Kiara's POV
They shoved me forward, almost causing me to stumble.
And then the drag slowly turned into a haul, boots dug into my spine,careless hands yanked me like I was dead weight instead of a person.
My shoulders burned where the metal rubbed raw.Every step was a reminder that I had to do this for my baby.
"Move," one of them barked.
"I am moving," I said flatly, voice dry as the land around us.
"Yeah, bitch?You talk back?!"
Another shove. Harder this time. I went down on one knee, teeth clicking together. Someone laughed behind me.
I swallowed it all. The rage. The instinct. The wolf screaming to be let loose.
Not yet.
They dragged me again.Definitely they wanted me bruised before I even reached wherever the hell they were taking me. My arms screamed. My back throbbed. I counted my breaths, kept my head down.
Then one of them yanked my cuffs higher than necessary.
That's when I decided I'd had enough.
I twisted my wrists just a little, hooked my cuff against his grip, and pulled.
He wasn't expecting resistance.
The man went down, face first with a satisfying crunch, dust spraying everywhere. His curse cut off into a muffled groan.
Everything stopped.
Boots skidded. Voices cut short. Weapons half lifted.
For one perfect second,everyone held their breath.
"Holy fuck…"
I straightened slowly, rolling my shoulders just a bit, trying to release the ache.
That's when fingers fisted in my hair… hard.
My vision flashed white as my head snapped back with a sharp sting. I barely had time to gasp before I was yanked flush against David's solid body.
He held me like I was something he owned just because he'd caught me.
"Well," he murmured close to my ear, amused. "There it is."
I didn't give him the sound he wanted.
He laughed softly and dragged me back another step.His mouth trailed where it had no right to be. Over my back. My shoulder. Too slow. Even my intestine shrinked at his touch, it was that repulsive.
I went absolutely still.
The men around us watched, frozen, unsure whether to look away or enjoy the show.
His lips brushed my ear.
Then before I could brace for it, his teeth sank in.
Pain flared. I sucked in a breath as blood welled.
He smirked against my skin and whispered.
"Save your feistiness for later, if you don't want to end up warming my men's bed!"
His 'men' snorted. Some even laughed.
David chuckled low, clearly enjoying himself. His grip tightened in my hair, jerking my head back another painful inch.
"You hear that?"
"Keep walking without any more dramatic flare," he snapped, irritation finally cracking through his amusement. "Before I change my mind and let them have a little fun while your bastard gets to watch."
Oh, I swear all the things I was already planning in my head. How I would dig his eyes out and feed them to the rats, how I would skin him, taking my slow, sweet time… how I would…"Control Kiara, control!! " I told myself. That time would come. All I had to do was be patient.
"Didn't you hear, bitch?! Alpha said move! " And I was tossed at another tall, dark, absolutely rough handed SilverTooth.
He raised his hand, possibly to slap me but before it could land…
Everyone froze all over again. But this time, it had nothing to do with me. I could tell it was probably a mindlink, perhaps a pack emergency… from the look of it.
"Alpha!!! Alphaaaaaa!!!!!"
Within seconds a few men from the patrolling team came running towards our small group.
David turned towards them with urgency.
" What is it this time?" He asked, eyes constricted.
The patrol boys bent over, hands on their knees, sucking air like they had sprinted straight out of hell.
One of them spat into the mud. "Mindlink's fucked again."
That got everyone's attention.
David's head snapped up. "I know that! Details!!!"
"Static," another said, rubbing his temple as if trying to recall. "In and out. Voices bleeding over each other. Commands lagging. Half the unit couldn't hear shit."
"Since when?" David barked.
"Just now. Maybe a few seconds more." The first one straightened, face tight. "Started with whispers. Thought it was just fatigue."
Whispers filled around me.
My stomach clenched too. What power could possibly mess with a pack's mindlink?!
David scoffed though I could clearly tell that he was nervous. "What kinda whispers, Pablo?Dirty talks in your bed?!"
"Yeah, well," the first patrol wolf muttered, "this wasn't any normal whispering,Alpha."
David's eyes narrowed.
The man swallowed. "Sounded like… crying. Then screaming. Then laughing. All layered. Like someone was dragging a knife through my skull while sobbing."
A few of the men shifted uneasily.
"That's bullshit," someone snapped. "You been drinking?"
"Fuck you," the patrol snapped back. "I know what I heard."
Another cut in, voice low. "It wasn't just sound. The air went weird. Heavy. Like right before a storm. Our wolves started snapping at each other for no reason."
David went very still.
"Did you spot anything at the Rogue camp?" he asked.
The patrol exchanged a look.
"Yes, in fact we did.Camp seemed restless. Wolves pacing. Half shifted at random. They have doubled sentries. No fires. No noise."
David's lip curled. "That bastard's playing games again."
"We saw wolves clutching their heads, dropping to their knees."
My pulse thudded.
David paced once, then stopped right in front of me. His fingers dug into my chin, forcing my eyes up again.
"You hear that?" he said quietly. "Your precious mate is up to no good! And he has been at it for years! This ends now! You understand?Or your pup does!"
I didn't answer.
He looked back at me, eyes glinting. "This time he has come up with something to keep us guessing while he lines up his next move."
My heart hammered, but I kept my face blank.
David released me roughly and barked, "Double the patrols. Reinforce the mindlink anchors. I want eyes on Caspian's camp day and night.Every second. Get that?!"
"Yes, Alpha!"