Authors: Lauren Dane
“Jeez, Jack. You’ve been here since Sunday, right? Rushed off and came out here and sat around while I was unconscious for a few days? I’m all right now. Honest. Go home. Do your job. Send the bad guys to jail. Don’t feel bad. It was good to see you. Next time come out when I’m able to show you around Seattle, okay?”
He hugged her tightly. Since their parents had died in a car accident when he was fifteen and she was twelve, he’d been taking care of her. She knew he felt awful for having to leave but she trusted he knew her well enough to know she was okay with it.
“Be good, okay? Doc Kennedy told me you’d be going home tomorrow or the next day. She says that you shouldn’t need it but your insurance covers home health care.”
“There are a few people at work who’d help if I asked. Truly. Don’t worry about me! I’m a big girl and I feel just fine. I love you. I’ll call you when they release me and I get home.”
He kissed the top of her head as he stood. “Rest. Oh, and no more alleys, Kari. Talk to you soon.” He blew her a kiss and was gone.
A while later the male nurse came in, took blood and gave her some pain pills for her headache. They made her sleepy so she lay down and took a nap.
* * *
An hour later, the man came back in to check on her and then went out to the doctors’ lounge. Elaine saw him and walked into the hallway to meet him.
“She’s out. Let’s get this show on the road. I just called the airlines, and her brother is on the plane and in the air,” Henry said quietly into Elaine’s ear.
“Okay, I’ve filled out her release papers and they’re filed. Why don’t we wheel her down to X-ray and I’ll pull the van to the loading dock? I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.”
“Right.” Henry left then, going into Kari’s room, putting the pink “discharged” placard in the slot above her bed. He rolled her out of the room, looking for all intents and purposes like he was wheeling her to get an X-ray. Instead, he took a right rather than a left and pushed her out to the deserted loading dock, where he easily picked her up, gently of course, and placed her into the waiting van.
He returned the bed to the area outside of X-ray, where other empty beds were sitting, then jogged back to the loading dock and jumped into the van.
“Call the lodge, Henry. Tell them we’re on the way,” Elaine said as they pulled onto I-90 going east. “We’ll be there—barring any trouble—in about three hours.”
The drive was fairly routine. They had to give Kari a shot about an hour away from Star Lake Lodge, the seat of the Cherchez Clan. She started to wake up but Elaine wanted to be sure she was still under until they got her settled in at the house. It would be better to avoid panic as long as possible.
Pulling off the main road down the long, wooded drive toward the lodge, Elaine finally began to relax. The main house loomed ahead of them, three stories tall, faced with windows and large timber beams. Decks ran the entire length of the ground floor. Pretty flower gardens surrounded the lodge and led down the path to the lake and the many cabins there. The lake cast silvery light up onto the windows. It was home even though she didn’t live there. It always gave her a feeling of belonging.
When they pulled the van to a stop, Andreas and Laurent came out to help. Andreas opened the door and stared down at Kari. Wonder licked at his senses as he took in the beautiful golden hair, curls softly framing her face, the gentle mouth, even the bluish smudges under her eyes. He’d never seen her this close in person before, but her genetic code sang out to his. She was his Mate, no doubt about it. Leaning down, he put his face to the crook of her neck and inhaled her. She smelled of the hospital, of antiseptic and cleansers. Beneath that she smelled like the forest, the deep woods where the loam on the ground cried out with fertile beauty. His body tightened, attraction and desire, electric, shot straight to his cock and wrapped around his heart. She was
his
. He was hers.
He picked her up, marveling at how very small she was in his arms, and a protective glow burst through him. Gently, as if she were the most precious thing in the world, he carried her up the great winding staircase and into her room, adjoining his own.
“When will she wake up?” he asked Elaine, placing Kari on the bed with care.
Elaine dropped to her knees, brushing the side of her face against his calves. She kept her head bowed in a submissive pose at his feet. He touched the top of her head, caressing the side of her face, and she stood, not meeting his eyes.
“In about an hour. She’ll be hungry then too. She’s healed remarkably well. Michael really hurt her, Andreas.” Elaine frowned at that. “It was so much more violence than was necessary. He needs to be spoken to about that.”
“That’s already happened. He said she fought him hard and hit her head as she tried to get away.” Admittedly he felt pride in the fact that even as a human Kari fought her hardest to survive. She was most definitely his queen. He also felt a rumbling of rage, again, thinking of the many ways the situation could have gone wrong—could still be complicated because of his weakling of a cousin.
“Yes, that’s certainly what it looked like and how she described it. If she hadn’t been an Alpha, she probably wouldn’t have survived. She lost an incredible amount of blood and the perforated bowel would have killed her if the blood loss hadn’t.”
Anger radiating from him, he clenched his fists at his sides until he saw Elaine’s nervousness. Willing himself to relax, he touched her face to calm her. “She remembers?”
“Most of it, yes. I think I managed to convince her that her concussion messed her memory up. That she’d been mugged or assaulted.” Elaine shrugged.
“Ah, well. One way or the other she’ll know the truth soon enough. Did her brother get off okay?”
“Yes, we made sure he was on that plane before we left the hospital. She’ll have to talk with him in a day or so. He’ll be suspicious if she doesn’t. I’ll call him later tonight to fill him in on her progress, stave him off a bit.”
“Thank you, Elaine. You’ve done well by me and my Mate.”
Chapter Two
Kari awoke, feeling as if she was wrapped in cotton. She opened her eyes to find she wasn’t in the hospital. Confused, she looked around and saw she was in a large room with wood-paneled walls. Light shafted over the blankets on the bed. A real bed, not a hospital bed. Flowers burst from vases on every conceivable surface, filling her view with a riot of color. Beneath the sweet scent of the wildflowers was the clean smell of beeswax on the furniture. More distant, fresh air and the crisp scent of pine trees and verdant moss. Faintly, she heard water lapping against a shoreline of some sort.
She continued to study the room until her eyes focused on Dr. Kennedy, who sat on a nearby chair reading a mystery novel.
“Dr. Kennedy? What’s going on? Where am I?”
Looking up, Dr. Kennedy placed her book aside and stood with a smile. “Kari, you’re awake. Good.” Getting up, she quickly checked Kari over and stepped back, apparently satisfied with the results.
“Where am I?” Kari repeated.
Dr. Kennedy smiled and took a deep breath. “Well, Alice, you just fell down the proverbial rabbit hole. I’ll start simple. You’re at Star Lake Lodge. It’s up in the Northern Cascades about an hour north of Leavenworth. You’ll be here for a while.”
“What? Why?” Alarm began to creep through her system.
“Well, the why is pretty complicated and I’m not the one to tell you everything. Your life changed that night in the alley, Kari. It wasn’t a dog that attacked you. It was a wolf. A werewolf.”
“A what?” Kari laughed. “My head injury is worse than I thought, or the drugs are working too hard because I swear I heard you say I was attacked by a werewolf.”
“No, your head is fine. And yes, you heard correctly. You were attacked by a werewolf,” Dr. Kennedy repeated with annoying calm.
She sat up and winced, a bit dizzy. “So
you’re
the one on drugs then? There are no such things as werewolves.”
“Ah, but there are, beautiful.”
Kari turned in the direction of the deep voice and found herself looking up into the face of the most breathtakingly handsome, masculine man she’d ever laid eyes on. He was easily six and a half feet tall, broad-shouldered. Thick, muscular arms and thighs and a long, lean stomach were obvious markers of his strength. He had large hands with beautifully long fingers. Wheat-blond hair brushed his shoulders, loose, holding a slight wave through the thick silk that made her fingers clench with the desire to touch. Eyes the gold-brown of whiskey took her in. Lips, full and ripe for kissing, held a natural smile. His voice flowed over her like water over a river stone, smooth and deep. The man was a complete package of devastating attractiveness. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kari felt her body respond to him.
“I’m Andreas Phinney. Welcome to my home.” Reaching out, he took her hand in his and electricity flowed back and forth between them, bringing a gasp from her lips. Smiling in a cocky, self-assured way, he planted a kiss on her palm.
“Why am I here and when can I go home?” A bit breathless, Kari pulled her hand out of his grasp.
Andreas sat on the bed next to her. The heat rising from his skin in waves enveloped her, dizzying her. “Kari, the next few days are going to be hard for you but please believe that I’ll do everything I can to make them easier. Not just me but everyone here. Before we get to any long explanations, let’s get some food into you. Are you hungry?”
Annoyed, she waved her hand at him. “What? No, I’m not hungry. I want to know what the hell is going on here!” Well, she was hungry actually, but fear was overtaking hunger pretty well right then.
Andreas sighed and looked at Dr. Kennedy. “Elaine, can you please go and ask Anna to prepare a tray for Kari and bring it up? She and I are going to talk a bit.”
As Dr. Kennedy left, Kari backed up against the headboard, scanning the room, looking for something to use as a weapon.
“You don’t have to fear me, Kari. Not ever. I would never hurt you.” Andreas’s voice was soothing.
“Yeah, well, forgive me for not believing that. I don’t know you. I’m in your house. And no one seems to want to tell me anything other than some farcical nonsense about werewolves.”
“All right. From the beginning, the unabridged version. I’m a werewolf. The leader of the Cherchez Clan. My father and grandfather before him held the position I hold now. You were marked by a werewolf in that alley on Saturday. Michael—the wolf who changed you—got a bit excited and lost control. He’s very sorry and will continue to be until you are well enough to decide on his punishment. You weren’t supposed to be marked for another few months so that we could ease your transition.”
Mouth open in shock, Kari sat speechless. He seemed so normal. Hell, Dr. Kennedy seemed normal too. Just went to show how people could be totally lucid and yet completely batshit crazy at the same time.
Ignoring her look, he continued. “Anyway, when you were bitten—marked—the saliva that carries the virus got into your blood and is already working. The marks are gone, aren’t they?” He went on without the answer. “We need more female wolves. There aren’t a lot of natural werewolves that are female. So we must, from time to time, find human women who have shown a biological ability in their family tree to not only survive the change but to be able to mate and breed with us once changed.
“Werewolves can be created when a human is bitten by a werewolf. But it’s more complicated than contaminated saliva being introduced into their system. Not all werewolves can do it and not all humans survive. In fact, many don’t because the bite has to be deep and severe enough to cause a certain level of trauma in the body, and many humans die from the wounds before they can transform. Moreover, only werewolves who are born so can create new werewolves.
“You’re one of those very special human women, Kari. Four generations ago, your sixth cousins were changed and gave birth to werewolves, and a generation after that one of your ancestors was an Alpha, a leader. You’re meant to be my Alpha-bitch. My Mate.”
Fury pushed down the rising panic. “Your what? Oh no you didn’t! You did not just call me your bitch. On top of being dangerously stupid, are you some kind of cult? Get the hell away from me! Jesus! Bitch? You want to see bitch? I’ll show you bitch! I want to go home. I don’t want to play this game anymore. You need help.”
Elaine showed up with the tray, looking concerned. Andreas shook his head once and motioned for her to set it down on the dresser near the door.
“
This
is your home, Kari. You
are
home. I mean no offense by my use of the word ‘bitch.’ This isn’t a cult. This isn’t a game. I know you can be happy here once you figure out we’re telling you the truth. I’m sorry for the way my cousin brought you over. It’s against all of our rules, you know. But we can get through this. You were meant to be here. Can’t you feel that?”
Kari stood then, nearly tripping over the bedcoverings. She realized with a start that they were the ones from her apartment. A sinking feeling dropped like lead in her stomach. Suddenly her life was a bad episode of
The Twilight Zone
.
“This isn’t happening,” she murmured, willing it to be true. It wasn’t. “Look, whoever you two are, my brother is a cop. He’ll know I’m missing. Please, please don’t do this. I want to go home now.” She blinked back tears.
Andreas held his hands up, showing her he meant no harm. “I’m sorry, Kari. I don’t want you to be scared or unhappy. Two nights from now is the full moon, we’re having a Clan Gathering and you
will
transform and take your wolf form. It’ll be painful the first time but it’s also exhilarating and beautiful. You can’t do it alone. Especially not the first time.” Smiling at her sexily, he said softly, “I can’t wait to run with you.”
Kari stood, openmouthed. Okay, she’d take pissed off over terrified any day. She could work with anger. Dropping the comforter, she stalked toward the door. “No way, people. No way, no how. I’m a fucking software engineer, for god’s sake. I don’t even read horror novels. I don’t watch scary movies. This has gone on long enough.”
Another man stepped into the doorway, nearly as tall as Andreas and just as wide. He had strawberry-blond hair that twisted in a long braid down his back. His eyes were the color of the summer sky, vivid blue. He had a sprinkling of freckles on his cheeks and nose and he was smiling at her like he told people they were werewolves every day of the week. He was also blocking her exit.
“You can’t keep me here against my will. This is kidnapping!”
Damn it!
What was this place? “What’s next, are you planning to rape me?” She was quickly losing the battle to hold back hysteria. Her heart was beating so fast she could see her pulse in her wrist. She tried to remember if the self-defense class she’d taken before she left Atlanta had covered this type of situation. Was she supposed to stay calm and gain trust or was she supposed to be angry? Damn, she knew she should have paid attention instead of watching the sunny day outside the big windows.
“Kari, please!” Dr. Kennedy urged. “You’re getting worked up. No one is going to hurt you. Get back into bed and eat. You don’t look very well.”
“
Worked up!
Well excuse me.” She snorted. “Who is Mount Dude here and why is he blocking my way?” She jerked her head toward the man in the doorway.
“I’m Phillip, your bodyguard. My life is yours.”
Her eyes widened for a moment and she bit back the sarcastic response that burned her tongue. “Uh, yeah. Well how about a ride into town then?”
“I can’t do that, Alpha.”
“Alpha? Special. You think I’m a werewolf too?”
“A werewolf queen,” Phillip said. Amusement lit his eyes.
Oh, of course, a queen too. If you were going to be in some delusional werewolf cult, you might as well dream big. This kept getting better and better.
Andreas still sat on the bed looking delicious but slightly confused. Why was it always the cute ones who were crazy? Scanning the room, she noted the locks on the windows.
“I have to go to the bathroom. Is that allowed?” Maybe she could find a way to escape in there.
“Of course.” Andreas pointed to a door. “Right through here.”
Holding the gap in her hospital gown closed, she stomped past. After slamming the door in his face with vicious satisfaction, she frowned, noting the lack of a lock. She also noted that while there was a window, it was at least seven feet off the ground, long and narrow. Even after dieting a month she’d never get through it. There was a skylight but it was even higher up than the window and it had no opening she could see. She quickly did her business while looking for possible weapons but came up empty. Not even a razor,
damn
.
“Are you all right, Kari?” Andreas asked through the door.
Opening it with a jerk, she glared at him. “What, a girl can’t even pee in privacy now?”
Andreas took a step back, hands open. “I apologize. I just wanted to be sure you were all right. Won’t you eat? Now that you know there is no avenue of escape? I’m sorry we have to keep you here. I truly am. But after you’ve transformed you’ll be free and you won’t have the desire to leave.”
“Like I’d eat anything you people gave me. How do I know it hasn’t been drugged or poisoned?”
“Kari, the last thing any of us would do is harm you.” Andreas had the gall to look hurt that she’d even suggest such a thing.
“Did ya ask me if I wanted to come here? Did you get my permission to take me from the hospital? You kidnapped me! Don’t want to hurt me, indeed!”
Phillip stepped into the room. “Would it help if I took a bite of everything first? To show you it’s all harmless?”
“I want you all to leave, please.” She had to think.
They all stood there.
“I said
please
. I asked nicely. I’ve shown you more manners than you’ve shown me.”
“Kari, love, let’s sit and eat together. You need to keep your strength up, you’re healing still.” Andreas motioned to the tray of food.
“Get the fuck out of here now!” she screamed before bursting into tears.
“If that’s what you want. I’m sorry you’re so upset. Please calm down.” Andreas’s voice was soothing, pleading. He looked confused and unhappy and she almost felt guilty for making him upset. Almost.
“Then let me go home.” Unable to bite back a sob, she slid down to the floor next to the bed, tears scalding her cheeks.
“Please let me comfort you. Don’t be frightened of me.” Andreas crouched next to her, reaching toward her slowly. He was so freaking big, it pushed her buttons.
Scooting away from him, she slapped at his hands. “Oh my god, you are the limit! You kidnap me, hold me against my will, and you want to
comfort
me? I shouldn’t be afraid? Get out, get out, get out!” She pulled herself into a tight ball, yanking her comforter over her head, shutting down.
They argued a bit more before Andreas sighed, ordered everyone out and the door opened, closed and everything was silent again. Fear, anxiety and hopelessness warred inside her with some weird sense that everything was all right.
Kari allowed herself a few minutes of tears to get them all out of the way. Once that had passed, she slowly poked her head from the blankets to be sure she was truly alone. Once she was certain she was, she slid her feet to the ground and stood on shaky legs.
Feeling out of control was something she didn’t tolerate well. Much like being afraid. Falling apart wasn’t an option. It didn’t do any good. So she’d plan instead of worry. Crazy stuff was afoot and she needed to get her shit together so she’d be ready when she got the opportunity to get away.
First, she needed to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Making up her mind to push her panic and fear away, Kari managed to get her legs working well enough to get herself into the adjoining bathroom, where she noticed the closet. Her clothes hung there.
Her clothes. From her apartment.
Built-in drawers lined the walls. Each one of them was filled with her things. Her underwear! Socks, sweats, pajamas, all folded neatly. As if they belonged there.