Page 53 of Alpha Scorned

“Okay, sweetie.” I hugged my baby boy and gave Zander a watery smile. “You’re right, I’m sure Owen’s fine.” I pushed aside my compulsion to go and find my mate. I’d trust Owen’s brothers to bring him back safely and concentrate on searching for Becca while keeping my son close.

“Let’s go to the main cave and see if she’s there,” Zander suggested.

I nodded. If she wasn’t I’d have to search the town looking at the ripped up remains of the townspeople. My head spun at that thought. My friend had suffered so much, she didn’t deserve such a violent death, no one did.

When we reached the clearing in front of the cave, we just stood and stared. Even Zander looked sickened by the sight of so many injured and wounded being led into the cave.

Nearby, an older woman struggled to help a teenaged boy with a leg injury into the cave.

“Here.” Zander passed Devon back to me and I put him down.

“Stay close to me and Zander, you hear?” I instructed Devon.

He nodded quickly. “Kay, Momma.”

I took the weight of the boy from the woman, wrapping his arm around my neck and helping him into the cave. Zander followed me, a young woman in his arms who looked like she’d passed out.

“Walking wounded that way,” instructed a woman with brown hair, pointing to the back of the huge cave. I recognised her, but had no idea of her name. It bothered me some, but I hadn't exactly wanted to get to know my pack mates, not when I could have been forced to leave at any moment. “You need to bring her over here,” she said to Zander. He glanced at me.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have a look around for my friend and if she’s not here, I’ll wait out front for you.”

Zander looked reluctant but nodded and walked off carrying the girl.

“Devon? Honey?” I cast a quick glance down at his pale face. My poor son stared round eyed at the injured people, his mouth turned right down at the corners. Mother Wolf, this must be so traumatic for him. He’d seen so much evil, been kidnapped, and his life threatened. He’d seen dead bodies, and watched people ripped apart. “Sweetheart? Why don’t you wait here for Momma?”

He shook his head. “No, I fine.” And he pushed into my side. Relief warmed me. I didn’t want to leave him, anyway, so I was secretly pleased he refused.

Together with the ancient shifter woman, I lowered the teenager to the floor about halfway down the cave. The huge space was packed, people running around urgently with bandages, dressing and bowls of bloodstained water. My conscience prompted me to stay and help, but I needed to find my friend first. I took Devon’s hand and headed through the outstretched legs and prone bodies. The air was filled with pained groans and the smell of blood and other body fluids. Tears made my vision swim, anger burning through my veins, stirring my wolf. The vampires would pay for this. I had no idea what I could do to help Connor hunt these bastards down, but I’d still offer to do whatever I could. By the time we’d reached the far end of the cave, my anxiety was through the roof. No Becca. I took a shaky breath, I’d have to check the bodies being lined up outside the cave.

Right at the back of the cave, blocked off by a stack of tables and chairs was the entrance to the back caves that were no longer used except for storage. There were some bottles of water in a box on one of the tables. I turned and looked around. Able bodied people were helping to clean and bandage wounds, but no one was handing out drinks. I eyed the water again, then squatted down next to my son. If Becca was dead, I couldn’t help her, but I could help the people here. “Hey, you wanna help these people, honey?”

Devon nodded solemnly.

I passed a bottle into his hands. “How about we give some of these out? I’m sure they're thirsty.”

His mouth stretched into a determined line. “Kay.” He ran to the nearest person and handed the water to them before running back to me. I passed him another two, and he dutifully made his way to the next person, kneeling down and helping her to lift the bottle to her lips.

My heart swelled with pride. Zander and Owen were right. My son might be part demon, but he sure as shit wasn’t evil. Not in any way.

I inhaled trying to stop the tears tipping down my cheeks. I slid to the floor near the table. Exhaustion, worry, lack of sleep, and hunger were taking their toll on me. A faint scent reached my nostrils and I whipped my head around to the left and the right, my heart slamming against my ribs. After my next inhale I yelled as loud as I could. “Out! Everyone get out!”

The first vampire shot past me and descended on the nearest injured woman.

“No!” I screamed. Calling on my wolf, I pushed aside my exhaustion and shifted as all hell broke loose in the cave.

I fought, ripping and shredding at the vampires. I couldn’t yell for my son, and I couldn’t see him as people scrambled to their feet trying to escape the carnage. Blood splattered everywhere, its stink invading my nostrils, sending my wolf wild. She was free after so long being scared, and right then she wasn’t scared; she was in a rage. I wanted to let her have her freedom, but at the same time, I wanted to keep some control.

I heard Rawson’s bear roar from the front of the cave. Owen’s brothers were here. I took control of my wolf and spun around, trying to scent my son under the blood and gore. Nothing. I had no opportunity to search. A blast of wind hit me and pain stung the back of my neck. A vamp had attached itself to me and was ripping at my flesh. I snarled and snapped, throwing myself over to dislodge it, but it wouldn’t stop. Pain shot down my spine and blood flowed through my fur dripping onto the floor. Howling, I lunged unsteadily, ramming the vamp into the cave wall. The impact loosened the vamp’s hold enough for me to wrench myself free. Agony stole my vision as it struck again and ripped a chunk of flesh from my side. Forcing myself to fight through the pain, I whipped my head around, closing my jaws over his face and bit down. Putrid blood filled my mouth, and I would have gagged if I could. My strength faded along with the blood that flowed from my injuries. But soon enough my enemy stopped struggling and sank to the ground. The walls of the cave began to close in on me, but I forced myself and my wolf to keep going. I needed to find my son…

A solid weight rammed into my side. I hit the floor heavily, the large body trapping me too powerful for me to escape. Big hands encircled my neck. Exhausted, but knowing I needed the use of my hands more than my wolf, I forced her to recede. Naked on the floor, I punched the vampire, and when that didn’t work and my vision faded, I moved my hands over the floor, looking for any kind of weapon. But it was too late. My limbs wouldn’t lift and my wolf howled in my ears as I went lax. In my last moments, all I could hear was Owen’s voice, his scent permeating my nostrils just as the vamp sank his teeth into my neck a final time.

Chapter 19

Owen

I’d losttrack of time since the vamps had attacked Shane, but the tranqs had completely worn off. I peered up, blinking my scratchy eyes and trying to swallow against my dry throat whilst ignoring the pain from my healing ribs. The bolt in the rock that supported my weight wobbled a little as I shifted my weight. My heart beat faster, but I tried not to get too excited. It was still in there pretty firmly.

“Do you know where we are?” I asked Shane, who watched me through bleary eyes. “Shane!” He blinked and lifted his head. He was a tough bastard, I'd give him that. Most other shifters would be dead after that last attack those fuckers had inflicted on him. I took a deep breath and coughed, testing how much my broken ribs hurt. It was manageable so I disregarded the blood seeping from under the shackles, growling and yanking with all my strength at the chains. Shane tugged weakly on his too, but he’d been a prisoner for over two weeks, being fed from regularly. His efforts didn’t do much, but at least he was still trying.

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