Jasper knew which he’d prefer. Not only did he want to tear Vincent to shreds, but he’d also use the fight as a chance to distract him so she could get away. He waited, half-crouched, preparing to strike the second Vincent made a move toward him. Vincent stayed in place, eyes darting from side to side. He seemed to come to the same conclusion: that fighting would only benefit Jasper at this point.
Growling, he spun around and darted into the woods.
Jasper watched him leave, bristling, still preparing to fight in case it was a bluff. Wind rushed through the trees. He could hear Nikki behind him, hear her shaking breaths and her rapid heartbeat. He could smell the lingering traces of fear on her scent, even as it ebbed.
He wanted to chase after Vincent and end him once and for all. But he had no idea if Lucas was nearby, and he wasn’t going to risk Nikki falling into his clutches. So once he was certain the other shifter wasn’t coming back, Jasper dashed to Nikki, crouching so she could clamber onto his back. Once he knew she was secure, he took off, leaving the injured Vincent alone in the middle of the woods.
Sprinting through the woods, Jasper used the time to temper his rage. He focused on Nikki, her weight, comforting simply because it meant she was safe, the way her thighs gripped his sides, her fingers grasping the fur between his shoulder blades. He used the feel of her to soothe the fury racing through him. Nikki was safe. That was all that mattered right now.
They arrived back at the house, and Nikki dismounted. Her legs were trembling, her face ashen, her eyes staring far away. He shifted back into human form and rushed to her side.
“Are you okay?” He cupped her face, glancing all around, cataloging every scratch. Just touching her sent a fresh wave of relief running through him.
“I’m fine,” she muttered.
Raising his eyebrows, he gave her a skeptical look. “You’re a terrible liar, did you know that?”
She choked out a laugh and gave a shaky smile, but her eyes still looked haunted. He pulled her against him, holding her tight. She leaned her head against her chest, and he felt her tremble. He stroked her hair.
He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, him holding Nikki, giving her comfort. He didn’t care. At the moment, only one thought seemed to enter his head. Nikki was safe. She was here. He hadn’t been too late.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he said after a long moment.
Nikki let out a choked laugh that sounded close to a sob. She looked up at him, still pressed against his chest.
“You’re apologizing for coming to my rescue?” she asked. “I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Jasper’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t respond.
“Come on,” he said after a long moment. “Let’s get you inside.”
His hand went to the small of her back, and he guided her into the house. Once they stepped inside, he steered her toward the couch, pushing her down gently so she would sit.
“I’m going to make some tea,” he said. “You stay here.”
Still, he lingered, reluctant to leave her alone even if he was only walking into the next room. After a moment, he finallytore his gaze away from her and moved into the kitchen. While the kettle boiled, he pulled out his phone and called Camden.
“Hey, everything all right?” Camden asked without preamble. “You rushed out of there like your ass was on fire.”
“Vincent tried to take Nikki,” Jasper said. “He lured her out into the woods and was dragging her somewhere.”
Camden swore. “Is she all right?”
“She’s safe, at the very least,” Jasper said. “Shaken up, but she’s at the house.”
There were murmurs, and Jasper knew Camden was relaying the information to Franco and Cillian. There was a loud “fuck!” on the other end of the line that Jasper recognized as Cillian’s voice.
“Where exactly was this?” Camden asked. “I’ll send some guys out to scout the area. They might be able to follow Vincent’s scent wherever he’s hiding. Maybe even track Lucas.”
Privately, Jasper thought the odds of finding any sign of Vincent at this point were slim to none. If the man had any wits about him, he’d take pains to confuse his trail and conceal where he was headed. Still, it was better than nothing. Jasper told him the location.
“I’m glad she’s all right,” Camden said. “We’re going to get these assholes.”
The kettle whistled, its sound loud and piercing. Jasper killed the heat and poured the boiling water into a mug. The aroma of orange and cinnamon wafted up from the cup.
“I’ll help another day,” Jasper said. “Not right now.” He didn’t need to explain why.
“Yeah, keep an eye on her, make sure she’s all right.”
