CHAPTER 60
EMME
Warrick’s face filled my mind until all I could see was his handsome smile. He was one of the best entitled alphas I’d ever known, up there with Hunter. Then there was Richard, Sierra, and Marcus. The rest of the pack could have been hurt too, after they’d welcomed me into their home when I’d had no one…
“Don’t cry, Shortcake,” Kellan said softly, rubbing his hand up and down my spine. “As soon as we know it’s safe to leave, we’ll get to the Annandale pack house.
“I’ve already sent a message to the council,” Hunter called, focusing on Slalon again. “They’re sending enforcers and healers there… and here.”
When I batted at my tears, Finley caught my wrist, his touch gentler as he wiped my cheeks. “You did not do this to them,” he whispered, the rasp of his bear in his voice. “Fletcher was coming for all the pack cities, okay. You just happen to be the omega in his sight today. But eventually we were all going to suffer.” His lips brushed my cheeks. “I’m choosing to believe the Annandale pack were just knocked out.”
The soft cadence of his tone was strangely soothing, and I decided to hope for the best, despite expecting the worst. “Okay, I’m manifesting that they’re all okay too.”
My energy remained flat as I glanced around the street, noting that while a lot of shifters were watching the spectacle of the dragon, many of them had also taken off back to their homes. Thankfully, I couldn’t see any of the children any longer.
“Why aren’t the enforcers here already?” I asked, angry that we’d been alone in dealing with this attack. Again. “Surely this strong of a magical disturbance should have registered, especially since they’re usually patrolling near our street.”
Hunter’s boots hit the ground hard as he paced. “They’ve been working around the clock, so we gave them the afternoon off. I figured with this many alphas in the street, we should be safe. We didn’t anticipate it would be Jewels’ magic, which is registered and accepted in Golden Claw, to take us down.”
“She stole our fucking essence!” Kellan rumbled, sounding very un-Kellan like. “Stole it and used it to bypass any security measure we would have against her.”
“She didn’t see the super dragon coming though,” Finley added, his lips twitching. “I mean, who could have seen that coming?”
Kellan’s fury eased into a stare of contemplation. “I swear I’ve read a book where two magical beings joined together in that way. They ended up being crazy powerful and saved the world.”
We all turned to take in the giant beast, in time to see him fall down again.
“He’s a work in progress,” I said quickly, and despite the situation, even Hunter smiled at that.
“They haven’t changed back yet,” Kellan noted, still staring. “Do you think they’re having an issue with that?”
Finley laughed. He’d kept his hand against my face, thumb sweeping gently over my cheek. “It’s an issue I have a lot of experience with, and for me, Emme is the key to transitioning back. It’ll probably be the same for those two.”
I stared at the dragon, and then down at my friend. “Cora will be fine until healers arrive, right?”
Hunter nodded. “There’s nothing we can do for her. She’s trapped by her wolf, but isn’t in any immediate danger.”
I’d bet she was going through exactly what I had after I’d been stolen and forcibly bonded: her beast retreating to keep her sane.
“Then I need to help the dragons,” I said, and Hunter got straight in my face.
“Don’t even think about it,” he snapped. “You can’t keep risking your life for others. I don’t care who they are, or how important they are to us. You are all that matters, and you need to remember that without your influence, the rest of us will make sure there’re no shifters or cities left for anyone to save.”
“Correct,” Finley said, backing him up.
Kellan just stared at me with an expression so broken it was as if I’d already been cut down.
“Talon and Slade are my mates,” I reminded them. As much as I loved their all-encompassing way of loving me, on days like today it was a fucking pain in the ass. “I won’t take any risks, but I know they won’t hurt me. Think about the role I play here in our pack, the way I fit with the rest of you. I might not fight with my fists, but I’m just as essential to our survival?—”
A bellow rang out down the street, and Cora stirred. My heart soared when a beaten and bleeding Warrick stumbled toward us, pushing through the shifters still standing around.
“CORA!” he shouted again, and the anguish in that one word had my eyes burning.
Cora’s arm twitched, and I knelt beside her again. “He’s bringing her back,” I said in a rush, just so happy to see them both alive.
When he fell to her other side, his glowing eyes were locked on her face as he leaned down to press his cheek against hers. Her lashes fluttered as she rasped, “War…? Wh-what happened?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, so relieved to hear her voice, and got back to my feet to give them some space. Finley and Kellan stepped in on either side of me, Hunter at my back, and I was grateful for their strength surrounding me.
