He only slowed once he’d come deep inside her, his rhythm and breathing calming down.
“I needed that. I don’t think I’ll ever have my fill of you,” he said, cupping her face to kiss her lips. “Next time I see you, I’ll be fucking you in that beautiful hotel room. Only the best for my baby.”
She smiled. “You picked the room?”
“There’s a Jacuzzi bathtub, king bed, and view of the mountains. And room service. I may just stay a couple extra nights.”
“That sounds perfect.” She kissed him again. “Make it soon.”
Before long, they’d arrived in town. A sense of dread filled her gut. She didn’t want to leave Caleb. The taxi building was close to the diner. She’d walked past it numerous times. Old Jack was the owner, and he usually sat out front on a lawn chair, watching the cars go by.
“This is it. The cab will take you to the hotel. As soon as this is over, I’ll be coming for you.”
“You better.” She forced a smile.
He stood by his truck and watched her until she was inside the building. She stayed at the window until he’d boarded his truck, turned, and returned to the forest. Tears rolled down her cheeks but she quickly wiped them away with her sleeve. Falling apart now wouldn’t help anyone. She had to think positive.
When she turned around, there was no one at the desk. She didn’t want to push the bell on the counter and appear rude. Bethany didn’t mind waiting.
She read some of the ads pinned on the community bulletin board when the voice startled her.
“Ready to go?”
Bethany whirled around. Old Jack ran the back of his hand over his mouth. “Just finished my lunch.”
“You’re driving me?”
“No, my driver’s waiting for you outside. It’s a long drive, young lady. I’d use the restroom before you head out.”
She nodded her agreement and freshened up before leaving. Bethany grabbed her bag and left the building. The cab was running and waiting, and she hoped the driver wasn’t too pissed off after waiting so long.
“Sorry for the wait,” she said as she got in the back, settling in and putting on her seatbelt.
“No problem.” He didn’t turn around or complain, just hit the gas.
She felt tense leaving town but finally relaxed and got comfortable, watching the endless wall of forest through the windows. Occasionally, she’d close her eyes, drifting toward sleep but always waking before nodding off.
They’d been driving for about half an hour when the cab swerved too far off the road, nearly losing control. She braced herself, her heart racing.
“Is everything okay?”
There was an odd smell in the cab, and she cringed, leaning over to open the window. They were locked. She breathed through her mouth because the stench only got worse.
He kept driving, swerving on the road. Maybe he was having a stroke or something.
Adrenaline filled her veins. She leaned closer and tapped his shoulder.
“Hello?”
Then he began to laugh and laugh, an eerie, high-pitched laugh that sounded inhuman. “It’s just you and me now. Just you and me.”
“What’s going on? Who are you?”
“Who I am doesn’t matter. But you belong to me now. The winner takes the spoils.”
“Let me out!”
“The wolf took from me, now I take from him. An eye for an eye. Luckily for me, his pack is scouring the forest, but we’ll be so far away before he realizes I’m long gone.”
The rogue bear.
Caleb had no clue.
There was no escape for her, no one coming to the rescue.
So many thoughts flooded her mind, so many fears and scenarios. She’d heard this bear had killed so many of his own, even sent the head of one to Joe at the diner. What would he do to her? Would Caleb even find her mutilated body?
“He’ll come for me. You’ll be sorry.”
The bear laughed again. “As far as he knows, you’re at your hotel far, far away.”
“Where are you taking me?”
The car swerved again. “They’re all weak. I’m strong.” He kept chanting it like a mad man.
Caleb had unwittingly handed her over to his enemy. This was surreal, and she wished she could wake up to discover it was all a nightmare. Her tears wouldn’t stop, and there was no point in hiding them. The rogue bear was out of his mind, and he wouldn’t have taken her unless he was going to add her to the body count.
Chapter Nine
“What’s wrong?” Joe asked.
“The hotel hasn’t called.” Caleb ran a hand down his face, glancing at the time. They were deep in the forest and the scents of the rogue bear had been diminishing all day. He didn’t like this.
A few hours ago, fear had flooded his entire body. It had been so strong that his wolf had been close to the surface, ready to fucking kill. He’d gained control, but now, as he stared out across the night, only sensing sweet little creatures like rabbits or dear, he had a bad feeling.