Taken by the Wolf: Collection (16 page)

Rowan barked his approval and turned back around, picking up his pace. The sun was beginning to set now; darkness would be upon them soon. Time had escaped them. It had only been early afternoon when they arrived in the forest, ready to hike their way to the magic place. Now they were rushing home.

Another thought hit Eva as they rode: were there spies in the forest? Would someone really kidnap a girl as important as Leena and leave her unguarded? The bear knew she was there, but they didn’t want to mess with Beorn. She could tell it wouldn’t be any trouble for Beorn to kill several wolves at one time; he could be a powerful ally in the upcoming fight.

I wonder if anyone thought of that?
she thought.
Why don’t they get the bear to help?

She glanced up at the trees, psyching herself out as she looked around. The forest felt like it was closing in on her. Birds suddenly sounded like whispers and each gust of wind sounded like death breaking through the thicket and lunging for her. Paranoia was setting in and she didn’t like it. She gripped Rowan’s fur hard and lowered herself down to a hunching position on his back. She suddenly wanted nothing more than to be out of this forest forever. They had traveled to a magical place, but now she was sure there was evil in the air.

I wonder if my supernatural link to Rowan is doing other stuff to me?
she thought. It wasn’t just in her head—she definitely felt evil in the forest. It was like a darkness settling on her heart, tightening her chest and making it hard to breathe. She had an extreme urge to cry and she didn’t know why.

“Rowan, can we hurry?” she asked. “I don’t have a good feeling about this place.”

Rowan stopped and lowered himself, allowing Eva to step off of him. Suddenly he shifted back into human form, quickly grabbing her clothes from him and pulling them on.

“You feel it too?” he asked.

“The sense of dread?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said, shaking his head. “When wolves mate they form a bond, a link between their minds and souls. I didn’t think it would happen with us since you’re human, but it’s obvious it’s happened.”

“So why do I feel so bad?” she asked.

“I think it’s enhanced even more because you’re human,” he said, a grim look appearing on his face. “I feel something, like there’s something not right out there. The fear I feel radiating off of you, though, it’s just too much. You shouldn’t be having the feelings you’re having.”

“Great,” she muttered. “I guess I found the drawback to being mated to a wolf.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, kissing her on the forehead for reassurance. “I didn’t think it would happen like this.”

“It’s okay,” she said, fighting back the tears that wanted to explode so badly. She wasn’t a cry-baby, so why the hell did she have this urge? “I know it comes with the territory, but why do I feel so bad?”

Rowan’s eyes stared off into the distance, like he was looking past the trees.

“Because there’s something out there,” he said. “Something evil.”

“The wolves who betrayed Bucklin?” she asked.

“Worse,” he said. “This forest isn’t safe anymore. No wonder Beorn was acting the way he did. He feels it too.”

“He was scared?” she asked.

“Very cranky,” he said. “I thought it was because of his age and his desire to mate. I thought he was getting territorial because of that, but it’s worse. He doesn’t feel safe in his own home anymore.”

Eva buried her face in Rowan’s shoulder, unable to bear the thought of living in a place like this, even if you were a tank like Beorn.

“Can we go?” she asked. “I appreciate you shifting to reassure me, but we’ve been standing in one place for too long.”

“Very well,” he said, putting an arm around her and forcing her down the path. “We aren’t in any immediate danger, but we should leave all the same.”

Eva looked back at the trees, which appeared to be moving in on them as they left. She was certain she heard whispers this time.

Chapter 22

Rowan moved hastily, practically dragging Eva down the path towards where they had parked his truck. She was trying to keep up with his long strides, but her legs couldn't move as fast as his.

"Slow down," she said after nearly tripping.

"I'm sorry," he said, still moving at the same pace. "Your fear is really disturbing my wolf. It's one of the reasons I shifted. He's snarling and biting in my mind, wanting to rush back into the woods and destroy whatever is upsetting you."

"Can't you control it?" she asked, sounding exasperated.

"I can't, but it's difficult," he said.

"What do you mean, difficult?" she asked, cocking one eyebrow at him.

"If it gets too out of hand, my wolf can force a shift," he said. "Then you're all alone out here while he runs back to fight."

"But you said we're in no immediate danger," she said.

"I know that, but he doesn't. He's an animal, remember? He acts on instinct and right now his instinct is telling him that something is upsetting his mate and he needs to deal with it."

"He can force a shift?" she asked, her voice rising at the end.

Rowan looked back at her, pausing briefly. It must have taken a second for the realization of what he'd said a few moments ago to set in.

"In very rare instances he can," Rowan said, trying to sound soothing. "Don't worry; he's only been able to do it to me once."

"When your father was killed?" she asked, a look of sadness falling across her face.

Rowan took a deep breath, looking at the dirt below them. "Yes."

"I'm sorry, Rowan," she said, rubbing his arm reassuringly.

"Let's go," he said, pulling her again. "We're almost to the truck."

She tried to keep up with him, practically jogging, but it was no use. Just as they reached the end of the trees she slipped and fell, rolling forward down the hill as Rowan grabbed for her.

"Eva!" he yelled, feeling panic set in.

"Ouch!" she yelled as she finally came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. "What the fuck?"

"I'm sorry," he said, rushing down to meet her.

She shoved at him instinctively, upset that he had been the reason for her fall. "Careful, you big lug!"

Rowan began to look her over, trying to find any source of blood. Hopefully she hadn't banged her head again; she was still recovering from her concussion.

"I'm okay," she said, shoving him back. "Let me get up on my own."

Rowan stood up, giving her space. His eyes were still fixed on Eva, but his nostrils were picking something up: cheap cologne. He sniffed the air hard—he had smelled this cologne earlier today.

He looked up to see the police car at the same time Sheriff Jerry Hewitt and Deputy Donovan Woods walked out from behind his truck, guns drawn. Hewitt had his usual revolver leveled at Rowan while Donovan held a shotgun, holding it steady and aiming directly at Rowan's heart.

"Fuck," Rowan said, putting his arms up.

"What?" Eva asked, facing Rowan as she stood up. She turned around and yelped, her hands shooting up too.

"I knew you weren't being entirely honest with me earlier, boy," Jerry said.

Rowan had to fight rolling his eyes. He had been on plenty of busts with Jerry before; he called everyone he arrested 'boy'.

"Take it easy, Jerry," Rowan said, trying to move forward. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Jerry's thumb expertly pull the hammer back on his revolver.

"Not another step, boy!' Jerry screamed. "You lying son of a bitch. I came to you earlier and you lied to my face. You knew exactly where the girl was, because you took her!"

"He didn't take me!" Eva protested.

"Quiet!" Jerry hollered. "I don't want to hear any stories!"

"Jerry, just listen to her," Rowan started to say.

"Call me Sheriff!" Jerry screamed again.

"Sheriff," Eva said, trying to step forward. "He didn't kidnap me. I went with him willingly."

"What are you saying?" Donovan asked, lowering his shotgun a bit.

"The dead man outside the bar attacked me," she said. "Rowan and his dog saved me from him."

"Your dog killed that man and you didn't report it?" Donovan asked. "Why wouldn't you tell us any of this today?"

Rowan didn't have an answer, Eva was trying to concoct a story on the spot to save their asses, but it was already full of holes. Jerry was a hothead, but Donovan was the dangerous one here. He had a good head on his shoulders and he was quickly destroying her made-up story.

"Because that man is a member of a biker gang," Eva said. "We knew they'd be out to find me, and Rowan didn't want me to get hurt."

"That makes sense," Donovan said, turning it over in his head. "But he's still sheriff. Rowan should have called us. We could have contacted Witness Protection."

"No," Eva said. "We can't risk it."

Rowan wanted her to shut up. There were so many holes and the story was clearly falling apart in Donovan's eyes.

"I've never seen you with a dog," Donovan finally said, raising his shotgun back to Rowan.

"Enough of this," Jerry said. "She's obviously got Stockholm Syndrome or something. Donovan, cuff him."

Donovan sprinted forward, pulling Rowan's hands behind his back as he prepared to clank the heavy metal cuffs home.

Rowan didn't make any motion to fight him; he was still turning over a possible solution in his head.

"No!" Eva shouted, turning to try and stop the tall deputy.

Jerry was on her quickly, tackling Eva to the ground unnecessarily.

All Rowan could see was red as he heard the thud of Eva hitting the ground with the heavier man on top of her. She let out an audible "oof" as all the air exited her body. His wolf could feel her pain via their neural link, and it enraged him.

Rowan tried to control it, knowing if he fought now he might be shot dead and Eva would be taken away for good. Nobody would be able to protect her from Satan's Angels when Jerry went on TV and announced he had found the girl, touting himself as the big-balled, virile, conquering hero he thought himself to be.

Calm down, boy,
Rowan said inside his head.
It'll be okay; he's not going to hurt her. We'll get our revenge.

"Stop fighting," Donovan said.

Rowan hadn't realized he had flexed his entire body, growing tense all over. As strong as Donovan was, he wasn't able to budge Rowan's arms.

He tried to relax, but it was hard. His whole body was on edge and his mind was frazzled. His wolf was ready to explode to the surface and destroy both men.

"It'll be okay, Eva," Rowan said to her as she struggled underneath the sheriff. "I'm going to fix this."

"You won't fix anything, criminal," Jerry said, looking up at him with a sinister smile. "I've been wanting to see you go down for a long time, and this was all I needed. I'm going to take jurisdiction over this shithole of a town too, and find out why you boys are so secretive."

Over my dead body,
Rowan thought.

Donovan finally got him cuffed, securing his hands behind his back.

"Be easy, Jerry," Rowan said. "She's scared."

"Not as scared as she was when you kidnapped her!" Jerry yelled. There was a gleam in his eyes, one that reminded Rowan of bloodlust. He thought he had one of the biggest cases of his career and he was going to milk it for everything it was worth.

The gleam quickly left his eye, replaced by a glassy look of pain as Eva's elbow shot up into his sternum, knocking the wind out of him.

"Get off me, you fat son of a bitch!" she screamed, rolling over to face Jerry, who was gasping for air.

With one quick motion she brought her knee up hard into Jerry's balls, buckling his knees and bringing him to the ground.

"That's no way to treat the victim!" she screamed, jumping to her feet.

Donovan quickly let go of Rowan and moved forward cautiously, his hands up to ward off any swings from Eva.

"Please calm down, miss," he said. "I know you've been through a traumatic experience. We're here to help you."

She started to lower her guard as Donovan's words disarmed her. Then she was convulsing and screaming as Jerry rose behind her and slammed a Taser into her neck, sending thousands of volts through her body.

Eva's mouth foamed and she hit the ground, still shaking.

"Why did you do that?" Donovan asked. "I had her calm."

"Lousy bitch kneed me in the balls," Jerry said. "She's lucky I don't bring her up on assaulting a peace officer."

Neither man noticed Rowan behind them. His eyes were more wolf than man now, every vein in his body threatening to explode out of his skin as he flexed his muscles. It was hard to see straight; everything was a haze of red as the rage filled him to the brim. With one powerful yank he snapped the cuffs in two, freeing himself from their bondage.

Both men turned as a powerful growl escaped his lips and he began to shift.

"The fuck?" Jerry asked, his voice a mixture of shock and fear.

Donovan didn't speak; he just started screaming as the giant wolf slammed into his chest, knocking him into Jerry.

"He's a fucking werewolf!" Jerry screamed, trying to pick himself up off the ground.

Rowan completely bypassed Donovan; instead he moved to quickly end Jerry's miserable little life. The bastard had harmed his mate; this was the end for him. It only took one bite for his powerful jaws to nearly sever the sheriff's head from his body.

Donovan called out in fear, trying to back away. Rowan began to advance on him slowly, growling louder with each step.

"Oh, please!" Donovan hollered, tripping over a rock and hitting his ass hard. He continued to scoot backwards, Rowan just a few feet from him. "I was just following orders! I never agreed with that piece of shit! Please let me go!"

Rowan stopped just inches from his face. Donovan was a good kid; he didn't deserve to die like this. But Rowan had rules that he had to observe. He had already let one person live and now she was the reason he was faced with more humans seeing his true form. There would be an investigation; people would wonder where the sheriff and deputy of Cedar County had gone. All of those thoughts were in the back of Rowan's head, drowned out by the animal that he had become. Unchained primal thoughts pounded through his head, demanding blood and vengeance.