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I turn to the door and steel my shoulder, then ram it into the wooden surface. It groans and splinters in response, rushing open in a wide swing.
A burst of rain and wind slams into me, blustering wildly, snatching at my clothes and hair, howling.
The storm booms overhead, darkening the world, as though night has arrived early to claim the land.
A small clearing of grass stands between us and the array of homes surrounding the large cobblestone courtyard where most of the pack lives.
Bardhyl growls and shoves past me, leaping into the field, sprinting toward the rear of the homes that back onto the woods. Exactly where we need to go.
Meira’s hand glides into mine. “Let’s go,” she says, determination fierce on her gorgeous face. Blood and dirt stain her cheeks and chin, her dark hair a mess, but to me, she is still beyond perfect.
We both rush outside into the wild weather battering into us, rains drenching us in seconds, icy cold against my skin. There’s no one around, the commotion from earlier coming from the front of the compound. As much as I want to explore and find out what the heck Meira did, I can’t risk being seen.
Gravel crunches under our feet as we hurry past the first few small houses and follow the narrow trail behind the homes to our right. Meira keeps up, her gaze sweeping over the woods to our left.
The alarm bell from the rear of the settlement is going off, and my skin crawls. They will definitely be scouring the area, and they aren’t stupid, so they’ll know it’s Meira. My mind strays to leaving Dušan behind, except I can’t risk Meira’s life.
Get her to safety, then I’ll return and find my Alpha.
Running, Bardhyl takes a sudden swing right into a small backyard with a tiny vegetable garden, and he charges up to the back door, where he turns. He waits for us, his ears pressed to his head with impatience.
“Is this Kinley’s place?” Meira asks. “Why are we here? We can’t endanger her. We can’t be here.”
“Trust me, gorgeous, Kinley’s got the best way out of here and only we know about it.”
She looks worried, but I don’t have time to explain this out here.
I step past Bardhyl and open the door. Kinley’s house is rarely locked.
We rush inside, where there’s heat in the house, coupled with a fire stove burning in the kitchen we just stepped into. I lock the door behind us.
“Who’s there?” Kinley’s soft voice calls out from the main room, and I go in first, scanning the dimly lit living room to ensure she’s alone, which she is. Curtains cover the windows, the small fireplace spitting embers against the metal grill in the fireplace. Kinley sits in her chair by a small table piled high with books, her teapot, and cup. She wears her hair short for convenience. She’s paralyzed from the legs down. Like Meira, she’s also half-human, half-wolf. A rogue wolf attacked her during her first change, and it was her fated mate’s wolf energy that saved her from dying when her own wolf broke out of her. The rogue wolf severed her nerves and she lost the feeling in her legs. It’s a fucking tragic story, but she’s alive and we’re grateful we still have her.
“It’s me, Lucien. I’ve got Bardhyl and Meira with me,” I say in a lowered voice, moving forward to collect several logs from the basket and toss them onto the dwindling flames.
“Why are you all here?” Her voice cracks and worry taints her words. She blinks over at Bardhyl and Meira as they enter the room, and a smile splits her mouth. “Everyone’s looking for you, girl.”
Smiling, Meira makes her way across the room and kneels next to her, taking her hand. “Someone had to save these Alphas.”
Kinley laughs, and she pats Meira’s hand.
Bardhyl is pacing back and forth near the door, keeping guard. Being here is risky… Anywhere in the settlement is with Mad in charge.
“I experienced my first change,” Meira tells Kinley, who gasps with startled excitement, then scans my gorgeous babe head to toe.
“And everything’s all right?”
“Yes. I think. I’m not too sure yet, but I’m not dead, so that’s a bonus.”
I trace the curve of Meira’s body, searching for anything to show she’s not fully recovered after her first transformation. The way she talks is like she’s not convinced yet she’s healed. A chill slides down my back at the thought that she hasn’t told us everything yet.
Bardhyl gives a short growl, grabbing my attention while the two women talk. I head over to him just as electricity skips down my arm. His body begins contorting, stretching, growing. The familiar sound of bones cracking and skin popping fills the room. Before I step back, he’s standing in his human form, naked as a doorknob. There’s way too much cock on show for my liking.
“Put it the hell away,” I snap as I turn my back to him, smirking because I love getting him all riled up.
“Bardhyl,” Kinley says. “In my bedroom, I have spare clothes in the cupboard. Always have spares.”
He doesn’t say anything but marches across the room and vanishes into the hallway. I don’t miss Meira staring at the big guy, at his nakedness on display, or the way her eyes glint at seeing him exposed.
