Chapter 36: Chapter 36

SCARLET

“Argh…,” I groan as I try to open my eyes. My head is throbbing, and my wrists and ankles are sore.

I feel tired and groggy, and it takes me a moment before I realize that I’m staring at someone’s jean-clad ass. Turning my head, I look around as I try to figure out where I am and what’s going on.

I’m certainly not in Crescent City anymore. I can’t even see the tall skyscrapers against the early morning light. I’m hanging upside down, flung over someone’s shoulder with my arms tied behind my back.

My ankles seem to also be restrained, though I’m not sure what is being used. It’s too strong for me to break, but it isn’t burning me, which means it’s not silver.

The crunching of leaves fills the silence as I’m walked through the middle of nowhere. There are no distinguishing features, just a lot of tall grass, trees, and overgrowth.

Breathing in, I try to see if I recognize the scent of my captor, but I don’t smell anything except for the nature that surrounds us.

I begin to squirm, wanting desperately to get a handle on what the hell is happening. Soon, I’m unceremoniously dropped to the ground, where I land with a thud, and the air is knocked out of me.

“Ugh…” I wince as I try to roll myself into a sitting position to look up at my kidnapper.

As soon as their faces come into my line of view, I let out a gasp. “Ryder? Rowan? What the hell do you guys think you are doing? Untie me this instant!” I demand.

I was concerned when Ethan’s pack never managed to track them down, but I figured they were far away from us by now. They both smirk at me evilly, making my blood run cold. I don’t know what they are up to, but whatever it is, it won’t be good.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, kitten,” Rowan murmurs teasingly.

Ryder drops a large pack to the ground and pulls out a bottle of water. He takes a sip before passing it to his brother, who does the same.

As they quench their thirst, I look around from my new vantage point. To the right, I see an old ramp that heads directly toward what used to be a small town.

Buildings line the rundown interstate, resembling hotels and restaurants, covered in vines and overgrowth. The city sprawls out, mostly intact but long abandoned. The large sign next to the ramp says “Exit 52.”

Most small towns no longer exist. When the war started, it affected a lot of businesses, so people started moving to the cities that were planning to rebuild and had the supplies to do so.

Now the little bit of population that is left is much more condensed and no longer spread throughout the countries like they once were.

“Why can’t I smell either of you?” I ask as I raise an eyebrow suspiciously at them, wanting to get as much information as I can.

“A special spray covers our scent. We sprayed you with it too. There’s no way the notorious Alpha Ethan Kane will be able to track your scent now. So, we should have no problems with him finding you before we can get to our destination,” Ryder answers with a cocksure expression that makes me want to smack him.

“And where is that? Our destination?”

He folds his arms across his chest and glares at me. “Not your concern, kitten,” Ryder hisses with a teasing tone.

I scowl at the nickname that both Ryder and Rowan seem to have adopted for me. I open my mouth to protest as Rowan holds the water bottle out to me. I glance over at it and debate on being stubborn or not.

I allow him to approach, and he slowly tips the bottle to my mouth. I take a few gulps before bringing one into my mouth and spitting it in his face. His look of shock is priceless, but his eyes quickly narrow at me angrily before he raises his arm.

He backhands me so hard across the cheek that I find myself on the ground again. I let out another series of groans as I try to right myself, then I’m kicked in the gut. Two low chuckles sound from above me as the twins enjoy my torment.

“All right, that’s enough,” Ryder eventually chimes in. “We need to be on our way again. We still have a lot of ground to cover.”

“A lot of ground? Where are you taking me? Where are we?” I question as Ryder bends down to get something else out of his bag. He opens a bottle and pours something onto a rag. The smell is familiar, and suddenly I realize why.

I begin struggling against my restraints again as he strides toward me with a bone-chilling smirk, the rag still in his hand. The scent of chloroform becomes stronger as he approaches me, grabbing a handful of my hair and pulling it back so that I’m forced to look at him.

I try to manifest my powers as my legs swing and kick, and I try to defend myself, but it’s to no avail. With my ankles bound and my wrists cuffed behind my back, there isn’t much I can do. Ryder presses the soaked cloth over my nose and mouth before everything goes black again.

***

When I awake again, the sun is setting, and the sky is a blur of colors. I’m upside down on one of the twins’ shoulders as they run with me like a sack of potatoes.

The scenery zips by me as they use their inhuman speed to run down another overgrown interstate. I try to remain still and limp as I observe my surroundings.

I don’t want them drugging me again, and I need time to try and get my powers to come forth. I know if my power is as weak as it was when I showed Will, it would not be enough to take on the two of them.

I need to figure out where we are going and how to get out of this mess. Ethan must be going crazy by now. Surely, he’s aware that I’ve gone missing…

Ethan! That’s it! Maybe I can use our mate bond to mind-link him. We’ve never tried it before. I was just so used to not being able to mind-link. But I can’t see any reason why mates shouldn’t be able to link just as easily as one can with their own pack.

My eyes search the horizon for any information I can give him to help him find me. We are clearly heading north along an interstate. My gaze moves along to the side as I watch for a sign or mile marker that I can give him. Finally, I spot one.

My eyelids close as I try to focus all my energy on building a connection with Ethan. “~Ethan… Ethan, can you hear me?~”

After just a moment, I hear his voice come through loud and clear in my head. “~Scarlet! Thank Goddess! Where are you? Are you okay?~” he exclaims, and I can hear both the relief and the panic in his voice.

“~I’ve been better, but I’m okay. It’s Ryder and Rowan. They took me from the Scourge, sprayed us with something to cover our scent. I’m not sure where they are taking me yet, but we’re heading north on some old interstate. We just passed a sign for a ramp to Joliet,~” I answer, trying to get as much information to him as I can before the twins catch me.

“~All right, hang on. I’m going to take a look at some old maps and see if I can figure out where you’re heading.~”

“~Okay.~”

Several minutes pass as I impatiently wait for him to say something to me again. When he finally does, his voice has taken on a scary tone. He seems to be trying to hold back whatever emotions he’s feeling as he speaks. “~Scarlet…~”

“~I’m here.~”

“~Based on the way you’re heading, it looks like they are taking you to Silver City, where Alpha Lucien and the Silver Shadow Pack live.~”

“~Shit…do you think Lucien put them up to this? Maybe offered them payment? Or a position in his pack?~”

“~I wouldn’t put it past him. He seemed hell-bent on getting you,~” Ethan remarks with a low growl. The idea of me with Lucien clearly angers him. As for me, I feel nauseous. Lucien has turned out to be such a slimy creep.

“~Well, he can’t have me,~” I respond determinedly.

I can sense him smile at my response, which seems to calm and reinvigorate him. “~That’s my girl,~” he replies before continuing. “~But Lucien seems like the type who’s used to getting what he wants. Just be careful, my love. I’m assembling a team, and we’re coming for you. I’ll be there as soon as I can.~”

“~Don’t worry about me. I can handle Lucien. Just don’t underestimate him and stay on guard. I’m sure he’s already considered that it wouldn’t take you long to find out he was behind me going missing. There’s no telling what kind of precautions he’s taken.~”

“~I’ll have my best strategists and fighters with me, angel. I’ll be fine. And I’ll see you soon,~” he answers, and my heart flutters in my chest.

“~I’m looking forward to it.~”

A small smile appears on my lips, and I can sense his smirk as well. Despite our predicament, we still have the ability to put each other at ease. I miss him and am looking forward to seeing him, holding him.

It’s crazy to think how quickly things change. Not long ago, I didn’t even know Ethan. And then we had such a rocky start. I didn’t think I’d ever trust him or feel safe with him. Now I can’t imagine my life without him.

Maybe it’s the mate bond, but he’s all I want. He’s everything. And I’ve definitely fallen for him. The way he looks at me, the way he touches me, his protectiveness, the tingles that travel through my skin, and the way he makes butterflies fill my stomach—I love it all.