Chapter 77

Ethan

Rubbing my fingers through my hair, I contemplate speaking with my mother. She’s better at this mate thing than I am. She’s managed to put up with my father for thirty years, so she could have an idea on how to get Fiona back on my side.

However, she’s always been a Lycan, so she may not have too much insight on a human and Lycan couple.

“Maybe you could speak to Mr. Denton. His wife is human,” my wolf says contemplatively. “I’ve always liked her.”

I chuckle at his soft tone. It’s true, though. Anytime we were around Mrs. Denton, my wolf would calm down and grow soft, like a puppy who turns over when they want their belly scratched. I guess he has a soft spot for human women, or at least for her, and now, for Fiona.

“Maybe I’ll link him in the morning,” I tell him, washing the rest of the soap out of my hair.

“He can help, and we can talk to Mrs. Denton,” my wolf purrs. I shake my head at him, cut the water, grab a towel, and step out of the shower.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to them.”

If a wolf could smile, he’d be smiling. Grinning, really. I’ve always thought Mrs. Denton was nice, but for some reason, my wolf loves being around her. It’s almost as if she’s more like his mother than my mother is.

While our wolves are part of us, they are also separate. They don’t have parents, and usually, they take the human family as theirs, but he’s never really taken to her as he has to Mrs. Denton.

I don’t think my mother likes that because it draws me to Mrs. Denton, but it’s not like she’s my family. However, my mother has been a bit distant since she found out, and then my brother came along, and she’s become more distant ever since.

“Why do you like Mrs. Denton so much anyway?” I ask. I’d never asked before, but I’m curious now.

“She smells good.”

“That’s it?” I ask, and he nods.

As I finish drying off, my wolf perks up, but then he becomes extra alert, his hair standing on end and his eyes glowing.

“What is it?” I ask, then I feel it. A powerful shot of terror floods my body, making me stumble.

“Fiona,” he barks. “She’s in danger.”

“What? How do you know?” I growl, rushing into my room and grabbing a pair of jeans. I jump into them, pull a shirt over my head, and shove my feet into some sneakers.

“I just do,” he growls. “We need to save our mate!” My wolf vibrates with worry, pacing in the back of my mind as the fear coursing through our bodies grows. Whatever danger she’s in, we have to get rid of it.

My mind goes back to the times she’s been attacked as I run through my house, skirting around corners and throwing the front door open. Then, the moment my feet hit the ground outside, my wolf pushes forward and takes over, shifting.

He pushes us faster, bolting to the left into one of the only patches of trees in this entire city. We weave through the park, dodging trees, passing cars, and running in the direction of Fiona’s house.

I send up silent prayers to the Goddess for Fiona’s safety. If someone is hurting her, no matter who it is, they’ll wish they’d never laid eyes on Fiona. If it’s something else, I’ll take care of it. I don’t care if she’s upset with me or done with me, saving her is nonnegotiable. Whatever issues we have can wait for later.

She comes first. Always.

I run across the road, barely dodging a car that swerves in order to keep from hitting me. My head swims, and my body protests as I run, begging me to slow down. The dizziness that had finally dissipated from the wolfsbane returns. It comes back full force.

The nausea rolls my stomach, but I shake off the feeling because nothing will stop me from getting to Fiona.

Please be okay, Fiona.

“She’ll be okay. We’re almost there,” my wolf announces.

We turn onto Fiona’s street, and my heart drops into my stomach. An orange inferno burns in the last house on the road. Fiona’s house.

No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

“If she’s in there…” my wolf trails off, stumbling at the sight before us.

I refuse to let him finish that sentence, so I shove my consciousness forward and take over, pushing myself to run faster than I’ve ever run. Somehow, there’s no one outside her house. It’s not that late, so someone should’ve noticed.

“Why has no one called the fire department?” I growl, a fear and fury like I’ve never felt before urges me forward. It takes all of one minute to dart down the street and run up to her door, lunging at it.

In midair, I shift, and my shoulder slams into the front door. I bounce back and then ram it again. This time it splinters and caves inward, sending me flying into the flames. I tumble to the floor, rolling away from the wall of flames that surrounds the broken door.

Immediately, my throat and lungs clog with smoke, and I start coughing. Deep, guttural coughs wrack my body as I search the room in front of me. Flicking my wolf eyes on, I study the room. It’s hard to see through the flames and smoke, but I see the opening to the living room.

“Get her out!” My wolf orders, pushing my legs to move. I crouch and make my way forward, the heat pressing on me like walls closing in.

Debris falls from the ceiling, but I shoulder my way through it, brushing off the flames and ignoring the pain that burns my skin.

“Keep going. Hurry.”

I don’t need him to tell me, but the affects of the wolfsbane grow with each step. My legs grow weak, my chest tightens, my vision shifts, but I push forward until I find her.

“Fiona!” I yell over the roar of the flames. “Fiona!”

My chest tightens for a different reason, seeing her lying face down on the ground. Jumping through the flames, I run forward and drop to my knees beside her body. She’s passed out, pale, sweaty, and laying in the middle of the hallway wearing nothing but a revealing night dress and a robe. She has a towel pressed to her face, so I push it away and lift her into my arms.

“You better be okay,” I growl, tucking her close to my chest and turning to the hallway entrance. The flames fill the entrance, but I can’t let her stay here. I don’t know if she’s breathing, and even if she is, she can’t stay here longer.

So, I run forward, keeping Fiona close, and jump through the fire. I do my best to keep the flames from touching her, dodging when they rise and turning when I can’t get through.

“Is she okay?” My wolf demands.

“Don’t know,” I mutter back, pushing through the pieces of the front door. Stumbling down the front steps, I fall to the ground, rolling so Fiona doesn’t hit first. When I finally stop, I lay Fiona on the grass, checking her pulse. It’s weak but still there, so I check her breathing, knowing she probably inhaled too much smoke.

“She needs a doctor,” my wolf says as my body begins to grow heavier. I try to pick Fiona up again, cursing myself for not bringing my car.

“Ryan, get to Fiona’s house. NOW!” I order through the mind link.

The wave of dizziness that hits me, sends me to my knees then to the ground with a thud.

“Fiona,” I groan, pushing myself closer to her. Using my forearms, I lift my body and hover over her. “Wake up, love. I—” coughs shake my body, making me wheeze from the smoke inhalation. “I need you to wake up.”

“Is she…”

“No,” I growl, noting the slight rise and fall of her chest. My fingers slide to her neck, checking to find that faint beat of her pulse.

“Ryan!” I growl through our link.

“Alpha? I’m on my way, so is Doc,” he replies, his voice strained with worry. “What’s wrong?”

“F-Fiona.” I cough, beating on my chest. I don’t take my eyes off Fiona, afraid that if I do, she’ll disappear. “House burned down,” I growl.

The inferno still burns behind us, now large enough that neighbors have started coming out.

“…at?! Who set th…”

I blink against the heat as a woman rushes over, her phone to her ear. She’s yelling something, but I turn my attention back to Fiona.

“Alph… can you hea… pha…”

Ryan’s voice goes in and out, our link wavering.

“Fiona,” I whisper, my vision darkening.

“Sir! Are you okay?” The neighbor woman shouts, crouching over us. “Is she okay? I’ve called the fire department!”

An explosion shakes the ground and debris flies. Ignoring my shaking arms, I curl myself around Fiona’s body, grunting when something hot and heavy slams into my back. Pain sears across my back, and I hunch over, making sure to protect Fiona from any other danger as the darkness finally creeps fully over my vision.