The howl died, leaving a silence that was heavy and wet, like a wool blanket soaked in rain.
"Jack," I whispered, my heart hammering against my ribs. "That sounded... hurt. Find him."
"I have to stay with you," Jack said, his voice tight. He was still pulling me backward, his grip on my arm unyielding.
"I can walk," I snapped, trying to wrench my arm free. "Go find him! He might be injured."
"I can't," Jack hissed, scanning the tree line with frantic eyes. "When the Alpha is compromised, the Beta protects the Luna. That is the law."
We were almost back to the safety of the streetlights when Jack stopped dead. I slammed into his back, stumbling.
"Jack?"
He didn't answer. He was staring at something ahead of us.
I stepped around him, and the breath left my lungs.
Liam stood fifteen
