Inequities (9 page)

They both froze. Vivian didn’t feel any pain. Had she hit him? She needed him down for the count. The only drawback to her twisting her ankle was she couldn’t run. If she shifted—she could do this.

Ryerson fell to the ground, but she couldn’t see where he was hit. Vivian threw the gun as hard as she could, away from Ryerson. She wouldn’t be able to hold on to it when she changed. She took the shirt off and shifted. Her fox was strong. The shift took some of the burn off her leg. Not looking back
she turned and raced in the direction they’d come from.
Back to Russ.

A hand stopped her. She let out a high-pitched yap and bit at the fingers. She had to run.
So close to being free.
He’d tricked her. Vivian nipped and yapped.
Long and loud.
Someone had to be out there.

“You bitch.” Ryerson slammed her into the ground forcing her to shift back. She couldn’t move. It was too late. He’d kill her now for sure.

I love you, Russ. Sorry. I’m so sorry.

Chapter Eight

Russ had caught up with the others. It wasn’t too hard, with the Ancients help he’d known right where he needed to be.

“Wait. Did you hear that?” Russ halted the others.

There it was again.
Screams like someone was being attacked.
It had to be Vivian.

“Don’t.” Greycen stopped his mad dash.

“Let go of me if you want to keep that hand.”

“Listen to me. We can’t charge in there. We could make things worse.”

Russ paused and took a deep breath. Greycen was right. He would take the man’s counsel.

“You’re right. Split up. Max, come with me. Peter and Greycen work your way around so we can come at this bastard from both sides. I want him surrounded and he is mine. Are we clear?”

Nods followed his announcement. He’d kill Ryerson for harming a hair on Vivian’s head.

Max powered up his hands. The flashes of light still held Russ in awe. To have that power would be wondrous, but it didn’t make him feel less anymore. He was strong in his own way. His power was in his leadership. Why the fuck it’d taken him this long to figure out he had no idea. Zareb had as much as told him that a good leader used his people’s strengths for the greater good of the tribe. And
Zareb
should know.

Calm.
Focus. He would do this and no one would get hurt. Well, except Ryerson. He would bruise the fox a little before bringing him down. His own den could bring him to justice.

“Keep it light. I don’t want him dead. Yet,” Russ whispered to Max.

Max winked at him and continued on. If the situation wasn’t so dire, he might have laughed. They got closer to the sounds. Then silence. Russ closed his eyes. He couldn’t rush in. She might get hurt worse.

Russ looked at the scene before him and saw red. Rage took over. He made sure Greycen and Peter were in position and he charged. Max didn’t have time to use his power. He heard the curse and the ground erupt beside him. His sole focus was Vivian lying lifeless on the ground. Ryerson better hope she wasn’t dead.

Russ let his men take care of Ryerson. He had to make sure Vivian was okay. He raced to her side, knocking Ryerson out of the way. He cradled her naked body in his lap and rocked her back and forth.

“Don’t be dead. I just found you.” Russ laid her out flat on the ground, careful not to jostle her. He framed her face in his hands, tears streaming down his face. He peppered kisses on her eyes, her lips and her cheeks. Anywhere he could reach.

He could hear commotion behind him, but he ignored it.

“Please, baby. Wake up. I need you. Don’t die on me. Damn it, Vivian. Wake up and show me those beautiful blue eyes.” Russ stroked her hair and ran his hands over her body.

She didn’t appear to be harmed. Her ankle looked blue. It was the same one she’d hurt when she’d showed up on his doorstep.
Rocking back and forth.
And back and forth.
He didn’t know who he was soothing.
Her or himself.

“Did you check her pulse?” Peter sat down next to him.

Russ blinked his eyes and growled when Peter put a hand on Vivian. Stop.
Control.
It was Peter and he wanted to help. Shit. He’d never thought of that.
Stupid, stupid.
His fingers explored her neck, searching for that wonderful beat that would mean she lived. He bowed his head and hovered over Vivian’s lips. Her pulse was faint and if he listened close he could hear the air puffing out of her lungs.

“Is she—” Greycen whispered?

“She lives. Her pulse is weak. We need to get her home.”

And showered.
She smelt of the other fox and Russ’ wolf wanted to obliterate it. Thinking of foxes—

“Where is he?”

Max dragged the other man forward. Ryerson was unconscious.

“Dead?”
Russ asked dispassionately.

“No. You said you wanted him alive.” Max shook his head like he wanted to go ahead and kill the man. Russ almost let him, but this wasn’t their fight. Max held out a gun. “Found this over there.”

Russ gestured for Max to hand it over to Greycen. He would have his hands full with his mate. Nothing would stand in his way of her in his arms.

“Good. That’s good. Can you keep him subdued? And I shouldn’t be around him or I’ll rip his throat out.” Russ picked Vivian up and headed for the truck he’d left at the side of the road about a mile up.

The Ancients hadn’t shown him this part.
Of course not.
They liked to keep him guessing. But at least she was alive. He had to take what he could get. Vivian didn’t stir on the trip to the truck nor did she wake when they got back to the safe house. He was beginning to worry.

“Max, could you find out if David and Bella made it home and what they found? I need someone to guard Ryerson and someone to take charge of getting people back to normal.”

“Done deal, Russ.
Valerie and I’ll get everyone rounded up. I’ll speak to David and keep you updated.”

“
Thanks,
Max.” Russ continued to take Vivian down the stairs to his room.

“I’ll keep watch over Ryerson. What are your plans with him?” Greycen spoke up.

“I’m taking him home to your tribe. I’ve already spoken to Vivian’s parents. That’s why it took so long for me to get to you. They were unaware of a few facts. I set them straight and there will be a tribunal when we get to Greenland.”

“They’re going to the homeland?”

“Yes. They felt it was the only way to appease what had happened.
To cleanse the den.
It’s a good thing.”

“I’m going with you,” Greycen stated.

Russ had no problem with that. It was his plan all along. The den needed to realise that different was good. And what better way than to bring men who were mates. It would work better if the two would truly bond, but Russ would never force the issue.

“Yes. You and Peter will be by our side while Max and David hold down the fort here.”

Pete
r looked uncomfortable with the situation, but to his credit, said nothing. Greycen had stopped talking too and looked at his mate. Peter didn’t stay for long. He went back up the stairs.
Greycen’s
eyes followed him until he was out of sight.

“Give him time.” Russ shut the door on Greycen and moved Vivian to the bed.

She was beautiful in her slumber, but if Vivian didn’t wake soon he’d have to call in a doctor before taking her to her homeland. But things would be true and right from this moment on. He wouldn’t let her leave his sight for a solid month.
Maybe longer.
The image of her tied to his bed had his cock throbbing in his pants. He chided himself for having sexual thoughts while she lay so still.

“Come on my little vixen. Wake up. Open those blue eyes.” Russ ran his hands over her body. He still couldn’t find anything that would cause her to not wake up. She had a small knot on the back of her head, but it wasn’t bleeding.

What Russ wouldn’t give to be wrapped in her
arms.
He never should have fought as hard as he did in the beginning. It was unnatural to deny your mate. Now look where he was.
Lying in a bed with an unconscious mate.
Russ stroked her face and ran his thumb over her lips. He remembered them on his skin.
Kissing him.
He nuzzled into her neck.

Wait.
Her pulse.
Russ kissed her throat and her heartbeat sped up. She was reacting to him on a subconscious level.

“Baby?
Wake up now. You’re safe. Please.” Russ willed her eyes to open.

Russ knew it was in his power to force her awake, but he nearly screamed for joy when her eyes fluttered. It took a minute for her to fully wake up. When she did, she scrambled up the bed like she was running.

He soothed her as best he could.

“Vivian.
Honey.
You’re safe.” He let his fingers trail up her leg.

Hoping his touch would ground her. Vivian looked around like she expected to see someone other than him. That bastard would pay for the terror he put her through.

“R-Ryerson?”
Vivian squeaked out and threw herself into his arms.

It was like coming home. She was his very soul.

“You’re safe. Greycen is on guard duty. You’re safe.” He repeated his words in hopes they would penetrate her fog of panic.

“Safe.” She burrowed in closer nuzzling his neck.
“Oh, my god.
Are you okay?” Vivian ran her hands over his body. Inspecting him the way he had her earlier.

He cock was getting hard having her fingers touch him.

“We’re both safe. A little banged up, but good. You’re good. And mine. You’re not leaving my sight again.”

“As long as the same goes for you,” she whispered against his lips. “Make me feel alive, Russ. I need you. Please.”

“This might not be the best—you just—that is—fuck.
Vivi
.”
She’d bitten his neck.
Hard.

Russ arched his body up to hers.
Right.
Enough talk.

Russ gently untangled himself from Vivian and placed her on the bed. She started to protest, but he laid a finger over her lips. He stood up and peeled off his clothes.
Layer by layer unveiling himself to his mate.
She licked his lips and he could swear he felt it in his dick. It pulsed, wanting in to her warm wet heat.

“Mine,” he stated.

“Yours,” she answered, her voice roughed from her screams.

Russ didn’t want to think about the pain she’d been in. What had caused her to yap in agony? Vivian would tell him in her own time. He moved closer to the bed.

Vivian took control. She pushed him down and crawled up his body. She took his mouth in a hard kiss. Biting and nibbling then licking to soothe his swollen lips.

Her mouth trailed down his body, stopping at his nipples. Russ held her close to his heart as she lapped and nipped.
Anything for her.

“Take what you need.”

“I need you,” she whispered against his stomach.

He didn’t let go of her head, guiding her down his body. Her tongue dipped into his belly button. He tried not to squirm. She hummed her pleasure and moved on.

“I’m yours.
Forever.
Heart and soul.”

That earned him a kiss on his hipbone. He had to let her go and grab the sheets. Vivian reached his dick and she didn’t go for the quick blowjob. No, she nuzzled his balls and took them into her mouth.
Sucking hard.
Russ’ hips cleared the bed. He had to force himself to settle back down. He was so hard and needy.
And alive.
He burned with desire to be one with his mate.

But he let her take the lead. She needed to feel empowered and he wasn’t going to stop her. Russ sighed in relief when his cock eased past her red lips.
Her tongue lapping at his pre-cum.

She moaned around his dick. He bit his lip. No
way he
wanted to come yet. He needed inside her body.

“Need—” Vivian rubbed her check along his length.

“What. Tell me,” Russ managed to rasp out.

“Hard.
You.
God, Russ. I—fuck me.” Her face coloured as the words left her lips.

His beautiful baby.
He could do that. Russ flipped them around and her legs opened wide so he could rest between them. They fit together so perfectly. Russ didn’t waste time. She wanted hard, he’d give her hard.

Russ took both of her wrists in his hands and held them tight, moving them to the headboard. The steel frame was perfect for what he had in mind.

“Hold here and don’t let go.”

Vivian nodded and complied with his wishes. Her reward was not waiting. She was already slick with need. Russ hissed as he slid into her hot pussy. Vivian clutched at him like she didn’t want to let him go.

And he wouldn’t.
Never again.
His mate.
His love.