Territory (8 page)

Briggs crossed in front of her to pull a blue ice pack out of the room’s dorm-sized fridge. He crushed the pack in his large hands as he approached then sat on the bed in front of her. Using one strong finger, he tilted her chin up before he placed the pack on her throat.

She winced at the cold and pain. Briggs sat staring down at her as she glared up at him, hating him for dragging her back when she just wanted to run. A light knock at the door pulled Briggs’ eyes from her.

“Not now!” Briggs rumbled. The door opened anyway.

Chloe entered the room and sidled up to the bed, “Kya I was so worried. Are you okay?” Chloe gasped before she got her answer, “What happened to your neck.”

Kya kept her eyes shut waiting for the scene to play out. She heard light footsteps stomping from the room and knew that Chloe had left in a huff. No doubt gone off to report her misbehaving brother-in-law to her husband.

Kya felt the bed shift as Briggs rose from the bed. She heard his footsteps once again cross the room and she opened her eyes when a fuzzy blanket was placed over her. Briggs leaned down and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his skin brushing hers.

Chapter 1
0

It was night and Kya was at a dead run, loping through the forest. She knew if she could clear the state line by sunrise she’d be home free, but her stride was broken and she stumbled then slid to a halt smashing into a tree.

She turned back to see what had caught her up. The large red wolf with beady eyes stepped up to her.
Reiner!

Kya sprang to her feet and ran, she looked back to find Reiner hot on her heels. He licked his greedy jowls as he gave chase. She saw excitement flash across his face, and knew what he had in mind if he caught her. He intended to abuse her as he had so many times before. He’d force her to shift then mount her, using her, hurting her so that he could revel in her screams.

Kya ran faster, but no matter how fast she ran, no matter how many turns she took, she looked back to find him just steps behind her.

Panic flooded her and she thought of Briggs.
Get to Briggs, get to safety!
She turned and her foot landed evenly on the stump of a tree. She shoved off, using the stump as leverage to propel herself forward.

Reiner anticipated her reaction and his long teeth caught her by the throat as she tried to lunge by. He slammed her body to the ground and she felt her ribs crack under the pressure.

Reiner stood over her just as Briggs had done, but he wasn’t trying not to hurt her. Just the opposite, Reiner’s teeth bit deeply into her throat drawing blood and crushing her windpipe.

Terror gripped her then at the thought of passing out leaving Reiner to do as he wished with her unconscious form. She tried to relax to show him that she wouldn’t fight him, but he shook his head furiously back and forth tearing her flesh. He was killing her. He was ripping her throat out and there wasn’t anything she could do. Her howl rent the air.

Kya jackknifed in bed, sitting bolt upright and gasping as she clawed at her throat trying to catch her breath. She tore at the icepack that wrapped around her slender neck until it fell to the floor with soft thud. She coughed, gasping for air as tears streamed down her cheeks.
A dream! It was only a dream!

The bedroom door crashed open then and Briggs flew into the room, his breathing rapid. He was in a rage as he scanned the room; his human eyes now the boiling honey of his angry wolf. He crossed to the window and peered out then crossed to the bathroom only to find it empty. “Where is he?” Briggs bit out with barely controlled fury.

Kya’s eyes were wide. “W-Who?”

“Reiner!” Briggs snarled from between clenched teeth.

Kya took a deep breath and buried her face in her hands, “It was only a dream.” She whispered, refusing to look up. “How much do you know?” She asked cautiously.

“Everything!” Briggs ground out. “I know everything that sick son-of-a-bitch did to you.”

“Jesus!” Kya whispered shakily as she fell back on the bed rolling to her side, away from Briggs. She pulled her knees up to hug them to her, forming a tight ball.

Briggs paced the room behind her. His wrath had no outlet. No Reiner present to tear apart. Only Kya and her agony, her embarrassment, which only fueled his rage.

Kya flinched as she heard glass shatter against the far wall.

Briggs swore under his breath as he continued pacing back and forth and shoving his hands angrily through his hair.

Kya lay curled in her ball, her eyes shut tight against the memories as tears seeped past her lids. She heard footsteps approaching quickly, then an unfamiliar voice.

Briggs stopped to scowl at her, his face transitioning as he stared. Rage, anguish, and sympathy all took turns dancing across his features. So many emotions passing through him at once that he couldn’t process them all.

“Please Briggs! Don’t go. They’re soulless monsters. They’ll kill you…and they’ll enjoy every second of it.”

Briggs brows knitted together as his upper lip quivered in rage, “I pray they try.” He stalked out of the room and yelled in the hall, “I PRAY THEY FUCKING TRY!”

Afraid to go back to sleep, Kya lay awake the remainder of the night praying that Briggs would return to the room. She’d slept most of the previous day until she’d had her nightmare, then she simply lay awake fighting the memories until the sun set, the moon rose, the moon fell, and the sun rose again.

She wanted Briggs to return to his room so should could talk him out of going to Colorado, but he didn’t return. She didn’t want anyone to die trying to defend her honor, least of all Briggs. He’d already chosen to deny her, so what did he care?

When dawn finally came, Kya pulled the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around her naked body. She shimmied to a mahogany dresser and rifled through it, pulling out one of Briggs’ shirts and a pair of board shorts. She shuffled to his bathroom and showered quickly. She dressed then ran a brush through her hair, making sure to tidy up after herself. She wanted his room to look as though she’d never been there. She made up the bed then left the room.

Standing in the hall, Kya contemplated knocking on Chloe and Dell’s door to see if Chloe would loan her some undergarments, but in the end she decided against disturbing their slumber. Instead, she was tiptoeing down the hall when she was startled by the creaking of a door. She turned to find Chloe standing in the doorway at the end of the hall.

Chloe dropped her hands and grabbed Kya’s wrist pulling her into the room, “It’s
not
your fault. And don’t worry about talking to Briggs, the packs already gone.”

Kya stopped dead, “What! When?”

“They left around midnight.” Chloe opened several drawers yanking out different articles of clothing as she went.

Kya sunk to her knees, her descent cushioned by the plush white carpet covering the floor. “Oh my God! We have to go after them. We have to stop them!”

Chloe turned her shocked gaze on Kya as she knelt in front of her, “Kya! What’s wrong?”

Kya shook her head, her hand at her mouth, “They don’t know what type of monsters they’re up against. Theron and Reiner…they’ll tear them apart.”

Chloe gently shoved the clothes she’d been holding into Kya’s hands, “It’s alright Kya.” Chloe squeezed Kya’s shoulders, “It’s going to be okay. In case you haven’t noticed, Dell and Briggs are big boys…very
big
boys. They can take care of themselves.”

Kya looked away, biting her bottom lip. “Wh-who went?”

“All the men. You’d think they were going to war!” Chloe stood and turned to face a large mirror that sat over her dresser. She shook her head staring at her reflection as her long straight hair danced around her, “Briggs refused to allow any females to go. Don’t know what’s up with that, but whatever.” Chloe turned back to Kya helping her up from the floor, “Anyway, you should get dressed. You can use your room or Briggs’ wherever you feel comfortable. I’m going down to start breakfast as soon as I shower. Just come down whenever you’re ready.” Chloe turned to her bathroom, but stopped abruptly, “Kya?” She began, folding her hands together under her chin. “Try not to be too upset with Briggs about…” Chloe rubbed her neck uncomfortably while eyeing the dark blue and black bruises on Kya’s throat. “Well, about how he’s handled things so far. He was in love once and she ended up…well, she wasn’t his one. He never really got over it. He still despises this wolf-mating thing. He’s just trying to put up walls so he won’t get hurt again. He’ll come around I promise.”

“I don’t need him to.” Kya lifted her chin defiantly.

“Well that’s an improvement at least. Two days ago you would have said that you didn’t
want
him to.” Chloe smiled at Kya before she strode into the bathroom closing the door behind her.

Kya stood frozen in place.
Wait! What did I say? That’s what I meant…I don’t WANT Briggs to come around. Jesus!

Kya raced back to Briggs’ room instinctively. She hadn’t even noticed she’d unintentionally chosen his room over her own until she was naked and sliding into the panties that Chloe loaned her. Her mind was racing.
I’ve got to stop Briggs before he gets hurt.

She dressed hurriedly then raced downstairs. She went to the kitchen hoping to be long gone before Chloe came down to start breakfast. She had eaten only two meals in the past three days and her belly was growling. She knew she needed some sustenance if she had any hopes of catching the pack before they got to Colorado.

Flying into the kitchen, she stopped dead in her tracks. Twelve females ranging in age from five to sixty lounged around the large kitchen and dining area.

Mama smiled up at Kya from the stove, “Just in time. We’re having hot cereal and toast.” Mama motioned toward the coffee pot with her spoon, “Have some coffee.”

Kya relaxed her shoulders trying to seem casual as she strode toward the coffee pot that sat on the counter next to the stainless steel fridge.

“How’d you sleep?” Mama asked smiling up at Kya.

“F-fine,” Kya lied. “Thanks.” Kya grabbed a mug from the cupboard Mama pointed at and poured herself a cup of coffee. She turned to lean back on the counter as she blew on her coffee and scanned the room over her mug. All eyes were on her.

“I thought you were leaving.” The snide comment came from across the room. Hannah with her cherry red lips curled into a smirk, sat on the end of the table clearly pleased with herself. Hannah ran a hand over her short curly hair as the girl seated next to her giggled at her comment.

Kya opened her mouth to defend herself, but never got the chance.

“HEY!” Mama yelled turning from her pot of farina as she pointed her spoon at Hannah, hot cereal dripping off the end of the spoon onto the floor.

Hannah’s eyes instantly lowered as her contemptuous expression slid from her features.

“You’ll be pleasant to guests in
this
house, or
you’ll
be the one who’s leaving.”

Kya smiled behind her mug.
Mama may not be the Alpha female, but I see she does command respect.
Kya took a sip of the too hot coffee and turned to the stove. “Thank you.”

Mama smiled up at her, her beady black eyes shining behind her glasses. “Here.” She shoved a piping hot bowl of cereal into Kya’s hand. “Let me show you how I like it.” Mama grabbed Kya by the upper arm and pulled her to the kitchen island. She grabbed a teaspoon from the pile of spoons already laid out and dunked it into a tub of butter. She chinked the spoon off the side of Kya’s bowl and the dollop of butter thwaped onto the hot cereal and instantly began to melt. “Then some sugar.” Mama spoke to herself. She shook the sugar caddy over the bowl, coating the farina in a layer of fine crystals. “Now some milk and you stir it up.” Mama went to work pouring milk into the bowl then briskly stirring the now cooler concoction. “Now look,” Mama whispered leaning in over the bowl. “See that yellow ring?” A yellow band of melted butter circled the rim of the bowl.

The women giggled amongst themselves as they stood to form a line for breakfast. Kya took her bowl and sat in the same spot at the end of the table where she’d sat the day before.

Plates full of warm buttered toast lined the table. Kya snagged two pieces then dove into her breakfast. The warm sugary farina was perfectly complemented by the salty butter rim. Mama was right, the porridge was perfect.