckless."

I hesitated. The truth was, I knew there was more to it. I was okay with being an absent. I really was. But that didn't mean I didn't feel the need to prove myself. I knew enough about what most shifters thought of absents to know that they automatically assumed they were completely helpless and couldn't do anything. So I overcompensated sometimes, going out of my way to prove those assholes wrong, to show them I could do whatever they could.

But I didn't know how to put that into words. How could I explain that need to prove myself to someone who could never understand?

"I want people to take me seriously," I finally said, even if that didn't quite cover all my reasons.

Yet, understanding flickered across his features, and I had a feeling that he had guessed what I meant even if I hadn't explained it properly. He stood in front of me, taking my chin in his hand and tilting it until I was looking right at him.

"I take you seriously," he said. "And trust me when I say you've done more than enough to prove me right on that end."

Emotion flooded my body, mixing with the adrenaline. Something about the words warmed me. A lump formed in my throat as I choked out, "Thanks."

For a moment, I thought he might kiss me. Instead, he stepped back, hand falling to his side. Scratching his chin, he began pacing again, muttering to himself.

"There's a ravine not too far from here," he said. "I have an idea."