Bound

Chapter 72 - Hostage

Skylar

I had just plopped myself down on the couch in the lounge, a plate of pizza in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. I didn't bother putting the tv on. I enjoyed the silence, and besides, I couldn't concentrate. I was pretty worried about Dmitri, but he would be fine, right? He is a Lycan and an Alpha, so he should be fine.

Something felt off, though, and I couldn't shrug the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. I had read and watched way too many movies to ignore the feeling. My intuition had served me well so far in many instances, so I wasn't about to ignore it now. Determined, I set my wine glass down and head to the front door.

Just as I'm about to open it, I hear a thud, like something big hitting the deck just outside. My hand flies to my mouth to stifle a gasp as blood pools on the floor, seeping through the gap under the door. My heart is thundering in my chest, and I pray to whatever is up there that whoever is on the other side doesn't have super hearing as I slowly tip-toe backward. I look around, panicking, before I decide to head to the kitchen, the knife I used earlier to cut the tomatoes coming to mind. I need a weapon.

I make it just in time, grabbing the knife and ducking behind the kitchen island just as a loud bang echoes through the house. The front door busts open, and I hear a couple of men entering. I don't know how many. From the footsteps and voices, I would say five or six.

"Find her. Now. And don't hurt her." An order is issued, sending men off in different directions. They must be Hunters. If they were werewolves or Lycan, they would have scented my hiding spot by now. I need to buy some time. Hopefully, someone will come.

Footsteps approach the kitchen on the other side of the kitchen island. Crouched and with my back to the cabinets, I slowly move to the opposite side of the island from where the sound is. He seems to be making his way to this side of the counter, so I quickly move around the corner on the side, holding my hand over my mouth to stifle any sound, the knife clutched tightly in my other hand. I'm so scared it feels like I need to pee.

Looking forward, I see the large wooden framed sliding doors that lead out to the back garden. The key is in the lock. If I can get there, I can run for it. I need the head start to unlock the door, so it's never if I don't go now. I choose, getting up from my hiding spot and dashing for the door. The man behind me shouts, alerting the rest to my presence, as I quickly unlock the door, my shaking hands dropping the knife in the process. I start running, hope blooming in me that I might actually escape.

That hope quickly fades as I look around, only to find a large man nearly within grasping distance. I scream just as he tackles me to the ground, the wind knocked out of my body as I hit the surface hard. I gasp, trying to take a breath in as fear takes over. I think I will never breathe again, but then air suddenly fills my lungs. He grabs me painfully by the hair, pulling me to my feet. I pull back in fear when I see his face, the claw mark marring the one side of his brow, over his eye and cheek, adding to the overall menacing look he wears with ease.

Men pile out of the house, the leader, I assume, standing in the front. While not bigger than the man currently dangling me by the hair, this guy looks way more dangerous. His face is smirking, and his aura is very dark. There is no emotion except hate and darkness in his eyes.

"Bring her here, Ayor." His voice matches the one I heard earlier issuing instructions.

Ayor drags me along, my hands grasping his wrist to lessen the pain he is causing my scalp.

"So, you're the one. The one Legends are written about. Skylar Morgan." Ayor pushes me forward, causing me to land painfully on all fours before his boss.

I push myself up, taking a step backward as he advances on me, my journey halted when I bump into Ayor, who is blocking my retreat.

"Pretty thing, aren't you." He strokes a finger down my cheek, a sick feeling forming in the pit of my stomach.

"We mustn't touch her, remember," Ayor says gruffly.

"Who's in charge here?" He asks Ayor menacingly, his gaze leveling him with a stare that looks like it alone could kill.

"You are boss." Ayor takes a step back, his sign of submission seemingly satisfying the menacing man before me.

"Let's get out of here before someone comes." He grabs my arm, pulling me towards the house.

A loud growl, fast approaching, has us stopping in our tracks. I turn around, my eyes skimming the tree line. He is coming for me. I know it.

Just then, the largest animal I have ever seen bursts through the tree line.

"Dmitri," I whisper, my eyes going to the claws hanging at his sides. I remember that hand.

He towers over seven feet high, off-white fur covering his back and shoulders and lightly sprinkling his chest and face. His mouth resembles a wolf's, and his eyes are pitch black. His legs are strong and powerful and look like the hind legs of a dog. They, too, are covered in off-white hair. He is scary to behold but beautiful at the same time. It's hard to explain. I suddenly want to embrace him in that form and see how it feels. I suppose it's like having a hidden place in your heart manifesting itself as reality. And I was getting a glimpse of it. I felt honored.

Dmitri growls out, his eyes moving over my body before he takes in the hand grasping my arm and the man attached to that arm.

He takes a step forward, causing the man behind me to react. His arm snakes around my waist, securing me against his chest as I feel a knife placed against my throat. I had seen many movies like this, but the reality was scarier. The blade pierces my skin when I try to break free, causing me to cry out.

"Shift. Now." He orders Dmitri, who doesn't hesitate, his form shrinking down to the shape and appearance I am used to. Except for the nakedness. And his eyes. Instead of the otherworldly green, they remain almost black.

"Let her go. There's no way out of here. We have taken care of your buddies on the border, and the exits are on lockdown." Dmitri's voice is calm, but I can see from his clenched fist that he is anything but that.

Two wolves burst through the clearing, flanking his sides. They stop in their tracks, taking in the scene. I assume the bigger one is Ivan. I'm not sure who the other one is.

"There are eight of us and three of you. And while I know those numbers don't scare you, all our guns are loaded with silver bullets." At those words, all the men standing behind us raise their guns, some clicks being heard as the guns are cocked. Fear courses through me. I know how dangerous silver is for Lycans and werewolves. Dmitri and his wolves didn't stand a chance. Tears are streaming down my face, and the thought of something happening to Dmitri, and because of me, is unbearable.

"Don't, Dmitri," I say, my eyes pleading with his.

"I'm not going to lose you again, Skylar." The determination in his voice and his stance tell me he is going to do something stupid.

"If you even try anything, I will kill her." The boss holding me says. He is smirking. I can tell from his tone.

"You came all this way and sacrificed many men to get her. I doubt that is to take her out of here in a body bag," Dmitri counters, his voice loud and sure.

The man holding me says nothing for at least a minute before finally lowering his knife from my neck, a laugh racking his body. Even that sounds sinister.

I take a huge breath, my hand going to the spot on my neck where blood trickles out of the small cut.

"You've called my bluff. I respect that. But that doesn't change the fact that you'll die."

Everything after that happens in slow motion. I can hear triggers being pulled, my heart shattering with fear for Dmitri before I find myself falling as darkness engulfs me.

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