Page 30 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Fourteen

S amuel Osborne is the rich playboy type.

He’s dressed in dark designer jeans and a black silk shirt open at the neck and tight around the biceps.

His shoes are shiny, his skin is tanned, his watch is diamond-faced, and he has a small platinum cross necklace that I’m sure he finds ironic.

His light brown hair is styled in a classic short crop with clean, faded sides, and a smooth-shaven jaw. He looks expensive.

He appears laid back and charming. It’s hard to find this man threatening, though I suppose that’s the point.

Use your charisma to lure in your prey and strike before they even know they’re in trouble.

I have no doubt this man is very capable of tearing me apart.

Masters are the most dangerous of all vampires, and the larger the clan, the stronger the master. Denver is not a small clan.

Samuel steps forward, hands outstretched.

Skylar’s heart is racing, and her anxiety is palpable, but the overwhelming fear she showed Felix is gone.

She hesitantly steps forward and allows Samuel to take both of her hands.

He squeezes them in greeting, then steps back to take her in.

His eyes sweep her from head to toe and back again.

His smile is disturbingly genuine. “My sweet little omega. All grown up now, and every bit as beautiful as I knew you would be.”

I catch Skylar’s hand and gently pull her back to my side. I’m feeling very territorial. I hadn’t expected someone so handsome and charming. Jealousy and possessiveness are still new feelings for me. I haven’t figured out how to suppress them yet.

Samuel cocks his head to the side, studying me with open curiosity. Though the danger is there, there’s no hostility. It’s unexpected and throwing me off. I’m not sure how to approach this man.

I’m willing to follow Skylar’s lead. She claims to know him well, and for some reason she’s not as afraid of him. She did say he considered her his. Maybe he protected her to a certain extent.

Skylar clears her throat and gestures toward me. “Samuel, this is Wulf Winters, the alpha of Detroit, and his second, Bree Sutton.”

I’m only a little surprised when Samuel offers me his hand. “Ah, yes, Wulf Winters. I’ve seen you in the news, of course. You have a fascinating clan. Welcome to my home.” He waves toward the main living room. “Please, come in. Can I offer you a drink?”

We turn down the drinks and move into the living room.

His apartment is everything you’d expect from a luxury penthouse.

It’s bright and airy, open concept, with panoramic views of the city.

The décor is contemporary in neutral tones with splashes of bold colors in small accent pieces.

It’s immaculate and, like him, expensive.

The living room is huge with a big, beautiful fireplace and a baby grand piano.

I hate to admire his taste, but it’s classy.

It’s not the room that has my attention, though; it’s the handful of vampires occupying it.

There are four of them, two females and two males, plus Felix.

Unlike Samuel, these vampires are not all charm and ease.

I can feel the danger and hostility oozing from them.

My wolf rises to the surface. He doesn’t like that we’re outnumbered and trapped up here.

I can’t blame him. Skylar keeps me calm, though, which I’m grateful for.

Samuel enters the living room and snaps his fingers.

The four vampires get up, leaving the living room sofas for us to sit.

Skylar and I take a seat together, and Bree moves to stand behind us.

Samuel takes a seat on the couch opposite us and lifts one ankle to rest on his knee.

He spreads his arms out over the back of the couch and looks us over again.

One of the vampires brings him a drink. It smells like vodka mixed with blood. He takes a sip and savors it before he speaks. “So…Skylar…to what do I owe the pleasure? Why come back when you went through all the trouble of leaving me? What has brought you out of hiding after all these years?”

Skylar’s hands curl into fists in her lap. Samuel takes note of the tension. His eyes are sharp. I doubt there’s much he misses. “I wasn’t in hiding,” Skylar grumbles. “I didn’t leave you. I was taken. I’ve been held prisoner for the last eight years. I only just escaped.”

Samuel’s eyes slide to me. “And you went straight to the FUA, I see.”

Skylar frowns. “Wulf is not with the FUA. He’s my true mate.”

Samuel’s brows lift in surprise. “Fated?”

“Yes.”

He eyes me again with more interest. “Is it true that if one fated mate dies, the other dies as well?”

I nod. “So the stories say. Though, I’ve never met a pair to confirm that, and I’m not willing to test the theory.”

The face he makes seems to say, Pity, I can’t kill you.

He takes another sip of his O-positive cocktail, and the smile disappears from his face. “Why are you here?”

He’s looking at me, but it’s Skylar who answers. “I want your word that you will leave me alone. My life is mine. I want to live it without the fear of you coming for me.”

He chews on his tongue, his eyes locked on Skylar.

Ice cubes clink in his glass as he swirls it in his hand.

“And why would I do that? Why let you leave at all? You’ve made it very easy for me, coming into my home.

You’re sorely outnumbered. I may not be able to kill your mate, but he and the lioness would make fine additions to my kennels. ”

Bree and I both growl. Kennels? He keeps shifters as pets? I slam to my feet, and Skylar quickly jumps to hers. She grabs my hand and pulls me back. “Easy, Wulf,” she murmurs. Another wave of calm blasts through the room. It’s so strong, I gasp and Bree stumbles. “He’s just baiting you.”

“I assure you, I’m not.”

Skylar, despite her fear, loses her temper. She glares at Samuel and growls for the first time since I’ve met her. “I do not belong to you!”

Something flashes in Samuel’s eyes, and in a blink, he’s on his feet with Skylar in his arms. I roar and lunge for him, but Samuel’s goons jump in, holding me back. A couple are holding Bree as well.

Skylar sends out so much of her pheromones that my body sags. I don’t have the strength to argue, much less shift and attack. “Skylar,” I croak.

“I’m all right, Wulf. Stay calm.” She pushes against Samuel’s chest, but he has one arm locked around her waist, holding her against him.

His other hand is combing through her hair.

“Let me go,” she demands. Her voice is dark, shaking with rage and promising a fight.

She mentioned she tried to fight against Victor at first before the hopelessness consumed her.

I had a hard time picturing it, but it’s amazing to see.

Samuel leans in, skimming her neck with his nose. “I love this new fire in you, Pet,” he murmurs. “You used to cower from your own shadow.”

He goes for her neck, and at first I think he’s going to bite her, but he starts kissing her instead. I’m going out of my mind, but with Skylar’s calm and two vampires holding me, I can’t do more than growl.

Skylar stands rigid, continuing to try to push away from him, while Samuel wraps around her like an octopus. Every time he brings his face to hers, she leans out of his reach. I get the sense that he likes the chase. I want to tear his head off.

“Eight years of torture changes a person,” Skylar says. “Eight years of beatings, starvation, nights in silver shackles. It forced me to become strong. It was the only way to survive.”

Samuel pushes her hair off her face and tucks it behind her ear. “Only the strongest pressure creates diamonds,” he murmurs. “Tell me who he is.” His command is a silky caress. “Tell me who took you. I promise his torture will be one hundred times the pain you suffered.”

It’s the opening Skylar’s been waiting for. “I’ll give you his name,” she says softly, “for my freedom.”

Samuel pulls back, blinking at Skylar in surprise.

She uses the distraction to escape his grip and pushes so much confidence into her voice that Samuel can’t ignore her. “Allow me to leave, and promise me you’ll never come after me again, and I’ll give you all the information you need to destroy his entire pack.”

His eyes glow crimson, and a look so dark it could kill a man takes over his face. “You dare try to blackmail me?”

Skylar trembles. She sucks in a shaky breath, but then squares her shoulders and lifts her chin. There’s fear in her voice, but it’s blended with determination. “You make deals every day. What’s one more?”

“You’re mine!” he snaps.

“I might have been once, but I was taken from you, and then I escaped. I clawed my way out of hell. I earned my freedom.”

I’m surprised when that makes Samuel pause. Skylar said he admires strength. She was right. He’s looking at her as if he doesn’t even recognize her.

“Must have been embarrassing for you to lose your favorite toy,” Skylar says, bringing back Samuel’s glare. “The prized omega that you’d personally claimed. Wouldn’t you like to take your revenge? Send a message to the world that people will pay for stealing from you?”

His jaw clenches, and he inhales sharply through his nose. I see the malice in his eyes for the bloodlust that it is. Skylar was right: He wants that name.

“And what good would that message do if I don’t reclaim what was taken?”

Skylar lifts her chin and shrugs. It’s forced confidence, but she’s managing it.

“It wouldn’t hurt you to claim you’ve lost interest in me.

I am just a werewolf, after all. The man who stole me out from under your nose is one of your supposed allies.

You do business with him regularly. And worse, he’s building an army with the intent of taking out your clan.

He wants to take over your business. He’s already cheated you, stolen shipments, captured and killed dozens of your vampires.

He’s a problem, and he’s only getting stronger. ”