Page 194 of Fangs
“I’m coming with you,” I said.
“No,” he replied, his voice stern.
“Wolf, I can help!”
“No.”
“If someone gets hurt, I can?—”
“You’re not gettin’ anywhere near the Voiceless, Ember.”
“Why?” I demanded. “I’ve seen them before?—”
He stopped in his tracks and seized my shoulders. His face was serious, and I saw fear flash through his eyes. “They’re lookin’ for you, Em. They put out a bounty for you. Now that I know about your power, I understand why, and I won’t risk it.”
My mouth dried as fear went through me like a lightning bolt, but I forced myself to shake it off. “I don’t care. I’m not stayin’ here.”
“You think this is a coincidence that they’re attacking your crew, right now? They’re baiting you. Theywantyou to come.”
“Wolf, I can’t stay here if my crew is in danger!” I tried to say it fiercely, but my voice shook.
“We have Sable. He can stabilize any injured people until we get them back here.”
“Wolf, please!” I was clinging to his forearms now.
“No, Em,” he released my shoulders, his voice gentling. “I’ll bring ’em back, okay?”
I opened my mouth to beg him, but he took off at a sprint. I scrambled after him, swearing, but he was faster than me. By the time I reached the clinic, panting and nauseous, they were just finishing strapping on their gear, faces grave.
“I’m comin’ with you!” I said between gasps.
All six of them simultaneously gave me the exact same stern and furious expression.
“Absolutely not,” Lee snapped.
“No,” Sable said at the same time.
Scar and Tuck looked at Wolf, but he was shaking his head as he buckled his tactical vest. “No, Em.”
“I can help!” I protested, panic choking me.
“Ember, I said no.” Wolf’s voice sharpened. “Will you just listen to mefor once!”
“You can’t force me to stay here!” I raged, losing myself to desperation. “I’ll follow you?—”
Wolf stopped what he was doing to glare at me. “Don’t you dare,” he growled.
“I’m not staying behind! My crew might behurt,and?—”
Wolf strode up to me and grabbed my wrist, jerking me further into the clinic, and I assumed he was going to speak to me privately.
“Wolf, I really can?—”
My words cut off as he grabbed my other hand and brought it around one of the wooden posts holding up the loft. I realized far too slowly that he was zip-tying my hands together. I tried to jerk away, but he was too strong, and the ties cinched tight on my wrists.
“Wolf!” I snapped, straining against the ties, layers of panic rising to choke me.
“I meant it, Em,” he said firmly. “I’m not lettin’ you anywhere near the Voiceless.”
