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She shook her head as a tear broke free. "It's not going to be okay. Nothing is going to be okay."
She wiped at her eyes. He pulled her into his arms, giving her a hug. She held tightly onto him.
He brushed his hand over her hair, softly rocking her. He swallowed, suddenly realizing if he hadn't come, Opal wouldn't be there. He wouldn't have known where she was taken.
That thought ripped him up. If he'd stayed at the house, Opal would have been in more danger than she was. He knew she knew that.
He looked at the two guys. He could get the police inside the building, but he didn't know how that would end. Were the authorities aware of shifters in this town? Did the community know about them?
But he had other questions he wanted answers to. Just who were these people? And what did they want with Opal?
SIXTEEN
OPAL
Her fingers, hands, and limbs were still shaky from the adrenaline. If Benton hadn’t been holding on to her, she would’ve been on the ground, unable to move.
As he rocked them, she placed her chin on Benton’s shoulder and shuttered, thinking about the blood and bodies. It was so unnecessary. The carnage and violence were a waste of valuable shifters and their resources.
Opal wasn’t powerful enough to lead all the streaks in the surrounding territories, but Troy and Reba needed to be taken down even faster now.
She remembered what it was like being in their thrall. There was little she could do except follow their lead, even if she hated their orders.
Opal didn’t blame those shifters for attacking her or kidnapping her either. Although the attack wasn’t going into her family newsletter, she understood those shifters probably had no control over their choices.
Many of Troy and Reba’s people weren’t allowed to have free will.
Opal had to shake off her anxiety and put on a strong face for the staff. At least the ones who were newer. When she was alone with Violet, she would let some emotions out. At least a little bit.
The cogs of her mind began to spin as she planned what to say to the police, her staff, and Benton. This definitely wasn’t something to be embarrassed about, but Opal couldn’t help but be a little ashamed it had happened.
She should have been able to protect her people better. Troy and Reba did this as a power move.
Opal would have to show them, and her people, that no one had power over them.
“You all right?” Benton loosened his hold on her, and she stepped back a bit, glancing around.
“No, but I will be. I’m unsure how, but we will pull everything back together.” Opal lifted her gaze to meet his.
“I can help you.”
“Thanks.” Opal took Benton’s hand. “I know you will.”
Opal tried to steady herself, but Benton could see that her legs were still wobbly. “Hey.” He pushed a strand of hair away from her face. “If you need a few minutes, take them.”
Opal would have loved to, but she needed to get inside. As she opened her mouth to say so, Violet came rushing around the building. Two officers were following her, albeit much slower.
“Oh, my goodness! Where have you been? What’s going on?” Violet threw her arms around Opal’s neck.
“I’ll be right back,” Benton said as Violet comforted her. Opal watched him jog to his bike and pull out clothes from his bag and quickly dress. Yes, her mate needed to have his junk covered. No other woman would see him naked and live if her tiger had anything to say about it.
“It’s okay. I’m okay.” Opal wrapped her arms around Violet’s back.
“No, you’re not. Look at you. You’re a mess. All ripped up. Bloody knuckles.” Violet pulled away and pointed to all the scuffs, dirt, and blood over Opal’s body.
“Take comfort in the fact that it’s not all mine.” Opal squeezed Violet’s hand and turned to Benton as he hurried back to them. “Benton’s my mate now. And he helped me.”
Opal watched Benton’s eyes spark alive when she said it. It was the one bright spot in the mess of everything else.
