Page 115 of Shifters Unifying

But when the woman and I stepped across the middle of the guard, we slammed into an invisible wall, and I stumbled back, losing my balance. My leg slipped between the pipes, and after an awkward twist, a bone cracked in my lower leg.

She slipped off my back. “Shit. Shit.”

I freed my leg and limped off the cattle guard. “Invisible wall,” I muttered, sharing a meaningful look with Olivia. I waved for the woman to follow. “Try again. Almost free.”

She made it three pipes over and froze, staring at the now-illuminated runes on the columns. Her eyes flooded with tears. “I can’t go any farther, and Acheron will be here any minute. You have to go.”

I reached for her hand, easily touching her, but when I tried to drag her through the block, she slammed into an invisible, impenetrable barrier once more. “Fuck!”

“It’s me. He warded me in,” she whimpered. “That’s why the runes are glowing.” She gestured to her boy. “Get my son to Marcus. He’ll teach him to be the next alpha.”

“Mama,” her cried out, squirming out of Jasper’s arms.

I caught him before he could get by me and back into the compound. He kicked and fought as I pulled him back from the cattle guard where his mother still stood.

“Come on, kid,” I said. “Come back to see your uncle. You’ll be safe.”

“Go on, sweetie,” she said, waving and backing away. She plastered a smile on her face. “I’ll be fine. Remember our song. Go,” she begged. “Just go. He’s almost here.”

“No, I’m not going.” He twisted around, slipped from my grip, easily crossed through the barrier, and threw his arms around his mother. “I’m not leaving you!”

She sank to the ground, wrapped him in a hug, already back to singing the lullaby. Her eyes were clouding over, and she glanced over her shoulder as though Acheron was just behind her.

I took a step toward them, determined to get the boy the hell out of here, but Olivia caught my arm, and Phil snagged my other one and held me in place.

“We’ve got to go,” she whispered. “Can’t afford a kid, kicking and screaming through the forest. Fast and quiet. That’s how we got here, and that’s the only way we make it back to Emma alive.”

I tested the bond. “She’s alive, and she’s safe. Let me help them.”

“Nay, laddie,” Jasper murmured. “They’ve made their choice. Maybe we can save them next time. Emma’s your top priority.”

How could I face Marcus after intentionally leaving his sister and nephew behind? What would I have done if he had done that to Sheila and Callie?

Double fucking hell.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

emma

Six-Mile Manor

“Mom. Let. It. Go,” I repeated for the tenth time and leaned back in Logan’s desk chair, smoothing my hand over the patch of leather.

She pursed her lips and stared me down over Logan’s laptop and the mess of paperwork on his desk. “You know I can’t. I need to know what’s going on in your life.”

Caution and suspicion flicked through the bond I shared with Logan. Long distances diminished the details we shared, and I wished it was more like a direct phone call or texting. Experiencing the general sense of his feelings when he was far away… was hard.

You’d better be okay, Logan.I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him while he was out there.

After I’d spent a few hours trying to sleep, I’d gotten dressed, made some coffee, and settled in his study. That’s where my mother had found me after the sun peeked over the horizon.

“There are things I am not willing to discuss with you right now,” I continued. “You must trust me when I say you’re not ready to know everything.”

My mother scowled at me from the other side of Logan’s desk. “Why?”

“Because I can’t be strong enough for you, too.”

She stood and came around the desk to place her hand on mine. “You give me less credit than I deserve, you know. I’ve been hearing things. It’s all much more serious than you’ve been letting on.” She straightened and put her hands on her hips. “Now where’s that boyfriend of yours gone off to? Maybe he can help convince you.”