Chapter 9

Had the scent of my mate been a little clearer, perhaps I wouldn't have had to let these little criminals take me.

Alas.

It was entertaining, at least, to watch them as they patted me down in their van. There was a token attempt to grope my body, which I took as a chance to retaliate by kicking the bastard in the balls—effectively hiding the phone in my bra for a moment, as they avoided patting me down again after the initial impact.

The hit against my face was a pity, though. Angel would definitely kill whoever it was once she saw me, if I didn't subdue them first myself.

More importantly, however…

Surely, my mate wasn't one of them? They didn't feel at all strong, even if they were at least of a more similar moral standing as me. They weren't even smart enough to put a bag on my head, or to blind me with cloth over my eyes—they used cable ties, for fuck's sake. Funny as it sounded, they weren't the kind of professional criminals that I was used to from my family, and it was just pathetic to watch.

"I told you to be careful, you wanker. Now we have a witness! We don't even know what family she's from," snapped one of the men—unmasked ever since I first saw them, which was even more of an idiot move. Even if they were able to successfully capture their target, they should've at least kept their masks on until they were in whatever abandoned warehouse they planned to take us to.

Really, wasn't this too cliché and sad?

"I know, I know already!" cried another. "You think I wanted this?! Bloody hell..."

Then they threw in the sad lump of a man that had been on the ground from earlier into the van, knocking him right into me, and oh.

Oh.

Fire burned through my senses, blinding me from everything else for a moment. Never mind the fact that I'd been effectively kidnapped, or that an idiot tried to grope me—

This man, lying passed out while slumped against my shoulder, was my mate. He must be. With jet black hair and what seemed like fair skin under dim lighting, along with a slumbering face that made him look more beautiful than handsome, I could feel it in my bones that this man was meant to be mine. I moved to curl into him, and like instinct, his passed out body curved to rest his head against my neck.

I was glad they'd taped my mouth shut for a moment, because god, I could scream. Months and months of searching, possibly years of my own desire building up into this ravenous fire inside me, and I finally found him.

My body shook as I tried to contain my laughter.

To think we'd end up finding each other after being kidnapped together. This was the stuff of fiction, and I was sure my family would kill me for finding this hilarious.

"Hah," laughed one fool, taking me out of my thoughts. "The cunt who acted brave earlier could cry too, huh? Look at her—she's shaking like a leaf."

Another said, "We may as well have fun with her later, hey? It isn't all that bad for a cock-up, and she's plenty dishy that we could even sell her after."

"After what, you ruin her? You git."

"Tosser."

"Wanker."

Then they laughed together. They kept chattering on as they drove, with one of them watching over us in the back—though even that one man didn't seem to be doing that well in watching over us, considering how happy he was to natter on with the others.

Oh, these fools.

We'd reached a fair distance from where we began when my mate stirred, and I was greeted with the sight of sleepy blue eyes, those irises somehow managing to shine through the darkness of the van. Disorientation was clear in that dimly-lit face as he struggled to sit up, though I tucked his head closer to me with my chin before he could go any further and alert the others that he was awake.

Vaguely, I could taste the growing scent of anger in the air, of exhaustion mixed with frustration. The pheromones of an Alpha beneath a weakening suppressant—the patch type, most likely—slowly revealing itself, bit by bit, to the only other Alpha in the van who had enough sense to smell his distress.

I didn't even know this man. I didn't know his name, how old he was, what he did for work, what food he liked, or what kind of family he had.

I could only observe what was visible, what I could feel with my own senses. That he was an Alpha from the scent seeping from his skin, breaking through whatever suppressant patch he was wearing. That he was in a suit—perhaps on the way home from work, or from a get-together with coworkers given the slight smell of alcohol on his person. He was built—less than Cyril, less like a man made for the Underworld, but more like a man who liked to keep fit. Maybe he did sports, or maybe he just liked going to the gym. I couldn't be sure yet.

What I was certain of, was the fact that he smelled divine. Better than anything I've ever smelled, tasted, or felt in my life. Even with the scent of alcohol on his body, and even with the hints of cigarette smoke on his skin, he smelled exactly like home; not the place, and not the people, but the very concept of it. The scent and feel of a place where one belonged, reminding me of comfort and the warmth of a soft, thick blanket on a cold and rainy night.

He felt like home, and the territorial Alpha within me was roaring to spill blood at the knowledge that he'd been hurt. I felt shaky, felt like I was going to jump right out of my skin—I wanted to kill someone right the fuck now.

"Nngh."

His groaning voice broke through the bloodlust simmering under my skin. Instantly, I gave him my attention, feeling him shift against me as his head of hair brushed against my cheek.

When I looked down at him, it was to the view of dazed, yet furious, eyes. That glare wasn't directed at me, no—

It was directed to the people in front. The people who'd stupidly taken me with them, who would soon be dead because they'd touched the man meant to be mine.

His pheromones gradually leaked more and more through whatever patch he was wearing, letting me get a taste of his fear mixed with anger. Perhaps the patch had been damaged when he was knocked out, or his pheromones were just that strong—

Whatever the case may be, what remained true was my struggle to hold back a smile.

This man, he might just be it for me. I didn't know how I knew, but I could feel it. I could tell from those glaring eyes of his, still bright even under darkness.

He'd survive. He'd thrive, with me.

I waited for our watchdog to look away before I slipped my high-heel-clad feet behind me, shifting just enough that I could bend back to rip through the bindings on my wrists with the sharp end of my heels. I timed the break right as our captors reached a rowdy peak, covering up the sound of the cable tie snapping with the sound of pouring rain and their own laughter. I did exactly the same with the ties on my legs, though I'd snapped those with my fingers alone.

When I was done, I held my mate's hands as they were bound at his back, smiling at him with my eyes when he gazed at me with wide-eyed surprise.

We'd be fine. I'd make sure of it.

"That nutter," said the driver, catching my attention again. "You're sure he's waiting on us with the van?"

The man that was meant to be watching us gave a derisive snort. "That's been sorted since a week ago," he scoffed, "of course he's there. Else we'd have to off that bloody git."

"Off, my arse. That's too mild a penalty when that bugger already got us into this kidnapping-for-ransom mess—there's no way I'm letting that sod off that easily."

"What, you're saying you'd miss out on a fine bird like that?"

I lowered my head at the leering gazes thrown my way. Ugh, disgusting.

Then I heard the soft rumbling at my side, growing into an audible snarl. The sound of a displeased Alpha, an Alpha nearing a feral state as he tried to cover my body with his own. As if he knew he had the right to, as if he knew that I was his without words.

I held in a pleased shudder.

We didn't know each other, but it seemed I wasn't the only one who felt a connection. It made the fire burning in me feel like a welcome warmth, like it didn't matter when and where I'd have my rut, even though I knew that it was insane to think so.

I was getting into a rut just from his presence, even when I'd already taken my suppressants. What more if I hadn't taken my meds? How feral could my Alpha get, without something to hold me back?

"Mmf. Nngh—"

My mate, on the other hand, didn't seem to be thinking of such things anymore. He was shaking, vibrating where he sat, his arms twitching to try and break free from the ties that bound his arms together. Though unclear due to dim light and the fog from the heavy rain outside, I could still feel the heat of his solid glare even without seeing it.

If this man were truly meant to be mine, then it wouldn't be a surprise if he fell into a rut now too.

"That bastard—you hear that? He's snarling at us," said one fool, laughing. "Toff thinks he's all that just because he's an Alpha."

"Bugger's been leaking pheromones since before we carried him in," joked another. "You'd think a grown man would know better than to use dodgy suppressants."

Ah.

Aha.

I gave my mate's hand another squeeze, forcing him to pause from his posturing. He gave me a confused look with just his eyes, and had I been any less composed, I might've patted him on the cheek from how cute he was being.

These petty kidnappers thought the Alpha pheromones from earlier were from my mate. Even before he'd woken up, even before he'd regained enough awareness to feel his fear and frustration, they believed he'd leaked intimidation at them without even considering another possibility.

Had I been a fool on their level, I would've said something already.

But I waited. I bided my time, patiently watching for our van to stop on the side of the deserted road for the transfer they'd been planning. It was dark not just from nighttime but also from the pouring rain when we finally parked somewhere, and that was enough for me to quietly make my move.

I started with the watchdog. The man who'd enjoyed leering at me with passing glances, the one who was useless at his one job as he swept his gaze away from us to the front, giving me the opening I needed to snap a hand against his nape to knock him out without prior warning.

I didn't bother to be gentle when I dropped him onto the van floor with a "thud", before reaching for the other two in front.

There were yells. Guns brought out, warnings for me to stop.

"Stop, you—!"

Snap. Thwack.

"This c—"

Smack. Thud.

The windows were tinted enough that I could see the driver of the other van coming towards us, but they couldn't see me. I ripped off the tape on my mouth, making quick work of double-tying our captors down using the same cable ties they'd tied me with, before grabbing the guns they'd tucked into their pants to tuck them into my own belt.

With only one gun in hand, I slid open the van door, smiling.

The man on the other side, umbrella over his head and a hand raised to knock on the door, could only watch in shock as I stepped out of the van alone.

I asked, "Were you planning on kidnapping someone today?"

He gave me an incredulous look, wide-eyed gaze going from the gun to my face. "What in the bloody hell are you talking about?"

I shut the van door behind me, then shot at the sky. He flinched with such violence that he fell back onto his ass on the rain-wet ground, umbrella falling with him.

"I'm asking nicely," I said, not minding the rain as I crouched in front of him. No one came out from the other van; I hazarded a guess that he was alone, because if he'd had company, they would've rolled their windows down to shoot at me already. I pointed the gun to his nether regions, smiling widely as he stared at me in horror. "Did you plan on kidnapping someone today?"

"..."

"If you don't say anything," I put my finger to the trigger, "I'll shoot."

His eyes widened to hilarious proportions as he gawped at me. "Cor, yes! Who the fuck—?"

I tapped him in the temple with the gun before he could finish, knocking him out.

Not hired by anyone I knew, then. They were nothing more than novices at the kidnapping business, far too unprepared for the possibility of a more competent kidnapee to ever be of any use.

I still took the time to drag his body back into the van I'd exited so I could tie him up and throw him with the others. It was only when I was sure that I didn't leave them with any weapons to use that I turned to my mate at the back of the van, who—

Was staring at me, wide-eyed, in quiet shock. This was unsurprising; it was sure to be unexpected for him that a fellow kidnapee, and an unintended target at that, would move so efficiently in taking down her own captors. When I felt for his pheromones, I was already expecting some amount of fear exactly because of this. Some anxiety, perhaps. Cautiousness.

Instead, what I tasted was...

Well.

I was smiling as I went over to him, not minding my own wet state as I ripped the tape off his mouth in one go. He sputtered a little at this, but I didn't mind it as I asked,

"Are you actually turned on?"

A flash of lightning lit up the sky outside of the van, giving me a glimpse of his flushed face. He was so fair that the pinkness of his cheeks couldn't help from being obvious, standing out against his sharp nose, his round ears.

"...is that important right now?" he asked. He watched, not once struggling against me as I broke the cable ties binding his arms and legs together. While rubbing at his freed wrists, he said, "You took down four men on your own."

"And that makes you horny."

"Must you be this vulgar?"

"I don't think that's the issue here, mister."

"Esmé."

"Sorry?"

"My name," he said. Then he licked his lips, making my gaze zone right in on his plump lower lip. Damn. "It's Esmé."

The smile on my face widened at the easy revelation of his name. "Esmé. I'm Marcella."

"Are you...from the armed forces, by any chance?"

"Nothing like that," I laughed, standing up to my full height. "Before you ask me any other questions, I think it might be in our best interest to leave and find a nearby motel, at least. I don't want to risk getting sick like this, and I'd prefer not to drive a kidnapper's van for long."

He smiled wryly at my words and pushed himself to a stand.

When he wobbled forward, a bit out of balance from sitting for too long, I quickly supported him with an arm to his back, and another hand to his chest. His pheromones flared up even more, making my smile widen. "My, that's a bit forward, Esmé."

"It's the adrenaline," he mumbled, gently trying to pull himself away from my hold.

I didn't let him go that easily, of course.

"Adrenaline or not, I don't mind," I said, keeping my arms on him as I helped him out of the van and to the other van left behind by the driver I'd knocked out. We were both wet from the rain, but that was exactly as I'd intended; this way, he wouldn't complain at the idea of stopping at a motel to dry off. "If anything, I'm flattered. You're very handsome."

"I get that a lot," he said dryly. "Not often from women who knock out four kidnappers, though."

"I do love to make a lasting impression."

He laughed. He stopped after the first "hah," looking shocked at his own laughter, before laughing again. "This is barmy, I hope you realize," he said, smiling at me as I helped him sit in the passenger's seat of the new van. "I shouldn't be laughing when I almost got kidnapped."

"I'm fine with barmy," I said, giving him a wink. "Also, give me a second; I just need to take a photo of the other van so the authorities can handle them."

The "authorities" being Angel, but he didn't need to know that.

"I'll be here." He chuckled when he said so, but I didn't miss it.

He was shivering. Due to the cold, due to the recent kidnapping, or maybe even both.

I was quick to take a photo, quick to send off a message to Angel with said photo, and even quicker to return to the driver's seat of the new van. Beyond listening to my Alpha, I was worried about my mate's condition; he wasn't like me, for all that he took my actions well.

For all I knew, he might just be dissociating already. Maybe he was on the verge of breaking down, and a moment more out here would damage his psyche beyond what I'm able to fix.

I started talking the moment I took up the driver's seat, hoping to distract him. "Are you familiar with the area?" I said, taking the car off the side of the road and back to the main path. "Enough to know of any motels, maybe? We can at least dry off before heading back, and I can give you a quick lookover for any serious injuries."

"Let me check." He squinted outside of the car window, then said once he'd found a sign, "We can take a turn here, and go straight up. We'll find something to the right of us if we drive long enough, if I'm remembering things properly."

"Right, got it." I followed his instructions for a bit, quiet as I went, and then...

"So, what did it for you?"

"Pardon?"

"Are you into strong women?"

He choked on his breath for a moment. "Cor blimey," he wheezed, laughing breathlessly, "that was what you were thinking about? Aren't there more significant things to consider at the moment?"

I smiled as I drove. His laugh, too, was just as attractive as the rest of him. I asked, "Are you bleeding anywhere? Hurting anywhere?"

"My head hurts," he admitted easily enough. It was a relief, if only because I was familiar with men who liked to pass everything off as fine even if the exact opposite was true. "But then, they hit me rather hard, so that's to be expected. Every other part of me just aches a bit from being hit, but I don't think I'm bleeding."

"Possible concussion, light bruising?"

He gave a slow blink, then nodded just a bit. "Feels like it." He hummed a little, then rubbed at his forehead with a wince. "Pardon, my head feels a little…"

"It's fine," I assured him. "I'll take care of you, so don't push yourself."

"Would you really?" he asked. He was smiling when I glanced over at him. "Do you feel responsible after saving me?"

"Something like that."

"You're kind."

I couldn't help it.

I laughed.

"That's a first," I said honestly. I kept an eye on the road, only glancing at him every minute or so. "I'm the last person my family would call kind."

"Hah."

A dry laugh left his mouth, sounding a lot less cheerful compared to his earlier laughter. Perhaps I'd struck a nerve somewhere. Was it the mention of family?

"You haven't asked yet," he said. "The reason why they took me, that is."

"Am I supposed to?"

"No."

I nodded. "Then I won't."

The short glimpse I got of his face made him look rueful. With that soft frown, that pensive gaze; it made me wonder if his family had something to do with his kidnapping.

Did I have to clean that up too? Or was I jumping to conclusions?

"Whatever it is you're thinking, I'm almost certain you've got the wrong idea."

I blinked, surprised at being caught so easily. "Do I?"

He chuckled. His eyes, naturally sleepy-looking as they were, fell shut for a moment as he leaned back into his seat. "It wasn't my family. The kidnappers wanted a ransom, but…well." He opened his eyes, staring to the front of the road with an emptiness that had me gripping harder at the steering wheel. "I doubt they'd pay."

Ah.

So it was like that.

"Would it be too much if I said I'd pay? Regardless of the fact that I already managed to beat them up."

He laughed then. Loudly, unabashedly, as if the sound had been surprised out of him that he couldn't control his own volume. "How much would you pay?"

"How much would it cost to buy the entirety of the United Kingdom?"

"You flatter me."

"I'd quadruple it."

"Now you're just taking the piss."

"I'm really not."

He laughed again, but softer this time. A small sound, gently trailing off into a pleased hum. "I don't see why you'd do such a thing."

"I like you."

He looked straight at me then. It was hard to ignore, even as I focused my gaze on the road.

"So quickly?" he teased.

"I'd say the heart wants what it wants, but that would be too juvenile, even for me. It's a combination of my Alpha knowing what it wants, and me knowing you're cute."

"...cute? That's a first."

"You're cute," I said, just to emphasize it. "It's all I've been thinking about this whole time." I paused then, considering the amount of honesty I could express, then said, "You're the kind of cute I want to take home to my family, honestly. I liked it when you got angry for my sake earlier."

"That much should be normal."

"I liked it coming from you."

He hummed, long and musing, and didn't say anything as I began to park the van outside of the nearest motel in view. I didn't mind it; I knew on my own how unbelievable my own words would sound to the average person, and I couldn't blame him if he felt the same.

I still gestured for him to stay where he was, because his disbelief wouldn't stop me from trying to take care of him. Even if it made me look odd to leave the driver's seat just to rush over to his side of the car with an open umbrella in hand, looking either like an escort or a servant, it didn't matter.

What mattered was that the gesture made him smile. He also took my outstretched hand, even as he said, "Aren't our roles reversed here?"

I raised a brow at him. "Am I the injured one?"

His smile reached up to his eyes as he stepped out of the van. His hand, as it settled in mine, gently squeezed around my fingers. "You've got a point."

He didn't complain as I supported him into the motel, the umbrella in my other hand. He didn't joke about how demeaning it felt, didn't act like this was all against his will, didn't act like he was above any kindness, or help. Even his smile didn't waver as I paid for a room for the both of us, though he'd put up a valiant attempt to stop me—not because he felt it was shameful, but because, "I don't want to be a burden."

How foolish. I bore the weight of an organization built on blood, death, and deceit; helping one man was hardly a burden for someone like me. It wasn't as though I was doing such things as an act of charity either. I wasn't that kind, or selfless.

I was doing these things because I could feel that he was my mate, and didn't it only make sense to want to take care of him? Make sure he's healthy, happy, and smiling?

When he leaned into me, body hot against my side and soft smile playing across his lips, I could only think:

It didn't matter how long I'd searched, how frustrated I'd been, or how torturous my past ruts were. This man who so willingly curled into my warmth regardless of this being our first meeting, this man who curled his hand so gently around mine—

I was always meant to find him.

It could never have been anyone else.