They all began to run around, looking for an exit. I only saw three. Behind where the audience sat were two doors leading to an exit and another was on the other side of the arena. That was where Jordan and Alex had come in.
It was like a stamped, as the onlookers rushed towards where I stood next to Lee. He never moved, so the crowd bumped and jostled me in their frightened state. I was pissed that these people could be so rude, and I winced as my foot was stepped on for the fourth time.
Suddenly, I found myself stumbling and falling to the ground. I cried out and covered my head, as the crazy crowd continued to trample over me. That was when I realized I was using both my arms and was free from Lee.
I pushed the legs of the people around me and struggled to my feet. Searching through the crowd, I tried to see which way to go, but I was too short. The people were crowded around me and the sound was deafening. There were more and more gunshots making the people scream and clutch their kids.
The fact that they brought their kids to watch such a fight disgusted me, but I pushed the thought away and just began moving. I pressed through the mass of running bodies, not knowing where to go. All I knew was that I had to find my men.
A sudden sharp pain had me screaming as I was jerked back by my hair. I landed against a hard male chest.
“Tsk, tsk, it’s not time to go yet.”
At the sound of Alexander’s voice, I almost sagged with relief that he wasn’t Lee. I may still be in trouble, but I knew he wasn’t interested in the revolting things Lee had promised. At that thought, I began to struggle, praying he would not take me back to that repulsive man.
Again, the effort was useless, as he turned us around and began walking. The crowd had thinned, and the arena was beginning to empty. I tripped over my feet countless times, but Alexander’s fingers tightened painfully, not allowing me to fall.
As the last of the people flew past us and out of the arena, Alexander halted. The sight before me brought tears to my eyes.
Jordan and Alex stood naked, each with a gun pointed at Alexander. It would have been funny looking if I hadn’t been so happy to see them. They were dirty and bloody, but otherwise unhurt.
My gaze went to the two men beside them. When my eyes fell on Bear, I cried out in relief. I’d thought Paul had killed him. I’d seen his slumped, unmoving form on the couch when Paul dragged me out the house, and I’d cried thinking I’d lost another friend.
The other man spoke, and I turned to look at the large black man standing next to Bear. He was bald, with silver hoops in his ears and had the biggest muscles I’d ever seen on a man other than Bear.
He also was naked and held a gun. Without meaning to, my gaze roamed down his body. My eyes widened and even with the fear of being a hostage, I couldn’t keep the blush from my face. I looked away quickly. Wow!
“Okay, Alexander, it’s over. Let the girl go.” His voice was deep and smooth, with an underlying hint of danger.
Alexander laughed and pulled my hair harshly, making my head tilt back until I was looking up at the dark ceiling. Something sharp pressed against my throat, and I gasped. I hadn’t seen him holding a knife, and it didn’t feel like cold steel. It felt warm, somewhat rough and extremely sharp.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I heard Jordan growl.
“And why not?” Alexander chuckled. “She will help me get away, and once I’m safe, I’m sure I can find multiple uses for her.”
“Why? Why are you doing this? The fighting, the drugs, all of it, why?”
Alex’s voice was rough, and I could hear the sadness mixed with his anger. It must be so hard on both of my men to have such horrid fathers.
“The fights were very lucrative, and if you were any son of mine you would have relished being in that trench. We could have made a lot of money together, son, but no, you had to be so righteous,” he spat.
“And as for the drugs, well, you know how I’ve always felt about them. The disgusting stuff that humans use to cloud their minds and weaken their bodies was, and still is abhorrent in my eyes.” Alexander was shaking with anger and a whimper escaped my lips, as the sharp object at my neck pressed harder.
“But when a teenage shifter got curious, and I saw the effect cocaine had on us, well, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that, now could I? I immediately saw the advantage of such knowledge.
"Wilde Mountain has always been nothing but a backwoods town, but with the money and status that would come from the fights, I could build this community back up. We would be a better, stronger race.”
He huffed, as if he was out of breath. It had been a long speech, but I thought it was more from his excitement for his screwed up plans.