by E. M. Moore
Reaching up, I tear my own gag down. “My mate,” I whisper between us, the sound like a promise, a contract being sealed under divine knowledge. There is no other one for me. I’m one hundred percent certain of it.
He runs his fingers through my hair, staring at me, eyes searching. A buzz coats my skin, and I peer down and find the same goosebumps coursing over his own skin.
“My wolf thoroughly enjoyed that,” he smirks.
I grin. “Yours wasn’t the only one.”
He moans, sinking his mouth into the curve of my neck. “I have a feeling he won’t want to wait to mount you in wolf form.”
I shiver, raw, animalistic need pouring through me. “Now, why’d you have to bring that up?” I tease.
“Hellbent on punishing us, I guess.”
I grab his jaw and stare straight into his eyes. “Soon,” I promise, pledging myself not only to Nathan, but his wolf, too.
“We’ll fight for you. Where you go, we go.”
“Where you go, we go.” I mimic, his words settling on my heart in a promise.
A feeling of weightlessness takes over. I may have a few more things to worry about, but I’ll never have to worry about Nathan’s true feelings for me. They are what they are. Fate approved or not.
I’m so lost in his stare that when the scream of an alarm fills the air, I don’t immediately recognize it for what it is.
Nathan jumps off me, panic making his eyes glow yellow.
Fear grips me like a vise as I lie there, stunned.
22
Tendrils of smoke wisp under the door. Nathan struggles to yank his sweats on, condom and all. Jumping up from the bed, I search for my pajamas, and quickly slip them on as the smoke in the room thickens. I cringe as a scream pierces the air.
“Trish,” Nathan says. “I’ll go to her. Get out. Now.”
He tests the knob on the door to the hallway before pulling it open. Flames lick the ceiling at the other end, spreading fast. Dark smoke billows out around it until there’s nothing to see but orange and black.
“Fuck,” Nathan curses, swinging his wide gaze to me. “It’s coming from her room.”
He wraps his hand around mine, tugging me toward the stairs. We feel our way, choking on the smoke. When we get there, he shifts me in front of him, guiding me down the steps, reaching out to save me when I fumble over the last few.
The air quality down here is better, yet it’s still a coat of fog over everything, making the separate rooms almost indecipherable. My lead legs slow me down, but he marches me toward the front door, our route to safety. When we get there, I reach for the door handle with shaking hands, needing to take a breath of clean air. The smoke catches in my lungs and makes my eyes tear. With a quick pull, I emerge from the house, coughing and spluttering.
Nathan keeps his hand on my back as we sprint away from the house. When we’re an acceptable distance away, we stop and peer at the structure. On the side of the house where Trish’s room is, flames shoot out the windows and smoke billows from every available crevice, puffing into the night air. A glimmer of light emerges from the room Nathan would’ve been sleeping in, and in no time at all, the whole room is filled with fire.
Holy shit. If he was in there, he may not have been able to escape.
I lean against him, forgetting all rules and boundaries. Trish is probably still in there, but there was no way to go get her. In the distance, sirens echo, almost overtaking the groaning of the house’s wood frame as it continues to burn. A revving engine, along with the sound of tires against rock and dirt, sprout up immediately behind us. We turn to find Alpha Richard’s security heading this way. Nathan steps away from me, and my body, which had just been on a great high, now yearns for him.
Nathan runs up to greet the vehicles, pointing toward the second story, mouth moving, but I can’t seem to understand him in the chaos.
Lights filter through the trees. Before I can even comprehend what that means, the sirens piercing the air grow much louder than before. Red trucks are the next to come up the rutted drive. Nathan stands back as the alpha’s security team heads toward Daybreak’s fire department. They gesture toward Trish’s window, fire now crawling up the roof, blackening the logs that hold it up. The whole house is like a matchbook waiting to go up in flames.
The chilly night air deadens my limbs, and my brain seems to be the only thing on overdrive as I watch the firefighters work. First the speaker at the festival. Now the cabin. Those can’t be coincidences. I have bad luck, but even this is extreme for me.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Nathan growls. “I’ll track him down, torture the shit out of him, then take my time ripping him apart.”
As much as I admire his enthusiasm on this topic, the betrayal of this moment runs deep. I may not be connected to Sean anymore in any way that matters, but I used to be. To think that he could be this self-serving makes me sick. Trish might pay for it with her life.
“Please help her,” I yell out as a firefighter pushes past us.
It’s doubtful he even hears me as he sets to his task of carrying a hose closer to the inferno.
One of Alpha Richard’s security members moves us back. He leaves briefly and returns with a blanket that he wraps around my shoulders. “They’re looking for her. Is there anyone we can call for you two?”
We both blink at him. I don’t know if it’s the fire or if embarrassment creeps onto his cheeks, but he blushes all the same. “Let me get in contact with the alpha and tell him you’re safe and they’re searching for the third.”
The third. Like she doesn’t even have a name except for her delegation of being at Greystone Academy. I growl under my breath, and Nathan reaches out to grab my hand, silencing me.
My retort must go unnoticed because the black-clad guard moves away a few feet to talk into the phone. Minutes go by. The firemen have extinguished the exterior flames, but thick, charcoal-colored smoke still billows from the house, escaping through the roof—now a charred remnant of what it is.
“We’ll have to do a full investigation,” the security guard says as he moves closer. He nods but is interrupted when shouts erupt from the building itself.
“Coming out!”
“Call you back.” He shoves his phone in his pocket, and we all shift our gazes to the burnt structure. Out the front door, two firefighters emerge, dragging a limp body in their hands. I gasp, my hands coming up to cover my mouth. The blanket falls from my shoulders, pooling at my feet.
“Is she alive?” I whisper. When I receive no answer, I ask it again, louder this time, “Is she alive?”
The guard steps in front of us as an ambulance finally shows up on the scene. They lower Trish to the ground. Soot mars her face and body. She’s covered with it. Her chest doesn’t appear to be moving either.
The medical personnel block my view as they work on her, all the while maneuvering the gurney into place and hefting her onto it. They roll her toward their vehicle, and within a minute, they’re gone again, the waning siren sending a chill through me.
What the fuck just happened?
I get it...hypothetically. But as this is actually happening right now...to me...I don’t. I almost refuse to believe the scene ahead of me and what it might actually mean.
“We’re taking you in,” the guard tells us, gaze moving away from the mouth of the driveway and back toward us.
“What? Why?” Nathan questions.
“Just to ask some things. Get you cleaned up. You can call someone from the security wing.”
He turns to head toward his vehicle. Nathan’s distrusting gaze meets mine before we follow. What can we do? We have no choice. Nathan sits in the front while I get in the backseat. The distance between us causes me physical pain, but it’s probably a good idea right now. I don’t know if I’d be able to stop myself from searching out comfort from him.
The rough drive over the ruts in the ground frays my nerves even more than usual. Thankfully, the security wing of Alpha Richa
rd’s mansion isn’t that far away. We’re led into a sitting area and told to wait. A few minutes of watching Nathan’s leg bob up and down, and the guard returns with paper cups filled with water and a half-eaten box of doughnuts.
I gulp the water greedily, looking and wishing I could eat the doughnut, but I’m too worried for Trish. I pinch the bridge of my nose and lean my head against the wall.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Nathan soothes.
“Do you think she’s alive?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he says, “When we get the chance to call someone, call Kinsey. Just in case.”
I nod in agreement. The person who jumped into my head at first was my mother, but she’d be of no help.
Nathan makes a bathroom trip, whispering into my ear that he’ll be right back. It isn’t until he’s out of sight that I realize he’s probably disposing of the condom he still had on. He meets my gaze when he comes back out. Confirmation relays between us, and I’m so thankful to have him thinking of things like that while we’re holed up in here. We wait a long time. In fact, we wait so long, I wonder if they forgot we were even here.
Eventually, we’re called into a room so they can ask what went down. Of course, we tell them we were both sleeping—in our own bedrooms—and that the fire alarms woke us. We ran into each other on the way down the stairs and realized that the fire inhibited us from checking after Trish. “Is she okay?”
“They’re still working on her at the hospital,” the guard answers. “That’s the latest update, anyway.”
“Do you know what happened?” Nathan asks.
The security guard purses his lips. “The fire chief said it was intentionally set with an accelerant. We’re not at liberty to discuss anything further as the safety of the alpha is in question. However, he is relieved to hear that you two are doing well.”
Well, that’s...good? I couldn’t give a shit what the alpha thought. He’s left me to rot at the academy, I’ve been almost taken out by a huge speaker, and now, a fire was intentionally set.
Nathan meets my gaze. I know he’s thinking the same thing I’m thinking, but we keep our mouths shut. We’re persona non grata here. No one will listen to us. Of course, they would believe that Alpha Richard was the target. Considering all the other pack members around, it’s highly likely. There hasn’t been in-fighting between packs in a long time, but it’s not in the too distant past to be out of the realm of possibilities.
“We called your mates,” the guard informs us. “They should be here any minute.”
My mouth drops. “You...called our mates? The ones who’ve left us in the fucking academy for over a year?”
The security officer’s brows slam down over his eyes. “Of course I called your mates. They were both terribly upset when they heard the news.”
“I’m not going with him,” I state, my voice trembling now. “Please, I’d like to call someone else. My parents,” I lie.
“We tried your parents’ home. There was no answer.”
I groan inwardly. The one time I would need them to answer, and of course, they don’t. “A friend, then,” I try instead. He looks at me suspiciously, and I know I need to change tactic. “I just feel really off,” I say, real tears starting to gather. “I don’t want to face him like this.”
I’m not winning any awards for acting, but thankfully, the guard is like most men and can’t stand to see women cry. “You can call your friend. This way.” Nathan starts to get up with me, but he’s told to stay where he is.
I peer over my shoulder, lips thinning. Nathan nods, his throat working while he watches me exit.
The guard and I stop by the front entrance, and he grabs the phone from the charger, handing it to me. I’m usually really good with numbers, but I have to think long and hard about the digits that make up Kinsey’s phone number. I’ve seen it a bunch of times when I call her. On my first attempt, someone else answers, and I have to apologize for waking them up so late at night. The security guy frowns at me, but I blame it on my nerves and try again, crossing my fingers that I’ll get it right this time. If I don’t, I’m doubtful he’ll let me try it again.
Thankfully, Kinsey’s groggy voice answers. “Kinsey,” I force out.
“Mia? What—”
“I’m at the alpha’s security. The cabin...there was a fire. It’s—”
“What?” she screeches.
Jonah’s masculine voice can be heard in the background as I say, “Yes, Nathan and I are okay, but Trish got pulled out. They think it was intentionally set. Sean is on his way here.”
If anyone was really paying attention, they’d hear the waver in my voice.
“Fuck,” Kinsey spits. “I’m coming. We’ll be right there.” Before she even hangs up, she’s relaying to Jonah what I just said.
I close my eyes as I replace the phone on the base, hoping she gets here in time. I don’t know what security’s plans are but allowing us to go home with our mates is perfectly acceptable. We’re supposed to be with them, anyway.
My face gets clammy, and I start to break a sweat. “Can I use the bathroom?” I ask, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.
He nods, pointing down the hallway. I spot the restrooms sign and head toward it. I don’t know if I should run or stay. Running seems like a bad idea though, considering what happened to Robbie. Maybe if I hide out in the bathroom long enough, I’ll give Kinsey and Jonah time to get here. I don’t know what they’ll be able to do, but it’s better than looking Sean in the eye.
The idea of just telling the security guys my suspicions hangs heavily over me, but I’m not sure they would take anything we say seriously. If it wasn’t for the fact that we’re treated so poorly, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
There’s a knock on the door as I play my hands over the sink. “You almost done?”
“Yeah,” I call out.
“Your mate is here.”
“Fuck,” I whisper. My mate is here—in an interrogation room—but I’m sure that’s not who they mean. Panic sets in.
“Are you okay?” he asks, boredom threading through his tone.
“Yeah,” I choke out.
I open the door, giving him a small smile. “Sorry. I’m just freaked, you know?”
“Understandable.”
He leads me from the bathroom. Walking just behind me, I feel his constant pressure on my back to keep moving forward. I peek around the open door of the interrogation room as we pass. Nathan’s sitting at the table, his fists clenched so hard it looks as if they would burst into pieces. He meets my gaze, and I plant a placid look on my face. No use in getting him riled up. He can’t do anything. Not here. Not now.
I turn my head as we approach the front desk, and there Sean is. He stands as soon as he sees me, his gaze tracking from my head to my toes and up again. I lock onto him, searching for the monster underneath. I’m just waiting for him to show it.
“Thank Fate, you’re alright,” he says.
My feet root themselves in the middle of the walkway, and the guard nearly walks into me from behind. I’m sure I look a sight—soot streaks all over me, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Sean does another inspection, and I wonder if it’s because he really can’t believe that I’m okay.
Every muscle in my body tightens, recoiling away from his unwanted attention. The question I want to ask him is on the tip of my tongue. If there were no other ears here, I would voice it. I would get in his face and force it out of him.
Why does he want to sever our supposed bond so badly? Enough that he would want to kill me?
The door swings open, and Jonah bursts into the room like he’s on a mission. Sean takes a step back, and Kinsey pushes forward, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank fuck,” I whisper in her ear, squeezing my eyes closed, relief flooding through me.
Jonah starts whispering to the guard, and I open my eyes to see the scowl on Sean’s face.
Haha. Sucker.
23
Kinsey, myself,
and Sean are ushered into the room with Nathan while Jonah speaks to Alpha Richard’s security team.
“What’s going on?” Sean asks.
Nathan, on full alert, body vibrating from anger, glares at Sean. “Oh, you didn’t hear? Earlier, a speaker almost fell on Mia and Kinsey. Now, the cabin burns down.”
Sean gasps, tracking his gaze to me. “I had no idea.” I’d once been all about those eyes, but I don’t trust them now. His pupils seem to move like slithering snakes.
“Yeah, odd that you weren’t around,” Nathan growls, letting everyone in the room know exactly what he thinks.
“Dude,” Sean scoffs. “I get that the academy isn’t the best, but you don’t have to get pissed at me.”
Nathan flies out of the chair, pinning Sean to the wall with his arm. “You piece of shit.”
I spring into action, yanking at the borrowed shirt Nathan’s wearing, the back proudly displaying alpha security insignia.
Sean doesn’t just sit back and take Nathan’s advances though. He bares his elongated teeth. “Whatever you’re mad about, take it up with Gayle.”
“Okay,” Kinsey says, hovering with a pinched brow.
Nathan moves in closer, a dangerous spark in his eyes. “You probably see her more than me. It’s why you tried to sever the bond, isn’t it?”
Sean’s gaze flicks to me, complete betrayal searing through his eyes. What? Like I wasn’t going to say anything?
“Yeah, I know,” Nathan seethes. “How’s your heel feeling?” The smirk he gives Sean teases my lips upward into a smile, but the undercurrent of panic about shit coming to a head right here, right now, in the security wing, flips my stomach, acid sloshing against the sides.
Footsteps sound in the hallway, and Nathan finally steps back from Sean. They both stand there, eyeing one another as if they’d happily tear the other’s head off.
Jonah clears his throat. “Due to the circumstances, the security team thinks it would be best if Mia stayed here tonight.”