“Don’t say it,” she growled, gripping her brother’s forearm. “Don’t even think it.”
Justice and Mac didn’t look as convinced as their baby sister. Mac stood in front of him as if he could block Wrath’s path.
Farica put one hand on her hip and waved at her brothers and the few guards who’d gotten out of their vehicles, “You all move out the way. If Wrath says he can save someone trapped in there, then let him do it!”
“Those flames aren’t even hot, sweet wolf,” Wrath told Farica in a voice that had her staring in fascination. “Your fierceness continues to astound me… while your brothers—the alphas—hesitate.”
She nodded, almost in a bow, then retreated out of Wrath’s space, backing into the thick chest of the Lord Protector, who always seemed to be just feet from Farica’s side. Bell touched Wrath’s shoulder, feeling the extra warmth soak into his palm. And something else. He tried to send as much love and respect as he could into their link before he told his god, “I’ll be right here for you when you come out.”
“You won’t have to wait long.” Wrath inched back and let Bell’s hand slide off his shoulder, then in a blink and a gasp, he shifted into his huge wolf. The slick black fur on his chest gleamed even in the darkest hours of the night. A surge of pride rushed thorough Bell at seeing Wrath in this spectacular form. He’d confessed to never being a wolf but relished it. Wrath’s beast stood almost as tall as them in their human form, his size incomparable to the other Volkov wolves.
Wrath lifted his dark muzzle and howled into the night sky, the sound stretching on for miles. The heads of the many spectators turned towards the deafening sound as Wrath charged forward. Vampires flashed about fretfully, taking cover. They’d never seen anything quite like what was barreling towards them at a startling speed. The sound Wrath’s steps made as he thundered across the ground, shook the earth. Firemen dropped their hoses and hurried out of the way, unsure why a massive wolf was aiming headfirst for a building fully engulfed in flames. Bell had to see. He flashed forward, and Wick and the Lord Protector were at his side in a second.
“Careful,” Ramon said, scanning the crowds that were growing at the sound of Wrath’s call. Shifters had appeared who hadn’t been there seconds ago. And the vampires who’d flashed away in fear had quickly returned. “They will recognize you both if—”
“It’s the king.”
“That’s King Bentley… and his guards.”
“It’s the Alpha Zenith.”
“Is he here to help us?”
“It’s the Lord High, look!”
“He lives.”
The murmurs grew to loud whispers of amazement. It was a blessing that none of them appeared to be hostiles. While they had non-supporters of the vampire and shifter matings, they had plenty of allies too. Bell watched as the vampires began to subtly bow their heads in respect.
The woman who’d been wailing had gone silent, her sobs still wracking her body as large tears rolled down her pale cheeks. She was a vampire, young, with sandy blonde hair and a long, slender stature. She was being held up by another woman, who was struggling with anguish as she stared at the building as if it was about to somehow show mercy. The woman turned her watery green gaze on them and Bell saw the moment recognition dawned on her. She flashed towards them, but Ramon was faster, jumping in front of her and stopping her. He held her in a tight restraint as she flailed to get closer to them.
“Please…. My lords! Help me! My love is still alive.”
“Let her go!” Farica yelled, running forward and taking the woman from Ramon’s hands. “She’s not a threat, for heaven’s sake. She’s just asking for help.”
Ramon looked horrified as Farica glared at him with disdain. He dropped his head, his hands going to his sides. “I… I apologize. I wasn’t trying to…”
“Shhh. It’s okay,” Farica said softly, holding the exhausted vampire as she dropped to her knees before them.
“My lords, I beg you,” she cried, her head in her hands.
Bell knelt and gently hefted her to her feet. “You don’t have to ask. My mate is in there. He’s found your beloved.”
She gulped as if she could no longer breathe while she tried to process what she’d just been told. There was a gleam of hope in her light eyes, but she was still shaking with distress. Bell held her tighter as Farica clutched onto her from behind, her wolf doing what it always did, providing comfort.
The sound of the glass shattering, and the back end of the second-floor collapsing made the woman scream again, and Bell was forced to let her go as Farica held on. The firefighters had resumed dousing the building with water—that didn’t appear to be helping at all. Bell turned towards the crumbling building, wanting his mate out of there. He could see nothing through the raging flames.