Ruling Fire (Bad Boys Of The Underworld Book 4) (11 page)

She had to hurry. There was no telling how far they’d been driving or how much longer she would have to escape.

What were they planning to do with her? If they wanted her dead, she’d be dead. Not that she felt any better. The pounding in her head was evidence enough that they had no concerns for her well-being.

They needed something from Brock and they were going to use her to get it. As frustration mounted, Elsie kicked upwards at the bed cover, but her legs couldn’t maneuver more than a few inches off the ground.

No, no, no, no, no. This isn’t happening.
She refused to believe she was stuck.

Elsie shifted her shoulders back and forth, but the small and quick movements did nothing to loosen the ropes. Her breath started to come more rapidly and she banged her legs against the metal sides of the truck bed.

The temperature seemed to rise in her small prison. Was it daylight? It seemed much too dark, but she felt overheated. Would she cook to death in her little coffin? A slow and agonizing death as if she were in a slow cooker?

Fuck no.
She resumed her struggles, frantically pulling at her bonds. She pulled and rubbed until she felt a warm liquid flow down her arms and she knew she was bleeding.

Have to keep going.
As the pain increased, her breaths came faster. Her head spun as her mind turned to tunnel vision. All she could feel was the ropes. She needed out of these ropes.

Elsie twisted and contorted her body, trying to get in some type of position to give her leverage. The cuts in her wrists were nothing compared to the unnatural position she was pushing her shoulders into.

She tried to take deep, calming breaths but all she could do was gulp in shallow pants of air. Using all the strength she had left, Elsie used her legs to push her shoulder into the metal truck bed.

She heard the popping sound before she felt the pain.

As her shoulder fell limply to her side, no longer connected at the joint, Elsie screamed with all the air in her lungs as some mental dam in her broke.

Her other shoulder seemed to move of its own volition as it slipped out of its socket, and the ropes around her legs were suddenly looser.

Even as her bones shifted and moved, the pain seemed to lessen. Elsie’s brow furrowed as she looked down to see her legs starting to physically shrink.

And then she realized she could see. The truck bed had been pitch black just seconds ago, but now it seemed as though it was being lit by some dim glow.

Her arm shifted and contorted and the ropes started to fall away.

The gag started to get tighter against her mouth and Elsie used her teeth, sawing through the foul material. As her legs and arms shrunk, her head and torso seemed to be stretching. Her teeth were sharper and strength flooded her injured muscles.

Her fangs cut through the gag as it cut deeper into her skin; fur started to sprout from her skin. The last rope fell to the metal and Elsie attempted to stand. The covering made standing impossible; when the truck turned, her new paws couldn’t get any traction and she slid across the metal.

A low growl rumbled from the back of her throat. With her claws and fangs, she attacked the thick plastic covering. In seconds, there was a hole just big enough for her to squeeze through.

Without a second thought, Elsie jumped through the opening.

Her paws hit the pavement with a gracefulness she never imagined possible. A car coming toward her swerved out of the way, but Elsie didn’t look back to see what happened. She headed for the trees and pumped her four legs as fast as she could.

The wind rushed through the thick white fur as the trees and bushes around her turned to blurs.

Her lungs that had been struggling for air just minutes before were now filled with the fresh air of wilderness. The scents of hundreds of animals surrounding her filled her, and she could hear the sounds of chipmunks scurrying away.

The sun was beginning to rise in the horizon. The soft light brightened the woods around her, giving everything an ethereal glow. The foliage beneath her paws was lit up as bright as if it was midday.

With every step she took, she seemed to go faster. Each new stride took her farther. Some part of her knew she was running for her life, but she was on another level.

This was freedom. There was no Rebecca pressuring her to get married. There was no werewolf queen threatening her in her sleep. There was no mate she barely knew with a family who hated her, and there was no impending vampire war threatening everything she knew.

It was just the next step. The next breath. The next log to jump over or the next puddle to splash in.

Elsie didn’t know how long the high lasted. It could’ve been hours. It could’ve been minutes. How long had they been driving her away from her mate in that metal coffin? What was the speed limit? How long would it take her to find her way back to her mate?

The questions would have to wait. For now she was free, and nothing would stop her.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Brock heard the front door open and close and held his breath in anticipation. Was Elsie back from her midnight walk? Would she finally join him?

He wouldn’t push her. He was determined to give her whatever space she needed. But, God, how he wanted her next to him. Tomorrow he would probably have to fire his nephew, and all he wanted was one night of peace with her.

The days were tense with his grandmother’s disapproving stares and growing reports of unrest with the wolves. Whenever he thought of the stress, he reminded himself of how Elsie felt when he touched her. Kissed her.

With every caress and gentle kiss, she was becoming more used to him. They might not have had a normal courtship, but he was breaking her barriers down.

Footsteps sounded below him, but he immediately recognized them as Dani’s. Something was different, though. She seemed to be walking softly, but there was no reason for her to sneak around.

With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself up and grabbed a black t-shirt to throw on as he made his way downstairs. He found Dani with her back to him, still in the fancy dress Elsie picked out for her. He couldn’t see her face, but her discomfort was palpable. He could smell the fear coming off her.

His shoulders tensed and he listened intently for any sign of a threat. “What happened, Dani?”

Her breaths came in quick pants, as though trying to hold back sobs. She slowly turned, her face streaked with tears.

“What happened?”

“They— They— I’m so sorry.” Her words were barely more than a whisper and chilled him to the bone.

He knew. Elsie was gone. “Where is she?”

In short, jerking movements, Dani shook her head. “I—I don’t know. He said he just wanted to talk to her.”

Brock was already backing away. “Russell!” he barked as he ran out the front door. The screen slammed behind him. He stopped for a millisecond to find her scent and ran for the beach.

He stopped where her scent was strongest, looking to the ground. At the sight of a shiny black object, he knelt.

Footsteps sounded behind him, but he recognized Russell’s scent before he ever got close. Brock picked up the cell phone and stared at it. The screen appeared intact, but that didn’t tell him anything.

“There was some type of fight.” Russell looked over the patterns in the sand.

Brock nodded. “There were three of them.” He pointed to the footprints of the intruders. “Elsie stood here and Dani stood a bit farther back. Serving her up like a lamb for the slaughter,” he growled.

“Dani is pretty torn up. I’m sure she didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Brock felt his fangs slip down as his body tried to pull him into the transformation. “The only way for them to set foot on this land was if Dani broke the wards. She did this. Now I have to get my mate back.”

He stepped over an abandoned flip-flop and leaped into the air. By the time he hit the ground, he was a wolf. His pants fell off naturally, but he ignored the shirt. He had already wasted too much time talking.

Nose to the ground, he ran at breakneck speed through the dark woods. These weren’t unfamiliar scents. He had fought Cullen enough times to recognize his stench, and he knew Derek’s from when he dated Gloria.

The female wolf’s scent was new, but Cullen never had a hard time getting followers.

Elsie’s scent was weak. Barely registering. They must’ve carried her through the woods. Was she awake and fighting? She wouldn’t go down without a fight.

More likely she was unconscious for the trip. Brock growled again, deep and furious.

He should’ve followed her out. He should’ve made sure she was safe. Cullen never should’ve set foot in his territory!

His land was warded against intruders by the most powerful sorceresses on the continent. Not that the wards did much good when they got Dani to hold the fucking door open for them.

Dirt flew behind him at the force of his strides. Russell caught up to him and ran to his left, making sure not to travel too close.

God help the next living creature that got in his way.

But there was no creature that got in the way of Cullen’s scent. The trail stopped cold at the road. Frantically, Brock sniffed at the air, looking for anything he could use to track whatever they drove off in. An oil leak or burning rubber scent that would trail behind.

Russell gave Brock a quick nod before he ran back to the house. This search was better suited for wheels than paws.

How much of a head start did they have? What were they driving?

Brock paced back and forth along the side of the highway. He had police who could assist in the search, but what could he have them look for? Two females and two males in some type of vehicle.

Judging by the tire tracks on the shoulder, it was a bigger car, so probably a truck or SUV. They already had a ten or fifteen-minute head start. Every minute Russell took to grab a car was one more minute Elsie was being pulled farther away.

Mates were supposed to be connected on multiple levels. Could he track her down based on her essence alone?

He closed his eyes and focused on Elsie. Her smile, bright blue eyes, tight skirts, and the little smile she had when Jackson was being an ass.

Brock opened his eyes again.
Nothing.
Why couldn’t he feel her? Was she still alive?

He pushed the thought out of his head. They wouldn’t drag her all the way back to their car to kill her. They wanted to use her for something. They wanted to use her to get to him.

Mission fucking accomplished. If they wanted the damn throne, they could have it. He needed Elsie back.

Squealing tires sounded in the distance and Russell drove up in the Porsche he’d let Dani borrow. Brock was in human form by the time the car screeched to a halt in front of him. He jumped in and started to put on the pants Russell always had on hand as Russell sped off in the direction Cullen went.

“We’re gonna find her, man,” said Russell.

Brock said nothing. His fists clenched as he stared out the window, searching for any type of clue.

“Any mate of yours is strong. She’ll be fine.”

Brock couldn’t take his empty assurances anymore. “Any mate of mine shouldn’t have to deal with this shit. She never should be in this situation. We were supposed to keep her safe! You never even liked her!”

Russell’s jaw tightened at the accusation. “It wasn’t like that. Your mating was just pretty quick and sirens aren’t known for pure motives.”

Brock’s fist pounded into the glove box, almost putting a hole in the overpriced leather-covered plastic. “You have no idea what she is to me. Elsie saved my life. Cullen sent a fucking rogue myotis after me, and Elsie shot him. She knew exactly what would happen, but she did it anyway. Elsie doesn’t have a selfish bone in her fucking body and if I ever hear you say anything bad about her ever again, I will rip out your goddamn throat!”

Russell took his eyes off the road to stare at Brock. “Fuck. You’re serious?”

Brock’s glare was answer enough.

“I didn’t know. We’re going to find her. Don’t worry. And I’ll make sure Elsie and I are best friends after we get her back. One big happy fucking family, okay?”

For a few blissful moments, Brock allowed himself to believe it.

Three hours later, with no sign of Elsie or Cullen, he wasn’t so sure.

~~~~~

As the sun set over the water, Elsie kept up her trotting pace. Her legs felt like jelly and her back felt as though a three-hundred-pound man was weighing her down, but she refused to stop.

She’d already taken too many rest breaks and each one made it harder to get up and keep running. Sure, she ran on a treadmill in her human form, but the farthest she’d ever gone was a ten kilometer run.

Luckily her wolf was stronger. Still more than capable of exhaustion, but stronger.

Elsie glanced around again, looking for any familiar ground. A pointless exercise. None of this land was familiar to her. Even using her super powered nose, she couldn’t pick up any scents that reminded her of her mate.

Head to the ground to pick up any scents to verify she was on the right track, Elsie kept running. She didn’t hear the other wolf until well after the sunset.

The snapping branch to her left caused her to jump up, pivoting in midair to face any threat.

The hair on her neck raised and her lip curled up in a snarl. A brown wolf gracefully stepped out of the darkness. He wasn’t trying to be silent, but he wasn’t acting overtly threatening either.

Elsie tilted her head as she watched to see what he would do.

He wasn’t one of the weres who took her. His smell was off. Slightly familiar. Not her mate, but he smelled so similar.

Russell.
As realization dawned, a growl escaped her throat.

He blinked at her threat and took a step back. After staring at her for another moment, he turned and ran back in the direction he came from.

Knowing her mate wouldn’t stray far from his brother, Elsie followed. She kept a large gap between them, just in case he decided he didn’t want her on his tail, literally.

He ran faster than she wanted. He obviously didn’t just get through quite the endurance workout she did. Or maybe he could go faster and farther because he’d been able to turn furry much longer than her.

His pace didn’t let up, and she refused to let her exhausted legs slow down. After a ways, the scenery finally started to click in place. The first familiar landmark was the lake. Then there were the trees that let up to the cabin.

And then there was the cabin. A high screeching noise emanated from her throat. Finally letting herself go, she could rest and be safe. No one was going to track her down and hurt her again.

Russell stopped at her whine. He glanced back to her, the first time he’d looked at her in hours. Then he threw his head back and let out a loud howl, calling for help.

Elsie followed his lead. Her own howl wasn’t quite as deep or loud, but he had a good fifty pounds on her. Nonetheless, she put her all into it. She was back. She was safe. The whole world deserved to know.

The screen door banged open as her mate ran outside. At the sight of him, Elsie stopped mid-howl. She dropped her head and let out another pathetic whine.

She didn’t care how she sounded. She found him. Finally.

She tried to walk to him, but her legs didn’t seem to work. One leg tried to move herself to him, but her weight collapsed it underneath her. Suddenly strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground.

Instinctively, she whipped her head around and snapped at whoever dared to touch her, but when she saw Russell carrying her, she drew back. He might not like her, but for some reason he was helping her now.

Not that he carried her for long. Her mate was there. He brushed a gentle hand over her head and looked into her eyes. Were they still blue? Did wolves even have blue eyes?

“Elsie? But how?”

She felt Russell shrug. “I have no idea. I just found her in the middle of nowhere. She’s pretty tired.”

Understatement of the year!

Her mate looked at her again. “Can you change back?”

Change back?
She hadn’t even considered it. She didn’t even know how she changed in the first place. Or why.

Why hadn’t she thought of this?

Her mate shook his head and pulled her from Russell’s grip. “Come on,” he whispered as he cradled her against his chest. Elsie let out a deep breath and let herself relax in his grip. She’d found him. Everything would be okay now.

He walked her past Lana and Gloria on the porch. Inside the house, there were a bunch of people she didn’t know—a few women in the living room, and she could smell at least one man in the kitchen. No recent trace of Dani, though.

Not that she had much time to look around. Her mate had her up the stairs and in his—no,
their
—room in minutes. When she hit the soft mattress, she almost wept with joy. Or whined. Whatever it was that wolves did when they were happy.

Her mate moved around the room. Part of her wanted to turn to watch his graceful movements, but exhaustion won over. As the bed dipped with his weight, Elsie was sucked into unconsciousness.

~~~~~

Elsie didn’t expect dreams to be normal. Sometimes she was naked; sometimes she was living happily in a house she’d never seen before. She was used to that.

She’d never been a wolf in a dream before, though. Same long hallway with flowing curtains and portraits of people she’d never met. Different body.

Chances were the door behind her was still locked, so she didn’t really miss the opposable thumbs. The fur wouldn’t change her strategy.

Keeping her eyes and ears open for any danger, Elsie backed into the corner and laid down. The dead queen could play her games. Elsie would just wait her out right here in her corner.

The previous two times she’d dreamed of the strange mansion, she’d woken up relatively quickly. But not now. The time seemed to drag on as Elsie stared into the still hallway. Dreams weren’t supposed to have dead time. There was always momentum and movement.