Travis
Rue escaped me again. One minute, she was under my arm. The next minute, she was gone, I only had myself to blame for her disappearing act. An urgent mind-link came in, and it was anything but. The mind-link with Jessie was beyond annoying. She whined about how I’d left her alone in this random room and that Sammy still hadn’t returned with a new dress for her. She rambled on and on about all of the things wrong with her, the situation, and what I needed to do about it. When she started to lay into Rue, I closed off my mind from her almost instantly to avoid any more drama for the night. I wanted to get Rue home. No, I needed to get her home. I felt so protective of her that my wolf wouldn’t calm down until she was safely home.
Thoughts of Rue plague me even now as I search the grounds for her. I couldn’t even search her scent trail because she didn’t have one. Was it because she lost her wolf so long ago? Luckily, the path around the steps is a trendy red rock that impounds easily. Rue’s bare feet stuck out like a sore thumb among all the heels and dress shoes. From what I could see, she was walking back to the city. I rough my hair with my hands and let out a frustrated huff before taking off at a jog.
My mind wanders as my feet pound into the rocky shoulder. A tux did little against the cold bite of the air, and I was grateful Rue had my jacket. Thinking of her out in the dark was enough to make me go crazy, Rue reminded me of the woman from that night siz years ago. Jessie claims it was her, but that never sat well in my mind. My wolf snarled at my inner thoughts; he also doubted Jessie. Instantly, his head jerked to attention. I strained my ears to hear voices ahead of me on the road. My body quickens my stride, almost at a jogging pace, to get closer.
There’s a bend in the road with a light source barely seen through the thicket. I push my body a little more to go straight through. I emerge to find Alpha John’s car and watch Rue enter the passenger seat. Fuck, I was too late. My chest tightens at the thought of Rue becoming another one of Alpha John’s conquests. I’d heard rumors but nothing that could be proven. I must follow them quickly. I shifted into my wolf form and took off at full speed after them. I send a mind link to my third in-command to bring a car to my
location.
I slowed, transforming back when we arrived at Alpha John’s front gates. They entered his garage, disappearing into the mansion. I walked around the perimeter, trying to find a
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Chapter 26
way in. A few years back, Alpha John hosted a charity fundraiser, so I knew the general layout of his house. I hopped over the side gate, rounding the corner to the open grassy area where the charity event was. Light spilled out, still my movements at the glow’s outline.
I watched through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows as Rue drank something. Then Alpha John was there, encouraging her to lay back down on the couch. My wolf howled in
anger as I snuck around the far side of the house. I grabbed a rock, chucking it through the window on the second story to get John away from Rue. I usually waited for confirmation that the person was where I wanted them before moving; however, the drive to protect Rue was too great.
I rounded the corner of the house to find Rue staggering out the French doors, her legs barely holding her up. Alpha John emerged from the house, taunting her, and I lost it. I stepped out of the shadows as John aggressively wrapped his hand around Rue’s bicep. I
grab his wrist, putting all my strength into crushing the bones there.
“Travis!” Alpha John snarls, “What the fuck are you doing on my property?”
My eyes flick to Rue. Her eyes were clouded and unfocused as if she were seeing me but
not knowing who I was. Shit, what had been in that drink? The only thing holding her upright is John’s hand, so I gently pull Rue’s waist into my side with my free arm. “You
have touched something that belongs to me.”
“What do you mean she belongs to you?” John scowls, tightening his grip. As an Alpha, he possessed only a tiny amount more strength than me, but I knew for a fact I would win in
a fight.
“Rue is under my protection. You will remove your hand at once.” I put as much Alpha Authority as an heir can into my command. John’s eyes glow with his wolf’s power from my challenge.
“You already have someone under your protection.” John snaps.
“Rue is an old family friend. Her family and mine offer her protection from all outsiders. You cannot touch her.” I growl, yanking his hand from her arm. Rue slumps into me, and I pick her up and put her into my arms. “Consider this your one and only warning.”
John’s eyes flash with disgusted anger, then quickly morph into a bored expression, “Her cunt’s probably all loose anyway.”
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Chapter 26
I suppress my anger at his comment, choosing to get Rue to the hospital as a priority. I sprint through the house, kicking open the front door, and find my third with car keys waiting in the driveway. I gently set Rue in the passenger seat and buckled her. When my hand brushes against her skin, Rue moans and pulls away from me. She is panting, sweating, and twitching in her seat as I hop into the driver’s side. My third shift and take off into the woods.
I peel out of Alpha John’s driveway, breaking traffic laws to get to our pack’s hospital. I wanted Rue to be taken care of under the protection of my name. Rue stirred in the seat. Her eyes adjusting to the change of scenery, Rue frantically looks around, white-knuckle gripping the seat, “Where am I?”
I didn’t take my eyes off the road, “Hey, It’s me, Travis. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Rue ran her hand across her forehead. Her mind seemed to be catching up, but her words were still slurred, “Alpha John?”
I clenched my teeth, “He drugged you with something. I’ll ensure he is taken care of, but I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“I feel so hot!” Rue whimpered as she pulled off my jacket. That familiar sound went straight to my groin. Now was not the fucking time. I gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Travis?”
“Yeah?” I glance her way, her eyes narrowed, her mouth slightly parted as her chest heaves. The dress was still torn at her shoulder, so Rue barely brushed her fingertips against her exposed skin. I adjust in my seat and try to focus on the road, but the smell of her arousal and the sound of her needy breaths fucked with my control.
“I need…” Rue starts, but her body shivers and she grabs my hand. Her voice is low and clear now, “Your hand is so cold. It feels so good.”
I shift my attention from the road to her as Rue moves my hand to her forehead and then rubs her face into my palm. Rue’s lips kiss up my palms to my fingers all the way to the tip. She takes one finger into her mouth, sucking it as she pulls my finger out. My attention splits between her and the road. I’m so hard from the fiery touch of her skin that my erection strains painfully against my zipper. Both her hands move mine, so I’m now cuffing her chin. When she pushes my hand down her throat, she moans. “Travis, I need you to touch me more!”
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I swallow hard and try to pull my hand back, but Rue’s grip is tight as she laces her fingers over the back of my hand and drags it to cup her now exposed breast. I squeeze and knead her perfect round breast. “Yes!” Rue bites into her lip, her head dropping back against the headrest. It’s so hard to focus on the road when she is moaning and begging me that I almost miss the turn into the hospital. I yank my hand away to turn sharply into the emergency entrance. When we park, I lean over to unbuckle her, and Rue’s hands cup my jaw on both sides of my face and kiss me deeply. I’m lost in the familiar softness of her lips. She was perfect, and my wolf screamed mine. Rue bit into my lip with her
canine.
I force myself back, reprimanding internally that I’m no better than Alpha John if I take advantage of her here. I jog around the front of the car and ensure she is covered up in my suit jacket before carrying Rue inside the hospital.
