Chapter 5

Zane’s POV

Drugged!

I couldn’t believe that a human – and a FEMALE at that! – got the drop on me and managed to knock me out. My wolf growled at the notion, but for once, he wasn’t fighting tooth and nail to have control of our body. He was, just like me, too sluggish and drugged up to do anything other than grumble.

A small blessing for now…

I tried to focus on my surroundings, getting a sense of where I was. It smelled like wood, warmth and---

Dinner?!

That had even my wolf forcing his head up. Because whatever was cooking smelled absolutely divine! Hell, it made my mouth salivate and reminded me that I hadn’t eaten in goddess only knows how long.

But what was that sound?

Music, I concluded and---

Was that heavy metal?

It was!

Ramstein, if my German wasn’t getting too rusty and someone was singing along. Terribly, I might add! Hell, I’d heard dying animals make more tolerable noise than that! I fought against the sluggishness in my body and forced myself to turn toward the sound. With great effort, I got my eyes open and---

And was once again stunned by the sight before me.

A human female was singing and rocking along to the music, pretending that her kitchen utensils were drumsticks. Her beat was out of tune, and she couldn’t hit a note to save her life. But her body moved carelessly and wildly and there was a huge grin on her face. As if knowing she wasn’t good but didn’t give a damn about it.

And my wolf let out a sluggish chuckle…

I had to examine the sound again. Because I couldn’t believe that my mostly feral wolf was thinking this was funny. But then again, that drug had messed us up pretty badly. However, my wolf just kept watching her, a relaxed expression on his wolfish face. And so, I did the same, wondering what had my wolf so intrigued.

She was muscular for a human, albeit shorter than most. She looked like an athlete with wide hips and big breasts. Her legs were long and powerful as she moved around the room, and her ass swayed as she stomped to the rhythm. Her wild, black and curly hair bounced around her head, as she headbanged in tune to the music. Her skin was a beautiful golden color, making me think that she had Hispanic or African-American roots. Her form was very pleasing to the eye – at least from the back! – but her singing was awful.

And she didn’t give a damn!

She danced and sang along as if nobody was listening, yet performed as if every eye on the globe was centered on her. Her confidence was as alluring as her fit body, and I understood why she amused my wolf.

She truly was something else…

Suddenly she turned and the most beautiful pair of perfectly deep brown eyes met mine. They were so dark I almost couldn’t see the pupil, as it dilated in surprise when she noticed that I was awake. But instantly her surprise was replaced with a broad smile that transformed her features from beautiful, to fucking stunning!

My heart skipped a beat and something dead inside me stirred. I hadn’t really noticed a woman in this way since my mate and it came as somewhat of a shock. My cock twitched with desire and my breathing suddenly felt like shallow gasps.

What the hell?!

“Oh, you’re awake!” She beamed at me and turned off the music, rendering the small cottage into silence. Which meant I suddenly could hear the erratic beat of my heart, and as she walked closer, her scent hit me like a ton of bricks…

Sweet spring air and fresh mint!

She smelled like the forbidden fruit of Eden and when her hand reached out to touch my forehead, the innocent touch sent spirals of desire down my spine…

I shoved the feeling away!

I was the Alpha King!

I didn’t pine after small, luscious humans that I could easily break with my pinky finger alone. Hell, I shouldn’t be pinning after the woman who drugged me and then kidnapped me. I’d never heard of a wolf suffering from Stockholm syndrome before, but hey!

There was a first for everything, I suppose…

Like the fact that I’d managed to get myself kidnapped!

I sure as hell was never living that one down, that’s for sure…

I swatted her hand away, trying to get up. I needed to get out of here and get back to my own territory. I could feel Noah try and reach me, but with my wolf completely uninterested in anything but the female, I wouldn’t be able to answer him.

Which wasn’t new for my insane wolf…

He didn’t live for the pack anymore, but was only surviving and holding on because of our duty and our pups. Wanting to hang on until Cain was at least old enough to take over and to make sure that Eva was mated to a male strong and worthy of her.

Someone who could protect her once we were gone…

“Careful now,” I heard the female urge--- and contrary to her singing, her voice was sweet and sounded like velvet against my ear. Her small hands pressed against my chest, and I saw her pick up a glass of water. “Here, drink this and try not to move too much. You’ll just be sick otherwise.”

She sounded like she knew what she was talking about – so obviously, I didn’t listen to her and fought her off in an attempt to get upright. And paid the price when my insides decided to become my outsides…

“Told you,” I heard her sigh exasperated, as she picked up the bucket and went outside. I wheezed and gave up fighting to get out of bed. The water tasted like sweet relief and washed away the sour taste of my own bile.

Well, I guess I sort of asked for that…!

My wolf snickered again…

And again, I marveled at the sound. He sounded like he used to.

Before---

He used to be my best friend, someone I confided in. Growing up, I only had my brother, as everyone else always treated me differently, because I was the crown prince.

Not my wolf though!

He had a sense of humor, saying and doing everything I secretly wanted to, but couldn’t. In many ways, he was my complete opposite, being playful and laid back, whereas I would be more serious and disciplined. But that’s why we worked, in a way. He kept me grounded as a king, and I turned him into a deadly weapon for our kingdom.

Now he was just a mindless animal that seemed only intent on killing anything that was before him. Well, almost anything. Because the human female who’d drugged us and whom he should definitely want to kill, he instead found--- Well, I wasn’t sure. Now that the drugs were beginning to wear off and he became more alert, he started to just watch her. Not in a way where he seemed he wanted to hurt her, but---

There was something!

What was it with this female that---?

I decided not to think about it. A shit ton of drugs were still in our system, and it could be something as simple as that. Soon enough, he’d be in his wild uncontrollable state, and he would be as likely to attack and kill her as he would be likely to fuck her.

So for the time being, I relaxed and took a look around me. As for prisons went, this wasn’t half-assed. Not that I actually considered myself a prisoner or anything. The second I could feel my body again, I was out of here! There were no shackles that could hold me for long.

Speaking of…

I wasn’t in any handcuffs or was otherwise restrained. My body was aching in strange places, but other than my broken leg, I felt fine.

Drugged, but fine…

The female returned and my wolf watched her with--- What?

Wariness?

Anticipation?

Amusement?

I wasn’t sure…

And perhaps, for now, I should count myself lucky, since at least he wasn’t trying to kill her.

“I’m Arella,” she said, sticking her hand out in human greeting. “And you are?”

I glared at the hand and then up at the woman in front of me.

Arella?!

That had to be the most ironic shit I’d ever heard!

Arella meant “angel” and sure, with her round face, stunning eyes, and halo of hair framing an innocent-looking face, she qualified as such. But seriously? What were the odds of a feral beast like me meeting a girl like her in the middle of the woods?

And then her name was Arella?

I mentally snorted at the idea.

So this was supposed to be my--- what?

Saving Angel?

Oh, the irony…

“None of your goddess-damned business, female,” I snarled, and tried to sit up again. This time, having learned from my previous mistake and worked myself upright a little at a time.

“That’s a mouthful,” she said thoughtfully, her lower lip pouty as she pondered my words. “Mind if I just call you Bobby?”

I blinked up at her, my mouth gaping open.

Was she for real?!

Because the full force of my alpha powers was flooding the small space, and I could see the small hairs on her arms standing on end. She knew she was faced with a predator and her instincts should have been telling her to run and hide or cower before me. Hell, alphas whimpered and backed away from me when faced with this power, yet here was a woman, completely unaffected.

Or at least outwardly unaffected…

What the hell was she?!

But before I could ask, she continued, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all…

“You see, Bobby,” she continued, this time putting emphasis on the name – and I was pretty sure she did it just to push my buttons. “You had a little accident where a bear trap decided to try and chew your leg off,” she gestured to my leg, and without thinking, I followed her movement. Sure, my leg was wrapped, but my wolf was healing it – albeit slowly, thanks to the drugs. But---

Was I being mocked by a female?

And a human one at that?!

Had the world ended or had madness finally taken the last reminder of my mind? Hell, give me the possibility of an alternative dimension, because that would have been more likely than the fact that this tiny human female was immune to my intimidation tactics!

Even humans – who didn’t have a clue about the existence of werewolves – feared us. It was an instinct, all living things possessed and even the hunter knew when he’d become the hunted. Humans in our presence could feel the raw power of our animals and while they didn’t know what they were feeling, they knew to back away and stay away.

Or become prey!

This human female, however, didn’t show an ounce of fear or caution whatsoever! Hell, the tone in her voice sounded almost challenging, as if daring me to come at her. And for some reason, my wolf was up for it.

He actually wanted to play…

What in the name of the goddess had she drugged me with?!

“You do realize there is a reason those are illegal, right?” she continued in the same superior tone, not having a single clue as to who she was talking to.

“What?!” I snipped, feeling frustrated and annoyed with the human. If I hadn’t been so badly drugged up, I would have put her on my lap and fucking spanked some respect into her.

And my wolf actually liked that idea!

What the hell---?!

“Bear traps,” she said as a matter of fact – confusing me even further. “You’re not allowed to use them.”

“Of course, I know that,” I gripped, wondering how the hell we’d gone from discussing my name to talking about the beartrap that had landed me in this mess.

“But you’re not going to tell me where the others are, are you?” she asked with an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes at me--- making me gape in a very un-king-like manner.

“What?!” I snapped – and then, a creeping suspicion crept down my spine.

Did she know?!

Did she know what I was? That I was a werewolf? And then, an even worse thought sneaked into my mind. Was she a Hunter? As in the kind that lived to kill werewolves? They'd been a huge problem for our kind about 100 years ago or so, but luckily most humans believed us to be myths and lore now.

Was she an exception?

“I’m a ranger,” she then continued in an annoyed tone, as if she’d sensed the danger that was rising up inside of me – and got annoyed by it! But before I could wonder why that was, she flashed me a gold star that hung loosely around her slim neck and rested between her round breasts.

Her very perky, plum breasts…

And now I was staring at said breasts like a freckled 14-year-old virgin boy, unable to think of anything other than how soft they looked. And wondering what they would feel like in my hands.

And in my mouth…

Would they taste as sweet as she smelled?

And now I was getting an erection…

Shit!

Was this what life had for me now? An insane wolf and a mad man getting horny over boobs? A very fine-looking pair of boobs, that looked like they would feel like silk on my tongue if I just---

Yep!

The kingdom was doomed!

“And I know you’re not alone out here, so why don’t you make it easy for all of us and tell me where your buddies are?” she continued her interrogation, just barely managing to drag my attention away from her luscious breasts. “That way I can go back to my quiet life, and you can rot in jail.”

Wait---WHAT?!

That’s when it finally hit me.

“I’m not a poacher!” I bellowed, as I finally understood where this was going. Honestly, I felt insulted that she’d even think I was in cahoots with lowlifes like that!

“Really?” she drawled, folding her arms over her chest and looking down at me with a patronizing gaze. “Then what are you doing roaming around the woods? Naked, I might add?”

Well---

I couldn’t very well answer that, now could I?

“That’s none of your goddess damned business,” I snipped--- and yes, I felt very much like a sullen teenager at that moment. But what the hell could I tell her? The truth was out of the question and with a dulled mind that was barely able to keep up with the current conversation, I was in no mind to make up a believable lie…

“Ah, you’re going with the Secret Illuminati business defense,” she snorted. “Haven’t heard that one in a while.”

Secret Illuminati---?!

“What?!” I gaped at the female, unable to mask my disbelief. My wolf huffed in what I once might have thought was a dark chuckle, but after so long of being half-crazed, I had no idea what the wolf was planning or thinking.

“You know,” she replied and shrugged nonchalantly. “Burning crosses, sacrificing young virgins and shit like that.” She rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her plump chest. “Personally, I think it’s just a load of bullshit men use to get away for the weekend to smoke way too much weed and act like the pigs they are.”

I---I---!

Yeah, I had no idea what to think…!

“I don’t do drugs,” I said indignantly. I had no idea why I was telling her that. And with the way she was nodding, as if placating a small child, told me she didn’t believe a word I was saying anyway.

“Suuuuuuure,” she said, dragging out the “u” and not hiding the heavy load of sarcasm in that statement. “And all the growling you were doing? Just clearing your throat?”

Well---!

Fuck!

“I--- snore!”

It was the best I could come up with and my wolf let out another dark chuckle, making me want to mentally slap the beast.

“Of course,” she replied, clearly not believing me, but let out a heavy sigh, signaling that she would let it be for now. Good, because then I could---

“Who’s Helena?”

The question felt like a shot through the heart. Instantly, my wolf bared his teeth and let out a low fierce growl that I struggled to stifle. My claws shot out and I had to ball my hands into fists, drawing blood. The pain felt exquisite, redeeming even. And I used every ounce of energy I had to focus on the pain. Focus on the hurt and anguish. Because if I didn’t, my wolf would attack her.

Kill her!

KILL!

KILL! KILL! KILL!!!

“How do you know that name?” I gritted between clenched teeth, forcing the red, hot anger back. Forcing my wolf down. It was easier when he was drugged, making me wonder where I could get my hands on some of that stuff. If I could control my wolf, then perhaps I would be able to hold on just a little while longer…

Just until---

“You were calling for her,” she continued softly, and I had to fight not to visibly jerk when her words lanced through me like a fucking spear.

Pain!

I focused on the pain. Not the memories of her dying right in front of me. Of her wide eyes, as she drew her last breath. I forced myself not to remember the feel of her warm blood trickling down my fingertips. Of the sound of her heart, as it stopped beating. Of the agony that rippled through me, when our bond snapped…

“I was just wondering if she was someone I should call or---?” Arella continued, but no matter how soft or gentle her voice was, her words still felt like lashes against my raw flesh.

“DON’T!”

The word came out as an alpha command! She was human and it wouldn’t work on her, but the power would scare her off. And I wanted her as far away from me as possible. I might get away with killing rogues, but if I killed a human – especially a defenseless female – everyone would know that my wolf had gone feral.

That I needed to be put down!

I couldn’t afford that!

Not yet!

I needed Cain to be stronger, before he---

“Don’t---!” I wheezed, again, needing her to be father away from me. I hadn’t even realized that I was clutching my chest. That I felt sick to my bone. That every muscle and tendon in my body was strained and aching. Shaking with the intensity of fighting off my wolf. Fighting off the desire to howl out my pain and sorrow.

To just give in and join my mate…

Suddenly, warmth spread through my body. I let out a gasp of surprise, as suddenly everything inside of me just--- warmed! My wolf let out a low whimper as the fight left him in a rush. Like an adrenaline crash, it swirled through my body, heating something inside that had been frozen over for so long, I hadn’t known it could ever be touched again. As if something deep inside of me had been aching for so long, and this warmth – this touch! – wrapped itself around it. Gently and soothingly---

Healing it…

I looked up and, to my surprise, she was there!

Arella!

My angel…

Her hand rested lightly on my arm, the source of the heat that was spreading inside of me. The touch was simple and light, but it felt like it rocked my entire world…

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said softly, her eyes genuinely filled with the same sorrow and ache that I saw reflected in my own every single day.

“It sucks!”

And wasn’t that the truth?

I’d grown sick and tired of people offering me condolences when none of them even understood what I was going through. Offering me advice and ways to move on when they’d never even experienced the pain of loss. Of telling me the same old bullshit over and over again. That it was the will of the goddess or that my mate was in a better place now. That she was looking down on us and the worst one yet “do you think Helena would want this?”

That one was the worst!

Because I was pretty sure that what Helena would want, was NOT to be dead. Was not to have been brutally murdered right in front of me. Was not to leave her children behind to grow up without a mother…

That’s what she would have wanted…!

Suddenly, Arella stood, slapping her thighs as she did, and took in a deep breath as if centering herself. And as if someone flipped a switch, she peered down at me and gave me a bright smile.

“I’m making dinner,” she beamed at me, all traces of sorrow gone. “Want some?”

And just like that, she turned, walking towards the small kitchenette, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. My wolf didn’t lash out at her. The pain in my heart had dulled to a mere echo of what it once was and my muscles were relaxed.

I blinked…

What the hell just happened?!