Page 13 of Pack Owned
“Hurry.” I help Jess out, then Casey. Danica waves me on, and I squeeze out next, wiggling to get free. We’re all out, lunging for the ground and spilling onto the road. Up on our feet, we start rushing away.
Then the boom of an explosion pitches us forward savagely.
I’m thrown off my feet, launching me off the road like I weigh nothing. I crash into the dirt and roll to a stop, every inch of me aching. The rain stings my skin, a thousand icy pinpricks, as I watch the bus burn.
Ringing fills my ears, and I lift my head. The bus is a nightmare scene—black smoke and angry flames eating it up. And the smell… it’s sticking inside my throat, and my stomach’s churning.
I can’t tell if we’re all out as I’ve lost sight of my friends. Are they okay? Panic claws at me, but I stumble to my feet, barely registering the pain from the crash.
“Casey! Kayla! Jess,” Danica’s shout slices through the storm. I can’t see her through the storm and smoke, but she’s alive.
“Over here!” I shout, waving my arms so wildly, I might as well be flagging down a helicopter, except if I can’t see her yet, she can’t see me. My heart’s pounding so hard, I’m afraid it might burst out of my chest.
I squint through the rain, which is coming down so hard, it’s like standing under a waterfall. Jess and Casey call back, and their answers are like lifelines in this storm. A wave of relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived.
“Jess, watch out,” Danica yells, then there’s a pop sound, followed by a click-click-click.
Through The thick smoke, I see someone on the floor and one of the large enforcers standing over her. Fuck!
Taking a step forward, movement from my right stops me. The second enforcer marches toward me from my right with a taser in his hand. My gut clenches.
“You’re not going anywhere.” His gaze darts to the black truck. “Each of you is the property of Nexus.” He turns that sick grin on me.
It’s like looking into a twisted mirror of my stepdad’s face. I freeze for a split second, then reality slams into me. He’s going to freaking tase me. All of my instincts jerk into full-on terror mode.
“Run,” I scream, and then my feet obey. “Casey,” I get out because she sounded the closest to me. “Get away. Run into the woods.”
I’m dodging debris and wreckage, feeling like I’m trapped in some sick obstacle course as I dart around the back of the bus with the enforcer a breath away. That black pickup truck is there, ominous and silent, but I don’t stop. Can’t afford to.
The rain’s relentless, blurring my vision as I push through the trees. Branches slap at my face and arms, leaving stinging marks, but I hardly notice. My only thought, “Keep moving.” Good thing I was in cross-country track for school and that I didn’t pick softball. That would not help me right now unless I had a baseball bat.
My vision swims, but I have to keep going.
Behind me, the enforcer’s footsteps pound the ground. Fear propels me forward, even as my legs scream in protest. I run for what feels like an hour. My side burns, but I can’t stop. Can’t let him catch me, not after— My breath hitches. There has to be somewhere I can hide. Somewhere I can wait until it’s safe.
Glancing over my shoulder, I don’t see the enforcer and my steps slow. Maybe he gave up. I keep walking at a clipped pace anyway, the trees and forest around me thinning out. Soon, I spot an old, abandoned house, its windows like dead eyes. I make a break for it, but the door’s stubbornly locked.“Of course,”I think bitterly.
I peek into the windows that are boarded up and covered with dust and cobwebs. Still, I could break in, get out of the rain, and wait out the storm. I backtrack, picking up a thick stick from the grass and returning to the cabin. Then I cringe and whack the window as hard as I can, but the glass doesn’t break. I try again and again. Shit! Is this reinforced glass or something?
Suddenly, rough hands are in my hair, yanking me back. I spin around, face-to-face with the enforcer. “Thought you could get away, huh?” His grin sends shivers down my spine. “A pretty little Omega like you is worth a lot.”
Rage explodes inside me. I lift the branch to hit him with it, but he blocks my attack, ripping the branch from my grasp.
“Stupid bitch,” he says, pushing his body closer to mine, the cabin’s door against my back.
I claw at his face, my nails finding his skin. He’s taken aback but doesn’t let go, his grip iron-like as he starts dragging me back.
“Let me go!” I scream, thrashing, but he’s like a wall, and I’m pinned beneath him. Bile burns the back of my throat. I can’t do this. I can’t. I choke out a sob and shove against him with everything I have, but I’m no match for him. With my head pounding, I can’t do much of anything to fight him off.
“Love it when your kind fights.” He laughs. “It’s such a turn-on. Do it again.”
I spit in his face, and his hand comes out of nowhere, striking against my cheek, and I sob out a cry.
“That’ll teach you.” His breath smells of beer, and something foul fans across my face.
All those nights I had to fight off Gary rush back with bile in the back of my throat. I scream, kicking and punching. There’s no way I’m going to give in—not to Gary, not to this creep. Never.
I’m screaming so loud my throat is raw, but I don’t stop. My knee hits his balls, and he doubles over. I leap away from him, my heart hammering, but there’s no time at all before he tackles me. I fall into the mud, him on my back. I scream out a cry, twisting and clawing at the mud to get out from under him.
