Page 19 of Sanctuary

Eric stuck his phone in his pocket and headed for his truck. “I’ll get her back, Larry.” Eric said over his shoulder, ignoring the older man’s tears. He would get her back and destroy the man who dared touch what was his.

“Wait a fucking minute.” Cole followed him. “We need a plan.”

“Shift and follow my truck.” Eric didn’t have time to form a plan. His plan was simple. Kill the son of a bitch in the most painful way he knew how. One thing was for sure; he would approach the bastard as a man, but he would end his life as a wolf.

He didn’t care who followed him, but he knew his pack wouldn’t stay behind. They had his back, but he wouldn’t need help killing this fucker. Pulling through the opened gates, he sped up the long driveway. After he had slammed on his brakes, he jumped out of the truck and looked around for the barn in the picture. He saw the sheriff’s car parked behind a few work trucks and swore if the sheriff was involved, he would die also. He didn’t like killing cops, but if they were bad, he didn’t give a shit.

He headed toward the barn, but something drew his attention to the main house. A strong uneasy feeling hit him, he cleared the steps in one quick motion, raced across the porch, and kicked the door in. What he saw turned his blood cold.

“So I see you couldn’t wait for my next text.” Foster walked toward Gemma, who was tied to a chair next to Lance. Foster then grabbed her hair yanking her head back, then placed a wicked-looking blade against her throat. “You were always so impatient, Eric.”

Eric didn’t say a word as he took in the situation. He sensed his pack had arrived and were outside, but they wouldn’t make a move until he gave the order. Lance was also tied to a chair, indicating he wasn’t involved with taking Gemma, so he would be safe from his wrath… for the moment.

“Jesus, is it that hard to put two and two together?” Foster sighed with a shake of his head. “I want your pack. You kneel before me and she lives. You don’t, she dies.”

“They will never follow you.” Eric laughed, but there was no humor coming from his lips. “You sealed your fate the day you raped two of our women.”

“Rape?” Foster spat, then laughed loudly. “They were both whores who were asking for it. They just didn’t want to get kicked out of the pack, so they cried rape.”

“That makes no sense,” Gemma said through clenched teeth. “You’re disgusting.”

“Didn’t I tell you no talking?” Foster forced her head back further, then nicked her skin with the knife.

Gemma hissed. The fear and pain in her wide eyes were enough to send Eric into a killing rage, but he controlled himself. That was what Foster wanted, and he’d be damned if he gave the bastard anything.

“A true alpha takes what he wants. You’re a weak and pathetic alpha, Eric.” Foster sneered, spit shooting from his mouth. “I take what I want. I do whatever it takes to get what I want. Do you know that because of you, no pack will invite me in? I finally came here to form a plan of revenge against you, and then one day, I hear my boss and the sheriff talking about a new man at the wolf sanctuary. I knew it was you. So I did some snooping, and you didn’t even know because you were too busy sniffing around your bitch.”

“Let her go,” Eric demanded, his eyes staying on Foster. He ignored his words, but once he got his hands on him, he would make him eat every single one of them. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“Oh, she has everything to do with this.” Foster leaned down, biting her earlobe. “She’s what’s going to bring the mighty alpha Eric to his knees.”

“Don’t do it,” Gemma gritted out, her neck at an odd angle.

“Awww, such a brave bitch.” Foster cocked his eyebrow. “You’ve got good taste, Eric my man. When I heard how you acted, I knew she was your mate and my master plan to make your life as fucking miserable as you’ve made mine began. You are a pathetic piece of shit, Eric, letting a woman bring you to your knees.”

“I’m not on my knees, motherfucker.” Eric swore then and there if he got hold of that knife, the first thing he would do was cut the fucker’s tongue out that once again licked against Gemma’s skin.

“Oh, but you will be.” Foster flicked the knife again, and a trickle of blood seeped from the small wound on Gemma’s neck.

“Cut the bullshit, Foster.” Eric sneered. His eyes watch the blood of his mate trickle down her neck and it took everything he possessed not to attack. His wolf wanted free and the battle not to shift was fierce. He knew if he did either of those things, the knife at Gemma’s throat would cut deep. He couldn’t chance it, wouldn’t chance it. “Stop hiding behind a woman and face me. If you want alpha status, you need to take me out, not a woman.”

“Not just any woman.” Foster clicked his tongue like he was talking to a little kid. “Your mate. Now kneel. I want to see you on your knees, or I’m going to slit her throat from ear to fucking ear right in front of your eyes.”

“Fuck you!” Eric growled, knowing the next few seconds were going to be crucial. He started to go down on one knee, his eyes glancing first at Lance, who was watching him intently and then Gemma, who was begging him with her eyes not to do it. As he knelt, his hand slowly edged toward his back pocket. The bastard wasn’t the only one with a weapon.

Chapter 13

Gemma watched in horror as Eric was about to kneel in front of this man, giving up his alpha status for her life.No!This was not going to happen. She felt Foster’s grip on her hair loosen as well as the pressure of the knife to her throat. She briefly wondered what Lance was doing since he hadn’t said a damn word. Probably pissing himself, but she was done being a pussy.

With no thought to her own safety, she slowly grabbed the seat of the chair with both hands, thankful that the bastard was too busy gloating over what was about to happen than worrying about what she might do. Working her feet into position, she gave a quick prayer as she used her feet and arms to propel herself backward into the unsuspecting asshole, knocking him back and sending her flying to the floor.

Everything happened at once as Eric flew over her, tackling Foster to the ground. She watched as they fought while she tried to untie herself from the damn chair. The wolves at that moment ran inside with Larry racing in behind them.

“Larry!” she screamed, catching his attention. He ran over, grabbing the knife that had been knocked out of Foster’s hand and cutting her loose. He then went toward Lance.

A wolf next to Larry growled low in its throat, stopping Larry from cutting Lance free. Gemma crawled to her knees and then stood. She watched as Eric and Foster fought with a fury that sent them both toward the front door. Eric got the better of him and shoved him out the door. She raced toward them but was surrounded by wolves.

“Move!” she ordered, but they ignored her, so she stood at the open doorway and watched in fear.

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