Wolf Untamed by Alexis Calder

3

My whole body tensed like a spring as I threw the door open. Without thinking, I exploded forward, expecting to have to run through Kyle. I only got a few steps before I slammed right into Tyler’s broad chest and fell to the ground.

“I thought you’d try something like this,” Tyler said. “Told you taking her clothes wasn’t enough to stop her. Though I have to admit, I thought you’d be streaking naked down the hall.”

I clutched the towel tighter around me and tried to regain some of my dignity. “You know I don’t want this. Why keep pushing me? Just let me go.”

“We’ve been through this, Lola. And you’re out of time. I will claim you as mine tonight. I’d much rather you agree to it. I think you might even enjoy yourself.” He offered his hand and I turned away from him.

Pushing myself from the ground, I held the towel tight and glared at him as best I could. “I will never stop fighting you. Even if you managed to complete the bond, you’ll never have my heart or my submission.”

“Tyler, can’t you give her a little more time? The bond will draw her to you if you just…”

“Enough, Kyle,” Tyler said, cutting him off. “I’m done being patient.”

“This is you being patient?” I scoffed.

“Back to your room. You can wait there for me,” Tyler said.

I looked past him and noticed there wasn’t anyone else in the hall. I had to try one more time. Quickly, I stepped to the side then started running.

Tyler growled and managed to grab hold of the towel, pulling me back. I let go of the towel, risking being naked for a chance at escape. Arms pumping, I raced down the hall and flew down the steps, taking them as fast as possible.

My eyes widened when I emerged into the living room. Ace and six other adult shifter males rose from their places on the couch and chairs. I froze and assessed the room. The front door was through the living room, beyond this gathering of shifters. To my right, I could see the kitchen and the back door. It looked like the safer shot.

I moved forward, heart racing as my bare feet pounded against the wood floor. My fingers brushed the doorknob just as a pair of strong arms pulled me down.

Fighting tears, I hit the ground hard, my chin making contact with the floor. Shooting pain spread up my jaw and I took a sharp breath in to prevent from screaming. Tears streamed down my face but I ignored them. I would deal with the pain later. Instantly, I started kicking and fighting, clawing my way toward the exit. I was so close.

Ace had a hold of me, he grunted and growled as he pinned me down. “Stop fighting, you little bitch.”

“Hold her down, Ace,” one of the others called.

“Girl’s got a wild streak,” another said.

“Let her go, Dad!” Tyler’s voice cut over the grunts and shouts.

Ace stopped squeezing me for a moment, then resumed his full hold.

Tyler growled. A strange sensation snaked its way through my body and every part of me felt alert. I tensed, reacting to his tone. It wasn’t fear exactly, but that one sound had grabbed my full attention.

“Let. Her. Go.” Tyler’s words were powerful. Even his father had to feel it because he eased his grip.

I stayed on the floor, face down, my mind racing. I was outnumbered and the chances of me making my way through the door were pretty much non-existent. Before I could decide what my next move should be, the pressure of Ace’s grip released and I heard the distinct sound of a fist against someone.

Startled, I managed to scramble away. Two large men were blocking the door, but my attention went right to the fight going on in front of me.

Tyler and Ace were at each other’s throats. Tyler got a blow in his dad’s jaw, but Ace hardly seemed to feel it. Without hesitation, Ace shoved Tyler into a bookcase. The whole shelf rattled and books came crashing down around him. My heart hammered against my ribs and icy fear squeezed my chest. “Tyler!”

Instinct took over and I ran toward him, pushing him away from the bookshelf before it crushed him. We landed on the ground, me on top of him, panting and naked.

Ace grabbed my arm and hauled me off Tyler, pulling me up against him. I twisted, trying to break his grip. He held me fast but I wasn’t going to go easy. Pulling back my fist, I landed a punch on the older man’s cheek. My knuckles felt like they’d been broken and I hissed in pain. Fuck. Punching someone was a lot more painful than I thought it would be.

He growled, then landed an uppercut under my chin. My head lolled back and my vision went blurry. I could vaguely hear screaming and chaos but everything sounded like it was coming from very far away. As if I was at the end of a long tunnel.

When he threw me to the ground, I wasn’t prepared, but I managed to land on my hands and knees. My mouth was full of blood and I spit it out on the floor under me, doing my best not to swallow it all. My stomach lurched at the sight of all the red on the floor. Between the aching pain and the taste of blood, I knew that punch had done some serious damage.

“Enough!” Tyler dropped to his knees next to me. His fingertips gently touched my cheek. “Are you okay?”

His touch made me feel calmer. For a moment, I considered crawling into his embrace and letting him hold me. I’d be protected and safe in his arms. Part of me ached for it. Holding myself back was harder than I thought it would be. The mating bond was growing. Alec had been right. Even Viki was right. I was feeling something for Tyler.

“I am not okay.” I wasn’t even referring to my injuries. The thought of having feelings in any way for this piece of shit was not okay. None of this was okay.

Ace leaned down and spoke quietly. “Show him the mark,” Ace whispered. “How long have you been lying to us, you little bitch?”

He had kept his tone low enough that nobody aside from me could hear him. I didn’t know how to respond. He wasn’t outing me in front of everyone, but he knew.

“This ends now, Dad. She’s my mate. I will not have her disrespected like this.” Tyler stood and grabbed a blanket off a chair. He walked over to me and draped it over my shoulders.

Grateful, I pulled it around me. I was fighting against the warm feelings toward Tyler but I wasn’t going to turn down something to cover myself with. Especially now that Ace brought up the mark. I had to change the subject. Tyler couldn’t know about that. I needed to get myself out of here but this chance was over. Time for a change of plans.

“Can you take me back to my room?” I asked Tyler in my most pathetic tone.

He helped me to my feet. “Of course.”

“She’s playing you,” Ace said.

“I’ve heard enough from you,” Tyler said. “Come on, Lola. You can get some rest and we’ll complete the bond tomorrow. I’m not going to make you do it now.”

I nodded and walked along with Tyler. My mind was at war with my heart. For some reason, there was a small part of me that was terrified about leaving Tyler. I’d reacted when I saw him threatened and I’d saved him. Stupid instincts. If I’d let that bookcase fall on him, he might be dead. The bond would be broken and I’d be free. Well, Ace would probably have killed me, but it was possible I could have fled in the aftermath.

I didn’t want anything to do with Tyler. Why had I saved him?

Mating bonds should be outlawed.

On our walk back to my prison cell, well, the room they kept me in, I reminded myself of all the terrible things Tyler had done to me. But that kiss in front of the caves kept forcing its way into my memories. I wasn’t going to let the bond win. I was going to choose my own path. Tyler wasn’t it.

“Sit,” Tyler said as he stopped in front of the bed.

I obliged, hoping that if I played the docile, injured damsel in distress, he’d leave me sans bindings. There was a window in this room and that was my ticket out of here.

“I’m sorry for my father,” he said.

“It’s not much different than how you treated me,” I said, unable to help myself.

“I told you, I’m working on it,” he said.

A knock sounded on the door and then it opened. Viki stood in the threshold. “Why don’t you let me help her get cleaned up.”

“Sure,” Tyler said. “I’ll come check on you soon.”

I forced a smile but internally, I was fighting the urge to vomit. Thank the gods. The sick feeling Tyler gave me was back. The moment of strange attachment to him seemed to have passed. I had to get the fuck out of here before something like that happened again.

Viki walked into the room, then closed the door behind her. “Before you try it, there’s three guards outside your window. I know why you ran, and I’m glad you had your chance, but it’s over now. You’re not going to be able to get away from this. Your best bet is to let the bond connect you so you can enjoy yourself a little.”

I glared at her.

“I saw how you rushed to Tyler. The bond is there. If you stop fighting it, you might find happiness.” She opened a drawer and pulled out a washcloth, then walked over to the bottle of water on the table. After pouring a little water on the cloth, she started to wipe my face.

Her words had rendered me too numb to react. Defeat began to sink in, making me feel like I’d lost everything. How was I going to do this? I couldn’t be with Tyler and I wasn’t sure I could get away.

Silent tears rolled down my cheeks but I didn’t even bother to wipe them away. After all I’d faced, and all I’d fought for, how was it possible it would end like this?

“Ace saw the mark. He’s going to kill you tonight while everyone is sleeping unless you complete the bond before he gets his chance,” Viki said.

My eyes moved to hers and panic sent my heart racing. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. “Like I said, you’re out of time.”

I swallowed hard, returning my gaze to my hands so I didn’t have to look her in the eye anymore. This couldn’t be the end for me. There had to be more to my story.

Soft footsteps sounded on the floor but I didn’t look up. The door opened and closed. My mind raced, my heart beat so quickly I thought I might be having a panic attack. How badly did I want to live? I’d flirted with thoughts of death in the past. Some days, I’d even wished for death to find me. But I’d had a taste of freedom. Even if Alec had violated my trust in the worst possible way, being with his pack had shown me what was possible. I had to believe that not everyone there was in on his betrayal. Happiness or at least some kind of life beyond this was possible.

I had to fight.

I stood and dropped the blanket to the ground. It didn’t take long to find the light switch so I could see better. Then, I walked to the dresser and was rewarded with drawers stuffed of random old clothes, towels, and sheets. It was a hodgepodge of fabric. After a few minutes of digging, I found clothes that would work.

Dressed in actual underwear, a pair of gym shorts, and a faded old tee, I started to feel hopeful again. I had clothes on, that was a good first step. Now, I just needed to figure out the way out of here.