Page 56 of The Return
“Move!” came Sawyer’s voice. “Don’t stop for anything.”
Through the dense smoke, shadows appeared. I made my way toward them, grabbed the two men by their arms, then dragged them out of the building and to the paramedics. One of the guys kept trying to get up, and they were having problems stopping him.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “Enough.”
He sagged back. “No, you have to get Cap. He’s still in there. This is his breathing gear.”
Fuck! I thought Sawyer was following us. I turned and raced back to the building, growing angrier with each step. Who the hell had done this? I had always trusted the pack, but now? I wasn’t sure. I retraced the path I saw the two firemen come from and heard groaning. Stepping into what had been the kitchen, I found Sawyer on the ground, coughing. I could understand that. Though Alphas were stronger and faster, even I was having problems dealing with the smoke. As I got closer, I could see where fire had burned Sawyer’s hands and face.
“When we get out, I’m kicking your stupid ass,” I growled as I hefted him up and over my shoulder. Each step was agony. My lungs ached and I felt as though we were slogging through mud. Still, I wouldn’t leave Sawyer, no matter what. This was what my father had taught me. Pack was what you’d sacrifice anything for, even your own life.
When we made it through the smoke and haze, we were greeted by other firemen and two paramedics, who took Sawyer from me. One of the medics looked at me, then pointed to the ambulance. “Get over there.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, then dissolved into a coughing fit.
The bastard stood and smirked. “If this wasn’t work-related, I’d probably wet myself, but your title doesn’t hold any weight here, especially when you’re hacking up a lung. Get over there, or I’ll have them drag you. And so you know, they’ll listen to me before you.”
I knew they would. Lance Merrick wasn’t a big man, but in this instance, size didn’t mean anything. If I tried to muscle in and give orders about medical care and Lance overrode me, they would listen to him, as it should be. He was the expert—I was not. Another lesson my dad drilled into my head.You can’t ever know all things. Defer to those with the experience and trust in their judgment.
“Okay,” I grumbled, then had another coughing fit.
They put me in beside Sawyer, who couldn’t seem to draw a decent breath with all the smoke he’d inhaled. Once seated, they strapped an oxygen mask to my face. Every time I tried to ask something, Lance glared at me, and I opted to stay quiet.
“We’re going to be taking you both to the hospital,” Lance said.
I pulled the mask off. “I have things to do.”
“Yes, like going to the hospital. Don’t test me on this, Alpha. We can’t lose you.”
My lungs didn’t hurt as much, but Corey wouldn’t want me to not be checked out. “Fine,” I said, looking over at Sawyer, who lay there unmoving. Only the slow rise and fall of his chest told me he was breathing. “Is he going to be okay?”
Lance looked from Sawyer to me. “If he isn’t, I’ll kick his ass.”
“You have a thing about kicking asses, don’t you?”
“The stupid son of a bitch knows better than to do what he did. You don’t go in alone, and you never give up your oxygen. They should have shared it on the way out, but no, he had to be a fucking hero.”
Lance’s scowl showed me everything I needed to know. “Have you told him?”
He shook his head. “He thinks I’m too young to deal with a grumpy wolf like him.”
“So you’re giving up?”
His eyes widened. “What? Hell no. I’m going to prove to him he needs me. Someone has to take care of his ass.”
“Again with the ass.”
Lance grinned and gave a one-shoulder shrug. “What can I say? It’s my favorite plaything.”
The look on Lance’s face as he peered at Sawyer spoke volumes. The young man was beyond smitten. “Don’t let him push you away.”
“Oh, trust me, Alpha, that’s not happening. This salty bastard is going to need me, especially now.” His eyes drifted to Sawyer again. “Wolves can heal a lot, but smoke inhalation is a bitch, especially when youareolder. Sawyer is going to be in the hospital for a while, and then home convalescing. He’ll need me, guaranteed.”
I wished them both luck. My pack was filled with amazing people, and every one of them deserved to find the happiness I had with Corey, who was probably going to smother me in my sleep. Assuming he waited that long.
When we got to the hospital, they rushed me in, but I waved them off. “Take care of Sawyer and everyone else first. I’m fine, and they need to be looked at.”
The staff scurried away, leaving me sitting in the room. When my phone rang, I answered without looking. That was a mistake.
