Adrian,she called out mentally, pouring all her desperation into the telepathic link.Darius has us. He's completely lost it.
The SUV lurched into motion, tires screaming against the concrete as they raced out of the parking garage and into the Philadelphia sun. Riley tried to memorize their route, but within minutes, rough hands were forcing blindfolds over both women's eyes and binding their wrists with zip ties.
"Just to make sure you don't try anything heroic," one of the men said, his breath hot against Riley's ear.
"Adrian will find me," Riley said defiantly, even as panic clawed at her chest. "And when he does?—"
"Oh, I'm counting on it," Darius interrupted, his voice carrying a note of savage anticipation. "Because then I can kill all of you and claim the Alpha title once and for all. Three birds, one stone. Elegant, don't you think?"
The SUV continued its relentless pace through what felt like hours of winding roads. Riley tried to track their direction by the turns and the changing sounds outside the vehicle, but the blindfold and her injured state made it nearly impossible. Soon though, the scent of pine and earth gradually replaced the urban smells of the city, telling her they were heading deep into forested territory.
When the vehicle finally stopped, Riley could hear nothing but wind through trees and the distant call of birds. They were somewhere remote—somewhere Darius could do whatever he wanted without witnesses.
Rough hands dragged both women from the SUV, Riley's injured knee screaming in protest as she was forced to put weight on it. The ground beneath her feet was uneven and covered with fallen leaves, confirming her suspicion that they were deep in the woods.
"Welcome to your new accommodations," Darius said mockingly as they were shoved forward.
Riley heard the creak of a door opening, followed by the musty smell of old wood and rusted tools. They were pushed into what felt like a small, suffocating space—probably a maintenance shed or storage building. The door slammed shut behind them with finality, followed by the sound of a heavy lock sliding into place.
"Enjoy your stay until we return for the grand finale," Darius called through the wooden barrier.
In the darkness, Riley heard her mother's quiet sobs and felt her own heart breaking. Her mother had been dragged into this nightmare because of Riley's connection to Adrian, and the guilt was almost unbearable.
"Mom," Riley whispered, scooting closer until she could feel her mother's warmth beside her. "It's going to be okay. Adrian will find us."
"I'm so scared, Riley," her mother whispered back, her voice shaking. "That man... he's not right in the head."
"No, he's not," Riley agreed grimly. "But you don't know Adrian like I do. When he finds out what Darius has done..."
She reached out through the bond again, sending their location and every detail she could remember.
Deep in the woods. Some kind of shed. Can smell pine and old tools.
The response was immediate and terrifying in its intensity—Adrian's rage burned through their connection like molten steel. She could feel his tiger clawing to get out and could sense the moment he shifted from controlled leader to primal predator.
"They have no idea what they've just unleashed," Riley said with fierce satisfaction. "Adrian's going to lose control completely when he gets here, and honestly? They deserve everything that's coming to them."
The thought should have frightened her, but instead it filled her with dark anticipation. These men had made the fatalmistake of threatening what belonged to an Alpha tiger shifter. They were about to learn exactly why that was a death sentence.
Even bound and injured in this suffocating shed, Riley felt a grim smile cross her lips. If Darius thought she was going to go down without fighting, he was dead wrong. Mate bond or no mate bond, she was still a national kickboxing champion, and she'd be damned if she was going out quietly.
TWENTY
ADRIAN
The afternoon light filtered through the windows of the coffee shop, casting golden shadows across the small table where Adrian sat with Council Leader Morris and the other senior council members. Their warm words still echoed in his ears—praise for his kickboxing championship victory, admiration for finding his fated mate and completing the sacred mate bond, and excitement about his official acceptance of the Alpha title. Morris had just finished explaining the aspects of the formal Alpha ceremony when Adrian felt it.
Pure panic that slammed into his chest with devastating force.
Not his own fear or concerns about the future. This was Riley's terror bleeding through their completed mate bond, raw and desperate in a way that caused his tiger to surge to immediate alertness. His hands clenched involuntarily around his coffee cup.
"Adrian?" Morris leaned forward, his weathered face creasing with concern. "What is it?"
Before Adrian could answer, Riley's voice cut through his mind like a blade.
Darius has us. He's completely lost it.
The coffee cup shattered in his grip.