Red Moon Rising(66)

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Sophia sat on the side of the bed and stared at the sleeping man. It was nearly impossible to guess that he was Bree’s brother. He was as big, if not bigger, than her brothers and his body was thick with muscle. His skin was tanned, and he had dark hair. The covers were at his waist and there was no trace of the wound on his stomach. Her mother had left nearly half an hour ago, and Sophia had offered to stay with him until he woke.

He was still wearing the leather collar around his neck. She carefully unbuckled it and slid it free. There was a band of pale skin around his neck where the leather had protected his skin from the sun, and she frowned and fingered the metal loop at the front of the collar. They obviously made him wear it all the time.

She dropped the collar to the floor and studied his face closely. He wasn’t traditionally handsome, she decided, but there was something about him that was very appealing to her. His nose had obviously been broken a few times, and most of his body was covered in scars. Lying with her mother had healed the bruises she had seen earlier, and she reached out and traced the wide scars that ran across his chest. The staggering amount of scars on his chest and abdomen had made his chest hair grow in random tufts.

Lashes from a whip, she thought. She frowned as she ran her fingers through the random patches of dark hair on his chest. The cruelty the Lycans had shown to these humans baffled and angered her. She let her fingers drift down his chest to stroke the muscles of his abdomen. What was the point? What had the humans done to deserve this treatment from the Lycans? They –

She gasped as her wrist was encircled in a hot, hard grip. She was yanked downwards on to the bed. The human had her arms pinned above her head and one heavy thigh pressing across her legs, before she knew what was happening.

He was quick for a human. Powerful as well, she thought grudgingly. He placed one hand around her throat, and slid it upwards until it was stopped by the shelf of her jaw. He squeezed lightly and lowered his face until it was inches from hers.

“My sister. Where is she?” His voice was rough and deep. A shiver went through Sophia’s body as something stirred within her. His eyes were the same blue as Bree’s, and they were filled with anger and confusion. She frowned and pulled lightly at the hand holding her wrists.

“Draken took her.”

He cursed loudly and then scanned her body with a slow, dark gaze that made her flush. His gaze lingered on her breasts before he stared at her face. “Where am I?”

“You’re safe. My family gave your sister shelter. We’re her friends. In fact, my brother – “

“I was stabbed.” He interrupted her.

She nodded. “Yes. My mother and brother saved your life.”

She pulled again at his hand. “Let me go.”

“No. Not until – “

She shocked him by suddenly heaving her body upwards. She was much stronger than she looked, and he could barely keep his grip on her. He grunted with surprise and used his weight to press her back down onto the bed. He was nearly lying across her now, his chest pushing against her breasts, as she struggled to free herself.

“Be still!” He demanded.

She growled at him and he jerked back when her eyes turned green.

“Lycan!” He snarled and squeezed her throat, cutting off her oxygen. “I hate your kind. I will not hesitate to kill you. Do you understand me girl?”

She made a choking, growling noise and he leaned down again. “If you stay still, I’ll – “

He roared with shock and pain when she head butted him. His grip loosened around her throat and her wrists, and she grabbed his hair and yanked his head back as she wiggled out from under him. She slid off the bed, turning and punching him in the chest when he grabbed at her legs.

He fell back on the bed and she backed away, breathing heavily and snarling at him. He stood and took a couple of steps towards her. She snarled again, as her body rippled and her teeth began to lengthen.

“Stand back human.” Her voice was a low growl. “Do not make me hurt you. Your sister loves you very much. When we bring her back from Draken, it would pain her greatly to see you missing body parts.”

Her gaze drifted down his naked body, and he didn’t fail to notice the way it lingered at his crotch.

“Do you think I am frightened of you Lycan?” He scoffed. “I’ve been tortured and enslaved by Lycans for nearly three years. There is no pain you can inflict on me that I haven’t already experienced.”

She took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down. “Kaden – “

“How do you know my name?” He gave her a startled look.

“I told you. Bree is my friend. She’s told us about you, and what Draken has been doing with the humans. We told her we would help rescue you. You need to relax. We’re here to help you.”