Authors: Dixie Lynn Dwyer
Tags: #Romance
“Before Patrick died he had chosen a second-in-command to take his place. I am the King of the Secret Order,” Brennan stated, and they were shocked as they stared at him. It was Angus and his brothers who bowed first and then Declan pack.
“There is more. Ava is…the Jewel of Ireland,” Brennan revealed, and they all gasped.
They were silent as his words sunk in.
“We cannot wait. Gather the men, anyone who is loyal to the King, the Circle, and the Secret Order. We leave in five minutes,” William announced, and they began to gather their army in preparation to save their mate and their leaders.
The moment Miller opened the door, she scrambled out, falling to her knees then quickly getting up, prepared to run. She never expected the fist to her ribs or the strike to her gut by both men as she fell back down to the ground. She tried to catch her breath, but they had knocked the wind out of her and caused massive pain. It was Miller who threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the castle.
She heard the shrieks of upset and surprise by staff she knew all her life as they saw she was alive and back inside of the castle.
“Oh sweet Jesus. What have ya done ta her?” Mary, one of the maids and caregivers, asked as she began to move toward Ava.
“Go back to work. I will deal with her.”
Ava turned to see Mary hurry away as Fenly appeared and a small smile of triumph filled his face.
He walked closer to her, looked her body over with eyes that clearly stated his intentions until he was inches from her body, staring down at her as he inhaled.
“I can smell their stench on you. You dare insult me like this.”
Ava did everything she could not to spit in his face or verbally attack him. She wasn’t sure where her next move lay, but she was certain that her men, Brennan, and Fennigan pack were on their way. She just needed time to stall.
He reached for her cheek, slowly, but she still flinched at his approach, which only turned the Alpha wolf on more. He knew that he could intimidate her and that he currently had the upper hand. She would not give in to his demands. She would not allow him to have her. She would rather die.
He clutched her cheek, and she closed her eyes, willed the disgust and anger away best she could. But then he moved closer.
She felt his other hand glide along her hip bone then across her ribs before resting on her breast.
She attempted to pull away, but with precision and speed, he held her neck beneath her hair and maneuvered his thigh between her legs. He was tall and large, a definite force to reckon with, and he appeared determined.
“Your breasts are perfect Ava, just like you are. So sweet, so innocent you were before fleeing to New York. Before those lowlife wolves got their paws on you. I searched for you. I’ve wanted you to share in this wealth and in the new world I would be King of.” He nuzzled along her neck and inhaled.
“You reek of them. You chose some lowly pieces of crap over someone like me?” he stated then yanked her head back, revealing her neck and her shoulder to his view. His eyes grew wide, and they changed color, revealing his wolf before he spoke again.
“They marked you,” he stated as he abruptly released her, causing her to lose her balance and land near the couch. Ava arose quickly, prepared to defend herself best she could.
“They will die for that, and then you will belong to me. Now tell me where the Jewel is. Tell me where your father hid it,” he demanded to know as she slowly stepped farther away.
“I don’t know where it is. He never even mentioned the Jewel before.”
“Liar! I know he told you where it was. He confided in you with everything. You were practically running his businesses.”
“I know nothing, Fenly.”
He took two steps toward her, striking her across the cheek. She took the hit but would not fall. Instead the anger and hatred for this man grew stronger.
He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her along with him toward the stairs.
“I have ways to make you talk, Ava. Ways to make you succumb to my total command. You will be mine. All mine in every way. There is no other life out there. What happened in New York and with those wolves is over now. You are mine.” He growled as he dragged her up the staircase despite her continued efforts to fight him.
She fell to the steps numerous times, trying to stop him from bringing her to the bedroom, but she was no match for his strength.
When he reached her bedroom door, he threw her inside and onto the bed.
“Take off your clothes or I will do it for you.”
She shook her head as she absorbed his glowing eyes, the feral look of hatred and anger spewing from his tone and body language. This was going to be painful.
“I hate you, Fenly. I will never be yours,” she screamed, and he launched himself toward her. She rolled to the side as he reached out, grabbed ahold of her, and tumbled to the bedroom carpeting with her. She began swinging her arms, trying to fight him off. He struck her face, stunning her a moment before grabbing her wrists and holding them above her head as he straddled her waist.
“Stop fighting me, Ava. We are going to consummate this relationship whether you are awake or unconscious.”
“I will always fight you. I’ll never stay here with you.”
He smirked as he leaned closer to her face.
“I’m going to fuck you, Ava, mark you my mate by biting into your neck and sealing your fate, and then I’m going to break your leg. If you try again to escape or I even think that you’re planning something, I’ll break your leg again so you can’t move for months. I’m not playing around, Ava. I’ve had two years to plan this.”
Ava was shocked at his words.
“You sick bastard. What in the world is wrong with you?” she asked, uncertain that Fenly was sane.
He moved closer, his lips inches from hers.
“You are going to be all mine, Ava. Get ready,” he whispered then covered her mouth with his own. She tried to stop him, but he clutched both her wrists with one hand, restraining her as he used his other hand to explore her body. There was no way to fight him. He was so big and strong, and she knew that he could kill her with one twist from his hands. She felt the sweater rip then his hand grope her breasts as he plunged his tongue into her mouth. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t scream as his scent filled her insides and made her feel like vomiting.
Oh God, please let them come. Please let them save me.
Ava felt his hand move away from her breasts a small sensation of relief filled her belly until she felt his hand push under the waist of her jeans.
She wiggled her hips, trying to free herself from his control. Then she felt something sharp, realizing that his nails turned to claws and cut away the material from her thighs.
“Please stop! No, Fenly, please!” she screamed as she tossed side to side from underneath him. She felt the pain radiate through her body as she attempted to get free. Her hip pulled, the muscles in her neck and shoulder strained for relief, but he was just too damn strong. She cried out for him to stop, and she sobbed for help.
He released her lips and licked down her throat and over her neck.
“Mine,” he stated, using his torso to shove her legs apart as he held her hands above her. She couldn’t fight him. He had massive strength, and now her legs were spread over his shoulders, her mound in front of his face.
He closed his eyes and inhaled as she cried.
“Let’s get you ready.” He stroked his tongue across her panties up then down before she felt his teeth replace his tongue. She screamed out in pain just as the door to the bedroom swung open.
“Fenly, they’re here. They’re invading the castle,” Pete stated, and Fenly quickly rose up, dragging Ava up with him. The room spun, and Ava tried to turn away from Fenly.
Her panties hung loosely against her body, and her bra and sweater were torn, barely covering her breasts.
“You guard her, while I take care of the problem outside.”
“She got away the last time, Fenly. Should I bring her somewhere else?” Pete asked.
“Stay in here with her. If she tries to escape just tie her to the bed. She’ll be in that bed most of the time anyway. She might as well get used to it,” Fenly stated then grabbed her face and shook it.
“Don’t try anything, Ava. Remember what I told you earlier,” he said then walked out of the room.
Ava felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She couldn’t fight Fenly alone. She couldn’t fight this guy Pete either. What was she going to do?
Brennan led Fennigan pack as well as Dolberg and Fagan pack through the hidden tunnels beneath the castle. They spread out with numerous men taking each section of the castle, prepared to simultaneously attack. Outside the front gates, William and his brothers took position. They were going to head through the front doors with the other men. As William had predicted, Fenly stood pompously alongside numerous men.
“You are trespassing, Declan. That’s grounds for attack, never mind it’s against our laws,” Fenly yelled.
“We do not share the same laws, Fenly. Release our woman and we will not kill you and your men. We’ll let the Circle decide your fate,” William countered.
“Ahh, the Circle is not my leader any longer. You see, I have possession of the Jewel and of the O’Brian estate, never mind the last living heir,” Fenly stated as William and his men slowly approached. There was no way that Fenly knew that Ava was the Jewel of Ireland. He had to be bluffing. Perhaps he figured since Fenly had Ava then she would tell him where the Jewel was? Little did Fenly know that hundreds of wolves surrounded the castle and that Fennigan pack were inside and were taking over control.
William caught Ava’s scent on Fenly. It was more than just her perfume, her body’s natural fragrance. Fenly reeked of her.
“Ahh, yes, I had the pleasure of welcoming home my bride. She is quite tasty, but I am sure you know that. Too bad for you that you’ll never taste her again,” Fenly remarked as William, Mick, and Pat stepped forward to attack only to be surrounded by guards with guns.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Those weapons are carrying silver bullets. I personally would rather torture you to death, but be my guest and end it quickly,” Fenly stated, sounding cocky.
William stood his ground, knowing that Sean, Kyle, Quinn, and the others had their own weapons set on Fenly and his men.
* * * *
Ava sat on the edge of the bed. Her face and mouth throbbed, her arms and wrists were already bruising from Fenly’s restraining her, and now Pete stood there watching her like a hawk. He kept looking over her body, and she had nothing to cover it up with. She thought about making a run for the closet, but he would be on her like white on rice. How could she get rid of him so she could escape into the tunnel?
He took a seat a few feet away from her and stared.
That was when Ava saw what appeared to be glowing eyes between the slats of the closet doors. She did a double take and knew that someone was there. Was it Brennan or her mates? She could only hope. With Pete in this position they couldn’t just shove open the door and come through. She needed to distract him.
Ava took a deep breath and began to adjust her position on the bed. She sat on one leg and began to rub her right inner thigh, revealing her panties as well as her bare belly.
“Damn, I think I’m going to have bruises everywhere,” she whispered, and Pete stared at the motion of her fingertips.
She lowered her head, pretending to see if she was red near her groin.
“It is so achy. I hope I don’t get all black and blue there. Is it red? Is it changing colors, can you tell?” she asked him, spreading her thigh wider, giving him a hell of a view.
Pete got up from the chair, turning his back toward the closet doors.
“Open wider and I’ll tell you,” he stated, and she batted her eyes as she adjusted her legs on the bed. Pete reached for her thighs just as the closet doors burst open and Angus and Aidrian attacked. Pete was dead in a half a second, and Brennan was making sure that Ava was okay.
“He hurt you,” Brennan stated as he looked over her cheek and lip.
“I’m fine. Where are William and the others?” she asked.
“They’re taking care of Fenly on the outside. We’re taking over the inside,” Angus stated from above her then looked over her body.
He shook his head.
“Lucky Declan bastards,” Angus remarked.
Ava scrunched her eyes, not understanding his remark as she got up off the bed.
“Go back down through the tunnel just in case, Ava,” Brennan stated.
She walked into the closet and pulled out a box on the top shelf. Pulling out her gun, she opened another box. It was black velvet, and her father had given it to her as a gift. He told her she would know if and when she had to use it.
Brennan appeared beside her.
“What is that?”
“My father gave them to me. They’re silver bullets,” she stated then loaded the gun.
“Ava, I must insist that you stay right here where you’re safe.”
“I need to help my mates. Isn’t this what being part of a pack is all about?”
“It’s more than that, Ava. I explained to the others. You are the Jewel of Ireland. If you die, then the Circle dies, the Secret Order dies, and our race will be destroyed.”
Ava was shocked by his words, but the fact was that she only cared about her men. She felt that they were in danger, and until she knew they were safe, she couldn’t deal with any other family secrets or royal positions. She just didn’t care.
“If something happens to my mates, I won’t ever be the same and I will die. They need me,” she stated then hurried out of the room. It wasn’t until she was halfway down the stairs that she realized she was still only wearing underwear and a ripped sweater. So much for looking prepared. She ran toward the front door and saw that Fenly stood looking pompous and in control. Little did he know that the castle was now under the good guys’ control and he merely had power over the front.
She peeked through the side window and was shocked to see that William, Pat, and Mick were being held at gunpoint by two men. Her heart clamored inside of her chest as the fear of losing her mates entered her mind. She loved them. They meant more to her than anything else in this world. Without them she would have nothing. The anger toward Fenly built stronger once again. He had taken away her father, her home, and her life. He was not going to take her future and her men from her.