Free A Pack For Christmas (Kansas City Vampires Book 7) by G.R. George, Renee George

able to forgive himself, and Julia would never forgive Rafir -- if she survived.
    He couldn’t take his eyes off the monitor, drawn to his two lovers as they struggled against their natures. They were talking. Even though they were both obviously afraid, they were talking to each other. Alex hadn’t pounced. Julia wasn’t scrambling and fighting for her life -- and Rafir had taught her to fight, so she wasn’t completely helpless. But she couldn’t defeat a vampire. Not while locked in a cage without a weapon and the element of surprise.
    “Let them go,” he pleaded with Bernard. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
    “How about I don’t let them go.” Bernard shook his head. “You should have joined me while you could. Now you’re going to have to watch your vampire drain your human, and then after, I’m going to kill you.”
    Rafir stepped toward Bernard, but the men who’d escorted him up had anticipated a move and grabbed him by the arms before he could get one claw on the pack master.
    “Don’t be hasty, Caras. You’ll get your chance. But for me, I like a good show with my dinner.” He turned to the monitor, and the two men holding Raf forced him to face the screen as well.
    He watched, aghast at the scene unfolding. Alex crawled on hands and knees toward Julia in predator mode. Julia held up her hand, but didn’t try to get away. They were still talking. What in the world could they be talking about? Alex stopped suddenly. He began to punch at the floor. Hope filled Rafir. Alex hadn’t given up on himself or given in to instinct. He was trying to break free.
    “He’s trying to dig his way out!” the guy in the jacket said.
    Bernard shook his head. “I laid the cage out myself. The titanium bars go for four feet down under the concrete. He’s not going anywhere.”
    Titanium? The cage would hold just about any supe. Werewolf or vampire. Bernard had to have spent a small fortune on it. Alex wouldn’t be able to get Julia and himself out, not in time. His hunger would drive him to madness, and his madness would lead to Julia’s death.
    A chunk of concrete flew across the cage and hit Julia in the face. Alex stopped punching the ground and scrambled to her.
    Oh shit, Rafir thought. Fresh blood. Alex wet his thumb and swiped at her cut.
    “Your vamp has more self-control than I thought he would,” Bernard said. “The boys and I had a bet going about how long it would take him to feed on your girl. Looks like I’m out of the pool already, but the way he licked the blood off his finger, I don’t think it’ll be too much longer.” He chuckled. “Young vamps. Gotta love ’em. They are so unpredictable.”
    Rafir looked away from the screen. He would die with them if he could. Why couldn’t it be him in the cage with Alex? He’d have already fed him and fucked him and helped him to gain control, but Julia wouldn’t, and it would be their undoing.
    “Huh,” Bernard grunted. “I didn’t see that coming.”
    Rafir’s gaze snapped to the screen. Julia and Alex were kissing.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    Julia leaned into Alex’s embrace. She was filthy and smelled like rust. Alex had declared his love for her, and the rawness of the emotion had moved her. She knew in the moment of his declaration, she loved him. Physically, she’d been attracted to him since the beginning, but she’d been scared -- afraid of being a third wheel in their party of three with Rafir. Deep down, she’d believed Rafir and Alex were a better match for each other than she was for either of them. She’d been pushing Alex away, and by doing so, she’d pushed Rafir away as well. How could they love her or want her? Her body lacked the firmness of youth and the scars marred whatever beauty her skin might have held. But here Alex was… loving her.
    She knew it had taken an incredible amount of strength on his part to resist forcing her to feed his hunger. Alex wasn’t even a year old yet. A complete baby in vampire