training, because I don’t feel totally helpless right now, but even so, I know that this situation isn’t good. I’m outnumbered, they’re stronger than me, and I’m in a terrible position pinned against the wall. Plus, Drag can smell that I’m going to be riding my wave soon, which will automatically put him in a rut and make him more aggressive.
“Go get the car,” Drag orders.
Mario quickly drops his hold on me and runs off to do Drag’s bidding. I try to get away, but Drag is too quick, and steps into me as soon as Mario pulls away. With his body crushing mine, he makes my back and head dig painfully into the wall. Then he yanks my hands forward and presses them against his groin. I try to move away, but his grip is too strong. He forces me to touch his growing erection, no matter how hard I try to pull away.
“I’m kinda glad it’s you who ruined our payday. You won’t be able to run away from me now,” he says, leaning in to sniff my hair. “Newly mated, huh? Well, that can be undone,” he says with an evil smirk. “Remember all the fun we used to have as kids? I can’t wait to play with you some more.”
My stomach roils and my mating bond protests. I try to pretend that his words don’t affect me, but as I feel his erection grow harder under my hands, I’m filled with revulsion and dread. He leans in and licks my neck, and bile rises in my throat. “Let me go!” I thrash against him, trying to get my hands off of him, but he’s strong, and he makes sure to step on my bare toes with his boots, making my toes curl in pain.
I know that panicking won’t help me, so I force myself to stop thrashing and take a deep breath. When I’m calm again, he smirks at me. “Always a prey at heart.”
Ignoring his taunt, I try to turn things around back on him. “So, Pack Rockhead is hiring humans to rob banks now? You’re that desperate for cash? You guys are pathetic,” I spit.
He doesn’t take the bait. “Oh, yeah. I’m gonna have a good time with you, little freak.”
Over my dead body will I let that happen. But, yeah, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling panicked right about now. Unfortunately, my animal side is panicking, too. It’s one of my “defects,” as my old pack used to call it. Most shifters can easily shift into their animals when they’re feeling threatened.
But for me, my animal side usually retreats further inside of me and refuses to come out when she’s feeling vulnerable. Fight or flight response. And, yeah, she’s a duck, so her instinct is flight. I can’t blame her. But mine? Mine is to fight a motherfucker. I can thank Hugo for that, too.
When Drag smells me again and tries to thrust into my hand, I lose it. I bring my head back and then slam my skull against his nose as hard as I can. He yowls in pain and grips his face, but in his shock and pain, he backs away from me slightly. It’s all I need.
I bring my leg up and knee him as hard as I can in the balls, erection be damned. When he bends over to clutch his groin, I lift up the front of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head and cut off his view. Then I dance back and kick him in the back of the kneecaps as hard as I can. He falls down to the ground, unable to catch himself, and I take off.
I run as fast as I can toward the parking lot when I remember that Mario is still around. While I’m sure I can take him, I don’t want to stick around for Drag to catch up with me. I surprised him this time, but I won’t get so lucky again, and I can’t overpower both of them at the same time. I start to double back toward the lobby when a motorcycle screeches to a stop in front of me, nearly taking off my toes.
“Get on!”
I can’t see his face through the visor of his helmet, but I recognize Lafe’s voice and scent immediately. I jump onto the back of his bike and wrap my arms around him. As soon as I do, he peels out of the parking lot, cutting