LOVING THE MADMAN

Hunted in the Open

ATHENA

I stopped at the bakery on my way to Landon’s place to get him a box of his favorite chocolate cake.

Maisie, the friendly salesgirl, waved goodbye to me as I left, telling me to come back again, and soon. Outside, the morning air was cool and peaceful. I stood there in front of the bakery for a minute, letting the breeze hit my face.

But as soon as I stepped out onto the street to begin the walk to my car, the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly rose.

Someone was watching me.

I looked around quickly but saw no one, my heart beating fast.

I hurried to my car, which I’d chosen not to park in the bakery’s cramped little lot because the thought of wrestling it into a tight space and then reversing out later felt like a nightmare. Instead, I’d left it farther down the street, in a perfect spot shaded by a lamppost.

On getting there, I balanced the cake and my phone in one hand, reaching for the back seat door with the other, when a hand suddenly clamped around my waist, yanking me backward.

“What the…?!”

The cake fell to the pavement, my phone following after it. My fingers clawed at the arm crushing me, but it was iron-tight, like trying to pry steel from steel.

He was a wolf like me.

I glanced wildly around the narrow street. It was empty.

My attacker had been watching me, memorizing my routine. He knew I avoided the bakery’s cramped parking lot and knew I’d park farther away where no one could see. He’d chosen his moment and waited until I was alone.

He started to drag me backward.

Panic coursed through me, my wolf instincts screaming.

Ash almost took full control.

My nails grew into claws, and I drove them into his arm, earning a grunt of pain. But his grip only faltered, not broke.

Move, Athena. Move.

I tried again, driving my elbow backward into his ribs repeatedly, but his grip only tightened.

“Let go!” I snapped, throwing myself forward then slamming back with all my weight, my skull colliding with his face. He swore loudly and stumbled back, his grip slipping.

I spun halfway around and raked my claws across his cheek, leaving four deep gouges. Blood welled around the wounds instantly.

He tried to snatch me again, his other hand reaching for my throat, but I ducked low and slashed his thigh.

He cursed out in anger.

Move. Move now.

I bolted, but he was on me again before I got far. He caught the edge of my blouse and pulled roughly, ripping it from my shoulder.

“You f*****g…”

I spun around and pushed against his chest, but because he still held onto my shirt, we crashed into a trash bin, with me landing on him.

I bit his arm and ripped away enough flesh to make him yelp and jerk back, giving me the gap I needed.

Seizing the opportunity, I staggered to my feet and took off.

My wolf was weak, and everyone knew it.

It was why I'd struggled so much during this fight.

She wasn't built for battle.

Slade and my brothers had tried for years to strengthen her, to make me into someone who could fight back. But when training produced no change, they stopped trying, and their disappointment became another reason for their suffocating protectiveness.

Ash! Ash, I need you now!

I cried out to my inner wolf.

Even if she was useless in a fight, I could still draw on her speed and agility.

Ash emerged suddenly, fueling me with a rush of strength. My bones shifted, fur grew across my skin, and my clothes shredded like paper.

I hit the next bend at a run and burst into my full form—a huge white wolf, running across the street, leaping over benches and startled pedestrians, and darting between parked cars.

I glanced back. The wolf… my attacker, stood at the edge of the street, clutching his arm, watching me escape.

The fear that he might give pursuit kept me running harder, faster, until my lungs burned and the world was nothing but a blur.

†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††

I barged into Slade’s study without knocking. Sweat plastered my hair to my temples and trickled down my face, my chest heaved with ragged breaths, and a large shawl was wrapped around my body to protect my modesty.

I'd run for over fifteen, maybe twenty miles, and my lungs burned from it.

The soles of my feet were raw, and though they were healing, each step I took on the cold tile made me wince.

Four pairs of surprised eyes turned to me immediately.

“Someone tried to abduct me,” I blurted out.

The room went dangerously still before Slade's voice broke it.

“What?!”

He shot up from his seat so fast it nearly toppled backward. The others didn’t move, too shocked by the information.

“Are you alright? What happened?” Slade’s tone softened, but I could sense his rage rapidly building up.

He crossed the room and took me into his arms, scrutinizing my face, my neck, and my arms for mild bruises. “Are you hurt?”

“I'm fine,” I assured him. “T-there was a guy before… weeks back… Landon and I saw him. H-he seemed to be following us… I-I’m not sure if he's the same person, but...”

“Wait, wait, wait… back up,” he cut in. “What do you mean by ‘there was a guy before’?”

I swallowed, watching the warmth in his eyes vanish, replaced by a cold, furious stare. The affection he’d shown seconds ago evaporated, and in its place was a storm I knew too well.

I eased out of his arms, putting space between us. “I-I was out on a date with Landon…”

At the name, Slade’s jaw clenched hard.

“...and we saw this shady guy sitting across from us and…”

“And you said nothing?!” His voice thundered across the room.

Robin looked at him. “Easy, Slade.”

“You’re not a f*****g toddler, Athena,” Slade continued. “You know better than to keep something like that to yourself.”

I fidgeted with my hands like a schoolgirl caught lying, while the scent of anger and worry hung in the air like thick smoke.

“Only the goddess knows what they’ve been planning… whoever is responsible for this,” Slade muttered, turning to pace the room.

“Where did this happen?” Ares asked.

I described the bakery.

“And how did you escape?” Robin asked, rising to his feet.

“I fought back.”

He smirked proudly. “Atta girl.”

“Did you notice anything about him?” Dorian interrupted calmly. “Any tattoo, scar, an accent, anything?”

I shook my head helplessly. “No. Nothing. I've never seen him before, and there was nothing distinctive about his appearance.”

“Fuck.” Slade cursed before turning to face me again. “You don't leave this house until I say so.”

“Slade…”

He snarled at me in warning, baring his fangs as he advanced towards me. “You do not. leave the house,” he repeated slowly. “Understood?”

I frowned but nodded reluctantly. “Yes, brother.”

He looked at the others. “Robin. Dorian. With me. We must solve this before Father hears of it.”

They both rose, leaving with Slade.

Only Ares remained, and he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

“Why don’t you go with them too?” I snapped angrily. “Or are you going to throw one of your silly mocking comments at me?”

“Athena,” he said softly, with a sigh. “They didn’t exactly spell it out, but I’m here to keep an eye on you.”

I laughed dryly. “You mean babysit me. How wonderful.”

“I don’t want to be here either,” he said flatly. “I’ve got better things to do.”

“Then just go.”

“So you can sneak out to see that lover of yours?” He replied with a frown. “And get snatched again? Not a chance, little sis.”

It was my turn to start pacing the room. “I left my car, and I dropped my phone. I have to go back.”

Ares watched me with blank eyes.

I raked a hand through my hair. “I also have to call Landon, he’s expecting me.”

“Your boyfriend can wait,” he said dryly.

“How about my phone???”

“Get another one,” he said with a shrug. “Get another car too.”

“Easy for you to say. I have important things on that phone.”

He rolled his eyes. “Fine. I'll help.”

Ares left the wall. “Hopefully some jerk hasn't already stolen your phone and car since you dropped the keys.”

I bit my lip in worry, folding my arms across my chest. “Hopefully.”

He turned to leave. “I'll tell Slade. Go get yourself cleaned up.”

He walked out of the study, leaving only me there. Immediately after the door slammed shut, I collapsed into a chair.

My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. I pressed them flat against my thighs, trying to steady them, but it was no use. Every time I closed my eyes, I could still feel that iron grip around my waist and smell the sharp tang of his wolfish, aggressive scent, but nothing familiar enough to trace.

I couldn't believe I'd almost been abducted in broad daylight. But by whom? Nigel’s men? Or just one of the many random Alphas who wanted me?

Werewolf Alphas were notorious for their fragile egos. They hated rejection.

They couldn’t stand hearing no.

I just hoped my brothers would be able to solve this, that it would be a simple case they could wrap up quickly and quietly. If not… then whoever wanted me would try again, and next time, I might not be so lucky.