Callie's Captors [Mountain Men of Montana 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (18 page)

Still behind the rest, she picked up her speed. But it didn’t help. A painful stitch in her side threatened to stop her, but she pushed on.

Then, without warning, a surge of energy hit her, invigorating her. Like the time before, she could sense the presence of something else inside her, almost as though another part of her, one that had lain dormant for years, had come to life. The colors of the world around her dimmed into a mist of amber, but she could see things sharper than ever before. Even as she hurried to stay up with the others, she picked up the soft sounds of animals ducking for cover and quivering in fear.

Was it adrenaline that gave her renewed energy and infused her body with strength?

They charged through the forest, passing the hole where she and Scrunch had first met and continuing on for several long minutes. Just as she was starting to wonder if she could keep up, the group came to a stop at Blue’s order.

“There it is.”

She pushed through the crowd, receiving a few hard nudges along the way, and came to Blue’s side. “They live in that cave?”

The small opening in the mountain was barely large enough to fit three men, shoulder to shoulder, across it. “Are you sure? It’s so small.”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Watch out.”

She glanced at Pete who stood, along with Raine, behind their brother, then followed his gaze to the cave. A group of animals all like Scrunch spilled from the entrance. Their red eyes blazed and their snarls showed their fangs.

Where’s Scrunch?

She scanned the group of black animals, their hands dragging on the ground, as they growled and paced back and forth in front of the cave. They weren’t attacking, but it was evident that they weren’t about to run, either.

“Where’s the little girl?” The man who’d asked the question moved from the middle of the group to the front. “We’re going to have to go in and get her.”

“There she is. There’s my little girl.”

Shelly appeared out of the crowd and started running toward The Cursed. Blue was right behind her and grabbed her, pulling her away from them.

“Mommy!”

Bryna’s dress was dirty, but she appeared uninjured. One of creatures held her arm, and even from a distance, Callie could see how his fingers sank into her flesh. He hadn’t broken the skin yet since there was no blood, but if he gripped her any harder, he would.

Shelly struggled to get free, but Blue held her long enough to pass her off to one of the other men. She cried out for Bryna, who answered with pleas for help.

Blue’s face was emotionless and that frightened Callie more than anything else. “Everyone spread out. This is going to be rough.”

He turned to her. “Callie, when the fighting starts, see if you can grab her. If you can, don’t hang around. Get back to camp as fast as you can.” He pivoted to the men and began talking in hushed tones about their best plan of attack.

Scrunch caught her eye. He stood on the outside of his people, his diamond patch brilliant white against the mass of black. He held his hand in the air in a salute. Or at least that’s what she hoped it was.

Moving as quietly as she could, Callie slipped away from the group. Then, when she was sure she was far enough away that even one of the men couldn’t catch her, she took off running.

“Callie!”

Pete was the first to spot her, but it was too late to catch her. She ran as hard as she could, picking up the adrenaline she’d felt before, until she skidded to a few feet in front of the throng of The Cursed. She could hear the angry and fearful cries of those behind her.

“Stay back, Pete. And keep the others in check. I can do this.”

She lifted her hand as Scrunch had done. He skirted around the edge of his group, earning snarls from a few of his kind, then drew within a yard of her.

“Tell your people to give her back.” She pivoted to face him, but kept glancing at the girl, trying to make her meaning clear. “Please, you have to understand.”

He grunted, but his gaze whipped to Bryna before settling on her again. Another grunt came, but she was no closer to understanding him than before.

She pointed at Bryna. The bigger creature that held her snarled and dragged her closer to Callie. But she didn’t dare hope that he knew what she wanted. Instead, she pleaded with Scrunch again and pointed at the child.

“Let her go.”

Scrunch tilted his head to the side.

At least he’s trying to understand.

“Callie, move very slowly and get away from them.”

She called to Blue, trying to comfort him. “I know what I’m doing. Just don’t make any sudden moves. We don’t want to spook them.”

Taking a deep breath that she hoped wasn’t her last, she turned on her heel and started walking toward the child and her captor. He growled, his intent unmistakable, but she wouldn’t give up.

Amazing herself, she got close enough to see the growing amber in Bryna’s eyes. The amber was bright with fear.

“It’s okay, sweetie. They won’t hurt you.”

“I want my mommy,” she whimpered.

“I know and she’s here. Just hang on a little while longer.” She reached out and took the child’s other arm.

The creature’s growl grew louder, sending chills down her spine. She held her ground and kept her head high. “Give her to me.”

Another growl told her he wouldn’t. She craned her neck around to find Scrunch. “Get him to give her to me. Please.”

Scrunch’s eyes narrowed a second before he let out a screech and pointed behind her. Callie twisted back to the child and the larger creature in time to see him toss Bryna to the ground and throw himself at her. Stunned, she couldn’t move, couldn’t get away. Scrunch flew past her, knocking her out of the way and to the ground beside the girl.

“Run.” She pushed Bryna onto her feet. Pete grabbed Bryna once she’d made it halfway back to their group. Blue and Raine dashed toward Callie and, taking her under each arm, helped her up. They half carried, half pulled her to safety.

Growls and snarls filled her ears and she tried to see what was happening, but the men wouldn’t let her turn around. They continued to carry her along with the crowd as everyone rushed back to camp.

“Keep moving, everyone.”

“Are they after us?” cried one woman.

Pete carried Bryna with her mother running at his side. Callie groaned as Raine, lifting her like she weighed nothing, cradled her in his arms.

The sound of many feet thundered in the forest as they ran and soon the noise of fighting amongst the creatures was lost. Raine, his heart pounding against her cheek, slowed to a stop. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

But she couldn’t answer. Her body had no strength to move. Instead, she closed her eyes and let the tears fall.

* * * *

Blue studied Callie lying on the quilts in their tent. He’d experienced fear before, but nothing had compared to what he’d felt when the creature had flung itself at her. She’d fallen asleep after Raine had taken her into his arms, and ignoring the call of The Council to bring her in front of them, they’d taken her to their tent. Charlton’s decision could wait.

But Charlton had other ideas. Instead, he’d summoned Blue to come to him as soon as possible. Blue had done so, expecting the worst.

“She’s waking up.” Pete leaned over her and dabbed a moist cloth to her forehead.

Her eyelids fluttered until, at last, she opened her beautiful brown eyes. She stretched and shot them a smile.

“Hey, you. It’s about time you came around.”

She blinked, then sat up. “Is she all right? Did Bryna get scratched?”

He could smell her relief. “No. She was lucky. She came out of it unharmed, but with the realization that she shouldn’t play alone by the woods.”

Blue knelt beside her along with his brothers. “Charlton summoned me so he could tell me the decision. He cast his vote.”

She took his hand. “Let me talk to him and make him understand. I’ll leave, but he can’t throw you out of your home. It’s not fair.” She tried to get up, but he eased her back down.

“Calm down. It’s okay. He voted for forgiveness.”

“No way.”

He grinned at her choice of words and answered in kind. “Yes way. But there’s more.”

“Do I want to know what that is?”

Pete slid his hand along her hair, smoothing it to her back. “Maybe. Do you remember how you came here? Do you remember what happened when the buck chased you?”

“Of course I do. I fell into a huge hole. A girl tends to remember that kind of thing.”

“What my brother is trying to get at is this. You said you felt this weird kind of sensation, like walking through invisible water.”

“Uh-huh.” She pulled her knees to her chest. “And?”

“To get into The Hidden, someone has to be a supernatural being. Or touch one as they enter.”

“But I’m human and I wasn’t touching anyone.”

“We know you were alone.” Blue took over. “Which means you must be a supernatural. Or at least be a descendant of one. Otherwise, you never could have gotten inside. We think what you went through must be a new portal that’s opened up. It’s too soon to know much, but The Council has sent a group to study it.”

Pete chimed in. “They’ll study and guard it in case others wander through.”

“I still don’t understand. You think an ancestor of mine is a supernatural being?”

She was having a difficult time understanding what he meant, so he had to make it clearer. “The Council and we believe you’re part werewolf.”

She refused it. “No, I would’ve known, wouldn’t I? And why a werewolf? How do you know I’m not the descendant of a fairy or a troll?”

“No troll ever looked like you and you’re too tall to be a fairy. We don’t know for certain, but, after seeing your eyes change—”

She gripped Blue’s arm. “My eyes changed? How? When?”

“I saw your eyes a moment before you decided to play heroine. They were filled with amber.”

“Which means I’m part werewolf.” She trembled and ducked her head.

Was she upset to find out? Would she embrace her inner wolf or hate knowing that it existed? “What are you thinking, Callie?”

She lifted her head. Her mouth was parted, making him ache to press his lips to hers.

“I’m not sure. But how could I not have known?”

“I can’t answer that. Sometimes people who have werewolf blood never realize it until they meet another werewolf. Or, like you, their wolf side attempts to break through in a time of extreme emotion, like fear.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

“Yeah. We are. There’s no denying that color in your eyes.”

“I’m part werewolf. Wow.”

Blue had wanted to wait to ask her. He and his brothers had wanted to give her more time, but Charlton was forcing their hand. “There’s more.”

Her draw dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What more could there be?”

“Charlton voted for forgiveness only if you promise to do what he asks.”

She was up and on her feet, moving to the other side of the tent. If he wasn’t already sure, he would’ve known from her improved speed that her werewolf side was growing stronger.

“What is it with you people and your promises?”

“He voted for forgiveness if you promise to stay in The Hidden.”

* * * *

Callie’s heart raced as she crossed the room and ended up in the middle of their quilt bed. “Then you can tell Charlton and the rest of The Council that…”

The men shifted on their feet and stared at her. Blue ran a hand over his face and blew out a slow breath. “Be careful. Think about what you’re going to say.”

“Pff. You act like I’m going to tell the old coot—”

“Callie, no.” Pete grimaced and stalked away. “Watch your mouth. We’re in a tent, you know. It’s not exactly soundproof.”

“As I was going to say, you can tell
Charlton
that I accept. But—”

The men were on her with Raine lifting her off her feet and swinging her around. “Are you serious?”

“Don’t question it, bro.” Pete pulled her away from his brother and swung her around again. “We wouldn’t want her to change her mind.”

When Pete put her down, Blue turned her around and confronted her. “Go on. What were you going to say?”

“I was going to say that’ll I stay if you three will make not one, but two promises to me.” She bit her lip, dying to tell them, but wanting to play the game.

“Anything. Whatever you want, whatever you need us to do, we promise. Right, guys?” Pete slapped Raine on the shoulder as his brother nodded before he’d even finished speaking.

“Hold up. I’d like to know what I’m promising before I say yes or no to it.” Blue tilted his head and waited. “Well?”

She paced a few feet away, needing the distance to hold back her surging desire to pull their bodies closer. “The first promise is this. I want you to make me your mate.”

“Are you saying that you love us, Callie?”

She rolled her eyes at Blue. “Answer me first. Do you love me enough to make me your mate?”

“Done!” exclaimed Raine. Again, Pete was in total agreement.

Blue’s brow knitted in a frown. “Do you really understand what that means?”

“If you mean that I’ll change into a werewolf, then yes, I do. But I’m already part werewolf, so what’s the big deal?” Didn’t he still want her? Or was he trying to get out of a relationship that had barely started?

“That’s not the same as being a full werewolf. You may have experienced some of the effects, like the change in eye color, but shifting into your wolf form is a whole other matter. It hurts, especially the first few times.”

She jutted out her chin. “So you don’t think I can handle it?”

She’d gotten to him. She could see it in the way his mouth curved up at the ends.

“It’s not that. But what about the rest? You’ll have to give up your life on The Outside. Yes, you can visit, but you’ll live here with us.” He swept his arm around the room. “Here. Without modern conveniences and everything else that you’re used to.”

“You mean like guns and pollution and the rest of it? Yeah, I think I can do without a microwave for a life in Shangri-La.” She came near him, needing to touch him, to feel the way his body reacted to hers. She skimmed her fingers along his arm and felt him tremble.