Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

T he thin woman with a severe bun and a French accent places her hands on her hips. This feels more like a funeral.

"You'll have to wait elsewhere."

Bo lowers his phone. "Why?"

"Because the mating dress is to be seen on the day only."

"That's your tradition, not ours," Fell lifts his chin, ready to argue the point.

"It's the rules. You can take it up with the Alpha. I am here to do my job." She crosses her arms and leans back.

Cadoc frowns. I hold up a hand. "It's okay."

The Alpha's kept his distance all morning. Polite, pandering to the wealthy sheep who eat up his every word. I don't want to give him a reason to take a cheap shot at us.

Cadoc's vicious display has fed their insatiable appetite for proof of virility.

"I will take it up with the Alpha. You three stay in the hallway." Cadoc turns on his heels, leaving Kirk, Fell, and Bo leaning against the wall outside of the room.

"Suit yourself. Come. It's time to turn you into a vision."

Opening the door, she ushers me into the dressing room. A pale green gown with embroidered flowers adorns a mannequin.

I actually like the dress. "It's beautiful."

"Of course it is. Madam Boucher only provides the very best. I chose it to blend with the natural settings of your ceremony."

"The deep V is bold." I circle the garment.

"We can pin it if you like. Put it on and step up." She claps her hands. "Quickly."

I hurry to the screen, removing my clothes, and she brings the gauzy dream over.

"Arms up." She lowers it over my head, carefully working me into the delicate garment. Too low, I''ll be exposed.

"Hmm." The woman reminds me of a bird, flitting about.

"We will mark it and make the adjustments today." She circles her finger. "Face forward."

Gathering the material here and there, she pins the material.

"Ow." I flinch when a sharp poke gets me in the side.

She clucks her tongue. "Be careful not to move."

Crouching, she adjusts the length. A brief pinch to my thigh makes me grunt. I hold my breath, trying not to move a muscle, least she stick me again. The pain fades. She finishes and puts her torture devices away.

"Turn slowly, cherie ."

I oblige, gasping at the image in the large circular mirror.

"Whoa. I look like a princess." I turn admiring myself in the mirror. Running my hands along the dress I smile. It's a bit of sunshine after rain.

"Your mates won't be able to take their eyes off you," she assures me.

"Do you think so?" I smile bashfully. I've come to care more for them than I ever imagined I would.

A wave of exhaustion washes over me. The lack of sleep is getting to me.

I yawn. "Excuse me."

"You are lovely. It almost makes me feel bad about this."

"Wha?" My tongue feels too big for my mouth. I sway.

"Close your eyes. It'll be over soon." I open my mouth to call out for help, and the floor rushes up to greet me.

"Be quiet before you wake her."

"So paranoid. That dose will keep her out for hours."

"She doesn't seem worth the fuss," a masculine voice says.

I keep my breathing even and my muscles loose I try to gain more info about my captors and surroundings. How the hell had they gotten past my mates?

"Don't judge a book by its cover," a distorted voice accompanies a dark energy. "She's the one thing that stands between us and what we've worked for all these years."

The feeling in the room changes. An uneasy silence falls as uneven steps move closer. "This will be better for everyone. She was never meant for the role they're trying to place her in."

"What should we do?"

"Hold her here for now." The man shuffles away. A door closes and the two in the room exhale.

"He scares the hell out of me." I recognize the voice of the seamstress.

"Pretty sure that's his life goal. He's the monster his master made him."

"And yet, you continue to serve him." The woman doesn't sound impressed.

"I believe in the vision. I'm tired of living in the shadows."

They smell strange, like wolves, but not quite. What are you? The chemical stench warring with the natural musk of wolves sets my teeth on edge.

"I'm going to make the rounds," the male stands and exits.

How long have I been out? Where did they take me? Overheated, sweat gathers on my nape and forehead. My body is working hard to purge the drugs they pumped into my system. I thank Fenrir for the gift that could only come from him.

A door opens and closes. I'm alone with the seamstress. She's a slight woman, but I'm not sure how much strength I can generate, or what the odds of escape are.

I only have one shot at this. I take stock of my stiff limbs and the lingering haze. Arms tied behind my back; I'm gagged. My back aches from the hard cold surface they laid me on.

I risk cracking my eyes. The seamstress is seated with a book.

Stark and barren, the off-white walls offer nothing to defend myself with, but I know one one-on-one is better than two against one.

One, two, three. Launching myself off the table, I contort my body to slam my head into her gut. She doubles over, sliding off the chair on top of me. Her head bounces off the ground, and I shake her off me and struggle to my feet.

Moving to the door, I turn and fumble with the doorknob. It opens and I step into a dark hallway. I trust my gut and take a left, running full out. The scuffle and escape raised the alarm. Doors open behind me.

I scan the area, looking for what might be an exit. Spotting a stairwell, I push myself to run faster and take them two steps at a time. I hit the bottom. There's a door. Heart in my throat, I run toward it and a body plows me down.

A strangled gasp leaves my lips as the air rushes from my lungs. A severely scarred face appears before me.

"Tried to make this easy." His voice is smokey and gravel-filled like he's smoked since birth. I wiggle, trying to break free. The stench of smoke and sulfur clings to him.

"Start the ritual now," he barks. He stands and hefts me over his shoulders, pinning my legs to his body. Others approach, all dressed in black.

He opens a door, and the temp drops as we travel down into a basement. When we reach the landing, he tosses me onto the ground and the unyielding concrete breaks my fall.

Chanting begins. Shadows peel from the walls. Vaguely humanoid shapes float toward me. Those in the circle smell almost like wolves, but something is off.

Pulse racing, a wrenching tear starts at my belly button. There's a pop and my energy and power begin to leak out.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this." The horrific voice sounds broken. I fight against the drain.

"Stop," he demands.

Never. Tears sting my eyes. The creatures move closer, blotting out the light. Frozen to the core, I reach out to my mates through the tentative bond we've formed.

The chanting grows louder around me, making the link fuzzy.

"No," I scream against the gag.

"Make it easier and give up. They hate you. Why are you fighting so hard for them?"

How could he possibly know that? Is he trying to prey on my insecurities?

I ignore his taunting. The strange beings dig invisible claws into my aura and try to rip me apart.

A large explosion shakes the foundation, and the chanting abruptly stops. Light pierces through the darkness. The beings shriek and flee. I force my heavy lids open. My mates are attacking! Relief and gratitude war for supremacy.

Cadoc and Kirk are in wolf form. Bo in partial shift tearing at the fleeing people with elongated claws.

Fell heads toward me, lantern in hand. The bright glow is unnatural. I wince.

"Are you okay?" he kneels beside me and I nod. Somehow, I stave off my tears.

His sharp nails make quick work of the bonds on my wrists. "Liar. Hold this."

He shoves the lantern toward me. I force my clumsy fingers to grip it tight. He lifts me into his arms.

"How did you find me?"

"We made a deal with the Wolf King. Hold tight."

"Wait, where is he?"

"Who?"

"The leader with the burned face."

"Didn't see him." Fell takes off. We emerge from the brick wall. The night air has never tasted this sweet.

"Bo's sundial gave us coordinates," he explains, carrying me to a waiting SUV. He puts me in the passenger seat, and hurries to the driver said. Starting the car, he slams his foot onto the gas, he peels off.

Turning back, I watch the others emerge from the smoking building. They run beside us. Passing a small fleet of cars headed toward the house they move faster than any wolf I've ever seen.

"Who the hell is that?"

"The pack doing their job and dispatching a threat. Losing you on his watch made Alpha look bad. He's furious." Fell grins.

Spent, I slump back against the seat. "I don't know who they were, but they knew things about me — personal things, Fell."

"They've been watching you for a long time. Alpha came clean after we realized you'd been taken. He brought you home before they could capture you." Fell's explanation is straight out of a horror film.

Doubtful I frown. "And you believe him?"

Kirk examines the rope burn on my wrists. "We saw the letters."

"Letters?" I close my eyes and rub my throbbing temples. "I don't understand."

Kirk applies a cream that dulls the sting. "They knew what you were before he did. Their interest in you made him dig deeper."

"But he said the Volva told him."

"We haven't seen her to ask."

Fell's sarcastic response make me snort.

"What the hell is going on?"

Kirk wipes my face off with something cool and damp. "I can't tell who's friend or foe, but for now, we've reached a truce with Alpha. At least, while we face the same enemy."

Fell pulls to the side of the road. The others appear besides us. Climbing in, they fire off questions I try my best to answer.

"The minute we arrive home, we're sealing this bond officially," Cadoc whispers. "All of us need to bite you so we can mingle our essences, Brat. We've waited too long as it is."

"And then we're going to hunt these bastards down and make them regret every laying a finger on you." Kirk's voice is deadly. The agreement of the others is a solemn oath.