The rest of the ifrit closed their ranks further, coming at me. I dug my claws into the ground, giving myself a wide berth, drawing them further away from Bryce and Cassie. One of them tried to taunt me, but I was already anticipating the others’ attacks. Turning away from the taunting one, I snapped my canines into the shoulder of another ifrit, only to be grasped around the neck by another. I jerked my head back and caught one of those rounded horns slicing over my flank. A roar tore from me, and I spun wildly, only feeling more burning hot hands on me, trying to drag me further into their group.
For a second, I floundered. My head spun as flame scorched my side, as a fist punched into my muzzle. Sparks flew with the impact from the ifrit, and I snarled, buckling when I tried to get up. The ifrits’ laughter was grating, a screech of a noise that had me shuddering and falling back down again. But a cry from inside the car came through the din of the laughter. Cassie’s face was close to the rearview window, her wide, terror-filled eyes fixed on me. She had a hand pressed to the glass.
She knows.
The truth hit me, surging another wave of strength through me. I growled as I stood up, strengthened by the need to protect my daughter. With a roar, I bucked the ifrits off me and jerked wildly, claws swiping through torsos, catching legs, felling their ranks. One by one, ifrit either vanished through teleports back to where they came from or disintegrated with a burstof embers. One rammed me with its horns as a last, desperate attempt to attack, and I howled in pain as I felt blood dripping down my fur.
I choked out as I found myself on my back, overcome with an ifrit that held aloft a ball of flame. Balling its fist, it rammed for my face, but I moved quickly, letting the ball of fire sizzle into the ground instead. I flinched as the wave of heat scorched the side of my face. Kicking up with my back paws, I managed to hook my claws deep in the ifrit’s stomach.
It was for driving Bryce out of her home, for all the danger the demons posed to my town, and for the attack on my daughter.
I met the eyes of the ifrit, my teeth bared, as I dove into it once more. My canines sank into its shoulder, tearing hard enough that the ifrit screeched as it disappeared. With no more demons in sight, I finally got up, my eyes searching for Bryce and Cassie. They were already out of the car, Bryce following Cassie with a cry.
But my daughter… she flung herself at me.
“You fought them off!” she mumbled, her face pressed to my fur. “I knew you’d come to save us.”
Unable to speak in this form, I lifted my eyes to Bryce, and I could only hope she saw the absence of my anger. Bryce’s anger flared brightly, though. Her face was pale, and I moved towards her. Cassie still clung to my neck, and I held back my wince at the injuries I was slowly realizing laced over my body.
Standing before Bryce, I lowered my head to her. An alpha bowed to no one—but to her, to show her silently I meant that I wanted to change everything, I would.
Bryce’s mouth parted in a silent gasp. I turned my head to indicate that I wanted to take her and Cassie back. After a moment’s pause, Bryce nodded. Tugging Cassie from me, Bryce held her daughter’s hand tightly, and, slowly but carefully, I led them back through the woods. I couldn’t help but wonder what Bryce was so afraid of with shifting. Why wouldn’t she let her wolf out? Why wouldn’t she give in to her instincts and be with me like this, alpha and omega, as we were meant to be?
I shoved my thoughts aside, focusing on every step that hurt like hell, but it meant I’d fought for them.
I could only hope it was enough.
Chapter 17 - Bryce
I didn’t remember passing out as soon as I hit a house that wasn’t familiar to me, yet the scent of leather and ash comforted a subconscious part of me that had risen in my fear. All I knew was the protection of the wolf who had watched over me and fought for me.
In my terror, my anger had buried itself, and all I’d known, as I’d tumbled into a deep sleep, was Mason’s scent. When I woke up, I found myself dressed in one of his hoodies, looking around an unfamiliar room. It was larger than Jackson’s guest room, and I was in a king-sized bed surrounded by white sheets. The curtains were open, and I felt Cassie shift next to me.
Groaning awake, my daughter’s eyes blinked awake. She looked confused for a moment before sitting up.
“Where are we?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
“I don’t know,” I murmured, gesturing for her to follow me out of bed. I already had a guess that we were in Mason’s house. The distinct smell of bacon wafted upstairs, and Cassie’s stomach growled. My hands still shook in some leftover adrenaline and fear from the djinn that had stormed the car.
The helplessness I’d felt when I realized I would never have been enough to protect my baby alone… it had been indescribable. I tried to push it aside as Cassie barrelled out of the room, her sense of smell clearly pulling her towards the kitchen downstairs. I hurriedly followed and came face-to-face with Mason.
I stopped short at the sight of him holding a frying pan, sliding the slices onto a plate. He wore a navy polo shirt and matching gym shorts, his feet clad only in black socks. It was strangely vulnerable, seeing him so casual, in his own home.
“Wolf man!” Cassie squealed, rushing ahead to the table, where she clambered up to the table, taking a seat.
“Cass,” I called quietly, “wait to be invited.”
“I’d think the table full of breakfast is enough of an invitation.” Mason’s voice was quiet, holding a quirk of a tease that I wasn’t quite ready to accept yet. I gave him a weary smile as I moved forward, taking a seat next to Cassie.
“What’s all this?” I asked, taking in the sight of the breakfast buffet. Almost every space on the table was covered—from eggs that were, admittedly, perfectly scrambled in a way I was specific about, to French toast and pancakes drizzled with caramel sauce.
Cassie’s eyes widened as if she’d just found gold, and I ruffled her hair.
“Wait,” I whispered, as she reached for a pancake. I gave her a secretive smile when I pretended not to notice that she slipped one into her mouth anyway.
“It's breakfast,” Mason said, finally sitting down as he set the plate of bacon down in the last remaining spot on the long, polished table. “And an apology. One that will never be enough, but one nonetheless.” His eyes were on me, his brow pinched. “Bryce, you deserve a thousand apologies, and I’ll never find enough words or gestures, but I hope this is a start. I left something for Cassie on the sofa.”
Cassie’s head whipped to the sofa, the blue of them sparkling. “Where?” she cried excitedly, ready to rush over there, but I grasped hold of her, letting out a soft laugh.
