Riley POV
"Where are we?" I whispered to Marigold, my eyes on the other sirens who were all separated into cages, my heart lurching as I saw Tiana staring at us from across the room, a defeated expression on her face.
"I don't know, he didn't bring us back to his pack, at least I don't think he did, but we weren't travelling for long," Marigold says uncertainly staring around "and does this look like it's underground to you?"
I nod "that's exactly what it looks like. The whole room or building" I glance at the walls and the floor "is made of concrete. Like some sort of bunker."
"Well, aren't you clever" I flinch as I hear his voice, filled with mocking admiration, my heart seizing as I turn to see him walking in, a look of satisfaction on his face "I wondered how long it was going to take you to wake up" he added coldly as Marigold made a strangled sound and inched backward in fear.
"Where are we?" I demanded.
He laughs "Haven't you worked it out yet Riley?" he purred, coming closer "you're an intelligent woman, I would have thought you would have taken a guess at least. Where do you think you might be? Marigold gave you the biggest clue."
I felt sick. I looked him directly in the eyes and I knew. I knew exactly where we were as I swallowed past a lump in my throat. He was clever. Extremely clever. Nobody would think to look underground or below the surface. He must have had this built years ago, some sort of escape to bunker down and survive an attack.
"We're still in you're pack" I whispered and his eyes shone with mirth.
"Exactly" he chuckled as some of his men came in and observed quietly "only this is underground and soundproof. You can scream" he advised me with his lip curled back "but nobody is going to hear you. Unless somebody knows what they are looking for, you won't be found. Only a handful of my men know about this place and they are all underground with me, so even an Alpha tone on my pack members won't divulge this location."
"What do you intend to do? Just hide like a coward" I shot out, unable to hide my frustration "my mate is already out looking for me. Do you think he's going to grant you any mercy when he finds you?" I snorted incredulously "you're a dead man walking and you know it, that's why you're hiding."
He laughed "We're hiding until things die down and then I have every intention of bringing you up to the surface as my Luna," he told me solemnly.
"I am not your Luna. I am already claimed and marked" I growled, unable to believe his idiocy and delusions "by my mate. I rejected you" I snapped "it is not my fault you are so stupid you didn't accept it."
"Oh Riley" he sighed "I don't appreciate your tone of voice with me. That will have to be something we work on" he added ominously.
What? He nodded to his men. Our cage, which resembled a dungeon cell truthfully, was forcibly opened by one of the men as I stepped back. Instead of grabbing me though they pulled Marigold out, kicking and screaming as my eyes widened.
"Let her go" I shouted "she hasn't done anything."
The shoved her into an empty cell and shut the door. Marigold stopped screaming, looking relieved. Jaxon rolled his eyes "So dramatic. I still need her" he said huffing and then moved to the open doorway, a strange glint in his eyes that made me feel a sense of foreboding. Once again I tried to reach my wolf but there was no answer and the siren side of me was lacking as well. As though my voice had been silenced and I guess in affect it had been. I glared at Jaxon, refusing to show I was intimidated as his large frame filled the doorway. I couldn't afford to show any fear in front of him. He would use it to his advantage if I did.
"You're so beautiful" he sighed, raking his gaze over me as I stiffened, licking his lips and eyeing me up and down with a small smile curved upon his lips "your hair has changed" he commented as I remained silent.
He stepped inside and I automatically took a step back. I could feel my heart racing. I glanced towards the open door of the cage and Jaxon chuckled. "I wouldn't advise making a run for it" he said shaking his head "I wouldn't want to hurt you but if you try to escape me, you'll leave me with no other choice" he added.
"Jaxon, what do you want?" I asked softly, my body trembling despite my fake show of bravado.
I wasn't used to this situation. I couldn't shift, I couldn't use my voice. A glance at Marigold and the others showed they felt just as helpless. I clenched my hands into fists, wondering if I could take him on in human form and instinctively knowing I had no chance against an Alpha shifter.
"I want you Riley" Jaxon murmured coming closer "My siren Luna. The other half of me I should never have denied in the first place" he continued in a low tone as I stared at him incredulously.
"You had your chance Jaxon, you chose the other girl, Amber" I reminded him tersely.
"Ah, Amber" he laughed "She's in the dungeon of the pack, paying for her disrespect. Does that please you?" he asked me suddenly.
Did it please me? I felt nothing but sorry for the poor girl. "No, it doesn't" my voice was even "she doesn't deserve that. Nobody does. If you're displeased with her then you should have just let her go and rejected her" my voice wobbled "but you didn't even do that did you?" I asked certain of the answer.
He didn't answer, still studying me intently. I could feel my breathing becoming shallow. He was looking at me too intently for my comfort. He wanted something, something else from me. He moved closer, his hand reaching out to touch my cheek as I shivered.
His fingers trailed down my neck and paused where the mark from Bailey sat, suddenly gripping my neck tightly as I winced in pain.
"You bear that bastard's mark" he spits out as I meet his eyes "but not for long" he added with a low growl.
I try to move, knowing instinctively what's about to happen. I can't allow it. I won't. I bring my arm up but he swiftly dodges it and wraps his hand around my neck squeezing as I cough and begin to gasp for breathe. I can hear Marigold and the others yelling in the background for him to stop, Tiana's voice amongst them. My eyes bulge as my hands desperately claw at him. He smirks at me.
"Don't worry my sweet Riley" he says in a coaxing tone, even as his eyes begin to darken and I see his canines begin to pop out from between his lips "this will only hurt for a moment. I can't stand to see another man's mark on you, not when you should be bearing mine" he breathed.
No. No,no,no, this couldn't be happening. I kick, I flail, I open my mouth to scream but no sounds come out. I watch it happen, almost as though in slow motion. There's a cruel smile on his lips as he pulls my head to the side and exposes my neck to him. I feel tears come to my eyes. His grip is painful. He bends his head, even as I continue to struggle weakly in his grasp. I feel his teeth graze my skin and I stiffen, letting out the smallest cry of protest. Then it happens. His teeth swiftly plunge into my neck, right in the centre of Bailey's mark. Pain shoots through me. The most horrendous pain I have ever felt in my life jolts through me, my neck feeling like it's on fire, his teeth continuing to bear down on me, until I think that he's trying to kill me. It feels as though my life force is slowly ebbing away as heat continues to consume me and the pain increases. I sob, unable to bear it anymore and then just as suddenly he pulls away, his tongue licking away the blood that is trickling down my neck and sealing his mark, Bailey's having disappeared in exchange for his.
"Bastard" I sobbed, touching my neck as he lets go of me, sinking to my knees in despair.
Without Bailey's mark, I'm unable to mind-link with him. Had Jaxon completely severed the bond I had with my mate? What else could be the reason for Bailey's mark disappearing?
Jaxon's eyes are gleaming as he looks down upon me. There is no remorse on his face. On the contrary he is pleased with himself.
"That's better" he growls as I look up at him, clutching my neck "but why does your scent smell different still?" he's perplexed.
He doesn't know I'm pregnant. I tighten my lips. He shakes his head. "Never mind. Soon you and I will be wed and you will become my wife and bear my children" he declared as I fought the urge to vomit "we will be the strongest pack and you will produce the heirs I need to ensure my lineage carries on."
"You're sick" I whispered as he strode out of the cage and shut the door "I will never do that."
He smirked "You don't have a choice. Without the bond, does your mate even have the desire to rescue you anymore?" he pointed out as I recoiled.
He strode out of the room as I began to cry, Marigold and the others rushing forward, while I stared blankly at the ground. Whatever fight I had still possessed had swiftly gone.