Taken: The Viking Werewolf's Concubine: Taken: The Viking Werewolf's Concubine, #7

By Desiree Broussard

Mated and soon to be discarded, Briony is terrified of what her future holds for her on the savage werewolf world of Scorched. The vampires have collected her fellow concubines, they are demanding her as well, and the only person standing between her and them is Rolf, her werewolf mate. With no allies and her mate on the verge of replacing her with a purebred after he takes control of the planet, Briony knows his protection is limited at best. When an unexpected opportunity turns up for her to flee Scorched and return back to Earth, Briony has to make a life-altering decision: give up her freedom or give up Rolf.

 

This is not a standalone book. This series is completed, and all of the books are available to purchase for your reading pleasure! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Desiree Broussard
• Release date: Jan 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201361143

Book preview

Chapter 1

LIGHT.

Blinding yellow light.

It was all Briony could see when she fell back on the sand, every inch of her body throbbing with pain. She felt weak; her energy sapped. She'd fought Astrid until she couldn't fight anymore.

Get up, Briony, a woman's voice said. Get up now before it's too late! Sometimes in life, we have to accept defeat. However, this isn't one of those times. Not for you. Not now.

Grandmother? Briony whispered, delirious from pain.

Get up, Briony, the voice insisted. Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up and fight for your life. It's rightfully yours. Now take it.

Cruel fingers dug into her arm as Astrid laughed. You're a crazy one, aren't you? Over here talking to yourself, just one step away from death. You're weak, she hissed while Briony forced herself to open her eyes. You're not worthy enough to be a mate to any of our men. You never will be. No mortal is.

Astrid was covered in blood, sweat, and sand, but she didn't look tired at all. Throughout their ferocious fight, her wolf had regenerated her. Briony had known all along that the odds were stacked against her. While Briony was mortal and would weary with time, Astrid would always have a source of supernatural energy to renew and heal her.

Why? Briony hoarsely asked. Why are you doing this? Her throat was dry and swollen, making it agonizing to speak.

Astrid released her to wind up her whip and put it back on her hip. She then smirked down at Briony's prone body and said, I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell you. It's not like you'll live long enough to tell anyone else. We're a secret society of women, she explained in a louder voice, gesturing toward the hooded figures who watched. Women who are against our men looking elsewhere for mates. We're tired of being discarded and tired of the disrespect. Our men treat us like we're not worthy of them. They despise us because of our strength. So they got it up to go to Earth and mate the women from your planet because you're weaker than we are. It's disgusting. They only did it because they wanted women who wouldn't have the strength to keep them in line. But instead of admitting this, they blame us. They blame our wombs. Well, we're not going to take it. Not anymore.

Briony gaped at her in disbelief. What do we have to do with this, though? We didn't ask to be brought here. We don't want to be here. We don't want your men, Briony paused. Since mating Rolf, that wasn't entirely the truth. She wanted him more than she'd ever wanted anything. Period. However, she forced the thought away and continued, You already know the truth. So instead of killing me, why don't you find a way to send me back?

Her words hung in the air. Astrid was silent for a moment as she seemed to consider them. Then she shook her head and hissed, If we sent you back, eventually they would find out. We'd be punished. Besides, it would only be a temporary solution. They'd either bring you back or simply find more women.

They will anyhow, Briony croaked. When you're done killing me and the others, they will just go and get more.

I'm sure they will, Astrid agreed as she sank back down on her feet next to Briony's body. And we'll kill those women, too. Even though our men are unintelligent and stupid, eventually they'll get the message and give up. She gave a short bark of laughter and added, Or maybe they'll give up because they are stupid and unintelligent. You know, a man doesn't need too many options when it comes to women. It goes to their heads. They stop appreciating them as a whole, and with time, they're never satisfied with what they got. In this case, the majority of them are no longer interested in us. Not when they believe they can have one of you... to own, dominate, and serve them as they please.

I understand where you're coming from, Briony said, mustering as much sincerity as she could. So I ask you again to please spare our lives and figure out another way to get what you want. If you feel that sending us back to Earth wouldn't help, find another solution. But don't sacrifice innocent lives. It's wrong.

Astrid's fingers were twitching with tension. Briony knew she didn't have long.

Oh, shut up, Astrid shrieked, her veins bulging in her neck. I'm getting tired of hearing you talk.

She looked past Briony's prone body, to the others who stood watching and waiting. It's time to prepare this thrall to be sacrificed, she yelled, lifting her fist into the air and pumping it. With her death, we'll be one step closer to victory! The hooded figures cheered in delight. The entire lot of them were bloodthirsty and eager to kill.

Lowering her voice, Astrid smugly explained, Since you seem to like the Viking ways so much, we decided you should die like one, too.

The time for talking was done. Briony reacted to her words by grabbing the dagger at Astrid's hip, and with one quick turn of her wrist, she embedded it into the other woman's side, down to the hilt. Astrid screamed, then she grabbed for Briony's hand to tear it away from her body, knife and all.

You stupid, stupid bitch, she spat, her pretty face red and not quite human as she ignored the blood running down her side. Then she yanked Briony up and backhanded her, putting every ounce of her supernatural strength into it. Had it not been for their positions, the blow would have beheaded Briony. As it was, her view of Astrid's face turned to darkness.

Thank God this is over, Briony slowly thought to herself as she welcomed oblivion.

THE SUN WAS BEGINNING to set as Rolf made his way back home. He was tired and hungry and wanted to rest. The tension was building on Scorched. Spending his days with Adolf was hell. He just wanted it to all be over.

He slowed down, thinking about his predicament.

Soon, it will be over.

But when it ends, so will my life with Briony.

Rolf stepped onto his walkway, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. Gaius watched him approach, a disgruntled expression on his face. About time you made it home, he called out to Rolf in a surly voice.

How was your day? Rolf asked, pleasantly.

Boring as hell, Gaius retorted. I'm not sure if this is working or being punished.

Rolf grinned, finding