The Gathering (19 page)

Anger surged hot in her limbs at the sight of
him and she felt the wolf brush against her bones. A loud shrieking
roar sounded in her head and she clenched her jaw and tried to calm
her nerves.

“Now,” Victor said. “I’ll ask again, Ms.
Ford. Who did you call?”

Lifting her head, she glared at him. “You’ll
find out soon enough.”

Victor stood, bracing his cane in front of
him. “Shall I kill him?”

She darted a glance to Sabriel. She knew
that’s who Victor was referring to. “It doesn’t make a difference
to me,” she lied. “One less Breed leader pushes the odds in my
favor.”

Someone in the room snickered. Victor stared
out at the sea of bodies, his bushy white eyebrows raised. “I see
someone thinks the situation humorous. Perhaps you wish to trade
places with Sabriel?”

No one responded. Rayna looked back over at
Sabriel and met his gaze. She tried to tell him with a look she
hadn’t meant what she said but wasn’t sure she succeeded at first.
When her skin tingled with warmth, she gave him a faint smile.

When Victor turned those cold eyes on her
again, Rayna held back a gasp when the wolf slammed against her
bones. She could hear it inside her head. Feel the cool brush of
fur slinking along her limbs and she hoped the wolf wasn’t choosing
now to be born. It was agitated and felt close to the surface. Too
close.

Fear stole the air from her lungs and she
immediately thought of Garrett. She didn’t want to shift without
him. Couldn’t turn into a monster without him there to protect her.
Just thinking about her mate caused the wolf to grow more
restless.

It pushed against her again, the howling
inside her head growing more persistent and she wondered if it was
Victor’s doings. He could summon the wolf, he’d said. Was he doing
it now or was the wolf just ready to be born.

When she glanced up at him, the smile on his
face gave him away. He was doing it. His eyes had bled to wolf
amber and his gaze was hard and penetrating. “Since you refuse to
enlighten us, Ms. Ford, you’ve left me no choice but to proceed
sooner than we had hoped.”

Rayna’s pulse leaped. “What do you mean,
sooner?”

Victor smiled. “I had a very special evening
planned in your honor. All the Breed leaders were gathering, a rare
thing indeed, but your reckless behavior has only caused you
grief.”

His gaze was intent on her and the people at
Rayna’s back seemed to move closer. She glanced at them over her
shoulder. Looked at the faces of people who weren’t people at all.
Breed leaders. Shifters of every species imaginable, gathered in
one room for a single purpose.

They wanted the world to know they existed
and they wanted her to enlighten the masses.

It was the beginning of her end. The fear
she’d lived with while trying to survive Malcolm’s plan, and the
following months coming to terms with the knowledge she’d soon be
one of the monsters, was nothing compared to this. The Collective
wanted her to shift in front of the world. To show the human race
that the things they thought only legend and tales to frighten
children were real. That monster’s were real. They lived among them
and wanted to be a part of normal society.

What these people didn’t realize was… the
world wasn’t ready for them. They never would be. And when she
showed them, they would kill her. Or worse, they would lock her up
somewhere and experiment on her just as they’d done to Malcolm and
the original pack members.

Victor tapped his cane on the floor. “Did you
think your attempt for rescue would delay us? All you’ve
accomplished is expediting the proceedings and ruining my carefully
prepared plans.” Rayna focused her gaze on him and tried to calm
her racing heart.

He sat back down, settled himself into his
seat before looking back up at her. “You’ll be taken into the city
when we’re finished here. Once there, you’ll be forced to shift, on
camera.”

Rayna swallowed to loosen the lump in her
throat. “No one will believe it. They’ll just think it’s a
Hollywood stunt. Human’s aren’t as trusting in what they see on
television as you think.”

“There will be a live audience, Ms. Ford.
People do trust what they see in the flesh.” Victor smiled but
something deadly flashed in his eyes. “Has your pack explained to
you what happens once the wolf is brought forward the first
time?”

She stared at him and refused to answer. She
did know and the thoughts of feeding on something, or someone,
while it was still alive, made her queasy. Victor glanced back at
Sabriel then. Rayna followed his gaze.

“Sabriel has volunteered to offer himself up
as your first meal.”

Rayna’s stomach turned. Deep breaths didn’t
calm the sensation; instead, it left her dizzy as she stared at
Sabriel. He was staring at her, his body still, and no emotion
showed on his face.

“I see you’re not too fond of the idea,”
Victor said.

“Not particularly, no.” She turned to face
him. “I’d much rather rip your throat out.”

Victor laughed, the sound coming out as a
cracked wheeze before he settled. “I may look like nothing more
than a bag of old bones to you, Ms. Ford, but do believe me when I
say you wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”

Rayna stared at him and felt her eyes burn.
It was hopeless now. The Collective had won. They’d sacrifice her
to gain the world. She blinked away tears, refusing to show any of
these people a single moment of weakness, and hoped Chad had called
Garrett. Even if he couldn’t save her at least he’d know what
happened to her. She only regretted not being able to tell him she
hadn’t left on her own. That she had turned around and was coming
back to him when Carmen stopped her.

A series of muffled yells was heard from
somewhere in the house. Growls and screams and the distinct thud of
things crashing caused those in the room to turn and stare
wide-eyed toward the back of the room.

Victor was again on his feet, issuing orders
for someone to see what the commotion was.

The man who raced across the room only made
it half way before the doors were flung open, smashing against the
walls. Rayna’s heart slammed against her ribcage the moment she saw
him.

Garrett. Her mate. He’d come for her and he
was pissed.

He entered the room like walking death.
Splatters of blood were painted across his cheek; the front of his
shirt soaked in crimson and the look on his face was one Rayna
would never forget. This was the creature she had feared.

His eyes were wolf amber, his facial features
slightly distorted, and she knew he was struggling to hold the
beast back. His gaze bore into her as his long stride ate at the
distance between them. When her legs stopped shaking, she ran to
him. He caught her with clawed hands as she buried her face in his
neck. “Garrett.”

He lowered his head, his breath warm against
her ear. “Did they hurt you?”

“No. Just scared me.” She felt his chest
vibrate, his hold on her tightening. She stared at the shifters at
his back and wondered how they’d get out of this. Garrett appeared
to be alone and she wasn’t delusional enough to think Victor would
just let them leave.

That wheezing laugh of Victor’s caught her
attention and she turned her head to look at him.

“You must be Garrett,” Victor said. “I’d like
to say it was a pleasure to finally meet the man who destroyed
Malcolm but your timing is unfortunate.”

“Actually, it looks as if I’m right on
time.”

Victor sat back down, propping his cane
against the chair arm before looking back up at them. “Depends on
what you hope to accomplish, I suppose.”

“I don’t hope to accomplish anything,”
Garrett said. “What I will do is take my mate and leave.”

Another wheezed laugh filled the room.
Victor’s eyes flashed amber for a split second before the old man
grinned. “You are every bit the arrogant Alpha I was told you were,
Garrett, but I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

Garrett stiffened, his hold on her
tightening. “It’s not a matter of you allowing it. I came for my
mate and I will leave with her. Whether you survive is still
debatable.”

Someone in the back of the room laughed and
Rayna could tell by the look on the faces of those around them that
the Breed leaders were intrigued.

Victor stared at Garrett for long minutes,
one finger tapping against his chin, before he lowered his arm.
“You would risk your own life for her?”

“Yes.”

Rayna looked up at Garrett’s quick answer. He
was watching Victor, the wolf shimmering across the surface of his
face. The deadly glint in his eyes caused a trickle of fear to
crawl up her spine. He wasn’t leaving without her. She knew by the
look on his face he’d fight anyone, and anything, that got in their
way of leaving.

She looked toward Sabriel. He was watching
her. The sight of his bloodied, swollen face caused her heart to
ache. That would be Garrett soon. There was no way Victor would let
them leave. They’d never make it out of this. Not alive. The
Collective would have what they wanted regardless. Garrett would
pay with his life and she wasn’t willing to stand by and watch.

Turning to Victor, she said, “I’ll do
it.”

Garrett’s hold on her tightened until she
gasped. “Keep quiet,” he growled. His voice was tinged with that
garbled, harsh vibration of the wolf. He glared at her, his jaw
clenched tight. “Don’t say another word.”

Rayna cringed at the look he gave her.
“There’s too many of them here,” she whispered.

“Do as I say, Rayna.”

“Lover’s quarrel?” Victor asked.

Garrett took a step toward Victor, pushing
Rayna behind him. She watched those around her, glancing from face
to face. They wore eager, expectant masks. They were waiting.

Victor leaned his head to one side, studying
them both. “It doesn’t have to end in bloodshed, Garrett. I can see
by your appearance you’ve come with that intention.”

“I came for my mate and I’ll take her by any
means. Either you let her leave with me or I’ll fight our way out.
You’re choice.”

“I’m sure those in the hall you disposed of
were caught off guard. The shifters in this room won’t be. Surely
you don’t want your mate to see you ripped apart in front of
her.”

Rayna grabbed his arm, squeezing it to get
his attention. He never looked her way or acknowledged she was
there. The shifters in the room were grinning. They were enjoying
the show. She glanced at Sabriel again. His gaze was intent,
focused on her.

“And what makes you so sure that will be the
outcome?” Garrett asked. “The only reason you’re still breathing
old man is because I don’t want my mate to see me kill you.”

Victor laughed, his eyes watering with the
effort. “I like you, Garrett.” He shifted in his seat and twirled
his cane between his fingers. “I was skeptical when your name was
first mentioned to me as a potential member of our little group but
we could use someone with your gumption in the Collective. You
could teach the others how to be wolves instead of sniffling little
pups.”

“If you can’t teach your pack how to be real
wolves, that’s your problem. As far as your Collective goes, you
can rot in hell for all I care.” He turned and grabbed Rayna’s arm,
walking with her across the room at a quick pace. Victor’s laughter
followed them to the door before commotion at their back signaled
the others moving.

When Garrett thrust her forward and yelled,
“Run!” she did as he said and didn’t look back.

Bodies littered the hall, blood staining the
walls and floor. She ignored them, racing through the darkened
house. The sound of fighting reached her when the front door came
into view.

She slowed and looked over her shoulder. She
saw Thaddeus, running hell bent toward her. She gasped and
quickened her pace, wondering if Garrett were coming as she raced
for the door.

* * * *

Garrett slashed at the werelion in front of
him, his claws digging into soft flesh. His wolf had surfaced the
moment Rayna left his sight. The other shifters in the room
followed his lead, their beasts breaking through their human forms,
attacking on Victor’s command, as the last of the change took him.
He hadn’t had time to prepare for the onslaught. There were too
many of them.

He fought his way clear of the shifters and
lifted his head, looking for Victor. The old werewolf was still on
his throne, watching the mayhem with a smile on his face. Garrett
turned to the wolf beside him and swung, grunting when something
stabbed him in the back.

His vision blurred as he turned to look
behind him. Another wolf glared at him, saliva dripping from his
fangs, his claws painted red with blood. When Garrett lunged for
him, the creatures around him all jumped at once.

They overpowered him in seconds.

Dragged from the floor, they carried him to
the front of the room, kicked his feet out from under him and
forced him to his knees before Victor’s chair.

Victor stared at him for long minutes,
amusement dancing in his eyes. “Do you feel better now?”

Garrett lifted his head. “No. You’re still
breathing.” Something passed behind Victor’s eyes. It wasn’t fear
but Garrett knew his words weren’t taken lightly.

The old man watched him in silence before
laughing. That wheeze he’d heard earlier turned into a hacking
cough. When Victor caught his breath, he sighed, his shoulders
lifting with the effort. “You are a delight, Garrett.” Victor
raised his head, looking out into the crowd of shifters in the
room. “Some of you could take lessons from this one. Outnumbered
and he still faced you without fear. How many of you would do the
same?”

Garrett watched the Breed leaders around him
with a careful eye. In their shifted form, he couldn’t tell who was
who. Not that he knew any of them to begin with. He didn’t care
about preternatural politics. He never did. He wasn’t even sure who
the Breed leader of his region was. Malcolm had never feared the
leaders and didn’t feel the need to inform the pack of anything.
Maybe now was a good time to acquaint himself with the order of
things.