mywolfprotector (19 page)

I'd just rejoined the bikers, with the man I'd stepped away with, when all of a sudden, there were people everywhere. They murdered the bikers in front of me, without the slightest bit of hesitation. I felt the prick of a needle in my arm, but my last thoughts were of Taylor. I thought they'd already murdered her.

When I awoke again, I was in Hell's Pit, locked in a tiny cell of a room.”

Nicole sobbed out loudly, the recounting of the story extremely painful. She was overly

distraught, swaying where she stood. Alonzo stood up and walked over to her, making his position in front of all the wolves clear. He wrapped a heavy, muscled arm around her waist, supporting her.

Carole Anne brought her a glass of water, her own eyes wet with tears in compassion for the two women who'd experienced so much tragedy.

“I found out within the first few days of my captivity that Taylor was alive, and being held in the facility, as well. My debt to her only increased through the years. In the beginning, the research facility mostly left us alone. After all, we were only human, and they preferred the supernatural creatures to experiment on.”

“Then one day, their focus began to shift to us. The tests and the blood work started, and so did the attentions of the male guards. Taylor was mostly spared by them, due to her size. The guards loved taunting her because she was plump. I can't tell you how jealous I was of her, wishing I could be in her shoes. She did all she could to keep them away from me, though, even taking beatings when needed.

There were countless times she convinced the scientists to do the tests on her instead of me, and let me tell you those tests were painful beyond anything you could ever imagine. No part of your body was left untouched in Hell's Pit. That's how Taylor is, though. She is a protector, extremely loyal to those she loves.”

Taylor shook in her seat, the tears flowing endlessly down her face. She was humiliated that

everyone knew the things that had happened to her, wishing Nicole would have never spoken. It was her secrets to bear, never meant to be shared with the world.

Nicole faced her, talking directly to her. “For years they kept us in a cell together. It's the only thing that got me through that captivity. I believed Taylor would always be there to protect me, and help me to survive it. I failed her, though. I never had a thought beyond myself, always taking, but never giving. The beatings, the testings, the degradations from the guards, there was never anyone there to tell her that somehow, someway, we would make it through. She had to suffer it all silently, while still picking me up.”

“One day, Commander Carlos took over the facility. Things went from bad to impossibly worse.

He took a liking to Taylor, became determined to have her. The testing they did upon her increased, until she was gone daily. They injected her will all types of drugs, some that would leave her screaming for hours after they were done. Even then, she never complained. Do you know why?”

Nicole paused, as several shook their heads in response to her question. Her voice was low,

broken, when she pressed on, “It was because she didn't want to worry me. Soon they separated us, but I'd still hear her screams in the night. I couldn't bear the thought of one day being in her shoes. I knew we'd been given something to stop us from aging. In the end, I chose to be entertainment for the guards.

I'm sure most of you can guess what that entailed, but it stopped the majority of the testings being done on me.”

Nicole looked up at Alonzo, gauging his reaction to her words. His expression was pained, but

with a nod, he encouraged her to continue. She inhaled shakily before looking at the people around her.

“Carlos had plans for Taylor, and he was grooming her for him. He was extremely possessive over her, not wanting her mixing with the general population. Sometimes, he even kept her chained to his side, wanting to break her and make her learn her place.”

Marrok roared in the silence, his eyes going red as he began to change. Several guardians ran

over, one of them attempting to lead her away. She refused, placing a trembling hand on his thigh. “It's okay,” she murmured softly, her voice comforting.

He turned and faced her, his red eyes glowing like burning embers. “It's not okay,” he ground

out, his voice more animal than human. “It was never okay, and it never will be, not as long as he's alive.”

He panted, struggling to regain control. The guardians stepped back, but stayed close by. Nicole spoke up again, her voice stronger. “I've had plenty of time to think about things since we've been freed. I owe Taylor a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. If I wouldn't have spoken up tonight, she would have never spoken of it. It's just not her way.”

She stopped and looked directly at Marrok, her expression firm. “I've heard around Wolf Town

that you have a liking for Taylor.” She emphasized the word liking, having heard that Taylor was his mate but wasn't aware of it yet. “If you do, you'll guard her day and night. Commander Carlos is a powerful man, and he's not the type to ever stop. As sure as I'm standing here right now, he's out there hunting for her.”

“Then, he will die,” Marrok roared out, uncaring of the eyes that watched him in sympathy and

disbelief. Taylor knew they weren't used to seeing him like this. She could feel their eyes on her, as well, and she believed it was because they blamed her for his misery. Huddling in the seat, Taylor felt alone and unwanted as Marrok refused to even look at her.

Nicole nodded in agreement, before Alonzo led her off to sit next to him. Taylor stood up with her hand pressed to her mouth, barely containing the sob. Quickly, she made her way out of the building, without a backward glance. Her emotions were raw and close to the surface, the drugs leaving her system daily. She couldn't bear sitting within the pack, with all their eyes staring at her.

Walking down the deserted sidewalk, she allowed the sob within her to escape. There was

nobody to hear as the pain from her years of captivity overtook her, nobody that really even cared. It was a feeling Taylor knew well, having experienced it her whole life. Ducking between two buildings, she sank down onto her knees in the grass. Blinded by tears, she leaned over onto her hands, loud sobs wracking her body.

* * * * *

In her mind, she'd probably thought he was shunning her. Marrok's lips tightened into a

grimace. He could have done a lot better than he had, at least, he could have said something, anything, to reassure her. Although unintentional, he had let his anger at her treatment put a wall up between them, making her feel bad enough that she thought her only option was to flee in shame.

Since her rescue, Taylor had displayed a grace and strength of character that many would never dream of. Not once had she complained over her time in captivity. Instead, she shouldered her

tormented memories regally, refusing to burden others with the horrors she'd been through.

She'd carried it alone for too long. It had changed her, making her scared to trust or rely on anyone but herself. Her whole life had been spent always giving to others, while nobody had ever cared enough to give back.

Most people would have resented being treated like that, but not Taylor. She had continued to

do good for all of them, her manner sweet, kind, and gentle. It was past time that someone showed her that she mattered. His mate needed him, and he was determined to offer his support. The sounds of her sobs reached his ears, shattering his heart.

He found her on the ground, between two houses, completely unaware of his presence. His

beautiful mate was fully broken as she laid out on the ground, never expecting anyone to care enough to follow her. He quickly dropped to his knees beside her, pulling her into his arms, before sinking back to cradle her gently to his chest.

“Leave me alone, Marrok,” she pleaded, hiding her tear-stained face from him. “I don't want

you to see me like this.”

“No,” he replied, firmly, smoothing her hair back from the side of her face. “I'll never leave you alone again. You've spent too many years always having to be the strong one, never having anyone to rely upon. It stops now, Taylor. What I heard changes nothing when it comes to how I feel about you. I respect you in a way I've never respected anyone before. Share this burden with me. You've been strong long enough. Let me shoulder it from here on out. I promise you, I won't fail you.”

“I'm not good enough for you,”she sobbed out, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing

her face into the side of his throat. “You heard the things I did and experienced from Nicole. I'm nothing but broken goods, a woman without an ounce of pride. I willingly did what they asked while being taunted about it the entire time. I'm no good for someone as pure as you.”

“Bullshit,” he denied, vehemently. “You're too good for me. Don't ever let me hear you say

anything like that again. You took a terrible situation and did what you could to help others, unselfishly.

Because of you, hundreds of lives were saved. I'll be thanking God, every night for the rest of my life, for the things that you did. Because of your actions with the guards, I have you in my life again. Neal and Cody would have never escaped without you. You're brave, honest, and noble, far purer than anyone I've ever seen before. Never doubt that, Taylor. Never.”

“I can't stay here with you,” she replied, pulling her face back to look up at him. Her eyes were puffy and red from her tears, her voice choked up. Marrok couldn't ever remember seeing a more beautiful sight. Finally, he was getting the breakthrough he desired with his mate.

“Why not?”

Her hands clenched his shirt. “You heard what Nicole said, and it's something I have known all along. Carlos is coming, I can just feel it. I couldn't bear it if you, or the pack, was caught in the crossfire.”

He grabbed her chin lightly, keeping his eyes locked with hers. “You were planning on leaving

all along, weren't you?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn't you confide in me, Taylor? Have you no faith in me to keep you safe?”

She sniffled, her voice dejected and sad as she said, “I don't doubt you at all. In fact, I know you would fight. I couldn't take seeing you hurt. If I'm gone, you won't have to fight. You have a wonderful future mapped out for you, but not if I ruin it. One day, you are going to meet your mate and possibly have children. I know what that means to a wolf. When that day comes, I'll be nothing more than a forgotten memory. Let me go, Marrok. I'm not worth losing your future over.”

Marrok released her chin, leaning back against the wall before gently thudding the back of his head against it. All this time he'd spent worried about claiming her, and she had considered their time together a temporary fling. He chuckled, before saying wryly, “Fate you just won't be denied, will you?”

Taylor watched him with a puzzled expression across her heart-shaped face, temporarily

distracted from the painful events of the night. “What are you talking about?”

He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss, unable to resist the temptation of her lips. “I

hadn't planned on telling you this soon, but fate had other plans for us. You're my mate, Taylor. I've known it since the night we met, so long ago. I wanted to woe you slowly, make you fall in love with me, first. Fate can be a dirty bitch, though. I guess it just wasn't destined for us to travel that path.”

Her lips parted in wonderment, her eyes wide as they stared in awe at his face. “I wouldn't say that, Marrok. In fact, I'd say it has went along exactly as you planned. I'm helplessly, and hopelessly, in love with you. I've been since the night I met you. There is such a thing as love at first sight. I know. It happened to me.”

Pure, unadulterated joy shot through him. His eyes closed in happiness and relief, and he

swallowed thickly. Her words were powerful to him, something he had waited to hear nearly his entire life. Marrok desperately wanted to bring up the final step to their mating, which was their mutual agreement to be mates, and her conversion into werewolf. He decided against it, though.

There was still time until the next full moon. Her acknowledgment of her love for him was

enough, for now. He'd give her time to adjust to it, and then charm her into the rest. The bond between them was too strong for them to settle for anything else.

Taylor had to be changed, by then. Although he wouldn't admit his worries to her, every

werewolf alive was in serious danger of an attack. Her humanity would make her vulnerable in a fight.

Should she be werewolf, the humans wouldn't expect it. That edge could possibly save her life.

His eyelids lowered to half-mast, his thoughts turning sexual. Hearing that his mate loved him was the most powerful aphrodisiac of all, and he wasn't immune to its pull. His voice lowered as he drawled, “At first sight, hmm? So this foolish talk about leaving is over and done with now? Since you know about mates, you know it wouldn't do any good to run. I'd just chase you down, to the very ends of the earth, if needed.”

“Really?” She arched an eyebrow suggestively at him. “Maybe I'd enjoy that.”

“Maybe you don't even have to leave my lap to experience it,” he rebounded, arrogantly. “I'm

more than happy to give your delectable body a ride that it will never forget.”

She pulled his lips down to hers, hungrily. “I want you, Marrok, right here, right now.”

He ran his hands over her breasts, cupping them in his hands before playing with her nipples

with his thumbs. Taylor groaned in pleasure, her hands busy undoing his button. Unzipping him

carefully, she trailed her fingers along his hard shaft. “I'm so glad you aren't wearing anything underneath these jeans. It makes it so easy for me to play. Your cock is so big, the pleasure I get from it incredible. I can't wait to feel you inside of me again.”