The Surrogates: The 5 Book Paranormal Pregnancy Romance Box Set Page 5

  "I can't tell you right now, Reign, but I promise you, you will be safe."

  "Safe from who? And how do I know I'm safe with you?"

  Cara slipped in and out of consciousness. She tried not to move, to make a sound, in the hopes that her captors wouldn't think she was awake. She'd done this plenty of times with men in the bed with her that she was pretty sure she could fool the ones around her.

  The wounds on her chest closed gradually, the pain departed, the blood remained. Well, at least Reign got away.

  "Is she awake?"

  She knew that voice. Edward.

  Ten years before, she'd belonged to the East Cascade pack. Belonged was the exact right word. At the time they had twenty four men and four bitches. She'd been passed around so many times she'd forgotten everything else. They hadn't turned her, or at least she didn't think they did.

  She'd been a college student hiking in Northern Idaho as a part of her Biology degree, when she was attacked by a wild eyed wolf. It bit her arm before running off. Worried she might have rabies she tried to make it to the nearest town. That night was her first shift. Internally, Cara cringed as the memories of being in the same truck as these four were brought back. They smelled like acrid sweat and moldy bread. Some things never change.

  After she shifted, she killed at least five people, the sheriff, two deputies, and the two unfortunate drunks who were in the jail where the first aid kit was. She wandered the area of upper Idaho and western Washington for at least a year.

  She couldn't bring herself to end it. She lived like an animal, more wolf than girl. It was easier to embrace it than to fight it. Then they found her. At first, she was just so excited to not be alone, then the torture began.

  They had an idea of how wolves were supposed to be. They were chosen by the wolf, and if they could take something, or do something, and no one could stop them, then it was their right. That lasted for two whole years. Two years of hell.

  When you can regenerate any wound, sadists can inflict a lot of pain.

  All the smells, sounds, and even the touch of the two brutes she was squeezed between engulfed her in memories that she worked hard to suppress.

  Richard’s pack was different, men and women had their roles, and each was free to be, and not be. With whoever they liked.

  They were a family, and it pained her to think how she'd selfishly manipulated that family for her own gain. She just hadn't wanted to be hurt again, not like that, not ever.

  Deco, the giant of a man whose face she ruined, held his hand over her heart, she tried not to squirm as he took liberties with her chest.

  "Doesn't feel like it."

  "Okay, we get her back to Spokane, she can have a little talk with the Chemist."

  If she knew Richard, he would make sure Reign was safe, then he'd be coming for her. The pack was a family. And you did anything for family. She could endure till then.

  It wasn't like she hadn't before. She relaxed a little. Her mind drifted, her wounds healed, and she could feel the pack, feel Richard. It gave her strength, strength these fools knew nothing of.

  They would learn, though.

  Reign had stayed silent for the four-hour drive up into the mountains. She was familiar enough with Washington to know right where they were, she'd even been near here a few times. The thick green forest hid anything beyond the next turn.

  And other than trees, there wasn't much to see. The well-kept lodge peeked out from behind the trees. At first just a hint of it was visible. As the SUV made the last corner the entire two story building was visible.

  It was a modest lodge, waist-high railing circled both floors. The windows had external storm shutters, and modest drab curtains that concealed what was inside.

  What was not ordinary about the lodge was the dozen or so men and women who were waiting on the steps. Each were as ripped and chiseled as Richard and Cara. They were all young, the oldest couldn't have been more than thirty. Reign’s skin crawled as they all looked at her.

  The SUV came to a stop. Richard exited first, followed by Indigo, who stood a foot behind the older man.

  "I know what you're all thinking, and I promise you, it will be okay. Unusual times call for unusual actions."

  Oh god, they’re a cult, she thought, that’s why the protection and lavish spending.

  Reign looked for a way out. She was still in the SUV, but she could get out the side doors and make a run for it. She was familiar enough with the woods to make it to the highway by nightfall. Someone would pick her up.

  But she couldn't stay here. She didn't hear the rest of the conversation, but Richard spoke about unity or something. She didn't care. Every story about cults came parading through her mind. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then she carefully opened the car door. She was half way out before Indigo spotted her.

  "Richard, she's spooked."

  She ran. The woods were just twenty feet away, she could make it.

  "Reign, stop, I can explain."

  She stumbled, how was he right behind her? He caught her in his powerful hands, just enough to keep her from falling.

  "Reign, let me explain."

  "Explain what? You're a cult? You left Cara to die? How can you explain any of this! Why didn't you call the police, or an ambulance?"

  Reign was on the verge of breaking down, she was tired, alone, and scared, and nothing that was happening made any sense.

  Richard sat down on the ground next to her and rubbed his face in his hands.

  "It's a lot to explain. How about we start with a small thing. We're not a cult."

  "Okay, then what are you? They all look like they take orders from you, Cara died for you, and you just left her like you didn't care."

  Reign knew she was wrong the second she said it. A profound look of sadness passed through Richard’s eyes.

  "So you do care, then why did you leave her?"

  "She's not dead, for one."

  "I've seen enough movies to know that you don't get shot like that and not die. Maybe if we'd called an ambulance I could believe you, but Richard, face facts, she's dead, and you let her die."

  There was an edge to her voice, she was desperately trying to not sound hysterical, but her morning was just too much for her. The shooting, the running, it was exhausting.

  "She's not dead Reign, because she's a werewolf... we all are. That's why I know she's not dead. She's part of my pack, and I can feel her even now, even though we are separated by hundreds of miles."

  Richard held his arm out, finger extended to the east, he didn't even look in the direction he pointed.

  "She’s that way, about two days travel on foot. When I know you’re safe, I'm going to get her."

  "Are you out of your mind, I wished you'd said cult, then at least you wouldn't be crazy! I want to go home and I want to go home right now."

  "I'm sorry Reign, but there’s another pack, and well, there's a lot to explain, but suffice to say they want you, and they are not very nice. This is the only place you'll be safe."

  Reign rubbed her eyes, it was obvious they were all crazy, they really believed this bullshit. She had to wait, to bide her time, to make them think she bought it, then maybe she could steal the keys to the truck and get out.

  "Well, if I'm going to stay, can I get some food?"

  Richard smiled, "Of course, you're our honored guest."

  * * *

  Once Reign was sitting comfortably in a big overstuffed chair, with a bowl of soup, and the red headed Skye for company, Richard and Indigo stepped outside to plan.

  "Did she believe you?"

  Richard gave his friend a cockeyed look.

  "Yeah I wouldn't have, either. What are we going to do?"

  "First, we make sure she's safe, and in no danger of losing the baby."

  Indigo nodded, "Skye used to be a nurse, which should work for the most part, second?"

  Richard's eyes dilated, the yellow flecks that normally floated unnoticed congealed and ca
me together, threatening to push out all color, "Then, we go get Cara back, and we kill every sonuvabitch who gets in our way."

  Richard hovered just outside the kitchen in on the lower floor of the lodge. It had been two weeks since they brought Reign to safety, and she still wasn't convinced. The only real way would be to turn into a wolf and show her, which Richard found rarely did the trick. People would believe then, they would believe so much that they would run screaming from you.

  No, Richard had to get her to accept it without wolfing out. The last thing he needed was for her to go into shock and lose the baby. It was bad enough those morons tried to nab her, a fact for which he would make sure they paid, but if he just burst into the room as a wolf...

  She was twelve weeks pregnant, and it was a precarious time, thankfully Skye was a nurse. She was tending to Reign's needs, everyone else was either on guard duty, scouting, or sleeping.

  Indigo came into the kitchen through the outside door. He hovered over Skye until she kissed him. He whispered something that Richard couldn't make out, but it made Skye's ears burn as red as her hair.

  "What's the word?" he asked when they were done flirting.

  "Nothing, no contact, the mountain passes are clear, both directions. Maybe they are waiting for us to call them?"

  "They’re up to something, I can feel it. She's still alive, but they're not being gentle."

  Indigo put his hand on his old friend’s shoulder.

  "You don't have to bear this alone, we could help, let us in."

  Richard shook his head. “No, I'm alpha, it's my pain to bear. She's my responsibility."

  "We’re more than a pack, Richard, we’re family. We can help you carry the burden."

  Richard smiled at his friend’s words. It was true, they were more than a pack. For a long time, Richard had wanted a pack like this. One that sacrificed for each other, not because pack law demanded it, or because the Alpha made them, but for the love of their kin.

  Cara, ironically, had been the last real bad apple. And even she had come around. Now she was in jeopardy, and Richard could do nothing until he convinced Reign that she was safe here.

  "Let me take that, Skye," Richard reached out and took hold of the tray full of food.

  "Smells delicious, you cook too?"

  Skye smiled demurely at the alpha, "I've got skills.”

  "Hell yes, she does," Indigo added, running his hand down her back to rest on her waist.

  Richard left them to each other and went upstairs to Reign's room. He didn't like keeping her captive like this, in some ways he was no better than the wolves to the east. The biggest difference was, though, he wasn't torturing Reign.

  Still, being kept prisoner can be terrifying. He just had to find a way to reach her. It didn't help that he didn't want to be alone with her. Something about her, the smell of her hair, the way her lips curled into a smile, he just couldn't stop thinking about her.

  He held the tray in one hand, knocked on her door with the other.

  "Reign, its Richard, I've got your dinner."

  There was no response.

  He knocked again, still nothing.

  Years of hunting had taught Richard how to hone his wolf senses.

  Many wolves had some form of their lupine abilities in human form, Richard had most. It took something special to be Alpha, and while sometimes it happened via feudal type succession, often times it was because there was only one wolf who could do it.

  He closed his eyes, stilled his own heart, and listened.

  Through the door there was nothing, he expanded his senses, opened them to beyond his immediate area. He could hear the heavy breathing of Indigo, the low guttural moans of Skye on the verge of orgasm.

  The TV in the common room was on, the news was ranting about the unusually warm spring. Outside a rabbit was startled as something ran by it... That was her.

  He put down the tray and charged down the stairs, and was out the front door before anyone even had time to wonder what the noise was. He caught a glimpse of her through the trees. He stopped a moment to let his eyes adjust. It was a moonless night, which was good for her, it meant none of the pack would be out as a wolf. Did she pick this night on purpose? Does she think we can’t see her in the dark?

  One of the many dangers of roaming around a mountain at night was not being able to see the cliff until you stepped off of it. And there were a number of them near the lodge. Richard charged into the woods after her. His enhanced vision let him move at a near run. He could smell her now, hear her heart beating in her chest as she ran, her gulps of air, the cracking of twigs as she crashed through the underbrush heedless of what was in front of her, brave and stupid, like he once was.

  "Reign," he shouted, "I won't hurt you, it's not safe out here."

  She made no response, but he could hear her pick up her pace. He chased after her, deftly avoiding any twigs that might give sound to his stalking. His belly burned and his nostrils flared at the chase.

  The wolf inside him grinned as he maneuvered to run her down. It was his nature. He couldn't resist the thrill of it, even if it didn't end with dinner. She didn't know it, but she was heading in the absolute wrong way. A series of sharp cliffs dug their way through the mountainside, making it completely impassable.

  As he opened his mouth to warn her, he heard the scuffle of shoes on rock, a short sharp scream followed by a grunt. His heart leaped in his throat and he poured on the speed.

  "Help me, please help."

  Her voice was weak, as if the act of speaking would send her plunging to her death. Richard slid to a stop just above her, she was hanging by the tips of her fingers, face scratched from the many branches she had run through. He dropped to his knees and placed his big hands around her forearms.

  "It's okay Reign, I got you," as he started to lift her something fuzzy and indistinct came through his link.

  Cara, she was calling for help. Pain help, pain.

  Her cries burned through Richard’s very soul. Pain so sudden and severe he had no choice but to share it with the pack. He grunted, his foot slid and Reign grabbed his arm with both her hands.

  "What's wrong, pull me up, pull me up."

  He tried, teeth gritted, trying to swallow the pain, he pulled. Suddenly from behind him, from all over the forests, howls of pain pierced the night. He'd been forced to share it with all of them, with no warning, and it was awful. Fire burned him from his toes to his eyes, his vision blurred from either tears or blood.

  "Reign," he spat out between clenched teeth, "I... can't...” it hurt just to breathe and the pain wasn't subsiding. The rest of the pack changed, were forced to change as their human bodies could not withstand such pain. Richard could feel his wolf reaching out to him, shielding him, the only way it knew how, by transforming him.

  He looked in her eyes as his turned all yellow. He could see the fear behind her eyes as his body began its transformation.

  "Trust... me."

  There was only a few seconds before his hands turned to paws, he had to act immediately. With the last of his strength, Richard pushed off, he rolled over her, squeezing her to himself as they fell. Reign screamed as they tumbled to their death.

  The first thing she noticed was that she hurt all over. Reign groaned as she moved her feet. Her eyes shot open as she remembered the fall.

  He wasn’t lying. I saw it, his eyes they --they turned. She

  shot up, immediately regretting it. Her head pounded and her vision threatened to black out on her. She put a hand behind her to steady herself. She didn't feel rock though, but fur. She jumped, a startled yelp escaping her lips. Behind her lay a wolf. Easily the size of the Saint Bernard her neighbor used to own. Its black fur was speckled with silver and grey, his chest rose with each ragged breath. He had cushioned her fall.

  Reign looked up, the top of the cliff was at least twenty feet up. If she'd hit the rock she would have easily broken something. He really does care for me.

  Everythin
g changed in that moment. He'd spoken the truth, there were bad wolves out there, and they wanted her, he was trying to protect her.

  "Richard, can you hear me?"

  She cautiously approached him, careful to move an inch at a time. Not knowing if he was in there, or if he was just a wolf. She managed to sit beside him without disturbing him. One eye opened and he looked at her for a moment before it closed again. She scooted a little closer, ran her hand down his neck, gently rubbing the fur. He seemed to relax at her touch.

  "There, there, it's okay," she murmured, while gently scratching the skin behind his ears.