Free Claiming His Prize (Bad Boy Alphas) (Feral Breed Followings Book 2) by Ellis Leigh Page A
Authors: Ellis Leigh
we can’t control it, we fear it. It’s instinct.”
Jane stared, the wheels in her head almost visible through her big, dark eyes. Without preamble, she rushed into my arms and kissed me, a desperation on her lips that nearly made me grab her up and fly off with her. Made me want to protect her. Made me ready to die for her.
“Thank you,” she said, and then she was gone.
Eight
Jane
A s I’d done too many times before, I stumbled out of the cave like a woman running from a monster. Which, technically, I was. This time, though, I was also holding my arm. The bones didn’t seem to be broken, but the bleeding was excessive. I’d need to bandage the cut and soon. Mick still hadn’t said a word about how Saern had manhandled me, hadn’t even attempted to help me while that…thing held me against my will and rubbed himself all over me. I was disgusted, angry, hurt, but most of all, fucking done.
“You have to do something.”
Mick grunted but refused to look at me. He’d been slowly growing more agitated as I’d been voicing my fears and complaints. I don’t think he liked my not bowing to his every whim, but I wasn’t backing down this time. Saern could not be controlled. He was playing Mick like a fiddle, but the man was too stubborn and arrogant to see it. Unfortunately, I was the one stuck in the middle between the wolf and the dragon, with the dragon having a considerable size advantage. It wouldn’t be long before Saern took what he wanted from me, and I wasn’t going to stand around and let that happen.
Mick drove us back to The Pack House, silent the whole way. I didn’t initiate conversation either, though. I was too tired, too worn down from a week’s worth of being harassed and threatened, of being terrified of what might happen the next time I had to walk into that cave, to focus on anything else.
Except Piers.
It’d been two days since our…event in the exam room. Two days of me obsessing over him, wondering what was happening, wishing I could run to him for guidance. Wishing I could make a choice to be with him. Saern assumed he could take my choices away from me just as Mick had been doing for years. But while Mick would rule my life, I knew Saern would end it. I couldn’t have that. I needed to keep my dad safe, and I wanted to spend more time with him. Plus I had another dragon stealing my attention away from my wretched life. For once, I hoped that maybe, just maybe, I had a chance at something outside The Pack House. Doubtful, but there was a chance. A tiny one. Minuscule even.
“We’ll be bringing Saern to The Pack House tomorrow,” Mick said as he parked his truck behind the building.
I whipped around in my seat, that tiny bit of hope extinguished with a single sentence. “You’re insane.”
Mick growled, threatening me with his wolfishness, something I was beginning to fear less and less. “I’ve put up with your attitude regarding Saern for too long, girl. He will be coming to The Pack House and fighting. I will have two dragon shifters in the ring.”
I hopped out of the car and slammed the door. “He doesn’t have control of his dragon, Mick. You can’t just toss him to the wolves while you’ve got the pheromones in the building pumped as high as they are and not expect him to lose control.”
“The wolves will be fine.” Mick huffed and strode to the door. “Brush up on your dragon physiology, though. I have a feeling Saern might do some serious damage to Tidal. At least, I hope he does.”
I froze, my heart dropping. “You’re going to let Saern kill him?”
Mick laughed. “Not kill, child. Just knock him down a peg or two. The humans love a good falling-from-grace story. Tidal’s fall will bring more bettors into the crowd, which means more money. And money solves everything.”
“You’re an idiot.” I clenched my hands in my hair, pulling. This was a mess—an absolute mess—and it was only going to get worse.
“Saern will be fine,” Mick
Jane stared, the wheels in her head almost visible through her big, dark eyes. Without preamble, she rushed into my arms and kissed me, a desperation on her lips that nearly made me grab her up and fly off with her. Made me want to protect her. Made me ready to die for her.
“Thank you,” she said, and then she was gone.
Eight
Jane
A s I’d done too many times before, I stumbled out of the cave like a woman running from a monster. Which, technically, I was. This time, though, I was also holding my arm. The bones didn’t seem to be broken, but the bleeding was excessive. I’d need to bandage the cut and soon. Mick still hadn’t said a word about how Saern had manhandled me, hadn’t even attempted to help me while that…thing held me against my will and rubbed himself all over me. I was disgusted, angry, hurt, but most of all, fucking done.
“You have to do something.”
Mick grunted but refused to look at me. He’d been slowly growing more agitated as I’d been voicing my fears and complaints. I don’t think he liked my not bowing to his every whim, but I wasn’t backing down this time. Saern could not be controlled. He was playing Mick like a fiddle, but the man was too stubborn and arrogant to see it. Unfortunately, I was the one stuck in the middle between the wolf and the dragon, with the dragon having a considerable size advantage. It wouldn’t be long before Saern took what he wanted from me, and I wasn’t going to stand around and let that happen.
Mick drove us back to The Pack House, silent the whole way. I didn’t initiate conversation either, though. I was too tired, too worn down from a week’s worth of being harassed and threatened, of being terrified of what might happen the next time I had to walk into that cave, to focus on anything else.
Except Piers.
It’d been two days since our…event in the exam room. Two days of me obsessing over him, wondering what was happening, wishing I could run to him for guidance. Wishing I could make a choice to be with him. Saern assumed he could take my choices away from me just as Mick had been doing for years. But while Mick would rule my life, I knew Saern would end it. I couldn’t have that. I needed to keep my dad safe, and I wanted to spend more time with him. Plus I had another dragon stealing my attention away from my wretched life. For once, I hoped that maybe, just maybe, I had a chance at something outside The Pack House. Doubtful, but there was a chance. A tiny one. Minuscule even.
“We’ll be bringing Saern to The Pack House tomorrow,” Mick said as he parked his truck behind the building.
I whipped around in my seat, that tiny bit of hope extinguished with a single sentence. “You’re insane.”
Mick growled, threatening me with his wolfishness, something I was beginning to fear less and less. “I’ve put up with your attitude regarding Saern for too long, girl. He will be coming to The Pack House and fighting. I will have two dragon shifters in the ring.”
I hopped out of the car and slammed the door. “He doesn’t have control of his dragon, Mick. You can’t just toss him to the wolves while you’ve got the pheromones in the building pumped as high as they are and not expect him to lose control.”
“The wolves will be fine.” Mick huffed and strode to the door. “Brush up on your dragon physiology, though. I have a feeling Saern might do some serious damage to Tidal. At least, I hope he does.”
I froze, my heart dropping. “You’re going to let Saern kill him?”
Mick laughed. “Not kill, child. Just knock him down a peg or two. The humans love a good falling-from-grace story. Tidal’s fall will bring more bettors into the crowd, which means more money. And money solves everything.”
“You’re an idiot.” I clenched my hands in my hair, pulling. This was a mess—an absolute mess—and it was only going to get worse.
“Saern will be fine,” Mick