Page 64 of Betrayed Mate

Bruce and half his pack members raced past us in the direction of the neighborhood while the rest split into two groups, running in opposite directions and circling the land. I wanted to yell at them for not listening to me, but how could I when I was doing the same thing? We were running to help the ones we loved and not leave them behind… Well, except Ryker.

Ryker jumped to his feet, eyes glowing. “I’m trying to get your ass to safety! Gage, Kendric, and Xander are getting Briar out of the holding cell right now.”

“I’m not going anywhere until Briar is at my side.” I spun on my heels and picked up speed in the direction the others had run. Ryker had told me enough that I had an idea of where I should be able to find Briar: at the back of the neighborhood.

I ran freely, not trying to hold my speed back like I normally did around other shifters outside my pack. This was a time I didn’t care if anyone noticed I was faster than the rest of them.

“Dammit, Rebel,” Ryker hissed, and then his hurried footsteps sounded behind me.

Pumping my legs, I caught up with the back of the group that was hurrying into the neighborhood. A few peeled off, and the crack of breaking bones informed me they were shifting.

I’d give anything to be able to do that, but with all these foreign wolves around me, staying in human form in case I needed to communicate was the best option for me.

My wolf whimpered as the link connecting Briar and me warmed further.

She was waking.

Cries of pain and whines of terror came more frequently, pushing me to go even faster. I gritted my teeth, and energy burst through me, increasing my speed once again. The oaks blurred as I ran, trying to reach my sister before something else happened to her.

Ember?Briar’s voice rang in my head, followed by fear and hope pulsing through the pack link.Is this a dream?

This was far from a dream. The whole situation was another nightmare, making me relive the murder of our own pack, but I didn’t want to stress her out more than she already was.I’m here. On my way to get you.

Two-story houses appeared, indicating that I’d reached the front of the pack neighborhood. Chaos had erupted. People with bags were running out of homes to their vehicles and throwing items in. Little kids had tears running down their faces, andanother howl of agony came from somewhere on the other side of the woods.

The side close to Briar.

Ember, what’s going on?Briar’s anxiety spiked, causing our connection to constrict.The screams…they sound like…

She didn’t have to say anything; I already knew and thought the same thing myself.I’m close.I refused to downplay the threat, but I also didn’t want to confirm that our lives were at risk once again.Are you well enough to run?I didn’t want to think about them torturing her, but at this point, I needed to know what we were up against.

Yes, I’m perfectly healthy, but—Her words cut off, and cold fear pulsed from her side.

Briar!I linked, pushing myself harder.What’s going on?

Someone is trying to get through the door. They don’t have a key—it sounds like they’re trying to crash through.

My heart hammered, and I had to hope and pray to Fate that it was the Grimstone guys and not the Blackwood pack. I glanced over my shoulder to confirm with Ryker, but I could barely see him behind me.

Somehow I’d gotten at least seventy-five yards ahead of him, which shouldn’t have been possible, given how strong his wolf was. Knowing that waiting for him would probably take as much time as reaching Briar, I faced forward once more and kept pushing.

I could see the end of the neighborhood now, which meant I would be there soon.I’m almost there, Briar. Just hold on.

Terror seized my heart, and I pumped my arms harder. I gritted my teeth, needing to channel every ounce of effort into reaching her as quickly as I could.

Branches snapped, and I jerked my head to the right and saw a shadowed outline of a person in the woods.

I tensed, unsure whether the person was from Shae or Blackwood, but as long as they didn’t try to prevent me from reaching my sister, I didn't give a damn.

The crack of splintering wood caught my attention, and Briar connected,Three wolves just broke down the door.

My gaze landed on a small one-story building at the end of the neighborhood.I'm almost there. Fight them off if they try to harm you.

Sounds of pain and suffering in the neighborhood grew deafening and merged with the memory of the deaths of my own pack.

The coldness in my chest iced over, and unshed tears burned my eyes. I blinked, clearing my vision, as Briar yelled, “Don't touch me!”

I rounded the corner of the small building, noticing it had only one exit, and bounded up the step and inside to find three muddy wolves surrounding a chained Briar, who lay on a bed.

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