"I'm not leaving you!" I argued as I rushed to them.
Susie pushed me back and was nearly bucked off when Linda righted herself onto her rear and kicked her legs. "I can't hold her for long, now get!"
I hesitated, but the final nail in the coffin was when Linda leaned back her head and let loose a loud, long howl. Something inside me, probably the wolf part, told me that was a call for backup, and I didn't want to be around when they came.
"Just don't do something stupid!" I shouted at Susie.
She grinned. "If I wasn't doing stupid I wouldn't be doing anything at all!"
I rolled my eyes and shot off down the row of cabins. More howls from Linda echoed after me. I pumped my arms and my heart beat like a drum. I felt like an escaped convict on the lam, and at any moment the prison guards would jump out and recapture me.
They didn't, and I reached the golf carts. The shiny vehicles were lined up in neat little rows. I took one of the ones at the back and reached under the seat. My fingers came into contact with something cold and hard, and I pulled forth a key. I hopped into the driver's seat, started the engine and pulled out. I could have gone down the road and off that terrible mountain, but for Susie's sake I needed to find the mystery and somehow expose them. I wheeled the cart around and made for the upper part of the road past the lodge.
"Eat your heart out, Susie. . ." I muttered as I slammed my foot on the gas pedal.
The golf cart shot down the road. The dirt road was wide, but the golf cart wasn't equipped for night driving. There were no headlights, and I didn't put on my seat belt. My frightened, panicked mind imagined shadows behind every tree. Large, hairy shadows with golden eyes and sharp fangs.
Then I realized those weren't shadows. There really were things in the woods on either side of me, and they followed me up the road. I pressed the pedal to the floor, but the golf cart's modified engine could only do thirty. Even then the bumpy road made my teeth chatter, and any large rock flew me off the ground or tried to steer me into the brush.
One of the shadows leapt at the cart and landed smoothly into the passenger seat beside me. My eyes widened when I recognized the tall, brutish form of Blackwood. He leaned towards me and his eyes glowed yellow.
"Good evening, my dear Abigail. What a pleasure to see you," he cooed.
I cringed and pulled the wheel away from him. The cart veered off into the woods and the uneven ground rattled her brain. Blackwood slammed his foot on the brake and crushed my own. We came to an abrupt stop just short of the brush. I jumped out and limped down the road, but he strode after me and grabbed the back of my collar. He yanked me off the ground and turned me towards the trees. The shadows congregated in front of us and revealed themselves as werewolves. Their bodies were covered in thick fur, and their yellow, hungry eyes glowed bright in the darkness.
I squirmed and thrashed in his hold, but all I got for my trouble was armpit wedgies. "Let me go!" I demanded.
He pulled me close so we were face-to-face. "I can't let my neighbor's chosen mate deal with the harsh world alone."
I pulled back and wrinkled my nose. "The only thing harsh about this place is your breath, now let me go," I retorted.
He chuckled and swung me around so I faced the others. "We have ourselves a very feisty one here," he called to his group. They laughed and guffawed. Blackwood pulled my face close to his so our noses nearly touched. "I admire someone who can look danger in the face and spit it in the eye. Won't you consider joining our little-ahem, exclusive group."
"No, now let me go!" I twisted and turned in his grasp, but he held me tight.
Fortunately, he also held me so I faced him and my feet were unobstructed by the ground. A sly smile slipped onto my lips, and I gave a good kick into his groin. I yelped when my foot reminded me that it was injured. Blackwood was in the worse condition. His eyes crossed and he released my collar so he could grab at the family jewels. He fell to his knees and ground his teeth together. His eyes flickered up to me with such anger that I knew if I didn't get out of there right then I'd be facing the wrath of his balled fists to avenge his balls.
I raced past him and into the woods. Behind me Blackwood cried out to his minions in a voice an octave higher than usual. "Get her!"
My feet pounded the forest floor and my arms pumped by my sides. I heard the crash of the group behind me. Their feet were much faster, and in a moment one of them tumbled into me. I crashed to the needle-covered ground, and ate pine cones and rotting leaves. The person who held me grabbed my hair and rubbed my face into the ground.
"That's for you being the scum of that asshole Young," I heard a woman's voice hiss. She got off me, but pinched the back of my neck and yanked me to my feet. The woman partially turned me so we nearly faced each other. It was the same one from earlier during the hiking encounter with Blackwood. A cruel glare was on her lips, and her narrowed eyes glowed like two yellow pieces of coal. "And this is for what you did to Andrew." She released me and kicked her foot out.
The tip of her boot connected with my side and I flew a half dozen yards. I skipped across another half dozen yards and collided with a tree. My side burned like fire. Even breathing hurt. I wrapped a hand over my side and felt something poke against my skin. A rib was broken, maybe more. It sure as hell felt like more was broken. I lay as still as possible as tears slipped down my cheeks. A shadow fell across me, and I looked up. The woman stood over me. She pulled her leg back for another swing. I shut my eyes and braced for impact.
It never came. Instead there was a tremendous roar from the woods. I opened my eyes in time to see a flash of something collide with the woman. They tumbled into the brush and out of my sight. I watched in fascination as the bushes ruffled and flapped as an angry, growling brawl took place behind the scenes. The others in the group were not as mesmerized by the sight of the flapping bush. They made to interfere, but another shadow flew from the woods and stopped in front of them. It was Daniel Nelson. His back faced me, and he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His posture was straight but relaxed, and his voice was even and almost flippant. He acted like we were at a garden party, and the group of monstrous creatures ahead of him were uninvited guests.
"I would rather you not interfere," he advised the group. One of the group growled and lunged at him. Nelson stepped to the side, grabbed the man as he flew by, and helped him on his way by tossing him over my head and into the woods behind me. He looked back to the others with a small smile on his lips. "Does anyone else care to try me?"
The men snarled, but backed off. My attention turned to the bushes. They no longer rattled and shook, and Scott emerged from their depths. His clothes were torn and, in some places, shredded, and his hair was mussed. His skin was covered in brush brambles and dirt, and a few long scratches covered his arms. He never looked better.
One of his hands held the now-unconscious woman's torn collar and he dragged her along behind him. She was no longer a werewolf, but was partially clothed. Scott tossed her towards the group of male werewolves. "Take her to your leader or I promise none of you will see him again," he growled.
One of the men picked up Celeste and they hurried back in the direction they came. I sighed and laid my head down in the dirt and pine needles. My nightmare was over, or was it just beginning?
Chapter 8
Scott strode over and knelt beside me. His hands were gentle as he inspected my wounds, but even they couldn't help causing me some pain when he brushed over my ribs. Nelson joined Scott beside me and frowned.
"Bruised?" he guessed.
Scott nodded his head. "Yes, which is fortunate. They may have punctured her internal organs."
Nelson lifted his head and his eyes swept around the area. "We should leave before our 'guests' decide to return with Blackwood himself."
Scott nodded and his eyes fell on me. "I'm going to carry you as gently as I can, but there will be pain," he warned me.
"Story of my life. . ." I muttered.
&nbs
p; Scott smiled. "Not anymore."
Scott slipped his arms beneath me and pulled me against his strong chest. There was never a better splint than his muscles, and he made sure I was firmly against him before he started to move. And boy, did we move. Scott started out at a sprint that would have made Olympic athletes look like they were standing still. The trees flashed by like blurry post-modern artwork and the ground beneath us sped past like I was aboard a train.
Nelson followed, and we hurried down a myriad of paths before the way ahead of us opened. Buildings stood before us, the majority of which were new brown log cabins two floors tall. There were about a dozen, and in front of them was the lake. The buildings closest to the lake were new, long, white clapboard buildings. They were greenhouses, evidenced by the southerly walls and roofs made of glass. I was in too much pain to notice what was contained in them.
Scott took me to one of the smaller log cabins. This one only had a single story. The logs were hewn from trees twenty inches in diameter, and a large wood deck wrapped around the entire building. Nelson opened the door for us and we stepped into a modern home. There was the stainless-steel kitchen, the well-cushioned living room, a long oak dining table, and a wall at the back that separated the sleeping quarters from the living quarters.
Scott moved over to the living room and set me on the plush couch. In front of the couch was a glass-top, rectangular coffee table. Nelson disappeared for a moment and returned with medical supplies which he placed on the table. Scott tore open the bottom of my shirt and pulled the pieces apart.
He frowned. "Definitely bruised. I'll need the wine."
Nelson disappeared from my sight as Scott tentatively touched my rib cage. A stabbing pain shot through me and I hissed through my clenched teeth. "Please don't do that again," I growled.
"I'm sorry, but it should be healed in a short time," he assured me.
"Healed? Healed?" I sat up and gasped for air when my ribs protested the movement. "They're bruised! Ribs don't heal 'in a short time' when they're bruised!"
"They do if you are my mate," he corrected me.
I frowned and leaned away from him until my ribs told me that was a bad idea. "Who the hell told you I'd agree to be your mate?"
He smiled. "Your scent and attraction to me, but that is a discussion for another time."
"No, I'm pretty sure that's a discussion for now. I want to know what the hell is going on, and I want to know it now," I demanded.
Scott chuckled. "We are so much alike, always wanting to control the situation."
"I'm not like you!" I snapped.
"Feeling better already?" a familiar voice quipped. I turned to the door and saw Susie standing in the entrance. Behind her were Nelson and Linda. Susie rushed over to me and enveloped me in a bruised-rib-crushing hug.
"The ribs!" I yelped.
Susie cringed and pulled us apart. "Sorry! Dan told me, but I forgot everything when I saw you lying here."
"I'm lying here because of the ribs," I pointed out.
"And because Scott saved you. Dan told me that part, too," she added.
I leaned back and raised a brow as I inspected my friend. She was still the same Susie I remembered, but what she was saying what just too normal. "Susie, did they hit you over the head with a hammer? They're werewolves and they're holding us captive," I pointed out.
She sheepishly grinned and shrugged. Her eyes flickered over to Nelson who stood beside Scott. "If this is captivity then I know why more animals don't escape from the zoos."
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Werewolves, Susie, remember? Creatures who eat people like us!"
Susie laughed and patted me on the shoulder. One look from my glare made her stop that. "Abby, they don't want to eat people. They made the Garden to get some money for the clan, recruit some new members, and give a little to the humans. You know, give a little," she explained.
I frowned. "Give a little?" I repeated.
"The promise of youth," Scott spoke up. He walked over and seated himself on the edge of the coffee table in front of us. "Werewolves have great longevity in our veins, and we give our visitors a little dose of our blood to regain a bit of their youth. It isn't enough to change them, though some are more susceptible to the side-effects than others."
"Platt and that other guy," I guessed.
Scott bowed his head. "Yes. They both had more animal natures than most humans, and took to the blood better than we intended."
"That's an understatement," I quipped.
"Come on, Abby, it's not so bad here. Well, when Blackwood isn't coming around trying to pick a fight," Susie insisted.
"What's he got to do with this?" I questioned them.
"Blackwood is the leader of a rival werewolf clan," Scott explained. "Unfortunately, he very much dislikes the Garden, and everyone in it. He's bee getting more violent in his hatred towards everyone ever since-" He paused and his eyes flickered to Linda, who bowed her head. "Over the last few months," he corrected himself.
"So you're telling us that you've put us in the middle of a war between two werewolf clans?" I questioned him.
He nodded. "I'm afraid so."
I looked to Susie and raised an eyebrow. "And you're still fine with this?"
She sheepishly grinned and smiled. "It's a living."
"Blackwood intimated that he wanted to change that for me," I retorted.
"He won't. I won't allow it," Scott growled.
"I think I've had enough of your help for one lifetime," I argued.
I carefully swung my legs over the side of the couch. I needn't have bothered. There was only a smidgen of pain from my ribs. I paused and set a hand on my rib cage. Gone was the horrible agony of bruised ribs, and in its place was the aching pain of sore bone.
Scott must have seen the confusion written on my face. "The healing abilities of a werewolf, but you won't be able to run for a few more hours," he explained.
"But. . .but my ribs were bruised. Nothing fixes this fast," I countered.
Scott smiled. "We do."
"Does that mean I can take her to our cabin?" Susie spoke up.
"'Our cabin'? They're letting us go?" I asked her.
Scott stood and shook his head. "No, you have a new cabin on this side of the lake. We can protect you from Blackwood better if you stay closer to us."
"You mean if we're hostages," I retorted.
Susie sighed and helped me to my feet. "What did I say about that paranoia of yours?"
"My instincts were right," I argued.
She led me towards the front door. "Come on. Let's have a talk about those instincts at the cabin."
My friend hefted me out side and towards a nearby small cabin much like the one we'd left on the other side of the lake. A few feet from Scott's deck I tugged on her and nodded at the woods.
We can make a break for it now," I whispered.
"You're healing, not healed," she scolded me, and pulled me onward.
I frowned at her. "When did you become the mother hen and I the chick?"
"There was a coup while you were gone. I've made myself matriarchal dictator," she informed me.
We reached the cabin and Susie helped me inside. It was nearly exactly like our old cabins except the second bed looked like a new addition to the furniture because the covers didn't match. Susie set me on the end of the nearest bed and plopped herself beside me.
"Cozy, isn't it?" she mused.
I grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "Susie, are you seriously thinking about staying here?"
She shrank beneath my gaze,k but nodded. "Yes?" she squeaked.
"In god's name, why?"
"It's kind of a nice place to live, and they've got some job openings for attendants," she told me.
I slapped my forehead. "This isn't like changing cities or jobs, Susie. This is changing from a human to a cursed werewolf," I pointed out.
"It might come with more flees, but we both get a nice fur coat," she argued.
I stood and threw up my arms. "They've brainwashed what little brain you had, that's the only explanation for you just accepting what they did to us, what they're going to do to us if we stay."
Susie stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Abby, it's not that bad."
I yanked my shoulder from her grasp and spun around to face her. "No, it's worse. There's a battle brewing between a bunch of werewolves. I know, I saw it firsthand in the woods, and frankly, there's nothing that will tempt me to stay here."
My friend's face fell. "Not even me?"
I straightened and shook my head. "Not even you."
A sly smile slipped onto her lips and she wagged her eyebrows. "What about Scott?" I opened my mouth, but hesitated. "Ah-ha! That'll get you to stay!" she insisted.
I scowled at her challenge. "Not even him, and I'll prove it to you by going over there right now and demanding my freedom."
Chapter 9
I marched out of the office, across the short distance to Scott's cabin, and raised my hand to knock on his door. The door opened before I could knock. Scott stood on the other side, and he wasn't wearing a shirt. My eyes latched onto his strong, soft muscles and I felt a warmth arise inside me.
"Is something the matter?" he asked me.
I shook my head and peeled my eyes away from him. "Y-yes, I'm still here," I quipped.
His face fell and he stepped to one side. "Let's talk about this in a private setting," he suggested.
I reluctantly stepped inside. Scott closed the door behind me and gestured to the couch. Linda and Nelson were apparently already gone. "Please make yourself at home."
"I'd rather not," was my biting reply.
"Discussions are best made sitting down. Standing is for arguments," he commented.
"What we're going to have depends on what you're going to tell me," I told him.
"Then do you mind if I sit down?" he pleaded. He walked over and took a seat on the couch. His half-nakedness tempted me stronger than I wanted to admit, particularly when he draped his arms over the back of the couch and showed off his full, delicious physique.
I swallowed hard and marched over to him. I folded my arms across my chest as I glared down at the handsome man. My stupid feminine mind couldn't get past how enticing a treat he was, how easily I could slide onto his lap and kiss his red lips.