Falling into an enjoyable routine proved surprisingly easy, and Bailey couldn't recall ever feeling this content. Then again, she'd never had four men striving to please her at every turn. Already more than a week here and she couldn't imagine life without any of them. But that still didn't mean she'd jumped into bonding with Parker and Jaxon just yet. With Gavin and Wyatt, it had just kind of naturally happened. However, while Parker and Jaxon stole quite a few kisses-to her panty-wetting enjoyment-interruptions and distraction kept things from going any further, and she was too shy to claim them directly. At least they didn't seem to mind the wait, even if they did tease her all the time. Perhaps, if the lusts they roused weren't being satisfied nightly by Wyatt or Gavin-sometimes with both men at once-she might have given them what they so blatantly desired. Truth was, though, she liked things the way they were, and she didn't want to rock the boat or create cause for je

Nervousness made her pace and gnaw at her nails while Parker, a content look on his face and his eyes hooded, watched her from his position on the couch. "They're going to be fine," he reiterated. Still, she worried. While she and her newest mate had returned more than two hours ago, made love twice, and even eaten, they'd yet to hear word on the others. Fear over their safety comprised part of her anxiety, but the other part of her angst she blamed on fear. She'd claimed Parker, her gentle giant, but how would Wyatt and Gavin react? And Jaxon, would he get angry at being the only one left? The raucous noise of their return preceded their entrance into the house, Jaxon leading the cacophony with his usual humor. Gavin strode over to her and kissed her first, followed by Wyatt. Then Jaxon tried to sneak a smooch but ended up tripped by Gavin and missing. Covering her mouth lest she laugh at his chagrin, she then watched wide-eyed as her first two mates went over and sh

Opening her eyes, Bailey blinked in the dim light, staring at the cracked cement ceiling. Why did it seem so familiar? A clawed hand drags sharply across my skin. Blood beads, dripping down. He laughs, drawing near with his damned needles and his hungry mouth. Shaking her head, she tried to dislodge the memories, but faster than a speeding bullet, they filled her mind, the echoes of her past screams ringing in her head, ricocheting off the horrifying recollections that wouldn't stop coming. The cries, the screams, the blood, so much blood, and him. Roderick. Clutching at her aching skull, she rocked back and forth, but she couldn't stop the tears, the horror. He tortured me. Too much to take all at once, she sank into oblivion. Wakening a second time, Bailey moaned as she recognized the nightmarish dŽcor around her. I'm back. She recalled most of those forgotten days, horrific days that seemed a lifetime ago, recalled Roderick as he laughed at her misery a

Waking up surrounded by male bodies proved interesting, especially when she needed to ease out to pee and brush her teeth. One of the guys had thought ahead and hit the motel's store because she found not only toothpaste and a brush but also some deodorant and lotion for her skin. The one thing she didn't bother with was clothes. During her uneasy slumber, where she'd found herself sometimes crying, she'd taken time to reflect as the male bodies around her shifted positions but made sure to stay in close contact at all time. She reflected on the fact that she had three men who cared so much for her that they faced down the ultimate in evil to save her. She mused on the growing wonder in her belly. And she rejoiced in the fact that she lived. The loss of Jaxon would always be a wound in her psyche. Even without a bodily claim, she loved her fourth mate. Despite his demise, he would stay a part of her forever. But life went on. She'd had her moment to grieve and wail at

He's going to kill her. It killed Jaxon to see Bailey helpless in the monster's grasp. My fault. All my fault. I should have fought harder. Been stronger. Not caved in to the wickedness controlling my mind. A wickedness that haunted him still. The nightmare of the past few days shamed him. He'd betrayed his pack, his brothers, but worse than all that, he had handed the woman he loved over to a killer and condemned her to torture. Harder to swallow, she'd forgiven him even though he deserved to die. And if I don't do something, she'll perish right in front of me as I watch. Bunching his muscles, he strained to free himself, to move his frozen limbs, to no avail. He lacked the strength to fight the invisible chains that bound him, forcing him to stand as if a statue, a spectator to the unfolding events. The disdain in his packmates' eyes shone clearly even from where they ranged across from him. Jaxon had earned their looks of disgust and rage. He'd have borne t