Page 3 of Forced Wolf Bride

I'm left standing there, uncertain and feeling suddenly very alone. My enhanced hearing focuses on the sounds of the forest, the unmistakable sounds of other animals moving in the undergrowth. I tense, my amber eyes flicking to the sides as I plan my escape route.

Then I see it, the eyes reflected by moonlight staring back at me. I hear a low growl.

I make a run for it, using all my strength, but am immediately blocked by a large gray wolf. His eyes flash with something like glee, and I am immediately certain he's not from Mateo's pack.

I know I'm in big trouble.

I take a step back but freeze as I hear more wolves emerge from the trees behind me, some standing and some crouching low to the ground, seemingly ready to pounce. They all seem to be sizing me up. I can feel my heart racing as I realize that these must be Diego's men.

They stand between me and the way back home, and it's clear that they're not going to let me pass. I berate myself as it occurs to me that if I hadn't been so caught up in my thoughts, I'd have noticed them hunting me through the forest.

My eyes dart around, desperately searching for an escape route or the sound of any other wolf in the area, but there's nothing. As a lone female wolf, I know the odds are stacked against me. I have my shifter strength, but I'm untrained and alone.

I'm well-aware of the feud between Mateo and Diego's packs, so I can only assume that these are Diego's men, though I don't think their alpha is here. With no other option, I prepare to fight.

Taking a deep breath, I scream defiantly and lunge forward, pushing through their barricade. I'm thrown back with brute force, slamming into the hard ground and hitting my head on a rock. My vision goes blurry, and all I can see are their shadows swarming me as I lose consciousness.

When I wake up, I'm lying on my side. I can feel that I'm in a car or van from the motion rocking me from side to side. My head pounds, and my eyes don't want to open properly. I feel sick and disoriented. The men are still talking and laughing, but my head is ringing, and I can't make out what they're saying. Their voices sound muffled and distant.

I can feel something scratchy on top of me, and when I look down, I see a dirty blanket has been haphazardly thrown over me. They must have put it on me while I was unconscious.

It suddenly dawns on me that if I shift back into human form, they'll be able to see me naked. A wave of fear rushes through me. What are they going to do to me? My stomach churns as the possibilities run through my mind. A group of men doesn't kidnap a female by herself for any good reason.

I'm in big trouble.

I whimper quietly underneath the blanket so as not to draw attention to myself, hoping against hope that they won't realize I'm awake yet. Perhaps I can buy some time to figure out where I am and how to escape.

The van bounces over uneven ground for what feels like an hour, but is probably less time. Eventually, the road levels out, and it feels like we're in a more residential area. My eyes and head are clearer now, and I can focus on the voices around me. They’re talking about how Diego will be happy when they deliver me to him.

I'm confused. Why would Diego want me? From what I know of him, he's a ruthless alpha who doesn't take kindly to outsiders. The only thing that makes any sense is that they must think I'm part of the Silverstar pack. I'm sure that once Diego realizes his mistake, he'll be furious.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot what looks like an old t-shirt or rag in the corner of the van. I know I can't outrun these wolves, especially on their land, and I need to be able to communicate. Therefore, I'm going to have to shift. And I need to cover myself if I do.

Reluctantly, I shift back into human form, ignoring how hard and cold the metal floor feels against my bare skin. I quickly reach for the rag, hoping I'm right and it is a shirt. Relief courses through me when I feel for the armholes of the t-shirt in the semi-dark, and I pull it over my head, trying to ignore the stench from the dirty fabric as the huge shirt drowns even my curvy frame. I wrap the blanket around me and try to steady my breathing.

The van stops abruptly, and the door slides open with a loud creak, flooding the inside with light from the streetlights outside. The men grumble as they climb out of their seats and move towards the back door, where I lay terrified beneath the blanket.

I don't move, trying to buy time by pretending to still be asleep, but one of them pulls the blanket from me. I try to cover myself with the oversized t-shirt, but I still feel painfully exposed.

They all laugh at me, making crude comments about my body. I feel violated. I can feel my body trembling with fear, but I don't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing how scared I am.

One of them grabs my arm, yanking me to my feet. I stumble but manage to stay upright. I try not to look at them as they push me toward a large, ominous-looking building. My blood runs ice-cold with fear as I consider what's waiting for me on the other side of the door, and my heart races as I wonder what will happen to me now that I'm here. Will they torture me? Will they kill me?

The metallic door slams open, and I'm pushed inside. The room is dark, lit only by a couple of tiny wall lights, but I can make out some sparse furniture. The men surround me, laughing and jeering. I know I'm screwed, but I can't let them see any fear. I stand tall, staring them down.

"Who are you guys?" I demand. "What do you want with me?"

They all laugh, and one of them steps forward. He seems to be in charge, though none of them look like the alpha. They all seem too young—I can't decide if that's more worrying or not.

The man stands in front of me with a sinister grin and a strange glint in his eyes. "That really doesn't matter, sweetheart," he says, his voice dripping with malice. "As for why we took you, let's just say we have a little job for you to do."

I really don't like the sound of this. "What kind of job?"

He smirks. "You'll see soon enough. Don't you worry."

Dread washes over me. Whatever job they have in mind, it can't be good. I try to keep my cool, but inside, I'm screaming for a way out. I need to find a way to escape, but I don't even know where I am.

The man steps closer to me, and I take a step back, feeling the hard, unmovable wall behind me. I'm trapped.

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