Shuddering as the wind blew smoke in through the shattered glass, Liz led the way out of the deserted building and motioned for the woman to hurry. They’d found the food and medical kit the beta had known about, then searched the surrounding homes before heading back toward the school. The random bags and backpacks they’d grabbed hung over their backs, fronts, and forearms, their weight making Liz’s thighs burn as she almost ran back toward her Nana and mate.
The bags were stuffed with things they’d deemed useful, mostly food and medical supplies, but when the last building, a restaurant, had boasted a few long knives, she’d made room in the pack on her front to bring them. All the other bags were a mishmash of items and would need to be sorted, if they had time.
Liz coughed and darted into the wrecked school, her stomach curdling and head pounding as she thought about how terrified her Nana had to have been. How frightened and inconsolable the children had to be. How distraught the parents were, their expressions forever etched in her mind.
And the way Blaide had taken stock of the situation and taken control.
He acted as though he’d been through much worse, which sent sorrow and worry through her. She sensed the doubts he held, but had no clue how to comfort him, and he was already helping so many people just by keeping a clear head that she would do anything to ease the turmoil in his soul.
The hallway forced her to slow so she didn’t bang the bags into the walls and potentially dislodge rubble above, and she cursed under her breath at her stupidity. The stuff could have stayed outside with the gathered survivors. They could be sorting it right now. Liz glanced behind her and saw the other woman hadn’t followed her in, which meant she was thinking more clearly than Liz was.
But her body demanded she reunite with her mate this instant, the throbbing in her skull growing with each step as she sought out his strength. She entered the room where they’d started digging when she left and skidded to a stop. As she dropped the bags right in the walkway, she scanned the people and didn’t see her alpha or her Nana.
They’d gotten into the basement, if the hole in the floor was any indication. Liz held in a sob of relief when a tiny head was quickly followed by shoulders, the man kneeling above the hole lifting the child and passing him to the eager man beside him. Dirty and shaking, the little mite matched the beta male in every way, except for his striking blue eyes, which mirrored the woman clutching at them both. They moved to the wall to make room for the next rescue, and when bright red curls popped up from the hole, Liz knew the girl belonged to the couple rushing forward, their coloring the same.
Her heart shot into her throat as she glimpsed the hands surrounding the child’s hips. Long black nails and thick knuckles passed the toddler upward, Blaide’s fingers easy to recognize since they were forever imprinted in her mind. She was both relieved and terrified that he was at the entrance to the basement. It meant he was successful in reaching her Nana as he’d promised but was probably in the most dangerous place in the building.
He passed another survivor up, this one a little bigger than the others, and she realized whoever was down there was carefully organizing the order in which they came out, youngest to oldest.
Which meant her Nana would probably be last. Both pride and fear warred in her guts, but as another child emerged from the hole, she caught Blaide’s purr and pushed her angst away. Now was not the time.
As the initial group of parents moved out of the way, Liz passed them bags and asked them to take them to the gathered group across the village center. They nodded, and the partner who wasn’t carrying their child took whichever backpack Liz handed them before rushing down the hallway.
Blaide’s deft hands lifted more children from certain doom, the look of relief on the kids’ faces after they finished blinking away the light streaming in through the hole in the far corner of the ceiling making Liz want to fall down and weep.
Her alpha was a hero. She hadn’t meant to push him into such a fraught situation, but she’d be forever grateful he’d been with her, and so would the others he was helping save.
Delicate hands reached up and latched onto the male who was lifting people to safety. The second the omega woman’s feet hit the floor she dove behind the one who’d helped her and tucked herself against the other alpha’s chest, and for a second he released one hand from the first man’s belt before murmuring to her. She nodded and stepped back, letting him return to anchoring the burly male closest to the hole so he had better balance.
Another small woman rose from below, her lips set in a tight line as she accepted the men’s help. She stumbled away and huddled with a beta man nearby, her shoulders shaking as she sucked in steadying breaths.
Liz stepped forward and rested her hand on the first omega’s shoulder on instinct, needing to offer her support. If the movement also brought her closer to the hole, then that just happened to be a happy coincidence.
The woman’s eyes widened as she met Liz’s gaze, a string of recognition flowing between them, even though they’d never met before. The disheveled omega smelled of children’s tears and dirt, but the distinct perfume of Liz’s Nana clung to her clothes as well.
Liz opened her mouth to say something, but stark white ears rose from the darkness and stole her voice.
Grungy like everyone else, still her Nana managed to look more put together than those around her, and Liz’s voice dried up as tears welled in her eyes. She stood like a puppet without a master, staring as her Nana wobbled on the edge of the drop despite the hands helping her. She gave a thankful yet worried look up to the alpha closest to the hole before stepping away from the abyss.
Liz’s voice returned as their gazes met.
“Nana!”
Her feet carried her the distance separating them, relief flooding her as she wrapped her arms around her closest confidant’s waist and gave a gentle squeeze.
“Liz? What are you doing here?!”
Unable to hold herself back, Liz let her tears fall as she responded.
“Mom said you wouldn’t leave, so I had to come get you.”
Surprisingly strong yet thin fingers tweaked her ear.
“No, you didn’t, Elizabeth. I know in my soul I was meant to be here when I was. Those children needed me.”
Liz opened her mouth to refute her Nana, but the omega standing beside them interjected.
“Without Clarette, I would have panicked. She kept the kids and I calm while we waited for rescue. She knew the villagers would find a way to rescue us.”
Ominous dread filled Liz’s stomach as debris shifted above them and the building groaned. Panic shot up into her throat, and she ripped herself out of her Nana’s hold. Before she even looked at what was going on around them, her words ricocheted around the room.
“Get him out!”
“I’m here, Red. Everyone out of the building before we need another rescue team.”
Blaide’s shoulders filled her vision before he swooped down to peck her on the forehead, but his stern expression matched the dread wriggling in her stomach, so she turned toward the hallway and rushed out with her Nana’s hand tucked firmly in hers.
The moment they exited the building, the entire group darted across the village square and met the scraggle of people on the other side.
The school groaned again before metal scraped against metal. It didn’t fall, but the walls made a visible shift.
Blaide checked out the group before speaking, his first syllable gaining everyone’s attention. No doubt the parents of those he’d saved had already spread word about his efforts, and everyone was looking for someone strong and confident to take the lead.
“The trip to the city will not be easy, but no one can stay. The Kantor won’t be far behind, and I’m sure you’ve all heard the stories. We’ll take the easiest, straightest path back to the city, aiming for speed, but we have to stay together.”
Every man, woman, and child stared at him, the stench of their fear wafting aside to reveal a ray of hope. Blaide’s arrival gave them a direction, and Liz understood their pull to follow him.
He was the only solid in a world of crumbling buildings.
After checking the number of packs and choosing a mix of male and females to carry them, Blaide slid his arm around Liz’s, his eyes flicking to her despite the calculations his mind made for the upcoming trials.
“Liz?”
Nana’s question pulled Liz’s attention away from watching her mate’s profile. When she saw her creased brow and felt the worry wafting from her, Liz squeezed her hand and sucked in a deep breath.
“He’s mine, Nana. I didn’t realize I was in heat, and he saved me, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, even if things did move a little fast.”
Time was too precious to waste it on words, so that was the best Liz could give her Nana.
It was all that needed to be said, which Clarette proved by the softening of her gaze and the satisfied smile tugging at her lips.
“I’m happy for you, my little darling. I may not have had great luck with alphas, but you’ve obviously found your soulmate. I can’t wait to see you two flourish together.”
Strong fingers cupped her chin and demanded she give her alpha her entire attention.
“Why are you crying, Red?”
“Because I’m happy.”
The creases beside his eyes lessened as he checked her from head to toe and rumbled out a chuckle.
“Yes. Yes, you are.”
Her eyelids widened in shock as he tilted his head, indicating something behind them. With a startled sound, Liz laughed as she realized her tails entwined with his, playfully stroking and flicking his fluff.
“Now let’s get everyone to safety so I can fulfil my dreams for the future.”
His rough voice replayed in her mind, his promises to knot her for a week heating her cheeks.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Liz hated to let him move away from her, but he was right. The trek here had been savage since her heat had drained so much from her, but now they had to slog through the underbrush with children and people shaken after an encounter with the enemy.
Her heart ached with fear, but she straightened her shoulders and hugged her Nana before getting to work. They’d do whatever it took to get everyone to safety.
Except when she studied the faces around her, she knew they wouldn’t be leaving soon. The sun teased the horizon, threatening to take its light away, and fatigue pulled at everyone’s expressions. They’d been working non-stop to save everyone, and while she was sure they’d follow if Blaide said to leave now, she knew they wouldn’t be able to stay on their feet for long.
She tried to keep her dismay to herself, but Nana squeezed her fingers and Blaide offered her a silent wave of support. They’d get some rest while the world lay in darkness, then head out as soon as there was enough light to see.