She violently shook her head. “There is nowhere to go, Kade. You know it. They’d be on us in a second. And I’m not leaving Zach. Or you.”
She had a point. No way the Dires would have started this and left the road open for them to escape. Their only hope was Zach. If the Empath was alive, he could stop this. If he was dead, it was all over.
Kitani joined him as he returned to burrowing frantically through the debris. Pain lanced through him every time he moved. The shrapnel in his leg stabbed deeper with every step. Kade reached down with a big paw, closed claws around it, and yanked it out. The leg almost gave way, but he forced it to hold him.
A gasp. Jessie stared at him, her hand resting on her own leg. Her eyes were wide with pain. She’d felt it, through their fledgling connection.
“Grab this,” Kitani ordered, as she lifted one corner of the stall wall. Kade pushed her aside and bent to shift it himself. His beast moved it easily.
Standing with Cara, Buffy ducked and dodged the pieces he sent airborne, poking her nose and whiskers into the cracks and crevices.
“Get yourr damned cat outta the way.” Kade didn’t stop flinging debris.
“Wait,” Cara said, as Buffy went still, whiskers vibrating. “There. Dig there.”
“Is he alive?” Jessie pulled the hose with her as she came closer. The burning wood hissed.
“Stay back.” Kade heaved chunks of metal and wood in all directions. Suddenly, he froze. Through the smoke, he saw an arm.
“Oh, no. Zach!” Jessie dropped the hose and ran over.
“Here, Kade.” Cara directed. “Pull this off him.”
Kade grabbed the section of metal bars in his teeth and hoisted it. It had planks attached—part of the stall partition. It revealed Zach’s upper body. He was lying face down. Blood masked the side of his face.
Cara and Jessie crouched near his head as Kitani and Kade carefully pulled the rest of the debris off his legs.
Jessie’s shaking fingers clamped onto his wrist. “He’s alive.”
Kade went to lift him. His leg still hurt, especially as he was in midshift, his bones creaking as they altered. His frame shrank as he straightened to stand on two legs. It was easier to carry someone as a human.
Jessie held up her hand to stop him. “Wait! He’s got a head injury, maybe spine—”
“Are you serious?” Kade glanced at the spreading fire. “We’ve gotta get him out of here. Now.”
“It’s all right.” Cara placed her hands on Zach’s head. “Lift slowly, Kade. I’ve got him.”
With infinite gentleness, Kade lifted. Zach wasn’t a small guy, but Weres were strong, even as humans. He easily lifted the other man. His injured leg threatened to cave when he stepped on shifting debris, but he forced it to obey.
From the forest, came a shriek. And then snarls.
“Everyone inside.” Kade looked at Laura. The blonde woman stood, motionless, outside the back porch. Her eyes were huge at the sounds echoing through the trees.
Kitani grabbed her by the arm as they passed and dragged her along.
“You need me,” Kitani said to Kade.
“Yes, we do. But if you go out there, Cody and Ryan will get themselves killed trying to protect you.” Kade pushed through the door and strode straight to the dining room, setting Zach on the table. Puzzle pieces flew everywhere.
He turned to his sister. “I need to know you’ll stay here.” He waited for her reluctant nod and then turned to Cara. “Save him. He’s our only chance.”
And he was gone, fur chasing along his spine as he shifted and sprang away.
* * *
Jessie examined Zach’s legs while Cara had her hands wrapped around his head.
There was blood all over him, where tiny pieces of shrapnel had penetrated his clothing to skate across his skin. Jessie ripped his shirt open. None of the cuts on his body seemed deep and she didn’t see any of the telltale deep bruising or rigidity of internal bleeding. But without diagnostics, she couldn’t be sure.
