Chapter 29
Riley
Reid runs through the chaos, and I keep pace with him.
One of the creatures sees us and redirects towards us.
One minute we’re running, the next, Reid’s body slams into mine and we’re rolling across the floor.
Seconds later, we’re up and running again.
We're almost to the exit, but I hear a scream close to me.
Are you out of there yet? My father’s voice is loud in my head, but I can’t even respond.
I turn and watch in horror as a creature tracks Star and Cameron.
They’re backed up against the wall with nowhere to go.
I don’t get a chance to say anything to Reid.
I yank my hand from his and race towards the creature.
I don’t stop to think. I know in my subconscious that I can’t shift, but I can use my wolf strength.
I pull from her strength and throw my body into the creature, knocking him away from Star and Cameron.
I tuck my shoulders and roll and am back on my feet a moment later, but the creature slams into me, knocking me to the ground.
I shove at the snapping teeth and fangs and push with all my strength to keep those teeth from tearing into my neck.
The creature is thrown from me, and a furious Reid pulls me to my feet.
“You okay?” He runs his eyes over my body scanning me quickly. “Go!” He pushes me, and we start running again. “Your dad’s on his way.” His eyes meet mine really quick. “Don’t shift; I’ll get you out of here.”
We don’t get far before one of the creatures hits Reid.
I scream as he goes down under its claws.
I feel my wolf rise, slamming through my barriers; and I fight against the overwhelming urge to shift.
I shove at the beast, and Reid throws it off him.
I prepare for it to come at us again, but it just lays on the ground.
I watch as blood flows freely from its neck.
I look over in confusion and see Reid wipe blood off a knife.
I don’t have time to respond to that because the next creature comes at us.
Reid kicks it hard, and it slams into the wall.
“Let’s go.” He grabs my hand, and we race towards the door.
I see a creature trying to hunt one of my teammates and move to help.
Reid sees my intent. “I’ll go help them; you get out of here.
” He races to help them, and I follow right behind him.
I have no intention of letting him face these creatures alone.
But before I can get to him, somebody screams nearby.
I whirl around and see Brene backing away from one of the creatures that’s stalking her.
I redirect that way and race towards her.
The creature prepares to leap; I can tell from the way his muscles bunch.
I run faster and leap when it does. We tangle in the air, and I lose sight of the ground.
We crash into the ground a moment later, and I smack my head on the hard floor.
Adrenaline pushes me past the dizziness, and I search for the creature.
His snapping jaws open wide, and I roll out of his way.
His jaw hits the ground where I just was a second ago. Get up, get up.
“Riley!” Brene screams at me.
I push myself to my feet. “Get out of here!” I yell at Brene.
She hesitates a moment, but a guy running past all but shoves her towards the door.
I grab a plate off the table next to me and slam it over the skinwalker’s head, so he doesn't chase her. Then I run because there’s no way I can defeat it one-on-one without a weapon and without shifting, but it jumps at me and clamps down on my shoulder, dragging me backwards.
A scream rips from my throat. It’s hot, feral breath is in my face a moment later.
It opens its jaws and snaps at me. Move!
I roll away from it, but it clamps a massive paw on my shoulder to keep me still.
Claws dig into my shoulder, shredding it. Agony crashes through me in waves.
“Riley!” I hear Reid’s roar of rage from somewhere, but he’s too far.
I can tell. Then the creature puts its massive paw on my chest, pinning me to the ground.
Claws dig in once again, and I try to fight against it.
But the more I fight, the deeper the claws tear.
A furious Reid guts the creature and throws him off me.
There are snarls and vicious growls as more launch at us.
I can’t even scream; it happens so fast. And then Reid is there, his body protecting mine against the onslaught.
His face twists in agony, and I scream, wishing this nightmare were over.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers against my forehead.
And then I hear a crash and am hit with a blast of Alpha power so strong, it makes my teeth grind.
The entire room is thick with power. My dad is here.
And then another blast of power almost equally strong hits us. Zane’s here.
I hear the sounds of battle around us, but Reid doesn’t move from his position above me.
Panic flows through me; I can’t move. I can’t see what’s happening.
Is my brother okay? My dad? My teammates?
“Riley,” Reid grounds out. “Look at me.” My eyes meet his as I struggle to contain my panic.
“You’re okay; we’re going to get out of this.
Okay? Your dad and brother are here and other pack members. ”
And then Zane is beside us. I can’t see him yet, but I can scent him.
“Reid, you okay, Man?” Reid’s nod is more of a jerk.
“Can you move, so I can check on Riley?” Zane’s voice is so gentle.
He usually only reserves that voice for Evie.
Reid’s body stiffens, but he moves off of me.
And then Zane is above me. He sucks in a breath. “Riley,” his voice sounds gutted.
“I’m okay,” I’m quick to reassure him.
His face darkens, but he doesn’t say anything.
I feel a wave of Alpha power and it arrives with my father who looks more angry than I’ve ever seen him.
He drops down next to me. “Riley.” There’s no emotion in his voice.
“Your mother’s on her way.” He glances at something I can’t see, and I watch as a muscle in his jaw jumps.
“We have to let the EMT’s come in. Just tell them the blood’s not all yours.
Don’t answer any questions. I’ll be right here the whole time.
” His words are fast and clipped, and I don’t get a chance to respond before he nods.
I hear new voices, and then suddenly, there are new people on the scene.
“Please move away from the victims,” a male’s voice says.
“I’m her father,” my father argues.
“I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States. Unless you want her bleeding out on us, you will move back and let us work on her.”
I watch my father battle for control, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen. “I’m okay, Dad,” I whisper to him. His face contorts, but then his alpha side comes to the surface and his face loses its emotion.
“Hang in there, Baby Girl. We’ll be right with you every step of the way.”
“Wait,” I reach out. “Reid?” I can’t see him with all the EMTs on the scene now.
“He’s okay; they’ve already loaded him onto a gurney. They’re taking him to the ambulance.”
“But—” I start.
“Zane’s with him,” he reassures me.
The EMTs push my father out of the way and drop down beside me.
They ask me questions, but I don’t answer them.
And then we’re moving. Everything is a blur around me.
I hear voices I know and recognize, but I don’t respond.
After that, we’re in the ambulance. Somebody pokes me, and I grimace in pain.
They explain what they’re doing, but it sort of all fades around me.
A woman leans down, so I can see her. “We’re giving you pain meds now.
” I don’t expect them to do anything. We have to take a lot of pain meds to touch anything because of our shifter side.
Surprisingly, though, I feel myself begin to sort of float a few minutes later.
I’m aware of things happening around me, but it all feels far away.
When we get to the hospital, they rush me inside.
I hear medical terms being called out—things like internal bleeding, organ failure, and blood transfusion.
I know none of those things are going to be true or needed because of my accelerated healing, but I know they’ll still check.
When they start to say things like tetanus, infection, disease, my mind goes back to the Skinwalkers.
A sick feeling rolls through me. I thought they were gone; I didn’t think we were going to have to deal with them anymore.
I thought maybe Peter had been a one-off incident.
But instead, they just outed themselves to the world.
I don’t know what that means, but I know it’s not good for us.
I kind of come in and out of it over the next little bit.
I check on my wolf periodically. She’s quiet, subdued; and I wonder if the drugs affect her as they affect me.
I hear voices raised in the hallway, and then the door to my room suddenly opens; and my mom strides into the room looking every part the alpha’s wife that she is.
The doctor working on me immediately turns towards her. “Ma’am, you can’t be in here.”
My mom’s eyes flash dangerously, and she points to me on the bed.
“That’s my daughter. I will be in here, and if you try to remove me, let’s just say...
it won’t end well for you.” There is no missing the threat to my mother’s voice.
The doctor hears it, the nurses hear it, I hear it. I can barely hide my weak grin.
“You’d better stay out of our way,” the doctor orders in a gruff voice.
My mother crosses her arms over her chest. “I will.”
Her eyes meet mine. Riley?
I’m okay, I send to her. I see her shoulders drop just a little bit.
Are you in pain?
I'm okay now. They gave me something, and my healing is already kicking in.
She assesses me with sharp eyes. You’re covered in an awful lot of blood.
I know. It’s no use trying to argue with her or hide it; I am covered in blood.
My blood. There’s a crash from somewhere out in the hallway or maybe another room.
The doctor looks over at the door, frowning.
I look at my mom and watch as worry crosses her face.
I suddenly wonder why my mom is here alone with me without my brother and dad.
Mom? Her gaze meets mine. What’s going on?
I almost miss the look on her face; it’s there and gone so fast. But I did see it. Mom, tell me.
Her eyes meet mine. Reid’s not exactly being a good patient.
My eyes widen. That’s Reid causing the commotion?
She nods. Your father and brother are trying to keep him contained.
I sit up. “I need to see him.”
The doctor wastes no time pushing me back down.
He’s gentle, but it still hurts. ”You’re in no shape to do anything but lie here and begin to heal.
” His voice is sharp. He turns to the nurses.
“Clean her up. Do not let her leave this room.” He eyes me, and I don’t miss the seriousness in his gaze.
“Don’t make me have to call security like I did for your friend. ”
My heart squeezes at that. Oh, Reid.