One Year Later —Tara sat out on the poach behind the packhouse with a laptop open to a spreadsheet. She and Emily were working out the next year’s budget and the projects they’d tackle.With Emily looking after the club while they were up here. It was interesting, to say the least.Tara gave birth on schedule. It was about the only thing that was on schedule these days, and Cal was sitting on a blanket on the grass with one-year-old Natalie Nichols. The apple of her daddy’s eye. She had him wrapped around her little finger and he’d have it no other way.Eddie and his Lycan girlfriend were now running the kitchens here for Rachel. They’d mated and, well… Tara expected to hear that they’d have pups soon enough.Jaxon, well, he was back in the city. Tara wasn’t sure what was happening with him. Cal wouldn’t speak of it. But Jaxon took a leave of absence from his position for a bit. Tara wasn’t receiving the full story. But as far as she could tell. Jaxon may have two mates. One wasn’t d
Tara knew when she left work at the grocery store something was wrong. Her brother wasn’t there to walk her home. That was warning enough for Tara. He was one of those fly-by-night types, every time his latest job didn’t go well and would run from it. Sadly, she couldn’t rely on him for much more than eating what little food was in their small fridge and racking up her long-distance phone bill with 900-numbers. Tara loved him, truly she did. He was her only family. She’d raised him through his teen years while she wasn’t much more than a teen herself.What worried her was he wasn’t answering his phone. He always answered his phone and he’d give her some lame excuse about why he wasn’t there. This time he wasn’t picking up and it was her seventh attempt. Hid voicemail was also full.The summer night was cool, and the streets wet from the rain which fell while she worked. At two in the morning, Tara watched cars drive past as she walked toward where she lived. It wasn’t home, they
Tara knew enough about the Wild Wolf. If she could get in. The club lived up to its name. There was everything from gambling to a sex dungeon. She’d seen the women enter with their rich mates or lovers. They went there to get their rocks off. While the rabble, like Tara, worked themselves into an early grave. They didn’t get the luxury to be horny, only hungry.She didn’t have sexy clothes. Tara’s wardrobe included jeans, sweats, t-shirts, and a ratty winter coat. The money she saved would replace her coat became the money she used to buy a sexy outfit from a charity shop. She’d time to shop. The Wild Wolf opened at nine that evening. The papers Alpha Elmwood dropped off told her everything. Eddie hadn’t said he’d been skimming off the top and he’d gambled with it. Eddie used his winnings to cover his theft. This time, there were no winnings. He’d run before they caught him.Their daddy taught them to gamble, and Tara learned from his mistakes. Their father had died from a bul
People were walking around. Sure enough, no one was wearing much. A couple of people were even led by her with collars and leashes nothing more. Tara thought that was the floor show until she heard the crack of the whip again. She jumped in response and watched it land on the bare backside of a bound woman. The sounds brought her attention to a woman bent over a bench and restrained with chains. Tara’s body shivered with unfamiliar feelings she couldn't describe. Tara could see the woman’s face and she appeared to be enjoying this treatment. That this was the best thing ever that she’d experienced.As the floor show continued, Tara watched the crowd as the large dark-haired man plied the whip to the women’s flesh. His tanned bare chest gleamed in the club's lights, accenting his sculpted muscles and warrior’s body. His tattoos fascinated her. As she watched, his concentration never strayed from the woman. He ignored everyone else. To him, it was just the two of them. An intimate e
Cal entered the gambling floor and moved to table four. Everyone there was a regular, and they knew something was up when the owner sat at the table. With a smile to Tara, he was dealt in. A look crossed the table between the dealer and Cal. The dealer’s eyes shifted to a man standing to her right. A security guard sent to monitor her movements and how she played. He watched for counting cards, and other signs she was cheating. “You’re new here. Is this your first time?” Cal asked her as he assessed his cards. Discarded two and picked up two. “Yes.” Tara couldn’t believe it. The guy with the whip, the owner and Alpha, was sitting beside her, playing against her. She felt small beside him. Another alpha, how many were in this place? They must be on to her. There was no way she could look at him directly, and she was desperately trying to concentrate on her game with her mind wandered to the floor show. His tattoos were striking, and she tried not to stare. “What
Tara was stunned. This couldn’t be happening. She was supposed to get the money and leave. Or he was supposed to kick her out of his territory to suffer the consequences of failure. Or kill her outright. This wasn’t part of her plan. Tara didn’t know what to do. “Kneel!” Cal commanded loudly. Tara shook herself and slipped from the chair. She was now on autopilot from her fear. “This is what happens to people who cheat. Now, you aren’t a normal gambler, who sent you?” Tara couldn’t tell him. Alpha Elmwood would kill her along with Eddie. Either way, she’d die at an alpha’s hands. Tara couldn’t look at him. His anger now was like a raw force of nature pressing down on her. It was all she could do not to hyperventilate. “So, you won’t say anything. Fine, you can go into a cage for a while and think about where your loyalties should lie.” Cal pulled the door open, and the hulking wolf entered again. “You’ll crawl on all fours to your cage. Guy, take her to the stables
Tara didn’t know how long it’d been, but she was sure the club was closed. She’d fallen asleep there, curled up on the mat. She almost wished he’d left her leash. All of this could have ended with her. Eddie might miss her in passing, but she knew unlike her, her death would only make him stumble for the moment. She’d be devastated if he died.When Guy returned, Tara missed him entering the room and only noticed him when he was standing over her cage. “Eat.” “What?” Tara wasn’t someone who woke up easily, and she wasn’t a napping type of person. She needed a good eight to ten hours to be instantly awakened when woken like this. But she’d not had that in so long, she’d almost forgotten the pleasure of it. “Cal ordered me to make sure you eat, or it will be added to your punishment.” Guy didn’t look like he would budge on this, and she imagined them forcing a tube down her throat, then pouring something down the tube. Tara groaned and looked at the bowls of water
Cal notified the security of a medical emergency in the stables. The pack healer was needed. He hurried to the stables with several men who had emergency medical experience. As he entered, his phone pinged. “Healer en route. ETA two minutes.” Cal announced. His heart pounded still since he heard the panic in Guy’s voice. Cal didn’t have time to ask himself why it was imperative she not die. He knew he’d claimed responsibility for her and now… He’d no time to think beyond saving her and finding out how this happened. If he killed someone in his territory, it was his business, but his reputation would suffer. It also suffered for a murder or crime he didn’t investigate properly. His men rushed to her prone body, lying on the cold concrete floor. Guy knelt beside her, frantically trying to wake her. It wasn’t every day this happened. Cal watched the two men move and take over. “I got it from the fridge like I always do and put it in her cage. She rested and slowly a