Savage Hunger: Savage, Book 1 (34 page)

“The shifter was feral, Madam Sovereign. It grieves me to know I took his life. But he was just moments away from taking the life of the woman I lo—” he broke off, struggling with the word. “Of a woman who is a friend, and daughter to a close ally of the shifter community.”

“We’re aware of who Sienna Peters is,” a male elder murmured, pushing up the sleeves on his gray robe as he glanced back down at the file. “And that you have chosen her as your mate.”

Of course they were aware. The elders knew everything.

“It does not change the fact that you killed a fellow shifter to save a human. You realize the punishment that can follow such an act.”

At yet another elder’s disapproving words, Warrick’s fingers tightened into fists in his lap. He kept his expression emotionless, even as a small tic began in his jaw.

“However, we will not condemn you to death, of course. You are far too important as one of our own.”

He had known the possibility of death was small, but still it sent a shudder of relief through him.

“Thank you.”

“But when you marked Miss Peters as your mate, you forced our hands in other areas.”

No death. But banishment. Not for one moment had he deluded himself into believing there would be another outcome.

“I accept whatever decision the elders have made about my future.” He blurred his gaze as he stared at them.

It didn’t matter who spoke. Male. Female. The elders were equals, all speaking when they had a thought to contribute. All ready to cast him aside as easily as last week’s trash.

“You are an asset to the shifter community, Mr. Donovan. And an agent of impressive skills, dedication and integrity. We don’t want to lose you.”

Warrick’s breath locked in his lungs. Just what were they saying?

“I don’t understand,” he said carefully.

“Miss Peters contacted us this evening.”

Sienna did what
? He went still, ready to ask the question aloud, before they continued.

“She has volunteered to have her memory wiped. To willingly absolve you of any mating commitment.”

“
What
?” His heart pounded and he blinked hard. He’d heard that wrong. Absolutely must have.

“The memory wipe would ensure that she remembers nothing,” a male elder continued thoughtfully. “The past few days would cease to exist for her, and it would be as if the mating had never happened.”

“No,” he snarled. “I refuse to allow it.”

A murmur of shock rose among the elders.

“Mr. Donovan, think about what you’re saying,” the woman elder in the middle cautioned sharply.

“I know exactly what I’m saying. Sienna is my mate.”

“She is
human
.”

“I’m aware of what she is. It doesn’t matter.” He pushed the chair back, the wood legs of his chair scraping on the floorboard. “I made the decision to mate with her, and I will accept yours to banish me from the P.I.A. and the community.”

He turned to leave, but froze at the next words.

“I’m afraid the decision is no longer your own.”

The hell they say. Of course the decision was his. And how dare they threaten him otherwise. Warrick swiveled to face them again. Never being one to turn on his own kind—especially the elders who demanded respect—he knew he was dangerously close to doing so now.

His anger grew rapidly, expanding inside him like a dry sponge that had been tossed in a bucket of water. Until his skin itched and he shook with restraint.

“You have no right—”

“Sienna has made the choice for you and is at this very moment being escorted over to P.I.A. headquarters to have the process done.”

The words knocked the breath from his chest like a two-by-four had smashed into him.

“Agent Donovan!”

He barely heard their concerned protests, was already running to the doorway. He jerked open the door to leave and found Quinton on the other side, his brows drawn together.

“Where are you—”

“Did you know she was going to do it?” Warrick snarled, striding past him.

“Who? What the hell are you talking about?” Quinton asked tersely, turning and following after him. His long strides matched Warrick’s.

“Did you know that Sienna was going to have her memory wiped?” Warrick pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Sienna’s number.

“No.” Quinton’s tone turned flat. “Is that where she is now?”

“Yes. Dammit, why isn’t she answering? I gave Sienna her cell back.” He disconnected the call and let out a snarl of frustration.

“Maybe it’s better this way, Warrick.”

“You have no idea what’s better,” he shouted. He stopped at the edge of the street and glanced around. He debated shifting and racing across town, but the chances of being seen were too risky and he’d probably make it quicker in the van.

“I have more of an idea than you might think. Do you love her?”

Warrick stilled, his chest tightening. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?”

“It has
everything
to do with it.”

Something about the older man’s tone made Warrick glance over at him. The pain in Quinton’s eyes shocked the denial right off Warrick’s tongue. He gave a small nod, his throat tight with emotion.

“Yes. I love her. I think I’ve always loved her.”

Quinton’s mouth tightened and he nodded. “Then we need to stop her. Get in the van and drive us there. I’ll make some calls.”

“You’re a brave, selfless woman, Sienna,” Agent Rafferty murmured, glancing at her over his shoulder with a somber expression. “You have my respect for doing this.”

Sienna couldn’t respond or give even a small nod as she continued down the hallway of the sterile, bright building. Each footstep that echoed on the linoleum floor made her realize how close they were to the machine. To her forgetting everything. And how close she was to throwing up.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Sienna?”

Her father’s soft question came from her left. She’d approached him with the idea of memory wiping just an hour ago in the car ride back from the waterfront. At first he’d refused to contact the elders, refused to consider the idea. Until she’d pleaded her case and he must’ve seen her absolute resolve.

“I’m sure,” she whispered. “You don’t need to be here, Dad. You should be working on an antidote.”

“And I will. This will hardly take long, Sienna,” he said with a grim sigh. “I want to be here with you when you do it.”

Her stomach pitched violently and she barely suppressed gagging. The idea of going through with it was literally making her emotionally and physically sick. The pounding in her head had doubled since Rafferty had picked her up to drive her to the P.I.A. headquarters.

He sighed and shook his head. “I wish you’d reconsider.”

“It’s not even a week out of my life. And just like everyone told me—I won’t even realize I’m missing it.”
And it’ll be so much better that way.

Because living beside the man she loved, knowing he regretted a choice he’d made in a moment’s passion, would destroy her. Warrick was too proud and honorable to leave her now, or ask her to have her memory wiped. But though his emotions were admirable, they weren’t love. And more than anything, that’s what she needed from him.

So she’d made it easy and taken the decision from his hands.

“How long does it take?” she asked, a bit numbly.

“About ten minutes,” her dad answered with obvious reluctance.

“And when I wake?”

“You’ll probably be confused, but I’ll be prepared for that. Any questions you have I’ll have set answers to that will help ease your turmoil.”

Of course he would. They’d done this before. Maybe he’d even participated in wiping a person’s memory. The idea only increased her nausea.

Rafferty gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “The room’s just up ahead.”

A wave of hot pain swept through her body and she stumbled, crying out as she grabbed the wall for support

Her dad caught her elbow. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t feel so good,” she finally admitted. Her vision blurred in and out of focus. “But I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Sienna!”

Warrick’s voice resonated in her head. Where had that come from? A memory?

“I won’t let you go through with it, Sienna.”

Not a memory, because it was echoing in the hallway.

He arrived at her side and she stared up at him, trying to bring him into focus.

“Jesus, baby, what’s going on?” He lifted her into his arms right before her knees buckled.

“I begged her not to go through with it, Warrick. I must say I’m relieved you got here in time.” Her dad reached over and placed a hand on her forehead. “Oh my, she’s burning up.”

“Dammit, Sienna. How long have you been feeling like this?”

“Since I was shot,” she admitted, too weak to even lie now. “It was barely noticeable then. But it’s gotten worse. Progressively. I thought I was just nervous about having my memory wiped, but…”

“What’s going on?”

Quinton entered the room just as another round of pain ripped through her, so intense she dug her nails into Warrick’s arm—felt her nails pierce through skin.

“What in the…?”

Quinton’s face hovered into view, the shock on his face penetrating through her pain.

She shifted her focus, but found the same shock and horror on everyone’s face. Her dad’s. Warrick’s.

Why were they looking at her like that
? Her unease vanished as more pain rocketed through her. Something fierce and primal, deep inside her, seemed to be clawing toward the surface. Leaving her claustrophobic in her own skin.

Her dad’s head shook back and forth, so fast it made her dizzy. “How is this possible?”

“Maybe from the dart?” Warrick rasped.

“How old is she?”

How old? Quinton’s question was extra-odd, and it pulled her to the surface of reality a bit.

“Why does her age matter?” Warrick stroked his fingers gently over her forehead. “Stay with me, Sienna. Rafferty’s going to get you a doctor.”

His touch eased some of the pain, kept her somewhat grounded from the darkness that wanted to take over.

“
How fucking old is she?
”

If she hadn’t felt like her insides were going to explode, Sienna would’ve screamed how ridiculous Quinton was being.

“She’s twenty-four,” her dad finally answered tersely. “Twenty-five in November. Why?”

“Oh my God.”

From her peripheral vision she watched Quinton stumble away, gripping his head in his hands. A chill swept down the back of her neck and her gut twisted.

“What’s—” Her words ended on a gasp as another wave of pain racked her body. She arched against Warrick’s grasp and let out a scream that resonated throughout the hallway.

“Where the hell is the doctor? She’s dying here!” Warrick shouted.

“Sienna’s not dying.” Quinton returned to stand in front of her.

Her agony was diffused for a moment as she stared up into his pale blue gaze. Whatever Quinton had realized, might still be a mystery to her, but she instinctively knew the pain and comprehension in his eyes would threaten everything she’d ever believed.

“Warrick,” she choked out, “what’s happening to me?”

It wasn’t her mate who answered, but Quinton.

“You’re not dying,” he repeated raggedly. “Your body is trying to shift.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Warrick turned off the water and strode back into Sienna’s old bedroom in her dad’s house.

Only he wasn’t her biological dad.

He set the glass on the table, his stomach clenching at the sight of her fast asleep. She looked at peace. Finally. The tranquilizer almost hadn’t even been needed after hours of fighting physical pain, and the emotional earthquake that had destroyed the foundation of her life.

“I never knew,” Quinton said tonelessly. He sat in a chair in the corner of her room, staring at Sienna. “Her mother never knew.”

“Because you had her mind wiped after the affair.” If Quinton expected an ounce of sympathy from him, he would never get it.

Quinton’s eyes closed, but not before Warrick saw the anguish in them. “I loved her.”

“Then why the hell did you erase her memory? All to save your career? Your status within the community?”

The exact same thing he’d briefly considered with Sienna.

“I won’t lie. That was part of the reason.” Quinton hesitated. “But she was never mine to love.”

No, she hadn’t been. According to Quinton’s revelation earlier, Anita and Kevin had only been married a few years when her affair with Quinton began. Just after Daniel, Sienna’s brother, was born.

“We were always drawn to each other. Neither of us planned the affair. I knew she loved me. One day I marked her. Claimed her as my mate.” Quinton’s shoulders crumpled and he let out a ragged breath. “But she already had a family. A beautiful son. A good husband…”