Pleasured By The Dark & Damaged (8 page)

“Stop worrying,” Abel said, and gripped me tightly. I was surprised he had agreed to ride on my bike, and I knew Julius would be concerned if it looked like I was friendly. Normally I tied them up and called for one of his guards to come get the shifter and I rode my bike back. This was a different case all around. I couldn’t bear to leave him.

I rode back to the pack house, worrying my bottom lip the whole way. Nothing good would come of this. Abel didn’t seem concerned at all about going into a house full of wolves. If anything, he seemed a little over-confident. I knew he was strong, and had something wolves didn’t have, but so did the pack. Abel may have had magic, but the pack had numbers. I refused to lose my mate, and I was willing to do anything to keep him safe, even if he felt like it was his job to protect me. Wolves were protective by nature. Family and a mate meant everything.

The closer I got to home, the more my wolf paced. She wasn’t happy, and her agitation had me clenching my teeth. I pulled over on the side of the road and took a deep breath. “Abel, I don’t think this is a good idea. My wolf is agitated as hell.”

He moved my hair from my neck and kicked my shoulder. “It’s fine. I have an idea. It will get you and your brother out of there and the stupid debt he says I owe will be wiped clean. Then we leave and go far from this stupid ass town. Start our lives together.”

He made it sound so easy. “I hope you’re right.”

“I’m right, sweets.”

Something in his tone let me know he wasn’t as confident as he portrayed. That didn’t help, but I started my bike and rode down to the hell I called home. I rode through the trees and parked in front of my small house. Living on pack land always sucked. Everywhere I turned there were wolves, watching. It’s like they all waited to see when I would lose it. Most of them had seen my wrath, but none had felt it. I wasn’t allowed to kick their asses. Most of them steered clear of me unless they wanted to have fun.

Abel swung his leg over my bike and stood, stretching. He didn’t seem concerned to be in another shifter’s territory. “No sweat sweets, let’s go meet your Alpha.”

He swung his arm around my shoulder, and I looked around, knowing there were eyes everywhere, and Julius would know before we even made it to the pack house. When I tried to step out from under his arm he glared at me. “Oh no you don’t. I don’t care what these fools think.”

“But they’re going—”

He narrowed his eyes. “No, I don’t care. They’re going to run and tell on you. Rae, I thought you were made of tougher skin than that.”

I growled, and my wolf shined through. I twisted his arm, throwing him to the ground and straddling him. “I am tougher than that.”

I felt the power of his dragon and quivered. My wolf whined, trying to get closer.

“That’s more like it. God, you’re sexy, but you better get off of me right now before I take you right here.”

I licked my lips. As tempting as that sounded, it wasn’t the time or the place. I sighed and leaned in, kissing him, and then I made sure to rub my body against his before I got to my feet. “Later.”

He stood and wiped the dirt from his clothes. “I don’t know how you do that without me knowing it’s going to happen.” He really seemed perplexed.

I shrugged. “I’ve got skills.”

He grabbed my hand and we walked through the woods like we didn’t have a care in the world, but both of us were strung up, ready to attack. Our beasts were on edge, and I knew the reason. Things weren’t going to be as simple as Abel hoped and planned.

The house came into view, and I saw part of the pack. A few were already in wolf form, and that’s when I knew. I sniffed the air, and my hackles rose. I scented Levi, and he was scared. I went to run, but Abel held me back.

“They’re hurting my brother,” I said, but I wasn’t there. My bitch was ready to come out and kick their asses for touching him.

“I know sweets, but you can’t run in there pissed and ready to tear them apart. That isn’t going to help him.”

Tears filled my eyes. “But he’s my baby brother.”

He pulled me to him and I felt his magic. “I know Rae, but work with me here. I won’t let them hurt you, and if you barrel in there I’ll lose you, and you’ll be no good for your brother will you?”

I shook my head and let the tears slip down my cheeks. I wasn’t a crier, but hurt Levi and I was like a mother protecting her own. I’d raised Levi. Mom died a couple weeks after he was born. I was the only one he had left. “I can’t let him down.”

“You won’t, but play this smart. I can smell the wolves' tension. They are ready to attack if you so much as move in a threatening way.”

I nodded and took a deep breath. He’d soothed my wolf.

‘See, he knows what to do for us. He’ll save our brother.’ My wolf was still nervous, but she had calmed exponentially.

“We’ll do it your way, but the moment he lets his wolves loose it’s over. I know him. He won’t get his hands dirty.”

“I don’t plan for you or your brother to be hurt—any more than he already is.”

He gripped my hand and led me down the path to the house. The wolves on guard stood baring their teeth.

“Calm down assholes, I’m going to behave.”

They growled but sat on their haunches watching as Abel led me up the stairs. He acted like he owned the place. I felt his dragon wrap around me, and it was a balm to my soul. It was amazing, really, to be able to feel him at random times. He nuzzled me and settled on my shoulders. I felt him, but I couldn’t see him, and I wondered if Abel was aware of it, or if his dragon was free to do as he wished.

“I’ll explain it later,” he whispered, reading my thoughts. Then he pulled open the door and I followed behind him. The only thing I heard was the loud thump of my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t need to see Levi to know they’d hurt him. I smelled his blood and my wolf wanted to rip them apart. The dragon, though, was smart. He wrapped tighter around me and somehow reached my wolf, nuzzling her. She froze, and the look of confusion in her eyes matched mine. How the hell was that possible? My dragon sure had a lot of explaining to do.

We stood in front of my Alpha, but I didn’t look at him— not yet. I needed to compose myself. Taking a deep breath I took in the scent of my mate. He was there standing by my side. I wasn’t alone any longer. When I raised my eyes to meet Julius’s, he glared.

“I asked you to bring him back Rae, but not as your new pet. Really? A dragon?”

Did I forget to mention that dragons weren’t the only snotty group of shifters? Wolves, especially old school ones, didn’t believe in interspecies mating. Julius was one of them.

I shrugged when Abel growled. “He’s my mate. Fate doesn’t mess around. You know that.”

“Well, I guess it will make things easier for me, then. I think you’ll be able to keep him in line, while I keep you in line.” He snapped his fingers, and two wolves brought Levi around the corner. I wanted to run to him but Abel held me back. His eye was black and blue and his lip was bleeding. He stared at me with such sorrow I wanted to cry.

“You better get your filthy fucking hands off of him.”

The wolves chuckled.

I shrugged. “Fine, but I don’t want to hear you crying like little bitches when I beat you with them after I tear your arms from your body.”

Julius laughed, and Abel chuckled quietly next to me. Everyone knew I didn’t say things I didn’t mean. I would do it, too.

“Calm down Rae. What have we talked about? You’re a lady.”

Abel snorted, and I elbowed him in the ribs. “What? I have yet to see you behave like a lady.”

“Let him go, please.” I said it through clenched teeth. I hated asking, but I wanted to hug my brother, make sure he was okay.

Julius nodded, and the goons dropped their hold on him. He fell to the ground. I ran to him and fell to my knees. He smiled.

“Sis, I’ve missed you.”

I cried and held him close. “I’m getting you out of here baby brother.” I whispered and I didn’t care that they heard.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Since you’ve mated with the big bad dragon, there’s no need to let you go. I can have you both for the price of one,” Julius said, and I turned on him.

“No, you said after this job we were free.”

He laughed and steepled his fingers together. “I lied.”

I snapped, and let out a growl in warning. I’d had it, and I was going to rip him to shreds. My claws lengthened and my canines elongated. I was truly a monster, but I was one pissed off bitch. I rose to my feet, ignoring Levi and Abel. They both pleaded with me, but I was gone, and my bitch was coming out to protect what was hers.

I stalked towards my Alpha with the vision of ripping his head off. All the wolves he had to protect him wouldn’t stop me. As soon as I felt one of the goons grab my arm I yanked him to me and threw him back. He flew in the air and landed against the wall with a thud.

“How dare you!”

I shoved off the others, each one hitting harder. The more he sent, the angrier I got. I could hear Levi yelling at me, but I couldn’t hear his words. Abel wasn’t saying anything, but I felt him. I didn’t know what he was doing, but it didn’t matter. I was going to protect us all. Julius had crossed a line, and now he was going to pay.

Julius stood, and for the first time since I’d met him I saw real fear in his eyes. “Now Rae, calm down. We can talk about this.”

When I kept stalking towards him he turned as if to run, and then I heard Abel.

“I would run if I were you, Alpha. Rae’s not here anymore. Her bitch is pissed, and she is going to rip you apart. If you run you’re as good as dead.”

“Shut up dragon, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Rae can’t hurt me. I’m her Alpha, she respects me.”

He laughed, and I cocked my head to the side, enjoying the way it vibrated along my skin. He was mine. We liked him—no, we loved him. He was saying something, but it was hard to focus. The Alpha lied. Alphas weren’t supposed to lie. They were supposed to take care of us, nurture us, and love us. But no. He never did. He only hurt us. My wolf growled, and we were moving towards him again. But then there was a giant wall blocking us.

“Don’t you think about running right now. Sit your ass down, and as soon as I calm down my pissed off wolf I have an idea you are going to like.”

He rubbed against me. I felt his magic. He was mine. I licked my lips, wanting him, needing him. I ached for him, and wanted to sink my teeth into his flesh.

“Sweets, come back to me,” He said, and then I felt his touch. He ran his hand down my cheek and I leaned into his touch. “Come on Rae, fight it. I know you’re pissed off, and I understand he lied to you, broke your trust, but look at me. You trust me right?”

I was able to think a little bit better. Did I trust him? He gripped my chin and forced me to meet his eyes. His dragon was there too, watching waiting in anticipation as if he too wondered if I trusted him.

I nodded, and Abel kissed me. He didn’t care that there was a room full of highly volatile wolves. And he didn’t care that my claws dug into him arms. I smelled his blood and my wolf went into a frenzy. She wanted him, and now. I tackled him to the ground and rubbed my pussy against him. He moaned and flipped us over, holding my arms down, pinning me below him. My wolf snarled. She didn’t want to submit, but when he ground his erection against me she froze and whimpered. She knew he was in charge. His grip tightened around my wrists and my breathing picked up. He stared down at me and something in his eyes stopped me. She backed away and lay down before rolling on her back, tipping her head to the side. Instinctively I tilted my head, submitting to him. He growled and then he struck. His fangs slid into my neck and he took my blood. I moaned and thrashed underneath of him. I wanted him to fuck me.

“Not now sweets, your brother is in the room. Calm down and I promise I’ll take care of you after all this shit is settled.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, now calm the hell down. Take control, woman.”

I nodded and he let go of my arm, and then he stood as he had when I first met him. I heard gasps from the other wolves and smiled. He held out his hand and I let him pull me to my feet.

Julius sat in his chair and watched us. He wouldn’t meet my eyes, but I could still feel his fear. It was satisfying to know he feared me.

“Well, what’s this idea you have, so you can take your crazy bitch and her brother and get the fuck out of here?”

I gasped. I had never heard Julius curse before.

Abel growled. “Watch it, or I’ll let her go.”

I growled, and his skin went pale. I chuckled.

“Fine, dragon.”

“Very well. So from what I have gathered, you think you own Rae, and you hold her younger brother over her head to get her to do your dirty work. She’s done it without complaint for how long now?”

“Two years,” I said.

“Okay, for two years. You tell her after she brings me in she and her brother are free to go, correct?”

He glared. “Yes, but—”

Able growled. “No buts, that was the deal.” He let go of my hand and stepped forward. “Well here the hell I am, you prick. You got me, now it’s time to hold your end of the bargain.”

Julius chuckled. “What, you’re giving yourself up for them? You know what people like me do to dragons’ right?”

“Oh yeah, I know, and good fuckin’ luck.”

I must have missed something because I had no idea what was going on. “Abel, what’s he talking about?”

“Don’t worry sweets; he isn’t man enough to get my magic.”

Levi gasped, and I slid towards him. No one cared when I lifted him from the ground, holding him close. Everyone who I hadn’t injured was staring at my mate and their Alpha.

Julius stood and Abel held out his hand.

“If you can beat me in a fight, then you can have it. If I win all three of us go free—and uninjured.”

Julius’ eyes lit up like a little boy at Christmas time. He really thought he would be able to beat him, but I knew Abel’s power. Even without his magic, he was something to be reckoned with.