He snorted and took my hand, rolling his thumb across my knuckles. “It’s not necessarily about trust, Nicolina. There are some aspects about my life that have been difficult and it’s not going to get any better. At least with you by my side, there might be a chance for our survival.”

  “You’re the alpha who hasn’t wanted to lead your Streak. Aren’t you?” The words were tough to say, an odd sense of realization settling in. I knew what he needed and that terrified me the most.

  “Yes. I left that to my father until his death. Now I have no choice. Additional attacks will occur within days. We will be forced to abandon our encampment.”

  “You’re serious. You were attacked?”

  “Yes. Fortunately, we prevailed. Sadly, our numbers are dwindling within the Streak. I fear being forced to leave our encampment will be detrimental to the rest,” he said quietly, his eyes continually scanning the forest. I sensed he was double checking we were all alone.

  “Because of this disease or because you aren’t able to have offspring?”

  “Both, as is occurring within the other Breeds. Unless a cure is found, death will do what the dissidents can’t. However, it has been reported that two scientists have been working on providing a cure for the human mutations. With certain changes, it is believed the vaccine will cure the Breeds as well.”

  The way he was looking at me was as if he’d overheard the conversation I’d had with Yasmine. I dragged my tongue across my lips and shuddered from the thought. “How horrible. After all the experiments performed on Breeds, all the bullshit that your kind had to go through and all the time and effort spent on finding cures, nothing is working. I thought the drug created last year by Dr. Raven Youngblood would be the Breeds’ salvation.” A serum to allow the Breeds to produce children as well as return at will to their preferred form. What she’d been able to create was remarkable.

  “Perhaps it would if the serum was getting to the Breeds.”

  “So the rumors are true,” I stated, my anger increasing.

  “It would seem that the various government outsourcing personal are only required to provide the information they want both humans and Breeds to hear, not necessarily the truth. It would also seem the various factions of dissidents that attacked the area surrounding Philadelphia last year was only the beginning. Perhaps they were using the opportunity as a testing ground.”

  I inched closer, studying the hard lines in his face; his high forehead and angular jaw, cheekbones that were much more pronounced than the majority of human males. He was a creature of such rugged good looks, an ideal… mate. Another cold shiver trickled down my spine. “Meaning?” I thought about Joseph Sampson all over again. I should have probed Yasmine more about his involvement.

  “Meaning they’ve become more organized and it would appear they have powerful backers. Money. Influence. Weapons. From what I’d been told by my brethren, they are in the process of developing a full-scale attack meant to exterminate the majority of Breeds in this country.”

  “You seem certain of this.” A sickening feeling pooled into my stomach.

  “I know what I’ve been told.”

  “You killed the hunters I heard about on the news as well as the soldiers outside that laboratory.”

  He took a deep breath before nodding. “I did what was required. Is that where your sister works?”

  I felt my skin crawl. “Yes.”

  He laughed once again, his eyes narrowing. “I thought as much. Now, much of this is making sense.”

  “Then I wish you’d tell me what the hell is going on. You know the people those soldiers worked for will hunt you down.”

  “Yesss…”

  A cold shiver shifted all the way to my toes. “If what you believe is true, the news about the mutations will get out to every human as well as the various Breeds eventually. Then…” I couldn’t even finish my sentence.

  “Then more will die. We will find out more when we leave for DC.”

  I thought about what he was saying, a pang of angst building in my stomach. “DC? As in the capital?”

  “Yes. There are laboratory facilities provided to the Breeds by the president.” He turned to look at me, his eyes locking onto mine.

  “O-kay. That’s wonderful but what is it that you are trying to say to me?”

  He took his damn sweet time before answering me.

  “It is my belief that your sister was the one working with a scientist named Markus Whitmeyer. Together, they discovered an entirely different mutated DNA allowing for the possibility of an antidote that also might lead to the actual cure for original issue killing humans.”

  “How the hell would you know that?”

  When he walked into the house, I shook my head, more than just a trickle of fear racing through me. As he returned, a file in his hand, his gaze was even more imploring.

  “I found this in the laboratory.”

  “Which means you broke in?”

  “After watching two soldiers removing the body of the scientist.”

  A lump formed in my throat. My God. As I took the file into my hand, my entire arm was shaking. When I opened it, I was shocked I was actually able to see the contents. Another shiver slammed down my spine. I didn’t want to think about why my vision was clear in the darkness.

  I leaned against the railing, shifting through the various papers. There was no doubt a good portion of the formulas were handwritten by my sister, including the various notes. When I’d seen enough, I took several deep breaths before returning the file. “That’s about what she told me earlier today.”

  “Why do I believe there is more to the story?”

  I shook my head. I needed time to think about everything. Hell, I needed time to make certain I wasn’t losing my mind. “What now?”

  “We will leave for my Streak in the morning. After that, we will be making the trip to DC.”

  Stunned, I wasn’t certain how to take what he was suggesting. “You’re not serious. My life is here. I teach school. I have a house. I have a life.” What life could I have now? What were my choices? Pretend nothing had changed until one day when the authorities showed up on my doorstep? That wasn’t the logical choice. Neither was leaving everything I’d worked so hard to achieve. I was in a no-win situation. Another round of sickness seeping into my stomach was almost crippling.

  “I am now your life, Nicolina. My people will be your people. You are my mate. You will become my queen.”

  “Your queen? Whoa. Hold on. That’s not what’s happening here.”

  “You are very important,” he retorted, his freaking voice, so luxurious and sultry, driving me insane.

  “Because if you select a mate then maybe your entire Streak will be able to have cubs? Is that seriously what you’re telling me?”

  “That is what I’m hoping.” His eyes flashed again, his nostrils flaring. I even sensed his hunger returning, his cock already throbbing.

  I backed away, shaking my head several times. “That’s not how it works, Akuma. You can’t just take what you want.”

  “I already told you. You are mine.”

  No. No. No!

  The whirlwind of information became too great to deal with. My heart hammered to the point I was terrified of having a heart attack.

  His words played in my mind over and over again along with things Yasmine had said. Had she figured out about Akuma? Of course she had. A discovery both amazing as well as damning. My guess was there was even more to her wretched story.

  I took another gulp of wine, trying to wrangle my emotions and my rage. “That may be how you deal with those of your kind, but I’m human. I’m not a pet or a plaything. I’m not going anywhere with you. My sister is here and likely in danger. I have to protect her.” When he didn’t say anything for a full ten seconds, I stormed into the house.

  “Do not walk away from me, Nicolina.”

  When I slammed the door, I hissed, but I needed time alone to think. Hell, I wasn’t certain what the fuck I was doing. This was nuts.

  I’d loved the way he said my name, the rich inflections he used. Not now. Now, just hearing the syllables made me feel like a bad little girl or worse, a caged animal. Maybe the dreams and fantasies had allowed me to pretend that all his barbaric actions were okay. I wasn’t going to have my entire life derailed, but I would find out what the hell was going to happen to me. Yasmine was going to finish our conversation. I would find a way to protect her.

  As far as my job? Fuck it; I’d find another one.

  I moved into the kitchen, almost breaking the glass when I attempted to place it on the counter. Folding my arms, I paced the floor, my head aching.

  I hadn’t heard the door, but when he snagged my arm, yanking me toward him roughly, I reacted, smacking him across the face, able to jerk out of his arms. There was no denying the look on his face or the sizzle crackling from his body.

  He was pissed, his chest rising and falling. While I doubted the slap was that hard, he’d turned his face to the side from the impact of the blow. When he slowly turned his head, cocking it slightly, I took another step backwards.

  “My life. I say what I do. That’s the way it’s going to be,” I stated with as much defiance as I could muster. Sadly, my shaking body was likely giving me away.

  “You are mine. You will do as I say.”

  “No, I won’t.” I should have known there was no sense in attempting to get away from him or denying the attraction that was boosted every time we were together. He took a single long stride and had me in his arms, his hand wrapped around the back of my neck. I squealed, but not out of fear. I couldn’t understand the way my body responded any more at this moment than I had before.

  He was attempting to take me away from all I knew and loved, and all I could think about was the desire ripping through my body.

  “There is no way around it. You are in extreme danger, Nicolina. As my mate, they will come for you. I’m the only person, the only beast that can keep you alive.”

  “Who? Who do you believe is coming for me, the government? The dissidents?”

  “Every alpha has been identified, Nicolina, and we are being tracked. They will try and bring down the Breeds who are living outside the main cities first then round up the rest.”

  “You have an idea who they are.”

  He hesitated, gazing down the length of me. “Only in the sense that there are enough humans working within various government organizations that now place their loyalty with the dissidents. They likely had access to every record regarding the Breeds. Every location. Every alpha. Every human female who could become a Breed’s mate.”

  “How the hell would they be able to tell that?”

  “That’s a good question.”

  “Manufactured.”

  Akuma narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “Luca. His mate was given drugs since the time she was a young girl. If what I remember is true, her connection with Luca was very manufactured.”

  He thought about what I was saying. “Yes.”

  “What about the others? What if experiments have been performed on selected women all across the country?”

  “Why would they do that?” he asked, growling afterward. I could swear his beast was threatening to rise to the surface.

  “Maybe to dilute the Breeds.” I was sicker than ever thinking about it, but the possibility was significant.

  “Then you understand why you are coming with me.”

  He crushed his mouth over mine, drawing me against the heat of his body. He held me firmly, dragging me onto my toes. My natural instinct kicked in and I fought him, trying desperately to get out of his hold. Every portion of my mind reeled from what he was telling me, the uncertainty mixing with the same fear as before.

  Fear of the unknown.

  Fear of being turned into a Breed.

  Fear of losing myself in him and his world.

  He was having none of my forceful actions, his kiss becoming a power struggle between us and one that I knew he was going to win.

  For now.

  The taste of bourbon was strong, his actions more like a beast than a man. I was almost instantly drunk from his scent, the testosterone stronger than before. Even as I clawed at him, raking my nails down his arms and back, my body molded against his, my pussy aching. Within seconds, lights flashed in front of my eyes, my skin on fire.

  He refused to let me go, thrusting his tongue inside and dominating mine, his growls permeating around our lips mixing with my increasing moans.

  I could no longer think clearly, the fog swimming through my mind even worse than before. Breathing became difficult, my chest heavy. I was forced to stop fighting, my back arching as he ground his hips against my tummy.

  When he finally broke the kiss, he shoved me over the edge of the counter, yanking my tee shirt up and exposing my naked bottom.

  “Since you’re such a bad girl, do you know what happens?” he asked, his voice thrilling as it vibrated through me.

  “What?”

  “You get fucked in the ass.”

  He wasted no time, sliding his cock between my ass cheeks, plunging the entire length inside.

  “Oh. Oh!” The pain was instantaneous, stealing my breath. I gasped and flung my arms across the island, tossing several items onto the floor. The crashing sound was unable to mask my shriek as my body shook violently.

  “You will learn one way or the other.” Akuma pulled almost all the way out, slamming into me again.

  And again.

  Tears swam to my eyes, my heart skipping several beats. I blinked many times, my moans sounding more like growls of my own. I couldn’t believe he was taking me so roughly, relentless in his actions.

  An absolute beast.

  And I hated him.

  Loathed him.

  Or I wanted to, but it was impossible, the intensity of the hard fucking yanking me off the floor as my body was drilled into the edge of the counter. Nothing had prepared me for his savagery, my blood boiling as the rage remained.

  Yet every synapse in my body was dancing, the butterflies swarming through me wildly.

  He smacked my bottom again, his hold on my neck tightening. “I will use you and fuck you as often as I want. You are mine.”

  Every word was so possessive.

  The anguish was no longer blinding, my muscles ceasing to fight his brutal jabs. A wash of utter pleasure was a beautiful reminder of just how insane our coupling was.

  Mate. Mate. Mate!

  The word was like a broken record spinning out of control. I wanted to scream to the world that I was no one’s mate, that I was a woman happy to be alone.

  But that would be a lie.

  I’d fantasized about finding someone, a man who would care for me, protect me from all the evils of this world, one who refused to take any shit. I’d found him.

  Powerful.

  Dominant.

  Unforgiving.

  And a Breed…

  “Oh. Oh. Oh. So big.” My words sounded ridiculous and a laugh bubbled to the surface.

  He growled his response, his fingers digging into my skin. I was going nowhere.

  You belong to him.

  His lover.

  His mate.

  The world seemed to spin around me, the sights and sounds still intensified. I finally closed my eyes and rested my face on the cool counter, accepting his control.

  Relishing his brutal nature.

  Enjoying every minute of the hard fucking.

  And in that moment, I knew there was no turning back.

  He smacked me several additional times, his guttural sounds becoming roars, his body shaking. Then he gripped both my hips, pounding harder and faster.

  Until he erupted deep inside.

  His roar permeated the entire space, his fingers more like claws as they dug into my tender skin. As he slowly fell on top of me, I said a silent prayer that whatever happened, we’d survive.

  But my instincts continued to nag at me, the gnawing in my gut even more pronounced.

  I shivered to the core even as he nuzzled against my neck, blowing across the area where he’d nipped my flesh.

  Not once.

  But twice.

  My eyes flew open, another cold realization settling in.

  I was becoming a Breed, but not only because of the inoculations.

  What had he done to me? What had he done…

  A sudden vibration erupted from the floor, a whooshing sound occurring right outside the window.

  And in the next few seconds, my entire world and all that I’d known came to an end.

  Chapter 12

  Akuma

  The thunderous noise came from all around us. I could hear a crackle of glass coming from somewhere in the house as everything rattled in the cabinets. I knew enough about weapons to realize they’d used some military grade weapon in order to firebomb the area surrounding the house. My hackles were raised even more. It was entirely possible some faction of the government was providing the weaponry.

  “Oh, my God!” Nicolina yelped, pushing hard against me.

  “Stay here. I mean right here.” I jerked back, roaring as I rushed toward the front of the house. The second I peered outside, my fears were confirmed.

  The hunters had found us.

  We’d been caught in a trap.

  Fire licked up through the trees, the previous rain doing nothing to stop the flames from shooting through them like wildfire. The stench of gasoline was everywhere as well as some other type of chemical. From where I stood, at least three sides were surrounded by flames.

  “Fuck.” We had to get the hell out of here. I took long strides into the kitchen, trying to steady my breathing. “You will listen to me. We need to leave. Now.”

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “We’ve been found.”

  “Who the hell knew you were here?” Nicolina demanded.

  “That is something I intend on finding out. We need to leave town. We can’t wait. Get dressed. We have maybe five minutes before the bastards torch the house.”

  She pressed her hand over her mouth but raced toward the bedroom.

  “They’re coming,” I said in my mind, calling for Tomas and Lars.