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“Please,” I begged, hating the desperation in my voice. “Just let him out of there. I won’t move a muscle. Just let him out.”
The lackey help up a single finger as she handed the cat carrier to the other person with her. The second lackey gave a grotesque snorting laugh as they made to hold the carrier like they were ready to throw it.
The woman drew a phone out of her pocket, her face illuminating blue and black as she dialed and put the phone up to her ear.
“Hey, it’s me. You got her? All's good? No tricks?” The lackey's words hung in the air, a sinister promise of impending danger. The knowledge that Curt was with Marley now sank coldly into my bones. They were doing this on purpose. They wanted to hurt me. Wanted to beat me down so that I didn’t have the will to lead…or the will to live.
Travis and I held our breath, caught in the web of uncertainty. After a tense pause, she nodded and ended the call.
“A little birdy tells me your mate thinks you’re a pathetic waste of space,” she tittered as she put the phone back in her pocket.
I knew this was supposed to hurt me, but it did just the opposite. Now I knew my wife had sold the illusion. She was in, and hopefully with her freedom and agency intact. Within reason.
“Give me my son,” I snarled. “You got your half of the trade. Now give me mine.”
“Ohhhh, did I strike a nerve?”
I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. I just glared at her.
After one more long, tense moment of silence, she sighed as if she was bored and rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she said. “We can go.”
The other person with her looked almost disappointed between her and the water churning below. They looked, for a moment, like they were considering throwing the carrier in, anyway. Like a cruel little boy who wanted to see what happened if he ripped the legs off of a salamander.
I tightened my fists, preparing to leap into the water if I had to.
The woman turned and walked unhurriedly toward the truck. The other one hesitated and then finally, slowly, set the carrier down on the edge of the reservoir.
Then they backed slowly away before turning and booking it to their truck.
As soon as they were gone, Travis and I both sprang into action, sprinting to the carrier and frantically fussing with the fastening of the top lid until we could get it open.
Just as the top loosened, Noah started to push against the container, yelping and barking.
“Hold on,” I said. “You’re almost out, sweet boy. You’re almost there.”
Finally, I opened the last thing holding the carrier together and scrambled to catch Noah as he launched himself out of the box and toward me.
He shifted into his human form, wailing and sobbing. No words were said, just pure emotion. Pure terror and pain and panic came out of him with keening, hoarse sobs.
I crushed him closer to me, cupping the back of his head and relishing the feeling of his silken curls as they spilled over my fingers.
“Shhh, shhh, shhh,” I soothed. “I’ve got you, baby boy. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
He didn’t stop crying, but he did grow quieter. His sobs were still full of tears and snot, but I could feel his fear ebbing. The wild part of his brain had given way to the little boy I loved as he registered that he was home with his dad again. That he was safe.
“I’m so sorry,” I said roughly. “I will never let something like that happen to you again, Noah.”
And as hot tears flowed down my face, I knew it was a promise I was going to keep.
Because I was going to kill Curt Fowler if it was the last thing I did.
Chapter 18
Marley
There was a time when I thought our pack was a chaotic mess. That we were barely holding things together, at least compared to Vic and River back in Georgia.
I really had no idea how bad things could be, though.
