Free Entangled Interaction by Cheyenne Meadows Page B

left the room.
    Yanking it out, I took a moment to aim, determined not to miss my one and only chance. Releasing my breath, I pulled the trigger with everything I had. I needed to do more than just stun him. That would be almost as bad as shooting him. It would only piss him off more.
    The probe hit and I heard the crackling sound of the Taser as it delivered as many volts as the small weapon could manage.
    His face turned from one of disbelief to outrage before his body began to shift forms. Human. Wolf. Human. Wolf. The transitions came so fast I could hardly keep up.
    At no time did I let off on the trigger. My luck, he would decide on a form, get up, and knock the crap out of me for making him pee his pants.
    In what seemed to take decades, he finally went limp, a naked human form draped across the hardwood floors.
    I eased up on the trigger but held tightly to the gun, just in case. Sure, I heard how Tasers worked against shifters. But no one had explained how long they stayed in this unconscious state or how angry they'd be when they woke. Better safe than sorry.
    The adrenaline began to ease, or at least, my heart no longer pounded out of my chest, although it still sped like a racehorse sprinting for the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. Fear rode the waves of my bloodstream, reminding me of what could have happened. Pains and aches from the struggle began to make themselves known. My face hurt. My arm hurt. Heck, my whole body felt bruised and battered.
    The door opened slowly and quietly, sending me back into the chaos of fight or flight.
    Meat stepped in and paused to scan the room. His eyes landed on the Taser and unconscious body at my feet. Those dark eyebrows shot up, but he remained mute.
    I felt an overwhelming sense of relief at his appearance. No blood or marks marred what I could see of him. Thus, the battle must have gone very well for our team. With that relief came abject fatigue and letdown.
    Slowly and gently, he eased forward, keeping his eyes locked on my face. Reaching out, he deftly pulled the weapon from my numb fingers, tossing it to the loveseat. "I thought you were going to leave the door locked and not let anyone in?" he asked quietly and calmly.
    "He let himself in," I answered on a puff of breath. "Jasmine?"
    "She's okay. Still drugged up, but coming out of it fast. Dad is getting her."
    His eyes held mine as he reached for me. I sidled backward away from his wing span.
    I longed for his compassion, his understanding, his support. Yet, my heart still ached. Standing in his arms would feel too good. I might have wanted the holding and cuddling, even needed it, but pride held me back. Stubborn pride forced me to remain strong in front of him. Prove that I was an independent woman who didn't need to rely on a man. I could make it in this world on my own. With or without his trust and faith. Giving in now would only lead to worse pain down the road.
    He showed his lack of belief in me earlier. Heck, he literally ripped my abilities apart in front of the entire male population of the Familia . So much for supporting the one you love. Or I guess in his mind, maybe used to love.
    Meat's head cocked, and his mouth opened. Before he could say a word, Micah entered the room, holding a woozy Jasmine in his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes raking over my stinging and probably colorful face.
    I nodded. He glanced over to Meat, and they exchanged a long look. With a sigh, Micah gave a slight nod. "Let's get out of here then."
    "What about him?" I didn't want to know what happened to the others. I would have enough nightmares as it was without any other details.
    "I'll take out the trash and meet you back at the club in a moment," Meat answered, not moving from his position.
    "You ready to go, young lady?"
    "More than ready."
    "Then grab a hold and we'll be off."
    Micah flashed us back to the club with an ease that filled me with envy. In seconds, a mob of men circled him and Jasmine,