Page 18 of A Luna's Revenge (Stone Mountain Shifters)

Jenson

"What was that?" I yell as an explosion rocks the building. Before I can react, a portion of the ceiling comes crashing down. A dust plume rises as I shake my head to clear it. Blood streams down my face. Wiping my eyes with my sleeve, I look around to survey the damage. It's bad, but it could be worse. Alpha Commander shouts and digs at the ceiling structure covering most of the floor. Goddess! Where is Charlie? Where she had been standing mere minutes before is now a pile of rubble. Getting to my feet, I shout, "Charlie!" and frantically dig.

"Roland got her out!" Alpha Commander yells. "Help me get the rest of the Alphas free!" He orders. Compelled by his command, I join him and dig. But my thoughts are only on Charlie. I hope she is okay. I still feel that itch, but it’s decreasing.

We manage to dig everyone out. Alpha Stone is the only one who sustained severe injuries. Alpha Commander throws him over his shoulders, and with everyone accounted for, we start for the exit.

I mind link my Beta. "Ben! Are you okay?"

I get a weak reply. "Help."

"I’ve to go get my Beta," I yell. "He's in trouble." While everyone else clamors down the stairs, I race to the opposite end of the corridor.

"I'll help you!" I hear footfalls behind me and see Alpha Rowan. The hallway is a mess, as most of the roof on this side appears to have caved in. The building seems to be tilted this way slightly as well. This is precarious. I make it to the conference room. "Ben!" I see a hand waving amongst the debris. Thankfully, he is just under some ceiling tiles. His head is bleeding, and he seems dazed. "Was anyone else in here?" I ask. He shakes his head. Rowan helps me lift him across my shoulders in the fireman's carry position. He sags in my arms, out cold.

"The damage looks worse on this side of the building," I shout over the alarms going off. "We should probably go back to the other side to descend."

He nods in agreement. The smoke is becoming increasingly thick. I watch as Alpha Rowan removes his jacket, rips the lining free, and tosses the coat aside. He makes a mask for me and himself. With no further time to spare, he ties the mask on me and yells, "Get going!" As I run down the hall, he is behind me, tying his mask on as we go.

We reach the stairs, and I am infinitely grateful for the mask he fashioned as smoke and dust billow up the stairwell. Rowan has another piece of cloth in his hand, and as we pause in the doorway, he drapes it over Ben's head and ties it hastily.

"I'll go first," he says. As we enter theblack cloud, the song Highway to Hell by AC/DC runs on a loop in my brain.