Chapter 14 - Elena

The aching in Elena's head was nothing compared to the burning pain in her wrists when she came to.

The smell of burning flesh made her stomach twist with nausea. She had felt that burn only a couple of times in her life. Silver.

And a glance over her shoulder told her she was right. Silver chains fastened her arms around a large wooden pillar.

Mixed with the stench of her own sizzling flesh was the rancid smell of pig shit and hay and other farm animals. As her wits returned to her, Elena realized why.

She was held hostage in a damn barn, sat in filthy hay with a couple of sheep making god awful noise in a nearby pen.

Though they stank to high heaven, they looked good enough to eat, and for the first time Elena realized she hadn't eaten since the night before. Her stomach growled desperately.

Glancing above her head, she saw the pillar was holding up not only the roof but also the hayloft. She wondered if the whole lot would come tumbling down if she pulled hard enough to yank herself free. Maybe it was a risk she was willing to take, considering the alternative was being set upon by four wolves again.

"I wouldn't even consider it if I were you," a voice growled from the shadows near the open doorway. The harsh light filtering through the large opening made Elena squint with the effort of trying to see who was speaking.

"Well, you aren't me, so who the fuck are you?"

She could hear the smile in his laughter even before he stepped into view. And the menace behind that smile made her feel sick to her stomach.

She couldn't have said who he was, but she definitely sensed that she should know. He looked like one of those assholes you would remember after only a minute in his company.

"Please, there is no need to be so aggressive," he said calmly, moving to stand before her. When he dropped down into a crouch, bringing his eyes level with hers, Elena forced herself to meet them. He continued to smile a friendly smile, yet she could see right through him to the rot hiding beneath. He examined her closely, as if he actually cared, sighing, "I do hope my men weren't too rough with you."

"Does knocking me out constitute being rough?" Elena snapped. She spat at him just as aggressively as before, determined not to be fooled by his nice guy act. Whoever this guy was, he was an enemy of the Nightstar pack, that much she was sure of.

The man used his sleeve to wipe spittle from his face, glowering at her. "My men used the necessary force to keep themselves safe."

"Four big strong werewolves attacking a she-wolf, and you are worried about their safety?" Elena said, unable to stop from laughing grimly. "That's hilarious."

He lashed out then, snatching up her chin in his grip so violently it made her neck hurt. "You know, you shouldn't laugh in your host's face. I can make things much more uncomfortable for you."

Elena jerked her face out of his grasp and glowered at him. "What the hell do you want from me?"

Her skin crawled when he reached out and stroked hair away from her face, brushing it back behind her ear. "I want you to help me weaken the Nightstar pack, of course. Stealing their pup makers is the perfect plan. Hell, maybe I can even put a few of my own in you pretty little she-wolves, and when your men come looking for you again, I'll pick a few of them off to make things even easier."

Again? Elena thought. Then she remembered the whispers she had heard, the warnings and the rules she had been expected to follow, and how there was a pack with an illegal turning ring making trouble for everyone.

"Christopher?" she grumbled, narrowing her gaze.

His smile spread wider. "Well, I'm honored you should have heard of me."

He placed a hand on his chest, clearly flattered. Elena wished she had kept her mouth shut, but seeing an opportunity, she pounced on it. "You should be. The rumors about you are legendary. I doubt they will ever stop doing the rounds."

He scoffed, his head practically doubling in size. "Perhaps you're a smarter one than I gave you credit for."

Elena met his gaze unflinchingly. "I guess I am, it's just a shame you aren't. You kidnapped the wrong she-wolf."

Christopher scowled at her, his gaze narrowing menacingly. "How so?"

"I'm not a member of the pack," Elena said, head held high. "I'm just visiting my brother."

The way he threw his head back, laughing so uncontrollably he might never stop, scared Elena right to her core. When he leveled his gaze with hers again, his eyes darkened. "That pup in your belly tells me a whole different story, sweetheart."

Elena's mouth fell open. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat felt thick.

No, that can't be… she thought. She couldn't possibly be pregnant. It simply wasn't possible. She couldn't, she wouldn't, go through that.

But then she thought back to her night with Hanson, and further still. When was it she had last had her period? Damn, she couldn't remember.

"You're wrong," she insisted, her insides fluttering with denial.

Christopher cocked his head. "Am I really?" He sniffed deeply and added, "Who's your brother?"

Elena pursed her lips. Her head was spinning, but the very last thing she was going to do was answer that question.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, sweetheart," Christopher warned her when she remained silent. Elena made a show of pursing her lips.

With a deep sigh, Christopher clambered to his feet and hooked his hand under her arm.

"On your feet," he snarled, yanking her up in a way that made the silver chains tug on her burned flesh. They were practically melted into her wrists now, and the way they grazed against her bones made vomit rise in her throat.

"Let's try this again," Christopher said, pinning her by her chin to the pillar. He moved close and snarled, "Who is your brother?"

She glared silently back at him. It was only when he pulled back his free hand, seeming to aim for her stomach, that instant took over.

"No, no!" she screamed. The instinctual need to protect was something she had felt once before. It brought tears unbidden to her eyes. This can't be happening!

"Tell me or I'll rip that pup right out of you!" Christopher snarled, and he brought his clawed fingers down to her abdomen, grazing them over her flesh where her tank top had ridden up.

She cringed with disgust and spat, "Eddie!"

The way his eyes widened with surprise made Elena immediately aware of just how much more danger she was in now. She wasn't a member of the Nightstar pack, but she was the sister of one of its senior members. And that made her one hell of a prize.

"Well, well, you may just be useful, after all," he snarled, shoving her head painfully to one side before he stepped away. "I'll let you keep that pup for now."

Elena's chest tightened. Her gut twisted. Her throat constricted. This couldn't be happening again. She couldn't be pregnant again.

Please, please, don't let this be like last time, she pleaded silently as Christopher turned and stalked from the barn, leaving her to slump to the floor.