Page 29 of Beginnings

Connor shielded his eyes from the brightness. “What the hell is that?”

Walker turned to us a grim look on his stunning face. In the daylight, his skin took on an otherworldly, almost frosted, glow. “I have my own way home,” he said and barked a sharp word.

A wave of energy hit us and a portal materialised. We all staggered back. Walker stepped into the swirling air. “Unfortunately, Connor, you cannot leave here. You have a job to do. But you and I will meet again.” He looked at me. “As will we.”

It was then I noticed the tranquilliser gun held loosely in his left hand. He raised it and shot Connor, then Owen and Stone before they had time to realise what was happening.

I howled and bounded forward, but he just stared at me. I will kill him! His throat bobbed before he disappeared into the portal and it collapsed.

Closer now, the engines of the Range Rovers roared, and tires skidded in the dirt.

I pushed my wolf aside and changed back to my human form, not caring one bit about my naked state or the alphas surrounding me. “Run!” I yelled at them. “Now!”

None of them did.

One of them turned to me, a tall man with dark brown hair and eyes. “No, we stay with our alpha.” He glanced down at Connor. “He fought for us, just as you did. You should shift and run. He will suffer if he knows they caught you, too. They will use you against him.”

“He’s right,” rasped Rawson who had caught up with us. He limped to my side. “You should go. Stay well away from Doherty, and don’t try to find us. Next time, you’ll stand no chance of escape.”

I shook my head. “No, I can’t leave you—or him…”

“Ember, you have to. Please. They took Lyss from me. I can’t stand the thought of losing you, too. Please get out of here. Hide from the SBI, and don’t ever come back.”

I hugged Rawson, uncaring I was naked, before I dropped to my knees beside Connor. His eyes were furious, sweat beading on his forehead as he fought—and lost against the incapacitating serum. I wiped the beads of sweat away. He couldn't move but his eyes darted to the forest and then to the cars. “Run,” he whispered.

Footsteps cracked through the forest to our right. Car doors slammed to our left. Right now, it seemed behind the entrance to the underground facility was the only way out.

I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his lips hard. My wolf howled.

Connor blinked furiously, a trapped frustrated rumble resounding in his chest.

“Ember! Get the fuck out of here. Now!” yelled Rawson, resting his big hands on his muscular thighs and panting hard.

Sobbing, I shifted. Without looking back, I ran into the dark shadows of the forest. Gun fire echoed through the trees. I forced my wolf not to howl, and even though my heart was breaking, I ran.

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