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It seems incomprehensible. Up ahead, I catch a glimpse of the man behind it all. He’s shouting instructions, not quite so smug anymore.
“Take what you can! Move on out to the vehicles!” There’s no doubting what they’re here for. They came ready for a fight, taking us by surprise. Right beside him stands Raura, looking bewildered. She jerks as someone grabs her.
Rage surges through me, scalding and raw. I bare my fangs, a growl building in my chest. Before I can move, Jagger’s commanding roar cuts through the chaos.
“Get the non-combatants out of here! Fall back to the residential sector and seal it off!” His deep baritone is sharp and commanding. I catch sight of him through the press of bodies, partially shifted and radiating an aura of power. His dark eyes burn with determination. With a few terse gestures, he deploys a team to sweep the adjacent halls and hustle our people to safety.
Safety!
Cedara can’t get to safety!
My mate is locked in the cells, trapped there, far too close to the gunfight. And there are more of Parker’s men pouring out of the awaiting parked vehicles not far off. If they split up and spread out, the chances of them finding her are too damned high. If those men breach the holding cells…
I let out a roar, fangs bared as my wolf rages for blood. I can’t allow that to happen. I won’t! The beast in me howls for vengeance against those who would threaten my female, but the man within knows where my true duty lies.
I can’t abandon the fight.
I already made that mistake once. I won’t do it again.
I spot an armed bodyguard lining up his sights on where Callum is wrestling with another guard nearby and propel myself at him. I hit him like a charging bull; he’s a giant of a man, honed and battle-hardened, but even though he fights like an animal, he’s no match for a half-shifted wolf.
The gun flies wide, and we roll on the floor. There’s a knife in his hand, the blade gleaming wickedly. As it rakes across my bicep, I realize it’s tipped with silver. It doesn’t slow me. If anything, I’m even more enraged. Bones crunch, and he screams as I sink my fangs into his shoulder, getting a grip around his throat with both hands. With a vicious twist, his neck snaps. His body goes limp against me, and I shove him away. But it’s not enough to settle the anxiety within me. Bullets fly by as I quickly dart for cover again, making me more aware of the danger that may be heading Cedara’s way.
Warring instincts wage a furious battle within me as I rake my eyes across the battle. My pack brothers trade savage blows, holding their own against the onslaught of armed guards. Their bodies are a blur of fur, fangs, and spraying blood. But every time my gaze strays towards the cellblock, panic rises.
Cedara needs me. She’s alone and defenseless down there. If I don’t get to her…
The thought is unthinkable. My instincts scream at me to protect her at all costs, no matter what.
I force myself to focus, picking out Jagger amidst the chaos. Our Alpha is a whirlwind of fury, shouting orders as he expertly marshals our defenses. For a brief instant, his gaze meets mine.
“Cedara!” I bellow, putting every ounce of urgency and desperation I can muster into that single word.
Understanding flashes across his face. “Go!” he roars back. “We’ve got this!”
That’s all I need to hear. Gathering myself, I spin on my heel and charge down the corridor toward the holding cells, moving with an urgency that allows for no hesitation.
I’m coming for you. Hold on!
Chapter 29
Cedara
The sound of gunfire shatters the tense silence. My heart leaps into my throat as my mother gasps, “What’s going on?”
I shake my head, eyes wide with terror. I have no idea, but my instincts are screaming danger. Shouts and the thunderous pounding of footsteps echo down the corridor outside the cell.
My mother clutches at the bars, peering out anxiously. “Cedara, I don’t like this. Something is very wrong.”
My pulse races as the unmistakable scent of blood wafts under the door. The metallic tang ignites my wolf, making my muscles tense as if readying for battle.
Roars filter through the walls now, mingling with the sounds of fighting. Through the bars, I reach for my mother’s arm urgently. “Mom, you need to get out of here. Now!”
She opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off sharply. “Please, just go! Get back to the town, to safety. I’ll be okay.”
“No! I’m not leaving you here alone. I won’t!”
The sound of boots against the concrete floor jolts me from my frantic pleading.
