I felt like shit. My skin was on fire from being sunburnt. My feet were pulsing, along with my head. Maybe it would be better if Hide just killed me and put me out of my misery. I opened my eyes and sat up. Where in hell was I? Cars filled a multiple lane road. Huge buildings rose up on either side of us. Had they taken me to some werewolf city?
"Breathe, Red." Cat grabbed my hand. "You look like you're going to pass out."
"Haven't you ever seen a city, boy?" said Coyote.
"No," I said in a hushed voice. "This—this is a human city?"
Cat nodded. "This is Houston. It's the largest free human state on this side of the world. After the werewolf took over, humans were pushed south. The packs in South America kept them from going too low, so this is where they settled."
Leaning forward, I rubbed my face. "I don't feel good. I really don't feel good."
"Take the next exit," said Coyote. "I need to smoke. Being surrounded by all these dog lovers is making me antsy."
The truck turned onto a ramp that led to a light. I just stared at everything that was going on around me. Hide turned and went to an area that had what looked to be stores lining it. The parking lot in the middle of them was nearly full. Some many free humans, yet they just allowed their own kind to be slaves to the werewolves.
Hide turned off the truck. "Tie the kid up." He glanced back at me.
Cat took the rope and did so.
"You are to stay right there. If anyone sees that mark on your shoulder, they'll call the police, and the werewolf will be here in ten seconds to take you back and slaughter us," said Hide.
I sunk down lower in my seat.
"I'm going to go buy the kid some clothes. Cat and Pix, get us some food." He took out some money and handed it to the girls. "Coyote, you get to babysit."
"Fine by me." He opened the door and quickly lit up a cigarette.
Hide looked at me. "Keep your head down. Kidnapping a werewolf's mate is a death sentence."
Swallowing hard, I nodded. "I won't move."
"Leave your door open, Coyote." Hide climbed out of the trucks, along with the girls. "Give the kid some air."
The breeze felt amazing. I laid my head on the center and closed my eyes. I could have done without the smell of smoke, but it wasn't too bad. I started thinking to myself. What if Hide did sell me? Would that person give me back to Axil or kill me? It still wasn't a for sure thing that Hide would off me himself. What were my options? I could either become a werewolf's bitch or die. Both horrible, but I'd rather take the second.
***
(Jax)
"Jax?" Max opened the door. His eyebrows raised up. "So you learned how to change back."
"Aden taught me."
The man sitting on the bed nodded. "Not all of us like being covered in fur constantly."
The door swung to the side. A tall black werewolf entered. Aden smiled and went to him.
"Look at you, all furless." He put his arm around Aden's shoulders.
"Jax, this is my mate, Titus."
I waved. "Hi."
"And here I came to see the new sub, and you taught him how to change back to human," laughed Titus.
"The best way to keep your eyes where they should be."
Titus leaned down and nuzzled the man's face. "You better change back then." He started to lift the oversized shirt Aden was wearing.
"Stop it." The sub batted his mate's hands away. "I don't understand how I put up with you so long."
Titus grabbed the smaller man's chin and kissed the human. "Please."
Aden sighed and shifted forms.
Titus took the shirt over his mate's head and handed it to Max. "We'll see you two at dinner. Maybe then I can see Jax's werewolf form."
Max wrung the shirt in his hands and wandered over to the bed. "Did you two have a good time?"
I nodded. "We talked a bit and then he started telling me stories about his first few months as a werewolf. He's the one that was stolen, right? By Wolfsbane's first alpha, and that's why there's still bad blood between them?"
Sitting down, Max leaned back on his arms. "He's a very beautiful sub. Lots of dominants were envious of Titus's mate."
"Hmm... he seems a little old for you."
My mate smiled and turned to me. "I have my own sub, and he's even more adorable."
I scoffed at the comment and shook my head. "I think I've made it clear that I don't like being called that."
"It just makes you even cuter." He grabbed my chin and peered into my eyes. "Change back for me."
I shifted a little. "I'm not sure exactly how. It took me awhile to do this much." I motioned to myself.
"It's the same as before. You just have to release the energy rather than draw it into your center."
I rolled my eyes. "You're so helpful now that it's changing back into a werewolf. You never would have shown me how to change to human so easily."
"I don't think there's a need for human form." His hand ran down my arm. "Please, try."
"Fine," I muttered. Closing my eyes, I tried to relocate that energy. Nothing happened. "Why is this so hard?"
"Keep trying. It'll come."
I took a deep breath and did so. Something tingled inside my chest. I focused in on that and imagined it spreading to my arms and legs. The energy shot out, and I couldn't even stop the transformation if I wanted to. I groaned as my body underwent the changes again. My feet started to throb but as I rolled onto my side and laid there for a moment, it went away.
Max settled down his beside me. "You're so beautiful." He kissed my cheek. "I'm so happy I found you." He slid his arms around me and held me to his chest.
It felt nice. I didn't understand why. Max had hugged me plenty times before, but just being surrounded by his scent was very calming. I nuzzled his chest, feeling his fur brush against mine. Maybe these were the instincts Aden had talked about. I knew Max would protect me because as an omega in rank, I could never survive on my own. Ever since my first moon, I could feel the strength of that man as a future alpha, and while others like him scared the shit out of me, Max didn't.
But the easiest way to destroy a werewolf was through their mate. Maybe it wasn't so bad that Max was mine.
***
Max carried me into a study and set me on the couch. The alpha and his mate filed into the room and spread out on the different couches. Titus and Aden sat across from me.
Max went to a cabinet and started getting out different bottles. "What are you all feeling?"
"I don't drink," said Aden. "So I'll just have water."
"75%," said Titus.
"Some for me," said Andreas.
"50% for me," said Sunny.
Max started pouring different liquids into a glasses and passed them out. He stopped in front of me. "Would you like a drink?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. What is it?"
"Alcohol," said Titus as he took a big swig.
"I've never had it," I replied. "What does 75 and 50 percent mean?"
"Percentage of alcohol," said the alpha. "We process it faster than humans, so the percentage has to be higher to have any effect on us."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. My mother would kill me if she found out I was drinking. "I'll just have water."
"Alright." Max fixed two glasses and came to sit on the couch by me.
The group was quiet for a moment. Everyone was focused on their drinks. I just clutched mine tightly with my hands in my lap.
"Tomorrow the press is coming to take pictures," said the alpha. "The pack's been waiting to get a proper picture of that mate of yours." Andreas chuckled to himself as he flashed me a smile.
"He has very unique markings," said Titus, motioning to me and then to his head.
Max smiled slightly. "I was hoping some red would show up. He's had a little fire to him since the beginning."
"Not as much as Aden," teased the black werewolf.
The old sub frowned at him. "We must be getting old. One drink and you're already making a fool of yourself."
Titus leaned down to his mate's level and tried to get a kiss. Aden wasn't having it but let the man kiss his cheek. They were an interesting pair, but I could see why Aden had such large red markings.
Putting his arm around Aden, Titus laid his head against his mate's. "How are his legs? Aden was telling me about it earlier."
"They're getting there," said Max.
"Have you tried standing lately?" asked Andreas.
Max looked at me unsure. "We've tried little things. I'm just worried about Jax being in pain. His first moon took a lot out of him."
I put my glass on the side table and sat up straight. "Let's try."
"Jax," breathed my mate. "Are you sure? How are your feet feeling?"
"Fine. So come on." I held out my arms. "Help me up. I want to try."
Max put his glass on the coffee table and stood. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed me under my shoulders and lifted me to my feet. I struggled to get my legs under me properly for a second before finding my balance. It really did seem like I was standing on my tiptoes.
"Are you feeling okay?"
I nodded. "It doesn't hurt."
He put a little bit of my weight on my feet, and I stayed standing. For once my legs held. I smiled at him. Max relaxed his hold a little more.
Looking down, I smiled. I was finally seeing some progress. Max adjusted his grip and too much of my weight landed on my legs. They gave out and we both dropped to the floor. Sunny gasped as Andreas side to the end of his seat to help catch me.
Max was quick to scoop me up in his arms. "It's still a work in progress." He set me on the couch and rubbed my calves. "Are you feeling any pain?"
I shook my head and waved him off me. "I'm fine. It was just too much too soon. It didn't hurt."
Max stood. "I'll give you a hot bath tonight to help keep your muscles loose."
"I said I'm fine," I breathed.
Max scoffed at the comment. "Until your legs start cramping up."
Rolling my eyes, I snatched my water and downed it. When it came to walking, Max was being way too overbearing. Shaking my head, I peered off across the room. He was driving me nuts with the way he hovered over me.
Titus smiled at us. "He definitely has red markings for a reason."
My mouth fell open.
"Keeps things interesting, right?" laughed Max.
Aden arched a brow and watched his mate. Titus just kept on smiling some over the top cheesy grin, but it was pretty clear what his answer would have been.