Page 76 of Hunted

“Let my grandma go,” I order Shane.

He smiles. “I don’t think I will.” His hand tightens around my grandma’s arm, and she winces. “You’re coming with me, Aerin. Now.”

“I—”

Helena grips my arm, pulling me back when I take a step forward. “No, she’s not.” Her expression is fierce as she glares at Shane. “Youare getting out of here.”

Shane tuts. “I’m not going anywhere. If you want your friend out there to have a chance of living through the next twenty minutes, you’ll let Aerin leave with me right now.”

I thought he meant my grandpa on the floor, but he points his chin out toward the open backyard door.

“What do you…” My eyes slide toward the backyard as I recall the scream from outside and the scent of blood.

Chris and Zoe were outside. All this time, they’ve been outside.

“What did you do?” I demand.

“Me?” Shane shakes his head. “Not me. But your friend out there is in bad shape, and he’s highly unlikely to survive without some intervention in the next few minutes.”

Chris is hurt.

We could fight, but Shane has my grandma, and he already must have knocked my grandpa to the floor. And someone is outside, ready to set this house on fire if Shane doesn’t get what he wants. The thing he seems to want is me.

I have to do something.

“Let me go, Helena,” I say, pulling on my arm. “I’ll go. You need to make sure Chris is okay.”

“You can’t.” Helena’s hold on me tightens. “It’s a trap. You remember what Ivy was saying?”

I do.

Shifters were hunting omegas. Now Shane is here, and he didn’t come here alone. I don’t know if they’re aware Adela isan omega, but they seem to be ignoring her for now. That could change at any moment.

And Chris is out there. Hurt. Maybe even dying. I’m the Luna here. I have to do something.

“Let me go, Helena. You have to check on Chris.”

Reluctantly, she lets go.

“What have you gotten yourself involved in, Shane?” I ask as I cross over to him. He doesn’t let my grandma go for even a second, and he eyes Helena closely as if he knows she’s waiting for the first moment to attack him.

As soon as I’m close enough, he shoves my grandma into the kitchen, and she stumbles, nearly falling before Adela catches and steadies her.

“Don’t Aerin!” Grandpa calls out.

But I have no choice.

I still haven’t forgotten Shane’s threat to light something. The way he said it made me think he would set this house on fire if he doesn’t get what he wants.

Everyone is staring at me, their eyes wide with alarm as Shane drags me outside.

“Don’t try anything,” Shane says, his eyes locked on Helena as if he knows she’s the real threat here. And she is. She was an enforcer for my dad, but that doesn’t mean she stopped being an enforcer. From her unblinking stare as she edges toward us, she’s waiting to attack Shane the second she has a chance.

Shane doesn’t give her one.

“Is Bree here with you?” I ask as he drags me out of the house.

We pass a shifter I don’t recognize standing on my left. Two wolves at the bottom of the garden melt into the forest as we step out.

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