Page 67 of The Dire Legacy

Anger darkens his features as he bats my hand away. “Listen, I’m trying to help you. There’s wolves attacking the town. I need to keep you safe!”

“I’m safer with them!” I try to keep my wrist away, but he grabs it and fastens one of the cuffs to it.

Leaning over, he links it to my other arm before undoing that belt.

“Alpha! I’m here!” Putting as much strength into my cry as I can, I give up fighting and focus on screaming.

When my feet are cinched together, he slides me off the stretcher. These stupid leg ties limit my steps to awkward little hops.

“Come on.” JD pulls my elbow, half leading, half dragging me out the door.

Kyle nearly collides with me, his brown eyes wide and wild. He glances down at us then pushes past. “I’ll get Connor.”

Finally, I learn the kid’s name.

Leaving the dim room, the craziness outside is a shock to the system.

Long furry bodies weave between the buildings. Snarling and growling mix with the yelling and gunfire.

“Alpha!” My voice cracks.

Please find me.

JD turns and smacks me hard across the mouth. “Shut it. Now move!”

No.

I let my legs go out from underneath me. If he’s in such a hurry, he can drag me. There’s no way I’m willingly going to run.

“Fuck.” He wheezes as he takes hold of the metal chain between my hands and starts to tow me across the rough ground.

I try to dig in my heels to slow him even more.

Until Kyle appears and lifts them into the air.

“I got this end, let’s go.” He picks me up just high enough that the small of my back tears into every bump and rock.

Snarling from the corner of the building stops JD.

I can’t see what’s going on from where I’m hanging between them.

But, I think Kyle just pooped himself.

Twisting my body might make one of them drop me. I do my best impression of a jump rope and writhe as hard as I can.

A second growling sound joins the first. Every time I jerk into a new position, I catch another glimpse of one of the two wolves slathering just feet away.

“Help me!” Kicking at Kyle, my legs fall free with a painful slap.

He reaches down, but a giant dog leaps forward to strand over me, striking at Kyle’s hand.

Kyle isn’t as dumb as he looks. Smartly, he backs away, hugging the toddler to his chest.

My furry savior turns and latches a hold of JD’s thick arm, shaking it hard enough that my hands fall free and I get sprayed with blood.

It makes my heart go pitter patter to hear his cry of agony.

Bouncing my head off of the ground when he released me wasn’t as fun.

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