TerrIIItory (2 page)

Chapter 3

Kane paced his office and fought the urge to return to the guest room.  He’d found her!  After years of countless introductions, dashed hopes, and broken dreams, he’d actually found his One.  The very one he’d given up hope of ever finding. 
The one he’d vowed to his pack to never claim.

He knew his obsession with finding her had been a slight to his pack even as he’d abandoned them to seek her out.  Worse, it hadn’t even been the primal urge to find his mate that had driven him.  No, his reasons were much more selfish.  He’d sought his mate because he didn’t want her appearing at an inopportune time.  He was a man built on control, and he didn’t relish the thought of being stricken at a time not of his choosing.  When his pack finally settled into a routine two years ago, he’d decided to find his mate.  He’d seek her out and claim her on
his
terms.  Secretly, the hunt had turned personal, and he couldn’t deny that part of him—the wolf part—was excited at the prospect of mating and settling into his life as Alpha.  But, after two years of no luck, he’d vowed to return his full attention to his pack and swore to them he wouldn’t forgo his duties again in quest of his mate.  His absence had left them without any true direction, and when he’d returned fully to his pack, he’d found his Beta, Weston, at odds with Lincoln and the pack divided.  No, he couldn’t let his pack slip into that chaos again.  He’d pledged his allegiance to his pack at the cost of finding his mate, but this was different wasn’t it?  She’d come to him…  Well, she’d landed in his lap anyway.  Would his pack support his claim or take it as him going back on his word?

He stopped pacing to stare out the window at the acreage surrounding his property.  Here he was, waxing poetic and assuming. What if she didn’t want anything to do with him and his pack?  He couldn’t let her go.  Look at how poorly she’d taken care of herself.  He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.  Hell, he didn’t even know her name.

A scream jerked him from his reverie, and he turned and raced for the guest room.

***

The door burst open as Kane and Lincoln charged the room.  Kane lunged for the now conscious and flailing woman while Lincoln closed the distance to Raina in mere steps before grabbing her and disappearing out of the room as she protested, loudly. “I’m fine, Lincoln.  She just scared me.  Stop!  Put me
down
!”

“Easy,” Kane crooned as the woman struggled weakly in his arms.  She refused to relent, and he admired her spirit, until a feminine whimper of fear and pain escaped her soft lips.

“Damn it,” he growled, grasping her more firmly.  He ignored the jolt of pain that shot through him and pressed the woman back onto the bed.  “Take her!” he commanded when contact with her became too much.  He turned his head to the side to keep from looking into her eyes.  The mere act of holding her was sending painful jolts through him and his inner wolf was snarling and snapping with each wave of pain, demanding he claim their female.

“Ooow.” Swan moaned as she slowly rose from the floor and crossed to plant her hands on the woman’s shoulders, easily holding her down in the woman’s weakened state.  “What’d you hit me for?”

The woman stopped struggling to stare up at Swan.

“You got this?” Kane ground out as he quickly backed to the doorway.  He had to get out of the room before she looked at him, because if he saw any pain in her eyes, he’d order everyone from the room and tend her himself, too possessive to trust the job to another, and that’s the last thing she needed at the moment.

“Yeah.” Swan rubbed at her jaw as she looked at the slowly calming woman.  “Just don’t hit me again, okay?”  Then she chuckled, and the woman relaxed a little.

Exiting the room, Kane snarled.  As pack Alpha, he knew he should have said something by way of welcome, but seeing her tattered gown and bite marred flesh had his anger rising to the fore.  Besides, nothing he could say would really soothe her at this point, and seeing her body in its battered condition was only serving to enrage him.

***

“Hi, I’m Swan.”  She turned to look over her shoulder.  “That’s was our Alpha, Evander Kane.  We just call him Kane.  He’s the one who found you.”  Swan dropped down to sit on the edge of the bed, and noted how the woman drew her legs closer to her body and huddled closer to the headboard.  “Who are you?”

The woman’s eyes darted nervously around the room.

“You’re safe here,” Swan assured.  “No one will harm you.  Kane will protect you.”

The woman’s eyes darted to the now empty doorway, and her lips parted.  “W-where are the others?”

“The other women?”  Swan inched closer.  “They were taken to the hospital.”

“W-why am I here?”  Perfect brows knitted.

Good question lady! 
“Kane wanted to make sure you were safe.  He didn’t trust anyone else with you since you’re…you know.  One of us.”  When the woman’s eyes rounded, Swan rushed on. “Don’t worry, we’re shifters too.  You’re one of us.  That’s why Kane brought you here.”  More quietly she muttered, “At least; I think.”

A soft knock at the door had the woman tensing noticeably.  Raina entered and Swan could tell by the flush on her cheeks she was flustered.  The graceful redhead crossed to the bed, her heels clicking on the hardwood floors.  As she passed by Swan she muttered, “Lincoln’s getting worse.”

Over the past year, the man had become increasingly more protective of Raina. 
They’d all assumed that it was out of appreciation for her getting him accepted into the pack, but lately he seemed unsettled when anyone was even in her presence.
  He was getting possessive, but to Raina’s dismay he exhibited no sexual interest.

“Hi.” Raina thrust her hand forward. “I’m Raina.  We’re so delighted you’re finally awake.”  The woman tentatively accepted her hand.  “Have you eaten yet?”  She eyed the untouched bowl of soup and motioned with her head for Swan to grab it.

“Oh, sorry.”  Swan hurried to get the bowl.  “You’ve gotta be starving.”

Swan held the bowl out and watched the woman’s eyes light with hunger.  The female grabbed the bowl and began eating while Swan and Raina settled at the foot of the bed.  They watched quietly as the woman kept her eyes on them as she ate.

“Sooo,” Swan began. “Wanna tell us your name?”

The woman lowered her spoon. “Bethany.”

“Bethany,” Raina said.  “Is there anything we can do for you right now?  Are you hurting anywhere?  Do you require medical attention?”  None of the pack had scented serious injury on the woman, but it didn’t hurt to ask.  They’d never experienced the type of bite wounds that marred her body, and weren’t exactly sure why they weren’t healing as quickly as they should.

“W-where are they?”

Swan and Raina looked at each other in confusion.  “Who?”  They asked in unison.

Bethany lifted the bowl and drained its contents before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.  She stared at the women suspiciously for a moment before holding up an arm.  “The ones who did this.”

Eyes locked on the bites, Raina paled.  “There was more than one attacker?”

“Three.” Bethany studied the women suspiciously.  “Can I go?”

“Uhhh.” Swan was at a loss for words.  They didn’t want Bethany to think she was a prisoner, but they couldn’t let her go either.  A command from an Alpha must be obeyed.

“Of course you can,” Raina supplied.  “But we need to get you cleaned up.”  She pointed to a door. “Can you walk?  There’s a shower, and I can get you some fresh clothes.”

Chapter 4

Bethany might be half-starved and exhausted, but she could still scent Raina’s lie.  It was odd though.  If she was a prisoner, then why were these women being so nice, and where in the hell was she?  Her eyes locked on several objects in the room she could use as weapons, but her hope was to get her hands on the smaller woman, Swan, and use her as a means of escape.  The female was much smaller than the statuesque Raina, and the stark black of her pixie short hair was in contrast to the woman’s snow-white skin.  Her eyes were blue, and so huge that she looked almost doll-like.  On any other day, Bethany could have bested her easily, but not in her current condition.  She mentally noted a few additional items she could use to defend herself against these strangers.  The fact that there was a knife with the set of silverware on the food tray wasn’t lost on her. 

Stomach contracting painfully, all thoughts of battle fled as Bethany winced and curled into herself with a low moan.  The soup was the first thing she’d eaten in days.

“Are you okay?” Raina asked with a worried expression.

None of this made sense.  If she’d truly been rescued, she’d be at the hospital with the other women.  What could shifters want with a weakened female?  “Can I use the restroom?”

“Of course.” Raina stood and reached for her.

“I’m fine.” She jerked a little too roughly out of the woman’s grasp.

Raina merely nodded and stepped back as Bethany slowly got to her feet. 
Damn!
  She was tired and weak.  Those fucking things had fed off her for too long.  She stumbled, and Swan raced to assist.  It hadn’t been feigned, but it worked perfectly.

Pretending to use a hand to steady herself on the bedside table, she allowed Swan to settle her other arm around her shoulders before snatching up the knife and jerking, pulling her arm firmly around Swan’s neck and pointing the knife against the tender flesh of her throat.

Raina gasped and got to her feet.  “Bethany, please!  Don’t do this!”

Bethany squeezed tighter, unaware that Swan’s eyes had first rounded in shock, then quickly slitted in anger.

“I want a phone!” she demanded.

“There’s one next to your soup.”

Well, that was too easy.
  “I’m calling the police,” she threatened.

“Go ahead.” Raina’s tone was imploring. “Just please, be careful with that knife.” Raina’s soft eyes flitted to her friend.  “You okay, Swan?”  Her eyes cut back to Bethany.  “Please don’t hurt her.”

Bethany inched backward, ignoring the exasperated sigh that came from Swan and her bite of guilt over Raina’s distress.  When she got close to the phone, she realized she’d either have to release Swan or put down the knife.

“I-I wanna leave.” Suddenly, her plan didn’t seem like such a good idea.  Her legs nearly buckled and she swayed, using Swan to hold herself up.

“Bethany…”

Swan spoke over Raina’s worried plea. “Give it a minute, Rain.”

Raina’s eyes shot to Swan, to find her smiling as she winked.

The knife clattered to the floor, and Bethany released Swan to reach for the table.  The room was spinning now, and she wasn’t going to make it five steps, let alone out of the compound.

Raina rushed forward to help Swan ease Bethany back toward the bed.  “Don’t worry,” Raina promised.  “Kane doesn’t need to know about this.”

“And we won’t tell Lincoln or Mateo either.” Swan was looking pointedly at Raina, who simply nodded in agreement.  Both woman gasped and tightened their grip as Bethany’s eyes rolled back and she passed out in their arms.

***

When Bethany next woke, she was in the same room.  The windows were dark, and a slight snoring came from a chair in the corner.  It was the small woman, Swan, who she’d attacked earlier.  She felt a pang of guilt at the awkward angle of the woman’s neck, knowing she’d have one hell of a crick once she woke, but it wasn’t her fault they’d opted to assign her a jailor.

Bethany’s hand smoothed over her belly as she took stock.  The room was warm, and for the first time in many nights, she was cozy in the soft bed and flannel sheets.  Sighing quietly, she peeled the cover back to eye her wounds.  She’d eaten some and slept, but to her disappointment and confusion, the bite marks that marred her body still refused to heal.

Wiggling her toes, she rolled one leg then the other before scanning her hips and then lifting her eyes to study her hands and arms.  Nothing was broken, but she was sore as hell.  No. Sore was insufficient.  She felt like someone had taken a pillow case, filled it with bars of soap, and had a go at her, but she’d live.

In the chair, Swan mumbled something and turned to one hip, facing away from her.  Bethany eyed the bathroom door and then the bedroom door.  Fuck it!  She’d pee once she got outside.

Inching off the bed, she winced as her toes met the cold floor.  She desperately wanted to crawl back into the cozy bed and sleep for a week, but she needed to get away.  She summoned all her reserves and was glad that her captivity in the hillside bunker had at least honed her stealth.  She tiptoed to the door and with painstaking effort.  The knob turned, and the door opened without a sound. In the darkened hall, scents assailed her.  Shifters.  A lot of them.  She sniffed quietly, scenting both males and females, but no humans. 

Not wanting to chance alerting Swan, Bethany left the door open and inched down the hallway.  Her muscles moaned and her head reeled.  She was starving, but she’d see to her needs once she was clear of the house.

Halfway down the hall, she had to brace a hand on the wall to keep from falling over.  She was still extremely weak, and it was terrifying.  As a shifter, she was born with accelerated healing capabilities and could always rely on her inner wolf for reserve strength, but the monsters that had fed on her for so long had done something.  Something terrible.  She wasn’t healing like she should, and her wolf was just as fatigued as the woman.  Worse, her wolf had recoiled at Bethany’s failure to get them out of the bunker where they’d been held captive.  On several occasions, opportunities had presented for Bethany to escape.  She just couldn’t bring herself to leave the other women behind, and her wolf hadn’t been pleased.

Bethany took a few more steps and tried to quiet her accelerated breathing. 
Christ!
  She wasn’t even down the stairs, and she was already fading.  Her hand slid along the wall, and she leaned forward to rest her head against the back of it, breathing rapidly.

“You alright?”

The male voice shocked her. She hadn’t scented or heard anyone sneak up on her.  It was a testament to what bad shape she was in.  Hell, she hadn’t even startled.  No, her head remained on her hand, and her shoulders rose and fell rapidly with the exertion merely standing required.

“Fine,” she lied.

“Let’s get you back to bed.”

“No.”  It was the only protest she got out as she was scooped off her feet and cradled in strong arms.  Looking up, she saw a strong jaw line that jutted proudly as her savior kept his eyes pinned on their destination.  Her senses were quickly fading, but she couldn’t miss the air of authority that circulated around him. 
Alpha.
 
Evander Kane.
  He was handsome, and exuded such an air of confidence and strength that she almost wished she could fall asleep in his arms, protected by his watchful gaze, for at least a hundred years.  She knew the thought should be startling, but she was just too damn winded to muster up a good self-recrimination.

With little else to do but stare up at her rescuer, she watched as his savagely hewn jaw bunched.  He looked almost…
pained
?  She wondered if she was too heavy, but quickly discarded the thought.  In peak health, she was only a hundred and forty pounds.  Right now?  She couldn’t be more than one-fifteen.  Easy load for any shifter, let alone an Alpha.

Evander Kane
.  She was rolling the name around, when suddenly her head lolled into his shoulder. 
Shit!
It was like the energy was literally being sucked right of her.

“I’m Kane.”  He offered, as if reading her mind, and then he stopped just outside the door.  His head turned slowly, almost dramatically slow.  For a moment, she questioned the production until his eyes met hers.

Bethany’s eyes rounded as she felt something she hadn’t felt in weeks.  Her wolf suddenly stirred.  Looking into his eyes, she felt flooded with overwhelming heat.  A burning glow of sun-like warmth lit her from the inside out. 
Shit!
  She blinked, and her lids grew sluggish as she tried to place what was happening to her.  She felt her wolf peeking out from her as-of-yet undiscovered hiding spot, but she couldn’t do more than wonder at her sudden, inexplicable feelings.

“Sorry, Kane.”

Bethany barely registered Swan’s voice.  She was fading into unconsciousness when she could have sworn she heard a growl and felt an accompanying rumble in his chest before she heard Kane direct, “I’ll get her back in bed.  Go get some sleep, Swan.”