Chapter 12
632 Words
The rain hit my face so hard it stung my eyes.
The wolf holding my arm shoved me forward.
"Keep moving."
"I can't!" I snapped, stumbling as my bad ankle gave way again.
"That's your problem."
He jerked me upright before I could fall.
The parking lot had become a battlefield waiting for someone to make the first mistake.
Men stood between the parked SUVs, their clothes soaked by the rain. None of them rushed forward. They watched me instead.
A tall man with a scar across his chin stepped out from the line. His gaze swept over the wolves dragging me before settling on my face.
His expression changed.
"Easy," he called to his men without taking his eyes off us. "Nobody moves."
The wolf beside me laughed.
"Scared?"
"No," the man answered. "I'm trying to get her home alive."
He looked at me.
"My name is Mason. I'm Liam's Beta."
I had never met him before, but there was no pride in his voice. No challenge.
Only concern.
The leader walked out of the diner, wiping rain from his forehead.
"So you're the famous Beta."
Mason ignored him.
"Elisa, can you stand if they let go of you?"
Before I could answer, the wolf twisted my arm.
"She isn't going anywhere."
Mason drew in a slow breath.
"I was hoping we'd solve this without anyone getting hurt."
The leader smirked.
"You should have left before your Alpha came charging in."
A loud crash came from inside the diner.
Everyone looked toward the broken doorway.
Another table toppled over.
Someone shouted.
Then Liam appeared.
He stepped outside with blood running from a cut above his eyebrow. One sleeve of his shirt was torn, and he was breathing harder than before.
He didn't look unbeatable.
He looked like a man who had been fighting four wolves in a cramped diner.
When his eyes found me, he stopped.
I hated that.
I hated that he could see how helpless I looked.
The leader noticed it too.
He smiled.
"You don't look so impressive now, Alpha."
Liam wiped the rain and blood from his face with the back of his hand.
"I wasn't trying to impress you."
"No?"
"You attacked a diner full of people."
Liam glanced toward the front entrance where frightened customers were still helping each other outside.
"You picked the wrong place."
The leader shrugged.
"I got what I came for."
He pushed me forward.
I lost my balance and nearly fell to my knees.
Before I hit the ground, the wolf beside me caught my arm and dragged me upright again.
Pain shot through my ankle.
I couldn't hide the cry that escaped my mouth.
Liam took a step.
Mason lifted an arm without looking at him.
"Wait."
Liam frowned.
"They'll hurt her."
"I know."
"If I wait any longer—"
"They're expecting you to rush."
The rain poured between them.
Neither man spoke for a second.
Then Mason looked at me.
Not at Liam.
At me.
His voice carried just enough for me to hear.
"Elisa."
I blinked.
"If you get one chance..."
He nodded toward the wolf holding my arm.
"Take it."
The leader laughed.
"You think she's going to fight?"
"I think," Mason replied, "people surprise you when you stop treating them like they matter."
The leader rolled his eyes.
"Enough."
He pointed toward the nearest SUV.
"Get her in the car."
The wolf shoved me toward the open door.
My foot splashed into a puddle.
Another step...
Then I saw it.
The ground beneath the wolf beside me was covered in wet engine oil that had washed across the parking lot from a damaged truck.
He hadn't noticed.
Neither had the others.
My heart started pounding.
This might be the only chance I would get.
- Writer
