Page 20 of Blood Pack Beginning (Pack #5)
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A captive Sasha woke, for the third time since being ambushed, but this time, rather than go ballistic and have her ass tranqued again, she played possum, taking a moment to listen and decipher what the fuck had happened.
First off, she appeared to be in a moving vehicle, not in a seat, though, but rather prone on a hard surface. Her ear, pressed to the floor, could hear the rumble of a truck engine and the humming of tires as they rolled on asphalt. So, being transported. Where and by whom? That remained to be determined.
Her hands were bound behind her back, the hard plastic ribbon tight against her flesh. Not a problem for her, as she could easily snap it if needed. She didn’t feel any injury other than the discomfort of having been tossed carelessly to a floor. She felt no indication that she’d been abused. But that wouldn’t matter when it came time for her to take her vengeance. How dare they ambush her with drugs. Nothing worse than not being given a chance in a fair fight.
Among the smells assailing her—Lycans, and many of them—she caught a hint of Amir. Relief filled her knowing he was nearby. Last she recalled, he’d been darted, just like her. She didn’t smell any blood, also a good sign, but she regretted not having gotten a nip of his. Once fully mated, they’d have a two-way connection—or so Thaddeus had explained about his mating—that would provide Sasha the ability to sense his condition. Once they escaped—when, not if—she’d have to rectify their bond so it went two ways.
With him, and the others.
It would be a big step for Sasha, who’d, until recently, given up hope on finding a partner who could handle her strength and needs, and now she had three. Two of whom probably panicked at her disappearance. At least they’d not been captured. It burned she’d been caught literally with her pants down. Tits out as well. At least someone had since dressed her in a shirt and shorts, the scent of laundry detergent pungent.
Since she heard no movement, just some soft snores and shallow breathing, she dared to crack open a single eye, the one closest to the floor, hidden by the bridge of her nose. She found herself staring at a shoe. A running shoe, to be exact, of a person crouched right beside her with a familiar scent.
Omar. That fucking traitor. She would kill him for this. Would Amir be mad if he found out she did? Most likely. Hopefully, he’d remain drugged long enough for her to get rid of his brother’s body and play innocent.
Cold? Yes. Necessary? Also, yes. Amir was blinded by his loyalty and look where it got him.
Omar shifted position and grunted, indicating they weren’t asleep.
“Can’t believe Monty’s making me ride in the back,” Omar grumbled, confirming who kidnapped them. The rat bastard must have conscripted some Lycans to ambush them at the motel. But why abduct and not kill? A mistake on Monty’s part, because so long as she lived, she’d fight.
The truck slowed to a halt, and she closed her eyes as Omar stood. He started complaining the moment the doors at the rear creaked opened. “Are we there yet?”
“No, but this is our last stop before we arrive at our destination,” Monty stated.
“Can I at least ride up front? It’s creepy riding back here with all these bodies.”
“Stop your whining,” the sharp reply by Monty. “It’s not like they’re dead. Not to mention, you have a job.”
“Yeah, yeah. If they move, jab them with the needle to put them back to sleep.” Omar huffed. “Still not seeing why you needed to snatch that entire pack. I thought you said we were going to meet your boss.”
“We are, and they were taken on his orders. But before we deliver them, we have one more task to accomplish.”
“Why us? Why can’t one of the other two loaded trucks do it? I’m tired of driving around.”
“Because they have another task. Point out three that haven’t been drugged recently,” demanded Monty.
“Again? What happened to the last trio?” Omar asked.
“None of your business. Now answer the question.”
A sulky Omar replied, “That chick in the corner hasn’t had a second dose yet, nor the dude beside her. Everyone else has been jabbed twice, and I’m running out of needles.”
“Keep the rest for Sasha since she’s the most resistant. You don’t want her waking up. I doubt she’ll be happy with you.”
Understatement.
“If I save them all for her, then what am I supposed to do if the others stir?”
“Nothing. Even if the dogs wake, their hands are bound.”
“With plastic. That won’t stop them from shifting,” Omar pointed out.
“Then you’d better hope they don’t figure out you played a part in their captivity. Now, enough of your arguing. I need a third,” snapped Monty.
“There is no third because I told you everyone is on their second dose except for the whore, who’s had three.”
“In that case, who’s been longest since their second dose?”
Omar hesitated, and Sasha would have wagered she knew why.
“I’m waiting,” an impatience Monty prodded.
“My brother was the first to get two,” a reluctant Omar admitted.
“Drag him over here,” Monty ordered.
“Why?”
“Because I told you to.”
“Can’t it be someone else? Amir’s super heavy.”
“The master save me from weaklings,” Monty grumbled under his breath. On that, Sasha agreed. How Omar could be such a complete opposite from his brother baffled.
“I’m not weak!” Omar exclaimed.
“You are a spineless and greedy coward. Or have you forgotten how easily you outed the folks of your town for a measly sum and readily agreed to cover up the killing of your own kind?” Monty retorted.
Sasha almost reacted at the exposed level of treachery. Poor Amir would be devastated.
“Only because you lied. You said your boss wanted to study the dormants. Ain’t nothing was ever said about killing everyone in Moon Dew,” Omar whined as if he were the victim and not those people.
“The dormants are being studied. We only eliminated the humans.”
“If I’d have known?—”
“You’d have what?” interrupted Monty. “We both know you’re too yellow-bellied to do anything. Oh, and stupid. You didn’t even hesitate to act when I asked you to divert the security cams at Thaddeus’s compound.”
“That was different. I did that because you were taking care of the traitors who were helping a vampire,” Omar muttered.
He obviously didn’t see the irony.
Monty did. “That’s priceless, coming from you. Or have you forgotten who you’re aiding?”
“Only because you promised me a job that paid super good. I’m beginning to wonder if you lied about that, too.”
Only beginning? Sasha almost laughed at his idiotic naivety.
“There is a job, so long as you obey. Now, bring your brother.”
“What do you need him for anyhow?” Omar grunted as if lifting something heavy, most likely Amir, as he fit that bill.
“The master is ready for the world to find out about werewolves. But of course, simply announcing it would lead to mockery. Better to set some loose in public places where no one can refute what they see with their own eyes.”
Thud . “Wait, you’re going to use my brother to out Lycans?”
“Yes.”
“Is that what you did with the last three you took from the truck?”
“Yes. As we speak, social media is in a frenzy from the videos being posted. By morning, everyone will know werewolves exist.”
“Why would you do that?” Omar didn’t hide his shock. “They’ll kill us once they find out.”
“I do believe that is the plan.”
The puzzling pieces Sasha gleaned did not yet form a complete picture but informed enough for her to be very concerned. By the sounds of it, Monty had unleashed some Lycans on unsuspecting humans. However, his assertion that everyone would believe in werewolves by morning? Doubtful. Most would likely accuse the posters of using AI to fake the videos. Still, if Monty planned to keep siccing Lycans on the population, it would draw scrutiny. At the same time, Sasha didn’t see the benefit to this so-called master. History had shown Lycans and vampires thrived only when they kept their existence secret.
“I don’t know if I want to be a part of this.”
“Too late, and enough with your questions and pathetic bleating. I can’t wait until you are biddable like the others. That was sly of Thaddeus to dose you and your companions with Roderick’s ashes.”
“What do you mean by biddable? I thought we were partners,” Omar stated petulantly.
“As if I’d align myself with you.” Spoken with a clear sneer. “As for the geas Thaddeus placed on your mind… It won’t withstand the power of my master.”
A startling claim because with Roderick dead and the queen missing, there should be no vampire left with the power to influence Lycans—short of Thaddeus’ alpha-command ability, which fell short of creating actual thralls.
“What do you mean that fucker messed with my head?”
“Enough!” Monty bellowed.
“Jeezus, no reason to get nasty,” Omar exclaimed in a sulky tone. “Here. Take this guy. He got his second dose right after Amir.”
“No. Bring me your brother now, or else.”
“Or else what?” Omar riposted childishly.
“I will slit his throat in front of you and drink him dry,” hissed Monty. “Then, you shall take his place.”
“Ha, as if I’d wolf out and expose myself,” Omar scoffed.
“You won’t have a choice. I’ve got an elixir that forces Lycans to shift and, as an added bonus, turns them into rabid killing machines. The trio I dumped earlier managed to kill seven and injure another dozen before a bystander blew out half their brains.”
“What the fuck?” Omar whispered. “Was this your plan all along?”
“Yes, you dumb dog. Now, bring me your brother or take his place, and do it quick. I don’t have all night. We need to be at the warehouse before dawn.”
Warehouse? Sasha perked at hearing a clue, a useless one because warehouses existed all over the place but still better than nothing. She stored that tidbit for later when she escaped, which would happen in the next minute because she wasn’t about to let Amir be used in a plot to expose his kind. Such a thing would be a death sentence to him and anyone close to him.
Sasha pried open a single eye to see Omar gone from her immediate area; however, she remained far from the truck’s opening. Could she make it across the space in time to spare Amir from Monty?
Only one way to find out.