Kacie
I followed Ken’s Beta, Rich outside of the packhouse and my body was starting to heat up. I could feel it in my feet and feel it in my fingertips.
Before we left the warm glow of the lights, I saw that he was wearing all black and his hair was covered by a beanie. He turned back only once to check and make sure I was still following. When he saw that I was, we walked until we reached the border.
An all-black jeep waited just outside the line. He stopped and whirled around. His eyes watched me waiting to see if I’d follow and cross the border or make a run for it.
I haven’t left Viktor’s territory, my territory once since I got here. My nerves were wound up and my instincts begged me to run. Athena urged me to shift but I fought and pushed her to the back of my mind.
I teetered closer to the line and with a deep breath, I stepped over the border and outside of the safety of my territory. Rich turned back to the car and opened the door for me. I leaned down to go in and scoot all the way in until I was on the opposite side.
Rich got in and sat opposite me. He nodded at the driver and the car lurched forward. I try to ignore the heat in my body as it starts to build and build.
I ball my hands into fists to keep the heat at bay. I don’t know what’s going on but I’m starting to get scared. Not only am I basically kidnapped but I’ve also got this weird feeling that’s progressively getting worse.
Beta Rich shifted next to me and I flinched away from him. I didn’t miss the way his eyes trailed down my body. He stared at me with amusement in his eyes.
“Where are you taking me?” I say, hating the way my voice cracks, betraying my fear.
“I’m taking you to your Alpha.”
Shivers run down my back and I fight to stop my body from shaking.
“He’s not my Alpha. My mate claimed me and he agreed.” It almost sounds like I’m pleading and I hate myself for showing weakness.
“He agreed on the terms that Alpha Viktor with the understanding that he would give him someone in your place. I don’t know if you know this but Alpha Ken never received your replacement,” he says, and I can see how much he’s enjoying this.
“I want to rip that smile off of his ugly face,” Athena growls.
“He’s willing to ignore and break our mate laws? He’s willing to go to war and risk the pack members’ lives?” I ask incredulously.
“You’ve changed a lot while you’ve been gone. I think this is the first time,” Rich says, ignoring my outburst and my question.
“The first time what?”
“The first time you’ve looked me in the eyes and talked to me,” he says.
“I have changed. I’m not the same weak little girl,” I hiss.
Rich looks unfazed and glances out the window.
“My mate will come for me,” I warn.
His eyes dart to mine.
“Are you willing to risk his wrath?” I ask.
Rich ignores me.
“If you take me back right now, he’ll forgive you and-” I’m cut off as Rich leans in.
“Do you really think I’d betray my Alpha?” He asks in a dangerously low voice.
“It’s not my job to question or to think about the decisions my Alpha makes. I’m not the Alpha. My job is to do what I’m told. Don’t try sweet-talking me, it won’t work.”
“Beta,” the driver calls over his shoulder.
Instinctively, I look to the driver and cry out when something collides with my neck. I turn and see Rich pull his hand back as I fall with a thud against the window.
***
Viktor
“We were built for each other Viktor.”
“You were destined for me and I for you.”
I could still feel her lips on the place where her lips trailed my jaw. Rejecting her wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I stared into her eyes and the tear that rolled down her cheek told me she knew what was going to happen. What I was going to say.
When I rejected her, the pain of what I’d done pushed me back. My pain, her pain, our pain radiated through my body. It hadn’t left. It stayed with me. The way she spat her acceptance of my rejection told me she hated me for taking her one chance at happiness from her, hated me for making the decision without asking her.
What I couldn’t wrap my mind around was the word her lips formed after she crossed the border. Had I seen right? Or was I mistaken?
The rain started to sprinkle as I walked back the way I had come with her. By the time the packhouse came into view, the rain was coming down with a vengeance.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Why would she be sorry? I had rejected her and she accepted it. Was she sorry for the spell she cast on Kacie? If she was she wouldn’t apologize to me.
Unless… unless her sight showed her my rejection. Unless she came to my territory with an agenda. Unless… she used the rejection as a way for…
“Run,” Flash growled. The urgency in his voice matched mine. My heart thundered in my chest as I started running.
“No, no, no.”
I threw open my door and made my way through the packhouse. My feet leaving a trail of wet footprints as I ran.
I stopped in front of my door and prayed to the Goddess.
“Please… please,” I begged.
Reaching out I grabbed hold of the doorknob, pushed the door open, and searched the darkroom for any sign of her.
My eyes scan the room for her, race to the bed, and lift the sheet.
Kacie was gone.