Page 19 of Grumpy Special Ops Bear: Ep. 1
I glared at him.What is going on? Are they part of a cult?
“First, I’m not a virgin, so if you want to sacrifice me for some weird ritual, it won’t work.” Josh glowered at my words, but I rambled on. “And second, I don’t care what you guys are into. I will not be a part of it. I’m going to grab my gear, head to the park ranger station, and get my ass home. You all can stay out here and be crazy on your own time.”
I attempted to move again, but Boyle wouldn’t let me.
“Get your hands off me, you asshole.”
“She has some fight in her.” Boyle laughed, barely using any effort to keep me in place. “It’s going to be a fun run this year, Alpha.”
“Alpha? Are you kidding me?” I shrieked, relieved that he’d eased his hold, allowing me to get onto my knees.
“Be quiet,” Maggie snarled. She lunged forward, making me fall backward. “Show respect, you filthy human.”
I got back to my knees, trying to keep my fear in check even as I shook. “Human? We are all humans, you crazy bitch.”
I gazed around at them with wide eyes as everything slowly snapped into place.
But that’s impossible. There’s no way… Just—no!
But I’d seen their eyes, the way they’d hunted, the way they’d tracked me.
Holy fucking shit.I felt my mind closing down.
“It’s time. Bring her,” Josh demanded before turning.
He walked away into the trees, and the rest of the group followed. Boyle seized my upper arm and yanked me to my feet. He dragged me along even as I tried to dig in my heels.
If they were going to kill me or sacrifice me or whatever, I wasn’t about to go down easy. I fought against Boyle’s grip until he finally became annoyed. He hauled off and smacked me across the face. It stung. I floundered and lost my balance, but Boyle didn’t give me a chance to recuperate.
He pulled me along through the trees, but I didn’t give up fighting. I clawed with everything I had, even threatened to bite him, when he raised his hand to strike me again. But a harsh growl from Josh in front of the group stayed Boyle’s hand.
I hadn’t even noticed we’d come to a stop at the edge of the trees. Josh held up his hand, and the rest fell in beside him. Boyle dragged me to him, and Josh took hold of my other arm and twisted my face so I stared down into the duskiness of the vale.
“What are we looking at?” I snarled. “Are you going to throw me down there or something?”
“No, Trinity, you will not die—at least not yet.”
“Oh thanks. That’s comforting,” I grumbled.
He gripped my jaw harder and turned my back to the valley.
“I can’t see anything. It’s too dark. Just tell me already.”
“Elk, an entire herd of them!” he shouted.
I shivered at the carnal tone of his words but kept a brave face. “Great. Can I go home now?”
He pinched my cheek, making me wince.
“You’re going to watch and see what you humans are too blind to see about your own world,” Josh growled. “Tie her up.”
“No. Let me go.”
Boyle and Owen snatched me and pulled me back to a tree. They wrapped a rope tightly around my upper body, pressing me back into the bark. I struggled to get loose, but it was taut.
I’m trapped.
I felt the biting cold of the night seeping deeper into my bones.
