Jones recovered near instantly, plowing into me and knocking the phone from my hand as I hit the ground. There’d been no time to hear if anyone had answered, but maybe there was a chance they’d hear the struggle before Jones hung up.
I let loose a guttural scream, shouting for help as Jones came for me again. I dodged his first strike, but the second slammed into my chest, sending pain shooting through my ribs. Pushing back to my feet, I didn’t wait around, racing out the hut door while Jones hung up the phone.
The black gates were closed, barring me from the safety of the street, but I still screamed in case anyone was close enough to hear me. Alphas especially had exceptional senses.
Sprinting away from the guardhouse, I worried I was being herded into another trap, but I didn’t have many options. Harry hadn’t returned yet, and I prayed to the goddess that he wasn’t hurt thanks to this asshole’s scheme.
Heavy steps pounded behind me, and unlike my unfit ass, Jones was fast and trained. “Help!” I kept shouting, but there was no indication anyone was out and about in the compound yet.
Knowing I’d never outrun him, I reached out and yanked hard on a low hanging branch, breaking it off and spinning to smash the limb against Jones, who’d been right behind me.
The beta shifter flew back, and I was proud of myself for landing a solid shot. It wasn’t enough to do any real damage, but it would give me a couple of minutes head start while he healed.
Changing directions, I raced back to the guard booth and the phone that remained my best chance of survival. I couldn’t outrun this shifter, and the compound was far enough from town that I’d never make it to anyone else anyway.
I panic-gasped when the booth came into view, my screams dying off as I gave this new plan my entire focus. When I raced inside, I slammed the door closed and flipped the lock. Propping a chair under the handle, I grabbed the receiver again and hit the house number. It rang in my ear, and I pressed myself against the door, bracing my feet on the nearby table.
“Come on, pick up. Come on, alphas. Come on. Pick up the fucking phone.”
A heavy weight slammed against the door, almost shooting me across the room. Bracing myself again, I prepared for the next hit, my legs aching from the first impact.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
It was a continuous chant in my mind as a second hit splintered the door. Solid as it was, it would only take one or two more hits before Jones made it inside.
This was my last chance.
No one was answering.
The one time I needed my pack, and they were nowhere to be seen.
Jones’ scent grew stronger, and I barely choked back a sob as I looked for a weapon. He had a gun, which thankfully he hadn’t used yet. I had to assume I was worth more alive than dead, which wouldn’t remotely help me out of this situation.
There was nothing in the damn hut except a stapler.
Clutching the phone like a lifeline, I prepared for the final hit, as a roar thundered through the room. It was so strong that the foundation shook, and I had no idea what was coming or if I’d survive the fallout.
Please. Don’t let me lose everything. I’m not ready.
Chapter
Thirty-Five
The guardhouse rattled so severely that I wondered if an earthquake had struck right when I needed it to, before remembering that would never be my luck. Nope. It was more likely Jones’ backup.
Or… it was mine.
Goddess. Please be mine.
For the first time, I had a pack behind me, and even though we weren’t on the best of terms, they had made it clear that for the time being I was Reeves’ property.
They wouldn’t take my attempted abduction lightly.
There were no more hits to the door from Jones, and needing to know what was happening, I removed the chair and unlocked what remained of the reinforced door. When I stepped outside, the shaking intensified, and I slowly rounded the corner of the hut to find the gate was open.
Wait…it wasn’t open. It’d been torn from its hinges, the metal lying in tangled heaps with two wolves holding Jones down in the wreckage. Relief hit me hard and fast as my legs weakened.Hunter and Kellan.
Their black and tanned coats were sprinkled with blood and rain as they tore into the beta shifter, and by the time I racedover to them, there was nothing besides a few scraps of blood and bone left.
