As if to confirm that, something charged at the steel door. Then there was yelping and barking as the animals repeatedly slammed their bodies against it, leaving dents and impressions. It instantly became clear that the door wouldn’t hold for long.
“We need to use the emergency exit.” They sprinted for the door. Roni pulled up the blackout blind and jumped back in surprise at the male standing just outside the glass. Realizing it was Stone, she sagged in relief and unlocked the door.
He pushed his way inside, Glock in hand. “Goddamn hyenas are patrolling the area.” Noticing that the steel door was being attacked, he cursed.
“Hyenas?” Kathy shuddered.
“I managed to take out a few of them, but when I realized the jackals had broken into the lodge, I came to get you out. We’ve got a better chance of protecting Shaya as a team.”
In agreement, Roni nodded. Conscious that the door would cave in any second now, she placed a hand on Shaya’s back and urged her forward. “Let’s get to one of the SUVs and drive Shaya out of here.”
Eyes on the steel door, Stone took Shaya’s hand and led her outside. Kathy quickly followed. That was when Roni slammed the door closed and locked herself inside the basement.
“Roni, what are you doing?” Kathy demanded—the words were barely audible through the glass.
“Protect Shaya. Get her away from here.” Roni pulled down the blackout blind, shutting out a grim-faced Stone and two very outraged females. Then she turned, claws out, and took up position in the center of the room just as the door gave way, leaving her no time to shift. She’d expected to find herself instantly swarmed by jackals. Instead, several of them slowly slinked into the room—their eyes fixed on her and glinting with malicious intent.
Her pulse quickened, her heart raced, and her muscles tightened as they circled her, trapping her, and making her wolf fight to surface. But Roni couldn’t take a moment to shift, couldn’t leave herself vulnerable for even a second.
Two more jackals entered then, both in human form. One was Lyle Browne. And the other . . . she had no idea who he was, but the object in his hand made her blood boil and her wolf snap her teeth.
“Meet Dave, my cameraman.” Lyle smirked. “I bet this must bring back some memories for you.”
It did. And with those flashbacks came feelings of helplessness, terror, humiliation, and pain. “You won’t get to her.”
“You thought it was the Alpha female I was after, didn’t you?” Laughing quietly, Lyle shook his head. “I knew you’d protect her like the good enforcer that you are. I knew you’d hold us back while she had the chance to slip away. And now here you are . . . alone. Mine.” Smiling, he cocked his head. “Scared? I do hope so. Working out someone’s worst fear and then subjecting them to it . . . now that’s power. That’s real entertainment.”
His pack, all now back in their human form, chuckled—including the three female jackals who had tried to kidnap her.
“You cost me the Phoenix rug rat. You cost me one of my pack members and had a lot of fun with her before you killed her. Now it’s time for me to have some fun with you. And from what I’ve heard, you’ll be quite entertaining. It’s time for you to face your worst fear.”
As three jackals took a single step toward her, Roni instantly understood. Lyle intended to make her relive what had happened twelve years ago. His pack members intended to hold her down while he raped her—maybe they would even take turns. Her stomach rolled and her heart slammed inside her chest. Not again. Not. Fucking. Again.
She’d always promised herself that if she were ever placed in that situation again, she would fight until someone was dead—even if that someone was her. Death would have been preferable now too if it weren’t for a very important fact: if she died, there was a possibility that Marcus would die also.
The fact that their bond was only partially formed could mean that he would survive the breaking of it, but she wasn’t prepared to take that for granted, because Lyle was wrong. Reliving her nightmare wasn’t her worst fear. Not anymore. Her worst fear was that something would happen to Marcus. She loved the smooth fucker. Loved his playfulness. Loved his hyperactive metabolism. Loved that he defended and protected her.
Now it was time that she did the same in return. But that didn’t just mean surviving. No. If she let these bastards harm her, Marcus would feel what they were doing to her through their link. He would experience the violation, the fear, the powerlessness, and the pain along with her. She could no easier handle that than she could handle him dying.
That meant she had to fight. Unfortunately, she was at a total disadvantage. She was outnumbered, without allies, and couldn’t shift. Her best chance of survival would be to run and fight another day. There was no shame in that. But there was nowhere to go. She was trapped. Surrounded by people who were apparently eager to watch her be raped—she could sense their anticipation and excitement. It was sickening, and it made her wolf growl in distaste.
“Don’t think your mate will save you,” said Lyle. “Oh, I’ve no doubt that he’ll come for you, no matter how hurt he is. That’s why I have the place surrounded. If he does get to you, it won’t be in time to help. You’re on your own.”
No, she wasn’t. Underestimating Marcus was a definite mistake on Lyle’s part. Her mate would do whatever it took to reach her. A muscular arm suddenly wrapped around her neck from behind and pulled her against a hard chest. Dark memories flashed through her mind, making her stomach churn and her wolf buck to be freed. Roni could practically taste her fear.
“Who knows?” Lyle shrugged. “You might even enjoy it.”