Page 198 of The Lost Ones

“Be ready to draw your weapons.” Levi says.

“Hoods up we don’t need another battle now.” Kysen adds.

“Yes boss.” Hunt answering Levi for all of us. “Good idea Kysen.”

Just before we round the corner and come face to face with the rowdy group Hunter tilts his head and inhales sharply. Whatever he scents has him letting loose a low and threatening growl that has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up on end.

“Hunter what. . .?” Levi starts to question him but he doesn’t get much further as Hunter launches himself from his saddle, his horse not startling as he transforms into his wolf mid air landing on all four paws gracefully before he stalks forward alongside the rest of us.

Whatever he smelled obviously makes them a big enough threat that Hunter has deemed it necessary to skip trying to act non-threatening himself. I tense slightly before forcing myself to relax. I quickly run through the weapons that I have on me and how I’m going to draw them. Planning which ones I’m going for first if I need to.

“Do not let them corner Sage. I know you can take care of yourself Sweetheart but these men do unforgivable things to women.”Hunter says through the Bond link.

“What the fuck!?” Kysen startles and I’d be willing to bet that he just heard Hunter’s projected thought.

There’s no time to ask for certain though as we come face to face with six greasy and dirty looking men pulling a cart. I can’t tell what kind of supernaturals they are apart from one who has bright green skin and tinylittle horns. He looks a bit like a goblin. As I get a closer look at the cart I see two young girls only fourteen or fifteen tied to the back of it and stumbling along behind it. Both of them look worse for ware, covered in cuts and bruises with their dirty and worn clothing torn in a way that lets me draw the same conclusions that Hunter came to.

A knife strikes the goblin guy in the middle of his head before anyone can make a sound.

Everyone turns to look at me shocked as I draw another one.

“Like fuck am I letting them live after what they’ve obviously done to those children.” I say letting the knife fly and striking another one in the chest.

“God I love you.” Kai exclaims before charging into the fray his sword drawn.

“Wh-hat did he just say?” I stutter.

“Later Sage.” Kysen grins and I shake my head he’s right but holy fuck.

Hunter has already taken one of the guys out and now that they’ve finally shaken off their shock the ones that are left are starting to fight back. Not very well. The guys obviously have this under control so I hop off of Dave and slowly make my way towards the cart and the two utterly terrified girls. I keep my distance knowing that they’re going to be wary of strangers. I toy with allowing my hood to drop but I don’t want to frighten them even more.

“Don’t worry we’re not going to harm you.” I say softly holding my hands in a universal gesture that means peace and hoping that they understand it. “You’re safe now.” I promise. “Can I untie you?”

“O-o-okay.” The older looking of the two answers shakily.

I slowly approach making sure that I keep my movements slow and calm.

“I’m going to have to cut the ropes ok?” I say making sure that I tell them what I’m doing as I do it.

Their eyes widen in fear but they both nod once. I start to saw through the ropes and soon have them both untied. They hold onto each other like it’s the only thing keeping them together. I feel my anger rise for the men that did this to them but my men have already taken care of them and I took two out myself I guess I should be satisfied with that. I look over my shoulder at my men all keeping their distance but not taking their eyes off of me.

“They won’t hurt you I promise. They will keep their distance though.” I start. “Can you tell us where you’re from and we’ll take you home?”

“It’s not too far from here. They only had us for a day.” The older one once again speaks her voice timid. There’s a strength behind her words though that fills me with hope.

“Ok, that’s good. We’re headed that way anyway.” I start. “Mother fucker.” I yell as pain pierces through my shoulder.

I push the pain away instinctively and look for the threat.

“Sage!” Levi yells as they all rush towards me their weapons drawn.

“Wait Thomas don’t hurt them!!” One of the girls yells positioning themselves in front of us.

“They stole you!”

“They saved us you idiot and you just shot one with an arrow!” She says angrily to the guy as he and one another ride up.

“Fuck I am so sorry.” He grovels.