Chapter One
Kelly
My living room felt smaller than before. The scent of stale air and dust greeted me, but all I could smell was the antiseptic from the research facility. I clutched my arms around my stomach as nausea rose up within me. This wasn’t home anymore. It was a reminder of what had been stolen from me.
Cold sweat beaded my forehead. Memories of being tranquilized and abducted from my home tried to surface, but I could dwell on the past later. Right now, I needed to pack my bags and leave before those men came back.
Weeks had passed since I’d last been home—if I could even call it that anymore. This apartment was supposed to be my safe haven, but that illusion shattered into so many fragments.
My life had changed irrevocably.
The wild beast within transformed me into someone I barely recognized anymore.
My top priority had been survival. Locked away like an animal in a cage, I’d become wild and almost feral. For a while, I’d doubted Jacob and I would ever be found, but a military man with short, black hair had discovered and freed us. That man might very well be dead. The gunshot piercing through the night had sounded so final, and what did we do? We’d fled for our lives.
The woman’s screams haunted me.
If only we had stayed to help… But what could we have done?
“Hey. You okay?” Jacob’s strong arms encircled me from behind, pulling me into his warm embrace.
“Hey yourself.” My back pressed against his hard chest, and I drew in a deep breath, scenting his musky cologne to ground myself. “I’m hanging in there.” Not really, but I was trying.
“Let’s not stay here any longer than we have to, babe,” he said. “It’s been an intense night, and I smell your fear. Grab your stuff, and we’ll relax at my place.” He ran his hands over my arms in soothing strokes.
I closed my eyes for a moment to savor his touch.
Knowing he was here helped, but the images in my head wouldn’t stop their assault. Running away didn’t always solve the problem, even if I’d desperately wanted it to. However, I couldn’t escape my fears and anxiety. They were always hot on my trail.
“Okay, you’re right. I’ll toss some clothes and toiletries into an overnight bag, then grab my backpack. I don’t feel safe here. Not after…” My textbooks and notecards were still where I’d left them during our study session. I ran a shaky hand over them, wondering how life might’ve turned out if I hadn’t gotten so pissed at Jacob. What if we’d had sex instead of me protecting my virtue? None of this might’ve happened. “Hopefully school won’t be jerks about us missing our finals.”
Did that really matter? A couple hours ago we’d escaped from a highly secured facility with mad scientists and their morally bankrupt mercenaries.
“School will have to understand, but that’s not our focus right now.” He pulled me close once more and sighed against my hair. “Not after everything we’ve been through. Once we’ve grounded ourselves again, then we’ll figure all the school shit out. Okay, babe?”
He might be right, but what if the university refused to let me come back? Life would become even more complex and challenging. How would I pursue my career? No one would want a college dropout.
“Fine,” I murmured, squirming in his arms.
“Kelly, don’t pull away. My mom will talk with the university. They’ll be lenient. We missed the exams due to some majorly fucked up circumstances. There’s no way we could’ve been on campus. We will figure all of this out soon. Perhaps my mom can talk with the school on your behalf, too, or at least pass along the proper information to your parents.”
If only he knew that my parents weren’t in my life. Jacob was lucky to have a mom who was probably worried sick about him while we were locked up. My own parents likely didn’t even know I’d missed finals. We were estranged.
“I hope you’re right.” I turned and wrapped my arms around his waist. “But what if all the work I put into this semester was ruined by…” My voice broke. It still hurt to think about the research facility, and I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence. “You know what.”
“I’m here, babe. I’m here.” He ran his hand over my back. “It’ll work out. The school can’t hold this against you.”
Where did he find so much conviction? I only wished I believed in us like he did. Burying my face into his chest, I breathed in the vanilla-scented soap from my bathroom that mixed with his musky scent and the lingering undertones of bleach and other chemicals from the laboratory. We’d taken a long shower here. It hadn’t erased the haunting smells from that horrible place.
“Guess I have to gather my things.” Pulling away from him, I scooped up my books from the bed and tucked them into my backpack along with my notebooks and other school supplies. Part of me didn’t know why I bothered bringing them along, but if something happened to my place, I didn’t want them to be forever lost, especially when I didn’t know how soon I’d return.
A lump clogged my throat, and I tried to swallow it down. How was I supposed to pass any make-up exams? Most of what I’d learned had been forgotten. Besides, did College Algebra really matter when I’d been locked away like a science experiment by some disgusting scientists?
“Babe, I can smell your pain.” He rested his hands on my shoulders. “Please sit down. Take it easy. I can pack a few things, and then we can leave. It’ll be okay. We’re safe now.” We sat on the bed together, and he ran his hand down my back. “I’m here for you.”
“I know… I’m sorry. It’s just—”
He placed a fingertip over my lips. “Don’t apologize. Not to me or anyone else. No one should ever face the treatment we went through. If you need anything at all, you tell me. Promise?” His fingertip caressed my lower lip before tracing along my jawline.
“I-I will. I promise.” Jacob helped me stay sane through our time at the research facility. Pulling away now would be the worst thing I could do, both for him and for me. “The same goes for you. It was hard on both of us.”
He pressed a small kiss to my lips, then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “You’re kind, babe. I might take you up on that.”
“Good.” I leaned into his side, savoring this moment, but it couldn’t last. We needed to leave. “If you could grab the purple travel bag from the top shelf of my closet, I’ll get my toiletries. Like you said, the sooner we’re out of here, the better. They know where I live, and they might still be a threat.”
“Right.” He didn’t sound pleased, but the bed creaked as he stood. The muscles in his shoulders were tense. Perhaps I’d give him a massage when we got to his place.
Once we were at Jacob’s, I’d probably feel a lot better. My small make-up bag was big enough for my toothbrush, deodorant, moisturizer, and anything else I needed from the bathroom, which wasn’t much.
The girl in the mirror looked like a total stranger. I’d brushed my long, dark brown hair, but it refused to be tamed. Dark circles lined my bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep. Worst yet, my features were gaunt from likely malnutrition. The scientists figured starvation would keep us better behaved, but that hadn’t been true.
I dropped my gaze to the make-up bag, feeling disgusted by my current appearance.
Jacob had offered to take me shopping, so we wouldn’t have to come back here. Why should he have to do that? Besides, I’d wanted to see my apartment, to make sure no one broke in while I was gone.
That was the last thing I needed. If everything I’d owned had been gone… No, don’t go there.
I walked back to the main room of the studio apartment as Jacob tucked a couple pairs of socks into the travel bag. He lifted up a pair of lacy panties and a thong, eyeing them curiously. After a few seconds, he cocked his head to the side, then turned to face me. Desire had darkened his emerald green eyes. He shoved the panties back into the drawer and quietly closed it behind him as if I’d caught him doing something naughty.
“Hi.”
“Hey.” My big bad wolf sounded nervous for the first time, as if I’d scold him for digging through my underwear drawer. He’d seen my panties before. In fact, I distinctly remembered him ripping the dainty fabric off like it was nothing. “I was just helping pack.”
A smile spread over my lips before I could stop it. Watching him nervously handle my undies was endearing. “Find anything you liked in there?” I set my toiletries inside the overnight bag before crossing the space between us. Our bodies stood mere inches apart, and I pulled open my panty drawer. “Want to pick some out?” Thankfully, my non-sexy panties were shoved in a lower drawer with a secret stash of chocolate.
Jacob lifted an eyebrow at me. “Of course.” He glanced between me and the drawer. Did he think this was a trap? “I found a few pair that were…beautiful. When you’re ready, I’d be happy to take them off of you, too.” His lips quirked in a grin. “No rush, though.” He slid his fingers through my hair, and our lips met in a sweet, tentative kiss.
I could get used to having Jacob in my life. “Babe, maybe don’t rip them off next time? Admittedly, it was pretty sexy.” I bit my lower lip and slid my gaze to his chest. “But my clothes budget isn’t limited, especially with the new semester coming up. You know…books, tuition, and supplies.”
“Hmm… I can’t make any promises.” He cupped my chin, tilting my attention back to him. His mischievous grin grew wider. “Don’t worry, though. Any pair of panties that I might shred will be replaced. I’ll buy you more.”
My jaw dropped open. Jacob buying me new panties wasn’t exactly offensive. But were we ready for this in our relationship? That seemed like such an intimate gift. What are you thinking, girl? You two are mates. You’ve had sex and survived— I shook the thought away, but it was true.
“Jacob, that’s… You don’t have to do that. But you’re so sweet.” I pulled away to continue packing as many clothes as would fit in the bag.
“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it.” He grabbed more underwear and a few bras from the drawer, but his selection process seemed hurried.
Had I upset him? “I do appreciate your offer.”
Part of me loved how our relationship was at the research facility. We’d been inseparable. The scientists had known it, too. We were rarely broken up, unless they needed to their terribly invasive tests. And our carnal lovemaking was steamy hot, even if we’d known those creeps were watching. Our bodies were made for each other, and no one could’ve ruined that.
But what would happen to us now that we were back in the real world? Our studies and the Pack needed to be dealt with, and…
I studied Jacob as he zipped my bag. His jaw was tight, his shoulders tense. He wasn’t the same easygoing guy I met in college. He was something else entirely now. But so was I.
Get out of your head, Kelly.
The bed groaned under Jacob’s weight, snapping me from my thoughts. His shoulders slumped forward as if a heaviness wore him down. He ran his hands through his hair, then held his head.
I reached out to touch his broad back but stopped myself. “Are you okay?” I asked, shoving my hands in my pockets.
Jacob let out a quiet sigh and lifted his gaze to meet mine, but he nodded. “Tired, I guess. You almost ready to go?” Our previously compatible vibes that kept me going at the research facility felt strained. How could I help him if he didn’t let me in? “We can grab dinner on the way to my place.”
Nothing else needed to be done here, aside from pitching whatever stinky mess had expired in my refrigerator. While I was ready, actually leaving my home with Jacob made me nervous. Doubt plagued me again.
What if we aren’t as good for one another as we think?
“Um, yeah. I’m ready. I should clean up my fridge and take out the trash, so the place isn’t swarming with bugs and rodents when I come back.” If I come back… No, I couldn’t think like that. I forced a smile on my face.
Everything was going to be okay. I had to keep telling myself that.
Jacob gave his own forced smile, before climbing to his feet. “Good idea. The sooner we can leave, the better. The people responsible for our capture might still be out there.” He lowered his gaze, and his lips tightened into a thin line. “I should’ve been here to protect you. Neither of us would’ve gone through hell these past few week, if I had.” His solemn eyes lifted to meet mine. “I’ll do what I can to make it up to you. I promise, babe.”
My heart sank in my chest, and tears rolled down my cheeks. In an instant, I’d crossed the small space between us. The conviction in his words made me feel terrible for second guessing him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my damp cheek against his muscular chest. “Please. Don’t think like that. You tried to rescue me—and almost did! I’ll always remember that. Besides, who knows what would’ve happened to the other shapeshifters who were locked up? They could’ve been held forever…or worse.”
Jacob wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. “You’re more of an optimist than I’d imagined. Yes, it’s good the others were found. No one should’ve been subjected to what we experienced. Knowing some were there much longer than us is gut-wrenchingly sad. How many were killed during the testing? We’ll likely never know.” He brushed a kiss against my forehead.
My mouth opened and closed at that realization. It wasn’t something I’d thought about, and I really didn’t want to now. I’d been more focused on enduring the awful experiments and praying we survived. The savage beast who clawed my back and brought me into this life came to mind. I still remembered hearing the solemn shot from the other room. Had that person been killed? Mixed emotions fluttered in my stomach. If it weren’t for them, I’d still be human, but I might also be dead since I’d have been useless to the scientists.
“Maybe I am an optimist. Maybe not. But I’m so glad we made it out.” I pushed up onto my tiptoes and brushed my lips against his. Heat spread between my thighs, and I ached to be wrapped in his arms and loved until our time at the facility was forgotten.
His hand cradled the back of my neck as he deepened the kiss. The sensual kiss twisted and transformed. Each heartbeat brought more passion and intensity to the moment.
I circled my arms around his neck, losing myself to the sweet taste of his lips.
Jacob released his grip on my hair and pulled away as if it pained him. “Babe, we can’t.” A heavy sigh escaped him, and he brushed his thumb over my cheek. “We’re playing with fire. If we don’t leave soon, we might spend the night. Both of us are tired. This isn’t a good idea.”
Part of me didn’t mind the thought of spending the night. It might help wash away some of the terrible memories that stained my apartment, but my more rational side wanted to get the hell out of here. “Okay,” I said, glancing down at the floor. “I’ll empty the fridge, then we’ll go.”
Heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway, but the sound of keys jingling in a lock brought momentary relief. We weren’t safe here, and danger lurked around every corner these days.