Moon Shifter 02 - Primal Possession

semihonesty. He didn’t want to hurt a human, even if she was seeing a shifter. “Listen, I don’t want to hurt you. My boss just wants to talk to your boyfriend and taking you is the only way. You’re just a bargaining chip. You won’t be hurt if you cooperate.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
    Being nice obviously wasn’t going to work either. Standing, he jabbed the gun into her side. She cried out but he ignored it. “Open the fucking door. Now.”
    With trembling hands she eventually opened the door. As soon as they were inside, he bolted it shut. “Sit.” From the foyer, he motioned toward one of the couches in the living room.
    Still clutching her purse and keys, she did as he said. “If you take me, you have to realize he’ll kill you.” She didn’t say who, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out whom she meant.
    “I thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend.” He pulled out the flex-cuffs he’d brought and tossed them to her. “Put these on.”
    She dropped her purse to catch them. “He’s not my boyfriend, but that doesn’t matter to him. You take me, you’re dead. You haven’t done anything wrong yet. If you walk away now, no one has to know about this.”
    At her condescending voice, something inside him snapped. He lifted the gun at her again. “I’m not some fucking child. Put. Those. On.”
    A surge of adrenaline rushed through him as she obeyed him. He was tired of taking orders from everyone. Once she’d secured her wrists in front of her, he tucked his gun in the back of his pants, then pulled out the tape he’d brought.
    “Wait, what are you—”
    He secured a piece over her mouth. “I’m sorry I have to do this.”
    For a moment she looked confused; then she started to struggle. When she kicked out at him, he cursed and did what needed to be done. Clocking her hard across the jaw did the trick. Her head lolled to the side as she slumped against the couch.
    Now all he had to do was carry her to his truck. He could move it to her driveway, then quickly load her in. So fucking easy.
    “Who’s fucking smart now?” He smiled to himself as he slipped out her front door. As he hurried across the street toward his truck, he nearly stumbled when he spotted that shifter driving down the road. The giant hulking bastard eyed him briefly, then dismissed him.
    Joseph watched as he pulled into December’s driveway. His heart beat a staccato drumbeat and a flash of cold fear snaked down his spine. He’d been so close. It was too late to attempt anything now. He didn’t have any silver bullets and he didn’t have enough training to take him on. And he sure as hell didn’t have a death wish.
    Unlike most APL members, he didn’t think of himself as some invincible badass. Hurrying, he jumped in his truck and sped away. At least no one would know about his failure. There was no way he was telling Edwardabout this. He’d just make up some bullshit story about how Katarina had been protected and he hadn’t been able to get close to her. No one ever needed to know about this blunder.
    As he glanced in the rearview mirror, the last thing he saw as he turned the corner was the shifter walking toward the front door. He certainly had a surprise waiting for him.
    Liam knocked on December’s door for the second time. He’d tried calling her a couple times, but she wasn’t answering. Her car was in the driveway, so maybe she didn’t want to talk to him. His brother was right. He’d been going about everything all wrong. Pushing himself on her and not bothering to get to know her.
    He’d been so driven with the desire to mate he kept forgetting she was human. Sighing, he tried again. “December?”
    When she didn’t answer, he pulled out his cell. She knew he’d planned to stay tonight. As the phone rang, he heard the jingle of her phone from inside. Then he heard something that sounded like a soft moan.
    A surge of alarm shot through him like lightning. Snapping the phone shut, he tried the handle. When the door swung open, he cautiously stepped inside. He’d already been ambushed once today. This could be another trap.
    As he moved farther inside, he realized she was the only person there, but he faintly scented something—someone else had been there recently. A male. The mix of cigarette and whatever cologne the man wore lingered. An icy fist clasped around his heart. “December?” he called again as he stepped farther inside.
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