Resisting the Moon (Royal Shifters #2)(39)

Sebastian looked up at him. “I don’t know, love. I just know it’s not going to be good.”

“Everyone, may I have your attention please,” Jaret shouted. “That also means you there, in the front.” It was like I was a child being scolded in school.

Amelie nudged me in the side. “He’s talking about you.” Clenching my teeth, I glared up at him and he winked. I’d never wanted to kill someone as much as I wanted to kill him.

“Now that I have everyone’s attention, we can get started,” he said. “I think we need to show our guests what happens to those who defy us.” Gut clenching, I watched as two of his men walked up to Josef and smacked him around, while another urinated all over him.

Jaret kept his gaze on mine, waiting for a shred of emotion. Amelie was clearly upset, but Jaret didn’t care about her reaction; he waited for me and Sebastian.

“He’s taunting us,” Sebastian said.

“I know. It’s killing me not to say something.”

“There’s nothing you can do. We have to show him this doesn’t bother us.” With the bond, I could feel his emotions. He was just as enraged as I was.

“How do you stay so calm when I know you don’t feel that way?”

He sighed. “Takes lots of practice. The older you get, the easier it becomes, especially in war. But believe me, I want to rip these f*ckers apart just as bad as you do.”

The sting of the wolfsbane rope was reminder enough there was nothing I could do. Stefan was close behind us, laughing as more of the wolves strutted up to Josef to piss on him. Taking a deep breath, I averted my gaze, hoping it’d quell my anger—nothing helped.

“Eyes upfront,” Jaret commanded. I looked up and he grinned in satisfaction. “I think it’s time for round two.” Rolling up his sleeves, he turned his focus to Josef. Josef lifted his gaze, jaw clenched tight. He was always a strong wolf, but not an alpha. This was a fight I knew he wouldn’t win.

“Where’s your alpha?” Jaret asked. Josef stayed silent and he paid the price. Jaret’s claws extended and he swiped them across his chest. He hissed in pain, but stood strong. “I’m going to ask again, where’s your alpha?”

Josef looked him in the eyes and spat in his face. “I’m not telling you a goddamn thing.”

Jaret reared back and swiped his claws so hard across Josef’s face, I heard bones in his neck crack. His cheeks were so badly torn, I could see teeth and bones. Amelie gasped and burst out crying. I wanted to cry too but I couldn’t.

“Why don’t they just go searching for Finn if they want to find him so f*cking badly? Why do this?” I asked.

“They get off on torturing people. This isn’t the first time they’ve done this.”

“What do you mean?”

He glanced over at me and I could see the pain in his face. “After they took you from the basement, I heard some of the others talking. They’ve done this to several of the wolves in your old pack, including the women.” My whole body shook with rage. “They’ll pay for what they’ve done, love. I promise.”

“I just hope Finn gets here so we can tear them apart.”

“Speaking of Finn, there’s something you need to know.”

I jerked my head in his direction. “What is it?” A groan sounded from the front and I turned my gaze back to Josef. Jaret had clawed him again, only this time, it was across his back. I could smell the blood as it oozed down his body and pooled on the floor. “Tell me.” I looked back to Sebastian.

“They can’t find him.”

“What do you mean they can’t find him? Is it because he’s so fast?” Finn was a master at fighting strategies.

He shook his head and my stomach dropped. “No, it’s more like they can’t trace him. His scent is nowhere to be found, not even at Amelie’s. He’s disappeared.”

“But he wouldn’t leave us like that. I know he can trace our scents.”

He shrugged. “I’m not so sure about that. This group has the ability to hide scents. And if Finn’s taken off, we’re going to have to find a way out of here on our own.”

There was no way Finn would just up and leave without knowing Amelie and I were okay. But we’d left no sign of struggle at her house, so maybe . . .

“Looks like it’s time for round three,” Jaret announced happily. He was covered in splatters of red, and instead of staying next to Josef, he waltzed over and took a seat beside Amelie. “Be sure to watch this, babe. This is what’ll happen to you if you don’t cooperate.”

I scoffed in disgust, opening my mouth to speak but Sebastian beat me to it. “I’m sure it’ll happen no matter what we do,” he stated matter-of-factly. I seriously needed to learn how to control myself like that. “I’ll teach you,” he promised.

“How are we supposed to cooperate if we don’t know where Finn is? Looks like your men can’t find him either. Maybe he tucked tail and ran,” I spat.

Finn wasn’t the type to back down, but he also didn’t know it was the Connery’s after us. I never got the chance to tell him. And maybe Sebastian was right. Their scents had been masked at Amelie’s house. He could’ve easily thought we’d taken Amelie and left town.