The Wolf Who Played With Fire: New Adult Paranormal Romance (Cry Wolf) (16 page)

The beast’s scent hit me. He smelled familiar yet odd. There was a mix of undertones behind the musky layers, namely blood and aggression. Chad had told me about him. The Pack’s enforcer was here tearing down the door to get to me.

I grinned. Any hostility I’d had toward the Pack vanished. While I still didn’t want to mate with the female werewolf, I owed them a lot for saving my life. My lips quirked in a grin. Both the beast and I knew this was our chance. We would not be constrained. The enforcer nodded his head at me in recognition and made his way to the cage’s door.

A few moments of struggle later, he broke the lock and opened the cage.
Free! Run, go!
My brain was spurred on by the primal screams echoing down every hallway. How many shapeshifters had they locked away in this facility? I cringed as dozens of people in hospital gowns and various animal forms ran down the hall with a couple Pack wolves leading the way. My legs took on a life of their own. I had to help out, but the wolf insisted on following the subconscious commands of survival and launched me from the cage towards a flock of shifters in the hallway.

I was fast. Too fast to think and make my own choices. I blew out a breath, releasing my control to the beast and reveling in the freeing sensation of the moment.

A mercenary turned the corner. His gun was aimed low when I kicked him center mass, pinning him on the corner wall. Using his falling body as a surface, I placed my foot on his knee and pounced further out. The sickening pop of his knee giving way would normally have turned my stomach a little, but this was survival.
Do or die.

Another containment door was visible in the wall, still unbroken by the enforcer. The thought of leaving anyone behind was too much to bear. I made a bee-lined to the door and pulled, unsure if I could tear it apart. Putting my foot against the wall for support, I put my back into it. It groaned but didn’t break. A werewolf running by stopped and jerked the door, joining his strength to mine. It popped open, and I nodded to him before heading into the room.

Two figures, a male and a female, stared at me from the cage. It was sturdier than mine, and the locks on it were reinforced.
No simply tearing this open, I guess
. The eyes and underlying scents of the prisoners bore the now familiar tones of werewolves. I recognized the female as the longhaired brunette I’d seen struggling in the hallway earlier. The male must’ve been Jacob.

The nearby table had various reports and notes, along with multiple vials of blood. I scanned it, finding a forgotten keycard under the latest of scribbled notes taken by a Dr. Peacock. I retrieved it, releasing the two from the cage.

“The research. The vials and everything needs to be destroyed. Listen, it’s important. They must have nothing,” the blond man said, supporting the woman as they limped out of the cage’s door.

I threw the vials into the corner of the room, breaking them. While an imperfect solution, at least the samples would be contaminated. The papers however could be of use to finding out what the scientists wanted. “Don’t get rid of them.” I stuffed the papers in the woman’s arms. “The Alpha should look over what they were after first.”

The man narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not even a full-blooded wolf yet. Why should I—”

“Jacob, he’s right. Let’s just take them and get out of here.” The woman stared adoringly in the male’s eyes, and he nodded. “Thank you for helping us.”

A feral growl ripped through the hallway making us jump, as we were reminded of the preciously little time we had left before our window of opportunity ran out.
We have to leave
.

The three of us darted into the hallway and ran at full speed in the direction the other wolves had gone. Right around a corner was the faint smell of pine trees. Managing to stop my wolf at the doorway, I glanced into the courtyard.

Here and there, the fence had been torn open, and the sole guard—Horn, by the looks of it—lay on the ground bleeding near me. I froze, torn between the need for freedom and the oath to keep my squad alive.
Shit!

The searchlight turned in my direction and determination reignited my drive to seek safety. I ran for it, and the couple behind me followed. Semi-automatic gunfire raked the forest floor around us. Whoever was shooting could have used some more time on the firing range. I ducked behind some big rocks and tree trunks, directing the two into safer zones.

A scent trail around us indicated the wolves had come this way, leaving me a clear-cut path to follow where the Pack had arrived. The fresh scent of the forest invigorated me and I eased up a little.
Have we made it?

The trail was quiet. There was no sign of anyone else. My skin began to crawl. There had been others and the complex wasn’t that big. Where was everyone? Nervousness filled me and I let loose the growl building up in my throat before heading along the path again.

Up ahead was a small clearing with an abandoned gas station. My gaze zeroed in on pacing feminine shape.
Mia!
It took me a moment to notice my two companions had ducked farther into the woods. I slowed down. But this was not how it appeared.

First, faintly, then more strongly I smelled them. Gunmetal, nervous sweat and men. They were at the corner of the gas station slowly moving to surround Mia. I watched as they finally made themselves known to her and slammed her face into the ground.
They would not hurt her
.

Without a thought, I ran through the trees separating us, taking advantage of the shadows and the mercenaries’ flashlights.

Four of them were in her immediate vicinity, while two others were checking the row of parked cars.

I circled around the gas station and headed to the last car, while a guard was busy looking at the underside of the blue one. When he was done and moved on to check the red car, I punched him in the jaw. His neck snapped back with a sharp crack and he dropped into my arms. I carefully set him down and moved on to the other guard checking the cars. The final two guards in the immediate area were yanked into the shrubbery, and I saw Jacob appear soon after, nodding at me before ducking back out of sight.

While I didn’t enjoy hurting them, I had to admit to feeling a sense of satisfaction. Hopefully they wouldn’t hurt anyone else anymore.

When I rose from my spot behind the car, the final two guards were escorting Mia back toward the complex. They leaned toward each other, and before long, a telltale flicker of light from a lighter ignited the end of a cigarette. Apparently, the smokers thought it was good time to relax.
Seriously, where do they hire these goons?

There was little to do now, other than to get to Mia. With a slow and low-to-the-ground run, I was part of the way to them when a twig snapped under my foot.

The guards escorting Mia pointed their guns my way.

I ducked behind the first vehicle as bullets started flying. By the pace they were going, I knew to wait for the reload. The wolf’s enhanced hearing told me when the magazines on both guns hit empty.
Gotcha! This is why one lays fire and another waits.

I broke into run, grabbing a knife from a sheath on the closest body. One of the guns just clicked a magazine in as I flung the knife toward the guard who I believed had been shooting faster. The gun barrel had just begun to rise when it dropped to the ground.

Not losing any time I ducked behind the closest tree, just as the magazine on the other gun hit home. The ground kicked up around me from the impact of the medium caliber bullets. This time the man used two shots at a time, slowly walking backward. He had the advantage, and he knew it now. What he didn’t account for was Mia.

I heard an oomph come from the mercenary and I ducked out of my cover. The man was regaining his balance, even as Mia had turned and began to run away. The barrel of his gun pointed toward her, and I cursed under my breath. The merc took deliberate aim, giving me a few precious moments. I couldn’t reach Mia in time. We were on opposite sides of the trail. If I ran at him, I’d be in the firing line. To me, the choice was obvious. The wolf leant me all of its strength.

Mate in danger.

I leapt for him with brutal force. The world slowed down as I stared into the eyes of my target. The mercenary noticed me too late. The gun went fired seconds before I knocked the barrel away. His eyes were the size of small saucers. Even as the bullet bit into my chest, I knew I had done my duty. She would be safe.

Pain exploded through me, and a few moments later, I slammed the man who shot me into the ground. His head hit hard on a rock, but he wasn’t dead. His breathing was laborious and his eyes wild.

I punched him with all my remaining power before sliding off to his side and looking up at the trees. Blackness crept into my vision and the pain faded a little around the edges.
If only I could see her one more time.

“Ethan, no!” Mia’s sobs were the last thing I heard. Her soft lips the last thing I felt.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Mia

The crazy werewolf driver went to Jessa’s home before heading back to the Pack’s mansion. Thankfully, Jessa had agreed to come with us, despite the fact she’d be with a group of werewolves. Only with her help could I perform the healing ritual that might very well save Ethan’s life, even though he was less than a day from becoming an actual werewolf.

A couple of Pack werewolves brought him into a room that looked like it regularly dealt with these kinds of dire situations. Chad’s pale skin and the concern in his eyes proved he wasn’t confident Ethan’s injury was survivable.

My heart pounded in my chest, nearly shattering my tenuous concentration. I chanted a healing spell under my breath over and over, placing my hands over the area where Ethan had been shot. One of the werewolves confirmed that the bullet had gone clean through, so we didn’t have to worry about any pieces remaining inside Ethan.

Jessa chanted with me, but she was also busy setting up candles and lighting incense in preparation. Her gaze shifted to the werewolves gathered around the room who were watching us as if we were about to do a magic trick. Her nostrils flared and her voice trembled. If the gathering didn’t leave, she might not be able to assist me with this.

I turned my head in Chad’s direction, but he was talking with a thickly accented werewolf, who had on loosely fitting jogging pants and an oversized t-shirt. Shaggy red hair framed his face. “I have to go home to Scotland.” His tight shoulders hunched over, but a feral light shone from his brown eyes. “I need to reconnect with my wolf, mate. We’re broken.”

I couldn’t imagine what he’d gone through. What any of them had gone through locked away in the research facility. Most of the werewolves looked like they were ready to snap at any moment.

Chad glanced between me and the Scottish werewolf. “How do I know you won’t lose control? I’m not sure my father will want you to leave. We need all the wolves we can get, especially with this attack against us.” He sighed, sounding almost helpless. “Fine, I’ll talk with him. Take care of yourself, and I want you to check in. The Pack is here for you, Colin. You’ll call ahead to the Scottish Pack, right?”

“Not like there are many wolves remaining in that Pack, but, aye, I will.” Colin rubbed his forehead as if kneading away some of the tension there. “This isn’t permanent. I’ll be back.” He tilted his head to Chad, then he limped from the room.

Jessa cleared her throat and I jerked my head back in her direction, shocked that I’d been caught up in Chad’s conversation with the broken werewolf. She cocked an eyebrow at me. The mentor I trusted stared at me with disapproval in her gaze, not in the least like the shattered victim of a werewolf attack.

“Chad, we need the werewolves out of here. We need to focus.” With that said, I joined hands with Jessa over Ethan’s body and closed my eyes, giving in to the pull of magic coursing through me down my arms and connecting with the strong torrent of power that sizzled over my wrists and forearms where her palms touched.

Energy grew within the room until it nearly choked me with its potency. If it weren’t for Jessa’s grip, I might’ve flopped off the bed. Our voices rose in synchronized cries to the deities pleading for Ethan’s recovery. My hands burned with almost a scalding heat, as if I was holding a fireball in my palm for too long. I wanted to open my eyes and see what was happening, but I knew not to break the connection. If I did this might fail, and Ethan could die.

The magic slithering through us reached boiling point, and Jessa forced my palms onto Ethan’s bloody chest. My eyes flew open as the power that built between Jessa and me poured through my hands and into Ethan. The sensation was almost too much for me to stand, but her firm grip held me in place.

I met her gaze and she nodded to me, a reassuring smile on her lips. Weariness stole through me, and my body slumped backward. It was everything I could do to keep my eyes open.

Hands held me up and Jessa released me. I glanced back to see Chad. He lowered me beside Ethan, whose breathing was slow and steady. His pale complexion improved before my eyes. I rested my hand on his arm, then closed my eyes.

* * *

When I woke up, the sun shone through the windows, bringing in plenty of natural light. The candles and all remnants of the healing ritual were gone, except for the faint scent of sandalwood that lingered in the air.

Slight movement at my side nearly made me jump off the bed.

Ethan squinted up at me. His brilliant blue eyes were a sight to behold. I’d been so afraid of him dying.

Tonight you still might lose him.
I shove the thought from my mind.
No.
Whatever happened, we were in this together. We’d been given a second chance, and I refused to throw it away.