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“I,” uppercut, “Am,” punch, “NOT,” gut punch, “a,” my leg swept his feet out from underneath him, “Girl,” I sneered, panting as I stood over his prone body. He groaned, rolling onto his back. I crossed my arms. “I am a woman.”
“But you agree you’re mine,” he remarked, grinning as he stared up at me. I rolled my eyes, slamming my foot into his head and knocking him out.
“I agree to nothing,” I told his unconscious form as I lifted him onto my shoulder with a grunt. “I’m also tired of hauling your heavy ass around.”
***
She met me at the edge of the forest, her eyes glowing as she took in his battered face. “This is a dangerous game you play, Drusilla.”
“Game?” I dropped him at her feet. “I thought I was doing your bidding.”
“Do not mouth off to me,” she hissed, stepping forward and I flinched back. “He knows our secret.”
“He knows nothing.”
“He’s seen you.”
“As a woman,” I lied carefully. “He’s curious. Nothing more.”
“And when he figures it out?” She demanded. “When his curiosity is satisfied and he exploits you?” My lashes lowered, hiding my eyes from her burning gaze. “When he sells you to the highest bidder?”
“He’s not a hunter,” I protested, realizing my mistake a second too late.
“And you know this? You would stake your life on it? Your sister’s life? The lives of everyone here?” Pressure built with each question, making it hard to breathe, as I waited for the final blow. “Wasn’t your father’s life enough?”
I bowed my head, my throat tight, as I struggled against the old guilt. I finally managed to reply bitterly, “I’m not a child and he’s a wolf, not a hunter.”
“And I trust no one,” she answered sharply, and I knew she meant absolutely no one, myself included. “Wolf or not, he will destroy us if given the chance. A lesson you should be well versed in, Drusilla.”
“I’m a wolf,” I reminded her, my stare defiant.
She gripped my chin, her fingers pinching painfully. “You are of my blood. You might be a half breed mutant, but my blood flows through your veins and I will be damned if I lose another child to a beast,” she hissed. She forced my head up, intentionally avoiding my amber eye when she met my gaze. “They are not our equals. You would do well to remember that.” She released me and I stumbled back. “Put him back and this time make sure he can’t escape or I will hold you responsible.” Fear sent a shiver down my spine at the implied threat, the reaction ingrained, as she swept away, trusting I would do exactly as she commanded.
I grasped Caleb’s arms, dragging him toward the underground cell, wishing he’d left when he had the chance, because I knew Gran would never change her mind and without a miracle, he’d die there.
Chapter Eight
Caleb
I kept my body loose as Dru dragged me over the rough ground, not wanting to alert her to the fact that I’d regained consciousness during the conversation with her grandmother. What I’d heard disturbed me, but it was Dru’s sense of hopelessness that concerned me the most. Her emotions had been all over the place, and not a single one had been positive, making me even more determined to get her away from her grandmother’s influence.
She stopped, and as damp air touched my skin I knew we’d reached the stairs to my cell. I prepared myself for the jarring descent down the steps as she readjusted her grip, but the expected jostling didn’t happen. Instead, my body hovered a couple inches above the ground and I floated down the steps next to her.
Suddenly, their mention of a secret took on new meaning. Paige’s healing ability could be attributed to wolf genes but I’d never heard of a wolf being able to levitate someone. The door clanged open and I was gently lowered to the cold ground.
Do you want me to heal him? Paige’s voice drifted through my mind, even though I knew she’d meant the question for Dru. It appeared I was tuned in to their frequency, a fact they seemed unaware of.
No, it would defeat the purpose of me beating the crap out of him, Dru grumbled and I sensed she stood in the doorway, watching me. Gran is never going to let him go.
Maybe she just needs time, Paige suggested hopefully. She might change her mind when she sees he isn’t a threat.
You didn’t hear her. She’s made up her mind. She’ll only be satisfied when the wolf is gone. My heart thumped painfully at the sadness in her voice, feeling like I was missing something. She’ll do what she always does. I wanted to shout, “What does she do?” but was afraid if they knew I could hear them they’d clam up. She’ll experiment until there’s nothing left of him. Paige was silent, telling me she didn’t have an argument, and I didn’t feel any better knowing their grandmother experimented on wolf shifters.
