Annoyed doesn’t begin to cover the way I feel right now. I press the garage door button and pull my 4Runner inside. Nolan gets out of his truck and strolls up, his grayish-green eyes transfixed on me. He’s tall and lean with the right amount of muscle, just like Chase.
The thought of Chase makes my throat tighten. I never should’ve left him, but I can’t go back now. My pride means too much to me.
Walking toward me, Nolan gives me a wolfish grin. “Xavier told me you were back in town.”
I groan. “Of course he did.”
Nolan winks at me. “He works for me now. If he thinks something will pique my interest, he calls.”
Rolling my eyes, I head for the door. “You have a lap dog now. Good for you. I don’t know what that has to do with me.”
I thought I could get away, but Nolan grabs my wrist, pulling me back to him. The force of it makes me gasp and my pulse spikes.
Nolan’s eyes glow with need. “Either you’re excited about me touching you or you’re nervous. I’ve never heard your heart race like that.” If he’s talked to Xavier, then he knows everything. I try to jerk my arm away and fail which only excites him more, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “I never would’ve thought you were a royal arctic either. You’ve done well keeping your magic hidden. But now, here you are. Unmated and out in the open. Not to mention, it’s one week until the next full moon. You’re going to need protection.”
“Please,” I growl, stepping up to him so he’ll know I’m not afraid, “I don’t need protection.”
Nolan clucks his tongue. “I could smell you from miles away. And if I can, others can, too.”
“I’ve done pretty damn well on my own the past two hundred years.”
He smirks. “That’s before this,” he taunts, pointing down at my bracelet. “It’s stripped you of your powers, made you no better than a human. You won’t last a second if another male wolf comes for you.”
Clenching my teeth, I jerk out of his hold. “I’ll take my chances.”
My mind races with escape plans, but before I make my move, Nolan grabs me around the waist, hauling me over his shoulder. I scream and punch him as hard as I can in the back. All he does is laugh and smack my ass.
“Sorry, Kara, but you’re coming with me.”
“You fucking bastard,” I growl, my arms tired from pummeling him.
He opens the backseat door and lays me inside, his grip bruising as he flips me over onto my stomach. His weight presses me into the leather, and then I hear the click of handcuffs, the cold metal biting into my skin.
Nolan pats my thigh and slides off me. “I don’t know why you’re even fighting me. We had a lot of good times together. I seem to recall you enjoying my dick being in your pussy. You never had any complaints.”
I hiss escapes my lips. “As soon as I’m free, you’re dead.”
Laughing, he slams the door and moves around to the front to get in the driver’s seat. “I’m doing you a favor, sweetheart. The next wolf to come knocking on your door might not be as handsome as me. You’ll thank me later.”
He drives away, and I finally become a real prisoner. How the hell am I going to break free? I know what Nolan has in mind. Xavier probably doesn’t know, which means Nolan wouldn’t either, but I can’t fulfill the mate bond with the bracelet on. If I tell him, it could help me, but then if he doesn’t believe me, he’ll take what he wants and there’s nothing I can do to protect myself.
Closing my eyes, I send a silent prayer up to the Great Luna, a prayer to give me strength. I’m going to need it.
25
CHASE
By the time we land at a private airfield in Virginia, I have two rental cars waiting for us; one for James and the other for Evangeline and me. I also made sure to book James into the nicest hotel in the area with plenty of money for food.
Evangeline tells me how to get to Kara’s house, and it’s not long before we drive up the long, winding road of her driveway. Her garage door is open, and Evangeline blows out a relieved sigh. “She’s home. Both of her cars are here.”
The second I park and get out of the car, an unpleasant scent hits me right in the face. “Fuck,” I growl, jerking around to scan the area.
Evangeline freezes, her expression alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone was here. An unmated male.” I run toward the open garage; her scent is everywhere, mingled with the male’s. “Kara!” I shout, fuming with rage. When I get into the garage, I see her phone lying on the floor.
Evangeline rushes in just as I pick it up. “Is that her phone?”
I clutch it in my hand. “Please tell me you can find her.”
When she doesn’t answer, I snap my head in her direction. She clears her throat and averts her gaze, almost sheepishly.
“What the hell are you not telling me?”
Biting her lip, she cautiously focuses back on me. “You said it’s an unmated wolf you smell?” By the expression on her face, she knows who it could be.
“Who is he?” I hiss, my insides trembling with the need to shift.
Evangeline tilts her head back and grumbles. “There’s only one person it could be.” She sets her eyes on me and huffs. “His name’s Nolan Lowe, alpha of the Rich Valley Pack and the Rich Valley Distillery owner. You might’ve heard of him since you’re in a similar business. I know a lot of your competitions aren’t just with wines, but liquor, too.”
Nolan Lowe. I know precisely who he is. We’ve never spoken, but I have seen him around different conventions. Besides Kara and me, he’s the only other shifter in our line of work.
“Why would he come here?” I ask, praying like fuck it’s not what I’m thinking in my head. I may not have spoken to Nolan, but that doesn’t mean Kara hasn’t.
Evangeline throws her hands up in the air. “Why are you going to ask that? You already know the answer.”
Anger builds in my chest, and I clench my fists. “So, they’ve slept together.” She doesn’t deny it, and it infuriates me more.
“They were seeing each other for a while,” she confesses. “Nolan didn’t know she was a royal, but I’m sure he does now since she can’t shield herself. He’s going to want that power, but even more so, he’s going to want her.”
“Not gonna fucking happen,” I hiss, storming back to the car. She may have the bracelet on to prevent a bond, but it doesn’t mean he won’t force himself on her. There’s no way she can fight back in her weakened state.
Evangeline rushes over to the car, and we both get in.
“What are we going to do?” she asks, her voice breathless.
I crank up the car and speed down the driveway. “You’re going to tell me where Nolan lives.”
Evangeline grips onto the door. “It’s not far, maybe about twenty-five minutes. When you get to the main road, take a left.”
Twenty-five minutes feels like a fucking eternity. We ride in silence the entire way there, and all I can think about are the millions of ways I can kill Nolan Lowe. Then, finally, Evangeline points at a vacant turn-off, surrounded by woods.