“Fiona,” Wynter cried, grasping into the air as she tried to pull her back. Wynter rushed to the side of the boat nearest to Fiona, extending her hand to her, hoping she’d jump back. “What are you doing? Get back here.”
Too late, Fiona had already gone to the woman. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going to help her.”
Logan had been so focused on the man, he hadn’t had a chance to stop Fiona. What the hell did she think she was doing? Pack healer or not, she’d better get back on the damn boat. Both he and Dimitri tensed at the sight.
“Fi, back on the boat now,” Logan demanded, never taking his eyes off the stranger.
“But I can help her. She’s still breathing. It may just be a concussion.”
“Not a question. It’s an order. Get your ass back here now,” Logan growled.
Wynter observed the interaction, scrutinizing the slain woman. She swore that she wasn’t breathing. Her hands looked too pale…gray. What kind of healing did Fiona think she was doing? That woman was dead.
“Logan,” Wynter croaked into a gust of wind. Could he, too, see the woman was not alive? Confusion swept over her.
Logan could not understand why Fiona, a naturally submissive she-wolf, was defying his direct order. There was no time to contemplate her punishment. No, the only decision was to leave Fiona on the sailboat. He knew Dimitri wouldn’t be happy, but he needed to get Wynter to safety. Something wasn’t right.
Fiona busily fussed with the woman, flipping her over onto her back, blocking their view. It appeared she was attempting some kind of resuscitation.
“I need help,” Fiona said, ignoring Logan.
The stranger knelt next to Fiona as if to provide assistance, then yanked her upward toward him. He pulled a gun, aiming it at her head. Using her as a human shield, he kept her in between him and Logan.
“Let her go,” Logan demanded. He pointed his gun at him, but couldn’t get a clear shot off.
“No, I don’t think I will,” he laughed. “Do you know what a silver bullet can do to a wolf’s brain? Messy, messy. She may survive. Maybe not though.”
“It’s two against one, asshole, put the gun down,” Logan insisted. He sensed Dimitri behind him, who’d also aimed a gun.
The stranger continued to laugh. “You kill me, I kill the girl.” He pulled Fiona’s hair, making her scream. “Tell you what; I’ll make a trade. This girl for that one.” His eyes fell onto Wynter.
“Not happening,” Logan snarled.
Wynter began to crouch backwards. She’d gone too close to the other boat when she’d gone to retrieve Fiona.
“Don’t move, Wynter,” the stranger called out to her.
Wynter froze. How did he know her name? Oh God no, they really are here for me.
“I have sharpshooters on land,” Logan explained coolly. “You’ll never get away.”
As if Logan and Dimitri weren’t in the boat, the man continued to speak to Wynter. “You want to save your friend, doctor?”
“What?” Wynter gasped.
“I said; do you want to save your friend here? You know these wolves aren’t as tough as you’d think. Not so hard to kill them, really. With silver in her brain, it’ll take her months to recover. No, a shift won’t fix this so easily, I’m afraid.”
“Don’t listen to him, Wyn,” Logan yelled.
Wynter looked up at Fiona, whose cheeks and neck were streaked with tears. She couldn’t quite see her eyes because her head had been wrenched backward.
“What do you want from me?” Wynter screamed at him. It felt as if a black tunnel was closing in, she couldn’t escape. She couldn’t live with the blood of another wolf on her hands. It was her fault they’d come to Logan’s pack. Her responsibility. She should be the one to die, not Fiona.
“But you already know the answer to that, don’t you, Dr. Ryan? Shame to kill this she-wolf, but we will. In fact, we’ll take out this whole damn pack if we have to, but I guarantee you this, it will not end. You belong to him. He will not stop. I know he’ll take special pleasure in killing your Alpha. Don’t think we can’t get to him. We left him a note the other day…right at his door.”
Shocked, Wynter looked over to Logan. No, it couldn’t be true. Logan would have told her.
“Wynter, don’t listen to him,” Logan cautioned. Wynter’s face had gone white. “Get away from the side of the boat.”
The stranger laughed maniacally. “I see the great Alpha is keeping secrets from his mate. It’s true. The very night you shifted, we were at his house.”
“Logan?” Wynter questioned. When he didn’t answer right away, she knew it was true. They’d been at his home? Dear God, if they could get to her there, there’d be nowhere they couldn’t find her.
“Wynter, listen to me, now. It was just a note. No one was in the house. Fiona, she’ll be fine. She’s a strong wolf.”
“You lie, Alpha. Do you really think I’d bring a knife to a gunfight? These hollow-cavity bullets will mushroom her brain apart with one shot. She’s not going to make it back, not like she used to be anyway. And that’s if she manages to shift afterwards. No, this little girl’s goin’ to pop like fireworks.”
Wynter tried to drown out his words but it was no use. Her own guilt tore at her heart. Was she really going to sit and do nothing while this monster put a bullet in Fiona’s head? God, she loved Logan…so much. Reverting to her training, she considered the known facts, the data. True, Logan would be angry if she sacrificed herself for Fiona. But his boat was powerful, much more so than the small sailboat. Logan would follow, save her and Fiona, too, would be safe. The most important fact was that if she didn’t go, another Acadian wolf would die…at her hands.
“Your choice. What’s it going to be? You or the wolf?” He dug the muzzle into Fiona’s temple and she screamed.
Logan could see that Wynter was lost in her thoughts. Goddammit all, she was considering it. As much as he cared for Fiona, he couldn’t lose his mate. His breath caught and he lunged to restrain Wynter to keep her from going. Dimitri broke for the throttle.
“I’m sorry,” Wynter cried softly as she leapt over to the sailboat. She skidded onto the deck and fell to her knees.
“No!” Logan screamed. “No, he’s going to kill you. Get back here now.”
Wynter’s body collapsed into the rough landing. She scrambled to stand upright but the man kicked her in the stomach. Her face hit the side of the boom, tearing her lip open.
“Let her go,” Wynter pleaded. Her face throbbed but she breathed through it. “You don’t need Fiona…just take my blood. No more…no more…I’ll do whatever you want. Let her go now.”
The stranger cackled wildly and threw Fiona to the floor. With a jerk, the engine roared to life and the boat sped forward. Wynter attempted to push Fiona into the water. If they could get off the boat they’d have a chance.
“Jump,” she told her, but Fiona held tight to a cleat.
Logan tore to the helm and jammed the throttle forward. They hadn’t gotten far. In his speedboat, they could easily catch up and he’d jump over to get Wynter. But his boat lurched only a few feet before the motor died.
“What the fuck? This is a brand new boat,” Logan cursed, banging the dashboard. “Take the wheel.” He jumped in the back to check the inboard. Within seconds, he’d located the source of the issue. “Shit. There’s a nick in the fuel tank fill hose.”
Logan spun and aimed his gun at the tall dark figure that had Wynter by the arm. He knew he could hit him but the man slyly pulled Wynter against him as a shield. Targeting the engine, Logan fired off six shots to the stern. The bullets ricocheted off the screeching motor. As the man instinctively moved to the right to look at the damage, Logan pulled the trigger again, clipping him in the shoulder. He watched the pink-shirted form hit the deck but no longer could he see Wynter, as she too, had fallen.