But as he went back downstairs, he couldn’t stop thinking about that despondent girl. There was trouble there. He was sure of it.
3
Alanna
Save me.
Alanna had never wanted anyone to rescue her before. She’d never needed it before either. Having been on her own with her little brother for so long, she was used to being the one who did the saving. She wasn’t a trained fighter and she wasn’t big and muscular by any means, but she had always been scrappy and unafraid to fight dirty. But now...now she couldn’t fight at all. Not with Alex in Rawley’s clutches.
So, the first time, she’d thought that: Save me.
It was when the lodge’s handyman had come to fix their pipes. Alanna had allowed herself to fantasize a whole scenario in which the hot guy in the tool belt and faded jeans came to her rescue. He’d realize something was wrong, he’d just know. Then he’d shift and attack John, take him down no problem. He’d sweep her into his arms and then defeat Rawley for her when he came.
It was a nice fantasy anyway. But that wasn’t how life worked. Instead, he fixed their stupid sink just like they’d asked. John had been cranky about it, grumbling about how the place must not be as nice as it was reputed to be if the sink didn’t work when you showed up. Alanna only rolled her eyes as she sat listlessly at the dining room table.
“Here are the rules,” John said, sitting across from her once he was done complaining. He tapped his nose. “I got the best nose of any bear on this planet, Alanna. You stray too far and I will notice. But within the lodge? You can go wherever you want. See how nice I am? Just know, I’m keeping tabs. But I think you’re going to be a good girl, aren’t you? Because of Alex.”
Alanna stared down at her hands. He was right and she hated that he was right. She would never do anything that could endanger Alex. If she ran, Rawley would hurt him. Maybe not kill him. He’d want to keep his leverage. But he might take a hand or an ear, or who knew what. She didn’t put anything past Rawley.
“If I think you’re stepping out of line, I’m locking you in this room,” John said. “That’s if you’re lucky. Pretty sure the closets lock too. And that’s if I’m feeling pleasant. So don’t test me. Now, why don’t you go take a shower? You look like shit. We’ll get you some clean clothes when you’re prettied up. Rawley’s bride can’t look a mess like this.”
“Yes, sir, John sir,” Alanna muttered, getting to her feet.
“I hear that sass,” John snapped. “What’d I just say?”
“I’m doing what you want,” Alanna grumbled. She tensed, anticipating a smack as she got to her feet, but he only glared, allowing her to go off to the bathroom.
The jacuzzi tub was sorely tempting. It was huge and it had promising jets in the sides and a drink holder perfect for a champagne flute. It sat right next to a huge window that looked out on the ski slopes beyond and the gondola slowly going up and down its thick cables. The idea of a hot jacuzzi bath sounded heavenly about now but Alanna limited herself to the shower which was really nice enough. She took her time and played with all the different sprays and complementary scrubs, body washes, and shampoos. The Black Bear Lodge was, by far, the most luxurious place she’d ever stayed in. She was used to rented shacks, crappy apartments, cheap motels, and just as often the woods themselves. When she stayed in bear form, living in the woods was nicer than any lesser human alternative. It was, after all, her natural state.
But the Black Bear Lodge gave her no complaints. If the threat of Rawley and Alex’s safety weren’t hanging over her head, she could have enjoyed herself.
Alanna brushed her teeth after her shower and came out to the room wrapped in a thick, fluffy cloth robe. John raised an eyebrow at her and held out the phone.
“You can talk to your brother for a minute,” he said. “Sixty seconds. We’re counting. No funny business.”
Alanna all but ran to the phone, cinching her robe a little tighter, and grabbed the phone from John. “Alex?”
“Hey, sis.” Alex sounded exhausted, but not hurt. “Are you okay?”
NO!
“Yes,” she said firmly. She knew better than to walk into one of the bedrooms for a private conversation. John would want to hear everything she said. “I’m fine. Honestly. I’m totally fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Alex said softly. “I can’t…this can’t happen—”
“Stop it,” Alanna said quickly. “Stop talking. This isn’t your problem and I don’t want you to worry about it.”
“What do you mean this isn’t my problem, sis!”
“I just want you to be safe.” She shut her eyes as she stood there in the flawlessly decorated living room, her bare toes sinking into its lush carpeting. “I just want you to be safe and okay, Alex. That’s all that matters to me, okay? Nothing else.”
“This is bullshit!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Alanna said quietly. “Okay… I’ll be alright.”
She hadn’t allowed herself to think about the reality of things before. Now, as she tried to convince Alex that she was ready to trade her freedom for his, it hit home. This was really happening. She would marry Rawley, becoming one of multiple bear wives, just one of a harem that Rawley had built for himself. She would have to do whatever he asked and have his children, simply because he was a big powerful bear and she had no recourse. She had no sleuth to protect her and shifters never went to human authorities no matter what. She was trapped.
She felt as if the walls were closing in on her.
“Do you remember when we used to fish at Crockett River?” Alex said softly.
Alanna frowned at that. It didn’t seem like the time to bring up random old memories. “Yeah, of course…”
“You said… I just remember that time you got caught in the rapids,” Alex said. “I think about that sometimes. I’ve never forgotten it.”
Alanna felt a chill run down her spine. Alex was trying to tell her something without being obvious. But she couldn’t immediately think what it was. The memory seemed arbitrary. The river had been wide and stormy, in the middle of a mountain pass in Montana. They’d spent a lot of time in Montana until hunting season had kicked in and it had become too dangerous. They were always sensitive to the danger of hunters, considering their parents had been killed that way. The rapids had been vicious one warm day as they had tried to fish and the two of them had nearly been swept away until they’d managed to fight it and climb up some rocks.
She couldn’t imagine what any of that had to do with Rawley though. It made her a little annoyed and impatient. This was no time for games.
“I have to go,” Alex finally said, sounding slightly panicked. “Try to stay safe, sis.”
“Wait!” But it was too late. Alex’s voice cut off and the call ended. Alanna took a deep breath and returned the phone to John, who smirked as if pleased by her distress.
Alanna went to the window just to get some distance between her and John. She couldn’t think what Alex had been trying to tell her and it was going to bother her now.