I needed to be more careful. I needed to remember who I was. That I was a Stryke and that it would take a lot more than a hard, pleasurable fuck to tame me.
With a sigh, I looked above at the clouds scattered here and there in the sky. The sun was high overhead, beginning its downward trek toward the horizon. It would be many hours before it set, meaning the Vakarrans had plenty of time to lead me away from my home in the caves. Away from my people. I missed them already. I hoped that one day, I would have the chance to see them again, although only when it was safe to do so.
I faced the ground, trying to hide my tears but Caleb brushed his hands against my shoulders, squeezing softly in support. I lifted my head to face him, but the look on his face was friendly and warm. He was supportive and despite everything in my mind telling me I couldn’t trust him, in that moment, I did, just a little.
“It’ll all be fine. When we get to Atlanta, you’ll see your sisters again,” he murmured.
I smiled softly. I hoped he was right.
In any case, there would be many miles between us and the city for me to figure out if what they were telling me was true or not. Along the way, I’d test them in whatever manner I could think of. I’d figure out the truth, no matter what it took.
“Let’s get moving. I want to get some distance from here before we rest for the night,” Tavik ordered and the rest of the men nodded in agreement.
I pulled on my boots and tied the laces, rising to my feet once I was ready. The four of them surrounded me and we ventured into the forest together.
For an hour or two, we were quiet as we trekked through the woods. The men kept all around me, two men at my back, two in front of me. Tavik led the way, pushing through the brush and keeping a steady pace, leaving me little choice but to follow. I kept my wits about me, watching for holes in their formation or any chance at escape, but I found none. Even if I could run, I knew they would catch me. They were faster than I had anticipated. It hadn’t worked the first time and I knew it wouldn’t a second time. No, running wouldn’t be how I would escape.
I’d have to be more creative next time.
The sounds of the woods, along with our footsteps in the brush were the only thing I heard for a very long time. No one said a word as we traipsed along overgrown dirt paths, covered in the falling leaves of the season.
For the next few days, we traveled peacefully. We didn’t run into anyone, so the more we walked, the more comfortable we became. I took the time to begin to get to know my captors, to gauge whether or not they were trustworthy and to begin to understand why my body reacted with desire every time any of them got close to me,
why my blood boiled the moment any one of them brushed against my skin. Most of all, I wanted to understand why the sound of their voices made me wet. It unnerved me.
It was unnatural. I wasn’t supposed to be reacting to the enemy. I could deny it all I wanted, but the proof was in my panties each night. They hadn’t touched me in days, and hell, I almost wanted to beg them to. I was beginning to grow more desperate with each passing moment.
I hadn’t known pleasure could be so real, so strong, and so consuming. It had shattered everything I had thought I’d known about it and more. Maybe love wasn’t a fantasy after all.
Tavik was the leader. That much was obvious. It was also clear he didn’t like rules or following anything of the sort. He was rough and didn’t take shit from anyone, least of all me. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to punish me again, and there was a little part of me that almost wished he would. I wanted to see if my body reacted with such heat a second time. Just the thought left me breathy with want.
Valdus was cold, at first. I had seen it in his eyes when we had first met, but now I could see him slowly opening up to me, like ice melting in the light of the sun. He was Tavik’s right-hand man, generally quiet and broody, except with me. When we were together, he was turning into something of a different person. Warm. Kind. Understanding. Devoted. Gradually, I was warming up to him too, despite my misgivings about the Vakarran species in general.
Caleb was the closest thing that I had to a friend. He was funny, kind, and tried to help me assimilate to their ways, at least a little bit. He was a guide amongst the others and I found myself opening up to him as well. Out of the four, he was the least intimidating and I liked that about him. It made things much easier for me. Every once in a while, he’d catch my gaze and smile, which would cause my heart to thump in my chest.
Last, but definitely not least, there was Zane. He scared me a little, to be honest. His dark eyes always left me feeling unsure, and I got the idea he wanted to hurt me and that he’d enjoy it. What terrified me even more was that I was curious about it, and that I might like it too. I shook my head, trying to clear it.
The four of them were incredibly strong as a unit. They were intelligent, perceptive, and worked together almost as if they could read each other’s minds. It was quite amazing to see. It also made the possibility of escape almost nonexistent. I was slowly becoming certain that I would not find a way to get free, not unless something happened to help me accomplish that task.
For three days, we traveled the countryside, only going as fast as I could go. I knew I was slowing them down, but none of them ever said a word or complained. Not even once. When we stopped late one night, the men were tense. All four of them were stiff and their lips drawn into thin, firm lines, but I couldn’t see why.
“Is something wrong?” I asked Valdus and he sighed heavily.
“We’ve detected some anomalies on the surrounding radar, so we’re trying to figure out the best course of action in order to avoid them. According to our last intel from the Resistance, there could be patrols sent ahead of Nix’s men. We have to be careful not to stumble onto one of them,” he explained.
I turned my eyes up toward the sky, searching for clues as to the truth of his words. The constellations didn’t have anything to tell me though. The North Star was where it always was. The Big and Little Dipper, and the great Orion were silent, shimmering away in the dark of night. All seemed to be quiet. I could hear nothing out of the ordinary. But then, I saw a dim red light blink once, then twice before disappearing altogether. I had thought I imagined it at first, but then I saw it again. I squinted, trying to find it again. Once, then twice it flashed, and I anxiously licked my lips.
I pointed it out to Valdus and he studied the sky at my request. His eyes narrowed.
“Don’t move,” he warned, before he shoved me roughly under into a crevice underneath a thick fallen tree. I cried out with my surprise, but none of them looked my way. The four men rushed into action, surrounding me and drawing their weapons.
“What is it?” I asked, venturing out of my hiding place just a little bit.
“Kaela. Stay where you are. Don’t move,” Tavik warned, his voice strong and used to being obeyed.
I looked around, trying to see what they were searching for, but I saw nothing. I crept out a bit, looking up at the sky and trying to find the red dot once more. The men were focused on the sky as well and not on me, so they didn’t notice my movements. I began to hear what sounded like a low hum and looked nervously around to try to find the source. What the hell was that?
The hum grew louder and louder by the second, until it sounded like it was practically over my head. I pressed my hands to the sides of my skull, covering my ears, but the sound began to echo incessantly, almost like an alarm that wouldn’t stop. My head began to ring, and a powerful splitting headache blossomed right in between my eyes. I looked upward, searching for the source and I saw something dark flying above me. I cried out in alarm. I squinted my eyes, trying to figure out what it was, but I couldn’t make anything more than dark shapes out. The moon hadn’t even risen to light up the night.