Page 65 of The Renegade Mate

Jase didn’t stay there. Instead, he started to pull himself forward, crawling slowly but surely over to me.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” I whispered when he reached my side. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must be in. Jase grunted quietly at me; then his jaws closed firmly around the ropes binding my wrists. He tugged and gnawed while I kept my eyes on the door. I was sure Carl was going to appear any second.

Finally, after what felt like days, the ropes gave way, snapping apart, and my hands were free. The blood rushed back into my numb hands, making them sting. I massaged them, trying to get some feeling back. We had to get out of here, if only my fingers would start working. The feeling came back slowly, so damned slowly. When I could move them, I leaned forward and went to work on the bindings around my feet. They came loose easier, and I stood up. Ignoring all the pains and aches in my legs, my ribs, my arms, I slipped over to the door. My ear pressed against the cold wood as I listened for any sign of Carl. Silence. That bastard could be anywhere.

I looked back at Jase, his wolf eyes meeting mine with an intensity that shook me to my core. He shook his head. I knew what he was trying to say. That he couldn’t walk. That he would slow me down. That I should leave him.

“Not a fucking chance, Jase. I’m getting us out of here,” I promised, my voice a low growl that left no room for doubt.

And with that, my fingers closed around the door handle, ready to crack it open and face whatever hell awaited us on the other side.

Chapter forty

Ryan

The old camping ground was alive with tension. All twenty-one Packs from the northeast were here. They all knew about Jem’s demise and were here to witness the crowning of Brock and Hayley as the new Alpha Pair of the Three Rivers Pack. The other Alphas weren’t stupid, though. They all had their equivalent of Derek. They knew about Mai and me and were waiting to see what would happen.

A central fire pit lay at the heart of the camping site, a relic of countless human and Shifter ceremonies. At the moment, it lay cold and dormant, waiting for the spark that would set the night ablaze.

I scanned the perimeter, spotting my enforcers hidden in the shadows. Mason was poised like the predator he was, muscles taut and ready.

I went over the plan in my head. Every step had to be perfect, every movement synchronized. Mai’s life depended on it, and I couldn’t allow anything to go wrong. The image of her face, determined to save Sofia, to be a good Alpha, haunted my thoughts. I couldn’t fail her.

Derek’s footsteps crunched behind me, snapping me back to reality.

“They’ll be coming from the south-western road,” he said. “Brock and Hayley should be here in the next ten minutes.”

“Any news from Jase?”

Derek shook his head. I’d sent Jase to follow the convoy of cars leaving Three Rivers. He was supposed to track them here and then meet up with us.

My gut twisted with a growing sense of unease. “Everyone’s ready, right?”

Derek’s steely gaze met mine. “Relax, brother. We have everyone here. All our supporters, even Wally and Thomas.”

I glanced at him sharply. “Who’s watching Sam?”

Thomas had brought Sam out of his coma last night. He was weak, but he was going to be okay.

Derek shrugged, looking out over the campsite. “I couldn’t keep him away. You know what he’s like.”

Shit. Sam was in no state for this fight.

“Mason will look out for him. Ryan, we’ve done everything we could. Now we have to let it all play out.”

I nodded, knowing he was right. Derek wanted Sofia back just as much as I needed Mai.

It was time to act, not doubt.

Derek’s hand landed on my shoulder. “We won’t make any mistakes. We’ve got this.”

His confidence should have reassured me, but instead, it gnawed at me, feeding my anxiety. Something felt off, a nagging doubt that I couldn’t shake.

I glanced back at the old camping ground, the ghosts of the past whispering in the wind.

I had to trust in the plan, in Derek, in myself. But most of all, I had to trust that Mai was still alive.

My heart pounded restlessly as I turned away from Derek. The bond between Mai and me, once a comforting warmth, now felt like a cold, tight knot in my chest. I reached out to it, trying to feel her, to check she was still alive.

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