Page 39 of The Dawning
After Rebekah had given me the coordinates, Sawyer’s team pulled up everything on the area—cabins, camping sites, homes, businesses, and all the background information on the ranger. Sometimes the internet had outdated information, so Wyman had called to confirm our findings.
Dane shrugged out of his jacket and covered her. Then he removed the towel from around her thigh and inspected the wound. “The bullet is still in there.”
His claws emerged before he stuck his thumb and forefinger into the hole and dug out the bullet. Blood oozed out but immediately began to congeal. He tossed the slug onto the floor, then rewrapped the towel around her leg as her eyes fluttered open.
She swung her gold eyes from me to Dane, then back to me. “Which one of you is Sam?”
Dane stabbed a thumb in my direction. “Bloodsucker.”
She sat up, wincing. “I’m Rebekah. I’m so sorry. They took Layla.” She touched the wound on her leg. “We were outnumbered. And after I shifted, I spotted a gunman with his rifle trained on her. I was close to attacking him when I got shot. I managed to circle around to the spot where I’d left Layla, but it was too late. She was surrounded by another man with a rifle and two others—a woman and a guy named Noah. I didn’t see their faces. But the woman told Noah to take Layla to Carly. She’s the scientist Layla told me about, right? I think those people also kidnapped my brother.”
Well, Carly was alive. One question out of the way.
“I assume that’s why you’re here,” I said. “If so, where’s your unit?”
“I called my captain before Layla and I left the cabin. My unit is on the way,” she said. “I took time off when my brother’s pack got worried about him. I tracked him to these parts.”
My dad rushed in out of the rain. “Layla here?”
I didn’t have to answer. I shoved both hands through my hair and yanked on the strands. Otherwise, I would be unleashing my wrath. I needed to save every ounce of energy for my enemies.
He was reading my mind as he growled.
Tripp, Olivia, and Ben came in, loaded down with bags and gear. They each took one look around, and horror washed over them.
Then Tripp began barking orders. “We need to go through our plan one more time. Before we do, Olivia and Ben, suit up. It’s time to take a ride to Intech and do some scouting. The rest of us will set up our gear.”
Ben clapped me on the shoulder, pity steeped in his reddish-brown eyes. “Sorry, dude. We’ll get her back.”
I didn’t need sympathy. I wanted them angry as hell. I knew they would have their soldier hats on once we were in position.
Olivia gave me a nod, then said to Ben, “Move, hybrid.” She was one of our better scouts. Ben wasn’t far behind.
I returned my attention to Rebekah. “Was Layla okay when she was with you? The babies? She was in a van that crashed.” I needed something to keep me sane.
Rebekah batted her pitiful golden gaze at me. “When I found Layla on the porch of my cabin, she was super pale, tired, and hungry. I examined her. The babies’ hearts are beating. All four of them. She tried my blood, then spit it out, but she’s a strong woman, Sam.”
Layla certainly was. My concern wasn’t for her stamina but over the fuckwads like Harriet. If Carly was alive, then why wasn’t she answering her phone? She’d been the one to give me her number for some odd reason.
I fished out my cell from my cargo pants and called her again. The line rang once, then her voice mail picked up. “Carly, why the fuck did you give me your number if you’re not going to answer? This is Sam.” After I left my number, I hung up.
The jaws of life had its teeth around my neck. “I need some air. I’m not going far, Pops. I promise.” I had time, since Ben and Olivia were investigating the scene before the shit hit the fan.
He nodded, then opened a telepathic connection.Son, clear your head. I want you focused and being the soldier you were trained to be. Layla will need every ounce of energy you have, including your elemental powers.
Copy that, I returned.
The storm was the perfect venue to absorb every ounce of Mother Nature that I could. I would be in tip-top shape and ready to unleash my wrath.
16
SAM
The canopy of trees provided a shield against the rain as I bounded into the woods behind the ranger’s station. I settled at the edge of a cliff and looked out over the gorge as lightning flashed, followed by a rumble of thunder. I opened my arms, glancing skyward, and roared out my frustration, rage, and tension, absorbing Mother Nature in all her glory. As if the gods above had me in their scopes, a bolt of lightning zigzagged downward to touch my foot. I sucked in air as an electrical current hurtled up my legs and spread throughout my body, making me shake harder than the highest magnitude earthquake.
“Give me all you got!” I shouted to the gods.
As if my wish was their command, another bolt hit in front of my feet. This time, the charge spread out through the forest floor, the earth rumbling beneath me.
