Page 57 of Forced Mate Bride
Gritting her teeth, she drove her foot back and into his shin. Howling, he released her, and she dashed away again. But he managed to grab her once more before she had gotten a handful of feet away. He grasped one manacled wrist and jerked her back toward him, snarling at her.
“You’re mine,” he growled. “And the sooner you accept that, the better for everyone. Now, come along before you make this worse for yourself.”
She struggled again, trying to break his grasp despite knowing there was nothing she could do at this point. Ignoring her screams and struggling, he dragged her back into the cabin.
Chapter 21 - Jasper
They sped along in the car, taking the twists and turns along the treacherous, bumpy road through the woods as fast as they could risk it. Jasper’s leg jittered up and down in the passenger seat, his hands curled into fists as he glared ahead.
He wanted to be sprinting through the woods in his wolf form, but the car was faster. So despite how much he hated sitting and waiting, he let Camden drive them at a breakneck pace through the woods to where the scouts had indicated on the map. Every minute seemed to last an eternity. He kept thinking about Nikki, what he would do when he saw her. What if she were hurt? What if she wasn’t there? If Lucas had hurt a single hair on her head, Jasper would tear that asshole to shreds.
None of them spoke. Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, they came to a halt in front of a cabin, an SUV parked out front. The instant they stepped outside, Jasper knew he was in the right spot. Nikki’s scent, mixed with fear and anger, spread through the air. It was surprisingly fresh, too, as if she had been outside recently.
He glanced over and noticed one of the windows was broken. He had no evidence, but something told him that Nikki was somehow responsible, and a savage pride rippled through him. He smirked, then pulled his attention away to take in the rest of their surroundings, looking for any signs of an ambush.
“And here I thought I would have to go out and find you all myself,” Lucas said, appearing in the doorway.
Rage burned through Jasper at the sight of Lucas’s smirking face. The man leered, looking at them as though he had just won some sort of prize. Bristling, having to hold himselfback from lunging forward and tackling Lucas right then and there, Jasper stepped forward in front of Camden.
“Where is she?” Jasper demanded.
Lucas’s sneer turned into a wide, malicious grin. “Who? Nikki? She’s here.”
“I want to see her,” Jasper growled.
Chuckling, Lucas yanked at a chain clutched in his hand. There was a rattle, and Nikki lurched into view. The chain Lucas was holding attached to the manacles snapped around her wrists. Her arms were scratched and her clothes dirty, as if she had fallen in the woods at some point. Lucas pulled her against him, stroking her arm.
“See? She’s all right. She’s in need of a bit of correction, but she’ll be all right.”
Nikki grimaced and tried to recoil, but Lucas only pinned her tighter against him. She glared up at him, still trying to push herself away. Lucas bared his teeth, his grip on her arm tightening as she struggled.
“Let her go before I rip that arm off,” Jasper said, his voice even and without a hint of bravado.
Nikki’s eyes strayed toward him. She didn’t say anything, but her gaze softened when it met his. There was still fear, though there was also a sort of confidence there, a reassurance. Trust, he realized. He had to tear his gaze away from her to focus back on the threat.
“It’s over, Lucas,” Jasper said, eyes narrowed.
Lucas laughed, his face contorted in a sneer. He shoved Nikki back into the cabin and out of sight.
“It will be over when I see all of you dead on the ground,” he said.
“Come quietly, and we can talk this out,” Camden said.
Another laugh from Lucas. “Talk? There’s nothing to talk about. You’re all dead men walking.” He turned back to look at Jasper with a sneer. “And I’m going to have so much fun with your little mate Nikki once you’re dead.”
That sent Jasper over the edge. With a roar, all sense of strategy or restraint thrown out the window, Jasper lunged, lurching toward Lucas, shifting into a wolf mid-stride, preparing to collide with Lucas’s shoulders.
Lucas shifted just in time, dodging so Jasper soared overhead. He spun back around the second he landed, but already Lucas was lunging, lashing out with sharp claws that would gouge the second they made contact. Jasper dodged the first blow, dancing away, but the second one scratched a long gash along his back. He yowled.
Out of the open door spilled another three wolves, each of them charging for one of the Silverrose wolves, and the real battle commenced. Jasper barely noticed, too preoccupied with Lucas and removing him from the equation. Get rid of the head, and the rest will fall.
He jumped, and this time he managed to slam straight onto Lucas’s back. But Lucas flung him off with such speed and strength that Jasper wasn’t prepared, and he went flying. It was only by a miracle that Jasper landed on his feet instead of his flank. After dodging the next attack, he soared toward Lucas, his teeth biting into the scruff of his neck.
But Lucas shook him off, and his claws raked across Jasper’s throat. Yelping, Jasper stumbled back, feeling warm blood matting his fur. He panted, and Lucas moved again,slicing into Jasper’s side this time, more pain erupting from the injury.
He could feel himself beginning to weaken. Before Jasper could react or retaliate, Lucas’s wolf landed on top of him. A massive paw slammed against Jasper’s throat, crushing his windpipe. Instinctively, Jasper switched back to human. He might have been able to wriggle out from Lucas’s paw, but the other wolf turned back into a human at the same time. His hand coiled around Jasper’s neck and cinched tight.
Jasper gasped, unable to breathe. His vision began turning black. He gaped, trying to gather his breath. Lucas’s grasp on his neck continued to tighten, squeezing the air and the life out of Jasper while the rest of the battle raged on around them.
