RaleighPointRescueSue (13 page)

Lisa’s heart leapt and then she cringed as the alpha
backhanded the younger one.

“Silence.
Your incompetence already
cost me a female.”

The younger one hung his head, but didn’t try to scramble
away. Lisa was increasingly convinced his innocent stumble that had caused the
alpha to miss grabbing Molly hadn’t been an accident.

He nodded and gestured for the huge guy to give over a
desperate, struggling Erin.

“Lisa?” Erin nearly sobbed, and Lisa’s heart broke.

Lisa didn’t move a muscle. They had to be convinced. “Shall
we go?” Lisa pointedly ignored the hurt glare.

Badass chuckled and raised his fist.

Chapter Thirteen

Mac was crawling out of his skin. His footsteps were
threatening to bore a hole in the wooden floor. Zack and Riley were on their
way. He’d arrived home a few minutes ago to find a sobbing Molly being held by
Cassie, and no one could get anything out of her.

The door banged, and Erin ran in.

“Erin, Erin?” Cassie cried as Erin ran to grab Molly out of
Cassie’s arms.

“Erin, what happened?”
Stay
calm
. “Where’s…Did you see Lisa?” Mac tried to keep the agony from his
voice.

Mac heard car doors slam and in seconds Zack and Riley raced
in. Riley headed for Mac. He couldn’t stop the horror leaching out of his skin.
His hand shook as his brother grazed it.

“What the hell?”

“Zack.”
Mac shook his head, and
Riley put his arm on his brother to check him as he raced toward the girls.

“Erin, did you see Lisa?” Mac tried again.

“Oh, yeah, I saw her.” The little girl’s words were tinged
with disgust. Riley gently rubbed her arm, and she calmed visibly.

“Erin?” Mac hunkered down in front of her. “I need to find
her.”

Erin blew a shaky breath. “Well, don’t bother, `
cause
she doesn’t want to live here anymore. Not with stupid
humans.”

Mac raised a bewildered gaze to Riley.

Cassie pulled both the girls on her lap. “Now, tell me.”

“She told the wolf she wants to go to live with them.”

In the stunned silence, all Mac could hear were the gentle
sniffs coming from Molly.

No.
God,
no.
Pain ripped through Mac’s gut, and he nearly bent over. How
could he have been so wrong?
His Lisa?
He had been so
sure.

A hand brushed his, and Mac shrugged Riley off. No, he
wanted to be angry.

“Mac, think about this,” Riley pleaded.

Mac turned to Erin, but Cassie stalled him. “Erin, tell us
exactly what Lisa said.”

“The big wolf called her an alpha.” Erin shrugged her
shoulders as Riley and Mac shared a worried glance. “Lisa said that she was and
that if he wanted her to go with them then she was okay with that.”

Mac stiffened, this sounded all wrong. He shook his head to
clear the pain. He had to think. Lisa? Lisa wouldn’t do this.

Cassie hugged Erin “And what about you two, how did you get
away?”

“Molly got let go straight away. I managed to trip the guy
up, so he didn’t get her fast enough.”

Cassie grinned. “Good girl.”

Encouraged, Erin continued. “The black wolf—”

“Black?”
Mac ground out.

“Yeah, he was really bad tempered and seemed to be the boss
of the others. He shifted like my dad used to, but he was mean looking. He said
Lisa might want me to keep her company, but she didn’t want me.” Erin blinked
and lowered her head.

Mac swallowed and tried not to jump down her throat. “Erin,
so, Lisa said they had to let you go?”

“Yeah, she said she didn’t need humans, and if they let me
go, she’d go with them—
Oh
!”

Mac nodded, pride mixing with fear.

Zack and Cassie helped the girls upstairs while Riley and
Mac got on the phone and started making calls. Brett raced in a few moments
later. “Angie’s getting Jamie from school. She’ll meet Alex’s bus and stay with
them both until we get back.”

Mac
nodded,
his throat tight. “The
Sheriff’s on his way over. He has a couple of guys to help also.” Mac stood
impatiently. “We need to get going.”

Brett grabbed the truck keys. “I’ll meet you in Jackson’s
clearing. That’s where they were spotted before, right?”

“Mac?”
Cassie’s eyes were huge.
She’d just come back into the kitchen. “You need to know.” Cassie hesitated.
“This is
all my
fault.” Cassie’s eyes were huge.

“What?” His heart pummeled his ribs painfully.

“I should have realized Lisa seemed out of sorts. I didn’t
think.” Troubled eyes looked as she grabbed Riley, and he nodded.

“My fault too.”
Riley added
apologetically. “I sensed it this morning, but I got distracted.”

“What?” Mac nearly shouted.

Riley stared at him hard. “Cassie says she was on edge this
morning. She’s only just put it together. If the rogue realizes Lisa’s still in
her mating cycle, it could prove a problem.”

Mac gaped. God, he was so stupid. He remembered her being
jittery this morning and how she’d rubbed herself on him. He was too bothered
about a little girl seeing him, and being embarrassed instead of concentrating
on his mate, helping her. She’d been through hell for eight years and now,
because he couldn’t concentrate on her for two fucking days, she was in danger.

Mac hardened his jaw. “I’m going for her now. Molly said
they were at Jackson’s clearing?”

“It sounded like that.” Cassie hesitated, “He knocked her
out. Erin saw before the other guy got her to the tree line.”

Mac’s hands fisted. “Then we’d better go.”

“One more thing, Mac.”
Riley looked
anxious. “We don’t know how this will affect her if she doesn’t get relief.
Brett mentioned something about it being dangerous, but I didn’t follow it up
then. Because you were here, I didn’t think it mattered.”

Mac’s insides fisted. “What do you mean, dangerous?”

Brett spoke up, “To her health. Her body may go into shock.
Alpha females are
very
protected because they are so
rare. To have this happen is inconceivable to a pack, so there aren’t many
cases of this.”

“What?”

“I’m sure everything will be okay.”

“For fuck’s sake, Brett, just tell me.”

His face hardened. “The only case I could find out about was
during a pack war about sixty years ago. The female was kidnapped and held to
ransom. She was held for two days before the ransom was paid, but by then it
was too late.”

Mac felt the bottom start to leak out of his world.

“The female had gone into shock. Her body had shut down. By
the time she was rescued, she was dead.”

* * * *

Oh. Oh.
God that hurts.
Lisa moved her head from lying on
something really painful. It didn’t help. The pain was in her head, and she
tried to crack open her eyes, only to wish she hadn’t as memory flooded back in.
What the hell was she lying on?

Lisa gingerly raised an eyelid.
A cellar?
Sitting up slowly, she blinked to see the room. Tiny slits for windows were up
high on the stone walls, and the place smelled damp and musty. Yeah, definitely
some sort of cellar. Stone steps led up to a closed door, and she could hear
muffled noises upstairs. Lisa put her hand to her hair to gently press the lump
on her temple. What the hell had he gone and done that for? She’d said she’d go
with him. Erin? God, she hoped she’d gotten away.

The door opened. For a few seconds, Lisa wondered if she
should pretend to be still unconscious. But the guy was at the bottom of the
steps before she could decide.

“What did you hit me for?” Silence made her open her eyes
open fully. She gazed at the scrawny looking man that she recognized from
before. He had let Erin go. Pale and thin. His clothes were filthy and had definitely
seen better days.
She half-smiled.
Not too long ago,
she had worn similar clothes. He had dirty black hair that covered his face
when he hung his head. Lisa had a feeling it was deliberate. How old was he? He
looked about eighteen, but she’d bet he was older. Lisa studied the puckered
scar running from the bottom of his right eye to the corner of his mouth. He shuffled
his feet, and he held a bottle of water. Taking a risk, she breathed slowly and
held her hand, demanding. A flicker of surprise shadowed his eyes as he lowered
his head.
In shame?
Embarrassment?

“Where am I?”

“I—”

“Don’t talk to her, fool.” Heavy steps clattered on the
stone. One of the Alpha’s henchman appeared. “Just give her the damn water.
Alpha will be back soon, and he won’t like you looking at his queen.” He glared
at them both and disappeared back up the stairs.

Queen?
Wow. Someone was really taking
this alpha thing too far.

“I’m cold.” She wasn’t really, but wanted to see how far
this queen thing was going to get her. Scar-Face immediately shrugged off his
jacket. Lisa took the denim. “Thank you.” He nodded and stepped away.

She tried to push slightly. “What’s your name?”

“J…Jesse.” He glanced at the steps anxiously.

“Well, thank you, Jesse. Go on, I don’t want you to get into
trouble.” Lisa nodded to the stairs. Surprise flashed into his eyes. Lisa
looked at him again. He reminded her a bit of Alex, older definitely, but like
he still wanted to please and fit in.

He ducked his head and hurried upstairs.

Lisa walked around the small, musty room and sighed. The
only door was at the top of the steps. There was nothing else except a few
upturned crates and just the wide stone ledge she was sat on.

What the hell was she going to do?

Mac?
Would he realize? Would he
know she only said those things to convince the Alpha to let Erin go? Her heart
constricted. Would he? What if Erin told them she wanted this, and they didn’t
come to rescue her? What if she’d had a few glorious days of freedom, and then
done no more than swap one prison for another?

She had to get a grip and start working out how the hell to
get out of here. She tossed the jacket down. She certainly didn’t need that.
She was roasting. Blowing out a breath, she swiped at her forehead and wiped
sweat away.

Oh God
. She looked
around the empty cellar. It wasn’t warm in here. She sat suddenly as her legs
gave way with the shock.
She was still in
heat.
No wonder she’d wanted to bite Cassie’s head off this morning. She
tried to unclench her hands and take deep shuddering breaths. She had to stay calm.
A shaft of light illuminated the top of the cellar steps. Someone was coming
down. Lisa tried to sit casually and pretend her heart wasn’t threatening to
jump out of her chest.

Hard, heavy steps thudded. She knew who it was before she
looked up.

Badass swept a cold hard look over her, and she tried not to
cringe. Years of experience at looking blank while orderlies sniggered and
pawed at her kept her expression calm. He was staring at her hard. She stared
back. Three of his henchmen had walked in behind him. Waves of anger blasted
her when she calmly returned his gaze. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to
antagonize him. He glanced back and growled, long and low. Immediately, all
three behind him dropped to their knees and bared their necks.

Well, she certainly wouldn’t be doing that.

“So, where am I?” Lisa feigned boredom. “I have to say that,
as an alpha, you show a poor way of treating your queen.”

One of his henchmen looked up and growled at the insult.
With a swift growl, Badass backhanded him and sent him sprawling to the floor.

“How dare you look at her,” Badass thundered and stared at
the others cowering near the floor.

Lisa gulped. Not really what she was going for.

He glared at her again. “I am Killian, Alpha of this pack.
Soon, Alpha of Stone Ridge Pack.”
His eyes gleamed.

Jesse came clattering down the stairs, thankfully keeping
his head bowed. He was carrying what seemed to be some clothes and a few
bottles of water. Lisa nearly licked her lips and resisted wiping her brow.
Killian waved an arm at the clothes. “Get changed. The ceremony begins at
midnight.”

Before she could ask what ceremony, he turned quickly, and
his three henchmen scrambled after him. Jesse stood in the corner, head still
bowed. Killian stopped as he reached him, and grabbed his arm, forcing him to
kneel. “Keep your eyes down, pup.”

Killian increased the pressure of his fingers until Lisa
could see the claws stabbing into Jesse’s arm, but Jesse made not one sound.
Without so much as a second glance, he went up the steps, and the door clanged
behind him.

Jesse got
shakingly
to his feet.
Lisa hurried over to him. “Are you okay?”

Jesse shrank at her voice and lowered his eyes. Lisa pursed
her lips. He clearly expected nothing but cruel treatment. She looked at the
thin red trails of blood on his arms, crisscrossed over other scars. “Jesse, I
asked if you were all right.”
Push

Jesse’s eyes flew up. “Yes, My Queen.”

“That’s better.” Lisa smiled and opened one of the bottles
of water. She used the underside of her T-shirt, cleaner than the rest, wet it,
and dabbed his arms. “Now, Jesse. Hold still. This may sting.” She dabbed at
the cuts. His arms were filthy. “Do you have any cream?”
Silly question.

Jesse’s mouth opened.
“N-no, My Queen.”

Lisa sat on the wide, stone ledge she had been laying on
when she woke and pulled at her T-shirt.
So hot.
She
raised the bottle to her lips and finished it off.

“Jesse, I’m not your queen. My name’s Lisa.”

Jesse looked startled at her again, but Lisa had to try. She
needed to get out of here fast. She was dreading whatever ceremony was going to
happen at midnight, but had an awful feeling Killian was expecting her to be
queen to his king.

“Why does he keep calling me his queen?”

Jesse was trembling in fear, and she felt dreadful about
putting him in this situation. She wasn’t going to push again. He’d been
bullied enough. Just because she had a good reason, didn’t make it any less
wrong.

She tried to smile again. “Jesse, why does he need an alpha
female?”
Silence.
She laid a hand on his shoulder and
tried another question. “Jesse, why do you stay with him?”