Where the hell are you, Zoey?
My wolf howled back as he took control and ran as fast as our paws could go, weaving around trees, and jumping over fallen limbs as they got in our path.
I’m coming, doll. Just hang there a little longer.
Fear surged within me and my legs moved impossibly faster. Remy started to fall behind, but I knew he would continue to follow, and even more help wouldn’t be that far behind him. Braxton would ensure that.
I was close enough to feel my mate now. She was terrified. It snapped something savage inside of me as the edges of my vision turned red. I tried to hold onto my humanity as best I could.
With the lake just up ahead, I knew I was close. But I skidded to a halt just in time to see a wolf attempt to mount my mate. She kicked out her hindlegs, nailing him in the nuts as he flew back in surprise and landed hard on the ground. He laid there whimpering.
That’s my girl.
But he wasn’t alone.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the other one made his own attempt as I froze in horror. Then a roar of anger released from me, causing him to halt his efforts.
Thunderous paws vibrated the ground as my brothers arrived, forming a half circle around them. With the lake to his back, there was nowhere for this asshole to go.
I could see the look of panic in his eyes and smell the fear wafting off of him.
When he tried to cover my mate and hide her from my view, I nearly lost it. Another loud roar of warning rang out from me as my wolf sank low and growled menacingly.
Do the right thing and leave her alone,I thought.
I knew I was in enough shit already. Dean Shannahan sent word to meet him tomorrow, and I knew what I’d done earlier would have consequences. I was ready to accept that, but killing another student could get me kicked out of the ARC entirely. So I restrained myself from acting impulsively.
But then I watched in horror as the wolf growled back, frightened, and cornered. He didn’t take his eyes off me as he lunged for my mate.
No!
I looked towards Denny with Oscar standing beside him, his orange and black stripes unmistakable. They both nodded solemnly.
He’d gone too far, but as I lept forward, he moved in to take Zoey out, going for her neck.
At the last second, she realized and rolled just as he bit down, missing her neck but sinking his teeth into her shoulder.
I unleashed my wolf as my vision clouded with red as I attacked, knocking him off her and sending him flying backwards to the water’s edge.
He wasn’t down long though. Adrenaline had him recovering quickly and leaping in the air to attack back.
We met midair, claws out, teeth snapping, as we slowly fell back to the ground and rolled over several times.
Pain seared through me as he landed a scratch to my back.
I responded with a swipe to his face.
He kept me at just enough distance that I wasn’t able to land a kill.
I protected my neck just as Josh Maxwell, my Alpha, had taught me. Remembering his rules of engagement, I watched for my opponent’s weaknesses and waited.
Zoey cried out in pain, distracting me as he attacked, moving in for the kill shot. I saw it coming though and forced myself to reset as I moved out of his reach, kicked off the ground and leaped onto his back, claws out.
He howled in pain, but I didn’t hesitate. He’d taken things too far.
My teeth sank into his neck as he turned to throw me off of him and he went down hard, throwing me off of him before I could make the final kill, but enough damage had already been done. He was incapacitated and unable to fight back.
Zoey whimpered softly and the fight fled me.
