Chapter 68
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
The fireflies danced in the darkness as the wind rustled through the weeds and tossed them from side to side.
The frogs and crickets joined in on the night chorus and accompanied the main melody of two bodies running, their movements humming through the air.
Freja glanced up for a moment. Small diamonds peppered the night sky, and dark clouds floated slowly on the horizon.
The moon was following them on their journey and creating a small light that pierced the darkness.
They were almost back to the cursed forest when she halted abruptly.
Her senses were tingling, and it didn’t take her long to understand why. The sweet scent of her mate rose in the air. Hunter had come, and he was close. She looked over at Chasen, who had his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
“Guess Hunter didn’t listen and wait.” Chasen chuckled, sensing his brother's presence and relieved he was here. With his brother joining them, they now had another formidable ally to help. Freja had mentioned earlier that they couldn’t defeat Harley, but Chasen had already decided he would protect Jin no matter what, even at the cost of his life, if necessary.
With Hunter here, the power was shifting in their favor.
The rustling sound got closer, and soon the beady eyes of wolves came into view. Freja’s gaze locked onto the silver wolf, who shifted before her eyes.
“Freja, thank goodness.” Hunter walked up to her and pulled her into his chest. At first, he felt relieved, until he looked over at Chasen. Jin was still not with them.
“Where’s Jin?” Hunter asked as he pulled back slightly.
“We caught up with the demons that had kidnapped her. However, another demon took her.” Freja frowned. “Unfortunately, it’s a much stronger demon. He’s on the same level as Leoric, the son of an original demon.”
“And he has Jin now? Why?” Hunter frowned looking at Chasen. His brother’s face was worn with exhaustion and worry.
“He took her as a mate,” Freja said quietly.
Hunter’s eyes flashed black as a low growl reverberated in his chest. He walked up to Chasen and slapped his hand on his shoulder.
“We’re getting her back. Don’t worry. We are getting her back.
” He watched his brother nod his head and look away as his bottom lip quivered slightly.
Hunter would rip this demon apart. He didn’t care how powerful he was.
“We’ll try to negotiate with him first. We don’t know how many other demons he will have with him. Worst case scenario … Chasen takes Jin and runs while we hold them off.” Freja pinned Hunter with her green eyes.
“No. You take Jin and run. I will hold them off,” Chasen said in a low, threatening tone. “You need my strength to hold them off. No matter how strong you two are, you’re not a guardian.”
Freja turned and looked at Winston and Sam.
“They can take Jin and run. The three of us can hold them off then.” Hunter’s silver eyes flashed at her, and she gave him a soft smile.
Of course, Hunter didn’t want her staying, but she didn’t want him staying either.
This was a compromise. And when it came to demons, she had the most experience.
“We have no time to waste. We need to keep going.”
Hunter looked at her and Chasen. “You both are exhausted. What good are you fighting in this condition?”
“I couldn’t rest now anyway. I can’t rest not knowing what’s happening to Jin …
” Chasen trailed off quietly. He clenched his fists at his sides and squinted his eyes shut.
All he could see were images of his Jin, happy and laughing.
Stealing his hidden chocolate from his drawer, running through the candy store, the way she looked when she told him she was pregnant.
He could see it all in his mind. It was painful.
He set his jaw and inhaled deeply. He would not live this life without her.
And he hated himself for dragging his brother into this.
He was supposed to be keeping him safe but instead was now relying on his strength. He was taking his brother into danger.
“I’ve tracked for days straight before. I’ll be fine. We’ll sleep for days after this to recover. Unless you’re too tired to go on, Alpha. Then you can just wait for us here.” Freja winked at him, and he chuckled.
“Why aren’t you running in your feral forms?” Hunter asked, looking at the two of them.
“I have more agility and can move just as fast in this form, thanks to being part vampire.” Freja answered with a shrug.
“I find running in my animal form faster.” Hunter frowned. He was a tribrid, too.
“It’s just what you’re used to. Honestly … it doesn’t matter, right?” Freja grinned and Hunter lifted his head toward Chasen for his response.
“My bear form is too loud. It would be like sounding the alarm for me to run in that form. I’m able to keep up like this, though, so it’s for the best. I shifted into a bear when we took out the demons.” Chasen sighed heavily, a white cloud forming from his breath.
“I’ll lead the way. Try to keep up, or I’ll leave you behind.” Freja smirked back at Hunter, who shook his head and chuckled. There was no time to lose. Every minute—no, every second—could be torture for Jin. They had to get to her fast.
The cursed forest welcomed them with a cold mist that blanketed the entire area.
They were moving slower now as Freja tried to track the old trail of the demons.
Periodically, a twig snapped in the distance, and they all would freeze to analyze what could have made the sound.
Once they discerned it was nothing to worry about, they would continue on.
The land was barren, so there was nothing to hide behind.
The sound of moving water whispered at their ears.
At the same time, the scent of other demons wafted in the air, and the trail they were following stopped here.
There was also a faint scent of Jin from a spot where she had stood for a moment.
Freja could see Chasen looking around frantically for Jin.
Smelling her scent had him more distressed.
Usually the scent of your mate relaxed you, but that was when you could get to them.
Now it was having the opposite effect. A large silver wolf brushed up against Freja and lifted his nose in the air.
He pointed his gaze toward the river and Freja nodded in agreement.
“They crossed the river. From this point on, we’re in Harley’s territory. You’re all hired mercenaries that I’m using to fulfill a job for a client, so don’t act irrationally.” Freja directed her gaze specifically at Chasen.
“How far away do you think they are?” Chasen frowned.
“I’m not sure. They aren’t really close, but they can’t be far either.
They will be somewhere in this territory.
” Freja could smell the different scents, but none of them were strong.
That might change once they crossed the river.
“We’ll need to move quietly and a bit slower.
I know you’re anxious, Chasen, but we’ll find her soon. ”
“I hope she’s alright.” Chasen’s voice cracked slightly, and Hunter shifted back to his human form. He walked up to his brother and wrapped his arms around him.
“We’re going to find her. And she is going to be alright.
He was taking her as a mate, so he wouldn’t have killed her.
And as long as she’s alive, that’s all that matters, right?
She’ll be alive, and we’re taking her back.
” Hunter held his brother tightly and felt him nod his head, the small tremors revealing his true anxiety.
He really felt for him. It would be hard if something traumatic happened to your mate.
Not because of what happened or that they’d be damaged goods, but because you’d feel like you failed as their mate.
Your strongest drive and desire was to protect them and keep them from harm.
“Do you think she’ll forgive me?” Chasen choked out.
“Chasen, she would never blame you and you know it. You’re the one who will have to forgive yourself.” Hunter patted his brother hard on the back. “Let’s go get her back, Chase. And then, let’s go home.”
Chasen nodded his head and lifted up his arm to wipe his eyes, mentally preparing himself. It had been hours since Jin had been captured as the demon’s mate, and he just hoped that she was okay and would be okay. His chest hurt. He wasn’t there to protect her, and she was probably very frightened.
He squeezed his hands into fists as Hunter released him from his hug.
He looked at his brother and then Freja, gritting his teeth and nodding them onward.
They were close. Soon, he would see his sweet Jin, and she would never leave his sight again when they were out.
He was going to be the annoying, hovering mate, the one who would heal her wounds and be there to support her.
He’d never wanted a mate, or so he told himself, but she was the best mate he could have ever asked for.
Falling in love with her was a wonderful surprise, and having a family with her was more than he could have ever hoped for.
He needed to see her … his sweet, chocolate-loving, slushy-slaying demon.
Freja led them up to the fast-paced river.
It would be challenging for a regular human to cross, but not for them.
She forged ahead with the silver wolf at her side.
The icy water stabbed at her legs and swallowed her up to her chest. Soon after, she had to swim, the water frothing and splashing into her face.
Meanwhile, Hunter was doing his best to be a barrier for Freja against the current.
Even though she didn’t need his help, he was still trying to make the crossing as easy for her as possible.
Freja and Hunter waited as each of the others made their way onto the shore before she turned her attention back to tracking.
The scent was nowhere and everywhere. Needing to focus on the most recent scent, she took a few small steps away from the others and searched over the land in front of her.
There were several tracks, but only one group was the freshest. It matched the scent across the river as well.
She slowly proceeded forward, the others following her lead.
She’d never actually seen Harley. She’d run into his goons before, at the informational tavern.
He probably wouldn’t be happy to see her if he knew she was the one who’d killed a couple of his men not too long ago.
She did give them a choice, though. They were told to let Ciana go or die.
They chose death, right? Though Harley probably wouldn’t see it this way.
With any luck, he didn’t even know about it.
The leaves and greenery started filling in again as they got farther away from the cursed forest. This would at least give them more cover, but it would also shield their adversaries.
Freja went to take another step forward but stopped mid-stride, her body becoming rigid as a stronger scent came into play.
She quickly drew her dagger and whipped it out, angling it toward the bushes.
Her knife stopped at the throat of a demon, and behind him were several other eyes glaring back at them.