Page 53

KINGSTON

Sirens screamed through the night, setting my wolf on edge. Who was I kidding? Everything about tonight set my wolf on edge.

Because none of this was an accident. It was a carefully planned attempt to hurt and kill. And whoever had set it into motion hadn’t cared about the innocent people caught in the cross fire.

Firefighters aimed hoses at the front of the building, trying their best to battle the flames. But my head was on a swivel, bracing for an attack. Because the moment we’d started to get the humans out, I’d realized that was exactly what we’d set ourselves up for.

It was a common tactic to attempt to weaken before going in for the kill—one that often worked. And all my people were weak at the moment.

I helped a woman hold an oxygen mask to her face as an EMT treated a burn on the man next to us. There weren’t enough ambulances to get all the people to the hospital over an hour away, so the sheriff had called in reinforcements from surrounding towns.

So far, no one had been killed, but the night wasn’t over, and smoke inhalation could do more damage than you could see right away.

Locke charged across the parking lot, his eyes wild and soot covering his face. “Where’s Wren? I don’t see her anywhere.”

Panic spread through me, and I clambered to my feet, making sure the woman had her oxygen mask. “What about Brix?”

Locke shook his head. “I don’t see him either.”

I tried to let that knowledge soothe me. Brix had Wren’s back. They were fine. “They could still be helping people get out or assisting EMTs with medical care.”

Ender’s mouth set into a firm line as he and Puck stalked up. “I can’t find either of them anywhere. No one else has seen them for a while.”

Fuck.

I started toward the building just as a figure emerged from the smoke. Brix struggled with someone in his arms. Normally, carrying a human would be nothing for a shifter, but smoke affected us like everyone else.

Puck ran forward, grabbing the person from Brix’s hold as he doubled over and began coughing.

Some part of my brain recognized Juan, barely breathing. Puck shouted for an EMT, and one rushed forward with a gurney. As Puck laid Juan on it, Ender supported Brix. “Are you okay? Where’s Wren?”

“Inside,” he wheezed. “Helping Clyde.”

A fresh wave of panic swept through me as firefighters yelled for people to get back. A horrible cracking and popping sound tore through the air, and I watched in horror as the southwest corner of the building started to crumble.

“Wren.” Her name was barely audible on my lips—more prayer than anything else.

I charged for the door, but a firefighter stepped into my path.

“You can’t go in there. It’s not safe,” he barked.

“Someone’s still inside. I have to help her,” I snarled.

Not just someone. The person who was my everything.

“I’m sorry,” the man said. “We’ll send firefighters in as soon as we have the blaze under control.”

The urge to rip out his jugular was strong. I wanted to toss him aside and run for the door.

“Over here!” a firefighter yelled. “We need medical.”

Hope surged. Had Wren gotten out?

I was running before I realized my feet had started moving, heading into the alley along the side of the building that led to the main road through town.

I felt the guys behind me, their hope a palpable energy.

But the second I saw the figure on the ground, disappointment surged. It was far too large to be Wren.

Slowing, I took in the familiar form. Clyde.

The firefighter pressed their fingers to his neck. “Pulse is weak,” he shouted at the EMT.

A uniformed woman crouched low, placing an oxygen mask over his face and moving to start an IV.

“Did anyone else get out?” I barked at the firefighter.

The alpha tone bleeding into my words had the man paling slightly, but he shook his head. “I didn’t even see him get out. Just found him collapsed in the alley.”

I stared at the door, swinging open and closed.

“Don’t,” the firefighter said, his voice low. “You’ll be dead before you get ten steps inside.”

So, what did that mean for Wren?

Coughing sounded, pulling my gaze back to Clyde. He struggled, trying to pull his mask down while the EMT fought to keep it in place.

Puck moved in, attempting to shove the EMT out of the way. “He’s trying to tell us something.”

The EMT glared at him. “He needs oxygen.”

“Lady,” Ender growled, “if you don’t move aside, I’m going to put an arrow in you.”

Her jaw went slack, but the shock allowed Clyde to pull down the mask.

“He has her.” Clyde’s voice was barely audible, but I made out every word.

“Who?” I demanded. Terror and panic striking deep.

“Weird…name…Ba-Bastian.”

My brothers and I froze.

“Traded…my…life…for…hers,” Clyde wheezed.

Agony and rage ripped through me. Wren had given herself over to save this man. I’d failed her. Hadn’t protected her like I’d vowed I always would. And now, she was with the monster of her nightmares.