Hunger Awaits
Chapter 15

Kendra's POV

I don't know how long it's been since Ryker took me. I haven't seen much of him just his stupid henchmen. They bring me food and water but I hardly touch it. I drink the water to keep me hydrated but I refuse to eat anything because I am afraid that it may be drugged. The door opened and Hunter stood in the doorway. "I see you haven't eaten again. Look, Kendra, I know that you don't trust us but you have to eat." I just looked at him then looked away. He picked up the tray of food and walked back to the door. "Fine have it your way. I'm sure Ryker will be thrilled to know that you are refusing to eat." He closed the door behind him and I just curled up into a ball the best I could.

I sat there and looked out the little window in the room. I was starting to wonder if I would ever get out of here. Then I let myself drift to what Ryker had said. I still wasn't sure if I believed everything he said, but I knew that there was something inside me that kept trying to come out. However, it only wanted to come out when I was around Matto. The thought of Matto made me sad. I missed him and wanted him so much. I was starting to think that I might have to get myself out of this one. I laid down on the bed and drifted off. I didn't know what was going to happen when Ryker did come back, but I didn't have the strength to care anymore.

"Wake the fuck up Kendra!" I awoke to Ryker yelling and shaking me. He was hurting me and my head was pounding.

"Stop shaking me, Ryker," I said very weakly. He stopped and looked at me.

"Why the hell aren't you eating?! I'm not trying to hurt you, but god help me if you don't eat I will force it down your throat." He said to me and his eyes were locked onto mine. I finally got a chance to look around the room and saw Hunter standing in the doorway with a tray of food and a smug look on his face. 'Bastard' I thought to myself. Ryker snapped his fingers and Hunter walked forward and sat the tray of food down in front of me. I looked at it and my stomach growled immediately. Ryker stood there watching me. "Eat Kendra now." I looked up at him.

"How do I know it isn't drugged or poisonous?" I said snidely. He laughed and looked at Hunter who left the room immediately.

"If I wanted to kill you I would do it. Kendra the only reason why you got drugged the first day was because you were going to try and run. I won't do it again unless you make me. Now eat." He said to me as he walked closer. I knew I shouldn't trust him, but at this point, my body was begging me to eat. I picked up the sandwich off the tray and took a bit. It was absolutely the best thing I had ever tasted at that moment. I devoured the whole thing in a matter of minutes and Ryker stood there with a smile on his face. After I finished my food I decided to try and convince Ryker to unchain me.

"Ryker please unchain me. I'm not going to run away. I don't even know where we are. My hands are hurting." Ryker looked at me. I could see his eyes soften and then he walked over and unlocked my chains.

His hand rubbed slowly down my arm as he unlocked the last chain. He looked into my eyes and I found myself holding my breath. I knew what he wanted from me but I couldn't do it. I hadn't slept with him even in the few months we were together. I had been raised that sleeping with a man was a special thing that should be for the person you marry. I know it's old fashioned, but it did keep me from getting pregnant or making a decision that I would regret. He brought his lips to mine and I held back my gag reflex. If I was going to replace a way out I needed to play along. I kissed him back and he started to rub his hands all over my body. I felt gross and disgusting as I let him paw me. I could feel his lust for me as his kiss deepened. He started to pull at my shirt and I had enough. I would play along but I refused to give myself to him. I pulled myself away from him. "Ryker no! I have told you before I won't sleep with anyone unless I am married."

His eyes flashed with anger and I braced myself for something horrible to happen. Instead, he stood up and stormed out of the room locking the door behind him. I released the breath I was holding and stood up finally. I rubbed my wrist as I looked out the small window. I was trying to figure out if I could squeeze myself out of it. It was small but I was determined to get out of here. I would have to wait for just the right moment. I had no idea where I was but I would replace the main road and make it back to my family and friends and Matto. I just hoped that he hadn't given up on me yet. I walked over to the bedroom door and banged on it then stood back. The door opened and Hunter stood there with his arms crossed. "What do you want?" He said with hostility in his voice. I looked at him and smiled.

"Please, I just want to take a shower and maybe some fresh clothes."

He stared at me for a few seconds then walked out and closed the door. "Ok," I said out loud. I went and sat back down on the bed and waited. After about ten minutes the door opened again but it wasn't Hunter that stood there.

"So you want to shower and change clothes? Well, I want you. So either I have you or you can sit here in your own filth. It's that simple." Ryker's eyes were full of hate and anger and I knew that he meant what he said. He stepped into the room and walked closer to me. What was I going to do? I can't have sex with him no matter what.

"Why do you want to sleep with me so bad? I have told you how I feel about it and you still don't respect me enough to let me be." He laughed and started to pace.

"You don't get it, Kendra. I don't give a damn about your morels. I want you to be mine and mine forever. So what's it going to be?" I just shook my head.

"I won't sleep with you. I don't love you and I never will now get out." He threw his hands up in frustration and slammed the door behind him. I heard him yell.

"No food or water for two days. Let's see how she feels after that." I guess I need to make my escape soon.

Matto's POV

It's been a week since Kendra disappeared and we still had no idea where she was. It was killing me so much that I started searching alone. I was getting ready to head out when Jace approached me. "What's going on brother? I thought you wanted us to help you but yet your going out on your own." I looked at him with an apologetic look on my face.

"I'm sorry Jace it's just I feel like I am able to concentrate better when I am alone. Honestly, though, I have no idea what to do anymore. We have searched everywhere." He looked out the sliding glass door at the city then turned back to me.

"You need to listen Matto. If she is truly meant to be your mate you should be able to sense her, feel her, hear her. Even if she has never shifted before. It's like a sixth sense that you get when you have the one." I was a little confused at first and thought he was crazy, but I was willing to try anything.

I closed my eyes and focused on her. On her smell, her laugh everything about her. I could hear her soft voice calling my name, but it was distant. She sounded hurt and alone. It was incredible that I could hear her, but it still wasn't helping me replace her. I knew she was further away than we had originally thought though. Her pain was starting to come through more and it was making me hurt. She was scared and I tried to reach out to tell her it was ok that I was coming, but I couldn't get through to her. I opened my eyes and Jace stood there patiently waiting. "She is far. Further, then we thought I could barely get a read on her. We need to go further north." He nodded and went to get Koda. I don't know why I said north it was just a feeling. Once we were ready we took the car and drove out of the city going the way I felt.

The further away from the city we got the better I could focus. We were probably about fifty miles out and all I could see was forest everywhere. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Pull over here Jace," I said. Jace stopped at the end of a dirt road in the middle of all the forest. It was definitely out of place and my feeling was getting stronger. I got out of the car followed by Jace and Koda and we started to walk up the road into the trees. Once we were far enough away from the main road I stopped and closed my eyes again. "Kendra where are you beautiful?" I said. As I focused I heard her again.

"Matto?" She sounded confused. I could tell she didn't understand what was happening. She was definitely close and I could almost smell her.

"Listen to me. I will explain everything later, but I need you to stay calm. I am coming I am close." I could sense her fear melt away.

"I am escaping now Matto. I just made it out of the house but I can hear Ryker."

I felt my anger rise and I immediately shifted and took off running towards her voice and her scent. I could hear Koda and Jace right behind me. "Keep running Kendra. I am coming." I came to a turn in the road that lead to more forest and nothing else. Where the hell is she? I stopped running and focused my energy. Just as I was about to give up I caught her scent again and this time it was mixed with panic and Ryker's scent.

"Matto!" Her panicked voice came into my head screaming for me. I took off again and this time I ran right through the trees. She was close and her fear was overwhelming me. I came to a clearing and that's when I saw her. She was lying on the ground her clothes ripped to sheds and the black wolf of Ryker was hovering over her. The closer I got to her the more I could feel her fear. Then he shifted back and grabbed her by her hair.

"I will make you mine whether you want it or not." He was completely unaware that I was right behind him. It was then that I knew what he was going to do and it made me sick.

He positioned himself over her half-naked body and she screamed out again. "Please no! Stop!" I lost it. He was going to rape her and didn’t care. His obsession was driving him crazy and I could feel it now. I lunged forward and grabbed him by his arm and dragged him off of her. He immediately shifted which caused me to lose my grip on him.

"Stay away from her you sick piece of shit." I stood in front of her guarding her with my life.

"How the hell did you replace us?" He lashed out as he stared me down.

"It's none of your business how I found you. Just know that I will always replace her." He stared me down, as I held my protective stance. I sensed Koda and Jace in the trees behind me, but I could also sense Ryker's men as well. Ryker's frustration came out.

"I don't want to do this now. I will come for her again just know that and next time I will have more back up." He turned and ran before I could get to him. Damn it. I knew he would be back, but right now I had to help Kendra. I shifted and grabbed her in my arms. She clung to my naked body as I walked with her back to the car.