Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sonya wrestled hard against Dax as he untied her feet and pulled her to a standing position. She lashed out, kicking him three times in the leg before moving back. He pulled out a gun, pointing it at her and aiming for her chest.

"Stop fucking around. You're not getting out of here. If you want to fight before we mate I'm fine with that, but if you think there is any chance of you getting away from me, you're wrong. You'd have to kill me first. I want you so bad I can almost taste you." He licked at his lips as she growled deeply in her chest.

Why couldn't she just play along and move limply around the room? She could fight him off if he tried to seduce her, but to fight him head on with her damn hands tied behind her back was stupid. Emotion overwhelmed her and she sunk to her knees, crying out.

Cade.

"What's wrong?" Dax moved a step closer but didn't lower his gun. "Is something hurting you? Don't fuck with me, girl. I'm not playing games here."

"Fuck you," she whispered and let her chin drop to her chest. She wasn't worried about Alec continuing without her, but her brother wouldn't make it if he lost her father and then her.

She had to fight through all of this.

"Talk to me." He pushed her softly with his hand.

Sonya stood back up and gripped the wall, crying out again.

"My brother," she whispered before screaming loudly into the room.

"Fuck. Is he dying?" Dax aimed the gun at her again, lifting it to her face. "I'm going to put you out of your misery if you don't get your shit together."

Sonya swallowed the pain of Cade's terror. He was with someone else. Alec? She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, trying hard to tap into her brother's mind. They had been connected since they were kids. The trauma of their mother's death left them locked together for comfort.

She couldn't make out much more than the inside of a car. It was Alec's car. They were driving together and looking for her.

"I need a glass of water and put that fucking gun down or shoot me already. I get it. I'm stuck here with you and will be your mate soon. Great. Just get me something to drink and some fresh air. This place smells like mold."

"Good girl," he muttered and moved behind her, taking a firm grip on the ropes that held her hands together. "Walk up the stairs and we'll go outside for a few minutes. I'm gagging you because I don't trust you for a second, but fresh air would be good for clearing your lungs. You're going to need them for the fucking I'm going to give you."

"Promises, promises," she muttered and began walking up the stairs. She stifled a shiver at the deep laugh that resounded behind her. She wouldn't play the victim, no matter if it killed her or not. She wasn't able to.

"I have something special for your boyfriend tonight. We're meeting up later to fight for the pack and for you. You should be quite thrilled. I don't usually fight for anything. I just take it." He scoffed and moved her out into the hallway as he kicked shut the door behind them. Dax pushed her toward the opening at the end of the hall as a TV played somewhere in the distance.

Sonya glanced around her, taking in the scenery. She was still in the house where she killed Dax's three companions.

She moved to the kitchen and sat as he pointed to a nearby chair and growled at her.

"Make a move and I'll put one of these tranquilizer darts in the side of your neck. You'll be out for the rest of the events this evening. No one will ever find you after I've hidden your body." He smiled and walked to the fridge. She sat down, trying hard not to mock him. Being dominant and unwilling to bend was one thing, but antagonizing him was another.

She nodded, cutting her brother off from their connection completely. He was overwhelmed and she couldn't take the pressure of needing to fix his world while her own was falling apart. She needed to focus and be ready if the opportunity for her to gain her freedom presented itself.

Dax brought a glass of water to her, helping with it and setting it down on the table beside them. His features softened as he touched her hair, his expression almost kind.

He was a bear in sheep's clothing.

"You okay? That enough?"

"Yes," she whispered, playing into the softness of the moment. "I just need some fresh air."

"Fine." He pulled her up by the front of her shirt and moved her in front of him again, his fingers digging into her hips as he walked her to the back door. "If you even make a peep, I'll put this dart in you. Got it?"

"Yes. I won't make a sound. I just need to breathe for a minute." She moved back a step as he opened the door and nudged her to move forward with the barrel of his gun.

"Not a peep," he growled and walked out behind her.

The afternoon sun sat on the far side of the sky. The evening was only a few hours away. She needed to figure out how to warn Alec, but it was a useless desire. She had no ability to reach him, not even through Cade. She and her brother could push their connections as children, stabilizing their ability to act through one another, but she had pulled back.

She had too many hard memories and tough times to allow anyone access to her deepest thoughts and most horrible nightmares. Sonya swallowed hard and walked down the small steps of the shack onto the front porch.

The wind picked up and blew strands of her hair, but most of it stayed up in her bun. She glanced to Dax, who seemed to be enjoying the sun on his bare chest. He was strong, muscular, and handsome. Too bad he was going to die. He reminded her of a younger Alec, a boy that was never taught respect or honor.

"Would you take my hair down?" she asked quietly, regretting it the minute she did. His eyes widened slightly as he walked toward her, the scent of his arousal strong and stifling.

He didn't speak a word as he tugged at the small hair bow that held it in place, the thick waves rolling down her shoulders and over her back as the wind tossed it about. Sonya closed her eyes and leaned her head back, breathing in deeply.

A flash of realization inspired her and she tried not to make a sound of excitement. She might not be able to act through Cade, but she could bring her brother and Alec to where she was. She opened her eyes slowly, aware of Dax's gaze on her.

Turning to face the house, she opened herself up to her brother and looked around. Words formed in her mind over and over, but whether they were understood or not was unknown. She had to hope that Cade would be able to place her and the woods at the old harbor house. She wasn't far from it, but if she could simply get her brother in the vicinity, he and Alec together would be able to track her.

"What are you doing?" Dax asked, walking up and stopping in front of her. He reached out and took the side of her face into his hand, squeezing hard as his teeth clenched. "Tell me now."

"I'm not doing anything but enjoying the fresh air, Dax." She let her eyes move across his face, the anger and rejection of too many years leaving him looking much older than he should.

"Why don't I believe that?"

"I don't care what you believe. I'm standing in the middle of the woods tied up and simply enjoying the air. What else would I be doing? I have no way to get to anyone and I'm not interested in getting a dart in my throat."

"Good." He slid his hand down her neck and over her shoulder, squeezing the side of her arm softly. "I'm ready to mate with you. I've held off as long as I can. You smell like heaven."

She didn't get a chance to respond as Dax visibly stiffened in front of her. His eyes turned amber as he growled. He was close to shifting and the last thing she wanted to do was be caught in front of him in her human form if he changed. He was manic as a human, but as a bear with no understanding of recourse, she was as good as dead.

"What is it?" Sonya took a step forward, bumping her chest into his. She didn't have her hands free to reach out and touch him, but she would have done it to bring him back into the moment.

"Cars. Two of them. Quick, get inside." He moved behind her and shoved her hard. She stumbled, falling and crying out loudly. He growled and wrestled her back up, cursing her as the first car turned to the curb in front of them.

Alec.

Her eyes connected with his and she let out a soft cry as Dax screamed in rage. He pulled the gun up and aimed it at her, but he wasn't fast enough. Sonya dropped to the ground again, swinging her legs out and sweeping him. He growled and fell to the ground beside her, losing the gun, but reaching out and putting her in a choke hold.

She screamed loudly as the sounds of her brother and Alec filled the air around her. Dax rolled off of her and her brother dropped beside her, pulling her in tightly as he cried softly.

"Oh my God. I thought we weren't going to make it. I would never have come this far into the woods if you hadn't shown me where." Cade turned her and worked to release her bindings as she contorted her torso to lay eyes on her mate.

"Where is Alec? He isn't safe, Cade. This bear doesn't play by the rules." She rolled away from her brother and stood, running toward the house, Cade right behind her. The sound of the two males squaring off stole her breath and she plowed into the house full speed, only to stop short.

They were out front, the view of them standing toe to toe in the front yard making her heart jump. She ran through the house and stopped at the edge of the porch as Alec turned to her.

"Stay back. This is my fight. This mother fucker comes onto my lands and tries to threaten me and take my woman?" He glanced back at Dax and laughed. Now Alec sounded maniacal. "You're going to die today."

"I love it. You put your best effort forth, old man. Your time has come and gone. It was brief, I realize, but you seemed to have made the most of it." Dax smirked before glancing to Sonya. "We'll fuck again after this, baby. Just hold up and watch what I can do."

"Fucker," Alec growled loudly before transforming. The handsome man she had come to love turned into the largest, most beautiful silky black bear she had ever seen.

"Shit. He's huge," Cade whispered beside her and reached to take her hand.

"He's brilliant and vicious. I'm not worried at all about this fight. As long as Dax plays fair. That's the only concern I have."

Dax shifted into a large brown bear. His size was quite impressive too, but Alec had him by a foot and fifty pounds. Alec charged, rolling the two of them as he plowed into Dax. Sonya let her brother's hand go and ran to the side of the porch, jumping over and racing to the backyard.

She didn't want to miss a minute of the fight, but tradition would have to take a backseat for the event. There was no way she was letting her mate be taken down due to foul play. Another car pulled into the drive, spinning out.

Jared and Parik got out of the car and ran toward her as she picked up the tranquilizer gun that Dax had used against her.

"Oh thank God. Where is Alec?" Parik stopped beside her and pulled her into a hug. The ground shook as the sound of bears growling loudly filled the air around them.

"He's fighting for the pack and for me. Dax doesn't play fair, so I'm going to make sure it's fair." She glanced at Jared and nodded before running back to the front of the house.

A long slash poured blood from Dax's side, but Alec seemed to be doing just fine. Dax did something that left Sonya in shock – he shifted back into human form, hitting his knees naked before glancing toward her.

"Give me my gun, Sonya." He nodded toward the gun in her hand.

"Fuck you." She glanced at Alec, who was still in bear form. "Finish what you started, baby."

The large black bear growled loudly before charging Dax. The blonde Alpha rolled toward his clothes, picking up another gun and firing it three times at Alec.

Alec slowed but didn't stop as he barreled toward Dax. A soft laugh left Dax's lips as Alec reached him, dropping at the ground below him and shifting back into human form as his body twitched violently.

"Oh fuck." Sonya lifted her gun and walked into the yard, unloading all of the darts into Dax as he fell to the ground beside Alec. Dax must have poisoned Alec. Sonya dropped down beside him and ran her fingers over his chest, pulling the darts out of him quickly as she whispered to him.

"Hold on baby. We're going to get you some help, just stay with me." She glanced up at Jared. "You and Cade get him to the hospital. Tell Dr. Phillips to do whatever he has to do, but don't let him die. I can't lose him too."

Sonya leaned over and kissed him softly twice before moving back and letting the large men pick him up. She whispered a small prayer to the heavens before standing up and walking to the house. Parik moved in behind her.

"We need to finish this off, Sonya. I'll kill the boy in the yard. You just wait for me by the car."

"No. I'm the Alpha of the Browns by Alec's side. He attacked my pack, my pride, and my mate. He's going to die by my hands."

Parik stayed outside while she walked into the house, looking for a weapon. A large knife sat at the edge of the table in the kitchen. She wanted him to be awake for the occasion, but she wasn't willing to wait around. Getting to the hospital was her only priority.

She walked back out into the yard and sunk down beside him. Letting out a soft cry, Sonya lifted the knife and brought it down hard, almost severing his head from his body. She lifted it and brought it down again, screaming into the sky. She turned to Parik and nodded, before shifting and letting loose a growl.

Her people would come at her call and finish off the wayward Alpha that sought to destroy her.