Page 25 of Under Dark Skies

“I don’t give a shit who you are. Now tell me what the fuck is going on?”

The man was still smiling. “Now, that’s not a very polite way to meet people. I’m Ian Stork, one of the head agents of PEACE. Its great to meet you.”

Rafe ignored him. “Why are PEACE and wolves working together? Who is in charge of this?”

Despite Rafe’s firm grip on his throat, Ian continued to laugh and give no information. “We are trained for this kind of thing you know. I am a lockbox Rafe. You’re already way too late to the party.”

Rafe was bewildered, but he wasn’t going to show it. He squeezes even harder and brings his barred teeth closer to Ian’s face. “Are you working with Sol? Malcolm? What faction or splinter group within the Lycan Legacy has betrayed its brothers? What group has joined you as you’ve betrayed your own mission statement? Which is it?”

Ian lifted a finger and motioned a zipped mouth over his lips. Rafe pushed him backward so hard that he flew out of his chair, almost smacking his head on the desk. He gasped on all fours as Rafe bent down, pointing a single finger in his face.

“If you or your kind ever come back for her, hell, even think about coming for her, I will rip your head from your torso. Is that clear?”

Ian laughed with blood dripping from his mouth. Rafe was really tired of not being taken seriously all day.

“You can always count on a wolf for indecency.” Ian whispered between laughs. Rafe was about to leave the room, but figured one last kick might make him feel slightly better. He launched his right foot backward and then slammed it directly into Ian’s balls. Ian groaned loudly, then clutched himself in a fetal position on the floor.

“Count on that.” Rafe slammed what remained of the disintegrated door.

Rafe made his way back to Layla. She was still in the same spot, shaking with her arms folded. He enveloped her in his arms, trying to absorb both her fear and temperature.

“What did they ask you? Was it just about Darla?”

She nodded into his chest. He stroked her hair that was damp with sweat. He remained quiet for a minute as she breathed into him. He rocked back and forth, doing his best to take in her fear and ease it, even if it was just for a moment.

And it was just that, merely a moment.

Sirens wailed nearby. They both jumped at the burst of sound infiltrating their silent embrace.

“We better get going.” Rafe whispered to her. She lifted her head to look at him. She grimaced.

“Are you ok? You’re definitely hurt again, I can tell.”

Rafe shrugged. “This is definitely to be a day-to-day thing for me. Don’t worry. I’ll heal fast.”

He took her by the head through a back entrance of the warehouse. They hid as an ambulance zipped by, and he wondered where it was headed. The entire city seemed to have erupted in chaos from the announcement of martial law made by the mayor. Both wolves and citizens alike have had their world turned upside down.

But all Rafe cared about was the world he had in his hands. Layla’s.

He squeezed her hand and looked at her. She looked back without a word.

“Let’s find a car and get somewhere quiet. I think we both need a break.”

Layla nodded, squeezing his hand back in agreement.

Twenty-Three

Layla

Layla held onto Rafe’s hand obscenely right. She felt like she was in a bit of shock from what had just happened. Her life was just threatened, and she felt she may faint now that the adrenaline was wearing off. She felt her vision start to tunnel as they moved through the streets.

“Rafe. Hold on a sec.”

They stopped, and Rafe looked down at her frowning. She bent over and placed her hands on her knees. She began breathing deeply, the way she knew how to when panic attacks came on. She breathed into her belly so it swelled up, held for a few seconds, then breathed out long through her mouth.

Rafe bent down, rubbing her back. Having someone touch her always helped the panic attacks. It made her think about when she was a kid, and how Darla would rub her back to help her calm down.

Her mind started to slow down. Rafe raised her by her chin. “Are you okay?” He asked softly. His expression had melted his sharp features somehow, and his concern looked like it genuinely hurt him. She touched his face. It was rough from battle, but she adored feeling his skin.

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