Taming her Wild Mates
the wind whispered through the nearby trees. The narrow pathw
. The Annual Purge-the werewolves' brutal celebratio
led her conversation with he
an who had always treated Meredith l
voice low. "It's the Purge. Go home, Meredith. Lock your
e concern, but deep down, she knew t
human, little
apart, of innocent lives taken without mercy. The werewolves claimed it was thei
used. Perhaps it was that if the werewolves decided her
pathway ahead led into the darkened forest. S
owls, laughter, the distant
and if this was her fate, so be it. Besides, she was alread
ing candles casting shadows that danced on the
es. Hopefully, Carrick, the owner, noticed her weariness and gently suggested she take over
ng trays and serving drinks, her
e men at the far end of the table. Their eyes followed her every
eyes narrowing as he studied her. "You look t
she set down their drinks. "It's been a busy week," she replie
nd here would dare to work this late, especially t
espond. She could sense the ot
aze with as much courage as she could muster. "B
sent a shiver down her spine. "Brave words fo
feeling their eyes boring into her,
etter than
he side of his face, leaned forward. "You ever heard of the Moo
dry. "Everyone here knows of
honor her with the hunt. You should be careful, girl
r support. "I appreciate the warning," she said, ba
first man called out to he
ing over her shou
ng the name. "We'll be seeing you ag
away as quickly as she could
ime Carrick announced the end of t
tched on his face. "You should go home now, Meredith.
a tired smile. "I'll be fine, Car
er. "You're strong, Meredith. But strength d
watching him leave befor
, the moonlight was casting long
r way home. But before she could take a
on?" a familia
, she saw the men she
she ran aimlessly, the cold air burning her lungs. She du
a way out, but there
! Come quietly, and we
. She stumbled into a narrow alleyway, hoping it
she reached the end, her heart sank as she he
silhouette blocking the only exit. The others emerg
she was pressed against the cold brick wall.
s smile darkening. "It's not
er arms and pinning her against the wall. Meredith screamed, stru
came in r
r until his face was inches from hers. "There's
. "Why me?" she whispered, her
, though his eyes remained cold. "I assur
a cloth from his pocket and pre
nt of chemicals overwhelmed her senses. Her vi
r murmured as her body began to
s lifting her off the ground, carrying her
re was nothin
*
adows, she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. Slow
he Annual Purge-the time when werewolves hunted human fem
gh her mind. She had been taken in a similar
ood scraped against her skin as she shifted. It wasn't just her-countless other
us," one woman sobbed.
d, "We're all going t
nd an opening. But the walls seemed to cl
tay here. She
d the women fell silent. The sound grew louder, closer,
ed by the hood of his cloak. He carried a small lantern. He lo
a desperate whisper, she plead
," he whispered back. "No one can interfere with fate. I
st be a way," she insisted. "Ple
as if checking for any unseen obser
you reach the Musk River, you'll be free. But
oat. "The river... How d
a single star shone brightly in the night sky. "Head
o the shadows. Around her, the other women began to stir, some w
her life, the dreams that might never come true. She sobbed for t
hed before looking up at the sky wh
ments away. The boy's eyes flickered as he notic
last time. "I w
and the sound of locks being
crambled out, their screams piercing
lted from the box. The sound of
darkness. The branches scratched at her skin as she pushed herself harder. But th
kle, and for a moment, s
erself to her feet. She limped forwar
a little further, and s
slammed into her back. The impact knocked the brea
of a predator brushing against her neck. She had come
ars streaming down her face as she
into the darkness. "Pl
fangs and the tearing of claws. But instead,
grew heavier, pinning her to the grou
gers gently cup her chin. Her breath caught in her throat as her face was
e, with steely eyes that seem
warm against her cheeks as he w
ind him, their forms shifting until they stood as na
intensity as the first man's. Sl
ey all stared down at her, t
n cue, they spoke
ut a vow. She was surrounded, c
y moment, she was no long