"You did quite a number on my wolves," the man said, letting her down just enough so that she had most of her weight on the balls of her feet. Her scalp burned.
His eyes swept down her figure and she flushed as she realized she'd left the house without being able to put on a bra. One eyebrow arched over his disapproving face. A rage of shame and anger rose in Julia. He had no right to do this. No right at all to take her like this.
"Not much of a figure," he said. "But we'll get you in shape in no time."
Julia spat in his face.
Letting go of her hair, he whipped the back of his hand across her face. Bright lights flashed in front of her eyes in an instant of unbearable pain. Then he was dragging her by her arm, the one that wasn't broken, back to the cabin. There was someone else waiting in the doorway, and Julia realized as they came closer that it was a woman, her muscles bulging almost as much as those of the men that had taken her. She peered down at Julia with dark, slitted eyes, the flames of the bonfire reflected in her pupils.
"Trax, should I call the others and let them know we have her?"
"Not yet," the man said. Trax. Julia moaned, her legs kicking helplessly, as he brought her inside and threw her against the wall. She crumpled into a heap on the floor, her fingers scraping against the rough wood planks as she brought her injured arm up to her chest. There was a single lantern on the table, and she retreated from it instinctively, seeing the dark like a wounded animal.
"If you want reinforcements—"
"We'll be fine," Trax said. "The kid should be here soon, anyway. And I want to make sure she's the real thing before we get the pack all excited."
"Kyle said—"
"I know what Kyle said," Trax snarled. "There's a reason he was exiled from the pack."
"Sure," the woman said. Her voice trembled a bit as she spoke, and Julia saw her eyes dart over to her corner. "Of course. Whatever you want."
The driver of the SUV came into the cabin, closing the door behind him.
"Rylan's dead," he said, a look of guilt on his face. "Broke his neck."
Trax sniffed. "Should have been more careful. Both of you."
The man looked out the window and said nothing.
"Now," he said, kneeling in front of Julia, "let's talk."
Julia did not move, did not even look at him. His hand shot out and grabbed her chin, lifting her face toward his. His breath was hot on her skin, and he smelled like burnt wood.
"Do you know why you're here?"
Julia shook her head. The pain in her head brought tears to her eyes. She couldn't think, it was so bad.
His fingers dug into her cheeks.
"You're going to have to learn some manners," Trax said softly. "When I ask you a question, you respond to me. Understood?"
He shook her head slightly and the throbbing agony in her head left her gasping for air.
"Yes!" she cried. "Yes!" Anything to stop the pain.
"Good," Trax said, letting go of her face. Sobs racked her body, but at least all that was left was a dull ache in her head.
"Now," he said, "let's start over. Do you know why you're here?"
Julia choked, wiping her eyes.
"Is this... does this have to do with Damien?"
"Who is Damien?" Trax cocked his head.
"That's the blind wolf, I think," the driver said. "The one who killed Trevor."
"He didn't kill Trevor!" Julia cried. "Damien fought in self-defense. They were trying to save him when he shifted and—"
"Enough." Trax put one finger on her lips and she drew back against the wall in disgust. He smiled at her, and a chill ran through her bones. "You're going to be a very good mate once we get you properly trained."
"Mate?" The word reverberated through the cabin from her lips, and in the corner Julia could see the woman tossing her dark hair behind her shoulders.
"My mate," Trax said.
His fingers stroked her arm now. Julia pressed herself hard against the wall.
"I'm not... you can't... I'm not a shifter like you," Julia stammered. "I'm human."
Trax grinned.
"You're a sweet little thing," he said. "But you're not fooling anyone."
"No, it's true!" Julia swiveled her head from one person to another in the cabin. Both the woman and driver looked at her in disbelief. Her jaw dropped open in amazement. "You brought me here to... wait! This is all a mistake! You don't understand!"
"Stop," Trax said. His voice brought Julia's protests to a halt. He stared into her eyes and spoke in a slow rhythm. "I don't want my mate to lie to me. Not... ever. You're a special shifter. One of a kind. And now you're mine."
"I have a mate already," Julia said, her voice choking. If they thought she was a shifter, then maybe she needed to try something different. "Damien. My true mate. He—"
"Did he tell you he felt the Calling with you?" Trax said. He laughed and stood up. "Smart wolf. Maybe we should have done the same. Try to convince you to come on your own."
Julia's mouth went dry. No. It wasn't possible. Damien wouldn't do that to her. But...
He'd told her Katherine was just his guide when they first met. That had been a lie. What else had he lied about?
"You're wrong," she said, but doubt had already crept into her voice.
"Doesn't matter now," Trax said. "You're mine."
He bent over quickly to caress her face and she winced as he lowered his head towards her lips. She drew back but he had her chin firmly in his hand. With the other he tore her dress. The seams cut into her flesh before ripping. Trax tossed the scraps of fabric aside and grabbed her breast, squeezing hard. She beat at his chest with her good hand, but he was too strong. He would have her, no matter what she did. A cry tore from her throat as he moved his hands down her body.
Then he paused, raised his head, and sniffed.
"Wolves," he said.
The driver swung the cabin door open to the darkness and inhaled. "Two of them. They're close. Do you hear that engine?"
"Damien," Julia whispered.
Trax began to laugh, a slow chuckle that worked its way into thick bellowing laughter.
"A blind wolf coming for us! We'd better run!"
The driver laughed nervously along with Trax. The pack leader turned to Julia, his eyes gleaming green in the dim light of the cabin.
"Come, then," he said, cracking his knuckles. "I'll win you as my mate the traditional way after all."
Julia screamed as he pulled her to her feet, sending a fresh shot of agony down her arm.
"Come, bitch," he said. "You'd love to see two men fight for your affections, wouldn't you? Two packs, all fighting, all for you."
"No!" Julia cried. "Please, no!"
The two others followed Trax outside as he shoved Julia in front of him. She collapsed in front of the cabin and he picked up a dirty blanket from the side of the cabin where it had been resting on top of a stack of firewood. He tossed it over her.
"Cover yourself, my little bitch," he said, grinning. "Show some respect for your mate."
Seething with anger, Julia gathered the blanket around her shoulders tightly. The flicker of headlights shone for a brief second in the distance, bouncing as the car moved closer. The engine's noise grew louder and then stopped behind the hill.
They waited.
Julia looked up and saw the shadows walking over the crest of the hill. And, in the middle—
"Granny Dee?"
Trax stepped forward, his hands curling into fists at his side as the interlopers stopped just thirty feet away from the bonfire.
"Dejara," he growled. "What a pleasant surprise."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Damien braced himself as Jordan swung the car into the woods and down the dirt road. The scent of wolves was strong, and they knew they had found the right place.
"They'll scent us," he said. "Probably already have."
"Then let's hope they don't run," Jordan said. He rolled down the window. "Smells like three of them there."
"And the pack leader," Dee said. "If he's in human form, you won't scent him."
"We can't identify any purebred shifters," Jordan said, his voice starting to panic. "There could be dozens. How many were in your pack?"
"Not that many," Dee said. She didn't seem too concerned. "Once we get closer, I'll be able to sense if he and Julia are there. Same with any others."
They reached a steep hill and Dee told Jordan to stop the car.
"They're just over that hill," Dee said. "There's a small cabin."
"Not like it would have made it up that hill, anyway," Jordan breathed.
"Are they there?" Damien asked. Dee understood what he meant.
"Yes," she said. "Both Julia and Trax."
"Trax?"
"The pack leader."
"That makes four of them," Jordan said, worried. "Their four for our two. It won't be a fair fight."
"Only three," Dee said, opening the car door. "Don't you smell the scent of death?"
"Three, then," Jordan said. He and Damien walked alongside Dee as she started up the hill. "It's still three on two."
"Three on three," Dee said.
Damien inhaled sharply. He didn't want anyone to die for his mistakes. "You don't need to fight. She's my mate."
"She's my granddaughter," Dee said stubbornly. "Apart from that, you'll need me. There's no way you'll be able to take the leader down on your own."
"But—" Damien began.
"I may look old," Dee said, "but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. And senses get more acute as you age. You know that."
"Senses versus strength isn't a great match."
"Says the blind man," Dee cracked grimly. "Save your breath. You'll need it during the fight."
Damien focused on each step in front of him. He could feel Julia's anger already over the hill, anger and fear coming in clouded pulses so strong it made his blood boil. If this leader, this Trax, had hurt her...
They crested the hill and Damien sensed Julia right in front of him. The moment she saw him, a beam of hope pierced through her fear. It gave him courage, but it also gave him pause. That she could place such faith in him unnerved him.
"Three shifters, two men and one woman," Dee said under her breath. "The woman is strong. The leader is much, much stronger than either of them."
"I can sense it," Damien said. There was heat, too. A fire.
"I'll take the leader," Jordan said.
"No," Dee said, with a quiet certainty born of experience. As she spoke, both men knew that she was prepared for the fight ahead. "He is mine."
"We can't fail her," Damien said softly. "I would not be able to live with myself."
"Don't be so optimistic," Dee said, heading down the hill. "If we fail her, we'll all be dead anyway."
The other shifters waited for them at the bottom. Julia's surprise hit Damien hard as she recognized her grandmother. His heart began to beat fast and he breathed deeply to calm himself. Tension led to mistakes. To acting too quickly, on impulse. The last time he'd done that—