The minutes dragged on like hours. Long, terrifying hours filled by my overactive imagination conceiving of a hundred equally horrifying ways this scenario might play out. Most of them ended in me being torn apart by a pack of rabid wolves, or with having Angus’ thin, ugly lips pressed against my own.

Robbie sang along on the radio, and Angus tried to engage me in conversation. But I wasn’t in the habit of engaging with men pointing knives at my spleen. He’d stopped pointing it at my throat, in case someone saw it through the window, but he was making it damn clear he could still do some serious damage if I tried something foolish.

“We’re getting low on gas, Angus,” Robbie said.

“Pull over, then, wankstain.”

We turned into a gas station just off the M1. It was busy, with a line of cars waiting for the pumps. Angus fidgeted for a bit, tapping the knife impatiently against the seat, while Robbie manoeuvred the car into the line. Finally, he announced, “I have to piss. Take this and watch her, would you?”

He shoved the knife at Robbie, who paled. “Angus, you said I wouldn’t have to—”

“It’s just for a fucking minute. Don’t be such a feardie.” Angus swung his body out of the car. “I’ll even get us some snasters. You want anything, princess?” He leered at me through the window.

“I want you to drop dead, but I’m guessing this isn’t my lucky day.”

Angus laughed cruelly, then slammed the door shut behind him.

“I’m sorry about Angus,” Robbie said. “He ain’t as bad as he seems, honest.”

“You mean this whole kidnapping thing is just a big misunderstanding?” Sarcasm dripped from every word. I sensed that Robbie wasn’t really as into this plan as Angus thought he was. If I kept reminding him of the severity of the crime, perhaps I could get him to crack. It was a stupid, hopeless plan, but right now it was the only one I had.

“He’s just not used to hearing no, and he ain’t never liked losing out to Caleb. The way he figures, anyone wanting to be Caleb’s mate must not have had all their options presented, know what I mean?”

“No, I don’t know what you mean.” My heart pounded against my chest.

“Well, you being Caleb’s mate and all.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not Caleb’s mate. I never agreed to it. He never marked me.”

“Yes you are, and he didn’t have to mark you. We can smell it all over you. Caleb and you are fated mates. You’re destined to be together. It’s sort of rare to find that these days.”

“So Caleb and I …” I couldn’t believe it. Caleb had told me about fated mates, but he’d never even suggested the possibility that that’s what we were. He must’ve known right from the moment he met me. But he hadn’t pushed it. He hadn’t forced it on me. He was taking it slow, just the way I’d asked him to. Oh god, and I let him go. “… and you’re telling me Angus is jealous?”

Robbie shrugged. “Probably. He was always jealous of Caleb not having to live up to Dad’s legacy. Caleb has his mum, but our mum was killed and Dad only looked at Angus as the next in line for his job. He had to be tough all the time, even if he scraped his knee or broke his tooth.”

“You want me to feel sorry for Angus? That’s no excuse for kidnapping me or betraying Caleb.”

Robbie sighed. “I know, but I think it will be okay. Angus is thinking that if we get to Aberdeen first, he can convince Dad that you were his mate first, and then Dad will back him against Caleb. But I bet Dad will see though the whole thing, and he’ll straighten Angus out. You don’t just take another wolf’s fated mate. It would be very bad for the clan to support Angus. It would make Dad look weak, and he won’t like that.”

Angus is jealous of Caleb, so jealous that he was willing to break this huge werewolf lore just to deprive Caleb of his mate. That’s me, I’m his mate. I couldn’t believe it.

Wait until Caleb hears about this. He won’t believe that his stepbrother—

But he won’t hear about it. Because as soon as they realise Caleb isn’t coming, I’ll be dead.

“Why didn’t you try to talk Angus out of this stupid plan? You don’t seem as though you approve of the way he’s handling things.”

Robbie shrugged again. “The Bairds have Maria, and I love her like my own mother. If Angus thinks this is the way to get her back, I’m just gonna do what I’m told.”

“Why, though? You can’t be scared of your brother the rest of your life,” I said. “If you don’t take a risk every now and then, speak up for what you really believe is right, then everything stays the same.”

“What do you know about it?” He looked miserable, playing with the knife against the dashboard.

“Look at my skin. Do you think I’ve had it easy?” My voice choked up. “All my life, I’ve had to stand up for myself. It’s hard, but if you don’t do it, no one else will. There was only one time when someone ever tried to look out for me, and—” My voice completely choked. Instead, I snorted, and gestured to the car. “And look how that turned out.”

“You’ll be fine. Caleb will come for you.”

“He won’t. I messed it up. Don’t mess up, Robbie. Don’t say or do something you can’t go back on. Caleb would have been a brother to you, the kind of brother you always wanted, if you’d let him.”

Robbie snorted. A van in the queue pulled out, and we inched up another place. A giant raven fluttered down and landed on the bonnet of the car. It peered in the window at me, its dark eyes looking me over thoughtfully.

“Look at that!” Robbie shuffled forward, sticking his head out the window. “That’s the biggest bird I’ve ever seen, And look, it’s got a pouch around its—”

The raven glared at me, nodded its head, then darted forward through the open driver’s side window and poked Robbie in the eye.

“Argh!” Robbie screamed. He slapped his hand over his eye. Blood poured between his fingers. People at the pumps turned to stare.

“Croooak!” The raven hopped up and down. It was almost as if it was signalling me—

Shit. Of course. Robbie was distracted. Angus was still inside. This was my chance!

I reached past Robbie and flicked the lock for my door. He shoved out a hand to try and stop me, but the raven appeared at the window again, flapping its wings in Robbie’s face and letting out loud, excited croaks. I flung open the door and bolted across the forecourt, heading for the cafe on the other side of the petrol station.

“Help!” I cried out, sprinting toward the door. People looked up from their lunches in confusion. Behind me, the raven swooped overhead, croaking excitedly.

“Help me! These two men have kidnapped me and—”

Something slammed into me. I sprawled across the ground, my face slamming hard against the concrete. Pain lashed behind my eyes, and I gasped for breath as the wind was driven out of me.

“Crooak!”

“Get away, you stupid bird!” Angus’ voice tore through me. He was holding me down with his knee in my back, and fighting off the raven with his hands. After one particularly terrified croak, the raven gave up, and swooped away.

“What’s going on here?” People began to crowd around, staring down at us in confusion. I tried to speak, but I still couldn’t get enough air.

“Oops, didn’t mean to knock you right over, honey.” It was Angus’ voice, speaking loudly for the benefit of the people in the cafe. He grabbed my arm roughly and hauled me to my feet. “You’ll have to excuse my wife here,” he said to the staring people, squeezing my arm so hard I winced. “She has these horrible fits. I know it can be quite scary to see.” To me, he said, “Don’t worry love, I’ve got your medication in the car.” His voice was low, kind, but his eyes blazed with rage.

As he helped me back toward the car, he whispered in my ear, “Try that one more time, Princess, and I will hurt you somewhere no one can see.”

My heart hammered against my chest. Tears sprung in the corners of my eyes. The car loomed in front of me like an electric chair. My feet dragged on the concrete. I didn’t want to get back in and spend any more time with these two. All the tension had wound my body up in a knot.

The raven circled overhead, letting off a constant stream of croaks.

Angus held the door open for me like a gentleman. My hands shook as I got inside. What choice did I have? Robbie was still in the front seat, wailing about his eye.

“You have to get him to a doctor,” I said, staring out the window at the raven as it flew toward the nearest copse of trees.

“Shut the fuck up,” Angus growled. “Robbie’s fine, aye Robbie?”

“It fucking hurts.”

“Stop your bellyaching, and get out.” Angus yanked open his door. “I’ll drive.”

Angus gunned the engine, and we screamed out of the petrol station. As we hit the ramp to head back onto the M1, and Angus sped up, the taxi shuddered violently. Angus growled and put his foot down, but that only made the shuddering worse.

“What’s wrong, Angus?” Robbie asked, dabbing his eye. I was surprised that I felt pleased to see he only had a long, deep cut over his eye, and that the raven hadn’t pecked his eyeball out.

“Fuck!” Angus pounded the wheel. “It slashed the tires. That fucking no-good flea-ridden bird slashed our fucking tires.”

It did? I couldn’t help but smile as the cars behind us honked with impatience. Thanks, raven.

“Wow. I didn’t know birds could do that.”

“That’s no bird. That’s a fucking bran.”

I had no idea what that word meant, but Robbie clearly did, because his face paled. “Caleb has a bran? What does this mean for us, Angus?”

“It means our dear stepbrother is right on our tail.” Angus’ limped the car along in the slow lane, indicating to turn out at the next exit. “But the joke will be on him. If he makes it to Aberdeen before we do, we kill the girl.”