“Who’s Bradley?” Beatrice’s voice shook.
“My brother.” He sighed but didn’t let up on the gas.
“Just pull over. I’ll get out willingly.” I didn’t want Aidan to live with killing his own brother.
Aidan didn’t respond, but his knuckles turned white from his grip on the steering wheel.
“Seriously.” If he thought I was testing him, I wasn’t.
“Emma, you know he won’t turn you over to them,” Amethyst said softly. She touched my shoulder. “He’ll always pick you.”
Bradley stared Aidan down from the middle of the road.
My heart hammered in my ears.
We were only about two car lengths away. Something like fear appeared in Bradley’s animal eyes.
I’d braced for the inevitable impact when, at the very last second, Bradley stepped out of the car’s path. The air from the vehicle passing ruffled his fur.
Although we’d missed him, adrenaline still pumped through me. I turned around in time to see the other two vehicles rush by him.
A howl filled the air as we flew down the gravel roadway, rocks flying in every direction.
“Oh, thank Goddess.” Beatrice sighed with relief. “I’m not sure I can handle more blood today.”
“Me neither.” Amethyst leaned her head back against the seat.
Even though they were relieved, I wasn’t sure we were out of the woods yet … figuratively and literally.
I sat on the edge of the seat and scanned the trees. Every now and then, it appeared like a wolf was running in our direction, but we were going too fast for it to catch up.
Between that and making sure the cars behind us weren’t attacked, my head began to hurt.
Most of the shifters would be heading toward the subdivision. They weren’t aware that all the witches were gone.
A huge wolf stood on a gradual hilltop, his eyes on our car as if he had to see us scurry away.
Aidan
My father appeared, which didn’t surprise me. After seeing Bradley, I’d had a feeling he’d be here.
My dad used our pack link to connect with me. You would’ve run over your brother for that abomination from the Rogers pack that is sitting beside you?
I told him I wouldn’t stop. I wouldn’t let my family manipulate me any longer. So it was on him.
You need to stop and hand her over to us. Dad sounded angry. Before you can’t turn back.
She’s my fated mate and nothing like the evil you painted all my life. The longer I was connected with him, the easier it would be for him to follow us.
You’ve let her mess with your mind. Now, Dad’s voice was loud and commanding. I felt the alpha will lace his words. Stop now. It’s time to end her.
This was the choice I’d never wanted to have to make, but in hindsight, this was my destiny as much as it was hers. I refused to bow to his will and glanced at him one last time as my father. You’re not my alpha any longer.
Then, my pack bond disappeared and left behind a cold void that rocked me to the core. But I’d be fine as long as Emma survived.
Emma
Aidan’s eyes met that of the wolf on the hill, and they stared at each other until the wolf was out of our view.
“We’re okay now.” Aidan’s hands relaxed on the steering wheel.
“Are you sure?” I wished I felt as confident as he did. “That huge-ass wolf was watching us.”
“That’s how I know we’re in the clear.” Aidan cleared his throat and looked in the rearview mirror. “That was my father. He always brings up the rear.”
I didn’t know what I’d been expecting, but it wasn’t that. “Oh.” Sometimes, I wished words came easier for me.
The car remained silent, and Aidan soon slowed down so we weren’t driving so recklessly. When we pulled out onto the main road, I finally began to calm down.
“We should listen to the news.” Beatrice fidgeted in the backseat, trying to get comfortable.
“Yeah, I wonder what they’re saying about the earthquake last night.” Amethyst motioned to the radio. “Do you mind?”
“Nope, not a problem.” I scanned the radio stations, looking for the news. Finally, I landed on a news station.
A female voice came on the radio. “I’m sure everyone is aware of what happened last night, but if you’re living under a rock, let me tell you. An earthquake was felt across the entire United States around one a.m. eastern standard time. But this was no ordinary earthquake.”
“Of course it wasn’t.” Aidan reached over the center console to take my hand.
The lady continued. “This nine-point-two earthquake was the first one this strong ever recorded, but oddly, there were no foundational issues anywhere. There are no broken windows or fallen buildings. Hell, not even places where the earth split. As a precaution, there are tsunami alerts in place until later this evening.”
“There won’t be any tsunamis,” Beatrice reassured. “This was the witch’s power being unleashed from the dead. It was supernatural.”
The woman paused. “What has scientists most confused is that there wasn’t one area of origin, but rather, it came from the entire United States.”
Amethyst leaned back. “I can’t wait to see what Emma becomes.”
“Where should I be heading?” Aidan asked. “I’m assuming the others headed somewhere.”
“Yes, we have a place four hours from here,” Amethyst breathed the words. “I can’t wait to get back to my real room.”
“Wait, that wasn’t your home?” Aidan glanced in the rearview mirror.
He hadn’t been there earlier when I’d asked, but it made sense that that wasn’t where they planned to stay since they lived very minimally.
“Oh, no.” Beatrice placed her hands in her lap. “We always worried they’d find us after your mom and dad. We relocated all of our belongings in Columbus, Georgia and moved several hours away, waiting for a sign to return home.” She glanced at me. “We now have our sign.”
“I hope you’re not wrong about that.” I might be their beacon of hope, but I didn’t have a clue what to do or how to lead. For the past four years, I’d been complaisant. That couldn’t be a good thing for a true leader.
“She’s scared she’s not strong enough,” Amethyst said.
“I’m not.” They had to see what I was before they got hurt or worse. “For most of my life, I’ve gone along with things, not wanting to make waves. I’m thinking that’s not an attribute you’re looking for.”
“Dear girl.” Beatrice narrowed her eyes. “You were a child and needed time to figure out who you are. You’re still figuring it out, but you don’t see what we do.”
“And what’s that?” For some reason, I needed to know.
“They see you the same way I do.” Aidan squeezed my hand and smiled adoringly. “You’re stronger than you realize. You were going to leave my ass if I didn’t get my shit together.”
“You walked away from me, so it wouldn’t have been that hard.” That sounded colder than I’d intended.