“It’s time you accept that.”
“This is clan Eskildson. You represent all of us.” Bo’s voice holds a softness I haven’t heard before.
“And I won’t have my good name sullied.” He grips my chin gently.
“Understand?”
I nod. Bo wipes my face clean with a handkerchief he’s pulled from his suit pocket. He turns my face away. The humiliation burns bright. I thought we were connected, but he discarded me.
“We’re going to leave this room, head straight to the garage, and leave. I don’t want to take any chances with you not being fully mated to us. People want you.”
“We all smelled it,” Fell nods his head in agreement.
“So you’re going to keep your head down and do whatever we tell you,” Cadoc adds.
“Yes, Sir.” The words are out before I can think about it.
“I like that, Brat.”
“Let’s go. Right now, most people are occupied. We’ll take the back way.” Bo shrugs off his jacket and places it over my head.
They place me in the middle of their large bodies and usher me out of the room. Keeping my eyes trained on the ground, I make myself as small as possible.
The sound of rutting and bodies coming together drifts further away as we turn corner after corner. We hurry down the stairs while Bo rushes ahead to speak to a security guard.
Keys jingle and we move into a cooler space. The jacket is removed. Bo hits the car alarm.
“Get in, fast.”
I scramble in the back, trembling as the sounds of people rushing towards us comes closer.
I’m pressed between Fell and Kirk. The door is flung open and the security guard is pushed aside.
Three of the Alpha’s top enforcers burst into the garage. They run toward us. Bo floors the gas, and we skid over the concrete, clipping a side-view mirror on our way out.
The men chase us until we’re halfway down the driveway, already hitting over a hundred miles per hour.
“What the fuck was that?” Fell takes a shaky breath.
“Are you okay?” Cadoc’s voice drifts back from the passenger seat.
I nod, caught up in my racing thoughts. I place my trembling hands in my lap and try to calm my heart.
One thing’s certain, we need to figure things out, now. Quiet settles over the car while we catch our breath. Before it’s too late.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Cupping the mug try to ward off the cold emanating from within the events from the previous night replay in my head. Alpha had all but offered me up on a silver platter.
An unmated wolf in heat is a beacon to any alpha who thinks he can claim her. Why issue me mates at all?
“Hey.”
Jerking, I slosh the hot café latte liquid over the rim of the mug with a cat with a red polka dot bowtie.
“Sorry. I was trying not to do that.” Kirk grabs a paper towel and bends down to wipe up my mess. “How are you feeling?”
“Numb.” I admire his firm ass and sculpted pecs in the white T-shirt and red flannel pants.
“That’s normal after a traumatic experience.” He stands and pitches the paper towel into the trash.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“No.”
“I’ll cook something. Everyone should be up soon and we’ll talk.”
“You didn’t seem surprised last night when things went haywire.” I recall the events. “What made you bring that emergency pill?”
“Alpha doesn’t always fight fair. When he’s cornered his methods are questionable, and his hold
has been slipping for a while which makes him desperate.” Kirk gathers eggs and other ingredients.
“Let me help.” I set my coffee aside, wash my hands, and grab a cutting board. “My omelet making skills are sub-par. Let me be your sous chef.”
“I think I’d like that.” He yields. I accept the victory. Used to being alone, my hermit healer has the tendency to fade into the background and keep to himself until he’s needed.
I rinse off the veggies, grab a pepper, and start chopping.
