Luna on a Chain

Chapter Three

“Oh no you don’t—I’m not giving my friend to you, you mangy beasts!” I shouted, and the contents of the spray can burst straight into the man’s face. At first, he demonstratively inhaled through his nose, but a moment later he clutched his throat and dropped to one knee along with his burden. The men behind him stirred, and without wasting time, I spun around and sprayed them as well. No one had expected such an effect from an ordinary spray. Of course not. I’d been hiding from werewolves for the past two years, so my means of defense were designed for them—not for humans.

The first one was already starting to come around from the tranquilizers, so I decided not to hesitate any longer and simply yanked my friend off his shoulder. The man flew into a rage, and the first signs of partial transformation appeared on his hands. This was bad. I dragged my friend a short distance away and was just about to throw her over my own shoulder—but it didn’t work. The world spun before my eyes. The next moment, I was hanging upside down over a strong shoulder. The spray can with the life-saving liquid slipped from my hands. Clenching my fists, I started kicking the man frantically, shouting obscene curses.

I was shoved into a black SUV. How astonishing that no one saw it or stopped the group of men kidnapping two women right in the middle of the street.

Two broad-shouldered men pinned me in from both sides on the back seat. The SUV pulled away. Next to the driver sat the very man who had brazenly shoved me inside. I was afraid to make even a sound. Nervously scanning our captors, it became clear they were all werewolves. Each of them was large, muscular, their bodies coiled with strength, radiating danger.

“What do you want from us?” I finally managed to ask.

The man sitting next to the driver turned around and studied me carefully from head to toe. I could finally see him up close as well. Dark eyes framed by thick lashes, a straight nose, full slightly reddened lips, light stubble touching his face. He looked very much like the first one—the one who had grabbed my friend—but younger. Most likely, they were related.

The man smiled broadly and replied:

“Judging by that spray with unknown contents you used on my brother, you know about our world. Your friend is the true mate of our leader—the Alpha of the pack.”

Maya was in real trouble. And not just anyone’s—an Alpha’s. You don’t get rid of one of those even in a hundred years. Lost in thought, I began working out an escape plan for the two of us—and where we might hide. All that time, the man didn’t take his eyes off me.

“So how do you know about werewolves, beautiful?” he said with a grin. “You smell strange—human, but not quite.”

I looked up at him and, after thinking my answer through, said:

“I’ve run into mangy ones before. And those encounters weren’t pleasant.”

The fierce look I directed at him had no effect; his smile only widened.

“And why did you take me along?” I decided to snap back in response to his grin.

“For company. Once we’re sure you won’t tell anyone anything, we’ll let you go.”

“And if Maya is against it, will you let her go too?” I asked, like a naïve little girl.

“So you said you knew our world. How often do you think Alphas let their mates go if they don’t agree?”

“I won’t let you hurt her,” I said firmly, with a hint of threat in my voice.

The man turned away, leaned back against the seat, and laughed loudly.

“Hurt her? Who would do that?! In the near future, only pleasure awaits her. I can guarantee Kirill knows how to handle a woman’s body.”

My cheeks flared instantly when I realized what he meant. Dropping my gaze to my legs, I fell silent. The car filled with quiet—though not for as long as I would have liked.

“What’s your name, beautiful?” he asked again.

His manner of speaking irritated me terribly. I felt like snapping something rude back.

“Vera,” I muttered, demonstratively turning my head toward the window.

They drove us out of the city into a dacha settlement. Expensive houses flickered past outside. The car turned into a forested area and, after a short drive, stopped near a massive two-story house surrounded by a high fence.

I was left alone in a small room and ordered to go to sleep. Any attempts to find out something about Maya failed. Several large brutes patrolled the grounds outside the windows. In short—no escape. The room had a shower, so after washing, I lay down on the bed.

Sleep refused to come for a long time. My body kept twitching at every sound. Closer to midnight, I jumped out of bed and approached the door. The chances it wasn’t locked were slim—but still… And an unexpected miracle happened. Slowly turning the handle and opening the door, I cautiously peeked into the hallway. It was quiet and empty. Stepping carefully with bare feet, I began sneaking down the corridors. Voices could be heard ahead. Stopping at a safe distance, I managed to make them out. Judging by the sound, they were the same werewolves.

“Just answer me this—why are you sitting here drinking with me instead of studying your mate’s body?” one of them said.

“I don’t want to scare her. My explanation already shocked her enough, so I gave her a sedative—let her sleep. But you, bastard, brought trouble on our heads again. Why did you drag the second one along? The guys could’ve buried her in the forest without a trace, and that would’ve been the end of it.”

My heart dropped to my heels. They really were planning to kill me. I hated all of this. Werewolves always followed only their own rules—and humans never mattered to them. Gritting my teeth and clenching my fists, I forced my resentment and anger deep down. Lost in thought, I didn’t notice the men had fallen silent. And then a voice sounded right next to my ear:

“Aren’t good girls supposed to be in bed right now?”

My body jerked in fright. Slowly turning around, I saw him—or rather, his yellow, beast-like eyes in the darkness. A chill ran down my spine.

“Shall I escort you to your room?”

Without waiting for an answer, the man took my arm just above the elbow and led me back. This time he locked the door, and I had no choice but to lie down and try to sleep.