Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3), page 6
“She has to learn what it means to be part of a pack,” he said. “And that means we don’t babysit. They’ll never accept her if that’s the only job.”
“And yet it is. We have to protect her. So, what are we going to do?” She started to paint again. “Because it’s getting late.”
Kodiak didn’t respond, he knew that. All of it. And it might be getting dark, but there was still daylight, so Tamaska would be all right. They still had about an hour before it would be truly dark.
She has until then.
And then he’d probably fuck over his position and try and find her.
“Hey Kodiak, it’s getting late,” said Onai, coming into the room.
Kodiak threw the paint brush into the pot, then glared at Onai, who stopped in his tracks. Tiredness weighed on his shoulders and fogged his mind. “I’m aware.”
“I mean, shouldn’t we go to the hut now?” asked Onai. He stood firm, maintaining eye contact for a moment before showing his submission to the alpha-to-be.
The anger that burned within Kodiak morphed into a tightness in his chest. It was time for the ceremony that would mark him as the new pack leader. And Tamaska wasn’t there.
“Where’s your would-be mate? ” Onai asked softly.
“With your car,” he said.
Kodiak’s phone beeped again, but he ignored it. Tamaska had left her phone behind, so it wasn’t her. He didn’t have time to answer messages. Everyone had received their instructions, and they just had to get on with it.
If he stuck to routine, then things would calm.
“She’s not back with my car?”
Kodiak growled under his breath. “No,” he said.
“But we need it to get to the ceremony.”
“Onai, she’ll be back. Grab a brush and help finish painting,” Kodiak said.
His phone beeped again as Onai nodded. “I’ll start in the front room. It won’t take us long.”
“Kodiak, where are you?” Channing burst into the room looking about frantically.
“What the fuck now?” Kodiak asked.
“Didn’t you get the notifications on your phone?” asked Channing, nearly knocking Onai over.
“What are you talking about?” Kodiak ran his hand through his hair, unease spreading through his bones. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Tamaska…apartment…phone…images.” Channing breathed quickly, his words jumbling.
“Slow down,” said Onai.
“She’s getting carpet cleaners for us. She’s not at her apartment,” said Kodiak, relaxing a little. Fuck, he needed a shower. He needed not to worry. She…she wouldn’t fucking defy him would she?
His pulse increased. It was Tamaska. Of course she fucking would.
“No, she’s in her apartment.” Channing’s breath slowed, but the panic remained in his eyes. “I saw. I think she’s in trouble.”
The worst-case scenario played out in Kodiak’s head. “Vampires?”
Kodiak snatched his phone from his pocket, fingers shaking as he flipped to the latest footage.
The bottom dropped out of his world at the image. Nothing moved. But there, on the floor, lay Tamaska.
“Fuck.”
The place had been torn apart. And she— He had to go, now. But he stopped himself. This could have been hours ago or minutes. He needed information, so he forced himself to calm.
“The footage stops there. I don’t…I don’t know if she’s still there, Kodiak,” Channing said.
“When did they first go to her apartment?” asked Kodiak, his throat constricting. “And I don’t see a time stamp on this footage.”
“The vampires went there on the night of the attack, before they came here. And it has the date, not the time stamp.”
He gritted his teeth. “Why didn’t I see it?”
“You were at the hut, right?” asked Channing.
“Yeah.”
What he needed was a weapon. What he needed was fucking information. What he needed was her. Here. Now. In one piece.
“Then you would’ve been out of range, maybe.” Channing raised a shaking hand. “Plus, I only just upgraded the system to alert you if the cameras get triggered.”
“That’s thanks to me, right?” interrupted Moki, smirking.
Channing shot a stormy look towards Moki. “It’s thanks to my work, not your bloody hack job…”
“Focus.” Kodiak put a hand on Channing’s shoulder. They didn’t need another fight between members. The vampires were their enemy, not their packmates.
And Tamaska… He needed a plan.
“Kodiak… There’s more. I think there’s a vampire there. Hard to tell, you know, since they don’t show up on camera,” said Channing, stress clouding his eyes. “But if there is…”
“Then she’s still there.”
And the vampire was trapped, until full dark. Shit.
“Shouldn’t have let a human into the pack. It will only cause us constant trouble,” said Moki, still painting the last section of the wall.
“Shut up, Moki. You’re out of line again, and I’m ready to break bones right now. I don’t care whose,” Kodiak growled as he started for the door, the others following close.
Moki clamped his mouth shut, and the glimmer of fear in his eyes satisfied Kodiak. Moki wouldn’t cause any more trouble for him, at least not at the moment.
“How much time do I have before dark?” asked Kodiak, turning to Channing.
“Less than half an hour.”
“I’ll come, too,” Onai said.
Channing nodded. “Me too.”
“No.” They jumped at Kodiak’s sharp tone. “I do this alone.”
“We can’t lose you, too,” said Ash, coming up from behind. “We’re a pack. And you’re the alpha.”
“You don’t know how many there are,” added Channing. “It’s nuts for you to go by yourself.”
Kodiak held up his hand when Onai opened his mouth to speak.
“You’ve got your jobs to do. So, let’s get on with it.”
Ash moved to speak.
“No, I don’t want to hear it,” he said. I’m going to get Tamaska. I’ll be back within the hour. If not, you can come and get me.”
“I’m setting my timer,” said Ash, getting her phone out. “If you’re not back in an hour and a half, I’m bringing Onai with me.”
“You won’t need to do that,” answered Kodiak. “I’ll be back by then. You just ensure that the painting gets done and everyone is ready to go to the hut for the ceremony.”
“We will,” said Ash. “You just get back in one piece, and hurry.”
Half an hour. He got in his car and roared off. That was more than enough time. He could get to her.
He hoped.
CHAPTER 7
Tamaska
Tamaska’s head pounded, stars sparkled in her vision despite her closed eyes. She lay on the floor, trying not to move. Her palms throbbed from where new scabs formed along her cuts from the glass.
She sensed Amdis watching her, hunger radiating from him. It turned her stomach.
The sight of him would make her even sicker, so she kept her eyes closed. The darkness helped to slow the spinning in her head and kept her from watching the sunlight on her floor disappear. The light acted as a timer that crept ever closer to the moment when Amdis would close the last of the distance between them.
Would he sink his teeth into her neck?
Tamaska shivered involuntarily. The adrenalin had worn off, leaving her cold and in shock. She didn’t know why she couldn’t leave, only that every time she thought it or made a move to the door her head wanted to explode.
What if this was her body somehow wanting the offer he made to make her like him? She almost gagged, even as it wound through her, pulling her to go to him. Maybe it would be better, maybe— How could she entertain such sickening thoughts?
It wasn’t so long ago that she was horrified by the sight of the blood-drinking vampires in the nightclub. Now, she was fantasizing about it.
Kodiak, please look at the security footage.
She'd been reluctant to allow the security system installation, but now she was glad to have it. The cameras were her only chance to get out alive.
That is, unless she managed to get control of her aching body. All she had to do was to get up, rush to the door, and get the fuck out of there.
The thumping in her head surged at the thought. The sickening nausea settled only if she didn't move.
But she couldn’t stay. She had to push through the pain and nausea.
Tamaska pressed her palms against the floor, trying to push up from the ground and get on all fours.
“Don’t even think about leaving,” Amdis hissed.
Shivers ran through her, as if thousands of ants had been let loose to carry goosebumps across her skin.
Automatically, she glanced at the sunlight marking the boundary between her and Amdis. It was only just wide enough to keep her safe.
It would only be a matter of minutes before he could get to her.
Tamaska pushed up from the floor again. The room spun, and bile rose to her mouth.
I have to get out.
Kodiak wasn’t coming to save her. He didn’t know she was here. For all she knew the feed back at the clubhouse had been damaged. If she didn’t pull herself together, then she could end up dead—or worse, a vampire.
“Not long now, Tamaska. Then you’ll be mine.”
It sounded so good, like falling asleep, like— No. He was doing this to her, somehow, putting these thoughts in her. Making it almost impossible to leave.
But almost meant there was a possibility of escape, so she focused on that.
“I’ll never be yours.” She collapsed back onto the floor, panting from the exertion. Darkness clouded the edges of her mind, threatening to take her consciousness once more.
She gritted her teeth, forcing her eyes open. She could do this.
“You will be. You're the perfect way to activate the Blood Opal.”
She latched on to that. If she focused on the opal and what it could do maybe she’d learn something and find the strength to run. Tamaska licked her dry lips. “What do you mean?”
“Curious now, are you?” He laughed. “The Blood Opal will rejuvenate my kind, make us stronger. Your blood will enable it.”
“I don't see how my blood is different from anyone else’s. Maybe what you’re trying to do with the Opal is just a fantasy, a waste of time.”
“You don’t know, then?”
“Know what? That you’re an idiot for trying something like this?” There was no way she would ever let him have her blood.
“You don’t know about your ancestors? Though, I suppose that's why you’re attracted to him. Maybe part of you remembers.”
Everything in her started to vibrate. Her ancestors? What…” Drawing a breath, she pressed for more. “Remembers what?”
“I know what you’re doing, having a little fishing expedition.” But he laughed again. “It's too delicious. I can't tell you right now. No, I’m going to have fun making you guess.”
“I’m not playing that game.”
“You will, if you want to find out.”
“Whatever it is, my life has been just fine without knowing it,” she said. “The knowledge means nothing to me.”
“Ignorance is bliss. But you’re not so ignorant anymore.”
She closed her eyes, summoning inner strength. His words had planted a seed in her mind, and it grew with every passing second.
What secret about her ancestors could possibly be relevant to her now? Her parents had never mentioned any unusual ancestry, and her grandparents seemed as normal as anyone else in her younger years.
Or maybe it was something else. Then again, he could be fucking with her. “You’re lying. You want me to want you.”
“Nope.”
Tamaska shifted her body weight and pushed up onto her elbows. This time, she made it into a kneeling position.
“Getting brave, aren't we?” Amdis asked, pacing a little.
Her dizziness had subsided enough to give Tamaska the courage to try and escape. All she needed to do was get to her feet, and race out the door. Push through the pain. And run like hell. Take the stairs and not the lift.
She mentally rehearsed the plan. Thank goodness she’d parked the car nearby.
Let’s do this.
She moved to get up.
“You’ve forgotten something,” said Amdis.
She froze at his tone, then looked in his direction. Emptiness filled her. The strip of sunlight in front of her was almost gone.
She’d waited too long.
Fuck. Her muscles tensed as she readied to run, anyway.
Then, the door flew open. A wolf bounded in, growling and snapping its teeth. And her heart sang.
In wolf form, Kodiak crossed the room so fast that he was a blur of fur. He launched himself at Amdis, swiping at the vampire’s chest with one deadly paw, his claws sharp.
The vampire ducked and slipped out of the way at the last minute, super fast.
And she thought she’d have been able to outrun Amdis.
The wolf growled, an angry vibration that raised the hairs on the back of Tamaska’s neck.
Kodiak rushed after the vampire. Keeping himself between it and her. He stayed close behind it, snapping at it and narrowly missing each time.
Tamaska wasn’t going to stand and watch this unnatural fight. She’d seen enough of the vampires' lethal power during the clubhouse attack.
She struggled to her feet, needing to do something that would help. She wasn’t strong enough or fast enough to fight the vampire. And she’s only get in the way. But…
She stumbled over to the glass balcony doors. She pushed the curtain back, allowing the last of the sun’s rays to flood the apartment.
But would that be enough? She moved out of the way, to minimize blocking the light.
Kodiak switched tactics, his attacks pushing Amdis closer to the sunlit balcony.
Tamaska pulled the curtains back even further, sending the last of the day’s light straight into the vampire's path.
Amdis screamed as if being pierced with a knife. He stumbled, struggling to move as the light hit his body.
Kodiak sprang into the air, aiming a powerful swipe of his paws directly at Admis and preparing to sink his teeth into the vampire.
Instead, Admis rolled out of the way. He howled in pain as his exposed skin sizzled bright red in the sunlight.
The vampire threw himself against Tamaska and grabbed her.
“You’re coming with me,” he said, rushing to the door. He pushed it open, dragging her behind him.
“I said no!” Tamaska pulled hard against Amdis' grasp, trapping him in the sun's rays as Kodiak shoved him further into the light.
“You’re mine,” hissed the vampire.
“No, I’m not.” She twisted her arm, trying to find a weakness in his grip.
He only pulled harder, and she stumbled toward him as Kodiak snapped at her shirt to pull her back.
Her wolf wasn’t attacking, and she realized it was because Admis was too close.
“Don’t worry about me, Kodiak!”
“Because she’s mine,” snarled the vampire, hauling her against him again and edging for the shadows.
“Do it,” she whispered.
Kodiak growled beside her. His muscles tensed as he prepared to attack the vampire.
Amdis hissed at Tamaska as Kodiak swiped his arm with sharp claws, “I’ll be back for you.” Then, he let her go.
He rushed out into the fading sunlight. His inhuman speed and agility allowed him to climb quickly around the building, clambering out of the light and away from Tamaska.
She turned back. Kodiak stood naked in front of her. She wanted to rush to him, to be in his arms, but the stormy look on his face stilled her.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, voice cold.
She swallowed sharply. “Getting some things.”
“After I told you not to.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean this to happen.” She held out her hands that shook. “I thought—"
“I’m starting to think you don’t think. Or maybe that you’d rather be with the vampires than me.” He raised his arms in exasperation.
“That’s not true.” Moisture pricked at her eyes.
“Your life is more important than your things.”
“I didn’t think they’d be here during the day,” she said. “And I needed clothes. I needed…”
“What?”
How could she explain she needed some things of her own. That it was important to her. So she just said, “I didn’t think they’d be here.”
“Why not? It’s you they want.” The anger and coldness hurt. “Why wouldn’t they be here? Even worse, it was Amdis. You’re lucky to be alive.”
“All thanks to you.” It was getting harder to stand, her head injury a constant and painful reminder of her stupidity. “I’m an idiot.”
He didn’t refute her. “What would have happened to you if I didn’t come?”
Amdis’ words echoed through Tamaska's entire being.
Your blood… activation… Blood Opal… ancestors.
What the fuck had he been going on about?
It made Tamaska sick to her stomach that he might know more about her life than she did. She placed a hand on her belly, swallowing hard against the bile rising in her throat.
“That's why you have to do what I say. You have no idea what type of world I live in.”
“You think I’m a problem?” Tamaska squared her shoulders and faced Kodiak, ignoring the nausea building in her gut.
“Yes.” His eyes flashed and softened a small bit. “You won’t let me protect you.”
“I just came for some clothes and toiletries.”
“You want to be part of the pack, you need to behave like a pack member.”
“What the fuck do you mean by that?”
“You don’t know how to function in a pack.”
“Because you don’t fucking tell me.” She stumbled, her knees giving way.
She couldn’t stop herself from falling, but Kodiak caught her in his strong arms and drew her against him.
“You drive me crazy, Tamaska. I need to protect you, and you need to obey. The pack is struggling just to stay together. You have to trust me. Is that so hard?”
