Wolf's Ascension (3 page)

Creepy.

She slammed the drawer shut and headed back out to the main room. No obvious weapons to use. Walking over to the large set of windows, she looked out. It was a truly magnificent view. For a prison, anyway. A big, deep blue lake lay off just down a slope. Deep, thick forest abutted it and only made room here and there for the cabins that dotted the shore. A large deck with an outdoor barbecue area and tables looked well used. It looked homey, comfortable, the kind of place Kari had dreamed of making her own home into.

Lovely windows, great view. Still locked and up high enough that she’d end up seriously maimed or worse even if she was able to get out.

Thinking it might clear her head—and it had been a while since she’d had the chance to clean up completely—she decided to take a chance and shower. She stepped in and let the hot spray envelop her as she tried to think her way out of the mess she’d fallen into. There was no way she was just going to give up. She’d been through a lot in her life and she would get out of there or die trying.

* * *

“Well, she’s something else,” Phillip said, eyes lit with amusement. They’d ended up in Andreas’s office. A place his lieutenants would know he’d find strength in. Where he could recenter himself.

“She’s so unhappy and frightened.” Misery and agitation warred in Andreas’s gut as he tried to find a comfortable position to sit in when all he wanted to do was go back up to her and make everything better.

“What do you expect? Less than a week ago she was a highly paid software engineer on her way home from a nightclub when a wolf jumped her. She regains consciousness in a hospital three days later. Suddenly, her brother is gone and she wakes up to find her doctor and a bunch of strangers have drugged her, removed her from the hospital, are insisting she’s a werewolf and won’t let her leave. Of course she’s afraid,” Phillip said reasonably.

“I would never hurt her! I just want to comfort her, calm her fears.” Andreas stood and began to pace.

Andreas didn’t just feel bad that Kari was upset, it was hardwired into him to be responsible for her well-being. Not only because he was an Alpha, but because she was his Mate. He had to choke back panic at not being able to help her, and that was an entirely new experience for him. All his life he’d been able to comfort the wolves of his Pack. He was exceptionally attuned to them and he knew—without undue vanity—it was one of his greatest gifts.

None of that seemed to matter to Kari.

“You have to show her that, Andreas. She can’t be expected to know. Especially under the circumstances. We’re strangers. She’s alone and frightened. Give it time, she’ll come around. Michael really fucked it up,” Phillip growled. The light of amusement in his eyes faded to extreme annoyance.

“Yes, well, he does that,” said a cultured voice.

“Sean!” Andreas turned and enclosed his brother in a hug.

Sean, a near carbon copy of his brother but for the difference in hair color, looked closely at Andreas. “How are you? I take it Kari arrived safely?”

“She’s here but she’s pissed off and scared.” The worry and agitation were back in his voice.

“Her world is not the world where men kidnap women for Mates and breeding other species.” His brother’s ability to be logical and talk Andreas down that way was one of the many reasons he was Second to Andreas’s Alpha. Sean would be next in line to run the Pack should Andreas not be able to.

“You’ll win her over. Women seem to be enamored of you for whatever reason. Must be that hair.” Sean smirked. “You’re sure she’s your Mate then?”

Andreas’s anguish faded. That was one thing he was utterly certain of. “Yes. I’ve never scented another female like that. She smelled like the deep forest—earthy, fertile, rich. I wanted to roll around in her.” He laughed at the memory. “She feels...smells...
is
perfect.”

Sean nodded. “Good. Then we’ll all convince her. She’ll get over this and you’ll have a story to tell your grandchildren.”

* * *

Kari rubbed her hair dry with a towel then hung it up, putting on jeans and a T-shirt with her red cardigan over it. Admittedly, having her stuff there made her feel a bit better. Then again, they’d probably planned it that way.

Her stomach clenched and she felt light-headed. She needed to eat. Thinking back, all she’d had was some broth and tea the night before and some toast and half an egg earlier that morning. She wasn’t good at skipping meals. It touched too many bad memories.

Wrinkling her nose, she looked at the food on the tray. It’d gone cold and looked completely unappetizing. Besides that, she was concerned they might have drugged it.

Twisting the doorknob, she discovered it was locked.
Great
. She pounded on it. “Hey! Werewolf jailers!”

Moments later the door opened and Andreas came through with Phillip. “I see you’ve freshened up. You look better. Do you feel better?”

He smelled delicious. It drove her insane and that made her mad. She didn’t want to look at him and want to take a big bite. Or lick up the wall of what she knew would be an impressive chest. Or feel the heat of his flesh beneath her hands as she rode... She gave herself a mental smack in the forehead.
Focus!

Truth was, she didn’t get a feeling that this guy posed her any harm. He felt safe. Then again, she wasn’t sure how much she could take that feeling for, considering he’d kidnapped her and was holding her against her will. Hardening her resolve, she refused to let herself be taken in by him. Even if she felt like jumping on him. If she got out of this alive, she was going to enroll in a computer dating service or something. Clearly she needed to get out more.

“I’m hungry. But I’d like to take Phillip there up on his offer to be my taster.”

“If it would make you feel better, of course. Would you like to come downstairs and eat with all of us? We can make you something suitable. I believe I heard Anna say we’re having roasted chicken and mashed potatoes with vegetables and salad. I think there’s ice cream too,” he tempted.

“I’ll definitely be your taster for all of that. Anna’s a great cook.” Phillip grinned.

“Shall we?” Andreas held out his arm and, after looking at him suspiciously, she took it. She pretty much had to, she was weak just from showering and getting dressed and she hadn’t eaten a full meal in days. She’d have loved to storm past him but wasn’t sure her legs could support a weak mince much less a full-blown dramatic sweep. And a sweep had to be dramatic or what purpose was it? She sniffed her annoyance.

As they walked down the large staircase, she could see down into a great room that rose up, open to the second floor. Giant banks of windows faced views of the lake, forest and a large garden and deck area. Through the great room they came into a large dining room. The long wooden table that dominated the space must have easily accommodated forty people.

Popping her head out of the kitchen, Elaine smiled as she sighted Kari. “I’m going to get you something you can eat. Go sit down and I’ll bring it to you. Is iced tea all right or do you want hot tea?”

“What, no Kool-Aid?” Kari mumbled. “Iced please, no sugar.”

When they walked into the dining room proper, there were already ten other people there. All of them smiled expectantly at her as they stood.
Eeek!

Andreas escorted her to the head of the table, pulling out the chair to his right. “This is your place, Kari. You’ll be at my right hand. Please sit. I’ll introduce everyone once you’re sitting and eating.”

With a raise of her eyebrow, she sat and Phillip eased down next to her. Anna came out bearing a plate for her and a tall glass of tea.

“Dr. Kennedy told me what you’d need most to speed your recovery. There’s plenty more so just let me know.”

“May I?” Phillip gestured at the food, and at her nod took a bite of everything and a swig of her tea. She watched him and after three particularly loud growls of her stomach and a few minutes she decided to dig in. The food was, as Phillip promised, delicious and she tried not to shovel it into her face like she hadn’t eaten in a week.

At that, the tension broke and people started talking and passing platters of food around.

Once plates were filled, Andreas tapped on his glass with a knife to get everyone’s attention. “This is a truly special night. Kari Warner—your Alpha, my Mate—is finally here. She’s a bit frightened and nervous and thinks that werewolves are bullshit, but she’s here. Let’s welcome her into our Pack. Our family.”

There were cheers of approval and Kari watched it all in a daze. Andreas gestured toward a tall man who mirrored him except for coloring. “This is my brother Sean. My Second.” The man stood and smiled at her. Approaching her chair, he sank to his knees and touched his forehead to her calves.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Kari. Welcome to the Cherchez Clan. My life for yours.” He moved back and stood up and walked back to his seat on Andreas’s left.

“This is Laurent. Laurent is my bodyguard, my Lieutenant and my Third. More importantly, he’s been my best friend since we were twelve years old.”

Laurent was another giant, though not as broad-shouldered as Phillip, Andreas and Sean. He approached in the same way that Sean had. Although he moved with rippling menace, she had to admit that she didn’t feel personally threatened. Clearly this was a man who could use his body as a weapon, and quite skillfully. He dropped to his knees and said the same words Sean had.

Her sense of unreality deepened as the introductions continued. A near-hysterical laugh threatened to bubble up from her diaphragm.

“You know Phillip and Elaine already and also Henry.” Kari turned to see Henry was the male nurse who had been helping her for the last several days. Nausea lay heavy in her stomach at the thought that there hadn’t been anyone she could trust.

“Skyler Andrews is one of my Inner Circle. He’s a trusted advisor but he’s also a court jester.” There was a deep fondness in Andreas’s words.

Skyler approached her and knelt at her feet. “Welcome, Alpha. My life for yours.” He looked up into her face and grinned. “God, you’re beautiful.” Kari wanted to laugh at his irreverence but she remembered these were not her friends. They’d kidnapped her and thought they were werewolves.

“Watch it,” growled Andreas.

Kari’s body tightened with fear. The growling thing was really scary. They
sounded
a lot like wolves when they did it. Her imagination was running away from her. Forcing herself to be calm, she reminded herself that she had to control her fear or she’d never get out of there.

Finally the last to be introduced came into the room and wouldn’t meet her eyes. Andreas frowned and everyone got very still. “This is my cousin Michael. He’s the one who changed you.”

Michael approached, and whether or not Kari wanted to believe the werewolf story, she was still freaked by anyone who wished her ill. She drew back.

“Please, please don’t be frightened,” Michael said softly. “I’m sorry. I was just supposed to be watching you, keeping you safe. But you ran. Your fear came over me and I lost control. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Yep, that’s enough for one day.
Kari stood, and her napkin floated to the ground as she did. “I’d like to go back to my
cell
now.” Andreas started to rise but she held out a hand to ward him off. “No, Phillip can take me.”

Andreas looked hurt but nodded to Phillip, who held out his arm for her. She took it, grateful to get out of the room and away from them all. She didn’t respond to any of their good-nights.

After watching them take the stairs, Sean turned back to his brother. “Don’t be upset, Andreas. You did kidnap the girl. She’s freaked.” Sean took a sip of wine and continued to eat his dinner.

“She is something else though. You have a good match there,” Skye added. “She’ll see on Saturday and then she’ll know. She’ll come around. She’ll even forgive fucknuts over there.” He nodded toward Michael, who looked forlorn.

“He’d better hope so,” Laurent growled.

Andreas had a good heart and had only wanted to give his cousin a chance. But Michael’s very minimal control of his wolf was a problem. The attack on Kari hadn’t been the first big mistake he’d made. They all knew it.

* * *

Phillip led Kari to the door of her room. Holding it open for her, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be out here if you need me. Sometime—probably around two or so—Laurent will take over for me so I can sleep. He’s a good guy too. Just knock if you need anything. And I mean anything. Warm milk, a beer, someone to play cards with, an extra blanket. Whatever. I won’t tell you not to be scared. I know you are. You don’t know us from Adam and here you’ve been fed a very outlandish line but honestly, look inside of yourself. Trust that. You’ll know that none of us means you harm—not even Michael—and what we are saying, outrageous as it seems, is true.”

“You’re all werewolves then?” Kari asked, eyebrow up.

“Yep. You’ll see Saturday. Hell, they’ll probably run tonight so you might even hear them. Nothing to fear, though. I’m out here and no one wants to hurt or scare you. Now, get some rest.”

It looked like he wanted to hug her and give her a kiss but he only patted her arm, and she felt tenderness for him. Until she heard the lock
click
behind her.

“Stockholm syndrome,” she mumbled.

Chilly, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. It was cold in the house. Rooting through her dresser drawers, she found some sweats, wool socks and a sweatshirt. She had to figure a way to get out of there and to a town of some sort. But she was damn tired. She decided to nap and then work out what to do once she woke up.

She’d set her internal clock for about 3 a.m. and after a fitful bout of sleep, got up quietly. Silently putting on her sneakers, she eased toward the door. Ever so carefully she reached out and tried the knob.
Locked.
She’d expected that but it still came as a disappointment. She went into her bathroom and rustled around a bit through her things until she located a bobby pin and a brooch to use for picking the lock.