Mated To An Enemy

Holden scurried forward and grabbed the knife that had fallen from his hands. He got to his feet just as Ashleigh moved forward.

He quickly tried to block her, but she was faster. Finally, her knee found its target against the side of his body. He let out a groan as he stumbled to the ground.

Ashleigh's fist came down at him, but he managed to roll away. Holden got to his knees and tried to quickly stab back at her, but she succeeded in knocking the knife out of his hand.

He got to his feet and tried to run from her. Instead, Ashleigh grabbed the knife and threw it at him.

Holden screamed as the knife went through his hand, pinning him to the wall.

Ashleigh started to move toward him, but another explosion drew her attention.

Alice let out a soft cry as a chunk of debris hit her back, sending her crashing to the floor.

Ashleigh rushed over.

“Alice!” she called out as she got on her knees and pulled Alice into her arms.

“Ashleigh?” Alice whispered, narrowing her eyes up at Ashleigh. There was a moment of panic. “The children?”

“They're outside,” Ashleigh assured her, “they're safe. I promise.”

Alice nodded and then looked up at Ashleigh again, letting out a soft laugh.

“You're shiny….” Alice whispered weakly with a gentle grin. “Just like you used to be….”

Ashleigh laughed.

“It's… good….”

Alice's words drifted away as she grew heavy in Ashleigh's arms. Her head sagged to the side, and Ashleigh's smile fell as her eyes widened in fear.

“Alice? Alice!”

There was no response. But Ashleigh could feel a faint heartbeat from her still. She quickly grabbed the pin at her chest, removing her armor, and placed it on Alice. The chords shot over her body, sealing her wound temporarily.

Ashleigh gathered Alice into her arms and stood from the ground. She took a moment to glance back where Holden had been pinned to the wall. He was, of course, gone.

Ashleigh growled but turned to the door. She had made her choice, and she didn't regret it.

She hurried through the room and out into the stairwell.

The smoke was everywhere, thick and black. And even Ashleigh was beginning to feel disoriented.

Holding tightly to Alice, she hugged the wall as she climbed the stairs and reached out to Caleb.

And for the first time, she knew she could reach him.

‘Caleb, I need you!' she called out.

‘Where are you?!' he called back with worry.

She knew he could feel her disorientation, the weakness in her lungs, as she climbed higher and higher up toward the surface.

Ashleigh told him where she was and gave him directions to the hidden lab.

‘What the hell happened?' he asked.

‘Bring a medical team. Alice is hurt…badly,' she replied. ‘There are children, fifty of them. Please, hurry.'

Ashleigh could feel his desire to ask more questions and clarify, but he knew that she needed him now.

‘We're on our way,' he said. ‘If you can, try to meet us halfway. If not, we will be there soon, I swear.'

Ashleigh closed their connection, focusing on climbing the stairs and getting them both out as safely as she could.

It took far too long, but they made it out.

The children had done as she told them, they had waited by the trees. Ashleigh couldn't stop moving. She gave them orders to follow her as she continued with Alice in her arms, moving as fast as possible to get them back to the van.

It was a tight fit, but somehow, they managed. Ashleigh wasn't entirely sure she should be driving, but the fresh air had cleared her mind a little, and she needed to get Alice help as soon as possible.

When they had driven here, it had taken more than an hour. But Caleb and his team were determined to reach them quickly. Ashleigh only had to go for fifteen minutes before she saw the Summer team barreling down the dirt road toward them at incredible speed. She pulled over and got out, waving her arms wildly.

As Ashleigh opened the passenger door, a medical bus pulled forward, directing the medics to Alice. She moved out of the way as they carefully pulled Alice out and carried her inside the bus.

Other members of Caleb's team came and started helping the children out of the van, taking them in small groups to the other vehicles and offering them drinks and snacks.

Ashleigh stared intently at the bus where Alice was being treated.

“Ashleigh!” Caleb called out.

She had barely turned toward his voice when his strong arms wrapped around her. He pulled her into his warm and comforting scent.

He held her silently for a long time. She could feel the concern in him. He was terrified, but slowly the fear was eased as he held her in his arms.

Caleb gently pulled away to look at her. His brows furrowed, and something in his expression changed. There was a hunger in his eyes, and he let out a low growl.

“Caleb?” Ashleigh whispered.

“My Luna,” a woman called from beside the medical bus. “We need to treat you for smoke inhalation.”

“One moment,” Ashleigh replied, looking at Caleb with concern.

Caleb closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clearing his mind.

“I'm fine,” he whispered. “You need to get yourself checked out.”

Ashleigh nodded and pulled away from him.

Once her throat had been checked, and she had been given oxygen, Ashleigh was cleared. Of course, she would need a follow-up when they returned to Summer, but there was no cause for immediate concern.

“Any word on Alice?” she asked as she approached Caleb.

The two medics that had been speaking with him walked away, returning to the bus.

“They've been able to stabilize her for now, but it's not good,” he sighed. “We need to get her back to Summer right away.”

Ashleigh nodded.

“Let's go,” she said.

“There's something else,” Caleb said, grabbing Ashleigh's hand as she turned to get into one of the cars.

“What?” she asked.

“Axel has already called a few times,” he said. “He knows something is wrong with Alice, and he's on his way.”