Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Blood dripped down my cheek from a split under my eye I hung in silver chains, dangling just off the floor. Shifting would be impossible with the silver. It burned.

My four comrades from my scouting group of the spearhead team were on the floor-dead-around me. I would be the last to go.

“It’s so amusing that these packs keep sending soldiers, only to have them die.” the ashole who’d killed my companions chuckled. “It’s like flies sticking to the paper themselves. They know it’s there. I know it’s there. But they still insist on being st upid. And you still insist on being an annoyance.”

He leaned in close. “Now, tell me what I want to know, and I might let you die quick-

Then he stopped.

“I think the word you were looking for was ‘quickly.” I prompted him with biting

sarcasm.

“Silence!” He hit me again, then, while I was still reeling from the blow, he pressed his nose to my shoulder and inhaled.

“Sorry, pal, I don’t swing that way.” I grunted, spitting out a tooth

The wolf, an Alpha by the smell of him, pulled back, a slight smirk on his face. “Well well, well. Are you her mate, then? No, the smell isn’t strong enough for that. Maybe friend?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, crazy, but I think you were in the middle of killing my a’s slowly for not telling you a da mn thing” I said.

“You must be a friend. She’d appreciate that sense of humor. The Alpha patted me on the check. “Oh, this is delicious. I don’t suppose she came with you”

“I don’t

suppose I’d tell you even if I knew who you were talking about.” I shot back.

The Alpha patted my cheek. “Kora, of course. My mate.”

I blinked at him. “Your mate? Kora?”

“Yes. We had a bit of a bad parting, but that doesn’t mean she’s not still my mate.” he said.

“Who the f*ck are you again?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around this guy’s delusion.

“Alpha Lyle Shadowmoon. And your name is Shawn,” Lyle grinned, patting my swollen cheek.

“Slow clap for you,” I snorted. “Did you get that off one of my friends before you killed them?”

“As a matter of fact, I did.” Lyle circled me, eyeing me as though I were buried treasure he’d just unearthed. “Well, well.”

I huffed in annoyance. “Can we get to the pulling out of the teeth or the fingernails or something now?”

“Now, why would I do that to my mate’s friend?” Lyle asked. He turned to someone in the dark. “Let him down, but keep the cuffs. I don’t want him shifting and running off.”

The chain went slack, and I tumbled to the floor.

Lyle grimaced. “A little more finesse next time, Gavin.”

“Sorry, Alpha,” Gavin replied.

While I was still getting my bearings, Lyle crouched down and gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. “How is she, my little flower?”

I choked on a laugh. Bl oody Kora? Little Flower? “Oh, I’m sure she’d REALLY appreciate that nickname.”

“She did the last time we were together,” Lyle mused. The same sickening sweet smile was on his l*ps, and I just wanted to wipe it off with a good punch to the jaw.

Since my hands were tied-literally-I settled for a blow to the ego. “Your ‘little flower is mated.”

Lyle’s smile fell. “Excuse me?”

“You must have rejected her. Oh! That guy she met in Jessop Town! Now it makes sense,” I said, snickering “Well, I hate to break it to you, but your little flower’ is currently being deflowered by MY Alpha.”

Lyle’s eye ticked. He grabbed me by the throat, and he was at least twice as strong as I was, and he was suddenly p*ssed.

I choked.

Mason Hale is mating MY Kora?!” Lyle roared.

“Surprise,” I wheezed. If I was going to die-and I was certainly going to die before betraying Kora’s trust-then getting my n*eck snapped while this mad Alpha was out of control would not be a bad way to go. Especially with that final f*ck you.”

Unfortunately. Lyle realized what he was doing and set me back down. He petted my hair. “What a clever little a swipe you are. You think I’d make the mistake of killing my little flower’s friend? I think not.” He jerked my head back by my hair. “She’ll come for you. She’s loyal that way

Oh f*ck. I’d been so busy dying, that hadn’t even occurred to me. But now that I thought. about it. Kora would come.

“Oh f*ck,” I whispered aloud.

Lyle grinned. That’s more like it. Gavin, chain him up in my office. I want him right. where I can keep an eye on him.”

“Yes. Alpha.” Gavin uncl*pped me from the chain, and still in my cuffs, hauled me up over his meaty shoulder.

While we bounded into the night, I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed.

“Please, Moon Goddess, keep Kora away!”

“You have got to be F*CKING kidding me,” I growled dangerously at Eddie.

It wasn’t his fault, of course, but this was a growling situation, and my Beta happened to be the unfortunate messenger who was about to be shot.

“I’m afraid so, Alpha The entire scout group was taken, according to the spearhead team commander,” Eddie said with a wince.

I slammed my fist on my father’s desk so hard the wood cracked. “I was just going to recall him! And now you’re telling me he’s been captured?!”

Eddie swallowed. “Well, Alpha, if it makes you feel any better… there’s been a ransom demand for him.”

“Okay. Okay, what do they want for the five of them?” I asked, m entally strapping myself in for some hardball negotiations. This might take land or funds. Or Goddess only knew what. F**k.

“Well… Alpha… it’s that is… it’s just Mr. Norman,” Eddie replied carefully.

“Spit it out,” I rumbled.

Eddie’s expression became pained. “I’m given to understand the other four are dead.” “Dead?” I repeated, staring him down.

Eddie was no shrinking flower, so the fact that he took a step back told me everything I needed to know about my own facial expression. “Yes, Alpha. All but Mr. Norman.”

There was a s tupid question I could have asked Eddie at that moment, but the answer was obvious.

Why just Shawn?

Because of Kora.

That a shole would have smelled to high heaven of Kora, with all the hugging the two of them did.

Alpha’s were possessive. Even though he’d rejected her, that didn’t mean he wanted her wandering off with another man-especially now that his Luna was gone.

I gritted my teeth into a dark smile. The man she’d wandered off with was me, and if he thought I wasn’t even more possessive of Kora than he was, he was wrong.

“What are the terms?” I asked Eddie, forcing myself to calm down.

“He wants a meeting,” Eddie replied.

“Then set one up.” I said.

Eddie cleared his throat. “With Kora.”

“Out of the question,” I growled. Again.

“I thought you’d say that. What should I… counter-offer?” Eddie asked.

“You can tell that b*stard-”

“Shawn’s been captured?!” Kora said, bursting into my office

Eddie was about to speak. but I silenced him with a look. “Yes.” I told her. “But don’t worry. I’m getting him back.”

“When?” Kora demanded. “How?” Her hands were on her hips, but her whole b*dy was vibrating, she was so upset.

I could feel her distress across the mate bond. I stood from behind the desk and went and wrapped her in my arms.

“It’ll be okay. I’m taking care of it.” I said, hugging her tightly.

Kora’s eyebrows drew together, and she looked doubtful.

I couldn’t have her doubting me. I especially couldn’t have Eddie telling her the “terms.” I wasn’t letting MY Kora anywhere near that psychopath.

“Trust me.” I framed her face with my hands and willed her to listen as I looked into her

eyes.

“Everything is going to be alright.”