Chapter 58

Fifty-Eight

IZZY

I remain low to the ground as I make my way back to the children. I don’t know how much time I have until one of the gunmen realizes they’re down a man, but I’ll worry about that when it comes to it.

When I reach the tree line, I hesitate only briefly before unhooking the gun and setting it on the ground. The last thing I need to do is frighten the children—and showing up with a big-ass gun would certainly do that.

I poke my head around the nearest tree and flick my gaze towards the makeshift stage. The leader has pulled someone else onto the picnic table, though I don’t recognize who it is.

And Christian…

He remains on his knees, his head lowered, his muscles shaking.

What the hell is wrong with him?

Fear for my mate twists my heart, but I force myself to focus on the task at hand. If I can get the children to safety, then the other wolves will fight back. That’s the only way I can save Christian and the others.

That thought bolsters my resolve, and I direct my attention back to the kids.

Only one is looking at me—the red-faced, blonde girl I noticed before. Tears trickle down her cheeks as she stares at me.

Once again, I place one finger to my lips, indicating for her to be silent, then gesture for her to come to me.

She hesitates, biting down on her lower lip and volleying her gaze between me and the other shifters.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

I don’t know how much time we have. The gunmen will certainly notice a bunch of children moving about.

The little boy next to her, maybe a few years older than the girl herself, looks in my direction. Once again, I gesture for him to come, to follow me.

The boy wipes away the snot with the back of his hand and nods once. My relief is short-lived, however, when he jumps to his feet. I shake my head and then lower myself to the ground in a crawling position.

More of the children are staring at me now, all of them crying.

I never thought I could hate Kain more than I previously did. How could he do this to these innocent children? They’re going to be scarred for life—not only because they were held hostage but because people they knew died right in front of them.

I take a deep, calming breath—the last thing these kids need is to see me angry—and force a reassuring smile onto my lips.

Finally, one of the kids gathers the courage to crawl towards me. He’s quickly followed by another, then another, then another. I keep one eye trained on the gunmen, making sure no one has noticed that all of the tiny hostages have made an escape.

A twig snaps from beside me, and I immediately spin towards the newcomer, my hands curled into fists. I only relax when I see that it’s Ashton, his cheeks flushed from exertion and sweat on his forehead. His eyes sweep over me, almost as if he’s ensuring I’m okay, before he focuses on the kids.

The blonde-haired girl throws herself at him with a cry. “Ashton!”

“It’s okay, Rina. It’s okay,” he soothes.

He meets my gaze over the little girl’s head, and I mouth, “Kain?”

“Taken care of,” he responds.

I nod once and focus my attention on the sea of little faces. I count sixteen. Sixteen children who have endured unspeakable horrors. Sixteen children who will face this trauma for the rest of their lives.

Sixteen innocent children.

“Follow Ashton,” I whisper to the kids, corralling them towards him.

Ashton gives me an odd look. “What are you doing?”

“I’ll be right behind you,” I promise.

Ashton looks as if he wants to protest, but he nods and gestures for the children to follow him. They sound like a herd of elephants traipsing through the forest, but it’s okay. At least they’re safe. Ashton will protect them.

Only when they’re out of sight do I step out of the tree line once more.

A few of the shifters have noticed the missing children, and I can see panic, fear, and disbelief splayed across their faces. I meet Hale’s eyes and nod once, silently assuring him that they’re safe.

And then everything happens at once.

Hale jumps to his feet, and his clothes explode in all directions. In his place is a huge, furry wolf. He launches himself at the nearest gunman.

At first, the rest of the shifters stare on in shock, but then two more wolves join the fray. It isn’t long until the street is a battlefield—though a massacre would be a better descriptor. The gunmen have no chance against a bunch of angry, ferocious wolves.

I glance towards the stage where Christian still kneels, the leader directly beside him.

Why isn’t anyone going after him?

Why isn’t Christian moving?

“Christian,” I whisper breathlessly.

Almost as if he can hear my voice, Christian’s head snaps up.

Amber eyes lock on my face.

I stagger back a step as horror trickles through my veins.

That’s not…

That’s not Christian.

I’m staring into the eyes of a wolf.

I wait for him to do something—maybe attack the gunman beside him or come to me—but he doesn’t move. He merely remains there, staring at me, his elongated teeth cutting into his bottom lip.

Then Christian jumps to his feet with surprising agility given his size and races towards the woods.

Away from the battle.

Away from me.

My heart shatters into a million pieces.

“Christian!” I scream, my voice lost in the sounds of snarling wolves.

But one person hears me.

The leader of the gunmen turns in my direction and salutes me. He returns his attention to the battle, sweeps his gaze over his fallen comrades, and then takes off in a run in the opposite direction of Christian.

No. No. No. I won’t let him get away.

I’m about to take off after him when someone new steps out of the woods. Someone new…but familiar.

Her dark hair stands in all directions, the inky strands wrapped around numerous twigs and leaves. And her feet… god, her feet… Even the tops of them are dirty and covered in blood. Did she walk this entire way shoeless?

Lissa stops at the very edge of the grass, where the yard of the second largest house touches the street, and tilts her head to the side. Her glazed eyes almost appear white in the setting sun.

She opens her mouth, her jaw stretching in a way that shouldn’t be normal, and begins to scream.