Page 47 of Coveted

A negative shake made Vax grunt, starting over with the same questions.

“Is he bleeding?”

This time there was an affirmative nod.

“Broken bones?”

Another yes.

A tap on his leg pulled his attention to someone passing up more water. Taking the two bottles, he nodded a thanks and asked for gauze and bandages to be brought. Anything the kid could do on that side would help the person until they could get them all out.

“Here’s more water,” he called as he tossed the bottles. “We’re going to get some bandages. Do you think you can help the one who’s hurt?”

The child grimaced, looking away before meeting Vax’s gaze again. He nodded, the quick jerk showing he wasn’t confident, but he was going to try anyway.

Behind Vax, noise grew as more people worked to clear the rubble. He wouldn’t be able to remain on the pile for much longer. Once they needed to use the stone crusher, his position would be dangerous.

“I’m going to have to climb down soon so we can make a bigger hole to get you out. There’s tension on the right side ofthe tunnel, about half a click from where I am, so we have to be careful. I want you to move further back into the tunnel.”

The kid eyed the ceiling with fear, scooting to the left and pressing against the wall as he nodded his head. He’d collected the bottles and clutched them to his chest, but he stopped before he took more than a step deeper into the tunnel.

Looking from the unconscious body just beyond the light to where Vax watched from above, the boy hesitated before changing directions. Vax had no idea how old the kid was, but they weren’t very big. Either it was a very young alpha, or possibly an older beta, but size difference was apparent when he knelt next to the figure Vax had seen on the scanner.

Vax had no idea what the kid was doing until he adjusted the angle of the light and saw them pick up the unconscious man’s boots, attempting to pull the body with him further into the tunnel. The larger male didn’t budge, and Vax’s heart sank when the boy looked up at him.

The body was right beneath the stressed area. The most dangerous place to be if the tension grew and caused another collapse.

Vax softened his voice as much as he could and still be heard.

“I know you want to help them, but you’re not big enough to move that much weight. No one expects you to do more than you can. Right now, you being in a safe position is more important. We have to hope the ceiling holds.”

There was a definite sparkle of tears on the kid’s cheeks before he swiped them away, pulling on the legs again. The body barely rocked despite the attempt to drag them to safety.

Vax steeled himself. He’d prefer to have everyone safely out of the way, but there was no denying the boy wasn’t capable of moving the larger man.

“Leave him and move to safety. Help the other.”

Bandages were passed to him from behind, but he didn’t take his eyes from the boy as he took them and tossed them through. The kid tried to resist Vax’s order but finally gave in, shoulders slumping as he shuffled to where the bandages had landed. The glare he shot Vax was full of anger and fear, and Vax knew exactly how he felt.

“It’ll be okay. We can only do as much as we’re able.”

Ducking his head, the boy turned away and moved out of the light. Vax waited to be sure he didn’t turn around before backing down the boulders he perched on so the men could keep working to clear enough stone to get the trapped men out.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Alana

Alana missed Vax’s arms around her as Regis raced the hopped back to Camp Primma. She’d felt more secure in his hold than she did with just the thin straps crossing her body, and her heart threatened to stop more than once as trees and cliffs blurred by.

She got to see a bit more of the Camp as Regis had to slow to maneuver in to land. Another ship took up half the small clearing they’d dropped into before, but it closed its doors and launched before she exited the cockpit behind the silent pilot.

This time, no one rushed toward their door. There were people walking away from where the other ship had rested, shoulders hunched and heads hanging, but no one else was in sight.

Alana paused in the open doorway of the ship, Regis’ long stride taking him out and toward the Camp.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

Her heart fluttered, remembering Vax telling her to stay on the ship, but not wanting to be left alone.

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