N. Walters - Quinn's Quest

“Things got out of hand. The doctor was forced to shoot Brian. It was a tranquilizer and it took him down hard. Chrissten lunged for the doctor. He got off a shot. The dart grazed her.” The memory still hurt her to think about. Her friend had sacrificed her freedom so Bethany could have hers. That’s the only reason she was here—she owed her life to Chrissten.

“I checked the gun but it was empty. I rolled the doctor into the cell and slammed the door shut. I didn’t have the keys and could only use one bar to secure it. I thought we’d have time to escape.”

Bethany couldn’t help but think about Chrissten. What must she be going through? Had she waited for help that never arrived? Did she believe Bethany had abandoned her?

Her legs and arms trembled, but she kept on telling her story. Better to get it all out at once. “I dragged her up the stairs, but we could hear Brian tearing through the door of the cell. She made me leave.” Bethany looked at all of them, willing them to understand. “She made me. I tried to get her out. But it was either just one of us or we’d both go back.”

“You did what you had to do.” Quinn offered her his hand. She stared at it but didn’t take it. She didn’t trust him. She didn’t trust any of them.

“I ran and ran and ran. I had no idea where I was, what city I was in.” Those terrifying hours came back to her in a rush. “When I couldn’t run anymore, I collapsed in a vacant store front and really started studying my surroundings.” She swallowed hard, remembering her burning lungs and aching legs, the darkness that had threatened to take her under.

“I knew I couldn’t go to the police.” She gave a bitter laugh. “Who would believe me? I’d have ended up on the psych ward of a hospital or worse.” She could feel all their eyes on her, watching, listening, judging.

“There was a chance the doctor might find me if I ended up in a local hospital. I don’t know if he’s actually a real doctor or not. But if he is, he might have used his credentials to get me back. I have no family, no one to fight for me.” Bethany shivered at the thought of being that vulnerable.

“I didn’t know where else to go, so I found a homeless shelter.” She didn’t tell them about the men who’d tried to catch her, their intent to do her harm obvious in their taunts. Or about the people who’d stared at her like she was something they needed to scrape off the bottoms of their shoes. Oh, she knew many of them thought she was a drug addict or a crazy person off her meds. It didn’t take a genius to figure that much out. Not with the way they’d shied away from her, getting as far away as possible as quickly as they could. Not that she blamed them. Not really. She’d have probably done the same thing.

“I was only wearing a thin cotton pants and top, I had no money and was half-starving and nearing exhaustion. I’d only planned on eating and having a short rest before I called.” She made herself look at Quinn then, willing him to believe her. He looked so big and powerful looming next to her.

“She made me memorize your phone number. Chrissten told me you’d help if I contacted you.”

“She was right. I’ll find her if it’s the last thing I do. No matter how long it takes or what it takes.”

She believed him. The conviction in his voice was rock solid. What must it be like to be loved like that? Bethany tried not to be jealous but it was incredibly hard not to be. Chrissten had family who loved her. She, herself, was alone.

“Where were you? What landmarks did you see?”

Bethany closed her eyes and answered Quinn’s question, forcing herself to think back when she’d much rather forget. Slowly at first, but then more surely, she described everything she remembered, the first street sign she’d seen. She talked and talked, answering questions when he asked them. When she was done, her voice was slightly hoarse and she was mentally and physically exhausted.

She opened her eyes, ignoring all the raised voices around her. They were already planning to launch a rescue. She prayed they’d be in time to find Chrissten, that the doctor hadn’t moved her. Worry gnawed at her gut, but there was nothing more she could do to help.

Her job here was done. It was time for her to leave.

Bethany gathered the last of her strength and headed toward the door. The sun was beginning to rise on a new day. She had the rest of her life ahead of her. She just had to figure out what the heck she was going to do with it.

She’d taken two steps when a pair of heavy, masculine hands came down on her shoulders, stopping her in her tracks. “Where are you going?”

She knew it was Quinn from his touch and his unique scent—woodsy and warm and tinged with his own masculine spice. His low, deep voice simply confirmed it. She shrugged. “Home, I guess.” Even as she said it she knew she couldn’t go back to her apartment. The doctor and Brian knew where she lived. No, her home was lost to her forever. She’d never feel safe there again.

She’d have to see if any of her things were left or if the landlord had disposed of them all when her rent had come due a week ago and gone unpaid. Maybe she could salvage some of her belongings. Then she’d find a new home and a job. There were so many things she needed to do, not the least of which was how in the heck she was going to get back to Detroit to get her things if the landlord hadn’t already tossed or sold them. The task seemed daunting, but she knew she could do it. There was no other choice.

Quinn whirled her around to face him. The harsh lines of his face seemed carved from stone. “You can’t do that. It’s too dangerous. They know where you live.”

She knew that. She might not be thinking as clearly as she normally did, but she wasn’t stupid. It was easy for him to tell her what she could and couldn’t do. He had a home and a life and family and friends. She had none of that. Frustration and exhaustion pulled at her. She hated that she felt weak and wasn’t anywhere near to her full strength. If that wasn’t bad enough, the strange unsettling heat was back, rippling just beneath her skin, making it extra sensitive. “What else am I supposed to do?” she snapped, finally reaching the limit of her patience.

“Stay here.”

Quinn couldn’t believe Bethany thought he’d let her walk out the door or that any of them would let her go. She was a female half-breed, she was alone, and if the sexual attraction tearing through him was any indication, she was also pretty close to going into heat.

He glanced around and found Michael staring at her from beneath hooded eyes. All the other unattached males were watching her with lustful stares. He drew her beneath his arm and glared at all of them. He hadn’t really understood what this situation was like for both the males and the females in the pack—the overwhelming urge to mate, to claim. Not until Meredith had sat down and explained it to him. He’d never had this problem with Chris because they were siblings. The males who already had mates were similarly unaffected.

Quinn didn’t like the way the other males were staring at Bethany with hunger in their gazes. His protective instincts rose to the fore and he tucked her nearer to his body, ready to defend her if necessary, which was crazy considering he’d just met her. But reason had no place here, only instinct.

“I can’t stay here.” She was once again trying to pull away from him while he was trying to keep her close.

“Of course you can.” She could stay in the apartment he and Chris were currently sharing. Kevin, one of Meredith’s adopted sons, had graciously given up his apartment and was currently bunking with Hank.