mywolfprotector (7 page)

Carole Anne getting her rifle after them should something happen to me. I'm an alpha, but coddled to death.”

He looked back at the worried guardians. “Fine,” he agreed, with a big sigh. “Release them, but have a care for yourselves. We'll meet you back at the original site.”

The guardian took the keys from him and immediately unlocked the first door. It opened to

reveal a male shifted into wolf form. He took off past them and waited at the metal door to the stairwell.

“Let's go,” Alexander told them, moving to join the wolf. Marrok pulled on Taylor's arm, but

she held back. “Nicole,” she insisted, stoically. “I won't leave until she's brought out.”

Marrok growled, wanting to get his mate to safety. “Which room?”

She pulled away from him and walked calmly to a door several feet away. “This one,” she

replied softly, her blue eyes pleading as she stared at him.

Marrok jerked his head at the door. The guardian quickly opened it to reveal the naked woman

within. They exchanged puzzled looks. She was spread out on the cot, completely unconscious. He couldn't see any visible signs of injury so he asked, “What's wrong with her?”

“She's human, so she wasn't used for testing, at least not anymore. They kept her unconscious

until she was needed.”

“Needed for what?” Marrok asked, motioning for the guardian to pick her up.

“Entertainment,” Taylor replied, her expression and tone flat. She was robotic in her actions and speech, as if all emotion had been brutally ripped away. Taylor was just a shell of the vibrant woman she'd once been. What had these bastards done to her?

“We need to move, now,” Alexander hissed, ignoring the pleas from the three tied on the floor.

“Can you walk?” Marrok asked Taylor.

“Yes,” she replied stiffly.

A chilling voice came over the intercom, easily heard despite the loud alarm. At the man's voice Taylor froze, her hand reaching up to crush the back of his shirt in her fist unintentionally.

“This is Commander Carlos Sanchez,” the deep voice said, his tone cold and unaffected by the

chaos within the facility. “And I lead this research facility. We don't know who you are, but I guarantee that we will. If you leave now, we might leave your loved ones alive.”

He stopped to laugh cruelly. “I doubt it, though. You might think you've won, but you're dead

wrong. We are powerful, our reach is worldwide. You can never outrun us. Never. For everyone

participating in this attack, know this. Your days are numbered.”

Alexander and Marrok exchanged an unamused look. A guard moved next to Alexander, but he

shook his head and told him, “Gather up a team and try to locate this scum.”

Leaving the other guard behind to finish freeing the last prisoners, he took off.

“As to our test subjects,” he continued. “We know everything about you, from what size shoe

you wear to your very DNA. When we find you, your time spent here will look like a relaxing vacation.

You'll wish you were dead.”

“Oh, shit,” one of the escapees said, hobbling as fast as he could to get past Marrok. When he got to Alexander his eyes narrowed. “Open the damned door, and get the hell out of my way. Big papa is fixing to get the fuck out of this joint. There is just one surefire way to make a man wish he was dead. The only thing these bitches ain't touched yet is my balls, and I'm damned determined to keep them.”

With a bemused look on his face Alexander quickly complied, holding it open until the man

started down the stairs.

“Commander, we need to leave,” said a voice in the background. Another explosion within the

bowels of the building came across the speakers, loud to everyone that heard it. Marrok hoped the other guardians could reach them before they had a chance to escape.

“My time here is done,” the self-assured voice continued. “But my time with all of you isn't.

And as to my pet, Taylor. Don't ever think for one moment you've escaped me. With every second that goes by, know that I'm a second closer to finding you. I will recapture you. Count on it.”

Taylor's eyes were wide, her face blanched of any color. Marrok wrapped an arm around her,

sure she would pass out. “Don't worry,” he whispered by her ear, hating to see the fear deep within her eyes. “No matter what it takes, I'll make sure he never gets the chance to have you again.”

The intercom cut off. “Let's go, now,” she told them, moving forward. “We don't know what

they will do next, and we can't risk being captured or killed.”

Alexander pushed open the heavy door before grabbing it with both hands. In one forceful jerk, he ripped it cleanly from the frame. Laying it against the wall, he dusted his hands off as several wolves ran down the stairwell. “They'll be able to get to freedom easier this way,” he told Marrok, although an explanation wasn't needed.

Moving down the stairs, they stopped at each level to take off the door. More prisoners joined them. Regardless of what form they were in, each shared the burning need for freedom. They all bore the scars of their time spent within the facility, both internal and external. In various states of recovery, they made their way down to the door that would give them what they sought most.

The lights flickered and went out. Taylor was silent, but her body trembled against his. “We're nearly free,” he muttered close to her ear. “Although it's dark, I can see fine. The fire has burnt out the wiring, but usually there's some type of backup lighting.” As if Marrok had willed it, an emergency generator kicked on, the solitary lights barely illuminating the concrete stairwell.

She looked up at him, her expression relieved. “I hate being in the dark,” she replied with a

shiver.

“Can't blame you there,” he replied gently, urging her down the stairs.

“We have a camp set up at the base of the mesa,” Alexander called out, his authoritative voice reaching all the way up the large stairwell. “Follow the scent trail to reach it. We have plenty of food and water, and we can sort it all out then. Move quickly, though, and assist with any that you are able to. We don't know how much longer this facility will hold.”

The other wolves sensed the urgency in his voice, scented the smoke and fire thickening the air.

They moved faster, and it wasn't long before the three reached the opening in the mesa. “I'm free,”

Taylor said softly, at the first sight of the clear night sky. A lone tear slipped down the pale smoothness of her cheek, her pale blue eyes shining in the moonlight. “I'm actually free.”

Marrok pulled her into his arms. “You are free,” he agreed, swallowing past the thick lump of

emotion lodged in his throat. “And I vow to you, that even if it takes my life, you will always remain that way.”

Alexander stopped to watch them, his classic male features pulled into a frown of concern. He

sensed that all was not well with Marrok's mate, but he didn't know what it was. The events within this facility would change the lives of werewolves as a whole for a long time to come, if not forever. He shook his head and moved on. It was too much to take in standing outside of such a place of horrors.

“Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight,” Marrok ordered gently. “I'm going to get

you out of here.” She quickly complied. At a flat run, he took off down the mesa, amongst a multitude of wolves and humans fleeing for their very lives.

* * * * *

deafening, but it didn't really bother her. Nothing did anymore. She was always numb and devoid of emotion, regardless of what type of situations she found herself in.

Despite her inability to feel, she was aware of the man pulling the headset off of her and

escorting her out into the humid, early morning hours. Somewhere deep within she felt a twinge, but it was too dull for her to acknowledge. She was weary, the events of the night combined with so many years of captivity almost more than she could handle.

His body was large and warm as he led her to the waiting jeep. After helping her in, he jumped into the other side. The driver took off immediately.

Marrok looked at her, his expression unreadable. “I'm taking you somewhere safe, a place

where you can rest. After you sleep, we need to talk.” Alexander had already made the arrangements for them to stay in an empty house in the settlement. Now that she was back, he'd have to look for something more permanent. The barracks were no longer acceptable now that he had his mate.

She nodded in response. “Where are we?”

“In Missouri. I live here now, but I still have the cabin in New Mexico. I've also got all of your belongings stored there, as well.”

Her blonde eyebrow furrowed. “Why would you have them?”

He cleared his throat before looking away. “After you went missing, I searched for you. There

was nobody to pay for your apartment, and they were going to put your stuff out on the street.” He shrugged, looking back at her. “Nobody else stepped forward so I did. After all, you came up missing from my home, and I felt responsible.”

He might have questions, but so did she. At least, she thought she did. Rubbing at her head, she wished her mind was more alert. Ever since her captivity had started, she'd suffered from this dullness of memory. It wasn't surprising, though. The scientists and doctors had given her many drugs and injections, and it was likely that one of them had something to do with this. Her body hadn't been her own for a long time now.

“How did you find me?” she asked, blinking at the brightness of the morning sun as they

changed direction. The jeep was moving along a surprisingly smooth dirt road. They were headed straight to a thick grove of trees, and she couldn't wait to get within its shaded depths.

His hair whipped against her briefly, leaving behind a pleasant scent. She recognized it

somewhere deep inside, the woodsy scent bringing back the one night they'd spent together. She'd been so young then, compared to the woman she was now. Her mind felt aged beyond its years, faded and jaded to anything life had to offer her.

“Two men showed up here, badly injured. They said you sent them.” He watched her intently,

his tone cautious. It was enough to almost make her release the hysterical laugh she could feel teasing the back of her throat.

“That's right,” she replied, having almost forgot it. Carlos Sanchez, the head of the facility, had blessedly been gone for several days. In his absence the staff had forgotten to medicate her as timely as they generally did. She'd taken advantage of it in a desperate plan of action, hoping and praying that somehow the two she'd helped to escape would bring back help for the others.

She thought about his words. “Don't you mean werewolves?” At his confused look, she

explained, “You said two men, but they aren't men. They are werewolves.” The two men in the front seat exchanged an uneasy look, confirming what she already knew. “I spent thirty years in a facility designed for the sole purpose of experimenting on and researching paranormal beings. I know exactly what they are, and you as well.”

His firm, sensual lips moved into a half-smile of satisfaction, although his eyes remained

unreadable. “Good. I'm glad we've got that out of the way. How did you know where to send them?”

She sighed. A remnant of the old Taylor told her she should be embarrassed to share her foolish fantasy, but the woman she was now simply didn't care. “In a place like that people talk in whispers, especially late at night. I'd heard the tales of the great and mighty Marrok, and how you'd joined the Missouri pack. Sometimes in my clearer days, I'd pretend that you rescued me like you did that night at the lake.”

She looked at him, taking in his solid black hair and unlined face. She might not have aged, but neither had he. His shoulders were still as broad as she remembered, his body powerfully built. “I suppose I thought you would do it again if you knew where I was at,” she said slowly, her voice just a notch above a whisper.

He closed his eyes briefly, his face tightening with something undefinable. It was over so fast it could have been nothing more than her imagination. The jeep exited the forest, effectively putting an end to their brief conversation.

Taylor gasped, her eyes widening at the town in front of her. It was like stepping into another world or even another time. The majority of the homes were made of stone, complete with their own yards and driveways. Some of them were grouped together, while others were set apart. Many of the small yards were full of a variety of flowers, the gardens elegant and groomed. A few of the residents were outside, waving to them as they drove by.

The jeep pulled onto a narrow, paved road. Immediately, she knew that this picturesque village was Wolf Town, but her eyes still swung to his for confirmation. He grinned and nodded at the

unspoken question he could see in her face.

“Amazing, isn't it?” He asked, not waiting for a response. “Alexander and his family have

managed to create the only hidden wolf settlement I know of. Most of the packs have to live among others, ever fearful of discovery during the full moon. We don't have to worry about that here. It's a fully functioning town, complete with a restaurant, bar, and even a grocery store.”

“Don't forget the spa,” the driver added as Marrok glared at the back of his head. The other

guardian chortled in response before falling silent.

Taylor ignored them, not understanding the joke. “This is like something straight from a

fairytale,” she said quietly to Marrok, her expression awed. “It seems so quiet and peaceful.”

He stared at her, his eyes never leaving her face. “It is. You will also find the people of Wolf Town to be kind and peaceful. Both you and Nicole will be accepted and treated well here.”

Taylor nodded, thinking about the other woman. She had been brought in on another helicopter,

still unconscious. It wasn't uncommon. The sedatives used on her were the best. They should be. The scientists had tested them out often enough on their unwilling subjects.