Page 15 of Kidnapped By the Wolf

Frustrated, I rip off my shirt and toss it onto the front porch. If my wolf insists on fighting me at every turn, I might as well let him off his leash for a bit.

I make quick work of the rest of my clothes and allow the shift to overtake me.

There’s a reason I chose this spot for my cabin. It’s quiet, peaceful, and very remote. I have ten acres of my own, and I’m surrounded on all sides by national forest.

Pain gives way to sweet relief as I shed my human form. My back bends as my nose lengthens into a snout, and fur sprouts all over my body.

Within seconds, I’m standing on four paws, nose twitching with the scents of the forest: oily pine, lush earth, and the gamey musk of rabbit.

I take off into the trees at a run, relishing the feel of pine needles beneath my paws and the cool air in my fur.

When I’m in human form, I am alpha. I have to remain in control at all times so I can lead, plan, and strategize. It’s a ruthless existence that wears on my animal, but I don’t know how else to be.

When I’m a wolf, I can shed those responsibilities, if only for a few hours. I don’t have to plan. I don’t have to problem-solve. I can justbe.

Usually, the shift allows me to turn off my brain and leave it all behind. But even as I dig my claws into the cold earth, there’s one problem I just can’t shake.

I might not have wanted to take Cassie hostage, but now that she’s here, there’s nowayI can let her go.

CHAPTER SIX

CASSIE

It’sdark by the time Adrian returns. The smoldering fire provides the only light in the cabin, and when he walks through the door, the warm glow throws him into sharp relief.

My captor is shirtless, his skin gleaming, and as my gaze wanders over the chiseled planes of his chest and abs, a treacherous heat blooms in my core.

He’s breathing hard as if he’s been running, and his eyes seem to glow in the dimly lit cabin. They’re a striking gold color and rimmed with black — wolf’s eyes.

My breath catches in my throat, and Adrian turns his head. I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep, and focus on calming my racing heart.

The knife he used to cut his sandwich earlier is pressed between my legs. He didn’t see me swipe it from the table when I sat down to eat, though I was certain he’d notice something was amiss when he knelt down to bind my ankles.

I’ve kept it hidden this entire time, terrified he might return as I was trying to make my escape.

For several seconds, Adrian doesn’t move, and it takes every ounce of my self-control to keep my eyes shut.

I wonder if he’s contemplating how easy it would be to snap my neck while I sleep.

But then I hear the alpha’s soft footsteps and the creak of the damper as he adds a few logs to the fire. He prowls into the bathroom, and a sliver of light appears behind my eyelids.

For several minutes, I listen to the sounds of running water. Then he turns off the light. There’s a rustle of blankets as he climbs into bed, and my body tingles at the thought of the shirtless alpha sliding between the cool sheets.

Soon the cabin fills with the sound of his snores, and I let out the breath I’ve been holding.

Moving as quietly as I can, I push myself into an upright position, careful to keep my thighs pressed together. Adrian looped the zip-ties through the slats in the back of the chair, so it lifts off the floor when I stand.

Shuffling backward until my butt is only a few feet from the table, I bend all the way over and lift the chair legs onto the tabletop behind me. They thud dully against the wood, but Adrian doesn’t stir.

Now for the tricky part.

Lifting my butt onto the edge of the table, I scoot back until I’m sitting on it and release the knife wedged between my thighs.

I have to tamp down my urge to cheer and carefully slide off the table.

Reaching behind me, I close my fingers around the knife handle and ease all four legs of the chair down onto the hardwood.

With my hands bound behind my back, it takes at least an hour of careful work to saw through the zip-ties. The whole time, I’m terrified I’m going to drop the blade and ruin my only chance at escape.

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