23. Bea #2
Ash rushed back to us and snagged it. We stood back, watching as he struck. The first hit made the glass creak but nothing else happened.
The second, you could hear the metal and glass protest and groan.
The third hit, the glass finally fractured, the whole thing cracking before finally giving way. It shattered over the sidewalk in a sound that was unforgettable. The tinkling almost too delicate against the roaring in my ears.
Sirens hit us, the remaining firetruck that was apparently still in Willow Lake racing our way, but it wasn’t close enough.
Cameron stood outside like a ghost, watching and laughing as he threw more gas on the fire directly in front.
Ash started to move through the window, but was nearly thrown back as the flames roared higher, eating the gasoline Cameron had doused the building in.
“Ash!” Taryn screamed, dropping her phone and rushing towards her mate.
“Stay away from the windows!” Ash warned, even he looked panicked now. His way was blocked by a wall of flames, and with the amount of gasoline Cameron had poured around the building, I had a feeling it would be a minute before it finished. By then, the wood and books would have fed it.
The guys’ panic kept echoing in the bond but I couldn’t do more. They would have heard the call by now, and I knew they were coming.
I felt so helpless. This was a warning, letting me know that Cameron couldn’t just get close to me, but my girl as well. No one could stop him.
The fire truck finally arrived, pulling up out front with a screech. Others were starting to move in from the stores around us, spraying hoses and trying to douse the gasoline or at least dilute it.
The firemen jumped into the fray, spraying the sides of the building first, and then the sidewalk.
At some point in the chaos, Cameron had disappeared, but I had a feeling he wasn’t far. He was likely watching his ‘art’ unfold.
He was the type to want to sit around and appreciate it.
One of the WLFD pickups came to a screeching halt next to the firetruck, barely putting it in park before Apollo, Ezra, and Corvin were bolting out, running towards us.
They’d just cleared the front door as one of the suited-up firemen pulled the burning-hot metal rod from the door, finally forcing it open. It was a lot safer route than trying to go through the front window.
They rushed inside, pulling me and Phoenix out, checking us over. My throat was raw once again from smoke, my emotions just as fried.
“I’m all right,” I lied, still holding Phoenix close.
Ezra gently pulled her away from me, and she fell into his arms. He comforted our sweet girl and checked her for injuries while Corvin and Apollo did the same to me.
“It’s alright,” they promised.
“It’s not,” I growled. “He got away again.”
“The community showed up for you,” Corvin explained. “Probably saved your lives but chased him off. All I care about is that you’re safe.”
I looked around to see just how many people had buckets of water, fire extinguishers, and hoses out. They’d managed to keep it contained until the firetruck got here. If not, the building would’ve had far more damage.
“That was still bad enough that the store is going to have to be checked out before you guys can go back in,” one of the firemen said.
“As long as we’re safe,” Taryn said, her voice cracking.
Ash pulled her close, and they held each other, both trembling.
“This town has always been the kind to look out for each other,” Dolly said. Pearl nodded beside her.
I hadn’t even noticed them in the crowd, but I had a feeling Dolly knew exactly what I needed to hear.
“She’s right,” Mary from down the street said. “I moved here after my pack found a younger omega.”
“Then we found her, our perfect omega at every stage of life.” One of her older alphas pulled her close, all three of them snuggling together.
“My ex husband left me for another woman,” Valerie spoke up. “He followed me here when he realized he couldn’t control me anymore. Almost dragged me back home.”
“But this town helps each other out, and I gave him one hell of a wallop,” a woman next to her said, giving her hand a squeeze.
Dolly and Pearl both grinned, patting their purses. I was positive they had a hand in that ‘walloping’ as well.
I didn’t need to hear anymore. The guilt was finally starting to fade away. It was one thing to hear those you love tell you that it wasn’t your fault, but it was another to hear strangers telling you that they had your back, too.
“We need to get you to the hospital. You should be looked over. Both of you,” Corvin said.
He tried to say it gently, but I was already frustrated just hearing the words.
The only thing keeping my protests silent was the need to know my baby and Phoenix were both unharmed.
“Is that him?” Phoenix’s voice broke through our conversation.
We all followed where she was looking, her shaky finger pointing between the buildings across the street.
“It’s him,” I confirmed, the same outfit and grin unmistakable.
That was enough for my pack.
Corvin gently handed me over to Ezra as he and Apollo took off at a full run, barking out orders so that more alphas and betas fell into line until an entire crowd was running after him. They disappeared between the buildings and likely into the trees behind Main Street.
I hoped with everything in me that this was the time they finally caught him.