Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

S onya had just picked the lock and swung the cage door open when Bay stepped into the warehouse, closely followed by Nora.

He rushed to her, arms out as if he wanted to grab or hug her. But he stopped right in front of her and dropped his hands. “Are you injured?” His gaze roamed over her.

“No, I’m fine. Just fuzzy from whatever Dale injected me with.” Why wouldn’t he touch her? A growl emanated from deep inside him. “That’s your wolf,” she said. He nodded.

Dale stepped out from behind a pile of twisted metal. “I thought you’d come alone.” He sounded sad. “Now I have to kill three people.” He shook his head.

“Keep his attention on you as much as you can,” Nora mumbled out of the side of her mouth without looking at Bay or Sonya. She sidled over to a large crate and out of Dale’s view.

Sonya brushed her hair behind her ears and dipped her chin in answer.

Dale pulled a gun and walked toward them. “Tell the woman shifter to stay put, or I’ll shoot you both.”

Nora stepped out again, her arms up, palms facing Dale.

“Don’t move,” Dale said. He tilted his head, studying Nora, and then his gaze shifted to Sonya. “You’re both pretty in your own ways.” He gestured to Nora’s face. “Too bad about the scar, but I don’t mind. I’ll fuck you both.”

Bay’s wolf growled.

“If you shift, I’ll shoot Sonya,” Dale said calmly. “I’ll only maim her, and then I’ll make you watch me fuck her.”

Sonya shivered. “What’s wrong with you, Dale? How is this in the best interest of the pack?”

He ignored her and threw a pair of handcuffs to Nora. “Put those on the male wolf.”

The lawyer shifter shot him an icy stare, but picked up the cuffs. She walked over to Bay, whose wolf howled its fury. The sound echoed in Sonya’s chest.

Nora clanked the metal together as she stood next to Sonya. “On my back,” she said under her breath, without making eye contact.

Sonya kept her eyes on Dale, but with the arm Nora now blocked from his view, she skimmed the shifter’s back. And found a blade. A big blade.

Beads of sweat covered Bay’s forehead. He must be struggling to control his wolf. She could hear its furious howls inside her mind.

Nora snapped the cuffs on him. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed before stepping away.

Sonya felt like throwing up. This was all her fault. If she’d been more careful when she left the motel, they wouldn’t be in this situation. “I’m sorry too,” she said.

“Not as sorry as I am,” Nora wailed. “I had to put handcuffs on my pack mate, and it’s so unfair.” She stomped her foot and screamed, “Why do bad things always happen to me?”

“Calm down,” Dale ordered, waving his gun.

“Easy for you to say,” Nora screeched. She pointed to her face. “You’re not the one who’s disfigured and has everyone staring at you wherever you go.” She sat down on the floor. “I always have the worst luck.”

“Get your ass up,” Dale shouted, taking a step toward her.

Nora’s expression turned dark, and she glared at him. “Stop ordering me around. I’m sick and tired of men telling me what to do.”

The alpha took another step toward them. “Well, I’m the one with the gun. I’m in charge.” Focused on only Nora and her temper-tantrum performance, Dale kept coming closer. “I’m always in charge,” he said. “I’m the fucking alpha, and you bitches better do what I say.”

“Make me,” Nora threw at him.

“I will,” he shouted, spittle flying from his mouth. “I’ll teach you a lesson, and your friends will watch me do it.” He took another step toward Nora and raised the gun, lips stretched in a sinister smile.

“Now,” Nora said, and swept out her long legs, toppling Dale, who screamed in rage.

Knife arm outstretched, Sonya dove toward the alpha.

He twisted.

Instead of hitting his carotid artery, the blade sank into his shoulder.

“Fucking bitch,” Dale screamed. “You’re going to die.” He let go of the gun to grab the knife.

With a roar, Bay shifted, the cuffs sliding harmlessly off his paws. His wolf was gray with a darker saddle and mask. It leaped on Dale, crushing his throat between its massive jaws.

After shaking him to make sure he was dead, it padded over to Sonya, blood dripping from its mouth. She petted it. “You’re beautiful,” she said.

The wolf whined and put its head in her lap. Its body shook as limbs reformed and Bay resumed his human shape. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he said, wiping blood from his lips with the back of his hand. “You deserve so much more than I can give you.”

She frowned. “What are you talking about?” She looked behind him to see if Nora had any idea.

The lawyer shook her head and shrugged. “I’m going to go outside and call Ulf and Karim.”

Bay stood and then spit more blood on the floor. It should be gross, but all Sonya could do was admire the view. He’d shredded his clothes when he shifted.

She’d never tire of his body. Even now, in this cold warehouse, she wanted to jump him. Okay, maybe after he’d brushed his teeth and gargled with mouthwash a few times.

“We’ll get an annulment,” Bay said. “As soon as we get to the Marin pack house, I’ll ask Arek to arrange one.”

“You can’t,” Sonya said.

“Oh, because we had sex, right? You can’t get an annulment if you’ve had sex.” He frowned. “A divorce, then. We can ask Nora to get the paperwork started right away.”

“I don’t understand. You don’t want to be married to me?” She shook her head. “What changed?” Dread filled her stomach. Was it because she wasn’t as strong as a shifter? A wolf would have fought Dale instead of being taken. She hadn’t meant to get kidnapped. “I’m sorry I put you in danger. I’ll be more careful, I promise.”

Bay grabbed her hand, and the now-familiar sizzle ignited the nerves along her skin. “Don’t blame yourself. I’m the selfish asshole who put you in danger. None of this would have happened if you’d married one of the Sunbeam wolves.” His beast’s growl echoed inside Sonya. “I’ll always want you,” he continued. “I’ll want you to the end of my days, but you deserve a mate who didn’t blackmail you into marriage.”

She grabbed his face with both hands. “Answer me honestly. Since I can feel your wolf, does that mean we’re true mates?”

His eyes shone as he covered her palms with his own. “Yes. My wolf has claimed you. He chose you… We chose you.”

“No,” she said. “I chose you . The moment you walked into the coffee shop, I wanted you.”

He paused, his beautiful blue-gray eyes searching her face. “Do you really mean this? There is so much about me I haven’t told you. You might change your mind when you find out.”

“Whatever it is, it won’t change how I feel about you,” she answered. “We’ll face whatever challenges that come our way together.”

“I will spend my life making you happy,” he growled.

“I know. Now go rinse your mouth so I can kiss you.”

The wolf rumbled. It almost sounded like laughter.