Page 71 of The Night Burning

Tyren glared at Shane. Then he spun around and took off.

“Tyren!” Shane called out.

“Let him go,” Killian said. “He won’t listen to reason when he's angry. Just like someone I know.” He looked at Shane.

Shane let out a long breath. “All right, people, everyone out. Now. Please.”

Slowly, our friends moved.

I held Shane’s hand as we watched them go, trying hard not to break down. What the hell had just happened?

25

SHANE

I didn’t expecteveryone to follow my request, but I also hadn’t expected that only half of the pack would. The half who stayed in their homes and refused to move were older wolves who didn’t want to leave the only place they knew.

I honestly didn’t have the patience to deal with them. So I let it slide, at least for a couple more hours. That time was more for myself, so I would calm down and not drag them out by their arms, than to have them change their minds.

After the Whitecrest challenge and my request, my friends acted. First, they packed their stuff while everyone else did too, then they grabbed any cars they could find and started filling them with everyone and everything. Dom and Vallin went from house to house, asking wolves if they were ready and helping them either fill up their own cars, or hop in theirs.

Evelyn and Ash did the same, though she was explicit that as soon as they had helped us evacuate, they would come back. They wanted to free the dragon, even if the poison had gotten to him. I told her she could do whatever she wanted, as long as everyone was safely away from here.

Killian and Lavinia were in charge of taking all the important paperwork from the town hall and the library—documents, records, archives, anything that we could use later to help us rebuild. Almae did the same with whatever we had for potions and magical spells, things that might come in handy when we were homeless.

Meanwhile, Raika and I helped Jay pack all the essentials from the infirmary and prepare the sick people. Dom and I brought over the two biggest SUVs we could find in town, and loaded them up—Minsi and Lucille included. Some of them were awake and conscious while we transported them from the infirmary’s beds to the car seats. They asked what was going on, where we were taking them, and said they didn’t want to leave.

I reassured them it was for the best.

I just hoped I wasn’t lying to them.

Roman drove one SUV; Jay drove the other. Rue and Vianna followed in separate cars, taking all the kids with them.

Raika and I stood in the middle of Main Street, watching as they left. Raika put a hand over her heart and inhaled deeply. I knew what she felt because I felt the same. I hated seeing them leaving, but what other choice did I have? I couldn’t protect them here.

“She’ll be fine,” I said.

Raika nodded. “I know, but it’s still not easy.”

It pained me to see Minsi leaving with them. But Rue and Tyren—

My thoughts came to a halt.

I glanced around. I had told Tyren to go with them, but I couldn’t remember seeing him in any of the cars. “Where’s Tyren?”

“He was …” Raika frowned. “I swear I saw him here a few minutes ago. But—”

“He tricked us. He was here so we would see him, but he didn’t go with them.”

Raika’s eyes widened. “Where is he, then?”

We looked around again, but it looked like a ghost town from here. The streets were empty, and there were fewer lights on than usual. The wolves who remained were inside their homes, probably sleeping by now as if nothing had happened.

I could only think that Tyren was at our house, playing video games, acting like the other wolves who were giving me a headache.

I picked up my phone and tried calling him, but he didn’t answer. “Why is he being a pain in my ass right now?”

“Hey, it’s okay.” Raika turned to me, one of her hands on my arm. “We’ll find him. We can separate and search for him.”