An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(29)

His heart broke, but he couldn’t think about that. Not yet. Not when his wolf and one of Brynn’s wolves lay dying on a street corner because people didn’t understand the love of two men, two wolves, two people so unlike the true monsters who’d done this.

He nodded quickly, pulling out his phone to call his Alpha even as he placed his hand over Brynn’s. She shook under his touch before removing her blood-slicked hand from his and moving it to her fallen Pack member. He put the phone on his shoulder as it connected to his father, keeping both hands on Seth’s wounds.

He wasn’t a Healer, but damn it, this didn’t look good. Wolves could heal quickly and get up after a lot of injuries, but so many bullets in a short time was stretching it, even for a wolf as strong as Finn.

Seth and Franklin weren’t as strong as him.

“Finn.” His Alpha’s voice soothed Finn’s wolf slightly. “I felt the pain along the bonds. I’m sending out Hannah, Mark, and Josh. Don’t let the humans take them to their hospital. Our people are two minutes out from you. Keep them alive, Finn. Use the bonds.”

“And the Talons?” he gritted out, pushing his power toward Seth. The heat from his wolf shoved down the bond and into Seth’s heart. The fallen Redwood sucked in a breath and Finn wanted to shout. Thank the goddess. “Brynn doesn’t have the same bonds.”

Kade cursed. “Jasper is calling Walker to our den now. It’s faster to get everyone here and out of the way of human eyes. Do your best to keep that wolf alive. You hear me? You might not be his Heir, but you’re f*cking strong. Keep our people alive, Finn.”

Finn let the phone fall to the pavement when Kade ended the call. “Brynn?”

“I heard,” she gritted out. “I’ll do what I can. But Finn?”

“I know.” He growled low and the humans that had come closer backed away slowly. So much for looking innocent and calm. But there was only so much he could take before the dam broke and the need to protect what was his overtook everything else.

Another vehicle stopped in front of them, the tires screeching again. Finn looked up, growling, ready to kill anyone who dared come at him. He scented Hannah and Josh as they jumped out of the van and he relaxed somewhat. Mark followed them, his younger brother and new Healer holding his chin high.

“Get them in the van,” Josh barked out. He wasn’t a wolf, but mated into the Pack, yet Finn listened to the order and didn’t hesitate.

Finn picked up Seth, cradling him close. Thankfully, the man was out cold because moving him like this was going to hurt like hell. But they didn’t have a choice when it came to the health and safety of what was theirs. It would look odd to humans, but they’d deal with that later. Hannah had her arms out, Healing as she walked beside Finn. She murmured under her breath, her hands shaking as she did.

Mark went to Brynn’s side as she lifted Franklin. It looked awkward, but she had a wolf’s strength. Finn lifted Seth into the back of the van and stepped in behind him and Hannah.

Mark got in with Franklin, his eyes narrowed. “I can’t Heal him directly but I can do some. Plus, North and Noah trained me.” That meant Mark not only could use his connection to the moon goddess to help, but he was also a medic. Brynn seemed to understand that Franklin would be in the best hands possible and stepped back.

“I’ll ride up front with Josh and call my contacts.” She met Finn’s gaze. “This isn’t over.”

He shook his head, and she slammed the van doors.

It wasn’t over by a long shot. But with the blood of his Pack on his hands, he didn’t know what they’d do next.

Blood has been spilled.

He prayed a true war hadn’t begun.

****

Brynn washed the blood off her hands, knowing she’d forever remember the scent of Franklin’s blood on her skin. The fact that it had been mixed with Seth’s only made the pain worse.

Franklin had died because she wasn’t strong enough.

She wasn’t bonded to the Pack like those who were true powers were. If she’d been almost anyone else in her family, Franklin would have stood a chance. But she wasn’t. Franklin had died with her hands on his heart, doing her best to use her wolf to save him.

But it hadn’t worked.

She’d been too far from her den, too far from her Healer to save him.

Mark and Hannah had done their best to save Franklin, but her wolf had died before they’d even made it to the Redwood den where Walker had rushed to meet them.

Her wolf had died, and there was nothing she could have done.

Nothing.

Seth would live only because Finn had used most of his energy to push life into Seth’s body. Without Finn, Seth would have died, as well.

There were only so many bullets a body could take before it gave out.

No one blamed her for what had happened, but she couldn’t help but blame herself. Seth would wake knowing the man he’d been on his way to mating would never wake with him. Seth would never have a future with the man he’d fallen in love with. The two had apparently been waiting to seal the bond until after they’d talked to the two Alphas. They had wanted permission, though they never would have needed it. They would have been one of the many new inter-Pack matings that would have strengthened the bonds between the Packs. Perhaps if they had been bonded, they would have been able to use each other to live. Perhaps if they had been bonded, Finn could have saved them both.