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A shiver runs down my spine and I close my eyes, remembering her love and kindness and the light that followed her wherever she went.
Even when I’d shown up at the accident site before she took her final breaths, she smiled for me. Told me that everything would be okay and that I wouldn’t always feel so alone. She cared more about me in those final moments than she did for herself.
Tears sting at my eyes and I squeeze them closed, taking a shuddering breath. But without something to focus my gaze on, all I can see is the two-by-four that pierced through the windshield of Cara’s car and went right through my mate’s stomach.
There was nothing her wolf healing could do. She’d lost too much blood by the time I’d arrived, only seconds before the ambulance. Even if I’d removed the obstruction, we both knew.
I shake my head, demanding the memory to leave my thoughts. Instead, I focus on her blonde hair, light-blue eyes, and olive skin, remembering her wide smile and the dimples on her cheeks that were almost always present.
I recall her laugh and the way it warmed my heart unlike anything else on this Earth ever has. The way her touch branded me until I no longer belonged to myself, but to her.
My wolf makes a rumbling noise that feels a lot like acceptance. He doesn’t want us to move on. He wants to live in the memory of Cara.
For a long time, that was all I wanted, too. I never wished to be without her, but it’s been fourteen years of being on the run from life. Yes, I’ve been living, but I haven’t truly been alive.
I spend my days and nights protecting others or hunting down those who wish to do harm. I have no home. No pack. No family. Hell, I barely even have a wolf.
While my co-workers have been a decent substitute for a pack, it’s not the same and never will be. Speaking of work…
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I groan. The only reason it ever rings is when I’m being summoned for another job, but they know I’m supposed to be off the clock right now. Meaning whatever this is, it’s important.
With reluctance, I answer. “Yeah?”
“Kyler, it’s Maciah.”
Well, shit. He rarely calls himself anymore. This must be more than important.
“What can I do for you, Maciah?” I ask, my eyes focused on my mate’s name as I await his answer, surprisingly excited about the prospect of another job.
There’s a brief pause before he speaks again. “Listen, I know you’re blocked out for personal time right now and I understand how important these days are to you and I wouldn’t call if it weren’t important.”
This is why I’ve been one of the protectors for as long as I have. Yes, we work long hours and put ourselves at risk every time we go out, but the people behind us care. Maciah isn’t my alpha—he’s not even a wolf shifter—but he’s possibly as close as I’ll ever get to one again.
“It’s okay,” I say. “What do you need?”
“We have a situation with a pack in South Carolina,” he replies sharply. “The alpha is missing and the beta has been found murdered. The family trying to take over is one we’ve had our eye on for a while now and, well, it’s complicated to the point I can’t fully explain, but we need more help.”
“So, you need me and some others to go in and neutralize the situation?” I ask since he isn’t really saying, which has my curiosity piqued even more.
“Not exactly.” He’s quiet again before continuing. “We need you to go in by yourself, extract one particular wolf shifter, get her to safety, and then return with a group of other protectors, depending on what we learn between now and then.”
My fingers tap over the back of the phone. I want to ask who this wolf shifter is and why she’s so special to be pulled out alone, but I know it’s not my job to ask questions. I trust Maciah with my life and I do what he asks, simple as that. Yet I can’t help but think I’m missing something crucial.
“What do I need to know about the shifter?” I ask, hoping that’s the best way to get him to elaborate without me being intrusive.
“Her name is Sophie,” he begins. “She doesn’t belong in South Carolina any longer, but it’s where she’s from. She was warned to stay away, but we have reason to believe she didn’t listen and is nearly to the pack now. You’re the closest protector we have in the area and we need you to intercept her before she blows everything up.”
“How can one girl do that?” I can’t help myself. I need to know more.
He chuckles and the sound doesn’t bode well for me. “She’s not just ‘one girl.’ Sophie has been fighting for her life since she was sixteen. Don’t underestimate her. The family taking over the pack would like to see her dead and Dawsyn from East Texas will start a war if that happens.”
“Am I safe to assume Sophie is one of their wolves?” Though if that’s the case, I’m not sure why Roman didn’t just force her to stay. I know that pack well and they’re not to be messed with even on their worst days.
“Technically,” he says, then adds, “It’s complicated. How soon can you get to the pack down there and stop her from showing her face?”
I glance at Cara’s headstone and frown. Normally, I’m here for hours, but oddly enough, I’m ready to go and hate myself for admitting that.
And considering the growl I get from my wolf, so does he.
