Primal Law (Alpha Pack #1)(91)

"Kira, you can't go! Jax wants you to stay here where you'll be safe. You know that!" Her friend moved to block her way.

"I'm not cowering out here while my mate is in there and something terrible is happening, so don't try to stop me," she warned. The growl in her voice let Mac know she meant it. She'd put her on the ground if necessary.

Stepping around her friend, she sprinted down the street. The building seemed too far away. It took only a couple of minutes to reach the side door they'd broken down to gain entry, but it might've been forever. She covered the distance to the lobby quickly, and drew up short at the horrible sight.

Nick and Hammer were bleeding, but were crouched over Zan and Kalen, tending to them. All around them, what must've been the enemy were sprawled on the floor. And they were shrunken and dried like prunes. God.

"Where's Jax?" she choked out. "Tell me!"

"Roof," Hammer said. "But don't-"

She didn't wait to hear him order her not to go. Wouldn't have done any good. Quickly, she found the stairwell, giving a silent thanks to Kalen for the model they'd studied. Once inside, she stripped and concentrated, calling to her wolf.

The change wasn't nearly as painful as the very first time. She'd had plenty of practice during her runs with Jax, and she was getting good at it. On all fours, she took a second to adjust to her wolf senses-and scented her mate. Smelled his fear, his determination.

Following in his wake, she bolted up the stairs.

Jax burst onto the roof and into chaos.

His friends were under attack, Ryon in his silver wolf form, battling two men on his own. Two more were dragging Aric toward the waiting helicopter, hands bound behind his back with silver cuffs. Which explained why the red wolf hadn't been able to change, or even unleash his fire on them. He couldn't use his telekinesis to move objects while bound, either.

A glance in the helicopter confirmed his fears. Dr. Bowman and Chappell were waiting in the craft, and they weren't alone. Beryl, Jax's traitorous former lover, sat in the open doorway, the face he'd once thought so beautiful pulled into an ugly smirk.

He started to bolt for the men dragging Aric away, but pain blasted through his crippled leg. With a yelp, he twisted to see one of the men who'd been struggling with Ryon had turned his attention to taking out Jax, popping off a shot and hitting the injured limb.

Normally his bum leg wasn't as big of an issue in wolf form, but as he leaped for the new threat, it buckled. He managed to take the shooter down, but the agony in his leg was distracting. Thank God they weren't using silver bullets. The bastard got in a couple of blows to his head that left his ears ringing.

Just then, a snarl caught his attention. Raising his head, he saw a smaller wolf barrel through the open doorway onto the roof and straight for him. Fear and pride warred within him. She was magnificent, but he was terrified she'd be hurt.

Kira! Go back!

No!

Jax had the man's shooting arm in his jaws and Kira went for his throat. The gunman's scream was abruptly cut off. She spun and teamed up with Ryon to quickly dispatch his assailant. Seeing that they had things under control, Jax went for the helicopter. But with his injured leg slowing him down, he wasn't going to make it in time before the craft lifted off with Aric inside.

Suddenly, a flash of gray and white streaked past him. Before he realized what she was about to do, his mate leaped into the open craft and went straight for the gunman holding Aric. Shouts ensued as she crushed the goon's throat in a vise. The man fell, letting go of Aric and in an instant, Kira shoved their friend with all her strength.

Aric landed on the roof with an umph, and rolled, wrists still bound. Scraped up but safe.

Jax ran, his limp slowing him down. But the copter was lifting. Kira tried to get to Bowman, who sat on the other side of Beryl. Desperate, Jax shifted to human form and yelled over the noise. "Kira, jump!"

Turning, she saw her opportunity to escape slipping away. Making the decision to let them go, fight another day, she shifted to human form and braced herself in the doorway.

"Jump!" he yelled again. The copter was pulling away, a gap forming between it and the roof.

Kira tensed to make the leap-just as Beryl grabbed her from behind, holding her back. The gap between the building and the copter widened even more. There was no way Kira could make the jump now. Then Beryl raised a booted foot and kicked her hard, between the shoulder blades. Jax could only watch in horror as his mate lost her grip.

"Kira!"

She was flung from the helicopter.

Eyes wide with terror, reaching for the lip on the edge of the building.

And missing.

Her scream pierced the night. Shattered his heart.

Then silence. He couldn't breathe. Could not fathom what had just happened.

His mate wasn't dead. She wasn't.

He took his wolf form and ran. As fast as his injured leg would allow, down the flights of stairs. Past his team who'd regrouped and was on the way up. All the way down, out of the building. Around to the side where she'd fallen.

She lay on the pavement, pale and still. His wolf approached, the animal half scenting and realizing what his human counterpart denied-death.

Shifting back, he gathered her into his arms, cradled her. Gently brushed the tangled blond hair from her bruised face. Her eyes were closed, dusky lashes on delicate cheeks, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.