Page 41 of Eclipsed Heart

His cries grew louder as I got closer, but even after ten steps, the gray still hung thickly around me. I wanted to go after the witch, but I couldn’t risk endangering all of us further, or worse, something happening to Bodey in the fog.

My foot hit something solid, and I linked,Is that you?I hated to keep bothering him, but I needed to make sure it was him and not someone else.

Yeah.He groaned at my feet.

I had to move him, but I wasn’t sure how in animal form, which meant there was only one option.

I had to shift.

My wolf whined loudly in my head. She brushed against my mind, her frustration compounding mine. We were cut off from almost every sense that made being in animal form stronger, and she wanted to protect her mate but couldn’t.

She retreated, eager for us to help him, and soon, my body transitioned to its human form. Mywoofalerting the others to me became hoarse, and soon, I was back on two legs.

I kept woofing, despite it sounding silly in this form, as I bent and wrapped my arms around Bodey’s body then gently picked him up. The jolt of our bond, even when we were in opposite forms, was just as strong, taking me by surprise.

His fur caressed my skin, hiding the front side of my nakedness—not that it mattered. His safety was way more important than my modesty.

A soft bark came at my side, and I kept making my own ridiculous human version of the noise.

Muscles straining, I kept my arms tight around Bodey. He squirmed, making him hard to hold, but there was no way I’d drop him.

With thewoofs, we were able to walk through the smoke and not collide with each other, and so far, there’d been no attacks by the other pack.

With each second, Bodey’s torment increased. I linked with Jack,How are things there?Sweat beaded on my forehead, dropping into my eyes.

Dina’s finishing up healing Stevie,he replied, his relief flaring through our connection.She’s going to be all right.

That was music to my ears for more than one reason.Thank gods. We need Dina’s help desperately out here. Samuel’s injured, and Bodey’s in immense pain.

You got it,Jack replied.We’re heading that way.

Breathing rapidly, I did my best to ignore the negative sensations and focus on the present. We still weren’t out of this damn smoke.

I’m out,Miles linked.It’s like a huge fucking gray cloud hovering ten feet high.

At least someone was with Samuel. But why hadn’t he been attacked?Do you see the enemy?

After a few seconds, Miles replied,No. They aren’t anywhere that I can see.

My legs grew weak from the strain of carrying Bodey, but I gritted my teeth, determined to get him out of the miasma. Though the other wolves seemed to have vanished, that didn’t mean Bodey couldn’t get hurt by our pack trying to get free.

Five more wolves alerted us that they’d made it out. We had to be approaching clear air.

A wolf howled about a mile and a half away, in the opposite direction of the houses.

That’s near where our property ends,the guy who’d alerted us to the Southwest wolves on our land linked.They must have used this as a diversion to escape.

As if to confirm his words, multiple engines revved.

We’re going to follow their trail to the best of our abilities and see if we can find anything,the guy added.

I wasn’t sure that was wise.Fine, but if anything seems off, I want you to run back here. Enough of us are hurt as it is.

My arms ached, and my right leg buckled for a second, succumbing to the weight of my mate. I stumbled and moved forward, and in one large step, the gray gave way to light.

For a second, I was blinded by the abrupt change, but then my eyes adjusted. I staggered a few more steps, making sure Bodey was far enough out of the gray mist that no one rushing out would harm him. And then my legs gave out. I held him tight to my body as my butt hit the ground, jarring my back.

Tailbone throbbing, I clutched my mate. He whined as his voice whispered in my mind,Okay?

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