Escape

Lake

The words Evin says echo in my head.

~Father? What is he talking about?~

My balance is knocked off as Evin pushes me backwards in my moment of hesitation. I land on the ground with Sylas and Derrick already on either side of me.

“Evin…” I mutter, exhaustion finally taking hold over me, “He can’t…”

Evin slips out of everyone’s sight. I look around frantically for him, but I can’t locate him. All that’s left is that skunk scent of his.

“He’s the least of our worries, Firefly.” Derrick comments as he helps me to my feet.

The situation becomes more clear as I see the group of Ferals barrel through the sliding glass doors we came through. The glass shatters but the Ferals all fix their eyes on our group.

“Just our luck.” Lucy rolls her eyes, briefly looking at me in a glance.

~I saw that.~

“Get through by any means necessary.” Sylas orders, “None of us are dying here.”

The Ferals screech as their group and ours crash into each other. Derrick’s large frame blocks any of the larger males from getting to me while Sylas brings up the rear.

“You guys know I’m not weak, right?” I scoff as I take out a female Feral coming for Derrick’s right while he tussels with one himself.

“Of course you’re not, Kjarni.” Sylas smiles and kisses my temple, “Almost seeing you be killed has made me a tad bit overprotective.”

Derrick growls and breaks his Feral’s neck, “Listen, you—”

“Enough!” Coal stops his fighting and interjects abruptly, “I’m so sick of this arguing! We are one happy fucking family until we’re out of this shit show! Do you understand me?!”

“Coal!” Lucy calls. Her mate turns but not in time to see the Feral coming for his left.

Coal is tackled to the ground before the Feral takes a chunk out of his side. He cries out in agony. The Feral bites harder before Lucy shifts and tears him from her mate. The Feral rips the skin from Coal’s side before being tossed across the arena.

“Move!” Derrick picks Coal up and we all make for the door.

Derrick

“You fucking Hybrid!” Lucy pushes Lake against the wall once we’re inside the building, “I told you what would happen if either of them got hurt!”

Sylas takes Coal from me as I put myself between Lucy and Lake. My sister is used to my protection of my mate but doesn’t realize it’s more out of necessity than protecting Lake.

“Like Coal said, we’re a big happy family until we get out of here. Speaking of which, it’s what we need to do.” My sister senses my seriousness and backs down. Usually, she would give me her Alpha stench until I backed down, but something’s different now.

I take Coal from Sylas and let him lead the way. We all move as quickly as possible through the tight hallways, mostly taking ones that only one person can walk in front of the other.

Sylas leads with Lake behind him. Their hands are laced together tightly. Lucy is close behind me, mumbling something about Lake and how she’s going to reap what she sows.

~Big happy family, Derrick.~

In the corner of my eye, I see Dr. Fine flash by with her white coat and hair down to her waist. All of the pain and suffering she caused me and Lake comes flooding back and causes me to stop dead in my tracks.

“Ow!” Lucy rubs her nose. “Since when are you made of concrete?”

“That doctor just went that way...” I say coldly, staring in the direction she left.

“And we’re going this way.” Lake motions behind her.

“But that woman did all of this! Evin did, too, but she’s the one that gave me the serum!” I growl. “I need to kill her!”

“Hey, murder gonzolous.” Lake taps my cheek, bringing my attention to her. “Like you said, we need to get out of here. Trust me, I want a piece of her too, but we have other priorities.”

She’s clearly talking about Coal, and I hate to admit that she’s right.

“C’mon.” She smiles. “We get out of here to live and fight another day.”

Sylas

The group comes to a safe distance outside of Evin’s territory. Coal lets out a loud howl of pain as Derrick puts him as gently as possible on the ground. Lucy comes to his side and examines his wounds.

“Here, let me—”

“You’ve done enough for one day!” Lucy pushes Lake from coming close to her mate. I can feel the tension between the two females, not like it’s anything new.

“C’mon baby.” Lucy helps Coal to his feet. “There's a river nearby. I’m sure it will help slow the bleeding.”

The two lovebirds leave the three of us in an awkward position.

Lake shifts uncomfortably under mine and Derrick’s gaze. The wolf can’t seem to take his eyes off of her. Almost like he’s questioning something between them.

I desperately don’t want to leave her alone with him. Blame the new bond, or just me being overprotective, but it’s true. The way Derrick went after her with no remorse in his actions makes me ready to kill him on the spot he’s standing.

He could’ve easily taken my reason for existing if it weren’t for their crystals combusting in on themselves.

On top of that, what would happen to my bond with Lake if she were to rekindle things between her and that dog of hers? Would I be put on the back burner to simply tend to Derrick’s needs?

Lake plays with her long hair nervously. She’s needing to say things, just as Derrick is, I see that. This whole bond thing is new to me, but one thing isn’t. Lake and Derrick need time to themselves to sort things out.

I sigh and walk over to Lake. She hugs me tightly and gives me a reassuring smile.

“I’m going to watch for anyone that’s not welcomed.” I kiss her temple and look pointedly at Derrick. “All you need to do is call for me and I’ll be here, okay?”

With one last glance at my Essence, I leave her alone with the Feral.

Derrick

I stand in front of Lake as the Vampyre leaves. I’m somewhat surprised at the lack of jealousy towards Lake and that male I’ve felt up until this point. Why aren’t I upset more than I am?

It has to be this serum in my system, right? It’s got to be. Lake and I are still here.

My Firefly. She’s still the same stubborn, set in her ways, and loving she-wolf I’ve always known. Her beauty still takes my breath away. Even if she’s covered in blood and her head is full of mats.

Lake moves her hair away from her chest, revealing her almost non-visible mark. I look at my bare chest to see the exact same thing.

“Firefly, I’m so sorry.” It finally hits me as to what’s happened. The grievance of my actions on the two of us.

“I’m sorry for attacking you... For trying to…” I reach my hand out to my mate, but she flinches at my advances. My eye twitches a bit at Lake’s action. Did she really flinch from me?

Anger consumes me as I spit out, “Oh, so you prefer Vampyres now?”