Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
My wolf took over, and I yanked against the man holding my arms. It would be suspicious if I didn’t try to fight him off…but that wasn’t why I was doing it. I didn’t like being confined with my vision taken away.
The full moon was approaching, which meant I was growing stronger each day. I almost broke free, but managed to rein myself in.
Barely.
Griffin’s face popped into my head, which made me remember what was at stake. If I ruined this abduction attempt, there was no telling what other attacks would happen—and who might die as a result. So many of Killian’s and Griffin’s men had already died because of me.
Fingers dug into my arm as the man held me tight. The smell of grass hit my nose, telling me that this was a bear shifter.
"Open the car door before she breaks free," the guy growled.
The voice was all too familiar to me, although I’d heard it only once before.
From the horrible frosted-tips bear who’d attacked me at Dick’s bar.
I knew now that the attack hadn’t been some sort of attempt to instigate a civil war as Dick and Griffin had assumed about Shadow City and its affiliated civilians. According to them, people were rioting due to the opening of the gates, and shifters were attacking their own kind.
The faint musky smell of a wolf shifter coated the air, and a few seconds later, a door opened.
"Let me go," I growled. Playing the part of an angry wolf shifter wasn’t hard; rage coursed through me in sync with my heartbeat. I tamped down my extreme desire to escape, trying to keep a level head. I took a deep breath like I’d been taught, but it didn’t help. It was humid and dark, and I was breathing more carbon monoxide than oxygen, adding to my panic rather than relieving it.
Frosted Tips chuckled darkly. "Not going to happen."
The enjoyment in his tone rattled me to the core as the cold realization that he was as twisted as Dick filled me.
When someone shoved me toward the car, I almost stumbled, but somehow managed to stay upright. I had no clue what kind of vehicle we were getting into or who was in it. Even though I hadn’t wanted to get in the trunk, I wasn’t quite sure getting in the car with God knew who would be better. At least in the trunk, I’d be alone.
The musky smell tickled my nose again as the wolf shifter gasped, "Wait. Her hands. We need to bind them unless you plan on her sitting in your lap the entire way there."
God, please, no. I yanked against his hold again as my skin crawled. I didn’t want to sit in anyone’s lap.
"Calm down," Frosted Tips growled. "You’re hot, but I know you pack a mean punch." His weight shifted, and he addressed the wolf again, "There are some handcuffs in the front—grab them, and let’s restrain her."
"On it." His footsteps rushed only a couple of feet before another door opened.
This had to be a smaller car, which kind of surprised me. I’d figured they’d have several men with them, but maybe, like the other bear shifter, they expected this to be an easy job and didn’t have more backup. That was a good thing. Maybe their numbers would be small—wherever they were taking me—since they thought I was subdued.
The quick shuffling of feet headed back toward us, and within seconds, my hands were yanked behind my back, and cool metal was fastened around my wrists. When Frosted Tips released my arm, a little bit of sanity came back to me. Some of the desperate need to escape was gone.
A large hand shoved me, making me fall forward in shock. Luckily, I hit the seat of the car instead of landing on the ground. With my hands behind my back, I could’ve been severely injured.
"Get all the way in, now," Frosted Tips demanded. "We’ve got to go. We’ve been here too long. That pathetic alpha wolf is probably already almost here. She must have linked him right away."
I stayed put, pretending to try to drag the whole situation out like he was right.
Large hands grabbed my waist and placed me on my ass. He grabbed my legs and tossed them inside. I tried to stick them back out, but he slammed the door, causing it to hit my ankle. Pain radiated for a second, but it’d only clipped the side. It should be healed in minutes.
"I know what you’re trying to do," he said disgustedly from outside my window, knowing I could hear him. "And it’s not happening."
When the front door opened, I startled. I’d expected the bear to be driving, but instead, I heard him climb into the passenger seat.
Tires squealed as the car jolted forward.
"Dammit, you’re going to alert everyone around to us," Frosted Tips snapped, clearly not impressed. "Maybe you should pull over and let me drive."
"And waste more time?" Clearly, the wolf had had enough of being talked down to. "We’re good. Besides, the campus is pretty much dead. Most students opt for later classes these days."
"Yeah, but her mate is around." Frosted Tips snorted. "So trying to stay below the radar is our best damn strategy."
"We’re pulling out of the university now. Slow your damn roll," the wolf bit back.
Please tell me you're okay. Griffin’s comforting voice filled my head.
That was subjective, but I was in the back seat alone. I didn’t sense anyone else around me…and at the moment, I’d call that a win. I ’ m fine. Please tell me that you guys are in place.
Yeah, we ’ re hanging back, but you ’ re in our vision. The tension was so thick from him that he could’ve been sitting right beside me. Do you know who they are?
Well, they were waiting for me as soon as the door opened, and they put a bag over my head. At least, when I’d been thrown in the trunk, my head hadn’t been covered. But I recognized one of the voices. It’s the bear shifter who attacked me in the bar.
So he’s working with the ones hunting you. That ’s how the bastard got away. Griffin spoke so low through our link that it was hard to hear. I’ll kill him…slowly.
Now wasn’t the time to focus on torture. No matter how appealing it sounded. Just make sure you don’t ride too close. They mentioned you, saying they needed to get me out of there before you caught on to me being gone. So they ’ re paranoid.
They should be. When we get there, I ’ ll put a bullet in their heads first thing.
Wait, when did you pack guns?
Killian brought them this morning. Griffin sounded offended. Do you think you ’ re the only one who can make smart decisions? We were surprised when you didn ’ t bring it up.
Because I didn ’ t want to risk it if we were being watched. It didn’t matter now. They’d done it, and these two idiots appeared none the wiser. But I’m glad you did. We have no clue what we ’ re walking into.
Remember, I wasn ’ t thrilled with this plan, to begin with. But I got outvoted, and you had your mind made up.
He was right. I did. And I didn’t regret it.
Let me see if I can weasel out any information that might help us. Any sort of heads-up we could get as to what we were walking into would be helpful.
Just be careful. Griffin pleaded.
Always. I love you.
He sighed. I love you too—that ’ s why I ’ m struggling so damn hard.
I know. That wasn’t new information. And I ’ m sorry. I ’ m going to work these two and hope they aren ’ t smart. I turned my attention away from Griffin and closed my eyes. There was no reason to keep them open, it didn’t make a bit of difference. "So...where are we headed?"
"That’s none of your concern," Frosted Tips snapped. "Do you really think we’d tell you something like that? I bet you’re already linked to your mate, begging him to come find you and save your life."
"I don’t know what you’re talking about?" The sulfuric stench of my lie filled the car.
"Oh, God." The wolf coughed and rolled down the window. "You’d think she’d know there was no point in doing that."
"She’s a woman." Frosted Tips chuckled. "She doesn’t know any better. They’re born stupid."
He was trying to rile me up, but I refused to play along. Instead, I focused on the breeze whipping around me. I pretended that I could actually breathe the fresh air through the bag on my head, trying to use my deep breathing technique to help calm my racing heart.
My wolf was angry and scared, not liking that we were acting weak. She was used to dominating, and being complaisant went against everything ingrained in us. Dad had wanted us to prove these sexist assholes wrong, not bend to their will. I tried to reassure her that it was just another strategy of war, but she wasn’t appeased.
Honestly, neither was I.
"So... how did you escape from that car?" I forced my voice to shake a little like I was petrified and trying to be strong. I needed them to underestimate me. That would make things easier when the time came to act.
"Once again, not answering," Frosted Tips said with annoyance. "Why are you asking questions?"
He was smarter than I hoped. That was unfortunate.
"I can’t wait to see her reaction," the wolf babbled. "It’s going to be epic."
"Why?" That didn’t sound good. My breathing quickened, and I hoped they’d think it was due to the bag and not fear.
A loud smack sounded, shocking me. The car swerved like the driver had lost control for a second.
"Why the hell did you hit me?" the wolf growled. "You touch me again, and I’ll kick your ass. I don’t care if you’re twice my size."
"Don’t be a dumbass, then." Frosted Tips didn’t sound scared or threatened. "You’re running your mouth, which is dangerous. All it takes is one little slip, and her mate could figure it out. We have to get her far enough away that he can’t use the mate bond to find her."
Whoever was making the calls had thought it through. They knew Griffin and I were mated and that they’d need to put enough distance between us to slow him down. If Carter hadn’t alerted us, I would have been screwed. I also had a feeling they had backup in case I did break free again.
There was no point in continuing the conversation. I’d have to let events take their course if I wanted to learn anything.
Time must have stopped. There was no other explanation. My numb ass and sweaty face were almost too much to bear. Sweat puddled between my breasts as the heat took me to the point of almost suffocating.
I was sure there was plenty of oxygen, but I’d been under the bag for so long I was dizzy. I laid my head on the back of the seat, trying to let a breeze in from the bottom. No such luck.
All I got for the effort was a crick in my neck.
The car slowed and turned onto another road. The sounds of gravel crunching under the wheels told me we were likely close to our destination. Hey, I think we ’ re getting close to wherever we ’ re heading.
Yeah, we see that. Griffin sounded nearly unhinged. I swear, if anything happens to you before we can get there —
His concern warmed my heart, and I wished I could take his discomfort away. Unfortunately, I was hanging on by a thread too. The entire ride had been torture, and neither one of them had spoken again, so I’d had absolutely nothing to distract me. I hadn’t wanted to talk to Griffin because all it would do would be to rile him up more, which would result in bad decisions.
We couldn’t risk that, so I cut him off. Rosemary will be there if I need help before you arrive. He tended to forget we had more people helping us and it wasn’t all up to him to save me.
You ’ re right, but, please, keep me informed on what ’ s going on. His thoughts broke. We ’ ve pulled over, and we ’ re getting out now. We ’ ll be there soon.
The ride became bumpier, causing my neck to jar. I sat up straight, bending my head side to side while wiggling my fingers. I needed to get my body ready to fight. I was pretty sure if I channeled my wolf hard enough, I could break through the handcuffs.
As the car slowed, my heart picked up its pace.
"We’re here," the wolf shifter said as he shifted the car into park. "You’re going to take her, right?"
"Yeah," Frosted Tips growled as he opened his door.
Mine soon opened as well, and he curled his fingers around my arm and yanked me out of the car. I fell on the gravel, but luckily, my jeans protected my legs.
"Oh, sorry about that," he deadpanned, the insincerity of his words clear.
"It’s about damn time that the two of you got here," a deep voice rasped as feet pounded into the gravel. "I thought you fucked up retrieving her again."
The bear’s hold tightened, yet again. "I don’t underestimate my enemy more than once."
"You shouldn't do it the very first time, either." The new guy sounded disgusted, and his musky pine smell tickled a memory in the back of my head. Did I know him?
"Are you planning on standing here and insulting me, or are you going to tell me where to put her?" Frosted Tips snarled.
I needed the damn bag off my head. I tried climbing to my feet and pushed my pride aside as I fell.
"Wow." The deeper voice sounded unimpressed. "She outsmarted you once? Why aren’t there holes in the bag for her to breathe? And how long have you left the bag over her head?"
"He left it on her the entire way," the wolf gloated. "And he said she didn’t need air."
Footsteps moved closer, and I could hear the new guy squat in front of me. His hand grabbed the bottom of the bag, and he removed the material from my face.
I sucked in a breath, trying to clear my head, but when I looked into this new person’s face, my heart and lungs stopped working.
Squatting before me was a younger version of Dad. His silver hair was a little darker than mine, and his silver eyes were the exact shade of my father’s. That was why he smelled so familiar—his scent was a combination of Mom’s and Dad’s. Just like mine.
There was only one explanation as to who he was…but it was impossible. "I thought you were dead."