Wolves Gone Wild(48)

He didn’t need to check his friends to know that they’d shifted back and were going through the same torment he was.

“Christy, let me explain.” He reached down, offering his hand.

She jerked away from him, then away from his friends before scrambling back to the corner of the pickup. Keeping her dress in front of her, her mouth slack in shock, she stumbled over the side of the pickup then ran for the house.

“Christy!”

He shook his head and put his arm out to stop Lance from following her. “Let her go. She’s going to need time.”

“We blew it big-time.”

He couldn’t say anything to Duncan’s whisper. They all knew the truth of what they’d done. They’d lost control from the force of the amber moon. If Jackson and his brothers hadn’t shown up, they would’ve shifted all the way, taking Christy in a brutal, animalistic way, perhaps even fucking her so brutally that they could’ve torn her apart from the inside out.

Grant slumped to his knees. “We’ve lost her.”



* * * *



Christy’s breath hitched in her throat as she burst through the front door and into the house. She paused, glancing around her. She wasn’t sure which way to turn since she hadn’t come into the house the first time she’d visited. The only thing she was sure of was that she couldn’t go back outside.

Spinning to the left, she opened that door and ran inside the dark room. She slammed the door shut behind her, threw the lock into place, then fell to the floor, her dress still clutched against her chest.

She had to have imagined it. No one had fangs and claws. She’d gone insane and was only now beginning to realize it.

She brought the dress to her mouth and muffled a cry. No, she had to be quiet. She didn’t want them finding her.

She went still, trying hard not to breathe too loudly. What about Jackson and his brothers? They had guns, but would that be enough to protect them?

But protect them from what? From the men she loved? Or were the men she loved beasts in disguise?

Werewolves and the amber moon. It’s all true.

She forced herself back on her feet and pulled her dress over her head. Timidly, she walked around the den, filled with a large desk and several large bookcases. Family portraits as well as other items cluttered the room. She had to find a phone. She had to have some way to call for help. Both for her and for the Carr brothers.

A small cry escaped her and she clamped her hand over her mouth. If she didn’t get a grip on her fear, she wouldn’t think straight. She made herself breathe in and out, in and out, telling her body to relax, urging her mind to stay calm.

There. Better.

No phone.

She began tugging the drawers of the desk open. If nothing else, she might use the letter opener she found as a weapon. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

As soon as she thought the way was clear, she’d crawl out a window and run for her life.

The window.

She hurried over, pulled back the drapes, and pushed at the windowsill. It was locked, at first killing her hopes of escape, then bringing her relief when she saw the men walking toward the back of the home. She ducked behind the drapes and peeked out.

Why aren’t they fighting? Or keeping their guns pointed at them?

Yet Jacob and Jayden walked side by side with Lance, Grant, and Duncan, all dressed again. Their heads were bowed and their voices low, but it was obvious that they weren’t in conflict. She watched them until they turned the corner of the home and went out of sight.

Run.

She’d made it to the door when she realized that she hadn’t seen Jackson. Her hand froze on the doorknob. If anything had gone wrong, if Jackson was injured or worse, she’d blame herself for putting him in harm’s way.

“Christy, are you in there?”

She threw open the door, overjoyed to see Jackson alive and well. “Oh, thank God. You’re okay.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He walked past her into the den and motioned for her to shut the door and stay with him.

“No, Jackson. We have to get away. Come on. Let’s get out of here while we can. We can try to help your brothers, but…” But what else could they do but leave them behind and get help?

Jackson tipped his hat back, taking the shadow off his eyes. She gasped, stepping back when she saw the amber flecks glistening in them.

“Christy, it’s all right. I won’t hurt you.”

“You’re one of them, aren’t you?” It made sense now. He’d known what they were all along. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

“I tried to get you to go back to the apartment.”

“You should’ve told me that they…” She put a hand to her aching head. “You should’ve told me what they were.” And yet, she still couldn’t get the right words out. “What are they?”