Chapter 85

Lucas’s POV

The engine roars as I push the car to drive faster, the steering wheel biting into my palms. My wolf paces beneath my skin, worried and aching to break free. He wants to go faster… we need to go faster if we’re going to save Harper.

Skidding into a parking spot, I throw the car in park and jump out. Several scents assault me all at once, but one stands out no matter how faint it is.

Soft and sweet but threaded with fear, exhaustion, and anger.

Harper.

The man at the door lets me through, and all I can think about is finding my woman. Nothing else matters tonight. Not the wolf souls hidden in the Domain’s back rooms. Not the plan I’ve been working on to break this place down. Not even the suspicious looks I get as I move through the room.

Everything else can wait until after I’ve found Harper.

When I hit the main floor, two guards move toward me, but I have no patience for anyone else tonight. My wolf voice bleeds into my own voice as I growl at the two men, my tone low and dangerous enough to make them think twice about approaching me.

I scan the mass of people, ignoring the rows of booths selling trinkets, vials of potions, faeries, and many other wares. One of the faeries reaches out to me, her eyes sad and pained. I can’t worry about it tonight. I have a different woman to save.

Another time, I tell myself as I push past a man blocking my path. He stumbles to the side and whirls around to say something, but he stops when I cut my eyes at him.

Focusing, I let my wolf senses reach through the room, filtering through every scent and sound until a single voice catches my attention.

“She’s a beautiful female with witch blood in her. Do I hear five hundred? Five hundred! Do I hear six?”

The man’s words make my gut tighten. I shove through the crowd, ignoring the angry shouts and the protests. I follow the voice calling out numbers.

“Nine hundred! Do I hear one thousand?”

Then, I see her.

She’s standing on a stage beside a man who pokes and prods at her, turning her this way and that before shouting again.

“Fifteen hundred! Do I hear sixteen hundred?”

Harper stands there, the harsh lights and the man’s touch making her shy away. Her wrists are bound in front of her, her cheek is bruised purple, there are scrapes up both of her arms and on her knees, and a thin line of red cuts into her neck.

It looks like she’s been thrown around.

I move forward, not taking my eyes from her. She’s stiff, her chin slightly raised, but I can see how she’s trembling.

My wolf snaps, breaking through the barrier that usually holds him back. The distance between me and the stage disappears. Within seconds, I’m in front of the man trying to sell my mate, slamming my fist into his face.

He goes flying into the railing before he crumples to the ground.

Gasps fill the room.

Guards charge.

The first one rushes directly at me, but I duck under his fist and sweep his legs out from under him. I plant my hand in his face and use gravity to slam him into he ground.

The second guard swings a knife at me, but I easily spin, grab his arm, and twist it behind his back. The knife clatters to the floor, and I toss him into the wall.

The third guard is smarter and faster. He moves with the speed of a wolf, but he doesn’t come at me. He aims for Harper instead of me.

Big mistake.

I’m on him before he can get within two feet of her, my shoulder slamming into him. We hit the floor, and I roll, ramming my elbow into his face. A crack sounds, and he slumps beneath me.

“Lucas—” Harper stutters, disbelief filling her expression.

“Let’s move.” My claws easily slice through the ropes around her wrists. I don’t miss the raw, red skin there, so I grab her by the elbow and pull her toward the edge of the stage. People have gathered to watch the commotion or have begun running.

Grabbing Harper, I jump down and she teeters.

“Run for the exit. I’ll be right behind you,” I order, pushing her ahead of me. I need my hands free in case I need to fight, but I can’t let her fall behind me. She’s slower and weaker, and I can’t have her leave my sight.

Adrenaline rocks through my body as we begin running. I keep my eyes out for dangers as the crowd around us turns chaotic. I also make sure to watch Harper carefully, noting her unsteady steps and the way she sways as if her balance is off.

It seems that the bruising on her face isn’t the extent of damage.

Not only were they going to sell her, but they beat her too.

Gritting my teeth, I push forward, staying right behind her as my protective instincts spike. She’s too weak to run far, and I need to take care of her wounds before they get worse or get infected which means we can’t drive back to the pack tonight.

The sooner I get her out of here, the better.

Grabbing Harper’s arm, I pull her toward a side door that smells like fresh air. “We’re almost out,” I growl, dodging more guards and easily knocking them away.

Harper gasps, and I curl myself around her body to protect her from a flare of magic. Pain laces through my back, but I keep going. I push her toward the door, and the moment we’re outside, I guide her toward the parking lot.

“Don’t look back!”

I half-guide, half-carry Harper into the motel room, kicking the door closed behind me. I help her to the bed, and the moment I release her, she scoots away.

I try not to let her actions bother me as I search for a first aid kit, but something in my chest tightens at the thought of her still being angry.

There’s only one bed in the room, and I sigh as I return with the kit. Her cheek is swollen and looks worse up close. The cut on her neck isn’t bleeding anymore, and thankfully, it isn’t deep. Her wrists are a mess of rope burns, looking painfully raw.

Biting back my anger, I kneel in front of her. “Let me help you.”

“I’m fine,” she mutters, looking away.

“You’re not.”

Her jaw ticks and she tries to keep her distance, but I reach forward and tilt her face into the light. She flinches and sucks in a sharp breath as I apply the medicine. I work on her neck and face first, then move to her other injuries, growing more angry with each one.

“You shouldn’t have gone alone.”

She glares at me. “It’s not like you would have helped me if I asked. I can’t be trusted, remember? You—” she hisses, jerking her wrists away from my hold. Her anger isn’t unmerited, and in her eyes, I can see the wall slam down between us.

Instead of angering her more, I work in silence to treat her wounds. I do my best not to cause her any further pain, but I know physical pain isn’t the only pain she’s feeling. Her earlier words clearly tell me that.

“You could have left me there,” she says quietly, staring at her lap. “It would’ve saved you the trouble.”

“I didn’t come because you were trouble,” I tell her, “I came because I needed you safe.”

She stays quiet for a moment before responding, “You can’t just show up and expect me to forget everything that happened.”

I sigh and stand.

“I’m not asking you to forget anything,” I say, looking around the room. It’s not great, but it’ll have to do. “We’ll stay here tonight, and I’ll take you back to the pack in the morning.”

Harper nods once and scoots further away before she lays down and curls up under the covers.

My wolf settles a bit, but we both know there will be no sleep for us tonight. Not until she’s safe back in our home.