21. Bryce

Iwake with a groan and look around. My head is throbbing, and I'm in a dark, cold room with my hands tied behind my back. I call out to my wolf, but he's nowhere to be found. What the hell did they do to me?

Before I went to Luther's, I decided to check on the flowers I was growing for Radley on the side of the house. When I stepped around the corner, someone hit me with a flying tackle. They struck me in the head and knocked me out cold.

I can feel panic start to set in, but I take several breaths so I can focus. I can't feel anything through the bond, and my heart rate spikes. Where is my wolf, and why can't I feel my pack? I jerk against the bonds, and my movements feel clumsy. It's like I'm moving in slow motion. Did they drug me? I wasn't even sure how in the hell you drugged a wolf, but that's the only explanation that I have. I jerk harder against the chain around my wrists, my muscles bulging with the effort. They don't even budge; they just dig further into my skin.

I pull harder, and then I hear movement on the other side of the door. The lock slides free, and someone jerks the door open. They slam it behind them and flip a switch on the wall. The light is bright as hell, and I hiss when it hits my sore eyeballs. I expect to see the rogue that ran off with Mason's mom, but this guy is clean and well-kept. He has short brown hair and calculating green eyes.

"I see that you're awake," he says, his voice deep.

"Who the hell are you?"

He waves his hand and drags a chair to sit in front of me. "We'll get to that in a minute. I want something from you first." When I just glare at him, his lip curls back in a snarl. "Where's the omega?"

"Who?" I ask, even though I know exactly who he's talking about. No way they're getting their hands on Radley.

"Don't play dumb, Beta. Where's the new omega in your pack?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He moves before I can react and punches me right in the face. My head snaps back and starts throbbing even harder. "The redhead. We looked all over your disgusting camp and couldn't find her." What the hell? Her scent is strong. I can still smell her on me now, but they couldn't track her down? "We had to resort to grabbing you for information."

"I'm not telling you shit."

He hits me again in the exact same spot. I bite my lip to keep the pained sound in, not wanting to give him satisfaction. "You will, one way or the other. Don't worry about trying to shift. We took care of that."

"What did you do to me?"

"You would be surprised about what you can find out when you actually research our species. Did you know that some plants are deadly to wolves? Or that some will block you from your wolf and bonds?" He grins. "They probably think you're dead, which you will be soon. But not before I get information."

"Why are you even looking for the omega?"

"Because she belongs to me."

It takes my sluggish brain way too long to figure out what he's talking about. When I do, my stomach sinks. "You're Daniel."

He waves his hand again and sits back down. "That's one of my names. But yes, Radley's my daughter."

"And you lead the rogues."

"Of course I do. Monty is incompetent and a hothead. You really think he can pull something like this off?" This coming from the guy who just punched me twice in the face. "Marie Claire, on the other hand, is just what we need. She keeps him on a tight leash."

So Mason's mom is right in the middle of this. She rejected Luther for this? "Why come back now?"

"I've been waiting for Radley's wolf to mature. I don't have time to train her, but it looks like she is a natural." He almost sounds…proud, like he had a fucking thing to do with how Radley was raised. "I wanted to grab her before she bonded to a pack, but we had other things to take care of first. Now we'll just have to kill you."

"You couldn't just talk to her like a normal father?" His fist smashes into my face again, and I hear Mason in my head hissing at me to shut up.

"She's my daughter. I'll talk to her how I see fit. She will join my pack. We need another strong omega like her. Now, tell me where she is."

I shrug. "I have no clue."

Before he can move again, the door opens behind us. None other than Mason's shit mom steps through the door. "We've located Luther and his pack. How do you want us to proceed?" Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Make sure they don't get back to that camp. Kill them if you have to."

"Yes, Sir." She quickly glances at me, and I swear I see guilt in her eyes. Whatever. Fuck that bitch. "Anything from him?"

"No. He's saying he doesn't know where she is, but I can smell her on him." What the fuck is going on? He can smell her on me, but not all over that camp? She was in the house right beside him. Was Radley blocking him somehow? "We'll find her. Be ready to take care of the rest of his pack."

That guilt flashes across her face again, but she nods in understanding. She gives me one last lingering look before she slips through the door. "This is just a place full of shitty parents," I say. I already anticipate the hit that's coming and brace myself. Since they have my wolf hidden, I'm not healing like I should. Blood is pouring down my face, and I know my nose is broken.

"I'm surprised Mason hasn't put your ass in its place yet. My betas would never talk like that."

"What the hell do you know about Mason? He doesn't own me. He respects me as one of his own."

"See, that's the problem with your packs. You don't respect your alphas. Mine belong to me, and they know it."

"Or they're just waiting to stab you in your sleep."

Daniel jumps from his chair and kicks me square in the chest. The chair falls backward, and I land on my hands. I feel the bones cracking in my wrist and can't stop the howl of pain. He looms over me and locks his hand on my throat. He pushes down, and I feel my windpipe crushing. If he's this strong in human form, I don't even want to think about his wolf form. "You're a mouthy little shit. I might need to send someone else in here to fix that."

I try to fight against his hold, but it's useless. Dark spots start dancing in my vision, and then I'm swallowed by darkness.

When I wake up again, my entire body hurts. They moved me at some point, and now I was standing in the middle of the room with my hands tied above my head. My feet are barely touching the floor, and the cuffs on my wrists are tight on the broken bones.

I try to alleviate the pressure on my wrists but I just end up making it worse. I still can't feel my wolf or bond, so they must have dosed me again. We've done all the research there is, and we've never found anything that would have this effect. If I get out of here alive, will this have lasting effects? Will this make me lose my wolf forever? I whimper at that thought, and I hear rustling to my left.

"It's about time." I look that way, and a big guy stands from the chair. He stands to walk in front of me, and I can see the malice in his eyes. "Boss told me to teach you a lesson, but you're too goddamn pretty when you sleep."

Bile rises in my throat, and I search my body for any signs this sick fuck touched me while I was asleep. All I feel is pain, and I have no clue if he took advantage of my unconscious state. "What are you going to do?"

"Nothing yet. I just want to enjoy the view." He grabs the neck of my shirt and rips it right down the middle. It parts, exposing my chest, and his eyes start glowing. "I like helpless betas. They scream the loudest."

"Don't fucking touch me." He jerks my sweatpants down with my boxers, and they fall to the floor, exposing my naked body to him. I grab the chain, ignoring the pain, and pull myself up. I pull my legs back and kick as hard as I can against him. He stumbles back, stunned, but recovers quickly. He grabs my leg before I can do it again and spins me around so he's at my back.

He locks his arm around my waist and pulls me against him. He laughs, and I feel the dread set in. "I like it when they fight. It makes me hard as fuck." He pushes against my ass, and I close my eyes. "Too bad betas don't get wet like omegas do. This would have been a lot less painful for you."

He fumbles behind me, and I feel him poking against my asshole. He goes to push forward, and the door crashes open. "Get out," a woman growls. "Rocky. Now."

"But—"

"But nothing. Daniel said to teach him a lesson but you weren't to touch him like that. Get out."

The guy lets go of my waist, and I hear him leave the room. I hang my head in relief, but it snaps back over my shoulder when I feel hands on my legs. My eyes meet Mason's mom's, and that guilt is bright in her eyes. "I"m just putting your shorts back on." She slides them up on my waist and spins me back around. "We don't have much time."

"For what?"

"To save you and your pack. I'm going to get you down. I'll show you how to get out of here, and when you are, you fucking run. Do you understand me?"

"How do I know this isn't a trap?"

"You don't," she says bluntly. "But I am trying to help. Your wolf will be suppressed for another few minutes. As soon as you feel it, shift, and it will fight off the lasting effects, and you'll heal."

She pulls a key from her pocket and unlocks the cuffs on my wrists. She has to catch me when my arms are free so I don't hit the ground. "What the hell did they give me?"

"It's a mixture of natural herbs. Can you run?" I nod, and she makes sure I'm steady on my feet. "We have to be quiet. One noise, and we're both fucked."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I never wanted this."

"Then why run?"

"I was stupid. I thought it would be a better life running as a rogue. I now know how wrong I was. I never thought they would go after everyone in your camp."

"Why didn't you come to us sooner?"

"I couldn't." She grabs my arm and starts pulling me toward the door. "When we get outside, head north. It will take you past the omega's grandma's house."

"What about Luther?"

"I'm already taking care of that. He won't be harmed. I'm not the only one on your side. Let's move."

She jerks me out of the door, and then we're running. I try to control my breathing, but my nose is crushed, and my throat is raw from that asshole choking me. Marie looks over her shoulder several times to check on me, and all I can do is nod. When we go around a corner, she stops and shoves me backward into another room. She quietly shuts the door behind her and holds her finger to her lips. I strain my ears and finally hear footsteps pounding down the hall.

"…I was so close, but that bitch stopped me. You should see this fucking beta, bro. I can't wait until she leaves and I can get my hands back on him." I shiver at Rocky's voice, and Marie grabs my hand in support. I was so fucking close to being raped, and if it weren't for her, I would have been. I just hope she's being honest and she's not sending me out to be chased like it's a fucking game. "Get back here, and we'll take turns." His voice finally fades around the corner, but she waits a solid two minutes before cautiously opening the door.

"Ready?" she whispers, and I nod. We start running again and run up a steep flight of steps. She stops when we get to the top and unlocks a door. "Go north and go fast. They plan on ambushing the camp. Luther should be getting back soon to help. Pull every strong-bodied wolf that you have."

"Thank you."

She nods and shoves me out the door. "You should be feeling your wolf by now. Shift as soon as you're into the trees. Go."

I give her one last look and take off the way she pointed. My wolf comes growling to the surface, and my paws hit the ground as soon as I'm hidden. I push myself as hard as I can and feel my body's natural instincts taking over. My nose, throat, and wrists heal. I've never run so fast in my life.

But I need to save my pack.