I know what’s coming. I only have seconds to prepare for her assault. With one quick blow, my knee shatters. Not screaming is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. My eyes roll back in my head as the pain almost pulls me back under. “Stop, stop. You can’t leave evidence, no blood,” she tells herself right before landing a kick to my side. God, no, I have to protect my stomach. Thankfully, she turns around and paces the room, seeming to stop at random moments, then continues quickly pacing. “I still have hours before he gets home. She’ll wake up soon, then this will be over, like it never happened.” She comes back closer and grabs my hand roughly, pulling a plastic strip over my wrist. I don’t think anyone is with her. This is my chance to get out. I know if she gets me off of this property I’m dead. Slowly making a fist, I risk opening my eyes a slit to see where she is. She’s so focused on getting my wrist bound she doesn’t notice me preparing to strike. I have to get this just right. If I have to fight, there’s a chance of her hurting my baby.

I pull my arm back as slowly as I can risk and jerk my arm up as hard as I can, catching her under the chin causing her head to snap back, taking her crouching body off balance enough she falls back and yells, totally surprised.

I leap off the floor only to collapse on my broken knee and scream. The pain is so intense. I stop breathing for a few seconds, then I try crawling from the room. “MASEN! MASEN!” I bellow as loud as possible while repeating it in my head, hoping he hears me through our bond or my screams for him. I can hear her shuffling behind me, my hit not causing nearly enough damage to slow her down.

“He won’t hear you,” she cackles. “Do you have any idea what they do on the run?” She comes closer, but I still drag myself through the room. “No? I’ll tell you. They hunt. Any and everything they can find. Any prey they come across is theirs for the taking. Animals, women, anything!” she spits. “I’ve taken the liberty of having every unMated female in our Pack in those woods. Only the fully Mated will be able to resist the pull of the Pack so close to the moon. He timed it just right, don’t you think?” She’s trailing behind me, letting me crawl through the house on my belly.

“What did you do with Mickey?”

“Oh, she’ll be fine, I can’t have my mother-in-law hurt, now, can I? Mickey will wake up none the wiser after a good night’s sleep. Masen will be upset for a few days when he finds you’ve left, but soon, he will come to me for comfort, just like he did five years ago.” Her foot smashes down on the small of my back, pushing me down on the floor. Masen, if you can hear me, please, we need you. Help us. I beg, but I hear no response. A sob escapes my mouth as I realize we might not make it out of here alive.