Chapter 139

Perrin

While my mind freezes, assaulted by the nightmare in my arms, my body mercilessly sprints into motion.

I am checking her breathing.

I am seeking the rise of her chest.

I am finding her pulse.

I am rifling through the pocket of my jeans for a phone.

I dial for help.

The minute and a half passes in slow motion, allowing the sole focus of my world to hone in on the she-wolf in my arms. She is awake. She is moaning.

But she is in pain.

I cover her, pulling her dress around her, if not for her modesty of our impending company but to shield her from the blood now staining the newly carpeted stairs.

I hear pounding below.

I don’t want to leave her.

The door blows open by the force of those below.

“We’re up here!” I shout.

Mark comes stumbling up the stairs, his eyes assessing everything with the speed of experience. He makes no comment about what was likely happening. But his posture remains erect as he fires questions in rapid-succession at me, never once mentioning what we were up