Chapter 26

26

HUNTER

Killian approaches our team, "You're going to want to see this, Alpha." He leads us to a large cafeteria, where we find shifters chained to the walls. The iron restraints wrapped around their necks, keeping them subdued. Many of them are shifted into their wolf forms, but several sit as naked humans. Most don't even move when we fill the room.

Jackson orders the enforcer team to care of everyone while the three of us take care of Cole.

The fucker that came out of Emma's room and talked about my baby like a fucking science project. He was mine . Cole was cowering in a back closet when we found him, pleading for us to spare him. I just let him run his mouth while I undressed to shift. My wolf had been patient, but now it was his turn for blood.

The smell of piss filled the air as I took the form of my beast. Jackson and Will had my back as I stalked him slowly. My large paws slid slightly on the tiled floor, and my lips curled back, showing him the fangs that would end him.

The only word flooding my mind is ours.

She is ours.

They are ours.

He would never have the chance to touch or hurt her again as my jaws wrapped around his throat and broke his neck. My wolf didn't fight the shift back. The beast seemed pleased to leave Cole's body mangled on the floor.

Will leads us into her room first. She's strapped to a chair that looks more like a torture device. Her legs are up in the air, spread wide, and her ankles are held with leather straps. The monitors and drugs being pumped into her tiny body have me rushing to her side as Will says, "Oh fuck."

There were no words. Her eyes locked with mine, and tears rained down her cheeks as she gave me a weak smile.

"You came?" Those two words. As a question. It had me ready to fall on my fucking knees. How could this beautiful woman not know I would destroy everything to get to her? Nothing could fucking stand in my way. "Emma, if you thought for a second that I wouldn't burn the fucking world to the ground to find you, you must not understand the depth of my love, but make no mistake, that fucker will never touch you ever again."

My poor, sweet girl did not deserve this. I notice the blood smeared between her thighs, and I bite the inside of my mouth until I taste blood, trying to quell the anger. Jackson drapes his shirt over her naked body.

"Can I take this out?" I gesture to the PICC line in her wrists, and she gives a slight nod. "Jesus, what the fuck did they give you? The baby?" My fucking baby. How did I not protect them from all of this? I'm struggling to keep myself together for her, for them.

Her leg falls heavy on the table when Will undoes the restraints holding her legs up, "Shit, sorry, Em," he says.

My eyes meet my brothers, pleading for help. Jackson's are brimming with tears. I've only seen my brother cry once when we were children, and he accidentally hurt Holly while wrestling. "Take my truck and take her home," he says. "I'll handle this place."

Pulling Emma close to my chest, I barely smell her sweetness—an edge of something tainted and rotten masks it. “I'm going to get you home, sweet girl. We can take a bath. Your safe now. Both of you.” I kiss her forehead.

"Okay." Is all she says before her eyes drift shut from exhaustion or drugs? I'm not sure.

The storm outside is in full force, reflecting the one slamming through me. The metal siding makes some terrible screech. Emma is tucked safely in my arms, out of the reach of the weather, as I slide her into the truck. I lean the chair back and buckle her in as I run around the front. My only thought is to get her home and get her safe.

I pull the large truck up to the pack house, and as I slide out, I'm surrounded by everyone. Holly, Charlie, and my mom ask, 'how is she ?' Their questions overwhelm me, and I don't hide my anger as I snarl back. "She's not fucking good, now back up." I keep my body between hers and everyone else's. Emma is still only in a t-shirt and no underwear. Even though she's not awake, I don't think she would want everyone to see her like this.

I know they're all coming to ask out of love, but I need a minute. To just be with her, be with our baby, to take care of them. I feel like I failed her. She has had to go through this experience, and I'm not sure she will ever forgive me for this.

I'm filled with peace as I finally press into our room. Our scents fill the air, and I lay Emma down on the bed. Then, I quickly head to the bathroom to turn on the water over the large clawfoot tub.

"Hunter?" Her soft voice startles me, causing me to squeeze too much bubble bath into the water. The effect is immediate as bubbles build under the steaming faucet.

"Oh, I know I'm dirty, but I'm not that bad, am I?" Emma tries to joke, but her voice is so hoarse that I barely hear it over the water.

My thumb swipes a smudge of dirt off her cheek. "You're pretty dirty, but that's okay," I say as I strip off the pants and vest.

Emma's eyes slide down my chest. When I look down, I saw the blood splattered across my skin, "I guess we both got a little dirty."

Her hands trace a drop down my stomach, "Cole?"

"Dead." I lift her chin to look her in the eyes, "They're all dead."

She doesn't take any more time as she presses up and kisses me soundly. "Thank you," she mumbles between kisses. "I love you, Hunter."