Authors Note: Okay Taken by the Wolf fans... you've been asking for, and I have wanted for a long time to write, the story of Jordan and Trish. I decided to go with a parallel timeline from Taken by the Wolf, so if you haven't read that story first, you can go there now, or you can read this one first and then go read that one or read them side by side... whatever you'd like.
Enjoy.
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This wasn't happening.
This couldn't be happening.
It wasn't fair.
But when had her life ever been fair?
Kidnapped. She made herself think the word. She'd been kidnapped. But why had they taken her?
Kidnappings were almost common on Earth now. The wealthy had moved to the Moon, leaving most of Earth behind except for when they needed something or wanted to travel to an exotic locale. Criminal empires had sprung up, taking over control of the Earth, but most of them left the citizens of the Moon alone when they visited. Until the Wolf. The Wolf would occasionally select one or two of the young men and women visiting earth for schooling or leisure and they would... disappear. A few would return to society within a day or two, others could be gone for months. Those who were returned quickly boasted of sexual decadence, of orgies, of perverse pleasures... and suddenly the younger generations were flocking to visit Earth, eager for a taste of danger. Most of them felt safe in the knowledge that they were unlikely to be taken, but they liked the idea that they could be gone for a day or two and then returned with all sorts of experiences outside of the stale lives they usually led.
Mostly no one talked about the unlucky few who were gone for longer periods of time. Mostly because those few never talked to anyone about their experiences anyway.
There were very few photos of the Wolf, despite rabid interest. First hand accounts couldn't be trusted, because they were so wild. The most anyone knew for sure was that he had dark hair.
Which was why Trish was twice as terrified when she woke up in a room with another man - who'd told her his name was Alex - and woman - Alex said her name was Bella - who had just woken up as well, both also bound to a pole the same way she was, and the first person to walk in had very, very light hair. Just as light as hers, in fact, and she knew that she was an anomaly, with hair so pale it was nearly white. His hair was the same light, light blond, although his was only half an inch long or so. And unlike Trish, he was huge. She'd always been petite, with a slight figure, but in his presence she felt even smaller. The man had muscles on his muscles, and he was so tall she was getting a crick in her neck from staring up at him, but she was too terrified to look away. If she wasn't so scared, she might think he was handsome.
His cold, grey eyes slid over her, calculating, and Trish shivered, cringing back away from his gaze.
Trish didn't understand. She was from the Moon yes, but she wasn't from an influential family like all the other kidnapping victims had been. Her parents had worked for a wealthy family before they'd died, leaving her an orphan. Fortunately, because she was smart, she'd been allowed to stay and had been educated on scholarship. She'd grown up in a Moon orphanage, which was still better than an Earth orphanage, but it wasn't pleasant. And she had nothing that the Wolf would want.
Unless the Wolf wasn't behind these kidnappings. The huge, blond man in front of her, who reminded her of the historical drawings she'd seen of Vikings, might be in charge. He certainly looked like the kind of man who would be in charge. But the Alex and Bella were definitely the kid of people that the Wolf would be interested in. They were dressed in expensive clothing, and from the authoritative way Alex had spoken to Bella - whom he obviously knew - before the Viking came in, at least one of them was used to being in charge.
The Viking shifted his gaze to the two, taking in their darker hair and eyes, before his eyes flicked back to Trish.
"Good. You're all finally awake." The curve of his lips tilted cruelly as he smiled, anticipation gleaming in his silvery eyes. Trish shivered again.
All three of them were roped together, hobbled, and led down the hall. The Viking told them his name was Jordan and admonished them to behave. Trish didn't think he had to tell her or Bella twice, but she was a little worried Alex might do something. He was obviously furious and feeling protective of Bella. To Trish's surprise, some of that protective feeling appeared to include her as well. His lips thinned every time he looked around, as if looking for some way to escape, and then he'd look back at Trish and Bella.
Their destination was a tiled room with a drain in the center of it. Trish stared at the drain, her terror swamping her, reaching levels that she hadn't known were possible, and tears started to slide down her face. When Jordan hung Alex up by his wrists, it was all Trish could do not to start sobbing. What was going to happen to them?
The big Viking was surprisingly gentle when he took Trish's hands and lifted them above her head, making her feel a strange spurt of gratitude through her terror. Her fright and tears surged higher when, once her hands were secured above her head, he ran his hands down her arms and sides, looking down at her with appreciation in his eyes. The man was huge. Massive. She barely came up to his chest and his hands, sliding down her body, felt like they could break her in half, no matter how gently he was touching her.
When he moved away to string up Bella as well, Trish felt ashamed at her relief that he was now touching Bella and not her.
Then he pulled a knife out of one of his many pockets, flipping it open with practiced ease, and Trish couldn't contain herself anymore. She started bawling, just as Alex started shouting. She was too frightened to even feel grateful that he was demanding the Viking leave both Bella AND Trish alone.
"QUIET!" Jordan shouted, his deep voice intimidatingly harsh. "You're all perfectly safe. Understood?" For some reason she felt like his words were directed at her, but it didn't help. She couldn't stop crying. She tried to, so hard, as he approached her, scared that he would punish her because she couldn't remain quiet. She couldn't stop. Instead, his hand brushed against her cheek, wiping away some of her tears with a gentleness that made her catch her breath. "Quiet down, little one."