Sean.

Cold sweat broke out behind my knees as I sidestepped to my right, out of the blinding glare. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I made out his face, confirming the identity his scent had already given me. Sean had a rather prominent nose and short, light brown hair, crowning a slender build that almost made him look frail. But he was a tomcat, and no cat was frail. Sean could probably throw your average muscle-bound creep through the wal and into the next room, and the creep wouldn’t realize his mistake until he was already airborne.

I realized my mistake. I just didn’t know how to fix it. Unless…

My mind raced as an ambitious idea took shape. I glanced around without moving my head, searching discreetly for any sign of his accomplices. If Sean was alone, I was certain I could take him down by myself. Surely then my father would realize I didn’t need to be protected—or confined. I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Except for Sean.

“I don’t suppose you’re here to turn yourself in?” I said, keeping him in sight as I backed slowly toward the front wal of the barn. My voice sounded obscenely loud to me in the predawn hush.

If Sean was worried about anyone hearing me, he gave no sign. Nor did he smile. He just shook his head slowly, firmly. “I’m sorry, Faythe,” he said final y, confirming my suspicion. He had come for me. And from the look in his eyes, I could almost believe he actually was sorry. So why risk coming into Alpha territory—onto my father’s private property, no less? He had to know he didn’t stand a chance.

“The guys are on their way,” I said, glancing around again as I wiped my sweaty hands on the tail of Marc’s shirt.

Sean shook his head again, a small smile playing on his thin lips. “No they aren’t. Greg would never let you out alone in the middle of the night.” His eyes flicked to my feet. “And barefoot, at that. They don’t even know you’re gone yet.”

Damn. He’d cal ed my bluff.

I took another shuffle-step back, my feet sliding across the gritty dirt. “You were watching the ranch,” I said, realizing I was right even as I spoke. “Where from?” Each minute I could keep him talking would increase the chances of Marc waking to find me gone.

Sean tossed his head toward the road without ever taking his eyes from me.

Smart. “The woods across from your front gate.”

I blinked at him, my face blank with confusion. He was lying. He had to be.

How could a houseful of Alphas not have known the enemy was at the gate—literal y? “How long?” I clenched my hands into fists, preparing to fight as adrenaline flooded my veins, bringing with it a sense of panicked determination.

He grinned, clearly proud of himself for evading the entire council. “Less than an hour.”

Oh. That’s how. He’d arrived after the other Alphas left for their hotel and we’d al gone to bed, some of us sleeping off massive amounts of alcohol. I guess patrolling our own property hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.

My heart thumped painfully as self-doubt chipped at my confidence, wearing away my plan until there was nothing left of it but a foolish impulse. Would anyone hear me scream? I wondered, wishing I could see the main house from my position. Anyone awake would hear me easily, but I wasn’t sure about those sleeping soundly, as everyone surely was.

Sean shifted against the gril e, settling one red sneaker on the front bumper.

He propped both elbows on the hood behind him, and my eyes checked automatical y for dents in Jace’s new car. “This was supposed to be reconnaissance, strictly look-and-listen. But then you pulled up to the gate, right in plain sight, and he couldn’t resist taking a shot at the grand prize.” Sean shook his head as if he were disappointed in me. “You could have at least made him work for it.”

“Him?” I asked, already dreading the answer. And too late, I realized what he was doing. Sean was the diversion. He was keeping my attention focused on him, and away from what real y mattered.

The answer to my question came from behind me, the barest whisper of a hard sole on packed dirt. “Buenos días.”

My heart lurched, and the first flood of true fear washed through me, tingling and scalding at the same time. He was so close his breath stirred my hair, but he hadn’t been there a second ago. I would have sworn to it.

And the scent was wrong. Close, but wrong. This was definitely a jungle stray, but not the one I’d fought the other night.

Pain pricked my bare thigh, and my breath caught in my throat. The tranquilizer burned as it invaded my system. A hand clamped over my mouth, cutting off my scream before it even began. Terror unfurled in my stomach and I battled nausea, determined not to choke on my own vomit.

I half turned and caught a glimpse of strong Hispanic features similar to Marc’s, except for the savage gleam in the stranger’s eyes. Then he swung me back around, his other arm encircling my waist, pressing my back into his chest. All I could see then was the hood of Jace’s Pathfinder, where Sean no longer leaned.

Giving in to panic, I clawed at the hand over my mouth, confused when my nails wouldn’t sink into his flesh. With my next breath I smel ed rubber and understood: he wore long, thick gloves. He’d come prepared. And in that moment, I realized how desperate my plight had become; I’d put myself at the mercy of my greatest fear. Just when I thought I’d reached the pinnacle of bad judgment, I’d surprised myself again.

Eyes wide with terror, I glimpsed movement ahead and to my left: a car door swinging open. My captor lifted me off the ground, carrying me ahead of him as I struggled. I kicked at his legs, stil clawing at the gloves. But before he’d even reached the car, the tranquilizer began to take effect. My arms grew heavy and dropped to my sides. My legs hung limp. I could do nothing to stop him from stuffing me into Jace’s car.