Seb let out a hearty laugh that could shake the ground, much like his bear form. “Can you imagine the look on their faces,seeing a shark in the river with them? I would have paid good money to see it.
Toby laughed along with them. “I wish I’d been there. I miss out on all the good stuff.”
As the laughter subsided, a heaviness settled in Carter’s chest. His sister was still imprisoned, and every joke felt like a betrayal. He cleared his throat, trying to shift the atmosphere.
“Thanks for coming, guys. Means the world to me.”
“Wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Max said.
“We’ve got your back, man,” Ethan replied. “Always.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Carter said, genuinely touched. “But I also can’t shake the guilt. Every second we spend here, my sister and the other shifters are suffering. We need to act fast.”
“We will,” reassured Max, his usual jovial demeanor gone, replaced by steely determination. “We’re here, and we’re not leaving until we get them out. All of them.”
But it was Ezra, the enigmatic one of the group, who brought the real weight. He leaned forward, his intensity undeniable. “We have a job to do. Every moment counts. Let’s strategize.”
His directness was no surprise. Ezra was a force of nature, and when he wanted something, he pursued it with an unmatched determination. It was impossible to miss the gravity in his words.
Carter nodded, taking a deep breath. “Alright, let’s get to work.”
After meticulously mapping out their plan, the thick blueprints and detailed sketches sprawled across the dining table were accompanied by the heaviness of anticipation in theair. Each man knew what was at stake, but no one was more invested than Carter—his sister meant everything to him, and he was determined to ensure her safety.
The soft knock at the door was unexpected, drawing the attention of all seven men. Carter’s eyes instantly softened as he recognized Emily through the frosted glass. Opening the door, he stood aside to let her come in.
“Thank God,” he said around a sigh. “You got out of there.”
She nodded. “By the time I got there, the situation had resolved itself so I didn’t need to hang around.”
“Everyone, this is Emily, my mate.” Carter’s voice was gentle, protective even and he was sure no one could have missed the level of pride in his voice as he introduced her.
Max offered her a friendly nod, his tiger-like gaze assessing. “The brave soul who’s been helping our kin. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Logan greeted with a hint of a playful smirk, “Welcome to the lion’s den.”
Emily chuckled nervously, evidently feeling the weight of all the gazes on her, and especially the curious eyes of Ezra who simply nodded in acknowledgment, a little more reserved than the others.
“I’ve brought this,” she said, handing over a sleek, black key card. “I stole it earlier. It belongs to Dr. Harrington. With it, you should have top clearance. You can use it to get through all the doors inside.”
Carter’s face lit up, taking the card. “Emily, this...this is a game changer. Thank you.”
She nodded, meeting Carter’s eyes, the two sharing an unsaid understanding. “Just promise me you’ll be safe.”
He hesitated, then whispered, “I promise.”
She took a deep breath, “I’ll be waiting at home for you.”
The atmosphere between them grew thick with emotion. Carter leaned in, their lips meeting in a desperate kiss, the weight of the coming night heavy on them both.
Seb cleared his throat, reminding them of their audience. Carter reluctantly pulled away, giving Emily’s hand one last squeeze. “We need to go now. We’ve got work to do.”
Emily nodded, eyes misty. “Good luck.”
As she left, the team immediately sprang into action, the banter from earlier replaced with a sharp focus.
“Let’s roll out,” Logan said, his wolf’s determination shining through.
The seven men, a united front, piled in two vehicles then made their way to the facility. They parked a short distance away then went the rest of the way by foot, each step echoing with purpose.
