Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
My ears feel full of wool and my head aches heavily, like a bowling ball is attached to my neck.
Something wet trickles down my face. I struggle to lift my head as the veil of the atmosphere lifts.
Something soft brushes the bridge of my nose, and I blink, rearing my head back at the dark fur consuming my view. Torin?
“FLORENCE!” Cici’s agonizing cry slams into my eardrums.
Another drop hits my cheek. Torin’s muzzle is mere inches from my face, his lips curled back tightly in a vicious snarl, foam flowing from his long canines.
He plants his paw in front of my face, claws scratching the trailer floor as he snaps, blocking my view from the team.
Or their view of me. The rest of the pack lies limp throughout the metal flooring, small, colorful darts peeking out from their fur.
Another sob from Cici rattles me to life. I roll over, bracing my hands on the cold floor. I hiss, wincing as pain strikes my palms throughout the swollen slices there. “I’m okay.” I rasp.
As I pull my elbows underneath me, Torin’s throat slams into my shoulder, banking me back down.
“Shoot that thing!” Jasper lunges for the rifle in Bear’s hand, but Bear moves quicker, whirling out of his way.
Matt clings to Cici’s waist, holding her body from the snowy ground as her knees shake with her sobs.
Jett cups his hands over his mouth. “Florence! Are you okay?”
I rub the back of my knuckles into my eyes, nodding to the sniper. “Yes, yes—don’t shoot him yet, please!”
Torin barks, not in agreement, but a dare.
Nyx is front and center, his arm holding the line of team members back.
“We’ve already tacked him with one tranquilizer and he’s not going down,” Nyx calls out.
I tuck my chin to my chest, spotting the bright red dart bristling within Torin’s fur.
“Florence, get out of there!” Cici screams.
Nina grabs her by her shoulders, pulling her upright. She looks at Matt. “You need to get her back to the van and take everything to Ana, including the cases. We’ve got Florence.”
Matt nods, lifting my flailing friend.
“Oh no you’re not, Matt Hayes, you put me down right now I’m not leavin?—”
Nyx pivots under Nina’s extended arms and slams a dart into Cici’s kicking leg. She gasps, slowly turning to Nyx as curses begin to slur from her tongue. It takes all of five seconds before she slumps into Matt’s arms. “I’ll have medical wait with Ana, but she should be fine,” Nyx grumbles.
Matt gapes at Nyx, securing his grip on her now limp body. “She’s going to kill you for that.”
Nyx turns back to me, dismissing our wheelman. “I’ll live.”
Jasper grips his curls tightly, pacing behind Bear. “Just do it already!” he shouts.
“Florence, you think you can talk to him?” Nyx asks, his hands splayed on his hips as he studies the sleeping wolves surrounding the alpha.
“Talk to who? The wolf? Are you insane!” Jasper throws his hands up, stalking to Nyx.
Nyx ignores him, murmuring something inaudible to Jett. Bear positions the tranquilizer tightly into his shoulder, closing one eye as he peers into the scope.
Jasper latches on to Nyx’s shoulder, pulling him abruptly to face him, his other fist balled at his side. But as Nyx turns, he brings his own curled fist with him, decking Jasper clean in the jaw.
“Woa now, stop!” Jett pushes the two men apart, his arms creating distance.
I cough, trying to clear the phlegm in my throat. “Torin?” I whisper. His ear flickers, like he already knows his name but his beady eyes remain locked on the brawl outside. “We’re here to help you. I promise. I would never hurt you or let anyone else hurt you.”
His dark ears prick backward in answer. I stiffly roll to my back, lifting my chin high. Torin looks down quickly at my bared throat, then back up to the team briefly before finally giving me his full attention. Submission.
Click. Torin snaps his head up just as the dart hits his neck. The mighty alpha gives a thunderous bark, snapping his teeth at Bear. Torin takes a step forward, and Bear freezes for a moment before backing away cautiously, lifting his hands as he lowers the rifle to the ground.
Jasper and Nyx pause, their fists lowering as Torin stumbles above me before slumping down across my stomach. I grip his fur, wiggling out from under him.
Jett leaps onto the trailer, largely stepping over the slumbering wolves.
He scoops his arms under Torin’s neck and torso, lifting him just enough for me to break free.
I push out and slump against the wall. I turn my trembling palms over and pain instantly shoots through my nerves at the sight of them.
Wide open gashes and slits tear through my flesh.
I moan, folding them over my chest. The trailer shakes as Bear, Nyx and Jasper climb in, kneeling beside me.
Jasper reaches for my elbow, leaning me forward. “Wh-what happened to your face?” he asks, his voice shaking as he scans my body for any other injuries.
I shrug, “you should see the other guy.”
Bear grins, ducking his head as he whispers. “Good girl.”
I roll my eyes, squeezing my arms tighter to my chest to keep my hands from shaking.
Nyx’s hands hover nearby, but he doesn’t touch me. “You need medical,” he states.
I huff, stiffening. “What I need—what we need— is to get these wolves on a plane.”
Nyx holds my glare as a grunt rolls from his throat.
I don’t wait for anyone’s permission, I push off the trailer wall with my arm, standing to my feet.
“Florence wait,” Jasper blocks my path, reaching for me. The world swims as I shoulder past him.
These wolves need me, I can wait.
“Oh, great and mighty woman of the wolves, we humble ourselves upon you! We are but unworthy mortals!” Bear sighs, bowing deeply at my feet. His large frame barely fits in the aisle of the plane.
“Get up you moron.” I roll my eyes, kicking him away.
“What? I’m honoring your newfound culture.” He hasn’t given me a moment’s peace since we boarded, badgering me about Torin and his pack.
“Be still!” Cici flicks my arm, pulling me farther into her lap as she tediously cleans the stitches in my palms. I slump back into my seat, staring over her shoulder to the dipping land below.
The wolves are sedated on a separate plane behind us. Ana has requested to see me immediately upon our return. I don’t know if I’d rather stay on this plane with Bear or go face whatever awaits me below it.
“Easy!” A hot sensation splinters through my fingers as Cici wraps them.
“I wouldn’t have to be doing this if you wouldn’t… if you just… if you weren’t you. Good Lord, Florence.” Her nose wrinkles as she leans over her work, avoiding my glare.
I roll my neck over to Jasper, who’s sitting across from me, but he only glares at me coldly.
Jasper leans over, running a hand through his slept-in hair and props his chin on his fist. I hold his gaze, narrowing my eyes. Who does he think he is? “Remind me again how we lost Vincent?” I ask.
He huffs, pushing out of his seat. “That’s what you want to talk to me about right now?”
He shakes his head, unwilling to discuss it, weaving past Bear and Jett to the front.
Jett clears his throat, turning to face me. “When we all reached their Jeep, it was only Maxim. I guess Vincent bailed on his own father.”
I slump farther into my seat grumbling.
Bear whips himself into Jasper’s empty seat, his legs taking up the entire aisle. He leans in. “And how exactly did Maxim’s hand get blown off?”
I tap the back of my seat, motioning for Nina. She leans forward removing her headphones. “Nina did it.”
“Nina did what?” she asks.
“You took off Maxim’s hand.”
Her head tilts in confusion as she peers down to pause her song. “No, I didn’t?”
“Hey!” Cici yelps as I yank my hand from her grasp to face Nina.
“Did you not want anyone to know?” I ask quietly.
Nina chuckles, shaking her head. “No, I really didn’t do it. It was Nyx, I witnessed it from the corner.”
Nyx? “Did he not tell you?” Cici pipes up, resting her head on my shoulder, eyeing me and Nina.
I wave her off, swinging my legs back around, placing my other mangled hand in her lap. “No. No he didn’t.”
Bear inches the edge of his seat. “Ooohhh, this is interesting.” He whispers.
“It’s not a big deal, I just didn’t know— Ouch! Cici!”
“Sorry, sorry!”
Bear takes my cheeks, squishing them between his fingers. “Tell that to this red face and cute dimples, sugar.” He gasps as I snap at his hand with my teeth.
“One more snap from you, alpha lady, and we’re going to sedate you and release you back into your natural habitat.”
I laugh, wincing at the ache in my ribs. “And if you don’t leave me alone, I’ll call animal control and give your description. That wanted poster still hangs in the Chad’s office. Or better yet I’ll call Bram.”
Bear gasps. “You wouldn’t!”
Cici giggles as she finishes nursing my hand. “Oh, she would.”
“Nina, they’re bullying me again!” He jumps to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at us.
Nina groans, slipping her earphones back on. “If you jump like that again you’re going to cause us to have turbulence.”
He opens his mouth to argue but a ding sounds over the intercom. “Please take your seats ladies, and gentlemen, and fasten your seatbelts for landing.”
“Jett! Jett! Brother, hold my hand!” Bear plummets down beside him.
Cici pats my hand, placing it back into my lap.
“Listen, I know you’re upset about Vincent, but we can’t make a move without Scott’s order.
I’ve been checking and there’s no sign of him,” she murmurs.
Figures. “So,” Cici continues, slowly perking up.
“While you were out, the girl’s and I were talking about a little camping trip when we get back. ”
I click my phone on and tap on the camera icon to examine my face. “Mm hmm, y’all have fun.” Thankfully, the bruising isn’t too deep, at least the blue patches underneath match my eyes.
“This includes you, Angry Bones.”
I click my phone off, rolling my head to her at the name. “Oh, not you too.”