Wilson spun around. “Don’t touch the collar.” He pointed up toward another beam, where a small camera sat pointed toward me. “We’ll know if you do, and you’ll pay. The only thing you’re allowed to do is think about what you’ve done wrong.”

  They went outside and he slammed the door, making the barn shake again.

  Shaking, I stared at the camera, trying to figure out if it was actually working or not. It was big and old, and covered in dust. I’d have expected a flashing red light or something, but saw none. The lens was the only part not caked in dust, leading me to believe Wilson might be telling the truth.

  The collar continued gagging me, and as much as I hated to leave it alone, I did. I stepped on my tiptoes, managing to make myself a little more comfortable until my toes couldn’t take the weight any longer.

  Tears stung my eyes again, but I refused to give in. If I did break down and cry, the werewolves would never see it. I fought against the collar and leash for what felt like forever. I tried to use my emotions to shift, but my body wouldn’t give me the privilege. The muscles in my legs burned as I went back and forth between standing on my toes and not. A few times, a large ball of dust got into my mouth or nose, making me cough and struggle even more.

  Finally, the door opened again. Wilson came in with James and Benjamin. The two older men glared at me as they came closer, but the younger refused to look at me. He kept his gaze on the floor.

  James came up to me and squeezed my chin between his thumb and first finger, forcing me to stare into his eyes. He looked so much like an older version of Toby, it sent chills down my back because of the cruelty his expression held.

  “Have you thought about your wrongdoings?”

  I swallowed and gave a little nod.

  “When an alpha speaks to you, you answer.”

  “Y-yes.” Speaking made me gag again.

  He squeezed my face harder. “And what is your conclusion?”

  That he and Wilson were both alpha-holes. I clenched my jaw.

  He pushed my head back and dug his fingertips against my flesh. “Answer your alpha.”

  “You’re not my alpha.”

  “Try that again.”

  I shook my head.

  He shoved me backward. The chain tightened, gagging me. “Tell me what you did wrong, little girl.”

  “I followed my heart.”

  “That’s right.” He narrowed his Toby-like eyes. “You disobeyed the ages-old rules of our kind by walking away from your pack to tempt my eldest son with your whoreish ways.”

  I gasped.

  “Oh, don’t act like you didn’t. If your father wasn’t as angry as me, I’d have thought he’d put you up to it. He should’ve loved the fact that my pack’s next alpha was lured away.” His brows came together and he made a throaty noise before spitting in my eyes.

  I closed my eyes and wiped the phlegm away.

  “Don’t ask me why Wilson didn’t have the foresight to keep your hands tied.” He paused and then ordered one of them to find another rope.

  Shaking, I lowered my arms and opened my eyes. Benjamin was digging through a rusty chest next to a pile of hay. The two alpha-holes stared each other down.

  “Use your head from now on.”

  Wilson gave a slight nod. “Yes, sir.”

  “Did you find that rope yet?”

  Benjamin rose and pulled a blood-spattered noose from the rusty chest.

  My breath hitched.

  “Undo that and tie her hands together.”

  The younger werewolf undid the noose as he walked toward me. It unraveled and he went behind me, tying my wrists loosely. The knot was tight, but my arms weren’t pinned against me painfully like they had been before.

  Toby’s father walked toward me and then around me in circles. He didn’t say anything. None of them did. Benjamin stood off to the side in the farthest corner away from me. Wilson had a giddy look in his eyes.

  After several times around me, James finally stopped just in front of me. He stared at me, seething, hate etched on the planes of his face. “You do realize you have to pay for your wrongdoing. Not only did you destroy my family, but you disrupted all of werewolf kind. Do you take responsibility for that?”

  I didn’t answer.

  He punched me across the face, a spiked ring slicing my skin as it went. “Let’s try that again. Do you take responsibility for destroying life as we know it?”

  Chapter 90

  Victoria

  I stared at James, trying not to shake or make the collar hurt any more than it already did. He hit me across the face with his other hand, which at least didn’t have a spiked ring.

  “Answer me!”

  “Will you stop?” I held his gaze, trying to ignore the fact that his eyes were so similar to my love’s.

  His brows came together. “I’ll ask the questions around here, and you will answer them.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay, what?” he shouted. Spittle flew to my face.

  “I’ll take the blame.”

  His nostrils flared. “Not the blame—the responsibility. There’s a difference. You’re guilty, not a martyr.”

  I struggled to take a deep breath. “Okay.”

  “No, it’s not okay. Take responsibility. Say it.” He kicked me in the kneecap.

  My leg buckled and I started to fall. The collar choked me until I managed to regain my balance. It was no easy task with the pain shooting through my knee and my wrists tied behind me.

  “Say the words, little girl.”

  I glared at him. “You keep calling me that, but how can I be responsible for something so enormous if I’m just a helpless child?”

  From the periphery, Benjamin shook his head vigorously.

  Toby’s father reached behind his back and brought forward a leather whip. “Want to say that again?”

  “Gladly.” I gathered as much saliva as I could and spit it on his face, not quite reaching his eyes as I’d hoped.

  “Now you’ve done it.”

  “Are you going to kill me again?” If I was going to die anyway, I would go out on my own terms without giving him the satisfaction of taking fault for the traditional werewolf ways growing outdated.

  The whip stung my right arm and then my left.

  “You can make this easier on yourself or harder. It’s your choice.”

  I clenched my jaw, refusing to respond.

  “Does my son put up with your insolence?”

  It took all my concentration not to cry in pain. The whip burns stung far more than they should have. Then I realized he’d put something on the whip to make it hurt more.

  James paced and then faced me. “I’m almost tempted to send you back to him. Putting up with you would be a fantastic punishment.”

  Hope surged through me. Would he really let me go back to Toby that easily?

  “But don’t worry.” He moved the whip from one hand to the other. “I’m not even close to done with you. This is just to warm you up for what’s to come.”

  A small cry escaped my throat.

  The corners of his mouth turned up. “Don’t like that? Good.” He struck me again over and over, this time hitting me from all sides. Each time the leather made contact it stung worse than the last. “Ready to take responsibility yet?”

  My body slunk, making me gag on the collar. I fought to remain standing and refused to answer him. Deep inside, my wolf whimpered. We were too beaten down to attempt a shift.

  “How does that feel?” he taunted.

  I narrowed my eyes—one of the few places that didn’t hurt. Burns now stung me from my ankles to my neck.

  “Remember those vampires you were fighting?” he asked.

  I didn’t give any indication that I recalled anything.

  “We collected their venom before killing them, so thanks for that. It won’t kill you, but oh how it’ll hurt. Might even make you wish you were dead.” He laughed and the snapped his attention back to me. “You ruined my life, leading to my eventual death. Trust me, I’ll make sure you pay in full. But first, you need to admit that it was all your fault.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I struggled to breathe enough air.

  He stuck the whip in a back pocket. “You can make this a lot easier on yourself. Admit your responsibility, and I’ll have one of my guys loosen your leash.”

  I shook my head.

  “So insolent. We’ll see how long that lasts.” He stepped to the side, brought his knee to his waist, and side-kicked me in the ribs.

  Pain shot out in all directions. I gasped and cried out, struggling against the collar.

  “Last chance,” he taunted. “For now, anyway. There’s so much more to come.” A slow smile spread across his face until all of his too-white teeth showed. “What do you say?”

  “Bite me.”

  In one swift motion, he side-kicked me again, this time sending me farther back. I swung on the chain, choking against the collar until I managed to get my footing.

  He got right in my face so that our noses touched. “I’ll give you some time to think this over. Next time, make the wise decision.” He turned to Benjamin. “You stay here with her. If she gives you trouble, tighten the leash.” He and Wilson left without a word, slamming the door. The building shook and more dust danced around.

  Every bone in my body hurt. The vampire venom made the whip burns sting worse with each passing moment. It felt like at least one rib had cracked.

  After a few minutes, Benjamin went to the door and opened it a crack. He peeked outside and then closed it gingerly.

  I watched him, struggling to stay standing. Without a word, he came over to me and reached up for the hook.

  “Don’t tighten it,” I begged.

  He unhooked it and let the chain fall to the floor. I stumbled, having to adjust to the lack of pressure on my neck.

  “May as well rest,” he said. “They’ll be back soon enough.”

  I stared at him.

  “Or you can just stand there.”

  As much as I wanted to run out the door, I knew it would never work. Not with as much pain as I was in. I decided to take his advice. Each step hurt, but I made it to the nearest wall and slumped to the ground. He sat a few feet from me.

  After a few minutes, I realized how parched my mouth and throat were. “Can I have some water?”

  He flinched. “I’m not supposed to.”

  “You’re not supposed to let me off the hook, either, but you did.”

  Benjamin frowned. “You can’t tell anyone.”

  “Why would I?”

  He studied me and then rose. “Stay there.”

  “Where would I go?” I moaned and wiped some blood from the gash in my face. It was already starting to heal.

  “Just stay put.” Benjamin went over to the rusty chest and rounded a wall. Rustling noises came from his direction and a minute later, he reappeared with a water bottle.

  My throat cried out for the drink. I sat up, eager for just a little relief. He twisted the cap off and put it to my mouth. Water filled my mouth and dripped down my chin. I drank as quickly as I could, and before I knew it, the bottle was empty.

  “Can I have more?”

  He sighed. “You trying to get me into trouble?”

  “No. I can’t remember the last thing I drank, and I’ve been whipped with vampire venom. I’m pretty sure your alpha cracked some ribs. I’m tied up like a dog.”

  Remorse covered his face. “I had nothing to do with any of that.”

  “Yet you won’t give me more water.”

  “James won’t hesitate to beat me up, either.”

  I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes. “Then don’t help me,” I whispered, hoping to appeal to his conscious.

  After a few moments of silence, his footsteps sounded. I opened an eye and watched him head back around the corner. He returned and helped me drink another full bottle. Finally, I felt a little better. Hydrated, at least. That would help my body to repair itself faster.

  “I don’t suppose you’d untie the rope?”

  “Sorry.” He sounded genuine. “At least it’s looser than before.”

  “Thanks.” I looked around the barn as we sat in silence. My cut and burns felt like they were healing, but the venom still stung with a fierceness that nearly brought tears to my eyes. I stretched my legs out in front of me and noticed my knee felt better.

  Time dragged on, and all the water caught up to my bladder.

  “Is there a toilet around here?”

  Benjamin snickered. “Seriously? I’m pretty sure this building is older than indoor plumbing.”

  “I have to go.”

  “You’re the one who wanted all that water.”

  “Are you saying I should soil myself? You’re the one who has to sit with me.”

  “And you’re lucky I’m the one guarding you.”

  Didn’t I know it? My bladder screamed at me. “Really, though. I can’t hold it much longer.”

  “I can’t let you out of my sight.”

  “You did to get the water.”

  Benjamin grumbled. “Use that stall over there.” He gestured toward a row of old horse stalls. “Then at least I can see your feet.”

  “The rope?” I arched a brow.

  “This is why I’ll never be in the alpha’s inner circle.”

  “That’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

  He shrugged, but then untied me. “Just don’t try anything. I’m fast and strong.”

  I rubbed my wrists. “I won’t do anything to get you in trouble.” Every step I made hurt worse than the last. I rolled my shoulders back and forth, trying to work out the stiffness again.

  Finally, I made it to the nearest stall. I went in, closed the door, and let my pants fall to my knees. I gasped at the sight of my black and blue skin. It looked far worse than it felt. I squatted over a bale of hay and released the floodgates.

  “Hurry up,” Benjamin called.

  “Can’t rush these things.” I lifted my shirt to see the damage. Long welts covered me where the venomous whip had assaulted me. Bruises in the shape of a shoe covered my ribs.

  I adjusted all my clothes and stumbled out of the stall. Pain shot out from my ribcage. I grasped it and made my way back over to Benjamin. The chain kept getting in my way until I finally sat.

  He held up the rope.

  “Please, no.”

  “I have to.”

  “You don’t.”

  “James will flip out if he sees you untied.”

  “I’d say he passed ‘flipped out’ long ago.”

  We stared each other down.

  “I don’t want to tie your arms.”

  “Then don’t.”

  He muttered under his breath. “I’ll sneak you more water in your cage if you don’t fight me.”

  “What? I have to go back there?”

  “Of course.”

  I threw my head back, hitting the wall. “Help me escape.”

  “I definitely can’t do that.”

  “It’s obvious you don’t agree with the way they’re treating me.”

  “Doesn’t mean I want my life cut short.” He reached for my wrists and I let him tie them up. No sense in getting him in trouble when he was being as helpful as he could, given the circumstances.

  I closed my eyes, hoping for a little sleep.

  Benjamin scrambled to his feet. “Someone’s coming. I have to put the chain back on the hook. Hurry, before we’re both beaten to a pulp.”

  My stomach twisted into a tight knot. “Wait. What about the camera?”

  “It’s just there to scare you. Hurry.”

  Chapter 91

  Toby

  “Are you sure this is the right path?” Tap asked. “We’ve taken too many twists and turns. I swear, we’ve been down this road before.”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me,” Soleil said. “I can teleport myself across the world, and I’m confused and dizzy.”

  “I’m doing the best I can,” Frida said.

  I squeezed the steering wheel and tried to push my own frustration down. “I know you are. I appreciate your help, Frida.”

  “Left here,” she said.

  Pain gripped my temples as I turned down a road I was sure we’d been down twice before. It was hard to tell for sure, though, because half the roads looked the same and most of the names sounded the same. In fact, if I didn't trust Frida, I’d have been seriously doubting her.

  “We’ve definitely seen that house before,” Jet said. “The one with the political signs covering the yard.”

  “I remember that one, too.” Ziamara yawned.

  “I’m doing my best,” Frida said.

  “Maybe we should stop and get something to eat. Everyone’s tired and hungry. I know I am.”

  Everyone else muttered their agreements.

  “I’ll find the main road.” I looked for other cars before making a u-turn.

  “Any way we can redo the locator spell?” Jet asked.

  “I’m low on supplies,” Frida said. “And besides, the one I used was one of my strongest and most reliable ones. It should’ve led us right there. The only thing that makes sense is that they keep moving her around and it’s throwing off the directions in my mind.”

  “We’ll all feel better after we eat,” Tap said.

  I nodded, but of course I wouldn’t be happy until we found Victoria. It was extra-frustrating that she was so close, yet we couldn’t find her. I tried to remember the last place to eat we’d seen, but with all the twists and turns, I couldn’t have been more turned around. Finally, we came to a fish and chips place.

  “Is this good enough?” I asked.

  Everyone agreed. We piled out and went inside. My stomach rumbled once I could smell the food. Fish and chips had never smelled so good, and with my pre-full-moon hunger, I could probably eat three full plates and still be hungry. Given the way the other wolves ordered, I knew I wasn’t alone.

  The teen girl taking our order looked at us like we were crazy as we ordered the food. She handed me a plastic number. “It might take a little longer than normal with such a large order.”