Running with the Pack: Cannon Pack, Book 3 (9 page)

She should scream. Maybe if she did, John and the others might hear her. Yet if she did, if she drew the hunters back, then the shifters could get hurt—or worse. Glancing at Daniel’s hand on her arm, she wondered if his touch had somehow stolen her voice. In fact, every time she glanced at him, more of her panic eased away. He was so handsome, so masterful. She watched the others and couldn’t help but compare them to him. Tucker may have him outdone in size, but Daniel exuded the personal power of a born leader. She hurried, keeping pace with his purposeful strides. Although it didn’t make sense, having him close to her helped keep the terror at bay. If she kept near Daniel somehow she’d get through this.

By the time they made it to the black SUV, her chance to escape was gone. Tucker opened the door, then reached for her. Daniel grabbed her, making her the meat in a shifter sandwich. She wanted to giggle at the idea.

Their bodies, those of hardened warriors, pushed against either side of her. She tucked her head, unsure of where to look. If she turned either way, her breasts would brush against a chest. Heat flashed through her and she struggled not to face either man. She was a captive, and yet all she could think about was sex. What the hell was wrong with her? Although perhaps thinking about sex was better than giggling at them again.

“Nothing happens to her, Tucker, got it? Take her to the house and keep her safe. I’ll take care of her later.”

He was leaving her alone with the pack? Fear burst to life again. “No, Daniel. Don’t leave me alone…” The unspoken
with them
floated in the air. He stared pointedly at her hand on his arm. She yanked it away and tried to cover her embarrassment. “I mean, how do you know they won’t do something to me when you’re not around?”

“You have nothing to worry about.” Daniel lifted his hand, nearly caressing her cheek, then dropped it. “They’ll do as I say.” He nodded, indicating the back seat. “Get in.”

Tucker moved out of the way, allowing her to slide into the back seat. He followed her and she scooted to the other side of the vehicle, wanting to stay as far from him as possible.

“To the house, Luca.”

The driver nodded and started the car. Lauren twisted to stare out the back window, hoping to implore Daniel to come with them. He stood on the street corner, his head cocked to the side, reminding her of the beautiful black werewolf, and lifted his hand to wave. Almost as though ashamed of the action, he dropped his hand quickly and strode back into the dark alley.

“Uh-hem.” Tucker tipped his head toward the front of the car. “Relax. It’s only a short drive.”

Lauren inched closer to the door and placed her hand on the door handle. How had this happened to her? And more to the point, how was she going to save herself? Did she dare jump from the moving car? One look at the locked door shattered that idea. She sneaked a peek at Tucker who shot her another—
hungry?
—grin.
Stifling a titter, she closed her eyes and sent a silent message to the one man who could help her—Daniel. It didn’t make sense. John was the one who would help her, but she felt safer with Daniel around and she wasn’t about to question her instinct. At least not yet.

The vehicle screeched to a stop a short time later. Dreading what she might see, Lauren peeked through the tinted window and blinked. An ornate metal gate swung open and the SUV continued down a long winding driveway lined on each side by beautifully manicured lawns and topiary. The grounds, however, were insignificant frames to the magnificent mansion at the end of the circular drive. Stately white columns stood guard at the front of the house while luscious greenery decorated its pristine white walls. Lights sparkled along the drive, a precursor to the brilliance of the lights burning brightly inside.

“Ah, home, sweet home.”

“Are you kidding me?” Lauren followed Tucker out of the car and lifted her gaze to the top of marbled steps leading to the elaborately carved front doors. “This is a shifter house?”

“You were expecting something less? Maybe an oversized dog house?”

Tucker’s grin mocked her, rushing the heat of her embarrassment into her cheeks. “I, uh, I don’t know what I expected. Just not this.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty spiffy, huh?” Tucker waved his hand, motioning for her to start up the steps. “After you, m’lady.”

Lauren led the way, only now noticing the men and women who stood guard around the house and yard. “Are you expecting a war?” She heard his growl and tried not to let it bother her
—
much.

“We’re always at war. Or maybe I should say we’re always the targets of a war by you hunters.”

Moving through the intricately carved doors opened by two burly men, Lauren entered the grand foyer and couldn’t keep from gawking. The largest chandelier she’d ever seen held court over the marbled entrance, casting glittering prisms of light to the three wide hallways and a winding mahogany staircase leading to the second story. A large room, beautifully decorated, waited to the left.

“This way.”

She hesitated, wishing she could study the paintings and sculptures lining the foyer, then followed Tucker into the nearest hallway. “Is this where the pack takes all its prisoners?”

Tucker’s engaging laugh would be contagious under different circumstances. “I guess so. Considering you’re the first hunter we’ve ever brought here.”

“So you’ve never had a hun—uh, human here?” Photographs of striking men and women of various time periods watched her as she doubled her pace to stay behind the large shifter. Without warning, he came up short and she had to sidestep to keep from bumping into him.

“I didn’t say that.” Tucker opened a door, allowing her to enter ahead of him. “Humans, yes. Hunters, no.”

The room was twice the size of her apartment. Feeling like a princess—albeit a captive one—Lauren glided around the room, running her hand over the luxurious textures of the bedspread and loveseats. She continued examining the beautiful room, her senses taking in the rich and the subtle, yet colorful details. “Wow. I never knew shifters lived like this. I mean, I thought only royalty and movie stars lived in places this grand.”

“I think there’s a lot of things you don’t know about us.”

Her fingers slid over the marbled nightstand next to the king-sized bed and fanned along the heavy curtains on the window. What the hell? Pulling the draperies aside, she touched the glass almost as though she could wrap her fingers around the iron bars on the other side. Her heart plummeted. “Bars on the windows? Do you guys kidnap a lot of people?” She turned to find Tucker watching her. “Or are the bars to keep others out?”

“You’re the first captive. We do, however, sometimes need a room where we can confine a new and uncontrolled werewolf.”

She couldn’t help but bait him. “You mean you use this room as a cage?”

He coughed, ignoring her jab, and added in a subdued tone, “So, how’s your friend?”

“My friend?”

“You know. The cute one at the front desk of your office.”

If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was blushing. “Do you mean Bobbie?”

His grin told the whole story. The man—the werewolf—was smitten with her best friend. She turned away to hide her smile.

“Yeah. Bobbie.”

“She’s good. Uh, she was kind of upset that you didn’t leave a phone number. You know, for our records. Maybe you should give her a call.”

“So you’re playing matchmaker now?”

Lauren turned toward the sound of the voice. Daniel stood in the doorway, his face an inscrutable mask, his eyes boring holes into her soul.

What was it about this guy that unnerved her? She frowned as the real question took its place. What was it about this guy that turned her on? Granted he was handsome, but she’d known other handsome men. She slid her gaze down his hard-toned body. No, this was more than simple physical attraction. “Where did Tucker go?”

The space between his thick eyebrows puckered. “Tucker had other matters to attend to. More important than discussing your friend.” He closed the door behind him. “I want answers.”

“Oh, well, I thought they’d make a cute couple. Bobbie’s into big—”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

Lauren did, but she didn’t relish trying to convince him of her innocence. “I already told you. I was helping your friend. Both of your friends.” She had to make him understand. Not only to save herself, but having him believe her seemed important. “Don’t you remember that first time I saw you? When the female was trapped and then you showed up? You both got away that night.” She clasped her hands, zeroed in on him and urged him to hear the truth in her voice. “Both of you got away because I helped you.”

“We got away on our own accord. I don’t remember you stopping the other hunters. In fact, you should be thanking Mysta and me for not harming you. And now I’m supposed to believe you were trying to help Tyler, too? Is that the load of crap you’re trying to feed me?”

Sometimes a head was just too hard to knock any sense into it. But she’d sure like to try knocking some sense into his hard head. “I’m not feeding you anything but the truth. If you’re too bull-headed to know it, then there’s not much I can do.” She puffed out an exasperated sigh and took a different approach. Maybe if she could get him to concentrate on the first werewolf she’d managed to help, he’d listen to her explanation about Tyler. “How is your female friend? She was wounded, but I wasn’t sure how badly. If you’ll talk to her, she can tell you that I wasn’t going to kill her. In fact, I put my gun on the ground and told her as much. How many hunters would do that with a cornered werewolf?”

He snorted, his derision rankling her nerves. “I wish I could ask her. Unfortunately, she hasn’t come round yet, so I guess I’ll have to get the answer on my own.” His features hardened. “One way or another.”

Chapter Five

Daniel studied Lauren, trying to detect any hint of deception and finding none. Even more surprising, she appeared genuinely concerned about the injured she-wolf’s welfare. “I would’ve thought you’d be happy about Mysta’s condition.”

Lauren collapsed on the edge of the bed and a tear traced a path down her cheek. Was this a trick? His usual skepticism warned him to beware, but the way she hugged herself as though she were suddenly chilled had the ring of truth.

She took a shaky breath and exhaled, long and slow. “I am so sorry. I thought she was okay. Or at least, I’d hoped she would be. Damn it.” She wiped away another tear and lowered her head. “I thought I’d helped her.”

Was she telling the truth? Daniel moved to stand in front of the confusing hunter. “What do you mean?” She shook her head, unable or unwilling to answer. Instead of demanding a response, he sat beside her, his arm brushing hers. “How did you try to help?”

Not that he’d believe anything she said. He couldn’t believe a hunter. Could he?

“I’ve tried to tell you. I’m not a hunter anymore. I used to be, but I’m not anymore.”

“Then why are you with them? Why do you go on hunts? Why did you help kill Tyler?” She was either telling the truth or she was one helluva liar. But the problem remained. How could he know which one she was?

“I didn’t kill Tyler.”

He choked back his anger. “That still doesn’t change the fact that you’re one of them. That you cornered him just like all the others did. Maybe you didn’t pull the trigger, but you’re just as guilty.” He pulled his lips back into a snarl. “So you’re saying you didn’t shoot him?”

“No. It’s complicated. I may have fired a shot, but I didn’t hurt him.”

“Come on. What are you trying to pull?” She wasn’t making any sense which probably meant she was lying again. Probably? No, no doubt about it.

“I used blanks.”

“Blanks? But he wasn’t moving.” Could he believe this wild tale? Part of him sprang to alertness, ready to catch any sign that she was telling the truth, hoping she was telling the truth.

“John shot him first. But I convinced him to let me finish him off. Fortunately, Tyler understood and played dead when I shot him with blank bullets.” Her eyes widened into pools of concern. “But I couldn’t get back to him later to help. Didn’t he make it back to the pack?”

“No.”

If what she’d said was true, then Tyler would’ve made it to help. Some way, somehow. The fact that he hadn’t shown up made her story more difficult to believe. Daniel’s stomach churned as the knowledge of what he wanted to believe and what was true clashed.

She sighed and leaned against him. The touch of her against him sent shockwaves into his arm to streak down to his groin. Instantly, his cock awakened and grew. He gritted his teeth, telling himself to move away, but his body wouldn’t listen. Instead, he reached out and placed his palm over her hand. At first she tensed, then rested more of her weight against him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“I need to make amends.” She sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I need to help. To make up for the time when I did hunt.”

“I don’t understand.” Her warmth seeped into him, lessening the anger he held for her. He drew in her heady scent, a scent filled with lavender. “Talk to me.”

He wanted her to do more than talk. He wanted her to kiss him. He wanted to see her rock underneath him. To hear her cry out his name in the heat of passion.

The ache in his stomach churned, taking his lust to a higher level. Unsettled, yet not surprised at the idea, he wrapped his arm around her, enveloping her, giving her his strength.
Screw talking.
I have to have her
. The force of his desire struck him hard, making him thankful he was sitting down.

“I’m a traitor.” She laughed, a bitter, sad sound. “At least that’s what John and the other hunters would call me.” At last she lifted her head.

His heart beat faster, louder. He could live a lifetime looking into those eyes. But could he ever trust her? Could he believe the story she was telling him? If it were only his life that he risked, he’d gladly take the chance. But he had the pack to consider. “Go on.” She placed her hand on his leg, making him wish she’d move it a few inches closer to his crotch.

“I sabotage the hunts. Whenever we corner a shifter, I cause a diversion and give the shifter a chance to escape. Or at least, I try to.”