Victor scrubbed himself clean in the shower, standing under the hot water and ignoring the voice calling to him through the door. He heard the door open and close behind him, rolling his eyes when last night's lay yanked the curtain open. "Need some company?"

"No." He leaned his head back in the spray and washed the soap out of his short hair. "Get out."

"Victor, you know better than to kick me out." The feral female purred, running a finger down his chest. "You don't treat mates that way."

Victor grabbed her hand and squeezed it, savoring the sound of her whimpers. Leaning forward out of the spray of water, he snarled, "You're not my damn mate. Get the hell out."

He shoved her away, releasing her hand in the process then turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. Ignoring her as she yanked her clothes on and stormed out, Victor dressed and cracked his neck. Now, to find his vixen. He had followed her trail to Vegas but it was getting difficult to find exactly where she was. So many people and scents were mingled and it confused his senses. Right now the sun was coming up and it made the smells sharper. He was walking down a strip club filled boulevard when his nose picked up a spicy tinge in the air.

Victor spotted Charlie at a coffee truck and kept his distance to observe her. She paid the cashier with a smile and held her cup between two hands, inhaling the scent deeply. He followed her as she walked to a bus bench nearby and perched herself on the back of it. A growl rumbled deep in his chest when a man with blonde hair approached her and kissed her cheek, a cup of coffee in his own hand. Coffee man took a place next to Charlie and Victor mumbled to himself, "Well, he needs better taste in friends."

-0-

"So, can I take you out on a real date?" James asked me as he walked me to my car. "As much as I've enjoyed our coffee and sunrise this morning, it'd be nice to see you not at the crack of dawn."

"I'm off tonight." I stifled a yawn. Coffee could only do so much and I was ready to crawl into bed and sleep all day.

"How does 8 sound?" James held the car door open for me.

"Sounds good to me." I scrawled my number across his palm. "See you tonight."

James kissed my cheek again and closed the car door and I watched him disappear in my rearview mirror. Maddie was gone when I got home, a note waiting for me on the coffee table.

Had to leave town. Don't look for me.

A bad feeling made my stomach sink but she could take care of herself and she'd call if she needed help. At least, I hoped so as I crawled into bed and let sleep take over. My alarm went off too early but a sleepy glance at the clock told me it was six and time to shower. I grumbled to myself as I pulled myself out of bed and into the shower. By the time 7:30 rolled around, I was dressed in my favorite green dress that fell just barely to the top of my knees, grey tights, and a pair of black boots that Maddie had gotten for me.

-0-

Lucy did not like being dismissed, much less from her mate. She was an Alpha female for crying out loud. Following Victor had been easy. Once the man was focused on a target, nothing could deter him. She had found her competition for her mate's loyalty and the weakling would be no match for her. Knocking on the apartment that housed the weakling's scent, she smiled a mouthful of fangs when the woman answered.

"Can I help you?" She asked, either not noticing her fangs or choosing not to let them bother her.

"I think so." Lucy purred then brought a fist across the weakling's temple and letting her crumple to the floor. With a tone of disgust, she said, "Humans."

Dragging the weakling to her vehicle, Lucy opened the trunk and shoved her in. An assortment of dead animals littered the tiny space, diluting the human's scent enough so Victor wouldn't find her too soon. That'd ruin the game and her fun was just getting started.

-0-

I woke up in the dark and I tried to sit up when my hand brushed something warm and sticky. Putrid air invaded my nose, like rotting meat and I dug around for something to help me to observe my surroundings. A small flashlight illuminated the darkness and I almost wish it hadn't. Carcasses surrounded me and I screamed loudly when my gaze fell on a fawn's head, it's glossy eyes staring blankly at me. That seemed like a good time to panic. Kicking my feet against the walls of my confinement area, the metallic clunking sound told me it was a trunk of a car.

"Help! Somebody please help me!" I banged against the top of the trunk for a few seconds before the trunk popped open and I was temporarily blinded by the sudden light. The sweet smell of fresh oxygen hit my nose and I took a deep breath as I was yanked by my collar out of the trunk and shoved forward. My legs had fallen asleep during the trip, which caused me to stumble as I walked.

"Get up." A woman's voice snarled, gripping my bicep roughly and practically dragging me. My eyes were adjusting to the light and I could make out my surroundings, which consisted of a barn and then nothing but fields and woods. The woman, who had dark hair and green eyes that reminded me of a tiger's with claws that almost rivaled Victor's. She handcuffed my wrists together then tied a rope through the cuffs and stuffed a dirty rag in my mouth. The rope was attached to a pulley and she tugged me up, leaving me dangling at least ten feet in the air. The cuffs were already stinging my wrists and my eyes stung with tears prompted by fear.

"What do you want with me?" I sniffled. "I don't even know you!"

"Ah, but I know you." She purred, tying off the rope and checking the barn for weak points. "You are the one who has stolen my Alpha's attention and I can't have that. Do you know what happens when two females fight over the same male in the animal kingdom?"

"I'm not fighting you over a man." I stammered. "I swear. You can have James. Just let me go."

She threw her head back and laughed loudly. "I'm not talking about him, sweetie. I mean Victor. He's quite taken with you, you know."

"He's a psychopath. He tried to kill my best friend!" Looking down at her was making me dizzy. I was never very good with heights. "Let me go, please. I don't want Victor."

"It doesn't matter, weakling. He's going to come for you and when he does, he'll see that I am the better suited female for his needs." She grabbed a gasoline container and sloshed the liquid around the interior of the barn, working several minutes until the smell made me nauseous. "I'm only going to light one section of the barn at a time. If you escape before the whole thing collaspses or fries you, then you will only have on challenge left to face. Me."

Lighting a match, she tossed it in the north corner of the barn and the hay caught fire immediately. She sauntered out of the barn then paused by the door, ready to close it when she said, "You may want to hurry. We're several hours from your Vegas apartment so I wouldn't count on Victor saving you."

A/N: A big thanks to those of you who have added this story to your alerts/favorites. While I do love and appreciate getting those notifications, remember that reviews go with stories like adamantium and Wolverine. Please leave a review on your way out and let me know what you think. I don't bruise easily and I've only seen the movies and not read the comics, so if I get anything wrong, please tell me. xo