Scent of a Wolf's Mate (13 page)

The last thing Connor had seen was Serena’s
frightened face when she turned back to look for him.

Why didn’t I lock the doors? Why didn’t I
lock the doors?
Serena kept repeating to herself after the man
closed the driver’s side door and locked them inside. She’d
attempted to escape by exiting her side of the Hummer, only to find
her hair being snatched by a rough hand. She was soon hauled back,
and promptly ordered not to do it again.

As they sped down the street she glanced out
the back window, looking for Connor, locking gazes with him just as
he stopped running. At least he knew what had happened. He would
come after them. She reminded herself of that each time panic began
to swell out of control, threatening to paralyze her.

She cast a sideways glance at the man, who
was driving as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. His hands
were gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were
white, and Serena knew that if she tried to jump from the Hummer
now she’d probably be killed.

He was young and handsome, yet the twisted
expression on his face was a mask of hatred, rage, or both. Serena
sensed that he had an agenda and that taking her wasn’t an
accident. Something about him struck a cord of familiarity, and
then it hit her, producing a sick feeling in her stomach.

“You’re Clive.” His evil laughter was all the
answer Serena needed to confirm it. The sound made her skin crawl.
Someone in her situation might ask why he was doing this, but she
already knew the answer to that. She was the means to hurting
Connor.

“You must hate Connor very much,” she said
evenly, knowing the importance of remaining calm. Maybe if she
could draw him into a conversation she could make him re-think what
he was doing.

“My whole life the bastard’s always gotten
what
I
wanted.” Somehow Serena doubted that. From what she’d
heard, Clive had been doted on by his mother and was spoiled, but
there was no denying the hatred he had in his eyes for Connor. He
was so deranged that he truly believed what he was saying.

Serena found herself shrinking away from him
as a new fear surfaced. Was he going to kill Connor?

“When Trina told me you two were at the
restaurant I knew exactly what I was going to do.”

Trina had called him?

“I called her to meet up with me later, and
she just happened to let it drop that you and Connor were having
lunch there, and that she would be off duty once she was done with
your table.”

Serena was about to remind him that he was
supposed to be gone from the area, but she knew that would be a
colossal mistake. Clive reminded her of a keg of dynamite getting
ready to explode. The last thing she wanted to do was make him
angrier.

She couldn’t help notice that they were
traveling on the road that led to Connor’s home. “Where are you
taking me?”

“Connor’s home,” Clive said without
hesitation. “Where better to take his beautiful mate than in his
bed?” He sounded very pleased with himself. “And when he sees what
I’ve done to his precious mate, while he’s busy looking down at
your broken, bleeding body, I’ll kill him.”

Oh, God, no!
The image of what he had
planned flashed before her. Clive hadn’t said that he was going to
kill her, but a life without Connor? Serena couldn’t fathom it, she
couldn’t bear the thought. “Connor will kill you–”

“You think I’m scared of him?” Clive all but
screamed, cutting Serena off. “By the time he makes it home I’ll be
done with you and waiting for him. He won’t know what hit him.”

“You’re a coward!” Serena dared a glance
behind them, hoping to see Connor there.

He hauled off and back handed her, laughing
cynically. “Don’t get your hopes up. That’s a new friend of mine.
He’s following us to give me a ride when I’m done. And if I should
need help handling Connor, he’ll come in handy.”

Connor, can you hear me?
She decided
to try telepathy with him.
Clive is taking me to your house.
Connor? Oh, God, Connor, I’m so sorry for not locking the doors
like you said.
Serena felt hot tears fill her eyes as the
situation with Clive began to get the better of her.
Connor?
She wiped at her cheek.
Be careful, Connor. Clive will be
waiting for you.
Serena hesitated.
I love you, Connor. Hear
me, please!

Don’t cry, love.
Serena felt intense
relief when his voice came through.
I’m on my way. No matter
what happens, do what Clive wants and stay alive. Do you hear me?
Stay alive!

“Crying won’t help you,” Clive scoffed
cruelly, cutting into their thoughts. “But I hope you show a little
more spirit when the time comes. I like women who fight a little,
especially when I’m fucking them. Turns me on.”

“You’re nothing but an animal,” she finally
said, shooting Clive a look of contempt. “You need help,
Clive.”

Her comment enraged Clive, and the next thing
Serena knew she was suffering another blow to the face. Before she
had time to acknowledge it, he’d grabbed a hand full of her hair
and hauled her over to his side of the Hummer. Her face was
suddenly inches from his, and he took a moment to glare down into
her tearing eyes.

“You’ll need help by the time I’m done with
you,” he threatened. He then released Serena with a shove.

Heart beating wildly in her chest, Serena
began to tremble. The left side of her face was numb, and she could
taste blood where her teeth had cut into her lip. Clive’s savage
anger was enough to convince her that he could very well carry out
his intentions. He was determined and fueled by deep-seated
emotions.

What if he did catch Connor by surprise? It
would be two against one. Serena had faith in Connor, but would he
be so distracted by finding her that he’d let his guard down? She
squeezed her eyes closed and let the tears fall again.
If I
cause Connor’s death…

You won’t, baby. Trust in me.

“Oh, baby.”

Serena was unprepared for Clive’s sympathetic
tone, and for the tenderness of the back of his hand as it brushed
against her bruised cheek. However, she knew not to trust the
change in him.

“Tears just won’t do. I’m sorry if the
gravity of your situation is getting the best of you. I promise I
won’t leave you in pieces, like I did the eagle back at the
sanctuary.”

Serena pulled away from his hand. His
admission didn’t surprise her. She glanced out the window,
realizing they were getting close to Connor’s cabin.

Connor! We’re almost at your cabin. They’re
planning a trap for you.

All too soon, Clive was coming to a jerky
stop at the cabin, his so-called new friend right behind them. “Get
out,” he ordered, opening the door and exiting the vehicle.

Serena watched him walk around the front of
the Hummer before her numb brain registered that she was alone in
the cab. Just as Clive reached her side of the Hummer she quickly
locked the door and then reached over and locked the driver’s side
door. Maybe she could buy some time, but she had no doubt that the
locked doors wouldn’t keep Clive out for long.

Clive just stopped, stunned for a moment,
glaring at her. “Unlock the door, bitch!” He pulled on the handle.
“Unlock the fucking door!”

Serena ignored him. Soon his friend joined
him. He said something that Serena couldn’t hear, and then the two
were looking around them toward the ground. Her heart fell when
Clive picked up a large rock. Screaming, Serena scooted away and
ducked when he crashed the rock through the window. She jumped into
the back seat, and, just as he reached through the broken window
she unlocked and pushed the door open to make a run for it.

She didn’t get far. His friend caught up to
her and forced her back to the Hummer. Serena struggled against
him, knowing that Clive would retaliate once he got his hands on
her. Her struggling only got her a couple of slaps as she was
dragged to the tailgate.

“Get off me!” she screamed.

“I’ll take you right here, bitch!” Clive
threatened, slamming Serena back against the unyielding vehicle. He
ripped at her blouse, tearing it open down the front. His eyes
followed the strip of flesh he’d exposed.

“Why don’t we both have a go at her?” His
friend suggested, holding Serena’s legs so that she couldn’t kick
out.

Clive stared down into Serena’s eyes. She was
terrified and totally at their mercy. Between the two of them, they
had her good and secured against the unyielding metal of the
Hummer. A mixture of emotions flooded her, from anger, to fear, to
panic. Connor’s words came back to her, reminding her to do
whatever Clive wanted in order to stay alive, but there was no way
she was going to let him rape her without a fight.

“Maybe I will,” Clive responded, smiling down
at Serena. “But as much as I want this bitch now, I want her in
their
bed.” He took the torn edges of her blouse in one hand
and hauled her against him.

Serena stumbled as Clive turned her toward
the cabin. Her hands came up to fight him off, but he backhanded
her so viciously that she saw stars. She cried out, or at least she
thought she had, until it dawned on her the sound was more of a
threatening growl.

“Connor!” she whispered, catching sight of
him off to the side of them. He was in wolf form, looking huge and
powerful, his canines exposed.

He lunged for Clive’s friend. Serena was
pushed away as Clive joined in the fight. She hit the ground and
glanced up in time to see the two men change into wolves. Her eyes
grew large as they pounced on Connor at the same time. Clive was
almost as big as Connor, though thankfully his friend was a lot
smaller.

Serena could only watch in horror as Connor
fought the other two. He was a formidable opponent, and he fought
as if their lives depended on it, which they did. Serena wondered
how long he would be able to fight the two alone before they got
the better of him. Right now, he seemed to be winning.

She got to her feet, wondering what she could
do to help Connor. The three wolves were locked in a vicious
battle, teeth ripping at one another and drawing blood. A yelp of
pain came from the smaller wolf as he was tossed aside like a rag
doll. Nevertheless, he scrambled to his feet again and went for
Connor’s hind leg.

“Connor, behind you!” Serena screamed. When
he turned to ward off the smaller wolf, Clive used it to his
advantage. He jumped for Connor’s throat and bore him to the
ground. “Connor!” she cried, watching in horror as the two wolves
ganged up on him. They were both on top, jaws snapping as they
aimed to maim and kill.

They were going to kill him! Serena’s heart
felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. Her blood was on
fire, racing through her veins like lava. Something feral and
gripping took control of her senses. The smell and taste of blood
was in the air. Something was happening to her, and the more she
watched the fight the more she felt it have power over her. The
instinct to join in the fight had her struggling with something she
couldn’t see or understand.

There was another yelp, and this one she knew
came from Connor. Tears flooded her eyes when she saw the blood on
him. Clive and his friend were going at him like ravenous, rabid
dogs.
No! He’s not going to die!
Serena didn’t know what she
was going to do, but she ran to where they had him pinned to the
ground. Fear and anger as she’d never known before rose to the
surface. When she jumped towards them she came down on all
fours.

She didn’t stop to question why. Without
thinking, Serena aimed for the smaller wolf, landing on top of his
back. The force knocked him off Connor, and suddenly they were
rolling on the ground. She came out on top, chomping down on his
shoulder and getting a yap for her efforts. Then as he tried to
squirm out from under her, she managed to give him a painful nip on
his nose before moving on to his throat. Giving him no chance to
recover, she bit down as hard as she could and didn’t let go. The
wolf beneath her whimpered.

A high-pitched yelp drew her gaze to Connor
and Clive. They were going at each other in a mindless frenzy, and
Serena had no doubt that it was a fight to the death. Both wolves
were covered in blood, yet neither one acted as if he were wounded.
Revealing any weakness would give the other wolf the advantage, and
could mean the end.

The wolf underneath her was kicking all four
legs in an effort to dislodge her, but Serena only clamped down
harder on his throat. She knew he was slowly suffocating to death.
Gradually his legs stilled, and just as he began to go limp, she
released her death grip and sprinted to help Connor.

No, Serena, stay back!

You need help!

As if sensing that she was near, Clive swung
around and was on Serena in a heartbeat. He bore her to the ground.
She felt his teeth sink into her shoulder and released a yelp. As
he lunged for a second bite Connor was on him, and they were
rolling over and over into the dirt.

Serena jumped to her feet, but the pain in
her shoulder was worse than she thought. She was unable to put her
weight on her injured leg, and when she tried to shake it off, she
cried out in pain.
Damn!
Her gaze flew to Connor. He and
Clive were practically standing on their hind legs as they attacked
one another, the power of their snapping jaws mingling with the
sound of their growls.

A glance in the direction of where she’d left
the other wolf revealed that he was gone. Apparently, he realized
he’d bitten off more than he could chew. He was good when it was
two on one, but even the odds and he had tucked his tail and ran.
At least they didn’t have to worry about him any longer. She
started to limp over to Connor.