Page 5 of Brick

Evelyn hesitated and said, “I didn’t think I knew them at first because I assumed they might be from his brother’s pack. Youremember that his brother is an alpha and came to visit last month? It was right after my daughter left the pack?”

“I remember.”

“Well, these men weren’t his brother or from his pack, but as I was leaving, one of the males made eye contact with me, and I recognized him. It’s been a long time, but you don’t forget a male like that.”

“Like what?”

“Dangerous. Violent.”

Evelyn shared a story from several years ago about a cousin of Holloway’s who ran his pack with an iron fist, taking who and what he wanted. “He has a scar on his face, running from his temple to his jaw. He got it when he went after a lion pride who tried to take over the pack’s territory when he was a teenager before he could shift. I don’t have to tell you the kind of male who goes after a lion alpha before he can even take on his wolf form.” She shuddered. “His name is Dane, and he’s here because he wants to form an alliance with Holloway and take over the town next to Ironwood, which you know is entirely human. In exchange for the alliance, he’ll hand over several females from his pack as mates for the high ranked males of our pack.”

Jade’s heart sank. “Holloway is giving me to him?”

“I’m sorry, honey, but I believe so.”

“When?” she asked, her voice squeaking with emotion.

“Tonight. Holloway was making arrangements for a ceremony tonight when I finished cleaning the kitchen.”

“What am I going to do?”

“You’re going to get out of town, that’s what.”

“But I don’t know if I can. Where would I go?” She had a little cash on hand, but enough to start a new life somewhere and also stay hidden so no one from her pack would find her? It seemed impossible.

“It’ll be okay, Jade, I promise. I helped Sadie get free of the pack, and I’m going to help you. But it has to be now. I don’t think you can wait.” Evelyn rose to her feet. “Go into Sadie’s room. Hanging on the closet door is a crossbody bag. Fill it with a change of clothes from the dresser. Do you have your phone?”

Jade stood and brushed at the wetness on her cheeks. “Yes.”

“Okay, turn it off. I’ll have my friend bring a new phone for you when she meets you. Only turn your phone on to make a call.”

“Call? Who? What are you planning?”

“I have a friend named Alli, a fallen angel who lives in Northern Ohio. I’ve known her for years. She helped Sadie get to safety and she also knows a wolf pack in the area that’s very welcoming. I’ve got a plan, but I need to reach out to her first.” A text pinged on Jade’s phone containing Alli’s contact information. “Now, turn off that phone and hurry to pack a bag. I’ll be ready when you’re done.”

When Jade didn’t move because she was too surprised by everything that was happening, Evelyn said, “Listen, Holloway was going to put Sadie in a cell to keep her away from his asshole brother when he came to visit. Because he liked to blame all the pack issues on her being ‘bad luck,’ he wanted to hide her away because he was embarrassed by her. I wouldn’t put it past him to put you in a cell to keep you where he can find you easily. You don’t have the luxury of time right now, okay? They could come for you at any moment.”

Jade nodded and hurried down the hall, powering off her phone as she did so. She found Sadie’s room and the bag where Evelyn said it would be. Digging through Sadie’s things, she rolled up a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and stuffed them inside, along with a pair of sandals.

Evelyn had made plans by the time she walked out of the bedroom. Jade would shift into her wolf and run until she wasout of the territory. She would keep running until she reached the next town, where she’d shift back into her human form, get dressed, and then board a bus to take her to Ohio, right to the town where Alli lived.

“I just ordered your ticket,” she said as she handed Jade a piece of paper. “I sent it to your phone, but here’s the confirmation number. It’s bus number 2455 and leaves in one hour. You can check in at a kiosk at the station and board the bus. Turn your phone on only if you need to contact Alli. She’ll be waiting for you at the bus station when you get there. It’s a long bus ride, but it’s the safest way to get you to Ohio.”

“Why are you helping me like this?”

“Because you remind me of Sadie. And also because I knew your mother once upon a time, and I miss her. She was a sweet, kind female.”

Jade felt a tightness in her chest. She hadn’t been allowed to talk about her mom, who’d been ousted from the pack when Jade was too young to remember her. The only thing she knew for sure was that her mom and dad had been an arranged mating, and her mom had been miserable. Holloway clearly hadn’t been good at arranging matings, and Jade doubted he’d gotten any better at it over the years.

Giving Evelyn a hug, she said, “Thank you so much.”

“Sadie’s in a town called Whisper Creek. You can have Alli take you there to visit with her. And Alli knows how to get in touch with me without compromising your safety.”

“What if you get in trouble?”

She shrugged. “It’s worth it to help you. Dane Malrick is dangerous on a hundred different levels, and I’m certain the life you’d have with him would be brutal. I can give you a chance at a good life, and I want that for you.”

“You could come with me.”

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