Page 64 of Quarterback Sneak
My breathing speeds up. I have to get away before they tie me up. If they do, I’m done for. I have no idea what is going on, but I know that meeting their master—whoever he is—sounds like a terrible idea.
“Youtie her up,” Jace snaps.
“Seriously?” Sam snaps right back. “Do I have to do everything?”
I use their fight as my getaway. I take off, not caring that I make a ton of noise. There’s no other way to do this. I’m running blindly; speed right now is my only option, not stealth. As I run, I pull my phone from my pocket and pull up my favorites. I’m so grateful I added Zane to that list. I push his name and run faster. I have no idea what time it is. If it’s the middle of the night or only minutes since he left me. He picks up on the first ring. “Evie?”
His voice brings immediate tears to my eyes. “Zane!” I shout desperately. “You have to help me. I—” I scream as somebody grabs my hair and yanks me backward. I crash to the ground and somebody’s boot slams into my ribs. The oxygen is sucked from my chest, and waves of agony roll through me.
“I’m sorry,” I hear Sam’s voice say. “She can’t come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?” Then she laughs. “Not really.” She leans down next to me. I can feel her breath on my face as I struggle to take in air. “Here.” She hands me my phone. “Look how reasonable I’m being. But you should realize that nobody’s going to get here in time to help you.”
A fierce growl sounds from somewhere in the trees, and my body jolts in panic. Sam shoots to her feet and shouts somethingto Jace. Then I watch as she starts to take her clothes off. Panic claws at my chest; I don’t know what’s happening. Suddenly, she turns into something completely different. I try to scream but can’t; not a single sound comes out. I stare in terror at the thing that stands before me. I take in the hideous creature and know I’m going to die. When another one comes to stand next to her, I can’t catch my breath. Something wild growls, closer this time, and they move to the other side of me. The hideous creatures lift their snouts and sniff the air and then charge forward. As soon as they do, I push myself to my feet, ignoring the absolute agony rushing through me as adrenaline fuels me. I begin to run. I don’t know where I’m going; all I know is I have to get away or I’m going to die here in these woods.
Chapter 28
Zane
My eyes shoot open as panic courses through my chest, sharp and poignant. I jerk upright in bed, my wolf’s vision instantly scanning the room for threat. When I don’t see one, I’m confused. Then it hits me. It’s not my panic.It’s Evie’s.I’m on my feet a moment later, scrambling for my phone. I can’t find it and curse. Then I remember I left it charging in the other room. I race into the living room and grab it just as it rings. Evie’s name flashes on the screen and that bad feeling in my stomach intensifies a thousand degrees. I answer it in a flash. “Evie.”
“Zane!” Her desperation hits me hard and fast. “You have to help me! I—” She screams in my ear, and I fight for control as my wolf slams against my barriers.
“Evie! Evie!” I shout at her. My words are nearly indistinguishable, but my voice shakes the house as my alpha power seeps out.
“I’m sorry,” a new voice says, and I pinpoint it instantly.The roommate.“She can’t come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?” Then she laughs, and it’s cold. “Not really.” The call dies, and I call right back. When it goes right to voicemail, I roar in frustration and throw my phone into the wall.
“Zane, what’s going on?” Quint demands.
“They’ve got Evie.” My words barely form. My fangs have dropped, my claws are out, and my arms are partially shifted. I’m already out the front door. I’m so angry with myself. This is the first night in a week it wasn’t me guarding her dorm at night. The guys insisted I get some sleep.
Quint follows me out the front door. “Who?”
“The roommate.” I shift as soon as I hit the last step and land as a wolf. I pound the pavement as I head towards the woods. I lift my voice in a howl, alerting my pack members that I need their help. Quint is right behind me.
I'm coming,Reid lets me know.
Suddenly, my father’s voice is in my head.Zane, what is it?
They have Evie.
I can feel my father’s shock through the link.Who?He demands.
I don’t know. The roommate for sure.
Where are you?
The woods behind our house.
We're on our way.
I appreciate my father’s words, but he won’t get here in time. This is on me. I sniff the air as I run. I don’t get the slightest whiff of my mate’s scent, and that worries me.I’ve got eyes on her, Reid sends me.She’s alone now.
Are you sure?I demand, my voice leaking authority into the link.
Yes.There’s no doubt in his words.
She’s panicking and running. I’m going to just trail her and make sure she gets to you.
I’m not crazy about the idea, but it’s the best we’ve got. If she sees his wolf, she could panic even more. But he needs to stay in wolf form to make sure he picks up on any and every threat. I sniff the air and get the faintest whiff of my mate’s scent. My wolf takes off, following the scent. We run hard and fast, and her scent gets a little stronger. It’s still not as strong as it should be, but I don’t dwell on that right now.
