Audrey wasn’t sure what hurt more…the whole left side of her face, her ribs, or her arm. The bumps on the back of her head ran a close second.

“As soon as you kill that abomination she is raising; you are to kill her too.” Edmund Thomas’s voice was cold and unfeeling.

“That will cost you extra,” said the man who had attacked her in her home.

“Why should I pay you more money?”

“Because kidnapping her and bringing her fat ass here was extra work I didn’t have to do if you wanted her dead. I could have killed her at the house and then waited for the boy to come home. Much easier than arranging this exchange crap.” The man grinned. “Besides the extra money will fund a trip I need to take to eliminate a cougar shifter problem down south from here.”

Audrey felt sick to her stomach. She knew her parents hated Seth. But they wanted her and Seth dead, and the man they had hired was talking about killing another shifter family as if they were nothing more than filthy animals.

“Fine. At least the money will be put to good use,” said Edmund.

“Edmund dear, we need to be going. We still have to get ready for the Martin’s dinner party. We don’t want to be late, if you know what I mean.” Olivia tapped her watch with a perfectly manicured finger.

Audrey glared at her parents with her right eye. Her left eye was almost swollen shut. “You make me ashamed even carry the same blood as you do,” she whispered.

Olivia raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow as she turned to look at Audrey. “I don’t have a daughter. My daughters were murdered by those horrid animals.”

Edmund shrugged his shoulders. “We tried to save you, but you refused to turn that animal over to the state. It’s too late for you. You are just like Ellie. She was stubborn too and refused to give up that animal and then she degraded herself by sleeping with it and giving birth to that abomination. We warned her about what would happen if she insisted on bedding a filthy animal but like you, she didn’t listen to a thing we told her.”

“It’s too bad her offspring didn’t parish with her in the car wreck like it should have.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “It would have been a lot less expensive.”

“You are a big disappointment. You should have listened to us.” Audrey’s father turned to the man. “Make sure you eliminate both of them. Once we have proof they are dead, we will pay the other half of what we owe you plus the extra. Now, if you will excuse us, we have a prior engagement we must attend.”

Audrey glared at the man and woman as best she could. “One day you will get what you deserve. You will pay for murdering your daughter and her mate.” She was beyond angry. She had never felt the level of hatred as she now did toward her parents. She had always in her heart known Ellie and Daniel’s deaths weren’t an accident but now she had absolute proof her parents were responsible. She watched them turn and leave without even a single glance back at her.

A few minutes later she heard two car doors close and an engine come to life. The crunch of tires on gravel grated against Audrey’s aching head.

“Looks like it’s just you and me.” The man smiled. “Too bad we don’t have the time, because if we did, I would love to fuck you even if you aren’t a shifter. I would love to hear you beg for your life as I slowly gutted you.” He actually looked disappointed.

“You’re a sick bastard,” growled Audrey.

“Like I haven’t been called that or worse. Now, get out of the truck.”

Audrey shook her head.

“I’ve already showed you once who the boss was. Don’t make me do it again. I won’t be so easy on you this time.” The man pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at her. “Get out.”

Audrey stared at the gun. She wouldn’t let him get Seth. She had to do something to stop the man. Slowly she climbed out of the truck. Luckily he hadn’t tied her hands together. He thought he had beaten her into submission. Audrey used her hands to brace herself so she wouldn’t fall flat on her face.

“Don’t even think about doing something stupid. I have no problem shooting you here and now. You’re nothing but a filthy shifter sympathizer or worse. That makes you trash that needs to be taken out and burned.”

“Yet you wouldn’t have a problem fucking me or a shifter. What does that make you?” Audrey winced as she stood up. A wave of dizziness swept over her. She closed her good eye and willed the dizziness to go away.

“Don’t try pretending you’re hurt. It won’t do you any good. We’ve got some coyote hunting to do.” The man laughed. “I hope he runs. It’s so much more sporting when they try to run away. I love the thrill of the chase.”

A cold chill rippled through Audrey’s body. The man was excited at the thought of killing Seth. He actually wanted Seth to run so he could hunt him down as if Seth wasn’t human but some sort of game animal. Hatred and anger slowly replaced the chill of fear of what would happen to Seth if she didn’t do something.

“Move to the bridge. We have an exchange to pretend to make.” He grabbed Audrey’s shoulder and shoved her ahead of him.

“You’re not going to get away with this.”

“I already have,” gloated the man. “When I finish here and collect my money, I’m going to find me a steak house and order the biggest T-bone they have with a loaded baked potato on the side and a large slice of apple pie for dessert. Yelp! That’ll make a mighty fine celebration meal.” He smacked his lips. “I can’t wait.”

Audrey grimaced. Never again would she be able to eat a T-bone and baked potato ever again. If she survived. She saw the old camel back bridge looming in front of her. The dank smell of old wood and river water caused her to wrinkle her nose. The bridge was no longer in use. The county had built a new modern style bridge about a hundred feet away. Instead of tearing down the old bridge, the county left it up for foot traffic. Huge poles had been cemented into the ground in front of the entry points to prevent vehicles from driving over the bridge. Audrey was sure if they hadn’t been there, the man would have driven onto the bridge.

“Quit stalling.” He shoved the barrel of the gun into the small of her back.

Each beat of Audrey’s heart sent adrenaline coursing through her battered body. With each step she knew she was running out of time. She had to do something. She had to protect Seth and Forrest.

She had to warn them they were walking into a trap. Rescuing her was not an option. Forrest needed to protect Seth.

The man shoved her again.

“Quit pushing me,” growled Audrey. She knew Forrest would have been proud of her growl.

“I told you no stalling.”

“And what are you going to do? Beat me? Kill me?” Audrey slowly turned around. “You’ve already done the first and you’ve bragged about the second.” She glared at the man. She saw a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead.

“Turn around and get to walking.” He motioned the gun at her.

“I won’t let you do it. I won’t let you hurt Seth or anyone else.” Audrey’s voice was colder than it had ever been. An eerie clarity filled her. Deep down she knew the odds of her surviving this were not in her favor, but if she could take the man out with her, then her death would be worth it.

“I’ve got the gun. What do you think a fat cow like you can do?” He waved the gun at her as if that was supposed to scare her.

“Run! It’s a trap!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Shut the fuck up!” The man yelled at her.

Audrey found herself staring at the gun barrel. She threw her body at him, hoping to knock the gun out of his hands.

The gun went off.

Searing pain coursed through Audrey’s body. She heard someone scream, but she ignored it as she tackled the man and made a grab for the gun.

They both fell hard on the wood planks of the bridge. Something skidded across the planks. Several seconds later the sound of a splash drifted up from the river.

Audrey tried to push herself up but her body refused to move. She couldn’t even feel her left arm. She tried to take a deep breath but something was wrong. Breathing through a straw would have been easier. A wave of excruciating pain rippled through her body. She tried speaking but nothing seemed to work. She couldn’t control her body. Well shit! This sucks.

She heard bits and pieces of the words the man was yelling at her. Audrey tried focusing on him as he came closer but it was difficult. The edges of her vision slowly grew black.

She stared at the man who had kidnapped her.

She prayed for Seth and Forrest to be safe.

Somewhere in the distance, she thought she heard her name, but she wasn’t sure if it was real or her imagination. Everything was growing fuzzy. Probably the lack of oxygen to your brain stupid.

The sound of a rifle shot made her body flinch. She tried blinking, but found it was too much of an effort.

Audrey watched the man jerk and stiffen. His eyes opened wide and his mouth formed an oval shape as his lower jaw dropped open. A bright red flower bloomed, soaking the shirt covering his chest. Slowly he dropped to his knees and then the rest of his body pitched forward.

Audrey watched the life fade from his eyes. A sense of peace came over her. Seth, Forrest and the others were safe, at least from this hunter.

Her vision narrowed even more.

The last thing she saw was Forrest’s face in front of hers. She tried to tell him she loved him, but everything went black before she could attempt to get the words out.

 

*****

 

Forrest’s bear was almost to Audrey when another shot rang out. The animal watched the hunter’s chest turn red just before he slumped to the planks of the bridge. The bear caught the scent of the man’s blood, but the sweet scent of its injured mate was the only thing the bear was cared about.

When the bear reached Audrey, it gave Forrest control and receded into the man though it stayed close to the surface urging the man to fix their mate.

“Audrey. Audrey can you hear me?” Forrest leaned down in front of his mate. He gently touched her cheek and tried not to wince at how cool her skin was to his touch. Her face was swollen and discolored. Fresh blood covered the front of her shirt.

Forrest watched as she struggled to say something but she was too weak. “No baby. Don’t leave me. Stay with me. I need you.”

Audrey’s good eye closed as she struggled to breathe. A gurgling noise came from her throat. Blood trickled out of the side of her mouth.

Forrest roared in frustration and grief.

He saw movement out of the corner of his eyes. He turned to the new threat to his mate and growled at it as his fingertips shifted into wicked claws.

“Forrest, retract your claws and move out of my way. Let me see what I can do. If you don’t Audrey will die.” As soon as he saw that Forrest recognized him, Hank shoved his brother out of his way and knelt in front of Audrey. He put his hands on her shoulder and closed his eyes. “Shit!” He looked at Forrest. “I need you to pull yourself together and focus.” Hank gently touched Audrey’s forehead as he closed his eyes.

“Mine!” growled Forrest. His voice was deeper than normal.

Hank looked at his brother. “She is yours. I have no desire to take her away from you, but I have to touch her to help her. Take control of your bear so we can help your mate live.”

Forrest took several deep breaths. The scent of Audrey’s blood was strong, but so was the scent of peppermint. He focused on that one scent. His bear calmed enough that he was able to shove it to the back of his mind. Hank was right. He needed to keep the bear on a leash. Forrest opened his eyes and touched Audrey’s hair. He leaned down. “You have to stay with me. You’re a fighter. You fought to keep and raise Seth. You fought the hunter to protect those you love. Now I need you to fight to stay with me. I can’t live without you. I refuse to live without you.”

Audrey’s good eye fluttered.

“That’s it. Fight baby.”

Harrison knelt next to Forrest who immediately growled at him.

“Can it Forrest! You know he’s here to help Audrey,” snapped Hank. He glared at his brother. “If you can’t control yourself, I will have Wes drag you away from here.”

Forrest nodded.

“I don’t see any blood on this side. I don’t think there’s an exit wound,” said Harrison as he scanned the back of Audrey’s shirt.

“The bullet’s lodged in the backside of her lung. She’s drowning in her own blood. She also has a broken wrist, multiple cuts and bruises, and the left side of her skull is cracked.

“Can you do anything to help her until we get her to the hospital?” asked Harrison.

“I’ll heal her skull and keep draining the blood from her lungs.”

Harrison nodded. “That will buy us some time.” He glanced at his brother and gave a slight shake of his head.

“Already on it. A med chopper will be here in about fifteen minutes. Just keep her alive until they get here.” The muscles in Todd’s jaws twitched. He knew if Audrey died, there was a really good chance Forrest would have to be put down.