AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He stared at me for a second, then said, “Dy-lan.”
“Dylan, nice. It’s really nice to meet you, Dylan.” I leaned over Luke, searching for any injuries, but besides the goose egg on his forehead, he mainly had bruises since the truck had hit on the driver’s side. “I’m going to try to heal him,” I explained, not wanting to try and make my way through the woods with an unconscious guy and unknown shifter. He just watched me, those innocent eyes curious, as warmth built underneath my hand and Luke’s bleeding stopped. A few seconds later, his eyes opened and I saw the instant he recognized me because pure terror glazed his eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you –”
He scrambled backwards, straight into Dylan, and his mouth opened but before he could scream I held out my hand and said, “Silence.” His mouth sealed shut and if it was possible he looked even more terrified, and I stared at my hand in surprise. I hadn’t really thought that would work. Magic wasn’t my gift, I was a wolf shifter, but somehow, something had changed. I slowly opened and closed my hand as Dylan watched me, his gaze surprisingly observant.
The engine rumbled closer, close enough now I could see headlights, and hear as it started to slow down, no doubt seeing the wrecked vehicle. “Stay quiet, okay?” I asked and Dylan sat down next to Luke with a thump, his lips pressed together. “I’m not going to do to you what I did to him,” I tried to reassure him, but it didn’t seem to help and I sighed. “Okay, good job terrifying people, Dru.”
The 4×4 vehicle rolled to a stop and three men got out, the headlights turning them into shadows and the wind blew away from me so I couldn’t detect their scent. Friend or foe, I had no idea until I heard a single word whispered on the wind, “Dru.”
I was on my feet without realizing it. “Caleb.” I started to run, sliding down the embankment and he was there, catching me. “Caleb,” I whispered again, burying my face into his neck. “You’re here.” Strong arms wrapped around me, cradling me gently.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded, the words stuck in my throat.
“Dylan! Dylan,” I heard someone cry out and I lifted my head. “Dylan, are you here?”
I pointed to the trees and the other guy launched himself up the hill. “He’s okay?” Caleb asked and I nodded again. “I had no idea you were in that truck,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “We were trying to save Dylan.”
“Luck,” I croaked and his arms tightened around me.
“Fate,” he corrected and I couldn’t exactly argue.
Dylan, Monster and Luke made their way back down to the road as the other guy with them walked up to me and Caleb. He dipped his head to me and I managed a wan smile. The night was catching up to me, the power I’d used saving Dylan and crashing the truck, revealing it’s toll and I swayed, only upright because Caleb held me. “Okay, we need to get you home,” he decided, scooping me up.
“What do we do with him?” Trent pointed to Luke, who stared at us, his lips sealed shut. “He won’t say anything.”
“Bring him,” I murmured and Caleb shrugged.
“You heard her,” he stated and Trent dragged Luke toward the Jeep. Once there, it was quickly apparent there were not enough seats to go around. Monster and Dylan came to the side of the Jeep, as Trent stuffed Luke in the back and Caleb climbed in, settling me on his lap.
“We’ll run,” Monster stated, solving the seating problem but Caleb glared at him to my surprise.
“Straight home,” he ordered them and Monster nodded, not speaking. “I mean it, Theo.” He nodded again and Caleb leaned back, waving his hand for them to go. Exhaustion overtook me and my head started to drift forward and I jerked, forcing myself to stay awake. “Easy, Dru. I’ve got you.” Caleb’s bright blue eyes met mine. “Sleep. I won’t let anything happen to you.” I nodded, trusting him to take care of me, as my body shut down, no longer able to function now that the adrenaline had worn off.
Trent hopped into the driver’s seat as Luke sat in the back, staring in horrified fascination as Monster and Dylan shifted into wolves and took off to the woods. I rested my head against Caleb as Trent made a wide circle, taking us back the way we came, and finally closed my eyes as the tires rumbled on the road.
***
I woke up to bright sunshine and a warm body curled around mine. I didn’t need to see him to know Caleb had stayed with me, his presence a comforting blanket. I stretched my toes, awed by the softness of the sheets. I raised my hand to my face, frowning when I saw blood and dirt crusted on it, and scrambled out of the clean, soft bed.
