I tried to grab hold of him, but he struck me across the face, hard enough that my lip split and warm blood flooded my tongue. Hiccuping a sob, I tumbled back.
He sneered at me, fingers curling into fists. “I see you’ve lost your obedience in the years you’ve been away, but no matter. We’ll whip you right back into shape.”
I bared my fangs. “I’m not goinganywherewith you, you bastard. I have a family now. Mates who love me?—”
“Loveyou? Hah. Rich.” He threw his head back on a laugh, then narrowed his cold blue eyes on me. “Did you know those so-called lovingmatesof yours have blood on their hands?”
My breath caught. “What?”
“Fletcher Rose killed a man in cold blood, and walked free.” He was lying. He had to be lying. Thompson must’ve seen thehorror on my face, because he smiled. “Why do you think they came here, to Greymercy? To get away from the ghosts of their past, that’s why.”
“You’re wrong,” I uttered. “They wouldn’t do that…”
“And Adam?” he continued. “Adam Sinclair is the eldest son of one of the most cutthroat elite packs in New York. His father has silenced his fair share of shifters, too, and Adam was next in line to secure the throne. His blood is dirty. They’re both mongrels, Sky, and that child growing in your blessed womb is filthy too.”
“SHUT UP! YOU’RE LYING!” I screamed.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you have no choice. You’re coming back with me. We will fetch your brother, and we will start my research anew. Do you understand me?”
“Please don’t do this… I don’t want this.”
“I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT YOU WANT!” Dr. Thompson snarled, grabbing hold of my arm and twisting it. “It’s always aboutyou!When is itmyturn?”
“Ouch! Stop! You’rehurtingme, STOP!” I struggled as he yanked me forward, but gasped when Dr. Thompson held a knife to my stomach. The point dug into my skin, even through my jacket, and tears slid free, burning silent tracks down my cold cheeks.
“Don’t fight me, or I’ll gut you right here,” he warned, voice dark and dangerous.
I sobbed. “No, no, no… Please. ADAM!” I screamed, but I knew it was in vain. No one would hear me, least of all Adam, hard at work ten miles away.
I felt a pinch, then a hot wave of pain as Thompson stabbed a needle into my thigh and pressed the plunger.
“I can’t have you fighting me, my little blessing,” he singsonged, eerily normal once more.
I cried, my body growing tingly and cold, and then finally numb. My knees gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, my phone falling out of my hand to the cold earth below.
With an ugly crunch, Dr. Thompson crushed it beneath his shoe, then hauled my limp body over his shoulder. I couldn’t fight him. I could barely move.
The last thing I saw was the woods yawning before me as darkness swallowed me whole.
53
ADAM
I sentout a text to the group chat in the lull of dinner rush:What do you think about going out for dinner tonight? I was thinking Mexican?
No one read my message. It remained delivered. Huh. Weird. I didn’t have time to think much about it, though, because work got busy again.
Later that evening, Fletcher passed by. I called out to him, “Hey, did you get my text?”
“Huh?” He looked confused for a moment, then laughed. “Oh, no. My phone’s on the charger in the office. It was at fifteen percent, and I knew it wouldn’t last the whole night. Why?”
“Mexican?” I raised my brows.
Fletcher’s lips curved into a grin that stretched from ear to ear. “That sounds amazing, babe. We’ll have to see if the baby’s feeling it first.”
“Yeah, except Sky hasn’t replied either. I keep checking,” I told him. “Surely he’s back from his walk by now. It’s nearly seven.”
This had my mate’s smile slipping away. “Maybe he took a nap?” Always one to look on the bright side. His brow furrowed.“I hope he didn’t fall or sprain his ankle. Ugh. Now I’m gonna worry the rest of the night. Let me try to call him.”
