Page 55 of The Night Wolf
Though his legs wobbled, Caleb stood. He was a gorgeous wolf, despite the blood. All burnished gold from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He tried to run for the door, but tripped on his feet and fell face-first against the wood. He got up again, doing his best to run.
Lyram wrapped his arms around Caleb. “Relax. You’re going nowhere. You need time to heal, okay?”
Caleb whimpered and nudged Gareth.
“Where’s Sean?”
A whine slipped out of Caleb as he once more tried to get to the door.
Gareth had to make a hard decision. “Let him go, Lyram.”
“No. He’s not going—”
“They took Sean!”
That seemed to get Lyram’s attention. “Oh my God, I didn’t….” He leaned in close to Caleb. “Do you know who it was?”
Caleb chuffed.
“It was Ryker. I’m sure of it. I can smell two scents here, and a lot of blood. Get some people to find our men, and see if Dr. Frank can help them. I’m going after Sean.”
“Alpha, wait for—”
Gareth spun on his heel and snarled. “My mate and child are in the hands of the man who killed Ethan. He threatened to rape Sean, and he did rape—” Gareth squeezed the bridge of his nose. “You think I’m waiting for anything? Take care of things. If….” He sighed deeply. If something happened to Sean, Gareth wouldn’t be coming back. He would follow him to whatever lay beyond this world. “You’re in charge.”
“Alpha, I’ll go with—”
“Stay here, protect Caleb.” Gareth smiled at Lyram, who still clutched Caleb close to him. “He’s the one who needs you. Caleb, tell Dani I’m….” He shrugged. What did the words matter now? “Just tell her I’m grateful for everything she’s done.”
Caleb tilted his head up and howled, a long, mournful sound. With Caleb being the son of a very powerful seer, Gareth shuddered at what that sound might mean.
Gareth shifted again and raced out the door. Sean’s scent was strong, and the tang of his fear evoked emotions that Gareth couldn’t put to words.
We can’t lose him. He’s our mate.
The words were his, but the emotions were ones he and his wolf shared. For years, Gareth had done his best to avoid violence. He’d always gone the distance to ensure no one was hurt, but this time? He vowed he would kill Ryker for what he’d done to Sean in the past and now. It no longer mattered if he gave Sean back without having harmed him, because Ryker was a dead man.
SEAN LAYin the back of a beat-up van, hands tied in front of him and his head muzzy. He could see two men in the front, but wasn’t sure which was Ryker and which was Kristopher. A shiver coursed through Sean. He should be with Gareth, getting married, but instead he was right back where he’d started all those years ago, and this time it wasn’t likely he was going to escape. The damned collar sapped his strength, and he knew why. Ryker had laced it with silver, then coated it with leather so it would remove Sean’s ability to shift but not kill him.
He put a hand on his belly, pleading with his child to forgive him. He couldn’t let them kill Caleb, and thought he’d saved his friend’s life. Tears streaked his cheeks as he realized how wrong he was. And Gareth…. If Ryker killed Sean, he hoped Gareth would be able to find new love. Anyone who was lucky enough to catch his attention should count their blessings every day.
The vehicle hit a bump, and Sean was tossed in the air, then landed with a thud, the pressure causing him to wet himself. Without access to his wolf, Sean would be a mass of bruises by the time they took him out of the vehicle. But what would they do to him? He’d already tied himself to Gareth, and that should stop whatever it was Ryker had planned. Shouldn’t it?
They drove along a nearly deserted road. Sean heard very little traffic, and the only other sound was the wind whipping through the van’s open windows. He marveled at this twist of fate. How could Mother Moon allow him the blessing of a child, then strip it away? She wasn’t capricious or mean. She loved her wolves. Unless something had changed.
“We’re nearly there, boy.” Kristopher’s voice was harsh, guttural. “Ryker says that when he’s done with you, you’re going to be the pack bitch. Personally, I can’t wait. Always thought you had a nice ass. Plump, like a girl’s. I know how to break a bitch in good. Don’t worry.”
A pit formed in Sean’s stomach. Bad enough he was going to be forced to become Ryker’s pet, but now Ryker would allow everyone in the pack to have him. No. Not happening. It didn’t matter if Sean died, he would not let them touch him. There was a warmth in his stomach, and Sean did his best to believe it was his baby agreeing with him.
“I won’t help Ryker. I’d die first.”
He meant for his words to be filled with bravado, but Sean shivered and his voice broke. He didn’t want to die. He wanted to be with Gareth, with their child. He wanted for them to see the baby’s first steps, hear those first words out of their mouth. To see the baby grow big and strong, to one day become an Alpha or Omega or… or whatever made their child happy.
“Don’t worry. Once I’m done with you, the pack can have you. If you die, you die.” Ryker laughed. “After I get what I want, I won’t have any use for you anyway. My plans might have changed, but that’s okay, because it just means I can be rid of you sooner.”
“What are you going to do to me?”
Ryker barked a laugh. “This isn’t a movie. No one is going to tell you shit.” A solid thud, probably Ryker smacking Kristopher’s arm or chest. “But he’ll learn, won’t he?”
