CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Bianca lowered her head and let her hair fall over her face to hide her eyes. From her corner, she sneaked glances at the three Woodrow men to observe their interactions. Cliff was obviously the alpha wolf here. He gave commands and expected his sons to obey his orders without question.
Rake carried out Cliff’s commands with mindless efficiency and diligence. Bianca suspected that he craved his father’s approval. But Rufus seemed less eager and willing than his brother to obey his father’s cruel orders. The youngest Woodrow wolf hung back and seemed determined to keep his distance from her. So far, he hadn’t laid a finger on her.
Bianca decided that Rufus was her best chance of escape. If she could elicit some sympathy or pity from him…
Bianca hugged herself tightly and rocked to and fro. She groaned and muttered loud enough for them to hear her, “My tummy...hurts...”
Rake scowled at her. “What the hell is wrong with her?” He stepped towards her and barked, “You better not throw up, bitch. If you make a fucking mess, you’ll have to clean it up—with your tongue.”
“I think she’s really ill,” Rufus spoke up. “She looks kinda pale.”
“Nobody asked you,” Rake snapped.
Bianca hunched in and pretended to shiver. Cliff stared at her and shrugged. “If the bitch is sick, then we don’t want to catch whatever she’s got. She can keep her germs to herself. I’m not fucking a diseased bitch.”
Rake started to protest but Cliff cut him off.
“There are plenty of bitches in town. You can get pussy anytime. Don’t get distracted, Rake. We’re here for her eye, for revenge,” Cliff said as he unsheathed his claws. “Hold her down, Rake. Rufus, come here!”
Bianca bit back a horrified cry. She tumbled off the crate and scrabbled back as Cliff and Rake came for her.
“No,” she panted. “No! Leave me alone! Don’t touch me, you bastards!”
She saw Rufus standing at the corner of the barn, his face hidden in the shadows. He didn’t join his father and brother. He wasn’t going to dirty his hands. But it looked like he wasn’t going to help her either.
Bianca got to her feet and tried to run. But Rake tackled her and pinned her down beneath him.
“You don’t look diseased to me,” he leered. “I can smell your cunt, and I can tell you’re horny, you little slut.”
Bianca screamed and tried to kick him, but Rake backhanded her and for a moment, all she saw were flashing lights and stars. She heard distant echos and distorted voices. As she tried to regain her focus, random images and snapshots surfaced from her memories and flickered on the back of her eyelids.
She saw Talon, and she saw their happy moments at home. They were laughing in the kitchen, splashing water at each other as they did the dishes together. She saw them sitting on the couch in the living room. Talon was massaging her feet as she flipped through a magazine. These were all scenes from her life, a life she had just begun to live.
She was living a beautiful life. She had a mate, a family, a future. After everything she’d been through, she was truly, completely happy at last.
With a gasp, Bianca blinked back to the present.
She saw Rake’s contorted face above her and felt him pressing against her. His breath, his touch enraged and repulsed her. “Let. Me. Go,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
Rake bared his teeth in an ugly smile. “I think you like it rough, slut. I’ll give it to you.” He began to undo his belt with one hand. His other hand clamped around her neck.
A tidal wave of fury rose within her. These bastards had no right to destroy her life.
Hurting her would hurt the man she loved. And she would never allow these cowardly hooligans to hurt Talon.
Screaming, she lashed out and clawed at Rake’s face. Her nails tore across his cheek, leaving a trail of blood.
When Rake tried to slap her, she turned and bit down on his hand. She tasted blood in her mouth, but she wouldn’t let go.
“You dirty slut!” Rake bellowed, grabbing her hair and slamming her head to the ground. “How dare you! I’m going to make you scream and bleed. Fucking bitch!”
Bianca rolled on her side and retched. Everything was tilting and spinning, and she could taste blood in her mouth.
Rake kicked her in the ribs, making her cough out more blood.
“I’ll kill you!” he roared.