25. Mai

In the back, Mason was a grim statue of pain, his skin leeched of its usual healthy color. Next to him, Shya struggled to keep her composure, her usually fiery eyes now filled with worry and frustration. Her small hands pushed against Mason's wound, trying to stop the crimson flood staining his shirt, but the blood wouldn't stop.

The back of the SUV had been transformed into an impromptu field hospital. I was most worried about Sam, though. He was still out. His complexion was ghostly, and each of his breaths was now a wheezy struggle, the sound terrifyingly unnatural.

I pulled out my phone, finding Isaac's number. We needed information, and Isaac was the one who would have it. I hit dial, pressing the phone to my ear.

It rang once, twice. And then Isaac picked up.

"Mai." His voice was tired, worn.

"Isaac," I began, my voice sounding small in the confines of the car, "I just saw Korrin."

There was silence on the other end.

"He wasn't too happy to see me," I continued.

"Mai, I—"

"A heads up would have been nice, Isaac. He ambushed me and my Pack. We got away, but some were badly injured. Why didn't you call?"

"Mai, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was heading to you. After Seth … after Seth died, he lost it. I knew he was gone, but I thought he'd gone to clear his head."

"Is he here officially? Does he have the blessing of Ajak and Kara?"

I could hear the shuffling of sheets as Isaac moved. I guessed I'd woken him up.

"No. If Korrin is there, he's gone rogue."

Fuck.

"Mai, is he—?"

"We didn't kill him."

Isaac let out a sigh of relief. "Good. He might not be there with their blessing, but if you'd killed him, Ajak would want revenge."

"I'll be sure to bear that in mind next time he runs my car off the road and tries to kill me."

Isaac was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry, Mai. You don't deserve any of this."

I sighed. "Who does, Isaac? You'll let me know if you hear anything?"

"Sure," he agreed, and I hung up the phone.

"He's rogue?" Ryan asked, flicking his gaze to me before putting it back on the road.

"Yeah," I confirmed, my thoughts going to Tucker's grin as he'd swung on Ethan's biceps, trying to get Ethan to train with him. "We can't go back to Bridgetown."

"What?" Shya asked from the back. "We need to get Mason and Sam there. They need help now."

I twisted around to face her. "I know. But if Korrin was here officially from the Cocrane Pack, he wouldn't dare follow us to Bridgetown. It would be a declaration of war between the two Packs. Even though he badly wants revenge, he wouldn't put his Pack at risk. Korrin is rogue, though. It means he can do what the fuck he likes, and Ajak and Kara have plausible deniability. He can attack your home with no comeback on them. Korrin is like Seth in some ways. He can't take losing. He'll come back at us stronger next time. We can't risk your brothers, Shya. We can't put your Pack in danger like this."

Shya stared at me, her eyes wide and scared.

"Ryan, we need to turn around," I declared, but Ryan was already swinging the car around, the tires squealing against the asphalt. He and I were on the same page on this.

"Where can we go?" Shya asked.

"We'll go to Three Rivers," I said, my decision made. "We need to get to Thomas. He's our only chance now."