Chapter Fourteen
As soon as he scented the other bears, Isaias released the tight reign he had on his own bear. He shifted seamlessly, feeling his muscled body become more powerful. The bears were carrying something, a body, and he scented blood. But it wasn't Becky. It wasn't Adela. So he didn't care who it was.
He rammed the first bear before they realized he was there, using his bulk to send it flying. Without pausing, he turned on the next one, driving his paw into its face. It tried to dodge but was too slow. Something bit into his leg and he whirled around, his jaws crushing the shoulder of the bear that had latched onto him. Another bear came at him from the side, snarling. He leaped onto its back, not holding back as he tore into his thick skin. A howl of pain rose in the air.
Another bear threw itself over him and started to tear at his neck. He threw it off and drove his claws into its belly.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard Becky shout. "He's loading the gun again!"
Heat swept through his body, bringing his blood to a boil. He tossed the bear aside and rammed into the door. It crumpled beneath his bulk, flying off its hinges. It hit the floor, skittering towards the man standing on the other side of the room.
A bang rang out. A fiery pain in his shoulder. Sawyers stood in front of a cage. A gun was in his outstretched hand. Another bang. A flash of light from the barrel and another pain in his other shoulder. Adrenaline and focused hate drowned the sensations and he charged, mouth open as he tore towards the villain.
Sawyers shouted, firing twice more before turning the gun towards the cage. A shadow shifted inside of it and he knew that was where Adela and Becky were. Isaias pushed himself harder, crossing the space between them in a single bound.
Isaias knocked into him at the same time as the gun went off.
Sawyers screamed. Blood hit Isaias' tongue, hot and thick and rich. He felt bone beneath his teeth and brought his jaws together, crunching through it. His body pinned Sawyers' to the ground as tooth and claw worked at the fragile non-shifter body, releasing the tang of blood into the air.
But there was another scent. Blood that didn't belong to Sawyers. Screams that were higher, fearful not pained. His name being called over and over again. Another shot and Isaias smacked the hand holding the gun. Bone snapped and the gun went flying.
"Adela."
The name wormed into his brain. It took him a moment to recognize the voice as Becky's. His head swung round to see the two women in a cramped, tiny cage. Becky had her arms around Adela. Hands pressed to the other woman's abdomen. Blood welled between her fingers. A pained roar ripped out of Isaias' throat and he slapped Sawyers out of his way. He didn't bother thinking about locks or keys; his jaws wrapped around the bars and he merely tore them out.
"I will get you yet," Sawyers shouted. He cradled a broken arm to his chest, covered in blood. "Next time I will kill your mate as well!"
Isaias lunged at him but he slipped into another room. He couldn’t go–Adela was hurt. He finished ripping open the cage and shifted, pulling Becky out and then Adela. He cradled her in his arms while both of his hands pressed into the wound on her stomach. Her skin was rapidly turning white and his throat closed off.
"911," he choked out. They had to stop the bleeding. "Becky—"
"There's a phone in the office," she gasped, then dodged into the room where Sawyer had disappeared into.
"Hold on." Isaias said to Adela, holding her closer. "You're going to be fine. Don't worry."
Adela whimpered. Her eyes were wide, roving over the ceiling, not focusing on anything.
Growls brought his attention to the door again. The bears that Isaias had fought his way through had apparently decided to join the fight again. They stood shoulder to shoulder as they advanced slowly, all growling and snarling. Isaias pressed his hands tighter to Adela's abdomen. If he left her, the blood would flow faster and she could bleed out in a matter of seconds. But if he didn't fight? The bears had bloodlust in their eyes. He didn’t know any of them. They had no reason not to attack.
"If you want any money from me, she can't die," he rasped. "I will pay you to let us go but if she dies I'll kill you all."
One of the bears paused, head tilted to one side. Isaias' eyes swept down the line. None of them were Marcus. His heart sunk despite himself. If Marcus was in the group, then perhaps they'd have a chance out of this. Adela whimpered, writhing from the pain.
The bears continued to advance. This wasn't about the money anymore. Isaias tensed, bracing himself to shift and attack but before he could move, a gunshot rang out. One of the bears howled, its head being wrenched to one side. Half of its ear was gone just like that, a long scrape on its face showing the path the bullet had taken.
Isaias' head swiveled. Becky stood in the doorway of the office, Sawyers' gun held tightly in both hands, her feet spread apart and pointed at the advancing bears.
"That was just a warning shot." Her voice wobbled. "Get out of here or I'll blow out your brains!"
The bear curled its lip. Its head swung to look between Isaias and Becky. Slowly, it began to back up. Another of the bears made a whining noise but the others all seemed to have lost their nerve. They turned and fled, leaving Isaias and the two women alone.
Becky ran to them. "I called 911 but I don't know where we are. They said to just keep pressure on the wound and try not to move her. We have to keep her warm. They're triangulating our position and…"
Her face blanched but she shook her head and lunged for a dirty blanket in one corner. That she wrapped around Adela's legs before she retrieved a jacket to tuck over her chest. Becky brushed her fingers through Adela's hair. Tears running down her face.
"You're going to be fine," Becky said, her voice still wobbling. "Help is on its way and you're going to be fine."
Adela grasped Isaias' arm. "Luci."
"She's safe," he promised her. "She's with Margret. She misses you, though. So you have to hold on. Luci can't be without her mother. Understood?"
"Take care of her."
Isaias shook his head. "We're not doing this. You're going to be fine."
Adela's grip tightened. "Take care of her. Both of you." Her eyes roved to Becky. "She needs a mother, too. Take care of her. Take care of her."
Tears streamed down his face. Isaias pressed a kiss to Adela's forehead. "I promise. She will grow up happy and healthy and she will have her mother.'"
"Good…" Adela's hand dropped. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she was still.
***
The hospital smelled like sickness and death. Maybe some would only smell the medicines and cleaners but Isaias could smell the sweet, sickly scents underneath. His stomach roiled as he paced back and forth, unable to stay still.
Holliday and Dolls had arrived soon after Adela lost consciousness. Shortly after that the ambulance arrived and she was whisked away to the hospital. He and Becky had both been driven by the cops and after they were cleaned up and their wounds taken care of, the cops had asked them extensive questions.
They had been surprised when Becky told them about Marcus, and Isaias realized that was the body that the bears had had when he arrived. But no bodies were found on sight… Marcus was a tough punk and bears could survive some pretty rough injuries. Maybe he had survived. Or maybe he had crawled away to die somewhere else.
It didn’t really matter either way.
Becky grasped his arm. "She's going to be fine. The doctors said that the bullets went clean through. Clean. That means Adela is going to be fine."
"This is my fault. I should have protected her."
"You can't protect everybody," Becky whispered. She pulled him into her arms and brushed her lips over his. "But I love that you try. I love you."
Isaias allowed himself to rest against her. Not leaning his weight onto her, but letting his turbulent emotions show on his face for the briefest of moments. He deepened the kiss, needing the comfort she gave him and closed his eyes as he rested his forehead on hers. Her arms tightened and he got the feeling that if she wasn't here, he'd collapse into nothingness. She anchored him.
"I love you, too," he whispered. "When I thought I might never see you again… I was ready to tear apart the world. If I lost you too—"
"You haven't lost anybody. She's going to make it out of surgery and everything is going to be fine."
Shouting from down the hall made him tense. He turned, crouching protectively in front of Becky. After a moment he heard the voices clearly. Nurses were telling someone to stop and the person was replying with some very strong expletives. He recognized the voice and the choice of words instantly.
"Marcus."
Isaias snarled as he tore from the room. Becky shouted after him but he ignored her. As soon as he stepped into the hallway, he saw Marcus. Covered in blood, great holes in his chest still oozing, the bear dragged his naked carcass down the corridor with wide, worried eyes. When he saw Isaias, a howl tore from his lips and he lunged forward. Isaias went after him as well but Marcus stumbled, fell, and then security was there. They grabbed him securely.
"Where is she?" the other bear yelled. "Where is Adela?"
"After what you did you have no right to know," Isaias snarled.
Marcus' face paled. "Is she dead? God, don't let her be dead!"
Becky hurried to stand between them. "She's not dead. She's in surgery." She turned to one of the nurses. "Look, he's injured, he needs attention."
"He'll heal," Isaias grunted.
Becky turned a glare on him. Marcus struggled against the guards holding him but his big chest heaved and he looked like he was about to collapse at any moment. He still managed to throw off one of the guards and claw at Isaias, though.
"Get yourself cleaned up and looked at," Isaias said, stepping out of his reach. "I'll let you know about Adela when I hear."
Marcus snarled but grew still. It looked like it took all his strength but he nodded and let security bustle him away. The nurses looked unnerved but one of them finally volunteered to go look after him. Isaias took Becky's hand and they returned to the waiting room. The excitement had drained him and he collapsed into a chair. How much more of this waiting would they have to do?
It wasn't much longer before a doctor entered. She introduced herself as Dr. Scrofano, then had them sit. Isaias' heart pounded, fearing the worse.
"She made it out of surgery."
Relief washed over him. He didn't even hear the rest of what Dr. Scrofano said, too overcome. When Becky thanked her and she left, Isaias crumpled. He fell to his knees, rocking back and forth as he sobbed. Adela was alive. She was going to make it.
She was alive.