Wild Hunts (13 page)

“I don’t consider those victims ‘misfits.’” Oh yeah, she seethed. Slade’s temperature control gauge was running on whacky. It wasn’t helping to calm her frustrated nerves, or her aching libido. His fierceness struck awe and anger with equal strokes, heating her blood in a vicious tug-o-war. She wanted to be mad at him for trying to restrain her, but having a man as strong and handsome as Slade offer himself as her bodyguard…well, it
did
things to her. To her heart.

Regardless, if her own brother couldn’t keep her from pursuing her goals, these two men—mates or not—hadn’t a chance in hell.

* * * *

Slade watched Kasa simmer beneath his arm. Her eyes glowed a fiery amber hue that licked at his desires. Fierce woman. Wild woman. He wanted to see just what his wicked white could do. He already suspected she would defy him and Micah. She wasn’t one to be held captive while Jordan fought the beasts beyond the cabins. No. She wanted to drink in the thrill of a hunt, the satisfaction of victory, and something else. Something he and his brother understood more than Kasa realized.

Exacting revenge for their pain and suffering. Vengeance was a bitch, and it held him in a choke hold. He wanted the hunt as much as Kasa. He could taste the blood on his tongue. Smell the fear in the air. His entire body charged with adrenaline that preceded danger. Danger of going into something and possibly never coming back. He might be reckless. Hell, he might even be foolish to a degree, but he was stubborn.

He always got what he wanted.

Keeping Kasa safe was first. Reaching the remaining members of the Dark Moon pack and slaughtering them just as they had his sister was second.

At last, Kasa’s shoulder loosened beneath his arm. He probed deeper into her expression as the cool front fell away. He read nothing that he didn’t already know. Kasa was sly and calculating. He knew something brewed in that beautiful mind of hers, but what it was she kept securely hidden. Her thoughts were nothing more than a dark haze. The woman had a knack for masking them when she didn’t want to be read.

“Snow’s coming. Micah’s headin’ out to the store to pick up a stash of food for the next couple days. He’s taking Jordan with him,” Slade said, lowering his voice to a gentle husk.

“Jordan’s sleeping.”

“Not until he’s finished with Micah. Wanna take a ride? Get out of the cabin, and the woods, for a bit?”

Kasa looked up at him, and his heart did a funny little sputter. Damn him to hell, this woman could melt his will with her gaze. Her luscious pink lips twitched, drawing his attention. He wanted to kiss away the doubt that weighed against them. He wanted to tuck her small frame close to his body and shield her from the dangers that hunted her with as much determination as she hunted them.

Letting his guard down would be easy. With this particular wolf, that was dangerous.

“Sure,” she sighed in resignation.

“Great. I’m gonna wash up real quick. If you’re changing, better get to it. Micah’s waiting on your brother. Then we’re off.”

Slade couldn’t shake the unnerved energy that settled around them. The vixen was certainly stewing up something. The vibes ebbed and flowed, a gentle lapping of electric currents that caressed his spirit more than alerted it. He’d just have to keep a close eye on her until they took care of the Dark Moon problem.

That, too, nagged at him. He and Micah went to great lengths to obscure their scents while masking Kasa’s all together. Still, something whispered of a lurking threat. As crisp and cold as it was outside, a dense heaviness hovered in the air, pressing down around him.

He eyed the plate of eggs and snatched up a piece of greasy bacon. The bedroom door clicked shut, signaling that Kasa was indeed getting changed. Good. He wasn’t about to leave her here to mull about the forest on her own. Spirits only knew what trouble she’d find herself in. Or, what he’d be pulling her out of.

“Bro, coming?”
Micah asked. Slade finished the piece of bacon and went into the bathroom. He splashed his face with cold water, washing away desires from his mind and instantly easing the pressure in his cock. Kasa had a dueling effect on him. He thoroughly enjoyed her spunk and fire, but her stubborn streak to remain independent hardened his resolve. He might end up having to leave that to Micah’s skill to handle.

“We’ll be out in a minute. She’s getting changed.”
An exasperated groan filled his head and he chuckled.
“And it’s not for the reasons you’re thinking. Nice try.”

“
Well, your dick hasn’t been at rest for some time now. I can imagine you impaling her any chance you get.”

“Nah. Not this morning. She went all stubborn white on me.”

“If she’s anything like her brother, we’re gonna have our hands full with this one.”
Micah’s quiet laughter echoed along their link.
“Should bar the windows and doors.”

“Hell no. I’d much rather keep her bed-bound.”

“Hear you on that.”

* * * *

The sharp clap of footsteps echoed down the cavernous passageway, accompanied by harsh whispers and hushed demands. Eva ran her hand over the bloodied silver barbs at the end of the whip and cocked her head. The pathetic specimen dangling by iron shackles in front of her whimpered and moaned, distorting the quiet conversation quickly approaching the room.

“Shut up, pup,” Eva warned, snapping the whip against the stone floor. The deafening crack silenced her victim long enough for her to catch a crucial snip of the conversation. A small grin tugged at her mouth. With energy renewed, she stepped back, raised the whip, and slashed it across the were’s bared and tattered back. The man howled, his agony music to her ears. Fresh blood poured from deep gouges in his ruined flesh and filled her nostrils with the sweet scent of power. Ahh, yes. She loved the sound of a man’s weakness, the moment she knew she had complete control over him. Her breasts grew heavy and her nipples hardened against the light fabric of her sheath. Her pussy throbbed.

Sadistic bitch or not, she was turned on to high heat and wanted more. This was her pleasure. The moment she broke the man and had him at her mercy.

The footsteps faded down a separate tunnel. She hung the whip on a hook, taking only a short moment to enjoy the sight of blood dripping in thick swollen drops from the sharp barbs. The splattering over the floor mixed with the silent cries of the man hanging by his wrists. Her time was short. She had priorities to see to.

But first…

Eva rounded the man and took a seat in a wooden chair directly in front of him. His flesh had grayed from her torture, but his eyes were red, and wet, and oh so promising.

“Look at me, dog,” she cooed. The man’s head dropped, his matted hair falling over his forehead. Eva shifted on the edge of the chair, the slight friction to her clit sending a powerful need through her body. She leaned forward and traced the top of his limp dick with one long nail.

“I don’t think you heard me.” Eva slid her fingers around him and slowly began to squeeze. “I said, look at me.”

His knees trembled with the mounting pressure she applied to his precious package. His head whipped up and his eyes—dim, hopeless eyes—caught hers. She smiled and sat back, stretching herself over the chair in the most seductive way possible.

“Better. When I tell you to do something, you
will
obey me. Otherwise, I’ll see to it you do not remember your own name from the pain you feel. For the moment, I’ve decided to be gracious. You’ve been pleasured by my men, but deprived of a woman.” She reached up to the lever next to her and eased the tension in the chains. The man dropped to his knees, his head falling against her thigh. “Look at this. Eager to please me. How wonderful.”

The lock on the door clicked. Eva growled and shoved the man off her. He crumpled to the blood-stained stone floor, sobbing quietly.

Lilia slid into the room. She shut the door, turned, and leaned back against the warped wood. Her eyes glowed and her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

“This had better be good. I’m still infuriated that you went off after I told you not to,” Eva sneered. She locked the lever and climbed to her feet, eyes narrowing on her sister. “Where the fuck have you been?”

“On a hunt.”

“Only a fool would believe that simple answer. I’m no fool, Lilia.” She stalked over to her sister and shoved her into the door. Lilia snarled, baring her sharp fangs. “Don’t get wolfish with me, or you’ll end up in a chamber until you learn how to obey orders.”

“I’m your sister, Eva. I’m not a fucking science experiment. Just remember you wouldn’t be here without my help. You won’t get far without it, either,” Lilia countered. She straightened off the door and faced Eva. “I went on a hunt for the white. Guess what? I found her. And her brother. And her mates. I found them
all
.”

For a moment, the room disappeared. Her arousal died, and the world ceased to exist. Had she heard Lilia right? How could her little runt sister have hunted down that elusive white and her legendary brother in a night, when they’d been hunting them since Laela sent notice that the whites survived?

“Shocked, are you? Thought me insolent and foolish and too weak to pull my own weight? Well, sister. Surprise. I know where they are and I’ve already set up a pack to attack at nightfall,” Lilia said. Eva shook the haze from her mind in time to see the victorious smile fade from her sister’s mouth. A sinister glow flared in her eyes, and Eva leaned closer to her. “But, I’m not bringing in the white. I’ll let her come to us.”

“And how do you think you’ll do that?”

A chill swept down her spine. Her sister’s dark intentions pulsed against her spirit. Her wolf reared with excitement.

“Because,” Lilia began. She tipped her head and pressed her mouth to Eva’s ear. “I have the perfect plan.”

Chapter Seven

Slade kept a close eye on Micah and Jordan. The two males were skating along a ridge of forced civility that could crumble at any moment. He didn’t care to tear two head-butting alphas off each other at every turn in the road, especially when he had to remain acutely attentive to the mastermind sitting next to him like a bounty of erotic temptation.

Well, he succeeded until they reached the motel. Kasa jumped from the cab and sprinted down the walkway. A room door opened and a tall, slender woman leaped in front of his white. The two women embraced tightly, and for the first time since Slade entered Kasa’s home, a sense of calm and comfort settled over her. His wolf eased, curling up within his spirit to rest until their departure. He drank in the moment, hoping one day Kasa would find that same carefree attitude with him and Micah.

“This way,” Jordan grumbled. His icy amber gaze lingered on Micah before he climbed out of the truck next to Slade. Without a glance toward him, Jordan headed down the walkway and stopped one door before Kasa. Micah rounded the front of the truck and grunted, a scowl straining his lips.

Slade chuckled and knocked his brother in the shoulder. “Easy, man. That’s our future brother-in-law.”

“Not if I skin his hide first,” Micah growled.

“You two passing private conversation on the way over?” Slade took after Jordan as a brawny man greeted him at the door. The two men exchanged a quick clap on the shoulder before Jordan turned back to them. He arched a brow and planted his fists against his hips.

“I don’t have all day to wait for you two,” he called. A deep growl reverberated in Micah’s chest. Slade shrugged and picked up the pace.

“Remember, this is our opportunity to do some damage after what that pack did to our sister,”
Slade said. The brief glance he tossed his brother assured him he hit home. Micah’s hardened features smoothed, if only a little. The deadly glint in his eyes dimmed. Even his wolf came to pause along his spirit for the second time since Reiny’s murder.