Now it was just a matter of opening the damn trunk. But first . . .

She dug into the pocket of her jeans and whipped out her cell phone. The dumb fuckers should have taken it from her just in case she got free. With a few swipes of her thumb on the screen, she’d dialed the panic button to alert the pack to her exact location. Then she called Derren, who had tried calling her several times. She’d felt the phone vibrate in her pocket each time and suspected it was him. She’d hated that she couldn’t talk to and reassure him, since she could feel his panic and anger through their bond.

He answered after two rings. “Baby, tell me you’re okay.”

His voice made her smile, despite the situation. She whispered, “I’m all right. Just pissed. I’ve pressed the panic button; track my location. When you get close to where I am, call me again.”

“They dumped you somewhere?”

“No, but I’m planning to jump out of the trunk in, say, thirty seconds.”

“What?” His sharp demanding tone made her wince. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“Possibly. Look, I have to go.” She didn’t have time to waste.

“Baby, please be careful,” he rumbled, his anxiety and adoration evident.

“I will. Love you.” She slipped the phone into her bra, worried that it would smash if she left it in her pocket when she jumped. That done, she searched for a trunk release near the latch. No such luck, apparently. She’d just have to get out the old-fashioned way.

With a brief struggle, she peeled back the carpet and located the trunk release cable. Two strong pulls later and there was the fabulous pop sound of the trunk opening. She stilled for a moment, listening hard for any sign that the tigers had heard the noise. Nothing. It would appear that the sound of the radio had drowned it out.

She waited only long enough for the vehicle to slow a little before she opened the trunk and, not giving herself the chance to worry about the fall, jumped—careful not to land on her hands or directly on her shoulder. The air whooshed out of her lungs as her body landed hard. Thinking past the pain in her back, she then rolled along the ground until she felt grass beneath her. At least she had no broken bones.

Looking up, she saw the vehicle was heading toward a residential neighborhood. Knowing it would be only moments before the tigers realized she was free, Ally forced herself to get to her feet and did the only thing she could do: she ran.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

How much farther?” Derren impatiently asked Jesse, who was on the other end of the phone.

“She’s somewhere close,” he replied, monitoring Ally’s GPS location from their computer at the main lodge. “Call her now.”

Chest tight with a cluster of emotions tormenting him, Derren ended his call to Jesse and dialed Ally’s number.

She answered quickly. “I can hear the SUV. I’m coming right now.” She hung up before he could speak. Then she suddenly appeared out of the trees and jogged onto the road, waving her arms. Eli brought the vehicle to a screeching halt.

Derren jumped out and dragged her to him, locking his arms tight around her. “Fuck, baby, thank God you’re okay.” He was trembling with fear, rage, and relief. Fisting a hand in her hair, he kissed her hard, pouring into it everything he didn’t know how to say. His wolf took comfort in her touch, scent, and the feel of her skin under his hands. She was there with him. She was okay.

“I knew you’d come for me.” Her happiness at seeing him was so profound Ally might have fallen to her knees if he hadn’t been holding her up. Her wolf wanted to rub up against him to both comfort him and receive comfort.

When she went to pull back, Derren bit out, “Don’t. I just need to hold you for a minute.” He needed to reassure himself that she was fine. Safe. With him. He’d always prided himself on the fact that he didn’t need anyone. But he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t function, without Ally. He needed her, and he wasn’t even ashamed of that.

“Derren, let’s go!” shouted Eli.

Bracken hopped into the passenger seat, guessing that Derren would want to sit in the back with Ally. He’d guessed right. Without easing his hold on her, Derren picked her up and slid into the backseat, sitting her on his lap. The small cuts and abrasions on her skin made him growl; she patted his chest soothingly.

Eli immediately sped off, glancing at them briefly over his shoulder. “Ally, are you hurt? Did they hurt you?”

She shook her head against Derren’s chest, inhaling his scent and letting it calm her and her wolf. “I’m okay.”

“What the hell happened?” demanded Cain from beside her. He tried tugging her to him to embrace her, but Derren held tight—his stare daring Cain to try to take Ally from him. Cain bared his teeth but didn’t try again.

“I was drugged and dumped in a trunk by two fucking tigers.”

“They’re dead.” Derren’s voice was low and deadly. He’d find out who they were, and he’d kill them. “What did they look like? Have you seen them before?”

“They didn’t look or smell familiar. They’re both Chinese, medium height, and damn strong.”

“Tigers usually are pretty strong,” commented Cain. “Did you hear any names?” She shook her head.

“Here.” Twisting in his seat to face her, Bracken gently chucked his cell phone to her; Ally caught it easily. “It’s Shaya. I promised I’d call her when we found you. She’s a mess.”