Page 70 of Wolf Forgotten

I'd have to see if Xander remembered how he got here. If he would even talk to me. As it was, he'd said only a few things, and I hadn't even attempted to coax any information from him about what had happened to him.

Ivy was crazy if she thought there was something between him and I. Why couldn't two men seek comfort? Caring for him was part of my job as an omega, just as sitting in the chair next to Cole was.

I covered my face with one hand. Jesus. I definitely wasn't moved to cuddle up next to Cole, or stroke his hair while he nuzzled my neck.

Granted, Xander had been a mess for a while, rambling incoherently. He'd needed contact with another wolf to ease him. But if Cole woke up and needed that level of comfort... I wouldn't snuggle up to him.

But Xander? I barely knew him yet... No. It was nothing.

A thud came from upstairs, snapping me out of my confusion.

"Run!"Ivy's voice screamed in my head.

What the hell? I jumped up, and as I was about to go find out what the hell was going on upstairs, Cole shifted back.

He let out a groan and reached for me. "No."

"Alpha! You need to shift back, you aren't healed!" I took his outstretched hand, and he squeezed it so hard. I was surprised he had the strength.

"Dante... shot me," he bit out through clenched teeth. His eyes were clenched shut in pain. "He's alpha now."

"What?" I nearly shrieked. "Cole?" I slapped his cheek lightly when he seemed to pass out again. "What do I do?"

Cole's eyelids cracked open a sliver. The look in his eyes made my heart falter. "Run. Ivy said... run."

He shifted back, his wolf's body going limp on the table. He'd probably used the last of his strength to shift and tell me that.

Fuck.

What about Ivy? What about Xander?

I reached for my phone but realized I'd never grabbed it from upstairs after bringing Cole in. I shut the door to the room and grabbed a blanket, wrapped it around Cole, and lifted him into my arms. There was no way I was leaving him.

Dante was probably waiting for the opportune moment to finish the job and kill him. I couldn't let that happen.

Hopeful there wasn't an ambush waiting for me in the den, I walked as quickly as possible through the tunnel and cracked the door, peeking out. It was empty, but that didn't mean whoever was working with Dante wasn't waiting.

He had to have help to pull something like this off. I would kill them all. This was treason.

Opening the door all the way, I focused on not freaking out. I could make it to the truck and get us the hell out of this situation. I just needed to get there without being seen and we'd be golden.

Stopping at the door leading out to the front, I wished there was glass in the door so I could see out. In my head, I imagined two dozen men with automatic weapons keeping a perimeter around the house.

The metal door creaked as I opened it, and I paused, waiting to see if the boogie man was going to jump out at me. Nothing happened, and I poked my head out, listening carefully. Our senses in human form weren't nearly as great as when we were wolfed out.

As soon as I was out the door, Ivy's scent hit me, and I nearly dropped Cole and fell to my knees.

Fear.

A growl threatened to escape, and my canines extended at the idea of my mate being scared.Get Cole in the truck and hidden, then look for her.The pep talk to myself helped, and I steeled my spin and grip on Cole.

Dashing across the lawn to the driveway, I was just about to open the door to the truck when something hard and metal pressed into the back of my head.

"And where do you think you're going?" Brian, one of Dante's buddies, kept what I quickly realized was a gun, pressed to my head as he moved to the side so I could see him. "Put him down."

Baring my teeth, I didn't at first, but then he dug the barrel of the gun into my scalp. He was going to kill me, and then I'd be no good to Cole or Ivy. Oh, God. Where was Xander? He had to be freaking out.

Squatting carefully, I set Cole on the gravel and stood with my hands up in surrender. I needed to think of a plan, and quick.

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