Page 46 of Wulf's Pack
Skylar stands rigid, continuing to try to push away from him, while Samuel wraps around her like an octopus. Every time he brings his face to hers, she leans out of his reach. I get the sense that he likes the chase. I want to tear his head off.
“Eight years of torture changes a person,” Skylar says. “Eight years of beatings, starvation, nights in silver shackles. It forced me to become strong. It was the only way to survive.”
Samuel pushes her hair off her face and tucks it behind her ear. “Only the strongest pressure creates diamonds,” he murmurs. “Tell me who he is.” His command is a silky caress. “Tell me who took you. I promise his torture will be one hundred times the pain you suffered.”
It’s the opening Skylar’s been waiting for. “I’ll give you his name,” she says softly, “for my freedom.”
Samuel pulls back, blinking at Skylar in surprise.
She uses the distraction to escape his grip and pushes so much confidence into her voice that Samuel can’t ignore her. “Allow me to leave, and promise me you’ll never come after me again, and I’ll give you all the information you need to destroy his entire pack.”
His eyes glow crimson, and a look so dark it could kill a man takes over his face. “You dare try to blackmail me?”
Skylar trembles. She sucks in a shaky breath, but then squares her shoulders and lifts her chin. There’s fear in her voice, but it’s blended with determination. “You make deals every day. What’s one more?”
“You’re mine!” he snaps.
“I might have been once, but I was taken from you, and then I escaped. I clawed my way out of hell. I earned my freedom.”
I’m surprised when that makes Samuel pause. Skylar said he admires strength. She was right. He’s looking at her as if he doesn’t even recognize her.
“Must have been embarrassing for you to lose your favorite toy,” Skylar says, bringing back Samuel’s glare. “The prized omega that you’d personally claimed. Wouldn’t you like to take your revenge? Send a message to the world that people will pay for stealing from you?”
His jaw clenches, and he inhales sharply through his nose. I see the malice in his eyes for the bloodlust that it is. Skylar was right: Hewantsthat name.
“And what good would that message do if I don’t reclaim what was taken?”
Skylar lifts her chin and shrugs. It’s forced confidence, but she’s managing it. “It wouldn’t hurt you to claim you’ve lost interest in me. I am just a werewolf, after all. The man who stole me out from under your nose is one of your supposed allies. You do business with him regularly. And worse, he’s building an army with the intent of taking out your clan. He wants to take over your business. He’s already cheated you, stolen shipments, captured and killed dozens of your vampires. He’s a problem, and he’s only getting stronger.”
Samuel’s eyes flash with recognition. He doesn’t know who she’s talking about, but he knows someone has been causing him trouble. He snarls. His eyes blaze, and his fangs descend. He grabs Skylar by the shoulders and shakes her. “Tell me who!”
Skylar’s face pales, but she meets his eyes. “Your word,” she breathes. “My freedom.”
They stare at one another for several heart-stopping moments. I feel utterly useless. My mate is standing up to amaster vampire, and I’m stuck here unable to so much as stand beside her. She said she needed to do this herself. That standing up to him was the only way, but it’s hard to watch.
Something changes in Samuel. His anger dissipates, and he looks at Skylar with awe. He moves his hands from her shoulders up to her cheeks and cradles her face. “So brave,” he says. “So stunning. Very well. You have your freedom.” He leans forward and kisses her forehead. “I will not come for you. You have my word. And you have my vow that the man who hurt you will suffer. I will wipe his pack from this earth. Just give me a name.”
“Victor Santos,” Skylar says. “Vail pack.”
Samuel’s face goes stone cold. I take it Victor is someone he knows well. Only betrayal can make someone so angry. “Tell me everything you know.”
Samuel orders his vampires to release Bree and me. I stumble forward and wrap Skylar up in a fierce hug. Skylar pulls back her power. Coming out of my lethargic state takes a minute. Skylar gives me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I know shifters hate being incapacitated like that, but if either of you’d lost control, we’d all be dead.”
I didn’t like it, but I’m not mad. She did the right thing. I was seconds away from shifting. Against five extremely powerful vampires and one master, I’ve have been dead before I could blink. I run the backs of my fingers over her cheek. “It had to be done. Don’t much care for it, though.” I glance at Bree. She’s got a hand resting on the back of the couch and is holding her head with her other hand. “You okay?”
She gives me a nod. “It’s wearing off.”
“I imagine that’s what it feels like to be stoned. Dulls the senses.”
“My cat was unresponsive.”
“So was my wolf.”
Skylar winces. “Yeah. Now you know why Victor always collared me.”
I growl. “I hope Samuel comes through on his promise to make him suffer.”
“Samuel always keeps his promises.”
