Page 93 of Claimed

I watch him as I pop another jellybean in my mouth.

“So, I hear this rustling,” he continues. “It was loud. Branches snapped and I swear I heard a growl. I saw a tiny bit of black fur, so obviously I’m thinking it’s a bear. A big one.”

He straightens slightly, acting it out. “So I puff up in my wolf form, go full alpha, ready to scare it off before it charges. I even growl. I was very impressive, I might add.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to smile.

“Turns out,” he says, dragging it out, “this terrifying beast… was a squirrel.”

I snort before I can stop myself, even though I knew where the story was probably headed.

“A very offended squirrel,” he adds. “And instead of running, the little demon charged me. Straight at my face like it had something to prove.”

“No!” I gasp, my hand flying up to cover my smile.

He nods, taking a sip of his water before he replies. “Yes. And I may or may not have tripped over a root trying to dodge it,” he mutters. “Ended up with all four legs in the air.”

Giggles escape me as Hunter adds, “And yes, we never let him live it down.”

I shake my head, laughter bubbling in my chest as I look at him. My ridiculous, overconfident alpha who once got taken out by a squirrel.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I chuckle. “Couldn’t you smell the difference?” He doesn’t respond, so I turn to him. He’s leaning back against the headboard, his wide eyes staring straight ahead. “Chase?” I ask, sitting up straighter as I touch his shoulder. He doesn’t move. “Hunter! I think something’s wrong with⁠—”

Turning, I cut myself off when I see Hunter in the same position. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t move,” Chase says through the bond, his voice sounding strained and weak.

“Cherry, get in the panic room, now!” Hunter yells in my head, though his voice sounds just as strange.

I start to move down the bed, my body feeling sluggish as my head whips between the two of them, unsure what’s happening.

“I don’t want to leave you like this,” I say as tears fill my eyes.

“Please, go!” Chase says, his voice getting weaker.

“Now!” Hunter adds desperately.

I nod, slipping off the bed and stumbling to my knees. It takes me a second to get to my feet, then I quickly move into my panic room, slamming the button to lock me in as tears streak down my cheek.

But nothing happens, the door doesn’t close. It doesn’t even make a noise. I hit it again, and again, and on my next attempt, it falls from its place on the wall, revealing a mess of cables.

“The wires have been cut!” I yell before bracing a hand on the door frame to steady my trembling body as I step out of my panic room. Why do I feel so weak?

I lift my head and a scream lodges itself in my throat at the sight that greets me.

Standing in my bedroom is Ezra, holding the decapitated head of his girlfriend, Juliet.

Chapter 31

Maddox

Istare at the phone for a few moments before passing it back to Bain. I hate hearing Cherry’s sad voice. Especially when it’s caused by us not being there with her. Closing my eyes, I feel her sadness, and I take a few deep breaths, trying to breathe through her pain. After a couple of minutes, it starts to ease up and I’m finally able to take in a full breath again.

“I suggest we try to bury her emotions while we deal with Jahan,” Gage says, obviously feeling the same as me. “Otherwise, it will be a distraction.”

I nod, taking a second to compartmentalize that part of my heart and push it down so I can focus on our task at hand.

“I think we need to go inside,” Gage says as our attention shifts to Jahan’s house. “We promised Cherry we’d be back tonight, and even if we left right now, it’ll be after midnight by the time we get home.”