"You can't stay here," I argued, not wanting to risk his life.
"To protect you, I have to," he told me. I frowned, not understanding.
"Go back to your pack and I'll contact you soon," he said. "Then I can explain everything to you."
I didn't know him, but I trusted him. I nodded.
Kyle lifted Bay into his arms. The side of her face was already bruised and swollen. Her eyes were still closed as he carried her to the car and laid her on the back seat. Flynn watched with an unreadable expression on his face.
I walked to James and helped him into the back seat with his sister. He lifted her head and rested it on his lap before I closed the door.
Hayden lifted a Keeper's body and carried it away as I got into the passenger side.
Kyle eyed out our two remaining cars and looked at me but I shook my head. I couldn't drive back, I didn't have the mental capacity to concentrate.
"We will organize to get them back to you," Harrison said.
Kyle nodded and got into the driver's seat.
Flynn stood behind Harrison. Unlike Hayden, his eyes were still dark and unforgiving, reminding me of the fear I had first felt when I had met him. I wasn't entirely convinced that—despite his actions—there was good in him. Harrison spoke briefly to Kyle before he started the car.
We drove down the driveway and I felt a moment of fear when we reached the gates. But my fear was unfounded because a few seconds later they swung open.
It wasn't until we had driven for about ten minutes that I felt relief. An impossible situation had been changed by the actions of one. And for the first time since I had left the pack to sacrifice myself, I felt the heaviness lift from my shoulders. We had survived this, but there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be another time where we wouldn't.
"How's she?" Kyle asked James. Bay was still unconscious.
"She's still breathing."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Kyle
It still didn't feel real. I drove back to the pack as fast as I could, with Crystal's hand in mine. I couldn't afford to go above the speed limit in case it attracted attention.
James was in pain and Bay was still unconscious. Every now and then she would moan. It was a reminder that she was alive. Against all the odds, we were all alive.
Crystal bit her nail as she stared out the window. She was probably thinking the same thing I was. What the hell had just happened?
Flynn had gone from executioner to savior. I still didn't like him or trust him, though.
How're you doing?I asked James through the mind-link.
I feel like I got hit by a bus,he shot back, his breathing labored.
Bay's groaning increased.
How far out are we?James asked.
I gave him an estimate.
Crystal looked into the back seat.
I think she might be waking up,Crystal told me. I wanted to look back but I didn't want to risk taking my eyes off the road and getting us into an accident on top of everything we had already been through.
Bay groaned again.
The sound from the hit she'd taken from Travis echoed in my memory. He had hit her hard. If she'd been human she would have died on the spot.
