Resisting the Alpha Triplets by Cara Anderson

Ch. 73 Where Is She?

Colton’s POV

Weeks had passed since the night I’d snuck in to see Mallory. And though that encounter left me with no hope that she wanted anything to do with me, I hadn’t given up on the idea that someday she would give me a chance to explain. Unfortunately the opportunity still hadn’t presented itself.

But I’d meant what I’d said when I told myself I’d watch over her and that’s exactly what I’d done. Not that it was necessary. My brothers had her locked down tighter than Fort Knox. It would take a miracle of epic proportions to get to her. That’s why I was shocked to see them loading her in an SUV and preparing to drive her out of Black Moon Territory.

What were they thinking? The last time she’d left pack lands she’d come within a hair’s breadth of being kidnapped.

What could possibly warrant putting her at risk that way?

And if that weren’t bad enough, they were traveling with a whole cadre of guards. They might as well have put a target on her back. Anyone watching our borders would guess the Black Moon Luna was traveling in a convoy that heavily guarded.

“They’re putting mate at risk!” My wolf growled as we watched them drive away.

I’d been hiding beside the packhouse as they loaded up out front and I stripped out of my clothes right where I stood, preparing to shift and follow them. As soon as I took Kai’s form, he trotted to where Mallory had been and inhaled deeply.

“Mate smells funny.” He whined.

“She smells fucking delicious to me!” I groaned as her scent hit me.

It was fresh and soothing as usual, but maybe with a spicier edge than usual.

We took off for the border at a full sprint to catch up with her transport. Thankfully, the road bordered the forest all the way to the neighboring city so we could stay within the treeline as we followed. If my brothers or any of our warriors were paying attention, they would recognize my wolf easily enough, but they couldn’t stop me from trailing them.

Wherever they were going, it seemed to be in the heart of the city because they took the main road straight into town and didn’t stop for miles. Kai’s muscles ached and his paws burned by the time the vehicles slowed and turned onto a side road.

I only had a moment to appreciate the slower pace before I realized their destination. My blood turned to ice in my veins and Kai’s fur stood on end as they pulled to a stop in front of the hospital. I stayed out of view as Cary opened her door and my mate was pulled into his arms.

Was she sick? Was that why her scent was slightly off? They wouldn’t risk her leaving our territory unless it was something serious, something beyond our physicians’ ability to heal. I was going to lose my mind if I didn’t find out what it was.

Clay and Cary escorted her inside while a few of the warriors fanned out around the building. Kai paced back and forth, whimpering with the need to go to his mate. I understood his distress but I needed him to be quiet so I could think through my next move.

“Go inside!” Kai demanded.

“I can’t just go inside. They’d never let me get close to her. And if they find out I’m here, They’ll ensure I never get close enough to find out what’s going on.” I argued.

“Mate needs us. I can feel it.” He pushed.

“Let’s go around back. Maybe there’s another door we can sneak through.” I suggested and Kai wasted no time following my directive.

Thank Goddess I had the foresight to bring my clothes. Running around a hospital naked was sure to turn a few heads. But that would only be a problem if I ever got inside. As we ran around the side of the building and scanned along the back wall, it was quickly becoming apparent just how huge the building was.

Mallory could be anywhere once we got inside. I might have been able to follow her scent but with so many people coming and going, it was possible I wouldn’t be able to smell her. I had just decided to run back to the front and stay with her vehicle until she came out when a back door slammed open and I caught her delectable fragrance on the wind.

Kai took off in the direction her scent was coming from, a growl ripping from his chest when she came into view. Some man in a lab coat we didn’t recognize was carrying her lifeless form. Her head lolled back and her limbs hung limply at her sides.

We had just about reached them when two other men jumped out of an SUV parked nearby.

“Hand her to me. Let’s get out of here before they realize she’s gone.” One of them said, arms outstretched toward the man carrying her.

Kai leaped for him, his jaws closing around the stranger’s arm and taking him to the ground before he could touch our mate. My massive wolf shook his head back and forth, wrenching the man’s arm from his body and dousing his fur in the resulting blood spray.

The ferocious roar Kai unleashed shook the ground as he stood over the man bleeding out at his feet. Then he turned to the man carrying Mallory, his lips curling back in a menacing snarl. But just as he was about to leap, the cocking of a gun had us frozen in our tracks.

“Did you really think Alpha Quade was going to let anyone stop him from getting what he wants? He’s more than prepared to go up against a weak wolf like you.” He sneered.

“Come on, man. Shoot him and let’s go. Quade will have our ass if we don’t bring him his prize soon.” The third man urged.

I knew it was now or never. I couldn’t sit back and let them drive away with my mate. Kai sprung at the man carrying Mallory, the one with the gun, with no regard for his own safety. His only thought was to keep Mallory safe.

I could feel the wind skim his fur as he leapt through the air seconds before the sound of a gunshot rang out. My wolf’s determination surged through me, reinforcing my own certainty that his teeth would soon be ripping the flesh of the would-be abductor, so it came as a shock when I couldn’t taste his blood.

Confusion engulfed me when the smell of blood reached my nostrils but the man was still running toward the waiting car with Mallory in his arms. Then I registered something else that seemed strange. I was looking up at him as he ran by, the whole scene playing out at an odd angle. That’s when it hit me that the blood I smelled belonged to my wolf who was lying on the ground with his head cocked to the side.

“Mate.” Kai whimpered, attempting to push himself up but stumbling when his legs gave out beneath him.

He was breathing heavily as his blood pooled on the ground. The pain was only amplified by the deep drags of Mallory’s scent brought in by his labored breaths. It was only seconds before the blood loss stole our consciousness when it finally clicked with me what the subtle change in her scent signified.

“Where is she? I can smell her! Where the fuck did she go!”

“Oh fuck! Kai!”

Voices floated on the wind as I drifted in and out of consciousness but I couldn’t grasp who they belonged to. In the rare waking moments, my only thought was for my mate. I could feel the life draining from me faster than my wolf could heal us and it devastated me that my last act in life would be a failure to save the woman I loved.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“He’s bleeding out! He’s been shot. Let’s get him in the car!” Someone shouted.

Blackness surrounded me and it felt like I was swimming through tar, struggling to find the surface. The hum of voices and a rhythmic beeping sound broke through the darkness but I couldn’t find the source.

“Surgery… blood loss transfusion…” Just a jumble of words that held absolutely no meaning in my adrift state.

I had no sense of time. So it could have been hours, days, or even weeks when my eyes blinked open against the harsh light of a hospital room.

“Where am I?” I croaked to no one in particular.

“The infirmary. You’re home in Black Moon, son.” A voice I recognized answered.

“Mom? What happened?” I managed to ask despite my mouth feeling like I’d swallowed cotton.

“You were shot.” Another voice answered. Clay.

With those three words, it all came rushing back to me.

“Mallory!” I tried to sit up but the tubes and lines attached to me held me back. “Where is she?”