I did the only thing I could think of.
Within seconds, I was calling my brother, my breaths panicked.
“I—” was all I could stutter out, my words quiet yet fearful. “Jackson,help.”
The line went silent for a moment, and then his voice—my big brother’s voice, always a comforting thing for me, came through. “We’re on our way.” His voice was low, a protective snarl. And I nodded, not even realizing when he hung up, as Cassie clung to me, and I to her, as the banging continued. I wouldn’t reach the window, and I couldn’t even hoist Cassie up to let her go. The ifrit would chase her down.
Together, we huddled behind another barricade of boxes.
We’re on our way.
Honeycreek was a short drive. I’d never been able to bring myself to go that far away from home, from my brother, and the memory of my parents, and the town I truly had loved before my life had gone to hell.
Terror clawed through my chest.
I thought of Jackson getting in his car, racing through the small roads—and then it hit me.We. Jackson had plenty of friends, but only one face lingered in my mind. That of his best friend’s.
That of Cassie’s father.
That of my first love.
Chapter 2 - Mason
“Nate, Carl, and Theo, you’re with me!” I roared, waving them over, as we faced down the burning building in front of us. It was once the town library, and now it was up in flames, fire licking through every window, every panel of wood, and I could only imagine how much it escalated due to the books being practically free kindling.
“Got it!” Theo called back, running over with the other two to join me.
“We’re going inside to check for survivors,” I told them. “Make sure to check every pulse.”
“And if there’s no pulse?” Nate asked, worry pinching between his pale brows.
“Then we find the ones that do and get them out first. It’s tough but necessary to ensure we save as many lives as possible.” I pitched my voice higher. “All right, let’s go! Jackson, get that pump going faster.”
“Yes, sir,” he called back.Sirhad been a mocking title back in high school when I’d started pulling rank, when my status as the pack’s future alpha had gotten to my head a little, and I’d been… well, an asshole, really. Now, I’d learned to balance that authority.
Jackson looked at me from across the front lawn of the library and nodded once. We were all ready.
“Team A, with me now,” I said, jogging to the building. I’d already wasted too much time. “Team B, you’re under Jackson!” They’d be the ones fighting the fire itself, while we entered and tried to get any collateral reduced.
I wanted everyone out of here alive.
Screams immediately echoed through the library, and I heard crashing from the floor above. Beams fell, flames licking through the wood quickly. Immediately, I was sweating in my uniform, but I pressed on.
My voice was hazy through my helmet as I began to direct. “Nate and Carl, you’re on this floor. Theo, you’re with me on the second floor. If you need anything, radio to the outside.”
“Got it,” they all chorused, and then we were off, moving as fast as our suits allowed. My pack branched out, and I could feel the anticipation and anxiety of each of them. Nate was eager to prove himself as the newest member of Honeycreek’s fire brigade, even though his brother and he had been part of my pack for years. Theo, with his insistence to take over the rescue mission, even though he knew his place.
I reached out to Jackson, who was wound tight with anticipation and worry as he did his part outside. I was already sweating inside my helmet, my face utterly soaked. But I focused on my main task:getting the survivors out of here.
Gesturing for Theo to follow me, we headed up a blazing staircase.
“Run!” I called out as a falling beam crashed onto the staircase, severing us from each other. Theo hadn’t made it in time and launched himself over the gap. He was all bulk and muscle, a brick wall of a man, and the rickety, unsteady staircase shuddered beneath his weight. I led the way to the main hallway.
“You take left, I’ll go right. Let’s be quick. In, sweep the room, out. Any survivors, just get them out the quickest, safest way.”
“Got it, Mase.”
We broke off, and I let my instincts carry me through. The wolf inside me knew where to direct me. I darted into a room that had once been where librarians held reading afternoons for the kids of Honeycreek.
