Sharon’s Wolves(97)

She craned her neck backward, and her eyes threatened to jump out of their sockets at the sight. Careening down the mountain was red hot lava.

Jesus. Could they even drive fast enough to escape it?

“You cut it too close rescuing me… Why didn’t you leave me?”

Cooper hugged her to his side with the arm around her shoulders. “Wasn’t an option. Not for any of us.”

She swallowed. If they weren’t still in dire straits, she would cry. But she needed to remain alert for the time being. There was still the chance the truck would stall out and they would have to run on foot.

She set a hand on Jackson’s thigh and squeezed. He was human. He wouldn’t make it out if they had to shift.

The engine choked.

She held her breath.

“Don’t die on me now,” Jackson muttered to the truck. “Don’t you dare.”

The truck kept moving, picking up speed as Jackson slammed on the gas to get them to safety. How far would they have to drive to escape the lava?

She twisted to look out the rear window again. It seemed they were farther away from the red oozing flow. Maybe?

Jackson took every turn right behind the truck in front of him. The truck that held her parents, Melinda, and another brother, Zach, in the cab. The one in front of it held her youngest brother, Logan, and two men who were…bears. Isaiah and Wyatt. She knew instinctively the two strangers had played a tremendous role in saving her life.

Cooper blew out a breath. “I think we’re going to make it.”

She craned her neck again, remembering the spirit that had waited with her. Was it still there?

She would probably never know.

The front truck took a sharp turn, followed by the second truck, and finally Jackson made the quick right also, onto regular pavement.

She blew out a long breath. They would live. They had to. There was no other option.





Chapter Thirty-Five


Cooper turned toward Jackson as soon as he was sure they were a safe enough distance from the lava to breathe easier. “Can I use your phone?”

Jackson grabbed it from the cup holder and reached across Sharon to hand it to him. He set his hand on her thigh and squeezed after he released the phone.

Cooper hadn’t stopped touching her from the moment they entered the truck either, as if she might disappear if they didn’t remain connected.

He punched in the numbers for Chuck from memory and waited for his coworker to pick up. “Come on. Come on.”

“This is Chuck.”

Cooper blew out a sigh of relief. “It’s Cooper. Where are you?”

“Flying down the mountain in a rickety truck. You?”

“Same. Did everyone make it out safely? You were so close to the eruption.”

“Not everyone. No.”

“Shit.”

“Our guys did. A few stubborn people at the fracking site refused to leave until it was too late for them. I fear the worst.”

“Stupid greedy assholes.” Cooper slammed a hand on the dashboard in frustration.

Sharon flinched, and he took a deep breath to calm himself, grabbing her hand to absorb her strength.

Chuck continued. “The eruption is small. It shouldn’t reach Cambridge. We aren’t out of the woods, but the lava is slowing considerably, and the seismometers are showing a decrease in tremors. It’s a good sign. Did everyone make it out safely where you were?”

“Yes.” Cooper didn’t elaborate. “I’ll meet you at the college in a while.”

“Okay. I’m with Jason. The other two are ahead of us.”

“Good.”

“Cooper, I’ve seen things I can’t unsee.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t sign up for this. I’ve studied earthquakes all my life, followed their patterns since I was a small child. Always fascinated. Volcanoes aren’t my thing.”

“I know,” Cooper repeated. Even though volcanoes could be an effect of earthquakes, no one living in the continental U.S. would expect to experience anything like today in their lifetime. It wasn’t in the cards.

∙•∙

As they drove several miles before reaching the city limits of Cambridge, Sharon scanned left and right. Hundreds of people lined the streets. It was difficult to get through. The two trucks ahead of them paved the way. When they finally came to a stop, they were at the sheriff’s office.

Trace jumped out of the back of the truck and beelined for the entrance. He only made a cursory glance over his shoulder to indicate they should follow him by pointing to them and then the front door.

Griffen followed his brother.

Sharon let her shoulders fall and glanced back and forth between her men. “We’re mates,” she declared.

“What did that man drug you with?” Jackson hauled her against his chest and kissed the top of her head.