But then she shoved Blake into Noah’s arms and stepped back, a cruel smile twisting her lips.
“Take her,” Mary said. “She won’t be yours for much longer anyway.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Blake was safe. Blake was with Noah, who was already moving away from thecombat zone, cradling my baby girl against his chest. I could see him making silly faces at her, trying to calm her down, and the sight made something in my chest loosen.
One baby safe. One to go.
Cole reached for Thomas, but Mira pulled back, keeping the baby out of his reach.
“No,” she said, her voice flat. “I’m not giving him to you.”
Cole’s expression flickered with pain, but he controlled it quickly. “Mira. Please. He’s my son.”
“And he’s staying with me until this is over.” Mira’s claws were still extended, still too close to Thomas’s small body. “You can stand right here and watch him if you want. But I’m not letting him go.”
For a moment, I thought Cole was going to argue. Going to try to take Thomas by force. But then his shoulders slumped and he nodded, moving to stand beside Mira instead of retreating to a safe distance.
It wasn’t ideal. But at least Blake was out of danger. At least I could focus on the fight without worrying about my daughter being hurt.
“Are there any rules?” Mary asked, circling around me like a predator sizing up prey.
“No,” I said, turning to keep her in my line of sight. “The fight ends when one of us yields.”
Mary’s smile widened, showing too many teeth. “Perfect.”
Then she shifted.
The transformation happened fast, her body twisting and reshaping in a blur of motion. Bones cracked and reformed. Fur erupted across her skin. Within seconds, the woman who had tormented my family for so long was gone, replaced by a wolf.
She wasn’t as big as Knox’s wolf form, or even Noah’s. A medium-sized wolf with reddish-brown fur and eyes that burned with hatred. But she was still a wolf. Still had claws and fangs and supernatural strength that I couldn’t hope to match.
Ah, shit.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, centering myself. Remembering everything Noah and Hunt had taught me during those training sessions I’d thought were pointless at the time. Remembering the moves Knox had shown me over the months, the ways to use an opponent’s strength against them.
I could do this. I had to do this.
The vest was still strapped to my chest, protecting my vital organs. As long as I kept her away from my neck and head, I could survive whatever she threw at me. Probably.
Mary lunged.
She was fast, faster than I expected, her massive form hurtling toward me with teeth bared. I barely managed to dodge, throwing myself to the side, feeling the rush of air as her jaws snapped shut inches from my shoulder.
I hit the ground hard and rolled, coming up with the knife in my hand. Mary had already turned, preparing for another attack, but she hesitated when she saw the blade.
She hadn’t expected me to be armed.
Good.
Mary charged again, trying to knock me down with her bulk. I sidestepped and slashed with the knife, feeling the blade catch on her flank, slicing through fur and flesh. She yelped and spun away, blood dripping onto the grass.
First blood to me.
Mary’s eyes narrowed, reassessing. She’d thought this would be easy. Now she realized I wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
She came at me more carefully this time, feinting left before darting right. I tried to dodge but she was too fast, her claws raking across my thigh. Pain exploded through my leg, hot and immediate, blood soaking through my pants.
I slashed at her again, catching her across the shoulder. She snarled in fury, more blood matting her fur.
