Ronan (Mate’s Mark #1)

Chapter 4

Cameron

The hours tick by in an uneventful blur, the only break in the monotony coming in the form of the nervous young man delivering food. He can’t be a day over eighteen, chin lifted as he tries to project an air of authority, but his shaky command to stand against the wall is more a squeak than a bark. Peas scatter across the cot as he flings the tray, and my face must give away my annoyance, because he makes a weird little peeping noise, then flees.

Too hungry to care about germs, I scoop the peas off the bed and shove them in my mouth, my stomach giving a dinosaur’s roar at the smell and taste of a real meal. I set the dish of dog food on the ground, and Boomerang’s eyes light up as she shoves her snout into the bowl. More kibbles end up on the floor than in her mouth.

My manners aren’t any better as I grab the fork and shovel food, uncaring how it tastes, and I groan through a mouthful as if I’m a starving man. August must have some influence, because they’ve given me a generous serving of roasted chicken along with the peas and carrots, plus a piece of golden-crusted bread. It crunches as I tear it in half, white steam rising from the pillowy center.

I finish my meal in record time, licking my fingers clean as I recline against the wall. My hand pats my gloriously full stomach, watching Boomerang imitate a vacuum cleaner. The first genuine smile I’ve had in days crosses my lips as she sucks up every stray crumb she can find on the ground.

The door unlocks with a click, and August pokes his head in, a wide smile lighting up his face when he sees mine. “You look better.”

I shrug as I watch the dog lick her way across the wooden floor, finding it hard to unearth my temper while I have a full belly. “Better is a relative term. You know what would make this day perfect? Leaving.” An involuntary, strangled sound climbs from the back of his throat before he coughs and clears it, staring intently at the ground. “August…”

His eyes roll up to the ceiling as his hands land on his hips, and it doesn’t escape my notice that he’s looking everywhere in this room except directly at me. “So, Taryn—our leader—isn’t keen on letting you walk out of here when you’ve seen the inside of the camp…”

“The inside of this cell, you mean? The one that I never would’ve seen if your people hadn’t dragged me here against my will? Is that what we’re discussing?”

His mumbled, “Yes,” is more of a grunt than an articulation.

“‘Kay, just making sure we’re on the same page here.”

The sole of his shoe squeaks as he scuffs it against the ground, continuing to stare at the blank surfaces of the room. “If you’re up to it, she’s invited you to her office for a discussion.”

“If I’m up to it,” I mutter, clenching my fist at my side as our gazes meet again. “Does this discussion end with another gun to my forehead?”

He scoffs, rolling his eyes as though I’m being ridiculous… like I wasn’t almost shot less than twelve hours ago. “Of course not. We aren’t the type… to…” His voice slows to a crawl before he trails off, a sheepish expression dawning as he bites his lip. Eyes wide, I cross my arms and tap my finger as I give him time to process, because he’s obviously a little fucking slow.

“Oh, please, do go on,” I deadpan, and he deflates, shoulders sagging.

“We aren’t normally the type to do something so hotheaded.”

“If I meet her, can I leave?”

“Come on, Cameron, you know I can’t promise that… but she’s fair.”

Fairly likely to shoot me and throw me to the vultures, I think, but I keep that little accusation to myself. “Alright, fine.” I stand, and Boomerang, equally eager to escape our confinement, dances between her paws, claws clicking on the hardwoods as her tail thumps a happy rhythm. “Let’s go, then.”

August sizes me up, gaze snagging on my narrow waist, and my discomfort flares under his appraisal. “When’s the last time you had steady meals?”

“Oh, fuck you,” I snap, suddenly self-conscious as I hug my torso tighter. “I’m thin, not starved.”

His hands fly up, palms facing me. “It wasn’t intended to be an insult. We have a fair system here, and plenty of supplies. You wouldn’t have to fight for your food anymore, and you could put your time to better use. I’m just saying I think you’d fit in really well.”

“And you know what I think?” I ask, popping a brow.

His lips twitch, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he tries not to smile. “I bet you’re going to tell me.”

Eyes somber and face serious, I nod thoughtfully as my gaze sweeps his frame, assessing him with the same scrutiny he’d offered me. “I think you’re an overly optimistic airhead that only sees the best in people and doesn’t realize that you live in a community of kidnappers and freaks.”

He nods slowly, chewing on his lip. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that,” he mutters, and I’m so surprised that a laugh sneaks loose. A smile crosses his face, radiant and white-toothed and filled to the brim with his boy-next-door charm, and I return it with a grin of my own before I can stop myself. “Come on.” He walks towards the door, gesturing for me to follow, and leaves it open behind him. After a moment’s hesitation, I trail him into a bright, cheerful hallway.

Inside the building, everything is quiet and empty, but the moment he opens the door that changes. The harsh glare of the sun makes me squint as a wave of noise hits my ears, and suddenly, we’re surrounded by a throng of people. Men, women, and a few children, all clean and well-fed. Several of them stumble to a stop when they notice me, and the majority narrow their eyes, like I’m the one holding them hostage.

I lift an uncomfortable hand in a wave, trailing closely behind August. Blissfully unaware of the tight squeeze of tension surrounding us, he hums a cheerful tune as he walks.

“What the hell is he doing loose?” The familiar voice rips through the ambient noise like the crack of lightning, and just as violent. I grab onto Boomerang, unsure if it’s for my protection or to keep her from charging. The man who held me at gunpoint last night storms forward, somehow even more imposing in the light of day. A deep, jagged scar, red and puckered, zigzags across his cheek, while his brow bunches and his meaty hands clench into fists, knuckles white. “Are we no longer locking up our prisoners? Have the rules changed and someone forgot to tell me?”

“Told you I was a prisoner,” I mutter as August turns with a frown, just in time to watch the man bully his way closer and loom over me.

“Taryn wants to see him, Bruce. If you have an issue with it, take it up with her.”

“That’s the problem with womens running this place,” he hisses, and I flinch at the spray of spit that leaves his lips. “Too fucking soft to know what’s best… letting the world run all over us instead of taking what we need.”

“What you need is a bath and a toothbrush,” I mutter, “and what I need is a towel, because, ew.” Once again, my sarcasm gets me in trouble as a wrecking-ball fist snares my shirt and hauls me forward.

“Watch your mouth, you fucking twerp, or I’ll finish what I started last night,” he growls, and I absolutely, one hundred percent, cannot help what my face does when I catch a whiff of his breath. His eye twitches, and I hold my breath, waiting for whatever beating is coming my way .

“That’s enough, Bruce!” My savior’s voice is new, feminine but deep, and Bruce freezes as he glares at me.

“Sounds like the womens want you to let me go,” I whisper, unable to help the smug smile that crosses my face as I test my luck. A lifetime of studying people has taught me that men like him won’t challenge someone directly and risk losing... especially in front of a crowd. They’ll wait until the middle of the night when they can pull a knife while you’re sleeping and claim it’s a fair fight.

He releases me, hovering in my face for a long moment before stomping away like an overgrown toddler. A hand lands on my forearm, and I jerk away, spinning to find August with wide eyes. “You okay?” he asks, his expression full of worry and his voice sincere.

“Yeah,” I squeak, then clear my throat. “Yep, yes, I’m good. Fine. Great.”

His lips twitch again. “You know, astonishingly, the more words you add, the less convinced I become.”

A quiet laugh huffs out of me when movement on my other side steals my focus, and I turn to find a woman approaching. She’s tall, an inch or two taller than me, even, with sun-weathered umber skin and unnervingly bright green eyes. “Cameron. My name is Taryn, but you’ve figured that out already.” It isn’t a question, so I just nod and wait. This is her home, after all, and she doesn’t strike me as the type to let someone else speak over her. “This isn’t exactly what I imagined when I asked August to introduce us, but considering what’s just happened, I think we can skip the niceties.”

“You mean when your guy who kidnapped me last night threatened my life a second time? Yeah, we’re past the hey, how ya doin ’ part of this interaction. ”

She nods, and I appreciate her candid nature as she says, “Alright then. Follow me and let’s talk.”

The murmuring crowd parts as Taryn leads us through, with August and Boomerang flanking me in what feels like a gallows walk. I survey my surroundings while being careful not to meet anyone’s eye, preferring to avoid another confrontation.

We step into a large building in the center of town, winding through a long hallway with worn linoleum floors. Our quiet stampede of footfalls echo through the silent building as Taryn enters an office, sitting behind the desk and gesturing for us to take the chairs across from her. I sit, Boomerang remaining at attention beside my feet, and August sinks into the seat beside mine with a very ungraceful thud.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Mr. Cameron, because you don’t strike me as a man who entertains idle chatter.” My eyebrows lift at the assessment, and I nod, granting permission for her to continue. “I’ve been told there was a misunderstanding last night involving Bruce and Raven.”

“A misunderstanding?” I repeat, gesturing at the bandage on my forehead. “Is that what you call assault and kidnapping these days? It’s an awfully pretty way to paint attempted murder.”

A sharp click of her tongue punctuates the silence as her eyes rake over me, assessing. Maybe a little judging. “That might be a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

“A bit of a stretch?” My voice climbs as my temper flares, fed up with everyone in this camp trying to downplay what was done to me. “A stretch !? Let me just go over the details of what happened, in case you’ve missed some of them.” Two of my fingers drop onto her desk, miming a walking motion. “Here’s me, and… oh, look! I’m minding my own godsdamned business when…” I gasp dramatically. “What’s that in the distance? Gee, it’s another rebel camp! Let’s see, Cameron, what does one do when they spot a rebel camp?”

I pretend to think for a second before holding a finger up. “Ah, that’s right! I walk the other fucking direction because they’re all batshit crazy!” Taryn glares at me through narrow eyes as my fingers go back to the desk, walking across the surface. I’m being an ass, but the frustration of the past twenty-four hours is catching up to me.

“So here I am, waiting until it’s dark so I can walk away unnoticed, when… uh-oh! A Jeep and a dirt bike chase me and stop me from leaving. They pull a fucking gun on my dog for trying to protect me before pointing it right at my head. Then… then !” Both August and Taryn jolt when I slam my palm onto the desktop. “My forehead was smashed with what felt like an aluminum baseball bat, and if the scratches on my back and arms tell me anything, my unconscious body was dragged over the rocky ground. And if that wasn’t fucking enough, I was hauled to your little camp and tossed in a tiny room with a filthy bucket to piss in.”

I lean in, elbows on her desk, my eyes locked on her bright green ones. “Does that assessment sound accurate to you, Taryn, or am I forgetting part of our misunderstanding ?”

Silence stretches between us, broken only by the huff of her furious breathing as she battles her temper. “What do you want, Mr. Cameron? ”

An indignant scoff blows from my nostrils, and my voice gets louder with each word until it’s just on this side of a shout. “I want to leave .”

“Some members of our community are concerned about our exposure if we release you back into the world. You’ve been inside the camp and seen the way things work around here.”

“A camp I never would’ve seen if you hadn’t kidnapped me,” I point out, and she purses her lips. “Why does everyone keep leaving out that detail? It’s pretty fucking significant.”

“You knew our location before we ever brought you inside.”

“Listen, Taryn, no offense, but I’m going to level with you here. Anyone with a set of eyes that’s been within ten miles of here has seen your camp. You think the monsters don’t realize where you are? They have the military and technology on their side. Surveillance everywhere. I guaran-damn-tee you that if they wanted something from you, they’d already be knocking on your gates demanding entry. A single man minding his own business isn’t bringing attention to your door, but you know what is? Attacking people. Kidnapping them.”

The truth of my statement registers as her frown pulls even tighter. A sudden, violent crash outside interrupts her argument, jarring us all and causing Boomerang to leap up, a low growl rumbling in her chest as her lips curl back.

“Stay here,” Taryn commands as she charges out the door, and I can tell she’s used to others heeding her orders.

Yeah, that’ll happen .

There are rare moments in life when opportunity presents itself, wrapped in a neat little bow, and I’ve never been one to ignore such clear signs of fate. I turn to August as the realization dawns on his face. “You wouldn’t…”

“Sorry, man,” I say as I leap to my feet, snapping for Boomerang to follow. “You seem like a great guy, but you gotta understand…”

His mouth sags open as I shrug again. “Cam… Cameron!” he shouts, gathering his wits as I offer him one last apologetic smile before darting out the door. Boomerang pads quietly by my side as we navigate through the hallways that brought us to Taryn’s office. The double front doors are closed, and I crouch as I listen, trying to make sense of the commotion.

A sea of frantic voices and the rhythmic pounding of countless feet tell me I’m in the wrong place, and a high-pitched shriek confirms that assessment.

These aren’t my people—they’re my captors.

This isn’t my fight, and it’s time for me to make my escape.

A building this size should have at least one more exit, and as I decide which way to run, I hear August’s shouts echoing down the hallway. He might as well hang a bullseye on his back and paint another on his forehead.

Gods, the pretty ones are always so dense.

Cursing under my breath, I head towards the back of the building, where I spot another exterior door. It’s solid metal with no windows, but when I put my ear to the door and listen, it’s silent on the other side. My eyes squint against the neon sun as I push it open a crack, letting my vision adjust as I peek through. August’s voice has lowered to a hiss, but I can’t track his position inside the unfamiliar building.

Guilt makes me hesitate, not wanting to abandon him after he helped me. His kindness is a rare thing in this world, but self-preservation has to take priority. And he did leave me locked up in a cell. At least he’s free to move around, not trapped like a stuck pig, waiting on the fire to get hot.

He had his chance to release me, and he didn’t take it.

Choking down the last bit of regret, I turn my attention to what’s happening outside. The seconds tick by with no signs of movement, and I click my tongue in warning to Boomerang before pushing the door open, squeezing through the narrow gap.

Frantic voices come from every direction, with no way to tell friend from foe, so I crouch low and duck behind the hedges. My knees sink into the soft soil, dampness absorbing into my jeans as I wait. Branches jab into my arms as I peek through the leaves, my eyes landing on a dumpster twenty yards away.

Heart lodged in my throat, I make a quick dash over and press myself against it, hissing as the metallic surface scorches my skin. Eight-foot planks of sunbaked, sturdy wood surround the camp, and I curse whatever overzealous craftsman built the mammoth fence as I scout for an exit. It’s too tall to climb, and even if I had the athleticism to scale it, I couldn’t get Boomerang over the top. The idea of hiding in the dumpster crosses my mind, but I quickly shove it aside. Not only would it be a steam cooker inside, but if anyone searches thoroughly enough, we’d be trapped.

Think, Cameron .

Fifty yards down the fence, I spot a gate. Chances are high that it’s locked, but it should be weaker than the rest of the solid wood. The voices sound like they’re further away, and I peek out and see no movement.

“C’mon, girl,” I whisper to Boomerang, giving my leg a light tap before I sprint over to the gate, ducking behind every tree and obstacle along the way. Lady luck must be on my side today, because an opened padlock hangs from the latch. Relief hits me in a potent rush as I slide it from the hole and tuck it into my pocket.

The lock slides open with a quiet metallic click, and I peer through, finding that we’re facing the same group of trees where I first met August. Only a hundred yards separate me from the tree line, and the height of the fence should keep anyone inside from spotting me as I run.

There’s no movement outside the compound as I poke my head through the gate. Whatever is going on in this camp, they won’t care about a random patch of forest. If we can just make it to the trees, there are plenty of places to hide. Decision made, I take a deep breath, willing my exhausted body to give me one last boost of energy. I tap my leg, but instead of a nudge of fur, there’s only a quiet whimper.

Something is pulled over my head as I spin around, leaving me thrashing in total darkness as a chuckle rumbles in my ear. Fabric gags me, sucking into my mouth as I try to gasp in a panicked breath. Speckles of light filter through the makeshift hood, and I throw elbows, hitting flesh that grunts in response.

The world tilts as a sickening thud knocks against the back of my skull, pain exploding through my head. Black creeps in to cloud my vision, moving in a slow- motion crawl as the rest of the world zooms in a dizzying blur. It’s a futile fight, but still, I will myself to move as I collapse to my knees.

Darkness erases the final tunnel of my vision as my ears sing, the voices around me muffled as if I’m underwater. Damp earth fills my lungs as I crumble to the ground face-first, and for the second time in as many days, unconsciousness consumes me as hands grip my ankles and drag.