with a smile. And when I tell you to carry my kids, to give me an army of cubs, you do it.”
“I’ll never be the mother to your kids.”
This comment seemed to put him in a state of anger. He glowered at her, grabbing her by the wrist hard enough to make her hurt.
“You will. I don’t care if it takes everything from you. I’m going to imprint, make you mine, and fill you with one cub after another. You got it?”
Lexi said nothing, not wanting to push her luck. Chad had never hit her before, but at that moment, he seemed on the brink.
He let go. “But right now, I’ve got big plans. I’ve been preparing the boys for the war that’s going to make me the king of this fucking forest. The invasion starts tonight, taking the Leafcutters by surprise. And when I’ve won, when all of the packs in the region are bowing down to me and Eastern Washington is mine and I’m turning my sights onto Seattle, you’ll be begging for the honor of having my cubs. And you’ll forget all about that little shithead Jason.”
Not fucking likely.
He whistled, two of the men hurrying into the room.
“Take her upstairs to her new room. And make sure there’s no way she can get out. The war starts tonight, and I want her safe and sound when it happens.”
The men formed up on her sides and grabbed her arms. Then Chad put his hand on her wrist, stepped close, and placed his lips on hers, dragging his tongue slowly over them. It took all the restraint she had not to shudder at his touch.
“There’s more where that came from. See you soon, gorgeous.”
With that, the men took her from the throne room and upstairs. They arrived at a large bedroom, the windows bolted shut and the glass thick and solid.
“Don’t bother trying to get out,” one of them said. “This place is like a fort, and even if you did manage to get outside, we’re all around the territory. You might as well make yourself nice and comfy, gorgeous.”
They laughed, shutting the door and locking it behind her.
And as soon as they’d gone, all Lexi could think was whether or not she’d made the biggest mistake of her life.
CHAPTER 19
JASON
All he could think about was revenge.
Chad had taken more than Jason could stand. He’d killed his uncle, stolen his pack, and tricked his omega into running into his clutches.
He whipped down the highway on his motorcycle, his gaze fixed forward as the thick-trunked trees on both sides passed in a green blur.
Lexi was waiting for him. He had no doubts by that point Chad had taken her, was holding her kidnapped on the grounds.
And he was certain Chad was waiting for him.
The sun had long set, the sky above glittering with stars, the moon full and silver. He glanced up at it, knowing a moon in that phase meant increased powers for shifters. When the moon was full, shifter packs made their moves.
War.
He pulled the motorcycle to a halt, stopping on the side of the road. Once the engine was dead, a heavy, thick silence wrapped around him. He closed his eyes, sniffing the air.
First, he picked up on the scent of the woods, mossy and rich with wildlife.
Then he smelled shifter. He knew he was near the territory, near where the packs made their homes in the woods.
But as he considered his situation, he realized he didn’t have a plan. He’d gotten so wrapped up with his notions of revenge and rescue that he hadn’t considered what he’d actually do when he stepped onto Thundertooth grounds.
Lexi was the prize. Chad didn’t know she’d been claimed, that Jason had made her his. So, for now at least, he was going to keep her safe.
But him, he considered, he had no use to Chad. He was nothing more than a nuisance, one Chad would most likely jump at the opportunity to rid himself of. Jason imagined stepping on to the Thundertooth grounds ready to speak, only for Chad’s betas to unceremoniously kill him and throw his body to the crows.
He had to think of something, to come up with another plan.
The Leafcutters.
Jason knew Chad had been prepping for war, and that the peaceful Leafcutters were his first target. He’d take them out, capture their land and supplies and women, and use that as a launching point for the rest of his assault.