Chapter 178: Learned Long Ago Not To Underestimate You
Zara
If Nova hadn’t been asleep, I could have used her senses to sharpen my own. In the current situation, I was alone. I strained my eyes, ignoring the throbbing headache that had begun at my temples.
We were driving down a narrow two-lane road; there were no other cars. At the end of the road, I could make out a large parking lot and what appeared to be a small group of vehicles parked inside.
I used my minutes wisely. The closer we got, the more details I could discern. As we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a large building standing at the edge. It must have been a warehouse, because it... The house was larger than any I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t sleep.
The building looked rundown. My gaze darted to the entrance to the parking lot, where a small sign read "Macy’s warehouse." There wasn’t enough information, but it was definitely a start.
The white walls of the building were covered in dirt and what looked like mold. I could barely make out several wide parking areas for trucks and deliveries. I expected something more extravagant, certainly not an abandoned warehouse in the middle of the desert.
The car stopped abruptly, and I heard two doors open and slam. The man to my left got out of the car, closing the door behind him. One of the men scooped me up and headed for the large double doors.
The windows were tinted, making it impossible to see inside. I should have known this place had been remodeled. I couldn’t imagine a powerful Alpha living in a warehouse infested with mold and rats.
As we stepped inside, into a secluded spot, sheltered from the sunlight, a familiar voice rang out, making me almost freeze.
"I have her," Marcus said to the men. "Tell him I’m taking her to his room."
Large hands grabbed my torso, pulling me out of the car much more gently than I expected. Marcus scooped me up, wrapping his arms around my back and placing his other arm under my legs. I kept my limbs relaxed, desperately trying to feign unconsciousness.
I pressed my head against his neck, wincing under the thin fabric as his scent reached my nose. It was nothing like Kane’s rich, intoxicating scent, a scent of nature and masculine musk. Marcus’s scent was lighter, with a subtle sweetness that let me know he truly was a werewolf.
Remaining motionless in Marcus’s arms, I confirmed that my mental blocks had been removed. My dad had advised me to imagine a library, but that method hadn’t worked very well. Instead, I imagined a thick steel wall sealing off my mind from anyone who might want to intrude.
As Marcus pulled me to his chest, I felt him penetrate my mind and meet the thick wall with a frown. I nearly flinched as his fingers slid over the metal, begging for entry. My wall remained untouched, and I continued to explore the warehouse.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but this was completely different. The inside of the warehouse had been completely remodeled; false walls had been installed to make the building more like a luxurious home. We stood in what should have been the foyer, most of the floor covered in a thick Persian rug.
Marcus walked purposefully, not giving me time to look around the room. He nodded briefly to one of the men standing in the room and continued.
We passed through another door, which led to the living room and the stairs. Marcus moved quickly, easily dashing through the living room and up the stairs.
He walked down the narrow hallway, unlocked one of the doors, stepped inside, and closed it behind us. I recognized the room and realized I’d been here before, visiting Marcus through our one-way connection.
The walls were rough stone, the floor bare except for a black shag carpet. At one end of the room stood a massive fireplace, a fire crackling brightly. At the other end was a bed and an oak dresser. Another door at the far end of the room, I hoped, led to the bathroom.
The owner must have spent years renovating this place. The interior was too luxurious to have been done in the last few months.
Marcus sat me down on the large bed at the other end of the room. The blanket felt like silk, red. Red seemed to be a recurring theme in this place, a sad irony. I resisted the urge to rub my wrists as he uncuffed me.
I could see his figure through the fabric. He stood at the edge of the bed, looking down at me, but I couldn’t make out his expression, only his large frame and blond hair.
"You can stop pretending now, Zara," Marcus’s voice said, soft and somewhat somber.
Every instinct told me to throw the nearest heavy object at his head and run. I was in enemy territory, and even with Nova unconscious, I already wanted to get out. This place wasn’t my home; it was more of a prison than anything else.
My home was with Kane, with the pack he selflessly led. My home was Ryan and my dad. As much as I wanted to get out of here, I wasn’t just here for Sophia and Govinda.
"We have more important things to do, Zara," Marcus grumbled.
His footsteps grew louder as he approached. I felt his fingers curl around the thin fabric he’d draped over my head. I gave him my deadliest glare as he ripped the bag off me, his eyes flickering with both amusement and irritation.
I pushed my hair back from my face, striking a pose... I lay on the bed, glaring at him with hatred. My wrists were red and sore, likely from burns. I knew the irritation was from the silver.
But the handcuffs didn’t sting too much. I could feel Nova stirring somewhere in the back of my mind, but I knew she wouldn’t wake up for another couple of hours.
The residual pain in my body told me it was still trying to flush the aconite out of my system. For the next few hours, I wouldn’t be able to transform into a wolf or contact Kane.
"There you go, beautiful," Marcus nodded, his face looking like it was carved from stone, scarred with scars.
"How do you know?" I asked, surprised by how stubborn and confident my voice sounded.
"I learned long ago not to underestimate you," Marcus snorted, crossing his arms. "And you snore in your sleep."
