Page 137 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“Felix is right. You are our best bet,” Dario says, showing me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “We will distract them.”

But what will they do to them when I run? What will happen to these two?

If I were an owl, I could just fly. I would fly directly to Ella and get help and save everyone.

The truck slows down, and we hurry to wrap the ties around our hands, pretending they never were gone, and put our blindfolds back on. Before my world turns black again, I can see how Felix has grasped his knife, hiding it in the waistband of his jeans.

The truck halts, doors open and close again, and the voices of the men transporting us become much clearer. They are coming closer. Next to me I can hear Felix’s breath going faster. I want to tell him not to do it, but I’m so nervous no sound leaves my lips.

The back of the truck gets opened again. One of them pulls Dario down first, then grabs me. There is rustling. Then I can suddenly feel Felix’s body move. Screams and yells echo throughout the area. I push myself up and tug the blindfolds off, noticing how Felix is struggling with one of the guards, a knife in his hand, while Dario is trying to tackle the man.

Our eyes meet.Run!He forms with his lips.

One part of me wants to stay and help, but the other knows I’m more useful in getting help at this point. I jump off the truck, kicking the guard holding Felix in his groin before dashing away. My heart races so fast, and I feel my body burning slightly. My senses seem to take over, the world around me getting sharper and more distinctive.

Behind me, I can hear footsteps, and further away someone screams in pain. That’s one of the boys! I pick up my pace. If I fail now, it will all be in vain. I won’t save anyone.

I can pick up a scent far ahead of me, one I know well. My instincts push forward, making me chase after it.

forty-four

Change of Plans II

*ELLA*

IcaneasilysenseDante’s worry through our bond. We have left our cars behind and are on our way over the small path we have scouted. It should lead us to the meeting point without being spotted from the street or somewhere else. Julianus and I walk on the main path while the others remain behind us. It’s eerily quiet, but I try to shake the sense of dread off, blaming it on my strained mind. The whole situation is clearly fucked up, so of course I am feeling eerie.

That is until I can feel a shift of mood around me. I turn around, gazing at the shadows the others are walking in to remain hidden. Nefeli’s senses are sharp and I can make out Liam and Elden. They have both stopped walking, their expressions confused at first, then pained. “Change of plan!” Liam growls.

“What?” Dante exclaims.

“The boys,” Liam states while Elden shifts into his majestic lycan and disappears into the darkness of the forest. Liam turns to Silas. “Please help Dante and Ella.”

Silas furrows his brows but nods. Before any of us can ask anything else, Liam has shifted into his strong lycan and follows his father, the darkness of the night swallowing him easily. Silas and Julianus remain quiet, scanning the forest ahead of us.

Silas furrows his brows. “Was that a scream?”

I thought werewolf senses work well, but those vampires are something else. Though it’s probably more Silas’s power as an ancient one. I shove that thought aside for now, though. If Liam and Elden just took off like that, it’s not a good sign. I let Nefeli come forward again to scan our surroundings. In the far distance, I swear I hear some noises.

“Okay, I heard it too!” I say.

Another low yell can be heard. “Oh fuck!” Dante curses.

“Follow me,” Silas instructs. “The girl is running!”

“Charlie?” I ask breathlessly.

“Yes, I can feel her presence,” he says, picking up his pace until he is running. We follow him hot on his heels. There is no use in being silent and stealthy anymore. Something went wrong clearly or Charlie wouldn’t be on the run.

“How can you feel her?” I yell.

“I just sense the presence of a vampire hybrid,” he hurries to explain. “Her blood smells different to those of wolves or humans.”

“Faster!” Dante commands, shifting into his lycan before dashing ahead. It seems like he was able to pick up Charlie’s trace. I decide to put my faith in him and shift to Nefeli’s form before following him. For a few minutes I can only hear his and my panting until the two vampires and our two warriors catch up behind us.

The forest is lulled in darkness, almost peacefully quiet.

But the silence gets disrupted by growls and yells further away. Did Elden and Liam reach their destination? Hopefully! And hopefully they came in time to save the twins. Meanwhile I am able to pick up Charlie’s scent—finally. She seems to be coming closer and closer.