Chapter 8 #2
“Yeah. You know how we’d sent a couple trucks of our own after theirs once we got the tip? Well, they came across it, heading back at a snail’s pace along the shoulder.”
“What?”
“Your man wasn’t with them, and they seemed to be searching the woods.”
“Darcy got away!” Hope surged through him.
“That’s what it looks like. They called with the update and to let me know they’re going to turn around and be neighborly—ask if they are okay, do they need help, that kind of thing.
That’ll let them scope the situation out better and once they know what’s what, our people will start looking for Darcy in the woods themselves. ”
Charma worried his lower lip between his teeth. This was a step in the right direction, but there were all sorts of variables where Darcy didn’t get rescued or got hurt. “What if these guys are armed? They aren’t going to want anyone else to get to Darcy.”
“There’s a den of wolf shifters whose territory they’re in who are not happy to hear there are kidnappers going through their territory.
I let them know the situation before I called you and they are going to find your Darcy.
Anyone tries to get nasty will find out just how deadly a wolf shifter can be. ”
That made him feel better, but he was still worried. “If the kidnappers have guns, though…”
“You think they’ll have a chance against an enraged pack if they hurt one of the pack’s own? Trust me. Darcy is going to be found, and he’s going to be safe. It’s just a matter of time. So try not to worry and I will call you the minute I know our people have Darcy.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Charma was pretty sure he wasn’t going to feel any better until he was holding Darcy, but he did have a little more faith now that that would happen.
“Love you, son,” she told him before hanging up.
He took a deep breath and threw himself down on the couch, his legs suddenly too weak for pacing.
“Good news?” Nik asked.
“I think so. It looks like the kidnappers are looking for Darcy so he must have gotten away. So we just need to find him first.”
“Oh, we will. You know we know people who can track and hunt. They’ll find him.”
“From your lips to the goddess’s ears.”
“You know it.” Nik offered him a fist, and Charma knocked it with his own. “Game’s over, you wanna watch a movie or something?”
“Sure, whatever you want.” It would be good to have some noise and something to look at where he didn’t have to think. And he was definitely not going to think about how watching a movie or something with Darcy always ended up in them making out.
When lights from the road started shining into the woods, Darcy knew they’d taken the truck and were searching for him from the road, so he was forced to go deeper into the trees.
He tried to move in at an angle so he kept the road on his left as he went, but he didn’t dare stop moving inward until he couldn’t see any lights at all, and at that point, he had to admit that he was hopelessly lost. He had no idea which way would lead him back to the road.
He also couldn’t hear more shouting or the sound of anyone else moving through the forest, either.
That could either mean they weren’t anywhere near finding him, or that they were being stealthy.
He knew hunters could move quietly through the woods when they were after deer and stuff, so who knew if he was safe or just about to be caught.
The thought kept him moving, though the adrenaline was fading and he had to slow down, his breath heaving from his chest as he stumbled along.
He’d been hit by branches, and he’d fallen a couple times, and those aches and scratches were starting to make themselves known, too.
Still, he kept going, knowing that was the only chance he had.
He really hoped his kidnappers were far, far away, because he was making a lot of noise.
He knew he was, but his other option was to stop moving, and he was pretty sure that wasn’t wise.
He caught his breath, thinking he’d heard the sound of someone walking—branches breaking, leaves rustling. Then he heard the noise of a walkie-talkie. Shit. That had to be them—and that spurred him back into running.
As if that wasn’t enough, he could hear wolves baying now. Great. He was either going to get recaptured or eaten by wolves. Frankly, he was rooting for the wolves. He’d said he’d rather die than go back to his parents and the conversion camp, and he’d meant it.
More howls sounded, and they were definitely closer. Looked like wolves it was. He just hoped it would be quick.
A loud crack sounded, and something whizzed by his head, hitting the tree just ahead of him.
“You don’t stop and put your hands up, the next one’s in your skull, boy.”
Darcy froze and raised his hands, tears stinging at his eyes. Maybe he should let the guy kill him. Death by wolves, kidnapper, or conversion camp—the bullet would probably be quickest.
He took a deep breath and moved, darting away. He heard the next shot, but it missed him. He also heard snarling, and then a loud cry of pain.
Holy fuck, he wasn’t dead!
He put on speed, running just as hard as he could. There was still a chance he was going to get out of this alive. He was going to see Charma again. He held onto that just as hard as he could as he ran.
Noises came from all around him, wolves howling, the sound of something running after him. He found another gear somewhere deep inside him and moved faster.
Then he was hit from behind by something large, and he went down hard.