As one, the humans around him stopped their work and focused on me. Henry’s smile spread.
“This will be a lot easier if you’re compliant, Mr. Antonovich.”
A growl caught in my throat. “You’ll have to kill me first.”
“Yes. I expect I will, eventually.” Henry’s eyes glowed an icy blue. “Perhaps I’ll have Charlotte do it after she delivers a few of your cubs.”
A chorus of roars split the night.
Twenty bears burst into the clearing. Snow flew from under their massive paws. Cal led the charge, his blond fur silvered by the moon.
The humans crouched. Hissing, they launched themselves at the attacking bears. Flesh and fur clashed.
Henry bared his fangs and flew at me.
I barely had time to raise my arms before he slammed his elbow into my chest. The impact drove the air from my lungs. We went down in a tangle of limbs, rolling through the snow.
Henry’s fist connected with my ribs. Pain exploded in my side. He moved faster than I could track, springing to his feet only to appear behind me in a blink. He punched me again and darted away as I spun.
Shifting would leave me vulnerable. In the moments it took me to transform, Henry could rip out my throat.
The fight roared around us. Bears clashed with Henry’s humans, who moved with vampire-enhanced strength. Blood splattered the snow. Someone screamed.
I had to protect Charlotte.
She stood in the middle of the chaos with her forehead furrowed and her arms wrapped around her midsection.
Come on, sweetheart. Break it. I know you can.
Henry appeared at my side and backhanded me.
The world tilted. I flew through the air and hit the ground hard, snow spraying around me. My vision blurred. Blood spurted over my tongue.
A massive shape charged across the clearing. Cal thundered over the snow on four paws. He swiped at Henry with claws extended, tearing a chunk of flesh from the vampire’s side.
Henry hissed, stumbling.
Now.
Calling on the magic that made me alpha, Ipulledfrom the clan. At once, energy surged into me in hot currents. My brothers had heard my call, and now they gave freely, fueling my shift.
One second I was human, the next I was fifteen hundred pounds of fur and muscle.
I charged toward Henry.
He spun, his jaw elongating in a gruesome display. Fangs extended past his chin. With a hiss, he launched himself at me.
We collided mid-air.
Chapter
Twenty-One
CHARLOTTE
Istood in the clearing with my feet rooted to the ground. My limbs were numb. A shadow hung over my mind like an inky cloud.
Around me, chaos reigned. Bears and humans clashed. Blood sprayed across the snow. Screams split the air. None of it touched me. I was wrapped in cotton, distant and untethered. The memory of the master’s voice lingered in the black, formless cloud.
