I nodded.
The sound of crunching glass brought my attention to the front of the department again, just in time to see Brayden Kirkpatrick disappear out of the same window his father had used.
“Like hell,” I murmured.
The sound of gunshots outside stopped abruptly and I knew that Darrell’s two officers were down. Without hesitation, I jumped to my feet and sprinted after the Kirkpatricks.
I heard Lachlan call my name but ignored it. I wouldnotlet either of the Kirkpatricks get away with what they had done. Not only had Brayden tried to force me to mate him, but, for reasons I still didn’t understand, they’d arranged for the death of my parents. I wanted to know why. Then I fully intended to kill them both.
I paused at the edge of the parking lot, inhaling deeply. Brayden’s scent was the strongest so I followed his trail. Wherever he went, his father would only be a few steps ahead.
As I followed the scent, I cursed the fact that it was broad daylight outside and we were in town. I felt exposed as I darted down the street, my eyes moving from side to side.
The trail disappeared into a copse of trees on the edge of the city limits. I glanced back for a moment but didn’t see anyone behind me. I hesitated. I knew I should wait for the others. It was the smart thing to do.
Then I remembered the horrible pain of Brayden’s bite, the way he’d touched my body as if he had every right, and I knew I wouldn’t wait. I couldn’t.
Sniffing the air one last time, I followed the trail Brayden left behind.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lachlan
Igroaned whenChloe ripped my shirt open, tiny points of fire prickling along my shoulder and chest. I saw the relief in her eyes when she realized I wasn’t gravely injured.
Then, before I could stop her, she was gone.
“Chloe! Chloe, wait! Fuck, Finn, grab her!” I yelled. “Don’t let her go alone!”
He was too late. She’d climbed out of the same window as the Kirkpatricks and she was gone.
I hauled myself to my feet, Finn appearing beside me.
“I’m sorry, Lachlan,” he apologized. “I couldn’t reach her in time.”
“Goddammit, I hate getting shot,” I gritted out through clenched teeth. “It hurts like fuck.”
Finn studied my injuries for a moment. “You’ve got a bleeder there,” he said finally. His hand moved over my shoulder and I could almost feel the energy focusing on the point where one pellet had entered my body. I grunted as it popped out of the hole. It hit the ground with a ping and rolled away.
Then I felt the heat and clenched my jaw against the pain. A few moments later it subsided. Finn waved his hand over my flesh again and I flinched as the rest of the pellets slid from my skin, the sound of them hitting the ground like rain.
“I can’t heal the rest of your wounds,” Finn stated apologetically. “There are others who need me more and I don’t want to take too much power from Kerry.”
I nodded. “I appreciate it. Tell the others I’m going after Chloe. Calder should be able to track me.”
Finn nodded and I felt his eyes watching me as I launched myself through the window and immediately found Chloe’s trail. I traced her steps through town and paused at the edge of the trees. I sniffed the air, and then crouched in order to get my nose closer to the ground. I smelled a combination of scents. Chloe, Brayden, and Brian.
My mate was out there alone with two armed wolves. I growled low in my throat and followed. The Kirkpatricks had hurt her enough. I wouldn’t allow them to do it again.
I tracked them through the woods, stopping to listen or examine a footprint.
The only warning I got of his presence was the sound of a shotgun ratcheting. I barely had time to ascertain where the sound originated before the first shot went off. I managed to dive behind a tree trunk. I could hear the pellets as they hit the trees and brush around me.
I heard the pump again and lunged behind another tree, this one larger than the last. He shot at me as I moved, but he missed again.
That was two shots. I wondered if he had reloaded after he ran from the police department. Even if he had, it was likely he only had three left. Maybe four if the gun held six shells.
Either way, I didn’t intend to get shot again. Once a decade was enough for me. There was another pump of the shotgun and I could hear him shifting around, trying to find a better position, but he was downwind of me and I couldn’t get a lock on his scent.
