Chapter 21

Liz

The guards had to let them in, otherwise they'd die. The good guys didn't let good people die, right?

Liz's heart hurt, not only because terror had a tight fist around it, but because her mad dash to reach her nana when she stumbled had left her legs burning and her chest heaving. She clamped her fingers tighter around her nana's hand and pulled her onward, desperate to reach the gates. The ground shook under their feet, making several in the group ahead of them stumble again. It was the second rumble since Blaide left her side with his dangerous plan, and her heart clenched in worry.

If anyone in the group fell, they'd lose momentum, and with how everyone's feet dragged, Liz doubted they'd be able to even get back up. She shouted encouragement and urged them on.

With her focus aimed forward, she gasped and sent a plea to whatever god would listen. The bond connecting her to Blaide throbbed at their separation, and her fear over his survival made it hard to breathe.

Cresting a hill, she darted one last look behind her, wishing he were with them now, but knowing the soldiers were much faster than they were, Blaide was all that kept their group from becoming another casualty of war.

When a beta male didn't compensate for the different pitch of the road, he nearly fell headfirst into the ground, but the woman beside him popped him on the shoulder and helped him regain his balance. He motioned for her to keep going but struggled to force his legs to continue moving one in front of the other. He fell back, each person who passed him gasping for breath but still urging him to go quicker; one lady a little younger than Clarette grabbed one of his elbows and pulled him for a few steps before she let go, clutching at her side in obvious pain.

A few of the fathers glanced back, and the helpless look in their eyes as they saw the oldest of the males losing his stamina made Liz's stomach curdle. They were all struggling, wishing they could help while fearing they were next. One shouted at the leaders in the front, who shortened their strides but couldn't turn back to help.

Each of the two alphas at the front held a child in their arms, even though neither belonged to them. Many of the parents had tear tracks running down their faces, their babies tucked against one of their chests while the other let their arms rest, but the road had been brutal, and everyone was running on fumes.

They hadn't stopped for over two hours, both because the enemy was right on their tails and because everyone sensed that the moment they stopped, they'd be done. Their bodies would literally shut down and refuse to budge.

The couple who had passed their children forward held hands, the exhaustion pulling at their faces showing their sense of failure. They hadn't been able to swap who held their children because they had twins, and everyone else either had packs to weigh them down or had already taken turns carrying the older children.

Nana stumbled again, but Liz kept hold of her, hauling her up and pulling her forward. There was no way she was letting go now. She'd carry her nana if that was what it took.

The wall loomed ahead of them, growing larger with each step. They had to get through the gates safely so Blaide's solo mission wouldn't be fruitless.

Eyeing her fingers tangled with her nana's and those of the couple clinging together, Liz's brain connected dots she hadn't thought were relevant.

"Hold hands! C'mon, everyone, grab whoever's closest. They'll see we have no weapons and let us through."

The words came out more forcefully and sharper than she'd intended, but they carried the distance between herself and those halfway up the group. Without question, everyone who heard her reached out and latched onto one or two others, while relaying the suggestion until the alpha in front looked over his shoulder and nodded. With one arm cradled around the bundle of innocence he carried, he offered his massive palm to the girl behind him. After sliding her fingers in his, she flung her hand out and grabbed the shirt of the other leader, who didn't hesitate to take another person's outstretched digits.

The eldest man took a teenage boy's arm before Liz wrapped her fingers around his other wrist and urged them forward. She didn't enjoy the exposed feeling that came with being at the rear of the pack, but she took comfort in knowing Blaide was protecting her. Even though she feared for his safety, she knew he wouldn't let her get hurt.

Liz would have held her breath as the lead alpha approached the gates, but her lungs didn't have the luxury. He kicked the metal, showing his aggravation at knowing the lookouts had seen them but hadn't opened the door yet.

With two weary, older hands in hers, Liz scrambled to close the distance between them and the bulk of the group, praying that if they had to wait long for the gate to open, they wouldn't all collapse.

The thick reinforced door began sliding open, and an audible wave of relief swept through the villagers as they grunted and cheered, most too exhausted to celebrate. Whatever machinery they had on the other side of the wall created so much noise that as the crack grew bigger, Liz cringed with the urge to cover her ears, but she tightened her fingers around those she held hands with and kept barreling forward.

The moment the gates opened wide enough, the leader sidestepped through and tugged the girl holding his hand forward, only to still as he met the concrete barrier and raised weapons. Practically dragging her nana behind her, Liz demanded her feet keep carrying her forward, wanting to get everyone through the blockade together and sensing the waning strength of those around her. Her own feet stabbed agony up her legs with every step, but she refused to acknowledge the pain.

Shouting and gunfire suddenly sounded behind them, stealing Liz's focus for a moment. Her hoarse cry bounced off the wall, and she met her nana's wide eyes as terror gripped her soul.

As her steps faltered, her heart screaming at her to go back and find Blaide while her mind told her to get everyone through the gate, Clarette's expression hardened.

"Get into the city, Elizabeth. He'll never forgive you if you turn back for him. Get to safety so he can focus."

With a sob, Liz turned her entire attention to the blockade, heaving as she angled sideways through the narrow space between concrete barriers; the old man hobbling in front of her while her nana struggled behind.

Seconds seemed like millennia as they wove through the maze of barricades, the guards on either side so covered in gear she couldn't make out whether she'd met any of them before. Her mind searched for familiarity in those beside the gate. Maybe if she ran into the male Blaide had spoken to when they left, then she'd have someone willing to help her if Blaide didn't show up soon.

As they neared the end of the blockade, Liz swallowed the fear in her throat and put her mind to what she needed to do next. The elder man tugged her forward, a rush of adrenaline fueling their group toward a building where the military had set up a field hospital.

It wasn't until her nana crossed through the doors and wrapped her arms around Liz from behind that Liz realized she was sobbing.

Nuzzling her head, Clarette offered an uneven purr, her strength wavering as they stood in the foreign room heaving for breath. Liz rubbed the side of her face against her nana's before straightening her shoulders and leading them to an unclaimed cot. A slight beta woman appeared by their side, her uniform different from those by the gate, but the fierce set of her features was just as intense. Liz turned and lowered herself, ushering Nana onto the cot beside her.

The woman's expression morphed to one of comfort, the calculating look in her eyes never leaving, but her desire to ease their angst a breath of fresh air.

"Your group has really gone through it, haven't they? My name's Evangeline. Let me look at you, Mrs.—?"

With the nurse's attention fully on Nana, Liz stood and backed up, studying the room. Seeing everyone was getting the medical attention they needed or were soon to get it, she stepped toward the door.

"Child, you are not sneaking away."

Liz froze and turned leaking eyes on her grandmother.

"Nana, it hurts ."

Her fist clunked against her sternum to emphasize the throbbing ache there. She needed Blaide more than anything else, and behind the walls of safety there was nothing to draw her attention from the pain.

"I know."

The haunted expression on Clarette's face was something Liz had never seen before, and with a shock, she realized her nana had sheltered her from the worst experience imaginable.

Her nana had suffered two alpha bonds. Neither were good men. Both treated the eclectic omega as little more than an object. Liz's sobs intensified as she imagined how horrible it would be to suffer such intimate moments with males who weren't worthy.

When her nana struggled to sit up, Liz darted forward and helped her.

"Hush, Liz. You don't have the luxury of wasting more resources."

Another shock bolted through Liz as she realized no new tears trickled down her face. Now that her grandmother had pointed it out, she felt as dry as the desert. At any moment, she'd turn into a husk of an omega and blow away in the current made by the air conditioning unit.

"Drink. At least two bottles of water. Then take a third with you."

Dropping her tush onto the cot next to her nana, Liz took a bottle from the nurse before nodding. It seemed to take forever because the nurse kept regulating her intake, but when the second bottle was empty, Liz snatched up the third, hugged her nana, and darted toward the door.

A gigantic figure closed in on her right, raising Liz's hackles. She jerked away, but searched the alpha's face and recognized the male who'd led the group.

"He saved us. I won't let you go out there alone."

Too emotional to speak, Liz nodded before pushing open the door and rushing back toward the barricade.

She swept her gaze across the area beyond the wall but didn't see Blaide anywhere. Her heart hammered in her throat as the sound of gunshots leaked through the opening between the heavy metal gates.

How could she listen to what was going on out there now when she'd wanted to cover her ears as they ran through the blockade?

She answered herself as she got closer, the large grey boxes sitting on top of the nearby vehicles aimed toward the gate reminding her of the old speakers her school had pulled out occasionally. The air almost vibrated around them, making her think they did more than produce a sound, but she gritted her teeth and moved closer.

A heavy hand landed on her shoulder when she stepped toward the male with the same insignia on his vest as the one she'd shied away from the other day. She whipped around and breathed a quick sigh of relief as she met her companion's eyes. She'd forgotten he was following her.

The throbbing in her chest sent agony out to her limbs; the fear she had for Blaide growing exponentially each second he didn't show. Even as she stepped forward, the alpha behind her pulled her backward.

Liz turned and almost snarled at him, but he'd trained his eyes on one specific spot outside the gate. He was taller than her and, therefore, had a better view. Liz stopped resisting and followed his guidance as he veered her away from the officer and toward the space between the barricades and the rest of the city. Instead of stopping them directly in front of the opening, the alpha kept urging her onward until she was several yards further down the road, standing in the center of the cleared space.

The sudden sensation of being watched fell on her, making her wring her favorite tail and wrap the others around her waist, and even though she hated being touched by any alpha other than Blaide, she was grateful for the other man's supporting hand. He kept his palm on her shoulder, loosening his grip but not letting go as movement flashed near the gate.

Ears back and shoulders rolled forward, Blaide darted between the concrete barrier and the door, barely squeezing through as it slid shut behind him with an eerie, grinding finality. He tucked his tail to evade the closing door, but it trailed behind him as he picked his way through the zigzag of the blockade.

The ground rumbled before flames burst beyond the gate, the explosion big enough to send sparks higher than the wall, and the surrounding trees sizzled in the fire, but Blaide didn't react.

Liz searched his face, seeing the strain in the lines beside his eyes and a trickle of blood on his cheekbone. He had a cut on one of his arms, but overall, he seemed fine.

He stepped between the last two slabs of concrete and latched eyes with her.

Joy washed away her exhaustion and clogged Liz's chest as she tried to step forward, but the alpha leader held her in place. Yellow eyes flicked to her shoulder then to the man behind her before a muscle ticked in Blaide's jaw.

The second the toe of his boot crossed the end of the barrier, the hand left her shoulder. Liz darted forward and crashed into her mate's arms, accidentally hitting his side with the bottle in her hand, and her nostrils filled with his scent. He smelled of smoke and blood, some of it not his own, but she focused on his natural pheromones and took comfort in his arms.

He squeezed her tighter to him, which was exactly what she wanted, and despite the fatigue tugging at her, Liz purred her gratitude.

She lifted her chin and stood on tiptoe, needing his kiss more than her next breath.

He gave it, grunting as their lips touched and sweeping his tongue into her mouth before offering her his purr.

Liz pulled back, something in the way he moved and the pitch of his purr alerting her.

"What's wrong?"

He just shook his head and ran a thumb along her cheekbone.

"I'm grateful to have you in my arms. I missed you, my little Red."

Her eyebrows scrunched together. Even though she loved the words coming out of his mouth, she hated he was hiding something from her. Even their bond felt pinched.

"I missed you too but tell me what's wrong."

The alpha who'd led the group cleared his throat.

"We're in the building over there."

Blaide looked at where the man pointed before he nodded in response. He tried to turn Liz by her shoulders so she'd walk in front of him, but she dug in her heels.

"Blaide, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine, little Red. Let's go find your nana."

"No you aren't. Stop pushing me!"

He stopped moving forward and stood there, looking down at her with a tightness to his face she hadn't seen before. The scent of his blood smacked her in the face, and she fought the worry gnawing at her stomach.

"You're hurt, aren't you? Show me!"

The alpha stopped a few feet in front of them, gave a conciliatory look to Blaide, then opened his mouth a few times before deciding what to say.

"She's the reason we all got through the gate. She can handle it."

Then he stalked toward the makeshift hospital without looking back again.

Blaide searched her features before sighing.

"It doesn't hurt much."

He framed her face with his massive palms, his gaze digging into hers.

"I've had worse. My Red, I can't handle you falling apart right now. Are you sure you want to look?"

Imagining the worst, Liz wobbled, but she braced her feet shoulder-width apart and nodded. She needed to know how bad it was.

She gasped when he turned to reveal a piece of twisted metal protruding from his upper back. Blood soaked his shirt underneath, but it wasn't gushing blood, so Liz sucked in a breath and pushed down her panic. There were other holes in his shirt, and his tail was a bit singed, but her gaze remained caught on the worst of the injuries.

"We're going inside now so the doctor can look at you."

Not waiting for his response, Liz grabbed his hand and stomped toward the building, failing to prevent the flow of tears as they fell silently down her face.