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I stared into the dark where Dom had disappeared, my heart thumping heavily as sick fear poured through me. Monster was still screaming so I gave him a hard shake, whispering in his ear, “Dom went to get him.”

His screams abruptly cut off and the silence that followed would haunt my nightmares. We waited, all of us frozen in the silent forest, for Dom to appear. Minutes ticked by with not a single sound, and it was as if the entire world had disappeared. The earlier howls were gone, not even a rustle to indicate where they might be. As each minute stretched, it became harder to breath as fear consumed me.

Trent’s head swiveled, his ears up as he stared at a spot that looked just like every other dark space in this hellish forest, at least to me. Anna followed his lead a moment later, shoving him so she could see, and he let her. Some of the icy fear encasing me thawed at their movements. They were alert but not worried. I reached for the bond I shared with Dom, the one that had disconnected the second he decided to go after Dylan, and after a few seconds, I was able to feel him. Relief made my knees weak and I plopped down on my butt, my hands loosening around Monster as a cacophony of noise erupted around us.

Monster rushed forward as an enormous wolf skidded into the clearing, an even larger black wolf on his heels. He flung his arms around the sable colored wolf without hesitation, burying his face in the thick fur. Dom limped over to me, his wet nose nudging my ear right before his tongue swiped across my cheek, licking up the tears.

“Eww,” I mumbled no heat in my voice as I wrapped my arms around him. “Don’t ever do that again,” I commanded as his hot breath washed over the mark on my neck. I felt his wordless agreement through the bond and pressed my head more firmly against his neck. “Let’s go home.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

It was long walk back to the motel as exhaustion weighed me down. Monster rode on Dylan’s back and Payne carried Nicky. Trent and Anna remained in wolf form but kept a wary distance from each other. I stumbled along, using Dom as a crutch at times as he led us home.

Three people stood at the edge of the motel, their eyes glued to the forest and as we appeared, one of them broke away, running straight for Payne and the little boy in his arms. She crashed straight into them as Nicky cried, “Mommy.” Payne wrapped his free arm around Sam as she hugged them both, her tears drenching them.

The other two figures started toward us and Dylan started to growl when Dad approached. Monster patted his head, telling him it was okay and Dylan let Dad lift him off his back.

“Dylan,” Wren said hesitantly, her hand held out cautiously. He sniffed it and after a minute, head-butted her hand, allowing her to smooth his ruffled fur.

“He’s injured,” I told her as Dom leaned against me. We used the weight of our bodies to hold one another up. I knew Dom was hurt and needed to shift to heal, but I wasn’t ready to let him go yet. “Is Leah still here?”

Wren nodded, sniffing as she wiped her eyes, and my Dad laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned her head toward him slightly and a smile tugged on her mouth when she saw Monster, his copper hair sticking up everywhere. She smoothed her hand over his head, the motion jerky and quick as if she was afraid of our reaction.

“Come on, let’s get them inside,” Dad said, his tone comforting as he indicated she should follow him. “Leah is waiting.”

They walked off, Monster in Dad’s arms as Dylan walked between him and Wren. Sam and Payne had taken Nicky to the motel already, checking him over carefully. I sank down to the ground, almost too tired to stand and murmured, “Shift,” against Dom’s fur. I kept my eyes closed as warm skin replaced course fur and his arms wrapped around me.

“I came too close to losing you tonight,” he rumbled, his head buried against my neck.

“Ditto,” I managed to mutter, my fingers curling into his back, my nails biting into his skin. He didn’t seem to mind as he tightened his arms around me.

“Hate to interrupt but we have other issues,” Trent mentioned casually, his voice right above us. I carefully opened my eyes just in case he was standing there naked but he had on loose shorts, another pair in his hand that he offered to Dom. I turned my head as Dom accepted them, standing easily now that he’d shifted and his injuries had healed.