Free Territory by Susan Bliler

that wrapped around her slender neck until it fell to the floor with soft thud. She coughed, gasping for air as tears streamed down her cheeks. A dream! It was only a dream!
    The bedroom door crashed open then and Briggs flew into the room, his breathing rapid. He was in a rage as he scanned the room; his human eyes now the boiling honey of his angry wolf. He crossed to the window and peered out then crossed to the bathroom only to find it empty. “Where is he?” Briggs bit out with barely controlled fury.
    Kya’s eyes were wide. “W-Who?”
    “Reiner!” Briggs snarled from between clenched teeth.
    Kya took a deep breath and buried her face in her hands, “It was only a dream.” She whispered, refusing to look up. “How much do you know?” She asked cautiously.
    “Everything!” Briggs ground out. “I know everything that sick son-of-a-bitch did to you.”
    “Jesus!” Kya whispered shakily as she fell back on the bed rolling to her side, away from Briggs. She pulled her knees up to hug them to her, forming a tight ball.
    Briggs paced the room behind her. His wrath had no outlet. No Reiner present to tear apart. Only Kya and her agony, her embarrassment, which only fueled his rage.
    Kya flinched as she heard glass shatter against the far wall.
    Briggs swore under his breath as he continued pacing back and forth and shoving his hands angrily through his hair.
    Kya lay curled in her ball, her eyes shut tight against the memories as tears seeped past her lids. She heard footsteps approaching quickly, then an unfamiliar voice.
    “Is everyone okay?” A soft woman’s voice asked.
    Briggs stopped pacing long enough to respond, “Stevie call the pack now! We’re going to Colorado.”
    Kya quickly sat up, “NO!”
    Briggs stopped to scowl at her, his face transitioning as he stared. Rage, anguish, and sympathy all took turns dancing across his features. So many emotions passing through him at once that he couldn’t process them all.
    “Please Briggs! Don’t go. They’re soulless monsters. They’ll kill you…and they’ll enjoy every second of it.”
    Briggs brows knitted together as his upper lip quivered in rage, “I pray they try.” He stalked out of the room and yelled in the hall, “I PRAY THEY FUCKING TRY!”

Chapter 11
    Afraid to go back to sleep, Kya lay awake the remainder of the night praying that Briggs would return to the room. She’d slept most of the previous day until she’d had her nightmare, then she simply lay awake fighting the memories until the sun set, the moon rose, the moon fell, and the sun rose again.
    She wanted Briggs to return to his room so should could talk him out of going to Colorado, but he didn’t return. She didn’t want anyone to die trying to defend her honor, least of all Briggs. He’d already chosen to deny her, so what did he care?
    When dawn finally came, Kya pulled the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around her naked body. She shimmied to a mahogany dresser and rifled through it, pulling out one of Briggs’ shirts and a pair of board shorts. She shuffled to his bathroom and showered quickly. She dressed then ran a brush through her hair, making sure to tidy up after herself. She wanted his room to look as though she’d never been there. She made up the bed then left the room.
    Standing in the hall, Kya contemplated knocking on Chloe and Dell’s door to see if Chloe would loan her some undergarments, but in the end she decided against disturbing their slumber. Instead, she was tiptoeing down the hall when she was startled by the creaking of a door. She turned to find Chloe standing in the doorway at the end of the hall.
    “Need some clothes?” Chloe asked rubbing her eyes and smiling at the same time.
    “Sorry, did I wake you?” Kya tiptoed the other direction back toward Chloe.
    “Nah, I’ve been up for hours. I was helping the pack ready for the trip.”
    Kya sighed deeply. “It’s my fault. I’ll talk Briggs out of going. I’m sorry for this