Olivia wrapped her arms over her stomach and rolled to the side.
A marching band stomped around in a circle behind her eyes as she lay there, listening trying to hold it together.
Her eyes flew open at the sound of underbrush cracking.
Should she play dead? No, that wasn’t a wolf thing. Should she shift? Deciding to fight instead of flight, she bolted up with instant regret. Olivia wasn’t sure if she could even focus enough to shift. Backpedaling, she pushed herself up and away as a metallic zip broke the silence of her thoughts.
The darkness in the tent and behind the figuring enter said it was now night. Ethan had to be going insane.
She sniffed the air. Most of the scents were the same, and she caught a glimpse of the outside.
Okay. Still the same forest as before. Probably.
“You’re awake. I’d apologize for that nasty bump on the head, but you tried to run from me.”
A man crawled inside, he was noticeably smaller than Ethan. And his presence didn’t command attention like Ethan’s.
“Who are you?” she asked, squaring her shoulders. Naked and exposed, she’d never felt more vulnerable than now. Quickly she pulled her arms closed and wrapped them around her chest. She crouched in the corner to hide what best she could.
God, she really hoped Ethan was on his way.
“I can see why he chose you. You’d look pretty amazing under me as I fucked you. How do you think your little alpha would like that? Would he take you back?”
She shuddered. “You don’t get to touch me. I don’t want you.”
“I wasn’t asking permission. You reek like that piece of shit mate of yours anyway.”
She bared her teeth at him. No one messed with Ethan.
“Relax,” he said, as he crawled closer. She had nowhere to go. He took up the remaining space of the pathetic excuse of shelter. The idea hit her that all she had to do was tear through the fabric and run.
The yellow of his eyes glowed as he came closer. She couldn’t turn away. A predator never looked away from danger. She would face him head-on.
“Go away or I’ll scream. This tent is ridiculous. Who puts someone they kidnapped into a tent?” she asked.
He chuckled.
“One, if you scream, no one will help you. Two it’s cheap, and three your scent is easier to find. We’ve been trying to find a way to rid ourselves of that damn pack and you, sweetheart, just gave us the answer. You're bait. He won’t be able to resist you.”
She gasped.
“Imagine my surprise that Ethan had mated someone outside the pack. How is it he didn’t tell you to stay off our land? Stupid fool.”
The rough skin of his fingers brushed against her ankle, slowly snaking around her calf.
She kicked out at him. “Don’t touch me.”
Recoiling from the sneer on his lips, she glared at him.
“Perhaps you say that now, but once your little mate is dead, you’ll be begging. I know women like you. You like the power, I can taste it in the air. I don’t know what you are exactly, but you like the power.”
“You can’t beat him. He’s too strong.”
Kurt growled. “I can beat him if he isn’t expecting it. If he’s protecting someone else.”
“So you’re weak then. You can’t beat him fair and square. What a wimp.”
She squeaked as his hand pressed against her throat.
“Listen here, bitch. I am not weak. I’m smart. And you my sweet smelling little thing are going to be his undoing. I suggest you decide if you want to die with him or not.”
She cringed as he ran his tongue over her cheek.
He let go as a female voice broke his rage.
“Kurt?” A female voice easily came through the thin tent.
“Kurt, is he coming?”
“Damn it, Gianna. I told you I would come get you when it was time.” His fist slammed the floor and he pulled away.
A young woman, maybe around Olivia’s age, appeared in the opening. Beautiful golden hair lighter than the darkness around them. As she sank into the opening, Olivia found herself envious of the girl’s beauty.
“Kurt? For shit’s sake. Get her some damn clothes. I swear to God, you're a huge asshole.”
He scowled. “Yeah. And you’re a fucking buzz kill.”
The woman, Gianna, gave him a stern look. “She’s innocent. Well, I’ll assume she is for the moment.”
Olivia didn’t like the scrutiny. She wasn’t comfortable in her own body, now wasn’t any different. The woman turned her attention back to Olivia.
“Kurt, get out.” She didn’t bother paying him any more attention. “So, you’re the one Ethan chose then?” Gianna rolled her eyes as he started out the flap in the tent.
Olivia’s eyes followed Kurt as he threw a tantrum, kicking the dirt once he’d stood up.“You’re a bitch,” he said under his breath as he walked away.
“Ignore him. He’s still pissed my sister chose Ethan over him.” The stern look on her face said she’d pretty much had it with everything. “Chose might be the wrong word. My sister is a master user. I do find it fascinating that after my sister though, you should be the one to tame the alpha.”
User? The newly possessive side of her faltered giving way to the fiercely protective instinct she hadn’t seen yet. A twinge deep within her brought regret to the surface. What the heck had to been thinking? She ran from him and why?”
Olivia’s wolf seem to settle or maybe lie in wait. Her head on paws waiting for the shit show to start. The human side of Olivia didn’t share the sentiment. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.
One side of her was pissed she was naked, another side sick at the fact she’d been kidnapped, and the sprinkles on the cupcake were the fact she got to hear all about the woman who came before her.
Olivia didn’t have a long history of anything exciting. She’d been the reliable one.
If
