The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 72

DRAKE

Amir leaves the room. I move back slightly, my eyes staring back at my lost mate, who I thought was dead.

Anya looks at me, but her eyes are sad.

“My mate,” blurts my wolf in my head.

I move towards Anya, but she shakes in fear.

I stop.

What the hell have they done to her?

“Anya,” I whisper.

She looks at me, but her eyes are dull, and only now do I notice she is wearing rags. She looks like she hasn’t showered in ages.

“Drake,” she says softly, “Is that you?”

I nod.

I walk towards her but stand before her; I want to touch her, but she still shakes. But she looks at me, her eyes never leave mine.

“What happened to you?” I ask her.

“I was going to ask you the same thing, too,” she says as she cocks her head to the side. What is she looking... Ah, my eye! Izzy gave me one hell of a scar through my eye.

“Don’t worry about me,” I said. “Please tell me about what happened to you.”

She looks at me for a moment but looks to the floor. “Michael took me away; he stabbed me. He took enough blood to make it look like they killed me. He held me away in a house somewhere far from here. I was on my own for a while. They chained me up to the middle of the room, only be able to go to certain rooms, but Amir came to the house and looked after me, but...” she says and looks up at me.

A growl slipped out of my mouth while she talked, but I didn’t realize how loud it was until she stopped talking.

“I’m sorry, Anya,” I say, trying to calm myself and my wolf down.

“Don’t trust Amir,” she mumbles.

I look at her, confused. “Why?”

She looks at me but places her hand on my arms, making the mate bond spike. It felt like we had never been apart. All I wanted to was take her and bend her over, but I needed to know what happened to her.

“Amir, he has many more followers,” she says, looking towards the door. “He got more witches on his side and even has a second mate. He always used the house I was in to mate with her.”

I scrunch my eyebrows together. “I thought Helga was his mate,” I said, but Anya shook her head. “No, she was never his mate. He wanted her as she was dabbling in dark magic. Nel is his true mate. They have a son who is in hiding.”

Anya looks at me. “I have missed you so much, my love,” she says as she places her hand on my cheek, which smooths over the bottom of the scar; I close my eyes.

I sigh and open them back up to stare down at her.

“Amir has his agenda with that panther. I overheard loads and Drake,” she says as she stares at me. “I know what he is planning; he is planning to take out the whole shifter population, including werewolves.”

“You sure,” I say with a grim look, “The elder won’t like...” I say, but Anya shakes more at the mention of the elder. “The elder,” she says. “He is not still alive.”

I look back at her. There is fear in her eyes.

What the hell did that old fool do to my mate?

“Drake, the elder, put the hit on me,” she says. “He told Michael to kill me. You never needed me.”

I stare back at her. What the fuck?

Anya looks back at me but moves away slightly and lifts her top to reveal scars all over her stomach.

My eyes go wide at the sight of her. “What the hell?” I ask.

“When Michael returned with me to the house he kept me in, the elder was angry. He made every wolf who came in to take turns with me and hurt me all over,” she says.

I look at her.

My wolf is pissed. He wants the elder’s head on a platter right now.

“Drake, but there is something else,” she says as she touches my hand and pulls me closer to her to the couch. “Blake did nothing with this,” she says. “I met him one day. He promised to help, but Michael was lying in the shadows, waiting for us to finish. He never hurt me. He was going to help me.”

I look back at her.

My emotions are everywhere; my mate is alive. The elder tortured her with the other wolves, but Amir is working against us.

“Anya,” I say quietly and look back at the door, then back at her, “We need to get you out of...” but she shakes her head. “We wait. They want you to get more rogues. Wait till then. Drake,” she says as she stands before me, “I want you to take me.”

I move quickly and place my lips on hers. I didn’t need an invitation, but all I want now is my mate. I have missed her so much. I haven’t been with anyone other than her—she’s mine.

I kiss her hard. Her hands shake as she wraps her arms around my neck. I lift her, and her legs instantly wrap around my waist. I can feel her wetness through the thin material she has on her legs.

“I want you,” she says quietly against my mouth.

I move to the couch and lay her down while I hoover her; I remove my lips from her. “I want you…” I say, but she places her finger on my lips, “Just take me, Drake. I want my mate.”

I rip her clothes off her. I know it will be quick, as it’s been so long, but I need her. I push my trousers and boxers down my legs and spread her legs wide as I place my cock at her entrance. I slide in, and we both moan out loud.

Fuck, I need her.

I can feel her pussy clench around my cock as soon as I push in. I move in and out of her. She moans for more; I pick up the pace.

I pound in and out of her hard and fast; all you can hear in the room is slapping skin, our moans, and grunts as I take her hard.

But I can feel myself about to come as my cock throbs. “Anya,” I grunt, “I’m going to come.”

Anya moans louder as I pound even more into her, but she moans as her pussy clenched around my cock and moaned my name out. “Drake,” which is my undoing. I come inside with one hard thrust, and loads shoot into her pussy.

We both pant hard and breathlessly.

I slip out of her and pull her up, placing her on me as I sit on the couch with Anya in my arms.

“I think I should take you to the pack,” I whisper. “They can protect you more than I can.”

Anya looks up and stares at my face. “Why would you take me to the pack? They will kill you.”

I know Blake will, but I hope once he sees Anya, he may help more. I know Izzy wouldn’t do anything for me after everything I did to her and her family. I know I was part of the hunters chasing her.

“What are you thinking about Drake?” Anya asks as she leans on her arm to look at me.

“I know the panther is at the pack; you can tell her everything you just told me,” I said. “She may even agree to talk to me. I hurt her and her family for the last five years, but I want to make sure you are safe and away from here.” I smile.

“I want you with me,” she says in a pleading voice.

“I know, I will try, but it all depends on Blake and Izzy,” I say, but I know I have to make sure she is out of sight of the elder; I need to protect her.

My mind was made up. Tomorrow, I will say I’m leaving to look for more rogues to help the vampires, even take Anya with me. But I will take her to the pack land for her to walk. I will even hide and wait for word, but also, I know I might have to fight from the inside of this whole thing.

Anya’s hand comes to my face, which takes me out of my thoughts, and I look at her. “Drake,” she says.

But I stop her as I place my finger on her lips. “No talking. We have much making up to do,” I say as I make her sit on me. “I want you all night.”

She leans down and takes my lips once again.

I had to lie to Anya when she goes to the pack lands, as I need to do this. I will send her to Blake. I know I have done him wrong, but I need him to watch her. I hope Anya can persuade them.

I need to focus on my mate now. I need her.

We made love four more times that night.

I loved hearing her scream my name as I made her come in different positions.