The woman had backed off but was close enough for Amy to catch her scent. “You’re a wolf.” No way was this the human waitress.

  She nodded. “You must be Amy.”

  “What do you want?” She had to be working with the Landrys. Now that she was looking for it, she could see the resemblance in the hair and eye color.

  “Nothing bad. My name is Fleur Landry. I want to make sure you’re okay. My brothers are worried about you.”

  On the surface it was plausible, could even be viewed as a kind gesture. Amy’s tension ratcheted up a notch. “Where is Etienne?”

  “That big wolf? My brothers lured him away so I could talk to you.” Amy bolted toward the woods with Fleur in pursuit. “There’s no need to worry. They won’t hurt him.”

  That was the least of her concerns. “Maybe not, but there’s no telling what he might do if he thinks I’m in danger.”

  Fleur grabbed her arm and yanked her around. “Does he want to mate with you?”

  “That’s irrelevant.”

  “I’ll take that for a yes. No one can force you.”

  “Trust me. That is not going to happen.”

  “Then why are you on the run? A female wolf only runs for one reason.”

  God save her from do-gooders. It was really kind of the Landrys to put themselves out like this, to put themselves in possible danger to do the right thing. Except in this case the reasoning was all wrong.

  “This is Luc’s doing, isn’t it?” She hated to cast the woman’s brother in a bad light, but if the shoe fit… “He’s attracted to me. I think he’s hoping I’ll mate with him.” And that wasn’t happening.

  Fleur shook her head, pity in her eyes. “He warned you might say something like that because you were too afraid to say otherwise.”

  Out of patience and time, Amy stalked toward the woods.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Something sharp jammed into her shoulder. Amy jerked around. “What did you do?” The world swayed back and forth. No, wait, that was her. Her legs turned to jelly and she stumbled. Fleur wrapped an arm around her waist and began to drag her toward a nearby truck. “Wha—” Her tongue was thick. Her mouth dry. Whatever the other woman had pumped into her veins had to be potent. Her body would have shrugged off a regular human sedative.

  “Don’t fight it. You’ll be fine once you’ve slept it off.” Propping her against the vehicle, she yanked open the door.

  Drawing the last of her strength, Amy threw back her head and howled. It wasn’t much of one. She prayed it would be enough.

  Etienne would never forgive himself if something happened to her.

  And she’d never forgive herself if something happened to him.

  “Stop that,” Fleur scolded as though she were a naughty pup. As Amy was hoisted into the back seat, the world went black.

  ****

  Amy!

  The howl was faint, but his wolf homed in on it. Pivoting mid-run, he raced back toward the bar, hurdling downed trees, swerving around thick tree trunks. What the hell had happened? He’d been playing cat and mouse with both brothers. Hadn’t been overly worried about Amy since they were with him.

  He’d been played. There had to be more of them.

  Lungs pumping, legs lengthening, he ran like his life depended on it, because it did. If something happened to Amy…

  A truck was tearing out of the lot when he cleared the woods. He took off after it. He’d be faster in his wolf form, but he didn’t dare take the time to shift. Since he had no idea where they might end up, clothes might be necessary. About a hundred yards ahead, the truck slowed long enough for two men to jump in the back.

  I’m going to kill them.

  Emotion vanished. A cool, calculated calm settled over him. Veering off the road, he kept to the woods, hoping they’d think he’d given up.

  As if that would ever happen.

  The dense air didn’t wick the sweat from his face and arms. It trickled down his back. Etienne blinked when it stung his eyes, but he kept going. His lungs protested the breakneck pace, but he ignored the pain and ran full out mile after mile.

  He lost sight of them, but he didn’t stop. They had to be somewhere close. He should call home for reinforcements, but it would be too late by the time they got here. Not to mention he’d left the damn phone in his truck.

  A light flashed in the sky. Twenty seconds later, a low rumble followed. A light patter of rain began to fall.

  That would mess with any scents.

  Pushing himself harder, he paused at a dirt road. Had they turned off or kept going? He crouched down and squinted at the dirt. Were the tracks fresh? Did he stay on the main road or take a chance?

  Hands fisted by his sides, he threw his head back and roared at the heavens. The worry he’d managed to contain threatened to choke him. He sucked air into his starving lungs.

  The sky opened up, and torrential rains soaked him within seconds. It was dangerous to be standing out in the open, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.

  Eyes narrowing, he loped down the trail. He’d find her. There was no other choice. No matter how long it took.

  If Luc forced her to mate…

  His wolf growled, low and hard. Amy would fight, but in the end, she was a single female against two males, maybe more. He hadn’t been able to see who’d been driving the truck.

  He slammed the door on that thought and padlocked it—otherwise, he’d go mad. He’d never killed a man, but there was a first time for everything. Whatever it took to protect her and keep her safe.

  Lightning lit up the sky. A heavy boom shook the ground seconds later. The storm was closing in on them.

  Trudging through the muck, he scanned side-to-side, watching for any sign of a vehicle or dwelling. His stomach was a hard knot. The muscles in his legs screamed for mercy. Even for a wolf, he’d driven himself beyond the breaking point.

  Should he go on or head back? If they’d continued on down the main road, Amy was miles away and he had no starting point.

  Despair dropped him to his knees. Head bowed, he swallowed heavily. He’d lost her.

  No! He’d found her once. He’d find her again. Pushing to his feet, he turned in a circle, squinting through the darkened woods. It was early afternoon, but the dark clouds made it more like dusk.

  He went completely still, closed his eyes, and reached out with all his senses, allowing his wolf to guide him. Prickles ran down his arms. The back of his neck tingled. His eyes snapped open, and he turned to his left.

  Had he heard something?

  A wolf with a scent, he prowled forward to investigate.

  Chapter Eleven

  Amy’s head throbbed. What the hell? She didn’t get headaches. Wolves were disgustingly healthy. Had she hit it?

  Danger!

  Her wolf stirred. Instinct warned her to stay still and silent. She was lying on a bed or cot of some kind with a thin, scratchy blanket over her. The musty scent wasn’t encouraging. She fought the urge to wrinkle her nose.

  The cobwebs in her brain cleared. A surge of anger roared through her.

  They’d abducted her.

  The last thing she remembered was something sharp poking into her skin. She’d been drugged by a woman—Fleur Landry. Amy was sweating, her body working hard to push out the last of whatever they’d pumped into her.

  Keeping her breathing slow and steady, she listened intently, trying to gauge her surroundings. A boom of thunder rattled the room. Rain pattered against the tin roof. The storm was overhead, and it was a nasty one. It also made it more difficult for her to discern any other noises.

  Focus!

  Damned if she’d let anyone pluck her off the street like a stray dog. She had a pack, people who loved her.

  Had Gracie seen what happened? She’d likely called the local sheriff—exactly what they didn’t need. It was the unwritten rule that every wolf lived by: Never attract human interest. That would only lead to bloodshed and death.

  They’d look at Etienne’s abandoned truck and find his registration. That would lead the authorities back to her pack. Etienne would be furious—at her for getting abducted, but mostly at himself for letting it happen. Not that it was his fault, but after a lifetime study of alpha males, she knew how he’d think. She had to believe he was alive and already looking for her. The alternative was too hard to bear.

  God, what a mess. She wanted to slap Luc Landry senseless. He’d acted without thought, putting all of them in jeopardy.

  Her mouth was bone dry, and her stomach chose that moment to growl. She hadn’t eaten much of anything today. It was time to move and take stock of the situation. She’d always been a talker. If she could convince them to let her go, maybe they could put the brakes on an already bad situation before it got worse.

  When she went to raise her hand, it pulled up short. What the hell? Opening her eyes, she glared at the thick metal cuff that encircled her wrist. A rather impressive chain ran from it to a heavy-looking circle that had been bolted to the wall.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she muttered under her breath. Enough was enough. Sitting up, she swung her feet over the edge of the cot. Her sneakers were gone. She snorted. Like that would stop her.

  Grabbing the length of chain, she pulled. Her muscles strained. The chain held, but the wood had squeaked. She didn’t care how she got loose as long as she did. Gritting her teeth, she braced her legs and yanked. Was there some movement or was that wishful thinking?

  “You’re awake.” Luc stood in the open doorway, his black hair damp and slicked away from his face. His gray eyes narrowed on her hands. “Don’t hurt yourself.”

  Was he for real? Ignoring him, she jerked on the chain.

  “Damn it, Amy.” He strode toward her, his jaw set.

  She crouched and stayed low on the balls of her feet. There wasn’t much maneuverability with the chain, but she’d work with it. “Stay away from me.”

  He stopped in his tracks, his mouth falling open. “I would never hurt you.”

  “You already have. What do you call this?” She rattled the chain. “And using your sister to help abduct me? That’s really classy.”

  His cheeks turned red. Was he blushing? Nah, likely he was furious. Too bad.

  “It’s for your own good,” he muttered. Hands on his hips, legs spread, he glowered at her. If he was trying to intimidate her, it wasn’t working. She’d cut her teeth on alpha males.

  “Right. That’s how you justify kidnapping me.” Maybe it wasn’t smart to antagonize him, but she needed answers.

  He raked his fingers through his hair, throwing droplets of water around. “It was to protect you.”

  “The only person I need protecting from is you, and your family,” she added. “Etienne is pack. I’ve known him all my life.” Swallowing hard, she asked the question plaguing her. “He’s alive, right?”

  “We’re not murderers,” Luc muttered.

  “Right, only kidnappers.” Relief made her lightheaded. “Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want him as an enemy. Let me go. Take me back, and we can forget this ever happened.”

  She’d have to do some fast talking with Etienne, but she’d worry about that later. One problem at a time.

  “I brought you some food.” Fleur stood in the doorway, her movements hesitant. “I thought you might be hungry. I’m really sorry for earlier.” She glanced at her brother and frowned.

  Interesting. Had he coerced his sister into helping him? A wave of sympathy rose up inside her, but she squashed it. It didn’t change the facts.

  “I don’t know what Luc told you, but you’re all in a heap of trouble. Etienne will find me. If he doesn’t, he’ll call in my pack. They’ll come down on you like demons from hell.” Not really an exaggeration.

  Fleur paled and leaned against the doorframe. Luc tensed, his expression becoming more determined.

  “I can take care of myself and my family.”

  Maybe against humans. “You don’t want to face the wrath of my daddy.” While she might be able to talk Etienne out of revenge, there would be no way to calm Cole Blanchard. Oh, he’d never hurt Fleur, but Luc would be lucky to be alive when it was all over. And that was if he released her now.

  Luc shrugged. “A man’s got to make a stand for what’s right.”

  He really believed what he was saying. The chain was heavy, so she let it fall to the floor with a clatter. “And you think kidnapping an unwilling woman is right?”

  He flinched slightly but nodded. “You didn’t want to go with that other wolf, but you did. He can’t force you to be with him, to mate with him.” Luc went to his sister and took the tray from her shaky hands. He leaned down and kissed her temple. “No one can force mate a female.”

  Everything clicked into place. “Is that why you three are on your own? Did someone want to mate you, Fleur?” It would be best if she could make a connection to the other woman, who seemed to be a reluctant pawn in her brother’s scheme.

  She lowered her head and nodded. Fury flashed in Luc’s eyes. “No one will touch you. Not unless it’s what you want,” he promised.

  “But we’ve lost everything—” Fleur glanced Amy’s way and stopped talking.

  “We’ve been through this before.” The weariness in his voice suggested this was an old argument. “We’re family.”

  Well, crap, she was going to have to help them. First, she had to get them to release her. “That’s not what was happening with me.” Luc shot her a look of disbelief. “You’re looking at my situation through the lens of your own. I left my pack to assert my independence. They tracked me down, and Etienne came to talk to me. The last thing he’d ever do is hurt me.”

  “I saw the way he looked at you.” Luc set the tray on the end of the bed. “He wants you.”

  “Yes, he does. That’s not a secret. He’s upfront about what he wants. I also know he’d walk away if I asked him to.” Etienne’s honor was bone deep.

  “I think you want to believe that, but I’ve seen how it works. I’ve seen it happen.” If his jaw got any tighter, a bone would snap. “Our mother was forced to mate.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what that’s like. You have to understand, my daddy would kill anyone who mated me without my consent.” Maybe if they understood her background, it would convince them. “He killed three wolves that were after my momma before they mated. She’s a full-blooded wolf, but she can’t shift.” Amy rubbed her hand over her face, tired after the sedative and adrenaline crash. “She had a childhood illness.”

  Both siblings were watching her intently. “A wolf who can’t shift. That’s an abomination.”

  Luc’s words hardened her heart. “My momma is the kindest and best woman in the world. I’ll rip out your heart if you say otherwise.”

  “No, you misunderstand. Where I come from, they’d have killed her. Where is your pack?” Hands fisted at his sides, intensity rolled off him in waves. There was something she was missing.

  “Why?”

  Colton burst into the room, a gust of warm air flowing after him. “We’ve got trouble.”

  ****

  Etienne prowled around the old cabin. The paint was long gone, the boards weathered to a gray over the years, but the roof was sound enough. Better still, a truck sat around the back.

  It was tempting to rush in, but he had to play this smart. He needed to know where Amy was, if she was indeed in there, and how many opponents he was facing.

  His usual calm was fraying at the edges, but he shored it up. For Amy. She needed him. He would not let her down again. She should never have been taken in the first place.

  He removed his boots and socks and yanked off his shirt, letting the wet material fall to the ground. Then he began to circle the building. Amy was in there. He could sense her presence, almost catch her scent on the air, even though she was inside. It might be nothing more than wishful thinking, but he didn’t think so.

  Alert, he steadily worked his way around the cabin. Oh, the Landry brothers were here. Their smell was thick in the trees, likely where they’d shifted and rubbed up against them.

  Silent as a wraith, keeping his back against the wall, he crept to a window. There was only time for a quick glance. He was dealing with wolves, not humans. The storm was actually working in his favor.

  It was a living area with a single kerosene lantern in the middle of a rickety table. The sofa had been shoved against a far wall, and three sleeping bags were spread out in front of an empty fireplace. So there were three of them. Good to know.

  There was no sign of Amy, so he ducked low and continued on. The rain lashed at him, the lightning brightening his path every few steps.

  The next window was smaller. Whatever appliances had once been there had been ripped out. A portable propane stove was set up beneath the window.

  Where the hell is everyone?

  Placing his feet cautiously, he turned the corner and stopped cold. He’d found Amy.

  A low growl worked its way up from the depths of his being. She was chained to a bed, with Luc Landry standing over her. Etienne sprinted about ten feet away, turned, and raced back toward the cabin. Arms up to shield his face, he burst through the window.

  Shards of glass flew in every direction. A woman screamed.

  He landed hard and rolled to his feet, a move he’d practiced many times during training. Balancing on the balls of his feet, he glared at Luc. “You’re a dead man, Landry.”

  “Shit.” Colton jumped in front of a woman. Who was she and where had she come from?

  Ignoring them, he flew at Luc, landing a punch that snapped the man’s head back and sent him flying into the wall with a satisfying crash. Luc pushed away, shook his head, and leaped forward.

  Snarling and wanting blood, Etienne met him in the center of the room. Luc was big, but Etienne was bigger. Better trained, too. Claws unleashed, he ducked under a punch and slashed at his opponent’s stomach, drawing blood.

  Luc roared and shifted, shaking off his clothes. A large wolf with gray eyes faced him, fangs bared.

  “Amy, get behind me.”