Page 8 of Corbin
With no idea how much time they had to put a mile or more between them and the slumbering bear shifter, Corbin gambled and began forcing the shift. If his wolf refused to help, Corbin could end up falling to the ground with a mix of wolf and human parts. Then they’d both be in dire straits.
Ares needed his energy as much as Corbin needed his wolf’s.
He had not seen other shifters stuck in a change, but Ares had tried taking the body once when Corbin refused to let the wolf out. He shuddered to think back on that nightmare.
Ares yelled in Corbin’s head, Who stuck me with a stupid human half?In the next few seconds, he thankfully pushed energy to force the change along faster.
As soon as Corbin became fully human again, the pain ratcheted up to a new level of misery. He sucked in air as hehurried to grab his pants and boots from the backpack. With those on, he found the long-sleeved green pullover he’d tossed aside earlier. Lifting his right arm sent pain racing through his banged-up ribs, but having the shirt on might help stanch the blood flow.
When he reached the woman who sat like a ball of shivering arms and legs, he spoke softly. “Hey, there. Let’s get you out of here.”
She’d been staring ahead but stopped moving.
They had to get going quickly, but he needed her cognizant of her surroundings first. He dropped down on one knee. “I’m Corbin. I’m with a team here to rescue you.”
She looked at him with confusion. “Are you ... human?”
Seeing any woman in shock and terrified hurt him. He’d like to soothe her with the words she wanted to hear, but he made a point of not lying to females. He could not promise she’d survive this if he didn’t. Men were another story. He had his own set of rules for life. “I’m a shifter in human formnow, but the wolf you saw fighting the bear is part of me too.”
The best part, Ares interjected.
He’d give her twenty seconds, then he might have to drag her out of here. Adrian and Ladrón could come back to figure out this mess. He had no idea if there were more kidnappers in this ring, and every second sitting here sent dread crawling up his spine.
She blinked hard as if trying to wipe away the horror clouding her mind. Pale blue eyes stared at him with confusion. He’d once fallen hard for a girl with unusual aqua-blue eyes.
He’d never seen that color since.
A cursed color that starred in his nightmares.
Twenty seconds were up. “I’m going to cut the rope loose, okay?”
No response.
He withdrew a switchblade that had been strapped inside his pants pocket with elastic and thanked Jaz for her forethought again. He first cut the rope end tied to the tree, hoping the idea of being free would lessen the grip terror had on her. With no words from her yet, he slowly reached for the rope around her waist. He slipped his finger between the coarse rope and her torn shirt to give him room to cut without harming her.
She flinched, and he felt sick to his stomach.
He’d never frightened a woman. “I’m sorry.” She might believe him if he hadn’t sounded irritated. He couldn’t help it. If any more shifters showed up, he could not hand Ares the body again yet.
Tears ran down her face. “No, I’m sorry. I’m, uh ...”
Relieved at her talking, he supplied, “Shook up? That’s understandable. You’ve been through an awful time here, but I’m getting you out of this place. What’s your name?” He knew her name but wanted to keep her distracted with easy-going dialogue. He finished slicing through the rope and pulled it away from around her waist.
She whispered, “Judith.”
“I’m Corbin. Nice to meet you.”
Ares casually said,Bear waking. You want to fight this one?
What? Corbin swung around to find the first bear shifter still lying on the ground with claws poking out of his meaty hands covered in black fur from where he’d stopped in mid-shift. His distorted mouth moved, and he clenched his jaws.
Ares snickered.
No. Don’t wake up, Corbin silently begged the universe. He stood and reached for the woman’s hands. “Let’s go.”
She clamped his hands, and he pulled her to her feet. She took a step, limped, and whimpered. “My ankle is hurt.”
Corbin still needed forty-five minutes to heal enough to battle. At least she didn’t require clothes. He had no time tospare. “I’ll carry you.” He tossed her onto his left shoulder in a fireman’s hold and said, “Stay quiet.”
