Page 57 of Protecting The Gray Wolf
“We’re going as fast as we can,” the mercenary leader called. “You’ve got half the damn building on you.”
Dust trickled down as debris shifted and settled. They had to proceed with caution. The slightest misstep could mean disaster. It worried him that she hadn’t moved or groaned. Her shallow breathing and faint heartbeat were all that was keeping him sane.
Moving slowly, so as not to disturb any of the wreckage, he eased up onto his hands and knees and covered as much of her as he could. If something else came down on top of them, it would hit him. He wanted to rip away the slab of concrete sitting on her, but that was impossible. There wasn’t enough space.
Time passed at a snail’s pace, but in reality, not much had passed since the explosion. Otherwise, the human authorities would be on the scene. That was going to be one hell of a clusterfuck. If Charles Armstrong owned the building, it might come back on him. Not to mention the bodies scattered around the property. With her actions, Solange had jeopardized every wolf alive, even her lover.
Voices were getting louder, which meant they were getting closer. With the five wolves working together, they’d move debris faster than several human crews with machines. He was thankful the building was a single story and a basement.
Leaning down, he nuzzled her neck and chin. “Not much longer, sweetheart.” As much as he wanted her to wake up, it was better she remained unconscious until they got her out of here and could assess her condition.
“Sirens,” he heard one of the men call out. Kade heard them, too. They were distant but getting closer.
“Take your men and go,” he called out to the mercenary leader. No need for them to get caught up in his mess any more than they already were.
“My people are handling it,” he answered as he kept on digging. Smaller pieces of concrete bounced off his back, and a larger piece pressed down. Two minutes later, the weight lifted off him, and light appeared.
The leader of the mercenaries balanced on several chunks of concrete and twisted rebar and peered down at them. Kade uncoiled his body, coming up fully onto his knees. “I’m going to move this off her.” He indicated the chunk of debris. “You’ll have to take it.”
His hands shaking, he took a deep breath and curled his fingers around the rough edges of the slab. When he had a solid grip, he lifted. The sight that met his eyes made his eyes damp. He blinked it away and handed the wreckage up to the waiting mercenary before turning back to Luna.
Blood stained her torn clothes. There was no way to tell the extent of her injuries, but her body had sustained a massive trauma. He wanted to howl with the injustice of it. Grinding his teeth and clenching his jaw tight, he crouched beside her and pressed his fingers against her throat. Her pulse was thready. Her skin was cold and clammy and pale as snow.
“Bodies have been dealt with, but we’re running out of time. Authorities are delayed, but they’ll be here soon. We have to move her.”
He was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. A piece of the metal bed from the cell had sheared off. It wasn’t perfect, but he could make it work. Moving her might exacerbate her injuries, might even kill her, but they were out of time. He carefully slid the thin metal sheet under her, jostling her as little as possible.
Swallowing his pride, he looked up at a man he’d met a mere few hours earlier. The mercenary leader stood shy of seven feet, with hair as jet black as his eyes. There was something familiar about the man, something Kade couldn’t place. Not that it mattered. There was no one else to ask for assistance. “I need help.”
In response, he eased down into the cramped space and gripped one end of the makeshift metal backboard. “I’ve got it.”
With Kade holding the other end, they lifted. When they had her balanced, he jumped out first, making sure she was secure before the mercenary joined him. In silence, they clambered off the debris pile and onto solid ground, all the while keeping their precious cargo steady. His partner was nimble and graceful, never once jostling Luna.
A van waited with the engine running, the rear doors open. “What’s this?” Kade’s trust only went so far. If he was going to be betrayed, it would be now. The muscles in his shoulders bunched and flexed.
“Broker sent it. The driver is one of my men and will take you to a safe house. This one is guaranteed. Stay as long as necessary. The broker will be in touch.”
Not like he had a choice, not with Luna’s life hanging in the balance. There was no stench of magic or unknown wolves, but that didn’t mean a whole hell of a lot. He climbed into the back of the van, allowing the two of them to maneuver Luna inside.
The mercenary gripped both doors, hesitating before closing them. At some point, his shirt had been shredded, exposing a massive chest rippling with muscles but devoid of any marking. Kade had never seen a photo of the black wolf. The bastard was a complete recluse. But it occurred to him that this man could easily be a lone wolf, except for the lack of a tattoo. “Take care of her.”
Their gazes met, and something inside him relaxed. They’d fought and spilled blood together. More than that, this stranger hadn’t abandoned him, had dug through heaps of concrete and metal to get to them. “She’s my life. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you need only ask.” He’d never offered carte blanche to another living soul. Then again, no one had ever saved his mate before. There was nothing he could ever do that would repay the debt he owed this man.
A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. As a wolf, he understood the magnitude of the offer. “Who knows? Maybe someday I will. Glad to have been of assistance.” He slammed the doors of the van and rapped on the side. It began to pull away.
The turn of phrase, the cadence of the voice, and the change in tone had Kade’s jaw dropping. Holy shit, the broker was a wolf. The man had fought alongside him, dug him from the rubble with his own hands. Relief flowed through him. They were safe, or as safe as they could be considering a mage and an army of wolves were after them.
Luna’s breathing hitched. Forgetting everything else, he knelt by her side and gripped her hand. “Stay with me. We’re going to get you help.” If he thought taking her to a hospital would save her, he’d do it in a heartbeat, but there was no time. Death was reaching its icy, bony hands toward her.
Lone wolves were solitary for a reason.
Mate or not, he had to put her safety first. That meant destroying any threat to her before sending her away. His wolf howled inside him, but Kade was determined to do what was right, no matter the cost…assuming she lived.
“There’s a blanket, but there was no time to get medical supplies,” the driver called out, keeping his eyes on the road.
Kade found it, shook it out, and covered her. He ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek and throat.You share her blood.It was the voice he’d heard in his head the first time he’d made his transition and become the gray wolf, the voice that guided him when he hunted. An impulse rose in him. One too strong to ignore.
What he was about to do went against every law of his kind, but he was past caring. His blood healed him. Maybe it could do the same for her. The driver had the trust of the broker and would hold his silence if he saw anything. Manifesting a claw, he dragged it over his wrist and held it to her slightly parted lips.
