Authors: Natalie Shaw
Chapter 18
With each new day, Craven grew a little stronger. Most of his wounds had disappeared, and those that remained were healing quickly. Every day he and Coral would take a run in their wolf-form.
Coral was an attractive human but an even more attractive wolf.
They never strayed too far from the cave. T
he furthest they ventured was to the coast where they would run along the cliff's edge or along the beach.
“Race you to the rock pool,” Coral said. She'd already set off, and had twenty metres on him.
The rock pool was a half mile down the beach. It was a favourite spot for humans, so the two wolves only went there in the early hours of the morning before the rest of the world had woken.
“You let me win,” she said—trying to catch her breath.
“You cheated more like. You were already half way here when you called the race.
“We'd better shift. There'll be fisherman around here soon. We don't want to scare them to death.”
They'd left their clothes behind some rocks close to the cliff face.
“I'm going to be moving on soon,” he said, after they'd shifted to human form.
“So soon? You should allow a few more days for your wounds to heal completely.”
“There's nothing left to heal.”
She knew he was right, but she couldn't bear the thought of him leaving. “Why don't you stay anyway?”
“I can't. You know I can't.”
“I thought you seemed happy here.”
It was true. The last few days were the happiest he'd known since his quest to find Louise had begun. Unlike most shifters, Coral spent the majority of her time in wolf-form. Her life had none of the complications of modern life. She embraced nature in a way that was so simple, and yet so joyous.
“She might be dead,” Coral said, and then bit her lip. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. It's just—”
“It's okay. You're probably right, but I promised myself I'd keep searching until I find her or until I'm sure she's dead.”
“What if she's taken a new mate?”
It had never even occurred to him that Louise might do that. And yet, why wouldn't she if she believed Craven was dead? His heart sank. What if he found her after all of this time, only to discover she was with someone else?
“If she has, then I'll leave her alone. I just need to know she's safe and well.”
Craven picked up a small shell and gave it to Coral. “For your collection.”
“I don't collect shells.”
“You do now.”
“Thanks.” She slipped it into her pocket. “I've enjoyed having you here.”
“I thought you preferred to be alone.”
“I did until you turned up.”
“Sorry.”
“It's okay.” She laughed. “I'm glad you came. You've made me realise that maybe I do need to share my life with someone.”
“Will you go back to your pack?”
“To Delphine and Micah? No chance. I couldn't bear to live in the same pack as those two. If I did, I might do something I'd regret.”
“Where will you go?”
“I don't know. I might throw myself on the mercy of the Lawlers. After all, I have been living on their territory for the last few months.”
“It could be dangerous.”
“I'll be okay. You said yourself most packs won't turn away a healthy, young female. I'm good breeding stock.”
“I think it's a great idea.”
“It would be even better if you'd stay with me.” She blushed.
“I can't. You know I can't.”
“I know, but if you ever change your mind, you know where I'll be.”
*********
No more words were exchanged on the walk back to the cave. Craven felt bad he'd had to turn down Coral's offer to stay with her. If he'd known for sure that Louise was dead, things might have been different. The thought of having somewhere to call home was very appealing. Coral would make someone an excellent mate. She was attractive, smart and very funny. Micah must have been a class 'A' idiot to let her go.
There was a certain amount of danger in trying to join another pack, although less so for a fit, young female than for a male. Craven had decided he'd follow Coral when she went to see the Lawlers' Alpha—just in case she ran into any problems. He wanted to be sure she was okay before he moved on.
“I'll fetch water,” Craven said when they reached the stream.
“Okay,” Coral said, as she made her way to the cave. “I'll start breakfast.”
He was going to miss the peace and serenity of this place, but most of all he was going to miss Coral. He promised himself he'd come back here if Louise was dead or had found another mate.
“What's for breakfast?” he shouted, as he approached the cave entrance.
“Put the bucket down.” The tallest of the three shifters said.
Craven assessed the situation in an instant. He wouldn't be able to reach the three men before the one who was holding Coral had time to slice open her throat.
“Let her go!” Craven shouted.
“I can't do that, I'm afraid.”
He moved a little closer.
“One more step and she dies.”
Craven stopped. He could see the fear in Coral's eyes.
“What do you want?”
“You.”
“Let her go and I'll come with you.”
“Hmmm. That's not going to work,” the taller shifter said. “Unfortunately, I don't trust you.”
“You have my word. Let her go.”
The taller shifter turned to the other two. “We have his word.” All three of them laughed.
“Tell me what you want me to do then.”
“Turn around and face the front of the cave.”
“It's going to be all right, Coral,” Craven said, and then did as they asked.
The impact knocked him forward a few steps. It felt as though he'd been thumped in the back. Instinctively, he reached a hand back to feel the wound. What he actually felt was a small dart still lodged in the muscle of his lower back. As he pulled it out, he could already feel his legs beginning to give. He tried to turn around, but his body wouldn't respond.
“Let,” he slurred as he collapsed first onto his knees, and then forward onto his stomach. “Let her go—”
Chapter 19
The room was empty except for the single metal chair to which Craven had been chained. There were no windows. To his left was a door which had been painted grey to match the walls. A bright fluorescent tube flickered above his head. He pulled at the chains, but they were much too strong for him to escape. The chair wouldn't budge because it was bolted to the floor.
Where was Coral? Whoever these people were, he'd make sure they paid for this with their lives.
“Cowards! Where are you?”
His words echoed around the room. There were no other sounds.
“I'm going to kill you all!”
For over an hour he hurled threats and obscenities into the void of the room. No one came. That was okay. He could wait.
It was two hours later. Craven had just drifted into a light sleep when the door flew open. He was immediately wide awake. “Who are you?” he demanded.
It was the tall shifter from the cave. This time he was alone. “I'll ask the questions. Why did you come to Lawler territory?”
“Take these chains off. Face me wolf to wolf.”
“Thanks, but I think I'll pass on that.”
“Where's Coral?”
“Who?”
“She was with me in the cave.”
“You mean the other intruder.”
“Where is she?”
“Damned if I know.” He grinned. “Or care.”
“If you've touched her, I'll kill you. Very slowly.”
“You really do have anger issues.”
“What do you want?” Craven's face was red with rage. He tugged again at the chains, but they didn't give even an inch.
“Why did you enter Lawler territory? Are you here to challenge our Alpha?”
“What? No. I'm just passing through.”
“Going where?”
“Nowhere. What does it matter? I don't have a pack or territory.”
“Why did you become a lone wolf? Are you searching for something?” He hesitated. “Or someone?”
“I've been looking for an ugly, cowardly scum bag. Now I've found you, I guess I can call off the search.”
“We can do this the easy way. Or we can do it the hard way.”
“Guess it's going to have to be the hard way.”
“Very well.
The tall shifter left the room.
It made no sense. Why keep him alive? Why had they asked if he was looking for someone? Unless they already knew the answer.
“Are you sure you don't want to change your mind?” The tall shifter returned holding the same dart gun they'd used to knock Craven out in the cave.
“Go fuck yourself!”
“I'll take that as a 'no'.”
*********
When he came around, he was in a room almost identical to the one he'd been in earlier. His hands were clamped high above his head; his feet were clamped to the floor. To his right, was a long wooden bench on which lay all manner of implements including: a saw, several knifes, scalpels, pliers, hypodermic needles, a baseball bat, and what looked like an electric prod.
“You could save yourself a lot of pain by answering my questions,” the tall shifter said. Standing next to him was a much older male who deliberately avoided all eye contact with Craven.
“Go fuck yourself.” Craven spat the words.
“It's time to teach you some manners, I think.”
The tall shifter said something to his associate, who then walked over to the bench. When he returned, he was carrying the electric prod.
“Last chance,” the tall shifter said.
“Which part of
go fuck yourself
don't you understand?”
The first shock made Craven jerk back hard against the wall. The second shock made his legs buckle, so he was held up only by his wrist clamps.
“Okay. I'll try again,” the tall shifter came a little closer. “Who are you looking for?”
“Your mother.” Craven pulled himself back to his feet. “She still give good head?”
Another shock. This time the prod was held to his chest much longer. Craven clamped his teeth together and wondered if the pain would ever end.
“Where is she?”
His brain was almost in shut-down, but he still caught the significance of the question:
where is she?
They knew he was looking for Louise. This wasn't about his incursion into Lawler territory. Who were his captors?
The next shock was more powerful and continued until Craven had lost consciousness.
*********
Craven had no idea how long he'd been out. It felt like a jack-hammer was at work inside his head. He was slumped almost onto his knees. Most of his weight was being borne by his arms, which felt like they were being pulled from their sockets. After a few moments, he managed to struggle to his feet which took some of the pressure off his arms.
The door opened, and his two torturers stepped back into the room.
“Ready to talk yet?” the taller one said.
Craven didn't respond. He needed to preserve what remaining strength he had.
“Cat got your tongue?”
Craven closed his eyes, and readied himself for the pain which was to come. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take, and he no longer cared. All that mattered was he'd die knowing Louise was still alive.
The impact knocked Craven back onto his knees. Excruciating pain exploded through the right-hand side of his body. The smaller of the two shifters was wielding the baseball bat. Craven tried to shuffle away, but he could not escape the second strike. His breathing became laboured, and he wondered if his lung had been punctured. It would only take a couple of blows to the head from that club to finish him off. Right now, that would come as a relief.
“You're going to tell us sooner or later.” The tall shifter was still doing all of the talking.
His words came at Craven through an ocean of pain. Craven prayed for the moment when his brain would shut down and he could escape the hurt.
*********
At first, Craven wasn't even sure he'd heard the noise. He'd been drifting in and out of consciousness, and was no longer sure what was real. Then he heard it again. He managed to raise his head, and could see the two shifters staring at the door. They'd heard it too. There was some kind of commotion coming from outside. Whatever it was, Craven gave thanks for the respite it brought.
Loud scratching could be heard at the door. That was quickly followed by an all-mighty thud. The impact was so strong that the door bowed. The two shifters exchanged a glance full of uncertainty. The older one readied the baseball bat while the other grabbed the electric prod. The next thud took the door almost off one of its hinges. Under the next impact, the door crashed to the floor.
The wolf was on the two shifters before they had a chance to use their weapons or to shift into wolf form. Quickly and efficiently, the wolf tore out their throats. Neither man even had a chance to scream. The wolf then turned to face Craven.
There was no escape—Craven's arms and legs were still secured by the shackles. The wolf's eyes felt as though they were burning into Craven's very soul. At least he would go to his death knowing that Louise was alive.
Craven watched through bleary eyes as the wolf shifted into human form. He didn't recognise the male shifter.
“Which one has the keys?” the shifter said.
Craven shook his head.
The shifter threw nervous glances at the open doorway as he searched the bodies for the keys. After a few moments, Craven heard the rattle of a key chain.
“Once you're free, you'll need to shift into your wolf. That will heal the worst of your injuries.
“Who are you?” Craven asked.
The shifter didn't answer. Instead he set about undoing each lock. When he'd unfastened the last one, which had been securing Craven's left arm, Craven fell to the floor in a heap.
“Get up!” the shifter yelled. “You have to shift to your wolf now. The alarm has been raised. They'll be on us in a few minutes.”
“I can't,” Craven managed to say.
“Yes you can! Come on!” The shifter pressed his foot gently onto Craven's rib cage sending a wave of pain through his body. If you don't shift now, we'll both be dead.
Craven still didn't move.
“Louise is waiting for you.”
Those words stung him back to life. From somewhere he managed to find the strength to stand. “Where is she?”
“Later. First we need to get out of here. She's safe—I promise. You have to shift now, before it's too late.”
Craven had a million questions, but no time to ask them. With his last vestiges of strength, he managed to begin the shifting process. His body was so weak it took much longer than it normally would. When the transformation was complete, he stood unsteadily on all-fours. Although he was still in some pain, and was extremely weak, the worst of his injuries had healed.
“We have to go now,” his rescuer said, before he too shifted back into wolf form.
Craven followed the other wolf along a maze of corridors until they reached another door, which was also off its hinges. Craven assumed his rescuer must have entered the building this way. Once outside, the other wolf made straight for a narrow track which wound its way up a steep hillside. Craven struggled to keep pace, and was soon some fifty metres behind. When the other wolf sensed Craven was no longer close behind, he stopped and waited for him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I'm fine. You go on ahead. I'll catch up.”
Twenty minutes later, Craven had lost sight of his rescuer. He still had the wolf's scent though, so kept on running as fast as his busted body would allow. He skirted the top of the hill and began the descent into the next valley. He was almost on them, before he realised what was happening. Twenty metres ahead, his rescuer, still in wolf form, was standing in an area of open ground. Four other wolves surrounded him. His rescuer was turning around slowly on the spot—his gaze shifting from one wolf to the next as he waited to see which one would make the first move. The four wolves all caught Craven's scent at the same instant. One of them howled, and the other quickly joined in. Craven sensed his rescuer tell him to:
Go! Save yourself!