I should’ve seen it coming. We’d been so focused on Donovan and Axel connecting with their wolves that we’d lost sight of the fae. It wasn’t like they wouldn’t attack again, but I hadn’t been expecting it so soon. We’d been fools.
“You can’t run over there with no plan.” Titan snatched my arm. “Otherwise, they’ll hurt everyone.”
He was right, and I hated to admit it. “Fine, but they might take Donovan if we don’t get there soon.” If I lost him, I wasn’t sure who I’d become. He was the only thing grounding me; not even Roxy could do that alone.
“They won’t take him.” Titan rubbed his hands together. “They plan to use him against you.”
Another pained cry echoed from the direction I’d been heading, and my blood ran cold.
There was no way I could stay here. I’m on my way. I rushed forward, but Egan stepped in front of me.
We need your help, Axel said, his voice strained. There are four of them. They have Donovan and trapped Roxy and me in a force field.
“I’ll do a flyover.” Egan’s wings ripped from his back, tearing yet another shirt off his body. “I’ll be right back. Just give me a minute to check for anything that could work to our advantage.”
Even though he didn’t say it, I could read between the lines. He wanted me to give him that before I did something stupid. “Fine, but hurry. They’re in a bad spot,” I growled, not completely happy.
“You better be careful,” Titan grumbled, unhappy with us not listening to him. “If they see you, they could take you down. The air doesn’t give you a huge advantage over them.”
“Don’t worry.” Egan flapped his wings, rising slowly into the sky. “I won’t be long.” He took off toward the howling.
I respected the dragon, but if he didn’t hurry, I wouldn’t idly wait for him. Once he got back, we’d be heading toward my pack even if Titan wasn’t ready.
Titan said, “More pack members are on the way.”
How’s everyone holding up? It was a stupid question, but I needed to hear their voices.
We’re fine, Donovan assured me. They aren’t hurting us any longer. They’re waiting for you, so do not come here.
Do you really expect me to leave you guys there? The suggestion almost hurt. Did he think that poorly of me?
No, I don’t. He sounded less than thrilled. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.
They’ll torture you if I don’t come. Either way, they’d make sure I showed. Egan is scoping out the area while Titan is calling more of his pack.
Can we trust him? Roxy tried focusing on anything but her fear. I thought you were afraid he and the fae were working together.
She was right, but we were screwed either way. I’m not sure, but we might not have an option.
I turned my attention back on the alpha. He was pacing in the small area, stealing glances at me every few moments.
He was keeping an eye on me.
If I left preemptively, he might come after me. At least one of us needed to be thinking straight. But the fae wanted me for God knew what reason, and I refused to let my pack suffer because of me.
“Damn, woman,” Titan growled and turned his back to me. “She just won’t stay back.”
I had a feeling I knew who he was talking about: Winter. If he was aggravated with her, his wolf would be more focused on his mate than me. This was my chance.
I quickly and quietly ran deeper into the woods. I felt bad not holding up my end of the bargain with Egan, but he was taking too long.
From several hundred feet away, I heard Titan come back to where I’d been standing.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he growled. “Not only is Winter demanding to come, but her daughter runs away at the first opportunity. If I had any doubts they were mother and daughter, they’re gone now. Too stubborn for their own good.”
Pushing my legs, I hurried faster toward my mate and pack as my heart grew heavy. For Titan to be saying all that under his breath, maybe it wasn’t all a lie. I could be dead within minutes and never know the full story about her or me. But I couldn’t let my pack get hurt either. That was something I could never survive, so now wasn’t the time to focus on the possibility that I might never learn about my true parentage.
The flapping of wings broke through my thoughts as Egan swooped down in front of me. His face was drawn. “You told me you’d wait for me,” he said accusingly.
“I had a chance to sneak away.” He knew I didn’t trust Titan’s pack completely. Winter’s story seemed a little convenient. “My pack is getting hurt because of me.”
“You’re going to get them all killed.” Egan placed his hands on my shoulders. “If you care about them, you need to think this through.”
“What if Titan—”
“I don’t think they’re working with the fae.” Egan leaned down so we were at eye level. “The fae are a little scrambled and trying to lie low. The wolves can’t make a sound anymore. They’re forcing them to use the pack bond to communicate with you.”
Maybe he was right, but it didn’t matter. “We need to get to them.”
“We can’t do anything just us two.” Egan blew out a breath, his usual calm demeanor slipping. “They’re too strong. We need all-hands-on-deck.”
The pattering of paws pulled my attention from him. Great, Titan and his wolves were on their way. “But—”
“Look, the only chance we have is if they’re on our side.” Egan lowered his voice before the wolves got into absolute hearing distance. “If we go in now, the five of us won’t be able to fend them off.”
“Fend them off?” That wasn’t far enough. “I wanna kick their asses.”
“Down, Cujo,” Titan grumbled as he appeared in the clearing. “We’ve got to see what kind of numbers we’re dealing with.”
“They said four.” I glanced at Egan. “Is that what you saw?”
“No, there are ten of them.” Egan frowned. “The other six are hiding in the woods to throw us off. There could be more than that, though.”
“Did they not see you flying by?” They were likely aware that we knew their numbers. “Aren’t they in tune and all that?”
“I kept low and a good distance away.” Egan stared the alpha down. “They had no clue. I’m sure of it.”
“Now listen here, we’re doing things my—” Titan started, but Winter stepped into view, her long hair in a ponytail and her face set with determination.
“He’s a dragon.” Winter tensed when she stopped beside me. “If he says he wasn’t detected, he wasn’t.”
“I told you to stay back at the house.” Titan didn’t bother to pretend to be angry. “Why are you here?”
“To get Sadie.” She took my arm and tugged me toward their pack. “She needs to be with me.”
“Oh, hell no.” That wasn’t happening. “I’m part of this. My pack and mate have been captured. I’m not running to safety while their lives are on the line.”
“They took them to get to you.” Winter exhaled in frustration. “That’s why you shouldn’t be there.”
“There’s no way I’m leaving them.” I yanked my arm from her grasp and took off running toward the fae. The longer I stayed away, the more at risk my pack was.
“Now you know how it feels,” Titan whispered behind me.
The group ran behind me, keeping pace. From what I could tell, there were thirty wolves from Titan’s pack, excluding him and Winter. I could only hope that was enough to fight off all of the fae.
Sadie, they know you’re close. Donovan’s voice shook with concern. Be careful.
Are you three still okay? I needed to make sure they weren’t injured.
Yeah, they haven’t done anything to us yet, Roxy reassured even though it fell flat. They’re being oddly patient.
I was sure they were. I didn’t want to risk speaking out loud now that we were so close. The fae’s floral scent hit my nose in waves. I slowed to a walk as I passed through the last line of small trees that hid me.
“There she is.” An elegant voice said with a hint of an accent. It wasn’t quite British but similar. “Our guest of honor has arrived.”
My eyes focused first on Donovan. He was still in wolf form and standing next to a man close to my height.