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  Withoutfurtherwarning,thefourofthemflewoutofthecarat inhumanspeed,slammingthedoorsbehindthemtopunctuatetheir attack.Ipunchedthedoorlockandhoppedovertheconsoletothe driver'sseat,doingmybesttofollowCooper'sinstructions.Whatever happened,hewantedmesafe.

  ButIcouldn'tjustthrowtheNavigatorinreverseandleave.

  Ilookedouttoseeamelee.Wolves,men, blood―somuchblood.

  TheymovedsoquicklythatIcouldhardlykeeptabsonwhatwas happeningandtowhom.Cooperandamonsterofamanwereinadead-evenmatch.Jannerseemedtobewinninghisbattle,butitwashardto tell;thereddishwolfhefoughtjustkeptcomingbackformore.Icouldn't seeBeckettatall―Alistaireither.

  Whirlingaroundintheseat,Itriedtofindthemouttherear window,butahowlrippedmyattentionbacktotheeventsunfoldingin frontofme.Cooperhadagrayish-bluemammothwolfattachedtohis back,hisfangsburieddeep.Infrontofhimstoodthesamemanhe'dbeen fightingwithearlier,onlythistime,heheldagun.Mymindracedwith unwantedmemories,andbeforeIknewit,Iwasnolongerthinking,only reacting.

  “NO!”Iscreamed,flyingoutofthecar.“Cooper!”

  Isprintedtowardshimasthedevilishmanlookedoveratmeand smiled,aimingtheweaponatCooper'shead.Hewasatpoint-blankrange.

  Cooperstruggledagainsttheholdofthegraywolf,butitwastoomuch.I hadtogetthere.

  “Aneyeforaneye,”themansaidwithagrowlasIrantoward them.“Andanalphaforanalpha.”

  Thentheshotrangout.

  Igroundtoahalt,feelingthebloodasitspatteredmyface.I flinchedawayfromit―Icouldbarelybreathe.Myeyeseventually openedanddriftedupfrommybloodstainedclothingtothegrislyscene beforeme.

  Bodieswereeverywhere,andIfoughtdesperatelyagainstmy wellingtearstoseeexactly whosetheywere.Thegraywolflaydead, neckbrokenandseveredbehindCooper,whowasslouchedover,looking downatsomethinginfrontofhim.Cooperhadn'tbeenshot,whichwas causeforacombinationofelationandfear,butifhehadn'tbeen,who was?

  “Ruby,”Alistairwhisperedfromrightbesideme.I'dnevereven heardhimapproach.“Love,we'vegottogetthemoutofhere. Now.”

  Hewasusheringmeawayfromthecarnage,butIshruggedhimoff, headedforwhateverCooper'sbodyshrouded.Jannerhadjoinedhim, stoopingdownlowtoreachtheonlypersonwhowasyetunaccountedfor.

  Beckett.

  “No,”Imumbled,stumblingtowardthem.“No,no,no!”

  CooperandJannerhadbeentalkingthewholetime.Inmyshock,I hadn'theardthem.

  “AllIcansmellisburntflesh.Ifit'snotsilver,he'llhaveachance, butwe'vegottogethimoutofhere,”Coopertoldhim,scoopingBeckett upinhisarmsgingerly.“Let'sgo.”Hestormedpastme,shootingmea venomouslook.Myinsubordinationhadnotbeenappreciated.

  Iscamperedalongbehindhim,mylimbsnotfullyobeyingmy commands.CooperquicklyloadedBeckettintothebackoftheSUV

  whileJannerandAliclimbedinthebackseat.Ihadn'tnoticedthat Alistairwasnakeduntilthatmoment.Ihadn'tbeenabletofindhim duringthefightbecausehehadturnedfurry.Cooperhadoncesaidthat theyoungerwolveshadtroublemaintaininghumanformwhentheir emotionsrantoohot.Alistairwasrawemotionincarnate.

  “Ruby!”Cooperyelled,snappingmyattentiontohim.“CallSean now.Tellhimtogetsomeonedownheretodealwiththis.”

  “Okay,butwhereishere?”

  Cooperlookedirritated,butrealizedIhadapoint.Thensuddenly, inalightbulbmoment,hesnatchedJanner'sphoneoutofthecarand tosseditontheground.“TellhimtotrackJan'scell.Seemslikeitworked greatfortheseassclowns.”Hemarchedmetothepassengerseatofthe carandstuffedmein,wincingslightlywiththemotion.

  “Coop,yourback―”

  “I'm fine, ”hesnapped,slammingthedoorbehindhim.Iwatchedas heraninfrontofthevehicletothedriver'sside.Whateverwoundhehad wasclosingupatashockingpace.Iknewthatthewolfhaddonesome seriousdamagetohavecausedhimtocryoutatthetime.He'dnever healedlikethatbefore,evenwhenIwashelping.Somethingwasfueling itandIknewIhadnothingtodowithit.

  ThatthoughtbroughtmyattentiontotheBritintheback.

  “Icanhelphim!”Ishouted,crawlingtowardstherear.

  “Youcansitthefuckdownanddoasyou'retoldforonce,”Cooper snarled.“Youhavenoself-preservationinstinctswhatsoever,youknow that?Youcouldhavebeenkilled.AtleastScarlet―”Heclippedoffhis sentenceabruptly,rememberingthecompanywewerein.

  “Hesavedyou,Coop.Letmehelphim,please.Bemadatmeall youwant,butdon'ttakeitoutonhim.”

  “I'mnotmadatyou,”hereplied,tryingtocalmdownashetoreout oftheparkinglot.

  “Who'sScarlet?”AlistairaskedfrombehindCooper.“Andwhy didn'tyou―”

  “Notnow,Ali!”Iscolded,scrollingthroughCooper'sphonefor Sean'snumber.OnceIfoundit,Ihitdialandwaitedforhisruggedvoice ontheotherend.

  “Cooper,”hedrawledasifalreadyputoutbythecall.

  “It'sme.There'saproblem,”Iblurtedout,mybreathingstill ragged.

  “Whereareyou?”

  “Boston.”

  “Iknowthat.Whereexactly?”

  “Ihavenoidea.Someübersketchypartoftown.It'sallabandoned factories.Butlisten!Youhavetogettheboysdownhere.HaveTreytrace Janner'sphone.Therearebodies...”

  “Whose?”

  “Longstory,butnoneofours,”Isaid,castingawaryeyetowardthe rearofthecar.“Notyet,atleast.”

  “Areyouhurt?”heasked,concernleakingintohisvoice.

  “I'mfine.Coopwastornup,butseemstobefine.JannerandAli seemtoberelativelyintacttoo.”

  “AndBeckett?”

  “He'sshotup,”Isaid,chokingonthewordsslightly.“Hetooka bulletforCooper.”

  “Silver?”

  “Idon'tknow.”

  “Canyougettohimnow?”

  “Yeah,”Isaid,lookingupatCooper.Henoddedonce.“Givemea sec,”ItoldhimasIscurriedintothebackseatandovertothetrunkarea.

  Ididn'tknowwhattoexpect,butwhatIsawwasgrimtosaytheleast.

  Beckettlayflatonhisback,barelyconsciousandpantingheavily.

  Hishandsweredrapedelegantlyacrosshischest,buteventhecombined breadthofthemcouldn'tcamouflagethegapingholethatlaybeneath.My heartsankinstantly.Iknewthatwolvescouldhealthemselvesintheir coma-esquestates,butBeckettdidn'tappeartobeinone.

  Healsodidn'tappeartobedoinganythingotherthanbleeding.

  “Ruby!”Seansnappedintothereceiver.“Canyouseethewound?”

  “Yes,”Isaidsoftly.“Sean,it'shuge.Hewasshotatpointblank range.”

  “That'sinconsequential.Youneedtofigureoutifthere'ssilverinit ifyouwanthimtolive.”

  “How?”

  “Whatdoesthewoundlooklike?Isthereashimmertotheblood?”

  “Itlookswet,Sean.Likenormalblood.”

  Heexhaledheavily.

  “You'regoingtohavetotasteit.”

  “WHAT?Areyouserious?”

  “Yes.Doitnow.Itwilltastelikemetal.”

  “Butblood doestastelikemetal―”

  “No,bloodhasametallicundertonetoit.Thiswilltastelikelicking yourjewelry.”

  Oddlyenough,I'dbasicallydonejustthatbeforewhileworkingon certainpieces.Ineverknewitwouldcomeinhandy.

  Gentlypushinghishandsaside,Ilookedatthepulsatinggristlethat wasoncehisbeautifullytattooedchest.Embeddedinthewoundwasa pairofdogtagsattachedtoachainaroundhisneck.Ihadtofishthemout forfearthattheywouldbeburiedinsidehimwhenhehealed―ifhe healedatall.W
itheverythingoutoftheway,Itookadeepbreathbefore stickingmyfingerinthewound.BeforeIhadachancetochickenout,I shoveditinmymouthandsucked.

  Tastedlikebloodtome.

  “Ittastesnormal,”Isaid,gaggingslightly.

  “ThentellCoopertogostraighttomyplace.Wehavesomethings tosortout.”Hepausedforamomentbeforecontinuing.“Ruby.Trynot togetyourselfkilledbeforeIcanseeyou.”

  Thelinewentdead.

  IthrewthephoneuptoJannerbeforelyingdownbesideBeckett.

  “Whatdidhesay?”Coopercalledfromthefrontseat.Iproppedup tofindmyselfbeingstareddownintherearviewmirror.

  “Hesaidthewoundshouldbeokayandtomeethimathisplace.

  He'sgottheboysoncleanup.”

  “Good.”

  Mymindwasstillreelingfromallthathadhappened.Thingswent frommundanetoexplosiveinthebatofaneye,andwe'dnearlylost peopleintheprocess.IlookeddownatBeckett,hiseyesstillclosed,his breathingstillshallow,andwonderedhowthingsgottobesobadwithhis ownpackthattheywouldhunthimandtheothersdownlikerabiddogs.

  Whyhadtheybothered?Cooperseemedtobeponderingthesamething becausehestartedinonthetwowhowereconsciousatthatmoment.

  Insteadoflistening,IchanneledmyenergytoBeckett,notknowing ifitwouldmakeadifferenceornot.Hedidn'thaveabondwithmelike Cooperdid,andIstilldidn'tknowifmyoutwardinfluencingabilities reliedonanyofScarlet'spower,butIdecidedtotryanyway.Ihopedthat itdidn'tmatterhowemotionallycloseIwastothevictim;Ijustwantedit towork.He’dsavedCooper'slifeandheldminetogetherbecauseofthat.

  Iowedhim,bigtime.

  Wealldid.

  25

  Idon'tknowhowfastCooperwasdriving,butitseemedlikewewere backinPortsmouthintheblinkofaneye.Allofmyenergyhadbeen trainedonBeckett,hopingtocoaxhimoutofhisnear-deathstatesooner ratherthanlater.Iknewthattherewasn'tanyrealdangeroflosinghim, butitwasstillsohardtowrapmyheadaroundhisabilitytowalkaway fromawoundlikethatunharmed.Itdidn'tseemtomatterhowmany timesI'dseenitdone;itwasalwayssurreal.Evenwhenitwasme.

  Aswerolledintotown,Beckettstartedtostirslightly.Ilaidmy headonhisnewlyhealedchestandtriedtokeephimstill.Hemayhave beendoingbetter,buthewasn'tuptosnuffjustyet.Ididn'twanthim expendinganyenergythathedidn'tneedto.

  “Welcomeback,”Iwhispered,myheadtuckedintightbelowhis chin.Itfeltsomewhatintimatewhenhewovehisarmsaroundme, huggingmetohim,butitmademethinkofhowquicklyCooperandI hadbondedduringourescapeinUtah.Life-threateningsituations changedpeople,bringingthemclosetogetherinawaythattimealone couldnot.Itwasjustafactoflife―afactof mylife,atleast.

  “Youtrulyarespecial,”hesaidsoftly,smoothingmymessofcurls awayfromhisface.“Wehadn'theardaboutthis abilityofyours.Justhow manytricksdoyouhaveupyoursleeves,Ruby?”

  Ilaughed,pullingawayfromhimtositup.

  “Morethanyou'lleverknowabout.”

  Beckett,likeAlistair,wasnaked,andIsuddenlybecamefartoo awareofthatfact.Needingtomaintainsomelevelofmodesty,Isearched forsomethingtocoverhimupwith.Ispottedaduffelbagalongthefar wheelwellandgrabbedit,hopingtofindwhatIthoughtImight. Bingo!

  Insidewerespareclothes,andIquicklystarteddolingthemouttoallin need.

  “Here,”Isaid,chuckingat-shirtandjeansatthebackofAlistair's head.

  “What?Youdon'tliketheshow?”heasked,hisexpressionandtone cheekyasever,asthoughwehadn'talljustaboutdiedonlyanhour earlier.

  “If that'stheshow,”Coopermockedfromthefrontseat,“thenwe shouldgetourmoneyback.”

  Jannerlaughed.Like reallylaughed.I'dneverheardhimsojovialor animated.Itstartledmeatfirst.

  “Putyouinyourplace,didn'the,Ali?”

  “Rubbish,”Alistairgrunted,wigglingintothetoo-bigpantsI'd givenhim.“Likeyoursisanybigger,mate.”

  Beckett,whohadbeentryingtositup,crashedbackdowntothe floorinacombinationoflaughterandwincingwhileclutchinghischest.

  Ireachedovertohelphimupsohecouldgetdressedtoo.Wewere almostdowntown,andIcouldn'taffordtohaveanakedforeignerriding illegallyinthebackofanSUV,evenifthewindowsweretinted.

  Portsmouthwassmallenoughthatnotmucheverwentonthere.If someonespottedus,we'dbethetalkofthetownforsure,nottomention theprecinct.

  “YoubothknowthatIputyoutoshame,soIwouldn’tstartwith me,ifyouknowwhat'sgoodforyou.”

  “I'mquitesureIhaveyouallbeat,”Cooperwarnedfromthefront seat.

  Icouldn'tbelievewhatIwashearing.Ihaddeepconcernsthatthey wereallgoingtostartwhippingouttheirwobblybitsintheultimate man-contestwhileweparkedthecar,justtobecertainwhothewinner was.Men―themostridiculouscreaturesonearth.

  “CouldwepleasejustgetinsideSean'splace?”Iwhined,wantingto besomewherethathadafeelingofsafetyattachedtoit―preferablyone thatmightnotbeattackedbymisguidedwerewolves.Theydidn'treply, butallofthemdepartedthecartoheadintohisbuildingwithoutfurther shenanigans.Aswecautiouslymadeourwayaroundthecorner,Seanwas standingtherewaiting.

  “Gladtoseeyou'reinonepiece,”hesaidflatly,eyeingthegroup tightlyasheslowlyapproachedus.Whenhestoppedbeforeme,hishand caughtmyface,andhepinnedscrutinizingbutconcernedeyesonmine.

  Histhumbstrokedmycheekgently,andIpressedintohistouchslightly beforerealizingtheotherswereallwatching.Maybetheyneededagood reminderofwhomymatewas.

  Asifthatwaswrittenonmyface,heleanedinandkissedme.Then hestareddownattheothersbeforeorderingtheminside.Shitreallywas abouttogetreal.

  Whenwearrivedathisapartment,amanwaswaitinginside.

  Standingmilitarystraightwithhandspulledbehindhisback,hewatched usallfileinwithcuriosity.I'dneverseenhimbefore,butIknewhewasa PCbrother―hisenergycarriedthesameconfidencethatalltheothers’

  did.

  “Trey,gettheirphonesandtakethemdownstairs.Workyour magic,”Seanordered.“Ineedtogetsomeanswersoutofthesethreein themeantime.”

  “Waitasecond,”Iblurtedout,staringatTreyindisbelief.“How didhegetherebeforeusifhewasjustdowninBostonawaitingour panickedarrival?”

  TreyandSeanexchangedblanklooksbeforeturningtheireyesto me.TreysaidnothinginresponseandSeangavemelittlemorethanhis trademarkambivalentshrug.WhatevermeansTreyusedtoarriveat Sean'sbeforeuswasclearlygoingtoremainasecret.

  Stillperplexed,Iwatchedasthetallandalmostlankyman approachedtheboys.Thetwowhostillhadtheirphonesheldthemoutas wasexpected.WhenTreywasfinishedcollectingthem,hepausedin frontofme,lookingatmecuriouslyasifIwereapuzzlethatneeded solving.Apparentlythephonesweren'tenoughforhimtoworkon.

  “She'sprettierthantheysaid,”hedeclaredwithasoft,wistful voice.Thenhedisappearedthroughthemaindoor.

  IlookedtoSeanforexplanation.

  “Treylacksafilter,”hesaidwithashrug.“I’dthinkthatyouofall peoplecouldunderstandthat.”SuddenlyTrey'sITjobmadefarmore sense.“Now,whathappenedoutthere,anddon'tskimponthedetails.

  Thisisimportant.Iftheyfoundyou,thenthey'vefiguredouthowtotrace thephonesandareworkingwithtechnologythatfewareprivytooutside oflargegovernmentagencies.”

  “Andyou,”Iinterjectedwithasmallsmile.

  “Yes,”hereplied,thesmallesttwinkleinhiseyes.“Andme.”

  “Well,Iwastryingtoreadyourdirectionsonmyphone,butIjust couldn'tseethem
clearly,soIgavethephonetoJanner.Hemadea miscalculationalongtheway,andweendedupinthatneighborhoodI toldyouaboutwiththeabandonedfactories.”

  “Yes,”hesaid,hisvoicedrippingwithdisdain.“Ifindthatvery convenientforthosetryingtohuntyoualldown.Whatbetterplacefora massacre?”

  “Itwasn'tanambush,”Coopersaid,readingbetweenthelines.

  “Theyfollowedusthere.”

  SeaneyedCooperinawaythatI'dneverseenbefore.Hewas assessingsomethingabouthim― searching.Withoutawordofobjection, Seanlethimcontinuetoexplainhowthewholescenarioplayedouttothe verylastdetail.WhenCooperfinished,Seanpaused,eyeinghimtightly beforepressinghislipstightlytogetherandnodding.

  Inearlyfellover.IthinkIwouldhaveifSeanhadn'tturnedtometo fillintheblanksofthefight.Thebattlehadseemedtowageonfarlonger thanCooperhadsaiditdid.Apparentlyitwasminutesatbest.

  Itfeltlikealifetime.

  “Ruby?”Seancalled,pullingmefrommythoughts.He'dlikely repeatedhimselfmorethanonce,givenhistone.“Whatdidyousee?”

  “Itallhappenedreallyfast,”Istarted,closingmyeyestotryand replaythegruesomescene.“Thereweremoreofthemthanus―fiveto four.TwoofthemwentafterCooper,theotherswentaftertheboys.”

  “InterestingthattheydoubleduponCooperrightaway,”hesaid withgrowinginterestinJanner.“Youseemtolookunharmed.”

  “Sean,”Isaid,leaningforwardtograbhisarm.Hiseyeswereonme inaninstant.Theydidn'tlookasfriendlyasIwouldhaveliked.“Isaw himfighting.Hewasintroubleforawhile.Ididn'tknowitatthetime, buttheothersweretoo.AliandBeckettChanged.Ididn'tknowwhowas whothen,butnobodywalkedawayfromthatfightunharmed.Iknow that.Andthesecondthattheotherswerefree,theywenttoCoop'said.

  Becketteventookapoint-blankbulletforhim.”

  “Yes,andIfindithighlyconvenientthatitwasn'tsilver.”Hisvoice heldadangerouslackofemotion.Thingsweren'tlookinggoodforthe boys.