AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Brie!”
“In here!” she yelled back. The panic in his voice mixed with rage, and she knew if she didn’t find him soon, he’d go wolf and destroy anyone in his way.
The scents around her were too obliterated by smoke and fire so she couldn’t scent if another wolf was nearby. But shewasthe Alpha female. She might be new, but she did have bonds with each and every wolf. She pushed out with her senses, trying to grasp for any bond that might be near. She felt Gideon coming and the others behind him, but she needed to focus on the others within—if there were any.
The threads were weak, ungrounded. She might have been mated in, but it would take time for those threads to strengthen.
There! There was one weak thread back in the kitchen area. Damn it. Someone must have come back.
“Brie, little wolf,” Gideon growled, and she turned quickly to see him running at her. He picked her up in a gentle grip, surprising her. She’d have thought he’d almost crush her by the rage in his eyes, but instead he was caring…loving. He set her down then ran his hands over her body. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“Big brother, feel up your mate at another time,” Brynn barked, then coughed. “We need to get out of here. The roof that hasn’t already fallen won’t hold for long.”
“There’s someone in the kitchen,” Brie shouted over the din. “I don’t know who it is, but I can feel the thread.”
Surprise lit Gideon’s eyes, and he nodded. “Ryder.”
“Got it,” the Heir said then made his way carefully to the back. They were risking their lives for their people, but she wouldn’t have expected anything else.
Gideon picked her up and cradled her to his chest. “We need to go.”
“What about the others?” she asked, even as Gideon started moving. “The pups and maternals. Were we the only place that got hit?” Her heart raced. “I can walk, Gideon. Help the others. I’m fine.”
He shook his head and kept silent. Before she knew it, they were outside, and Walker was there.
“Where are you hurt?” the Healer asked.
“Put me down,” Brie growled. “I’m fine. Or I will be.” She looked around at the carnage, and her heart raced. “Help the others. There might be more trapped.”
“Got this one!” Ryder called, Olivia in his arms.
Olivia held her oddly bent arm to her chest and grimaced. “We needed more water for the trip. I don’t think anyone else was in there, but I don’t know.”
“Help Olivia,” Brie ordered Walker. “Gideon. Find everyone. Please. I’ll help with the small cuts and bruises,” she said, looking around at the others who were bleeding around her. The debris from the explosion must have gone far enough to injure some, but no one looked too bad off.
Gideon gave her a nod, an odd look in his eyes. “My brothers are searching for those who might be lost. I need to make sure they’re safe as well.”
Understanding filled her. Heneededto ensure his Pack was safe, but he couldn’t do that until he knew Brie was as well. Goddess, she totally got that. Gideon, even with as fragile a bond as they shared, was her priority as well.
“Go.”
He nodded again then started barking more orders. Brie quickly got to work, helping Walker where she could. Her family had taught her some triage, but she wasn’t an expert by any means.
Hours later, she was filthy, exhausted, and in need of her mate. However, from the looks of some of the wolves, she’d gained rank in their eyes. She felt so foolish for even thinking it. People had beenhurt. The only thing she could do was help. At least people saw that now.
It was a step—she only wished she could have made it another way.
Warm arms wrapped around her, and she sank into Gideon’s hold. “We’re going home.”
Not a question, but an order. One she’d gladly obey. She was exhausted anyway.
They made their way home in silence. It wasn’t an uncomfortable one, more like they had nothing to say that couldn’t wait until they were clean and sure the other one was safe.
He pulled her into the bathroom and stripped off her clothes then his. She let him care for her because they both needed it, but that didn’t stop her from checking out his arms and hands. He had small cuts and scrapes from where he’d moved beams and other debris away. He’d heal by morning, but she didn’t like seeing him hurt.
When he pulled her into the shower, he made sure the spray hit his back before it hit her. Her wolf, her mate, so caring.
He washed her hair, picking out the splinters and pieces of plaster, then he bent down so she could do the same to him. He had such soft, silky hair. The thick strands slid over her hands and arms when she rinsed the soap out. She loved the fact that it was so long. It wasn’t as long as hers, but longer than most of the men in the Pack. It fit him.
