I smile at him so big, it’s almost painful. “I couldn’t agree more.” I rise on my tippy toes and plant a soft kiss on his mouth. “I can’t wait to be mated to you.”
“Me too.” He smiles back at me, but there’s also an odd look in his eyes when he looks down at me.
“What is it?”
“When you shifted—” he starts to say but is interrupted by Ranger coming around the corner with blood on his hands.
“Ranger!” I gasp before rushing down the hallway toward him. “What happened? Are you hurt?” I ask as I look him over, searching for the source of blood.
“It’s not mine.” His face is void of any emotions. “It’s hers.”
We look into the room he’s pointing to and through the open doors of what looks like an operating room or sorts. In the middle of the room in a single operating table with a lifeless woman lying there. Her glassy eyes stare blankly up at the ceiling.
“What happened to her?” Ryker asks as we move to the doorway, and now that we are closer, I see and smell the fresh blood coming from a large incision on her still swollen belly.
“They just left her here.” Ranger looks at the woman. “They cut out her baby and they just…left her here.”
“Oh, God.” I put a trembling hand over my mouth. “Where is the baby now?”
“They took it.” Ranger shakes his head and looks away from the lifeless body that lies before us. “She said it was a girl,” he adds before he turns and walks down the corridor without us. His head hangs low, and I can see from here his blood-covered hands are shaking.
When we leave the building, there is no sign of Ranger. I’m worried about him and thinking of little else as we head toward the car they said they left a mile or two down the road. Everyone is quiet, and Ryker still hasn’t left my side. I get the impression he has no intention of ever doing so again, and right now I’m okay with that.
I’ve never been so scared in my life as I was when I watched Ryker slump to the ground after the bullet ripped through his chest. I will forever be grateful for the fact shifters can heal fast. I know if Ryker had been human, he would have bled out instantly. Since the bullet was silver, he’ll be a little sluggish for a few days, and he may not be able to shift until all the silver particles have cleared his system, but that’s okay.
We’re okay.
When we get to the car, we find Jax leaning against the bumper with his arms crossed in front of him. He lifts his head when he hears us nearing. Like the rest of us, he has dark circles under his eyes, and he looks exhausted. I know I haven’t slept in… I don’t actually know how long, but I know it’s been too long, and with the threat lifted from the people I love and myself, I feel the exhaustion starting to settle in my body.
“Get everyone out okay?” Jax questions.
“Almost.” I smile sadly when I think of the dead mom. “I hate these people.”
“Don’t have to tell me that.” Jax gives a knowing look. I told Ryker about how Jax was a product of the breeding program, but I didn’t tell him Jax’s father is, in fact, Sterling. While I’m not keen on keeping secrets from Ryker, it’s not my secret to tell.
“I know.” I lean against the car next to him. I can here Ransom and Ryker talking to Ranger on the other side of the car. I sigh in relief, knowing Ranger is here and not off wandering the woods. “So, what’s next for you?”
“I’m going to find my father,” Jax announces, his voice full of determination. “And along the way, I’m going to take out as many of these fucking places as possible.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” I praise. “Let me know when you need help. I’ll be there.”
Jax looks at the ground and smirks. “You know, before I met you, I didn’t trust anyone. I mean, why should I? But now, when you say you’ll be there to help me, I believe you.”
“Of course.” I pat him on his shoulder. “That’s what friends are for.”
Jax’s violet eyes light up as he looks around to see if anyone was listening to what I said. “I told them we were friends!”
I laugh at this because who would have thought I would have made a friend out of all of this? I went in to be tortured and left with my torturer being an ally. “Never thought I would have a demon as a friend,” I joke.
“I never thought I would have a friend.” Jax smirks. “Thank you for that.”
“Only took a couple doses of hellfire for me to like you.” I smirk at him.
“I’m still impressed by you, Blondie, but now that I’ve seen you shift, I understand why you were able to survive the hellfire.” Jax gives me a look I don’t quite understand. It’s similar to the look Ryker was giving me before Ranger showed up covered in blood.
“What does that mean?” I question. “Did something else happen when I shifted?” I didn’t think anything special happened when I shifted. I figured all the weird looks I was given were because my wolf finally broke through.
“You don’t know?” Jax raises his dark brows in question.
“Know what?” Ryker asks when he comes around the car and stands next to Jax.
“You didn’t tell her she’s a white wolf? And the whole prophecy thing?” Jax looks at Ryker and cringes when he sees the disturbed look on Ryker’s face. “What? I thought you would have told her by now! It’s kind of important information.”
“I—” Ryker starts.
“Hold up.” I raise my hand to get them to stop talking. “When I shifted, I was
