The Price They Paid: Imprinted Mates Series

the—”
“She was trying to get away from someone who was trying to cause her harm.” Alice’s protectiveness kicked in. I was grateful for it since I couldn’t speak for myself.
“He was nowhere to be found after the accident. Ms. Everett is facing several charges unless we find some eye witnesses, or Mr. Sims.”
Adrenaline made me want to shoot out of bed and convince him that he had everything all wrong. What about the drug the guy had slipped into my drink? Why weren’t they putting any charges on him? I was gripping my hands into fists so tightly that I knew my fingernails were drawing blood. I was the victim! Me!
“Ms. Everett is in a coma. She’s trying to heal. When she awakens, I’ll make sure to let one of your men know. They stand outside that door like she’s going to walk out of here at any moment!” The agitation was apparent in her voice.
There were cops outside my hospital room? I didn’t want to go to jail, and it didn’t really sound like this detective or cop wanted to hear my side of the story. The fact that I was already facing charges when I hadn’t opened my mouth infuriated me.
“We will do what is necessary. Justice has to be served one way or another.” His clipped tone was like nails on a chalk board, and I wanted to claw his throat out for the way that he spoke to Alice. The way he dismissed my case as if I was already guilty was the final straw. My anger festered into something beyond my control, and pain filled my entire body.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Davis.” Alice was speaking quickly with concern lacing her words. Silence stretched on and then I heard the door close.
My anger was so out of control that the pain only grew worse as my body seemed to be caving in on itself.
“Shit!” I felt a pin prick at my shoulder, but it seemed to only dull the pain.
“You need to get here now, Alec, and fast! I don’t care what they told you. Seuss said that you were on standby if I needed you, and I do!”
I felt another pin prick, and the racing thoughts seemed to slow.
“What did you think was so important …” The new voice echoed through the room. I remembered hearing it at the accident, but now he was speaking so slowly that he was beginning to sound demonic.
“We need to get her back to the house before it’s too late,” Alice said. Well, I think it was Alice. Her voice was distorted as well.
I had the sudden desire for a turkey sandwich before everything turned black, and I began to float through space. What was in those meds?
“Wake up, little vixen.” The voice nagged at me until I fought my way through the deep sleep into the brightly lit room.
The room was unfamiliar, yet it smelled like home. Amber cognac and an earthy fragrance assaulted my senses in the best of ways. I stretched out and buried my face into the pillow. Mine. I wanted him … whatever he was. That scent was the same one I’d been chasing for years, and now that it was here, I wasn’t going to let it go. I rolled over, but it was a struggle. The medicine made my muscles feel heavy.
I rolled to the edge of the bed to stand. Red blurred past me as I moved to catch my balance, but I lost that battle. I hit the floor hard and growled at the blanket that was wrapped around my body. I had to find that scent. I reached for the sheet and …
I pulled my arms back to look at the red hair covering them. Big paws moved in the air as I tried to shake off the arm warmers that they’d put on me. I couldn’t get to the seam or tell where the suit ended or began. Was it Halloween already? I clawed at the sheet that kept me attached to the bed that I couldn’t seem to free myself from.
Sharp claws shredded the blanket easily. I moved over the floor trying to get the suit off until I rolled in front of the mirror across the room. What I saw only made me jump backwards, sending me headfirst into the bed.
A loud roar erupted from my mouth while I rubbed at the pain in my head. The door to the room swung open and Alice walked in.
“Oh dear, she’s awake!” she shouted.
Footsteps pounded up the steps, and I squinted at the huge man staring at me. Where am I?
“Justice, I’m Maddox. I just need you to shift back into your human form so that we can discuss things.”
I moved toward him and fell to the floor. This coordination …
“Oh, the gods… I don’t think she’s ever shifted before,” Alice said.
“She’s an adult female. How is it that she’s never shifted?” Maddox mumbled.
I growled at him, and he took a step back. “Okay … maybe she hasn’t.”
I sniffed the air and moved around in circles trying to find that scent. It seemed to be all around me, but the source was undefined. Where was it coming from? It was driving me crazy, and the lack of answers pissed me off. I charged for Maddox, and he and Alice backed out of the room. I stumbled over my legs until I crashed into the closed door. I hissed and then growled some more.
“Shift, Justice,” Maddox said firmly.
I chuffed. I wasn’t taking orders from him. Where was the god that smelled like a walking orgasm? He smelled even better than I remembered. Or rather, I hoped it was a man.
“Maybe we should let her into Seuss’ room,” Alice said.
I whined. I wanted to find that smell.
“Alec, can you bring Augusto up here?” Maddox asked.
Was he the one that smelled of deliciousness? I sat down and tried to take off the stupid suit. The more I tried, the more