Page 28 of Owning His Mate

The firing stops and screams fill the air, bloodcurdling noises that should make my stomach fill with ice, but all I feel is relief that we have a chance to survive.

Apryle’s hand reaches down, gripping mine, and I come to my feet quickly. I trust her magic will hold our enemies at bay long enough for us to get somewhere safe.

I pull us into the closest store, ignoring the patrons ducked down behind counters and tables. It should concern me that the Order doesn’t care about humans seeing our fights happening. It doesn’t. Those assholes have been getting bolder with every attack. More desperate.

As Apryle loses eye contact with the hunters, the shooting resumes, and I have to pull her in front of me to stop her small body from getting hit by roving bullets.

There’s a kid wearing a uniform crouched down at the edge of the counter, his eyes wild with fear as he takes us in. “Is there another exit?” I ask, maneuvering us so we are out of range of the shooting.

The kid stares at me as if I’m the one with the gun before he points a shaky finger toward the door at the back of the room.

“Everyone keep low and stay hidden. They won’t hurt you.”

My adrenaline is pumped as we move through the building, down a small, narrow corridor to a fire door. The urge to slam through it at speed almost takes over, but I exercise caution as I slowly open it and peer out through the small gap. I get a glimpse of dumpsters to one side, and as I open it wider, I spot a couple of cars parked up behind the chain-link fence surrounding the back of the store.

Sniffing, I don’t smell anything that gives me concern, though that doesn’t calm me. I didn’t smell the hunters that attacked us either. I would love to know how they mask themselves so well. It would be a hell of a gift in this fight.

My back twinges as I pull my mate behind me and rush out into the sunshine that seems so at odds with the battle we’re facing.

“We need to contact the others,” Apryle says, stumbling to keep up with my pace.

I don’t stop moving, though that twinge in my back is becoming more persistent.

“They know,” I assure her.

There is no masking the sound of gunfire.

My steps falter as pain lances through my flank, almost stealing the air from my lungs. I grunt, surprised by the sharpness of it.

Fuck.

I lick the sweat off my top lip, forcing my feet to keep going. Our attackers are behind us somewhere, and Apryle isn’t safe.

Keeping her close, I guide her toward the back of the yard and through the gate that opens out onto the street. There’s a thick, heavy chain wrapped around the locking mechanism, and my stomach sinks.

I release her hand to grab it, trying to tear the padlock apart with my bare hands, but nothing happens. “Shit.”

“Let me try.”

She steps in front of me, her fingers brushing over the chain, before she closes her eyes and murmurs something under her breath.

I smell the magic, feel the pressure of it in the air before the lock clicks open. Apryle’s pleasure flitters through the bond.

“Sometimes it’s too easy,” she murmurs and a moment before my vision wobbles, her brows come together. “Kye?”

The weight of my body is suddenly too much, and my knees give out. I try to grab the fence while Apryle reaches for me, but she’s half my size and I drag us both down.

“What’s wrong?” She sounds panicked.

“My back.” I grind out the words between clenched teeth as her hands roam under my shirt.

The guttural groan that escapes me as she lifts the material to examine me is uncontrollable.

“Shit. You’re bleeding.” I realize her hand is smeared with blood.

My energy is depleting fast, and I can hear gunshots getting closer. Her panic filters through the bond. Usually, she tries to hide her feelings from me, but she’s not holding back now.

Blowing out a breath, I force my body to move.

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