In the back of my mind I can feel the intruder, and if I twist my thoughts enough it feels like it's nipping at my heels, warning me away.
"Kade!" I croak, sputter, and whimper all at once. Shit. I need to tell him what happened. He needs to know something is wrong. But I just can't get the words out.
Five steps. Three. One.
The jarring of our bodies colliding slams life back into me, forcing me to breathe and cling to him like I have all the strength in the world. That's what my pack does for me...they convince me I'm strong. They remind me to live. To breathe. To speak and connect.
"Baby," Kade wheezes. Without hesitation, he wraps his arms around me, swings me into his arms, and rushes back in the direction he came. "Let's go!" he shouts to Jarek and Silas who are cursing and running ahead of us.
I have no idea what their plan is but I trust them. I'm cold, worried, and exhausted. They can take control now.
Eleven
Silas
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
"I'll get the fire started," Jarek tells me, slamming to his knees in front of the hearth, not giving a shit that he's soaking Vivian's pretty rug. "Grab some blankets! There are hand warmers in the emergency kit in the car too!"
He doesn't need to tell me to grab blankets considering not a second later I'm dropping a whole ass pile beside him. The warming packets in the car are a good idea, though.
Turning on my heel, I sprint for the garage door next to the kitchen. Passing my trembling omega and panicking alpha on the way tests my ability to leave them, but I have a task. Vivie needs warmth, and damn it I'm going to provide as much of it as I can.
Rummaging through the trunk, I curse and growl at the shit that gets in my way. Too many precious seconds later, I'm rushing back through the dining area and into the living room with the entire emergency kit.
"Here!" I snap, thrusting the damn thing at Jarek because I couldn't work past my nerves to get the fucking box to open.
"Breathe," my alpha barks at me without looking. Somehow he already has the fire roaring behind him and his shirt off.How long was I fucking gone for?I need to be more prepared.
Sucking in a breath because his dominance doesn't give me a choice, I feel my heart rate calm just enough to stop my complete freak out. The last thing Vivie needs is a third person in our bond losing their absolute shit. Which is exactly what has been happening since we felt the odd chill in our souls.
Kade was the first to stiffen behind his desk, followed by Jarek, then me. A trickle of ice cold dread slithered down my spine, making me shoot right out of my chair. She felt too far away and it was as if she wasbeggingus to save her.
Fuck, the total panic that punched us in the chest and ignited our adrenaline was like nothing we had ever felt before. We didn't hesitate, just fuckingran.
When we saw her standing way out there at the edge of the woods, reaching for something in the distance, I shouted nonsensical sounds. Just a garbled fucking mess ofwhat the hell!!Kade's voice got through to her way too still form, but all that fucking did was make her fall. She fell and I wasn't there to catch her. My omega crumpled into a freezing puddle of mud and fear andI wasn't there.
When she looked up...I'm pretty sure the world fucking ripped itself from the damn solar system. Or maybe that was just my soul yanking itself from my chest.
"Vivian..." I whisper, dropping to my knees beside her sleeping form.She better just be fucking sleeping. Curled into a tight ball on Kade's lap, Jarek slowly peels the drenched clothes from her pale skin.Has she always been this pale?
They maneuver her slowly and gently which surprises me just a bit because I have rarely seen them this tense. I can practically feel their instincts riding themhard.
Once she's naked and shivering, I yank my shirt over my head in preparation to warm her up myself. Reaching forward, I grab her blue fingertips and swallow. I can't fall apart right now though. Vivie needs me.
Pulling my gaze away from her when Kade makes no move to release her, I study our pack alpha. He's one wrong move away from losing his control.
His energy and soaking wet clothes aren't helping, though. Every time I recognize his temper and strong emotions flare in the bond, Vivie curls a little tighter. He's too wired right now.
"Kade," I start, undressing completely. "Give her to me. I'll warm her up."
Kade doesn't even glance at me. "She needs to be okay."
"She will be. Body heat will help. It wasn't cold enough to give her hypothermia, and she wasn't out there long enough. Let me help," I plead.I need to help.
"No."
Jarek stiffens even further. I would be worried about his energy right now too, but he's the only one who can calm the feral in Kade.
