Page 72 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

I gave Taylor a horrified look.

“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I can't exactly say you ever get used to it, but the shock of it does wear off eventually.”

I opted to take her immediately. Much to my horror, Taylor hadn't been kidding about the leash.

Chelle was furious and looked a little wild as she pulled and tried to run away.

“She's a real beaut. Congratulations. She'll need a bit of breaking, but I don't think you'll be disappointed once that's done.”

Chelle stilled in disgust and for a second, I thought she just might throw up.

“Thanks for the advice. First timer and all.”

“I gathered as much.”

Somehow, I managed to avoid everyone else as I led her by the leash out of the warehouse, over to the hotel, and up to the penthouse.

Once safely inside, I used the special key they gave me to unlock the collar around her neck and free her.

The second I did, she lunged at me, wrapping her hands around my throat.

“I am going to kill you. I'm no animal to be tossed into a cage and treated as a prisoner.

“I know. It's going to be okay now.”

“Once you and the others pay for what you've done, only then will it be okay.”

She cursed, promising revenge on me.

“Wait. Wait. Wait. Please, Chelle, just hear me out.”

She froze.

“What did you say?

“Just hear me out. Please,” I added this time.

“No before that. What did you call me?”

“Chelle?”

“Why? I never gave them my name.”

“Take a deep sniff. I'm not human. I was trying to get you out of there. It was a rescue mission. Nothing else.”

She started to relax and tears streaked her cheeks as all the fight within her faded away.

“Who sent you? Was it Aiden?”

“What? No. Your sister.”

“Tilly arranged all of this?”

I shrugged. “Sorta. It's complicated.”

“How long have I been gone? We have to merge the Tribes. They didn't pawn that job off on Tilly, did they?”

“As a matter of fact, they did.”

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