Were She Belongs (26 page)

Luke moved closer, walking around her, sniffing the air. She shied away a bit, then raised her chin in challenge. So what if she smelled of sex? She was supposed to.

“You shouldn’t stray from your mates,” he stated firmly as he herded her toward the opposite direction from where her mates were.

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Did he think she was stupid?

She paused as Luke bumped into her.

He held her gaze.

“You are quite lovely in wolf form. I watched you shift and run with your mates. That process usually takes time to develop, yet you did it so easily. It’s not safe for you to be unprotected. Any wolf could come along and try something.”

Lexi began to feel concerned.

“Well then, let’s head back to the alphas. I’m sure they’re awake by now.”

She began heading back with Luke beside her.

His thoughts suddenly penetrated her mind.

“I can’t do this. She is too nice and too kind. She has shown me
nothing but respect and honor. Stratton can do his own dirty work.”

Lexi was shocked. Luke was considering helping Stratton?

“I was so glad that you decided to stay with Saber and not head to New York anyway. The alphas respect you so much, and they would hate to lose such a devoted pack member, especially with Stratton out there trying to cause chaos and havoc.”

“What do you know about Stratton or his ideas?” Luke asked, sounding nervous and irritated. Her wolf sensed it as he slowed the pace down and caused Lexi to as well.

“I know what the spirits say. I know that he had Andy abduct me and that he intended on holding me captive. He killed members of your pack and allied packs. How can you defend anyone like that?”

she asked, trying to move more quickly.

“He has ideas to better the future of pack law. There has been dominance for hundreds of years, Lexi. Things have taken place that you don’t understand or know about. Change is needed. The bloodlines need to be purified.”

“Says who? You think I don’t know what it’s like to be forced to adapt to protocol and rules because of labels? I lived on the streets for
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the majority of my life. Do I represent the bad blood circulating through Sinclair or allied packs?”

“It’s not the same thing. You have fey blood and were blood.

That’s powerful and unheard of.”

“And that’s exactly why Stratton wants Lexi with him.”

Luke and Lexi turned toward the voice and saw Pragan. Lexi took a few steps back.

“You’re wasting too much time talking. Did you inject the alphas?”

“Luke? What is he talking about?”

“Oh, you mean while you two were chitchatting, Luke didn’t mention that he drugged your alphas? They should be asleep for at least another hour.” Pragan laughed.

Lexi growled as she slowly took two steps backwards and away from Luke and Pragan.

“There’s no place to run, Lexi. You have no choice but to come with us.”

“Oh really? How do you figure?” she asked.

“Well, it’s quite simple. You see, if you don’t come willingly with us, then the other wolves I have waiting near your mates will kill them as they sleep.”

Lexi was angry and scared. She wanted nothing more than to attack Pragan and rip out his throat.

“What men?” Luke asked.

Pragan glared at Luke, then snarled. “You’re weak, Luke. Too weak to be part of the revolution.”

“He is not weak. He has been misguided and fooled by your lies.”

“I disagree. Perhaps when you meet Stratton and talk with him, you’ll understand and agree that change is needed. We must weed out the weak.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Lexi asked.

He smirked. “It has everything to do with you. But I don’t want to spoil Stratton’s plans. He’s worked so hard to pull this off.”

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Lexi stalked toward him. Whether he had wolves waiting to kill her mates, she wasn’t certain, but there was no way she was going with him.

Just then numerous wolves emerged from the forest. They growled menacingly, and she cringed.

“You can go beaten and battered, or you can go civilized,” Pragan stated.

Luke took his place next to Lexi. Crossing her arms in front of her, she stood her ground and felt a presence penetrate through her.

Immediately, she felt Feldman.

“What seems to be going on here?”
he asked through their link.

“Oh, Feldman, I’m so glad to hear your voice. I’m not sure what
to do.”
Lexi nearly released a sigh of relief out loud.

“Apparently this elder, Pragan, along with Luke and those
wolves, plans on taking me to Stratton. Something about my powers
being useful.”

“That is true. You are quite powerful, however, only to do good
and just things. Not for anything you regard negatively. Concentrate,
Lexi, and you will know what to do.”

“Watch over my mates for me, Feldman. Pragan said that he has
wolves ready to kill them in their sleep.”

“No problem. May I ask what you are planning to do?”

“What do you think I should do?”

“Let the Fates lead you. I will guard your wolves.”

Lexi smiled.

“You got awfully quiet there for a moment. Could it be that you were trying to warn your mates? That would only bring death to them more quickly.” Pragan smirked.

Lexi felt the spirits around her. Could Feldman be right? It was a lot for her to give in to faith when she was so new to it all. A new life, new loves, it was almost as if the opportunity to live free was achievable. Stratton was the reason for all the negative in her life.

Thoughts of killing him entered her mind, but they were mere
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thoughts. She could only use her powers for good, and now that Feldman was watching over her men, she could help deal with Stratton. He had ruined her life and forced her to live in hiding and on the streets instead of being free. Her men had brought her some freedom, but until Stratton was taken care of, she would always be fearful of his revenge. Never mind what he did to Jacob, Troy, and the other pack members.

“So where is Stratton now?” Lexi asked.

“Waiting for us to deliver you,” Pragan stated.

“Sorry, Lexi,” Luke whispered next to her. A moment later she felt a sharp pain in her neck.

Lexi jumped, covering the place where Luke had stabbed her with a syringe.

“Luke? Why?” she asked, feeling dizzy.

He reached for her, and she tried to slap his hand away. She couldn’t focus, her vision was fuzzy, and suddenly there was darkness.

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“Where is she, Feldman?” Saber demanded as he tried to shake the tiredness from his head. Andre and Paul were doing the same thing.

“I’m afraid that Stratton has her.”

“What?” the triplets yelled in unison.

Saber took a step toward Feldman, about to grab him by his collar and shake some sense into him.

“It is how the Fates want it. I could not interfere in Lexi’s decision.” Feldman began to walk out of the wooded area. Saber and his brothers had no option but to follow.

“What do you mean her decision?” Andre asked.

“I mean, she asked that I watch over you while she deals with Stratton.”

“Deals with Stratton? And you let her!” Paul yelled.

“There was nothing I could do. I was watching over you three when Luke and Pragan accosted her in the woods.”

“Luke?” Paul yelled.

“Pragan?” Saber roared.

“Yes. They were working for Stratton and were sent here to retrieve Lexi. They believe that she has the powers they need to take control of all the packs in this realm.”

“Let me get this straight. You knew this, and yet that information wasn’t considered good enough to use your powers to protect Lexi?”

Paul asked.

Feldman was the first to walk up the porch steps. He sighed, then turned toward the triplets.

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“Gather your men, and prepare to fight. You will be summoned by Lexi or by me.” Feldman turned and walked toward the house.

“This is ludicrous! How the hell can he walk away when his own blood was just captured by the enemy and the one wolf who has been hurting her all these years?” Paul asked, sounding tired and frustrated.

“
Lexi…Lexi? Can you hear me?”
Saber asked through their link.

“Come on, baby. Tell us where you are. We want to help you,”

Andre added.

“Look around you. Does anything look familiar? Please answer,”

Paul stated.

“
Nothing. Let’s get changed and gather everyone up. We’ll start with trying to get a scent from the woods where they took Lexi.

Hopefully, they haven’t gone too far,” Saber suggested, heading into the house. Paul and Andre were right behind him.

“Yeah, hopefully not back to New York,” Paul stated sarcastically.

* * * *

Lexi could hear numerous voices echoing around her. Her eyelids were heavy and difficult to open. She played possum, hoping to gain access to her mates through their link.

“They have to know more. Kill a few of them. Then the rest will talk!” one deep voice stated. Lexi could hear the moans and cries.

“Yes, Stratton, we’ll try once more. Then we’ll do as you say.”

Lexi slowly forced her eyes open, and the sight caused instant pain in her heart. There were so many people and wolves. There were children wearing torn and dirty clothing lying on concrete floors behind prison bars. Men were chained to poles, beaten and bloodied.

Some looked near death.

She tried to get her bearings. Where the hell were they?

The place looked like some kind of warehouse. As she attempted to find a clue to her location, she caught sight of the man yelling and
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giving orders. Instantly, she felt a connection. There was something familiar about him, yet she sensed the evil as well.

Then she saw the back of a man who was holding a whip in his hand. He was as large as Saber from behind, but she couldn’t see his face. As if he heard her, the man turned, and Lexi nearly gasped in shock. She would never forget that face. The man who had killed the two guys who had told her they knew her family. Instantly, she remembered the newspaper article that reported they had been beaten and tortured three years ago. The man had almost caught her then.

How was he connected to Stratton?

Closing her eyes, she continued to pretend she was asleep. The images of wolves, men, and women being tortured flashed through her mind.

“Saber…Andre…Paul…please…can you hear me?”
Lexi spoke through the link.

Oh please, spirits, they must hear me. They have to help save
these people.
She pleaded to the powers of fey, hoping they would send her a sign, an indication of what to do.

Screams echoed through the room. There were sobs of pain and sadness as Stratton and his men demanded information. Lexi noticed one young woman standing right beside Stratton. She didn’t leave his side. She cringed at the sounds of agony just as Lexi had. Stratton treated her like dirt. He scolded her for no reason, and instantly the woman bowed down to her knees and caressed his pant leg. Lexi was disgusted. She refocused on the others and the warehouse itself. It looked vaguely familiar, but she didn’t recall ever being there.

She had the feeling that the people were Crimson and McFay. She recalled her vision. If they were there, then she must be in New York.

It had to be.

Closing her eyes, she instantly thought of her mates.

“If you can hear me, I think I’m in New York. Stratton is
torturing—”

“Lexi! Thank the gods. Are you okay?”

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She immediately recognized Paul’s voice, then Saber and Andre.

“For now. I am pretending sleep. You must listen closely. They
have many prisoners. It’s terrible. They’re torturing and killing
children, Paul. Please find us.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m not certain. I think a warehouse. It may be the one I saw in
my vision.”

“We’re in New York. We’ll be there shortly. Hang tight, and don’t
do anything stupid.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Lexi jumped and opened her eyes as the deep, menacing voice echoed by her ear. The sudden movement made her dizzy and off balance. Someone hoisted her up by the waist.

“No chitchatting with your mates. Come with me,” he demanded, pulling her along with him.

Horrified, she heard the pleas and felt the looks of her people as they watched the guard take her away from the prisons and out of the warehouse.

Her people? When had she accepted her place as alpha female and Sinclair pack to think of these people as hers? The realization brought out the fight in her and the disgust for Stratton and his so-called cause.

“Let go of me!” she demanded, pulling her arm from the beast’s grip.

Fear hit her all at once, realizing it was him. She trembled at the fact that she was standing next to the man she had seen those years ago. He was the same man who killed the guys who claimed to know her family. She needed to be strong. She wouldn’t show weakness in the presence of her people.

He attempted to grab her, but she pulled away, using her small size and agility to avoid his grasp. She quickly looked for an exit. And as she turned and ran, she felt metal hit her back, then multiple
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stinging sensations covering her arms and her shoulders. She fell to the ground, into the fetal position, shaking profusely.

It was difficult to focus and deal with the jolts of pain going through her body. She didn’t know what was happening until she saw the beast standing in front of her tapping a black rod against his palm as he smiled down at her.