When he neared the entrance to her work place, Chase could see Sophia and a woman who was standing a few feet behind her. The woman held a gun to Sophia’s lower back.
Sophia unlocked her cold storage and disabled the security on the file system, then moved a few steps away.
“Pull them out of the storage and place them on this table for me,” the woman ordered.
Sophia walked into the storage room and moments later walked out with vials and files. She walked back to the table the old woman indicated and put the research down.
“Now, I’m sorry I have to do this Sophia, I really like you. You’re so intelligent. No one ever came even half as close as you to the results you’ve achieved in the past six months, which makes this really difficult. You should have just handed them over the first time I sent someone for them. It would have saved us all so much wasted time, and could’ve kept you from this type of end.” She lifted the gun toward Sophia’s chest.
Anger surged inside Chase, and he removed his clothes in a rush. He let the wolf loose and shifted out of his skin, muscles and bones popping too slowly for his liking. The only thought consuming him was to destroy the woman who was holding a gun on Sophia. He growled and launched his body like a missile at the woman. Having heard his growl the woman tightened her grip on the weapon. His jaws bit into her neck. Her hand squeezed on the trigger repeatedly. Sophia scurried and crouched behind a table.
Loud screaming filled the air as Chase’s wolf mauled at the woman’s throat. Blood spurted. Her shrieks were soon cut off, and her delicate flesh lay torn open, bleeding on the floor.
Slipping back into his skin, Chase rushed to put on his pants and then ran over to the side of the table that Sophia had ducked behind. He found her curled into a small ball on the floor, passed out. Her hands were protectively covering her womb.
He turned her over and noticed blood covering her chest. His heart stopped. His hands shook when his eyes found the small bullet hole on her right shoulder.
Lifting her unconscious body carefully off the floor, he ran for his vehicle. He placed her in the backseat and called the shifter doctor to ensure she was ready when he arrived. Right after he spoke to the doctor, he got in the car and made a call to River while he headed to the hospital. He asked his brother to remove the data and samples from the lab before anyone else could get their hands on it.
His nerves stretched taut. She lay pale and limp on the seat behind him, bright red blood trickling from her gunshot wound. Driving like the devil was on his tail, he brought her to the small private clinic reserved for his pack members.
He carried her inside in a frantic rush. The pack doctor met him at the entrance in her operating gear. He followed her to the surgical room and lay Sophia on a bed. After that, he was dragged outside to allow them to work.
His wolf was quiet and sad, seemingly mourning his mate and his children, something Chase refused to do. Sophia was going to be fine, she had to be, or his life would end right along with hers.
* * *
Sophia opened her eyes and winced at the burning in her shoulder. She squinted until she could see clearly. She turned to scan the room and came face to face with a sleeping Chase.
He was sitting on a chair, his hand holding hers, keeping them connected even while he slept. She smiled at the sight of her mate. God, she loved that man. Moving her fingers in his hold, she squeezed his hand, and he jerked awake. He looked like shit.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was hoarse. His other hand lifted to brush a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Thirsty. Little ones?” She tried to talk past the sand in her throat.
Her hand traveled to her tummy, feeling the bump that hadn’t been there before. Her smile widened, knowing she was still nurturing their two precious bundles.
“They’re good, healthy.” He sat beside her on the bed and helped her take a sip of water. Then he fixed the pillows behind her back, allowing her to sit up.
“Sophia…I—”
She watched him swallow.
“I almost lost you. I-I can’t lose you.” His voice broke. “I love you.”
She smiled and pulled him down for a soft kiss. “I love you too. So much sometimes I think I’m going even crazier than I normally am, but I wouldn’t trade my feelings for anything in the world.” She looked into his eyes solemnly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She grinned, and he hugged her tightly, carefully ensuring her injury wasn’t bothered.
She smiled to herself. Who would’ve thought she’d end up with her very own FBA, man-candy Chase? Apparently fantasies did come true, even for geeky scientists.