Page 24 of Rivers and Roads

Climbing out of the car, I walked toward the row of suburban houses, ducking behind the bushes until I saw his taillights disappear. When he was gone, I glanced at the address and oriented myself in the right direction before I began to run.

It took me longer than I wanted to find the damn car, but eventually I saw it. There was the smallest halfmoon sticker in the window, and when I reached under the tire, the keys were waiting for me. It was Kor’s mark, and I felt a rush of gratitude when I climbed inside. I left the phone crushed on the side of the road, and I started the engine, leaving the humans far behind as I made my way to the place where I would either take my last breath or get Zane on the road to safety.

Kor left me with another burner, a note not to use it, a small stack of supplies in the trunk, and weapons. I forced myself to keep going as I watched the hours tick by, coming closer to the next dose of serum that I no longer had.

I started to worry that it would affect me—that it might take me down before I had the chance to get Zane. I felt fine right then, but there was no telling what would happen when I crossed that twelve-hour mark.

It was well past sunset by the time I arrived at the little road that led to the compound. It was far back in the trees, and I managed to get the car half a mile into the woods before it became too thick to go forward. On foot was better, though I doubted Zane would be in any condition to shift and run, but I had to make do.

It didn’t take long for me to reach the clearing, and I was surprised at how much it looked like a prison. They’d at least tried to make the lab they kept Kor in look something like a hospital, but not here. Here, there were two buildings surrounded by a tall fence and two guard towers in the north. The south side had humans on foot with guns, but like Kor promised, there was nothing to the west.

It felt like a trap, and it likely was, but I would have to trip it and hope I survived.

Leaning against at tree, I closed my eyes and breathed in, trying to sense him. His scent wasn’t on the breeze, and there was no indication that they had Zane anywhere on this property. It had to be a lie, of course. There was no way this compound was that heavily guarded if they didn’t have an Alpha behind their walls.

Making my way through the low brush, I called on all of my past training, leaving almost no trace of my path behind. The humans, in spite of being heavily armed, were all distracted with conversation and their phones. It was obvious they weren’t expecting an attack, and I was going to use that to my advantage. I made my way around the fence until I reached the west side, and then I brought up a claw and began to work at the edge of wires until they came free of the pole.

I stepped in, glancing from left to right. I would be out in the open for far too long, but from where I could see, the security cameras were all facing the main entrance. I wasn’t sure if the humans were stupid, arrogant, or trying to fool me, but the curiosity wasn’t enough that I lingered to find out.

I raced across the empty field, my gaze zeroed in on a single door with a padlock. It seemed foolish to keep a Wolf behind such weak reinforcements. At full strength, we could tear this place down, brick by brick. At half strength, that door would have been no more intimidating than a tin can.

But, if they had done to Zane what they’d done to Kor, they wouldn’t even need a deadbolt to keep him locked up tight.

My stomach twisted, and just before I reached the door, I heard it. A growl from a Wolf.

I turned just in time for claws to sink into my side. I was dragged to the ground, hot breath ghosting over my neck. I felt saliva dripping, the scrape of fangs as I struggled to find purchase, and my nostrils flared, desperate to catch a scent.

Who the fuck was bold enough to betray me to my face?

Rearing back, I sank my claws into the Wolf’s neck, then managed to throw it off me. I crouched, rippling into a half-shift, and then froze. Blue eyes locked on mine. The Wolf’s face was a mass of gashes and scars, and his mouth was open, drooling out spittle and blood.

He was entirely naked, filthy like he had been rolling in the woods, and there was no light in his eyes. He was more than feral. There was something wrong with him. This. This is what the humans were doing to our people.

Bile rose into my throat as he attacked again, and this time I was ready. The Wolf was moving on instinct, and I had the benefit of tactic. I allowed him to get close enough to swipe my skin, drawing blood, but I dodged his grasp and took him by the back of the neck. My claws sank in, but he didn’t calm. He snarled louder, and I knew if I didn’t do something about him, he’d bring the guards.

I had one option only. Bearing my teeth, I lunged for his throat and sank my fangs into his carotid artery. He twitched, then he sagged against me, and my arms came around him. Blood poured from the wound, not healing, and I knew then he was dying.

Not just from my bite, either. Inside, he was falling to pieces. I could hear the strain in his heart, the rattle in his lungs, the churn of his guts that were eating themselves alive.

The humans called us monsters—they’d gone to war over that belief—but this is what they were capable of.

Shaking, I eased him down, and there was recognition in his blue eyes. A trembling hand reached for my face, and his mouth twisted around his fangs. “Orion. Your eyes…”

If it hadn’t been for his voice, I never would have known, and the grief was so powerful I almost threw my head back and howled. “Bryn.”

His battered, torn lips curled in a mockery of a smile. “You’re here for Zane?” I nodded once, pressing my hand to try and stop the bleeding, but he pulled my arm away. “Good. He’s not as far gone.”

I choked on a sob. “Listen, I can get you to the car, and…”

“Let me go,” he said again. The words were barely recognizable on his mangled tongue, but they were there all the same, and he looked at me like it was a mercy, letting him bleed out right there. “He’s through the door. They’re not guarding him now, but…”

His eyes closed. He was still bleeding, his breathing sluggish, and I knew he had minutes left. I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving his body there to the humans. I could only begin to imagine what they’d do with it. He deserved a proper death.

But there was nothing I could do.

I couldn’t choose between Bryn’s body and Zane’s life.

Hauling him gently in my arms, I eased him to the side of the building. His heart was slowing, and I knew that by the time I had Zane, he would be gone. The grief inside me was wild. The last time I had seen him, he was standing in front of me and Zane, making a vow that he would die to bring Kor home.

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