Page 19 of Ruin

Hearing Lionel explain more about the raids helped me understand how much Owen had done to save the people in the camp. I was sure Connor would be proud of his friend’s determination and fortitude.

Gulping down the last of my coke, I quickly finished my meagre meal.

“So Owen’s already left with most of the others to sweep the forest. Apparently, Drake is arriving later today and they want the forest clear of Weres.” Shannon’s face was tight. “Stone didn't even bother to tell me he was leaving—that bastard. He wants me to stay here, out of the way; well, he can piss off if he thinks that’s happening.”

My stomach lurched. “I didn’t realise Owen meant Drake was coming so quickly.”

Shannon shrugged. “He didn’t know. Drake contacted him after you left the cave last night. They’ll be here by this afternoon, I would imagine.”

“Will they attack the prison straight away?”

She raised her brows. “No. Owen’s too much of a planner, and far too careful for that kind of rash behaviour. And if we wait around until they get back, they will stop us from leaving.”

“Why?”

“I don’t mean all of us. He’ll accept help from them.” She pointed at B’nar, Alex and Lionel, and even included Blue. “Maybe even you—but not from me. Look, no matter how much I respect Owen—and Stone, even though he’s an arse most of the time—they can’t help but be alphas. They would stop us both going to fight, and you know it. Protection is an alphas greatest strength and their most bullshit weakness—especially with...well…” Her eyes met mine. “You know what I mean.”

I cocked a brow. “You mean Stone wants you where he can control what happens to you, and you are defying him, so he gets pissed at you—and Owen will support him. Is that why you’re still not together?”

Shannon scowled. “No one gets to control my life but me. Look, I want to help you, like you once helped me, and I owe Connor. Not even Stoney will stop me from doing what I think is right.”

I raised my brows. “Stoney? Surely calling him pet names is one sure fire way to piss him off?”

She grinned and shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. “Exactly. He deserves to be annoyed; he annoys me enough. Besides, it amuses me that I’m the only one he lets call him names.”

I huffed a chuckle, but didn’t ask more. Just like Blue and B’nar, I wished them well, but I was more invested in my own love life, which I would never have if Connor was gone. I swallowed the knot of fear in my throat and listened to the urging of Prime.

“Ready?” I asked.

B’nar nodded. I didn’t bother to hide my impatience, not now that Connor’s wolf was growling in my head, his impatience infecting me. “Let’s go then.”

We all secured our weapons and B’nar fed his magic to the ring. Within seconds the portal appeared. He found the corridor where we’d discovered Selina. It looked deserted. The rest of the prisoners, even the dead bodies were gone. Taking a deep breath, I leaped. Gritting my teeth, I stubbornly held onto my two wolf spirits; Fire helping me keep them inside my flesh and bone body. I burst from the energy surge, landing firmly on the other side. Not slowing my momentum, I ran a few steps and skidded into a crouch against the wall, not moving until the others were out of the portal.

Alex grabbed Shannon’s arm. Yeah, I’d warned her to keep her wolf spirit close and told her going through the portal would hurt like a bitch, but nothing could really prepare her.

She swallowed and nodded. “Yep. I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

Lionel swore, breathing deeply. “Shit, that’s a horrible experience.”

“Yeah. You good, big man?”

He nodded, pushing aside his discomfort. His lion rolled across his eyes in a flash of amber. “Let’s go.”

Slowly, we crept forward. Overhead, the lights only flickered on and off and it was eerily quiet. We needed to find where they were keeping the rest of the prisoners. Hadn’t Owen said something about the lower levels, near the warden’s quarters?

I gasped as something tugged at my chest. It was a pull that urged me onward. The further into the prison we went, the more urgency I felt. My heart banged against my ribs, beating faster with each step I took.

“Where are we going?” Blue whispered when I took the left fork instead of one to the right. I didn’t answer, mainly because I couldn’t, my breath caught in my throat. It was a feeling; a painful one, urging me on. Another turn, then another.

Damn, this place is huge!

In the distance, I heard footsteps. Running, desperate footsteps. The distant growls of Weres filtered into the quiet. Something yanked at my chest and Connor’s wolf howled, pushing against my skin. Before I could even think about the stupidity of it, I was sprinting down the corridor as if my life depended on it.

A set of double doors at the bottom of the dim corridor burst open and three people stumbled through.

“Oh, my gods!” My words were nothing but a whisper of disbelief. My heart pounded and I sheathed my weapon. “Connor!” I yelled, tears burning my eyes.

Zander’s red eyes widened as he recognised who was barrelling down the corridor towards him and the emaciated figure he was half dragging, half carrying.

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