Or maybe she was grasping at straws—thin, red, coffee stirring straws of hope that they’d all have a tiny chance in hell of getting out of this unscathed.
Damon dragged her backward, her toes barely touched the ground. His hand squeezed on her throat, nearly cutting all her air off, and black dots danced before her eyes.
She must have blacked out because, when she came to, she was lying on the ground. The moon lit up the tops of the trees and shimmered to the dirt in various places through the thick leaves.
“I see you are finally awake.”
Janine jerked up and tried to scramble to her feet, but she was suddenly pinned flat on her back. “Get off me, Damon.”
He laughed, and in the distance, the sounds of fighting could still be heard. “I don’t think I’ll be getting off you until I get off.”
Her stomach clenched, and she felt bile burn up the back of her throat.
“Raze will kill you.” Her fear kicked up even higher when she realized Damon was completely naked.
Damon snarled and grabbed her neck with his big hand again. “You’re his mate, aren’t you?”
She wasn’t going to tell him anything. “If you let me go now, and promise to never come back, I’ll make sure they leave you alone.”
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“Yeah, guess it must be hard to accept when your mate rapes you. He’s just as predatory as we are. He enjoyed every minute of it,” he spat.
“That goes to show what you know. He never touched me like that. He’s smarter than you. We both are. We only made you believe he did as you instructed.” When the scowl marred Damon’s features, quickly followed by a new burst of anger, Janine was sorry she’d run off at the mouth.
“What, you think I’m stupid?” Damon yelled the words.
“No. Just really full of yourself.” She cried out when he backhanded her on the cheek.
“I’m done with the chit chat, bitch. If Raze can’t do as instructed, I’ll make sure the job gets done myself.” His eyes glowed.
She screamed and struggled when he ripped her shirt from her, but he held her down easily. Suddenly, Raze burst through the trees and stood not ten feet from them with Anthony and Brent close behind. At any other time, she might be a bit embarrassed standing in the midst of so many naked men, but under the circumstances, she barely noticed. She guessed that they were probably comfortable with their nudity, was used to it, since they lost their clothes each time they shifted.
Damon sprang up and yanked Janine against him, his arm wrapped around her throat. “One step closer and she dies.”
“Don’t listen to him, Raze. Just kill the bastard.” The words lacked the anger she felt because her oxygen was severely depleted.
Raze raised his hand. “What do you want, Damon?”
“Since you so obviously snuffed my punishment to begin with according to your little bitch here, I can only assume that you care for her, and I believe she is your mate.”
Raze’s eyes snapped to Janine’s and she mouthed, “sorry.”
“Take me. Just let her go, and I’ll go back with you willingly.” Raze never took his eyes from Janine.
“No!” Janine cried out before Damon tightened his hold.
“I think your bitch here might be right. I have a better idea. Since she means so much to you, you should make her one of us. Don’t you think that would be romantic, Janine?” Damon snarled.
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“Please, Damon. I’ll do anything but that. Name anything else.” Raze put his hands out, palms up in a gesture of surrender.
Janine was certain deep down that Damon wasn’t going to compromise on his command, and the way Raze was offering himself up on the proverbial silver platter made her want to cry, and then kick Damon right in the jewels. Raze was willing to die for her, and her life wasn’t at stake . . . just her humanity.
“This time, when I tell you to do something, you’ll do it, or I will. Your choice, but time’s running out.” Damon’s words came in a clipped, angry manner.
Raze’s fists clenched and unclenched, and his eyes glowed. Janine knew if he got his hands on Damon, he was a dead man, and as horrible as it might make her, she was looking forward to him ripping Damon to shreds.
“Don’t do this, Damon. Mates are sacred. They aren’t meant to be abused.” Raze’s words sounded forced through his clenched jaw.
“Tick, tock, tick tock.” Damon sniffed at Janine’s hair, and she closed her eyes.
“Damon, if you do it, I’ll kill you. I swear it.” Raze’s voice was low, and the underlying tone gave credence to his promise.
“Time’s up.” Damon laughed a wicked sound that sent shivers down Janine’s spine.
Damon yanked her head to the side and bared his teeth. She screamed out and waited for the pain.
“Wait!” Raze shouted.
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Chapter Thirteen
Raze’s heart thundered, and his skin crawled with fingers of dread. If it came between Damon and him biting Janine to change her, it would be him even if it meant she would hate him. Raze tried not to let his gaze travel to Janine’s torn shirt. The fact that Damon had his hands on her at all sent an inferno of rage pounding through his veins.
He walked toward Damon and Janine slowly. “I’ll do it.”
“I knew you’d come around, Raze. You’ve always been the chivalrous, white horse riding type,” Damon mocked.
“Janine. Please tell me you won’t hate me.” Raze’s breath stuck in his throat when she fixed her wide, blue eyes on him.
“It’s okay. If I have no choice, I would rather it be you. It’s not your fault. I won’t forget that.” She smiled and tears spilled down her cheeks.
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment as relief and grief washed through him. He was about to betray his mate, the
