Marked Northern Shifters 1

it.
Just as the city square came into view, out of nowhere stood Gabriel. Alec tried to swerve, Gabriel moved with him and Alec banged into that solid chest.
“Watch where you’re going, Alec.”
He turned away, keeping his balance. But Gabriel’s hands gripped his arms and heaved Alec off the main road, into the alley, out of sight from any onlookers.
As Alec opened his mouth to scream, a hand slammed across it.
“Do you want to bring someone else along for the party? Like Bill brought you?”
Alec heaved breaths, face stinging, terror shaking his heart.
Gabriel released him. “All right. I’ll let you go.” But he blocked Alec’s path and when he looked down the other end of the alley, Luke was stalking towards him. “Hmmm. Luke looks pissed. What did you do?”
Alec darted past Gabriel and his arms came around him, lifting Alec off the ground. The helplessness galled Alec. He was dropped so he stumbled. Then Luke grabbed him by the throat and shoved Alec backwards. His head banged against a brick wall.
“Stupid shit threw coffee at me,” growled Luke, his face flaming.
Alec couldn’t breathe, but he tried to knee Luke in the balls.
Gabriel laughed at Luke’s grunt. A knee connected to Alec’s balls. Pain tore threw him. His world turned gray though he heard Gabriel’s awful amused voice. “Like a battery-operated toy, the stupid bugger just doesn’t stop.”
The pressure on Alec’s throat eased and the gray world receded.
“He’s too much trouble like this,” said Luke. “Give it to me.”
Alec’s first impulse was to struggle again, but he waited. So far, his impulses had led to total failure.
“Will you drink this, Alec?” asked Gabriel in a friendly manner. He held up a small bottle of clear liquid. “We brought it just for you.”
If he drank that liquid, it would be the last thing he ever did. Frantic, Alec shook his head and Luke’s hold on his throat tightened. Then Luke detached Alec from the brick wall, grabbed a hunk of hair and bent his neck back. With his other hand, he gripped Alec’s jaw, opening his mouth.
Gabriel wrapped his palm around Alec’s throat and poured liquid in. Trying not to swallow, he choked under the pressure and the bitter fluid began to flow down his throat. He couldn’t stop and it kept coming until Gabriel stepped back. Luke didn’t release him, despite Alec’s choking.
“I think you can let him go, Luke.” Gabriel’s tone was dry. Slowly, Luke eased his hold, while Gabriel added, “What a good boy. Well done. You drank it all.” He patted Alec’s head and Alec moved out of reach, watching the two, large muscular men.
Luke grinned. “Run now, that’s right.”
Drugs didn’t work that fast, did they? Though God knows what dose he’d been given. Alec’s stomach roiled and despite himself, he stumbled away. He didn’t get far before he landed on his knees. He passed out before his head hit the ground.
Chapter Seven
    A cold nose touched his hand and, while Alec had the wherewithal to pull back, he couldn’t force his eyes open. The nose came to Alec’s cheek and that startled him awake, pushing it away while he tried to clear his muzzy, sore head.
    The wolf growled and before Alec could back up farther—his leg was stuck—its mouth came down on Alec’s shoulder. Instead of ripping him apart, the mouth held him, teeth pinching, bruising, without, he didn’t think, breaking skin. Into this confusing scenario stepped a smaller wolf that approached cautiously. It was a pup, really. It sniffed, whining a little.
    The large wolf growled again, hot, stinky breath escaping, and Alec thought he’d come out of his skin. The pup’s ears went back and its belly went down to the ground.
“Luke, not only are you giving our pet a heart attack, you’re scaring Claire.” Gabriel’s voice. God how Alec loathed Gabriel’s voice. “Back off.”
Evidently Gabriel was someone to be obeyed for the foul breath receded, though Alec didn’t watch. He stared away from them and focused on breathing. He hated reacting to these creatures. Looking at his leg again, this time Alec processed what he saw. They’d shackled his ankle. The thick, rusty ring surrounded it, attached to a chain which itself was attached to a pole.
He couldn’t fucking believe it. He thought he might puke.
“Claire.” Gabriel pronounced the name as if it was French, rolling the “r” slightly. “This is your new pet. Our gift to you.”
Crap, crap, crap. Alec couldn’t make