Chapter 40
Forty
Jarek
Gunfire, screams, both feminine and masculine, reach us through the thick trees. Staying on this side of the property was strategic so we have an easy escape route once Trent and his men secure Vivian.
It makes sense, but my hindbrain is roaring for his mate and kicking up so much rage in my mind it's making it horribly difficult to follow orders. I don't care that Trent is leading this; that's my omega in there. Yet here I am, arms crossed in the dark, fucking waiting.
"Breathe, Jay," Silas murmurs, coming to stand beside me. "We agreed."
"I know," I grunt. The three of us need to stay together. If one runs off and Trent shows up with Vivie, then we're fucked waiting for the rest of the pack to get back.
It's risky to rush in there with no skills, only our total desperation to save our mate. I'm not even sure how we'd be able to help. With the amount of gunfire going on, I'd bet we'd be shot instantly. Whether on accident or on purpose, doesn't matter. It looks like chaos and we can't do it.
"Did you hear that?" Kade whispers, standing on my other side. With his hand on his chest, he closes his eyes and focuses. "Jay, do you feel anything?"
"Just a pull," I murmur. Vivian blocked me a while ago again. It worries me what she's hiding, but it's allowing me to focus. Frowning, I realize the pull is almost nonexistent. "Wait—"
"VIVIAN!" Silas screams, sprinting across the road. My heart rate triples in speed, and my feet have a mind of their own as I follow with Kade beside me.
Silas chokes but wastes no time slamming to his knees beside two bodies on the ground. When Kade whips his flashlight out and shines it on their forms, everything stops.
All I see is blood. Blink. Skin. Blink. Blood oozing out of my mate's skin. Blink. Another man. Blink. My omega holding onto the other man’s shirt. Blink. Bright blue eyes dripping with tears and pain. Blink...
"Get her to the van!" Silas bellows, snapping me out of it. I watch with my soul in tatters as Kade hoists Vivian into his arms. He coos sweet things when she cries out and writhes in his grip.
Silas trips over himself to follow them, both focused on keeping her alive. Yet, something stops me from following. Maybe it was the way she held on to this man until the last moment. Or maybe it's because I just watched her reach for him even in her alpha's arms.
"RIOT!" she sobs. Even from across the road and over the ditch, I can hear the sorrow in her voice as she calls out for him. Is that his name?
My chest clenches, and it feels like my eyes are vibrating. She didn't want to let go of him. "Fuck," I curse and bend to pick the man up. "Shit." He's fucking heavy and soaked in his own blood. Or is some of it Vivian’s?
"If you did this to her..." I warn, aware I'm talking to a man who looks to be on his deathbed as I sprint toward the van.
His head lolls back, exposing his slashed face once the light from the van reaches him. Damn it, he doesn't look good at all. The numbness which coated me when I first saw Vivian washes away when I take in the scene in the back of the van.
Vivian's crying and shouting as Kade applies pressure to her wound. Silas cries off to the side while calling the doctor Trent brought with us tonight. He's legit and will fix her up, I'm sure of it.
A soft gasp makes me straighten and realize I have a bleeding stranger in my arms. "Riot," Vivie mumbles. Just the sound of her voice is enough to make me fucking cry. She's really here.
"That's all she's been saying," Kade growls. When he glances up at me, he stiffens and snarls, "What the fuck are you doing?! Get him out of here. Get him away from my fucking omega!!"
A rattling growl comes from said omega next. Her pupils are blown, face white as ash, and body fighting to get to me, or Riot?
"No. Please no," she wheezes, losing strength fast. I'm tongue tied, feeling like I'm in shock, and the buzzing won't go away. "Jay? Jay please! Save him!"
"Vivian—" Kade starts. He cuts himself off when Vivie begins to cry. When she goes limp, it's like all the air is sucked from the vicinity. "Where's the doctor?!"
Alarm fills me as her eyes roll into the back of her head. Laying the man down in the second cot I put together earlier, I abandon him to beg my mate to stay awake.
On my knees, clutching her bruised hand to my mouth, I'm about to demand she open her eyes and look at me.
To tell me she's going to be okay and that she loves me.
Maybe that she won't leave our sides ever again.
"Butterfly, please—" I begin to beg for her life when she cuts me off to beg for another man.
"Please save him. M-m-mine." My bonded mate goes limp with blood leaking out of her and a claim for another alpha on her lips.
There's only one fucking option now.
Save them both.