Page 52 of Escaping Wildfire

“I want you to get Nora out of Wildfire.” He spoke quietly but firmly. “Call your brother, whatever we need to do, we’ll do it, but I need to get her somewhere safe. If Beta Griffin can do this to me, then no one is safe.”

He looked at me, through his swollen eyes. “I know you want them to get you and your friends out, but Griffin said he’d come after Nora next. I can’t let him hurt her.” His voice cracked, and he reached out for Nora. “Get her out, and I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to get you and your friends out.

“Larkin, I don’t want to leave you.” Nora looked at him with desperation.

“I’m not asking for this because I want to be apart from you, I’m asking for this because it’s what will keep you safe. It’s not forever. As soon as I find a way to take down my father, we’ll be back together again. We’re not on our own anymore, Nora. Let them help.” Nora furrowed her brow before she looked back at Larkin and nodded her head.

I nodded at Larkin as well, and the four of us came up with a plan to call the boys later that evening. Larkin would have to stay overnight, and Rory had agreed to stay with him as Nora would not be able to stay, but she could go with me to my room and talk to the boys with me. We stayed with Larkin through dinner and knew we couldn’t stay any longer as it was getting dark. “Let’s go call them now.” I turned to Nora, and we both walked back to the pack house together and went up to my room to start charging my phone.

23 Cristian

GEMA

Nora and I got back to the pack house, and luckily, no one paid attention to us as we arrived. Alpha Marek had made Nora my maid as a punishment for her and Larkin, but it looked like it was actually turning out to be the best possible thing for all of us as we had banded together against him.

The two of us split up as Nora went to her room to get her charger, and I headed upstairs to my suite. I paced the bedroom as I waited for her, it felt like she took forever to get back. When she finally knocked and walked inside, she had fresh sheets in her arms, most likely to hide the charger and give her a reason to come upstairs.

“Here, she handed me the charger. Go start up your phone, and I’ll change the sheets, so it looks like I actually came up here for that.”

I took the charger and went off to the closet. Nora came back as the phone was starting up. “Is it ready?” I nodded and saw a few texts come in from Noah letting me know he loved and missed me. I quickly swiped through them and dialed my brother’s number. Unlike the first time I called, he answered on the first ring.

“Gema?”

“Cristian!” We both sounded relieved to hear the other’s voice.

“I’m so glad you called, with it being so long since the last time, we were all really worried.”

“I’m still safe, Cristian…but I need you guys to help me figure out a plan to get one of my friends out. She’s not safe here.”

“What? You want us to get your friend out…instead of you?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but she’s in danger.”

“Gema…” I could hear the exasperation in his voice, and I looked over at Nora as if asking for help…or for permission really…

“Nora, can I tell him the reason we need you out?” She hesitated but eventually nodded.

“Cristian, just listen, please. My friend, she’s Larkin’s fated mate, and Alpha Marek doesn’t approve of her. He’s been hurting her, and his Beta has threatened her life. If we get her out, Larkin will keep me safe and help me get out next.”

“He can’t even keep his own mate safe, how do you think he’ll be able to keep you safe?” His voice was getting louder as his frustration grew.

“Alpha Marek needs me alive to mate with his son, he won’t hurt me as long as I stay in line…and Larkin has been working hard to challenge his father. He’s actually a really strong alpha.” I didn’t mention that he was currently hurt in the hospital as that would surely make my brother question everything I had just told him.

“Gema, let me talk to the others, then we’ll let you know if there’s anything we can do.”

“Alright, but please don’t take too long. We need to get her out of here fast.”

He took a deep breath. “Have you talked to Mom and Dad again?”

“No, I haven’t seen them since my birthday. As far as I know, they’re still just wasting away in the cells.”

“Alright…” He paused as if wanting to say more, but then he changed the subject instead. “Noah’s been missing you like crazy. With how he’s been acting, if you two aren’t mates, the Moon Goddess is going to have some serious explaining to do.” He chuckled as he said that. It was good to hear him laugh, even if just for a second.

“Is he there? Can I talk to him?”

“No, he and Jordan are both out, we got put on rotation for night patrol, and tonight’s their night.”

I sighed, disappointed at not being able to talk to Noah. I wanted to stay on the line forever…or at least until they came back, but Nora gave me a signal to wrap up the call.