Wolf's Fall (Alpha Pack #6)(66)

“You’re going to shoot the links?” She shook her head. “That’s dangerous. Only works in the movies.”

He shook his head as he projected a message to Ryon, their Telepath. Ryon, I’m with Calla and Tarron and they’re shackled in the basement storage area. Tell Kalen to send a spell through the stronghold to release all metal shackles or something. And I need some clothes, too.

Got it, the wolf sent back.

A tense few moments went by, and then—

All of the shackles snapped in two with a loud pop. Calla jumped back involuntarily at the noise, then checked her hand, and her brother’s. They were free.

“It worked!” she shouted. “Let’s get out of here.”

Just then, a bundle with jeans, boots, and a black T-shirt appeared a few feet away. Nick pulled them on as he spoke to Ryon again.

We’re headed up. Situation?

Grim, boss. The wolves your brother brought are helping, but we need an atom bomb. Fast. That f*cking Jinn is still keeping Kalen neutralized and unable to bring out the big guns to wipe them all out.

Fuck! Who can we call on? I don’t know how to reach the other covens, and Tarron’s in no shape to help me. Who’s left, Ryon? Think!

A moment passed. Kalen says to get Sariel. He’s the only one who has the power to put an end to this thing.

Sariel? The Fae prince was the gentlest creature Nick had ever known. He had serious doubts about Sariel’s skill as a warrior. Blue’s not a fighter.

He doesn’t have to be! He just has to drop that A-bomb we need. That’s all. Boss, we can’t hold out much longer!

All right, send one of the vampires to get him! Do it now!

“Nick?” Calla asked, bringing his focus back to them. “What’s going on?”

“We’re sending someone after Sariel,” he told her. “He’ll try to turn the tables in our favor.”

“I hope it works.”

“Me, too.”

Looking down at Tarron, he knew there was no point in trying to rouse him. Even if he awakened, he was too far gone to have any idea what was happening. Nick tucked the gun in his jeans.

“Come on, big guy,” he said gruffly. He bent and gathered Tarron into his arms and lifted him with a grunt. “Calla, stay behind me.”

“Want me to get his feet?”

“No. That would leave you exposed.” He started off, then hesitated. Turning back to Calla, he sent her a look filled with regret. “Baby, I’m so sorry. For everything. I—”

She put her fingers to his lips. “I love you. Nothing will ever change that.” She tilted her face to his and he brought his lips to hers.

“I love you, too, baby,” he said. “Now let’s get the hell out of here.” Shifting her brother higher in his arms, he took the metal stairs, Calla on his heels. At the top, they stepped out into the dim hallway.

And smelled the acrid odor of smoke.

As he climbed the stone staircase to the main floor, Nick’s chest and arms ached from the strain of her brother’s weight. Compounding the problem was the knife wound in his side, which was worse than he’d led Calla to believe. Already, dizziness threatened to overtake him, but adrenaline propelled him on. As they neared the main floor, the smoke grew thicker. Almost there.

“Baby, when we get up there, I want you to stick as close to my back as you can,” he said over his shoulder.

“Do you think he’s waiting for you?” she asked worriedly.

“My guess is he’s still here somewhere, and he’s not going to give up so easily. He’s got a lot riding on the outcome,” Nick pointed out.

They ascended the final distance to the main floor and stepped through the archway. Nick was nearly knocked down by the blast of heat as he continued on into the main living area. Either Ivan or his thugs had set the piles of furniture and other items ablaze, or at least the ones Nick’s men hadn’t been able to douse with water, and flames were just beginning to lick up the walls and leap toward the ceiling.

He spotted a ragged hole that had been blown through the rock about fifty yards away.

“There! Let’s go!” he yelled above the noise. The roaring flames and the fighting around them obstructed any view of the other routes out of the stronghold.

He wanted to get Calla and Tarron out of here. Then he’d return to the battle.

Starting off, he felt a gentle tugging at his waist and realized Calla was hanging on to one of his belt loops. Ten yards gained, then twenty. Freedom was so close at hand he could almost feel the fresh air on his face. Then he heard the popping. At first he thought it was only noise from the fire. Then a splinter of wood exploded in front of his face.

“Get down!” Nick yelled. He dropped to his knees and laid Tarron on the floor, then grabbed Calla by the arm. He pulled her down next to her brother, then crouched over them, shielding them from the gunfire. Bullets whizzed dangerously close, ricocheting everywhere. He raised his voice above the din.

“Calla, listen to me! I’m gonna cover you. When I say go, I want you to make a run for it!”

“No! I want to stay with you and Tarron!”

“When I tell you,” Nick repeated, leaving no room for argument. “Go!” He stood, spun around, and opened fire in the direction of the shooting.

* * *