Page 64 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

All I could feel was the cold memory of a stun gun pressed against my neck.

I hadn’t been able to lash out at the men who’d kidnapped me, and for days I’d fantasized about what I’d do if I ever got the chance.

I made it to the house, which was actually a side-by-side duplex with two entrances off a wide front porch. One of the spindles on the porch railing was broken.

I spotted Lauren immediately, sitting on the top step. She jumped to her feet as my headlights swung across the yard, and that’s when I lost my shit.

My high beams illuminated the scene just well enough to see that Lauren’s nose had been bleeding and the skin around her left eye was swollen.

I parked the Jeep and grabbed the softball bat as I launched myself out of the vehicle and into the rain.

Sam pulled up at the same time and hopped out of his Jeep.

“What the fuck?” He narrowed his eyes on Lauren’s bloodied face before sliding his angry glare to the bat in my hand. “Did you call the police?”

“I’ll deal with this myself,” I said, a little louder than normal to be heard over the rain.

“Likehellyou will,” Sam growled.

“What?” Lauren asked. “No. Let’s just go.” She pulled on my free hand.

I pointed the bat angrily at the house. “That guy convinced you to come back to his house,beat you, then kicked you out in the rain.”

“Sarah,” Lauren pleaded. “Don’t make a big deal out of—”

Sam cut her off. “Get in the Jeep. Both of you.”

Lauren’s terrified expression made me second-guess my decision to call Sam. She’d just been assaulted by a man. It should have occurred to me that another male presence might feel more threatening than comforting.

Lauren swung her gaze back to me and moved in close. Her black hair hung in drenched ropes around her face. “Please. I didn’t mean to make a scene, or get him involved.” Her eyes flicked to Sam, then back to me. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It’s a big fucking deal.” I looked at Sam. “You’re going in with me.”

“No,” he said calmly. “I’mgoing to call the police and stick around to make sure they arrest this guy.You’redriving Lauren back to the lodge to get into dry clothes. Then you’re going to get her some ice for that eye.”

He turned his attention to Lauren. “Get in the Jeep.”

She whimpered and complied.

The car door slammed behind her and I told Sam, “I’m going in.”

He shook his head. “Reese would kill me if I allowed that to happen.”

“I’m going in,” I repeated slowly. “Now do you have my back, or am I going in alone?”

Sam stared me down.

After a few seconds of that, I made an exasperated sound, pushed Sam aside, and marched up the steps. The curtains to the left-side unit were closed, but from the porch I could hear a sit-com laugh track blaring from the guy's television.

I banged on the door.

“Fuck off!” came a man’s voice from inside.

“Open the door!” I shouted back.

“I’m done with you, skank!”

Oh,hellsno. I banged harder. “Open this door, or I’m going to break it down.”

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