The Alpha (The Pack 3)

He nodded in acceptance as he said, “I’m going to go meet up with Trent and Anna for now and see if we can catch any scent of him.” He headed to the forest as I jogged back to the motel to get my Jeep, unable to shake the need to see Jess and make sure she was okay.

When I got to the parking lot I met up with Thomas and Monster. “I’m going to get Jess,” I told them, my anxiety increasing with every passing second. “Trent had to leave with Anna and I need to see her.” Thomas gave me a concerned glance, probably worried about me, because I sounded like a crazy stalker.

“Jess needs you,” Monster piped up and we both looked down at him. “Something’s wrong.”

Fear suddenly jolted across the bond link, coming from both Liam and Jess, and I had the impression of a wall of trees and her panic as I heard, We’re going to hit the trees, and then both links went silent. I tossed my keys to Thomas, “Go down the highway toward town, there’s been a car accident,” I shouted, clothes ripping as I shifted, knowing I could get there faster in wolf form. I didn’t wait to see if they followed my instructions as I surged forward, praying she was okay.

Chapter Eighteen

Jess

I blinked back to consciousness as pure fear flooded through me. It took me a second to realize it was Dom’s fear for me but before I could reassure him that I was okay, the door next to me was yanked open.

I shrank back instinctively from the man who stood there, his eyes wild as he reached for me. The seatbelt I still wore prevented him from jerking me out of the car and his teeth gnashed in frustration. He tried to unbuckle the seatbelt and I fought him until he backhanded me, the blow stunning me long enough for him to get the seatbelt undone.

He dragged me from the car as I struggled, frantically trying to reach Liam over the Pack bond, hoping he could help me, but the link was frighteningly silent. I kicked and punched wildly, adrenaline flooding through me, hiding the cuts and bruises I’d sustained from the wreck.

“Who are you?” I screamed, twisting impotently in his grasp. “What do you want?”

“You’re worth a lot of money to a lot of people,” the man grunted, tightening his hold as I fought. “I’ve been paid twice to kidnap you and luckily for me, my second client isn’t nearly as concerned about your wellbeing,” he muttered as his elbow came up to connect with my chin. I turned my head enough that it was only a glancing blow but as we got closer to his car, I fought harder, knowing I’d have less of a chance to escape in the car. “Goddamn it, you crazy bitch,” he yelled when I landed a blow to his crotch. “I’m going to enjoy giving you to them loony tree huggers.”

His words made no sense to me, but just then something knocked him off his feet and I heard, Run!

I scrambled to my feet, catching sight of Liam from the corner of my eye. He was limping and in human form, and I knew he must have been forced to shift due to his injuries. I headed for the forest, hoping to lose my wannabe kidnapper in the dense underbrush, knowing I wouldn’t be able to outrun him on the road.

Jess? Dom’s anxious voice flooded over me and I almost cried in relief.

I’m not okay, I cried as I charged into the forest. Guy ran us off the road and tried to take me. Liam helped me get away but he’s hurt. I don’t know if Leah is okay. I was gasping as I fought through the branches, desperate to get to the cleared path where I used to walk home with Dom and Caleb.

Where are you at?

The forest. I sent him an image of the cleared path, with the towering electrical transformers looming over it.

I’m headed straight for you, he promised, giving me strength as I pushed on. Crashing behind me spurred me on further as I realized someone was pursing me. A nudge of my link to Liam didn’t produce anything and I wondered if the guy chasing me had hurt him.

A loud popping sound caused me to duck automatically and a glance over my shoulder made me realize he had a gun.

He has a gun, I shouted frantically over the bond link to Dom, my idea to run into an open clearing suddenly not sounding so great. He’s shooting at me.

An angry snarl met my words as rage shot though me, the emotion didn’t belong to me but it gave me strength.

Go to the path, Dom ordered, feeling my hesitation. Lure him out for me. Resolve filled me as I trusted Dom to have my back and I burst from the trees.