Page 106 of Healer’s Betrayal

I take a breath and look at Jade. “You ready?”

She nods, her eyes large. But there’s a steadiness in her gaze, and I know she’ll fight with everything she’s got to get out of here. “Let’s go,” I say.

Jackson releases Alicia and steps back. He grabs my hand. “Let’s get out of here. Stay together. Hunter and I will shift if we need to.” He meets the eyes of everyone in our little group. “Everyone’s getting out of here today. Alive.” I nod as I take a deep breath. “I’ll take the lead; Hunter, you take the back.”

I half expect Hunter to argue, but he nods. He and Jackson exchange a look, and I’m not really sure what it means other than to keep an eye on Alicia. I got that much. “Let’s go.” Jackson tugs my hand, and I step right up behind him. He pauses at the door, and I know he’s listening. He nods and opens the door. Then we’re running. The next few minutes are a blur. Vampires come at us, and Jackson and Hunter both shift and take them down. It’s a lot of stop and go, but we finally make it to the front doors.

“Alicia, get us out of here,” Sherese says as we approach the doors. Hunter and Jackson are in wolf form, but they both growl at Alicia when Sherese gives the order.

Alicia wastes no time putting in the code. She opens the door and turns to us. “Have at it.”

“You’re coming with us,” I tell her. Her eyes widen in shock, and she steps back.

“No, I’m—”

“Yes, you are.” I leave no room for argument in my voice.

Sherese jumps in. “You’re going to get us across that boundary, Alicia.” There’s a vehemence to her words that’s backed up with a growl from Hunter, who appears at Sherese’s side.

Alicia shakes her head, laughing. “Fine. It’s your funerals.” Then she turns and takes off. Jackson’s wolf races after her, and we follow. Hunter and Sherese are much faster than Jade and me, but I wave them ahead.

“Go!”

Jackson’s wolf circles back and runs at my side, taking down any vampires as we run. There’s suddenly a sound behind us that shakes the ground. I make the mistake of turning back. My heart drops to my toes. “Run!” I shout. It’s the guys that they’ve had chained up. I know by the redness in their eyes.

Jackson moves to the rear, but it’s already too late. They’re on us in a flash. Jackson and Hunter meet them midair, and it’s a battle instantly. “We have to get to the border!” Sherese shouts. I grab Jade’s hand because she looks to be in shock and yank hard.

“Run!”

We take off, but we only make it a few steps before one of the creatures attacks. He appears in front of us suddenly. Sherese stumbles backwards, and he goes after her. “No!” I shout and run at him, but he flings me off like I’m a bug. I hit the ground hard, stunned a moment, before I get back up and run back. But before I get there, a raging wolf tears his head from his body and tosses it to the side. Hunter’s wolf.

Jade stumbles in shock, and I grab her hand once again. I half-drag her with me as we run. Another guy with red eyes appears in front of us suddenly. We scream and stumble back. He launches at us, but a large reddish-brown wolf meets it in the air. A second head hits the ground, and we run once again. More vampires converge, and it’s a bloody battle. Jade, Sherese, and I keep trying to get around the battle. But every time, another vampire or one of those red-eyed creatures stops us. Hunter and Jackson are keeping them away from us; but I wonder for how long. And then one of those creatures jumps in front of me. I move backwards, but it leaps at me and shifts into a wolf midair. I scream and throw an arm up, knowing it will do absolutely nothing. It hits me with the force of a mack truck and we crash into the ground. The air is knocked from my lungs, and its teeth snap at me. I use both hands to push his jaw away, but I’m not strong enough to hold it off. Then Jackson's wolf plows into it, throwing it off me. Seconds later, Jackson is in human form and hauls me to my feet; and then we’re running. Without breaking stride, he reaches down and lifts me. I feel something as we break through some kind of barrier; I can feel it on my skin. It doesn’t hurt exactly, but it’s not pleasant. Jackson runs a little further and then sets me on my feet. “Are you hurt?” His eyes are on mine, and they’re the brightest blue I’ve ever seen.

“I’m okay,” I manage to get out. “You?”

“I’ve got to go back for the others.” He looks behind me. “Your life for hers.” He’s gone before I even see who he’s talking to. I whirl around after he disappears and take in Garrett and Max.

Garrett approaches me. His eyes are dark and dangerous. “Tell me what’s going on on the other side of the barrier; we can’t get through.”

“Why not?” I ask.

“I’m not sure. I’ve gotten through before, but they’ve changed it somehow. My guess would be that only anybody with vampire in them can get through now.”

I frown. “Jackson and I don’t have any, and we got through.” I’m still trying to piece through why they’re on this side of the barrier when we so obviously need them on the other side.

“I’m sure Jackson still has at least a small amount of vampire in him from when he was in their facility, and that’s how he gets across. And because he was touching you, you got across,” Garret says gruffly.

Just then, Jackson appears with Jade in his arms. I hurry over to them. “Is she okay?”

“I’m fine,” she rasps out. “Stupid vampires.” He sets her down and meets my eyes only for a second before turning. I know he’s going back.

“Jackson, wait.”

He turns back, and I close the distance between us. “Can you bring Alicia?” I keep my voice soft, but I have no doubt Garrett and Max can hear me.

His eyes search mine, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply nods, and then he’s gone. I watch him go, my heart in my throat. Hunter and Sherese burst through the barrier, and Sherese stumbles. Hunter catches her and moves further away from the barrier. He sets her down and crouches in front of her. Fear for the woman that risked everything to save us rises, and I walk over to them. “Sherese, are you okay?” I ask softly. She has her head down on her knees. I am wholly unprepared for Hunter’s head to jerk up. Dark, angry eyes meet mine, and he growls at me. I stumble back and put my hands out in front of me. I walk back over to Jade whose eyes are wide.

“A wolf whose mate is injured is incredibly dangerous,” Garrett says in a quiet but authoritative voice from behind me.