Page 38 of Rescuing Red

Her fist clunked against her sternum to emphasize the throbbing ache there. She needed Blaide more than anything else, and behind the walls of safety there was nothing to draw her attention from the pain.

“I know.”

The haunted expression on Clarette’s face was something Liz had never seen before, and with a shock, she realized her nana had sheltered her from the worst experience imaginable.

Her nana had suffered two alpha bonds. Neither were good men. Both treated the eclectic omega as little more than an object. Liz’s sobs intensified as she imagined how horrible it would be to suffer such intimate moments with males who weren’t worthy.

When her nana struggled to sit up, Liz darted forward and helped her.

“Hush, Liz. You don’t have the luxury of wasting more resources.”

Another shock bolted through Liz as she realized no new tears trickled down her face. Now that her grandmother had pointed it out, she felt as dry as the desert. At any moment, she’d turn into a husk of an omega and blow away in the current made by the air conditioning unit.

“Drink. At least two bottles of water. Then take a third with you.”

Dropping her tush onto the cot next to her nana, Liz took a bottle from the nurse before nodding. It seemed to take forever because the nurse kept regulating her intake, but when the second bottle was empty, Liz snatched up the third, hugged her nana, and darted toward the door.

A gigantic figure closed in on her right, raising Liz’s hackles. She jerked away, but searched the alpha’s face and recognized the male who’d led the group.

“He saved us. I won’t let you go out there alone.”

Too emotional to speak, Liz nodded before pushing open the door and rushing back toward the barricade.

She swept her gaze across the area beyond the wall but didn’t see Blaide anywhere. Her heart hammered in her throat as the sound of gunshots leaked through the opening between the heavy metal gates.

How could she listen to what was going on out there now when she’d wanted to cover her ears as they ran through the blockade?

She answered herself as she got closer, the large grey boxes sitting on top of the nearby vehicles aimed toward the gate reminding her of the old speakers her school had pulled out occasionally. The air almost vibrated around them, making her think they did more than produce a sound, but she gritted her teeth and moved closer.

A heavy hand landed on her shoulder when she stepped toward the male with the same insignia on his vest as the one she’d shied away from the other day. She whipped around and breathed a quick sigh of relief as she met her companion’s eyes. She’d forgotten he was following her.

The throbbing in her chest sent agony out to her limbs; the fear she had for Blaide growing exponentially each second he didn’t show. Even as she stepped forward, the alpha behind her pulled her backward.

Liz turned and almost snarled at him, but he’d trained his eyes on one specific spot outside the gate. He was taller than her and, therefore, had a better view. Liz stopped resisting and followed his guidance as he veered her away from the officer and toward the space between the barricades and the rest of the city. Instead of stopping them directly in front of the opening, the alpha kept urging her onward until she was several yards further down the road, standing in the center of the cleared space.

The sudden sensation of being watched fell on her, making her wring her favorite tail and wrap the others around her waist, and even though she hated being touched by any alpha other than Blaide, she was grateful for the other man’s supporting hand. He kept his palm on her shoulder, loosening his grip but not letting go as movement flashed near the gate.

Ears back and shoulders rolled forward, Blaide darted between the concrete barrier and the door, barely squeezing through as it slid shut behind him with an eerie, grinding finality. He tucked his tail to evade the closing door, but it trailed behind him as he picked his way through the zigzag of the blockade.

The ground rumbled before flames burst beyond the gate, the explosion big enough to send sparks higher than the wall, and the surrounding trees sizzled in the fire, but Blaide didn’t react.

Liz searched his face, seeing the strain in the lines beside his eyes and a trickle of blood on his cheekbone. He had a cut on one of his arms, but overall, he seemed fine.

He stepped between the last two slabs of concrete and latched eyes with her.

Joy washed away her exhaustion and clogged Liz’s chest as she tried to step forward, but the alpha leader held her in place. Yellow eyes flicked to her shoulder then to the man behind her before a muscle ticked in Blaide’s jaw.

The second the toe of his boot crossed the end of the barrier, the hand left her shoulder. Liz darted forward and crashed into her mate’s arms, accidentally hitting his side with the bottle in her hand, and her nostrils filled with his scent. He smelled of smoke and blood, some of it not his own, but she focused on his natural pheromones and took comfort in his arms.

He squeezed her tighter to him, which was exactly what she wanted, and despite the fatigue tugging at her, Liz purred her gratitude.

She lifted her chin and stood on tiptoe, needing his kiss more than her next breath.

He gave it, grunting as their lips touched and sweeping his tongue into her mouth before offering her his purr.

Liz pulled back, something in the way he moved and the pitch of his purr alerting her.

“What’s wrong?”

---