Page 117 of Family: Posy 4

Stomping over, he grabbed my tail and dragged me back into the room. One heavy boot kicked me in the stomach, knocking all the air out of me and sending me flying. I fetched up against the wall near the stranger's feet and looked up at him in a daze. My vision was blurred from the pain and mild concussion, but I could make out piercing blue eyes and long, black, curly hair.

Then Father wrapped one hand tight around the back of my neck and pinned me to the floor.

"Give me the syringe," he demanded, and Burnt Oil Man sighed as he walked over to the black leather bag on the floor by the door.

Syringe? What a syringe?I asked myself in a panic.What does it do? Does it hurt?

"Here." The stranger held out something I couldn't see, but would come to know all too well in the future. "I'm not doing anything to her, though. My hands are clean in this."

"Oh, please. Your hands are dirtier than mine. And if you ever tell anyone about what happens in Green River, I will make sure the king knowsexactlyhow dirty your hands are."

"What if she escapes? She'll never stay quiet about this."

"She won't escape," Father chuckled darkly.

"But if she does?" Burnt Oil Man crouched next to me. "Listen, runt. If you tell a soul that I was here, I promise I will hunt you down and kill you."

I cried and whined, but there was no mercy in either man.

Father parted the thick fur of my ruff, then something pinched my skin and made it tingle. In seconds, numbness circled the area and spread quickly until I couldn't feel my body anymore. Disoriented and scared, I whimpered as my vision narrowed into a tight circle. Then my heavy eyelids drooped all the way down.

Mate will come soon and we leave Father, I chanted my favorite mantra, the one that kept me sane.Survive two more years till mate find us.

"What about quicksilver?" I heard Father ask from far, far away. "Can you supply that, too?"

He kept talking, but the words turned to mush in my ears, and I jerked myself awake.

No! No leave Posy. Wake up! Must protect my girl and survive for mate!

I fought with all my might to force my eyes open, but it was no use. I couldn't fight the wolfsbane flowing through my veins. No wolf could.

No leave. Wake up. Must protect.

Froth bubbled out of my mouth as my brain slowed to a crawl.

Survive. Mate.

My little brown body jerked once, twice, then went still.

No. Wake—

And I was out.

16: On the Hunt

Ash

Watching Lark's memory was worse than being tortured myself. Tears poured down my face and pre-vomit bile filled my mouth. Swiping at my eyes, I swallowed hard to keep from hurling everywhere.

Finally, thank the Goddess, the home movie of horror ended.

Can you show me his face more clearly, darling?My wolf kept it together far better than I did as he continued to coax an identity from her.If not, can you share his scent with me?

I knew Sid very well. He might have sounded calm, but a tidal wave of rage surged inside him. Any second now, he was going to explode, then someone was going to die.

Which is no less than this son of a bitch deserves,I growled to myself,but I am curious if I know the guy.

Then Lark showed us a man's face and shared his scent - and I recognized him right away.

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