“Get away from me, Chris!” I scream at the top of my lungs, hoping that Kiernan is close enough to hear. The ax trembles in my hands.
Chris bounds up the stairs, reaching for me, his fingers nearly close around my wrist as I rush back, hand reaching behind me in search of the doorknob. With shaking fingers, I finally get the door open and barrel through. Slamming it shut in his face. I fumble for the deadbolt, flipping it in place before securing the chain, too.
Resting my forehead against the wood of the door, I let out a relieved breath.
“Wren! Open the fucking door!”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
My head bounces with each pound of Chris's fist against the heavy wooden door. Steeling my trembling spine, I step away from the door. The whole thing rattles on its hinges as Chris continues to bang on it.
“Open up, babe,” he commands, voice dropping to the soft tone he used to use after we’d fight. A breath whooshes from his mouth. “I'm sorry, babe. I get soangrywhen you don't listen.”
The door between us gives me a sense of safety. I scoff at the audacity he has to blame me for his temper.
“You need to leave, Chris. NOW!” I scream the last word, taking a step forward, slamming an open palm on the door.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
Chris’ fist connects with the door again. The chain in front of my face jiggles with each hit. Fuck, this door better hold.
“Kiernan! Help!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
“Wren! Open the fucking door!” Chris bellows from the other side.
With the ax clutched to my chest, I rub my free hand over the pocket on my legging.Empty. Shit, where’s my phone?
“I’m calling the police, Chris!” I lie through my teeth, hopefully buying some time.
BOOM!
The door lurches, nearly splitting from its frame. My blood-curdling scream ripples through the air as I scramble away. Eyes swinging to the kitchen counter, I spot my phone.
BOOM!
“WREN!”Bang.“OPEN!”Bang.“UP!”
Jolting into action, I sprint to the kitchen, swiping my phone off the counter. Trembling fingers work quickly to enter my passcode. Fuck, after the third attempt, I finally get it unlocked.
Typing in 911, I hit dial.
“911, what's your emergency?” the operator rambles the standard greeting.
“My ex boyfriend is here, he's trying to break in! Send help! Please hurry!” My voice shakes as I rush the words out.
The operator continues talking in my ear, locking onto my location, and dispatching the nearest unit. Pacing back to the door, I press my ear to the wood.
“Oh, fuck!” Chris’s voice filters through the front door, followed by a ferocious roar.Kiernan.
Reese and I trail through the trees in bear form, noses to the ground, following the faint scent of gasoline on the soil. My ears twitch, a distant sound filtering through from the direction of my cabin.
Head popping up, it hits me, the echo of a car door slamming, raised voices, followed by the unmistakable scream of mymate.
Without waiting to see if Reese is following me, I charge in the direction of my cabin. Images of Wren afraid, hurt, or worse, flash through my mind. If so much as a single hair on her head is out of place, they’re fucking dead. My bear and I both agree on that–Wren’s safety is the only thing that matters.
Another hair-raising scream breaks through the air. Upping my pace, paws slapping against the ground, I need to get to my matenow.
Breaking through the towering trees, kicking up dirt and leaves, I scan the scene before me. A stranger stands on my front porch, banging the fucking door down, while screaming my mate’s name.