But the alpha who charges past me, his teeth bared in fury, is the last person I expected to see.
Rogue Winter whips out his hand, grabbing Elliot by the neck and slamming him to the floor. The tyres of the van squeal as they drive off, leaving him to it. Gasping, I curl myself tighter around the trash can, clinging on as voices reach me.
“Gabrielle!”
I jerk, my head snapping towards Cade. Then I’m untangling myself with a shuddering sob, trying to get to my feet as he reaches me, his hands cupping my face and running panicked hands down my arms, checking for injuries.
“Cade.”
His arms wrap around me, lifting my torn up feet from the ground.
“I thought we lost you,” he says frantically, his eyes still looking over me. “Sweetheart, your feet—,”
“I’m sorry,” I gasp, needing to get it out. “I’m sorry I ran. Hudson – I made a scene in the restaurant and I couldn’t…”
Cade presses his lips together, his blue eyes warmer than I’ve ever seen them. “None of us care about that,” he says, tucking me in closer to him. “How many times do we have to tell you? All we care about is you. Everything else is just background noise, sweetheart.”
Shuddering, I bury my nose into his chest. My muscles relax, the tension leaking out of them as I breathe him in.
“Gabrielle?”
I lift my head at the voice behind us. Rogue stands a respectful distance away, his eyes averted.
“Are you alright?” he asks roughly.
Swallowing, I nod. “I… I’m okay.”
As I say it, my body starts to shake. My shoulder burns a little, and there’s a pain in my ankle that tells me it’s definitely twisted. My scalp burns from where he yanked my hair so hard, I’m fairly sure I might have a bald patch or three.
Cade pulls me impossibly closer, tucking himself around me protectively. “We need to get you to a doctor.”
I shake my head, biting back the pain. “No doctors. I just want to go home, Cade. Please.”
He searches my face skeptically, but he nods. “We’ll take a look at you at home.”
Summoning the last remaining shred of courage left in my stomach, I look to Rogue. “Thank you.”
He dips his head. “You don’t need to thank me for this.”
“That’s twice now.”
“Let’s not make it a habit.” Rogue’s mouth twitches, just the slightest bit. “I’ll call the authorities, get this piece of crap taken care of. Will you let my pack know? Harper will be worried.”
As Cade nods, I glance towards Elliot, who’s starting to stir from the sucker punch Rogue gave him. My hands tighten around Cade’s neck. “Put me down for a minute?”
Reluctantly, he lets me slide down his body, his hands gently gripping my hips as I catch my balance. Then I make my way over to Elliot, snatching up my heel on the way.
The scream he makes when I smash it into his dick is the most satisfying sound I’ve ever heard.
Rogue and Cade both look at me, slightly wide-eyed, when I make my way back to them. Cade catches me, pulling me into him as I nestle in.
“Now we can go home.”
ChapterForty-Five
Nate
Iwake up with a start, my chest thundering as I glance down at the sleeping omega beside me. Gabrielle stirs, a sleepy grumble furrowing her brow as she rolls over into Hudson, nudging into him as his arm wraps around her. Cade is on Hudson’s other side, Axel’s light breathing behind me telling me everyone is fast asleep.
