Page 119 of Pack Fever

I won’t let Reed be hurt for my sake. “Please don’t do this,” I plead, stepping out from behind him. “Just let him go, and I’ll come with you...”

“Danica, no,” Reed growls.

Before the situation can escalate further, two figures burst onto the scene right behind the guards, taking them by surprise. The newcomers lunge at them, taking two down so fast, including the man with the gun. I barely have time to register what’s going on. As Reed charges at the third guard, it takes me a moment to recognize our rescuers—Jasper and Seth.

A choked whimper of happiness spills past my lips at seeing them, at watching the fight. Jasper, in particular, catches my eye with his ruthless beating of the man he holds in a chokehold while slamming a fist into his head. The unsettling smile that plays on his lips as he metes out his brand of justice is slightly disturbing. Yet, at this moment, it’s that very darkness that’s securing our safety.

And fuck these kidnappers. They deserve all the pain coming their way. Seth slams one guy to the floor with such force that I almost feel the moan of the groaning guy hitting the concrete. Reed already has another guy on the ground, driving him into submission with aggressive punches to his face, to his body, just as he had the guard in the kitchen.

I adore them all even more at seeing them fight for me, for the lengths they’ll go to keep me safe.

With the guards incapacitated and lying in a heap, Reed, Jasper, and Seth are by my side in a flash, their arms wrapping around me in a fierce embrace that melts me. I want to cry that I somehow lucked out to get three Alphas all to myself. The urge to break down, to let out all the pent-up fear and relief, is overwhelming, but there’s no time for tears.

As we make our escape, the full extent of the chaos unfolding at the front of the house comes into view. The sports ground across the street has transformed into the epicenter of a festival. The area is teeming with people, cars parked haphazardly along the curb, the air filled with the pulse of Fever’s music blaring from enormous speakers someone set up in the field. It’s a massive outdoor party where laughter mingles with the dancing, and more cars are coming down the street, parking on the grass, anything to join in.

We’re moving again within seconds, just as someone calls out to us from behind. That’s when we notice three other men emerging from the rear of the property, calling for us to stop.

Yeah, right.

Driven by the need to escape, we run into the chaotic street of people everywhere, putting as much distance between us and this nightmare as possible.

Jasper and Seth, already wearing hoodies, swiftly pull the hoods lower over their faces, casting them in shadow. Reed, improvising, grabs the collar of his shirt from behind and yanks it up and over his head, effectively shrouding his features as well.

The sight of police cars cruising down the street, one after the other, snaps us to the urgency of the moment. Especially when I glance back and see them pulling up in front of the house of horrors we just escaped from. Hell, yes! Hope they arrest them all.

There’s no sign of the guards coming after us. Are they panicking? Escaping out the back? We seize the opportunity, sprinting with everything we have, blending into the chaos as best we can.

Our feet pound against the pavement as my heart races in my chest. The booming sounds and music from the sports ground fade into the background, replaced by the singular focus of escape, of survival, as we navigate the cars and people everywhere.

Glancing back once more, we’re long past the house, and no one’s coming after us. I slow down, catching my breath.

“How in the world did this outdoor party happen?” The question whirls in my mind, but when I spot Seth grinning suspiciously at me, I get my response. He did this somehow. Created a distraction near the house… God, it’s a genius idea.

“Seth’s at the bottom of it,” Reed answers. “He’s a mastermind.”

I fucking adore these men. Even Reed… yes, I said it.

“I love you guys,” I say breathlessly, gaining each of their stares, and for a moment, I’m convinced they’re going to stop and come at me, peel my clothes off, and rut me right here on the street. It’s the primal hunger in their eyes at hearing my words that does this to them, and I’m fucking ecstatic. Well, maybe not right here with all the people and so close still to danger.

“Oh, you’ve just made me the happiest man in the world. I fucking love you so hard,” Jasper announces, grinning like crazy. Seth blows me a kiss, mouthing he loves me too, and it’s as if I can feel his lips on mine in an instant. Reed’s lips curl upward, even as we’re still moving up the street and away from danger, and he says, “I love you too, babe.”

It’s so strange to talk about love while running for our lives, yet it somehow feels like it’s needed, like it’s natural.

I can’t help but glance back at the growing festival, with Fever’s music as its anthem.

“What did you tell them?” I ask, glancing over at Seth. “That Fever will attend?”

He’s breathing heavily, as all of us are. “I just made a few announcements on social media that Fever might be making a quick appearance at this sports ground. Then everything else went out of control, and the fans organized this festival, any reason to celebrate.”

“Wow, I’m impressed with the power of your fans.”

“They’re incredible,” Reed answers.

We finally reach Seth’s car, my lungs burning from the exertion and the adrenaline while the sound of fans and chaos echoes around us. The guys still have their faces obscured. At that moment, all three converge on me, these three towering Alphas, their muscular chests enveloping me like a protective embrace.

“Don’t ever scare us like that again,” Seth breathes out, his lips on the edge of my mouth, so tender, so sweet, that my knees are already melting. “I can’t bear to lose you.”

“It’s not exactly like I had a say in this,” I manage to say. Reed’s touch on my cheek draws my attention.

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