Page 17

17

Pig on the Run

I ’m unsure how long my sorrow holds me, confining me to my cot in a tidal wave of tears. It’s embarrassing. I don’t see cameras hiding anywhere, but it would be a shitty prison if they weren’t watching me. This isn’t me. I don’t crumble from rejection. Maybe it’s the exhaustion and the pressing weight of my failure, but it feels much more helpless, as if I lost something precious. After what I assume is two nights, based on the timing of meals delivered to my room from the guards, I’ve tired myself of my wallowing. I must devise a plan to escape, even if it’s futile.

I wait until I don’t hear anyone outside of my door before transforming my claws and wedging a long, pointed tip into the space where the door and frame meet. I grow my nails longer, attempting to unlatch something. It’s a stupid plan. Why would they lock me in a room so easy to escape? Kilo’s a Were, at least half-Were. He should know our capabilities. But when something clicks and the door pushes toward me slightly, I nearly shit my pants. I did it. I unlocked the door.

I peer through a crack. No one stands guard on the other side. Could this be a trap, or do they really think I’m so incapable that they’d leave me unguarded? Probably the latter. They don’t think highly of me, and I have been lying in bed crying for the past two days like a heartbroken teenage girl.

I don’t contemplate. If this is a fuck up, it won’t be long before someone realizes their mistake and captures me again. I attempt to shift before sprinting down the hall. Part of me follows my mental demands, but I can’t change completely. Fuck. They must be drugging my food.

I keep my claws bared as I run down the hallway, crouching before every corner and attempting to stay near the walls. I have no sense of direction. There are no signs, no indication of where I should go, but I must flee somewhere, even if I’m running to an even worse fate. Some of my instincts must remain intact because I sense them—the other Weres. As I turn down a series of halls, my nose driving me toward their smell, I hope I’m being led to the captured girls and not a room full of traitor Weres like Kilo.

I turn sharply, coming to a locked room. A glass wall separates it from the hall, allowing a view into the room but with no access. Lara, Summer, and Victoria lie in separate small, glass cages–trapped like animals. They’re in their human forms, wearing matching grey sets, the same as me. Their heads lull back and forth in their sleep, either from nightmares or the effects of drugs. They don’t look injured, though. The only positive light to seeing them like this. I want to bang on the window and tell them I’m here, but that would be stupid. I can’t rescue them now with my powers muted. I must find a way out of here and bring back the pack to rescue them.

It pains me as I turn away, running toward a hallway that somehow feels like the way out. I pass more rooms, wanting to stop and examine their contents through the glass. They appear to be testing rooms filled with vials, metal tables, and instruments that make my skin crawl just imagining their purpose.

I catch a door at the end of a long hallway. Something tells me it’s the way out. I don’t even take a complete step before someone grabs me from behind. I scream, but their large hand covers my mouth, blocking the noise. I kick against the mass of muscle, but it’s futile. Whoever has me is much stronger, especially now with only half of my powers.

I expect a slew of darkly dressed guards to appear and Kilo to emerge behind them, cackling like the rat he is, but no one else is nearby. My attacker backs up, not letting their grip on me lighten until they open a door and shut us both inside, turning me toward their chest. It’s dark, and my eyes grow wide, searching for any indication of my surroundings. I’m blinded when the attacker pulls a string, and light shines from a hanging lightbulb above. Brick stares down at me, his gaze hard and gray as he assesses me.

I’m stunned for only a moment before I pound against his chest, tears welling in the corner of my eyes. “You pig! I fucking hate you!” He covers my mouth again, his arm tightening on my lower back to still me.

He shushes me. “I just saved your ass.”

I still, eyes wide. He removes his hand from my mouth, not letting it leave my chin. “What?” I ask in a whisper.

“You were about to walk into a room full of Hunters.”

“Oh.” Maybe my instincts are all out of whack. They tried to tell me Brick wasn’t part of this, so they’re obviously fucked up, which reminds me. “Why don’t you want me to walk into a room full of Hunters?”

His face scrunches in disbelief. “Come on, Carmen. I didn’t mean for you to get tangled up in this.”

I push him back, unable to stand another second of him so close. “Why should I trust a word you say? You were lying to me all this time!”

“Oh, and you weren’t? I knew you were only pretending to like me to get information from me.”

Good. He should think I felt nothing. Maybe I can maintain a string of my dignity. “Obviously, you were playing the same game, just on completely different teams,” I say, crossing my arms.

“Come on.” He shakes his head. “You’re smarter than that.”

“Clearly you don’t believe I hold any intelligence. You’re a traitor, just like Kilo. You hate me as much as you hate what you are.”

He steps forward, wrapping his hand around my neck. “Don’t just think with your head, Carmen.” He places his palm on my chest, over my heart. “There’s something between us. Maybe we both started out trying to trick the other, but it changed.” His lips rest inches from my own.

I shake my head, even as my breath heavies. “No, I was tasked to trick you to help protect our girls. You wanted to trick me to get more locations. Don’t pretend we’re the same.”

“I’m not. We’re so different—more than you know. But you must know that the Weres’ safety is my highest concern. I’ve been working undercover for the National Department of Supernatural since I moved here three years ago. They wanted me to infiltrate true leaders like Kilo and needed concrete evidence. Something like this serum. Something to potentially counteract their attacks.” He shakes his head, pain etching the lines of his features. “You infuriated me because you knew something was off with me right away. You know how many times you almost blew my cover? And then you fucked around with other cops right under my nose. I could fucking smell them on you.” His grip tightens around my palms. “I could have set the world on fire. I had to stay away from you.”

I attempt to move back but just squirm, searching his eyes for the missing piece. “What are you talking about?”

The words rush out of him as if he’s been waiting for years to explain. “The Hunters summoned Kilo here to test out his blood serum. Kilo’s pack spread fake information about defeating Hunters through back sources, and your pack picked up the bait. Kilo tasked me to trick you for a reason. I didn’t know enough about their operation and the Weres were onto me. The Hunters trust me, but they keep me at an arm's distance. I’ve never even seen this facility until you were captured. Once I found out, I did everything I could for them to show me where you were. I said I’d been tired of being outside and would give up more locations of Were women if they let me in on the serum and the testing facility.”

Damn. Well okay. That could explain everything. I shake my head. “No! How can I believe a word you’re saying?”

He sighs, stepping closer, pinning me against a utility shelf. “Why would I lie to you now? What more could I possibly need from you? How do you think you got out of your room?”

“What? I picked the lock!”

He shakes and lowers his head. “I unlocked it. I bugged the system so the cameras showed an image of you lying in bed. I have the real feed on my phone. There are cameras everywhere, but I’m on watch tonight. But this place is still riddled with Hunters. This hallway is the only dark spot.”

Okay, annoying. I had hoped I was somewhat capable of rescuing myself.

Brick's confession rushes over me, and I tense. If what he says is true, he's not off the hook, not even close. "Brick, you gave up locations. Weres are dead because of you." Hot tears form at the corner of my eyes.

He flinches as if I punched him in the gut. "I know, but I had to, or they'd never let me in." His voice cracks. "I did everything I could to protect them, to be there first on the scene so it wouldn't end ugly, but I failed. I want to protect Weres, but I've just caused hurt."

My anger turns to sympathy. I don't agree with his methods, but it's clear he's regretful. He looks so broken, so defeated. I place my hands on his chest and he rests his large palms over them. He blows out a breath as if my touch is all the reprieve he needs. But then his eyes change to a sharp focus. “I’m getting you out of here.” He presses in closer, his eyes growing more intense by the minute.

The room is hot, his breath warming my face. I’m losing my fight, falling into the web I always find myself tangled in his presence. “Won’t you blow your cover?”

“I’d blow everything for you.” He grabs the back of my neck, bringing his lips to mine. My brain is liquid. I can’t even contemplate the intensity of his words. There’s no reason he should care for me so much—risk his life’s work for me. But I don’t care. My body sings a tune only for him, wanting nothing more than for him to strum my every cord. I open for him, allowing his tongue to stroke the inside of my mouth. I reach for his chest, attempting to pull the fabric away, wanting his flesh against mine. He must have the same idea because he pulls at the hem of my shirt, attempting to yank it off.

If I were in my right mind, I’d stop, ask more questions, and attempt to flee like Brick planned, but whenever I’m in his presence, I can’t think straight. His fingertips leave burns in their wake as they run up my abdomen, branding me. I don’t think anyone could touch me again with the same intensity. He paws at my breast, groaning into my mouth as he rocks his body against mine.

I reach for him, needing to feel the heat of his cock in my hand. God, is it glorious under my fingertips, long and thick, and the knot at the base sends another wave of anticipation through my core.

He brings his lips away from mine, dragging them to my ear. “Carmen, my little wolf.”

I stroke him, reveling as he grows longer and harder for me. Minutes ago, I thought I’d never experience the feel of him again. Tears prick at my eyes. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss this. I’d only had him a handful of times, but God, did it fill me with something foreign and savage. I need this man. I need him inside of me, coating me and making me his.

Brick pushes me back, his body turning rigid. I search his hardened expression. His ears have elongated, and they twitch overhead. “Someone’s coming,” he whispers. I can hear it now, footsteps growing closer. He straightens, shoving himself back in his pants and adjusting my clothing. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, throwing me over his shoulder. “Scream,” he orders. It’s not hard to follow. I’m genuinely scared. I yell, pounding on his back.

“Good girl,” he whispers before opening the door and stepping out into the blinding light of the hallway. “Got her,” he says as he swings me to the ground and pulls my arms behind my back. I trust him now. Not just because of his words murmured in our close quarters, but because I felt the truth radiating from him. He cares for me in the same confusing way I care for him.

I play into the act, rearing back and snapping as if I meant to bite his flesh. “Fuck you!” I growl before glaring at Kilo standing before me.

“I saw her escape her room and try to hide in the closet.” Brick reports to Kilo. It should scare me how good he is at putting on a show. Maybe I’ll regret it later, but I know deep in my bones he isn’t doing that with me.

I throw myself forward, attempting to escape from his grasp, but he holds me tightly, surely causing my wrists to bruise. Kilo taps his lip, examining me. My heart beats, scared he’s catching on to our act. He circles around us, and I continue to struggle against Brick, waiting for Kilo’s reaction.

Kilo places a hand on Brick’s shoulder. “Good, man. I was worried you’d gone soft on me with this one, but this just proves your loyalty.”

Brick grunts. “I’ll take her back to her cell.” He pushes me forward.

“Brick,” Kilo calls from behind us. “We have special guests coming tomorrow—Hunters from my homeland. I’d like to put on a demonstration for them, specifically with the new discovery. Would you like to demonstrate on our little friend here? I know we can both smell that she’s ripe for the picking.”

Do I have my period and don’t even know it? Jesus fucking Christ, this is weird.

“I’ll do the demonstration,” Brick says urgently. I don’t know if I should be relieved or not that Brick will be there for whatever Kilo has planned, but as I sense his body tighten behind me, I know he’s not looking forward to what’s to come.

Brick doesn’t say anything on our trek back to my cell. He holds me tightly, squeezing my wrists as if to encourage me to continue my fight. I remember him mentioning the cameras everywhere. We’re not safe to act like our true selves now. He opens the door to my cell, but before he throws me inside, he strokes a finger down the back of my arm, a silent reminder of his care. He doesn’t know how much it means to me.

He pushes me forward, half standing outside the doorframe. “Be ready for tomorrow,” he says, his eyes drilling into mine as if to pass a message, but I can’t gather what he means. “I will protect you, okay?” he whispers. He’s bugged the cameras in my room, but I know he can never be too careful. This small statement is a considerable risk.

I nod. He lingers longer, examining me before shutting the door. I’m alone again, this time with more clarity, but it doesn’t fill me with ease. Something is happening tomorrow. Something that chills Brick to his core. I trust him at his word to take care of me, but it doesn’t leave me any less unsettled.