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GROGGY, DAVID WOKE slowly, looked around and remembered falling in the pool. “Cain?” he called, searching. Where had Cain gone? He crawled out of the grotto until the air became lighter, fresher and took several deep breaths.

“Cain?” He called again and again, looking around. There was no sign of the man. “Dad?”

“Dad still can’t connect directly to you or Cain. Everything okay?” Adam asked.

“Cain’s missing. There was some kind of mist by the water. It hit us after we climbed out. I just woke, and he’s gone, hasn’t responded to my calls either.” David rubbed the back of his neck and twisted it to get rid of the cricks.

“Maybe he’s looking around for... food or something,” Adam said faltering.

“Maybe. Let Dad know. He wanted us to stay together.” David’s stomach growled and he realized it had been hours since he’d eaten. Indecision warred in his chest. Should he look for Cain or remain here in case Cain returned? Hungry, he decided to wait for a short while rather than expend energy. Water wasn’t a problem, food was another issue.

Leaning against the rock he looked at the massive rock formations in the cave. Some places soared so high he couldn’t see the top, others were solid or jagged rock, a few ledges jutted out and other places were flat rock. For a moment he wished for his camera to record the grandness of the area.

“David?” his dad called.

“Sir?”

“Cain hasn’t returned?”

“No, he hasn’t.”

His dad cursed.

“What?” David looked toward the grotto and around the cavern expecting to see Cain.

“Abel says Cain’s drugged and unavailable.” His dad explained the female had succubus-like energy and powers. “While he’s under her influence he can’t help you. How’re you holding up?”

“Hungry, otherwise okay.” David started picking his way down a craggy path.

“Son, I’m so sorry this happened. The Knights are on standby to get both of you out of there as soon as we find an opening. There has to be one. We’re going to get you out of there.” His dad’s confidence warmed him.

“I know. I’m looking around, maybe I’ll find something that’ll help you with the location, a landmark or something.” He paused. “Whoever took Cain has to feed him, right?”

“Hopefully,” his dad said cautiously.

“Well, she needs to eat,” David said. “Which means food, water, and air has to be here for her survival. Lots of water and air so far. Food should be close.” He tried to sound upbeat for his dad while quaking inside. Sure they could drink water from the grotto, but his beast required food to function. Otherwise, he’d become sluggish and ineffective, easy prey for the witch.

“Good point, son. Abel can’t get through to Cain yet, when he does, we’ll make sure the two of you find each other for the extraction.”

“Okay.” David walked a little further. His skin tingled as he entered what looked like a campground with several large canvas tents in a circle. Startled he looked behind him, saw the craggy stones he’d just walked down.

“I just crossed through some kind of illusion into a place with seven tents and heartbeats. Full-bloods.” David took a step back and the tents disappeared. He moved forward, felt the tingles on his skin again and rubbed his arm. Inhaling deeply, he smelled meat. His beast stirred.

“What?” his dad sounded alarmed. “Full-bloods inside the mountain? What are they doing there? Have they sensed you yet?”

David watched as six men with long, blond braids stepped into the clearing and looked at him. “Just now. Six of them but I think there’s more.”

“That means there’s a way in and out of there,” his dad said, excited.

These men were at least seven feet tall with blond hair and braided beards. They didn’t seem friendly.

One of them pointed at him and waved him forward. “Come be my bitch.” The others snickered as they looked at him.

David took a deep breath, realized this was the real deal. Kill or be killed. He refused to be anyone’s bitch while breath filled his body.

“Adam, stand by, I’ll be pulling energy.” That’s the only warning he gave his brother as the full-blood who had waved him forward took exception to his delay and charged. He slammed into David sending him flying backward into the craggy landscape. Pain slashed into David’s back as he hit the unforgiving stone.

“Black box whoever you’re fighting so there’s no interference from the others. We’ll share our energy with you so you can fight as long as you need to win,” his dad said in a calm tone.

David shook his head to stop it from spinning, rolled to the side and avoided having his chest stepped on. He jumped up, tossed a box around him and the big guy and hit his head on the low hanging rock. He released the box, leaped forward to an area with a higher clearance, ensnaring the full-blood again while morphing to his two-footed beast. Standing slightly taller than his adversary and twice as wide, David unsheathed his razor-sharp claws.

The full-blood stared, looked at the others who seemed just as surprised and took a step backward.

Moving fast David punched his adversary in the chest, sending him flying into the wall of the box. He bounced to the ground. Watching David warily, he moved slowly, glanced to the side at the others and ran forward.

Side-stepping him, David slammed his fist into the full-blood’s gut, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sliding back across the rock floor. Streaks of blood marked the ground at his passing.

The others watched David as he stalked forward to finish it. The full-blood shifted, backed up and sprang forward, his long canines poised for David’s throat.

David back-handed him, sending him crashing into the unforgiving ground where he remained still for a few seconds.

“You’ve defeated the least among us, what will you do with Sage, a true warrior?” A massive full-blood David hadn’t seen before moved to face him. The full-blood had to stand at least eight feet or more, much taller than David’s two-legged beast. Long canines crowded Sage’s mouth giving him a sinister appearance. David’s confidence ebbed as he watched the full-blood prance and swagger.

Hunger tore at David’s stomach. He needed to replace the energy he’d just expended. Rather than respond or allow fear to hold him captive, David fed off the energy from his litter-mates until the hunger abated and he could re-focus.

“Come out of your little box, boy. Either kneel, offer me your throat and ass or die this day.”

David released the box and met his adversary’s silver gaze. “Fuck that. I kneel only to my Alpha, Silas Knight, La Patron.”

The full-blood and the others laughed. “La Patron? I’ve heard of him. He’s weak and pitiful. Either you’ll kneel in front of me willingly or I’ll rip off your legs from below your knees and force you.” With an arrogant swagger, he moved forward.

David had no interest in talking to the wolf.

“You look tasty.” Sage looked at the other men. “Our queen has sent us her left-overs, new meat. Yum.” He grabbed his cock and lifted it as if it were some trophy. The others stared at David as if he were a steak on a platter.

Not happening, David thought as every defense lesson he’d ever had, ran through his mind. He would kill the Alpha first. Since the man was much bigger, David would fight him in human form. That would make him cocky, sloppy. David would use the energy from his litter-mates to bring him down before he realized he had underestimated him. If necessary he would shift in the end, otherwise, he’d fight in human form.

The others might rush him, that was always a possibility. If he moved quickly, put the barrier in place, he’d have a chance. Maybe pick them off one at a time. All he needed was one alive to tell him how to get out of this cave.

“No defense of your Alpha?” the full-blood mocked.

“La Patron needs no defense; the Black Wolf always rises to defeat our enemies.” David morphed to human, took a couple steps, jumped over the Alpha ensnaring him in a black box and landed on the other side in a crouched position.

The Alpha growled, tore off his shirt and lunged at David who rolled aside, sticking out his foot to trip the much larger man. The ground shook from the force of the fall. The other pack members ran forward, trying to get closer but the bubble held.

David stood quickly and watched the Alpha look at him for several seconds before walking toward him slowly. “Who are you?”

David shook his head. The time to ask that question had passed. The Alpha’s death was just a matter of time.

With lightning speed, the Alpha slammed into David sending him rolling across the floor into the wall of the bubble. David kept rolling along the floor to prevent being stomped on.

Finally, he caught the Alpha’s large foot, held it several inches from his face, pulled in more energy from his litter-mates and twisted hard. The bone cracked. Yelling, the Alpha fell backward, bounced off the wall and hit the floor rolling in pain.

David jumped up and repeatedly punched the Alpha in the face.

The Alpha threw up his arms to stop the assault.

David unsheathed his claws. He tore into the skin and flesh of the Alpha. Bones broke, blood splattered but David didn’t stop until there was little left of the Alpha’s face.

Taking a deep breath, David stepped back, shifted to his two-legged beast, tore off the Alpha’s head and tossed it aside. Turning he looked into the faces of the stunned pack members.

“I am David Knight, son of La Patron, Alpha of the United States.” When no one moved or spoke he shrunk the bubble so that it offered protection in case they rushed him.

His beast growled as several of the men stared at him. He unsheathed his claws, prepared to fight. The closest full-blood turned away and offered his throat. Soon they others followed suit. David inhaled and sensed there was someone else.

He pointed to a tent. “Bring them out.” One of the men stepped inside and carried a smaller full-blood out. He placed him near the dead Alpha.

“Sage,” the young man cried and laid his shaggy blond head on the Alpha’s thigh. David watched for a few seconds and then looked at the others.

“Is this everyone in your Pack?” he asked the closest person to him as he turned so he could watch the young man on the floor.

“We serve the Queen.”

David didn’t understand. “Queen?”

“Nadira. Our Queen. This is her home, we have sworn to serve her. She is our leader.”

That must be the female who took Cain. Inhaling, David zeroed in on the food supply and walked toward it. When he found the simmering meat, he placed a box around him, stooped and ate. It lacked flavor but eased the gnawing in his gut. When he finished he realized everyone watched him. Had he eaten their dinner? Their only food supply?

“How do you leave here to find more food?” David asked.

They pointed to the Alpha on the ground. “Our queen gave him the key and instructions. Without him, we cannot leave and replenish our supplies. The protection surrounding us fell as he died.”

A heavy feeling filled David’s belly.

“You killed him and all of us with him,” the weeping fellow yelled from the floor.

Shit.

“Can you repair the wall?” one of them asked.

“What’s your name?” David needed a moment to think.

“Baez. Sage was my litter-mate.” He waved to the other five. “We’re all litter-mates, except the wee one.” He pointed to the man weeping next to the fallen Alpha.

David didn’t know what to say. On one level, he’d made things worse but becoming their bitch was never an option. “I’ll speak to my Alpha, get his instructions.”

“You can speak to him? In here?” They looked at each other, surprised. “The Queen forbids it. We lost that ability a long time ago,” Baez said.

David walked off, threw up the bubble and sat on a large rock. Exhaustion weighed him down as he watched them move the Alpha’s body to a tent and surround it. He realized whatever cloaked them before had disappeared.

“Adam, I need to talk to Dad. I think I messed up,” David said.

###

“Dad’s helping Abel,” Adam said.

“I’m here,” his mom said. “What’s going on? Can I see where you are?”

Shocked to hear his mom’s voice but trying to not to show it, David looked straight ahead at the tents, the full-bloods and the feet of the deceased Alpha. His mom couldn’t link to anyone but Asia and his dad. Was she piggybacking onto his dad, who piggy-backed onto Adam?

“Who’s that?”

“Alpha Sage. I won a challenge against him. Those are his litter-mates.”

“No, the naked woman coming down the steps with the blonde braid across her chest. Look up,” his mom said.

David looked at the area near the grotto and watched the tall, muscular woman move with military precision toward them. The six brothers noticed her and fell to their knees with their heads bowed. She strode to the tent with the dead Alpha, and then looked at David.

“Who are you?”

“Don’t answer her,” his mom said, surprising him. “She’s throwing something at you, I’ve got it.”

Clean, refreshing energy rushed through his body. “What’s that?” he asked his mom while watching the Queen stare at him.

“Just two queens battling this out. Put up your shield, she’d going to try and touch you. That’s a no-no,” his mom said.

Feeling stronger than he had in days, David obeyed.

“You will kneel in my presence,” the Queen said moving toward him.

“I kneel only to my Alphas, Jasmine and Silas Knight.”

She frowned and stared at him. Tingles bounced off his skin. She reached forward as if to touch him. Her fingertips encountered the bubble, surprising her. “What magic is this?” she whispered, pressing her finger into it again and again.

David didn’t speak. He smelled Cain on her and hoped the big guy was okay.

“Did you kill my servant?”

“He challenged me to a fight, I won.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, lifting her breast. “Then you will take his place.” She turned to leave after her decree.

“No, thank you,” David said almost levitating from his mom’s energy.

“What did you say?” she growled, glaring at him.

David hadn’t been paying her much attention. “No, thank you?”

For several seconds her eyes glowed and then she looked at the others. “Kill him.”

“What?” his mom yelled. “Oh, hell no.”

“Mom, it’s okay.”

“No, son. She wants to touch you, that’s how she controls people, it’s in her scent. I cleaned it from your system because women are immune. It’s toxic. Think corrupt breeder on steroids. This is powerful stuff. Can you sit in the bubble and not fight? Give us some time to work on this?”

Only a mother would ask an Alpha trained warrior to avoid a fight. But she was his mom, so he obeyed.

The six men ran toward him. David strengthened the bubble and rolled with it as it was toppled over.

Tousled, he expanded the enclosure to put more space between him and his attackers. The Queen walked away. As the six threw punches and tried to bite through the bubble with their long canines, she stood in the distance watching. Moments later, they turned and fought each other. David watched as they fought with unparalleled ferocity. It made no sense.

“She’s doing that,” his mom said. “Whatever she gives them turns them into this. Look into their eyes, see their sorrow and pain. Victims. If we can remove them from her when you leave, we will.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The battle continued until one remained standing. Bleeding, with ripped flesh in the process of healing, he stepped over his brothers and waved to David.

“Fight me. I will avenge my Queen’s honor.”

“No,” his mom said.

“No,” David said.

The full-blood yelled as he ran forward. At the last moment, David dashed aside. The full-blood slammed into the jagged rock and fell backward.

David glanced at the Queen. One second she was far away standing at the top of the steps, the next she stood in front of him with her finger pointed in his face. “You will pay for the disrespect you’ve shown me this day.” She flicked the bubble with her nail. “You can’t keep this up all night, you’ll sleep and when you do, I’ll have you.”

“He can’t stay up, but his mama can. You won’t have my son, witch,” his mom yelled.

David smiled.

The Queen’s gaze narrowed as she looked around and then met his gaze. “Do not think to play with me. I will hang your intestines along these walls to dry. I’m more powerful than you can imagine. I’m —”

“What’s your name?”

Her brow furrowed. “Queen Nadira.”

“Why are you here? In the mountains. Inside the mountain?” he corrected.

“You do not ask me questions.” She sneered at him.

David shrugged. “Okay.”

She stared at him a few seconds and looked at the full-bloods on the ground. Taking a deep breath, she blew it over them. Seconds later, they moved, shook their heads and looked up at her.

“Get up, clean yourselves off and finish your tasks. I will deal with him myself.” She leered at David, turned and walked up toward the grotto. The men cast gazes at him but didn’t speak.

“Silas has gone about this wrong. You’ll need female energy to fight this one. I’m sure the same is the case for Cain too. Abel was the wrong person to help his brother. Chances are, she pulled energy from both of them. Asia’s strong, but we’re both handicapped. I’m linked to your dad and she’d have to be linked through Hawke. It dilutes our energy.”

“This is diluted?” David shook his head as chill bumps rippled across his skin. “Mom, if this is diluted I probably couldn’t handle you straight on. I’m vibrating.”

“Really? I’ll tone it down a bit. For a moment I thought she was going to attack you. I had something for her if she went that way.”

“Mom... you are awesome.” He smiled.

“Over the years I’ve learned a few things. Your dad said I couldn’t interfere in a challenge fight. I can only share energy with you to keep you in the battle. What she wants to do to you and Cain’s is ridiculous. My son’s not going to be a slave to anyone.”

“Thanks for having my back,” he said yawning. That fight took a lot out of him. He needed to rest.

“We’ll hold the bubble, son,” his mom said. Heat surrounded him as he stretched out on the floor.

“Just an hour or so. Then I’ll try to find a way out of here.” He explained his dilemma now that the Alpha was dead.

“Get some rest, clear heads and minds will prevail when you wake.”

“Who’s watching first?” he covered his mouth as another yawn slipped out.

“Me. I’m with Renee. We’ve got this shift. Asia and Jackie will take over and then I’ll be back after I rest. Don’t worry, we’ve got you. That old bird’s not gonna win. Not this time.”

He smiled, believing every word. “Love you.” He closed his eyes.