Territory (7 page)

Dell grabbed Chloe by the shoulders and pulled her into him as sobs wracked her body. “We can’t just let her go Dell.”

Dell smoothed a hand down her cheek. He looked up at Briggs with a glint in his eye, “Don’t worry love,
I’ll
protect her.”

Briggs felt like he’d just been kicked in the balls. His brother protecting his mate. It wouldn’t do, and Dell knew it. Briggs knew he was being baited.

Kya stormed from the office and down the hall to the kitchen, not caring who was still having breakfast.

Wordlessly she tromped through the kitchen, her temper barely in check as she threw open the back door and marched out. The eyes of nearly eleven people who were still eating in the kitchen watching her go.

She walked down the driveway to the gravel road and kept on going.

Can’t feel? Of course I can feel. I was just in pain the other day. I could barely wash my own hair in the shower yesterday. Idiots! What a bunch of damn idiots!

A car approached from behind her and she threw out her thumb, but the car sped by.

I don’t need them. I don’t need anyone. I can take care of myself.

One lone tear slid down her cheek and she brushed at it angrily with the back her hand.
And Briggs! He doesn’t want me? Well I don’t want him! Mr. High and Mighty, too good for me because I’m used goods and an Omega, and probably too small and ugly for his liking. Well, fuck him!

Another vehicle approached and Kya again stuck out her thumb. The car whizzed past. It was afternoon, but the sky was overcast with pink snow clouds threatening to burst at any second.

First, I’ll find that bitch Josephine and make her pay for selling me out. Then I’ll find my damn car and then I’m gone!

Kya heard another vehicle approaching, but this time she recognized the sound.

Chloe’s truck!

Kya slid down the embankment on the side of the road and ran up the other side and into the woods. She stalked deep into the woods as she heard the truck pass. Once in the woods, her anger was quickly replaced by fear as she froze in her steps.

What if Theron and the pack are still here?

Kya considered it for a moment before deciding that Theron was too great a coward to defy Dell’s order to leave his territory. Kya turned her face to the sky.

Damn clouds. I have no idea where the sun is, so I have no idea which direction I’m heading.
She didn’t care; she kept on walking, stopping only sporadically to look up at the cloudy sky trying in vain to find the sun.

Kya was staring up at the gloomy sky when she heard the slightest rustle behind her. She wasn’t alone. She dropped her head trying to act casual then spun quickly. Briggs was walking up to her through the forest, not attempting to hide his approach.

Briggs took a step closer, glowering at her, “Like
I
said, Dell wants you back at the compound.”

Kya’s heart rate kicked up, her teeth clenched. “I don’t want to fight you.”

“Then don’t.” Briggs smirked at Kya quirking one eyebrow at her in challenge as his eys slid up and down her petite frame in amusement.

Kya’s hands fisted at her sides. “If you want me to go back then you’ll have to make me.”

She knew he couldn’t touch her, not for any length of time anyway. Now it was her turn to smirk and quirk one finely manicured eyebrow.

The grin slid from Briggs’ face, replaced by a look so menacing that Kya actually shivered.

He took another step towards her and she quickly pulled the dark blue sweatshirt over her head, tossing it to the ground as she backed away. She wore another of Chloe’s short sleeved and too small white tshirts. It exposed more of her flesh, creating more of a chance for him to touch her skin and become immobilized. She wasn’t sure if he had to touch her skin to be in pain, but from her experience and the look that flashed across Briggs’ face as he looked down at her bare arms, she assumed she was correct.

“You’re making this harder than it has to be.” He growled at her.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Kya’s hands quickly unfastened the top button on her jeans, but before she could pull them off, he grabbed her roughly by the arms.

“You underestimate my strength and will.” Briggs hauled her up to his chest and scowled down at her.

Kya’s heart raced and looking up into his ominous eyes, her belly dropped. She’d had it with being mistreated and told what to do. For once in her life, she didn’t belong to anyone and no one could make her do anything. Especially not this man who apparently chose not to claim her.

Kya tried to pull away, but couldn’t, so she glared back at him, and waited. She saw sweat bead on his brow and his hands began to tremble until finally he had to pull away. He fell to one knee trying to catch his breath.

Kya smiled triumphantly down at him as his head snapped up, he was furious that he couldn’t touch her.

“Looks like it’s
you
that has underestimated me.” Kya put her foot on his shoulder and shoved back with all her might. Briggs fell back landing on his ass with a thud. Kya smiled sweetly and licked her lips, “Bye, bye tough guy!” She bent to retrieve the pullover she’d discarded when Briggs laughed loudly behind her.

Kya shivered as his gaze ran up and down the length of her body again, this time his eyes lingered on the too small t-shirt and swell of her breasts beneath. His smile though terrifying was also mesmerizing. She’d never seen the expression on his face before and it honestly made her weak in the knees.

“It won’t work.
I
won’t accept
you
. I’ll never accept you!” She spat, turning to walk away. She felt the unmistakable power surge in the air. He’d shifted.

Shit!
Kya turned back to find the large gray wolf stalking her. “Look, y-you,” she stammered as she backed into a tree, “You can’t touch me in wolf form either. You already tried, remember? You licked my neck.”

Kya turned her head away, embarrassed that heat stained her cheeks at the memory. When she looked back, Briggs had his head cocked to one side, letting her know that he hadn’t missed her slight flush.

Embarrassed and seething Kya turned from him, “I’m leaving.” She ran two steps before he bit at her pant leg and tripped her. She fell to the ground, catching herself at the last minute. “That’s it! Two can play your game.”

Kya turned to Briggs and shifted, her slight black wolf dwarfed by his massive gray frame. She growled baring her teeth as her hackles rose. She circled Briggs, challenging him to attack her. When he simply stood and watched her circle, she lunged at him.

She didn’t go for his throat, she didn’t want to kill him, just hurt him enough so that she could escape. Her teeth locked around his right leg and he growled. She wasn’t sure if the pain was from the bite or from their contact, but she was delighted to make her mark. She had her teeth locked on for only a second before Briggs leaned down and bit her on the back, lifting her off the ground and throwing her a few feet. She was too small to keep this up and she knew it.

Briggs looked down at his bleeding leg then glowered at her.

She licked her lips letting him know she’d enjoyed her blow, before she got back to her feet and approached him again. She wouldn’t give up so easily. She nipped at him, but he quickly eluded her teeth, shaking his head at her as he moved. She circled left keeping him directly in her sights.

He turned his head to the right and she dove in, hoping to end the matter quickly. Too late, she realized he’d made the move intentionally to lure her in. It was a trap!

His teeth locked around her throat as he shoved her to the ground as gently as he could. He stood over her as she thrashed on her back trying to free herself, but Briggs held fast. Kya struggled for breath as she kicked at him with her legs.

Briggs leaned deeper into her neck, his teeth squeezing around her throat, he was careful to keep from breaking the skin. He settled on top of her body preventing her legs from kicking him off.

Her thrashing slowed as her air supply was cut off. Her vision swam and panic struck her causing her to whine before the lack of oxygen rendered her unconscious.

Kya woke to a jarring motion that had her front paws and rear paws slapping against each other. She looked up to see that Briggs had shifted and was carrying her. Her wolf form was wrapped in the pullover she’d been wearing earlier. She struggled weakly in his arms, but had trouble even keeping her head up.

“Cool it or I’ll put you back out.”

Kya shook her head trying to clear some of the haze, anger stirring within her.

The trees thinned and Briggs exited the woods carrying Kya to the waiting black Dodge. He shifted Kya to his chest and held her tightly with one arm as he opened the passenger side door. With the door open, he set her gently on the passenger side seat.

As Briggs climbed into the driver’s seat Kya again shook her head and made to stand, but was still too weak. Briggs started the truck and maneuvered back onto the road heading back to the compound. He reached under the bench seat and pulled out a soft yellow blanket. With one hand on the wheel, he used the other to spread the blanket over Kya’s sprawled form.

“In case you’d like to shift.”

Kya took one deep breath and winced at the pain it caused her throat before she closed her eyes and shoved with her powers forcing her body to shift. It wasn’t painful to shift, but it required energy and right now, she was exhausted. The shift coupled with the fight completely drained her energy supply.

Briggs looked down at her and pulled her long brown hair back from her face as her arms lolled off the side of the bench, her legs curled to her.

“Don’t touch me!” Kya growled breathlessly.

Briggs put both hands back on the wheel. “I’m sorry that I…” his words died. “You left me no choice.”

“You could have let me go.” Kya sighed, as one warm tear slid down her cheek. She was too exhausted to keep her pain from showing.

Briggs looked down at her again then back to the road; she heard the steering wheel creak under the pressure of his hands. “I’m sorry.” He whispered.

Briggs pulled the truck to a stop and pulled the keys from the ignition. He sat staring straight ahead for several quiet moments. “Dell wants some answers regarding your pack.”

“They are NOT. My. Pack.” Kya spit out keeping her eyes closed.

Briggs started again, “Dell wants answers about Theron and
his
pack. He also wants to know how you can keep from shifting during the full moon. Once he gets his answers and once Chloe is satisfied that you are fully healed, we
will
let you go.”

Kya ignored him.

Briggs jumped down from the truck and crossed to the passenger side door pulling it open. He reached in, wrapped the yellow blanket completely around Kya, and hoisted her into his arms. Her bare calves and feet stuck out on one end. She crossed her feet, her perfectly polished red toes winking at her as her crossed feet tried to keep each other warm. On the other end, the blanket was wrapped around her just above her chest, her bare arms and soft shoulders exposed to the wind. She fought to keep her head from lolling back, using Briggs’ massive shoulder to hold her head upright as her long brown hair waved like a satiny flag in the wind. They weren’t touching flesh to flesh anywhere, so Briggs had no difficulty carrying her.

As Kya eyed the back door, her heart rate accelerated. She didn’t want the others to see her in this condition. As if sensing her emotion, Briggs halted his step then turned abruptly to a set of stairs that led up the back of the house. He took the stairs two at a time and entered the door at the top.

Entering the room, Kya was overwhelmed by the scent. It was all pine trees and masculinity mixed with rain and fall leaves. It was
his
scent. She was in his room.

He carried her over and gently laid her on the four-poster bed. She sunk into the warm coffee colored comforter, enveloped in its warmth. The sudden warmth of the room and his overpowering scent made her head spin.

“What do you need?” He asked standing over her.

“Time.” She whispered then with some effort rolled away from him. She wasn’t sure what he’d expected her to say, so she’d simply said the first thing that had come to mind.

She lay motionless and listened as his boots stalked away to another room then came back. She felt the bed sink with his weight as he sat behind her.

“I’m going to clean and bandage your back.”

She’d forgotten all about the cut Dell had given her. She ignored him as he swabbed her back. She lay hoping he brushed her skin and that he suffered in agony for it, but he was too careful. After he’d finished cleaning and dressing her back wound, he went to the foot of the bed. “I’ll do your ankle and wrist too. You’re in pretty rough shape.”

He cleaned then bandaged her ankle that was still raw from two nights earlier when she’d been shackled to the tree. Then he moved to her wrist. She didn’t help him at all. She just lay limp on the bed staring off into space. She desperately wanted to go home; problem was she didn’t have a home to go to. He stood again then crossed in front of her bending to open a small fridge that sat in the corner with a microwave on top of it.