without your permission, because you'll be able to make them pay for it."
And the girl smiled weakly. "Yeah, that does sound like an upside. I just wish my headache would go away. I'm so tired, and I ache all over."
"So get some rest," I told her as I pulled Ashley back out of the room. But in the hall I turned to my best friend. "He kidnapped her?"
"And was planning on raping her until she gets Stockholm syndrome and gives in," Ashley added. "Elena, Evelyn was telling them all about it on the way back. From what I know so far, it sounds like Damon had a pretty good little system. He turned anyone he wanted to. The women he made his fuck toys, until they either got strong enough to fight back or bored him. The men? Those he used as his thugs. He didn't care if they got killed in the process, because he could always make more. And when Karen showed up?" She waved her arm indicating everything around us. "She convinced him to build the biggest army of converts he could. Evelyn said they'd have fifty converts shift each moon."
"So there's more?" I asked.
Ashley just shook her head. "They were planning to attack before next weekend. They said they were ready, so they didn't need to turn anymore. These? Jonah screwed up Damon's order at McDonalds. The boy wasn't upset enough about it, Damon said, so he turned him, saying he hoped the boy learned his lesson. The girl was a spontaneous thing because she made his dick hard. The other guy? He got in Damon's face at a bar or club. I'm not sure, but this is his punishment."
"Asshole," I breathed.
Ashley just nodded. "Karen finally found her perfect mate. Someone with a title, who loves her last name, and who's just as fucked up as she is. Together? They're dangerous, Elena."
"And they're currently coming to pick a fight with us," I pointed out. "They're not going to stop, are they?"
"Not unless someone makes them stop," Ashley said.
I just looked over at her. "You know I'm too old for this shit, right?"
"You and me both, sister," she agreed. "How about we kill a bitch tonight, hm?"
"And wine tomorrow," I decided, not even feeling guilty at the idea. Evidently I was more of a wolf than I'd realized.
CHAPTER 53
* * *
Elena left, but more cars and trucks kept arriving. Many drove past. I could hear them slow and turn, most likely into one of the properties around us. Then a newer pickup turned into the outbound lane for the community, effectively blocking any of us from leaving. The door opened, and Damon stepped out. From the passenger side, Karen did the same.
Behind me, I heard the office door open and steps moving closer. That was probably my betas, but I wouldn't turn to check. I stood on the median just inside the property, maybe ten feet behind the secured gates. Too far for one of them to reach through and grab me. Close enough to make it clear I wasn't backing down.
One by one, my betas fell in at my sides. Seth to my right, Trent and Pax on my left. I missed Lane's presence, but I felt better knowing he was with Elena. None of us said a thing, watching as Damon adjusted the tail of his shirt, closed the door of his truck and headed around the front to offer Karen his arm like she was some elegant lady.
"Well, well," Damon almost purred. "So you do exist, Ian."
"And you're still taking my castoffs," I taunted. "What do you want, Damon? This isn't your territory."
"Gonna piss on it?" he teased.
I just smiled. "Already did. You know, when I roam around in here freely as a wolf. Take a deep breath. That smell? It's called success."
Damon huffed, trying to laugh like he was amused, yet I knew that had hit a little too close to home. Beside him, Karen glared. Her eyes jumped over to Trent and Pax, then she looked to Seth. Not a single one of my betas moved. They just looked back as if they didn't care at all. In truth, I had a feeling they honestly didn't.
"You took something of mine," Damon finally said. "I want it back."
"Can you describe it?" I asked.
"My mate!" he snarled.
I just pointed at Karen. "Who's that?"
"She's my first mate. You have my third - and my son."
Well, that explained things a little more. Too bad for him,