Chapter 791 Chapter 791
They had been on the road since midnight. The storm hadn’t been finished, but Bear said he’d rather be driving slow than not moving at all. Calla agreed. The sooner they got Edda away from that place, the better everything would be.
For the first hour, Calla had been his lookout, watching for obstacles the wind placed in their path and keeping an eye on where the ditch was. Going off-road was not going to help anyone.
When they drove out of the storm, Bear persuaded her to try to have a nap because he knew she hadn’t. The plan was to drive and keep switching out until they got there. She was good with that. The miles Calla covered since joining Jesse’s Alliance team were too numerous to keep track of.
She had managed some sleep, but the sounds of driving woke her too many times to do it for long. Needing quiet to sleep was the most annoying thing. She envied people who could sleep through anything.
It was almost dawn now and she was feeling good about how much distance they’d put between Leon’s houses and Edda.
Bear reached over and touched her hand. He didn’t try to grab it, just touched it lightly, smiled at her and then turned his attention back to the road.
Calla could get used to this. As mates went, fate had been pretty good to her. She smiled when her cat moved inside her. She was happy with Bear. Calla suspected that was mostly because he wasn’t a wolf.
Calla turned in her seat and looked at Edda. She was looking out the window, smiling. It made her feel so good inside that she had been the one to find her and free her once and for all. The things she had to have gone through sent a shiver down Calla’s spine. She turned her head, looked at Bear, and smiled.
“Feels good, right?”
It was as if he read her thoughts. “I don’t think anything could…”
The van collided with something and spun. All Calla could hear was the crunch of metal. Something flew by her head, she wasn’t sure, but thought it might be glass. A pain cut through her leg, and then everything stopped.
“Calla?” Bear sounded out of breath.
“What happened?” Her seat was twisted. She couldn’t sit up straight.
“Someone hit us.”
She closed her eyes for a second. She felt nauseous. They popped open. “Edda? Edda, are you all right.”
There was movement behind her.
“I’m okay. I think I’m okay.” Edda sounded out of breath. “A few bumps.” More movement. “Why did those men hit us.”
“Men?”
Calla turned her head to see Bear jerking his seatbelt off.
She tried to move again. “I think I’m stuck.”
He turned in the seat and leaned toward her. She watched his face, and when he blanched, she hoped it was just the aftermath.
“Don’t try to move, okay?” He touched her cheek softly. “Let me assess first.”
Calla nodded and closed her eyes. She reached for her animal and then realized she was in shock, too. Her one leg was throbbing, but the pain was good; it meant it was still there. The other leg felt numb.
“Calla. Bear. The man is moving. I think he’s getting out.” Edda sounded panicked.
“Go check,” she whispered, leaning her head back to try to settle the dizziness.
“Yeah.”
She heard the strain of metal bending and then felt a breeze on her face. He must have had to force the door open.
“Oh no.”
She opened her eyes. “It’s okay, Edda. Bear will help them.”
“No. I don’t think that’s good. He has a …”
The sound of a gunshot ran out, and Calla bolted up and then groaned. Her hip wouldn’t allow her to move any further. “What happened? Is Bear okay?”
“Calla…”
Edda’s voice didn’t sound right. It was deeper and— Calla sucked in a breath. “We’re okay, Edda, just relax.” She heard the pop of a bone a second later, and then Edda screamed so loud it brought tears to Calla’s eyes. “Bear. Bear, are you okay?”
She heard something smash against the van and then a grunt. “Edda. Edda, just breathe through it. It’s going to be okay.” She turned and tried to see out her window and that’s when she noticed there was no window. There was bent metal pushed through where her window should have been. Her cat stirred inside her finally. “Okay.” She heard more bones popping behind her and then a low snarling sound. Edda had shifted. Inside the van. “Edda. Go outside. Help Bear.” The irony of telling a bear to help the man named Bear made her smile. She sobered. She clearly had a concussion.
The scrapping of claws along metal sent shivers all over her body, and then there was a low hair-raising growl and the sound of metal giving way. Edda must have found a way out. “Bear?” She lifted her arm and looked at it. It was fine. Blowing out a slow breath, she felt around where the console should have been. She was pretty sure it was under her bent-up seat. She touched metal. Gun. She gripped it, pulled it free, and then tucked it against her stomach. It might come in handy once she figured out how to get out of here. She felt around some more. Where was the phone? It should be right there.
Something slapped against the metal near her head. “Bear?” She touched the gun.
“I’m here.” He was out of breath.
“There was a gunshot.”
“Yeah.” She heard the groan of metal behind her. “He was going to shoot us.”
“He, who?” She closed her eyes.
“I didn’t pause to ask his name,” He grunted, and more metal creaked. “The other one died on impact.”
“Why would he want to shoot us?” She felt the seat belt move off her shoulder. Had he ripped it out? She couldn’t be sure.
Bear snorted. “Like I know that.” He mumbled something. “Best guess is Edda does have a tracker in her and didn’t know it.”
“Who would be tracking her? We got Aiden. We got Leon.”
“Mmhmm.” He growled, and she felt the seat move back to an almost comfortable position. “Okay. Now, I can take a look.”
“Where’s Edda?” He leaned around by her face. He smelled really good.
“What?” He moved away. “Did she get out?”
Calla’s eyes popped open. “Oh my god. Find her. Bear, you have to find her. She shifted for the first time. She’s probably freaking out.”
“What? The first time?” He was behind her head. “Did she shift in the van?”
“Yes. Please go find her.” She turned her head, and his face was right there. She could see worry in his eyes. “I will stay right here. You have to go find her.”
“You want me to go chase a bear around? How big is she?”
She blinked. “I don’t know. I couldn’t turn to look at her.”
He closed her eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “Just please, please promise me you’ll stay still and won’t try to shift. Please?” He opened his eyes and looked at her.
“I don’t think I have enough space to shift.” She motioned to the part of the other vehicle that was resting on the dash.
“Promise me, Calla. Your leg position doesn’t look good, but I can’t be sure. If you shift, you could end up stuck like that.” He moved so she could see more of his face. “I’m sure your lioness is sexy AF, but I really don’t want to make out with a furry face every night for the rest of my life. Please just stay put.”
Calla grinned. “We’re going to make out?”
He dropped her forehead on hers. “Without a doubt.” Lifting his face, he kissed her forehead. “Keep the gun in your hand, and if anyone shows up before I’m back. Don’t ask questions, okay?”
Calla nodded. “Okay. Call someone. I think we’re in a bit of a mess here.”
He snorted. “What makes you say that? The van’s half the width it was. Someone tried to shoot me, and now I’m going to chase a Kermode bear around in the woods. We’re fine.” He touched her cheek and then was no longer in her view. “Do not move at all.”
“I promise. Go find Edda.” She closed her eyes. “Take a blanket, she’ll be naked.” She heard him at the back of the van, mumbling to himself. He wanted to make out with her every night for the rest of his life. She smiled. It wasn’t a bad plan, in her opinion. Another wave of nausea hit her. “Come on, girl, wake up and help me settle this yuck down.” Taking a deep breath, she reached for her animal. She was there, but she wasn’t moving. Something was wrong.