Chapter 5

GWEN

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I have a fitful sleep. In my dreams, I'm in the woods. Glowing blue eyes peer at me from the shadows. Then my legs begin to move and I realize I'm running, tearing through forests as a chilling howl sounds behind me.

When I feel the morbid excitement of the animal pounding after me, it is then I realize something. They enjoy the chase.

I snap awake with a gasp, breathing heavily. I realize I am being shaken awake.

Turning, I look at Rylan's nervous form.

His pupils are slitted and his brown hair has shrunk into his skull, rendering him bald. Red scales ride the entire length of his body, giving him a macabre look. I immediately take him into my arms, breathing against his skin, "Oh, Rylan. I'm so sorry." I draw back to frame his face. "Did I wake you?"

He's still staring at me, a blank, emotionless look on his face. My chest instantly clenches and in horror, I wonder if he's relieving that night. That awful night. 

I shake him, eyes flitting around his face. "Rylan. Honey, look at me. Rye, can you hear me?"

He blinks. Then a series of emotions cross his face. Shock, terror, determination, then sadness. His pupils round and the scales diminish. "You were screaming."

My brain goes on overdrive as it scrambles for what to say to comfort him, but all that comes out of my mouth is, "I was...?"

"Yes. You never do that."

My hands move up to his forearms and I squeeze soothingly. "I was just having a bad dream, alright? It won't happen again. Come here."

I pull him into a hug. It gradually turns tight and I find myself dragging his soft scent into my lungs.

The rays of the early morning sun slip past the blinds. I catch sight of my ID and my throat tightens.

Cold bites into my arms as I make my way into the elevator, catching the tang of saltwater in the air. I realize I'm clutching the trolley too hard and relax my grip. I blame it on the nerves. Since the nightmare I had, I've felt out of sorts. Wearing my clothes and driving to Mount Pyre had seemed a great chore.

I inhale long and deep. It was just a dream.

Just as I decide on that, the doors slide open.

A middle-aged man walks in. He's in a lab coat and I recognize him immediately. He's one of the men that had been present in Dr. Sarah's office when she'd given the ultimatum. Do what we say or watch your loved ones suffer.

I don't consider my sister a loved one. But when she'd threatened Rylan...

I didn't even know she knew about him.

Shivering, it makes me wonder what else they know. Is he in danger from The Eld now?

The Eld. A mysterious group of lesser gods responsible for keeping the balance between humans and Shifters. Twisted lesser gods--they had every elemental Shifter destroyed many years ago. I hope they never find out about Rylan.

The man in the coat notices me and I try my best to keep a blank expression while rolling the cart past him.

I don't get far before his hand closes over my wrist.

I look up and my eyes meet his.

He smiles warmly. Or at least tries to.

"You're doing so much for humanity. It might not seem like it, but believe me, it's one big step in the right direction..." He looks down at my tag. "Gwen."

I follow his gaze down reflexively, but when next I look up I see the direction of his eyes have shifted. They are on my breasts.

I shift uncomfortably, causing his eyes to rise to mine. I see blatant desire in them. It makes my skin crawl.

"Gwen, will you be free when you get off work today? I'd love to treat you to something delicious." At the last word, his eyes trail down my cream button-down and close-fitting skirt. He murmurs again, "Delicious."

Instantly, I grow irritated.

"No, thank you," I say and push the cart past him.

I slide my card in and the doors whir open. When the Hunters had observed I seemed to be 'getting along' with the alpha king, they'd lessened security.

Getting along meaning he didn't want to rip my head off, or anyone else's for that matter, when I was near. 

Again I swipe the chip against the slot. The lights change from red to blue, allowing me entrance. I push the cart in. "Today we've got a few specials. Here's a ri--"

The bed is empty.

Suddenly I feel faint. 

When I hear a sound behind me, the hairs on my nape rise.

Slowly I turn around. And look up. And up.

Towering above me is Malcolm Blaine.

The plain white pants he wears are splattered with blood. I follow the trail up to his wide torso. His muscles are drawn tight, his breathing erratic. Glowing blue eyes stare at me through a dangerously dark face. 

I lurch back and open my mouth to scream when he growls, "Don't even think about it." He makes a grab for me but I slide under his muscled arm, racing for the alarm button.

One second I'm inches away from the knob, the next second a calloused hand is wrapping around my throat and I'm being slammed against a wall.

Malcolm gets in my face, furious, and almost... hurt. "You will dare summon Hunters on me!?"

I gasp out, "I owe you... Nothing!"

"You owe me your life!" he roars, canines lengthening. "As my mate--"

I snap, "Don't you dare...pull the mate card...you bastard! You expect me to, what, be...loyal to you. When I'm not sure what you plan to do with me!"

He smiles a cruel smile. "Oh, I plan a lot, alright." He releases me and I drop to the floor, taking in desperate lungfuls of air.

I don't have a moment to adjust before he hauls me up again. "You're going to get me to my brother."

Disoriented, I can only choke out, "Your brother?" 

"Yes. He's not here. If he was, I would have found him through mind-linking pathways. I hear there's another branch in Boston. You'll get me there."

Before I can process his words, he rips the ID off my neck and I yelp. He slides in the chip and my stomach bottoms out once the doors open. We pour into the hall and all hell lets loose...