Page 42 of Mated By the Pack
But I can’t forget what’s at stake. I’m not alone. I’m not the only one here.
I have to think about the others. Fiona. Tansy. Brenna. Nara. There’s no way I can fight off a pack of wolves—ones who are hungry for more than food—but maybe I can bargain. What they want from me isn’t possible. I’m infertile, even if they don’t realize it. Nobody is going tobreedme.
Still… I can’t deny what’s happening. Not when my thoughts are spinning, and my body’s already reacting.
“What do you plan to do with the others?” I ask. The words come out tight. “They’re my friends. I want to know they’ll be safe.”
“We’re not going to eat them, if that’s what you’re scared of,” Vance says, gentle as ever. “We don’t like the taste of human meat. No harm will come to your friends.”
“Yes, you can call them out if you’d like,” Jace growls. “I’ll point them in the right direction, and they can be on their way. You’re the one we want, Calla. Not them.”
“If what you said is true, they wouldn’t get far… would they?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tightness in my throat. Despite the heat between my legs.
“We’ll make sure they get home safely,” Gideon says. “Back to Haven North. As long as you agree to come back with us.”
They’ll be safe. They’ll get to go home.
If I say yes, then I’m already home. This bunker—this den—it belongs to the wolves. If I agree, it will belong to me too.
I don’t know if I believe in fate. I don’t know why I’m different. Why The Tangle speaks through me. Why I dream about their brother. But if giving up the life I thought I’d have will ensure the others survive… then maybe that’s enough. My body is certainly eager.
“Then we have a deal,” I say.
The words fall like stones. And the whimpering, tortured growl that rips from Jace is enough to make my knees buckle, but I keep myself from falling.
“We can’t travel until sunrise,” Gideon says, his voice low and tight.
“Which gives us plenty of time to get to know each other,” Jace says menacingly, the purple in his eyes flickering with intensity. I take an apprehensive step back and his lips spread into a grin. “Oh, you didn’t think we were going to wait until we got back to taste what is ours, did you?”
“Jace, you sound unhinged,” Vance sighs. “Give her some space, will you? Let’s get her friends taken care of first. I’m sure they’re hungry and thirsty—and scared to death.”
“Vance is right,” Gideon says. “Control yourself, brother. She already agreed to be ours.”
Part of me doesn’t want Jace to control himself. I imagine the behemoth of a man closing in on me. Pinning me to the ground. Taking what he wants like a Groom claiming his Bride on their wedding night. I used to imagine how that would be, before Ifound out I was infertile and got my first cycle of supplements. I imagined a bed—not a patch of well-traveled dirt.
Jace relaxes and I feel a tremble of disappointment. “Fine. We’ll get the other settled first,” he says, his eyes still locked on me.
The platinum wolf bares his teeth, then turns and disappears into the darkness. I look toward the spot where the onyx wolf was sitting, and he’s gone too. He moved so fast I didn’t even notice. The other three brothers don’t move, so I turn and step into the bunker. Wobbly legs and the traitorous heat trickling down my thigh make my movements awkward, but I manage.
“Your bracelet glows,” Vance remarks, noticing the green that radiates from my wrist once we’re inside. “Interesting. I’ve never seen a piece of The Tangle continue to pulse after being torn from the root.”
“It appeared in my hand after a dream,” I say, unsure how much I should share with them, considering I don’t even understand it myself. “It took the shape of a key, while we were locked in the cage.”
“Ah, so that’s how you escaped.” Vance sounds both fascinated and impressed. “And now it’s a bracelet?”
“Yes,” I answer, turning when we reach the door to the control room. “Do you guys have… pants?”
Gideon and Jace exchange glances. Vance laughs and shakes his head.
“We’ll get dressed so we don’t frighten your friends more than they already are. There are some old military fatigues on the lower level.” Vance motions for his brothers. “Past the trophy room. Bring your friends. We’ll leave the door open.”
I catch Vance’s arm as he passes. “Don’t tell them about our deal. Let me bring that up when the time is right.”
“Understood,” Vance says, tensing a little from the contact.
Gideon’s gaze lingers on me long enough to make me quiver. Jace’s intensity and the low, rumbling growl that echoes from his throat make the quiver send another trickle down my thigh. Vance just smiles before guiding his brothers deeper into their den.
I have no idea how I’m going to explain this to the others, but at least they will be safe. They’ll get to go home. Their safety has been my top priority since I woke up in that cage.
