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“No problem. The others are already starting to leave and we’re going to head out,” Jeremy says, and we follow him back to the van. “Let’s go home.”
“He took the girl,” I say, gripping my fist tightly.
“The shelter’s safe. We can’t chase after one person. Especially when he’s taking her somewhere that’s so dangerous.”
Everyone climbs inside the van except me. They’ll be heading to the hunter’s base in Mexico, which is somewhere I never want to go, but Bea needs me.
My pulse is racing from adrenaline, and I’m not ready to give up yet. “I’ll see you all back home.”
I can’t ask my congregation to follow me on a suicide mission for someone who isn’t my mate. I’ll have to go it alone if I want to get her back. Bea’s truck is in the parking lot, and I run back inside, hoping her keys are here. Once I’ve located them, I jump into the vehicle and drive as fast as I can. They’ve got at least a ten-minute head start, and I need to catch up.
Leaving Texas behind, I make my way through Mexico with no sign of them. The sun’s up as I’m approaching the Gulf, and because we’ve been doing a background check on Carlos, I already know where I’m heading. I park the truck out of sight and shift so I can watch from the riverside. Unless Colt drove like a maniac, I doubt they’ve beaten me here. The gate to the Gulf pack is locked. I hope I never have to go inside.
It’s not long before another truck shows up and Colt climbs out to open the gate. While he’s distracted, I shift into human form and approach the back of the vehicle. We’re off the main track so nobody will see me naked. Bea’s tied up in the cargo bed. I open the tailgate and help her out. She has a cloth in her mouth, which I loosen.
“Move away from my mate,” Colt shouts once he’s seen me.
“You didn’t want her, so I thought I’d take her off your hands,” I say. If I keep him talking, maybe I can buy myself some time.
“She’s a wolf and mine. River rats don’t get to be with pedigrees like her,” he says. Hatred is laced in his words.
“What about me? What about what I want?” Bea asks. I untie the rope and she untangles herself. I glance at her and then toward the water, hoping she understands my hidden message. We need to get out of here, and the river is our best option.
“You’ve done enough damage. Just get inside the fort and we can finally talk about our future.” He moves towards us.
“No, Colt. I’m leaving with Knox. We both need to move on from our toxic relationship.” We take a step closer to the water.
“You can’t choose him. I won’t let you.” He makes a grab for Bea, but I push her to the side. We both fall to the ground and fight for control. He comes out on top and punches me in the jaw. The pain is numbed by my need to get away from him.
Bea pulls him off me and his elbow catches her face. She yells out in pain, and I use their moment of distraction to roll over. I get to my feet just as the gate to the compound swings open.
“What is going on here?” Carlos says, with a shotgun pointing in our direction.
Chapter Eight
BEA
“You’ve lost your mind,” I say to Colt once we’re alone in his room.
“Is it because you want children?” Colt asks. “I’ll give you children if you want them.” He paces the space at the bottom of the bed where I sit. He seems in less control than usual, and it’s disturbing.
“This is about you and me. Fate got it wrong when it put us together. We’re not a good fit, so just let me go.”
“We don’t get to choose our mates. The truth is already written.” He takes off his shirt. Usually, I’d swoon at seeing his body, but things have changed. I’m different now.
“What are you doing?” I put my arms on the bed so I can move away.
“I’m finally going to give you what you want.” He reaches for his buckle as he walks to the side of the bed.
“Have you been listening to a word I’ve said? Stop.” I put my hands up in protest.
“I make your pulse quicken, and I can smell your arousal.” He pulls his belt off.
“Maybe in the past, but not now. I don’t want you.” My voice comes out strange, and he pauses to study me. I don’t give him time to convince me further before I kick him hard in the nuts.
He doubles over in pain and curses first in Spanish then in English. “Perra. You bitch.”
I make a run for the door, and he grabs my hair. “Ouch.” My scalp screams with pain as the hair feels like it’s being pulled out of my head.
