Page 44 of Remy & the Wildcat

She couldn’t see him and didn’t know where he was, she just hoped he was okay. She let out a yowl but didn’t hear an answer from him.

Her whiskers twitched as she skidded to a halt as two hunters appeared from behind trees, both with shotguns pointed at her. Behind them she could just make out several wildcats and judging by the white forelegs of the one in the middle, she knew it was Brilla. She was almost certain that another one was Leif, and perhaps the others were more of his cronies.

Her claws dug into the ground and she leaped to the side as both shotguns went off and pain exploded in her side as she tumbled to the ground. She flexed her claws and tried to crawl away from the hunters, but she could barely move, her energy draining as her heart beat wildly.

The hunters stared down at her dispassionately. She thought they were going to shoot her again, but instead they turned and walked away with the wildcats.

She tried to cry out for Remy, but she couldn’t make a sound.

She could smell her own blood.

And then there was nothing.

Remy caught the scent of Thyme’s blood and raced to her, finding her covered in blood. He let out a howl of alarm, even though he realized that the wildcats might not know what he meant. He hoped they understood he needed help.

Shifting back to human as fast as possible, Remy lifted his precious mate into his arms and said, “Hold on, sweetheart. Don’t you dare leave me!”

He got his bearings and took off, racing to the house as fast as he could.

He shouted for the pride members he knew would come when he needed them, including the two healers, and he prayed they would get to the house in time.

Out of breath and scared out of his mind, he laid his mate on the patio and shouted for help again. His mind spun. What the hell should he do?

Then something clicked in his mind, and he lurched for the table, grabbing his phone and nearly dropping it several times. His hands were shaking as he scrolled through his contacts and found someone who could help.

If she could get here in time.

As the call connected on the third ring, he said, “Promise! My mate’s dying, I need you!”

Promise Elliott, apex wolf and healer of all shifters, but mainly wolves at this point in her life, stood in line at the movie theater’s concession stand with her mom, Reika. They were seeing the midnight showing of their favorite movie. Even though it was late as hell, she was so excited.

“I’m going to get those cookie dough things,” Reika said.

“Sour gummies for me,” Promise said. “And popcorn.”

“We can share.”

“Uh, no way, I want a giant one just for myself, because you get free refills on the giant one and I promised Rio I’d bring a full one back for us to eat tomorrow.”

Her younger sister Rio shared the same love of theater popcorn as Promise did, but hadn’t wanted to see the movie to get it.

“That’s cold, making your mom buy her own popcorn.”

She grinned.

Her phone buzzed and she pulled it from the pocket of her hoodie and hummed at the name on the screen. “Hey, Remy.”

“Promise! My mate’s dying, I need you!”

She knew her mom overheard what Remy said.

“Tell me where you are.”

“Copper Creek.” Her phone pinged and she saw a map with a pin in it. “Promise, please! I can’t lose Thyme, she’s been shot, I don’t know how bad it is. Fuck!” Her friend broke down and Promise’s heart wrenched.

“We’re on the way, put pressure on the wounds and keep talking to her.”

“We can be there in twenty-two minutes,” Reika said.

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