Anything For You: A Coming Home Short Story (6 page)

“What the hell happened to you?” His fingertips rubbed the delicate skin, and she winced. Anywhere he touched, the burn intensified until she ached to scream, and as much as she’d wanted Kyle to touch her, having him do so was torture. When he released her, she caught her breath and managed to speak.

“Liam...He bit me.”

She wanted Kyle to reach for her again, regardless of the pain. But he only loomed close, leaving her weary for support after the long drive. From his parted shirt, she peered at the hard ridges of his abs, then the faint trail of brown curls that led down to a part of him she’d never forget. It didn’t take much for him to rile her up. But her desire for him didn’t matter anymore. She needed him for other reasons.

His black eyes examined her. Would he see her desperation and help?

“Something happened to Liam a week ago. Members of the pack began to disappear, and then dead human bodies started popping up all over the place. They’d been mangled by the pack.” She took two deep breaths before she continued. “Then he came to my house… He didn’t look right. He had a sickly smell, and his face had wrinkles—as if he’d aged a few years. All of the missing pack members were with him, following his commands without any forethought. Without any mercy. They almost seemed dazed and rabid. He said he’d make me join him and be obedient at his side.”

“All this sounds crazy.”

“I agree. It’s something I’ve never heard of before. Or even if there’s a cure or a way to fight it.”

Heat radiated from Kyle as he rubbed his face with his hand. “Where’s Liam now?”

“After he bit me, he waited for me to fall under his control. But I didn’t, and I ran away. I managed to call one of the remaining pack elders. I thought I escaped undetected, but he said Liam’s chasing me.”

Kyle’s gaze darkened as he quickly closed in on her. He was so close she could see the muscles in his face twitch. “You led him here?”

Her mouth moved, but nothing came out.

“Do you realize you’ve lead Liam out of our territory—an isolated area—into another one with innocent humans?”

Any hope Emma had held faded with each of his words. The pain of the infection inside didn’t compare to the ache his response brought. Oh, God. What had she done? Had she signed a death sentence for anyone who crossed Liam’s path on his way here?

She searched for the right words to say. “If you come back with me, we can stop him before he reaches this place.”

“Em, you shouldn’t have come. You should’ve grabbed Meg and gotten the hell out of there. I’m not the man to solve your problems anymore.”

She bit her lower lip to control her words. She had to say the right thing. “It’s not my fault Liam deceived you. And it isn’t the fault of all the innocent people he’s killed.”

He scoffed. “So, after everyone in the pack turned their backs on me, I’m supposed to risk my life for them?”

Not only for them, but for me.

Kyle stormed to the tool rack. He selected a wrench before making his way back to the minivan, and Emma’s heart sank. She’d been dismissed. For all the years she’d known him, he never retreated from a fight. Until today.

Emma held in her tears until she reached her car. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. Not even after she had begged him for help. She dug into her jeans for the keys. When she couldn’t find the keychain, all the rage simmering under the surface burst forth. With a slew of curses, she kicked the tire.

“Bastard!”

Fuming, she finally found the keys and jumped into the car. Her breaths were deep and measured, enough to start calming her down. She had to keep it together to make the long drive ahead. She had to be strong for Meg even if she faced Liam alone. If Kyle wouldn’t help her, then she’d form a plan on her own. But she had no idea where to start or who she could turn to next. Everyone in town who hadn’t succumbed to Liam and the infection were barricaded inside their homes. They would never open their doors to her.

A shadow darted from a group of cacti and disappeared behind the gas station, visible only for a second in Emma’s peripheral vision. She crouched low in the driver’s seat and peered out the window. No wind. No movements in the distance. The only sound she heard was the rapid staccato of her own pulse. Had she lost her lead already? Had one of Liam’s men found her? What if it was Liam himself? He’d kill her.

She thrust the key into the ignition. When she glanced up, Kyle stood in front of the car with eyes blazing. “C’mon, Emma. We’ve got work to do.”

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