The long day had been testing and combined with the lack of sleep she’d gotten last night, she was exhausted. She slipped off her jumper, throwing it away uncaringly. She wasn’t planning to be there longer than a day, it made no sense to try and keep the room neat. She continued stripping, moving closer and closer to the bed, desperate for sleep. She needed to be alert for Ryan’s escape and a lack of sleep tended to make her irritable. She collapsed on the bed, dressed only in her underwear, her eyes wandering over to the chest of drawers, debating whether or not she truly needed to don a shirt to sleep in. Fatigue won out and her eyes began to slide shut, preparing to sleep. The sound of gunfire slowly began to wind its way into her mind, quickly followed by agonised screams and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that Tobias was here. She groaned in frustration, levering herself back off the bed, she hadn’t even gotten a few minutes of shut eye.
She dressed quickly, reclaiming her formerly discarded clothes and as she moved, energy began to fill her giving strength to her exhausted body. Tobias was here. Ryan was about to be saved. She took a deep breath, calming herself before pulling against the door handle, relieved when it opened easily beneath her grip. In the afternoon, it had dawned on her that her family might lock her in at night to prevent her from seeing the true nature of their business. She hadn’t tried it the night before, the only one where she’d been conscious, and was infinitely relieved to find her fears had been ungrounded. If the door had been locked she would have been forced to resort to climbing out of the window, which wasn’t a very appealing idea when bullets were flying all around the building.
The halls were manic, a stark contrast to the military order that they had been in earlier that day. The men that mere hours ago had seemed almost glued in place were now running frantically down the corridors towards what she presumed was the exit. Some were shouting orders, others rushing to comply, arming themselves as they went by. With the maelstrom of activity that Tobias and the werewolves were causing, no one noticed the small woman as she slipped out of her room and mingled into their ranks. She ran down the hall in what she hoped was the right direction. Her heart was racing, terror running through her veins. She was afraid of being caught, afraid that Ryan was going to be too hurt to move and terrified that if either happened, they would never escape.
She ran the length of the hall, desperately searching for a flight of stairs. There was no one to ask for directions and no one she would have wanted to talk to anyway so she was reliant on her own instincts. The number of people in the halls thinned as she moved forward, she had to be in the right place. Anxiety was clouding her thoughts making her less able to think logically, instinct was driving her now. She had to get to her mate. The adrenaline in her system was beginning to wane by the time she finally came across a flight of stairs but as soon as she saw it, the powerful rush flooded her system once more and she raced down them. When she emerged on the other side, she was in a completely empty hallway but she knew that Ryan was there, she could feel him. Her pace was hectic as she pulled open the various doors that lined the corridor, screaming his name as she went. No one was down here to hear her so the level of noise she made was unimportant.
The sound of a low growl made its way to her ears and Chloe rushed towards it headlong, throwing the door open when she was near to it. The room was empty apart from Ryan and she breathed a sigh of relief. If someone else had been in the room, guarding him, their escape might have been foiled before it could truly begin. Their eyes locked, brown with violet, and her fatigue seemed to melt away.
“Ryan,” she whispered, rushing to his side.
His body was covered in dried blood, knives still littering his tall frame but he was smiling, despite the burning it caused from the bar in his mouth. She pulled it from his mouth unceremoniously, eager to have him free.
“Ryan are you okay? I heard you screaming last night.” Tears were beginning to fill her eyes.
“I’m fine,” he reassured. “I just wanted your father to think that he’d made progress in his interrogation. Please don’t cry over me angel, I’m not worth it.”
She sniffed, struggling to keep the tears at bay. “The key, did you find out where he put it?”
“Over there.” His head jerked in the direction of a small desk. “It should be in the top drawer.”
“Okay. Just stay here.”
“It’s not as though I can go anywhere else,” he chuckled.
His laughter seemed so out of place in this place of horror but it brought a corresponding smile to Chloe’s face as she opened the drawer. She rummaged through its contents finding several keys before rushing to Ryan’s side. Her hands shook as she tried each key in turn, discarding them if they didn’t fit.
“It’s okay love, take deep breaths, stay calm.”
“I don’t understand what’s wrong with you and Tobias, you’re getting tortured and you seem so calm about it.”
“Why wouldn’t I be calm? As long as you’re safe, I’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Would it really kill you to think about your health and safety a little more? Aargh, I don’t even know why I bother, I should just leave you here, maybe it’ll knock some sense into you.”
The key turned in the lock and the shackle came loose. Ryan lifted his arm and cupped her cheek, desperate to touch her now that he was even slightly free. “You wouldn’t leave me here Chloe, you love me too much to do that. You’d miss me.” Her eyes closed, savouring the feel of his skin against hers. “I love you angel.”
He hadn’t said much but the sincerity in those few words brought a tear to her eye, her heart clenching as emotion began to well within her. “I love you too. Now, come on,” she began, shaking her head slightly in an attempt to clear her thoughts. This wasn’t the time or place for tender words; those could wait until Ryan was free. “Let’s get the rest of these off and then we can get you can get out of here.”
She moved around the table quickly, unlocking the shackles and removing the poisonous metal from his skin. As soon as he was free, Ryan sat up, stretching to dislodge the aches and pains that were an inevitable consequence of staying in one place for a prolonged period of time. The knives embedded in his body were the next item on his to do list but his gaze was drawn to Chloe. She was worried about him, the disconcerting scent pouring from her body in waves. Her knuckles were white from strain and she was biting her lower lip so hard that he feared she would soon break the skin.
“Chloe.” Her eyes met his. “I’m going to stand up now.” His words were quiet, his voice calm as though he were speaking to a frightened child. “There’s going to be a lot of blood spilt.” She whimpered, bringing a knuckle to her mouth and biting hard against the fresh skin. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine as soon as I get these knives out. There’s no need to worry.”
She nodded slowly, reluctantly, and he stood up, taking a deep breath to brace himself against the inevitable onslaught of pain. Chloe was worried about him; he couldn’t let her think she was right to be. He stifled a wince as the knives littered over his body shifted, cutting flesh anew, before beginning the arduous process of freeing himself. His hands wrapped around a handle lodged in his arm and he smiled as his skin met leather bindings and not more silver. His grip tightened for a moment before he pulled hard. The blood from the freshly opened wound ran freely down his arm but he breathed a sigh of relief. Already he could feel his strength returning to him. The knife clattered uselessly to the ground and he reached for another, this time lodged into his thigh. That blade was also pulled free before swiftly being discarded. More strength filled him. He repeated the process, alternating between his legs and arms, until all the blades had been ripped from his body. Nearly his entire body was covered in quickly drying blood, he looked like a mauled victim from some sort of horror film and yet he stood, grinning as though he were the luckiest man alive.
“Are you okay?” Chloe asked concerned, her wide eyes glued to the numerous wounds that covered his body.
He laughed. “I’m fine. I’ve been through worse. You know I’ve been through worse.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it. I hate it when you get hurt.”
Then she won’t like what I’m going to do now.
She doesn’t have to know, his wolf began, it would be too dangerous for her anyway, she could get hurt.
You’re right.
Protect her Ryan. Kill them, but protect her. He looked at her, remembering her reaction to Lucinda's death. There were going to be many more like that tonight, she didn’t need to be contaminated by the darker side of his nature. She looked so out of place in this place of horror and death, her innocence stunningly apparent. She had been well protected from the brutal elements of the world, for that he was thankful towards her family and he intended to continue the tradition. He wanted to pull her body close, kiss her senseless within the protection of his arms but he was too aware of the blood that covered him, the healing blisters around his mouth. He sighed sadly, “Angel, I have to go.”
“I know, we have to escape.”
“No, I have to go alone. You have to stay here until I come back for you. It’s safe here.”
“No it’s not. I’ll only be safe if I stay with you.”
Her confidence in him was empowering, pride welling up within him but it didn’t change the fact that she couldn’t come out with him. “I’m going straight into the thick of danger it won’t be safe for you to come with me.” I don’t want you to see me like that. Surrounded by the dead bodies of the men I’ve killed, covered in blood that isn’t mine. “Trust me it’s best if you stay here.”
“And what if a wolf comes in and thinks I’m one of them? A hunter? How safe would I be then?”
“I’ve claimed you now angel,” he growled, stepping closer towards her. The very thought that someone would dare hurt her was making his blood boil, his injuries heal faster as the instinct rose within him, determined to protect her. “My scent is all over you. A wolf would have to be suicidal to try and hurt you now, they know I’d come after them and –”
“Tear their head off while feeding them their intestines or something. I know Ryan, I know.”
“I’m not going to change my mind about this.”
“I know that too,” she sighed softly.
“Will you wait for me?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Will you try not to let yourself get anymore hurt than you already are?”
“I’ll do my best Chloe, that’s all I can say. You know I can’t lie and give you the pretty words that would reassure you.”
“There aren’t any lies or secrets between mates. I know that as well. Hurry back Ryan. I just want to go home.”
“I’ll be back as quickly as I can angel. Just stay safe for me okay?”
She nodded and he turned as if to leave but she stopped him, grabbing his hand uncaring of the blood drying on his fingers. The force of her sharp tug spun him round and before he knew what was going on, she was in his arms, her lips pressed against his, kissing him as though she would never see him again. The few sores that remained healed quickly now that Chloe was kissing him, the instinct diverting healing resources to what was now most important. He responded to her kiss with an equal passion, pulling her body tight against his, wrapping his tongue around hers and kissing her until she was breathless, gasping for air.
“Ryan,” she panted, desperately wishing that they had more time than this stolen moment in hell.
He pulled back, resting his head against hers, drawing strength from her presence. A cornered animal was a dangerous thing. A wolf protecting his mate was even more so. Already he could feel elements of the change washing over him, amber eyes, tense muscles, the beginnings of fangs and claws. He needed to be out there, in the thick of things protecting his mate personally. “I’ve got to go angel.”
“I know.” Her grip on him tightened momentarily before she released him and stepped back.
He was gone in the blink of an eye, one moment he was there, the next there was only empty air in the space that he’d stood in.
“Hurry back Ryan.” She’d whispered the words, but in her heart, she knew he’d heard her. He’d be back for her; he would always make his way back to her.
Chapter Forty Nine
The sounds and sights of battle raged on outside the widow Chloe stood in front of and her heart ached because if it. She could distantly hear the sounds of gunfire, howls of anger and rage, orders being shouted, men screaming as they took their last breath, the list was endless. Though she wanted to put her hands over her ears, close her eyes and pretend it wasn’t happening, she was compelled to watch. Her future depended on the outcome of this battle. Although they weren’t nearby, Chloe could see her family, her father and brothers, fighting tirelessly. They shot with deadly, practised aim, her father issuing commands, her brothers working seamlessly as a single unit, to fulfil his wishes. Wolves surrounded them and the many other men gathered and she knew without him having said a word that Ryan was moving towards them, dispatching any who stood in his way. She was torn. No matter who won, she lost. If her family came out victorious, she would be without a mate and she loved him too much not to have him. If Ryan and the wolves were triumphant, she’d lose the family that had supported her for her entire life. She groaned, her mind reeling, closed her eyes and leaned her had against the cold glass.
Perhaps it was because her thoughts were so chaotic that it took her a few moments to notice a peculiar sound making its way to her ears. The sound of knocking was distinctly out of place on a battlefield. She opened her eyes, violet orbs widening to almost inhuman levels at the sight that awaited her. Sitting on what looked like an enormously overgrown tree branch, Alex and Erica knocked furiously against the glass, trying to get her attention. Well they’ve certainly got it now! Her mind whipped. Despite her acknowledgement of their presence it took her another moment to realise that they wanted to come inside. She rushed into action, unhinging the window latch and pulling it open to its widest. The branch wound its way into the room, bringing Alex and Erica indoors even as Chloe stepped back to avoid any contact with the strange appendage.
“Jesus Chloe,” Alex scolded lightly. “I’m freezing. It’s cold out there you know and just because Erica and all the other wolves are lucky enough not to feel it doesn’t mean that I’m not susceptible to frostbite.”
Erica smiled, jumping off the tree branch and onto the floor as Alex shooed it back outside. “I know that you’re human Chloe and your senses aren’t as sharp as mine but we were right in front of you. Are you okay?”
“Yes. No,” she stuttered confused. She shook her head before staring expectantly at the two women before her. “I mean, what are you guys doing here?”
Erica frowned confused by Chloe’s words. “I would have thought that was obvious.”
“Well for those of us who are a bit slow would you mind explaining?”
“We came to get you,” Alex supplied, moving closer to Chloe and Erica now that the thick tree branch was safely outdoors.
“Why?”
“Because you’re family silly,” Erica snorted. “That and I get to kick some major hunter butt. I can’t believe that Tobias and Sebastian thought they could get away with just leaving us behind. I can take care of myself.”
“We can take care of ourselves,” Alex corrected automatically. “I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself.”
Erica rolled her eyes. “Yes, but you’re too soft hearted to go for the killing blow. You need animal instincts like mine. Maybe after a few hundred years you’ll improve.”
Remembering Tobias’ warning that she should stay out of harm’s way and the predatory look in his stormy eyes when she had first met Alex and Erica a thought came to Chloe’s mind. “Do Tobias or Sebastian know that you’re here?” Her voice was low, a whisper, as though by even asking the question she was asking for trouble.
&nbs
p; A loud bellow erupted from beyond the window, followed by an equally loud second wolf howling.
“I guess they do now,” the pair chuckled in unison.
“This is serious!” Chloe shrieked, infuriated with their relaxed attitudes.
Their expressions sobered instantly. “We know that Chloe, that’s why we’re here to help. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything.” Alex’s voice was calm, reassuring but Chloe’s expression tightened in concern.
“How can I not worry? They’re going to kill each other,” Chloe sobbed. “And what’s worse is that I have no idea who I want to win.”
“I would have thought that was obvious,” Erica supplied instantly. “You should always back your mate, especially now. Those guys down there are hunters. They live solely to make sure that we don’t.”
“They also happen to be my family.”
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