Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Gracie

" R yker!" I scream as the ferocious wolf leaps on me. His snarling mouth stops an inch from my face and then he's violently yanked back.

I gasp when I see Ryker's humungous grizzly bear standing there with the wolf's tail clutched in his mouth. He launches him into another wolf, looks at me for a moment with those same brown eyes I've been falling in love with, turns, and charges into the attacking wolves.

Hector is watching all of this with displeasure from the corner of the room. His pack is getting their furry asses kicked by my mate's bear.

He shakes savagely and then phases into a huge black werewolf. He's larger than all the others. But instead of joining in the fight, he runs away. All bullies are cowards at heart.

Ryker's bear lets out a murderous roar as he faces down the last wolf shifter standing. The grizzly is bleeding from several gashes, his brown fur all matted with blood. I'm thankful to know that he has enhanced healing and those cuts and bite marks are already closing up.

I look away as Ryker's grizzly finishes off the last wolf.

It's silent in the room now, just the deep powerful breaths of my mate's bear as he turns and looks at me.

Goosebumps slide along my skin as he walks over, staring at me with those stunning brown eyes. He's magnificent. I'm in awe as he approaches on his giant paws, his massive shoulders moving under his fur like rolling boulders. His mouth is hanging open, wet with blood while he huffs out these big deep breaths. I wince when I see the deep bloody gash on his shoulder, but he doesn't even seem to notice. All of his attention is on me.

My chest feels like it's expanding as he slowly walks right up to me and smells my neck. I shiver with a giggle at the feel of his wet nose on my skin. He's adorable. I can feel the love radiating off him and pouring over me like a warm blanket.

"Hi," I say as I reach up and pet his neck. He huffs out a breath as I stare up at him in wonder. "Thank you for saving me."

He smells my neck again and then licks my cheek, covering it in slobber.

"Okay," I say with a laugh. I wipe my cheek as he steps back, never taking his eyes off me. "We'll meet again soon."

Those huge shoulders start trembling like an earthquake and I have to look away as he turns back into Ryker.

"Are you okay?" Ryker asks in a panic as he runs over, kneeling in front of me. He cups my cheek with his big hand and looks me over as I look him over. He doesn't have a stitch of clothing on and for a few seconds, I forget all about the danger we're in.

"I'm fine," I say with my cheeks blushing. "But Hector is getting away. He turned into a black wolf."

"I smelled it on him," Ryker says as he grabs his torn clothes and pulls them on. The legs are split down the seams, but he takes some safety pins out of his pockets and quickly uses them to keep the material together. He leaves his ripped-up shirt on the floor and I'm happy about that. At least if I die today, it will be with a beautiful view. "Let's find a way out of here."

Ryker grabs my arm, pulls me to my feet, and doesn't let go as we race out of the palace. We burst out of the front door and run around to the side. We only pass one cartel member and Ryker makes quick work of him, knocking him out cold with one punch.

I spot some keys on his belt and I grab them in case we need them later.

"We have to find a vehicle," he says as we continue on past the elaborate gardens and perfect grass.

"There are some out front," I say, remembering all the expensive luxury vehicles. There was a red Ferrari, a yellow Bugatti, and a few other sleek cars I don't know the name of. "But they probably won't make it ten feet in the jungle."

"We need a Jeep or something," he says as he looks around.

"Oh my god!" I gasp when I spot what I came here to uncover. Under large canopies in the distance is the true source of all this wealth. Villagers, including children as young as seven and eight, are working in a cocaine processing plant. There are no safety measures and I spot a young girl moving cocaine bricks without even gloves or a mask.

My stomach drops when I see children dipping the coca leaves into barrels of gasoline and then hanging them to dry. It's so unsafe.

My body tenses as I grab Ryker's hand. "They're in chains."

All of the people are hobbling around, their ankles chained together.

I feel like I'm going to be sick. "They must be slaves."

Ryker lets out a low snarl as he looks at them.

Hector lied. There are no schools in the village. These children are forced to work here and I bet there's more working in the coca fields.

"We can't just leave them," I say, pleading to him. "We have to help them."

"Hector is still close by," he says, looking around. "And I don't know how many other wolves."

"I came here to make a difference," I say as I take his hand and look up at him. "A true difference. We're the only ones who can help them, Ryker. Please."

He takes a deep breath and then nods. "Don't leave my side."

"Thank you!" I say as I leap onto him and wrap my arms around his neck. I plant a wet kiss on his mouth and moan as he kisses me back.

We hurry over to the canopies and find more than just drugs. Crates of guns of all kinds are stored under another canopy and I spot something that looks like a torture device, but I don't look at it long enough to figure out what it does.

All of the captured villagers stare at us in shock as we approach. We are a pretty wild scene as we run in there—Ryker the shirtless giant and me with my video camera.

I head to a young girl first, grabbing the keys I took off the guard. She shakes her head and says something I don't understand as I try to unlock her shackles. She steps back, pleading with me to stop.

"It's okay," I tell her. "I'm going to get you out of here."

"Gracie," Ryker says in a deep warning tone.

I look up and gasp when I see Hector's large black wolf sprinting over. Instead of heading toward us, he heads to a barrel of cocaine, dunks his head in, and inhales deeply.

"Oh shit," I say as I stand up and back away with my heart pounding. "Is he snorting cocaine?"

The wolf's eyes are wide and buggy as he stands up, his whole snout covered in white powder. He looks high as fuck as he turns and snarls at us.

"Now would be a good time to pull that bear out," I say, nudging Ryker with my elbow as the wolf drops to his four paws, tweaking and shaking as he glares at us with crazy eyes.

"My bear got to take out the other wolves," he says as he punches his open palm and steps forward. "It's my turn."

I jump in front of the girl, covering her with my body as the two beasts sprint at one another. Hector's wolf leaps into the air, his savage teeth and claws glinting in the sunlight. Ryker steps to the side, snaps his arm out, and grabs the wolf by the neck. Those buggy eyes get wider as Ryker squeezes and then slams his back into the dirt.

"Oh no," I gasp as the wolf kicks and thrashes around, shredding Ryker's forearms with his claws. Blood flies everywhere. I have to look away.

I shove the key into the lock on the chain wrapped around the girl's feet and it clicks open. "Correr," I tell her.

She turns and flees.

I glance over my shoulder as I run to the next person. Hector's wolf bites Ryker's calf, but then Ryker wraps his arm around his neck, holding the crazed wolf in a headlock.

I race around the area, unlocking everyone that I can. By the time I get to the last lady—someone old enough to be my grandmother—Ryker and Hector's wolf are covered in blood.

Hector's wolf bounds away, limping as he circles around Ryker, keeping some distance between them. He stops, shakes, and phases back into his human form.

He's bleeding from several gashes and breathing heavily as he glares at me. "You're going to pay for that with your life."

"Hey," Ryker roars in outrage. "Don't talk to my mate."

"Your mate?" Hector says with an amused grin. He looks at my neck and I shiver, feeling violated by his wolfish gaze. That spot belongs to Ryker and Ryker only. "Interesting… No mark on your neck."

"Don't look at her," Ryker warns in a monstrous tone.

Hector ignores him. "If I mark her neck first," he says with a grin. "She'll be mine."

I shudder at the thought. I belong to Ryker. He's the only man I want. The only man I've ever wanted.

I scream as Hector sprints toward me, running faster than any human can, but Ryker gets to him before he arrives. He collides into Hector and the two men crash to the ground. They wrestle and fight, but Ryker is stronger and he's fighting for his mate, which gives him the edge.

Ryker picks up Hector by the throat and launches him into the barrels of gasoline used to soak the coca leaves. He smashes into them, sending gasoline flying everywhere. When he gets up, he's drenched and cursing in Spanish.

He looks like he's ready to murder the entire village as he stalks through the processing plant, gasoline dripping from his body.

Ryker steps forward to finish him off, but the little old lady hurries over, standing between them. She raises her hand to Ryker, holding him back.

She pulls a matchbox out of her pocket and grins as she takes out a match.

Fear flashes in Hector's eyes as she strikes the match and tosses it into the puddle of gasoline.

The next thing I feel is Ryker's big protective arms wrapping around me as the processing plant bursts into flames. He grabs the little old lady and shields us both from the heat with his massive body while he carries us away.

I don't watch as the flames consume Hector, but the horrible howls won't soon be forgotten.

I must say though, he had that coming.

Word quickly travels through the village and the surviving wolf shifters quickly feel the villagers' wrath. Swarms of angry men and women who've lived too long under the wolves' reign of terror rise up and attack Los Lobos de la Muerte members, finishing them off.

"It's time to go," Ryker says as they set fire to the palace.

"Alright," I say as I get a quick video of the mansion going up in flames. "Now, I'm ready."

We find a dirt bike in a garage and I climb on behind Ryker. I wrap my arms around his big body, gripping his hard abs with my hands as he starts the engine and we take off into the jungle.