Christina’s POV

"Christina?" Hudson answered on the first ring, his voice alert and ready.

"Someone’s following us and they’ve rammed our car. Twice now," I said, trying to keep my voice steady while Akira growled inside me.

"Send me your location. Now," Hudson commanded, his Alpha tone slipping through.

I shared our GPS coordinates immediately.

The Camry hit us again with such force that I gasped. "Faster, Kit!"

"Going as fast as I can," Kit answered, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Any faster and we risk flipping."

"Find somewhere with people," Hudson instructed through the phone. "Get to a crowded area."

I repeated this to Kit, who pressed the accelerator harder. Unfortunately, we were on a quiet road heading out of Highrise City. Turning back toward civilization would take precious time we didn’t have.

"They’re not giving up," Akira snarled inside me. "Be ready to fight."

The Camry slammed into us two more times in quick succession. My body lurched upward, and my head banged against the ceiling. Stars exploded behind my eyes.

"Christina, what’s happening? Are you hurt?" Hudson’s voice sounded urgent.

"I’m okay... just hit my head. A bit dizzy," I muttered, rubbing the throbbing spot on my forehead.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Gunshots," Akira confirmed what my ears already knew.

Unlike many humans, I wasn’t unfamiliar with firearms. Being part of The Crescent pack meant basic weapons training, though I regretted not practicing more regularly at the pack’s range. The memory of Hudson offering to take me shooting last month flashed through my mind. I should have accepted.

Kit floored the accelerator, making the engine scream in protest. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"They’re shooting at us," I shouted into the phone.

Kit cursed loudly. "They hit the fuel tank! We’re losing gas. The car’s slowing down!"

"Shit!"

Another violent impact sent my forehead crashing into the seat in front of me. No broken skin, but my head spun and pain flared hot across my skull.

Kit fought with the steering wheel as the car swerved right. "I won’t let anything happen to you, Luna," he promised, seconds before another hard hit rocked the vehicle.

Our speed was dropping rapidly.

"The car’s done for. I’m pulling into that parking garage. We get out and run, got it?" Kit said, already pushing his door open.

I nodded, grateful for those combat training sessions mandatory for all female pack members. Franklin might have been a terrible father, but insisting on self-defense training for all wolves in The Crescent pack was one of his few good decisions.

"Through the service paths," Kit added. "Their car can’t follow us there."

"Parking garage ahead!" Kit yelled, pointing to the only sizeable structure where we might hide.

I pushed myself to keep up, hearing the Camry’s engine cut off behind us. The shooter wouldn’t be far behind.

We sprinted across a patch of grass and ducked into the multi-story parking structure. Our footsteps echoed through the cavernous space where dust-covered cars sat abandoned. Kit maintained a brutal pace until we reached a massive concrete column with nothing but wall behind us.

My throat burned, my legs trembled, and I collapsed onto the cold floor. Kit dropped beside me, breathing heavily.

"Quiet. Someone’s coming," he whispered.

My heart hammered against my ribs. "The Camry?" I whispered back.

"Not sure," Kit answered, swallowing hard.

I leaned forward to peek around the column. "Not them," I confirmed, exhaling slowly.

Kit released a shaky breath.

Time crawled by as we caught our breath. The adrenaline slowly ebbed, restoring some strength to my trembling limbs.

Another car arrived with screeching tires, moving fast.

My muscles tensed. Kit checked, then said excitedly, "It’s Alpha Hudson’s car!"

I looked out and immediately recognized Hudson’s black Rolls-Royce. I’d kept him on the line throughout our escape, updating our location, but waited until the car stopped and Hudson stepped out before revealing myself.

"Hudson!" I called, jumping up and running toward him.

He spotted me and sprinted in my direction. Suddenly, his expression changed. His eyes widened in alarm. Instead of embracing me, he shoved me backward with supernatural speed.

Bang!

The gunshot cracked across the space. My ears rang as time seemed to slow. I watched in horror as blood sprayed from Hudson’s shoulder. Lycaon must have detected the danger seconds before the shooter pulled the trigger.

Hudson made a strangled sound, his knees buckled, and he went down.

"Hudson!" I screamed.

Kit leapt up, half-carrying, half-dragging Hudson back to the Rolls and yelling, "Get in, get in!"

"Hospital!" I sobbed, tears falling onto Hudson’s face as I cradled him in my lap.

"I’m fine," Hudson said, pale as paper. He forced his hand up and wiped my tears away, lips moving with effort. "I’m fine."

"Don’t talk. Save your strength," I urged, my voice shaking. I felt him struggling to breathe. "Rest now. We’ll get you to the hospital."

"Don’t cry. It’s okay. I’ll be fine," Hudson kept saying, trying to soothe me. "I won’t let anyone hurt you."

"You’ll be okay," I told him. "Lean on me. Hold on to me." I pulled him closer, hoping the contact would ease the pain.

"Call Harry. Tell him... I’m shot. He’ll know what... to do," Hudson said, reaching slowly for his phone and passing it to me.

I took the phone with hands sticky with blood. "What’s the passcode?"