The light blinded me as the black hood was taken from my head. Strong hands shoved me down, forcing me to sit on a cheap folding chair. There was no need for bindings; I would never be able to move fast enough to outrun these men.

My head pounded. Instinct made me reach out, searching for Liam’s steady heartbeat beating close to mine. But, the instant I did it, I regretted it. My captors took notice.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I didn’t even have to look to know who it was. Tenley, the fireman from the other night, towered over me. His wolf eyes glimmered from gold to red, then finally settled to a more human brown. My eyes went up and up. The power of his wolf radiated from him. He leaned against a pallet of cut wood, his black t-shirt stretched taut over ripped muscles. He had dark hair, black as night.

Shuffling to the left drew my attention. A door opened and another hooded figure stumbled into the room.

“Keara!” I should have stayed quiet. Why give these men any more than I had to? But Keara was hurt. As Tenley’s companion tore off Keara’s hood, blood poured from a deep gash over her left eye. She landed on all fours, her shoulders quaking. Oh, God. She’d been hit hard enough she was dizzy and disoriented.

Her own gaze traveled up as Tenley walked toward her. The heels of his cowboy boots hit the ground hard as he stopped in front of her. Naked lust came into his expression as he squatted down and hooked a hand beneath Keara’s chin.

“Baby,” he said. “I told you this wasn’t going to work out for you the way you hoped.”

Keara reared back and spit right in his face. Tenley didn’t even flinch. When the two other men advanced, he held up a hand to stop them. I imagined he could give them orders on some telepathic level, but his body language read loud and clear. Whatever Keara’s fate, he would deliver it.

Baby. He’d called her baby. A puzzle piece slammed into my brain with sickening clarity. Liam had said Keara had been promised to one of the Alpha’s top generals. That general was currently staring straight at her, wiping her spittle from his cheek with the handkerchief he’d pulled from his back pocket.

When Tenley reached for her, I couldn’t stay quiet. “Stop it! Take your hands off of her.”

It was Keara who reacted. Her eyes locked with mine and her nostrils flared. God, she was so strong, so brave. She’d kept it all a secret. Tenley had been in Shadow Springs this whole time and yet she’d hidden the fact of who he was from Jagger. I knew why. She said he’d rip him apart.

Slowly, she drew herself to her feet. My heart broke as she staggered sideways, struggling to stay upright. It was Tenley who reached out to steady her. His touch was light, but Keara’s whole body recoiled. She hissed in pain as if he’d burned her with acid.

Tenley’s wolf eyes flashed. His touch became more forceful as he turned Keara. He smoothed his hand over her neck, pulling her hair up at the collar. Jagger’s mark blazed bright. It looked nothing like what I saw the other day. Then, it had been healed over, barely more than a faint, white scar. Now, the flesh looked tender and pink, almost as if she were having some kind of allergic reaction to Tenley’s touch. I realized I wasn’t probably far off. Jagger was her Alpha. The touch of another wolf was anathema to her. Oh, God. In that fleeting instant, I wished I bore Liam’s mark. As much as it caused Keara pain to have Tenley touch her, Keara’s touch seemed abhorrent to him as well. He pushed her away from him.

“I’d say it’s working out just fine for me,” Keara said. She stayed on her feet. Her eyes darted to me and she straightened her back. If she could be brave, so could I.

“That’s an Alpha’s mark,” Tenley said. “You’re smart. You haven’t told him about me, have you? He doesn’t know what I am to you.”

“You’re nothing to me,” Keara said, her tone flat.

He seemed to be having trouble staying on his own feet. Rage boiled through him, and a threatening growl vibrated through him. One of his companions reacted. His wolf burst forth. He advanced on Keara, teeth bared.

Tenley knocked him sideways with the back of his hand. The black wolf yelped and dropped his head. Tenley may not be the Alpha, but he was clearly in command of these two. The other man was the smallest of the three. He stayed human, but sweat poured from his brow. He came to me, jerking me to my feet. He brought me to Tenley.

My breath hitched. My thunderous heartbeat made me dizzy. I locked eyes with Keara. We drew strength from each other. I felt Tenley’s hot breath against my cheek. He licked his lips and slid his fingers to the back of my neck.

God. Oh, God.

The instant Tenley’s flesh touched mine, a new pulse blazed to life between my ears. His. My knees buckled as I tried to drive it out. Tenley pulled my hair back, examining the base of my neck. He ran his thumb against the unmarred flesh he found there.

“She’s clean,” he said. He let me go but pressed the pad of his thumb to his front teeth.

He turned to Keara. “You think you’re clever, Keara.”

“Clever enough,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what happens to me, and you know it. I’ll never be yours, and that’s all that matters.”

He laughed at her. “You’re right. You think you dodged a bullet. Maybe you have. You think the Alpha can’t find a way to remove that mark you bear? You think his own mark isn’t stronger? Sure, you’re second-hand goods now, but that might not matter to someone lesser than me.”

“I told you I’d never mate with you,” Keara said. “I remember making you that promise. You doubted me once. Maybe now you’ll know not to do it again.”

Tenley shrugged. “Looks like I don’t need you for a mate anymore, Keara.” He slid his hands to the back of my neck once more. “It looks like you’ve brought me another option.”

Tenley got two equally violent reactions from his companions. The black wolf charged forward, teeth bared. Again, Tenley batted him away. The second man stepped forward; his wolf eyes flashed red.

“You don’t get to decide that, Davis,” he said. So Tenley had a first name. I filed it away. I might have been grateful for the seeming defense to my honor, but both the black wolf and the second man looked at me with predatory fury.

Tenley grabbed the man by the throat. His movements were so swift, so deadly, the air left my lungs right along with his victim’s. He held him there against the wall. It was a direct challenge. The second man might clearly have been able to throw Tenley off. He had the same shifter strength cording his muscles. But, he stayed still, his feet dangling an inch off the ground.

“And you’ll wait your turn like you were ordered, Mason.”

Mason curled his fingers around Tenley’s. Whatever psychic words they spoke to each other, it was enough to get Tenley to loosen his grip. Mason fell to the ground in a heap. He growled, but didn’t challenge Tenley a second time.

Some detached, clinical part of my brain studied them. The structure of the Chief Pack was complex. Tenley was an Alpha, just like Jagger, Liam, Mac, Payne, and Gunnar. And yet, he was held in whatever thrall the Chief Alpha exerted. If I closed my eyes, I could almost feel it myself. There was a thickness surrounding them, almost as if they were joined with invisible chains. There was a pull. I’d felt it before with Liam. Any time the soldiers of the Chief Pack drew close, it weighed him down and threatened to drive away his reason.

So much power. So much malice. Tenley turned back to me.

“Molly,” Keara’s voice broke. “Don’t let him. Don’t touch her!”

Tenley’s smile widened. He shot Keara a glance and came to me. I rose from the chair, facing him squarely. My heart thundered. My knees went weak. Oh, God. This man had a pull of his own. It was more restrained than Liam’s. Liam’s was wild, raw, exhilarating. Tenley’s was more methodical and rhythmic...almost practiced. And yet, I was still drawn to it. I pushed the chair between us and took two steps back.

“Relax,” Tenley said. I think he was talking both to Keara and Mason. “I’m not a rule breaker.” He fixed his gaze on me, letting his wolf eyes rage to the surface.

“It’ll be a relief to you,” he said. “You’ll see. You deserve a disciplined mate. You deserve to live in the light. I could make you my queen.”

“You mark her now, the Alpha will kill you where you stand,” Keara cried.

Tenley snapped his jaw and snarled. Perhaps he wasn’t as disciplined as he wanted me to believe. His eyes went briefly red and I realized what I was seeing. Keara was right. The Alpha hold on him was strong.

I took in my surroundings for the first time. This was a large garage or warehouse. I could smell fresh cut lumber. Moonlight spilled in from two high windows. The steel door behind Tenley was shut tight.

“I should kill you where you stand, Keara,” he said. “He wouldn’t stop me from doing that.”

“No,” I shouted. We needed time. Keara’s distress came not just from her physical injuries. Sweat poured between her breasts, darkening the front of her shirt. Liam said their bond was so much deeper than anything I could describe. Jagger could feel her pain and she could feel his. He must be in agony now. The others had to be restraining him somehow. It was the only thing that made sense. Because he would come for her. He would risk his own life and the lives of everyone in the caves to get to her.

A new chill snaked down my spine. Liam would do the same. But if he tried...if he got this close to these men...the Chief Pack would find him.

It seemed Keara and I had our own nonverbal link. I searched her face as a single tear fell down her cheek. The thing she and Jagger feared all along had finally come true. The Pack would use her against him.

“Davis,” Mason said. “We have our orders. Let’s quit dicking around. The Alpha wants us to flush out the traitor. Let’s get it done.”

Tenley hissed. He turned on Mason yet again. This time, the other man took a bold step toward him.

“Mason,” Tenley said, softening his voice. “You think I’m crazy? I know what our orders are. Harris, you go outside and patrol. The minute you sense someone coming, you know what to do.”

Harris, the black wolf, let out a keening whine, then dashed off into the shadows to patrol. In his wolf, he’d be the first to sense anyone approaching. With each passing moment, realization dawned that this could have no good outcome. Liam and the others couldn’t overpower these shifters without tipping off the Pack. I didn’t know exactly where we were, but I sensed we were too far for them to race to the safety of the caves. It meant Keara and I would have to find a way to either break free ourselves or buy more time.

Tenley came to me. “It’s too late for her,” he gestured toward Keara with his chin. “Well, I mean it’s too late for her to find a decent mate after all this. That doesn’t mean there won’t be lesser wolves willing to settle for sloppy seconds. Granted, it won’t be a pretty life for her. You, on the other hand. You’re still unspoiled. Plus, you’ve been to their hideout, haven’t you? I can smell those wolves on you.”

He wrinkled his nose in disgust. My blood turned cold.

“That makes you a prize. The Alpha rewards those loyal to him. As soon as you’re properly motivated, the things you know will be an asset. It’s your lucky day, baby. What did she call you? Molly? Molly. I like it.”

Tenley reached for me. I stayed stock still as he ran his finger along my jaw.

“I think you’ll take to Birch Haven.”

Birch Haven. It was just a word. A name. One I’d never heard before. But the moment he said it, tingling pain shot through me. Keara’s eyes widened. The name meant something to her too.

“Come on, Davis,” Mason said. “He wants us back.”

Mason started to press the heel of his palm against his temple. Whatever mental powers the Pack exerted on him were starting to cause him physical pain. Tenley looked over his shoulder but stayed calm and still. Oh, he was an Alpha at his core. There could be no doubt. It gave me an idea.

“Doesn’t it bother you taking orders from him all the time?” I said. Time. We needed time. I tried to even my breathing and keep my heartrate steady. Liam and I might not share a mate bond like Jagger and Keara did, but I knew he could find me in an instant if he needed to. So why hadn’t he? There could be no other explanation than the stranglehold the Alpha had on these men. If Liam and the others walked into it, we were lost.

I shot a pointed glance to Keara. I didn’t like the looks of the gash on her forehead. It still bled freely and the edges of it were jagged. She took a halting step sideways, coming to rest against the pallet of wood in the center of the room. Mason moved toward her. His nose twitched as the scent of her blood worked on him.

“She’s not so bad, Davis,” he said.

“Not for someone like you,” Tenley answered. “You want me to put a good word in for you with Mr. Valent?”

“Don’t!” Mason clapped his hands over his ears. “Don’t call him that. He hates it when you call him that.”

Tenley laughed. He was toying with Mason.

“Valent,” I said. “Is that his name? Your Alpha?”

Mason growled. His nose twitched and his skin bristled. He was having a tough time staying human. I couldn’t decide whether that worked for or against us. Valent. The name had power, just like Birch Haven did.

“We got to go, Davis!”

“We go when I say we go.”

Keara rallied. “Who are you trying to impress, Tenley?” she asked. “Molly’s never going to let you claim her unless you do it by force.”

He raised a brow and turned to her. “Well, that’s kind of the fun of it, Keara. So, how is he anyway? Huh? Jagger Wilkes? That’s who you spread it for?”

Keara’s face went white. Tenley’s spread in a wicked smile. “Ah. That’s what I figured. He’s got a cousin with him, too.”

“Come on, Davis!” Mason had turned. He was mumbling something to himself and walking in circles near Keara. The Alpha had to be screaming inside his head. Why wasn’t it impacting Tenley in the same way? He was stronger, clearly.

I made a gamble. I went to Tenley and raised my hand. I pressed it to his cheek. He caught it and held it there. His skin flared hot beneath my fingers. My pulse raced, but with danger, not desire. To Tenley, I wasn’t sure he understood the difference.

“What kind of life is this for you?” I whispered. Maybe Mason would have been able to hear me under normal circumstances. As it was, the voice in his head seemed to drown everything else out.

Tenley grew bold and pressed his lips to my palm. I steadied my breathing, fighting back the urge to pull away. I’d judged correctly. Lust coursed through him, glinting in his eyes.

“You’re an Alpha, that’s why my touch burns through you. I’m an Alpha’s mate. You’ve got that part figured out. But, I’m not your mate. She’s out there somewhere though. Isn’t she? Isn’t that how it works? You each have a fated mate. You could find her. We could help you. You could choose for yourself.”

Tenley’s lips curled. He started to salivate. Oh, I’d reached him all right.

“You’re an Alpha,” I whispered, bringing my lips within an inch of his ear. “Why are you willing to settle? You don’t have to. We can show you the way.”

Over Tenley’s shoulder, Keara grew very still. She’d once told me I was a natural born recruiter. She’d meant Bess. My pulse quickened. Bess had betrayed us. Why else had these men shown up in Zeke’s truck? He was nowhere to be found. I wondered if he stood guard outside with the black wolf, Harris. What had they promised him to get him to cooperate? What had they promised Bess?

I couldn’t think about that now. The sting of Bess’s treachery burned deep. Now, I had to gather my wits and play out the game I’d started.

“Is there someplace we can talk in private?” I asked, my eyes darting to Mason. He paced in front of Keara. Her eyes widened with renewed alarm as she watched me with Tenley. More than anything, I wished I could communicate with her the way the shifters did.

Tenley took the bait. He tightened his fingers around my wrist and pulled me into a darkened corner of the warehouse. I couldn’t help screaming out. Keara called for me. I recovered and straightened my back.

Tenley had my back up against the wall. His teeth grazed my cheek and he licked me. “You taste wild,” he said. “But not fully spoiled yet.”

“But, you know I’m not yours no matter how much you want me to be. Davis, your mate is out there somewhere. I can help you find her. Isn’t that better than taking...what was it...sloppy seconds that Mr. Valent orders you to? You weren’t born for this. Why deny your true nature? This is the old way. Let me help you find a better one. It’s right. It’s natural, and you know it. Do you really want a second-rate mate that’s not intended for you? To what end? You saw what Brady was. Do you want a son like him?”

It was pitch black in this corner of the warehouse except for Tenley’s glowing eyes. As long as they stayed gold, I knew I had a foothold. Desire made him tremble. It called to my nature at the same time I recoiled from it. I was an Alpha’s mate, after all. I realized with growing alarm that my Alpha was nearby.

Liam.

Oh, God. Liam. I prayed he had the strength to fight off the Chief Alpha’s pull. The conduit of that pull stood an inch away from me. He realized what I did at the same instant. Baring his teeth, he licked me once again.

“Tick tock,” Tenley said. “Time’s up. I knew they couldn’t stay away. What makes you so special, little Molly? And think of how much fun we’re going to have finding out together.”

“Davis!” Mason’s voice grew desperate.

“In a minute!” Tenley hollered.

But hell had already broken loose. Liam’s pulse thundered in my ears. My flesh seared where Tenley gripped me. He felt the change in my body heat and his lips curled back in a smile. He jerked me forward, dragging me back to the main part of the warehouse.

I could hear the black wolf yelp with pain then grow deadly silent. The wolves were all around.

But none of it mattered. Not a single thing. Mason stood in the center of the room. He had Keara by the throat.

“Mason, don’t!” For the first time since he brought us here, Tenley sounded scared. Mason was caught between his wolf and his man. He closed his hands around Keara’s neck. Her eyes locked with mine.

“No!” I shouted. Tenley screamed it too.

But, Mason was too far gone. His teeth bared, he jerked his hands around Keara’s neck, snapping it. No longer able to hold off his wolf, he shifted. The force of Mason’s shift flung Keara cruelly against the wall.