Chapter 98

Harper’s POV

I can’t let myself hesitate.

I don’t let myself hesitate even as the fear claws at my mind. I have to do this so we can get to the wolf souls, and that’s probably why I’m so nervous. If I mess this up, I might mess up the mission.

Taking a deep breath, I force my feet to move forward. I wanted to be here. I wanted to help.

This is my chance.

The guards are much larger up close, and the weapons at their hips are more than enough to easily kill me. I try not to think of that, though, as I look at their tactical gear, large forms, and hard glares.

One of them lays a hand on his weapon as I approach, and I force a smile. I know Lucas is behind me, ready to protect me if I need him. It’s the only thing, other than the thought of freeing the wolf souls, that keeps me going.

I let my expression fall blank as I move toward the guards. Four of them total. I hope Lucas is ready.

“E-Excuse me,” I call out, my voice trembling a bit to look and sound innocent. “I think I’m lost.”

All four men snap to attention. The two on the right reach for their weapons while the two on the left leer at me. One man lets his eyes roam down my body, taking in the short dress and my exposed legs.

One of the men on the right steps forward, glaring at me, “You’re not supposed to be here. The market is the other direction.” He points behind me, but I don’t look back. I twist my hands together, tilt my head to the side, and try to look as innocent as possible as I shift from one foot to the other.

“I know. I was just trying to find the bathroom, but I think I’ve taken a wrong turn,” I tell them, offering a small smile. “Could you point me to the ba—”

“Not our problem,” one of the other guards barks. He waves at me with a sigh, like I’m not worth his time as he says, “Go back.”

“Unless you’d like to stay back here and have some fun with me,” the guard who checked me out says, stepping closer. I let a fake laugh tumble from my lips as I pretend his disgusting comment was funny.

“I just need to go to the restroom. I—”

The tallest man snaps, “Turn around and leave. Now.”

The order sends a shiver down my spine, and ice settles over my bones as he shoves his coworker aside. His hand his still on his weapon, and I can’t stop myself from moving back a step.

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to be rude. I didn’t mean—”

He cuts me off again, this time by shoving me hard. I let the momentum send me spiraling, and I fall to the side, letting out a yelp. My shoulder slams into the wall, and my knees hit the floor. I curl in on myself and lean back against the wall.

“OW!” I cry loudly. “You didn’t have to push me!”

The pain is very real, but I keep up my charade, “What kind of man are you?”

The man who pushed me shakes his head with a bitter laugh, “Gods above. This is why I hate women. They have nothing in their brains and overstep their bounds.”

He just stares at me as I climb back to my feet, rubbing my sore arm for real and for show. I shake a chastising finger at the man. He glares harder, and I have to force my next words out.

“You could’ve broken my arm! That’s no way to treat someone who is lost,” I say, trying to make sure all four of them are focused on me and not anything else. I can’t let them hurt Lucas, so I continue. “Just wait, mister. I’ll report you to your boss. Do you think she’ll like hearing that you let a random woman into these strange halls?”

That gets their attention.

All four of them stare at me with surprise. I’m sure they didn’t think I would know their boss is a woman. Anger flashes in the tallest man’s eyes and the others look a bit nervous as I keep going, “What if it swells? What if I can’t go to work or have to go to the hospital because of you?!”

“Don’t be dramatic,” the man who pushed me growls. He shoves me back again, and again, I hit the wall. My heart jumps in my chest, but before he can do anything else, he’s on the floor.

Lucas’s golden eyes flash as he spins. He’s on them in seconds, his movements a blur with his wolf speed. Even in human form, he’s incredibly fast. I have a hard time following, but I see him pop up behind the man who made the nasty comment about having fun with him.

In the next moment, Lucas’s arm is wrapped around the man’s neck. He yanks the man backwards before slamming his fist into his temple. The guard collapses and hits the floor with a crack. I gasp, shuffling back to get out of the middle of the fight.

The other two men whirl around, startled at the sudden sight of Lucas. One guard fumbles for his weapon, but Lucas moves faster. He grabs the man’s head and slams it down into his knee. A crack sounds, and the man doubles over, stumbles back, and groans. Lucas spins and kicks him in the face, sending him to the floor.

The last man funs for me, and he’s almost on top of me before Lucas grabs him. The guard yelps like a frightened dog before he, too, gets a fist across the face. Blood spurts from his nose, and his eyes roll back in his head as his unconscious body slumps to the ground.

Before I can blink, Lucas is in front of me, cupping my face in his hands and looking me over.

“Are you okay? Did he touch you?”

I shake my head, which results in a growl from Lucas.

“No. No, I’m not hurt. He didn’t touch me. You protected me.”

Lucas’s chest rises and falls rapidly as he again moves his eyes over me.

“What about your shoulder?” He asks, touching the one that hit the wall. I wiggle it, wincing at the slight pain.

“It hurts a little, but nothing too bad,” I say, glancing at the downed guards. “Really, I’m alright.”

He nods then follows my gaze to the men around us. “Good, then we need to move the bodies.”

Nodding, I follow his lead and grab one of the men. My muscles burn, and my shoulder aches a bit as I drag my one man across the floor. When I look over, I gape at Lucas who is dragging the other three.

“Must be nice to have werewolf strength,” I mutter.

He chuckles, “You’ll have your wolf back soon. Don’t get used to feeling weak.”

I drop the guard right beside Lucas and wait for him to shove the man into the cramped closet. Hopefully these men will be knocked out long enough for us to get where we need to.

“Let’s go.”

As the maps described, the halls further in are narrower. They’re quieter too, which makes our steps sound so much louder as we rush down the hall. I squeeze Lucas’s hand tightly, letting him lead until we reach the next hallway.

We stop just at the corner, and I peek around it. Twice as many guards stand before us, guarding the entrance to the door that leads to the hallway where the wolf souls are being kept. I duck back behind the corner and turn to Lucas.

“Eight,” I mouth. He shifts closer, his hand rises and cups the back of my neck. His touch is warm and steady, a silent encouragement that I can do this. I nod. I just have to distract them long enough for Lucas to take them out.

Just like last time.

No big deal.

“I’m ready,” I whisper.