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“Tori, baby, deep breaths. Everything’s going to be okay.” Ridge’s concerned voice was a beacon, calling me back to the forefront of my mind.
Ridge curled his hand around the back of my neck, his thumb tracing circles on my skin. I inhaled deeply and let his scent overtake me. Kyle’s scent was also in the mix because Ridge couldn’t let him go while he tried to soothe me.
“What the fuck’s wrong with her?” Kyle’s tone held a trace of concern, but his wording pissed Ridge off.
“There’s nothing wrong with her,” Ridge snarled at him. “She’s perfect.”
Sensing the brewing argument, I focused on Ridge’s scent, on the sound of his beating heart, and I jumped in, not wanting a battle to begin between the two men while I had such a tentative grasp on my wolf.
“We don’t have time for this,” I panted. “The hunters might’ve called in for reinforcements. We need to get out quickly because we’ll have less than an hour’s head start.”
Steadying my hold and thanking my wolf for calming down, I staggered back up to Zander and tried waking him again, but nothing I did worked. He was unconscious and needed medical attention ASAP.
Audrey rushed into the room behind Ridge, Diana lying limp over her shoulder.
I rushed across the room. “Oh my God! Diana?”
“She’s okay, she’s breathing. They gave her too much of the sedative. The shitbag Ridge is holding onto says it’s some kind of reaction, but she’ll wake up,” Audrey explained. “We need to get her out of here. Clawson has locked the hunters in the cells they kept us in.” Audrey eyed my brother and sneered. “Maybe we should lock up the cute one, too.” She lifted her lip in disdain, looking like she was ready to take a bite out of him.
Ridge looked at me and cocked his head, allowing me to decide. He eyed me closely, and I wondered if he realized who Kyle was to me. I dreaded having that conversation with him, but I’d have to deal with that later.
Bringing myself back to the present, I studied my brother. I didn’t know him the way I used to. It’d be easier for us to leave him here at the compound, but what he’d said in the hospital wouldn’t stop playing out in my head. He’d warned me that he wouldn’t let me go next time. If we took him now, maybe I wouldn’t have to deal with that potential outcome.
Essentially, he was the one who'd made it about him or me, and when it came to me, that meant Ridge, Diana, Margo, Audrey, and all of Blackwood Creek. It was about all of them.
“We should hang onto him as insurance against the hunters if they do come after us.” I glared at my brother with disgust. “They won’t want to lose this one.”
I hoped to God that Kyle and I weren’t so disconnected that he couldn’t read that I was telling him to keep his mouth shut. I wasn’t ready for everyone to learn of my parentage. Once they realized I was a hunter leader’s kid, I’d no longer be welcomed in Blackwood Creek, and it was imperative right now to defend that town. They’d need me, or rather, they needed the knowledge I could bring to the town defenses. When they didn’t need me anymore, I’d disappear—no matter how much it would hurt me.
Clawson, wearing hunter clothing, came into the room. He took one look at Zander and slung him over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Not needing to be told twice, we moved out of the building like a unit, making our way back through the front entrance to get to the hidden SUV.
Scanning the deserted area, I caught sight of a building with a sign over the door labeled SUPPLIES.
“You guys keep going. I’ll be right behind you.” I clutched my side and slowly jogged off toward the building.
“Dammit, Tori, get back here,” Ridge ordered.
Looking over my shoulder, I said, “Trust me.” Then I blew him a kiss while he cursed and tightened his hold on my brother.
Without looking back, I went into the building and raided it for all its worth. The building had rows and rows of shelves with various clothing and rations, and when I spied a wall filled with tactical gear, weapons, tranquilizers, and shifter drugs, I nearly gave a decidedly girly squeal.
Glancing around, I found a bag and started filling it with weapons. We needed to learn exactly what the hunters had to use against us, so I grabbed one of each. Once the bag was full, I checked out the pills marked “Spelled Capsules.” I paid attention to the shape, size, and color of what was labeled, ensuring I kept them from getting mixed up later. Then I found the injections used to knock shifters out. That’d be a great formula to have. I grabbed a bunch of them. It wouldn’t hurt to use them against the hunters if needed.
“Ahh.” Wincing, I lifted the heavy bag and put the strap over my shoulder. My side throbbed as I tried to maintain my balance with the heavy weight. Placing my hand over my side, I exited the building and stopped when I noticed everybody was still waiting for me.
They started moving as soon as they spotted me, and I hurried to catch up.
Clawson and I had concealed the car well, so it took a little longer than I would’ve liked to get back to it. Once there, we loaded Diana and Zander in the back.
Pulling out one of the pre-loaded syringes, I turned to Kyle. “Sit down.”
He glanced at the syringe and sat down without a fight, knowing what was coming. I injected him in the neck, and he was out cold within seconds.
“Aren’t you worried the drug might hurt a regular human?” Ridge asked as Clawson and Audrey watched me.
“Hunters aren’t regular humans,” I explained. “They’re enhanced through witch magic to match shifters’ strength, speed, and power. He’ll be fine. He’ll wake up groggy and possibly with a headache. Plus, after what he did to you? To us? No, I’m not worried.”
