Chapter 22

Bailey

I couldn't believe I'd agreed to this. It was hot and uncomfortable, but I wasn't sure Dean was going to let me leave that house otherwise.

In my wolf form, I ran with Dean flying above and leading the Pack. Or I supposed I needed to start thinking of it as my Flock now.

Helena had fitted one of the gas masks from the basement over my head. It limited some of my visibility and my wolf was not happy about it, but it was a safer way to travel. These people had taken down Patrick and his team, so I had no illusions about their capability to take me, too.

The first loop we made around town was to call out every raven we could. When I looked up, the sky above me was black with at least a hundred ravens in flight. It was quite the sight.

We'd encountered six spots of attack with fires burning brightly. People were passed out on the ground around each of them, but the airborne range didn't appear to be as broad as I had feared.

At the last location, we'd crossed paths with Gracie and a team of firefighters in full gear. Once given the okay, Dean shifted back to his skin and organized them to start securing bodies.

No one was taking our people if we had any say in it.

They had two ambulances and a firetruck. Working together, they started gathering the bodies and stacking them in the back of the ambulance after ensuring everyone was alive, just unconscious.

Dean made sure to give them Patrick's team's last known location before returning to his feathers and flying high.

Gracie had been right. Despite the cloud of black birds above me, I knew exactly which one was mine at all times.

I ran harder and faster than I ever had before.

An hour later, we finally cornered another pair terrorizing our community.

I let out a low growl in warning as I stalked towards them.

The surrounding air was thick with smoke, and several houses around us were filling up quickly. My wolf ears picked up the thud of people falling and hitting the floor.

I growled again and started to corral them away from the smoke. Fortunately, it was dark enough that they couldn't see I was wearing a mask. I wasn't even sure they could see me at all. And when a gun shot hit the ground several feet away from me, I knew they couldn't.

One step at a time, I continued to push them away from the fire.

"How the hell is this even possible?"

"Where is it?"

"I thought this was raven territory. What is a wolf doing here?"

I had no way to know who was saying what, but I could distinctly pick up two different voices.

The second they got close to the edge of the smoke, a lightning bolt shot through the cloud and instantly killed one. I knew that for a fact because I heard his heart stop beating.

I had no remorse.

The next strike came with a battle cry that sent chills through my body.

Mate! my wolf cheered.

Sparks hit him this time, and he dropped to his knees, unconscious but still alive.

I ran out of the smoke.

Dean led a victory cry when he saw me, and it was echoing throughout all of Ravenden.

One lone bird flew in and doused the flame with water even as it fell to the ground, paralyzed.

I ran back into the smoke and judged her projection, praying I got it right.

Rolling onto the ground, I slid in at just the last second so the bird landed on me and not on the hard ground. I heard what I thought was the snap of a wing, but the tiny heartbeat was strong. The raven was going to survive.

It took a while for the smoke to clear enough for the others to swoop in and assess the damage.

Many shifted into their skin, chancing the remnants of the flame. We had no way of knowing how long the effects would linger, but soon it was apparent that only the actual smoke carried the agent.

"She's alive," someone yelled. "Kim's alive. It's a miracle."

Kim? I thought, feeling like I was going to throw up.

Several people surrounded the bird I had saved, carefully lifting her up as she was carried away.

I couldn't breathe in the mask. The edges of my vision were starting to blacken as I fought back hysterics.

"Bailey!" I heard Dean yell as he ran to my side and ripped the mask from my face. "Bailey, breathe. You're okay. I'm here."

I forced myself to shift as I began sobbing.

"That was Kim? How could you let her sacrifice herself like that? Do you have any idea what that would have done to Elias?"

"Shhh," he said as he held me, rocking back and forth.

I sobbed again. "That was Kim?"

"Yeah. I didn't even have time to react before she took off to put the flame out. What happened down here?"

"I saw her flood the fire, but the paralytic set in and she was going down fast. I knew she was going to splatter on the ground, so I ran and intervene. She landed on my side. I think she may have broken a wing, but I'm not sure."

"You saved her?"

"I didn't know it was her."

"So you risked your life for someone you didn't even know?"

"I couldn't let her just die. I had to try."

He hugged me. "You're amazing, Bailey. Thank you. You're right, Elias would never have survived losing her."

I cried and held on to my mate for dear life.

It took me a few minutes to settle down and think clearly.

"We need to find the last group."

"I know."

"We have to keep moving."

Much to my surprise, they continued to listen to me. I didn't understand why. I was a nobody, an outsider, a wolf.

"I need you to put the mask back on first."

I shook my head, and then slowly nodded.

Two more teams took flight on the search of what we all hoped was our last pair on the loose. Meanwhile, Dean and I were encouraged to take a break and brought to the clinic.

The second Doc saw us, he pulled us both into a private room.

"I told you. When a wolf and a raven find each other as true mates, a battle is sure to follow. So far, we're doing okay. Now, for love of all things holy, tell me you sealed your bond."

I looked at Dean as he turned to look at me.

"Dammit. Why do you think I've had you on quarantine? Idiots. Stay in this room and seal your bond. It might not be too late to turn this around."

"You really are a cantankerous old man full of superstitions, aren't you?"

"And are the pair of you too stubborn to even try?"

"We're two down, and one left to go, Doc. We've got this," I assured him. "Come on, Dean."

Before opening the door, Dean turned back to Doc.

"But we're also not willing to risk the chance you're right."

He pointed to his neck to show him the mark I'd left there. Doc had to have been blind not to notice.

Dean beams proudly.

"Hallelujah!" Doc cheered. "Victory will reign."

I laughed and shook my head.

"You could have just let him think we hadn't. Now he's going to swear that we all survived this because we mated," I whispered.

"He's an old man. Let him have his moment."

We were in good spirits as we left the clinic.

The crowd parted to let us through as we exited the building, or that's we thought until Elias ran up with a frantic look.

"I heard they brought Kim in. Is she okay? Do you know anything?"

He and Dean embraced.

"She's going to be okay," I told him.

"The wolf saved her," someone yelled. "Just a broken wing. The doctor has already set it. She's going to be fine. She's a hero and so is that wolf."

They didn't know I was the wolf they were referring to, but as Elias looked down at me, I knew he did. I was sure regret was written all over my face.

"You?" he asked.

Dean wrapped an arm around me and squeezed.

"She broke her wing when she landed on me. I didn't know it was Kim. I just had to try to help."

"Kim took off, determined to put out the fire that was paralyzing every vulnerable person in the area. She was a hero, brother."

"Sounds like Bailey was a hero, too."

He hugged me. I could feel his whole body shaking, but he controlled his emotions in front of prying eyes.

"She's going to be just fine," Dean assured him.

"Thank you. I owe you everything for this."

"I'll send you the bill from my shrink," I teased.

Elias laughed halfheartedly and headed into the clinic while Dean and I pushed our way out. It barely even registered to me that we were both naked, probably because most of the town was also at this point.

"We should check in with Dad and the Council while we're here. Then we'll head back out if they haven't found them yet."

"Okay."

He took my hand and led the way. Many stopped and stared, and I could hear the whispers begin. There was no hiding now. We were naked and vulnerable before all the Flocks of Ravenden. In the heat of the moment, I doubted anyone noticed, but as they stood around talking in the streets awaiting word on loved ones, we did not go unnoticed.

"Who is she?" someone whispered.

"I don't know. What Flock is she from?"

"That's the wolf."

"No way."

"Look at his neck. He bears the bite of a wolf."

"Dean Davenport will never settle down. Trust me on that."

I squeezed his hand harder, but he just kept walking like he hadn't heard them.

"Are you okay?" he asked once we were in the Council building.

"Fine."

I wasn't sure I was, but with everything else going on, I didn't think now was the time to discuss it.

"I keep extra clothes in my office. Do you want something to wear?"

"There's no point if we're just going back out there."

"Okay."

But once we reached the basement, I was regretting that decision.

It was one thing to be naked in the middle of a bunch of other naked people. It was entirely different standing there naked in front of a bunch of men and women dressed in suits.

"Dean. I didn't expect to see you here," his Dad said.

"Bailey and I are just taking a break to check on Kim."

"What happened to Kim?"

I stayed quiet while Dean filled him in on everything that had happened.

"And yet at some point you found time to do this?" he said, pointing to my mark on Dean's neck and noting our entwined hands.

"We'll talk about that later."

"Does your mother know?"

He shrugged. "Depends on how observant she's been today."

"She's a wolf, Dean. We should have talked about it first."

"She saved Kim, Dad, and we've both spent hours trying to save Ravenden. If you have a problem with this, we'll discuss it later. But neither of us are kids and don't require your or anyone else's permission to mate. Besides, she's my true mate. This was always going to be the outcome. Come on, Bailey."

We left his Dad standing there speechless.

"I'm sorry," I told him once we stopped by his office upstairs.

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I pretty much knew your parents wouldn't be happy about this and I still let it happen."

He picked me up and deposited me on his desk.

"God, you look sexy as hell right now."

He kissed me, but I pushed him back.

"I'm serious, Dean."

"So am I. And don't worry about them or anyone else. We both knew not everyone would get it, but this isn't about them. Our mating is between us and us only. No one else's opinion about it matters. Am I clear?"

"Crystal."

"We have to find the last of these men and get them the hell out of Ravenden."

"I agree."

"And then, I'm dragging your sexy ass right back here to fulfill a fantasy I didn't even know I had until I saw you naked on my desk."

I smiled.

"Is that a promise?"

He kissed me hard. "Best your ass it is."