Gemma's Fate, page 29
God. If she ran, it would all be over.
She nods, eyes as large as dinner plates, and carefully retreats, the fear shimmering in her depths, both breaking my heart and igniting my arousal.
I lift my head and sniff the air, then plant my nose against the warm stone where she’d sat. The scent of her arousal lingers, jerking my cock against my zipper. The aroma of her fear deepens my growl, and I coil, primed for the chase.
She freezes, holding her breath. “Drake?”
“Slower, Gemma. Do not look into my eyes.”
Immediately, she lowers her lashes and continues backing away toward the pantry entrance. The beast within roars with fury as she nears the door, knowing she will soon be beyond his reach.
Gemma spins around and rushes through the entrance, slamming the door shut behind her. The loud clang of the bar lock reverberates in the room as I crash into the door, clawing at the metal, desperate to reach her.
My thoughts are stripped away, leaving only raw, primal emotions to guide me. Beyond that door lies what I crave, and I will stop at nothing to get to her.
“Drake, please, stop.” Her scared voice fills my ears from the speaker next to the door. “You’re going to hurt yourself. Please calm down.”
The growls and pants of both beast and man fill the air with intense energy as we stand there, separated by a barrier from our mate. I haven’t fully transformed yet, so my appearance remains more human than animal.
I pound my fists against the barricade. “Gemma!” I roar in a deep, feral growl. “I need you. Come to me, my mate.”
A second later, I shout. “No!” I fight the beast tooth and nail. “Do not listen. Stay in there.”
“Drake,” she sobs. “I’m so sorry.”
Why is she apologizing to me? I’m the one who tried to attack her. An image of her naked and bleeding out on my kitchen floor from my bite flashes through my mind. It’s as effective as a bucket of ice water thrown in my face.
I drop to my knees, then turn and sit on the floor, back against the cool metal. “No, Gemma,” I reply, my voice more human. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me for scaring you.” Silently, I add, for almost raping and killing you.
“Is this our future every month?”
“Until I find a viable solution, yes.” I thump my head against the door, utterly drained. My canines recede, my ears return to normal, and the beast is once again contained. “It’s worth it to be with you. Moving forward, we need to take better precautions as the time of my transformation approaches.” When silence meets my words, I squeeze my eyes shut. “Please, don’t fear me, Gemma. We can overcome this.”
“Can we? I’m not so sure.”
The words pierce my heart. My fists clench. “Don’t give up on us, baby.”
I catch sight of the wall clock and curse. Shifting within my house is out of the question. I despise leaving her like this, but staying here has already proven disastrous. Her fear and uncertainty make her doubt our connection. Our love.
“Gemma. Remember your vow. I beg you not to open this door under any circumstances.” I rise to my feet, facing the camera above the door. “Keep an eye on the monitors for my return.”
“Right.” The despondency produces a sharp pain in my chest. “Because I’m a fragile human.”
“A beautiful, precious gift bestowed upon me by fate, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Never forget that.” When she offers no response, I touch my fingers to my lips and then press them against the camera. “I love you, Gemma. Please stay safe tonight. There’s plenty of food in the kitchenette fridge. Watch anything you want on Netflix and Prime on the TV. Try not to stay up all night watching me.”
“Be careful, Drake, and… I love you too,” she whispers, and contentment warms my chest.
The love I feel for her at this moment is enormous. It’s hot lava expanding inside my chest, uncontrollable and terrifying.
Chapter 36—Are You Here To Kill Me?
Gemma
After three long hours of pacing, tears streaming down my face, and a string of profanities escaping my lips, there’s still no sign of Drake. Now and then, a flicker on the monitor catches my attention, but as darkness sets in, I give up, clueless about switching the cameras to night vision.
I can’t lie. The glimpse of Drake’s beast earlier scared the bejesus out of me. Those canines alone could rip my throat out with ease. I didn’t feel any malice from him, but something was unsettling about how he looked at me.
In awe, I watched his face undergo a mesmerizing transformation, blending the features of a wolf and a man, leaving me both frightened and undeniably aroused.
I am all too aware of my vulnerability as a mere human. Fate, destiny, God, or maybe the Devil must have had a good laugh when they paired the big, handsome wolf with little ole me.
If I were an immortal, he’d be here, fucking and claiming me without worrying about killing me. And even though Drake’s alter ego petrified me, a significant part of me wanted it. Being overpowered by a crazed beast is the clandestine fantasy of every paranormal romance enthusiast.
Shaking my head at my foolish musings, I take a deep, steadying breath and settle myself at the desk, the kind that would make any gamer drool. A generously filled glass of wine and a bag of microwave popcorn accompany me as I prop my feet up on the desk, determined to glimpse my untamed lover, even if it means staying awake all night.
If Drake and I have a remote possibility of a future, and I’d like a shot at it, I need to handle my past at some point. How deep in the rabbit hole is Alfred in all this? Does my ex-fiancé care for me enough to betray whoever he’s working for to keep me safe, or would he gleefully forfeit my life to further his own agenda?
Separating the man he now appears to be from the gentle, loving man he was after my accident is proving difficult. I clung to him, depended on him, and he became my savior. My grief and pain blinded me, preventing me from seeing his true colors until it was too late.
Instantly, a flash on the monitor grabs my attention, causing me to drop my feet and wheel the chair forward, yearning for a closer look.
“Oh my God!”
An immense, dark figure emerges from the edge of the trees. The moonlight casts an ethereal glow, illuminating its terrifying features. The sound of the creature’s roar resonates through my body, causing my breath to catch in my lungs.
I watch, unable to tear my eyes away, as he prowls across the lawn, his muzzle lifted as if sniffing the air. And he is. He’s searching for me.
Goodness, why does the sight of this deadly predator ignite a fire within me? My nipples become hard and sensitive, begging for attention as I shift in my chair. A primal, deep part of my brain urges me to answer the beast’s call, strip off my clothes, throw open the door, and step out onto the lawn, surrendering myself at his feet.
“Oh, Drake. You’re absolutely breathtaking,” I whisper.
The beast has one destination in mind—the house. He knows his mate is inside and will stop at nothing to reach me.
He roars again, and my sex convulses in response. Without even realizing it, my hand ventures down into my pants, circling my throbbing clit, my eyes locked onto my mate on the monitors.
The closer he gets, the more my body weeps for him until he’s huffing at the door like the big bad wolf.
Fueled by a primal desire, I leap from my seat, racing towards the intercom. The sounds reverberating from the speakers are a symphony of low growls and primal grunts threatening to bring me to my knees.
Fuck! I need to open the door. His massive thighs and the enormous cock hanging between them make me shiver with anticipation as I imagine him thrusting viciously, filling me with his seed. I’m in turmoil as I battle between my desires and the rational voice in my head.
With trembling hands, I press the intercom button, fixating my gaze on the monitor above it. “Drake...” I pause, searching for words that won’t push him into a wild frenzy.
The beast stops. His powerful frame locks in place at the sound of my voice. His massive head lifts to gaze directly at the camera above the door. Seven feet of sculpted fur-covered muscles appear as still as stone, waiting for me to continue.
“Hello, my beautiful beast.”
The sound emanating from his chest is like a deep, throaty purr, causing my heart to skip. Dampness seeps through my leggings as the resonance reverberates within me. It constricts my nipples into excruciating peaks. My clitoris feels the pressure of his large hands as though they were on me.
“Geeeemmmmaaaaaa,” he growls, the feral growl of my name echoing through the air. It’s a guttural command, a call for me to come to him, and my resistance shatters. I can no longer deny the magnetic pull drawing me towards him.
My fingers tremble as they reach for the lock, ready to unleash my desires, when suddenly, the beast whips around with a horrifying roar. Panic surges through my veins as dozens of men in black armor descend on the living room, engulfing it in a hail of deafening gunfire. I scream, my voice desperate and terrified.
Drake becomes a blur of unbridled speed, his movements mercilessly swift as he decapitates one after another who dare to get too close. The scene is grotesque and mesmerizing, a ballet of violence and power.
But it is too much. The bullets tear through his flesh, inflicting wounds that would have halted any mere mortal. Yet, Drake fights on with unimaginable ferocity. I watch in agony as he stumbles, dropping to one knee, and my hand instinctively covers my mouth, trying to stifle the raw terror that threatens to consume me. I can’t bear to witness my mate’s demise.
Without hesitation, I press the intercom button again, my voice pleading and desperate. “Stop! Please, stop hurting him!” My body shakes with violent sobs as I clutch my stomach, trying to calm the storm of emotions within me.
Another bullet pierces Drake’s torso as he struggles to rise, bringing him down to his hands and knees. Through the speaker, I hear his low but violent growls, like cries of anguish that break my heart and render at my soul. At this moment, I want nothing more than to rush out there, to protect him, to exact vengeance on every despicable soul that dares to harm my beloved beast.
“Step out willingly, my dear, or I will end him right here, right now,” a chilling voice booms through the intercom, causing my heart to leap into my throat.
I don’t recognize the voice or the African-American man stepping out of the shadows in military fatigues.
“Who are you?” I muster the words, though my eyes remain locked on Drake’s wounded form.
With his silvered hair and commanding stature, standing well over six feet tall, the man exudes a magnetic presence. His muscular build hints at his strength and athleticism as he leans against the kitchen island, cutting into an apple with a wicked-looking knife.
Like pools of ink, his dark eyes meet the camera’s gaze as he lifts a wedge of apple to his mouth and savors it slowly, his every move calculated.
My palms sweat. I’m not a complete moron. This man is trouble, with a capital T, and is here for me.
He swallows the apple. “The sheriff here has been on my radar for quite some time,” he murmurs, gently placing the remaining fruit on the counter. The knife he wields finds its home in a sheath at his hip.
Intense,, eerie black eyes return to the camera. “And so have you, Gemma.”
I attempt to swallow, but my throat feels like the Sahara. “Who are you?” I demand again.
“We will get to that,” he replies, pushing off the kitchen island with a swagger that exudes confidence. He enters the living room, deliberately maintaining distance from the weakened beast trembling in the center.
“I suggest you step out, Gemma,” he croons, settling into a wicker chair. “We’ve pumped your wolf with so much silver, he’s as weak as a puppy. Choose to defy me, and I’ll take pleasure in ending him while you helplessly watch.”
My stomach drops like a stone, and Drake’s warning echoes in my mind. “Remember your vow. I’m begging you not to open this door for any reason.”
Fuck!
A muscle pulses in the man’s jaw before he nods to the soldier beside him. When he lifts the rifle, the muzzle pointing at Drake, I frantically jab the button. “Stop! I’m coming out.”
“Smart girl,” he smirks.
The beast growls a warning, and my heart nearly bursts, knowing it’s directed at me.
“Each time you defy or question me, one of my associates will shoot your wolf with silver,” he warns.
“Please, don’t hurt him anymore,” I whimper, tears streaming down my face. “I’m coming out.”
“Then move your ass, Gemma. You will find I am not a patient man.”
The second the thick barrier cracks open and I enter the kitchen, the beast catches my scent. My heart bleeds as he struggles to get to his feet. His massive jaws snap and snarl, no doubt furious at the effects of the silver.
“Lock him up in the truck while Ms. Christiana and I have a little chat.”
Five men cautiously approach, encasing each of Drake’s wrists and ankles in silver cuffs. Then, they throw a shimmering silver net over his body and skillfully slide a cold metal gurney underneath him. With every thrash and struggle, the net tightens, cutting into his fur and scorching his flesh.
“Please, Drake,” I sob, frustrated at my inability to ease his pain. “Stop fighting it. For me.”
A growl rumbles deep within him. But then, against all odds, the beast subsides, and those captivating emerald eyes, brimming with fury and possessiveness, reluctantly let go of me as they drag him away.
Jesus. If we get out of this alive, Drake is going to beat my ass raw.
With Drake out of sight, I turn my attention to the enigmatic stranger responsible for the trail of death and destruction. My voice is heavy with both curiosity and apprehension. “What is it you want?”
His voice, carrying a sense of quiet authority, fills the silence. “What I desire is to prevent the immortals from violating humans, from breeding with them. They pose a threat to humanity, and I will do whatever it takes to curtail their expansion.”
A wave of disgust washes over me as I glance at the bodies strewn across the room and recall the brutality inflicted on the murdered women. “Even if it means killing your own kind?” I ask, unable to hide the revulsion in my voice.
He shrugs casually, seemingly unaffected by the implication. “If they resist, then yes. But I’m not completely without compassion. I offer them a choice.”
Shit. I’m afraid to ask, but I do anyway. “What choice?”
“Sterilization or death.”
A sharp spasm shoots through me, causing me to clench my fists in agony. Everything seizes. My muscles. My airway. My heart.
No. It can’t be. My mind tries to dismiss it as mere coincidence, but deep down, I know the truth—this man eliminated my ability to conceive.
A crimson haze fills my vision, fueling my rage, and I struggle to take shallow, ragged breaths. “I wasn’t given a choice,” I manage to utter through gritted teeth.
His chuckle only serves to escalate my anger. “No,” he taunts, his voice dripping with amusement. “Frank and Phoebe had plans for you, their son’s future. They made the choice on your behalf. Be grateful. You’re still alive because of them.”
“Grateful?” My anger deflates like a burst balloon, leaving me feeling hollow. I slump into a chair, clutching its wicker arms tightly, the pressure threatening to break them. Damn it. Alfred’s parents are involved in this?
“They have already taken away my ability to have children,” I whisper, my voice filled with resignation. “What more do you want from me?” Desperation grips me as I search for a way out of this predicament.
“Nothing, my dear,” he says softly, his composure unyielding. “Alfred awaits his unruly fiancée outside. I’m here for the wolf. If you resist, I will simply kill him and find another one.” Rising to his feet, he extends his hand. “Come, we have prepared everything in the garage. It will be a night to remember.”
My lips tremble as I stare at his outstretched hand like we are old friends. How did things come to this? I should have insisted that Drake go to Montana. He would be safe, and this despicable man would have no way to reach me. Why didn’t I contact Drake’s queen the moment everything started going wrong?
Instead, you left the sanctuary of the basement, intent on playing hero when you are the farthest thing from a warrior.
To save Drake’s life. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Wait. Viessa said I could pray to her, and she’d come. And while it feels bizarre to pray to a vampire instead of God, I’d summon the Devil if I thought it would save Drake’s life.
‘Viessa,’ I plead mentally, feeling ridiculous. ‘Please help us. We need your help.’
“My patience is running thin, Gemma. Either march out there willingly, or I will drag you out by your hair.”
I slowly rise to my feet. “Was the car accident that killed my parents an accident?”
A twisted smile curls on his lips as he scrutinizes me. “Ah, a smart girl indeed. Alfred’s obsession with you suddenly becomes clear. If I were younger, I would claim you for myself,” he purrs, a hint of desire lacing his words.
His words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. “Is that how you perceive all women? As mere possessions?” I challenge
He chuckles darkly, his gaze penetrating my soul. “No, my dear. Only the women destined for immortals like yourself. Now, let’s end Alfred’s suffering, shall we? You’ve been delaying the inevitable for far too long, young lady. It’s time for you to take the plunge.”
“What is your connection to the Pearce family?” I ask, my mind racing as I silently pray for guidance, only to realize that I am truly alone. The immortals care nothing for me.
But they do about Drake. I must hold on to that. They will mount a rescue to save one of their own. I just pray I’m part of that rescue.
“They funded the creation of the P.I.T. division,” he discloses, a twisted pride gleaming in his eyes. “With their resources, I’ve had the means to observe and, when necessary, eliminate both immortals and Breeders.”
