“They should be here soon,” I tell him. We agreed on sunrise, and the light is just starting to peek over the tall pine trees.
“Do you think Remington is okay?” Ransom questions the group.
“She better be. Nicolai said he wouldn’t touch her,” I say. He had also said he would save all his touching for Pru, but I’m choosing not to think about what will happen if he gets his hands on her.
“Wait, stop talking!” Mom interjects. “I hear something.”
We all shut up and listen to our surroundings. The sound starts out low, but as it moves closer, the whirling sound gets louder. “Is that a…?” I trail off.
“It’s a helicopter,” Dad confirms with a nod.
A couple seconds later, a black helicopter comes into view. We have to put our hands over our faces, the strong wind making us all duck down and cover our eyes because the powerful spinning blades kick up all sorts of debris. In my head, I’ve tried to go through all the possibilities and scenarios of how today was going to play out, but not once did I factor in a helicopter.
The sound of large SUVs approaching draws our attention from the helicopter. Three black cars speed into the clearing, and ten or so men pile out of them. Their engines stay running, and the drivers stay put. It appears they’re planning for a fast getaway, and that concerns me.
The helicopter lands across the clearing from us. I hear the engine turn off, and the blades slow down. One of the men walks over to the side door and pulls it open.
I have to stop myself from reacting when I see my sister. I want to run across the field and rip her out of his arms. Nicolai holds her by her upper arms and guides her forward.
Remington has a gag in her mouth, and her hands are bound with duct tape. Her clothes are dirty, and her hair is disheveled. As they get closer to us, I see dried blood on her knuckles and on her forehead. They look like defensive marks, and I assume she got them trying to fight off Nicolai’s men when they abducted her. But as he promised, it doesn’t look like Nicolai harmed her further.
He passes Remington off to one of the men and makes his way toward us. He stops about halfway across the clearing and doesn’t come any closer. Nicolai’s face lights up when he looks at me. His pale, almost dead looking eyes shine with excitement.
“Good morning, Weylyn family,” he greets us, projecting his voice across the field. “And Weylyn family friends.” He smiles at our pack mates that stand behind us and gives them a quick wave. “I’m excited. Are you all excited?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Ransom yells, and I block him with my arm when he tries to take a step forward.
“Remington, are you okay?” Mom calls out to her daughter.
Remi tries to jerk out of the man’s arms, but he only grips her tighter. She tries to tell us something, but the gag in her mouth prevents that.
“Of course she’s okay. I didn’t touch a single hair on her pretty, pretty head.” Nicolai gestures at her with a wave of his hand. “Though I was very tempted to keep her. She’s so…feisty. I enjoyed her company. But I’m sure I’ll enjoy Grey’s more.”
“You’re not getting your hands on her,” I growl at him.
Nicolai tilts his head and gives me an odd look. “Interesting…” is all he says.
“Enough talking, let’s get this moving along.” I stand tall and square my shoulders as I step forward. “Normal pack challenge rules. If I win, your men are not to attack us in retribution and vice versa.”
Nicolai’s blond brows pull together, and a wicked sounding laugh follows. “I won’t be fighting you, boy.” His sharp-looking teeth come together in an amused smile.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I demand, taking another step toward him.
That’s when I smell it—smell her. The scent of vanilla and sunshine floats through the breeze, and panicked, I look around for her.
“Pru!” I shout through the pack link.
“I’m sorry,” she responds immediately.
And that’s when I see her walk out from the line of trees. Her chin is held high, and she glares at Nicolai as she moves toward us. She’s dressed head to toe in black athletic clothes, and her long hair blows around her shoulders, like it was when I left her in the driveway.
I lunge in her direction, but I feel hands grab onto me and pull me back. Confused I look over my shoulder and find my father and—Sawyer?—holding me in place. They have to use all their strength as they struggle to keep me from escaping their grasp.
“What are you doing?” I roar at them, my booming cry echoing around the clearing. “Let go of me!”
They twist my arms behind my back, and I feel one of them kick my legs out from under me. I fall painfully to my knees, but I don’t stop fighting them. I’m a strong wolf, and still, I can’t break free of their painful holds. I hear my mom questioning them, and my brothers are yelling something, but I can only focus on freeing myself.
Then I feel her soft hand on my face, and I turn my head to find her kneeling in front of me. She gives me a small smile before I feel something stab into my neck. I look in horror as she removes the syringe and throws it off to the side.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers over and over as she holds my face in both of her hands now. “I’m sorry.”
“Pru…” I gasp as I feel my limbs lose all strength and feeling. It starts at my fingers and spreads to the rest of my body. “I can’t move. I can’t feel my legs
