“Cutting it close,” he calls.
Carla dresses faster than anyone I’ve ever seen and stands at the rear of the vehicle, arms folded across her slight frame.
“Got held up,” I respond, moving to her side and keeping a protective hand at the small of Carla’s back. “Beau, this is Carla. Carla, Beau. He’s going to drive us to safety.”
Beau’s nostrils flare slightly as we approach, and something flickers in his eyes that my bear doesn’t like. But he says nothing, just opens the back door for us.
“Get in. We need to be off Lennox territory before they realize she’s gone.”
Carla climbs in without a word, collapsing against the far door.
I slide in beside her, careful to maintain some distance. Whatever is happening to her, my proximity seems to make it worse. Maybe it’s the realization that even though she’s not locked in that dungeon anymore, she’s still surrounded by Lennox’s.
As Beau guns the engine, taking us away from everything I’ve ever known, I feel no regret. Only certainty.
This is right. She is worth it.
My bear rumbles in agreement, still watchful, still focused on the wolf beside me who refuses to look in my direction, even though her fingers stretch across the leather seat toward me, and stay there as I cover them with my massive hand.
CHAPTER 5
CARLA
My skin burns.
Every nerve ending is on fire.
The pre-heat symptoms are getting worse by the hour, and Billy’s presence only intensifies them. His scent fills the backseat of the SUV, wrapping around me, filling up my lungs and triggering reactions I can’t control.
But freedom. God, I’m free. At least, for now.
I press my forehead against the cool window glass, watching the unfamiliar forest rush past. Three weeks in that basement, and now sky, trees, and movement. It’s overwhelming. I should be giddy with relief, but all I can focus on is the fever burning through my veins, and the man sitting too close beside me.
My mate.
Who has no idea what he is to me.
“How long till we get to Grey Ridge territory?” Billy asks Beau, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. His fingers stroke mine as he leans forward to speak to his brother and he may as well be stroking my clit the way my body is reacting to him.
“About forty miles,” Beau replies, eyes flicking to me in the rearview mirror. “But there’s a problem.”
My heart stutters. He knows.
Clearing his throat, Beau tips his head toward the weather outside and frowns. Maybe he doesn’t know. “Storm’s moving in fast.”
I follow his gaze to the sky ahead. Dark clouds gather on the horizon, heavy and ominous.
Fantastic. Just what we need.
“Weather service is calling for severe conditions by evening,” Beau continues, shifting in his seat, his eyes returning to me in the mirror, expression grave.
Oh, he knows. And he knows just how bad this is.
“Will we make it before it hits?” Billy sounds tense, but I don’t think he’s realised the full extent of the issue like his brother has. His hand wraps around mine as I start to panic. He thinks I’m afraid of the storm, but that’s the least of my worries.
Beau shakes his head. “Doubtful. Already seeing the first bands moving in. Roads will be shit within the hour.”
“It’s okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Billy’s words calm my trembling body, but there’s no getting away from what’s about to happen to me.
