Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,12

person he sacrificed for his cause, whatever it turned out to be.

“He’s not here,” Ariel responded. “Is there something I can help you with?”

The woman groaned, and it clicked in Ariel’s mind that the woman wasn’t so much hiding in the tree line as she was using the tree to hold herself up. The scent of fresh blood tickled Ariel’s nose. Her animal pressed at her skin, ready for a quick shift if needed. Easier to run. Easier to rip throats out if needed.

“I need Thomas.” The woman shook her head, looking completely defeated.

Ariel took a chance, moving quickly toward her, assessing everything around them as she moved. The woman really did appear to be alone. She leaned with one hand cupped over her abdomen, cradling it protectively. Her other palm was braced on the rough bark at her back. Her long brown hair managed to conceal most of her face and features. Weary. Broken. Those were the words that came to mind to describe the woman.

“What happened?” Ariel demanded, sensing the animal in the other woman. It was weak, though. Different. Something was off. It was as if she were a shifter but not. Not that what she was made her any less of a threat. Ariel and the pride had learned all too well that other shifters could and would betray them, as well.

“Only Thomas,” she murmured. “I was warned not to trust anyone else.”

Ariel sighed. Obviously, whoever had sent her here wasn’t aware Thomas Walker was missing and could possibly even be dead. If the woman was waiting on Thomas, she might never get help.

“He’s not here. He can’t help you right now, but I can.” She took another look around to be sure she hadn’t missed anyone keeping an eye on them. “Now, I’m going to ask you again, what happened?” When the woman still seemed reluctant, Ariel added what might be able to convince the other woman to talk to her. “I know Thomas. He…rescued me and brought me here.”

The woman whipped her head up, and eyes so blue they almost seemed purple met Ariel’s. Eyes dark with pain.

“They got me out. Told me to come here and find Thomas, that he would help me get home. I just want to go home.”

“What’s your name?” Ariel asked.

The woman glanced around. Then as if making a decision and committing to it no matter the outcome, she stepped away from the tree and dropped her hand from her stomach, revealing the soft mound of a pregnancy.

“I’m Quinn. Quinn Jensen. I need to get to Oklahoma. I need to get home.”

“Holy shit,” Ariel almost yelled, barely catching herself in time to keep her response more tame. She immediately shook her head. Quinn Jensen was human. Unless Dr. Jensen had failed to share something with them. Like the fact his wife had been a shifter.

“You’re a shifter?” Ariel asked, suddenly unsure of what she was picking up on.

Quinn immediately shook her head. “No.” Her gaze dropped to her belly. “But my child is. Please, I need your help.”

Ariel wrapped her arm around Quinn’s waist, offering both comfort and support. “We need to go. Now. Are you okay to walk to my car?”

Quinn nodded. “I’ll make it.”

There was so much more to the woman’s story. She was obviously hurt, obviously pregnant, and definitely without the mate she’d created the baby with. Mating would explain the altered scent Ariel had picked up around her. It was more than the pregnancy, that was for sure.

Ariel shouldered her pack on the other side and moved them toward her car as quickly as she could. They needed to get out of there and headed somewhere safe. Hell, she wasn’t sure where that was. She was sure of something, though. She needed help. They needed help. Fortunately, she knew a few people she could call.

Chapter Four

Daniel’s eyes were barely open when Gabriel was in his face, yelling loud enough to shake the room and make Daniel deaf in the process. He’d struggled all night, trying to get his body to cooperate with his wishes. It was still a fight, and Gabriel shouting wasn’t helping.

“Stop.” Fuck! His voice was incredibly weak and definitely wouldn’t be heard over his brother’s bellowing.

“What’s going on?” Gideon burst through the door, gaze darting around in assessment before settling on Daniel. “He’s awake.”

Daniel struggled to clear his dry throat and only managed to feel as if he were gargling razor blades. He lifted his hand to his throat and rubbed as