Suffer

DERRICK

I throw Jake to the ground, trying to gather my thoughts. “But the books said—”

“Those books are outdated, Derrick,” Jake stands and brushes the snow from his clothes. “The White Witch is more skilled and powerful than those ancient things.”

“Lake is my mate,” I grit my teeth. “You cursed her.”

“Wrong again,” Jake corrects. “That curse was not my doing.”

“I could’ve guessed you were in collusion with that witch,” I cross my arms. “It was obvious.”

“Does everyone really think I’m some bad guy here?” Jake scoffs. “I haven’t seen Lake since the night she basically rejected me.”

I blink before laughing. “Really? That’s what you’re going with? Do you forget I was there the night you had her by the throat in our hotel room?”

“What are you talking about?” Jake narrows his eyes at me. “The only reason I knew Lake was here is because I caught her scent recently. Along with the scent of rogues.”

I rub my head and groan. “Come on, dude! You’re out for Lake to be your slave! A blind bat could see that!”

Drax is itching to get this male out of our way. Lake is in need of us, and yet here Jake is wasting time.

“Listen, you don’t have to believe me,” Jake says simply. “But Lake needs us.”

“No,” I take a step forward, making sure to let my dominance radiate. “She needs me. Not some mutt hell bent on making my Firefly a sex slave.”

I push past Jake before stopping in my tracks as he says, “Lake will need both of us. That pack is doomed because of their alpha. He will stop at nothing to complete the Prophecy himself.”

“What do you know about this…Prophecy?” I glare at Jake as he leisurely puts his hands into his jeans and shrugs. It’s then I notice he has the same crystal around his neck I do.

“Let me help rescue Moonlight, and I’ll tell you everything I know.”

LAKE

My fingers brush across my necklace. The crystal is beaming blue. My mate is near.

“Luna, please step into the dress,” Lee snaps me from my thoughts. Shayna holds my hand as I slowly step into the dress. The girls pull it over my body.

“You look stunning, Luna,” Shayna smiles lightly. Lee tightens the corset back until I gasp for breath.

“What is this, the 1600s?” I complain. Lee giggles to herself, as do I. It’s nice that these two are getting more comfortable with me.

“Girls,” Lucas breaks into the room with purpose. Lee and Shayna immediately go back to their submissive personalities.

“Wait outside the doors,” he growls. “I need to discuss matters with my mate.”

Lee and Shayna bow and swiftly leave Lucas and me alone. I ignore the brooding male behind me and adjust my dress in a floor-length mirror to my right.

“Care to explain why my warriors are handing out blankets to the west wing members?” Lucas crosses his arms.

I can feel his attempt at intimidation. I could laugh at the fact that it doesn’t have any control over me.

“They were in need of warmth,” I shrug. “That land is basically barren of any homes, so I did the best thing I could have done.”

“This is my territory and my pack,” Lucas pulls my hair back and exposes my neck. “You are here to look pretty and say nothing.”

Memories of the night at the hotel room flood my mind. The way Jake manhandled me…

“It was you,” I shakily say. “You were the one in the bathroom that night.”

Lucas laughs sinisterly. “Oh, love, of course it was.”

“T—then…”

“Yes,” Lucas whispers into my ear. I see his piercing eyes in the reflection of the mirror. “I used the beloved image you had of that worthless mongrel to get you to where I wanted you.”

Lucas extends his canines and clamps down into my shoulder. I scream bloody murder as all my nerves begin to burn savagely.

Lynne whimpers in my head as our eyes lock in the mirror. My blood is pouring out where Lucas is biting, and I can’t stop it.

“There.” Lucas wipes his lips. “A starting point for my mark later on tonight.”

He lets me sink to the floor as he leaves me behind. Tears pour from my eyes as I press my hand to my shoulder. The teeth marks are so much deeper than Derrick’s had been.

Lucas is out for blood. And I don’t know if I can stop him.