Page 35 of Welcome to Bone Town

At the clatter of falling rock, my head swings around to take in a sight that makes my heart stop. Archer is halfway across the crevasse, sidestepping with his back pressed against the wall.

I want to yell at him, to rage at his stupidity, but I can’tbreathe. It’s like someone sucked all the oxygen out of my lungs and then punched me in the gut. We all must feel the magnitude of the risk he’s taking, because the space is suddenly dead quiet.

His foot edges out, then slowly his weight shifts. His footing holds. So he does it again.

Cora is clinging to Roman now, Jax crowding in close on her other side. I take a step toward the edge, closer to Archer. But what can I do? He’s too far to reach, already committed.

“Don’t you dare fucking die,” I whisper, voice scratching across my throat.

He chuckles nervously and more rocks fall. He sucks in a breath. Cora’s gasp is half sob.

“No laughing. Stay focused,” I command in the same voice I used to use when training cadets.

Archer nods solemnly and sets his gaze on the other side. He should have gone with his belly to the wall. That would have kept him from looking down, and he could find handholds in the stone to help support his weight. But it’s too late now. Turning around would be even more dangerous. At least, he had the foresight to tie the rope around his chest, right under his underarms.

“You’ve got this.” My attempt at a reassuring tone wobbles. “You’re almost there.”

Just a few more steps.

His foot shuffles out to the side, toes brushing sand that falls down into the depths below. He eases a little further.

Then the rest of the floor gives out.

30

The big alpha they call Bear lunges for the pit like he’s gonna throw himself after the little beta, but I toss myself in his path and knock him to the ground. Cora wouldn’t like it if the big guy went over. I can tell he’s hers, even if he doesn’t know it yet. The grump, too, but I’d rather keep her in denial about that one a bit longer. Man needs to get his head out of his ass.

The beta’s scream stops abruptly.

“Get off me!” Bear roars and throws me to the side. I barely stop myself from rolling over the edge.

“Some thanks,” I mutter, standing and dusting off my jeans. “I just saved your life.”

“Archer!” Bear’s kneeling at the edge of the pit, peering over the side, completely ignoring me. Cora, Roman, and I crouch around him.

The torch I threw in earlier is still burning, but not as bright. The rope dangles a few inches off the ground.Archer isn’t there. Shit. The knot he tied around his chest must not have held. That rope is top-of-the-line, it wouldn’t have snapped, and the little beta may not know what knots to use. The question is, did it happen before he hit the ground or earlier? Hopefully it slowed his fall a little before it gave out.

“There!” Cora points to a shoe near the edge of the ring of light cast by the torch. “He must have rolled over there.”

“Is… he alive?” Roman asks.

None of us answer. No use giving the good professor false hope. Bear rips off his shirt, wraps the fabric around his hands, grabs the rope, tugs, then throws himself over the edge. Roman and Cora gape at him like cute little fish.

It’s a pretty badass move, and I respect him for it, but the massive man is sliding faster than advisable. Really hope he doesn’t break anything. That would make things a lot harder. At least we know the rope will hold the rest of us if it can suspend his weight. I’ll send Cora down next, before the rope takes any more wear.

Bear lands with a loud thud and groans. Too much momentum. Knew it. He’s up a second later, though, and running toward the prone beta.

Cora reaches for me. My mate’s soft hands are sweaty with worry. I bring her fingers to my lips and kiss the inside of her palm. I hold my breath. Pretty sure the beta might be ours, too. If he lives.

Cora looks over at me, fat tears in her eyes. “Is he gonna be okay?”

“He’s gonna be fine,” Roman says, wrappingan arm around her shoulders.

I’m grateful he lies for us both. I’ve never been good at that. Comforting people. Telling them what they want to hear when I don’t know if it’s true.

“Bear’s a medic,” Roman whispers, his lips brushing her hair. “He’s the best person to be down there right now.”

“B-but what if—” Her voice breaks into a sob.

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