Page 1 of Forever Theirs

PROLOGUE

UNKNOWN

It was a shame, really. If I was a better person, someone with the ability to experience regret or guilt, I might feel somewhat sorry for the terrified woman who was running for her life.

Away from me.

But instead of those annoying emotions so-called normal people suffered through, a thrill thrummed through my veins as I stalked Caroline as she pushed through the overgrown underbrush and weaved between the thick and thin white tree trunks that blocked out the rays from the seemingly ever-present sun this time of year in Alaska.

Decomposing leaves, which were just now drying out from the thick layers of snow that covered this area until last month, crunched while loose rocks rolled beneath the thick soles of my worn hiking boots as I moved through the trees, careful to not lose sight of the reason for this little outing, which pulled me away from my valuable work. The crisp mountain air filled my lungs with every deep inhale, the temperature just warm enough that my breath didn’t fog with each exhale. Why this nosy-ass woman took on her own investigation and notice every fucking thing around Anchor Bay, who knew, but I was certain she would pay the costly consequences for her actions.

Another pathetic sob and scream for help carried through the thin, cool air, making my lips quirk upward in a genuine smile that only the hunt could bring to my face—a far cry from the fake mask I wore when in town, even with my family.

Her cries pierced the quiet like that of a shrieking eagle, but it didn’t matter. No one would hear her, no matter how long or loud she screamed for someone to save her. We were too far from the main trail, miles from anyone who would care that I was slowly stalking the terrified woman with terrible intentions in mind once I caught her. She knew no one would be close enough to help her, considering the in-depth knowledge of the area needed for her role as an extreme hiking guide with that damn company in Anchor Bay, Uplift Adventure and Rescue.

But the noise was really starting to annoy me. This deadly predicament she found herself in was her fault—well, hers and Brandon Taylor’s. She came out here alone, looking for clues and following a hunch on what happened to all the women who had gone missing on the Soul Trail. If neither had poked around where they didn’t belong, then Caroline here probably wouldn’t be minutes from her untimely death.

Well, maybe death.

She glanced a frantic, wild-eyed look over her shoulder. Her long blonde hair whipped in the wind, almost concealing the fear flickering in her blue eyes. I licked my lips, imagining her at my whim, her pain-filled cries and sobs vibrating off the walls of the bunker. I had yet to decide what to do with her after I caught her, considering this was an unexpected hiccup in the day. Thank fuck I was out checking on the livestock, ensuring they were ready for shipment, or Caroline could’ve found them and ruined all my hard work.

Too much effort, time, blood, and sweat had gone into restarting the trade business that faltered after Dad’s death until I came along to let one nosy little bitch ruin it all.

Nosy, yes, but oh so pretty with those tears streaming down her round face.

Shoving both hands into the cargo pants side pockets, I picked up my lazy pace to keep her in sight. When she glanced back again the toe of Caroline’s boot caught on something, causing her to stumble closer to the side of a steep slope. I didn’t even attempt to hide my low, amused chuckle that escaped as she tipped forward, gravity taking over to send her tumbling to the bottom of the shallow ravine.

Careful with my footing so I didn’t stumble like she did, I moved down the slope, loose dirt rolling with every cautious step. This was the perfect opportunity to overtake her while she was stunned from the fall. I had enjoyed the quick, thrilling hunt, like I always did, but it was time to end the chase and get back to work. Though, if I were honest, which I rarely was, the loads of money made from selling the women I procured was great, but this part—the hunting of a weaker and unassuming prey—excited me and was by far my favorite part of the skin trade. It made me eager to identify and target the next unsuspecting victim quicker and quicker between each acquisition to feel that high again.

But it was the insistent urge that put me and the whole damn operation on that fucker Brandon’s radar in the first place. If I had the time to pause and take a break from it for a while, let the suspicions and building cases die down like Dad did, maybe I could’ve avoided the shit storm I was currently skirting.

A few feet away, Caroline’s limp body shifted along the loose dirt, and a pain-filled groan vibrated through the air, barely audible over my approaching footsteps.

Palms to the soft earth, she pushed herself up until both arms gave out, making her face-plant back into the soil. I lingered, the toe of my boots almost touching hers, and scanned her small, fit frame. Her white-blonde hair was now streaked brown, dirt caked on the normally silky strands from an earlier fall and the roll down the slope. Deep crimson oozed from a thick gash on her cheek, but even that didn’t take away from her natural beauty. For longer than I could remember, I had found Caroline attractive and made it a point to weave myself into her life while also watching from the shadows for my own enjoyment—not to hunt and capture her, like the others.

I reached a gloved hand down and adjusted myself, the scene before me too erotic for someone like me not to be hard as fuck.

A guttural groan filled the quiet as she shoved off the ground just enough to flop onto her back. Whimpering with every labored breath, face pinched in delicious pain, Caroline blinked her dirt-coated lashes open, allowing her to see my face, clearly identify me, for the first time since the chase started.

“What… what?” It was like I could see the wheels slowly turning as she pieced it all together. The moment it clicked, just noticing I was not there to save her or offer support. Her bloodshot eyes widened. “I don’t?—”

With a huff I waved her off, not having the energy to explain the deranged complexities that spurred my actions and desires. “Don’t try to make sense of it. Just accept that this is it.” I cocked my head to the side as I continued to study her petite face. “Or it will be eventually, if not now.”

“Why?” she croaked, nails digging into the ground as she attempted to push her exhausted body farther away from me.

“Why what?” I snarled, already annoyed by her pathetic, whiny voice. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be this talkative later. Words weren’t needed for what I planned to do with her. It had been a while since I kept an acquisition for myself. And this one was special. Her stumbling into my operation was a unexpected gift I shouldn’t pass up. “And if you want to place blame, well, this is all your doing, Caroline. If you had just listened when I repeatedly suggested that you leave the missing girls and hiker cases alone. But no, you had to keep fucking digging, and look where that got you.”

“You.” Her voice trembled as she put more effort into backing away. Like that would do anything. She was mine now—until I grew bored with her like the others. Which, based on my past, I would, but thankfully, I had many different ways to dispose of her once I did.

I nodded with a smirk and tossed both arms out wide. “Me.”

“But… but I… we trusted you,” she accused before breaking down.

I rolled my eyes at her sobs and croaked cries for someone to save her.

Time to end this.

For now.

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