27. Twenty-Six

Twenty-Six

Sloane

I bobbed to the right and ducked. Air whooshed past my face as my assailant missed his punch by less than an inch. That was too close.

The enforcer I was tangoing with was big and beefy. Built like a rock. One hit from him and I'd be in trouble.

I bounced on my feet, fists tightened and protectively in front of my face. He jabbed at me again. I deflected with my forearm. His knuckles connected just below the elbow, sending pain shooting through my arm. It burned. Tears pricked my eyes, and I yelped.

He jabbed again. I batted this hit away with my hand, forcing his fist down. I had an opening.

I threw a right hook. His jaw crunched beneath my fist. Spittle flew out of his mouth. My hand burned, my knuckles raw.

He stumbled back, his eyes wide.

Yeah, you jerk, I can punch.

I connected a jab to the spot between his nose and mouth. Then lifted my foot and swung for where the sun didn't shine. He curled in on himself, groaning as he cupped his groin.

I dealt another hook then a jab, alternating left then right. He fell on his butt. I kicked again. This time aiming for his jaw. The bridge of my foot hit its mark. His head snapped back, and he fell over, unmoving.

Was he dead?

I held my breath, fists in front of me, watching in case he was playing. But when his chest didn't move, I let out a breath. One down, who knows how many more to go.

Howls erupted. I jumped. My gaze flew to the treeline.

The third wave was here. Lincoln must have given the signal, which meant his father had sought him out.

My heart ached in my chest. No kid should have to go through this regardless of what their parent had done. I hoped Lincoln was okay. He was alive. Hurting, but alive.

I gave myself a mental shake. I could focus on Lincoln and Sawyer later.

Right now, we were in the middle of a war zone. I needed to pay attention, or it was me who could be in trouble. I hadn't come all this way to die.

I bounced back-and-forth on my feet, looking for who needed my help. With everyone being human, or mostly everyone, it was harder to tell who was on what side.

My people had all worn black. But the people we'd liberated from the prisoner compounds were dressed in various shades of colors. And so were Alpha Dane's men.

A scream pierced the air, drawing my attention to the building to my right. Some douche bag had a woman trapped against the side of the house. He had her caged in with his hands and was trying to grab her.

I sprinted, closing the distance, and launched myself at the jerk. He grunted as I knocked him off balance.

I threw a cross hook, taking advantage of the element of surprise.

I brought my other hand up, uppercutting him in the chin. He stumbled back. I round house kicked, hitting him in the side of the head. He tripped over his feet and stumbled backward, his hands flying to his face.

I pressed forward, but didn't get far. A wolf snarled, lunged at him, and dragged him to the ground. The wolf bared its teeth and bit at him.

I turned back to the girl. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

She pressed her back against the side of the house. She mumbled under her breath, her eyes wide as tears glided down her cheeks.

My stomach twisted as I got a good look at her.

She couldn't be older than twelve or thirteen. What the hell had that jerk wanted with her? Scratch that. I didn't want to know.

I held my hands up and approached slowly. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Her eyes focused on me and her bottom lip trembled."I just want to go home. Please." Her voice broke, and she sobbed.

I bit my lip to keep from crying, too. "Me too. What's your name?"

She inhaled a strangled breath. "Mya." Her gaze flitted around like she was still searching for an escape route.

I inched closer, careful to keep my arms lifted. "Mya, I'm going to help you get out of here, but I need you to do what I say. Can you do that?"

She swallowed hard and nodded.

I put my hand on her shoulder and pulled her to my chest, hugging her. "Good. It's going to be okay. We are going to get you out of here." I squeezed her tight, wishing I could stop her shaking.

She said something I couldn't understand, her voice muffled against my shirt.

I pulled back and got to her level. "I need you to walk along the edge of the path. Stick close to the houses on this side."

She opened her mouth to protest, but I continued before she could. "Follow the path. Go past the main pack house and keep running. There's a group from my pack that's helping get people into cars to evacuate them."

She looked at me with a wide terrified eyes.

I gave her a small shake. "Mya, you can do this. You just got to be brave for me. Can you do that?"

She blinked a few times. "Okay."

I brushed some of her tears away. "Good. You go. You run, you'll see them in the forest just after the house ready to help get you to a car. My team is all wearing these black shirts." I tugged on mine for emphasis.

I pointed to where some of the people were helping to assist by that hideous fountain. "See him over there. He's helping. His name is Joshua. He'll make sure you get there safely."

She let out a strangled cry and wrapped her arms around me. "Thank you."

I rubbed her back only for a moment before pushing her away. "I need to keep helping my pack get others out. You're going to run to Joshua, right?"

She bobbed her head up and down while wiping her nose with her arm.

"Good." I gave her a small smile and then gave her a soft push toward where she needed to go.

I kept my gaze on her for a few moments, watching as she made a mad dash for the fountain. She was going to make it. I smiled to myself.

My attention went back to the fight. It was impossible to tell who was winning. I thought about Lincoln again. Was he safe? Where was he?

I scanned over the fighting in search of him while also looking for anywhere else I could jump in and help. I didn't find Lincoln. But I did find someone else. Alpha Dane was marching straight for me.

I stood rooted in my spot. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Our eyes locked. I sucked in a breath and let it out, but it didn't calm my hammering heart.

This was it. He was coming for me. But where was Lincoln? He'd given the signal at some point, but what had happened to him after that?

I pumped my fists at my sides, reaching out for him with our connection. He was alive. I could breathe again.

But he was panicked. I feel him screaming at me. My pulse pounded in my ears.

I snapped my attention to Alpha Dane.

He jabbed an accusatory finger at me as he marched closer. "You!"

I shifted my feet, staying light on my toes.

His nostrils flared as his eyes narrowed. "This is all your fault. I should have just killed you. You've brought me nothing but trouble."

I dropped into a fighting stance.

He pulled up short and threw his head back, cackling. "You think you can fight me, girl?"

I lifted my fists, so they were in front of my face, and arched a brow. "I know I can."

Sawyer and Lincoln weren't here to help me now. I was on my own. But damn it all to hell, I wanted to put this bastard in his place once and for all.

He put a hand on his stomach and laughed harder. "Foolish girl."

I gritted my teeth. "Does it make you feel better to look down on everyone?"

He sobered, his lip curling up. "I'm the alpha. It's my right to look down on everyone."

A laugh bubbled up my throat and escaped before I could stop it. Did he know how ridiculous that was?

I shook my head. "I think you are confused about what an alpha is supposed to be. An alpha is nothing without the pack's respect."

He motioned to the fighting around us. "You think my men are out there dying and don't respect me?"

I held his gaze. "There is a fine line between respect and fear. I'm afraid you have the two confused."

He chuckled. "I do like your spirit, Sloane." He flicked his wrist and shifted his gaze a moment to the grounds. "You are going to lose, though. My men from the other packs are already on their way back. They will be here soon. And this will all be over." A sickening smile lit his face.

I gulped. Was he bluffing? Were they really on their way back?

Keep him talking. "I think you underestimate what we are fighting for."

He glanced out at the fighting again. "It's a noble cause, I suppose." He fixed his attention back on me and took another step forward. "I'll give you one last chance, Sloane." He lifted his brows. "Surrender now. No one else has to die today. Our packs can merge and you submit fully to me as your alpha."

"Never!" I cracked my knuckles. "I'll never submit to you. Ever."

He laughed again, and boy would I'd give anything to wipe that smirk right off his face.

Sawyer's essence surrounded me as he spoke. Soon. Bide your time. I'm coming.

I faltered. Sawyer? Where are you? You're supposed to be leaving.

Don't be mad at Willa. She tried to get me to leave. I took the adrenaline and am almost to you and Lincoln. Hang tight.

Oh Luna, no. He was too sick to fight. He could be killed. I sucked in a shuddering breath.

Alpha Dane took another step forward, drawing my attention back to him, his sneer intensifying. "I know that look. It's the look my boys get when they are communicating with each other."

He lurched forward, grabbing my wrist and wrenching it to the side.

I screamed, jabbing at him with my free hand and catching him right in the face.

He blinked surprised. Hatred quickly replaced the surprise. Red tinged his cheeks. He bared his teeth.

His hand whipped up so fast, striking me across the face I didn't even have time to react until heat was blossoming over my face.

Alpha Dane's other hand went to my throat. He curled his fingers around it and shoved me backward, ramming me into the side of the compound. "You stupid little bitch."

I squeaked as I scrambled for my footing. I chopped at his arms with my hands. He was unphased. His grip grew tighter.

Think! You've been training. Lincoln taught you this.

Alpha Dane shoved his face in mine. "Remember when I kill the pack in front of you, I gave you the chance for peace. There blood will be on your hands."

His fingers dug in to my flesh harder. I gasped unable to fill my lungs. My chest screamed in protest.

Fight back, Sloane!

He lifted me up, my toes dragging across the ground. My vision darkened.

I scratched at his arms. They didn't budge.

It doesn't end like this. It can't. Fight!

The face. I'd never break his grip, but his face was so close.

I hissed, wiggling one hand free from between his arms. I shifted it and pawed him across the face with my nails outstretched.

He howled in pain, dropping me to the ground. I curled my fingers and hit him with the heel of my palm in the nose.

He stumbled back. I wound up to kick, sending my foot flying with everything I had. His reflexes were lightening fast. He caught my ankle and tugged.

I flailed but couldn't catch myself. My back hit the siding of the compound. I scrambled for purchase but lost and went tumbling to the ground.

Alpha Dane loomed over me. "You have fire. It's a shame. We could have built something great."

He kicked me in the gut, sending the air whooshing out of my lungs. Darkness clouded my vision.

He stooped down next to me, his hand on my throat again, squeezing. His other hand lifted, ready to deliver a deafening blow.