Wildfire Griffin (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Wildfire Crew #1)(66)

She was a liability.

“Do you want me to go?” she forced out, through her tightening throat.

“No!” He grabbed hold of her shoulders, fingers digging in as though he thought she might try to slip away. “That would just make it worse.”

“But I’m holding you back.”

“I need you here.” He shook his head savagely, face contorting. “My instincts are all confused. You’re in danger here, but if you’re somewhere else I won’t be able to protect you—“

“Rory,” Callum said.

Rory whipped round without letting her go, so fast that her head spun. “What is it?”

Callum pointed at the sky in answer.

There was a smudge of cloud on the horizon. It shimmered oddly, like a mirage.

Rory’s hands spasmed on her shoulders. “It’s coming.”





Chapter 32





“That’s the thunder creature?” Edith asked. Rory could sense her surge of apprehension down the mate bond. “But I can see it. Kind of.”

“Really?” Wystan shot Edith a sharp sideways glance. “That’s interesting. People who are mated to shifters can generally see through our invisibility tricks. Our friend over there might be one of us after all.”

“I don’t care what it is,” Rory growled. “Callum, any unusual activity in the forest?”

Callum shook his head. “No animals at all. Only living things around are us and C-squad.”

The news should have been a relief. Instead, his tension only increased. His griffin paced like a caged lion, every hair and feather on end. Somehow he knew, knew, that his mate was in terrible danger.

He came to a decision. “Everyone pack up. You’re pulling out.”

“What do you mean, ‘you’?” Blaise said, eyes narrowing.

“I’m staying to face down that thing.” He unclipped his radio, passing it to her. “Call Buck and let him know what’s happening. Then go back and meet up with C-squad. Tell them we’re abandoning the fireline up here.”

Edith cleared her throat, looking a little tentative. “We could still save the forest. That’s what I was trying to tell you a minute ago. If we focused on rough cuts and combined forces with Seth’s squad, we could-“

“Edith, it’s too risky.” He turned her to face him again, locking eyes with her. He knew she didn’t like it, but it would stop her from arguing. “This could be another distraction. You can’t fight fire and look out for ambushes at the same time. It’s best if you get to safety.”

“But I’m worried about you.” He could tell the effort it took her to shape words without looking away. “I know I can’t help, but the others can. They should stay.”

“They can’t.” If only the alpha voice worked on her. She could already be on her way to safety. “I need them all to protect you.”

Then pack should stay together. Fenrir showed his teeth. *All together.*

“I have a really bad feeling about this, bro.” Joe had a haunted, strained look. “I can’t explain why, but I know you’re going to need backup.”

“I’ve fought this thing before,” Rory snapped, irritation rising. “I can handle it alone.”

“We don’t know that.” Blaise matched him glare for glare. “It could have just been sounding you out before, learning your patterns and probing for weaknesses. It certainly doesn’t look at all hesitant now.”

Blaise was right. The cloud was coming in fast, growing thicker and darker by the second. He was running out of time.

“Go with Edith.” He put all his force into the alpha command. “Protect my mate.”

All five of them closed around Edith like a fist. She stared around in confusion at the sudden wall of muscle circling her.

“Rory,” she started.

He had to make her leave. The alpha voice didn’t work on her, but he hardened his tone anyway, cutting off her half-formed protest. “You have to go, Edith. Now. I can’t fight if I’m worrying about you.”

She flinched as though he’d snapped a whip in her face. His heart broke at the way she crumpled, shoulders and head bowing in a huddled, defensive posture as she turned away. He knew from the mate bond just how much his words had hurt her.

Almost, he called her back. It took all of his willpower to clench his jaw, shielding his emotions so that she wouldn’t feel his regret. He would apologize to her later.

Right now, he had to protect her.

He focused on his approaching enemy. Despite the speed of its approach, it was still miles off. He had a little time to prepare.

He slipped off his backpack, relieved to be free of the heavy weight. He tried to loosen his muscles. He’d been cutting flat-out for hours, working hard enough to tax even a shifter’s stamina. He was uneasily aware that he wasn’t at his freshest.

He took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders. He could do this. He had to do this.

He couldn’t let anything hurt his mate.

A twig crunched behind him. He bit back a curse.

“I told you—“ He cut himself off as he turned. It wasn’t Edith, or any of his squad.

“Seth.” Wonderful. This was all he needed. “Didn’t Blaise tell you to clear out?”