Page 55 of Brutal Mate

“The barn?” she gulped.

“Oh, don't worry, you'll join them all soon enough,” he promised, his smile broadening. “Just as soon as you've survived your first change.”

With that, he waved a hand, and the two men behind her grabbed her by the arms once more, yanking her to her feet.

“Wait, what then? What do you plan to do with me?” Miley protested.

Christopher had already stood and turned away to the bedroom door, but at the question, he looked back over his shoulder. “Nothing, for now.”

The open-ended answer made Miley feel sick to her stomach. The way he looked at her over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow and a half-smile made her want to claw his lips right off his face.

She hadn't even had her first full shift yet, and already the beast was becoming a part of her. She could only pray that was a good sign.

“Put her back in the closet and keep an ear on her,” Christopher instructed. “If she lives, put her with the others. If she dies…” he paused and looked her up and down. “You know what to do with the body.”

Miley's throat constricted. The men silently began to drag her back toward the closet.

She felt strength surging through her muscles, yet no matter how much she fought, they were stronger.

“Wait! Stop! You can't do this!”

Her protests fell on deaf ears, and she was shoved so hard into the closet that all she could do was hit the floor.

Pain lanced up her tailbone and she screamed.

“Hold on to that rage, kid,” one of the men sneered at her. “It may just save your life.”

“Yeah, and you'll need it if we're going to be rid of those stupid Blackwell wolves once and for all.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Miley saw the two men look at each other and smile.

“Nightstar won’t know what's hit it,” the first said, smirking.

“I almost feel sorry for them,” the other added, then they both laughed again, and the door slammed shut.

The locking of it was grating to Miley's ears, and she was forced to cover them with her hands once more.

Those men's words and Christopher's rang over and over in her mind.

It was one thing to know she might die. There was nothing that could be done about that now. She was already bitten, and as Christopher had said, it couldn't be taken back.

But to sit there knowing that he and his friends were planning some kind of attack on her home frightened her.

It was an odd feeling. She had never given a damn about the place before. Both her parents were still there, and they could rot in hell for all she cared. Good riddance to them if these werewolves ripped them to shreds.

But then she thought of Kane. Handsome, strong, tattooed, battle-scarred Kane, with his big heart and his determination to do the right thing no matter how much trouble she caused him.

Tears pricked her eyes then, and finally, they started to fall. No longer was she scared for herself.

Now she was only scared for him. He was a Blackwell wolf. She was sure of it. She didn't entirely know what that meant yet, but it was clear Jack Blackwell was more than just the mayor of Nightstar. Kane hadn't actually said it aloud, but she was sure Jack was the alpha. And that meant he and all his friends were in danger, even more than she was.

And the thought of anything happening to Kane in particular made her blood run cold and her heart stop beating. If anything did happen to him, she wasn't sure she wanted to survive the transition. What would be the point?

Chapter 21 - Kane

“Kane, wait!” Jack hissed, grabbing hold of Kane's arm to yank him backwards into the trees.

“She's in there! I know it!” Kane snarled back, trying to free himself from Jack’s grip.

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