This asshole is trying to cover his tracks. If he sees or senses anyone, he must have a means of escape planned. Now that we’re closer, my woman’s essence surrounds me, but so does his scent. My eyesight starts to sharpen. Everything turns black and white, and my hearing sharpens to the point that I can hear every breath that my prey takes. I know exactly where he is, and he will not escape.
I move through the night as if a shadow. Anyone on the lookout will wonder if they are seeing a shadow or a person. I am just a few feet away from where my woman is being held. Every fibre in my body is now in tune to every change in the wind, every single movement around me, and any sound that surrounds me. I was in a rush to get here, but now that I am here, I will proceed with caution. I now know that my woman is close, and I will make sure that she doesn’t get hurt anymore.
When I am flush against the wall next to the window that looks into the room, I take in a deep breath before looking into the room, there is a curtain covering the window, but a slither of light is shining through that will allow for me to look in. Making sure not to be seen, I look into the room and tense. Dakota is lying across the bed as if thrown there, and Jason is standing over her, a scowl covering his face.
We can’t breach the room, or he might try to hurt her before we can get to him. Fuck. Moving back, I look at King, who is standing behind me. “We need to get him out of the room.”
King frowns and then nods; he looks towards where Frost is and calls him over. “Change. We need to get him out of the room.” At King’s whispered order, Frost nods and then walks away. A few minutes later, we see Frost in his wolf form approaching. When he is just outside the motel room, he howls. I stand flush against the wall as I hear footsteps from the inside of the room.
The curtain moves, and then I see the fucker looking out. Frost lowers his head and then heads towards the vehicle that Jason used. When he reaches the vehicle, he lifts his leg and urinates on the wheel. I hear King grunt in amusement next to me. If it were at another time, I would have joined in the amusement, but at the moment, I can’t help not being amused.
“What the fuck?” Jason yells from inside, and then he knocks on the window to try to frighten the wolf away. Well, good luck to him, because that wolf isn’t easily frightened. Frost looks back at the noise and then jumps on the hood of the car and proceeds to lie down.
“You are asking for it, you fucking animal,” Jason yells from inside as I hear him walk away from the window, and then the door opens and I am on the move. Before he can walk out, I am on him. My fist connects with his jaw, which has him tripping back and falling in surprise. I don’t give him a chance to get up before I am on top of him and hitting him again.
The son of a bitch lifts his knee to dislodge me and succeeds. I hear the others entering and know that they will be checking on Dakota. I want to go to my woman, but I need to make sure that the threat to her is neutralized. He half stands and then throws himself at me. I take his weight as I turn so that I’m above him and throw another punch that hits him just below his jaw.
“She’s mine,” he yells as he tries to punch me back, but I deflect it as I swerve back.
“That’s where you are wrong. Dakota is mine.” I punch him again, this time straight in the mouth so he can’t spew any more poisonous words, and then from the corner of my eye, I see his hand lifting from his side, and in it, he has his gun. “Duck,” I roar as I grab at his hand, but before I can stop him, he fires.
“Motherfucker!” I roar, and then my hand is at his throat and I am squeezing. I can feel myself starting to turn, but if I turn into my wolf now, I know that I will tear his throat open, and then there will be lots of questions to try to answer. I feel hands pulling me back, but I don’t release his neck until I am forcefully knocked off him.
“Hunter.” The minute I hear Dakota’s voice, my wolf calms. I turn my head and see her in Hawk’s arms. The way she’s squinting at me attests to some sort of pain.
“Let go,” I order, trying to get free from the arms still holding me back. “Let me go.” The arms reluctantly loosen, and I hurry towards my mate. When I finally have her in my arms, I hug her close. Her fragrance engulfs me, finally calming the rage that filled my being with revenge.
“You came,” she murmurs against my throat; I can feel her tears wetting my T-shirt.
“Shh, it’s over now, baby.” I kiss her hair. “Where does it hurt?” I ask as I pull away slightly to look down at her.
“My head feels like it’s splitting,” she murmurs, which has my stomach tightening in worry.
“The doctor is on his way,” Dixon says from the doorway.
“You’re holding her too tight,” Dash comments.
“Here, have some water, darling,” Fang offers as he holds out a glass with water.
“Maybe take her outside. The fresh air is better than in here with his stink,” Blue suggests as he stands beside me.
“We need a vehicle; we can’t take her back on a bike,” I mutter as I stroke at my woman’s hair. I never thought I would feel like this, but here I am with a woman in my arms. My heart is racing, and there is a knot in my throat wanting to choke me at the power of the feelings of relief coursing through my body.
“We will drive his car back as evidence and give him over to the police. He will be prosecuted. This fucker won’t see the light of day for the rest of his life.” I would rather kill him, and will if they just leave me alone with him, but I know that there will be lots of questions raised if he is found dead, and I will not risk my freedom now that I have my mate.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur as I bury my face in my woman’s hair and let her essence calm me, but I don’t think I will ever be able to make up for what she has just gone through.
DAKOTA 18
It has been a week since Jason attacked me, and still the men are all treating me as if I nearly died. Even after the doctor’s diagnosis that I had a concussion and minor bruising, they continue to coddle me as if I’m made of glass. Hunter is the worst of all. He won’t let me do anything and insists that I rest for most of the day. Well, after a week, I have reached my limit of relaxing, and I don’t care—come hell or high water, I am going outside today.
Since the abduction, Hunter has apologised over and over again, and no matter how many times I tell him that it wasn’t his fault, he insists that it is, because as my mate, he has a responsibility to keep me safe, and he didn’t do that. No matter what I say, he still feels responsible. Well, today it ends because I’m going to take my life back. I’m feeling much better, and tomorrow, I think I will venture into work. Throwing back the covers, I sit up in bed. My head is feeling much better. Sometimes I feel a slight twinge, but nothing to be worried about.
Turning, I slide my legs out of bed and then slowly stand. The times that I have tried to stand, my head has started to spin, but I have noticed that each time, it gets better. When my head has stopped spinning and I am able to walk, I move towards the bathroom. It’s time to start doing things for myself.
Half an hour later, I am showered and dressed and ready to fight all the men if they insist on keeping me in bed. Opening the door, I make my way downstairs. I can hear voices floating up from the direction of the kitchen. Looks like it’s lunchtime. I am halfway down when Fang and Dixon walk out of the kitchen and stop to look up at me.
“What are you doing? You are supposed to be in bed,” Fang says worriedly as he rushes up towards me.