I don’t look at him. “No.”
He doesn’t say anything more, and I don’t either. My heart is racing. This is pure recklessness. The elevator doors open, and I rush out. I make my way to the front door. I get there and put my thumb on the black box. A red light beeps, and frustration builds in my chest. I try again, and it beeps again. Panic races through me. I have no idea what we’re going to—Hunter shoves the healer into my arms and then rams his shoulder into the glass. Glass explodes, shattering and covering the ground. He grabs the healer from me and turns to run. “Are you sure you won't come with?”
I meet his eyes and commit his face to memory, even as I harden myself. “I’ll make sure no one follows you. Go!”
For one second, the mask falls, and I see the expression on his face.Devastation.That’s the only word I could use to describe it, but then it’s gone so fast. I wonder if I imagined it. Then he turns and runs. I turn around, bracing myself for the fight that’s coming. I won’t let anybody follow them or drag the healer back here. I worry about them crossing the barrier. But if he’s as fast as I think he is, he’ll be okay. The vampires won’t have enough time to send out a warning and get him. I feel a presence, and I ready myself.
Rizo stops in front of me. He eyes the mess all around me and then me. I prepare for whatever’s coming. “He took the healer.” It’s not a question, so I don’t answer. “He hurt you in the process.” I open my mouth, ready to respond, and then feel something wet on my face. I reach up and wince at the feel of the open cut on my face. It must have happened when the glass shattered. “I’m sorry, Little Lamb.”
Other vampires show up. “Go after them,” Rizo says with a flick of his wrist. I watch the near dozen of them run; there’s no way I could stop them all. I only hope Hunter had enough of a head start. “Go get your face cleaned up.”
I watch Rizo walk away, shocked. But since I’m not a glutton for punishment, I head to the elevators. They'll figure out soon enough that it was me, but I’ll take the reprieve while I can.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Hunter
I run the fastest I’ve ever run in my entire life. We are near the border, and I pray my vampire blood is potent enough to protect the healer from the blast of energy coming. I hear the sounds of vampires behind me, but I don’t look back. One comes at us from the side; I can see it with my peripheral vision. But I charge ahead and blast through the barrier. A current runs through me so strongly, my teeth ache. But I push on. I run the way we came when we first came here. I’ve never been as thankful for my vampire speed as I am right now. I still hear the sounds of vampires behind us, but I keep going, pushing hard. At some point, there’s a sort of popping sound in my ears. And then I feel the presence of my pack. Relief slams into me.Bryce,I instantly reach out.
Hunter. Man, it’s good to hear from you. We’ve been—
I cut him off.I need help.
What do you need?His voice is instantly Alpha.
I’m on the run with a healer. She’s currently unconscious. Vampires are hot on my tail. I need a rescue.
I can feel his shock through the bond, but he doesn’t waste a second.On it. What about Sherese?
Pain flares hot, but I ignore it.She stayed behind.I don’t want to have this conversation right now.Let me know what you figure out. I have to focus and get somewhere safe.
Will do.
Relief at just knowing my pack is going to help gives me the stamina to keep going. I keep running, but eventually, I run out of the forest. I find myself in a residential area. I slow my pace,not wanting to attract attention. Of course, carrying a female who looks like she’s dead isn’t helping. I find an alleyway to cut through. I let my senses expand. When I don’t hear or feel anything that gives me an indication the vampires are close, I begin to search for a place to lie low. Eventually, I find an old shed that looks like it hasn’t been used since the eighties. I pry the lock off and open the door. It’s stuffy and dirty, but it will hold us for now. I lay the healer down on the ground. I can hear her heartbeat, but it’s weak. I sit on the floor and try to get as comfortable as I can with all these old tools scattered around. It doesn’t take long for Bryce to reach back out.
Maverick’s pack is closer. They’re coming to you. It’s about a five-hour flight. They’ll let me know when they’re in the air.
Thank you.
Are you still running?He asks.
No. We’re somewhere safe, but I’m still listening for vampires.
Got it.
I feel bad pushing him away, but I’m barely hanging on to my sanity right now. If he pushes me on why I left my mate behind....It feels like a knife tears through my chest. I close my eyes and lean my head against the side of the shed. Fear for her runs through me.Would they hurt her for helping me? Why did she even bring the healer to me in the first place?The questions burrow deep, and I don’t know up from down anymore.
They're in the air. They’ll let me know when they get close, and we’ll see if we can find your location.
Can you keep me updated hourly? I don’t have any way of knowing the time.
Will do.
The hours drag by. It seems like it takes forever, but Bryce reaches out again.Where to?
I stand to my feet.Let me find an address.I let my senses sniff out any potential threats. When I don’t perceive any, I open the door and slip out. I make my way to a cross street so I can get two intersecting streets and a house number. I send it to Bryce, and he puts Leo on it. Soon, they have an address of an airfield about five miles away. I pick up the healer and start running Southwest. A few people stop me, but I tell them it’s my sister and she just drank too much. It’s not perfect, but it keeps me moving. I finally get to the airfield and to where the plane is parked. Maverick is the first one off, with his mate right behind him. She sucks in a breath. “Oh.”
Before I can move, another presence joins us. I recognize the leader of the rogue wolves. “Jackson came with,” Maverick fills in, as if I can’t see that. I can tell Mav’s not super happy about it. Jackson ignores him and stares down at the healer. I watch him carefully, wondering if maybe this healer is his mate, but he shakes his head and steps back.
