Page 64 of Broken

Cole gritted his teeth, focusing on Ireland, on his brother, on his pack. He had to come through for them.

The magic began to flow again, as he tried to shut out the memories, tried not to think of Ireland seeing them.

Slowly, slowly, they built up the patch in the wards until it was complete. The Fae and the Retrievers were still attacking it, but hopefully it would hold.

Ireland was shaking. Cole held her, hearing the gate defenders reporting the success to Gunn. Gunn said, “Boomer’s Brother. Good work. Ready for transfer to Rec Hall?”

Cole felt Ireland give a nod. He was churning with a strange, sick energy, as if his body was a wave machine and all those memories and emotions he’d let loose were sweeping back and forth inside him, throwing him off balance. He could feel his wolf just under his skin, about to bust out.

Not now, he said. For fuck’s sake, keep it together!

Through the comms he heard Rex’s voice. “Perimeter breach! We need the Tinkerbell Twins NOW!”

“Ready,” he said through stiff lips. “Lay down cover.”

Alpha Squad, led by Sanchez, streamed over to surround them, carrying combat shields. “Let’s go,” he said.

They headed off for the Rec Hall, Alpha Squad between them and the battle. Even though they were getting farther from the gate all the time, Cole still hated being out in the open ground in the center of the valley.

He felt that prickle on the back of his neck, as if he were being watched. Had something somehow slipped through one of the breaches, or made another one the defenders hadn’t seen? But where?

He looked up just as a dark creature appeared in the sky overhead. Some kind of flying bat-monster, with a Retriever on its back.