When the man’s screaming abruptly went silent, Caro glanced over and immediately regretted it. The amount of blood covering both men was shocking, but she couldn’t be sad that the stranger was dead, even if having your throat ripped out by a wolf had to be an awful way to go. It seemed like he had deserved that much and more.
Craig used a rag from the truck to wipe most of the blood off of his face and chest before he came to her and pulled her into his arms.
“Goddess, I was scared to death,” he muttered into her hair. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
“No, aside from some rope burn,” she said, inhaling his scent and then shuddering in relief. Caro was safe in his arms. She knew that without a shadow of a doubt. “But that woman, Cheryl, they were going tosellme.”
She shuddered, and he hugged her tighter.
“We know, baby,” he answered, looking over his shoulder to where two of his men were checking on Cheryl in the back of the truck.
“He shot her with some kind of dart gun.”
“Well, hopefully, that will keep her out until we get her into the holding cell at the office.” He stroked her hair. “She’ll be sent to the shifter council for punishment, but you don’t have to worry. You’ll never have to see her again.”
“What will happen to her?”
“A shifter who would betray one of their own has gone feral,” he answered softly. “She’ll be put down, for the safety of us all.”
Bennett’s truck skidded into sight, and as soon as he stopped, Ellie was out of the truck and running toward her, tears streaming down her face.
“Oh, my God, Caro!” Her sister grabbed her in a tight hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” she whispered, trying to calm her sister as Bennett handed out pants to the rest of the shifted wolves who’d arrived. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Caro looked around at the group of people who’d come for her, and the look of concern on the faces of even the men she’d never met before was humbling. It seemed like she and her sister had finally found a place to call home.
Craig held Caroline the whole way back home. They rode with Ellie and Bennett while one of the other wolves followed with her car. The rest took Cheryl’s and Bernard’s bodies, and his truck, back into town. Now that all the adrenaline had lefther, Caro was shaking. Craig called the town doctor to come and make sure she was okay. When she was pronounced healthy but stressed and exhausted, Craig ran her a bath. Once she was settled, he popped his head in to make sure she had everything she needed.
“Will you stay?” she asked. “I just—I just feel safer with you here.”
“Of course,” he answered, and when she reached out and then didn’t let go of his hand, he settled himself on the floor next to the tub, content to be there for her.
Chapter Sixteen
Craig still seemed tense from what happened yesterday, but when they’d talked about staying home from the fair that day so she could recuperate, she wouldn’t hear of it. By morning, she had fortified herself, and a huge part of it had been having him there to hold her all night to provide the comfort she needed. Knowing this man would be there for her if she faltered created a sense of freedom in her that she’d never experienced before.
Laughter surrounded them as she watched her sister curse and stomp her foot.
“Ha!” Caro snickered. “Looks like you couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn with that arm!”
“I’d like to see you do better!” Ellie replied before throwing her hands up in defeat. “Who knew throwing darts at balloons could be so difficult?”
“Let me show you how it’s done, little sis,” She sauntered up and grabbed the handful of darts that her two tickets bought her. “I’m all hopped up on mini-donuts and funnel cake. I could probably take over the world right now.”
Turned out sugar-fueled dart-throwing was her game. By the time they all walked away, she had the largest stuffed zebra she’d ever seen.
“I can’t believe you won that!” Ellie laughed.
After what they’d gone through in the last two days, Caro was relieved to see her sister looking happy and relaxed, her hand firmly in the grasp of the man beside her. The love Bennett had for Ellie was plain to see in every move that he made, and nothing had made Caroline happier in a very long time. Even her own happy ending seemed possible now. Over the afternoon, Craig had introduced her to what appeared to be every pack member who lived in Hillard, and they’d been very welcoming—overwhelming, but certainly friendly. They’d all known what hadhappened the day before and they seemed genuinely relieved that she was safe.
“Babe, obviously I need more sugary snacks because before we leave this fair, I will have a bigger stuffie than Caro.” Ellie stopped and posed with her hands on her hips—her serious superhero stance. “And you, my love, will make sure it happens.”
Bennett laughed. “Yes, my queen. As you wish.”
Then he pointed off, his voice getting much louder. “To the food stands!”
Caro groaned. “I’m so full I don’t even think I can watch her eat anything else. My stomach may burst out of sympathy.”