“Chantelle’s not a werewolf,” Taylor said, dazed. She had so many questions she didn’t know where to start.
“Ah, ah, ah.” He wagged his finger at her chastisingly. “No point in lying now.”
“Why would I bother lying?”
Perry shrugged. “Joel says she is. He can smell it. Because it’s so close to the full moon.”
Chantelle nodded wearily. “It’s true. Rusty bit me.”
“What the hell?”
“I asked him to. Long story.” Chantelle looked away.
“Joel is a werewolf.” Taylor digested that information. “How did that happen?”
Perry sighed. “He’s such a silly boy. He wanted to find out the formula for the product samples, so he started following the trucks back and spying on people. He was in the army for a while before… Well, anyway. He has good surveillance skills.”
“Before he was dishonorably discharged?” Taylor said nastily.
A rare look of anger flashed across Perry’s face. “He was set up!” he snapped. “Anyway, he figured it out. And he decided that he wanted to become one. The ultimate strength and power. He found out that there was a couple who liked to shift into wolf form outside the pack grounds, and he hunted them down. He got one of them to give him a non-fatal bite as it lay dying.”
Holy hell. Serafina’s parents.
“You’re going to hunt us?” Taylor glared at him with hatred.
Perry let out a peal of laughter. “That’s what you thought? Oh, no, no, no! You have nothing to worry about, Taylor. He just really needs a mate. He’s been having terrible mood swings, and this will settle him right down. I’m sure of it. I wanted a nice girl for him. That’s why I chose you, Taylor. Because you’re a nice girl. I like you.”
“This is how you show me you like me?” she snapped. “By secretly infecting me with the werewolf virus and risking my life? I could die, you know.”
“That’s true,” Perry said sadly. “The last girl I tried it on died.”
“What?” Taylor shrieked in horror.
“She was very skinny, though. And also…let’s say she’d led a troubled life. Not very healthy. That’s the other reason I picked you. You’re larger. More substantial,” he said, in a tone that was meant to be reassuring. “Maybe that will make a difference.” He glanced regretfully at Chantelle. “She’s skinny and she looks sick. She probably won’t make it.” Then his face lit up. “But if she does, then my boy will have two mates instead of one!”
He was a fucking lunatic.
Taylor thought her heart would hammer right through her ribcage. “You’ve gone completely insane. What makes you think I’d voluntarily be with Joel? I love Cliff. I hate Joel’s guts.” Tears filled her eyes. She hadn’t told Cliff she loved him. Now she’d never get the chance.
“Oh, I’ve been studying up on all kinds of compliance techniques,” Perry said cheerfully. “We can keep you chained up all the time if we have to. Hand and foot, if necessary. Of course, if Chantelle survives, that will make it much easier. We’ll just keep you two separate, and if you want your friend to avoid torture, then you’ll cooperate. Otherwise I might just use Chantelle’s cattle prod on her. In some very sensitive areas.” He actually giggled at that, like a naughty little boy who’d just said a bad word.
“How did you turn me? I was never bitten.”
“I mixed some of Joel’s saliva into the coffee I brought you. I gave it to you for months and months. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it sure did.” He looked proud of himself. Taylor thought she might puke.
Taylor swallowed hard. “We need water. I’m thirsty.”
Perry looked at her, cocking his head to the side. “I don’t think so. You haven’t earned water. That’s one of the compliance techniques I’ve learned about. Eating and drinking is a privilege. For that matter, breathing is a privilege. If you don’t work out, I can always get my boy another mate. And another one after that. Until we find the right one.”
“At least give Chantelle some water,” Taylor pleaded. “You want her to survive the turn. She’s already weak.”
“She probably won’t survive either way. And if she doesn’t, that’ll be a lesson for you. A lesson incompliance.” He giggled again.
Rage and fear swirled in the pit of her stomach, making her nauseated. He was a psychopath. How had she missed that? Sure, he’d always seemed a little off, but in a goofy, harmless way.
“Who is the other cage for?” she croaked, her throat as dry as a desert.
“Joel. He’ll be here shortly. Can’t have my boy running around in the woods when he turns. He might get hurt.” He giggled again, and left.
