it was from the venom or the struggle. The chlorinated water stung her nose, pricked at her eyes, and burned her throat.
The snake tried to curl around her chest. Oh, the fuck no. She stabbed her claws deep into its body and twisted her hand, making yet more blood stain the water. The snake jerked away, releasing her, and she quickly kicked for the surface again. She gasped for air, spluttering, coughing, and choking.
She clumsily grabbed a metal rung of the ladder. Triumph would have filled her if she didn’t feel so heavy and drained, which was no doubt thanks to the venom. Managing to climb a few of the steps and drag herself weakly onto the tiled surface, she lay flat on her stomach, greedily inhaling huge gulps of air. She wouldn’t get far, she knew. Wouldn’t make it out of there, and her throat was too raw for her to scream for help.
Her frantic daze darted around, searching for a weapon or—
There was a whistle near the kickboards.
Her heart jumped. She could use it to signal for help. Water drizzled down her body onto the tiles as she army-crawled her way to the whistle, conscious that it was her only chance. Snatching it, she put it to her mouth and blew hard. The weak, shaky screech bounced off the walls. She did it again and again, but the sounds got fainter and fainter. No one came.
Something shackled her ankle yet again. A large hand this time. That hand pulled her backward. Her nails scrabbled at the tiles, but it was no use. Panic wrenched the breath out of her as the water swallowed her whole. It gushed into her mouth and shot up her nose yet again.
She didn’t get a chance to properly look at the male holding her tight and dragging her deeper and deeper. The water flooded her lungs until it felt like they’d explode.
Again, she wrestled the fear beating at her. But she lost. Could barely move, let alone swim or fight. Yet, little by little, a sense of tranquility crept in, pushing away the panic. Her vision began to darken, and total paralysis finally set in. Just as the darkness dragged her under, the water shook as if something heavy had landed in it.
Lounging on his bed wearing only his jeans, Dominic pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke into his phone. “Charlene, I said I’m fine, and I’m fine.” He’d been undressing, planning to take a shower, when he’d heard his cell ringing. He’d hoped it was Mila. Hearing her voice would have gone a long way to cheering up his broody wolf.
“Well, you don’t sound fine,” said Charlene. “And I sure wouldn’t be fine if there were two messed-up articles about me floating around.”
“How pissed is Lennie?” he asked with a sigh, referring to her mate.
“He didn’t like seeing my name on an online list of your past bed-partners, but he likes you well enough that he’s more pissed for you than at you. After all, it’s not your fault. Emmet Pierson has made many enemies by posting that list. A lot of the women on it are mated now, and their men will not be any happier than Lennie is. Speaking of Lennie . . . he’s out with his buddies tonight. I could come see you, cheer you up,” she offered.
“I’m good, but thanks. And I don’t think your mate would like it much anyway.”
She snorted. “He knows you and I are just friends. He won’t get jealous.”
“No, but he wouldn’t be happy if someone took pictures of you coming and going from my territory, considering you were on Pierson’s infamous list. The human would twist that information to make it seem like you’re cheating on your mate. Lennie wouldn’t believe it, but others might.”
“Wait, there are people hanging outside your territory?”
“There were earlier. Trick and Marcus keep chasing them off, but they come back.”
She made a noise loaded with sympathy. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you. I wish I could do something.”
“It’ll all die down soon.” That was what he kept telling himself.
There was a slight pause. “I expected to see you at the club on Friday, since you seemed determined to wear Mila Devereaux down,” she said, her tone neutral. “I guess this means you’ve given up. It’s for the best. You should be looking for a girl you like, not another one to enjoy simply for a night. You’re getting too old to