Taken (3 page)

Chapter Four

"Baby, wake up." Isen sounded apprehensive.  His words clipped. 

She rubbed her eyes and looked over at him. "Why are you waking me up, it's still early."

"Your brother just called.  I didn't answer. I bet he's looking for you."

She stretched her lips curving at the tightness from the night before. "You scared?"

"No." He frowned "He's not going to be happy if he finds out you spent the night here."

"He'll get over it." She slid closer satisfied when he allowed her to nestle against him, her head on his chest. "I'll talk to him and admit to being the one to seduce you if that happens."

"You're going to protect me, huh?" His deep chuckle vibrated under her ear.

"Yep, I'm going to make sure he understands you barely like me." She let out a breath.

"I like you."

Baby didn't dare look up at him for fear he'd have that shit-eating
I'm screwing with you grin
.  "Is that so?  Never showed it."

"You're the fucking Alpha's sister.  I don't have a death wish."

She hated how her brother instilled fear on the pack if any of them even looked at her.  "He won't do anything."

"Yeah.  We'll see." He moved her aside gently.  "I gotta get up.  Pack meeting at ten.  I'm going to take a hot shower.  Don't touch me after that.  Would rather not go in there with your scent all over me."

Baby wanted to pout, but instead she nodded understanding.  "I'm heading home. See you later."

Half an hour later, she arrived at her duplex.  Her brother's black Jeep was parked in front of her place.  She looked down at the sweats she wore, thinking ahead and changing in the car.  Still Isen's scent was all over her skin. Damn, how in the hell was she going to cover it up?

"You reek," Taden sniffed her as soon as she walked through the door.  "Where the fuck have you been?  I called you early this morning and drove by, you were not here."

"I had a one-night stand," she lifted her brows.  "I was horny."

Taden's eyes widen and he covered his ears with both hands.  "Shut up."

Baby leaned forward and smiled.  "It was good too.  He did so many things to me."

"Baby," he growled.  "What is that smell?"  He sniffed again.  "Are you trying to keep your lover secret from me?"

She sunk into a chair then regretted it.  She'd used bug spray, the only thing she could find in her small garage to douse herself with it.  "Yes, I am.  I want a boyfriend, I want to get married and have children one day.  If you threaten the life of every wolf I am interested in, it's never going to happen.  I want more than a one-night stand with the man I was with last night.  But I doubt he'll want to see me again if you act out. It gets so tiring. I'm lonely." Baby looked up at her brother and couldn't help the glistening in her eyes. He brows lowered, he seemed to be trying to understand her.

"You're too young."

"No, Taden, I'm not.  I'm ready to have children. I'm almost thirty." She wiped a tear that slipped from the corner of her eye.  "Now, let me take a shower.  See you at the club.  I'll be there at six." 

Weres lived longer than humans, they generally stopped aging at about twenty-five, and then started again when nearing sixty, which meant if they married a human, they usually picked younger ones. Most weres lived to be over a hundred. Both Taden and Isen had lived about forty years.

Thankfully when she finished showering her brother was gone.  She trudged to the kitchen and made coffee and a bowl of cereal.  When she was done eating, she got on her computer and checked her email and social media pages.  Once that was done she called a couple friends and chatted for a while.  Anything and everything took much less time than she wanted. Her mind kept going back to Isen and how much she wanted him again. 

All this time she figured one night with him would kill her curiosity about the man, and after that she could move on.

But the opposite happened; she wanted him more.  Like an addiction, he was all she could think about.

Chapter Five

The doorbell caught Isen by surprise. He looked at his watch; he wasn't due back at Sanctum for another two hours.  What the hell? No visitors in weeks and all of a sudden two within days.  He opened the door and almost groaned out loud.  "Hello, Regina."

The tall redhead brushed past him into the house.  "What is going on? You haven't called me in two weeks. I keep trying to talk to you at Sanctum and you avoid me.  You promised to come speak to my alpha. You can't back out."  Regina sniffed the air.  "A woman has been here.  I smell sex."

She flew at him nails aiming for his face. "You bastard."

Isen grabbed her wrists and held them behind her back.  She kicked and bit him.

For the last few months, he'd been dating Regina.  Then as of late, he'd pulled back and not been to her place, purposely attempting to give her the hint he wanted out.  He'd considered mating with Regina, had gone as far as mentioning it.  Since she belonged to another pack, she'd agreed to set up a meeting with her pack leader.  Then he got cold feet.

Yes, he wanted to mate and have children, but he wanted to feel more than desire for his mate.  A connection, things in common.  Anything would be better than what he and Regina had.

"I told you I needed more time.  Maybe I'm not ready." God, what a wuss.  Isen cleared his throat and looked her in the face. "I've changed my mind." He released her hands.

The hard slap made his eyes cross.  She was strong.  Regina trembled with fury, her eyes turned red.  "You will mate with me, Isen Wolfe, or face the wrath of my pack."

"I am not going to be forced into it, Regina.  You know damn well it's the male's choice."

Regina wasn't having it and he had to admit, he didn't blame her.  He had spoken the words.  "I'm sorry.  So very sorry.  I thought I could mate with you because of desire, but we both deserve more than that."

"Desire?  I love you, Isen.  I have always.  You're the one who hasn't given our relationship the chance to go deeper than the physical." Her stare sharpened.  "My pack leader is waiting for us at Sanctum. See that you're there in half an hour."

With a last glare, she whirled and left.

_ _ _ _ _

A group of wolves she'd never seen arrived at Sanctum and Baby sent servers to see to their needs.  She met Jace’s and Vane's gazes.  Both nodded, letting her know they were aware of the newcomers.

The group of four wolves was led to a round booth in a corner where they had their backs to the wall and a clear view of the club.  Baby became curious when noticing a large wolf that seemed to be their alpha, scanned the club as if looking for someone.

The huge timber had thick sable hair and golden eyes like Isen's, only this wolf was harder, sharper, his chiseled features sending a clear message. Unapproachable. 

But then again, Isen didn't exactly smile and lay out a welcome mat either.  Upon first meeting him, people usually avoided eye contact and went out of their way to avoid the timber.

Finally Vane walked over and talked to the new wolves. There was a lot of nodding and looks toward the back.  Finally Vane walked toward her.

Baby grabbed his arm.  "What's up with them?"

Vane gave her a strange look, his eyes shifting away. "You're not going to be happy."

"Why?" Her heart jumped to her throat.  "Please don't tell me Taden is setting me up to get mated."  She stole another glance at the back booth.  "With one of them."

"No.  But it does have to do with mating." Vane took a deep breath.  "The alpha is here to talk to Taden about Isen and some she-wolf named Regina."

She'd shared with Vane, that morning over coffee, what happened between her and Isen.  So her friend knew every detail, even that she expected to continue dating him.

The air in her lungs left and she grabbed for Vane to steady herself.  "That bastard didn't say anything. Why would he not tell me?"

"It doesn't sound like you gave him time for conversation. It’s hard to think when someone has your cock in their mouth." Vane, a total man of course, tried to make excuses for another of his species.

"He warned me how he fucked hard. You'd think he could have squeezed in an ‘oh by the way, I'm about to get mated.’" Baby waved Vane off.  "You better tell Taden.  I'll just have to deal."

A few minutes later, Taden walked out and went to the booth.  They did the shake and stare thing and finally her brother sat at the table.  It seemed strange to Baby he didn't take them to a private room, but then again maybe they would after drinking free drinks or whatever the fuck her brother planned to do to make them feel welcome.

Baby's eyes flew to the doorway when it opened.  A group of women walked in pretending to be sober.  They wobbled and giggled behind the hostess who led them to a table.  Another couple walked in.  Then a redhead stalked in and bee-lined it to the booth.  She was gigantic. About six foot tall with long waves of red hair and a sensual lithe runway model body.

The woman stood at the end of the table and bent at the waist.  Every male in the club watched in hopes her short skirt would climb up far enough to give them a glimpse of her ass.  It didn't.  Taden stood and spoke to her.

Whatever her brother said didn't seem to sit well with the woman who held both hands up and leaned toward him.  With what looked like agitation, she raked her fingers through her hair and finally sat.

The giggle girls decided at that point to pull two men to the dance floor. Of course they were the "hands in the air" type.  So they blocked Baby's view of the drama at the corner booth.

She took a fortifying breath and drank down her entire glass of club soda.  Where the hell was Isen?  Had Taden called for him?

A tug of her hair made her turn.  Vane smiled and leaned to her ear.  "I'm sorry, Baby.  This sucks."

Tears threatened, but she blinked them back.  "I waited too long. I can't expect that just because we slept together one time, he would change everything for me."

"I called him.  Taden told me to tell him to come in the back door and to his office." Vane looked toward the booth.  "Why are they not in a private room?"

Baby shrugged.  "I don't know.  Is that her?"

Vane lifted to the balls of his feet.  "The only female, so must be.  Damn, she's hot." His eyes flew to her.  "Shit.  Sorry."

"No need.  She is beautiful."  Baby stood.  "I'm out of here.  Tell Taden I left ‘cause I want to throw up in private."

"He doesn't want you going home alone, Baby.  Let me check with him and I'll come with you.  We can eat ice cream and drink cherry vodka."  He walked off.

Not waiting, Baby grabbed her purse from behind the bar and hightailed it to the front door to avoid running into Isen.  Her car was parked on the edge of the parking lot.  Baby ran to it, tears already spilling.

Someone grabbed her arm and she yanked it back, but they did not let go.  She turned to an unfamiliar wolf.  "You Baby?"

"Let me go." Baby kicked his leg. The assailant hissed in pain, but still didn't release her.  Instead he took her other arm and pulled her away toward the street.

"I need to talk to you.  It's important." The wolf pushed her against a vehicle.  "Are you Taden's sister?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about.  Go away." Baby let out a shriek, but he covered her mouth.

"You're coming with me." He easily lifted her and threw her into the back of a van. The large male's fist hit her hard. Through the fog that descended she heard the doors slam shut.  Clinging to consciousness, Baby shook her head to clear the cobwebs and prayed someone saw them before they drove too far.

She kicked and clawed at the back door to open it. When it didn't work, Baby scrambled to the front and began punching her assailant's head.  "Let me go or I'll kill you." Baby reached to the opposite side and grabbed at the passenger door handle but he jerker her back by the hair.  "That's it you're getting tied up."

He pulled the van into a parking lot and climbed to the back. Baby screamed.

Chapter Six

Isen stalked from one end of Taden's office to the other, how long did whatever he did with Regina's pack take?  Damn, if both alphas agreed to the mating, he'd be almost forced into it.  Sure, he could still say no, but then he'd put Taden in a bad spot. 

"Shit." He wanted to punch something.  Of all the predicaments, this was one he didn't expect to end up in.

If it happened a month ago, then he'd probably be mated by now, no problem.  But things were different.  He wanted to get to know Baby more.  Explore his feelings for her.

Taden entered, his icy eyes meeting his.  "They are adamant you mate with Regina.  She's the pack leader's relative.  What the hell, Isen?"

"I know." Isen sank into a chair.  "I don't want to do it.  But I guess I'm fucked."

"I told them it was your choice.  I don't dictate my pack, and as far as I'm concerned, it's between you and her.  Neither I nor her alpha should be involved." Taden let out a breath.  "Then again I have a sister and if someone told her they'd mate and reneged, I'd be pissed too."

"I didn't tell her we'd mate.  She kept bringing it up and I said I'd consider it." Isen knew he sounded desperate.  "At the time I really did think about it.  But things have changed. It would be a mistake."

"She's hot."

"Yeah, I know.  Actually, she's a great person, but there's nothing there but the physical.  We don't have shit else in common."

"The pack leader and Regina are in the red room.  Talk to them and see what happens."

"Yeah. Got it."  Isen stood and put his hand on Taden's shoulder.  "Thank you.  I'll talk to you later about what's up with me.  But first I need to clear this up."

Taden frowned.  "You're good, Isen.  I know you'd not leave a woman hanging. If you have to tell them you're not doing it, I got your back."

"I appreciate it."

Both Regina and her alpha looked toward him when he walked in.  The pack leader looked fierce. In this case, Isen was glad he was taller and broader ‘cause the guy looked like he wanted to kill.

"I want to apologize for any misunderstanding." Isen paused when the male growled.  "Regina is a great woman and one who deserves a male who cares for her above anything.  I am not that male."

"You led her to believe otherwise." Regina's alpha replied without anger.  "If you don't plan to keep your word then you are not worthy of her."

He looked to Regina who shifted her gaze away.  "I care for you, but you know I never gave you my word.  I'm sorry, Regina. I'm in love with someone else.  It just happened."

There was shocked silence in the room.  Not just Regina and her alpha, but Isen was shocked at his own words. At the truth, he spoke.

_ _ _ _ _

Baby was missing.  The call went out soon after Isen returned to Taden's office.  Vane was supposed to take her home but she'd left Sanctum alone, not waiting for him.  Now she was gone. They suspected the Panama City pack had something to do with it.

Taden dispensed them in pairs to scour the area for the encroaching pack.

Darkness was usually a wolf's friend, but tonight it annoyed the shit out of him.  What was happening to Baby?  How many held her and why?  

Isen and Jace melded into the obscurity and fog created by the ocean's mists.  In wolf form he could make out the handful of humans who lingered on the boardwalk.  Fools, the news had warned of a pack war and yet some decided they'd take their chances by still hanging out.  They banked on the fact that most suspicious deaths were blamed on wolves, and that for the most part, shifters gave humans wide birth.

Isen sniffed the air. The immense timber wolf could decipher the others of his pack nearby.  Vane and Raythe were a block up, doing the same as them. Patrolling the area. Taden insisted they travel in pairs for safety and on this he agreed with his pack leader.

"
It's too quiet. I don't like it."
Jace's voice was clear in his head.  "
This waiting around doesn't work for me
."

"
I agree it's bullshit, but we have to catch one of them to find out where they have Baby
." Isen crouched when a group of loud humans finally decided to head home and walked by. 

"I wonder if most of the Panama City pack is gone by now.  Once they figured out we're not the easy targets they expected, they may have hightailed it.
Jace's features were hard to make out, but his amber eyes glowed at him.

Isen sniffed the air. 
"These haven't. They're here and heading straight for us."

The air shifted and the strong smell of wolf filled the air.  Unknown wolves neared.  Isen's hackles rose, a low growl from deep in his throat erupted as four wolves turned the corner and snarled.

They circled, each animal measuring the other.  Four against two, seemed odds were in the new wolves' favor.  By their hesitance, they were smart enough to notice that Isen and Jace were no small targets.

"
Return her and
get the fuck out of our territory
," Isen warned and snapped his jaws when one came too close. 

"
I wouldn't talk shit
," one of the wolves, a mixed breed, snarled.  "
You're about to get taught a lesson
."

The wolves attacked.

Isen was prepared. He evaded one wolf and bit the other on the hind leg.  The beast turned and snapped, but by then he'd dodged away.  One managed to get a mouth full of fur and Isen turned and head butted him away.  He growled in pain when the other one bit his side. Isen twisted back sinking his teeth into the fucker's throat. The other wolf hesitated when Isen's victim went limp.

The fight didn't last long, once Raythe, an immense black wolf, and Taden raced toward them and broke into the scene, those who could ran off.

The wolf Isen had by the throat was too hurt to move.  Isen released the hold on his throat and used all his weight to pin the timber wolf down.

Taden trotted close and hovered over the hapless idiot.  "
That was less than half the pack where are the others?"

A chill went down Isen's spine when the wolf growled and snapped at Taden.  Taden's ice blue eyes met gazes with Isen's and both immediately knew where the rest of the pack had gone.

"
To Sanctum, now
," Taden ordered.

Before the order was given, Isen was already half a block away racing to the club. 
God don't let anything happen to Baby
.

A thousand thoughts and scenarios flashed in his mind.  The decimation of Sanctum, their livelihood, an open target for attack could be easily breeched.  Baby, what if she was hurt and bleeding. Had they brought her back to Sanctum to broach a deal with Taden?

They'd left sentries behind, but only a handful. Not enough to keep the club secure against an attacking pack.

The possibilities of what the Panama City wolves would do to Baby if they didn't get to her in time to negotiate made him strain to run even faster. 

His heart beat hard in his chest as he rounded the corner and caught sight of the club. 

Humans and wolves fought in the parking lot.  In the tangle, it was hard to decipher who was friend or foe.

The three sentries were doing their best to hold their own against twelve.  Two human bouncers also fought, they held thick bats, swinging like pros ballers, the sickening thunk of bone crushing when they connected.  One of the bouncers bled profusely from a bite to his arm.

Jace, Raythe, Vane, and Taden joined the fight and the odds evened.  Then the rest of their pack, another four wolves, arrived and jumped into the melee.

Something made Isen stop, he turned to a light colored van.

Baby was sitting in it.  She was bound and gagged.  Her eyes met his and she shook her head side to side. 
Explosives
.

He inched to the vehicle.  Her wide eyes locked with his and at the moment Isen realized he couldn't lose her. 

A wolf materialized from behind the van. Isen tackled him and they rolled across the gravel lot, teeth bared and claws thrashing.  Isen got a mouthful of the wolf's nape hair and dragged him to the van, then slammed him under the rear tires.  "
If she dies, we die
."

The fighting must have ended because the rest of Taden’s pack neared.  He sent a quick verbal command telling them not to touch the van.  Everyone kept a distance except Taden who came to where he was and hovered over the wolf he held captive. 
"What part do you want to lose first?"

The hapless wolf screeched when Taden sunk his long canines into his thigh. 
"I already hit the detonator. In less than a minute the bomb will go off, if you open the doors, it will immediately explode."

Two wolves rushed over and pinned fucker, so he would remain in place.
"Let me go, it's going to blow any moment,"
the wolf whined.

Isen and Taden shifted and ran to the doors.  Isen motioned for Baby to remain still.  She shook her head side-to-side and motioned with her head for them to move away. 

Like hell he would. Pale, hands shaking, Taden told to his sister everything would be fine.

Through the passenger window, Isen spotted the timer, down to fifteen seconds.  He scrambled onto the hood of the van and with both feet kicked in the window.  Not waiting to see what happened, he yanked Baby through it and rolled off just as it all went to hell.

He held Baby against him on the ground until Taden come and yanked her up and carried her toward the interior of Sanctum.  Isen remained behind to check out any injuries.

His pack had matters in hand, most of the Panama City wolves contained.

They allowed most of the pack to leave, keeping the alpha.  Even with a choke collar around his neck, the male continued to struggle.  The bouncers had hog-tied him and held him in place until the local pack could shift to human form.

Sirens sounded in the distance. Firefighters were on their way.  Thankfully several of the local fire station were pack members.  They'd understand what happened once briefed. Once they named the other pack as the cause, hopefully it would drive them away.

The prisoner was taken into the club and down to the holding pen in the back portion of Sanctum. 

No one stopped to retrieve bandaging or first aid kits the human servers were dispensing. Everyone was too pumped to feel the effects of their injuries, they crowded into the room where Taden prepared to face the prisoner.

"Where's Baby?" Isen asked the closest wolf.

Jace looked up.  "She's at the bar.  No worse for wear, actually madder than anything.  She's a bit banged up, but pretty much unharmed."

The Panama City alpha had shifted into a large muscular man with a mohawk and piercings on his nose, lips, and ears.  His black eyes narrowed at everyone.  "What the fuck are you all staring at, never seen a cock this big? I'm Clark." As if stating his name meant anything, he gave them a knowing nod and clammed up. 

Some of them snickered and waited for Taden to talk. "What do you want with us, Clark? You've got your territory, I have mine.  There's nothing here for you."

"I want this territory.  It's prime." Clark glared at their leader.  "And I want you dead."

Taden shrugged, his bored look impressive.  "Yeah, well, get in the back of the line, asshole. Obviously your plan failed so tell your guys to get the fuck out of my territory or I'll give my wolves the kill order."

Clark seemed to be weighing his options. "You won't do it."

"Try me." Taden's ice blue eyes gleamed with anger. "Please."

Isen considered what he'd overheard the wolves on the street thinking prior to approaching him and Jace.  "You lost your territory in Panama City didn't you?  Another Alpha challenged you and kicked your mangy ass out after finding out about your drug dealings."

"I hear there's some open territories in Oklahoma," Jace offered.  "Tornado wiped out a town and the humans left.  You can start a new town."

Some of the wolves laughed while other suggested swampland in Louisiana and an oasis in Death Valley.

Clark glowered and bared his teeth. "My pack won't leave me here.  They'll retaliate.  It’s best if you let me go."

"Not until you surrender and declare your loss publicly," Taden replied.  "I'll give you some time to think about it."

They all marched out, leaving Clark in the room with two sentries outside the door.  The walls were concrete which would limit the ability for him shift and contact any of his wolves that happened to be nearby.

They followed their Alpha who stalked into the shower room.  Taden motioned for them to come close.  He spoke in a low voice. “We'll keep him on ice for a day and see if he changes his mind.  Keep your eyes peeled, the pack mates may try to come get him.  I doubt it, but stupidity is rampant with that group.”

Isen was anxious to check on Baby, but with Taden nearby, he held back.

The music in the club was low and the illuminations dimmed. After the fight had ended, the staff closed up and ensured everyone got to their cars safely and left.  The space loomed empty, tables with half empty cocktails gleamed in the soft light. They'd lose thousands in revenue this week with the unplanned closing. But in Isen's opinion, it was a small price to pay in order to finish the damn pack conflict once and for all.