Page 22 of Ensnaring Their Rabbit

“I won’t move,” the warden responded carefully, like the way you’d talk to a spooked animal, “What is it that you want, Leopold? Say it, and it’s yours.”

“Oh come now, Hollinger. I don’t needyouto get exactly what I want.” Leopold turned to me, looking over the head of the two wolves, and smiled sadistically at me, “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

Oh, fuck no. My skin crawled as the twins completely lost it, and one of them–by the pull on my mate bond, likely Riven–launched at the dark mage.

Nooooo! I tried to scream in warning but no words came out. Reeve leaped right after his brother, whether to attack or to stop him, I wasn’t sure.

If I had the power, I’d have closed my eyes. It was the coward’s way out, but I couldn’t sit here helplessly and watch the two men I was quickly beginning to care for, the two men who had claimed me and who fate had destined for me, be reduced to a pile of ashes or worse.

I’m sorry.

I braced myself, preparing for anything, for losing my mates before I really got them, for whatever would happen to me and everyone else in this place afterward. I watched in horrific slow motion as time turned to sludge and braced for impact.

And then it was all gone. One second I was huddled in the corner of my newest prison, surrounded by dead bodies and waiting for my mates to die, and then next I was in an alley of some kind. Graffiti colored buildings on either side of me, and the unmistakable scent of rotted trash overpowering everything else.

“What the–”

I couldn’t finish my thought before I was being barrelled over, falling on my ass, my bare naked ass, on the filthy concrete, as two wolves covered my body, licking and scenting, and whining.

Despite everything I couldn’t help but laugh. My hands curled in their thick fur, and I buried my nose in the neck of the wolf who was currently licking my mate bond. I sucked in a breath. Riven. It was Riven. A little bit of giddiness was threatening to overwhelm me. I could tell them apart by their scent. I don’t know why that made me so happy.

“Ugh, I’m happy you’re both alive too, but you’re crushing me.” Immediately both wolves froze and pulled back. I grinned, tears springing to my eyes once again, but this time they were relieved ones. I had no fucking idea what happened, but they were okay, they were alive. I thought that would be the last of them. Leopold would’ve killed them and then taken me, for whatever fucking reason, and I’d never be free. I would die eventually, people didn’t survive broken mate bonds, but even before it literally ended, my life would be over.

Instead, I was naked with two massive black wolves in a narrow alley, and I had never been happier in my life.

I pet both of them, to let them know I was okay. I loved to see how both these huge scary men pushed into my hand, like little puppies, desperate for pats.

“I’d love to give you more pats later, but do you think you can shift back? We need to figure out what the fuck just happened.”

“I can help with that.” Dress shoes clicked across the alleyway street, the sound breaking the silence of the night.

Any chance of Reeve and Riven shifting was up in smoke as they immediately took a protective stance in front of me, blocking whoever was coming toward us. I pulled myself up into a crouch, really wishing I was wearing clothes, and curled my fingers into the fur of my alphas. If they tried to attack, I doubt I could stop them, but I was hoping my hold would be enough to keep them still. At least long enough to figure out what the hell was going on here.

“Who are you?” I called out, relieved my voice didn’t shake.

A figure emerged from the shadows, standing in the dim light of the alley. The man was tall, a little over six feet probably, with slicked back blond hair that was graying around the temples. He was wearing a suit that probably cost more than I made in my entire lifetime and stood out in this place like a sore thumb.

I tensed and tightened my grip on the twins. Unlike Leopold, this man’s Magic didn’t didn’t have the stink of dark Magic. His soul wasn’t tainted. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. His aura was thick with it. It was the prey in me. I could always sense danger, and whoever this was, could be the most dangerous thing I ever faced.

“My name is Laurent,” he replied, his voice deep and confident, “And I was the one who got you out of Western State Penitentiary.”

CHAPTER15

REEVE

I shiftedto my human form so quickly it made my head spin. I wasn’t used to it anymore, being able to control my own shift. I hadn’t had that luxury in so long, my body didn’t know how to handle it. It still hurt, but even if I was still wearing the collar, it didn’t have the control on me that it did just days ago. It didn’t have control on me at all, except as a reminder of everything that had happened and the bullshit Riv and I had been through.

I took a second to get my bearings, hoping that Laurent didn’t see how shaky I was.

“Reeve?” Brynn whispered, voice laced with concern, but I brushed him off. My stomach swooped as I climbed to my feet, but I wouldn’t meet whoever this was crouched on all fours. It was my duty to protect my family, and I would do that, even if I felt like I was going to puke my guts out.

Riven didn’t shift. I wasn’t sure if it was because he couldn’t or he just wanted one of us to be less vulnerable in case it came to a fight. Though the way the this man’s Magic pushed down on me like a heavy weight gave me the feeling we’d be fucked if he tried to hurt us. I just had to hope that he helped us for a reason, and us being dead wouldn’t get him to his goals.

I met Laurent’s eyes, not letting him see how inferior I felt. I was a naked convict with no weapons and no chance. He was a powerful mage in a bougie suit and enough money that he was able to buy a person.

The thought of that had me snarling and glaring at Laurent. It didn’t matter if he rescued us. He was going to take Brynn.

A hand dug into my side, his nails biting into my skin. I didn’t want to take my eyes off Laurent, but I wrapped my arm around Brynn and sucked in a deep breath. I got the hint. I had to keep it together.

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