4
Six grown shifter males seemed like overkill. Or maybe it was a compliment. Either way, with that many outside my window, I wasn’t taking that exit. With an irritated sigh, I backed away from the window. There had to be another option.
I walked to the door and crouched on the ground to look under the crack. Details weren’t clear, but there was obvious movement and shadows indicating people guarding the door.
They weren’t taking any chances of me getting lucky enough to get by them. I knew I had two choices: accept my fate and yield, or find a way to fight.
Giving up was easier and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t contemplated it. Thankfully, the pity party hadn’t lasted long. Thinking of the look on Alec’s face when he saw me alive was enough to push me. I needed him to know that he wasn’t successful at getting rid of me. I was going to get out of this. Without a mating bond.
I dumped everything from the drawers, I checked in the closet, I even crawled under the bed. The room was free of anything I could use as a weapon. With a huff of frustration, I sat on the bed to think. Worst case, I made a suicide run to get out of here. Or I guess I could play the willing mate and see if I could convince Tyler to move our intimate time elsewhere. If we were alone, could I fight just him off? That didn’t seem likely, and I hated the idea of being alone with him anywhere. Realistically, he was stronger than me. There was too much chance of him getting what he wanted.
Rage roared inside me. How dare he even consider forcing himself on me. This whole pack was fucked up and I wanted all of them to pay. Nobody should be treated the way I was growing up, but this was beyond what I ever imagined.
The door creaked and I jumped to my feet, fists clenched. I wasn’t ready. I needed more time to figure this out.
Kyle lifted his hands in mock surrender. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
“What the fuck do you want?” I demanded.
He closed the door then took a few tentative steps closer to me.
“That’s enough,” I said, holding my hand up in front of me. “Back the fuck off, Kyle.”
He kept his hands in front of him and took another step. “I need you to listen to me.”
I took a step back. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Even if it’s about Alec?” he said the name so quietly, I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly.
“What did you say?”
This time, when he moved closer, I didn’t flinch.
“They’ll kill me if they hear what I say,” he whispered.
My brow furrowed, I was confused but intrigued. It was probably some kind of ploy, but what else did I have to lose at this point. I moved closer to him. “If you touch me, I’ll kill you.”
“I know you will,” he said. “Give me a second…” He backed up and raised his voice. “Tyler is the best thing that ever happened to you. I know you’ve been through a lot, but this is the right choice. You two have a bond.”
I winced but caught on that he was feeding the people behind the door some words to keep them happy.
Kyle quickly walked toward me and I tensed, but held my ground. “Talk fast,” I said quietly.
“I overheard Ace. I know about the mark.” He looked down as if he’d see it glowing through my clothes, then he returned his eyes to mine. “I need to know if it’s true.”
“Why do you care?” I asked.
He lifted his shirt and pulled his jeans down enough to reveal a mark on his hip bone. The double crescent mark of a protector.
“You never said anything.” I was completely surprised. Most of the wolves who got marks didn’t shut up about them.
“You know why,” he said. “Tyler doesn’t have one. When mine showed up, he took me into his inner circle. It changed everything for my family. I didn’t have a choice. I thought he was my alpha. I thought I was doing my duty.”
I rolled my eyes. “You were a blind follower.”
“They promised treatment for Blaire,” he said.
“Your sister?” I’d seen his younger sister only a few times when we were kids. She wasn’t even old enough to be in school yet.