Callie's Captors [Mountain Men(12)

“Baby, put down the knife.”

“Not a chance. All you have to do is turn around and walk the other way. You guys can keep my camera and all my other stuff.”

Had she taken photos of them in their human forms? Or worse, of The Cursed? If she had, then it was a good thing they had the camera in their possession. They couldn’t allow pictures of The Hidden and its inhabitants on The Outside, the regular world most people lived in.

“I’m not going without you.” He hated acting like a badass, but she wasn’t leaving him with any other options. “Either you’re going to keep your promise, or I’m going to have to make you keep it.”

“Like hell I am. Now get out of here while the getting’s good.”

Her dark eyes sparkled with alarm, but with courage, too. She was a strong woman, the kind of woman he and his brothers had talked of mating one day. Had fate brought her to them? She’d made it into The Hidden without the aid of another supernatural, which meant she had to be a supernatural being of some kind, too. He sniffed, this time hunting past her alluring smell for any hint of her underlying nature.

She’s a werewolf. Or at least part.

He couldn’t be sure, but that was the impression he was getting. But, if she was, did she know it? He doubted it. If she did, she would’ve brought out her fangs and claws to fight him off instead of daring him with a knife.

He’d have to make her come with him. “I wish you’d be more cooperative.”

“Fuck you.”

She started backing up and he knew she was about to run. He’d catch her easily enough again, but he didn’t like the idea of wrestling her for the knife.

“Callie, I’m sorry to have to do this.”

He lunged at her, feinting to one side then moving in the other direction and throwing her off guard. Taking her small wrist in his hand, he twisted her arm around to her back and squeezed. She cried out and dropped the knife.

“Let go of me.”

“What the hell are you doing?”

Callie and he glanced up in sync to find Blue and Pete standing a few feet away. Although she struggled and she was strong, he took her other wrist and held both arms behind her back.

The corner of Blue’s mouth twisted into a snarl. “I asked you what you’re doing to her?”

Blue’s anger rolled off him in waves that made Raine’s hair stand on end. His brother would never hurt him. At least he didn’t think he would. Blue was usually the calm and collected one, but that Blue wasn’t standing in front of them now.

“She took off. I’m trying to make her see sense.”

Pete’s eyebrows shot up. “By wrenching her arms behind her back? I’m not sure I like your method of communication, bro.”

Did they really think he wanted to hurt her? Did she? Irritation swept over him and he shoved Callie toward his brothers, taking care not to push her hard enough to make her fall. “Here. See if you can make her understand that she can’t go off half-cocked in the middle of the night.”

She fell into Pete’s arms, then pushed away and tried to dart off in a different direction. Pete shouted a curse and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. She struggled against him, kicking and cursing him as he tried to calm her down.

“See what I said? She won’t listen to reason.”

Blue’s anger had gone, replaced by a sullen recognition of the problem. “Raine, get a couple of those vines over there.”

He groaned. “We’re tying her up?”

“Unless you have a better idea.” Blue’s gaze dropped to the knife on the ground. “Or would you rather let her take another stab at you?”

“Nope. I learned that lesson fast enough.”

As Pete continued to hold Callie, Raine snatched up the knife, then stalked over to the underbrush and cut off a length of vine. The vine was thin, but it could restrain even a male werewolf. He came back and gave Callie an apologetic look.

“Baby, say you’ll come with us. I don’t want to have to use this.”

At least she’d stopped kicking and stood next to a frustrated-looking Pete who kept one hand locked around her arm. She adopted a sweet smile and tossed her glorious locks. “Sure. No problem. Just turn me loose and I promise I’ll come along without a bother.”

Raine chuckled then wished he could take it back when she snarled. “You can’t expect us to believe you. Please understand that we’re doing this for your own good.”

“Pff. Yeah, right.”

“Will you at least walk between us so I don’t have to tie your hands?”

She gave him another sweet, but insincere smile. “Of course I will. I’ll do whatever you say.”