Page 24 of Beautiful Madness

Only when I nodded did theyhurry to obey, Gray Shadow and Stone Moon wolves alike. And in the mess ofbodies and blood, they found my friends, and they carried them to me. Gently,because they did not want to die.

“You keep changing on me,” Remymurmured. “You’re not the same.” And then, surprising me, he reached into hispocket and retrieved my cell phone and one of my blades. He tossed them to theground at my feet.

“No,” I agreed. “I’m not.” Therewas no softness inside me. Iwasn’tthe same. And if Joe and Zach weredead, I would kill Eli despite the risk. Maybe I would kill them all. Becausefinally, I wasn’t just…the woman. I was the wolf, I was the magic, and I wasthe psycho.

I was Kait.

The only thing left to find wasthe shapeshifter, and she was waiting somewhere deep inside me. I planned to golooking for her. Soon enough, I would be complete.

Whatever that might mean.

ChapterThirteen

The wolves carried Joe and Zachto me, laying them at my feet when I simply stared, unable to speak. Finally, Ifound the breath to say the words. “Tell me.”

“They’re alive,” one of thewolves said. “And the doctor is coming.”

Only then did I drop to myknees, and though my heart was bursting, I didn’t cry. I wouldn’t cry in frontof them. They needed me strong. There were warriors still standing, some stillhealing, and I called to them. “Take Eli to the dungeon in the alpha’s house.You,” I said, pointing to one of the lead warriors, “create a code, and shareit with no one. Bring it back to me.”

They did as I asked, quicklyand with no questions, and it helped that Eli was still unconscious. He’dawaken in his cell and shift to mend his injuries, and I’d give him some timeto accept his circumstances before I went to talk to him.

Doctor Hayes rushed to thearea, along with his nurse Belinda and three aides. They pushed stretchers andall five of them carried a bag with supplies. I took a moment with Joe andZach, then leaned over to kiss their bloody foreheads before I got out of themedical team’s way.

“Kait,” the doctor called, whenI stood. “Let me have a look at you. Jared will rip my head off if I—”

“I’m fine,” I told him. “Takecare of Zach and Joe. Please. Don’t let them die, Ben.”

“I’ll do everything I can,” hesaid, but he didn’t sound as confident as I would have liked.

The two humans looked like theywere already dead. The wolves hadn’t been gentle with either of them, thoughZach looked a little less injured than Joe. Even as I thought it, Zach openedhis eyes, then began struggling silently, fighting imaginary foes.

“Hold him,” the doctor ordered,then slid a needle into his arm.

Joe never moved.

“Ben,” I begged, my voice fullof tears.

“I’ll do what I can,” he said. “Getout of here, Kait.” He didn’t look at me.

“Come on, Kait. Leave them tothe doctor. You and I have work to do.”

I stared at Remy, not reallyfocusing on his face. “Work?” I asked, blankly.

He pointed his chin at somethingbehind me, and when I turned to look, Bastien was standing at the edge of thetree line, watching me.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

“Yeah.” Remy grinned. “Buttaking a bite for the team and tracking daywalkers? That shit will take yourmind right off everything else.” His amused gaze dropped to my naked body. “Andmaybe mine.”

I snorted. “Poser.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “Howso?”

“We both know you’re nevergoing to be sexually interested in a nonhuman, Remy. But thanks for thecompliment, however dubious it might have been.”

He laughed. “I can’t argue withyou, Silver.”

I turned my back to him andcast around on the ground for discarded clothes, settling for a shirt that wastwo sizes too large. I didn’t bother trying to find pants or shoes—I’d dress inmy own clothes once I got the bite over with.