Aline Hunter - Vampire Mine

Fuck. “Since you’re playing secretary, it’s the least I can do.”

Cade brought a hand to his chin and stroked the scar marring his skin. His steely eyes saw far more than Trey liked. “Why do I smell bullshit?”

“Maybe you’ve been kissing too much ass?” The Alpha in him wouldn’t allow Trey to sever eye contact but he did move away from Cade, putting as much distance between them as possible. “Members of the pack could start arriving at any time. I suggest you get things ready.”

“What the fuck are you up to?”

That was typical Cade—brash, ballsy and arrogant as hell. Trey found the man’s bluntness refreshing, even if he’d never admit it to anyone in the pack. As an Alpha, it was rare that anyone would go tit for tat with him. However, Cade tended to overestimate his worth in the pack. While he was worth having around and had managed to get in the good graces of Diskant Black—the Omega and head of all the shifters of New York—he wasn’t above the rules.

This time Trey didn’t ask, he ordered, “Get ready to greet the pack.”

Even if Cade liked to push buttons, he’d been around long enough to know he’d have to answer to Diskant if he stepped out of line. And it wasn’t good to bother Diskant right now. His mate, Ava, was in the early stages of pregnancy but had finally started to show. Anything that tore the Omega’s focus from his female wasn’t welcomed.

“Whatever you say,” Cade drawled, each word laced with sarcasm. Despite his apparent annoyance he was smart enough to lower his gaze as he moved away from the wall and started walking toward the garage. “I live to serve.”

Trey waited for Cade to exit the residence, listening as the back door opened and slammed closed before he rushed from the hallway. Nathan couldn’t leave the property with Leigh on his arm. The guards would ask him too many questions. He wondered where he might find his Beta and unexpected guest as he ran to the small door that led to the back of the property. To his relief he spotted them as soon as he stepped outside. Nathan had taken Leigh to the side of the building, keeping her hidden among the bushes. The man had boxed her in the cage of his arms, standing protectively over her.

“Would you stop?” Leigh’s soft reprimand drifted to Trey’s ears. “I told you I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie,” Nathan growled. “Not to me.”

“Children,” Trey interrupted the two before their argument escalated and drew unwanted attention, keeping his voice low, “stop fighting.”

The instant Nathan lowered his guard, Leigh took advantage. She ducked under his arm, gaining her freedom. “It’s about time you joined us,” she hissed, tossing strands of her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “I was starting to think you’d changed your mind.”

He had to force the wolf back, struggling to whisper instead of howl. “No way in hell.” Looking past her, he started working out an exit strategy. His motorcycle only allowed room for two. They needed a vehicle. Unfortunately he wasn’t in a position to retrieve his keys and get to his car. “How did you get here?”

“I drove,” Leigh snapped, her blue eyes shooting daggers in his direction. “The car’s parked one street over.”

His gaze drifted to Nathan. “I’m going to distract the guards while you two slip out.”

Nathan nodded and wrapped his hand around Leigh’s wrist. “Hurry.”

Trey didn’t have to be told twice.

They were lucky to have gone undetected for as long as they had.

He strode purposefully toward the line of trees along the back of the property. Members of the pack rotated keeping guard, taking shifts that lasted anywhere from eight to twelve hours. Trey approved the schedule but didn’t go so far as to make it. As long as he had eyes on the place he didn’t care how the pecking order was decided. Movement caught his eye, a subtle shift of color that would go unrecognized by the human eye.

Bingo.

“It’s me,” he called out. “Reveal yourselves.”

One by one, they did.

He held his head high, approaching the wolves with total confidence.

Any display of weakness could create total chaos.

He stopped several feet away and called on his wolf. The beast responded, revealing as much of its power as Trey would allow it to. As he anticipated, the members of his pack immediately backed down. They lowered their gazes, taking on subservient stances.

This was it.

Showtime.

Sadie fought the welcoming arms of sleep and struggled through the heavy fog keeping her from complete awareness. Her head slowly cleared, thoughts no longer splintered. Opening her heavy lids, she blinked rapidly and willed her eyes to focus. Shapes and colors bled together, making her head spin. She ignored the dry tickle at the back of her throat, drawing a steadying breath as she fixed her gaze on tiny crack in the ceiling.

How long had she been under?

Days? Weeks?

Months?

She resented the fear that slammed into her. After all, she was responsible for her current predicament. She hadn’t been captured. No sir. She’d walked willingly into the devil’s arms, moronically believing she’d finally meet her end and find some semblance of peace in the afterlife.

Stop. Pull yourself together, damn it.

Despite her weakened state, she managed to shift her arms and legs. A white-hot stab shot up her back. Her cold and tired muscles protested the movement, stinging as they stretched and flexed. She relied on years of training to push through, willing her body to ignore the pain. She didn’t know what Aldon wanted with her but it couldn’t be good. If she’d learned anything over the last few months it was that the man had a plan—even if she didn’t know what that plan might be—for everything. Her captivity wasn’t random. She served some sort of purpose.

And you handed yourself over to the bastard like a dessert on a dainty platter.

Moron.

Aldon was far more powerful than she’d thought, staving her hunger and using her weakened state to keep her incapacitated by sleep. Each time she’d woken he’d appeared and handed her back to the Sandman. There hadn’t been time to question his motives. One minute she’d been aware of her surroundings—groggy but aware—the next her eyes had slammed closed and she’d gone nighty-night.

Which is why you should stop wasting time. Get your shit in check.

Pay attention. Right now.

She held her breath and gritted her teeth, trying to block out the fire that slithered up her torso as she rolled onto her belly. Decimated muscles groaned in protest, burning with the effort. Each panted breath tore through her chest, her lungs feeling as though they might burst as she attempted to remain quiet. At first she thought the pounding in her ears was due to adrenaline and the slow thudding of her heart. Then she realized it was actual sound resonating from beneath her. She closed her eyes, relying on her astute sense of hearing to listen.

A lock unlatched—the snick loud and crisp in her ears—and a door protested as it creaked open. Judging by the distinct sound and the clarity of her hearing, she realized she was only a floor or so away from the entrance to Aldon’s lair.

Good news if she could get to her feet and find an alternative exit.

“Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” Aldon’s deep voice drifted to her ears as he welcomed his visitor.

“Pleasant surprise, my ass.”

Her heart skipped a beat and then lodged in her throat when she heard the corresponding acknowledgement. She screwed her eyes shut, fighting back tears. She knew that voice, had thought about it so often she wondered if perhaps she hadn’t woken at all but remained snared in the land of dreams.