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Hands grasped my arms, pulling me up, and I tried twisting away but the hands didn’t budge as I was marched to a house separated from the others. The door opened as we came up the steps and I swallowed as I saw the woman standing there.

“Sam,” the man holding me said and there was an odd note to his voice. Sam gave him a kind smile as she reached for me.

“Dylan, thank you for bringing her to me,” she spoke softly, guiding me to her side and as I turned to see the man who’d brought me to her, I saw why.

“They were mean,” he told her, frowning and she nodded. “But I wasn’t,” he assured her and she smiled.

“I know you weren’t. You’re too much of a gentleman.”

A pleased smile broke out across his face, the distinctive shape of his eyes giving away the fact that he had Down syndrome.

“You’re such a help to us,” she continued and he puffed with pride. “You’ll stay nearby tonight, won’t you?”

He nodded eagerly and Sam gave him a smile of thanks as she gently ushered me inside.

“How did they get you?”

“School,” I garbled, pain arcing through my face as I spoke.

“The bastards,” Sam snarled as she guided me to a barstool. “Let me see,” she insisted, her fingers prodding my cheek where I’d been slapped. “Doesn’t look broken, but we can’t be sure without an x-ray.” She tilted my head to peer into my mouth. “You bit your cheek.” I yanked my head away and eyed her.

“You’re not going to lick me are you?”

She gave me a bemused stare and shook her head.

“Only shifters can heal with their saliva.” She backed away and I saw the worry she’d been hiding. “He’ll come for you.” I nodded, my own fear threatening to overwhelm me now. It wasn’t fear for myself though, but fear for Dominic, Caleb, and the others who would come and fight. “We can’t let him, not now. They’ll be slaughtered,” she said matter of fact as I stared at her. “Can we get a message to them? Your phone?”

“Thrown out the window by the sheriff,” I told her and she sat down hard in the stool next to me.

“You didn’t mate with him,” she stated and I shook my head even though I didn’t need to. She already knew. Rage flickered through me, stealing my breath as it was quickly followed by a sharp despair. Sam eyed me curiously and I attempted to explain the sudden emotions. Excitement surged through her as I spoke and she grabbed my shoulders, shaking me lightly.

“Focus on them. It’s Dom,” she told me, a desperate light in her eyes.

“But,” I tried to protest and she shook her head.

“Did he mark you in any way? Share something with you? You smell like him. I recognize his scent and it coats you almost like a mate. Somehow, you’re connected to him. Maybe….maybe it’s enough to save you both.” Fragile hope lit her eyes and I wasn’t willing to destroy it so I focused.

“Don’t come here. Don’t come here,” I muttered over and over, focusing as hard as I could until abruptly the emotion was gone and I sagged against Sam.

“You think it was enough?” I whispered against her shoulder as she cradled me to her.

“I don’t know,” she answered, her voice catching. “We can hope.”

I closed my eyes, wondering if I’d saved him at the expense of myself. Sam shoved me back and my eyes flew open.

“We don’t have much time,” she told me sharply and I noticed the room was dimmer than it had been. The sun must be setting; I thought distractedly, my eyes searching for a clock.

“They’ll fight over who gets you first and since the alpha enjoys the fights he’ll egg them on,” Sam informed me, going to the door as we heard a knock. She cracked it and then opened it wider as she determined who it was. “Well?”

“We brought out several whisky bottles,” the small woman confirmed, eyeing me curiously. “They protested, but once Lily opened one and took a swig, they all started to drink.” I stared at the woman who spoke, equally curious. She was tiny and brown. I blinked at her, but again all I could think was she was brown. Brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin and the way she kept her head tilted down made me think of a small bird.

“Thank you, Wren,” Sam told her and I started, thinking Sam had somehow read my mind about the bird comment. “You were brave to do this.”

“Can she help us?” Wren whispered, her gaze equal parts hopeful and disbelieving. I couldn’t blame her, I wasn’t sure I could save myself, much less anyone else here.

“She’s part of the plan,” Sam reassured her. “We have to stay focused now.” Wren nodded and slipped back out the door and I lifted my eyebrow at Sam, wincing when the movement hurt.