I snarled and yanked my body around rattling the chains. If I woke Rawson and wound him up enough, maybe he’d break his chains or cause enough of a diversion for me to escape mine. I eyed the back doors and sides of the van. Damn! No windows—anywhere. No matter, I’d find a way out somehow. Red had to have a key…
Red leaned back against the metal sides of the van and crossed his arms over his chest, watching me until I ran out of energy. Even the bumping of the prison van didn’t phase him. He managed to look cool and in control even as I was being shaken around.
“I need to pee.” I winced as another bump made my bladder scream.
He merely shrugged, leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“Hey! Unless you want me to pee all over the floor, you need to let me out!”
Nothing. The bastard didn’t even flinch.
“Let me out!” My bladder was so full, it hurt. I had no idea how long I’d been in this van, but the stench coming from my clothes told me I’d been here long enough to wet myself before, and for it to dry. My cheeks flamed.
I called on my wolf to help, but no matter how she fought, there was no breaking past the effects of the silver chains. I glared at my captor, praying to the devil himself to see this demon struck down.
A huff, which sounded suspiciously like a chuckle, came from Red, then he settled back down without even opening his eyes.
Surely he didn’t read minds, did he?
I closed my eyes, concentrated on my breathing, and tried to ignore the fact that my bladder wanted to burst and my kidneys were ready to explode. I concentrated on not letting my pelvis relax even for a second, but every bump and turn in the road was torture. I didn’t even care where I was going, only that I didn’t want to piss my pants in front of Red.
A bang at the partition between us and the cab made me jump enough to let a little escape. I bit back a pained groan.
“Heads up! Nearly there!” shouted a disembodied voice.
Red opened his eyes and straightened. He inhaled and growled, his features twisting.
“Be grateful I haven’t pissed all over your shoes—yet,” I said sweetly.
He merely grunted and leaned forward. His bulk was intimidating this close, but I didn’t shrink away; I wouldn’t. There was a sting in my neck. I hissed. “Again?” The world went fuzzy, but I was aware when warmth ran down my legs.
There was a muttered curse.
“Serves you right.” I smirked before I lost consciousness completely.
This time when I woke up it was to the sound of growling and banging. Once again, agony stabbed behind my eyes. I inhaled sharply, and gagged on the stench of stale urine, vomit, and yes, faeces. Urgh! I swallowed over and over unwilling to open my eyes, praying it wasn’t me who’d made that awful stink. There was no burning when I moved my arms, so I figured I wasn’t chained, although there was the weight of a silver collar hanging around my neck.
My wolf howled, delighted that I was waking up. Whoa there, sweetie. Gently now. I’m a bit delicate. Just quiet down for a moment. Her relief washed through me. Yeah, I’m glad to be conscious again, too.
Around me, male and female voices yelled. I cracked open my eyelids just enough to see—and did my level best not to react. What the hell? I was on the metal floor of a huge cage with curved sides. There were no windows, but there was the steady thrum of engines beneath the chaos of swearing, and snarled threats.
Three large men faced off against one another. Their wolf and feline scents mixed with the general nastiness of the scents encasing me. Around the small group, men and women yelled, egging the males on to fight. The atmosphere was volatile and burning with alpha aggression and violence. This was somewhere you didn’t ever want to be, stuck in a cage full of shifters all vying for the ultimate position of power—to be alpha.
No one noticed that I was awake so I kept my position on the floor, but pushed myself backwards right up against the metal walls. Then I just studied my surroundings. Trying to make my five feet four inches as small and unnoticeable as possible, I curled my shoulders down and my legs in. I could hold