Wolf's Promise (Caedmon Wolves) Read online

  “What am I doing in this place?” Selene looked around at her surroundings. The room was dark and there were no windows. The walls were cinder block and painted with a muted light blue. Upon closer inspection, she realized that what she was sitting on was no more than a cot and a cheap mattress. She frowned. “What is this place?”

  “Would you rather be dead in the fucking ditch?”

  “M-my car?” Her head rang in pain as she tried with all her energy to remember what happened. The wolf. The car. The cra—

  “I was in a car crash.”

  “What else do you remember?” he asked, slowly.

  She tried so hard to recall everything, but couldn’t. She shook her head.

  Scarface walked around the other side of the bed. “What were you doing out here…all by your lonesome?”

  “Don’t come any closer,” she warned.

  “Or what?”

  Her captor seemed to think this was a game. She was in an accident, was now in serious pain, and the idiot had tied her up. Did he enjoy this? What if he was a pervert? A rapist? A serial murderer? He could have been feeding off her anger.

  She took a deep breath. “Look, Mister…” when Scarface didn’t give a name, she continued “…I don’t know you. I had a very bad accident. I’m in pain, and I don’t understand why I’ve been tied up.”

  “Why were you trespassing?”

  “Trespassing? I was driving on a damn public highway when I ran off the road.”

  He frowned. “That mouth of yours is foul.”

  “I didn’t ask to be here.”

  Her captor shrugged, a nonchalant expression riddled his face. “You’re right. But do you know what happens to those who trespass on our lands?”

  “On your land?” What was this idiot talking about?

  “You crashed on our land.”

  She huffed. “I was trying to prevent running over a wolf.”

  “Too bad. You’re now my prisoner.”

  “Prisoner!” She gawked, and then struggled against the ropes again.

  Her captor moved swiftly, rushing to stand over her. He grabbed her forearm, and she grimaced.

  “Listen to me, human,” he hissed into the side of her head. “You will listen to me, and do as I say. Should you do anything sly, the next time you wake up you just might find yourself six feet under.”

  She gasped, and held her breath in. His threats seemed real. This wasn’t a game.

  He jostled her. “Do you understand?”

  She bit her lip, holding back a protest. “Yes.” What had she gotten herself into?

  “My maid will assist you in getting cleaned up. If you cooperate, there will be food.”

  Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she searched his expressionless face. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. You don’t have to do this. I’ll give you anything you want. Money? What is it?”

  His gaze darted back and forth over her. “You’re not being held for money.”

  The nameless scar-faced man turned to leave.

  “Wait.” She swung her bound legs clumsily over the bed. “What is it that you want?”

  Her captor continued toward the metal door. “I’ll return tonight.”

  He slammed the door shut. She heard keys rattling, and then the sound of a lock being turned.

  Her breathing became uneven as the reality of her predicament set in.

  ***

  It felt like she was in a prison cell. No, this wasn’t a prison cell. This was some kind of dungeon. No windows. Cement floors. A steel door. Metal furniture. An uncomfortable cot for a bed. What had she done to deserve this? This was not the hotel she’d made reservations at.

  Selene glanced down at the white silk gown the maid had given her. It was tasteless, and barely covered her breasts. Her legs were bound once again and the ends of the lace reached only the middle of her thighs.

  She’d been allowed a shower, but it was granted under the watchful eye of the maid who ignored every one of her questions. This time, her feet had been tied to the bed post. Her hands were free, but she felt like a creature in a zoo being kept hostage this way. Not only that, she was scared for her life.

  Selene cringed as she heard slow footsteps approaching. She pulled the quilt over her shoulders, attempting to cover herself up.

  When her captor entered the room, she avoided making eye contact with him. “Why won’t you let me go?”

  Scarface pulled up a wooden chair and came to sit at the foot of the bed. Letting his posture slump as he sat, he observed her with a mischievous expression laced across his face.

  “Selene Moore. From Tennessee. Never married. No children. A counselor at Domestic Peace Group. You’re practically a nobody,” he said. “What business do you have here?”

  Selene’s eyes widened in surprise. The lunatic had searched her belongings. “I’m visiting someone in the area.”

  “A relative?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, examining the crisscross pattern of the quilt. Anything to avoid his menacing stare.

  “Liar!” He bolted upright in the chair.

  “You tell me why I’m here—tied to this bed,” she shot back.

  “I did you a big favor.” He interlocked his fingers, and rested back in the chair. “Now you will do me one.”

  “What favor are talking about?”

  “I could have left you to die on the highway in your mangled car.”

  She didn’t know how to answer that one. Was dying any worse than being held captive like a slave? “People will come looking for me when I don’t report to work.”

  He clucked his tongue and shook his head. “They’d have a hell of a time finding you. Something tells me no one knows you came all this way.”

  She swallowed. He was right. She was on a two week vacation from work. Everyone thought she’d taken a trip to the beach like she’d told them.

  He laughed. “I can see that you’re not very good at lying or hiding your emotions.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I saved your life, now you will give me a life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a young female of breeding age. You will become a surrogate. And produce an offspring for me.”

  “Offspring? Are you insane?”

  His expression remained serious. “I’ve been asked that many times.”

  “What you propose is called harassment. Rape. You will go to prison.”

  “I’m not bond to follow the rules of the humans.”

  Why did he keep saying humans that way? As if he hated the word. Wasn’t he human? “Are you nuts?”

  “You will be compensated.” He paused, as though he were trying to read her expression. “Based on the account balances in your checkbook, it seems you can use some funds.”

  “No amount of money will change my mind. You’re a sick freak.”

  He rushed at her and grabbed up her wrists. “Then you will do it for free. If you wish to ever be released, you will cooperate. I saved your life, now you will lend me your body.”

  Selene jerked, but to no avail. “You want me to have a child?”

  “Yes. My mate cannot have any.”

  He averted his gaze as if he was ashamed, but she didn’t feel the least bit sorry for ass.

  “That’s your damn problem.” She frowned. “Not mine.”

  He jumped up, and snatched a handful of her hair. “Obey or die.”

  “I’d rather die,” she hissed, her heart nearly exploding from fear.

  He gripped her neck, squeezing tight against her larynx until she couldn’t breathe.

  “I could kill you right now. You humans are so fragile.” He smiled. “It would take half a second.”

  He sounded like an animal.

  She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t stop him for her hands were bound. Couldn’t kick him for her legs were tied. Her body responded on impulse, producing tears that she’d held for hours. She didn’t want him to know that she was scare
d. Weak. Helpless.

  Right when she thought she would pass out from lack of oxygen, he released her.

  She panted rapidly, trying to catch her breath again. “What…What will you do to me?”

  “I’m going to fuck you.”

  Her eyes widened, and she swallowed. “No.”

  Just then there was a knock at the door.

  He jerked away from her, appearing alarmed at the interruption.

  The maid that assisted with cleaning her up stepped inside. “Darius. Your orders are needed urgently. There has been a breach.”

  Darius. Scarface’s real name.

  His gaze whipped away from the maid back to Selene. He produced another rope and tied up her wrists quickly. “Prepare yourself. I will return, and you will take my seed.”

  She shivered as a slight breeze whipped against her bare skin when he snatched away from her.

  Sitting here waiting for someone to come to her rescue wasn’t working. Her captor wasn’t playing nicely. He had no remorse, and had saved her and brought her here for his own motives.

  Selene looked about the small clammy room for a weapon. Nothing usable was in her reach. She needed something that would inflict immense pain. She might not escape here alive, but she was not about to let an irrational stranger steal her innocence.

  She spotted the glass of water sitting on the table by her bedside. Looking down at the ropes tied around her wrists, she tried to squeeze her hands out.

  It was an expert knot. Her captor knew exactly how to impede her escape.

  This was a disadvantage, but she promised herself that she wouldn’t make it easy for him.

  Chapter Three

  Nick struggled against the chain used to bind his hands behind his back. It seemed that resistance encouraged his attackers to pull even tighter. He knew he should have stuck with the first set of mountains, but he just had to climb the highest one. An adventurous escape was what he was looking for when he came out here, but now it had gotten him captured. For what…he did not know.

  As they all moved across the rough terrain, he sized each one of them up. Three of them. It had taken three men to subdue him. They’d caught him by surprise as he stopped at a waterfall to fill his canteens. The cowards had jumped him, catching him off guard.

  He refused to show any weakness, but when he was free these motherfuckers would pay for tying him up like a bitch. They’d purposely bound him in chains and all in the right places to ensure that if he did try to shift, it would be painful.

  Nick threw yet another sideways glance at one of his capturers. The wolf returned a sneer and tugged on the chain wrapped around his neck. Nick returned the threat, growling as the metal squeezed at his throat.

  He knew them all. They were once loyal members of the Caedmon Pack. Now they were known followers of Darius, the most recently banished member. There was talk that Darius may have still been in the area, but none of them had anticipated any opposition after the fight and verdict on the night of the Blue Moon.

  Maybe the coward should have been executed. Clearly, the idiot wasn’t acting in his right state of mind. Greed certainly led people to do some foolish things.

  Nick ground his teeth in an attempt to subdue his irritation, and looked up at the late afternoon sky. By its position, it was nearly four o’ clock. He should have been on the top of the mountain by now waiting for the beautiful sunset, but no—that had been ruined for him.

  Their boots crushed frozen leaves and bramble as they walked deeper into the mountains. Occasionally, Nick would trip on a stone stuck in the gravel, but he held his balance.

  “Where are you taking me?” Nick barked, not caring about the consequences.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” a wolf named Jonathan answered. “I’m sure you’re aware of the punishment for trespassing.”

  Nick was well aware. In Caedmon culture, they’d hold anyone as prisoner who trespassed on marked territories without permission. Especially if they were up to no good.

  “Last I checked, these lands belonged to Devin Caedmon.”

  Jonathan laughed. “Are you sure?”

  “It’s a known fact according to the will of his father.”

  “Not all forty thousand acres were deeded to the late Daniel Caedmon.”

  Nick frowned. It was just like Darius to pull something up—anything—to hold against Devin.

  They passed a hill several yards before reaching the mountains up ahead. Nick was then pulled toward an old dilapidated outhouse.

  Jonathan pounded on the door, and someone snatched it open.

  They shoved Nick inside and on instinct he landed on his elbows to prevent falling face first into the dirt. He held back a curse as his skin scrapped against the rough ground. Bracing himself on his knees, he came to a standing position once again. When he looked up to face his opponent, he discovered there were several more of them waiting in the interior. Like vultures.

  He noticed Darius right away as he approached.

  “Look whose come to visit.”

  Nick said nothing. One thing was certain; he was pissed as fuck. If he wasn’t so curious about what type of shop Darius had set up here, he’d have put up a fight long ago.

  “Good job, boys,” Darius drawled. “You brought me nice bait once again.”

  Bait?

  “What are you doing around my parts, Nick?” Darius circled him. “Certainly, you’re not here in search of what you lost so many years ago.”

  Nick growled. Why couldn’t Darius let that rest? “I was minding my own damn business. Is this what you’re up to these days? Rounding people up like criminals.”

  “My territory…my rules.”

  “Since when did these become your territories?”

  Darius laughed. “I’m just claiming my half of the forty K acres. It’s only fair that I bring up my father’s will since Devin has brought up his. He didn’t think he had rights to it all, did he?”

  “You’re supposed to be gone. You were banished.”

  “I’m not that easy to get rid of. Did you think I would run off like a screaming baby like that brat you call a leader did?” Darius spat on the ground. “Depriving me of something I own, and then covering it up is a shady move. I didn’t know Devin had it in him.”

  “I know nothing about what you speak.”

  “What a liar! You’re his advisor. How could you not know anything?”

  Nick frowned. “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you jack shit.”

  Jonathan tugged hard against the chain that around Nick’s waist, and he nearly upchucked his lunch.

  “We’ll see if Devin cares when you come up missing,” Darius sneered. “Chances are he doesn’t give a shit. All he cares about now is fucking a human whore.”

  “You want to play dirty?”

  “Dirty? Seems fair to me. I hold you as bait and bastard boy comes running. I’m not sure what you’re worth dead or alive, but I don’t plan to hand over my share of the wealth so that he can lay claim to it all.”

  “You want land?” Nick asked.

  “My half as deeded to my late father.” Darius smiled. “And the title I was deprived of.”

  “And if Devin disagrees?”

  “I’ll behead you.”

  Nick hoped Devin never agreed. Darius should have been slayed on the night of the Blue Moon.

  “What ever happened to fair fight around here?” Nick challenged.

  “Blood thirsty?”

  Nick nodded at Jonathan. “I’d like to start with him.”

  Jonathan snarled then looked to his leader.

  “You don’t call any shots,” Darius snapped.

  “Come on now,” Nick taunted. “It’s either now or later. Because when I break loose, I’ll have your punk ass servant bitch boys wishing they had never captured me.”

  Nick braced himself as Jonathan lashed out, jerking the chains against him. The blood raged under his skin, and the wolf inside him sought to be unleashed.

  “Into the cell
.” Darius jerked a finger behind him. “Down below. When you are done locking him in, bring me the key.”

  His boys acted quickly, pushing him down toward a door in the floor and down a set of stairs. There was a holding cell off to the side, complete with metal bars and a lock. After stripping the chains off him, they shoved him inside and secured it with deadbolts.

  “How could you fall for Darius’s tactics?” he asked them.

  Their only answer was a door slammed shut.

  “Idiots,” he mumbled.

  ***

  Selene scrambled into position at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. Her heart beat wildly, as if it would burst through her breastbone at any minute. A sharp pain shot up from her fist through to her arms and she realized that she clutched at the broken glass too tightly. It was not her blood that she wanted to shed tonight.

  Just as the door swung open, she drew her legs up toward her body.

  Scarface came into view. He shed his trench coat and removed two chains from around his neck and hung both on a hook beside the door.

  She held her breath as he came and stood next to the bedside, eyeing her like an owl. The stare left her feeling sick to the stomach.

  “The maid said you refused food.”

  “I don’t want any.”

  Scarface shrugged. “Fine with me. But you’ll become hungry sooner or later.”

  “I’ll die before I eat anything you offer,” she said, forcefully.

  “That won’t do, doll.” He fumbled with the chain around his jeans and it fell to the floorboards about his feet. “Not if you plan to deliver what you owe me.”

  Selene bit her lip. “Please don’t. Darius…”

  He seemed shocked at the mention of his name.

  “There are other ways to get a baby. There are clinics in almost every state where women sign up to be surrogates every month.”

  His forehead creased in anger. “Are you trying to tell me how to go about my business?”

  She swallowed. “I just…I don’t want to do this.”

  “If you want to live, you will do this.”

  “Why me?”