Chapter 7 #2
The room seemed to grow smaller, the air more suffocating.
The wolf growled and limped toward the vampire. The wound on his shaky hind leg was still open, blood soaking his fur.
“Don’t try to kill him. You don’t have enough strength to do so and run away. I need you to leave with us right now. Otherwise, all of this is for nothing,” I said to the wolf.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when the wolf sent me an expectant glance and then trotted to the door. An Alpha werewolf had listened to me. Dad would be proud.
I slid my arms under Tammy’s armpits and lifted her body off the floor. The throbbing pain on my forearm intensified trifold. I shut and opened my eyes, letting the pain pass through me.
Her exhausted body swayed in all directions.
Anyone who saw us would think she was too drunk to walk on her own.
Since I was shorter, I draped her arm across my shoulders.
Leaving the grunting and now awake vampire behind, Tammy and I stumbled through the empty hallway with the Alpha wolf in front of us.
I was mentally praying to the Fates for five extra minutes before the vampire could fully recover.
The moment the beast ascended the steps before me and Tammy, a deafening chorus of screams reverberated from the ground floor. The upbeat music was replaced by the frenzied clomping of frightened feet.
The animal waited for us at the top, and then we rushed after him as the crowd parted and people ran away from us in a desperate bid for safety. The club goers raced toward the front exit doors, shoving each other out of the way.
I mentally prayed for the crowd not to swallow us before we reached the exit. Tammy’s body relaxed against mine, her entire weight pressing against my small frame, and I had to slow my pace. I dragged my best friend as I dodged shattered cocktail glasses on the floor.
The wolf, some distance away from us now, turned his head and nodded. Then he broke into a full sprint and jumped through a nook window, tearing the curtains, shattering glass and wood pieces everywhere.
He landed on the sidewalk, shook his bloody fur, and glanced back at us one last time as if he wanted to make sure we’d be okay. And then he was gone.
I let out a heavy sigh. At least the Alpha was saved tonight.
I forgot to tell him to keep his mouth shut in front of Dad, but the extra weight I carried distracted me from any thoughts about the consequences of my actions tonight. I couldn’t think of anything now other than saving Tammy and myself.
Suddenly, goose bumps rose on my neck, and I scanned the open space for supernaturals.
A few guys ran past me, bumping into my shoulder and sending sharp pain down to my hands. My entire body ached. Another group of people ran on Tammy’s side, shoving her hard into me, and I almost lost my balance.
Two men in black suits and ties appeared from downstairs and walked around the dance floor. To everyone else, they looked like the club’s security staff. But my instincts told me otherwise. I picked up my speed.
Tammy’s friend, the bouncer, spotted me and sprinted toward us. A cold shiver ran down my spine. Which side was he on? He stopped in front of us. Would we ever make it out of here?
“Do you need help?” He extended his arms as if to scoop up Tammy.
I blew out a breath. The bouncer didn’t seem to be compelled.
I wanted to take him up on his offer, but I couldn’t risk Tammy muttering something in front of him. And if the bulky and tall bouncer carried her, we’d be too easy to spot by the vampires.
“No, that’s okay. We’re almost at the parking lot,” I said in my steadiest voice. “We only need help to get out of the front doors, please.”
I gave him my best fake smile, and he nodded and turned around, leading us out of this nightmare.
At the large parking lot, more sweat beaded on my temples.
While supporting Tammy, I fumbled with the tiny black purse she had across her chest. I pulled out her car keys and kept clicking the button while watching the rows of cars. The beep of Tammy’s small car had never sounded sweeter. I dragged us to her vehicle and deposited her in the passenger seat.
Tammy’s eyes glazed over as she went in and out of consciousness—a temporary effect of the bad compulsion fading away.
I sent one last glance at the club's front doors. A line of screaming people trickled out, and behind the crowd, shoving humans out of his way, was the vampire master.
I froze.
He exited the building and sprinted to the end of the sidewalk. He halted and scanned the surroundings until his red eyes locked with mine. My breath hitched while the vampire grinned, displaying his fangs. He zipped toward me.
My feet pounded on the pavement as I raced around the side of the car and slipped inside, locking the doors.
I fumbled with the keys. My hands shook, and my fingers felt like icicles as I twisted the key and prayed that I remembered how to drive a stick shift on the opposite side of the road from what I was used to.
Or else we’d never get away, and Tammy and I would be a part of the missing-person statistics.
The tires skidded. I backed out of the spot. The car finally lurched forward.
I had to keep going no matter what. I glanced over to my best friend next to me.
“I’ll get us out of here, Tammy,” I muttered, more to myself.
But when I looked in the rearview mirror, all that greeted me was a pair of glowing crimson eyes getting closer and closer. With each passing second, the vampire’s powerful strides brought him closer like an unearthly predator.
I only needed a miracle to escape the enemy.