Page 136 of Cost of Courting

I close my eyes. “I do, and I am.”

The front door slams open, and I turn, standing up with a knife in my hands before I can think. A huge shadow of a man slinks into the room. He glances at me and down at Luna.

“I’ll stay with her and make sure she’s safe. I can put the IV in and treat her, too. First aid training, remember? And, Selene?”

I look at him.

“Your heat is here. It’s strong and really stinks.”

I’m so surprised I can only nod dumbly.

“How come you aren’t affected?”

He looks at Luna. That’s enough of an answer for me. My heat is here? An idea, a terrible, terrible idea, crashes into my mind.

Jo limps into the room and struggles to kneel on the ground, staring at Luna.

“I’ll call more people,” I murmur.

I pull out my phone and wait for Mary to pick up. “I’m activating the neighbourhood watch. Jo is with Luna at my house. Lock it down.”

I hang up and slip out of my jacket. I pause and consider how best to deal with the situation. In the end, I grab the dress I was going to wear for my alphas when I took them to my nest. Now that I recognise it, the heat burns through me, stronger than I’ve ever felt it. Almost blurring my mind, but I force my iron focus on saving the pack.

I spend precious minutes creating smokey eye makeup and adding deep mauve lipstick with a blue hue. I grab my black leather jacket, throw on my boots, and add two more flick knives to my pockets. And brass knuckles, just in case.

I hesitate and then grab a backpack and transfer some of Dot’s nursing supplies to the bag. I also throw in a bottle of lighter fluid and shove a lighter in my pocket.

I go back into the lounge and shove Dot’s bag at Jo.

“You need to take care of her. If I’m not back in three hours, you get everyone out, and you go to the community center, but you and Luna get out of here.” I pull out all thecash I have and put it in his hand. “You run, and you run like they will kill you if they find you.”

He turns slowly, taking me in with huge, fathomless eyes. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to get my pack back. They are the only chance of survival that we have. That all of us have, but only if we are together.”

He bites his lip. I know he wants to offer to come with me, but I cut him off before he can.

“She needs you. If you’re here, I can leave her. Please stay. I know you love her, maybe more than I do. Keep her safe so I can do my thing.”

He nods and reaches for the bag.

I stand up and look back at them. “Don’t kill anyone who belongs to a Raines.”

“How will I know they belong to a Raines?”

“They will be here looking for Bailey.”

Jo nods.

I glance at Luna. “I’m not saying goodbye. I’m not because I’m coming back. With my pack.”

Luna whimpers but doesn’t answer.

I walk out of the house and onto the street. The darkness is complete. No stars, no moon. Just me and the warmth of the night. Empty because my pack is gone and my friend is dead.

I walk until I find a car. I shove my flathead screwdriver into the lock hard. It disengages. With a look around, I climb into the car and shove the screwdriver into the ignition.

It takes a second, but then I’m on my way.

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