Chapter 122: Lycan Queen's Prey Chapter 49

~Regan~

As we drive through the city and onto the highway, my gaze is fixed on the wolves. My condition worsens with every passing minute. My hand clutches at my chest, trying to ease the burning sensation. The wind whipping through the open window provides temporary relief. I needed the wolves;

the risk was worth it. “Are you good?” James asks as we hit the highway. I nod, letting the cool air drive away my unease. I knew the risks, but I needed them. “I’ll be fine,” he nods, gritting his teeth but following the wolves.

An hour into the journey, I notice the wolves flagging. They have made serious ground, but we won’t make it much further with their state and mine weakening. I need to do something. I watch the wolves starting to tire. Pulling over, I climb out of the car and whistle, they run back to me, and I look at the SUV.

“Fuck!” I curse, trying to figure out where to put them. My gaze locks with James as he emerges from the driver’s side. His eyes are wide and filled with unspoken questions, but he only pops open the trunk.

“I won’t tell him if you don’t?” James says, and I peer in at my father.

Suddenly, in the distance, a staggering figure catches my attention.

“Slow down!” I snap at James.

“Wait…is that…?”

“It’s Gnash,” I choke out, my eyes welling up at the sight of my own wolf struggling against the rising sun. He’s so far from home, so far from help. The car screeches to a halt, and I jump out, rushing toward Gnash. He turns his head at the sound of my voice, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he collapses onto the rough terrain.

“Hey, boy. Daddy’s here,” I assure him, stroking his fevered fur. I need to cool him down, but we’re in the middle of nowhere. I promise him, “Hang on, boy. I’ll find a way to cool you down.” A breeze carries a tantalizing whiff of water to my senses. I look around and find a dam at the bottom of the mountain.

I carry Gnash back to the car. We have a chance. We just need to reach that water to cool him down.

The drive to the bottom of the mountain is a blur, a haze of fear and worry. Gnash is panting heavily in my lap, the air conditioner doing little to help him. I can only hope we’re not too late.

As the car races down the slope, the dam comes into sight. It’s more like a large pond set in the middle of a sprawling farm. James skids to a halt at the edge of the property, the tires sending up clouds of dust. I’m already out of the car before it comes to a complete stop, my heart pounding in my chest.

With a quick leap, I scale the rickety wooden fence, the hard-packed earth of the farm crunching under my boots. Gnash is a heavy, feverish burden in my arms, but I don’t dare slow down, his labored panting echoing in my ears.

The water of the dam is murky but cool, a welcome relief from the blistering sun. I wade into it, the water lapping around my knees, then my waist. With a splash, I lower Gnash into the water, cradling him against my chest. The sudden chill seems to spark a bit of life into him; his eyes flutter open, meeting mine with a flicker of recognition. “You’ll be fine, boy,” I promise him, my voice choked with emotion.

Looking at Gnash’s battered paws, raw and bloody, I realize the extent of his determination to get to Zirah.

I take a deep breath and sink my teeth into my wrist, the metallic taste of my blood filling my mouth. It’s a desperate move that could risk my life, but I need to try. I offer my bleeding wrist to Gnash, who laps up the blood weakly.

“Come on, boy,” I tell him, stroking his wet fur. “You’ve done well.” I can feel the drain as he absorbs my life essence, strengthening him.

My vision blurs around the edges, but I grit my teeth and hold on. I’ll deal with the consequences later.

Eventually, James comes to drag us out of the dam and back into the car. The drive is a torturous crawl, every mile stretching into an eternity. An hour away from the vampire kingdom, the car jerks violently, just when we think we’ve had all the bad luck we can handle.

“Damn it!” James curses as the car limps to the side of the road, the hiss of a deflated tire filling the air.

My heart sinks as I step out, surveying the damage. The rear tire is completely flat, the rubber shredded and useless.

“Please tell me you have a spare,” I say, looking at James. He just shakes his head, a grimace on his face.

“This is just perfect,” I mutter, kicking at the gravel. The universe has a sick sense of humor today.

However, there’s no time to wallow. “I guess I’m walking,” I snarl.

“What about your father?” James asks, and I curse when I hear a car coming down the mountain.

James turns, looking at the mountain too.

“Seems luck isn’t completely against us.”

“Thank the fates, I am parched and could use a snack,” James announces, and I glance at him. “What?

I’ve healed your father, healed guards, her brother, but I don’t see anyone offering a vein?” I growl at his words, and he huffs.

“Fine, I won’t bite,” he pouts when I see a huge Ram truck coming toward us.

Perfect, I move to the side of the road to wave them to see if they can give us a lift. Music pumps from its speaker, and it eventually slows down. I move to speak to the driver only to see it is a young man in his early twenties with a Mohawk. He smirks as I approach before taking off. I snarl, turning to James, who tosses his hands in the air.

“Jerk!” James calls out.

“Catch him, and you can eat him,” I tell him, and his lips turn up into a huge grin, his fangs poking past his lips.

The next second he’s gone, and I hear the brakes of the car screech. I lean against the hood, waiting.

Watching the big black truck, the driver’s door opens, the man’s body falls out, and the car turns back to get us.

“Did he just….” Leila asks, climbing out of the car.

“Asshole should have stopped.”