Page 51

LOCKE

An explosion sounded, the noise making my ears ring.

What the hell? Explosion?

That didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be happening. I must’ve been having a nightmare. But the screams around me were far too real. And that’s when my analytical brain took over.

I counted. The time between detonations was too exact. This was no accident.

I was moving before I considered the wisdom of it because only one thing mattered right now: Wren.

My body hit hers in a tackle, taking us both to the floor. She wheezed, trying to shake me off, but I wouldn’t let her.

“Stay down,” I barked. “There are incendiary devices rigged in here.”

And there was no way to know where the next one would be.

I scanned the room, smoke already filling it, and looked for anything that didn’t belong.

I wasn’t a bomb expert by any means but— hell .

“Watch out!” I yelled across the room, seeing a small device between two of the tables. But it was too late.

Just as the words slipped free, another explosion sounded. Franco covered his new girlfriend, protecting her from the blast.

“The humans,” Wren rasped. “We have to get them out.”

Of course, her thoughts were for everyone but herself. Whether it was her empathic nature or just who Wren was, she always put others first.

“Wait,” King ordered, another explosion sounding, taking out the far end of the bar. “We need to wait until the explosions stop.”

But I worried it would be too late by then, that the fire would’ve spread too much. Throwing Molotov cocktails through the windows was one thing, but these explosive devices were something else entirely. Something that took planning, breaking and entering, and a complete disregard for human life.

My gut twisted as the sounds shifted from explosions to fire. The heat in the room was stifling, the smoke so thick it made it hard to see and difficult to breathe.

“We have to get out,” someone screamed.

I heard a woman crying, and another person calling for help.

“Now,” Wren clipped.

I rolled off her, and she struggled to her feet but crouched low, trying to avoid the worst of the smoke. “Should we get people out the back or the front?”

“Front,” Ender ordered, joining our huddle. “I managed to shoot it open, but someone tried to bar the door.”

Sickness swept through me. Whoever had done this wanted us all to die in here.

I glanced at Ender. “Can you shoot out some of the windows? It’ll give the smoke an outlet. That might help.”

He jerked his head in a nod, pulled an arrow from his quiver, and nocked it in his bow.

I had no idea where the hell he had that stashed in the bar.

I was just glad he did. Ender moved, shooting out four small windows up high in rapid-fire succession.

Smoke poured out of them, and I just hoped it was enough to help.

“We pair off,” Brix said. “No one’s alone.”

“We get Wren outside first,” Puck argued.

“The hell you do,” she snapped. “I’m helping until everyone’s out.”

A series of growls sounded, mine included. She didn’t understand how vital she was to our survival. Without her, we’d fade away into nothing.

Wren’s jaw clenched, anger making the muscle there twitch. “You can argue, or we can get going.”

Brix moved in closer to her. “I’ll stick with Wren.”

“Ender and Locke, you’re together. Puck, you’re with me. We move quickly and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Go!” King shouted.

End and I crawled toward the sounds of a woman wailing. When we reached her, we saw why. A man I recognized from the gym but didn’t know was pinned beneath a wooden beam.

“I can’t get him out. You have to help. I-I can’t move it,” she cried.

Ender wrapped his arms around the beam and glanced at me. “The second I lift, you pull him out.”

I coughed but nodded. End gritted his teeth, straining under the weight of the beam I knew had to be a mix of steel and wood. Ender might be a shifter, but this would be heavy for anyone. With a final grunt, he managed to lift the beam enough for me to slide the man out.

Moving as quickly as possible, I lifted him into my arms as the beam crashed to the floor. Ender grabbed the woman, and we took off for the door. The smoke was still so thick I hoped no one noticed our supernatural speed.

Sirens sounded in the distance, and Ender and I ran back inside. We moved to help Franco and his girlfriend next.

“Clyde,” Franco rasped, struggling to stand. “Someone has to help Clyde.”

“I’ve got him,” Wren yelled through the thick smoke.

Fucking hell.

I wanted her out of here. Safe. This whole building could come down at any moment.

Dipping beneath Franco’s arm, I steadied him, helping him to the door. The second we were outside, he collapsed in a coughing fit. Ender set his girlfriend down next to him.

End was already moving back toward the building, and I hurried after him. My lungs felt like they were on fire from the heat and smoke, but I pushed through.

We scoured the room for signs of life.

A moan sounded, and Ender and I instantly headed in that direction. Dina lay crumpled on the floor, blood on her temple. A curse slipped free. Dina. She’d always been so strong and fiery. Seeing her like this was wrong in every way. But I didn’t let myself lose it.

Instead, I slipped my arms under her and cradled her against me.

“Follow me,” Ender ordered. He led the way, helping me navigate the flames and debris until we reached the door. We spilled out as firefighters aimed hoses at the flames.

My pack mates helped tend wounds and get the worst to the EMTs. But as I scanned the parking lot, I noticed one thing missing.

Panic seared me. “Where’s Wren?”