Page 37 of Rescuing Red

Cresting a hill, she darted one last look behind her, wishing he were with them now, but knowing the soldiers were much faster than they were, Blaide was all that kept their group from becoming another casualty of war.

When a beta male didn’t compensate for the different pitch of the road, he nearly fell headfirst into the ground, but the woman beside him popped him on the shoulder and helped him regain his balance. He motioned for her to keep going but struggled to force his legs to continue moving one in front of the other. He fell back, each person who passed him gasping for breath but still urging him to go quicker; one lady a little younger than Clarette grabbed one of his elbows and pulled him for a few steps before she let go, clutching at her side in obvious pain.

A few of the fathers glanced back, and the helpless look in their eyes as they saw the oldest of the males losing his stamina made Liz’s stomach curdle. They were all struggling, wishing they could help while fearing they were next. One shouted at the leaders in the front, who shortened their strides but couldn’t turn back to help.

Each of the two alphas at the front held a child in their arms, even though neither belonged to them. Many of the parents had tear tracks running down their faces, their babies tucked against one of their chests while the other let their arms rest, but the road had been brutal, and everyone was running on fumes.

They hadn’t stopped for over two hours, both because the enemy was right on their tails and because everyone sensed that the moment they stopped, they’d be done. Their bodies would literally shut down and refuse to budge.

The couple who had passed their children forward held hands, the exhaustion pulling at their faces showing their sense of failure. They hadn’t been able to swap who held their children because they had twins, and everyone else either had packs toweigh them down or had already taken turns carrying the older children.

Nana stumbled again, but Liz kept hold of her, hauling her up and pulling her forward. There was no way she was letting go now. She’d carry her nana if that was what it took.

The wall loomed ahead of them, growing larger with each step. They had to get through the gates safely so Blaide’s solo mission wouldn’t be fruitless.

Eyeing her fingers tangled with her nana’s and those of the couple clinging together, Liz’s brain connected dots she hadn’t thought were relevant.

“Hold hands! C’mon, everyone, grab whoever’s closest. They’ll see we have no weapons and let us through.”

The words came out more forcefully and sharper than she’d intended, but they carried the distance between herself and those halfway up the group. Without question, everyone who heard her reached out and latched onto one or two others, while relaying the suggestion until the alpha in front looked over his shoulder and nodded. With one arm cradled around the bundle of innocence he carried, he offered his massive palm to the girl behind him. After sliding her fingers in his, she flung her hand out and grabbed the shirt of the other leader, who didn’t hesitate to take another person’s outstretched digits.

The eldest man took a teenage boy’s arm before Liz wrapped her fingers around his other wrist and urged them forward. She didn’t enjoy the exposed feeling that came with being at the rear of the pack, but she took comfort in knowing Blaide was protecting her. Even though she feared for his safety, she knew he wouldn’t let her get hurt.

Liz would have held her breath as the lead alpha approached the gates, but her lungs didn’t have the luxury. He kicked the metal, showing his aggravation at knowing the lookouts had seen them but hadn’t opened the door yet.

With two weary, older hands in hers, Liz scrambled to close the distance between them and the bulk of the group, praying that if they had to wait long for the gate to open, they wouldn’t all collapse.

The thick reinforced door began sliding open, and an audible wave of relief swept through the villagers as they grunted and cheered, most too exhausted to celebrate. Whatever machinery they had on the other side of the wall created so much noise that as the crack grew bigger, Liz cringed with the urge to cover her ears, but she tightened her fingers around those she held hands with and kept barreling forward.

The moment the gates opened wide enough, the leader sidestepped through and tugged the girl holding his hand forward, only to still as he met the concrete barrier and raised weapons. Practically dragging her nana behind her, Liz demanded her feet keep carrying her forward, wanting to get everyone through the blockade together and sensing the waning strength of those around her. Her own feet stabbed agony up her legs with every step, but she refused to acknowledge the pain.

Shouting and gunfire suddenly sounded behind them, stealing Liz’s focus for a moment. Her hoarse cry bounced off the wall, and she met her nana’s wide eyes as terror gripped her soul.

As her steps faltered, her heart screaming at her to go back and find Blaide while her mind told her to get everyone through the gate, Clarette’s expression hardened.

“Get into the city, Elizabeth. He’ll never forgive you if you turn back for him. Get to safety so he can focus.”

With a sob, Liz turned her entire attention to the blockade, heaving as she angled sideways through the narrow space between concrete barriers; the old man hobbling in front of her while her nana struggled behind.

Seconds seemed like millennia as they wove through the maze of barricades, the guards on either side so covered in gearshe couldn’t make out whether she’d met any of them before. Her mind searched for familiarity in those beside the gate. Maybe if she ran into the male Blaide had spoken to when they left, then she’d have someone willing to help her if Blaide didn’t show up soon.

As they neared the end of the blockade, Liz swallowed the fear in her throat and put her mind to what she needed to do next. The elder man tugged her forward, a rush of adrenaline fueling their group toward a building where the military had set up a field hospital.

It wasn’t until her nana crossed through the doors and wrapped her arms around Liz from behind that Liz realized she was sobbing.

Nuzzling her head, Clarette offered an uneven purr, her strength wavering as they stood in the foreign room heaving for breath. Liz rubbed the side of her face against her nana’s before straightening her shoulders and leading them to an unclaimed cot. A slight beta woman appeared by their side, her uniform different from those by the gate, but the fierce set of her features was just as intense. Liz turned and lowered herself, ushering Nana onto the cot beside her.

The woman’s expression morphed to one of comfort, the calculating look in her eyes never leaving, but her desire to ease their angst a breath of fresh air.

“Your group has really gone through it, haven’t they? My name’s Evangeline. Let me look at you, Mrs.—?”

With the nurse’s attention fully on Nana, Liz stood and backed up, studying the room. Seeing everyone was getting the medical attention they needed or were soon to get it, she stepped toward the door.

“Child, you are not sneaking away.”

Liz froze and turned leaking eyes on her grandmother.

“Nana, ithurts.”

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