Chapter 31
Thrall and Narae were having an impossible time trying to convince Jury that she needed to be secured in the pack’s panic room. Narae knew it was because Jury didn’t want to appear weak, but it was just the three of them in the manor. There was no shame in it.
Standing at the door with it slightly cracked open, Jury breathed worriedly as she peeked out, “Storms coming.”
Narae could hear the wind picking up, the occasional clap of distant thunder inching closer.
“Jury,” Thrall pleaded. “You’d be doing me a favor.
” Thrall shot Narae a conspiratory look.
“If I could get you safely secured, then I could spend more energy concentrating on the house and the surrounding perimeter. No offense, but worrying about you is a distraction. You’re already getting me in trouble.
” He gestured toward the door. “Koe said to keep that closed.”
Ignoring the last, Jury snapped, “And what about Narae? She’s not a distraction?”
“I’ll go in the panic room with you,” Narae lied, knowing neither Jury nor Thrall would be able to scent any deceit.
Jury looked away from the crack in the door just long enough to frown at Narae. “I don’t believe you.” Her attention went back to the door slit, and when it did, Narae silently crossed to stand before Thrall. Holding out her hand, palm side up, she gave him a stern look.
Thrall shrugged and shook his head, feigning ignorance, and mouthed, “What?”
Narae curled her fingers in a “give-it-to-me” gesture. Face a mask of ‘don’t fuck with me’.
Thrall retrieved the syringe from his pocket that Oliver had prepared. It was a sedative, and Koe’s directive had been clear. It was only to be used on Jury if absolutely necessary. Secretly, Thrall was relieved that Narae was making the decision for him.
Narae mouthed, “Follow me.” She turned and slowly walked to where Jury was still standing vigil at the door.
Jury was unaware of what was about to happen. “Is…is that smoke?”
Narae popped the lid off the syringe and jammed it hard into Jury’s arm.
Jury yelped and reeled back, looking down before her eyes snapped up to Narae. “What the fuck! What the fuck is that?” Her legs were already giving out, but Thrall was there to catch her.
“Sorry, Jury,” he breathed, lifting her into his arms and turning for the panic room.
Narae didn’t follow. She took Jury’s place and peeked out the front door, and sure as shit, Jury had been right. There was black smoke billowing up from the south. Thrall had said the Biters were on the northern perimeter. Something wasn’t right.
“There’s a fire,” she muttered, turning to find Thrall nearly out of the room with Jury.
Thrall slammed to a stop, still holding Jury’s limp form. “What! Where?”
“Smoke’s coming from the south.”
“Shhhit,” Thrall hissed. “I bet it’s Daemon’s cabin.”
And that pissed Narae off. Bragga was destroying the one thing that belonged to Daemon while he was on the opposite end of the territory trying to do the honorable thing and face him man-to-man. Motherfucker!
Narae rushed for the door. “I’ll go. You get Jury secured.”
“No!” Thrall roared, “It’s just a fucking cabin. Let it burn!”
But Narae was already halfway out the door.
“Narae!” Thrall roared. “Stay the fuck here!”
Narae’s wolf exploded from her, and she was off.
In the house, Thrall raced for the panic room and hastily deposited Jury on the sofa inside before locking her in.
Then he blasted out of the house, chasing after Narae.
He could just make out her wolf in the distance, but try as he may, there was no catching up to her.
In fact, it wasn’t long before she disappeared from his sight completely.
Ffffffuck! She was going to confront the Biters alone. She was going to get herself killed, and Daemon would blame Thrall. Hell, Thrall would blame himself. He’d fucked up bigtime and Daemon would kill him for it.
Thrall slowed his run, knowing he wouldn’t be able to reach out to Koe through their pack ties if he got too far away.
In a panic, he focused. “Alpha!” There was no response.
He was too far away from Koe, and he was torn.
Did he race after Jury, knowing it was an ambush and that both of them would most likely be killed, or did he go back to try and get reinforcements?
He paced a moment, indecision gnawing at his gut.
Every second mattered. Decided, he turned to continue after Narae but stilled, ears pricking.
“Thrall!”
Turning, relief hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest when he saw his packmates, Colson and Blake.
“Thank fucking, God!” He blasted toward the two Enforcers, and when he was close enough, he slid to a halt and shouted, finger jamming the opposite direction, “Narae’s gone to Daemon’s cabin.
It’s gotta be an ambush! One of you get close enough to reach out to Koe.
” Pack ties only worked with the Alpha. Pack members could reach the Alpha telepathically and he them, but they had to be in close enough proximity for it to work.
“The other, come with me!” He didn’t wait for a response, just turned and bolted in the direction Narae had disappeared.
***
Narae’s heart hammered in her chest, mirroring the rapid staccato of her paws as she propelled herself across the field at a breakneck pace. This was it. This was her redemption. Today, she got to face Biters as an outcast. Today, she got to unleash years’ worth of pent-up rage and hatred.
Cresting a rise, she saw a cabin burning in the distance. The structure was engulfed, the flames were feet high. There’d be no saving Daemon’s home.
Narae knew this tactic. Bragga had used it before. He’d send most of the pack one place while he, Sid, Lionel, and Komp ambushed from behind. They were the strongest of the Biters, and it was pathetic because he routinely sacrificed the weakest of them to get the upper hand.
Fucking coward!
Unable to stop herself, Narae raced toward the destruction, knowing there was nothing to be done for Dameon’s home. Her heart constricted painfully at his loss. Absently, she wondered if he’d blame her and Jury for this. How could he not?
Three figures stood in front of the cabin.
Feet splayed wide, arms crossed over chests, the flames licking skyward with destruction behind them.
They were posing, and it made Narae want to retch.
It wasn’t just that Lionel, Sid, Bragga, and Komp had destroyed something to make them look tough.
It was the absolute stupidity of it. What was the point of separating his pack and attempting an ambush just to light a beacon and call the Allegiance Pack to you?
Fucking brain-dead morons!
When she got close enough, she could see that the three men standing there were Lionel, Sid, and Komp. No Bragga. Big surprise. He’d be hiding to the very end, showing himself just in time to claim triumph. Well, not today. Today, Narae wasn’t going to let that happen.
Slowing her run, Narae stopped just long enough to shift back to her human form before she stalked forward, chin up with a confidence borne of rage. “Where is he?” she demanded, stopping twenty feet from the Biter Beta, Sid, and his Enforcers.
Sid snorted and uncrossed his arms. “Time to come home, little lamb.”
Pissed that they thought she was going anywhere with them, Narae snarled, “Not fucking happening.”
Lionel stepped forward, but Sid slapped a hand on his chest and held him back. “Wait.” Sid’s ugly face cracked into a toothy smile. “Let me tell her first.”
Dread pitted in Narae’s belly like a frozen stone.
“Bragga’s finally sick of your shit,” Sid informed.
“He’s agreed to give you to Lionel. After tonight, we’ll need to increase our numbers, and you’ve been flaunting that body in front of us for long enough.
It’s time one of us gets a taste and turns you into a proper breeder.
” He jerked his head toward Lionel. “He gets the job. So, congrats. Bragga’s done protecting you. You’re mated.”
“The fuck I am!” Narae snarled, eyes searching for Bragga as she was assaulted by a volley of emotions.
There was disbelief at them thinking Bragga had ever protected her.
Rage at Bragga’s gall in thinking he could gift her to anyone.
Disgust at the look on Lionel’s sleazy face.
And fear at standing here facing these particular males alone.
Sid continued, “The bad news is that neither Komp nor I will get to fuck you. The good news is that Lionel has offered to claim you here, so at least we get to watch. And, when your protectors get here, they’ll scent what was done.
Once you're claimed, they can’t come for you again. You’ll belong to Lionel.”
Narae lowered her chin, glaring at Sid from beneath speared brows. “Too late, assholes!” She gripped the collar of her shirt and ripped it down. “I’m already claimed!”
Lionel’s eyes went to the mark of her throat and his grin vanished, replaced by clear fury. Confusion had the Biters looking at each other before Sid glared at her and lifted his head, nostrils flaring. “Lie!” he seethed, then smiled again. “You haven’t been claimed. You’re only marked.”
Narae knew they wouldn’t be able to scent any deceit from her, so she lied.
“Scent again, fuck-tard! I’m marked, bound, and claimed.
” She lifted her chin haughtily. “I’m mated to the Allegiance pack’s lead enforcer, Daemon Knight.
” And she meant it. She meant the words with every fiber of her being.
She was Daemon’s, she wanted to be his, and she couldn’t wait to give herself to him.
If she survived. “I’m his!” she shouted.
She let her angry gaze slide to Lionel. “Not yours, asshole! Never yours.”
“There’s no point in trying to tame her.”
Narae’s head snapped to the side. Bragga came around Daemon’s still burning house, disgust twisting his features. “I’m bored of trying to fix her. Just kill her.” He turned his back and started to walk away.
“Bragga!” Narae called, but he kept walking. She tried again, more loudly. “Bragga!” When he still didn’t look at her, she screamed, “Dad!”
That word stopped him in his tracks, but he only turned his head, eyeing her over his shoulder. “I told you never to call me that.”
“You forgot to ask about Jury.” She was fumbling now, trying to buy time because there was no way she’d survive fighting off Sid, Lionel, and Komp. Hell, she’d have a hard time fighting off just one of them.
Bragga huffed, “Like I fucking care.”
But she knew he did. It would piss him off to know Jury had survived his assault.
It would make him look weak. Make him look weak.
She turned her attention to Sid, Lionel, and Komp.
“Did you know he tried to kill Jury and failed? He couldn’t even kill a small female, and she was alone. It was one-on-one.”
That had Bragga turning to fully face her. “I killed the little bitch.”
“Wrong!” She glared at him. “She’s alive. She’s here. And she’s mated to Koe.” She looked at Sid, Lionel, and Komp. “The Alpha.”
“Enough!” Bragga roared, face gone red. “I said to fucking kill her! Do it now!”
Sid, Lionel, and Komp shifted in unison. A beat behind, Narae shifted too and spun. Her only hope was her speed. She’d have to outrun them to survive, so she ran for her life.