Chapter 30

Nicholas:

We watched impatiently as our father broke one vampire after another, getting bits and pieces of information from each of them.

We knew they’d taken her to a farmhouse on the edge of the city, we just weren’t sure how many were holding her and which direction they’d gone.

We also didn’t know who had called the rear guard away from their posts. They’d been called away with the correct code words, which could have only come from someone close to us. But right now, rescuing Beryl was the main priority.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, our father turned to us. “She’s to the east in an old abandoned farmhouse. There are animals still on the property, so look for livestock. There should be about five of the holding her for now, but they will be moving her soon, so you must hurry.”

“Take ten men, just to be sure, but bring her back unharmed.” He had apparently not heard that she had already be hurt.

“Father, she’s already been harmed. We saw them break her collarbone, and she was unconscious when they took her, so she’s probably concussed as well.” Brian spoke up, knowing that our father hadn’t heard yet.

He was outraged, and we could feel the heat of his wolf rolling off of him. “Go get her.” He growled, his wolf eyes glowing in his face.

We set off at once, headed as a pack to retrieve what belonged to us. We traveled as wolves, using our animal instincts and senses to pick up their tracks closer to the edge of the city.

As focused as I was on our mission, the feeling of dread at what we would find, creeped up inside of me. All I could think of was Beryl and being able to, wanting to, smile when she was around.

As we approached, we could see the lights of the farmhouse ahead of us. I could sense her inside, knowing she was still unconscious. I could tell from the tension coming from my brothers that they could feel her too.

As a pack, we surrounded the farmhouse, and moved in silently. My brothers and I taking the main entrance. Our silent communication keeping us connected, and focused on rescuing Beryl.

As we approached, we could hear talking inside, and could see three exterior guards. Hopefully the intel about their numbers was correct, but it didn’t matter. We wouldn’t be leaving here without Beryl.

Cheney and Brian broke off from me, and took out the two guards closest to the front entrance, quickly and silently biting through their throats before they could yell for help.

I paused at the door, and listened for a moment, trying to hear how many people were inside. I could hear three different voices, all in the room behind the door in front of me.

I could also hear Beryl’s breathing, unsteady and shallow. We had to get her out of here, now. I nodded to my brothers who had come back to my side. We burst through the door and entered as one.

Growls, screams, shouts, and a gunshot rang out through the room. Surprised by the sudden pain in my shoulder, I slowed for just a moment. One of the kidnappers was a human, who had just shot me.

Regardless of my injury, the three of us made quick work of the two vampires and single human before us. They lay at our feet, dead in just moments.

Cheney moved towards the back of the room, “She’s in here.” Brian and I moved with him. “You’ve been hurt.” Brian said looking down at my shoulder.

“It’s nothing.” I told him, waving his concern away. “Let’s get her home, she’s much worse off than I am.”

We opened the door, and saw her, slumped and pale in a chair.

She struggled slightly, as Cheney bent to pick her up, her hand gripping a screwdriver tightly. “Easy Beryl, its us. We’re taking you home.”

Cheney was more gentle than I’d ever seen him, delicately cradling her in his arms. We moved as one out of the house and back to our home. As much as I wanted her safe, a shot of jealousy ran through me. I pushed it to the side, for now.

Beryl:

Within the darkness, I felt hands on me. I struggled as much as I could for a moment, pulling the screwdriver from my pocket, unsure of what I was going to do with it.

They hands stilled a moment, and a soft voice spoke to me. I heard Cheney’s soft, sweet voice in my ear, and instantly calmed. They’d come for me.

After I stilled, I could feel them. All three of them were here with me. Brian close by, but Nicholas was standing a bit apart from us.

Brian’s hand brushed mine as Cheney carried me from the room, and I could feel Nicholas’ eyes on me, assessing the damage.

I heard his breath hiss, and I wondered just how bad I must look. Wishing that I could cover my face, guard my eyes from the light leaking under my lids.

No sooner than I had thought it, something soft and dark was placed across my eyes, shielding me from the offensive lights.

It felt like we arrived home in moments, and I was placed in my bed and hands began to tend to me immediately. I could hear Armand whispering with someone close by.

“She needs to change, so that her wolf can heal her. If the triplets change, will that encourage her to do so as well?”

“Possibly, if they are truly to be mated, then their wolves will call to hers and encourage the change. Nicholas needs to heal his wound as well. I’ll have them come here.” The unknown voice was soft, but not one I was familiar with.

A few moments later, the room emptied, and then I could feel their presence. Their fur on my skin, they noses brushing against me, asking me to change.

They encircled me, and I could feel my wolf begging to be released, but the pain in my head was holding her back.

A soft nuzzle against my cheek, and I was distracted from the pain just long enough. My wolf rose to the surface, and I let her overtake me.

The warmth of mingling fur and the gentleness they used to surround me was exactly what I needed. I rubbed my fur against there’s, nuzzling and comforting them as they had done for me. We rested together, one pile of fur and comfort in the middle of my bed.