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With adrenaline rushing into my veins, I take in my surroundings. It didn’t take much at all for me to sneak in here. Her hut isn’t protected in the least. Like her, it’s been abandoned. The anger that sweeps through me forces my knuckles to turn white as I clench my fists. It’s fucking freezing so far away from the fire and on the outskirts of the camp. The rest of the pack are tucked away in their own huts, better built and closer to the fire. I have to shut down the desire to slip into each shelter and cut their throats in their sleep. Shadow needs to suffer far more than going peacefully in his sleep. That one thought tempers my anger enough to think clearly and see through the red. This entire pack will suffer for what they’ve done.
With every step, I’m more and more cautious. I need to get her out of here as quietly and quickly as possible. I’m not sure how to approach her in a way that won’t have her screaming. I haven’t a clue if she’ll fight me or if she can sense me. Inside, my wolf howls again, but there’s no response from her. Swallowing thickly, I refuse to think of what that could mean for us. All I know is that the first thing I must do is save her.
The only question is, how?
I can’t risk waking the pack. I can’t alert them and compromise my mate’s safety. She’s on edge as it is, doing her best to hold on to any kind of composure. It’s torture to watch. Does this happens often? How many nights has she fallen asleep this way? Alone. Cold. In complete despair.
As the moon dips lower and the darkness is just right, I settle on covering her mouth until she’s calm enough to agree to be quiet. Guilt weighs heavily on me, to force her silence by holding her down. With another careful step forward, I hope she feels the pull instantly so she knows I’m her rightful mate. My heart drops with the very real possibility that she won’t. Shadow’s mark has his essence running through her. I don’t know how it will affect our bond. I have to close my eyes to repress the growing snarl in my chest. He’ll pay for what he’s done.
I breathe deep, calming myself slightly before I walk quietly to my mate. Her shoulders are steady, and her breath has evened somewhat. Her hand continues to gently rub small circles over her belly. I stare at her swollen abdomen, where his child grows, just watching her movements.
His baby.
The thought makes my nostrils flare with rage, but again I calm myself. She shouldn’t have to deal with my anger. It’s not for her; it’s only for him.
For a moment, as she seems to settle and allow sleep to take her, I consider the alternative I’d previously discarded. I thought about leaving her for only a short while to gather the rest of my pack. It would be safer if Devin and the Betas were here to help me. I’d be able to securely get her out of harm’s way before destroying this pathetic pack.
But I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. I can’t stand the fact that she could be hurt if I left her here, even for a few hours. I wouldn’t get back until the morning and anything could happen between now and then. I need to get her out of here now. Right fucking now.
Determined it’s now or never, I crouch low on the ground behind her. The sound of my jeans moving is barely audible, but it’s enough that she stirs slightly. I pause and hold my breath, afraid that any movement or noise is going to wake her. I can’t ruin this. I can’t have her scream and alert the others. There’re far too many in Shadow’s pack for me take on alone. If this goes wrong, both my mate and I will most likely die, and it’ll be entirely my fault for rushing this. The weight of my decision pushes against my chest and anxiety floods through me.
I remind myself again it’s now or never. With my resolve firm, I quickly lean over, cover her mouth, and wrap my hard, muscular arms around her upper body to limit her struggle and try to calm her by shushing into her ear. She immediately tries to scream, but my hand muffles her cries.
Fuck! Heat engulfs me as she struggles against me, and I have to keep her still without hurting her. Her strangled cry was loud enough that my wolf goes on high alert. His hackles raise. Her body lifts off the floor and bucks against me with a force I wasn’t expecting.
My mate still has fight in her. Even with my hand over her mouth, she tries again to scream, and she pushes against me with all her weight. I lay heavily against her, but my eyes are firmly focused on her belly. I can’t put my full weight on her or push against her with the force needed to keep her still. The sounds of her struggling against me and trying to scream are resonating through the small hut, and if any of the shifters are awake, I’m certain they’ll hear her.
My heart rampages as I shush her.
“Shh!” I push my bicep against her chest and firmly grab her small throat in my hand while whispering into her ear, “Quiet.” I don’t want my hold on her to be threatening, but I know it is. At my voice, she goes still and stops fighting my hold on her. With every hard thump, I can feel her heart race and her body heat with worry. My wolf whines in my chest, wanting to ensure his mate is all right. There’s no response from her or her wolf though. Only silence.
After a long moment, with her still and her eyes wide open, I slowly release my grip on her throat, and the move allows her body to relax slightly into mine. I fucking love it. I love the feel of her body against mine.
For a moment I think our bond must be calming her, hope blooms and I dare to feel relief. I loosen my hand on her mouth and the second I do, my mate, my feisty little mate, bites down on my middle finger without any restraint. Fuck! I struggle to contain the scream climbing up my throat. Her teeth sink in deeper and deeper, breaking through the skin. The rest of her body remains still with the exception of her eyes narrowing in the dark.
I twist my body slightly and curl my toes in an effort to mute my pain. My other hand grips her hip before loosening and stroking gently down her side, fighting the instinct to pry her mouth open. Through gritted teeth, I command her as quietly as possible with only the hint of my pain showing, “Let go.” I speak in monosyllables because that’s all I can manage. “You’re safe.” Her body stiffens and there’s a slight change in her demeanor. Her mouth hesitantly opens, and I yank my finger away. Trace amounts of my blood lingering on her pale lips are barely visible in the faint moonlight. Even with my eyes adjusted to the dark, I can only make out faint details of my mate.
My mate. A mate who can’t feel the pull I do. A mate who has no idea I’ve come to save her. As the seconds pass and she eyes me warily, it’s all too obvious. She doesn’t recognize me as her mate. I slowly move away from her, but she remains still, and I know it’s because she doesn’t trust me. She’s waiting for my next move.
I hover over her body so she can see me, and I offer her my hand—not the one she fucking bit. “I’m going to get you out of here.” I attempt to reassure her. “Take my hand.” At first, she merely glances at my hand and then glances at the opening to the hut. I almost beg her, the plea is on my lips, but then she moves.
She places her small palm in mine but doesn’t grip my hand at all. Her hesitation makes my wolf howl in agony. “Come.” I give the simple low command and pull her closer to the entry, but she doesn’t budge. Her feet stay planted on the dirt and her other hand holds the tattered blanket closer to her, shielding herself from me. I glance behind me when another firm tug from my hand doesn’t get her moving. Her eyes are wide and full of fear as she starts frantically shaking her head.
A low growl forms in my throat. She has to come with me. She better come with me. She’s my mate. Not his! My gut churns in pain. There’s no way she could possibly want to stay, not with the way they treat her. As I devised escape plans while waiting on the pack to sleep, I didn’t envision her resistance to leave. At least not after she realized I wasn’t a threat. I swallow the lump in my throat and move to fully face her. I part my lips in a last-ditch effort to convince her before I forcibly remove her from this shithole.
Before I can speak she barely whispers, “My niece and nephew, Addison and Reece.” I stare blankly at her, waiting for more. “I can’t leave without them.” Her wide eyes plead with me as they turn glassy with tears.
Then realization dawns on me. The pups. I nod in understanding. “Be quiet.” I stop just before leaving the hut, before I become visible, and I hesitate, thinking maybe I should leave her here while I grab the children. Just in case someone wakes. But if something happens, I need her by my side. I need to make sure she’s protected. Uneasiness rips through me.
I don’t fucking like this. It’s too dangerous. There’s too much at risk. I grasp her hand tighter and pull her closer before taking the nape of her neck in my other hand and lowering my face to hers. “Stay close.” Her beautiful hazel eyes search mine for a short moment before she nods. Our lips are so close; I desperately want to kiss her. Does she feel it now?
I want nothing more than to take her as my own. She pulls away from me before I even have a chance. My heart clenches as she stares back at me with concern and uncertainty. There aren’t any signs that she feels the pull to me, and that fucking kills both me and my wolf.
I have to remind myself that fate can be a cruel bitch, but she always has her reasons.
She brushes her arm against my back as I push my body in front of hers at the entry to the hut. It faces the rest of camp, so we would easily be seen if anyone wakes and glances outside. The night will cloak us far better in the woods. I grip her small hand in mine, not willing to let go. My jaw ticks as I slowly walk into the dark night, keeping her behind me. With every step closer into camp, rather than away, my heart pounds. I stalk slowly toward the edge of camp near the trees. My car’s parked nearly a mile away, through the forest. It’s going to be hard enough getting her through the trees without making too much noise, let alone her and two pups. I peer back, debating on stealing her away, but when her eyes catch mine, I know she will never leave them.
I’m certain I saw the pups go into a hut on the other side of this shitty camp site. They went in with a large wolf, so I know they won’t be alone. I start to weigh the risk in my head and then curse myself for even considering not taking them.
