Page 50 of The Alpha Option
Jace didn’t think, just moved. He tore forward, shifting as he moved. His wolf dove through the open window right before the van tilted and the side hit the water.
It was dark in the van, which bounced as it banged off rocks and trees. Water filled the interior to the halfway point as the van continued to be tossed downstream. Jace shifted back again, exhaustion beginning to set in as he crawled over seat backs. He passed floating Hot Wheels cars and discarded gummy-bear wrappers.
Huddled on top of the farthest backrest Colt shivered in his wolf form.
Another hard bounce, and Colt slipped. Jace caught him against his body and worked his way back to the passenger door. “I got you. This isn’t much fun, so let’s get you back to your mom.”
The water kept rising as the van scraped over rocks and was pounded by passing logs. Jace braced his back and used his feet to shove the sliding passenger door open far enough to crawl on top.
Uneven light broke overhead, the cloud cover and monsoon-like rain darkening the sky. Jace peered at the riverbank, relieved to discover Blue tracking the van’s progress. “Batter up,” he called.
“Damn right,” Blue called back. “Hey, Colt. Don’t worry. I’ve got a big catcher’s mitt.”
The wolf in Jace’s arms shivered but focused intently on Blue.
“Stay in your wolf form until you land, kid. It’ll make things easier,” Jace warned. He pulled back his arm to prepare the throw.
A tree smashed into the front of the van, riding up and over, aimed straight at Jace’s feet. A crash was inevitable, but before he fell, Jace hurled Colt toward Blue on the shore.
Jace snatched at the rapidly moving timber in hopes that it would get trapped against the van and be stuck in one place.
No such luck. As the limb under his fingers shifted, Jace scrambled to find his balance. He teetered on one foot, nearly recovered, when, in his peripheral vision, something massive moved.
Damn it. He was fucking toast.
The log came straight for Jace, took his feet out from under him, and sent him crashing into the dirty, swirling water. The sound of Cassidy’s cry echoed in his ears before his head went under.
Something crashed into his temple, and everything went dark.
17
Minutes earlier…
The fight had been terrifying, especially when blood appeared, painting both Jace and Del with red so that Cassidy didn’t know which one of them was hurt. And while her heart pounded for Jace, she didn’t want Del dead either. She didn’t want Jace to have to live with the knowledge that he’d killed his cousin.
Adrenaline pumped through her as hard and fast as if she were fighting herself, and the moment the two bit down on each other, she swore she felt it in her own limbs.
Then the howl rang out—
“Oh my God. That’s Colt.” Instantly, Stephanie caught Blue by the shoulders and shoved him forward, breaking the challenge circle. “That’s my nephew howling. Where is he? Find him.”
Blue moved so fast he was a blur. The two wolves in the middle of the challenge field moved even faster. Jace and Del broke apart from each other and disappeared into the trees, Blue a faint shadow on their heels.
The remaining group swayed on their feet, shock rippling through them.
Cassidy shook her head, struggling to think. “What’s down that way? Is there a trail? A road?”
Sophie popped up beside her. “A really old road. The old access to Timberwolf Lodge. But it hasn’t been used in years. Not since the bridge was decommissioned.”
“Well, somebody tried to use it today,” Cassidy snarled before twirling toward the crowd and calling out orders. “If you can help, follow Jace and Del. Otherwise, find some shelter or go to Timberwolf Lodge. We’ll let you know as soon as we have news.”
Shockingly, everyone listened, dispersing in different directions.
Sophie caught hold of Cassidy’s arm. “You can’t run as fast as I can when I’m a wolf, so I’ll stay human. Come on. I know a shortcut down to the old bridge.”
Miserably wet, fear drenching her limbs, Cassidy followed the petite woman. Stephanie followed behind, the two of them breathing heavily without speaking, saving their energy to try and keep up.
The rain lightened just enough that they could make their way through the rain-slicked branches before popping out on an old road above a washed-out bridge.
