by J. D. Tyler
“That’s not funny.”
Next, she unwrapped the bandages around his thigh. Her triumph over the medicine was short-lived. The wounds were infected, no question. Each puncture oozed fluid. They should’ve healed over by now, given his special abilities, but the surrounding flesh was swollen and red. Angry crimson streaks brushed his leg. Poison.
Daria had never felt so helpless. Ryon was in terrible danger, and she couldn’t do a thing to help him. She rinsed the bite marks with the remainder of her water, then wrapped his leg in fresh bandages. There wasn’t anything more to do.
Ryon pulled his pants up and closed his eyes. He was still for so long, she thought he’d fallen asleep. God knows he needed the rest. She’d almost given in to her own fatigue when he spoke in a low whisper.
“Never forget I love you. More than my life, more than anything.”
She touched his face. “Never. Same goes for me. You’re my world now, and I won’t rest until we’re both safe.”
He looked away, staring out over the river for several minutes, unblinking. Daria had never witnessed such misery. He was close to giving up, and she could not let his spirits dip that low.
“Say, do you realize you haven’t been tormented by your ghosts much lately?” she asked.
“They haven’t bothered me in a while. I think that’s because of you.” He smiled at her. “You ground me. Now I only see them if I need to—which I hope won’t be very often.”
“That means you’re strong. You’re not going anywhere, you hear me?”
“Yeah. I do, baby.”
They sat together for a time, collecting themselves. When he was ready to leave, he simply stood next to her and waited. She rose and shrugged on her pack, glancing at him. His expression was calm, accepting. That scared her almost more than she could handle.
The rest of the day, Ryon didn’t speak. He’d disappeared inside himself. This wasn’t the smiling, confident man she’d first met. She wanted that man back. She loved him.
As horrible as the day had been, the evening was much worse. She pitched the tent for them because he could barely stand any longer. He accepted the help in silence, face drawn. Usually, they would sit outside the tent and talk. Or make love. Tonight, he crawled inside, period.
Determined to at least try to cheer him, she went in after him. He lay on his side, eyes closed, an empty bottle of water beside him. She reached out to touch his shoulder, then decided not to push too hard.
“Can I fix you one of those instant dinners?”
Silence.
“You haven’t eaten all day. You need to eat if you’re going to have any strength to finish the hike. How about some jerky?”
Nothing.
“God, Ryon, try to shift! Please!”
“Don’t,” he said hoarsely. “Baby, just don’t.”
Grabbing his shirt, she forced him to his back and shouted right into his face. “You don’t! Don’t you dare give up on me!” She smacked his chest as he stared at her, wide-eyed. “Shift, you pussy! Shift now, goddammit!”
The effect was instant. In less than five seconds, Ryon’s silver wolf was struggling to free himself of his clothing, snarling and pissed as hell. If the situation wasn’t so dire, she would’ve smiled. As it was, she put a calming hand on his broad head.
“Calm down, big guy.” He stilled and then whined, nuzzling her hand and scooting into her side. “Let me get these clothes off you. Stay in your shift as long as you can. Then I’ll help you get dressed again.”
The longer he could stay in wolf form, the better for his healing. At least he might be able to make it to the transport. Carefully, she removed his clothes and examined his back leg. She couldn’t see the punctures for all the fur, but she hoped the wounds were improving at least a little.
Despite his earlier protests, he managed to hold his shift for almost half an hour before he morphed into human form again. Beside her, he was completely down for the count. But she thought he was breathing a tad easier, his color a bit more natural. On examination, she found the wounds on his thigh to be not quite as angry, and that sent a wave of relief washing through her.
Her mate had bought himself some time. Hopefully just enough.
Daria wasn’t sure how long she sat beside him, watching and worrying. Eventually, she gave in and slept.
By dawn, Ryon was shaking with the chills, teeth chattering, yet scorching heat radiated off his big body in waves. Alarm kicked her in the gut. The shift should’ve bought him more time, and if they didn’t get moving he’d be out of what little he’d gained.
She’d have to wake him. Laying a hand on his arm, she shook him gently. “Ryon? Wake up, we have to go.”
Several attempts later, he opened his eyes and stared at her with a dazed expression. For a few seconds, he had absolutely no clue where he was, and it scared the hell out of her. Then, awareness returned.
“Daria,” he croaked. “Take the spare water from my pack.”
“Why?”
“You’re going to meet the helicopter alone, then send the guys back for me.”
“No. No way,” she said in a steely tone. “That is so not going to happen. Get up. Now.”
“Listen.” He coughed and shuddered, taking a deep breath as though talking cost him. “I’ll slow us down, and we’ll get caught.”
“If you stay, August’s men could find you before help arrives.”
“Just do as I ask, all right? I don’t want to argue with you.”
“I won’t argue with you, either,” she said firmly. “I’m not leaving here without you and that’s final. If you can’t go on, my uncle will find both of us.”
A few minutes later, he rose with a great effort, gathered his things, and stumbled out of the tent. Daria sagged in relief. Thank God. Now she just had to keep his sexy ass moving.
A lot of the fight had gone out of him, but she intended to keep pushing.
No matter what, he wasn’t going to give up.
• • •
Somehow, Ryon put one foot in front of the other. He’d never been this low. Ever. Not even when he’d awakened in a hospital overseas with a raging wolf for a brand-new companion. Not in the months afterward, when he’d fought to control his other half and retain his tenuous hold on sanity.
Nick’s voice broke through his thoughts. Ryon?
Yeah, boss?
The lab has a batch of the serum ready, so we’ll bring it, see if we can find Ben. Where are you? We’re about to leave.
That’s great! Um . . . I’m not sure. A few miles south of August’s estate, following the river. We’re looking for a good clearing.
On our way. Hang in there, all right?
Sure thing.
He wasn’t sure at all, but he kept moving. “Nick contacted me,” he said hoarsely. “They’re coming. They’ve got some serum for Ben.”
“Best news I’ve heard all week!”
Daria attempted to speak to him again, but he didn’t really hear her. Couldn’t. He just walked until a weird buzzing noise made him stop, cock his head, and listen. Daria said something else. He couldn’t understand her over the noise, like thousands of bees in his head.
The forest began to dim. His head tilted back and he saw blue sky as his knees buckled. Sky?
Then nothing but darkness.
• • •
“Ryon, look!” Daria exclaimed, pointing. Just ahead, the forest ended and a flat river delta widened before them for at least a mile. Plenty of room for a helicopter to land! “Better contact Nick and tell him about this place. Ryon?”
He’d stopped and was looking up, his head cocked—then he folded and slumped to the ground.
“Shit!” She knelt at his side, slapped his face. “Come on, don’t do this! We’re almost home free, so you can’t quit.”
Ryon’s breathing was harsh and labored, his color gray beneath his tan. Rolling him to his side, she worked the pack off his shoulders and laid aside the rifle. After settling him on hi
s back, she fished through the pack and retrieved a bottle of water.
Cradling his head in her lap, she placed the opening between his lips and poured a tiny bit of the liquid into his mouth. He sputtered and coughed, but opened his eyes to slits and raised his head, seeking more. The next swallow went down without difficulty now that he’d regained consciousness.
“That’s it, easy now,” she crooned. “Hang in there, okay? We’re at the edge of a clearing. Perfect place for them to land. Couple of hours, maybe, and we’re home free.”
He tried to smile. “That’s good. Nick will send a small team in to find Ben. They’ll help him.”
She was beyond touched that he’d think of Ben at a time like this—especially when it was Ben’s creature that had put him in this condition. “I’m grateful they’re willing to give it a shot.”
For a while, Daria sat running her fingers through his hair. His skin was hot and dry as a desert, a sign of dehydration. The infection had spread through his body and was running its course. If he didn’t get medical attention soon, shifter or not, he would die. Fear threatened to overwhelm her.
“Drink more water.” She helped him, and he didn’t resist. Still, his beautiful blue eyes were dull, his sensual lips unsmiling.
“Daria, if August gets here before my team and I can’t stop him, don’t let him take me alive.”
“God, Ryon, don’t even say that,” she gasped.
“I won’t fall into his hands and become one of his experiments, not if I can prevent it. I saw what they did to Aric, Micah, and Phoenix. Ben, too. I won’t let him do that to me.”
She was spared from responding to his awful request when he fell asleep. If August caught them, she knew she wouldn’t take Ryon’s life, or her own. Not because she was a coward, but because she wouldn’t give up hope that they would get out of this mess. His team would come. They always did. If he wasn’t so sick and was thinking straight, he’d know it, too.
Daria combated the boredom by dozing lightly, keeping an ear open for Ryon’s breathing, as well as any sounds that didn’t belong. A friggin’ helicopter would be nice. A big one or two loaded with wolves—and one panther—and armed to the teeth.
One hour came and went. Two. Cramped, Daria had to shift Ryon off her lap, stand and stretch. She made a tour around the immediate vicinity to work out the kinks, not straying far from him. Strolling to the edge of the tree line, she admired the pretty green delta, the river snaking away in the distance. An odd oasis smack in the middle of the rain forest.
She started to turn, then froze. That sound. Could it be?
Whump-whump-whump.
The distinctive pumping of rotor blades, and just there, a tiny speck in the distance. Then two specks that grew progressively larger.
“Yes! Ryon!” she squealed. Pushing through the tangle of vines, she ran back to him and dropped to her knees. She shook him hard enough to rattle his teeth. “Wake up. They’re here!”
Ryon sat up and blinked at her. “What?”
“The Pack is here! Hurry, get up.”
Blinking, he struggled upright. “Thank Christ. Where’s our stuff?”
“Right here.”
A sharp crack split the air, followed by more. Bullets were suddenly pelting the trees around them, men shouting.
Ryon staggered to his feet and shoved her pack into her hands. “Run to one of the copters and don’t look back!”
The whump-whump from the big Hueys filled the air as he pushed her forward and dove for his rifle. Daria ran into the clearing, across the flat ground. Her heart slammed in tempo with her feet as shouts drifted after her. Bullets kicked the dirt beside her, plucked at her pack.
The helicopters loomed over the horizon, coming in fast and low. The first pilot slowed, hovered, and set down about fifty yards away. She saw that it was Aric, and he left the blades whirling and ready to take off. Jax was sitting in the open side door, holding an M16 like Ryon’s, yelling and waving her on. The second Huey landed not far from the first, Pack guys spilling out and sprinting to back up their endangered comrade.
Almost there. Twenty feet, ten, five. And then she was in, Jax yanking her clean off her feet. She landed inside hard, but didn’t spare him a glance. She spun about to see Ryon making a magnificent stand halfway between the tree line and the helicopter. His muscles bunched as he sprayed the forest with a steady onslaught of bullets, pinning down the goons to cover her flight. His team was coming up fast behind him.
One of the men coming to his aid, Micah, grabbed Ryon and pushed him in the direction of the helicopters. Ryon whirled, half-running, mostly limping, toward her. Strain etched his face, but he kept coming. Aric held their position as Jax fired past Ryon and the others into the trees. The fight heated up as the two forces continued the gun battle—and then something horrifying happened.
At the edge of the trees, August’s men began to pour from their cover, straight into the Pack’s sights. A few took hits and went down before the guys realized something wasn’t right and ceased fire. Looks of confusion at their enemy’s actions were replaced by shock as a body came flying out of the brush, mangled and torn. Then another.
“Aw, fuck me!” Aric shouted.
A huge section of the trees shook from side to side. Split apart and was hurtled away. Then the unmistakable translucent outline of the creature became visible, and it paused just inside the clearing. Ryon looked back at that moment and stumbled to a halt, mouth dropping open.
And as the creature advanced on them all, throwing its head back to roar, Ryon turned and began to limp right back toward danger.
“Nooo!” Daria launched herself toward the door, but a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
“Stay here! I’ll get the serum and help them!” Pushing past her, Jax leapt from the copter and ran, presumably to the other aircraft to fetch the medicine.
August’s men were panicked, the survivors fleeing the scene as fast as possible. The Pack let them go and concentrated on the beast, firing on its massive bulk. That accomplished nothing but turning its attention on them, and pissing it off.
More than half of the men shifted, including Kalen into his panther form. They ran circles around the beast, keeping it occupied by taking turns running at it, snapping and barking, staying just out of reach of its deadly claws.
She couldn’t help them. Ben wouldn’t recognize her in this state, so she could do nothing but watch, hand over her mouth, heart in her throat.
Ryon stripped and shifted, joining his friends in battle. Then Jax ran toward the fray, legs pumping, a large cylinder clutched in his hand.
When Ryon made a flying leap and attached himself to the creature’s back, the thing went nuts. Grabbed and swiped, trying to reach him, and when that failed, spinning his body in an attempt to shake him loose.
Ryon was going to get himself killed. And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop it.
Fifteen
Ryon jumped onto the creature’s back, sinking his fangs into the tough, leathery hide. It roared and tried to claw him off. Twisted and turned.
“Shift and catch!” Jax yelled.
Ryon saw his friend run up, holding a large tube. The spike on the end was long and silver, and if it was a needle, it was the thickest, most wicked one he’d ever seen. Then again, it would have to be to penetrate the creature’s hide.
The shift was difficult, especially while riding an enraged mutant lizard. In human form, he wrapped an arm around the thing’s neck and held out the other. “Throw it!”
The first try missed, and he cursed when the tube sailed past them and landed on the ground. It narrowly missed being crushed by the creature’s webbed feet as it stomped around, oblivious to the fact that they were trying to save its life. Or rather, Ben’s life.
“We’re trying to save your ass, you fucker!” he yelled.
Jax threw the tube again, but it bounced off Ryon’s fingers. The next second, he was thrown to the ground, rolling to avoid being s
tomped or eaten. As he scrambled, he saw the cylinder lying just a few feet away. He went for it. Just as his fingers closed around it, he was yanked backward.
The creature’s claws dug into his shoulder as it dragged him to its hungry, gaping maw. Fetid breath wafted in his face and he had an up-close and personal view of those rows of deadly teeth that were ready to tear out his throat. Flipping the tube in his grasp, spiked end toward the creature, he drove the business end into the vulnerable skin of its belly. The beast let out a roar as Ryon quickly pushed the handle all the way in. He didn’t know if that was the best spot, or even if it would work, but he’d done his job.
It would have to be enough. He was finished.
The beast flung him away and he landed in the dirt hard. Unable to move, he took in the monster standing in place, shrieking in agony, no longer aware of anyone else in his vicinity. Ryon felt a pang of sadness, knowing the creature was not really evil. It didn’t possess that sort of thought process. All along, it had simply been ravenously hungry. Angry. Confused.
But never evil. Because the man underneath was good.
Incredulous, he saw the creature begin to shrink. Scales became flesh, webbed feet and hands human ones. The knobby skull returned to its regular shape, and a full head of chestnut hair appeared. The distended torso became taut, the stomach flat. In less than a minute, a man stood swaying where the beast had been, blinking as though he’d never seen them before. And indeed he hadn’t.
Ben Cantrell was tired, shell-shocked, worse for the wear, but a man all the same. He crumpled to the ground.
Some of the team ran to Ben, and the others toward Ryon. Nick and Jax appeared, looking down at him, smiling.
“You did it, buddy,” Jax said, laying a hand on his chest. “Great job.”
He tried to grin. “That’s why I get paid the big bucks. August is getting away, though.”
Nick spoke up. “This time. Next time he won’t be so lucky.”
Suddenly he remembered August’s terrible claims, his story of betrayal that ran all the way to the presidency. He wanted to ask if it was true, if Nick had known. But he was too exhausted to talk anymore. Then Daria came into his line of vision, and he’d never seen anything more beautiful.
